cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oxidized and reduced Azotobacter vinelandii ferredoxin I at 1.4 A resolution: conformational change of surface residues without significant change in the [3Fe-4S]+/0 cluster.

The refined structure of reduced Azotobacter vinelandii 7Fe ferredoxin FdI at 100 K and 1.4 A resolution is reported, permitting comparison of [3Fe-4S]+ and [3Fe-4S]0 clusters in the same protein at near atomic resolution. The reduced state of the [3Fe-4S]0 cluster is established by single-crystal EPR following data collection. Redundant structures are refined to establish the reproducibility and accuracy of the results for both oxidation states. The structure of the [4Fe-4S]2+ cluster in four independently determined FdI structures is the same within the range of derived standard uncertainties, providing an internal control on the experimental methods and the refinement results. The structures of the [3Fe-4S]+ and [3Fe-4S]0 clusters are also the same within experimental error, indicating that the protein may be enforcing an entatic state upon this cluster, facilitating electron-transfer reactions. The structure of the FdI [3Fe-4S]0 cluster allows direct comparison with the structure of a well-characteriz...
Response enhancement and reduction of the auditory brain-stem response in a forward-masking paradigm.

Abstract Alterations in the probe evoked auditory brain-stem response (ABR) were evaluated in 15 normal-hearing subjects using several stimulus configurations in a tone-on-tone forward-masking paradigm. The stimulus parameters manipulated in the study included: masker frequency; relative intensity of the masker; overall intensity of the masker-probe pair; and masker rise-fall time. Latency increases for waves III and V and an amplitude reduction for wave III were observed under some stimulus conditions. These changes were interpreted in terms of partial forward-masking effects. The masking effects were shown: to be maximal for masker frequencies in close proximity to the probe; to increase with increasing level of masker; to be independent of the overall level of the masker-probe pair; and, to decrease with increasing rise-fall time of the masker. Collectively, the forward-masking effects were interpreted as peripheral in origin, although, an additional brain-stem locus was not ruled out. In contrast, the same stimuli which increased wave III and V latencies and reduced wave III amplitude produced a robust amplitude increment in wave V which was termed enhancement. Wave V enhancement was shown: to be maximal for masker frequencies in close proximity to the probe; to decrease with increasing masker level; and, to decrease with faster rise-fall times of the masker. The processes mediating wave V enhancement are not clear, however, it was concluded that wave V enhancement probably reflects the resultant of a complex central neuronal interaction, presumably in the vicinity of the wave V generator(s).
Functions and metabolism of sphingolipids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We describe recent advances in understanding sphingolipid functions and metabolism in the baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. One milestone has been reached in yeast sphingolipid research with the complete or nearly complete identification of genes involved in sphingolipid synthesis and breakdown. Other advances include roles for sphingolipid long-chain bases as signaling molecules that regulate growth, responses to heat stress, cell wall synthesis and repair, endocytosis and dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton. We touch briefly on other sphingolipid functions so that readers unfamiliar with the field will gain a broader view of sphingolipid research. These functions include roles in protein trafficking/exocytosis, lipid rafts or microdomains, calcium homeostasis, longevity and cellular aging, nutrient uptake, cross-talk with other lipids and the interaction of sphingolipids and antifungal drugs.
Localization of gamma-globulin within inclusion bodies of L. E. (lupus erythematosus) cells.

Localization of Gamma-Globulin within Inclusion Bodies of L. E. (Lupus Erythematosus) Cells
Preliminary attempts to terminate pregnancy by immunological attack on uterine protein.

Der Einfluss von heterologen Antiseren gegen Uterusantigene auf die Schwangerschaft wird am Modell des Schweines und des Kaninchens studiert. In diesem Versuchstier werden Anhaltspunkte fur eine beeintrachtigende Wirkung der Antiseren gefunden.
Transportation versus perishability in life cycle energy consumption: A case study of the temperature-controlled food product supply chain

Abstract Moving goods from the point of production to markets involves energy use and can have adverse environmental effects. But from the supply chain management perspective, the control of the supply chain, with short time cycles between production and sale to customer, can benefit the environment by closely tailoring production to consumption, and by minimizing the amount of “perishability” in the chain. An energy consumption model is used to explore potential tradeoffs between these two competing tendencies and applied to temperature-controlled food products produced in agricultural regions in the US with mild climates and then distributed around the country using surface transportation. Although the use of rail can reduce life cycle energy consumption compared to truck, the increase in perishability of food products can undercut the energy savings, and in some circumstances, the use of inter-modal rail can be environmentally superior to carload freight for delivery.
Computerized EEG Analyses of Autistic Children.

Electroencephalographic measures of the neurophysiological dysfunction underlying autism have been nonspecific and incomplete. Studies using electroencephalographic methods have been fraught with subject sampling bias, a lack of standardized techniques and measures, and a lack of appropriate control groups. Low-functioning autistic children with age-matched normals, age-matched mentally handicapped, and mentally age-matched normal toddlers were tested using a computerized electroencephalographic technique. The autistic children showed significantly more slow wave activity and less alpha, as well as less inter- and intrahemispheric asymmetry than either normal or mentally handicapped children. In general, electroencephalographic features of autistic children closely resembled those of the toddlers, supporting a model of maturational lag as the key descriptor for autistic CNS functioning. A model of diminished cortical differentiation is proposed to account for the low level of intellectual functioning.
Is Pacific Storm-Track Activity Correlated with the Strength of Upstream Wave Seeding?

AbstractIn this paper, the relationship between upstream seeding over north Asia and downstream storm-track activity over the North Pacific in midwinter and spring/fall has been analyzed using 45 years of variance and feature-tracking statistics. It is shown that for each season, interannual variations in upstream seeding and downstream storm-track activity are largely uncorrelated. Moreover, during midwinter months in which the upstream seeding from north Asia is about as strong as that during a typical spring/fall month, the downstream storm track in central Pacific is still significantly weaker during midwinter than that during spring/fall. In addition, during cool seasons in which the midwinter suppression is more pronounced in the upstream seeding region, the suppression is not significantly enhanced in the downstream Pacific storm track.A recent study suggested that reduced upstream seeding from north Asia is the main “source” of the midwinter suppression of the Pacific storm track. Results presente...
Novel loci regulating bone anabolic response to loading: expression QTL analysis in C57BL/6JXC3H/HeJ mice cross.

Abstract Variations in the expression levels of bone marker genes among the inbred strains of mice in response to mechanical loading (ML) are largely determined by genetic factors. To explore this, we performed four-point bending on tibiae of 10-week female F2 mice of B6XC3H cross using 9N at 2 Hz, 36 cycles, once per day for 12 days. We collected tibiae from these mice for RNA extraction. We then measured the expression changes of bone marker genes, bone sialoprotein (BSP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and housekeeping genes, β-actin and peptidylprolyl isomerase A (PPIA), by using real-time PCR in both the loaded and the non-loaded tibiae of F2 mice (n = 241). A genome-wide scan was performed using 111 micro satellite markers in DNA sample collected from these mice. Mean increase in gene expression, expressed as fold change, ranges from 2.8 to 3.0 for BSP and 2.7 to 2.8 for ALP. Both showed a skewed distribution with a heritability response of 87 to 91%. Absence of significant correlation between the increased gene expression vs. body weight (BW) and bone size (BS) suggests that bone response to loading is independent of BS or BW. Non-parametric mapping (MapQTL program 5) revealed that BSP and ALP expression in response to bending was regulated by several significant and suggestive QTL: Loci regulating both BSP and ALP were located on Chr 8 (60.1 cM), 16 (45.9 cM), 17 (14.2 cM), 18 (38.0 cM) and Chr 19 (3.3 cM); Loci specific to BSP were found on Chrs 1 (LOD score 10.4 at 91.8 cM), 5 (5.2 at 73.2 cM) and 9 (7.0 at 13.1 cM); Loci regulating only ALP were found on Chrs 1 (7.6 at 46 and 75.4 cM), 3 (8.3 at 47 cM) and 4 (5.6 at 54.6 cM). QTLs on Chrs 1, 3, 8, 9, 17 and 18 correspond to QTLs we previously reported by pQCT measurements, thus validating these findings. In addition, we found that the QTL associated with non-loaded tibiae for BSP and ALP on Chrs 4, 16 and 18 was identical to the QTLs associated with ML. This finding suggests that regions on these chromosomes are responsible for natural variation in expression of BSP and ALP as well as for ML. This is the first expression study to provide evidence for the presence of multiple genetic loci regulating bone anabolic response to loading in the B6XC3H intercross and will lead to a better understanding of how exercise improves the skeletal mass.
The Interactive Effects of Self-Esteem, Goal Instructions, and Incentives on Personal Goals and Goal Attainment

An individual's personal goal is one of the strongest motivators, yet its determinants and processes are not well understood, especially those dealing with person–situation interaction. This research examines the interactive effects of monetary incentive types, self-set goal level instructions, and self-esteem on personal goals and goal attainment. A laboratory research study with a sample of 300 students found a statistically significant three-way interaction among monetary incentive types (pay for performance [piece rate], pay for goal attainment [GA-bonus], and pay for participation [hourly flat rate]), self-set goal level instructions (an instruction to set hard, easy, any, and no goals), and self-esteem in influencing personal goals and goal attainment. The highest level of personal goals (and the lowest level of goal attainment) was achieved by high-self-esteem participants who were paid for performance and instructed to set hard goals. This research shows that person–situation interaction is the mo...
Family Conversation: Description and Interpretation

This research focused on the analysis of a small segment (1 minute and 8 seconds) of conversation that occurred during a family therapy session. The participants were a mother, daughter, son, and the therapist. Through repeated listening and transcribing, a detailed transcript of the segment was first constructed. The conversational features within the transcript included the interruptions, pauses, overlaps, inflections, and turn shapes as structured by the participants. A sequential analysis of the conversation was rendered by describing the occurrence of the conversational features as well as interpreting the meanings of those features. The potential utility of conversation analysis to developing family theory and improving family therapy is also examined, as well as the limitations of the approach.
Body proportions as information for age and cuteness: Animals in illustrated children’s books

Growth systematically changes the body proportions of both humans and animals so that the ratio of head height to body height decreases with age. Prior studies have demonstrated that body proportions provide effective information for age perception. To test the proposal that illustrators incorporate this information into their drawings, measurements were made of the head and body heights of 100 pairs of animals appearing in children's picture books. In 93 pairs, the animal intended to be perceived as older had a smaller head-to-body ratio than did the younger animal. Ratings collected for 25 of these pairs showed that both perceived age and cuteness are significantly correlated with body proportions. The magnitudes of the correlations were only modest, suggesting that other aspects of the drawings influenced perceived age and cuteness. In addition, observers reported that body proportions are only one of a variety of factors influencing age and cuteness perception. As has been found in other studies, perceived age and cuteness were negatively correlated.
An update on the 150-Hour educational requirement

Abstract This paper was commissioned by the Journal to provide our readers with an update on the 150-Hour requirement for accounting programs and to offer a brief history on how the current standards evolved. The new model rules are discussed along with the implications of these rules and an illustrative program is presented to aid in implementation. It is evident that this topic is not settled and there will undoubtedly be additional modifications as the AICPA deadline approaches. The opinions expressed in this paper are those of Professor Nelson and do not necessarily reflect the views of the other Committee members.
Developing a multi-network urbanization model: A case study of urban growth in Denver, Colorado

Urbanization is an important issue concerning diverse scientific and policy communities. Computational models quantifying locations and quantities of urban growth offer numerous environmental and socioeconomic benefits. Traditional urban growth models are based on a single-algorithm fitting procedure and thus restricted on their ability to capture spatial heterogeneity. Accordingly, a GIS-based modeling framework titled multi-network urbanization (MuNU) model is developed that integrates multiple neural networks. The MuNU model enables a filtering approach where input data patterns are automatically reallocated into appropriate neural networks with targeted accuracies. We hypothesize that observations classified by individual neural networks share greater homogeneity, and thus modeling accuracy will increase with the integration of multiple targeted algorithms. Land use and land cover data sets of two time snapshots (1977 and 1997) covering the Denver Metropolitan Area are used for model training and validation. Compared to a single-step algorithm-either a stepwise logistic regression or a single neural network-several improvements are evident in the visual output of the MuNU model. Statistical validations further quantify the superiority of the MuNU model and support our hypothesis of effective incorporation of spatial heterogeneity.
Studies on the metabolism of procarbazine by mass spectrometry

The mass spectrometric properties of procarbazine and some of its breakdown products were examined using isotopic labeling and high resolution mass spectrometry. A specific intramolecular methyl group transfer, induced by electron impact, was used diagnostically to distinguish between two isomeric derivatives. The mass spectrometric information was used for identification of the in vivo metabolites of procarbazine in rat. Minimum sample manipulation was used due to the inherent instability of the suspected metabolites. The azo compound N-isopropyl- alpha -(2-methylazo)-p-toluamide was identified as the principal circulating metabolite of procarbazine.
Topological properties of banyan-hypercube networks

Topological properties of banyan-hypercubes are discussed, and a family of generalized banyan-hypercubes is defined. A banyan-hypercube, denoted BH(h, k, s), is constructed by taking the bottom h levels of a rectangular banyan of spread s and s/sup k/ nodes per level for s a power of two, and interconnecting the nodes at each level in a hypercube. BHs can be viewed as a scheme for interconnecting hypercubes while keeping most of the advantages of the latter. The definition of BHs is extended and generalized to allow the interconnection of an unlimited number of hypercubes and to allow any h successive levels of the banyan to interconnect hypercubes. This leads to better extendibility and flexibility in partitioning the BH. The diameter and average distance of the generalized BH are derived and are shown to provide an improvement over the hypercube for a wide range of h, k, and s values. Self-routing point-to-point and broadcasting algorithms are presented, and efficient embeddings of various networks on the BH are shown. >
The Rise and Fall of CTS: Kenneth Burke Identifying with the World of Warcraft

Guilds in online games often have a tumultuous life. In this essay we examine the rise and fall of the Cardboard Tube Samurai, a World of Warcraft guild, and explain three key phases in the guild’s existence using the ideas of Kenneth Burke. We argue that rhetorical theory can offer substantive insights into the events of online games, in this case focusing on the roles of identification, division, and consubstantiality in explaining how a guild can build for two years to their greatest triumph and fall apart two weeks later.
Regional Differences in Diagnostic Conversion to Dementia

The worldwide increase in dementia incidence has important health and environmental implications for both patients and caregivers. The ability to predict who will develop dementia and to identify risk factors of rapid progression would be a major advance in preventative healthcare. Few studies have surveyed the impact of environmental differences in combination with clinical and genetic factors in modifying dementia progression. We examined variation in diagnostic conversion from normal cognition to dementia in a multi-site cohort of study volunteers. Center-to-Center differences, residence in sparsely populated regions, lower education, older age and more severe cognitive impairment at study entry were associated with conversion to dementia within 5 years following the baseline visit. Because of strong individual Center effects, for which the underlying determinants were not identified, studying diagnostic conversion on a Center-by-Center basis may reveal viable genetic and environmental influences.
Beyond plain weave fabrics – II. Mechanical properties

Abstract A new formulation for mechanical analysis of 2D biaxial orthogonal woven fabric reinforced composite materials is proposed, as required by the wide variety of fabric types offered by the textile industry. Twill and satin weaves are defined as generic families of weaving patterns based on a general 3D geometrical model of the fabric architecture presented in Part I . Thermo-elastic material constants, progressive failure behavior, and strength are evaluated. The nonlinear stress–strain response and the strain to failure are predicted. Comparisons with available experimental data is presented. The present formulation is amenable for computer implementation in both analytical and numerical models.
Stonewall anticline: An active fold on the Oregon continental shelf

Stonewall Bank is the site of a growing west-verging anticline striking north-northwest on the continental shelf at 44.5 ° N, southwest of Newport, Oregon. To the east are Pliocene-Pleistocene strata of the Newport syncline, onlapping eastward against gently west-dipping late Miocene and older rocks of the Oregon Coast Range. Folding of Stonewall anticline results in fine-grained middle Miocene strata being exposed at the sea floor along the anticlinal crest; rocks as old as Eocene are encountered in the Unocal P-0093-1 Grebe well, drilled at the anticlinal crest. Rates of folding are based on deformation of an unconformity between Pliocene and Miocene strata (PM unconformity) and of a stream channel that crossed Stonewall Bank during the last glacial maximum. The bed length of the unconformity is shortened across the Stonewall anticline and adjacent folds by about 400 m between structures west of Stonewall Bank and the Newport syncline. The PM unconformity has a vertical separation of about 1000 m between the anticline and the first syncline to the west. The horizontal shortening and vertical separation imply that Stonewall anticline is underlain by a blind reverse fault. Retrodeforming the PM unconformity shows that this fault dips 65°‐70° E. A vertical separation of 1000 m on a fault with this dip yields a slip of 1070‐1080 m along the fault. If folding of the PM unconformity is assumed to have begun 2‐3 Ma, this would give a long-term slip rate of 0.4‐0.6 mm/yr. If most folding began after deposition of the entire Pliocene-Pleistocene sequence, the slip rate would be 1.0‐1.1
Promoting and preserving biodiversity in the urban forest

Abstract Efforts at mitigating global biodiversity loss have often focused on preserving large, intact natural habitats. However, preserving biodiversity should also be an important goal in the urban environment, especially in highly urbanized areas where little natural habitat remains. Increasingly, research at the city/county scale as well as at the landscape scale reveals that urban areas can contain relatively high levels of biodiversity. Important percentages of species found in the surrounding natural habitat, including endangered species, have been found in the urban forest. This contribution concisely highlights some examples of urban biodiversity research from various areas of the world. Key issues involved in understanding the patterns and processes that affect urban biodiversity, such as the urban–rural gradient and biotic homogenization, are addressed. The potential for urban areas to harbor considerable amounts of biodiversity needs to be recognized by city planners and urban foresters so that management practices that preserve and promote that diversity can be pursued. Management options should focus on increasing biodiversity in all aspects of the urban forest, from street trees to urban parks and woodlots.
Modeling Substance Abuse for Applications in Proteomics

The ability to model aspects of human addictive behaviors in laboratory animals provides an important avenue for gaining insight into the biochemical alterations associated with drug intake and the identification of targets for medication development to treat addictive disorders. The intravenous self-administration procedure provides the means to model the reinforcing effects of abused drugs and to correlate biochemical alterations with drug reinforcement. In this chapter, we provide a detailed methodology for rodent intravenous self-administration and the isolation and preparation of proteins from dissected brain regions for Western blot analysis and high throughput proteomic analysis. Examples of cocaine-induced alterations in the abundances of ionotropic glutamate receptor subunits in reinforcement related brain regions are provided.
Chloroform-induced cytotoxicity and regenerative cell proliferation in the kidneys and liver of BDF1 mice

In a 2-year chloroform inhalation bioassay, an increased incidence of tumors was observed in the kidneys of male BDF1 mice and the liver of female BDF1 mice exposed to the highest exposure concentration of 90 ppm. To investigate the role of cytotoxicity and regenerative cell proliferation in tumor formation, male and female BDF1 mice were exposed to chloroform vapor concentrations of 0, 0.3, 5, 30, or 90 ppm 6 h/day for 4 days. Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was administered via osmotic pumps implanted 3.5 days prior to necropsy, and the labeling index (LI), or percentage of cells in S-phase, was quantified using BrdU immunohistochemistry. To assess longer-term responses, additional male mice were exposed 5 days/week for 2 weeks to 0, 30, or 90 ppm. Degenerative lesions and an increase in the LI of seven- to ten-fold over controls were observed in the kidneys of male but not female mice exposed to 30 or 90 ppm. Liver lesions and increased hepatocyte LI were observed in male mice exposed to 30 or 90 ppm and in female mice exposed to 90 ppm. In the 2-week exposure groups 40% of the 30 ppm group and 80% of the 90 ppm group died with severe kidney damage, indicating that both 30 and 90 ppm exceed a maximum tolerated dose. Thus, in the 2-year bioassay chloroform concentrations had to be stepped-up over a period of weeks in order for the male mice exposed to 30 or 90 ppm to survive. The extrapolation of tumor data from such an unusual procedure is questionable. These observations are consistent with a substantial database that indicates that tumor induction by chloroform occurs via a non-genotoxic-cytotoxic mode of action and is secondary to organ-specific toxicity. These data further support the premise that doses that do not induce regenerative cell proliferation do not present an increased risk of cancer.
Ceramic-based multisite electrode arrays for chronic single-neuron recording

A method is described for the manufacture of a microelectrode array for chronic, multichannel, single neuron recording. The ceramic-based, multisite electrode array has four recording sites patterned onto a ceramic shaft the size of a single typical microwire electrode. The sites and connecting wires are applied to the ceramic substrate using a reverse photolithographic procedure. Recording sites (22/spl times/80 /spl mu/m) are separated by 200 /spl mu/m along the shaft. A layer of alumina insulation is applied over the whole array (exclusive of recording sites) by ion-beam assisted deposition. These arrays were capable of recording single neuron activity from each of their recording sites for at least three weeks during chronic implantation in the somatosensory cortex of rats, and several sites had recordings that lasted for more than 8 weeks. The vertical arrangement of the recording sites on these electrodes is ideal for simultaneously recording across the different layers of brain areas such as the cerebral cortex and hippocampus in chronic preparations.
How to Defend a Theory Without Testing It: Niels Bohr and the “Logic of Pursuit”

L'A. explique la methode de logique de la poursuite en science, aussi appelee logique de decouverte, qui permet de suivre une theorie sans l'avoir auparavant testee (Peirce et Hanson). Il expose les problemes de justification rencontres par Bohr a propos de sa theorie quantique des atomes
Ecological Disaster as Contextual Transformation Environmental Values in a Renewable Resource Community

The biophysical context and contextual change have significant economic, cultural, social, and psychological consequences for individuals and communities. Although acknowledging the importance of the biophysical context for theoretical and conceptual issues, social science research typically is conducted as if context does not matter. The authors discuss the relevance of context and outline research that examines the effects of context through assumed contextual variation, subjective contextual variables, objective contextual variables, and temporal contextual variation. The authors hypothesize that an ecological disaster occurring in a community where people are connected to the biophysical environment and ecological processes will result in the adoption of a more ecological worldview. This hypothesis is tested by analyzing data collected in the renewable resource communities of Cordova and Petersburg, Alaska, in the aftermath of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. The authors find support for this hypothes...
Simulated Response of the Arctic Freshwater Budget to Extreme NAO Wind Forcing

Abstract The authors investigate the response of the Arctic Ocean freshwater budget to changes in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) using a regional-ocean configuration of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology GCM (MITgcm) and carry out several different 10-yr and 30-yr integrations. At 1/6° (∼18 km) resolution the model resolves the major Arctic transport pathways, including Bering Strait and the Canadian Archipelago. Two main calculations are performed by repeating the wind fields of two contrasting NAO years in each run for the extreme negative and positive NAO phases of 1969 and 1989, respectively. These calculations are compared both with a control run and the compiled observationally based freshwater budget estimate of Serreze et al. The results show a clear response in the Arctic freshwater budget to NAO forcing, that is, repeat NAO negative wind forcing results in virtually all freshwater being retained in the Arctic, with the bulk of the freshwater content being pooled in the Beaufort gyre...
Finding the Proverbial Needle

Multifunctional nanoparticles can do many things at once, from targeting tumors to releasing drugs to staving off immune responses. The challenge is to identify optimal combinations of particle properties that enhance therapeutic outcomes. To address this issue, Valencia et al. created a microfluidic system for rapid synthesis and screening of nanoparticles with properties that ensure uptake by cancer cells while limiting clearance by the immune system. A nanoparticle’s function is to evade the immune system, target tumor cells, and deliver therapeutics—all of which is largely determined by properties such as size, surface charge, ligand density, and drug content. The authors engineered a microfluidic device that mixes various nanoparticle precursors at controllable ratios and then outputs tens of different formulations of polymeric particles with custom-made properties. Valencia and coauthors initially used the device to make nanoparticles with varying weights and densities of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) because PEG is known to avoid an immune response. Small (25 to 30 nm) nanoparticles along with high PEG content and longer PEG molecules (10 kD) mostly evaded macrophage uptake in vitro, which was confirmed in a mouse model with extended circulation time. The authors next investigated the effect of different targeting ligand densities on particle uptake by macrophages as well as a prostate cancer cell line. Nanoparticles with less than 200 ligands per particle exhibited significant uptake by the cancer cells with minimal uptake by the macrophages both in vitro and in vivo in a human prostate tumor model, as compared with nanoparticles without a targeting ligand. Overall, this high-throughput approach offers an important step toward rapid generation and screening of nanoparticles with custom properties. However, before the platform is clinic-ready, a recipe book of precursor concentrations and flow rates should be compiled for reproducibly obtaining a library of nanoparticles with validated property combinations. P. M. Valencia et al. , Microfluidic platform for combinatorial synthesis and optimization of targeted nanoparticles for cancer therapy. ACS Nano , published online 11 November 2013 (10.1021/nn403370e). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/79197
Thermal and fitness‐related consequences of nest location in Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta)

1. Laboratory experiments have documented substantial temperature effects on the physiological ecology of reptilian eggs, embryos and offspring. However, functional links between important habitat characteristics, nest microenvironments and fitness-related traits of neonates in natural nests have rarely been studied. 2. A field study of 11 Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) nests was conducted to quantify the relationships between a habitat characteristic (i.e. vegetational cover around nests at oviposition) and (1) developmental temperature and its effect on offspring sex ratio and (2) hibernation temperature and its effect on offspring survivorship. 3. Vegetational cover was negatively correlated with nest temperatures in July, the period when offspring sex is determined. However, neither vegetational cover nor mean nest temperature predicted nest sex ratios, although correlations among these variables were consistent with causal relationships derived from laboratory studies. 4. Summer vegetational cover was also negatively correlated with measures of winter nest temperatures. Of the three nests exhibiting overwinter mortality, two were surrounded by thick vegetation and all experienced temperatures below – 8 °C. The remaining nests reached temperatures as low as – 6 °C without mortality, indicating that hatchlings in these nests exhibited remarkable supercooling ability. 5. The results suggest that habitat characteristics and nest microenvironments are functionally linked and have fitness consequences for both embryos and offspring, implying that nest-site choice by female turtles could have considerable utility.
Reactivity of the tethered alkyl uranium bonds of (η5:κ1-C5Me4SiMe2CH2)2U

Abstract Uranium-carbon bond reactivity has been investigated with the bis(tethered silylalkyl) uranium metallocene (η5:κ1-C5Me4SiMe2CH2)2U, 1. Tert-butyl nitrile, tBuC N, inserts into both of the tethered U-C bonds to produce the bis(tethered ketimide) complex [η5:κ1-C5Me4SiMe2CH2C(tBu)N]2U, 2, which has unusually bent U-N-C bond angles. Carbon dioxide also inserts into both U-C bonds of 1 yielding the bis(tethered carboxylate) (C5Me4SiMe2CH2CO2)2U, 3. Neither PhC CPh nor PhC CH insert into the U-C bonds, but PhC CH cleaves the silylalkyl tethers in 1 to generate (C5Me4SiMe3)1− ligands in the complex (C5Me4SiMe3)2U(C CPh)2, 4.
Modeling three-dimensional terrain in urban propagation environment using geospatial data in cyberspace

The wide spread of geospatial data in cyberspace provides a great opportunity for establishing more accurate three-dimensional (3D) propagation environments which are crucial for propagation modeling using ray-tracing methods. Many government agencies such as NASA and USGS (U. S. Geological Survey), and military and commercial companies have developed their own databases for housing the geospatial information which are accruing exponentially. Some of these data are free and others are not and may be very expensive.
Pancreatic cancer patients with lymph node involvement by direct tumor extension have similar survival to those with node‐negative disease

Background Lymph node (LN) involvement is a well-known poor prognostic factor in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, there have been conflicting results on the significance of the mechanism of LN involvement, “direct” tumor invasion versus “metastatic,” disease on patient survival. Methods Clinicopathologic records from all patients who underwent resection for PDAC from 1990 to 2014 at a single-institution were reviewed. Results Of the 385 total patients, there was tumor invasion outside of the pancreas in 289 (75.1%) patients. Overall, 239 (62.1%) had node-positive disease: 220 (92.0%) by “metastatic” involvement, 14 (5.9%) by “direct” tumor extension, and five (2.1%) by a mix of “metastatic” and “direct”. There were no significant differences in clinicopathologic factors associated with PDAC survival between “metastatic” and “direct” LN patients. The median overall survival for the whole cohort was 31.1 months. Compared to overall survival in patients with LN-negative disease (median 40.7 months), those with LNs involved by “metastatic” spread was significantly shorter (median 25.7 months, P < 0.001), yet “direct” LN extension was similar (median 48.1 months, P = 0.719). Conclusions The mechanism of LN involvement affects PDAC prognosis. Patients with LNs involved by direct extension have similar survival to those with node-negative disease. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015; 112:396–402. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Primary Effusion Lymphoma in an Hiv-Negative Patient with No Serologic Evidence of Kaposi's Sarcoma Virus

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is a newly described high-grade B cell lymphoma which develops in association with Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSV) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals. We hereby describe a very unusual presentation of PEL that developed in the abdominal cavity of an HIV negative, KSV negative patient with a 1-year history of refractory ascites due to alcohol-related liver cirrhosis. Possible factors aiding lymphomagenesis in the cirrhotic state are discussed.
Comparison of Fungizone, Amphotec, AmBisome, and Abelcet for Treatment of Systemic Murine Cryptococcosis

Three lipid-based formulations of amphotericin B have been approved for use in various countries. The aim of this study was to compare Amphotec (ABCD; Sequus), AmBisome (AmBi; Nexstar), Abelcet (ABLC; The Liposome Co.), and conventional deoxycholate amphotericin B (Fungizone; Bristol Meyers Squibb) for the treatment of experimental systemic cryptococcosis. A model was established in 10-week-old female CD-1 mice by intravenous (i.v.) injection of 6.25 x 10(5) viable Cryptococcus neoformans yeast cells. Therapy began 4 days later, with i.v. administration three times per week for 2 weeks. Mice received either no treatment, 1 mg of Fungizone per kg of body weight, or 1, 5, or 10 mg of ABCD, AmBi, or ABLC per kg. Ninety percent of control mice died between days 15 and 34. All treatment regimens except ABLC at 1 mg/kg prolonged survival compared with no treatment (P ABLC >> Fungizone. This is the first study that compared all four amphotericin B formulations.
Metropolitan and non-metropolitan trends in coronary heart disease mortality within Appalachia, 1980-1997.

Abstract OBJECTIVES: In this article, we report on metropolitan and non-metropolitan trends in coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality within the Appalachian Region for the period 1980 to 1997. We hypothesized that trends in CHD mortality would be less favorable in non-metropolitan populations with diminished access to social, economic, and medical care resources at the community level. METHODS: Our study population consisted of adults aged 35 years and older who resided within the 399 counties of the Appalachian Region between 1980 and 1997. We examined mortality trends for sixteen geo-demographic groups, defined by gender, age, race, and metropolitan status of county of residence. For each geo-demographic group, we calculated annual age-adjusted CHD mortality rates. Line graphs of these temporal trends were created, and log-linear regression models provided estimates of the average annual percent change in CHD mortality from 1980 to 1997. Data on social, economic, and medical care resources for metropolitan vs. non-metropolitan counties were also analyzed. RESULTS: Rates of CHD mortality were consistently higher in non-metropolitan areas compared with metropolitan areas for blacks of all ages and for younger whites. CHD mortality declined among almost all geo-demographic groups, but rates of decline were slower among non-metropolitan vs. metropolitan residents, blacks vs. whites, women vs. men, and older vs. younger adults. Non-metropolitan areas had fewer socioeconomic and medical care resources than metropolitan areas in 1990. CONCLUSIONS: Appalachia, particularly non-metropolitan Appalachia, needs policies and programs that will enhance both primary and secondary prevention of CHD, and help diminish racial inequalities in CHD mortality trends.
A Kare Pan Is a Pretty Good Start

Common in train stations and department store food courts, Japanese bakery chains often specialize in clever interpretations of European baked goods and reconfigurations of culinary traditions from other countries. They provide visitors not only with snacks, but with a unique perspective. Kare pan is curry bread, a typical bakery item. In Japan, foreign cultural symbols aren9t merely appropriated; they9re savored, celebrated, and then regurgitated as something fresh. In the rich world of Japanese baked goods, this process can be seen as authentically Japanese, even if the food itself is not.
The Looming U.S. Federal Debt Crisis: An Economic Analysis of the Limits to Public Borrowing

The following analysis presents conditions for characterizing unsustainable public borrowing. These conditions describe a “critical level” of public debt beyond which increases in taxes (current or future) are required to meet debt service obligations. The discussion is written for a general audience to facilitate discussion.
The expandable network disk

This thesis presents a virtual disk cluster called E ND, the Expandable Network Disk. END aggregates storage on a cluster of servers into a single virtual disk. END's main goals are to offer good performance during normal operation, and efficiently handle changes in the cluster membership. END achieves these goals using a two-layer design, in which storage “bricks,” servers that consist of CPU, memory, and hard disks, hold two kinds of information. The lower layer stores replicated immutable chunks of data, each indexed by a unique key. The upper layer maps each block address to the key of its current data chunk; each mapping is held on two bricks using primary-backup replication. This separation allows E ND flexibility in where it stores chunks and thus efficiency: it writes new chunks to bricks chosen for speed; it moves only address mappings (not data) when bricks fail and recover, which results in fast recovery; it fully replicates new writes during temporary brick failures; and it uses chunks on a recovered brick without risk of staleness. The END prototype's write throughput on a cluster of 16 PC-based bricks is 150 megabytes/s with 2x replication. END continues after a single brick failure, re-incorporates a rebooting brick, and expands to include a new brick after a few seconds of reduced performance during each change. The results show that END's two-layer design maintains good performance, resumes operation quickly after changes in the cluster, and maintains full replication of new writes even during a brick failure. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
Recent development and application of a new safety analysis code for fusion reactors

Abstract This paper describes the recent progress made in the development of two codes for fusion reactor safety assessments at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL): MELCOR for fusion and the Tritium Migration Analysis Program (TMAP). During the ITER engineering design activity (EDA), the INL Fusion Safety Program (FSP) modified the MELCOR 1.8.2 code for fusion applications to perform ITER thermal hydraulic safety analyses. Because MELCOR has undergone many improvements at SNL-NM since version 1.8.2 was released, the INL FSP recently imported these same fusion modifications into the MELCOR 1.8.6 code, along with the multiple fluids modifications of MELCOR 1.8.5 for fusion used in US advanced fusion reactor design studies. TMAP has also been under development for several decades at the INL by the FSP. TMAP treats multi-specie surface absorption and diffusion in composite materials with dislocation traps, plus the movement of these species from room to room by fluid flow within a given facility. Recently, TMAP was updated to consider multiple trap site types to allow the simulation of experimental data from neutron irradiated tungsten. The natural development path for both of these codes is to merge their capabilities into one computer code to provide a more comprehensive safety tool for analyzing accidents in fusion reactors. In this paper we detail recent developments in this area and the application of this new capability to a DEMO relevant water-cooled tungsten armored divertor.
En-bloc resection of the distal pancreas with splenic vessels does not increase risk of pancreatic leak or hematoma

RESULTS: Among 17 consecutive patients who underwent DPCAR, the LGA was preserved in 13 patients and reconstructed in 4 patients. Major postoperative complications were observed in 7 cases (41%). A pancreatic fistula (Grade B/C) or delayed gastric emptying (Grade B/C) occurred in 7 (41%) and 2 (12%) cases, respectively. The overall R0 resection rate was 94% (16/17). Ten cases developed recurrences (liver, n 1⁄4 4; lymph nodes, n 1⁄4 2; peritoneal dissemination, n 1⁄4 2; lung, n 1⁄4 1; local recurrence, n 1⁄4 1). The overall survival rates were 78% and 54% at 1 and 3 years after operation.
Emissions and climate forcing from global and Arctic fishing vessels

Fishing vessels were recently found to be the largest source of black carbon ship emissions in the Arctic, suggesting that the fishing sector should be a focus for future studies. Here we developed a global and Arctic emissions inventory for fishing vessel emissions of short-lived and long-lived climate forcers based on data from a wide range of vessel sizes, fuel sulfur contents, engine types, and operational characteristics. We found that previous work generally underestimated emissions of short-lived climate forcers due to a failure to account for small fishing vessels as well as variability in emission factors. In particular, global black carbon emissions were underestimated by an order of magnitude. Furthermore, our order of magnitude estimate of the net climate effect from these fishing vessel emissions suggests that short-lived climate forcing may be particularly important in regions where fuel has a low sulfur content. These results have implications for proposed maritime policies and provide a foundation for future climate simulations to forecast climate change impacts in the Arctic.
Characteristics of Alcohol Use and its Contributing Factors among Adolescents

A sample of 681 5th,7th,8th,10th and 11th graders from three primary and secondary schools in Changsha,Hunan province was selected to explore characteristics and its contributing factors with alcohol use behavior among adolescents.The results showed as follows:(1) 31% adolescents had ever used alcohol in the past 30 days,with 12.7% ever binge drinking and 8.5% ever drunk in the past 30 days.Males and adolescents with low academic achievement reported higher level of alcohol use compared to their counterparts;(2) adolescents drinking behavior was positively associated with peers'drinking behavior and school drinking neighborhood.Moreover,adolescents drinking behavior was negatively associated with peers'drinking attitude,adolescents' drinking attitude and drinking refusal self-efficacy;(3) peer and school neighborhood factors and drinking attitude could directly predict adolescents'drinking refusal self-efficacy.In addition,peer and school neighborhood can indirectly influence adolescents'alcohol use behavior through drinking attitude and drinking refusal self-efficacy.