cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transition of Chytrid Fungus Infection from Mouthparts to Hind Limbs During Amphibian Metamorphosis

The chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), is implicated in worldwide amphibian declines. Bd has been shown to qualitatively transition from the mouthparts of tadpoles to the hindlimbs during metamorphosis, but we lack evidence of consistency in the timing of this transition across amphibian species. We also do not have predictive functions for the abundance of Bd in mouthparts and limbs as tadpoles develop or for the relationship between keratin and Bd abundance. Hence, researchers presently have little guidance on where to sample developing amphibians to maximize Bd detection, which could affect the accuracy of prevalence and abundance estimates for this deadly pathogen. Here, we show consistency in the timing of the transition of Bd from mouthparts to hind limbs across two frog species (Osteopilus septentrionalis and Mixophyes fasciolatus). Keratin and Bd simultaneously declined from the mouthparts starting at approximately Gosner stage 40. However, keratin on the hindlimbs began to appear at approximately stage 38 but, on average, Bd was not detectable on the hindlimbs until approximately stage 40, suggesting a lag between keratin and Bd arrival. Predictive functions for the relationships between developmental stage and keratin and developmental stage and Bd for mouthparts and hind limbs are provided so that researchers can optimize sampling designs and minimize erroneous conclusions associated with missing Bd infections or misestimating Bd abundance.
Assert use in GitHub projects

Abstract -- Asserts have long been a strongly recommended (if non-functional) adjunct to programs. They certainly don't add any user-evident feature value; and it can take quite some skill and effort to devise and add useful asserts. However, they are believed to add considerable value to the developer. Certainly, they can help with automated verification; but even in the absence of that, claimed advantages include improved understandability, maintainability, easier fault localization and diagnosis, all eventually leading to better software quality. We focus on this latter claim, and use a large dataset of asserts in C and C++ programs to explore the connection between asserts and defect occurrence. Our data suggests a connection: functions with asserts do have significantly fewer defects. This indicates that asserts do play an important role in software quality; we therefore explored further the factors that play a role in assertion placement: specifically, process factors (such as developer experience and ownership) and product factors, particularly interprocedural factors, exploring how the placement of assertions in functions are influenced by local and global network properties of the callgraph. Finally, we also conduct a differential analysis of assertion use across different application domains.
Reduction of hematite (Fe2O3) to wüstite (FeO) by carbon monoxide (CO) for chemical looping combustion

Abstract Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the reduction behavior of hematite by using continuous streams of 5%, 10%, and 20% CO concentrations in N 2 was conducted at temperatures ranging from 750 to 900 °C over ten cycles. The reduced hematite was then oxidized using dry air. The rate of reduction was determined by the sample weight loss. Analysis of the data indicated that the reduction behavior can be described by single rate-determining step and it was controlled by the chemical reaction at the particle surface. The mass spectroscopy analysis of product gas indicated that no carbon deposition was found when operating at these temperature ranges (750–900 °C). The analysis of reduction showed that two reduction steps (Fe 2 O 3 → Fe 3 O 4 , Fe 3 O 4 → FeO) proceed simultaneously. The activation energy was estimated to be 19.0 ± 0.14 kJ/mole.
Colonial thermoregulation in honey bees (Apis mellifera)

1. Populations of honey bees held at a constant temperature for 24–48 h exhibited diurnal rhythms of metabolic rate (MR) and locomotor activity with peaks during the day and lows at night. The amplitude of the metabolic rhythm decreased as air temperature (Tin) increased. 2. Thermoregulatory behaviors including clustering and fanning occurred in cycles which correlated with the diurnal rhythms of MR and activity. 3. At cold air temperature (10°C), a high rate of thermoregulatory heat production was independent of visible activity, and conversely, at high air temperatures (40°C), MR was low despite increased locomotor activity. 4. Decreasing air temperature from 30 to 10°C day and night resulted in clustering, and metabolic increases proportional to the degree of cooling. Raising air temperature from 30 to 40°C day and night caused a drop in metabolic rate, an increase in locomotor activity, and fanning. 5. Day/night differences in thermoregulatory responses to cooling included a nocturnal reduction of the threshold air temperature for thermogenesis and a decrease in the slopes of the metabolic response curves below this threshold. At 10°C there was more clustering at night than during the day. 6. The presence of capped brood moderates these responses in a quantitative manner, as indicated by the greater metabolic rate when the bee/brood ratio is small and the greater amount of clustering on brood comb than on broodless comb. 7. At cold air temperatures (10°C), capped brood temperature is maintained above 30°C through the combined effects of clustering and thermogenesis. The metabolic responses are inversely correlated with the degree of clustering.
A 3D system prototype of an eDRAM cache stacked over processor-like logic using through-silicon vias

3D integration (3DI) holds promise for improved performance of integrated systems by increasing interconnect bandwidth [1]. A processor stacked with cache memory is one potential application of 3DI [2]. This work describes the design and operation of a prototype of a 3D system, constructed by stacking a memory layer, built with eDRAM [3] and logic blocks from the IBM Power7™ processor L3 cache, and a “processor proxy” layer in 45nm CMOS technology [4] enhanced to include through-silicon vias (TSVs) [5]. Unlike the previously reported 3D eDRAM [6], the 3D stack described here is constructed using 50μm pitch μC4's joining the front side of one thick chip to TSV connections on the back side of a thinned chip. TSVs are formed of Cu-filled vias that are ∼20μm in diameter and <100μm deep [5].
Meta-analysis of mass balances examining chemical fate during wastewater treatment

Mass balances are an instructive means for investigating the fate of chemicals during wastewater treatment. In addition to the aqueous-phase removal efficiency (phi), they can inform on chemical partitioning, transformation, and persistence, as well as on the chemical loading to streams and soils receiving, respectively, treated effluent and digested sewage sludge (biosolids). Release rates computed on a per-capita basis can serve to extrapolate findings to a larger scale. This review examines over a dozen mass balances conducted for various organic wastewater contaminants, including prescription drugs, estrogens, fragrances, antimicrobials, and surfactants of differing sorption potential (hydrophobicity), here expressed as the 1-octanol-water partition coefficient (K(OW)) and the organic carbon normalized sorption coefficient (K(OC)). Major challengesto mass balances are the collection of representative samples and accurate quantification of chemicals in sludge. A meta-analysis of peer-reviewed data identified sorption potential as the principal determinant governing chemical persistence in biosolids. Occurrence data for organic wastewater compounds detected in digested sludge followed a simple nonlinear model that required only K(OW) or K(OC) as the input and yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.9 in both instances. The model predicted persistence in biosolids for the majority (> 50%) of the input load of organic wastewater compounds featuring a log10 K(OW) value of greater than 5.2 (log10 K(OC) > 4.4). In contrast, hydrophobicity had no or only limited value for estimating, respectively, phi and the overall persistence of a chemical during conventional wastewater treatment.
Optical fiber sensing of corroded materials using optical fibers as remote probes

The purpose of this effort is to apply an in-situ corrosion remote sensing capability in aircraft structural environments. The technique will permit detection of corrosion on and within aircraft structures and component junctions that are susceptible to corrosion, but which are not accessible for visual inspection. The field application configuration includes surface and embedded optical fiber probes interfaced with a Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) interferometer for evanescent wave absorption spectroscopic measurements. The mature and fielded technique will allow periodic remote sensing for structural health monitoring and detection of corrosion. The potential advantages of optical fiber sensors result from the fact that the sensing element, the optical fiber, is small size, light weight, and immune to electromagnetic field. Also it can be attached to surfaces or embedded in junctions in aircraft structures, in locations where humidity and corrosion can accumulate, but cannot be directly observed.
Screened Coulomb potential based implicit solvent model: Formulation and parameter development

An implicit solvent model (ISM) for use in molecular mechanics, Monte Carlo, and molecular dynamics simulations on proteins and nucleic acids is proposed that is based on describing the electrostatic component with a screened Coulomb potential (SCP). The SCP has been extended so that both the electrostatic interaction energies and the self-energy terms are included in the solvation energy where the latter has been calculated from the integral Born equation. In addition, the SCP is generalized to allow an accounting of the positional dependence of the interactions between charges in a dielectric. To test the potential of the method to provide a reliable and fast implicit description of solvent, a parameter set has been determined to calculate hydration free energies of a group of small-molecule analogs for neutral amino acid residues. Comparison of the calculated with experimental hydration energies of 18 molecules yields a correlation greater than 0.99, demonstrating the feasibility of the method to form the basis of an ISM. A parameter set based solely on hydration energies is not sufficient to account for the considerably different physical conditions found for a solute in the protein “solvent.” Methods are explored for further generalizing the parameters to account for macromolecular structure, and it is shown that it may be possible to find a positional function of the coordinates that correlates well with the fraction of each amino acid residue buried in the macromolecule. Such a function would reduce computing time by replacing the need for repetitive calculations of the solvent-accessible surface area (and its derivatives in the case of molecular dynamics simulations) with a simple function of the coordinates. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 69: 57–64, 1998
Attosecond pulse carrier-envelope phase effects on ionized electron momentum and energy distributions

We analyze carrier-envelope phase (CEP) effects on electron wave-packet momentum and energy spectra produced by one or two few-cycle attosecond xuv pulses. The few-cycle attosecond pulses are assumed to have arbitrary phases. We predict CEP effects on ionized electron wave-packet momentum distributions produced by attosecond pulses having durations comparable to those obtained by Sansone et al. [Science 314, 443 (2006)]. The onset of significant CEP effects is predicted to occur for attosecond pulse field strengths close to those possible with current experimental capabilities. Our results are based on single-active-electron solutions of the three-dimensional, time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation including atomic potentials appropriate for the H and He atoms.
Critical analysis of a large series of pancreaticogastrostomy after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Hypothesis Pancreaticogastrostomy is a safe operation for a variety of periampullary conditions. Design Retrospective review of a prospectively collected database. Setting An academic tertiary care university hospital and a Veterans Affairs hospital. Patients A total of 235 consecutive patients who underwent pancreaticogastrostomy. Main Outcome Measures Indications for surgery, preoperative risk factors, intraoperative and postoperative variables, and factors that affect postoperative complications. Results The most common initial symptoms were jaundice (73.2%), weight loss (23.8%), and abdominal pain (17.0%). The 4 most common indications for surgery were pancreatic adenocarcinoma (41.3%), ampullary carcinoma (17.0%), duodenal carcinoma (7.2%), and chronic pancreatitis (7.2%). The median operating time was 6.5 hours. Median blood loss was 900 mL. The median intraoperative blood transfusion was 0 U. The median postoperative length of stay was 9 days. Postoperative mortality was 0.9%. The most common complications were pancreatic fistulae (13.6%), 1 of which was thought to cause 1 of 2 mortalities in this series. Pancreatic fistulae developing after pancreaticogastrostomy were significantly related to a low preoperative alkaline phosphatase level and surgery for nonpancreatic pathologic findings. The presence of a fistula significantly increased the postoperative length of hospital stay. Conclusions Pancreaticogastrostomy is a safe operation associated with low mortality and morbidity rates and a pancreatic fistula rate of 13.6%. It should be considered as a suitable alternative for management of the pancreatic remnant after pancreaticoduodenectomy.
Chemical Constituents of the Fruits of Morinda citrifolia (Noni) and Their Antioxidant Activity

Purification of a n-BuOH-soluble partition of the MeOH extract of Morinda citrifolia (Noni) fruits led to the isolation of two new iridoid glucosides, 6alpha-hydroxyadoxoside (1) and 6beta,7beta-epoxy-8-epi-splendoside (2), as well as 17 known compounds, americanin A (3), narcissoside (4), asperuloside, asperulosidic acid, borreriagenin, citrifolinin B epimer a, citrifolinin B epimer b, cytidine, deacetylasperuloside, dehydromethoxygaertneroside, epi-dihydrocornin, d-glucose, d-mannitol, methyl alpha-d-fructofuranoside, methyl beta-d-fructofuranoside, nicotifloroside, and beta-sitosterol 3-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside. The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectroscopic data interpretation. Compound 4, borreriagenin, cytidine, deacetylasperuloside, dehydromethoxygaertneroside, epi-dihydrocornin, methyl alpha-d-fructofuranoside, and methyl beta-d-fructofuranoside were isolated for the first time from M. citrifolia. The antioxidant activity was evaluated for all isolates in terms of both DPPH and ONOO(-) bioassays. The neolignan, americanin A (3), was found to be a potent antioxidant in these assays.
Aerodynamic mission concepts for the Mars sample return mission

Future plans for the continued exploration of Mars call for a sample return mission. This plan proposes bringing a distributed, selected sample of Mars material from several locales on Mars back to earth. The mission options studied to date utilize an extensive number of aerodynamic concepts not previously planned in past planetary exploration programs. These include various modes of orbit modification using atmospheric braking, aeromaneuvering to effect precision surface landing, very low ballistic entry for a network of surface penetrators, low flying hydrazine powered airplanes, balloons, ascent vehicles and direct entry of the samples on return to earth. This paper will discuss the concepts and their feasibility along with technology problems associated with them as surveyed from the reference material. The paper focuses primarily on the aerocapture technique as it relates to Mars orbit modification. Remaining orbit modification techniques are also discussed briefly for comparison.
A Home-Based Intervention to Improve Balance, Gait and Self-Confidence in Older Women

Much of the current research focusing on the physical function of the elderly involves closely monitored interventions in group settings. Although home-based programs might be more appropriate for many older adults, little research is available. In this investigation, the authors tested a home-based exercise program targeting balance and mobility, and assessed concomitant changes in psychological well-being in healthy, active elderly. Twenty women (Mage = 83.2 years, range = 73-92 years) volunteered, with 6 non-exercise controls, 7 completing the 8-week program, and 7 dropping out. The three groups did not differ on any measures at pre-test. At post-test, exercisers and non-exercisers did not differ on balance, mobility, or psychological measures, but differences for preferred walking speed and step length approached significance. Pre-post comparisons indicated that exercisers significantly increased their activity levels, walked faster and were stronger following the intervention. Although large differences did not occur for outcome measures, participants reported that the training tasks were helpful. They became more proficient and confident, and provided useful information for modifying the tasks and improving efficacy of the training. Results suggest that home-based interventions have potential for improving and maintaining physical function in elderly adults.
Open Source Textbooks: A Paradigm Derived from Open Source Software

This work exposes a new paradigm for the creation and publication of textbooks: open source. The phrase open source is borrowed from the computer software industry, where the word source has a technical meaning explained in this paper; open source software is software which has been developed by many collaborators using the internet to produce a final product. The contributors receive no financial compensation, yet there have been many successful open source software projects (Linux, Open Office, Apache, etc.). Open source textbooks use a similar financial model; the authors and contributors receive no direct financial compensation for their work. Contributors are listed in the produced work as primary author(s), co-authors, contributors, minor contributors, etc. according to the magnitude of their contribution. The produced work is available free for users on the internet. This paper will explain the open source process and will provide justification for open source as an effective paradigm; it will also present some existing open source textbook projects, as well as the author’s own open source textbook project.
Development of a Cytotoxic T-Cell Assay in Rabbits to Evaluate Early Immune Response to Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Type 1 Infection

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection causes adult T-cell lymphoma/leukemia (ATL) following a prolonged clinical incubation period, despite a robust adaptive immune response against the virus. Early immune responses that allow establishment of the infection are difficult to study without effective animal models. We have developed a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) assay to monitor the early events of HTLV-1 infection in rabbits. Rabbit skin fibroblast cell lines were established by transformation with a plasmid expressing simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen and used as autochthonous targets (derived from same individual animal) to measure CTL activity against HTLV-1 infection in rabbits. Recombinant vaccinia virus (rVV) constructs expressing either HTLV-1 envelope surface unit (SU) glycoprotein 46 or Tax proteins were used to infect fibroblast targets in a (51)Cr-release CTL assay. Rabbits inoculated with Jurkat T cells or ACH.2 cells (expressing ACH HTLV-1 molecule clone) were monitored at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 13, 21, and 34 wk post-infection. ACH.2-inoculated rabbits were monitored serologically and for viral infected cells following ex vivo culture. Proviral load analysis indicated that rabbits with higher proviral loads had significant CTL activity against HTLV-1 SU as early as 2 wk post-infection, while both low- and high-proviral-load groups had minimal Tax-specific CTL activity throughout the study. This first development of a stringent assay to measure HTLV-1 SU and Tax-specific CTL assay in the rabbit model will enhance immunopathogenesis studies of HTLV-1 infection. Our data suggest that during the early weeks following infection, HTLV-1-specific CTL responses are primarily targeted against Env-SU.
Foreign Language Houses: Identities in Transition.

This study examined the lived experience of students participating in foreign language houses to improve their skills in Russian, French, or Japanese. American students residing in apartments with other language learners and a native-speaking resident facilitator were required to speak with one another exclusively in the target language and participate in activities such as preparing and eating dinner together. Data sources for the study included interviews, observations, and video recordings. The data, which were analyzed qualitatively, revealed that the central experience of living in the foreign language house was the creation of a livable community and that use of the L2 was a secondary priority. A number of factors influence the livability of a given community, including the size of the community, proficiency levels, and participants' investments in and identification with the community. Participants forged alternate identities in relationship to their new communities. Based on these findings, the st...
Influence of yogurt fermentation and refrigerated storage on the stability of protein toxin contaminants.

Dairy products sold in a ready-to-eat form present the risk that adulterants persisting through manufacturing, storage, and distribution would reach consumers. Pathogenic microbes, including shigatoxigenic strains of Escherichia coli and the toxins they produce, are common food safety hazards associated with dairy products. Ricin and abrin are plant-derived ribosome-inactivating protein toxins related to the shiga-like toxins produced by E. coli. Limited information exists on the effects of manufacturing processes on the stabilities of these heat-resistant ribosome-inactivating proteins in the presence of foods. The goal of this study was to determine how typical yogurt manufacturing and storage processes influence ribosome-inactivating protein toxins. Ricin and abrin were added to skim or whole milk and batch pasteurized. Complete inactivation of both toxins was observed after 30 minutes at 85 °C. If the toxins were added after pasteurization, the levels of ricin and abrin in yogurt and their cytotoxic activities did not change significantly during fermentation or refrigerated storage for 4 weeks. The activities of ricin and abrin were inhibited by skim milk, nonfat yogurt, whole milk, and whole milk yogurt. The results showed minimal effects of the toxins on yogurt pH and %titratable acidity but inhibitory effects of yogurt on toxin activity.
Computable general equilibrium with financial markets

There are a wide variety of theoretical general equilibrium models with incomplete security markets. In this paper we give a general recipe for using homotopy algorithm to compute equilibria in these models. In many models, taxes, transaction-costs or other market frictions introduce the additional difficulty that equilibrium prices or choices (but not equilibrium allocations) may be undetermined. In order to demonstrate how these difficulties can be dealt with, we develop a globally convergent algorithm to compute equilibria in a model with cash-in-advance constraints, several goods and incomplete financial markets. Furthermore we describe how to implement the algorithm using a publicly available suite of subroutines for homotopy-pathfollowing.
FULL EMPLOYMENT AS A POLICY ISSUE

Passage of the Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1978 is the most recent step in the development of a national full employment policy. This article traces the origin of the legislative debate over full employment back to the 1940s, the only previous time that Congress gave serious consideration to full employment legislation. It analyzes the conflicting economic and political interests and philosophies that led to the defeat of the Full Employment Bill of 1945 and to passage of weaker legislation, the Employment Act of 1946, which dropped the commitment to full employment. The article then traces the contours of unemployment since World War II: recurrent recessions; significant unemployment between recessions; the unequal distribution of joblessness, hitting hardest at groups such as minorities, women, and youths; and growing urban and regional unemployment. Some of the hidden social, human and economic costs of unemployment are explored. So is the relationship between unemployment and crime, poverty, welfare, the urban crisis and inequality. Full employment reemerged as a major issue in the 1970s because of the impetus from groups whose unemployment problems persist between recessions. Coalitions of these groups pressed for a national policy to secure full employment for all groups. This led to passage of the Humphrey-Hawkins Act. But the controversy over full employment has not ended. Attempts to implement the Act, the article concludes, may heighten underlying controversies over issues such as inflation, wage, price and profit controls, the environment, and job creation and may make full employment one of the leading domestic issues of the 1980s.
A Frequency Counter Based Analog-to-Digital Converter for a Low-Power RFID Biomedical Telemetry System

This paper describes a method for determining a digital representation of a remote sensing element using a novel and lower power method of analog to digital conversion [1]. This conversion process is most effective for low-frequency and very low current Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) sensing systems where the sensing element tags are powered by an inductively coupled carrier signal of fixed frequency. This method eliminates the need for a traditional, large and power-hungry Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC). This approach is being developed for an orthopedic application that measures the invivo strain on titanium rods to help surgeons better understand the progress of fusion in spinal fusion surgery [2]. Previous work has been shown using the difference of two clocks for sending digital data from the reader to the tag [3], whereas this approach is optimized for sending digital data in the other direction, from tag to the reader. The sensor element may be a resistive or capacitive device integrated into an oscillator of variable frequency. This variable oscillation signal is then divided down and used as the time base to a frequency counter clocked by the recovered carrier signal. In recovering and using the carrier signal as an internal clock, an additional on chip oscillator is not necessary. The resultant value then undergoes additional post processing to add a unique identification string, a CRC check word, Manchester encoding, and Frequency-Shift Key (FSK) encoding for load modulation transmission [3,4].© 2007 ASME
The advantages and drawbacks of routine magnetic resonance imaging for long-term post-treatment locoregional surveillance of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract Purpose Assess the clinical utility and accuracy of routine surveillance head and neck magnetic resonance imaging (HN-MRI) for the detection of locoregional recurrence in patients with a history of oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) without concurrent suspicious symptoms or signs 6 months or more after treatment. Materials and methods For OCSCC patients who underwent routine (defined as: without concurrent suspicious symptoms or signs) surveillance HN-MRI at 6 months or more after treatment completion, we retrospectively determined the detection rate of locoregional disease and false positive rate. Results Out of an original cohort of 533 OCSCC patients, 46 patients, who were disease-free 6 months after treatment, had undergone 108 routine HN-MRIs from 6 to 48 months after surgery without the presence of concurrent suspicious symptoms or signs and had 6 months of subsequent follow up. 1 out of 46 (2.2%) had a true positive regional recurrence. 10 out of 46 (21.7%) patients experienced a false positive locoregional finding. Conclusions Routine HN-MRI for locoregional surveillance of OCSCC, when used in patients without concurrent suspicious symptoms or exam findings over 6 months since treatment, may be unnecessary and costly given the very low rate of recurrence and high false positive rate. Our study supports the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guideline of limiting imaging after 6 months of primary treatment completion to patients with suspicious clinical findings. Nonetheless, managing physicians should continue to be empowered to use surveillance imaging based on risk profiles and unique circumstances for each patient.
Some fundamental aspects of building protein structures from fragment libraries.

We have investigated some of the basic principles that influence generation of protein structures using a fragment-based, random insertion method. We tested buildup methods and fragment library quality for accuracy in constructing a set of known structures. The parameters most influential in the construction procedure are bond and torsion angles with minor inaccuracies in bond angles alone causing >6 A CαRMSD for a 150-residue protein. Idealization to a standard set of values corrects this problem, but changes the torsion angles and does not work for every structure. Alternatively, we found using Cartesian coordinates instead of torsion angles did not reduce performance and can potentially increase speed and accuracy. Under conditions simulating ab initio structure prediction, fragment library quality can be suboptimal and still produce near-native structures. Using various clustering criteria, we created a number of libraries and used them to predict a set of native structures based on nonnative fragments. Local CαRMSD fit of fragments, library size, and takeoff/landing angle criteria weakly influence the accuracy of the models. Based on a fragment's minimal perturbation upon insertion into a known structure, a seminative fragment library was created that produced more accurate structures with fragments that were less similar to native fragments than the other sets. These results suggest that fragments need only contain native-like subsections, which when correctly overlapped, can recreate a native-like model. For fragment-based, random insertion methods used in protein structure prediction and design, our findings help to define the parameters this method needs to generate near-native structures.
Development and comparison of Landsat radiometric and snowpack model inversion techniques for estimating geothermal heat flux

Abstract We present the first quantitative representation of the intensity of Yellowstone National Park's surficial geothermal activity mapped continuously in space. A radiative thermal anomaly was remotely sensed throughout a 19,682-km 2 landscape covering Yellowstone National Park in the northern Rocky Mountains, USA. The anomaly is the residual terrestrial emittance measured using the Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper after accounting for elevation and solar effects, and was hypothesized to be an estimator of a lower bound for geothermal heat flux (GHF). Continuous variations in the anomaly were measured ranging from 0 W m − 2 up to a maximum heat flux of at least 94 W m − 2 (at the 28.5 m pixel scale). An independent method was developed for measuring GHF at smaller scales, based on inversion of a snowpack simulation model, combined with field mapping of snow-free perimeters around selected geothermal features. These perimeters were assumed to be approximately isothermal, with a mean GHF estimated as the minimum heat flux required to ablate the simulated snowpack at that location on the day of field survey. The remotely sensed thermal anomaly correlated well ( r = 0.82) with the snowpack-inversion measurements, and supported the hypothesis that the anomaly estimates a lower bound for GHF. These methods enable natural resource managers to identify, quantify and predict changes in heat flux over time in geothermally active areas. They also provide a quantitative basis for understanding the degree to which Yellowstone's famous wildlife herds are actually dependent on geothermal activity.
Heat shock improves recovery and provides protection against global ischemia after hypothermic storage.

Background. Improved methods of donor heart preparation before preservation could allow for prolonged storage and permit remote procurement of these organs. Previous studies have shown that overexpression of heat-shock protein 72 provides protection against ischemic cardiac damage. We sought to determine whether rats subjected to heat stress with only 6-hour recovery could acquire protection to a subsequent heart storage for 12 hours at 4°C. Methods. Three groups of animals (n 5 10 each) were studied: control, sham-treated, and heat-shocked rats (whole-body hyperthermia 42°C for 15 minutes). After 12-hour cold ischemia hearts were reperfused on a Langendorff column. To confirm any differences in functional recovery, hearts were then subjected to an additional 15-minute period of warm global ischemia after which function and lactate dehydrogenase enzyme leakage were measured. Results. Heat-shocked animals showed marked improvements compared with controls in left ventricular developed pressure (63 6 4 mm Hg versus 44 6 4m m Hg, p threefold) compared with sham-treated animals and controls. Conclusions. Heat shock 6 hours before heart removal resulted in marked expression of heat-shock protein 72 and protected isolated rat hearts by increased functional recovery and decreased cellular necrosis after 12-hour cold ischemia in a protocol mimicking that of heart preservation for transplantation. Protection was further confirmed after an additional 15-minute period of warm ischemia.
The postmortem Alzheimer brain is a source of structurally and functionally intact astrocytic messenger RNA.

Abstract Although the precise role of astrocytes in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is currently undefined, studies carried out at the molecular level may lead to new insights into the functioning of this class of brain cells in dementia. In order to facilitate such investigations, methods are described that establish that structurally and functionally intact messenger RNA (mRNA) for an astrocytic marker, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), is present in the postmortem Alzheimer's disease brain after long postmortem intervals. Rapid preparative procedures were used to obtain poly(A) + RNA from postmortem control and AD cortices. In vitro protein synthesis was carried out in a reticulocyte system. Relative to controls. AD mRNA synthesized a two-fold higher level of a 50,000 mol.wt. protein that was immunologically identified as GFAP. High levels of GFAP synthesis by purified mRNA from AD cortices was independent of age at death and postmortem interval up to 24 h. Northern blot hybridization using a cloned human GFAP riboprobe was used to evaluate postmortem GFAP mRNA stability. No appreciable degradation products of GFAP mRNA were observed on Northern blots for at least 10 h postmortem in poly(A) + RNA extracted from the AD brain. The described methodology demonstrates that the postmortem AD brain is an excellent source of functionally and structurally intact astrocyte-specific mRNA.
Selective COX-2 inhibitor (celecoxib) decreases cellular growth in prostate cancer cell lines independent of p53

Celecoxib is a clinically available COX-2 inhibitor that has been reported to have antineoplastic activity. It has been proposed as a preventative agent for several types of early neoplastic lesions. Earlier studies have shown that sensitivity of prostatic carcinoma (PCa) to celecoxib is associated with apoptosis; however, these studies have not demonstrated adequately whether this effect is dependent on p53 status. We studied the relation between sensitivity to celecoxib and the phenotypic p53 status of PCa cells lines, LNCaP (wild type p53), PC3 (null p53) and DU145 (mutated p53). Cellular growth was assessed at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after celecoxib treatment at concentrations of 0, 10, 30, 50, 70 and 100 μM using an MTT assay. Cellular proliferation (Ki-67 expression) was determined by immunocytochemistry. Phenotypic expression of p53 was analyzed by western blotting. The effects of celecoxib on cellular growth and its association with p53 were assessed after down-regulation of p53 using synthetic interfering RNAs (siRNA) in LNCaP cells. Expression of p53 and COX-2 at mRNA levels was assessed by quantitative real time polymerase reaction (qRT-PCR). We found that celecoxib inhibited cellular growth and proliferation in a dose-dependent manner in all three cell lines; LNCaP cells with a native p53 were the most sensitive to celecoxib. We observed a down- regulation effect on p53 in LNCaP cells exposed to ≥ 30 μM celecoxib for 72 h, but found no significant changes in the p53 levels of DU145 cells, which have a mutated p53. Reduced COX-2 expression was found with decreased p53 in LNCaP and PC-3 cells that were exposed to ≥ 20 μM of celecoxib for 72 h, but COX-2 expression was increased in DU145 cells. All three cell lines demonstrated pan-cytotoxicity when exposed to 100 μM celecoxib. When p53 expression was inhibited using siRNA in LNCaP cells, the inhibitory effects on cellular growth usually exerted by celecoxib were not changed significantly. Celecoxib reduces the growth of prostate cancer cell lines in part by decreasing proliferation, which suggests that the inhibition of growth of LNCaP cells by celecoxib is independent of normal levels of native p53.
Ocean eddies, predator pits and bluefin tuna: implications of an inferred ‘low risk–limited payoff’ reproductive scheme of a (former) archetypical top predator

The conventional view of the reproductive ecology of bluefin tunas (Thunnus thynnus, Thunnus orientalis, Thunnus maccoyii) leads to a conceptual paradox. Simple arithmetic yields an expectation for wide variation in annual reproductive success. However, the historical record does not support this prediction. A conclusion would seem to be that a much stronger than usual density dependence must be acting. It is here argued that this strong density dependence may likely occur within small strongly convergent segments of energetically forced ocean eddy structures. Success of the implied ecological scenario requires spawning schools of sufficient size to generate sufficiently copious reproductive product to circumvent resident predator pits, while exerting sufficient predatory loss on resident predators to facilitate this circumvention. This in turn implies existence of a dangerous ‘precipice’ in the form of self-enhancing feedback loop, lurking unperceived beyond the range of historical experience, and a need for a particular degree of precaution in managing the exploitation of this iconic species.
Weighted inequalities for multilinear fractional integral operators

A weighted theory for multilinear fractional integral operators and maximal functions is presented. Sufficient conditions for the two weight inequalities of these operators are found, including “power and logarithmic bumps” and anA ∞ condition. For one weight inequalities a necessary and sufficient condition is then obtained as a consequence of the two weight inequalities. As an application, Poincare and Sobolev inequalities adapted to the multilinear setting are presented.
A β-Catenin-Dependent Wnt Pathway Mediates Anteroposterior Axon Guidance in C. elegans Motor Neurons

Background Wnts are secreted glycoproteins that regulate diverse aspects of development, including cell proliferation, cell fate specification and differentiation. More recently, Wnts have been shown to direct axon guidance in vertebrates, flies and worms. However, little is known about the intracellular signaling pathways downstream of Wnts in axon guidance. Methodology/principal findings Here we show that the posterior C. elegans Wnt protein LIN-44 repels the axons of the adjacent D-type motor neurons by activating its receptor LIN-17/Frizzled on the neurons. Moreover, mutations in mig-5/Disheveled, gsk-3, pry-1/Axin, bar-1/beta-catenin and pop-1/TCF, also cause disrupted D-type axon pathfinding. Reduced BAR-1/beta-catenin activity in D-type axons leads to undergrowth of axons, while stabilization of BAR-1/beta-catenin in a lin-23/SCF(beta-TrCP) mutant results in an overextension phenotype. Conclusions/significance Together, our data provide evidence that Wnt-mediated axon guidance can be transduced through a beta-catenin-dependent pathway.
Effect of renal function loss on NT-proBNP level variations.

Abstract Objective NT-proBNP level is used for the detection of acute CHF and as a predictor of survival. However, a number of factors, including renal function, may affect the NT-proBNP levels. This study aims to provide a more precise way of interpreting NT-proBNP levels based on GFR, independent of age. Methods This study includes 247 pts in whom CHF and known confounders of elevated NT-proBNP were excluded, to show the relationship of GFR in association with age. The effect of eGFR on NT-proBNP level was adjusted by dividing 1000 ⁎ log(NT-proBNP) by eGFR then further adjusting for age in order to determine a normalized NT-proBNP value. Results The normalized NT-proBNP levels were affected by eGFR independent of the age of the patient. Conclusion A normalizing function based on eGFR eliminates the need for an age-based reference ranges for NT-proBNP.
Progress in the Prospective Study of the Schizophrenia Prodrome.

Further understanding of the schizophrenia spectrum has helped to define the prodrome of the illness, leading to hopes of earlier identification and intervention in susceptible, at-risk individuals. Given the heterogeneity and comorbidity observed in the clinically and demographically identified prodromal sample, it is essential that neurobiological markers that are more closely linked to brain function, and perhaps the ability to predict evolution of psychosis, be identified. Ultimately, it may be possible to identify an algorithm of risk factors that will combine clinical and demographic risk factors with vulnerability markers associated with later development of schizophrenia to better target at-risk individuals for preventative treatment.
Quinone-tanning in the reptilia and aves

Pour la premiere fois on rapporte la presence de sclerotine dans la papille conicale du gecko,Hemidactylus turicus turicus (Reptilia) et dans la pectine du petrel,Fregetta grallaria (Aves).
Effects of Annealing Temperature on the Charge-Collection and Light-Harvesting Properties of TiO2 Nanotube-Based Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells

We report on the influence of annealing temperature (Ta) on the microstructure and dynamics of electron transport and recombination in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) incorporating oriented titanium oxide nanotube (NT) arrays. The morphology of the NT arrays was characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopies and Raman and X-ray diffraction spectroscopies. Over the temperature range from 200 to 600 °C, the crystallinity, crystal phase, and structural integrity of the NT walls underwent pronounced changes whereas the overall film architecture remained intact. Increasing Ta from 200 to 400 °C transformed the as-deposited NT film from the amorphous phase to partially crystalline (300 °C) to fully crystalline anatase (400 °C). When the as-deposited NTs were detached from the underlying Ti substrate and then annealed, the anatase crystallites comprising the NT walls were stable to at least 600 °C in air. When the NTs remained attached to the substrate, thermal oxidation of the Ti metal init...
Mapping of proctolinlike immunoreactivity in the nervous systems of lobster and crayfish

Whole-mount immunocytochemical techniques have been used to map candidate proctolin-containing cells in the central nervous systems of the lobster, Homarus americanus, and the crayfish, Procambarus clarkii. Proctolinlike immunoreactivity was detected in cell bodies and neuropil regions in all central ganglia, and immunoreactive axons were detected in most interganglionic connectives and nerve roots. Cell body staining was confined to fewer than 2% of all cells. Immunoreactive neurons include motoneurons, sensory neurons, neurosecretory cells, and interneurons. Colocalization of the proctolinlike antigen with other neurotransmitters was indicated in a number of cases. Many aspects of the distribution of immunoreactivity were similar in lobster and crayfish; however, staining differences were detected in a number of identified neurons and neural groups, including neurons that innervate the pericardial organs and hindgut motoneurons. Further studies of such neurons might provide interesting clues about the physiological functions of proctolin and the evolution of peptide transmission.
Variance estimation in the EMAP strategy for sampling discrete ecological resources

The United States Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) is designed to describe status, trends and spatial pattern of indicators of condition of the nation's ecological resources. The proposed sampling design for EMAP is based on a triangular systematic grid and employs both variable probability and double sampling. The Horvitz-Thompson estimator provides the foundation of the design-based estimation strategy used in EMAP. However, special features of EMAP designed to accommodate the complexity of sampling environmental resources on a national scale require modifications of standard variance estimation procedures as well as development of new techniques. An overview of variance estimation methods proposed for application to EMAP's sampling strategy for discrete resources is presented.
Electrochemistry of individual molecules in zeptoliter volumes.

Electrochemical experiments were carried out in a nanometer-sized cylindrical thin layer cell (TLC) formed by etching the surface of a disk-type platinum nanoelectrode (5- to 150-nm radius). Using high frequency ac voltage, the surface of such an electrode was etched to remove a very thin (≥1-nm-thick) layer of Pt. The resulting zeptoliter-scale cavity inside the glass sheath was filled with aqueous solution containing redox species, and the etched electrode was immersed in a dry (no external solution) pool of mercury to produce a TLC. Several approaches based on steady-state voltammetry and scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) were developed to independently evaluate the electrode radius and the etched volume. The number of redox molecules in the TLC could be varied between one and a few hundred by changing its volume and solution concentration. In this way, the transition between a random and deterministic number of trapped molecules was observed. High quality steady-state voltammograms of ≥1 mole...
Levels of Risk Taken by Extraverted and Introverted Alcoholics as a Function of Drinking Whisky

Risk-taking among 15 extravert and 15 introvert alcoholics, randomly assigned to a non-drinking, a drinking, and an anticipation of drinking treatment, was studied. Risk level choices varied from a 1/1 chance (certainty) of winning $0ṁ10 to a 1/10 chance of winning $1ṁ00. As predicted, non-drinking extraverts were riskier than non-drinking introverts; drinking introverts were riskier than non-drinking introverts. Unexpectedly, drinking extraverts were least risky. Drinking anticipation increased introvert but not extravert risk. The interrelationships of extraversion risk, and drinking are discussed. The findings are compatible with the law of initial values and a curvilinear arousal model described by Eysenck.