cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lower Respiratory Tract Infection of the Ferret by 2009 H1N1 Pandemic Influenza A Virus Triggers Biphasic, Systemic, and Local Recruitment of Neutrophils

Infection of the lower respiratory tract by influenza A viruses results in increases in inflammation and immune cell infiltration in the lung. The dynamic relationships among the lung microenvironments, the lung, and systemic host responses during infection remain poorly understood. Here we used extensive systematic histological analysis coupled with live imaging to gain access to these relationships in ferrets infected with the 2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza A virus (H1N1pdm virus). Neutrophil levels rose in the lungs of H1N1pdm virus-infected ferrets 6 h postinfection and became concentrated at areas of the H1N1pdm virus-infected bronchiolar epithelium by 1 day postinfection (dpi). In addition, neutrophil levels were increased throughout the alveolar spaces during the first 3 dpi and returned to baseline by 6 dpi. Histochemical staining revealed that neutrophil infiltration in the lungs occurred in two waves, at 1 and 3 dpi, and gene expression within microenvironments suggested two types of neutrophils. Specifically, CCL3 levels, but not CXCL8/interleukin 8 (IL-8) levels, were higher within discrete lung microenvironments and coincided with increased infiltration of neutrophils into the lung. We used live imaging of ferrets to monitor host responses within the lung over time with [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG). Sites in the H1N1pdm virus-infected ferret lung with high FDG uptake had high levels of proliferative epithelium. In summary, neutrophils invaded the H1N1pdm virus-infected ferret lung globally and focally at sites of infection. Increased neutrophil levels in microenvironments did not correlate with increased FDG uptake; hence, FDG uptake may reflect prior infection and inflammation of lungs that have experienced damage, as evidenced by bronchial regeneration of tissues in the lungs at sites with high FDG levels. IMPORTANCE Severe influenza disease is characterized by an acute infection of the lower airways that may progress rapidly to organ failure and death. Well-developed animal models that mimic human disease are essential to understanding the complex relationships of the microenvironment, organ, and system in controlling virus replication, inflammation, and disease progression. Employing the ferret model of H1N1pdm virus infection, we used live imaging and comprehensive histological analyses to address specific hypotheses regarding spatial and temporal relationships that occur during the progression of infection and inflammation. We show the general invasion of neutrophils at the organ level (lung) but also a distinct pattern of localized accumulation within the microenvironment at the site of infection. Moreover, we show that these responses were biphasic within the lung. Finally, live imaging revealed an early and sustained host metabolic response at sites of infection that may reflect damage and repair of tissues in the lungs.
Improving service continuity: IT disaster prevention and mitigation for data centers

Data centers provide highly-scalable and reliable computing for enterprise services such as web hosting, email, applications, and file storage. Because they integrate a range of different systems, data center administration is a complex process. Managing the risk of IT disaster is especially difficult. Layers of interrelated infrastructure multiply the effect of system malfunctions. Seemingly-small problems can turn into major disasters and take entire data centers offline. To cope with the myriad risks, this research develops a matrix of IT disaster prevention and mitigation techniques for data centers. The matrix is organized along two dimensions: attributes of data center infrastructure and elements of the IT disaster recovery process. It includes 134 specific techniques which were clustered into 49 cells within the matrix. An expert panel assessed the validity of the matrix and ranked the techniques within each cell. The result is a comprehensive tool for improving the resilience of data centers.
Ewmg's sarcoma: Pathology, tissue culture, and cytogenetics

The pathology, in vitro growth pattern and karyotype of an Ewing's sarcoma are reported. Light and electron microscopic findings of a talus biopsy showed pathologic characteristics typical of Ewing's sarcoma. In vitro tumor cells grew on a monolayer as small, plump, refractile cells. Tumor cells were also capable of proliferating in soft agar. Chromosome studies of cultured cells showed two consistent abnormalities: trisomy 8 and a translocation, t(11;22)(q24;q13), which has been reported previously in Ewing's sarcoma. Since this tumor is frequently difficult to distinguish from other small cell tumors, the use of several techniques (electron microscopy, tissue culture, chromosome studies) may aid the diagnosis.
Use Of A Free-Expansion Jet In Ultrahigh Resolution Raman Spectroscopy

Rotationally-resolved, ultra-high-resolution stimulated Raman spectra of CH4, CD4, and SF6 have been obtained in cw and pulsed free-expansion jets, using a simple and inexpensive nozzle-and-vacuum-chamber apparatus. Through variation of the nozzle orifice diameter, nozzle backing pressure, and axial location of the spectroscopic probe region it is possible to nearly independently control the spectral Doppler width, rotational temperature, and molecular density in the jet. Using relatively mild expansion conditions we have been able to cool a pure methane jet to a rotational temperature of 13K. We show here how this con-trol of temperature, independent of density, allows separation of otherwise unresolvable spectral features and unambiguous identification of band-heads, hot-bands, and other spec-tral features.© (1981) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Aluminium speciation in the presence of wheat root cell walls: a wet chemical study

Hydrolysis of Al 3+ was performed in the presence of isolated root cell walls from a series of wheat cultivars (Triticum aestivum L.) known to have differential tolerance to Al contamination. Aluminium speciation was dependent on the cell wall concentration. At low cell wall concentrations, significant amounts of the very toxic Al 13 species were formed. At higher cell wall concentrations, formation of the tridecamer was hindered or completely inhibited. The sensitive wheat cultivars displayed a higher affinity for aluminium than the tolerant cultivars. A possible Al tolerance mechanism based on cell wall permeability is discussed.
Comparison of cis and trans-Platinum Mononucleobase Compounds with DNA and Protein Models

Reactions of 5′-guanosine monophosphate (5′-GMP) and N-acetylmethionine (N-ac-l-Met) with the mononucleobase compounds, cis-[PtCl(L)n(9-EtGH)]+ (L = NH3, 4-pic, n = 2; L = en, n = 1) in a 1:1 molar ratio have been studied in aqueous solutions at pH 7.3 using 1H and 195Pt NMR spectroscopy. There is a high kinetic preference for sulfur over nitrogen binding. These results are compared with the trans isomers. Based on low cytotoxicity and a high sulfur/nitrogen preference the cis isomers may also present suitable features for antiviral activity through interaction with specific proteins.
A numerical method for three-dimensional incompressible flows using nonorthogonal body-fitted coordinate systems

In the present paper, a numerical method for solving the equations of motion of three-dimensional incompressible flows in nonorthogonal body-fitted coordinate (BEC) systems has been developed and evaluated. The equations of motion are transformed to a generalized curvilinear coordinate system from which the transformed equations are discretized using finite difference approximations in the transformed domain. The hybrid scheme and a central differencing plus artificial dissipation scheme are used to approximate the convection terms in the governing equations. Effects of these two schemes on the accuracy of numerical predictions are studied. Solutions of the finite difference equations are obtained iteratively by using a pressure-velocity correction algorithm, SIMPLE-C. Numerical examples of two- and three-dimensional, laminar and turbulent flow problems are employed to evaluate the accuracy and efficiency of the present numerical method.
Attractor-Shape for Dynamical Analysis of Human Movement: Applications in Stroke Rehabilitation and Action Recognition

In this paper, we propose a novel shape-theoretic framework for dynamical analysis of human movement from 3D data. The key idea we propose is the use of global descriptors of the shape of the dynamical attractor as a feature for modeling actions. We apply this approach to the novel application scenario of estimation of movement quality from a single-marker for future usage in home-based stroke rehabilitation. Using a dataset collected from 15 stroke survivors performing repetitive task therapy, we demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms traditional methods, such as kinematic analysis and use of chaotic invariants, in estimation of movement quality. In addition, we demonstrate that the proposed framework is sufficiently general for the application of action and gesture recognition as well. Our experimental results reflect improved action recognition results on two publicly available 3D human activity databases.
ROLE OF METALLOTHIONEIN AND OTHER ANTIOXIDANTS IN SCAVENGING SUPEROXIDE RADICALS AND THEIR POSSIBLE ROLE IN NEUROPROTECTION

Based on the inhibition of nitrite formation by generating superoxide from xanthine/xanthine oxidase (X/XO) reaction system, metallothionein (MT) and other sulfhydryl containing amino acids have been selected to test their abilities to scavenge superoxide radicals. Different concentrations of metallothionein and other sulfhydryl containing molecules e.g. cysteine, N-acetyl-cysteine and glutathione, were used to assess superoxide scavenging properties. Metallothionein scavenges superoxide radical in a dose-dependent manner with increasing concentrations as evidenced by the inhibition of nitrite formation. Similar abilities to scavenge superoxide radicals were shown by cysteine, N-acetyl-cysteine. Glutathione also scavenges superoxide radical in a dose-dependent manner. In vitro experiments demonstrated that metallothionein is superior in scavenging superoxide radicals compared to other sulfhydryl molecules such as cysteine, N-acetyl-cysteine and even glutathione. The data, further, suggest that metallothionein-II has a 6-fold higher capacity to scavenge superoxide radical than metallothionein-I. In addition, metallothionein-like protein was isolated from different regions of mouse brain treated with zinc. Brain metallothionein-like protein inhibits nitrite formation as demonstrated by other scavengers; however, the extent of inhibition is different by this protein isolated from different brain regions. The present study suggests that metallothioneins and metallothionein-like proteins isolated from mouse brain act as neuroprotective agents by scavenging superoxide radicals.
Endovascular Management of an Aortobronchial Fistula Arising After Resection of a Primary Aortic Sarcoma: A Case Report

The experience with the use of endovascular covered stents for aortic lesions has been growing. The early results of using endovascular covered stents for the exclusion of thoracic and infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms have been promising and are being investigated in multiple ongoing trials. Their usage for other aortic lesions has been reported sporadically, often as resourceful options in unusual and difficult clinical situations. The authors report a patient who had previously undergone resection of a thoracic aortic sarcoma and subsequently presented in extremis from an aortobronchial fistula. The evaluation and treatment of an aortic sarcoma and the successful urgent exclusion of an aortobronchial fistula through use of an endovascular covered stent are discussed.
Nerve membrane ion channels as the target site of insecticides.

Despite the much debated controversy over the continuing use of DDT as insecticide, and despite the fact that its use is now banned or restricted in some countries, there are reasons to believe that DDT will continue to be a subject of intense investigations in the years to come. In particular, the mode of action of DDT still remains a mystery and is a target of scientific curiosity because of its potent insecticidal activity with relatively low mammalian toxicity. The elucidation of the mechanism of action of DDT is urgently and much needed, since it will provide us with a clue to develop better insecticides with many of DDT’s advantages preserved while many of its disadvantages are eliminated.
A Very Crucial Turning Point in One's Life: College/University Choice

Abstract This study aims to find the factors that impact students’ college choice in different contexts. The researchers will be doing a cross-cultural study in order to see whether students in the USA and Turkey share the same or different concerns during this entire process. Since college is a determining factor in the profession students will be trained to practice, the researchers believe it will be interesting to see what kinds of issues students are considering while making their choices in both cultures. A questionnaire will be used in this cross-cultural study and will be administered in the three different institutions. This current study will use gender as the variable to understand how gender becomes instrumental in making the college choice.
Clinical importance of body temperature in the surgical patient

Abstract 1. Mild hypothermia (Tc=32–34°C) is useful in protecting the brain and spinal cord from ischemic injury during certain surgical procedures (cerebral aneurysm, thoracic aortic aneurysm repair). 2. Postoperative shivering increases metabolic demands by ≈40% in the average patient. 3. The adrenergic effects of postoperative hypothermia are manifest as increased norepinephrine, vasomotor tone, and arterial blood pressure. 4. Postoperative myocardial ischemia occurs 2–3 times more frequently in patients with Tc 5. Coagulation is impaired at Tc
Top Down Analysis of Line Structure in Handwritten Documents

One of the most challenging tasks in analyzing handwritten documents is to tackle the inherent skew that is introduced due to writer’s handwriting, segment the handwritten lines and estimate the skew angle and its direction. Complexities such as variable spacing between words and lines, variable line skew, variable line width and height, overlapping words and lines etc. arises in handwritten documents unlike printed documents. This paper explores the application of Radon transform to process handwritten documents and compares its performance with Hough transform while segmenting lines and detecting skew. The computational advantage of Radon transform over Hough transform with equally good results makes it an ideal choice to process handwritten documents.
Adding more beds to the emergency department or reducing admitted patient boarding times: which has a more significant influence on emergency department congestion?

Study objective We evaluate a computer simulation model designed to assess the effect on emergency department (ED) length of stay of varying the number of ED beds or altering the interval of admitted patient departure from the ED. Methods We created a computer simulation model (Med Model) based on institutional data and augmented by expert estimates and assumptions. We evaluated simulations of increasing the number of ED beds, increasing the admitted patient departure and increasing ED census, analyzing potential effects on overall ED length of stay. Multiple sensitivity analyses tested the robustness of the results to changes in model assumptions and institutional data. Results With a constant ED departure rate at the base case and increasing ED beds, there is an increase in mean length of stay from 240 to 247 minutes (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.8 to 12.6 minutes). When keeping the number of beds constant at the base case and increasing the rate at which admitted patients depart the ED to their inpatient bed, the mean overall ED length of stay decreases from 240 to 218 minutes (95% CI 16.8 to 26.2 minutes). With a 15% increase in daily census, the trends are similar to the base case results. The sensitivity analyses reveal that despite a wide range of inputs, there are no differences from the base case. Conclusion Our computer simulation modeled that improving the rate at which admitted patients depart the ED produced an improvement in overall ED length of stay, whereas increasing the number of ED beds did not.
Fate of heavy metals and radioactive metals in gasification of sewage sludge

The fates of radioactive cadmium, strontium, cesium, cobalt, arsenic, mercury, zinc, and copper spiked into sewage sludge were determined when the sludge was gasified by a process that maximizes production of char from the sludge (ChemChar process). For the most part the metals were retained in the char product in the gasifier. Small, but measurable quantities of arsenic were mobilized by gasification and slightly more than 1% of the arsenic was detected in the effluent gas. Mercury was largely mobilized from the solids in the gasifier, but most of the mercury was retained in a filter composed of char prepared from the sludge. The small amounts of mercury leaving the gasification system were found to be associated with an aerosol product generated during gasification. The metals retained in the char product of gasification were only partially leachable with 50% concentrated nitric acid.
Diagonalization of Inclusive Sum Rules and Inclusive Bootstrap

We introduce the technique of multidimensional Laplace transforms under which the inclusive-like sum rules for discontinuities of multiparticle amplitudes can be diagonalized. The resulting equations are simple constraints on our generalized partial-wave amplitudes, and they can be used to impose unitarity conditions for bootstrap models. A simple example is given to illustrate the nonlinear nature of this "inclusive bootstrap" program.
Implicit responses in incidental learning

Three experiments were conducted to investigate the role of implicit associative response (IAR) occurrence in incidental learning. Lists of conceptually related words were presented at a rapid rate followed by a test of free recall. Although differences among groups were small, recall scores and clustering scores consistently favored the intentional learners. It was suggested that the procedures which define incidental learning result in a reduction in IAR occurrence.
Fiber-Optic time-resolved fluorimetry for immunoassays

Abstract Rare-earth metal chelates used as fluorescent labels for immunoassays possess extremely long fluorescence lifetimes and permit the elective use of time-resolved detection. This is very important in fiber-optic fluorimetry, a technique that ordinarily exhibits large signal backgrounds from back-scattered radiation. With time-resolved detection to reject the back-scattered radiation, the limit of detection for Eu 2-naphthoyltrifluoroacetonate is 10 −12 M , nearly three orders of magnitude lower than for the fiber-optic measurement of the most common fluorescent label, fluorescein isothiocyanate. Commercially available reagents labeled with an europium chelate are used to demonstrate the potential utility of time-resolved fluorimetry in fiber-optic immunoassays. Rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG) is covalently bonded to the distal end of quartz optical fibers prior to exposure to anti-rabbit IgG labelled with europium chelate. The limit of detection for the assay is approximately 0.1 μg/ml.
STUDIES OF THE ANTIMITOTIC EFFECTS OF CARDIAC GLYCOSIDES: MOLECULAR FEATURES AND POTENCY

Cardiac glycosides are known to inhibit spontaneous and induced human cell division. We have studied a large number of genin and glycoside congeners to determine (a) whether the saccharide or genin portion of the molecule contributes to its antimitotic effect, (b) whether the antimitotic effect is correlated with inhibition of Na+ K+ ATPase activity, and (c) whether antimitotic effects can be dissociated from cardiac arrhythmigenicity. The concentration of glycoside required to inhibit PHA stimulated thymidine incorporation into DNA at 72 hours in human lymphocytes was studied. The 50% inhibitory dose could be varied by greater than 10-fold by a change in either the genin or the saccharide. Therefore, both genin and saccharide were related to the antimitotic effect of the glycosides. The effect of varying genin or saccharide and the dose-inhibition curves indicated that the antimitotic effect was qualitatively similar to the known effects of these drugs on ATPase activity. Cardiac glycosides were much more potent and rapid-acting inhibitors of lymphoproliferation in vitro than glucocorticolds. The antimitotic effects of most of the agents studied appeared to be at concentrations which have a very high risk for arrhythmigenicity of the myocardium. However, these studies may provide incentive to explore structural variants of cardiac glycosides as pharmacologic agents to inhibit cell division.
Radiation inactivation of galactose oxidase, a monomeric enzyme with a stable free radical

To determine the radiation sensitivity of galactose oxidase, a 68 kDa monomeric enzyme containing a mononuclear copper ion coordinated with an unusually stable cysteinyl-tyrosine (Cys-Tyr) protein free radical. Both active enzyme and reversibly rendered inactive enzyme were irradiated in the frozen state with high-energy electrons. Surviving polypeptides and surviving enzyme activity were analyzed by radiation target theory giving the radiation sensitive mass for each property. In both active and inactive forms, protein monomer integrity was lost with a single radiation interaction anywhere in the polypeptide, but enzymatic activity was more resistant, yielding target sizes considerably smaller than that of the monomer. These results suggest that the structure of galactose oxidase must make its catalytic activity unusually robust, permitting the enzymatic properties to survive in molecules following cleavage of the polymer chain. Radiation target size for loss of monomers yielded the mass of monomers indicating a polypeptide chain cleavage after a radiation interaction anywhere in the monomer. Loss of enzymatic activity yielded a much smaller mass indicating a robust structure in which catalytic activity could be expressed in cleaved polypeptides.
FINE-STRUCTURE ENERGY LEVELS AND OSCILLATOR STRENGTHS OF Fe XI

Forty-seven fine-structure levels belonging to theLSstates 3s23p4 3P,1D,1S, 3s3p5 3P,1P, 3s23p3(4S)3d3,5D, 3s23p3(2P)3d1,3P,1,3D,1,3F, and 3s23p3(2D)3d1,3S,1,3P,1,3D,1,3F,1,3Gare calculated using configuration–interaction wave functions. Level energies are calculated bothab initioand with inclusion of adjustment of the diagonal elements of the Hamiltonian to experimental energy level values. The adjusted energies are used in the calculation of oscillator strengths for the electric dipole allowed and intercombination transitions among the various levels of Fe XI. The present results are compared with available theoretical and experimental results wherever possible. We find that ourab initioenergy levels for the most part agree to within 2% with measurement. The present oscillator strengths also agree fairly well with the existing theoretical results for most transitions. However, some differences are noted among the results of various calculations, particularly for transitions where the oscillator strengths are relatively small.
Pressor responses to noxious stimuli in hypertensive patients. Effects of reserpine and chlorothiazide.

The pressor and pulse rate responses to three standardized noxious stimuli were determined in groups of hypertensive patients receiving reserpine and chlorothiazide, alone and in combination. Although the drugs caused a significant decline in resting blood pressure, they failed to diminish the actual magnitude of the elevations in pressure and heart rate resulting from either physical or psychological stimuli. The possible physiological interpretations and the therapeutic implications of these data have been pointed out.
Why protein crystals favour some space-groups over others.

One of the most puzzling observations in protein crystallography is that the various space-group symmetries occur with striking non-uniformity. Molecular close-packing has been invoked to explain similar observations for crystals of small organic compounds, but does not appear to be the dominant factor for proteins. Instead, we find that the observed frequencies for both two and three-dimensional crystals can be explained by an entropic model. Under a requirement for connectivity, the favoured space groups are simply less restrictive than others in that they allow the molecules more rigid-body degrees of freedom and can therefore be realized in a greater number of ways. This result underscores the importance of the nucleation event in crystallization and leads to specific ideas for crystallizing water-soluble and membrane proteins.
Quality of life of patients with prostate cancer and their spouses. The value of a data base in clinical care.

Background. Because of the dearth of information concerning the quality of life of patients with prostate cancer, a data base was established to examine the nature and extent of problems in patients’ and spouses’ adaptation and their interrelationships and to examine the effect of disease stage combined with treatment regimen on patients’ quality of life. Methods. One hundred seventy-two patients and 83 spouses/partners completed quality of life questionnaires in a prostate cancer health education lecture series. The measures used were the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Prostate Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire, the Intrusion subscale (IS) of the Impact of Event Scale; and Selby’s QL Uniscale. Fifty-five percent of patients had received medical and/or surgical hormonal therapy, 28% had received a radical prostatectomy and/or radiation therapy only, and 18% had not been placed on any treatment. Results. Patients experiencing problems in adaptation were significantly more likely to have advanced stage disease: received surgical or medical hormonal therapy: and were reporting greater pain, fatigue, urinary problems, and deteriorating physical functioning. Spouses reported significantly greater psychological distress than did patients (EORTC Psychological Distress subscale, P < 0.001; IS, P < 0.001). Conclusions. A two-stage clinical evaluation is recommended, in which quality of life questionnaires would initially be used to identify patients and spouses experi
Selective Preparation of Nickel Silicides and Germanides Using Elemental Multilayers as Reactive Precursors

Using elemental multilayers with designed composition and ultrathin repeating subunits (λ=20 A) we have prepared nickel monosilicide and nickel germanide directly without the formation of any intervening phases. When the same synthetic strategy is used to prepare nickel-silicon-germanium compounds the first nucleated phase is a ternary phase with the NiAs structure.
Nitrogen Requirements of First-Year Corn following Alfalfa Were Not Altered by Fall-Applied Manure

Although farmers in the midwestern United States often apply livestock manure when terminating alfalfa (L.), there are no published reports on direct effects of fall manure application on alfalfa N credits to first-year corn (L.). Therefore, eight on-farm experiments were conducted in Minnesota to test whether manure applied during alfalfa termination in fall affects the rate of fertilizer N needed for the subsequent corn crop. Manure application rates were determined by cooperating growers and N fertilizer rates were 0, 45, 90 or 179 kg N ha at planting and 45 kg N ha as a sidedress. At five locations, neither manure nor fertilizer N increased grain or silage yield. At three remaining locations, N fertilizer was needed to economically optimize grain (98 kg N ha at two locations) or silage yield (113 kg N ha at three locations), but manure did not alter the response to fertilizer N. The presidedress soil nitrate test (PSNT) predicted the need for N fertilizer to optimize grain yield 63% of the time and the basal stalk nitrate test (BSNT) identified the need for N fertilizer 75% of the time. When results of this study were combined with data from the literature, the PSNT was accurate only 55% of the time and the BSNT could not separate responsive and nonresponsive sites. These results confirm that first-year corn following alfalfa often does not require supplemental N for maximum grain yield, and that more accurate methods are needed to predict fertilizer N response.
Gift giving: A community paradigm

To date, the marketing literature on gift giving has focused on two approaches or paradigms—economic and relational exchange. This study adopts a different perspective, proposing a community paradigm to provide a holistic view of gift giving. The data (based on 20 in-depth interviews and 2 group interviews) suggest that, on the Internet, social networks of relationships cohere into gift-giving communities that influence the purchasing of gifts. Findings about online gift giving are presented according to three community themes: (a) shared rituals and traditions, (b) shared values, and (c) shared responsibilities. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Marangoni enhancement of desulphurization of liquid iron

Liquid iron at 1600C, containing 0.088 wt% S and 0.070 wt% O, was desulphurized by a limesaturated calcium ferrite slag at a rate significantly greater than that calculated on the assumption that d...
The Great American Biotic Interchange: Dispersals, Tectonics, Climate, Sea Level and Holding Pens

The biotic and geologic dynamics of the Great American Biotic Interchange are reviewed and revised. Information on the Marine Isotope Stage chronology, sea level changes as well as Pliocene and Pleistocene vegetation changes in Central and northern South America add to a discussion of the role of climate in facilitating trans-isthmian exchanges. Trans-isthmian land mammal exchanges during the Pleistocene glacial intervals appear to have been promoted by the development of diverse non-tropical ecologies.
PCF with immobilized silver nanoparticles as an optofluidic SERS sensing platform

The unique feature of photonic crystal fiber (PCF) both as a light guide and a liquid transmission cell allows synergistic integration of optics and microfluidics to form an unconventional optofluidic platform of long interaction path limited only by the fiber length. We report the strategy and methods in realizing full-length surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) PCF optofluidics by immobilization of negatively charged Ag nanoparticles (NP) through polyelectrolyte-mediated approach or direct deposition of positively charged Ag NP on the PCF air channels. Through forward propagating Raman measurements, we demonstrate the full-length SERS-active PCF optofluidics with accumulative Raman signal gain along the entire fiber length. We show SERS measurements of 1x10 -7 M (~48 ppb) Rhodamine 6G and 1x10 -8 M (~0.8 ppb) sodium thiocyanate in a minute volume of ~10 -7 -10 -8 liter aqueous solution using PCF with immobilized Ag NP over ~20 cm in length. The combination of high detection sensitivity and small sampling volume renders the SERS-active PCF optofluidic platform excellent potential for a multitude of applications ranging from label-free chemical and biological sensing to process monitoring in geometrically confined systems.
Impact of the new-generation GOES on the determination of sea surface temperature

The new generation GOES, with significantly higher spatial resolution and signal to noise ratio than its predecessors for the split window channel, makes it feasible for the first time to derive SST from a geostationary platform. The GOES data are well calibrated and navigated. The temporal information from GOES can be used to identify residual cloud contamination and detect diurnal variation of SST. All these features are valuable assets for monitoring the earth environment from space.
Static response of planar compliant devices with small-deformation flexure hinges

The article presents a static load-displacement calculation procedure for planar compliant mechanisms with small-deformation flexure hinges. The approach utilizes the Castigliano's displacement the...
Mutations in Human Nonmuscle Myosin IIA Found in Patients with May-Hegglin Anomaly and Fechtner Syndrome Result in Impaired Enzymatic Function

A family of autosomal-dominant diseases including May-Hegglin anomaly, Fechtner syndrome, Sebastian syndrome, Alport syndrome, and Epstein syndrome are commonly characterized by giant platelets and thrombocytopenia. In addition, there may be leukocyte inclusions, deafness, cataracts, and nephritis, depending on the syndrome. Mutations in the human nonmuscle myosin IIA heavy chain gene (MYH9) have been linked to these diseases. Two of the recently described mutations, N93K and R702C, are conserved in smooth and nonmuscle myosins from vertebrates and lie in the head domain of myosin. Interestingly, the two mutations lie within close proximity in the three-dimensional structure of myosin. These two mutations were engineered into a heavy meromyosin-like recombinant fragment of nonmuscle myosin IIA, which was expressed in baculovirus along with the appropriate light chains. The R702C mutant displays 25% of the maximal MgATPase activity of wild type heavy meromyosin and moves actin filaments at half the wild type rate. The effects of the N93K mutation are more dramatic. This heavy meromyosin has only 4% of the maximal MgATPase activity of wild type and does not translocate actin filaments in an in vitro motility assay. Biochemical characterization of the mutant is consistent with this mutant being unable to fully adopt the "on" conformation.
Pulse length effects in two-photon single and double ionization of helium by ultrashort laser pulses

Two-photon single and double ionization of helium by ultrashort laser pulses is explored with accurate time-dependent theoretical methods. Core excited resonances are revealed in the two-photon single ionization cross sections. In two-photon double ionization, electron angular distributions reveal that subfemtosecond pulses can change the competition between the sequential and nonsequential ionization processes.
Effects of κ-opioid receptor agonists on stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in rat kidney

To determine the effects of kappa-opioid receptor agonists on phosphoinositide metabolism in rat renal cortex, tissue slices labelled with [3H]inositol were stimulated with norepinephrine or carbachol alone or in combination with the kappa-opioid receptor agonists, ethylketocyclazocine, trans-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(pyrrolindinyl)-cyclohexyl)- benzeneacetamide (U50,488) and nalorphine. Both norepinephrine and carbachol stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis (measured in a LiCl buffer) concentration- and time-dependently. The EC50 and maximal stimulation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis for norepinephrine and carbachol were approximately 3 microM and 0.15 dpm released/dpm incorporated, respectively. Concentrations up to 1 mM of ethylketocyclazocine, U50,488 or nalorphine alone did not affect phosphoinositide hydrolysis. However, ethylketocyclazocine and U50,488 decreased 10 microM norepinephrine-stimulated phosphonositide hydrolysis concentration-dependently, each with an approximate IC50 of 30 microM. In contrast, nalorphine had no effect on norepinephrine-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis. In addition, concentrations of up to 1 mM ethylketocyclazocine or U50,488 did not alter carbachol-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis. The inhibitory effect of U50,488 and ethylketocyclazocine on norepinephrine-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis was blocked by the selective kappa-opioid receptor antagonist, nor-binaltorphimine. These results indicate that kappa 1-opioid receptor stimulation may affect phosphoinositide metabolism in rat renal cortex by modulating the subcellular effects of renal alpha 1-adrenoceptor activation.
Sex differences in response to cutaneous anesthesia : A double blind randomized study

The existing literature on experimentally induced pain indicates that there are sex differences, with females displaying greater sensitivity. In epidemiological studies, sex differences are also noted in the prevalence of a number of pain syndromes, with females reporting more severe pain, more frequent pain, and pain of longer duration. Complicating the interpretation of pain differences between men and women in clinical samples are reports of sex differences in response to pain-reducing medications. Studies in human subjects suggest that women respond better to certain opioid analgesics than men following third molar extraction, but few studies have assessed sex effects in effectiveness of topical anesthetics. The purpose of this study was to test for sex differences in response to a topical anesthetic, Lidocaine, using double blind, placebo controlled experimental methodology, in combination with a magnitude matching psychophysical protocol using a pressure algometer. The subjects were 21 female and 23 male adult volunteers. Twenty-four subjects (12 males and 12 females) were randomly assigned to the Lidocaine condition and 20 subjects were randomly assigned to the placebo control condition (9 males and 11 females). The effect size across sex for subjects in the Lidocaine treatment condition on the response bias variable was large indicating the males rated the stimuli as less painful than the females. Sex differences were not observed for discriminability in the Lidocaine treatment condition. This study did not show sex differences in the placebo condition. These results are particularly interesting in light of previous work that has shown similar pain stimuli (pressure pain) to be the stimulation most sensitive to sex differences. Results of this study suggest that the protocol employed (pressure pain stimulus with magnitude matching task) is sensitive to both anesthetic treatment and sex differences and represents an improvement in pain assessment methodology for use in experimental studies and in the clinic.
Partial purification of potato tuber invertase and its proteinaceous inhibitor

Abstract Improved purification of potato tuber invertase was achieved by utilizing a form of affinity chromatography between the enzyme and Concanavalin A (Con A) bound to Sepharose. Twenty-fold increases in specific activity were routinely obtained with this step and the enzyme was purified 190-fold over that found in the crude homogenate. The Con A-Sepharose chromatography step gave a greater purification than any other step in the invertase isolation procedure. There was up to 170% recovery of the activity loaded onto the column. α-Methyl- d -mannoside, sucrose, d -glucose and d -fructose eluted the enzyme from the Con A-Sepharose column with similar recoveries, although the volume of eluent required varied with the sugar. This unusually high recovery of invertase activity was obtained with some batches of tubers but not with others. There was evidence to suggest that the high recovery, or activation, may be due to the release of an inhibitor from the enzyme in the presence of Con A-Sepharose. Adsorption of invertase to Con A-Sepharose could be eliminated by incubation of the enzyme with α-mannosidase and β-glucosidase, indicating that potato tuber invertase is a glycoprotein. Proteinaceous inhibitor purification was improved by treatment of the tuber extract at low pH.
Extruded tellurite glass optical fiber preforms

Abstract The extrusion behavior of tellurite glass in the supercooled liquid region was investigated. Good extrusion formability was observed under low strain rates at various temperatures in the glass transformation region investigated. Tube and holey fiber (HF) preforms were fabricated from tellurite glass billets using a laboratory press. In particular, the results for three-spoke HF design and round tube preforms with composition 75TeO 2 ·20ZnO·5Na 2 O (TZN) are presented. The extruded preforms with precise geometrical features, an excellent surface quality and no crystallization were achieved in the temperatures range from 344 to 360 °C and at ram speeds ranging from 0.002 to 0.01 mm/s. Discrete shear bands were observed in the preforms, increasing in number and/or becoming better defined with increasing load and ram speed. Fewer shear bands were present when increasing the extrusion temperature from 344 to 360 °C. Thus, subsequent extrudates were successfully fabricated free of shear bands, providing good optical homogeneity that yielded solid and holey fibers that could provide much improved optical performance.
Sedation for procedures.

To the Editor. Parker et al1 describe the efficacy and safety of intravenous midazolam and ketamine for sedating children undergoing therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. The authors are to be congratulated for attempting to make the sedation process safer for children undergoing painful and nonpainful diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. We have specific concerns, however, about the way this document was written. In the abstract, the authors state that this dissociative anesthetic was used to provide “conscious sedation.” “Conscious sedation” implies that the patient is conscious, ie, in contact with their environment and responds appropriately to verbal commands and physical stimulation. This does not mean reflex withdrawal to pain, but rather an appropriate response to a painful stimulus such as saying “ouch” or pushing an offending hand away from the site of discomfort. In fact, throughout the article the term “sedation” is used to describe their technique, yet only “approximately two thirds to three quarters of the children sedated with this regimen are able to respond to verbal stimuli or are talking during the procedure.” This is because the dose of ketamine described in this document is 1 to 2 mg/kg given intravenously. This is an induction dose of general anesthesia! Generally, a much smaller amount, such as 0.25 to 0.5 mg/kg, will result in a level of sedation consistent with the term “conscious sedation.” The authors do indicate that lower doses of drugs tend to be used as individuals gain experience with these techniques, but we wish to make it clear that if someone uses the doses recommended in this article, they are in fact using amounts associated with general anesthesia. Because of this, it is not adequate to have a second individual trained only in “bag/mask ventilation,” but this person should be experienced with endotracheal intubation as well. The …
The effect of ions and ionophores on cystine egress from human leucocyte lysosome-rich granular fraction

This paper describes the stimulation of exodus of cystine from lysosome-rich granular fractions by potassium. Potassium permeability into lysosomes is low, but in the presence of an ionophore or permeable anion, the movement of K+ into lysosomes caused a large stimulation of cystine exodus. Lysosomal preparations from leucocytes of cystinotic patients, which lack carrier-mediated cystine transport, also manifested stimulation of cystine egress by valinomycin and K+. This suggests that potassium-dependent cystine egress involves a carrier different from that defective in cystinosis, or occurs through a non-carrier-mediated mechanism.
A rent-seeking model of TELs

Tax and expenditure limits or TELs are constitutional or statutory constraints on the fiscal powers of government. Since the taxpayer revolt beginning in the late 1970s, TELs have been introduced in twenty-three states. In recent years a number of studies attempting to test the impact of TELs have found little evidence that TELs significantly reduced the growth of state government. In this study we challenge the implicit Leviathan model that underlies most of these studies, and offer an alternative rent-seeking model. Econometric tests provide support for this rentseeking model, and indicate that TELs have been significant in reducing the growth of state government, at least in the short run.
Cancer: the chromatin connection

The American Association for Cancer Research's 93rd Annual Meeting was held in San Francisco, California, USA, from 6 to 10 April 2002.
Bull's-eye maculopathy secondary to herbal toxicity from uva ursi.

Abstract Purpose To report a case of bilateral bull's-eye maculopathy in a patient who ingested uva ursi, a known inhibitor of melanin synthesis, for 3 years before the onset of symptoms. Design Observational case report. Methods Both eyes of a female patient were examined in the clinical practice setting. Results A 56-year-old woman who ingested uva ursi for 3 years noted a decrease in visual acuity within the past year. Ocular examination including fluorescein angiography revealed a typical bull's-eye maculopathy bilaterally. Conclusions Uva ursi is a known inhibitor of melanin synthesis. It is necessary to broaden the list of potential retinal toxic drugs to include herbal adjuvants such as Uva Ursi and to elicit a history of their use in patients with unexplained ocular findings.
False data injection attacks with incomplete information against smart power grids

False data injection attacks have recently been introduced as an important class of cyber attacks against smart grid's wide area measurement and monitoring systems. These attacks aim to compromise the readings of multiple power grid sensors and phasor measurement units in order to mislead the operation and control centers. Recent studies have shown that if an adversary has complete knowledge on the power grid topology and transmission-line admittance values, he can adjust the false data injection attack vector such that the attack remains undetected and successfully passes the residue-based bad data detection tests that are commonly used in power system state estimation. However, in this paper, we explain that a realistic false data injection attack is essentially an attack with incomplete information due to the attackers lack of real-time knowledge with respect to various grid parameters and attributes such as the position of circuit breaker switches and transformer tap changers and also because of the attacker's limited physical access to most grid facilities. We mathematically characterize false data injection attacks with incomplete information from both the attacker's and grid operator's viewpoints. Furthermore, we introduce a novel vulnerability measure that can compare and rank different power grid topologies against such attacks. To the best of our knowledge, this paper is the first study to investigate false data injection attacks with line admittance uncertainty.
Measurement of Oxidative Activity in Hemocytes of the Pacific Razor Clam, Siliqua patula, and the Oyster, Crassostrea gigas, Using Lucigenin- and Luminol-Dependent Chemiluminescence

Abstract In a manner resembling the respiratory burst of activated mammalian polymorphonuclear leakocytes, hemocytes of the Pacific razor clam, Siliqua patula , produced reactive oxygen intermediates during in vitro phagocytosis of zymosan particles. The acridinium salt lucigenin is oxidized by superoxide anion, creating photon emissions at levels measurable on a liquid scintillation counter calibrated to detect blood cell chemiluminescence (CL). Production of the superoxide anion by activated razor clam hemocytes was indicated by superoxide dismutase-mediated inhibition of both lucigenin-dependent CL, and the bistochemical reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium. Reduced zymosan-stimulated myeloperoxidase activity was suggested by minimal luminol-dependent CL compared to hemocytes of the oyster, Crassostrea gigas , and enhancement of lucigenin-dependent CL with exogenous sodium azide and potassium cyanide. CL analysis of individual hemolymph samples revealed a high degree of variability in lucigenin-enhanced CL, suggesting large variation in hemocyte oxidative activity. Comparison of the lucigenin- and luminol-dependent CL of razor clam versus that of oyster hemocytes revealed significant interspecific dissimilarities and indicated that lucigenin offers an alternative to luminol for measurement of the bivalve hemocyte oxidative metabolism.