cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Water development and management for desertification control: A review of the past decade

When plans for two United Nations conferences on water and desertification were initiated ten years ago, the interconnection between the two was recognized. Accordingly, one of the resolutions of the UN Water Conference was aimed at the role of water in combating desertification. This article reviews water development and management for desertification on a global basis over the past decade, with particular reference to: planning management and institutional aspects, assessment of water resources, agricultural water use, mitigation of natural hazards, conservation and enhancement of water quality, shared water resources, community water supply, environment and health, and education and training.
Called to Write: The AALL/LexisNexis Call for Papers Award Has Been Motivating Law Librarians for Nearly 30 Years

Keele, B. J., and Sampson, S. (2014). Called to write: The AALL/LexisNexis Call for Papers award has been motivating law librarians for nearly 30 years. AALL Spectrum, 18(6), 20-21.
Editing in the Age of Automation

����� ��� At a recent conference, 1 Gregory Crane entreated: “We need editors—lots of them.” Crane, the digital classicist who heads the Perseus Project, regards editing as a foundational scholarly act, as “the sustained process of making primary sources intellectually accessible.” Crane sees many values in editing—including democratizing access and scholarship and rejuvenating the humanities—and contends that a new wave of digital editing will centrally involve two tasks. “As we confront the challenge of editing billions of words,” he notes, “we need editors who can apply automated methods.” At the same time, “the real effort lies, or should lie, in thinking about every word in the text.” On the surface these injunctions seem contradictory: how can editing staggering quantities of words depend upon hands-off automated methods and thinking about every word in the text? Crane gets around this with a sensible explanation: editions should become living creations composed of contributions from multiple editors, and editors should create the editions carefully with later automated study in mind. I find Crane’s appeal for editors refreshing, much needed, and well supported. In this essay I look at two scholarly values, one new and one old, both of which Crane alludes to here, that complicate the work of digital editing: automation and authenticity. Together, these different aims limit the development of digital editions that do not conform to the aims of distant reading or of single-author study. The landscape of digital humanities pr ojects is populated with well-developed examples of tools, digital libraries and mass digitization projects, and archives focused on single authors. There are not as many examples of digital projects that study multiple authors and that afford such texts the kind of attention that most single-author archives do. Methods for building and using digital texts seem today to be fairly polarized: on the one had we can invoke distant-reading methods, typically by searching or analyzing large quantities of texts; on the other hand we can pore over deeply edited collections of (usually) canonical authors. These methods work well for many users, but are not optimal for scholars who are interested in what I might call “medium-distance” scholarship—scholarship that studies multiple texts or even multiple
In-hospital initiation of statin therapy in patients with acute coronary events.

After acute coronary events, patients remain at high risk for recurrent cardiovascular events and mortality. Despite the compelling scientific and clinical trial evidence that statin therapy reduces mortality in patients after acute coronary events, this life-saving therapy continues to be underutilized. It is now recognized that the setting in which statin therapy is initiated has a major impact on patient adherence. In-hospital initiation of statin therapy has been demonstrated to result in a markedly increased treatment rate, improved long-term patient compliance, more patients reaching low-density lipoprotein levels less than 100 mg/dL, and improved long-term clinical outcomes. As long-term risk reduction is seen with statin therapy irrespective of baseline low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, virtually all acute coronary event patients are candidates for statin treatment. In-hospital initiation of statin therapy may also reduce early clinical events in acute coronary syndrome patients, but further research is required before this is fully established. The adoption of in-hospital initiation of statin therapy as the standard of care for patients hospitalized with acute coronary events will dramatically improve treatment rates and thus substantially reduce the risk of future coronary events and prolong life in the large number of patients hospitalized each year.
The Washington continental slope: Quaternary tectonics and sedimentation

Abstract An analysis of the tectonics and sedimentation of the lower continental slope off the Washington coast indicates that although deformation has been relatively continuous throughout the Pleistocene, present rates of compression may be much less than the 2.3-cm/year rate derived from apparent plate motions. Over the last 0.5 m.y.B.P. or since the formation of the late Pleistocene discontinuity in Cascadia Basin, folding and thrusting of the outermost or marginal ridge of the lower slope have accommodated an average compression rate of about 0.7 cm/year. Microfossil ages of samples from several lower slope ridges confirm that the entire lower slope has been formed during the last 2 m.y.B.P. with deformation progressing in a westward direction. This Pleistocene deformation of Cascadia Basin sediment against the continental margin, resulting from the subduction of the underlying Juan de Fuca plate beneath North America, has produced a lower slope or borderland composed of north-trending, en-echelon, anticlinal, mudstone ridges. These anticlinal ridges have subsequently controlled sediment dispersal patterns and trapped both hemipelagic and turbidite sediments, which have accumulated during the Pleistocene at rates of less than 0.5 to more than 1 m 1000 years . A comparison of the sediment volume within the borderland basins and on Nitinat Fan indicates that at least 2 3 of the sediment originating from the upper slope canyons during the Pleistocene has bypassed the Washington slope and has been deposited in Cascadia Basin. During the last glacial period the borderland was apparently deluged with turbidity currents en route to the deep-sea fans of Cascadia Basin. With the onset of postglacial conditions about 10,500 B.P., turbidity currents occurred less frequently, contained finer-grained material, and tended to be depositional. Over the last 5000 years all of the major canyons have been filling with hemipelagic mud and sand/silt turbidites except for Quinault Canyon which flushes about every 500 years.
Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy: Surgical technique

Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) has become a popular method of tracheotomy over the past decade because it is cost effective and can be used at the bedside. The operative technique is reviewed in this article. The literature shows that PDT does not have a higher perioperative complication rate than standard operative tracheotomy, but one potential complication of PDT is failure to control the airway, because there is no direct visualization of the trachea. Therefore the surgeon should be prepared to convert to standard operative tracheotomy if urgent airway control becomes necessary. The incidence of tracheal stenosis after decannulation of PDT patients is reviewed, and appears to be similar to that for standard operative tracheotomy.
Amphibian metamorphosis: The role of thyrotropin-like hormone☆

Abstract The role of the pituitary hormones in tadpole growth and differentiation is still incompletely understood. Well-characterized antisera to specific mammalian hormones create essentially single hormone deficits and allow analysis of the role of the missing hormone in specified processes. The effect of thyrotropin antiserum administered to prometamorphic Rana catesbeiana tadpoles during thyroxine (T4)-induced or spontaneous metamorphosis has been studied. Compared to control animals treated with normal rabbit serum, thyrotropin antiserum depressed the rate of hind limb growth during T4-induced metamorphosis to about 50% of the response to T4 alone and completely blocked hind limb growth during spontaneous metamorphosis. These observations support the conclusions that (1) a thyrotropin-like hormone is secreted to continue the effect initiated by T4 during induced metamorphosis and to initiate spontaneous metamorphosis; (2) the circulating tadpole hormones can cross-react with antisera prepared against bovine thyrotropin; and (3) the amphibian larval anterior pituitary hormones have immunologic properties common to the mammalian hormones.
Oak tannins reduce effectiveness of thuricide (Bacillus thuringiensis) in the gypsy moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)

The effect of host plant on the effectiveness of Thuricide, a commercial formulation of Bacillus thuringiensis sp. kurstaki Berliner, toward gypsy moths, Lymantria dispar L., was examined. Thuricide was administered to second- and fourth-instar gypsy moths on foliage from red oak, Quercus rubra L.; chestnut oak, Quercus prinus L.; and quaking aspen, Populus tremuloides Michaux. Oaks were 2-5 times more inhibitory of Thuricide than aspen. Red oak was more inhibitory than chestnut oak. The differences among host-plant species were greatest at the higher dose of 34 IU per larva. Mortality was correlated negatively with the concentration of total phenolics, gallotannins, and proteinbinding activity in leaves. Purified tannins from the oaks were highly inhibitory, indicating that leaf tannins are primarily responsible for reducing the effectiveness of Thuricide. We conclude that oak tannins reduce the effectiveness of this B. thuringiensis formulation, that stand composition may have a major effect on the effectiveness of microbial control measures, and that tannin inhibition may represent a useful target for formulation improvement.
The oxidation of 2-thiopyrimidine and 2-thiouracil by Ir(IV) complexes

Abstract The kinetics of the oxidation of 2-thiopyrimidine (TP) by IrCl 2− 6 and IrBr 2− 6 , and 2-thiouracil (TU) by IrCl 2− 6 follow a second-order rate law, first-order with respect to both the concentration of the oxidant and reductant. The second-order rate constants at 25.0 °C and at μ = 0.10 M are: 3.30 M −1 sec −1 for TP+IrCl 3− 6 at pH 2.10, 0.187 M −1 sec −1 for TU + IrCl 2− 6 at pH 2.10, and 344 M −1 sec −1 for TP + IrBr 2− 6 at pH 5.3. A pH-rate profile is observed to have nearly a constant rate at pH 2.1 to 3.5 and a rapid increase in rate from pH 3.5 to 5.5. This is accounted for by the equilibrium pKa of the thiols and by the higher reactivity of the mercaptide anions The activation parameters calculated from the temperature dependence studies are: ΔH ≠ = 7.5 kcal/ mole, Δs ≠ = −31.0 e.u. for the TP + IrCl 2− 6 , and ΔH≠ = 10.1 kcal/mole, ΔS≠ = −27.8 e.u. for the TU + IrCl 2− 6 . A free radical mechanism is postulated to account for the above observed kinetics
The relationship between consumer complaining behavior and service recovery: An integrative review

Purpose – The goal of the present conceptual paper is to integrate two streams of literature related to service failures: customer complaining behaviors (CCB) and service recovery literature. The suggested conceptual framework intends to broaden the thinking on consumers' complaint handling processes for hospitality institutions.Design/methodology/approach – A model is proposed that integrates the service recovery and CCB literatures under a single framework. A careful literature review is performed to justify the conceptual framework.Findings – The framework offers a starting point for broadening the thinking on consumers' complaint handling processes.Research limitations/implications – Systematic empirical research is needed to test the integrative model.Originality/value – This paper offers insight for hospitality managers into how to effectively deal with dissatisfied customer experiences.
Average and worst-case analysis of heuristics for the maximum tardiness problem

Abstract We study the problem of scheduling n jobs with known ready times, processing times and due dates, on a single processor, so as to minimize the tardiness of the job which is latest relative to its due date. We develop a number of heuristic approaches for this problem and study their average error (heuristic value compared to the optimal solution value), over a large number of randomly generated problems. We use linear programming to estimate worst-case performance bounds for all the heuristics. Nonparametric statistical tests show a very strong relationship between worst-case and average-case error, and also between worst-case error and the frequency with which the heuristics identify optimal solutions.
Lead toxicity and endoscopic removal of ingested firearm cartridges.

Context. Lead toxicity from the ingestion of a lead foreign body has been described in several case reports. Management of ingested live ammunition presents its own challenges due to the risk of accidental discharge. A safe and effective method of retrieving a live cartridge must be considered. Case Details. We present two cases of lead toxicity due to intact firearm cartridge ingestion with the removal of the cartridges via endoscopy. The first case is of severe pediatric lead toxicity due to the ingestion of 30-mm rifle cartridges. The second case is an adult ingestion of .22 caliber cartridges resulting in mild lead toxicity. Discussion. These cases illustrate a diagnostic dilemma in both the diagnosis of lead toxicity and the removal of live ammunition from the stomach.
Utility-driven evolution recommender for a constrained ontology

Ontology evolution continues to be an important problem that needs further research. Key challenges in ontology evolution and creation of a highly consumable ontology include accomodating: (a) the subtle changes in the meaning of a model element over time, (b) the changing relevance of various parts of the model to the user, and (c) the complexity in representing time-varying semantics of model elements in a dynamic domain.In this work, we address the challenge of evolving an ontology to keep up with the domain changes while focusing on the utility of its content for relevance and imposing constraints for performance. We propose a novel evidence accumulation framework as a principled approach for ontology evolution, which is sufficiently expressive and semantically clear. Our approach classifies model elements (e.g., concepts) into three categories: definitely relevant (that must be included in the ontology), potentially relevant (that can be kept as backup), and irrelevant (that should be removed). Further, our approach dynamically re-classifies models based on external triggers like evidence or internal triggers, like the age of a model in the ontology. As a result, users will have an ontology which is both effective and efficient. We evaluate our approach based on two measures - ontology concept retention and ontology concept placement. This comprehensive evaluation in a single framework is novel and we show that our approach yields promising results.
Inferring cross sections of 3D objects: A new spatial thinking test

Abstract A new spatial ability test was administered online to 223 undergraduate students enrolled in introductory science courses. The 30-item multiple choice test measures individual differences in ability to identify the two-dimensional cross section of a three-dimensional geometric solid, a skill that has been identified as important in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. Bivariate and partial correlations suggest that the test measures a skill that is distinct from three-dimensional mental rotation and change in view perspective. Test items varied along two scales: complexity of the geometric solid to be sliced and orientation of the cutting plane. Internal reliability of both the overall test and its subscales was satisfactory. Performance was higher on figures cut by orthogonal, rather than oblique, planes. Patterns of performance across more and less complex items, and patterns of sex differences on these items, suggest that items on the test are differentially amenable to imagistic and analytic strategies, with males outperforming females on items that are less amenable to analytic strategies. The test shows promise for online administration and for adaptation to younger populations.
A machine vision system for enhancing the teleoperation of an industrial robot

This paper describes a real-time vision system that enhances the teleoperation of a servicing tool used in the heat exchangers of nuclear power plants. The vision system is used to track the position of the tool as it moves over a sheet of tube ends. A map-based strategy is adopted for the estimation of the position. The system incorporates a novel method for a foreshortening correction that is applied prior to map referencing. A hypothesize and verify scheme locates two image features that correspond to two map features. An efficient scheme for extracting image features is developed to locate these two features (tube-end centers) in the image. Two different types of heat-exchanger tube sheets are accounted for. They are those with tube ends placed in a square grid and those with tube ends placed in a triangular grid. The map-based strategy minimizes the cumulative errors in the estimate of the tool head position. The resulting low-cost system has been tested on synthetic and real data. Performance results are given.
Ellipsometric and Raman Spectroscopic Study of Thermally Formed Films on Titanium

Thermal films on titanium surfaces were formed by heating titanium samples in air at atmospheric pressure. The optical constants, thickness,and structure of the formed films at various temperatures and times of heating were investigated by ellipsometry and Raman spectroscopy. The complex index of refraction and the thickness of generated films were determined by comparing the experimental loci {Delta} and {Psi} obtained by ellipsometric measurements with theoretical computed {Delta} vs. {Psi} curves. It was found that the thickness inhomogeneity and porosity of formed films increase with increasing temperature and the duration of the thermal treatment. Beyond a certain critical temperature, the appearance of some Raman bands and changes in their intensities indicated that the film transformed from amorphous to microcrystalline and crystalline structure.
Risk Shifts Following Sarbanes‐Oxley: Influences of Disclosure and Governance

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX) aimed to improve financial reporting by enhancing corporate disclosure and governance. We find statistically significant increases, from before to after the passage of SOX, in total return variance, market risk and idiosyncratic risk. The risk increases are consistent with predictions that the legislation would cause firms to disclose more negative information, resulting in increased investment risk. However, in cross-sectional tests, post-SOX improvements in information certainty, board independence and monitoring are associated with smaller increases or greater decreases in risk. If SOX is responsible for these improvements, its effects are consistent with its purpose.
Identification of a class of multivariable systems from impulse response data: Theory and computational algorithm

A theoretical and algorithmic framework is proposed for the identification of rational transfer function matrices of a class of discrete-time multivariable systems. The proposed technique obtains an optimal approximation from the given (possibly noisy) measuredimpulse response data. It is assumed that the measured impulse response data corresponds to a system with a strictly proper transfer function matrix. The impulse response fitting error criterion is theoretically decoupled into a purely linear problem for estimating the optimal numerators and a nonlinear problem for the optimal denominators. Based on the proposed theoretical basis, an efficient computational algorithm is developed and illustrated with several examples.
Discontinuous Galerkin methods for elliptic partial differential equations with random coefficients

This paper proposes and analyses two numerical methods for solving elliptic partial differential equations with random coefficients, under the finite noise assumption. First, the stochastic discontinuous Galerkin method represents the stochastic solution in a Galerkin framework. Second, the Monte Carlo discontinuous Galerkin method samples the coefficients by a Monte Carlo approach. Both methods discretize the differential operators by the class of interior penalty discontinuous Galerkin methods. Error analysis is obtained. Numerical results show the sensitivity of the expected value and variance with respect to the penalty parameter of the spatial discretization.
Epstein-Barr virus-induced lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from the peripheral blood of patients with X-linked agammaglobulinemia can secrete IgM.

We have established lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) from the peripheral blood of three individuals with X-linked agammaglobulinemia as well as three of their immunodeficient first-degree relatives. Lines could be induced with Epstein-Barr virus only when T lymphocytes were depleted from total mononuclear leukocytes. The LCLs derived from XLA patients expressed characteristics of IgM-secreting plasmacytes, including intense cytoplasmic fluorescence after staining with anti-μ, easily detectable amounts of IgM in culture supernatants, and radiolabeled IgM with both heavy and light chains in culture media and cell lysates. The cell lines induced from blood of the first-degree relatives of these patients were more varied. They often exhibited multiple isotypes for both heavy and light chains in different cells or expressed a B-lymphocyte phenotype (easily detectable surface Ig but no Ig secretion). These studies suggest that B-cell precursors are present in peripheral blood of individuals with classical XLA. Differentiation of such cells to mature cells of the B lineage can be accomplished using Epstein-Barr virus after removal of T cells.
The Hispanic Americans baseline alcohol survey (HABLAS): DUI rates, birthplace, and acculturation across Hispanic national groups.

Objective: This article examines the association between birthplace, acculturation, and self-reported driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), 12-month and lifetime DUI arrest rates among Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cuban Americans, and South/Central Americans in the U.S. population. Method: Using a multistage cluster sample design, 5,224 adults (18 years of age or older) were interviewed from households in five metropolitan areas of the United States: Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Houston, and Los Angeles. Results: Birthplace was not associated with DUI, 12-month DUI arrest rates, or lifetime DUI arrest rates. Mexican Americans in the medium- and high-acculturation groups were more likely to engage in DUI. A higher proportion of U.S.-born than foreign-born respondents as well as those in the high-acculturation group, irrespective of national origin, reported having been stopped by police when driving. U.S.-born Cuban Americans, Mexican Americans, and South/Central Americans thought they could consume a higher mean number of drinks before their driving is impaired compared with those who are foreign born. Conclusions: There are considerable differences in DUI-related behavior across Hispanic national groups. U.S.-born Hispanics and those born abroad, but not those at different levels of acculturation, have equal risk of involvement with DUI. Language: en
SU-GG-T-400: A Monte Carlo Based Proton Therapy Dose Distribution Verification System

Purpose: Create a Monte Carlo based proton therapy dose distribution verification system which can be used as a clinical aid in determining the adequacy of proton treatment plans. Method and Materials: The GEANT4 Monte Carlo toolkit is used for all simulations. The absolute dose value per proton of the Bragg peak and its location were benchmark against NIST and other published data to ensure the accuracy of the physics models used in the simulations. For the patient specific dose distribution verification, the full nozzle is not simulated, only the beam spectrum, patient specific snout components, and the patient's CT. The beam spectrum, which for the IBA double scattering machine, depends on the time dependent proton current and range modulator, is calculated based on a spreadsheet which uses water equivalent thicknesses for the nozzle components. This allows for relative fast calculations compared with full nozzle simulation. The speed is needed if this system is to be used in a clinical setting. Results: The beam spectrum has been verified for multiple ranges and SOBP widths for the different options. The MC distal and proximal 90% of the SOBP matches the TPS to within 3% or 3mm for all tested cases. The MC penumbra for different aperture sizes match the TPS at 20%, 50% and 80% within 3% and 3mm, however the 10% value of the penumbra for the MC is wider than the TPS, which has been noted as a limitation of the TPS in literature. Comparisons to measurements have not been made to date and adjustments to model parameters will be made to match measurements. Compensator simulations have not been performed to date. Conclusion: This Monte Carlo dose verification system is fast and accurate; therefore it holds promise as a clinically useful tool.
Chemoattractants of the shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio: Variability in responsiveness and the stimulatory capacity of mixtures containing amino acids, quaternary ammonium compounds, purines and other substances

Abstract 1. 1. In contrast to earlier findings, a crab extract was found to be a more potent attractant of the shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio, than a synthetic mixture containing the amino acids and betaine in the extract. 2. 2. This difference was not attributable to changes in responsiveness induced by feeding state or time of year. 3. 3. A synthetic mixture with a stimulatory capacity similar to the crab extract was produced by incorporating the following additional extract constituents: purines and purine nucleotides, homarine, trimethylamine oxide and lactic acid. 4. 4. Adenosine 5'-monophosphate was the most potent single substance in the mixture. 5. 5. A synergistic effect between components was indicated.
FastScat™: An Object-Oriented Program for Fast Scattering Computation

FastScat is a state-of-the-art program for computing electromagnetic scattering and radiation. Its purpose is to support the study of recent algorithmic advancements, such as the fast multipole method, that promise speed-ups of several orders of magnitude over conventional algorithms. The complexity of these algorithms and their associated data structures led us to adopt an object-oriented methodology for FastScat. We discuss the program's design and several lessons learned from its C++ implementation including the appropriate level for object-orientedness in numeric software, maintainability benefits, interfacing to Fortran libraries such as LAPACK, and performance issues.
SU-E-I-32: Sterile Radiation Reduction Gloves May Be Contraindicated in Fluoroscopically Guided Interventions.

Purpose: Sterile radiation reduction gloves have been widely used in the past decade to provide modest decreases in operator hand dose when the hands are placed in the field of view (FOV). While multiple publications have quantified the potential dose reduction from the use of such gloves, possible effects on the patient have not yet been assessed. The aim of this study was to determine if radiation reduction gloves can Result in a significant increase in patient dose and increased risk of radiation induced skin injury when used in interventional radiology. Methods: The effect of radiation reduction gloves when used in the FOV was determined by measurement of patient entrance exposure rate (EER) for a variety of patient sizes and varying operating and magnification modes. EERs were measured with no glove in the FOV, with one glove and, to replicate the actions of many dose‐consciousradiologists, with double gloves in the FOV. Results: Compared to an ungloved hand, the use of a single radiation reduction glove near the center of the FOV results in a 2‐fold average increase in patient EER. The use of double radiation reduction gloves results in a 3‐fold average increase in EER. In both cases, this increase was only weakly dependent on the size of the patient and on the operating and magnification modes used. In fact, patient thicknesses ranging from 6–14 inches and operating modes ranging from low‐dose fluoroscopy to DSA produced less than a 20% deviation from the increases in EER quoted above. Conclusions: When used in the FOV, radiation reduction gloves can substantially increase patient EER. This increase in patient dose, when compared with the relatively small published reduction in extremity dose provided to the operator, may make their use contraindicated in cases where radiation induced skin injury is a possible risk.
The conflict between improper priors and robustness

Abstract Most methods for assessing the sensitivity of the posterior to the prior do not work if the prior is improper. We characterize the neighborhoods of priors that permit non-trivial sensitivity analysis for improper priors. We show that these neighborhoods are not “tail rich”, i.e. they do not contain measures with a variety of tail behavior. Thus there are no neighborhoods that are simultaneously non-trivial and rich. We also show that using the formal structure of finitely additive priors does not solve the problem. We suggest some directions for addressing the problem. In particular, we consider replacing the improper prior with a sequence of asymptotically well-behaved data-dependent priors.
Modeling of Tau Protein Transport in Axons

This paper develops a simplified analytical solution for the slow axonal transport of tau proteins. A six kinetic state model developed in Jung and Brown [1] was used to simulate transport of tau. The model was extended by accounting for tau degradation and diffusion in the off-track kinetic states. The analytical solution was obtained by assuming that transitions between anterograde and retrograde states are infrequent. This assumption was validated through an analysis of the sensitivity of the solution to changes in the values of the two kinetic constants that describe the transition rates between the anterograde and retrograde states, and by a comparison with the experimentally measured tau distributions reported in Konzack et al. [2]. The predicted average transport velocity of tau was also in the experimentally reported range.© 2013 ASME
Plasma Membrane Ca2+-ATPase 4 in Murine Epididymis: Secretion of Splice Variants in the Luminal Fluid and a Role in Sperm Maturation

Plasma membrane Ca(2+)-ATPase isoform 4 (PMCA4) is the primary Ca(2+) efflux pump in murine sperm, where it regulates motility. In Pmca4 null sperm, motility loss results in infertility. We have shown that murine sperm PMCA4b interacts with Ca(2+)/CaM-dependent serine kinase (CASK) in regulating Ca(2+) homeostasis and motility. However, recent work indicated that the bovine PMCA4a splice variant (missing in testis) is epididymally expressed, along with 4b, and may be transferred to sperm. Here we show, via conventional and in situ RT-PCR, that both the splice variants of Pmca4 mRNA are expressed in murine testis and throughout the epididymis. Immunofluorescence localized PMCA4a to the apical membrane of the epididymal epithelium, and Western analysis not only confirmed its presence but showed for the first time that PMCA4a and PMCA4b are secreted in the epididymal luminal fluid (ELF), from which epididymosomes containing PMCA4a were isolated. Flow cytometry indicated the presence of PMCA4a on mature caudal sperm where it was increased ~5-fold compared to caput sperm (detected by Western blotting) and ~2-fold after incubation in ELF, revealing in vitro uptake and implicating PMCA4a in epididymal sperm maturation. Coimmunoprecipitation using pan-PMCA4 antibodies, revealed that both variants associate with CASK, suggesting their presence in a complex. Because they have different kinetic properties for Ca(2+) transport and different abilities to bind to CASK, our study suggests a mechanism for combining the functional attributes of both PMCA4 variants, leading to heightened efficiency of the pump in the maintenance of Ca(2+) homeostasis, which is crucial for normal motility and male fertility.
Laser saturation of optical transitions in a starch component: the amylose-iodine-iodide complex.

— Saturation of optical absorption by an aqueous solution of the amylose-iodine-iodide complex was observed. Transmission of ruby laser radiation as a function of incident laser power density was measured and fitted to the steady-state solution of a double-absorption rate-equation model. This study gave an indirect determination of the lifetime of the first excited energy level. The material behaved as a passive Q-switch for a ruby laser.
Hemidystonia secondary to carotid artery gunshot injury

A 9-year-old boy was accidentally shot at close range with a pistol. The bullet entered through the left anterior neck and severed the left common carotid artery. Emergency surgery was performed with an end-to-end anastomosis. He recovered gradually from severe right-sided hemiparesis. CT scans demonstrated left parietal infarction. Within months he developed right hemidystonia, which progressed over the next few years. The movement disorder was refractory to medical therapy. MR scans showed a large demarcated defect in the left parietal lobe extending to the occipital lobe, to the insula and to the posterior ventral putamen. At age 18 the patient underwent a staged left-sided thalamotomy. The hemidystonia improved postoperatively but later partially recurred.
Matrix isolation and theoretical investigation of the photochemical reaction of CrCl2O2 with benzenes substituted with electron withdrawing groups

Abstract The matrix isolation technique, combined with infrared spectroscopy and theoretical calculations, has been used to characterize the products of the photochemical reactions of chlorobenzene, α,α,α-trifluorotoluene, benzonitrile, and nitrobenzene with CrCl 2 O 2 . While initial twin jet deposition of the reagents led to no visible changes in the recorded spectra, product bands were noted following irradiation with light of λ > 300 nm. The irradiation was shown to lead to oxygen atom transfer, forming complexes between the corresponding cyclic ketone derivatives and CrCl 2 O. With benzonitrile, cyanophenol complexed to CrCl 2 O was also observed. This latter result arises from C–H bond activation and oxygen atom insertion into a C–H bond. The identification of the complexes were further supported by density functional calculations at the B3LYP/6-311G++(d, 2p) level. Product distributions were rationalized by an analysis of the electron density distribution.
Stimulus asymmetry in the pigeon’s successive matching-to-sample performance

Two experiments examined the role of color and line-tile keylight stimuli as samples and tests in a symbolic successive matching-to-sample procedure. In Experiment 1, one group of pigeons (Group CL) was given color sample stimuli and line-tilt test stimuli. A second (Group LC) had line-tilt samples and color tests. Group CL mastered the delayed conditional discrimination quite rapidly; however, Group LC showed almost no evidence of learning the problem, even though the retention interval was very short (1 sec). In Experiment 2, a single group of pigeons was given both the color/line and the line/color problems within each training session. Here, even though the birds readily discriminated the colors and the lines, they responded discriminatively to the test stimuli only on color/line trials. Test performance on color/line trials showed a smooth memory gradient from 1 to 16 sec; test performance on line/color trials was near chance. Possible reasons for the color/line-tilt asymmetry were considered, including the notion that colors are more memorable for pigeons than line tilts.
Simplification as a trend in synapsid cranial evolution.

Abstract The prevalence and meaning of morphological trends in the fossil record have undergone renewed scrutiny in recent years. Studies have typically focused on trends in body size evolution, which have yielded conflicting results, and have only rarely addressed the question as to whether other morphological characteristics show persistent directionality over long time scales. I investigated reduction in number of skull and lower jaw bones (through loss or fusion) over approximately 150 million years of premammalian synapsid history. The results of a new skull simplification metric (SSM), which is defined as a function of the number of distinct elements, show that pronounced simplification is evident on both temporal (i.e., stratigraphic) and phylogenetic scales. Postcranial evolution exhibits a similar pattern. Skull size, in contrast, bears little relationship with the number of distinct skull bones present. Synapsid skulls carried close to their observed maximum number of elements for most of the La...
Digital Optical Iterative Pattern Recognizer

An optical pattern recognizer which classifies An input sequence into one of two classes is described. The language of regular expressions is used to identify a set of input sequences to be recognized. The system is realized without memory elements by using an optical iterative array it with the method of symbolic substitution. The hardware must be able to implement arbitrary and multiple substitution rules for the general design of a pattern recognizer.
Polymers of methyl-substituted N-phenylnorbornene-5,6-dicarboximide characterization of structure and dynamics

Synthesis of N-phenylnorbornene-5,6-dicarboximide (NDI) with substituents at different positions in the aromatic ring and their polymerization by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) leading to high-temperature polymers has been previously described. It was shown that the properties of these polymer are significantly influenced by the size and position of the substituent groups on the ring. This paper describes ROMP of NDI's with methyl substituents at ortho, meta, and para positions. These methyl-substituted polymers show similar trends in mechanical and thermal properties, with ortho substitution raising the temperature of the transition in dynamic modulus and the glass transition temperature, T g , (stiffening) and meta substitution lowering these transition temperatures (plasticizing effect) relative to unsubstituted PNDI. Solid-state NMR relaxation experiments provide insight into these trends in mechanical and thermal properties. Experiments were performed to measure the carbon laboratory-frame relaxation, T 1 (C), and both proton and carbon rotating-frame relaxation, T 1ρ (H) and T 1ρ (C). The observed trends in these relaxation values are as follows: (a) T 1 (C), o-CH 3 , m-CH 3 > PNDI, p-CH 3 ; (b) T 1ρ (H), o-CH 3 > PNDI, p-CH 3 , m-CH 3 ; (c) T 1ρ (C), o-CH 3 > PNDI, p-CH 3 , m-CH 3 . We also performed dipolar rotational spin-echo (DRSE) NMR experiments to demonstrate the phenyl rings are flipping in PNDI and p-methyl PNDI, but not in either the ortho or the meta isomer. These relaxation results are interpreted in terms of a model which provides a molecular basis for the observed trends in the thermal and mechanical properties of these polymers.
Potentiometric and spectroscopic study of selenomethionine complexes with copper(II) and zinc(II) ions

The stepwise stability constants of 1:1 and 2:1 complexes of selenomethionine (SeMet) with CuII and ZnII ions have been determined in NaNO3 (0.1m) supporting electrolyte by potentiometric titration at 25 °C. The overall log stability constant (logβML2 = [ML2]/[M2+][L−1]2) for CuII and ZnII complexes are 14.50 and 8.75, respectively. Two new solids were prepared and identified by elemental microanalysis as (SeMet)2Cu and (SeMet)2Zn. I.r. and Raman spectral studies indicated metal coordination with the nitrogen and oxygen atoms of the amino acidato group of SeMet. The corresponding stretching bands were assigned at 341.1cm− for Cu-O, 352.9 cm− for Zn-O, 497.3 cm− for Cu-N and 475.2 cm− for Zn-N bonds.
Grape seed proanthocyanidins promote apoptosis in human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells through alterations in Cdki‐Cdk‐cyclin cascade, and caspase‐3 activation via loss of mitochondrial membrane potential

Dietary grape seed proanthocyanidins (GSPs) prevent photocarcinogenesis in mice. Here, we report that in vitro treatment of human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells with GSPs inhibited cellular proliferation (13-89%) and induced cell death (1-48%) in a dose (5-100 mug/ml)- and time (24, 48 and 72 h)-dependent manner. GSP-induced inhibition of cell proliferation was associated with an increase in G1-phase arrest at 24 h, which was mediated through the inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdk) Cdk2, Cdk4, Cdk6 and cyclins D1, D2 and E and simultaneous increase in protein expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors (Cdki), Cip1/p21 and Kip1/p27, and enhanced binding of Cdki-Cdk. The treatment of A431 cells with GSPs (20-80 mug/ml) resulted in a dose-dependent increase in apoptotic cell death (26-58%), which was associated with an increased protein expression of proapoptotic Bax, decreased expression of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and cleavage of caspase-9, caspase-3 and PARP. Pretreatment with the pan-caspase inhibitor (z-VAD-fmk) blocked the GSP-induced apoptosis in A431 cells suggesting that GSP-induced apoptosis is associated primarily with the caspase-3-dependent pathway. Together, our study suggests that GSPs possess chemotherapeutic potential against human epidermoid carcinoma cells in vitro, further in vivo mechanistic studies are required to verify the chemotherapeutic effect of GSPs in skin cancers.
THE GENESIS OF THYROID PROTEIN: CLINICAL ASSAYS OF ARTIFICIAL THYROID PROTEIN IN HUMAN MYXEDEMA1

A striking feature of iodine therapy in thyroid hyperplasia is the rapid increase in the amount of colloid stored within the gland. Associated with the fixation of iodine, as Marine and Williams (1) and others have shown, there occurs a rapid deposition of thyroglobulin, which is the characteristic protein of this endocrine organ. Nearly all of the organic iodine in the gland can be extracted and isolated in the form of this protein (2). At first, according to Gutman, Benedict, Baxter and Palmer (3), little thyroxin is stored; most of the newly deposited iodine probably consisting of diiodotyrosine in peptide linkage (4). Subsequently, as more iodine is deposited in the gland, the proportion of thyroxin becomes larger. Nevertheless, the newly deposited iodine appears to be quite as active calorigenically as thyroxin iodine (5, 6) when tested on myxedematous human subjects. This paper2 attempts to adduce chemical and clinical evidence as to the mechanism by which inorganic iodine becomes incorporated into ...
Effect of presenting rhythm on image integration to direct catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the left atrium (LA) can be integrated with electroanatomic mapping systems to guide catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF). The usefulness of this technique is dependent on the accuracy of image integration. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of heart rhythm at the time of pre-procedure MR imaging and heart rhythm at the time of ablation on integration error. Fifty-two consecutive patients who underwent catheter ablation for AF were included. All patients underwent MR imaging of LA and pulmonary veins and image integration with real-time electroanatomic mapping. The rhythm at the time of MR imaging and on the day of ablation was recorded. CARTO-Merge software (Biosense-Webster) was used to calculate the average accuracy of integration of electroanatomic points with MR-derived reconstructions. There was no significant difference in integration error between patients who were in AF at the time of their MR vs. those who were in sinus rhythm at the time of their MR (1.76 ± 0.26 vs. 1.88 ± 0.31 mm, p = 0.15). There was also no significant difference in integration error between patients who were in concordant vs. discordant rhythms at the time of MR vs. day of ablation (1.81 ± 0.23 vs. 1.89 ± 0.32 mm, p = 0.40). There was a trend toward less integration error between patients who were in AF on the day of ablation vs. those in sinus rhythm (1.74 ± 0.26 vs. 1.89 ± 0.31 mm, p = 0.07). Image integration can be performed to direct catheter ablation of AF regardless of the rhythm at the time of imaging and ablation.
Polarization of Nanorods Submerged in an Electrolyte Solution and Subjected to an ac Electrical Field

Recently, there has been growing interest in utilizing electrical fields to position and separate rod-shaped particles such as DNA molecules, actin filaments, microtubules, viruses, bacteria, nanotubes, and nanorods. The polarization of the electrical double layer, enveloping the rod, plays a critical role in determining the magnitude and direction of the rod’s dipole moment. We consider noninteracting, rod-shaped (spherocylinder) particles and calculate the induced dipole moment as a function of the electrical field frequency, the rod’s aspect ratio (length/radius), the rod’s free surface charge, and the double-layer thickness. To this end, we solve the Poisson−Nernst−Planck (PNP) equations for the ions’ migration, diffusion, and convection. When the surface charge is small and the rod is short, the dipole moment is negative. As the rod’s length increases, the dipole moment increases and eventually changes sign from negative to positive. The dipole coefficient of a rod, whose length is greater than some ...
Characterization of high-loss viscoelastic elastomers

The behaviour of a variety of high-loss viscoelastic elastomers is described. Measurements were conducted using a novel micromechanics apparatus which is capable of creep, constant load rate, subresonant dynamic and resonant dynamic experiments in bending and torsion upon a single specimen. The range of equivalent frequency is from 10−6 Hz to several kilohertz under isothermal conditions.
Nearly Uniform Decaosmium Clusters Supported on MgO: Characterization by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy and Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy

Samples containing small, nearly uniform clusters of a heavy metal, Os, were prepared on a high-area porous support consisting of light atoms, MgO, to provide an opportunity for a critical assessment of estimates of cluster size determined by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy and high-angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM). Supported carbonyl clusters approximated as decaosmium were prepared by reductive carbonylation of adsorbed Os3(CO)12 at 548 K and 1 bar. Infrared (IR) spectra of the clusters resemble those attributed in earlier work to supported clusters similar to [Os10C(CO)24]2-, consistent with the EXAFS data. The spectra indicate a molar yield of decaosmium carbonyl clusters of about 65−70%. As these clusters were treated in flowing H2, they were partially decarbonylated, as shown by IR and EXAFS spectra. The rms (root-mean-square) radii of the undecarbonylated and partially decarbonylated clusters were found by HAADF-STEM to be...