cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The geochemistry of salt marshes: Sedimentary ion diffusion, sulfate reduction, and pyritization

A series of seasonal cores was taken in a high marsh near the terminus of Delaware Bay, U.S.A. A seasonal harmonic diffusion model was successfully fit to the concentration profiles of chloride ion in the salt marsh pore waters yielding a calculated sedimentary diffusion coefficient. Virtually all other chemical reactions within salt marsh sediments are directly linked to the rate and stoichiometry of organic decomposition. The rich organic input from the grass Spartina alterniflora is oxidized anaerobically through the process of sulfate reduction. Over 90% of this net decomposition of organic matter takes place in the uppermost 20 cm. The model for sulfate reduction proposed yields an internally consistent set of both pore water (HCO−3, NH+4, HPO2−4, HS−, SO2−4) and solid phase (FeS2) distribution profiles for these sediments. Steady state assumptions and the use of mean annual constants can be employed to model the net rates of diagenetic processes in salt marshes. The pore water concentrations of sulfate ion as well as those ions released by sulfate reduction (HCO−3, NH+4, HPO2−4, HS−) are modeled by a system composed of an upper zone, where extensive reconsumption of these metabolite ions occurs, and a lower zone where steady state production and no ion reconsumption occurs. A major product of the sulfate reduction is pyrite, whose accumulation rate is greatest between 7 and 9 cm depth, where it equals the net rate of sulfate reduction. Above this zone little pyrite accumulates due to extensive reoxidation. Below 9 cm the rate of pyritization is controlled by the rate of sulfidation of a refractory iron phase.
Open Aortic Repair After Prior Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair

Background Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) has been applied to increasingly complex aortic pathology, resulting in an increase in late complications. We characterized patients undergoing open repair after prior TEVAR including indications, operative techniques, and outcomes. Methods Chart review and query of a prospectively collected database identified 50 patients who underwent thoracic aortic operation after prior TEVAR. Active follow-up was supplemented by Social Security information for vital status. Results From July 2001 to January 2012 open arch (n = 25), descending (n = 6), thoracoabdominal (n = 17), or extra-anatomic bypass (n = 2) operations were performed after previous TEVAR (median interval from TEVAR to open surgical procedure: 13.9 months; interquartile range, 0.5 to 24 months). Indications for open operation included type 1 endoleaks (n = 19), retrograde aortic dissection (n = 9), chronic aortic dissection with persistent growth of the false lumen (n = 16), and graft infection (n = 6). Sixty percent had prior cardiovascular surgical procedures and 18% were done as emergencies. Circulatory support was required in 78% and hypothermic arrest in 48%. Hospital mortality occurred in 3 (6%) patients with no strokes and 1 patient with myocardial infarction; 5 (10%) patients required tracheostomy and 1 required dialysis. Survival was 67% at a median follow-up of 2.9 years. Conclusions Conversion to open repair after thoracic stent-grafting may be indicated for type 1 endoleak, retrograde dissection, chronic aortic dissection with persistent false lumen growth, or graft infection. These salvage operations are complex but can be completed safely with good early outcomes and preservation of the stent-graft in most cases. Late outcomes are consistent with the chronic disease state of these patients.
Southern Hemisphere and deep-sea warming led deglacial atmospheric CO2 rise and tropical warming.

Establishing what caused Earth9s largest climatic changes in the past requires a precise knowledge of both the forcing and the regional responses. We determined the chronology of high- and low-latitude climate change at the last glacial termination by radiocarbon dating benthic and planktonic foraminiferal stable isotope and magnesium/calcium records from a marine core collected in the western tropical Pacific. Deep-sea temperatures warmed by ∼2°C between 19 and 17 thousand years before the present (ky B.P.), leading the rise in atmospheric CO2 and tropical–surface-ocean warming by ∼1000 years. The cause of this deglacial deep-water warming does not lie within the tropics, nor can its early onset between 19 and 17 ky B.P. be attributed to CO2 forcing. Increasing austral-spring insolation combined with sea-ice albedo feedbacks appear to be the key factors responsible for this warming.
Fiber optic microfluorimetry for acute and chronic in-vivo animal studies.

Highly localized long-term measurements of tumor transport properties are performed with pairs of adjacent, parallel single-strand optic fibers embedded in a laboratory animal. External illumination and light sensing equipment detect local concentration of a fluorescent indicator initially injected into the venous system. Under appropriate conditions, blood flow per unit volume, capillary permeability, and uptake of fluorescent drugs can be determined from the fluorescence time history. The observation volume has a characteristic dimension on the order of 0.5 mm. Chronic tests in 20 animals monitored for 1–2 weeks have demonstrated that the technique is practical, the tumor histology is acceptable, and the measured local tissue uptake is comparable to average values in the literature. The technique is also suitable for acute experiments using a miniature fiber optic needle probe.
Retrograde mica in deep crustal granulites: Implications for crustal seismic anisotropy

[1] The primary contributor to seismic anisotropy in deep continental crust is commonly thought to be crystallographically preferred orientation of anisotropic mica and amphibole. The abundance of these hydrous phases is very sensitive to temperature, pressure, and fluid content. Consequently, the thermodynamic stability of these phases provides important information with which to interpret seismic anisotropy in crustal studies. An example is given of the evolution of anhydrous, mica-absent, lower crustal felsic granulite to a mica-rich (20–40% mode) tectonite during exhumation along a crustal-scale shear zone, which should significantly influence the potential seismic anisotropy of the structure. This phenomenon may occur in the Himalayan orogen where a seismically anisotropic layer has been recently interpreted as the Main Himalayan Thrust. The apparent southward strengthening of anisotropy along the thrust may be due to an increase in mica content as rocks in the mid-crustal channel are hydrated and cool through the granulite-amphibolite transition.
Specificity and multiplicity in the recognition of individuals: implications for the evolution of social behaviour

Recognition of conspecifics occurs when individuals classify sets of conspecifics based on sensory input from them and associate these sets with different responses. Classification of conspecifics can vary in specificity (the number of individuals included in a set) and multiplicity (the number of sets differentiated). In other words, the information transmitted varies in complexity. Although recognition of conspecifics has been reported in a wide variety of organisms, few reports have addressed the specificity or multiplicity of this capability. This review discusses examples of these patterns, the mechanisms that can produce them, and the evolution of these mechanisms. Individual recognition is one end of a spectrum of specificity, and binary classification of conspecifics is one end of a spectrum of multiplicity. In some cases, recognition requires no more than simple forms of learning, such as habituation, yet results in individually specific recognition. In other cases, recognition of individuals involves complex associations of multiple cues with multiple previous experiences in particular contexts. Complex mechanisms for recognition are expected to evolve only when simpler mechanisms do not provide sufficient specificity and multiplicity to obtain the available advantages. In particular, the evolution of cooperation and deception is always promoted by specificity and multiplicity in recognition. Nevertheless, there is only one demonstration that recognition of specific individuals contributes to cooperation in animals other than primates. Human capacities for individual recognition probably have a central role in the evolution of complex forms of human cooperation and deception. Although relatively little studied, this capability probably rivals cognitive abilities for language.
Sentence processing in Lewy body spectrum disorder: the role of working memory.

Prior work has related sentence processing to executive deficits in non-demented patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). We extended this investigation to patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and PD dementia (PDD) by examining grammatical and working memory components of sentence processing in the full range of patients with Lewy body spectrum disorder (LBSD). Thirty-three patients with LBSD were given a two-alternative, forced-choice sentence-picture matching task. Sentence type, working memory, and grammatical structure were systematically manipulated in the sentences. We found that patients with PDD and DLB were significantly impaired relative to non-demented PD patients and healthy controls. The deficit in PDD/DLB was most pronounced for sentences lengthened by the strategic placement of an additional prepositional phrase and for sentences with an additional proposition due to a center-embedded clause. However, there was no effect for subject-relative versus object-relative grammatical structure. An MRI voxel-based morphometry analysis in a subset of patients showed significant gray matter thinning in the frontal lobe bilaterally, and this extended to temporal, parietal and occipital regions. A regression analysis related sentence processing difficulty in LBSD to frontal neocortex, including inferior prefrontal, premotor, and dorsolateral prefrontal regions, as well as right superior temporal cortex. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that patients with PDD and DLB have difficulty processing sentences with increased working memory demands and that this deficit is related in part to their frontal disease.
Musculoskeletal aspects of prune-belly syndrome. Description and pathogenesis.

• Objective. —To determine the types and prevalence of musculoskeletal involvement in children with prune-belly syndrome, and to analyze the pathogenesis of the syndrome in relationship to the musculoskeletal deformities. Design. —A retrospective review of charts and roentgenograms along with a comprehensive review of 188 cases from the literature. Setting. —Tertiary care children's hospital. Participants. —Twelve boys treated between 1975 and 1990. Measurements/Main Results. —The prevalence of musculoskeletal involvement in patients was 45%. The involvement can be congenital (eg, clubfeet, limb deficiencies, teratologic hip dysplasia, and vertebral malformations) or developmental (eg, renal osteodystrophy, scoliosis, and pectus excavatum and/or pectus carinatum). The embryologic characteristics of congenital musculoskeletal problems correlate better with the embryologic theory of the prune-belly syndrome (an aberration of mesenchymal development around 6 weeks of gestation) than with the distal urinary tract obstructive theory. Conclusion. —Since children with prune-belly syndrome are now living into adulthood, these musculoskeletal aspects will become important regarding potential morbidity. (AJDC. 1992;146:1224-1229)
Quantitative recovery of phospholipids from alveolar wash.

Abstract Modifications and standardization of an alveolar perfusion technique, and normal alveolar phospholipid concentrations of rats are reported. The presence of surface active material in the alveolar wash was demonstrated by marked hysteresis loops, and maximum and minimum surface tensions of 43.4 (1.6 S.D.) and 1.6 (0.4 S.D.) dyne/cm, respectively, from surface tension-area measurements. Lipid analysis revealed a phospholipid distribution similar to that obtained from other species and/or methods. Phosphatidyl choline accounted for 79% of the total phospholipid. Phospholipid concentration in lung washings of eleven rats was 2.4 (0.48 S.D.) μg mg lipid mg dry lung The described method of alveolar phospholipid recovery in consistent amounts for quantitative estimations may be useful for further characterization of the pulmonary surfactant system and its metabolism in health and disease. Advantages of the method are enumerated.
Relating the Ancient Ona Culture to the Wider Northern Horn: Discerning Patterns and Problems in the Archaeology of the First Millennium BC

Archaeological research carried out between 1998 and 2003 on the Asmara Plateau of Eritrea has provided new insights concerning the development of early-to-mid first millennium BC settled agropastoral communities in the northern Horn of Africa. The settlement, subsistence, and material culture of these communities in the greater Asmara area, referred to as the “Ancient Ona culture,” bear both unique qualities and striking similarities to coeval communities in Tigray, Ethiopia. This article provides an overview of regional settlement data and ceramic and lithic traditions from the greater Asmara area, drawing comparisons to other contexts of this period in the archaeology of the wider northern Horn. It is argued that we can see among the Ancient Ona sites distinct localized cultural expressions and development as well as strong links to a wider first millennium BC macro-cultural identity.
Delivery of Therapeutic Nanoshells to Hypoxic Areas of Tumors Using a Cellular Trojan Horse.

Background: The goal of this project is to develop a novel and innovative delivery system for anti-tumor therapeutics which circumvents the impediments to efficient delivery that are present in a solid malignancy. Malformed blood vessels, elevated interstitial pressure, and large transport distances in a tumor, individually or in concert limit or thwart the diffusion of oxygen, glucose and soluble therapeutics. This results in hypoxia, necrosis, and makes regions of the tumor inaccessible to otherwise efficacious therapies. In addition, hypoxia exerts a selective pressure on tumor cells in that only those with an aggressive phenotype are able to survive hypoxia; these cells may be the source of subsequent local recurrence and distant metastasis.Monocytes/macrophages respond to intratumoral hypoxia and necrosis and are recruited by a chemoattractant gradient. Our strategy is to take advantage of the recruitment of monocytes/macrophages by a tumor, and of the monocytes/macrophages innate phagocytosis ability in order to load them with nanoshells, and thereby to create a Trojan horse. This study was designed to determine if monocytes/macrophage loaded with gold-silica nanoshells would respond to the chemoattractant gradient and become tumor associated macrophages. Nanoshells can convert absorbed light into thermal energy, which can be utilized for photothermal ablation. Therefore, our xenograft model system was utilized also to test whether malignant epithelial cells can be successfully be treated by thermal ablation of neighboring macrophages. Materials and Methods: A human breast tumor xenograft, and a separate metastatic brain tumor xenograft were established in nude mice. Monocytes were isolated from human whole blood and loaded with nanoshells. The nanoshells were conjugated with a near-infrared dye. The loaded macrophages were injected via the tail vein into the systemic circulation of the mice. The tumors were imaged by fluorescence imaging and magnetic resonance imaging before and after irradiation with a near-infrared laser (0.5 W, 5mm spot size) for varying lengths of time. Results: The in vivo delivery of the macrophages loaded with nanoshells to the human xenograft tumors was verified. Significant uptake of loaded macrophages in tumor was observed at 24 hours after injection. Uptake was also observed in the lungs, liver and spleen. An increase of ∼ 30°C at the tumor skin was noted following 90 seconds of irradiation of the orthotopic tumor. Discussion: Nanoshell-loaded macrophages respond to the presence of an orthotopic breast tumor and to breast cells metastatic to the brain, exit the circulation and accumulate in the rim of hypoxic cells surrounding necrosis. Photothermal ablation of the tumor cells infiltrated by this innovative therapeutic delivery method produces a targeted therapy in that it targets the tumor hypoxia. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(24 Suppl):Abstract nr 6113.
Residential (inpatient) treatment compared with outpatient treatment for nicotine dependence

Objective To compare smoking abstinence outcomes between smokers treated in a residential (inpatient) program and those treated in an outpatient program to determine if residential treatment was superior to outpatient treatment in smokers with moderate to severe nicotine dependence. Patients and Methods Patients treated in the residential nicotine dependence program at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn, between May 1, 1992, and January 31, 1996, were selected for this study. Each patient in the residential treatment group (n=146) was matched to 2 patients who received an outpatient nicotine dependence consultation by a trained counselor (n=292). Each patient was matched on age, sex, year seen, number of cigarettes smoked per day, longest previous abstinence, education, and marital status. Abstinence at 6 and 12 months was determined by self-report. For the purposes of analysis, each patient with missing outcome data was considered to be smoking. Results The 6-month abstinence rates for the residential group compared with the outpatient group were 45% and 26%, respectively ( P Conclusion Residential treatment for tobacco dependence is superior to outpatient treatment in some smokers who are moderately to severely nicotine dependent.
A study of cross polarization effects in reflector antenna arrays

This paper addresses the issue of cross-polarized field components of an array of antennas as compared to that of individual elements of the array. For a single antenna, the co- and cross-polarization components are completely correlated in terms of phase and amplitude in a given direction. The co/cross-pol relations vary as a function of angular position from peak of the beam, which is important when there is pointing error. More specifically, for the reflector antennas, this relation might vary as the antenna points in different directions in azimuth and elevation, due to the changes in gravity profile, wind effects, temperature changes, etc., on the surface and feed/sub/main reflector alignment. In an array environment, these changes will vary among various antennas in the array, and indeed very small mechanical and design variations in the antenna elements (in terms of feed horns, feed/reflector misalignments, surface variations, etc., will contribute to the cross polarization variations. Here we present a study of the effects of the variation of individual antennas on the overall polarization of an array. We first provide a general introduction to the polarization concept and formulation and then provide the results of a statistical study. Ample plots are provided to illustrate the effects. We show that the co/cross polarization ratio for the array is no higher than the worst of the individual elements and indeed is much lower in the majority of cases. This study is useful in the general design of large arrays of small reflector antennas in many instances and specifically for the NASA/JPL Deep Space Network (DSN). 1, 2
Fraction collector for capillary zone electrophoresis

Abstract An instrument is described which is capable of collecting fractions from a capillary zone electrophoresis apparatus. The fraction collector is characterized in terms of discretely collecting the separated components of a multi-component sample. In addition, the fraction collector permits the study of the effect of capillary zone electrophoresis on the biological activity of α-chymotrypsin.
Computational materials science: out of the scalar sand box.

With the extension of a popular computational method to its tensorial analogue, structural configurations that optimize anisotropic physical quantities can now be predicted.
Advantages and Artifacts of Higher Order Modes in Nanoparticle-Enhanced Backscattering Raman Imaging

In order to facilitate nanoparticle-enhanced Raman imaging of complicated biological specimens, we have examined the use of higher order modes with radial and azimuthal polarizations focused onto a Au nanoparticle atomic force microscope (AFM) tip utilizing a backscattering reflection configuration. When comparing the Raman intensity profiles with the observed sample topography, the radial-polarized configuration demonstrates enhanced spatial resolution. This enhanced resolution results from the direction of the induced electron oscillation in the metal nanoparticle oriented by the electromagnetic field at the laser focus. The electric field component along the direction of laser propagation, attendant to the radial polarization, creates an enhanced field along the z-axis and normal to the sample. Substantial enhancement is observed utilizing an intermediate numerical aperture objective (NA = 0.7), necessary for backscattering measurements. The azimuthal polarization, similar to linear polarization, results in an enhanced field predominantly parallel to the sample, resulting in imaging artifacts. The Raman intensity profiles observed as the exciting laser polarization is switched between either a radially polarized or an azimuthally polarized state illustrate these imaging artifacts. Because azimuthal polarization arises readily from changes in the incident polarization onto the mode converter, the results presented here aid in identifying such artifacts when analyzing nanoparticle-enhanced Raman spectroscopic images. Due to the power law decay of the enhanced field, an enhancement orientation normal to the sample enables contrast between structures smaller than the tip dimensions as the apex of the nanoparticle tip, where the enhancement is strongest, passes over the sample. These effects are demonstrated using both carbon nanotube and fixed biological samples.
EFFECT OF CV 205-502 IN HYPERPROLACTINAEMIC PATIENTS INTOLERANT OF BROMOCRIPTINE

SUMMARY CV 205-502 (Sandoz), an octahydrobenzol [g]quinoline, is a long-acting dopamine agonist which inhibits prolactin secretion. We conducted a phase 2 clinical study in 10 hyperprolactinaemic women (nine of whom were previously intolerant of bromocriptine) in order to determine (1) the dose at which CV 205–502 exerted its prolactin-lowering effect; (2) the nature of adverse reactions associated with long-term therapy; and (3) whether patients who were intolerant of bromocriptine could tolerate CV 205–502. At first patients were randomized to take initial doses of either 0.02 or 0.05 mg daily at bedtime. Thereafter these doses of medication were gradually increased either to the point of normalizing serum prolactin (to 0.70 IU/1 or 20 ng/ml) or to a maximum dose of 0.14 mg daily. The lower initial dose was ineffective and had to be increased in all patients. The higher initial dose (0.05 mg) normalized prolactin in three of five women within 24 h. During chronic administration of the final dose of CV 205–502 (mean 0.09 mg a day), serum prolactin decreased from a mean level of 9.19 |Mp 4.9 (SEM) IU/1 to a mean level of 1.55 ± 0.49 IU/1 (n= 10 patients). Prolactin was normalized in five patients. Two patients, one of whom had been previously unresponsive to bromocriptine, and another unresponsive to pergolide with regard to prolactin inhibition, were also unresponsive to CV 205–502. Nausea, the side-effect responsible for these patients' previous intolerance of bromocriptine, occurred in six of 10 patients taking CV 205-502 but was much less disabling and did not cause any of the patients to stop this medication. Only one patient taking CV 205-502 discontinued treatment because of adverse effects (light-headedness).
Protein kinase A signalling via CREB controls myogenesis induced by Wnt proteins

Select members of the Wnt family of secreted glycoproteins have been implicated in inducing the myogenic determinant genes Pax3, MyoD and Myf5 during mammalian embryogenesis, but the mechanism of induction has not been defined. We describe an unexpected role for protein kinase A (PKA) signalling via CREB in this induction. Using a combination of in vitro explant assays, mutant analysis and gene delivery into mouse embryos cultured ex vivo, we demonstrate that adenylyl cyclase signalling via PKA and its target transcription factor CREB are required for Wnt-directed myogenic gene expression. Wnt proteins can also stimulate CREB-mediated transcription, providing evidence for a Wnt signalling pathway involving PKA and CREB. Our findings raise the possibility that PKA/CREB signalling may also contribute to other Wnt-regulated processes in embryonic patterning, stem cell renewal and cancer.
Latin American nephrology Present state and future concerns

Latin American nephrology is undergoing major changes as the study of kidney diseases is being transformed into a global discipline, propelled by rapid communication, numerous transportation systems and the subsequent sharing of knowledge. The term "Latin America" refers to the 20 countries in the Western Hemisphere where the predominant spoken language derives from Latin, in this case, Spanish and Portuguese. The countries are in North America (Mexico), Central or MezzoAmerica (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama), South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela), and in the Caribbean (Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico). Note that French (another romance language) is spoken in Haiti, Guadaloupe and Martinique; however, these island countries have not participated in SLANH meetings thus far. All these Countries are republics, except Puerto Rico, which is a commonwealth of the United States. Puerto Ricans are American citizens by birth, and the laws of the country are a combination of the federal laws applicable to any state of the Union and local laws developed by an autonomous legislature. All the countries have Spanish as their common language, except Brazil where Portuguese is spoken. Latin America encompasses an enormous geographic area full of dramatic contrasts, cultural differences and economic inequalities. Not only do huge distances separate countries, but large uninhabited territories coexist with densely populated metropolitan areas. There are sylvan or mountainous regions where indigenous inhabitants still exist under primitive conditions, and stark social imbalances are palpable in urban areas where extreme wealth and misery rub elbows. Moreover, governmental infrastructures are frequently deficient, and inefficient data gathering limits access to complete information on which to base accurate analyses of demographic information [l—7J. In spite of these hurdles, over the years Latin American countries have come closer together as political reform and economic needs have accentuated the common roots and traditions that unite the members of this community. The ancestral indigenous cultures and the acquired Euroculture have brought under two fundamen-
Intensive insulin therapy reduced mortality and morbidity in critically ill patients.

Source Citation Van den Berghe G, Wouters P, Weekers F, et al. Intensive insulin therapy in critically ill patients. N Engl J Med. 2001 Nov 8;345:1359-67. 11794168
Dynamic regulation of barrier integrity of the corneal endothelium.

The corneal endothelium maintains stromal deturgescence, which is a prerequisite for corneal transparency. The principal challenge to stromal deturgescence is the swelling pressure associated with the hydrophilic glycosaminoglycans in the stroma. This negative pressure induces fluid leak into the stroma from the anterior chamber, but the rate of leak is restrained by the tight junctions of the endothelium. This role of the endothelium represents its barrier function. In healthy cornea, the fluid leak is counterbalanced by an active fluid pump mechanism associated with the endothelium itself. Although this pump-leak hypothesis was postulated several decades ago, the mechanisms underlying regulation of the balance between the pump and leak functions remain largely unknown. In the last couple of decades, the ion transport systems that support the fluid pump activity have been discovered. In contrast, despite significant evidence for corneal edema secondary to endothelial barrier dysfunction, the molecular aspects underlying its regulation are relatively unknown. Recent findings in our laboratory, however, indicate that barrier integrity (i.e., structural and functional integrity of the tight junctions) of the endothelium is sensitive to remodeling of its peri-junctional actomyosin ring, which is located at the apical junctional complex. This review provides a focused perspective on dynamic regulation of the barrier integrity of endothelium vis-a-vis plasticity of the peri-junctional actomyosin ring and its association with cell signaling downstream of small GTPases of the Rho family. Based on findings to date, it appears that development of specific pharmacological strategies to treat corneal edema in response to inflammatory stress would be possible in the near future.
Basonuclin-2 Requirements for Zebrafish Adult Pigment Pattern Development and Female Fertility

Relatively little is known about the generation of adult form. One complex adult trait that is particularly amenable to genetic and experimental analysis is the zebrafish pigment pattern, which undergoes extensive remodeling during post-embryonic development to form adult stripes. These stripes result from the arrangement of three classes of neural crest-derived pigment cells, or chromatophores: melanophores, xanthophores, and iridophores. Here, we analyze the zebrafish bonaparte mutant, which has a normal early pigment pattern but exhibits a severe disruption to the adult stripe pattern. We show that the bonaparte mutant phenotype arises from mutations in basonuclin-2 (bnc2), encoding a highly conserved, nuclear-localized zinc finger protein of unknown function. We show that bnc2 acts non-autonomously to the melanophore lineage and is expressed by hypodermal cells adjacent to chromatophores during adult pigment pattern formation. In bonaparte (bnc2) mutants, all three types of chromatophores differentiate but then are lost by extrusion through the skin. We further show that while bnc2 promotes the development of two genetically distinct populations of melanophores in the body stripes, chromatophores of the fins and scales remain unaffected in bonaparte mutants, though a requirement of fin chromatophores for bnc2 is revealed in the absence of kit and colony stimulating factor-1 receptor activity. Finally, we find that bonaparte (bnc2) mutants exhibit dysmorphic ovaries correlating with infertility and bnc2 is expressed in somatic ovarian cells, whereas the related gene, bnc1, is expressed within oocytes; and we find that both bnc2 and bnc1 are expressed abundantly within the central nervous system. These findings identify bnc2 as an important mediator of adult pigment pattern formation and identify bonaparte mutants as an animal model for dissecting bnc2 functions.
Very short patch repair: reducing the cost of cytosine methylation

In Escherichia coli and related bacteria, the product of gene dcm methylates the second cytosine of 5'-CCWGG sequences (where W is A or T). Deamination of 5-methylcytosine (5meC) results in C to T mutations. The mutagenic potential of 5meC is reduced by a system called very short patch (VSP) repair, which replaces T with C. T:G and U:G mispairs in the methylatable sequence and in related sequences are recognized by the product of vsr, a gene adjacent to dcm. Vsr creates a nick just 5' of the mispaired pyrimidine to initiate the repair. Additional products known to be required for VSP repair are DNA polymerase I and DNA ligase. MutS and MutL have a stimulatory role but are not required. The ability of Vsr to recognize T:G mispairs in sequences related to CCWGG is probably responsible for over- and under-representation of certain tetranucleotides in the E. coli genome. Although VSP repair reduces spontaneous mutations at 5meCs in replicating bacteria, mutation hot-spots persist at these sites. Under conditions that more accurately mimic the natural environment of E. coli, VSP repair appears to be effective in preventing mutation at 5meC.
Who’s the Man? Sammy Sosa, Latinos, and Televisual Redefinitions of the “American” Pastime

Latino and Latin American baseball players have expanded the boundaries of the “American pastime,” asserting their ethnic and national identities even while being accepted as representatives of the sport most closely aligned with a white United States identity. This redefinition is achieved in part via cable and satellite technologies that carry images of Latinos to homes throughout the United States at a time when the Latino population is growing and becoming more dispersed, raising the possibility that baseball will lessen racism and xenophobia. However, media coverage is at times nostalgic for a more bounded sense of home and nation and often emphasizes players’ individual mobility, erasing the economic and political conditions that have brought Latin American players to the United States. The author shows how these tensions play out in Chicago superstation WGN’s coverage of Cubs star Sammy Sosa, who has emerged as a national hero in both the U.S. and the Dominican Republic.
Organization of trigeminothalamic tracts and other thalamic afferent systems of the brainstem in the rat: Presence of gelatinosa neurons with thalamic connections†

Thalamic projections from trigeminal and certain other nuclei of the brainstem of the rat have been investigated using the technique of retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The pattern of trigeminothalamic projections is very specifically related to the individual subnuclei of the complex. The Main Sensory Nucleus (MSN) provides profuse cross connections to the ventrobasal thalamus (VB); these arise exclusively from medium and small-sized neurons, but never from the large cells. In addition to these crossed connections, a small ipsilateral dorsal trigeminothalamic tract arises from the dorsal third of the most rostral part of the MSN; this is the only ipsilateral connection to VB found in the trigeminal complex. Subnucleus Oralis has no projections to the thalamus; it is suggested that it may be concerned primarily with reflex activation of the facial nucleus, with which it is co-extensive in the rostro-caudal axis. Subnucleus Interpolaris has a well-defined crossed projection of moderate size which arises from the large, medium and some of the small neurons. Subnucleus Caudalis has a sparse output to the thalamus and differs in its projections from rostral to caudal. At the most rostral level, all layers (marginal, transitional gelatinosa and magnocellularis) contain neurons which project to the thalamus; particularly conspicuous in this respect are the marginal neurons, most of which are strongly labelled. The presence of gelatinosa neurons projecting to the thalamus emphasizes a point made in earlier reports, that these neurons do not form an homogeneous population. At caudal levels, the marginal neurons are the major source of thalamic projections, while connections to the thalamus form deeper lying neurons are infrequent. With a single exception, the medullary reticular nuclei contained no neurons with thalamic connections; a small number of reticulo-thalamic neurons were found in the ventral pontine area. Marked labelling of the medial cuneate nucleus and moderate labelling of the gracilis and lateral cuneate nuclei occurred contralaterally to the injection site. A small numebr of medial cuneate and gracile neurons project to the ipsilateral thalamus. Projections from the solitary nucleus were always ipsialteral. The boundaries of individual subnuclei of the lateral sensory trigeminal complex in the rat have been redefined on the basis of cytological criteria; these are in good accord with the corresponding thalamic projection patterns.
A modular neural network approach to microelectronic circuit yield optimization

Abstract The unpredictable variation in microelectronic circuits due to process tolerances increases significantly with increased levels of miniaturization. If ignored, the variation will result in poor manufacturing yield. If a worst-case approach is adopted, a loss of competitive edge results. This situation provides the motivation for efficient robust design of VLSI circuits, the subject of this paper. Given the need for efficiency of analysis without significant loss of accuracy, a method is proposed which generates a neural network for mapping process-level parameters to circuit performance. The approach uses a modular neural network—an adaptive mixture of local experts competing to learn different aspects of a problem. Once the neural network model is established and validated, it is employed in performing extremely efficient optimization of the circuit yield at minimal cost: the trained ANN acts as a cheap but accurate simulator which when supplied with a set of inputs which characterize transistors at the process and device level calculates the circuit performance with 97% accuracy at 1% of the cost of a full SPICE simulation. Even when the cost of ANN training is factored in, average cost savings of 80% are achieved during yield optimization. The neural net approach offers significant advantages including vastly reduced computational cost with little loss of accuracy and complete generality of application.
Static solutions in D=3 Einstein-Maxwell theory

The spacetime generated by a massive point charge in Einstein-Maxwell theory at three spacetime dimensions is obtained. Some of its properties include infinite total energy due to the slow fall off of the electric field, and necessary vanishing of the particle's charge if its mechanical mass is sufficient to close up space. Although g sub 00 vanishes on a coordinate circle, there is no event (but only a Killing) horizon and the curvature invariants are finite except at the source and at infinity. There are no static multi-charge solutions.
Phosphonomonoesterase activity in Metridium senile L.

Abstract 1. 1. An esterase which hydrolyzes 4-nitrophenyl(phenyl)phosphonic acid (4-NPPP) was purified from M. senile (sea anemone). 2. 2. The enzyme showed no 5′-nucleotide phosphodiesterase activity with 5′-(4-nitrophenyl) TMP or phosphomonoesterase activity with 4-nitrophenylphosphate. 3. 3. Addition of excess Zn 2+ restored activity after inactivation by EDTA. 4. 4. Thiol reagents and phenylmenthanesulfonylfluoride did not inactivate, whereas, dithiothreitol inactivated. 5. 5. Aminoethylphosphonic acid (AEP) was a competitive inhibitor of 4-NPPP indicating possible activity with phosphonomonoesters of AEP.
The degenerative cervical spine: Pathogenesis and rehabilitation concepts

The degenerative process associated with spondylosis in the cervical spine has been reviewed. The two compressive syndromes commonly associated with spondylosis, radiculopathy and myelopathy, are briefly reviewed. Except for more severe, multilevel degenerative changes producing neurologic compromise, correlation between degenerative changes and patient symptoms or functional limitations is generally poor. A conceptual scheme for guiding rehabilitation of mechanical neck pain, based on irritability level and the effects of mechanical stress on symptoms, is proposed. Further research is required to test the reliability and validity of categorization schemes like the one proposed. Such schemes based on history and effects of mechanical stresses, rather than solely on degenerative radiographic findings, are necessary to classify patients in meaningful ways that help guide specific rehabilitation strategies and tactics. When meaningful classification schemes exist, treatments matched with specific categories of dysfunction can be tested for effectiveness.
Three Previously Unidentified Begomoviral Genotypes from Tomato Exhibiting Leaf Curl Disease Symptoms from Central Sudan

Field tomato plants exhibiting upward curling of leaflets, chlorosis, and stunting symptoms described for tomato leaf curl disease in Sudan (2) were collected in 1996 from Gezira (GZ) and Shambat (...
Design of a controlled spatial curve trajectory for robot manipulators

The authors present a two-phase robot trajectory planning method that decomposes trajectory planning into path-geometry planning and robot-movement-speed planning. The purpose is to provide a capability for varying the speed of robot motion without changing the geometric shape of the path itself. A modified cubic spline method is applied to plan various spatial paths for robot's trajectory. It is concluded that the approach generates a more versatile trajectory for robot manipulators and that it maintains the smoothness of robot motion along any twisted spatial path. The proposed trajectory planner is simulated for several examples that elucidate the major issues. >
Designing a low cost educational handheld device for children

In Latin America, the educational level differences between the high and low social classes are really appreciable, thus hindering social mobility. The need and urgency to reduce this educational gap is clearly recognized by everyone. Many efforts in educational policies (educational reforms, more specialized teachers, etc.) have been made. In addition, several studies show that the introduction of computers to the schools, and more specifically educational games, is a proven way to accelerate childrens' learning. The high cost of computers is, however, a good reason for poor schools to not to purchase them or only to purchase a few. On other hand, some researches using improvised educational handheld devices have shown an amazing improvement in learning when children used them. This paper shows how Motorola designed a new low-cost educational handheld platform and how this design went, in a short time, from a wire-wrap prototype to a complete product ready for production.
Shared and Unique Susceptibility Genes in a Mouse Model of Graves’ Disease Determined in BXH and CXB Recombinant Inbred Mice

Susceptibility genes for TSH receptor (TSHR) antibodies and hyperthyroidism can be probed in recombinant inbred (RI) mice immunized with adenovirus expressing the TSHR A-subunit. The RI set of CXB strains, derived from susceptible BALB/c and resistant C57BL/6 (B6) mice, were studied previously. High-resolution genetic maps are also available for RI BXH strains, derived from B6 and C3H/He parents. We found that C3H/He mice develop TSHR antibodies, and some animals become hyperthyroid after A-subunit immunization. In contrast, the responses of the F1 progeny of C3H/He × B6 mice, as well as most BXH RI strains, are dominated by the B6 resistance to hyperthyroidism. As in the CXB set, linkage analysis of BXH strains implicates different chromosomes (Chr) or loci in the susceptibility to induced TSHR antibodies vs. hyperthyroidism. Importantly, BXH and CXB mice share genetic loci controlling the generation of TSHR antibodies (Chr 17, major histocompatibility complex region, and Chr X) and development of hyperthyroidism (Chr 1 and 3). Moreover, some chromosomal linkages are unique to either BXH or CXB strains. An interesting candidate gene linked to thyroid-stimulating antibody generation in BXH mice is the Ig heavy chain locus, suggesting a role for particular germline region genes as precursors for these antibodies. In conclusion, our findings reinforce the importance of major histocompatibility complex region genes in controlling the generation of TSHR antibodies measured by TSH binding inhibition. Moreover, these data emphasize the value of RI strains to dissect the genetic basis for induced TSHR antibodies vs. their effects on thyroid function in Graves’ disease.
Gliding Flight in Chrysopelea: Turning a Snake into a Wing

Although many cylindrical animals swim through water, flying snakes of the genus Chrysopelea are the only limbless animals that glide through air. Despite a lack of limbs, these snakes can actively launch by jumping, maintain a stable glide path without obvious control surfaces, maneuver, and safely land without injury. Jumping takeoffs employ vertically looped kinematics that seem to be different than any other behavior in limbless vertebrates, and their presence in a closely related genus suggests that gap-crossing may have been a behavioral precursor to the evolution of gliding in snakes. Change in shape of the body by dorsoventral flattening and high-amplitude aerial undulation comprise two key features of snakes' gliding behavior. As the snake becomes airborne, the body flattens sequentially from head to vent, forming a cross-sectional shape that is roughly triangular, with a flat surface and lateral "lips" that protrude ventrally on each side of the body; these may diminish toward the vent. This shape likely provides the snake with lift coefficients that peak at high angles of attack and gentle stall characteristics. A glide trajectory is initiated with the snake falling at a steep angle. As the snake rotates in the pitch axis, it forms a wide "S" shape and begins undulating in a complex three-dimensional pattern, with the body angled upward relative to the glide path. The head moves side-to-side, sending traveling waves posteriorly toward the tail, while the body (most prominently, the posterior end) oscillates in the vertical axis. These active movements while gliding are substantially different and more dynamic than those used by any other animal glider. As the snake gains forward speed, the glide path becomes less steep, reaching minimally recorded glide angles of 13°. In general, smaller snakes appear to be more proficient gliders. Chrysopelea paradisi can also maneuver and land either on the ground or on vegetation, but these locomotor behaviors have not been studied in detail. Future work aims to understand the mechanisms of production and control of force in takeoff, gliding, and landing, and to identify the musculoskeletal adaptations that enable this unique form of locomotion.
Imag(in)ing September 11 Ward Churchill, Frame Contestation, and Media Hegemony

This study analyzes the Denver Post's reportage on the frame contest between the dominant narrative of the September 11 terrorist attacks set out by President Bush and a challenge to that narrative in an Internet essay by Professor Ward Churchill. The authors find that by refusing to interrogate Churchill's sociopolitical argument, reducing it to the offensive rhetorical trope “little Eichmanns” he used to describe the victims of the attacks, and pillorying Churchill as a person and scholar, the Post assured his counterframe would not achieve parity with the dominant frame. The authors interpret this as an example of media hegemony and situate the Post's coverage within a crisis of hegemony that left the “sacred core” of the Bush frame—American innocence and moral exceptionalism—vulnerable to contestation. Because the Churchill counterframe flagrantly transgressed that “sacred core,” it became the irresistible target of media hegemony strategies by the Denver Post.
Functional properties of MMSE

We show that the minimum mean-square error (MMSE) of estimating the input based on the channel output is a concave functional of the input-output joint distribution, and its various regularity properties are explored. In particular, the MMSE in Gaussian channels is shown to be weakly continuous in the input distribution and Lipschitz continuous with respect to the quadratic Wasserstein distance for peak-limited inputs. Regularity properties of mutual information are also obtained and some connections with rate-distortion theory are also drawn.