cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the Case: Method in Public and Community Archaeology

This paper seeks to initiate a conversation about methodology in public and community archaeology through an examination of the use of case studies. Case studies enable the exploration of situations that are, by their nature, not easily reduced to statistical data. The challenge is that unless they are carefully structured, case studies may contribute little beyond anecdote to the field. Other disciplines that rely on case studies have addressed the methodological challenges aggressively. This paper explores these issues in four sections: First, the rationale for methodology in public archaeology is examined. Second, actual practice—through analysis of papers published in Public Archaeology and, to a limited degree, in the ‘grey literature’—is reviewed. Third, alternative case study methods, gleaned from diverse disciplines, are presented. Finally, the potential for method-based case study research is illustrated through an example of the use of one such method.
On the comparison of the strength of morphological integration across morphometric datasets

Evolutionary morphologists frequently wish to understand the extent to which organisms are integrated, and whether the strength of morphological integration among subsets of phenotypic variables differ among taxa or other groups. However, comparisons of the strength of integration across datasets are difficult, in part because the summary measures that characterize these patterns (RV coefficient and rPLS ) are dependent both on sample size and on the number of variables. As a solution to this issue, we propose a standardized test statistic (a z-score) for measuring the degree of morphological integration between sets of variables. The approach is based on a partial least squares analysis of trait covariation, and its permutation-based sampling distribution. Under the null hypothesis of a random association of variables, the method displays a constant expected value and confidence intervals for datasets of differing sample sizes and variable number, thereby providing a consistent measure of integration suitable for comparisons across datasets. A two-sample test is also proposed to statistically determine whether levels of integration differ between datasets, and an empirical example examining cranial shape integration in Mediterranean wall lizards illustrates its use. Some extensions of the procedure are also discussed.
Laser net shape manufacturing of metallic materials with CO2 and fiber laser

Laser net shape manufacturing of metallic materials has been carried out with CO2 and fiber lasers. The effect of the processing parameters, such as laser power, scanning velocity, and spot size on the impact of final deposition result was investigated. A comparison study of the as-deposited materials with the use of the two lasers was also conducted. It was found that the alignment of powder stream and laser beam is a critical element of ensuring high quality of deposition.Laser net shape manufacturing of metallic materials has been carried out with CO2 and fiber lasers. The effect of the processing parameters, such as laser power, scanning velocity, and spot size on the impact of final deposition result was investigated. A comparison study of the as-deposited materials with the use of the two lasers was also conducted. It was found that the alignment of powder stream and laser beam is a critical element of ensuring high quality of deposition.
Delayed Retroclival and Cervical Spinal Subdural Hematoma Complicated by Preexisting Chiari Malformation in Adult Trauma Patient.

Introduction Traumatic spinal subdural hematoma involving the retroclival region and upper cervical spine is a rare pathology. To our knowledge, there have only been 2 prior cases in an adult trauma patient. We describe a patient with preexisting Chiari 1 malformation, who recently sustained a unilateral type 1 occipital condyle fracture with associated disruption of the tectorial membrane and transverse ligament, which returned with a retroclival subdural hematoma extending down to C7, causing spinal cord compression and symptomatic obstructive hydrocephalus. Case Presentation A 30-year-old female sustained a motor vehicle collision. Computed tomography C spine revealed a type I occipital condyle fracture. Magnetic resonance imaging C spine demonstrated disruption of the tectorial membrane and avulsion of the transverse ligament at its attachment to the left C1 tubercle; moreover, there was a Chiari 1 malformation. The patient was neurologically intact. A halo was recommended, but the patient opted for an aspen collar with close management. She was discharged but returned 3 days later with apneic episodes, along with bradycardia and hypertension. She was promptly intubated. Computed tomography head showed interval ventricular enlargement. Magnetic resonance imaging C spine revealed a new ventral hematoma spanning the retroclival region to C7, most pronounced at C2-C3. On examination, she opened her eyes to pain, her pupils were equal and reactive, and she withdrew in all extremities. An external ventricular drain was emergently placed. She underwent a suboccipital craniectomy, C1-3 laminectomies, and occiput-C4 instrumented fusion. The dura was significantly tense, and no epidural hematoma was observed during lateral exploration. Postoperatively, she woke up well, exhibiting a nonfocal neurologic examination. A diagnostic angiogram was negative. She was extubated uneventfully, and the external ventricular drain was weaned off in 4 days. Conclusion Traumatic spinal subdural hematoma involving both the retroclival region and upper cervical spine can lead to bulbar signs and symptomatic obstructive hydrocephalus. There should be vigilance for this pathology in patients with high-energy craniocervical trauma. Disruption of the tectorial membrane and therapeutic anticoagulation may be risk factors. The clinical scenario can be complicated in the setting of a preexisting Chiari 1 malformation.
Magnetoelastoelectric coupling in core–shell nanoparticles enabling directional and mode-selective magnetic control of THz beam propagation

Magnetoelastoelectric coupling in an engineered biphasic multiferroic nanocomposite enables a novel magnetic field direction-defined propagation control of terahertz (THz) waves. These core–shell nanoparticles are comprised of a ferromagnetic cobalt ferrite core and a ferroelectric barium titanate shell. An assembly of these nanoparticles, when operated in external magnetic fields, exhibits a controllable amplitude modulation when the magnetic field is applied antiparallel to the THz wave propagation direction; yet the same assembly displays an additional phase modulation when the magnetic field is applied along the propagation direction. While field-induced magnetostriction of the core leads to amplitude modulation, phase modulation is a result of stress-mediated piezoelectricity of the outer ferroelectric shell.
A preparatory study of how to construct consensus mass spectra of recurrent unknown metabolites from untargeted GC–MS metabolomics data

Abstract Technological advances in gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS) have enabled detection of many compounds that could not be observed before. Identification of these unknowns is currently hindered since they are not contained in existing mass spectral libraries and commercial standard reagents are unavailable. To partially address this issue, libraries of consensus spectra could be derived for these compounds from recurrent observations in untargeted GC–MS metabolomics studies. Toward this end, a preparatory study has been carried out using data generated from samples of known standard mixtures. Results from this study are presented in this paper that could help with future efforts to develop a systematic computational workflow for building libraries of consensus mass spectra for unknown compounds.
The use of romiplostim in treating chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia in patients with solid tumors

Thrombocytopenia is common in cancer patients; it may be secondary to the malignancy itself, its treatment, or other etiologies, such as liver disease or infection. In the absence of any currently effective therapy to prevent thrombocytopenia, the usual clinical response is to decrease the dose and/
RNA-Independent DNA Cleavage Activities of Cas9 and Cas12a

Summary CRISPR-Cas systems provide bacteria and archaea with sequence-specific protection against invading mobile genetic elements. In the presence of divalent metal ions, Cas9 and Cas12a (formerly Cpf1) proteins target and cleave DNA that is complementary to a cognate guide RNA. The recognition of a protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) sequence in the target DNA by Cas9 and Cas12a is essential for cleavage. This RNA-guided DNA targeting is widely used for gene-editing methods. Here, we show that Francisella tularensis novicida (Fno) Cas12a, FnoCas9, and Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 (SpyCas9) cleave DNA without a guide RNA in the presence of Mn 2+ ions. Substrate requirements for the RNA-independent activity vary. FnoCas9 preferentially nicks double-stranded plasmid, SpyCas9 degrades single-stranded plasmid, and FnoCas12a cleaves both substrates. These observations suggest that the identities and levels of intracellular metals, along with the Cas9/Cas12a ortholog employed, could have significant impacts in genome editing applications.
JIC Calculations for Pressure Vessel Steel from Microvoid Kinetics

The tensile fracture process in A533B steel at 366 K was studied at the microlevel and found to consist of the nucleation, growth, and coalescence of voids. A computational model of the process was constructed, and the void size distributions, measured in the necked regions of tensile bars, were used to quantify the model. The model was then incorporated into a finite-difference Lagrangian stress wave code to simulate the fracture toughness testing of a hypothetical center-cracked panel. Calculated values for JIc, critical crack opening angle, and the critical crack opening displacement only slightly exceeded values typically measured, demonstrating that a route now exists for calculating fracture toughness from microvoid kinetics data. Potential applications of such models include monitoring radiation embrittlement in nuclear reactor components from tests on small surveillance specimens, predicting failure in structural elements that do not already contain a macrocrack, and explaining variations in toughness and strength caused by variations in inclusion size distribution.
Activation of platelet heparitinase by tumor cell-derived factors

The nature of the cooperation between platelets and tumor cells during the process of blood-borne metastasis is essentially unknown. In previous in vitro studies we showed that platelets participated in the formation of gaps in the endothelial cell lining, and that concomitantly heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans were degraded by the platelet heparitinase, released on activation of platelets. In the current study we show that the ability to degrade proteoheparan sulfate derived from endothelial extracellular matrix is gradually eliminated when the number of human platelets is decreased from 5 x 10(7) to 10(6) cells/mL. When aliquots of conditioned media or lysates of either Eb or heat-inactivated ESb mouse lymphoma cells (both of which showed no heparanase activity) were added to freeze-thawed lysates of 10(6) platelets, a reappearance of platelet heparitinase activity was observed. A similar activation was not elicited by lysates of several normal mammalian cells. These data suggest that in its native form, a fraction of the platelet heparitinase is stored in an inactive form that can be activated by a factor secreted by lymphoma, but not by normal cells. Partial characterization of the heparitinase-activating factor showed that it is a heat-stable polyanionic molecule, devoid of proteolytic activity and resistant to both proteolytic and chondroitinase digestions. Activation of platelet heparitinase was also observed on coincubation with chondroitinases ABC and AC, suggesting that the inactive form of platelet heparitinase could result from a complex formation with a chondroitinase-sensitive proteoglycan. The lymphoma-derived heparitinase activating factor itself is, however, not a chondroitinase, because activity of chondroitinase could not be detected in Eb and ESb cells. A possible mechanism by which tumor cells recruit and regulate the activity of platelet heparitinase, and its relevance to the progression of blood borne metastasis, is discussed.
Metal-dependent hormone function: the emerging interdisciplinary field of metalloendocrinology

For over 100 years, there has been an incredible amount of knowledge amassed concerning hormones in the endocrine system and their central role in human health. Hormones represent a diverse group of biomolecules that are released by glands, communicate signals to their target tissue, and are regulated by feedback loops to maintain organism health. Many disease states, such as diabetes and reproductive disorders, stem from misregulation or dysfunction of hormones. Increasing research is illuminating the intricate roles of metal ions in the endocrine system where they may act advantageously in concert with hormones or deleteriously catalyze hormone-associated disease states. As the critical role of metal ions in the endocrine system becomes more apparent, it is increasingly important to untangle the complex mechanisms underlying the connections between inorganic biochemistry and hormone function to understand and control endocrinological phenomena. This tutorial review harmonizes the interdisciplinary fields of endocrinology and inorganic chemistry in the newly-termed field of “metalloendocrinology”. We describe examples linking metals to both normal and aberrant hormone function with a focus on highlighting insight to molecular mechanisms. Hormone activities related to both essential metal micronutrients, such as copper, iron, zinc, and calcium, and disruptive nonessential metals, such as lead and cadmium are discussed.
Kisspeptin Neurons in the Arcuate Nucleus of the Hypothalamus Orchestrate Circadian Rhythms and Metabolism

Summary Successful reproduction in female mammals is precisely timed and must be able to withstand the metabolic demand of pregnancy and lactation. We show that kisspeptin-expressing neurons in the arcuate hypothalamus (Kiss1ARH) of female mice control the daily timing of food intake, along with the circadian regulation of locomotor activity, sleep, and core body temperature. Toxin-induced silencing of Kiss1ARH neurons shifts wakefulness and food consumption to the light phase and induces weight gain. Toxin-silenced mice are less physically active and have attenuated temperature rhythms. Because the rhythm of the master clock in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) appears to be intact, we hypothesize that Kiss1ARH neurons signal to neurons downstream of the master clock to modulate the output of the SCN. We conclude that, in addition to their well-established role in regulating fertility, Kiss1ARH neurons are a critical component of the hypothalamic circadian oscillator network that times overt rhythms of physiology and behavior.
Unequaled overgrowth inside and out-an exceptional example of hypertrichosis overlying plexiform neurofibroma.

Plexiform neurofibroma is classically associated with neurofibromatosis type I (NF1). However, there are relatively few cases that involve isolated neurofibroma of the orbit of varying pathologies (myxoid, plexiform, diffuse) in the absence of clinical criteria of NF1.1 Plexiform and diffuse neurofibromas usually present in childhood; however, isolated neurofibroma of the orbit with overlying hypertrichosis appears to be a rare finding.2, 3, 4, 5 Hypertrichosis is the excessive growth of hair on non–androgen-dependent areas of the body and is classified based on the time of onset and distribution.6 We present a case of extensive hypertrichosis overlying a plexiform neurofibroma in a patient without stigmata of NF1.
Tuning Vibrational Strong Coupling with Co-Resonators

Strong coupling of molecular vibrations to optical resonances is a promising route toward photonic control over chemical reactions. Due to their narrow line widths and close energy proximity, vibra...
Intronic RNA: Ad‘junk’ mediator of post-transcriptional gene regulation

RNA splicing, the process through which intervening segments of noncoding RNA (introns) are excised from pre-mRNAs to allow for the formation of a mature mRNA product, has long been appreciated for its capacity to add complexity to eukaryotic proteomes. However, evidence suggests that the utility of this process extends beyond protein output and provides cells with a dynamic tool for gene regulation. In this review, we aim to highlight the role that intronic RNA plays in mediating specific splicing outcomes in pre-mRNA processing, as well as explore an emerging class of stable intronic sequences that have been observed to act in gene expression control. Building from underlying flexibility in both sequence and structure, intronic RNA provides mechanisms for post-transcriptional gene regulation that are amenable to the tissue and condition specific needs of eukaryotic cells. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: RNA structure and splicing regulation edited by Francisco Baralle, Ravindra Singh and Stefan Stamm.
Abstract P5-06-24: Validation of the Johns Hopkins oncotype DX recurrence score estimator

Objective Oncotype DX (ODX) is a 21-gene assay used to predict the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy in hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative, lymph node-negative breast cancer. However, the test is expensive and the incremental contribution of this assay to routinely available clinicopathological information and how to integrate that information to best inform clinical decision making is unknown. Several models have been developed to predict whether there are cases in which a clinician or patient could opt to forgo ODX because the outcome of the test might be predicted with a high degree of accuracy using routinely available measures. One such model was developed and validated at Johns Hopkins University. Here we used their recurrence score estimator to learn whether we could safely adopt the calculator for use at our institution to improve resource utilization. Methods An IRB-approved prospective database was created in 2010 for patients seen by a single medical oncologist at Rush University Medical Center and for whom oncotype DX was performed. From this database, patients were identified with HR+, HER2-negative, node-negative breast cancer and for whom age at diagnosis, tumor size, grade and Ki-67 were known. These data were entered into the Johns Hopkins breast cancer recurrence score estimator (http://www.breastrecurrenceestimator.onc.jhmi.edu). This model categorizes patients with a recurrence score (RS) of less than or equal to 25 as low risk and those with a score of greater than 25 as high risk. Results There were 189 patients. The mean age, tumor size, ER%, PR% and Ki-67% were 58 years old, 1.5 cm, 88%, 44% and 15% respectively. 14% had a RS greater than 25. The estimator assigned 65 patients to low risk, 59 of whom had a low RS and 6 with a high RS. The estimator assigned 4 patients to high risk, all of whom had a high RS. Conclusions The Johns Hopkins recurrence score estimator assigned 69 patients to low or high risk with 91.3% accuracy. Future analysis of a larger sample size is needed to optimize the accuracy of this estimator nationally. It may also be beneficial to separately analyze patients aged 50 or younger with an ODX score between 16 and 25 who had chemotherapy benefit in the TAILORx study in order to improve the utility of this risk estimator. Citation Format: Kristen Millado, Louis Fogg, Ritu Ghai, Melody Cobleigh. Validation of the Johns Hopkins oncotype DX recurrence score estimator [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-06-24.
Observation of Coherent Charge-State Mixing in Asymmetric Bloch Transistors

The reduced switching current of an excited energy band in a Bloch transistor can be used to detect microwave-induced interband transitions. Spectroscopic measurements of the band gap are performed by mapping the frequency dependence of the excitation threshold where the microwave photon energy and band gap are equal. This excitation threshold also provides a probe of charge-state mixing on the island of the transistor. Any asymmetry in the junctions of the transistor makes the coherent mixing of charge states appear as a finite gap splitting at the electrostatic degeneracy point between states differing by one excess Cooper pair on the island. The measured gap splitting in an asymmetric transistor clearly demonstrates the effect.
Telegraphy, Typography, and the Alphabet: The Origins of Alphabet Revolutions in the Russo-Ottoman Space

This paper explores the history of the alphabet revolutions in the Ottoman Empire and the Russian Empire, beginning in the 1860s and culminating with the new Turkish alphabet and the Soviet latinization movement in the 1920s. Unlike earlier works that have treated these movements separately, this article traces the origins of the alphabet revolutions to the 19th-century communications revolution, when the telegraph and movable metal type challenged the existing modes of knowledge production and imposed new epistemologies of writing on the Muslims in the Russo-Ottoman space. This article examines the media technologies of the era and the cross-imperial debates surrounding various alphabet proposals that predated latinization and suggests that the history of language reform in the Russo-Ottoman world be reevaluated as a product of a modernizing information age that eventually changed the entire linguistic landscape of Eurasia.
The Role of the Neighborhood Social Environment in Physical Activity among Hispanic Children: Moderation by Cultural Factors and Mediation by Neighborhood Norms.

Little is known about how the neighborhood social environment (e.g., safety, crime, traffic) impacts child physical activity. We examine the mechanism by which the neighborhood social environment is associated with child physical activity, moderated by individual-level cultural factors (e.g., language at home, immigrant generation) and mediated by neighborhood physical activity-related social norms (e.g., seeing walkers in the neighborhood). Data included 2749 non-Hispanic White and Hispanic children from the Healthy Communities Study. Multilevel regression was performed. The neighborhood social environment was not associated with physical activity in the full sample. However, Hispanic children speaking both English and Spanish and first- or second-generation Hispanic children engaged in more physical activity when the quality of the neighborhood social environment was higher (b = 1.60, p < 0.001 for Hispanic children speaking English and Spanish; b = 2.03, p < 0.01 for first-generation Hispanic children; b = 1.29, p < 0.01 for second-generation Hispanic children). Neighborhood physical activity-related social norms mediated the association between the neighborhood social environment and physical activity among Hispanic children speaking English and Spanish (b = 0.33, p < 0.001) and second-generation Hispanic children (b = 0.40, p < 0.001). Findings suggest heterogeneity in how neighborhood social environments impact physical activity by cultural factors. Health promotion programs may need to enhance neighborhood social environments to increase Hispanic children’s physical activity.
Health-related quality of life of alcohol use disorder with co-occurring conditions in the US population

Abstract Background Alcohol use disorder (AUD) commonly co-occurs with other health conditions or other substance use, complicating our understanding of the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of AUD. We described the HRQoL of alcohol use disorder in the presence of co-occurring conditions and identified the contribution of each. Methods Secondary analysis of National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions III data, consisting of 36,309 non-institutionalized US adults; descriptive and regression analysis. HRQoL measured via the SF-6D; AUD via the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule (AUDADIS-5); physical, mental health, and substance use disorders/conditions as reported or assessed via AUDADIS-5. Results AUD was independently associated with lower HRQoL for individuals experiencing co-occurring conditions. Compared to no AUD, past year AUD reduced SF-6D score by 0.0304 (SE = 0.0027) and prior-to-past-year AUD reduced SF-6D by 0.0163 (SE = 0.0023). AUD’s co-occurring conditions were independently associated with lower HRQoL, beyond the reduction from AUD: any co-occurring physical health condition was associated with a 0.062 point reduction in SF-6D score (SE = 0.0023), any mental health condition with a 0.084 point reduction (SE = 0.0025), and any substance use disorder with a 0.038 point reduction (SE = 0.0023). Conclusions AUD’s association with diminished HRQoL may be explained in large part by the presence of co-occurring conditions among individuals reporting AUD, as these co-occurring conditions are associated with substantial decrements in HRQoL—often eclipsing the magnitude of the decrements associated with AUD alone. Alcohol use interventions endeavoring to improve HRQoL should consider the entirety of an individual to design patient-centered care.
Rethinking Measurement Standards of Autism Symptomology in Adolescents with Fragile X Syndrome

Accurate representation of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in fragile X syndrome (FXS) is necessary for the field. We examined classifications of ASD using three approaches—Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2; Lord et al. 2012), Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS2-ST; Schopler et al. 2010), and Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS-II; Sparrow et al. 2005)—in 45 adolescents with FXS. Maladaptive items from the VABS-II plus a maternal interview were matched with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association 2013) criteria for ASD. Results indicated discrepant classifications. The ADOS-2 yielded the highest rate of comorbid autism (71%); CARS2-ST and VABS-II/DSM-5 yielded lower rates (38% and 42%, respectively). A singular measure of autism symptomology is insufficient to characterize autism in FXS.
Magnetically Powered Microbots: A Novel Approach to Thrombolysis?

Abstract Fibrinolytic drugs such as recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) have been successfully used to reestablish blood flow in thrombotic strokes. However, they can also lead to intracranial hemorrhaging, must be used within hours of the onset of symptoms, and have limited efficacy in small vessel occlusions distal to major cerebral arteries. Alternatively, catheter-based thrombectomy devices can restore blood flow quickly but are invasive, limited to larger arteries, and can leave residual prothrombotic material on vessel walls. An approach that overcomes these limitations is the injection of individual superparamagnetic particles coated with fibrinolytic drugs that, upon application of a rotating magnetic field, self-assemble into microbots we call microwheels capable of translating to and directly attacking thrombi. We describe an approach that uses the vessel wall to propel in situ assembled microwheels via rolling.1 Driven by low-strength external magnetic fields (~10 mT), microwheel movement occurs with greatly improved speeds (>100 µm/sec) and directional control compared to approaches that use magnetic field gradients to direct similar types of microdevices. Using this approach, tPA-functionalized particles are introduced at a subtherapeutic concentration, which accumulate to therapeutic levels at the periphery of a thrombus. Fibrinolytic microwheels bore into fibrin-rich and platelet-rich thrombi by mechanical action and accomplish reperfusion faster than soluble tPA at comparable concentrations.2 For example, fibrinolysis of plasma-derived fibrin gels is five-fold faster using tPA-microwheels compared to 1 µg/mL tPA. Using a microfluidic model of vascular injury, ~100 µm sized platelet-rich thrombi were formed on collagen-tissue factor surfaces and then ablated with tPA-microwheels in less than five minutes. Combining mechanical and biochemical methods, this approach could reduce the risk of bleeding associated with fibrinolytics and broaden their indications. 1. Tasci TO, Herson PS, Neeves KB, Marr DWM. Surface-enabled propulsion and control of colloidal microwheels. Nature Communication, 2016;7:10225. 2. Tasci TO, Disharoon D, Schoeman RM, Rana K, Herson PS, Marr DWM, Neeves KB. Enhanced fibrinolysis with magnetically powered colloidal microwheels. Small;in press Disclosures Neeves: Colorado School of Mines: Patents & Royalties.
Magnetoelastic resonance of magnetic amorphous alloys at cryogenic temperatures

Abstract We report on the low temperature (T = 10 K) magnetoelastic resonance in ribbons of magnetic amorphous alloys, with the goal of assessing their potential for cryogenic temperature sensors. The resonance frequency was found to be nearly temperature independent below T ≈ 150 K, while the amplitude continues to increase upon cooling over the entire temperature range. Furthermore, the magnetic field dependence of the resonant frequency at low (10 K) and high temperatures (300 K) are very similar, suggesting great potential for developing sensors with high stability level over a broad temperature range, especially in the cryogenic regime.
Acetylcholinesterase Activity in Plants

Acetylcholinesterase, AChE, (E.C.3.1.1.7), has been reported to be present along with acetylcholine, ACh, in many plant species (Hartmann and Gupta, 1989; Tretyn and Kendrick, 1991). A defined role for ACh in plant cellular processes is still unclear but suggestions have been made that it may act as a second messenger in various processes (Hartmann and Gupta, 1989). We have presented in this study data supporting: a) the presence and enrichment of AChE in guard cells of stornata in three different plant species, and b) the possible involvement of ACh in the regulation of stomatal movements.
Extreme useful range of VHF transmission by scattering from the lower ionosphere

Results are given from an experimental study of VKF propagation in the extreme distance range for scattering from the lower ionosphere. Signal intensity at 36.0 Mc/s was measured continuously for a year over the 1411 mile path from St. Johns, Newfoundland, to Terceira Island, The Azores, using high transmitting and receiving sites. The median transmission loss is approximately 13 decibels greater than for the same system operated over the 773 mile path Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Sterling, Virginia; this ratio is interpreted in terms of the geometrical restriction of the effective scattering volume. Less pronounced diurnal and seasonal variation is related to occluding by earth curvature of scattering from heights below about 80 Km. Continuous "height gain" observations give evidence of variation of scattering height diurnally and seasonally. Results are given on the nature of the signal fading, space-correlation, realizable gain from arrays having extensive vertical aperture, and polarization effects.
Residues in antibiotic preparations, ii: effect of pH on the nature and level of particulate matter in sodium cephalothin intravenous solutions.

The effect of pH on the extent and nature of particulate contamination in sodium cephalothin intravenous solutions was studied. The extent of particulate contamination was determined by microscopic and automatic electronic counting procedures, and the physical nature of the particles was determined using scanning electron microscopy. At low pH values (i.e., 4.9--5.9), an amorphous residue was predominant, while at higher pH values (6.9--7.8), the gelatinous nature of the residue disappeared and small crystalline particulates of varying sizes were predominant. The level of particulate contamination (particles over 10 mum in size) decreased with an increase in pH to a minimum level between pH 7 and 8. Advice is given to practitioners regarding the preparation of sodium cephalothin solutions.
Theorizing the relationship between self-esteem and identity.

What is the relationship between self-esteem and identity? More specifically, how, if at all, does self-esteem impact the concepts and processes that lie at the heart of identity theory: role performances, identity salience, and social network commitments premised on the role-identity? Conversely, how, if at all, is self-esteem impacted by the identity theory processes? It is the purpose of this chapter to address these questions in theoretical terms. THE IMPORT OF THE QUESTIONS RAISED The questions raised are interesting and potentially important from several points of view. From the standpoint of a social psychology that places the concept of “self” at the center of its concerns (and there is no concept more central to today's social psychology, either sociological or psychological, than “self”), successfully relating self-esteem and identity theory is a step in achieving some degree of theoretical integration over a significant portion of the domain of social psychology. From the standpoint of those interested in understanding the sources and the consequences of self-esteem, there is the possibility of extending self-esteem theory by showing how self-esteem is responsive to social structure in more ways than has been previously shown. That is, prior work on the social structural sources of self-esteem has largely focused on stratification variables – social class, gender, race, ethnicity. Identity theory incorporates another order of structural variables, those taking the form of social networks premised on role-relationships, that may be of particular import to self-esteem.
Machine vision measurement of pavement-rubber interface contact area for a skid resistance study

This paper reports the machine vision contributions to a skid-resistance research project. A low-cost vision system provided experimental laboratory estimates of the actual contact area between the uneven surfaces of pavement briquettes and rubber samples. Data were obtained for various load pressures and surface smoothness as simulations of actual time-pavement friction conditions on pavement surfaces. >
Anthropogenic Weakening of the Tropical Circulation: The Relative Roles of Direct CO2 Forcing and Sea Surface Temperature Change

AbstractThere is a lack of consensus on the physical mechanisms that drive the anthropogenic weakening of tropical circulation. This study investigates the relative roles of direct CO2 forcing, mean SST warming, and the pattern of SST change on the weakening of the tropical circulation using an ensemble of AMIP and aquaplanet simulations. In terms of the mean weakening of the tropical circulation, the SST warming dominates over the direct CO2 forcing through its control over the tropical mean hydrological cycle and tropospheric stratification. In terms of the spatial pattern of circulation weakening, however, the three forcing agents are all important contributors, especially over the ocean. The increasing CO2 weakens convection over ocean directly by stabilizing the lower troposphere and indirectly via the land–sea warming contrast. The mean SST warming drives strong weakening over the centers and edges of convective zones. The pattern of SST warming plays a crucial role on the spatial pattern of circula...
Evidence of a possible isolation of left hemisphere visual and motor areas in sinistrals employing an inverted handwriting posture.

Abstract Levy's hypothesis of ipsilateral motor control of the lateral distal musculature in left handers employing an inverted handwriting posture was tested in a true simple reaction time paradigm. Left-handers employing a non-inverted handwriting posture (NHP) showed performances consistent with normal (contralateral) motor control organization. Inverted handwriting posture (IHP) sinistrals showed performances that were not consistent with Levy's hypothesis nor with the simple hypothesis of normal (contralateral) control. The results for IHP sinistrals were compatible with a model of stimulus-response mediation which posits contralateral motor control and an intrahemispheric “disconnection” of left hemisphere visual areas from left hemisphere manual motor areas. The hypothesis that IHP sinistrals must utilize interhemispheric pathways for motor responses to stimuli channeled to, or formulated in, the left hemisphere was discussed in relation to the hypothesis of topographic inversion consequent to transcallosal relay. The proposed model suggests that hand inversion in writing is an accommodation to the consequences of interhemispheric relay and not to ipsilateral motor control.
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: hyperamylasemia is associated with small bowel obstruction

Abstract Background Small bowel obstruction after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) can be difficult to diagnose, but usually requires surgical treatment; clinical presentation may be nonspecific. Delay in diagnosis can result in catastrophic outcomes. Patients who present with small bowel obstruction after gastric bypass occasionally have pancreatic enzyme elevation and have been misdiagnosed as having acute pancreatitis. The objective of this study was to determine if there was an association between small bowel obstruction and an elevated amylase or lipase after RYGB. Methods Ninety-nine cases of small bowel obstruction treated surgically were prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed from a database of 4014 RYGB patients. Fifty-eight had a measurement of amylase or lipase at the time of operation. Results An elevated amylase or lipase was found in 48% of all patients. These elevated rates were higher in an acute obstruction compared to those presenting with chronic symptoms (64% versus 28%; P = .007) and in obstruction involving the biliopancreatic limb compared to those that did not involve that limb (65% versus 21%; P P Conclusion In RYGB patients, there is an association between small bowel obstruction and an elevated amylase or lipase. Acute obstruction of the biliopancreatic limb can be difficult to diagnose, and in these patients, the sensitivity of elevated amylase or lipase is very high. RYGB patients with abdominal pain should have their amylase and lipase measured. It is important to recognize that an elevation of these enzymes is not likely a result of acute pancreatitis.
Benchmarking Preproject Planning Effort

Benchmarking key performance areas is key to continual improvement of processes. This paper focuses on measurement and benchmarking of the preproject-planning process for capital construction. While experienced members of the construction industry recognize that more effort put into early project planning results in a more successful project, there are few published studies that quantitatively verify this fact. This paper reviews a methodology developed to benchmark the preproject-planning phase to provide a basis for action, follow-up studies, and recalibration of measures and benchmarks. The project that was the object of this study measured the level of preproject-planning effort performed. This level was then related to the ultimate success of the project using data gathered on 62 projects and totaling more than $3.4 billion in authorized cost. Through formal preproject-planning effort, risk is reduced, cost performance can increase by as much as 20%, and schedule performance by as much as 40%.
Synthesis of endo-(3-azabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-6-yl)-methanol and derivatives as new geometric/charge mimics of glycosyltransfer transition states

Abstract The syntheses of azabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane transition state (TS) analogs are described. Cyclopropanation of N-Boc-3-pyrroline with ethyl diazoacetate afforded a 1.6:1 exo / endo ratio of the resulting ester. Reduction of the endo -isomer with LiAlH 4 yielded the alcohol which was phosphorylated, or iodinated to provide access to aglycon containing TS analogs.
Global Distribution of Large Lunar Craters: Implications for Resurfacing and Impactor Populations

By using high-resolution altimetric measurements of the Moon, we produced a catalog of all impact craters ≥20 kilometers in diameter on the lunar surface and analyzed their distribution and population characteristics. The most-densely cratered portion of the highlands reached a state of saturation equilibrium. Large impact events, such as Orientale Basin, locally modified the prebasin crater population to ~2 basin radii from the basin center. Basins such as Imbrium, Orientale, and Nectaris, which are important stratigraphic markers in lunar history, are temporally distinguishable on the basis of crater statistics. The characteristics of pre- and postmare crater populations support the hypothesis that there were two populations of impactors in early solar system history and that the transition occurred near the time of the Orientale Basin event.
Temporal Precision and Temporal Drift in Brain and Behavior of Zebra Finch Song

Abstract In the zebra finch forebrain nucleus robustus archistriatalis (RA), neurons burst during singing. We showed that the internal structure of spike bursts was regulated with a precision of circa 0.2 ms, and yielded alignment of acoustic features of song with a precision of circa 1 ms. In addition, interburst intervals and corresponding syllable durations displayed systematic variation within song (average elongation 0.3 ms/s song), and slower "drift" across songs. Systematic variation on even a coarser time scale might be difficult to detect in other systems, but could affect the analysis of temporal patterning. The close relationship between precise timing of individual spikes and stereotypic behavior suggests that song is represented in RA by a temporal code.
Pharmacokinetics of cis- and trans-substituted pyrethroids in the American cockroach

Abstract The pharmacokinetic behavior of cis and trans isomers of pyrethroids after topical application to adult male American cockroaches ( Periplaneta americana L.) was examined using the insecticidal 1R,cis (NRDC 157; I ) and 1R,trans (NRDC 163; III ) isomers of 3-phenoxybenzyl 3-(2,2-dibromovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate and their insecticidally inactive 1S,cis ( II ) and 1S,trans ( IV ) enantiomers. III was detected in the hemolymph, nerve cord, and fat body of animals receiving a just-lethal dose (0.6 μg/g) within 2 hr after topical application. The pattern of accumulation of III was similar to that previously determined for I at a just-lethal dose, but quantitative comparisons revealed that the cis isomer I was delivered from the site of application to the nerve cord eightfold more efficiently than III . The inactive enantiomers II and IV were administered at the same dose (0.60 μg/g) to compare the rates of cuticular penetration and in vivo degradation of cis and trans isomers in the absence of intoxication symptoms. II penetrated somewhat more rapidly than IV and achieved higher levels in whole body extracts, but there was no difference between isomers in the rates of overall degradation of applied pyrethroid. These studies demonstrated a twofold difference in internal availability, but they did not reveal sufficient pharmacokinetic selectivity to explain the large difference in the access of I and III to the nerve cord observed in the tissue uptake studies. III was hydrolyzed by nerve cord homogenates in vitro at a rate 5 times greater than that of I , but neither ester underwent detectable oxidative metabolism in this system. Local selective metabolism by the nerve cord is suggested as an important determinant of the levels of parent pyrethroid found in this tissue. These results demonstrate the significance of pharmacokinetic selectivity in determining the relative access of topically applied cis - and trans -substituted pyrethroids to the insect nervous system.
Spurious regressions and residual-based tests for cointegration when regressors are cointegrated

Abstract We study a spurious regression with cointegrated regressors. Asymptotic properties of the OLS estimates and other conventional statistics are reported. Using these results, we analyze the asymptotic null distributions of such residual-based cointegration tests as Phillips' Ž∝ and the augmented Dickey–Fuller (ADF) tests, when regressors are cointegrated.
Critical Preston-tube sizes

Graphical plotting of critical Preston tube diameter, allowing for Mach and Reynolds numbers effects and introducing limiting line
N‐ALKYLATION OF AROMATIC AMINES WITH TRIS(TRIFLUOROETHYL)PHOSPHATE

Abstract Results of a study of the use of tris(trifluoroethyl)phosphate for the alkylation of aromatic amines are reported. Tris(trifluoroethyl)phosphate is a satisfactory reagent for introducing a trifluoroethyl group into aromatic amines, except for those containing N-alkyl, hydroxyl, or alkoxyl substituents and for those containing strongly electron-withdrawing groups such as nitro and carboxyl.
The use of India ink and 51Cr-labeled microspheres in examining the function of the yolk stalk as a passageway between the yolk sac and intestine in posthatch broiler chicks

Abstract India ink and radioactive 51Cr-labeled microspheres were used in separate trials to examine the role of the yolk stalk lumen as a distinct pathway between the yolk sac and gut through the first 5 d of posthatch growth in broiler chicks. Throughout this period, India ink was able to pass from the yolk sac through the yolk stalk and into the intestine, but was not able to pass from the intestine into the yolk stalk or yolk sac. Furthermore, labeled microspheres moved from the yolk sac via the yolk stalk into the gut; which caused the total counts per minute of the intestine, yolk stalk, and excreta to progressively increase. It was concluded that India ink and 51Cr-labeled microspheres were useful materials in establishing that the yolk stalk provides a direct one-way passage by which material in the yolk sac may move into the intestine of broiler chicks during the first 5 d after hatching.
Predicting quality characteristics of end-milled parts based on multi-sensor integration using neural networks: individual effects of learning parameters and rules

Artificial neural networks have been shown to have a lot of potential as a means of integrating multi-sensor signals for real-time monitoring of machining processes. However, many questions still remain to be answered on how to optimize the training parameters during the training phase to optimize their subsequent performance, especially in view of the fact that the few published articles have made conflicting recommendations. This paper presents a systematic evaluation of the individual effects of training parameters — learning rate, momentum rate, number of hidden layer nodes, transfer function and learning rule-on the performance of back-propagation networks used for predicting quality characteristics of end-milled parts. Multi-sensor signatures (acoustic emission, spindle vibration, cutting force components and machining time) acquired during circular end-milling of 4140 steel and the corresponding measured quality characteristics (surface roughness and bore tolerance) were used to train the networks. The network is part of a proposed intelligent machining monitoring and diagnostic system for quality assurance of machined parts. The network performances were evaluated using four different criteria: maximum error, rms error, mean error and number of training cycles. One of the results obtained shows that the hyperbolic tangent transfer function gives a better performance than the sigmoid and sine functions respectively. Optimum combinations of training parameters have been observed. The effects of various combinations of training parameters are presented.