cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Contrasting below- and aboveground responses of two deciduous trees to patchy nitrate availability

We investigated how patchy nitrate availability influences growth and functioning of plant roots and generates, through vascular constraints on long-distance transport, aboveground heterogeneity in plant growth and chemistry. We examined two broadleaf tree species, Acer rubrum L. and Betula papyrifera Marsh. Plants were grown either in a split-root setup where a single root received full nutrient supply and the rest of the root system received all nutrients except nitrogen (patchy treatment), or in a single pot with full nutrient supply (homogeneous treatment). In both species, fine roots proliferated in the nitrogen patch, but B. papyrifera produced twice as much fine root biomass in response to patchy nitrate availability as did A. rubrum. There was no difference between treatments in nitrogen uptake rate in either species. In general, specific water uptake was higher in A. rubrum than in B. papyrifera, especially in the nitrogen-rich side pot. When nitrate availability was patchy, nitrate reductase activity in roots and leaves was unaffected in either species. In A. rubrum, but not in B. papyrifera, patchy nitrate supply resulted in aboveground heterogeneity, with leaves above the N-fertilized roots being larger and having a higher relative chlorophyll concentration than those inserted in the opposite quater of the stem.
The Paradox of “Acting Globally While Thinking Locally”: Discordance in Climate Change Adaption Policy

The paradox motivating this article is why California has acted globally by enacting a comprehensive mitigation policy to reduce the emissions of Greenhouse gases, a true public good since the bene...
Effects of Soil Physical Factors on Egg Survival of the Bean Leaf Beetle, Cerotoma trifurcata (Forster) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

The effects of soil moisture, texture, and temperature on bean leaf beetle eggs of different stages were quantified. Hatch of bean leaf beetle eggs held in a loamy sand, a sandy clay loam, and an organic soil at a range of moistures decreased at both moisture extremes (very wet and very dry soil). The eggs were less sensitive after they had absorbed moisture, and hatch depended on critical moisture thresholds specific to each soil. Survival of newly laid and swollen eggs held in oven-dry soil at four temperatures (15, 20, 25, and 30°C) for different exposure durations decreased as exposure time increased. Egg development ceased while the eggs were held in the dry soil, so that there was a delay in egg developmental time corresponding to the exposure time. Egg survival also decreased as exposure duration in saturated soil increased. Survival was greatest and development was least inhibited in saturated, organic soil. Survival decreased with increasing soil temperature and depth. These differences suggest that aeration is a major factor affecting egg survival.
In vivo intracellular analysis of granule cell axon reorganization in epileptic rats.

In vivo intracellular analysis of granule cell axon reorganization in epileptic rats. In vivo intracellular recording and labeling in kainate-induced epileptic rats was used to address questions ab...
The entrepreneurial gardeners.

In 2008, a Ghanaian entrepreneur established a drug company in her country. This motivated a young Ghanaian woman to study biotechnology, and a Ghanaian man, employed at a U.S. pharmaceutical company, to return to Ghana. In the past decade, enterprising young Nigerians with few resources went to China and found ways to bring cheap computers and other equipment home, allowing Nigerian students to access the Internet and learn. Profit-driven entrepreneurs like these, big and small, are promoting learning in low-income countries in different fields, including science and engineering. How can this process be furthered and accelerated in such countries?
Influences of gender on cardiovascular disease risk factors in adolescents with and without type 1 diabetes

Background Women with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have a four-fold increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared to non-diabetic (non-DM) women, as opposed to double the risk in T1D men compared to non-DM men. It is unclear how early in life CVD risk differences begin in T1D females. Therefore, our objective was to compare CVD risk factors in adolescents with and without T1D to determine the effects of gender on CVD risk factors.
Cold tolerance analysis on filial generation of Indica, Japonica and common wild rice at seedling stage in field

[Objective]The present research was carried out to obtain rice germplasm resources on rice cold tolerance breeding, and preliminarily determine the strategy for rice cold tolerance breeding. [Method]Cold tolerance characters of four parents (Indica rice 9311, Japonica rice Bai R54, Nippon bare, and common wild rice DP10 ) and their filial generations were investigated at seedling stage under natural cultivation conditions in field. All materials grouped 6 to observe their cold damage performance on Mar. 22. [Result]Under natural low temperature condition, 39 accessions with strong cold tolerance and excellent comprehensive agronomic traits were screened out for rice breeding. Out of which, 33 accessions had 87.5% Japonica genetic constitution, 6 accessions had 75.0% Indica genetic constitution. Moreover, the 60 cold tolerant accessions had 50.0% wild rice genetic constitution with worse comprehensive agronomic traits. All the cold sensitive rice accessions had a high Indica rice genetic constitution of 87.5%. [Conclusion]Among all the filial generations of four parents, those with more genetic constitution of Japonica and common wide rice showed stronger cold tolerance. Japonica and common wild rice are important germplasm resources in cold tolerance breeding, the cold tolerance level of Indica rice could be enhanced by introducing genetic constitution of Japonica or common wide rice .
A Reliable and Reconfigurable Signal Processing Framework for Estimation of Metabolic Equivalent of Task in Wearable Sensors

Wearable motion sensors are widely used to estimate metabolic equivalent of task (MET) values associated with physical activities. However, one major obstacle in widespread adoption of current wearables is that any changes in configuration of the network requires new data collection and re-training of the underlying signal processing algorithms. For any wearable-based MET estimation framework to be considered a viable platform, it needs to be reconfigurable, reliable, and power-efficient. In this paper, we aim to address the issues of sensor misplacement, power efficiency, and new sensor addition and propose a reliable and reconfigurable MET estimation framework. We introduce a power-aware sensor localization approach that allows users to wear the sensors on different body locations without need for adhering to a specific installation protocol. Furthermore, we propose a novel transductive transfer learning approach, which gives end-users the ability to add new sensors to the network without need for collecting new training data. This is accomplished by transferring the knowledge of already trained sensors to the untrained sensors in real-time. Our experiments demonstrate that our sensor localization algorithm achieves an accuracy of $90.8$ % in detecting location of the wearable sensors. The integrated model of sensor localization and MET calculation achieves an $R^2$ of $0.8$ in estimating MET values using a regression-based model. Furthermore, our transfer learning algorithm improves the $R^2$ value of MET estimation up to $60\%$ .
Spermatic Cord Torsion in an Infant Receiving Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

AbstractHuman chorionic gonadotropin and gonadotropin-releasing hormone administration has been advocated for the nonoperative management of undescended testes. Proponents of hormonal manipulation cite the low morbidity of endocrine treatment as its major advantage over conventional surgical repair. We report a serious potential complication of human chorionic gonadotropin administration, intravaginal spermatic cord torsion and testicular infarction, in an infant with bilateral cryptorchidism.
Impact of Economic Incentives on Patient Selection of Surgical Facility: Commentary on an article by James C. Robinson, PhD, et al.: "Consumer Choice Between Hospital-Based and Freestanding Facilities for Arthroscopy. Impact on Prices, Spending, and Surgical Complications".

Because of pressures to contain health-care-related costs, the proportions of procedures performed in the outpatient setting continue to increase across the surgical subspecialties. Correspondingly, advancements in anesthesia and surgical technique have further enabled this shift in the operative setting. Similarly, the frequency of outpatient orthopaedic procedures continues to increase1 because of greater operating room efficiency, decreased overhead costs, and lower risk of nosocomial complications. In their article, Robinson et al. utilize insurance claims data from the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) to assess the impact of reference-based benefits on consumer selection of the surgical facility (hospital outpatient departments compared with freestanding ambulatory surgery centers) for knee or shoulder arthroscopy. By implementing reference-based benefits, patients are required to pay the difference in costs if they elect to undergo surgery at a higher-priced facility. The …
Interactions between Thiourea and Imines. Prelude to Catalysis.

The interaction between thiourea and a series of imines was examined via high-level ab initio calculations. For each imine, there is a set of stable complexes that represent minima on the potential energy surface. One type is characterized by a pair of symmetric NH···N hydrogen bonds (HBs), with both NH groups of thiourea approaching the imine N from above and below its molecular plane. Another geometry category combines a linear NH···N with a CH···S HB. A third, which is less stable, has the S approaching the imine’s CH2 group, and a stacking arrangement is present in the fourth. Interaction energies vary from ∼2 kcal/mol to a maximum of 13.5 kcal/mol. The formation of the complex tends to elongate the C–N bond within the imine by as much as 0.004 A, but there are certain dimers that cause a small contraction of this bond.
Abstract 347: Targeted FAK Activation in Cardiomyocytes Protects the Heart from Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiomyopathy

OBJECTIVE: We recently reported that cardiac-restricted activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) attenuated myocardial injury following ischemia/reperfusion using transgenic mice that express a FAK variant (termed SuperFAK) in cardiomyocytes. Here we interrogated whether targeted elevation of myocardial FAK activity could protect against cardiomyopathy induced by the highly effective chemotherapy drug Doxorubicin (DOX). METHODS AND RESULTS: Eight- to twelve-week-old male mice were given a single injection of DOX (20mg/kg, i.p.). At day 14, SuperFAK mice exhibited better survival (62.5%, n=8) than littermate control mice (37.5%, n=8). Serial echocardiography revealed that DOX administration markedly decreased cardiac function and ventricular wall thickness in control mice, whereas both parameters were better preserved in SuperFAK mice at day 5 (fractional shortening: 52.7±1.5% in SuperFAK vs . 38.9±3.7% in control, p <0.01; posterior wall end-systolic thickness: 1.83±0.12mm in SuperFAK vs . 1.43±0.12mm in control, p <0.05). Importantly, SuperFAK hearts exhibited a dramatic increase in FAK activity (as assessed by phospho-FAK Y397 immunoblotting) and a reduction in myocyte apoptosis (as assessed by TUNEL staining) in comparison with control hearts. DOX also induced apoptosis in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and adenoviral-mediated expression of SuperFAK ameliorated DOX-induced toxicity as assessed by MTT and TUNEL assays. Over-expression of SuperFAK also enhanced expression of the pro-survival NF-κB transcriptional targets Bcl-2, Bcl-xl, and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis, whereas pharmacologically blockade of the NF-κB pathway completely abolished the up-regulation of these anti-apoptotic molecules by SuperFAK. CONCLUSIONS: Ventricular dysfunction and myocyte apoptosis induced by DOX was attenuated by enhancing cardiac FAK activity, which may represent a novel strategy to reduce anthracycline mediated cardiotoxicity in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
On semantic map as a key component in socially-emotional BICA

Abstract The future of artificial intelligence (AI) depends on whether intelligent agents become human-like in their cognitive capabilities, giving rise to creative Cobots and social Actors that will inherit human values and get accepted by the society as equal minds. This expected transition requires the development of several key capabilities in AI, including social-emotional and narrative intelligence, resulting in believability and trustworthiness, and also human-like learnability and creativity. This work is devoted to the key element that enables social-emotional intelligence in artifacts: the semantic map. For this purpose, the notion of semantic mapping is expanded, and its role in a socially-emotional cognitive architecture is articulated, with illustrations by several examples of Cobot and Actor designs. The approach based on the previously introduced cognitive architecture eBICA is selected, that considers feelings and reasoning as connected to each other. The two aspects are intimately intertwined in one dynamical system framework, forming a general-purpose cognitive architecture, the central element of which is a semantic map. Results of preliminary studies along these lines together illustrate the breadth of the variety of potential applications of the new technology.
Assessment of the effects of using the cooperative learning pedagogy in a hybrid mechanics of materials course

Literature shows that the cooperative learning pedagogy increases engineering students’ performance in a traditional lecture-based course. This study investigated whether a similar positive effect ...
Progress in the management of IPF-related acute exacerbations: a goal for patients, respirologists and intensivists.

Until clinical trial results are available, treatment decisions for acute exacerbations of IPF must be made on an individual basis http://ow.ly/FFxi30hY7uz
Spare some internal limiting membrane for later: free ILM patch and neurosensory retina graft.

Editorial to De Giacinto et al case report on free autologous neurosensory retina patch. Literature review and experts’ opinion In the present issue, De Giacinto et al describe a free autologous neurosensory retina patch to close a chronic macular hole. This new technique was made necessary by an extended internal limiting membrane peeling during the first surgery, that prevented grafting a patch of internal limiting membrane when the hole did not close. We hereby review pros and cons of patching a chronic macular hole with an internal limiting membrane patch, as well as the importance of not over-enlarging a peeling. Internal limiting membrane patch can be considered in chronic macular holes. It may not be an option in cases of over-enlargement of a previous peel; free autologous neurosensory retina patch may be a valid alternative in such cases.
Sex differences in pulmonary arterial hypertension: role of infection and autoimmunity in the pathogenesis of disease.

Registry data worldwide indicate an overall female predominance for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) of 2–4 over men. Genetic predisposition accounts for only 1–5% of PAH cases, while autoimmune diseases and infections are closely linked to PAH. Idiopathic PAH may include patients with undiagnosed autoimmune diseases based on the relatively high presence of autoantibodies in this group. The two largest PAH registries to date report a sex ratio for autoimmune connective tissue disease-associated PAH of 9:1 female to male, highlighting the need for future studies to analyze subgroup data according to sex. Autoimmune diseases that have been associated with PAH include female-dominant systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren’s syndrome, and thyroiditis as well as male-dominant autoimmune diseases like myocarditis which has been linked to HIV-associated PAH. The sex-specific association of PAH to certain infections and autoimmune diseases suggests that sex hormones and inflammation may play an important role in driving the pathogenesis of disease. However, there is a paucity of data on sex differences in inflammation in PAH, and more research is needed to better understand the pathogenesis underlying PAH in men and women. This review uses data on sex differences in PAH and PAH-associated autoimmune diseases from registries to provide insight into the pathogenesis of disease.
Non-Line of Sight Terahert Imaging from a Single Viewpoint

We present a novel method for imaging objects hidden around occlusions by exploiting the scattering properties of terahertz (THz) waves. Most building surfaces reflect THz waves strongly in a single direction (specular scattering) and behave as lossy mirrors that allow imaging of non-line-of-sight (NLOS) objects from a single observation location. Interestingly, mirror surfaces can be directly imaged by capturing the backscattered waves due to diffusion scattering. We demonstrate the NLOS THz imaging capability using a backpropagation synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging algorithm that corrects the cluttered raw data and acquires accurate THz images of the occluded areas. The new imaging approach is verified through imaging examples in the 220–330 GHz band using common building materials.
Universities: The Fallen Angels of Bayh-Dole?

The Bayh-Dole Act of 1980 established a new default rule that allowed nonprofit organizations and small businesses to own, as a routine matter, patents on inventions resulting from research sponsored by the federal government. Although universities helped get the Bayh-Dole Act through Congress, the primary goal, as reflected in the recitals at the beginning of the new statute, was not to benefit universities but to promote the commercial development and utilization of federally funded inventions. In the years since the passage of the Bayh-Dole Act, universities seem to have lost sight of this distinction. Their behavior as patent seekers, patent enforcers, and patent policy stakeholders often seems to work against the commercialization goals of the Bayh-Dole Act and is difficult to explain or justify on any basis other than the pursuit of revenue.
International Dramatic Prospecting: Aurélien Lugné-Poe’s Use of Asian Dramas

This chapter deals with Aurelien Lugne-Poe’s productions of Asian drama (Indian, Chinese, and Japanese). It argues that these productions must be understood historically in the theoretical and performance context of the Theâtre de l’Œuvre as it was formed as one of the major forces of the early European avant-garde movement at the turn of the twentieth century. These productions were designed in conformity with the eclectic and international approach of l’Œuvre and with its idealist and anti-naturalist avant-garde agenda. They served the different contemporary interests of the French public as well as the French theatrical and artistic world. By its very nature, l’Œuvre’s idealist and anti-naturalist avant-garde agenda was anti-historical as it disregarded historical and cultural verisimilitude. And as a result, notwithstanding its surface attempts at historical accuracy and cultural authenticity, its approach to Asian dramas was inevitably a displacement of them from their historical, cultural, and aesthetic contexts.
Magnetoplasmonic properties of Ag-Co composite nanohole arrays

The magnetoplasmonic properties of Ag-Co composite nanohole arrays are investigated. It is observed that both plasmonic and magnetic properties of the Ag-Co composite nanohole arrays strongly depend on the composition ratio of Ag and Co. The enhanced optical transmission due to plasmonic resonance decreases with the increase of the Co component while the Faraday rotation effect increases monotonically. The magnetization dynamics of a composite thin film is also modified by the composition as well as the introduction of hole arrays. The Ag-Co composite nanohole arrays with the Co content of 30% show high plasmonic--magneto-optics performances compared with that of Ti-Co composite nanohole array, and annealing of the Ag-Co composites in vacuum can further improve this property. All experimental results are confirmed by the finite-difference time-domain calculations. Such a magnetoplasmonic composite material can act as a class of materials for magnetoplasmonic devices or metamaterial applications.
Diagnostic terminology used to describe atypia on breast core needle biopsy: correlation with excision and upgrade rates

Subjective qualitative descriptors are sometimes used to describe atypical breast lesions diagnosed on core needle biopsy (CNB) which are limited in extent. In clinical practice, this terminology is used to imply a lower expected risk of upgrade on surgical excision (EXC). It is uncertain how subjective terminology impacts clinical management. We conducted a retrospective review of CNB with atypia and compared the EXC and upgrade rates of atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) and flat epithelial atypia (FEA) to lesions described as “focal” atypical ductal hyperplasia (FADH), to determine the impact of this diagnostic phrasing on surgical management and risk of malignancy. FADH and ADH were excised at similar rates (82% vs. 78%). FADH lesions showed a similar upgrade rate (13%) compared to non-focal ADH (10%), and both showed a trend towards higher upgrade and EXC rates compared to FEA. ADH, FADH and FEA all had an upgrade risk that warranted EXC. In non-upgraded EXC, for each diagnostic category we observed similar rates of residual atypia in the EXC. Pathologists should avoid the use of qualitative descriptors when describing ADH on CNB because of the potential of this terminology to influence clinical decision making which is unwarranted.
Lymelight: forecasting Lyme disease risk using web search data.

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in the Northern Hemisphere. Existing estimates of Lyme disease spread are delayed a year or more. We introduce Lymelight—a new method for monitoring the incidence of Lyme disease in real-time. We use a machine-learned classifier of web search sessions to estimate the number of individuals who search for possible Lyme disease symptoms in a given geographical area for two years, 2014 and 2015. We evaluate Lymelight using the official case count data from CDC and find a 92% correlation (p < 0.001) at county level. Importantly, using web search data allows us not only to assess the incidence of the disease, but also to examine the appropriateness of treatments subsequently searched for by the users. Public health implications of our work include monitoring the spread of vector-borne diseases in a timely and scalable manner, complementing existing approaches through real-time detection, which can enable more timely interventions. Our analysis of treatment searches may also help reduce misdiagnosis of the disease.
Molecular biology of the insulin receptor

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the molecular biology of insulin receptor. Two nearly identical cDNAs containing the human insulin proreceptor have been characterized. These cDNAs encode a 1370- amino-acid or 1382-amino-acid sequence including a 27-residue signal peptide. There are nine single-base discrepancies among the cDNAs, three of which are neutral changes. The major discrepancy between the two clones is a 36-nucleotide insertion, contributing 12 additional amino acids on the C-terminal side of a putative cleavage site separating α- and β-subunits. Mutagenesis of the insulin receptor cDNA has provided strong evidence that the tyrosine kinase encoded within the receptor β-subunit is required for normal receptor function. At least one domain containing autophosphorylation sites is also necessary. The entire cytoplasmic structure is important for signaling specificity as the related tyrosine kinase v-ros will not substitute for the insulin receptor kinase in a hormone-responsive fusion protein. Defined sequences within the cytoplasmic domain of various tyrosine kinases have been suggested as regions that may confer substrate specificity on each enzyme.
Emergency Physician Involvement in Hospital Preparedness: A National Survey of Academic Medical Centers.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the involvement of emergency medicine physicians at academic medical centers across the United States as well as their background training, roles in the hospital, and compensation if applicable for time dedicated to preparedness. Methods: A structured survey was delivered by means of email to 109 Chairs of Emergency Medicine across the United States at academic medical centers. Unique email links were provided to track response rate and entered into REDCap database. Descriptive statistics were obtained, including roles in emergency preparedness, training, and compensation. Results: Forty-four of the 109 participants responded, resulting in a response rate of 40.4%. The majority held an administrative role in emergency preparedness. Formal training for the position (participants could select more than 1) included various avenues of education such as emergency medical services fellowship or in-person or online courses. Of the participants, most (93.18%) strongly agreed that it was important to have a physician with expertise in disaster medicine assisting with preparedness. Conclusions: The majority of responding academic medical center participants have taken an active role in hospital emergency preparedness. Education for the roles varied though, often consisted of courses from emergency management agencies. Volunteering their time for compensation was noted by 27.5%.
Schrödinger’s Web: Race to Build the Quantum Internet

As the race to build the world’s first quantum computer is coming to an end, the race to build the quantum internet has just started. This book leverages the author’s unique insights into both the Chinese and American quantum programs. It begins with the physics and history of the quantum internet and ends with the latest results in quantum computing and quantum networks. The Chinese quantum Sputnik moment. The U.S. National Quantum Initiative. What’s up with Quantum Computing Supremacy? The Race to Build the Quantum Internet. Where will Quantum Technology be Tomorrow? Written by a renowned quantum physicist, this book is for everyone who is interested in the rapidly advancing field of Quantum Technology — The Second Quantum Revolution. The 2016 launch of the Chinese quantum satellite Mozi was a quantum Sputnik moment. The United States went from thinking it was ten years ahead of the Chinese to the realization that it was ten years behind them. This quantum gap led to the U.S. National Quantum Initiative, launched in 2018. Since then, the race to build the quantum internet has taken off at breakneck speed.
Guerras justas y guerras injustas, Prólogo a la tercera edición

Michael Walzer´s book is one of the keys to understanding the resurgence of the Just War during the 1990´s. Through the use of the Gulf War as an example, the Prologue explains how the political or military decisions that lead to war constitute a moral dilemma with consequences not only for the combatants, but also for the civilian population, thus representing an issue that must be debated. Walzer takes on current issues such as the pacifist question and its consequences, the need to distinguish and to justify the Ius ad Bellum and Ius in Bello, and to explain that only a normative regulation for Just War will avoid the consideration for war as an unlimited resort.
From Quarks to Nuclei: Short Range Correlations Studies Across the Globe

Atomic nuclei are made of strongly interacting protons and neutrons (nucleons), which are themselves made of quarks and gluons (partons). One of the overarching goals of modern nuclear physics rese...
Noiseless Attenuation of Nonclassical States of Light

Attenuating a quantum state using a beam splitter will introduce noise and decoherence. Here we show that heralding techniques can be used to attenuate number states or Schrodinger cat states without any noise or decoherence.
Symptomatic renal papillary varicosities and medullary nephrocalcinosis.

BACKGROUND Nephrocalcinosis is often asymptomatic but can manifest with renal colic or hematuria. There is no reported association between nephrocalcinosis and renal vascular malformations, which may also be a source of hematuria. We herein present a case of a patient with hematuria related to nephrocalcinosis and renal papillary varicosities. These varicosities were diagnosed and successfully treated with flexible ureteroscopy and laser fulguration. CASE PRESENTATION A 24-year-old female with a history of epilepsy (on zonisamide), recent uncomplicated pregnancy, and new diagnosis of nephrocalcinosis presented with right flank pain and intermittent gross hematuria. Imaging revealed intermittent right sided hydronephrosis. A cystoscopy identified hematuria from the right ureteral orifice. Diagnostic flexible ureteroscopy revealed numerous intrapapillary renal stones and varicose veins of several renal papillae. A 200 μm holmium laser fiber was used to unroof these stones and fulgurate the varicosities with resolution of her symptoms for several months. She later presented with left-sided symptoms and underwent left ureteroscopy with similar findings and identical successful treatment. CONCLUSION Unilateral hematuria from discrete vascular lesions of the renal collecting system may be obscured by other benign co-existing conditions, such as nephrocalcinosis and nephrolithiasis. Although a simultaneous presentation is rare, flexible ureteroscopy with laser fulguration offers an ideal diagnostic and therapeutic modality for these concurrent conditions if symptoms arise.
The Sialic Acids IX. ISOLATION OF CYTIDINE 5'-MONOPHOSPHO-N-ACETYLNEURAMINIC ACID FROM ESCHERICHIA COLI K-235

A novel type of sugar nucleotide, containing 1 rather than 2 phosphate residues, was isolated from Escherichia coli K-235. The nucleotide was shown to be cytidine 5'-monophospho-N-acetylneuraminic acid in which the sialic acid was glycosidically linked to the phosphate residue. The glycoside was highly sensitive to acid, and optical rotation studies showed that it was the β anomer, in contrast to other known, natural, sialidase-sensitive sialic acid glycosides.
A systematic approach to modeling current-mode controlled converters

All previously reported derivations of averaged models for current-mode controlled switching power converters require geometrical calculations based on a sketch of the inductor current. The formalism of variable structure control theory provides a systematic procedure for deriving an averaged model, without this requirement. The new and conventional models are compared. >
Rejoinder: Can the downward trend in resource flows be reversed?

Abstract The author responds to the article by Maurice Williams and Thomas Stephens (pp 331–41). He criticizes the lack of praise given to the development assistance accomplishments over the past decade. However, pointing to the realism of political feasibility, this article is more pessimistic about resource flows to the Third World in the future.
The effect of the female hormones and of pregnancy upon the ureters of lower animals as demonstrated by intravenous urography

Abstract 1. 1. A method for obtaining intravenous urograms in lower animals is described. 2. 2. Attempts to produce ureteral dilatation in rabbits and dogs by hormone injections have been unsuccessful. 3. 3. Urographic examinations of pregnant dogs and rabbits have revealed no evidence of ureteral dilatation.
Effects of atropine on hippocampal theta cells and complex-spike cells.

Abstract The medial septal nuclei are essential for the naturally occuring hippocampal theta rhythm. Evidence that the rhythmic activity of the septum is carried via cholinergic afferents to the hippocampus has been: (a) the existence of a cholinergic septo-hippocampal projection, and (b) the sensitivity of one type of theta rhythm to antimuscaranic agents or cholinergic depletion. The muscarinic action of acetylcholine on pyramidal cells, however, is too slow to carry even a 4 Hz signal. Recent in vitro studies have confirmed a fast excitatory response by some hippocampal interneurons to muscarinic agonists. In urethane anesthetized rats, iontophoretic application of atropine to 17 hippocampal theta cells (presumed interneurons) during the theta rhythm, reduced their firing rates to an average of 24% of control rates. The effect of iontophoretic atropine application to 4 CA1 complex-spike cells (presumed pyramidal cells) was a selective elimination of their bursting activity with no significant effect on overall firing rate. The data suggest that: (1) interneuronal firing, during the hippocampal theta rhythm, is dominated by an excitatory cholinergic input and not by exctatory collaterals of pyramidal cells; (2) somatic burst firing by CA1 pyramidal cells requires the presence of acetylcholine.
Contextualizing LMX within the workgroup: The effects of LMX and justice on relationship quality and resource sharing among peers

Abstract While leader–member exchange (LMX) has evolved, a richer understanding continues to evade scholars due to the sustained focus on the leader–member dyad. We argue that LMX theory remains incomplete until contextual factors surrounding these pivotal relationships are accounted for including the impact of coworker exchange relationships, peer exchange, and perceptions of justice regarding individual LMX relationships. A fully crossed experimental design manipulating participant LMX and distributive justice and coworker LMX and distributive justice was employed to understand how these constructs affect coworker exchange relationships. Support was found for a causal model which specifies that justice moderates the causal relationship between LMX similarity and CWX, which subsequently leads to increased sharing of resources among coworkers. The data suggest that workgroup members are savvy to differences within individual leader–member relationships, where the sharing of resources among peers is determined by their own LMX, the LMX of their coworker and perceptions of justice of their respective LMX levels. These findings are contextualized in extant leadership research and practice.
Evolution of East Pacific Rise hydrothermal vent fluids following a volcanic eruption

STUDIES of sea-floor hydrothermal vent fluids have shown them to have stable characteristics on a decade timescale1, with temperatures in the range 350 ± 30 °C (ref. 2) and chemistries2 that vary from vent to vent, which have most recently been interpreted to reflect phase separation within the hydrothermal system3a€-7. Here we report measurements of vent fluid temperature and chemistry from 9° 46.5′ N on the East Pacific Rise, which show unprecedented variability on timescales of only a week. Our measured temperatures range up to 403 °C, placing the fluids unequivocally in the vapour field at the sampling conditions. Consistent with the fluids being in the vapour phase are the lowest chlorinities and silica contents, and highest hydrogen sulphide contents, yet reported for sea-floor vent fluids. These unusual fluid characteristics are the result of a volcanic eruption having occurred at this site, within weeks of when the first measurements were made8. The hydrothermal system in the immediate post-eruptive period is thus characterized by previously unknown temperature and chemical characteristics, necessitating revisions to models of hydrothermal fluxes to the oceans.
SUNYA Experimental Results in Forecasting Daily Temperature and Precipitation

Abstract An analysis of skill in predicting daily temperature and precipitation is presented for six years (1969–1975) of forecasts made for the Albany County Airport by students and faculty in the Department of Atmospheric Science of the State University of New York at Albany. The daily consensus forecast (made up by averaging the forecasts of all forecasters) shows no significant secular increase in skill for temperature. An apparent increase in the consensus skill in precipitation forecasting is noted with most of the increase occurring in the spring 1972 semester. Possible reasons for this increase are discussed. The skill (defined as the percentage improvement over a persistence climatological forecast) of the ensemble of forecasters over a persistence climatological control is near 50% for the first day decaying to 10% and near zero by the 3rd and 4th day for precipitation and to just under 10% for temperature by the 4th day. These results are consistent with the results presented by Sanders (1973)....
Model development for shape memory polymers

The nonlinear thermomechanical relationship in shape memory polymers (SMPs) has drawn considerable attention in many fields ranging from aeronautics to medicine largely due to their ability to withstand deformations several orders of magnitude larger than in shape memory alloys (SMAs). At high temperatures, SMPs share attributes with compliant elastomers and exhibit long-range reversibility. In contrast, at low temperatures they become very rigid and are susceptible to plastic, although recoverable, deformations.
Noninvasive monitoring of blood oxygenation by phase-resolved transmission spectroscopy

In a recent optical study two dimensional intensity patterns of light irradiated into suspensions of mitochondria were investigated. We designed our experimental model in such a way that the concentration of scattering particles was similar to concentrations found in tissues of humans and mammals. Earlier measurements performed in isolated and hemoglobin-free perfused rat liver and heart revealed that tissue spectra were strongly altered by light scattering when functional states of the two organs e.g. tissll on the measurements was investigated analytically and with Monte-Carlo simulations.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Mass distribution in the galactic centre

New infrared and submillimeter spectroscopic measurements of the gas dynamics in the central 10 pc of the Galaxy make a convincing case that the mass distribution at the center of the Galaxy is more concentrated than a spherical isothermal stellar cluster. The measurements fit a point mass of about 4 million solar masses, but are also consistent with a cluster where stellar density decreases with radius (R) at least as fast as R to the -2.7, or a combination of a point mass and a stellar cluster. The dynamical information combined with previous 2-micron observations favor a large point mass, which is presumably a massive black hole.
Open Sesame: treasure in store-operated calcium entry pathway for cancer therapy

Store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) controls intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and regulates a wide range of cellular events including proliferation, migration and invasion. The discovery of STIM proteins as Ca2+ sensors and Orai proteins as Ca2+ channel pore forming units provided molecular tools to understand the physiological function of SOCE. Many studies have revealed the pathophysiological roles of Orai and STIM in tumor cells. This review focuses on recent advances in SOCE and its contribution to tumorigenesis. Altered Orai and/or STIM functions may serve as biomarkers for cancer prognosis, and targeting the SOCE pathway may provide a novel means for cancer treatment.
Perceptions of Swearing in the Work Setting: An Expectancy Violations Theory Perspective

This study investigates perceptions of swearing from an expectancy violations perspective. Degree of expectancy violation is hypothesized to depend on several communicator, relationship, contextual, and message characteristics. Results support that expectancy violations are related to the formality of the situation in which swearing occurs and the specific swearing phrase. No support is found for swearer's sex or status as predictors of expectancy violations. Hearer's degree of surprise perceived is associated with perceptions that the speaker is incompetent. These results support the usefulness of expectancy violations theory as an explanation for perceptions of swearing.
Storagen polysaccharide in coccidial sporozites after excystation and penetration of cells.

SYNOPSIS. Eimeria acervulina, E. necatrix, and E. meleagrimitis sporozoites were examined for carbohydrates by cytochemical methods during dormancy, after excystation, and after penetration of cells. The only carbohydrate found was amylopectin, a homogeneous polymer of glucose. It was distributed in 3 regions: (a) in front of the anterior refractile globule, (b) around the nucleus, and (c) behind the posterior refractile globule. The relative amounts decreased after excystation and penetration of cells until only small amounts remained around the nucleus. The quantity of amylopectin decreased following excystation from 30.0-36.7 to 9.4-13.3 μg glucose/106 oocysts. Over a 6 yr period of storage at 4 C, there was a decrease in the quantity of amylopectin in dormant sporozoites of E. acervulina from 33.3 μg glucose/106 oocysts at 3 mos to 1.5 μg at 6 years. Coincidentally, 3 month- and 1 year-old oocysts of E. acervulina produced patent infections in chicks with a dosage of 5 × 104 oocysts, but only a few of the oocysts that had been stored for 2 years were infective; a dosage of 2 × 106 oocysts was necessary to produce a patent infection. Oocysts which had been stored 6 years did not produce a patent infection. It was concluded that amylopectin is the energy source for excystation and subsequent penetration of cells. Small amounts of amylopectin are used during dormancy and, when the content in the sporozoite falls below a certain level, the sporozoites lack sufficient energy to infect cells.
In vivo evaluation of fluidized-bed coated pellets

Abstract An in vivo comparison of serum theophylline levels resulting from uncoated and coated pellets was made using the beagle dog as an animal model. The coated pellets were prepared from an aqueous ethyl cellulose dispersion (Aquacoat) in the rotary fluidized bed. A relative bioavailability of 52% was calculated for the coated pellets. The pharmacokinetic parameters of theophylline obtained from beagle dog were also determined. A significant correlation coefficient of 0.9584 was calculated between in vitro percent theophylline release and percent drug absorbed in vivo. Finally, it was concluded that the beagle dog model can be reliably used for the in vivo evaluation of controlled release dosage forms.
Improving decoy databases for protein folding algorithms

Predicting protein structures and simulating protein folding are two of the most important problems in computational biology today. Simulation methods rely on a scoring function to distinguish the native structure (the most energetically stable) from non-native structures. Decoy databases are collections of non-native structures used to test and verify these functions.We present a method to evaluate and improve the quality of decoy databases by adding novel structures and removing redundant structures. We test our approach on 17 different decoy databases of varying size and type and show significant improvement across a variety of metrics. We also test our improved databases on a popular modern scoring function and show that they contain a greater number of native-like structures than the original databases, thereby producing a more rigorous database for testing scoring functions.
Object-oriented virtual environment for visualization of flexible multibody systems

Abstract An object-oriented event-driven virtual environment (VE) for viewing the simulation results of flexible multibody systems (FMS) is developed. The VE interfaces with the following output devices: immersive stereoscopic screen(s) and stereo speakers; and a variety of input devices including, head tracker, wand, joystick, mouse, microphone, and keyboard. The VE incorporates the following types of primitive software objects: user-interface objects, support objects, geometric entities, and finite elements. Each object encapsulates a set of properties, methods, and events that define its behavior, appearance, and functions. A “container” object allows grouping many objects into one object, which inherits the properties of its “children” objects. The VE allows real-time viewing and “fly-through” of photo-realistic models, vibrational mode-shapes, and animation of the dynamic motion of FMS. An application of this VE is presented for visualization of the dynamic analysis results of a large deployable space structure — NASA’s Next Generation Space Telescope.
Smell identification ability: changes with age

Smell identification ability was measured in 1955 persons ranging in age from 5 to 99 years. On the average, women outperformed men at all ages, and nonsmokers outperformed smokers. Peak performance occurred in the third through fifth decades and declined markedly after the seventh. More than half of those 65 to 80 years old evidenced major olfactory impairment. After 80 years, more than three-quarters evidenced major impairment. Given these findings, it is not surprising that many elderly persons complain that food lacks flavor and that the elderly account for a disproportionate number of accidental gas poisoning cases each year.
Simulation of microstructural evolution during TMC monotape consolidation processing

Abstract The consolidation of fiber-reinforced titanium matrix composite (TMC) monotapes produced by spray deposition is an important step in the manufacture of TMC components. The performance of this class of composites is controlled by fiber-matrix properties and by the composite's relative density, fiber microbending stress/fracture and by the interfacial reaction layer thickness at the fiber-matrix interface after processing. These three microstructural features evolve during consolidation processing. Models for predicting the microstructure's dependence upon process conditions (i.e. the time varying pressure and temperature) are combined with consolidation equipment dynamics to simulate the microstructural evolution and to assess the relative “processibility” of several silicon carbide fiber-titanium alloy matrix systems during their transient consolidation processing. The dependence of the microstructural state upon the material system's mechanical properties and the monotape's initial geometry has also been investigated and is used to propose guidelines for the selection of TMC system materials and monotape geometry parameters.
Kosterlitz-Thouless transition in high-Tc superconductor films.

Dynamical theory for the polarization of bound vortex-antivortex pairs near the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition ({ital T}{sub KT}=88.4 K) has been applied to thin films of YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7}. Calculations show that the correct order of magnitude is predicted for the loss function {omega}{ital G}/{ital c}{sup 2} at {ital T}{sub KT}, but the temperature dependence below the transition is wrong. The theoretical value drops much more rapidly with decreasing temperature than observed experimentally. Similar disagreement is found for the penetration depth {lambda}({ital T}). Estimates of the loss function at microwave frequencies show rather large effects near the critical temperature, but these become negligible by 80 K. The performance of microwave devices operating at liquid-N{sub 2} temperature should not be degraded by vortex-antivortex pairs.