cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Successful Long-Term Management of Canine Superficial Necrolytic Dermatitis With Amino Acid Infusions and Nutritionally Balanced Home-Made Diet Modification

A 10-year old, castrated male, Bichon Frise with a history of hyperadrenocorticism and intrahepatic portal vein hypoplasia was diagnosed with superficial necrolytic dermatitis (SND). The dog exhibited thick crusts on the chin, muzzle, prepuce, and paws. In addition, the dorsal surfaces of all paws were erythematous while the palmar/plantar surfaces were hyperkeratotic, hardened, and painful. The dog was treated with intravenous amino acid infusions (AAI), raw egg yolks, as well as zinc and omega-3 fatty acid oral supplements. The dog required amino acid infusions once every 2 to 3 weeks because this coincided with recrudescence of painful skin lesions. The dog was subsequently diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. A consult with the Nutrition Service was pursued 220 days after the original SND diagnosis because of concern for feeding raw eggs and for malnutrition since appetite was variable, muscle condition was reduced, and greater than 50% of ingested calories were from foods that were not nutritionally complete. There was also concern regarding the variability of the diet and the impact it would have on the management of diabetes mellitus. The diet was prepared by the dog owner according to a provided recipe and presented twice daily. The diet was rich in high quality protein and fat. All other treatments including medications, supplements, and bathing schedule remained unchanged at the time of diet modification. The dog was subclinical for SND associated clinical signs approximately 3 weeks after the diet modification, which also coincided with the last AAI. The AAI was postponed and was next administered 7 weeks later (i.e., 10 weeks from the previous infusion). The dog remained subclinical for SND related clinical signs and continued to receive AAI once every 10 to 12 weeks until he was euthanized 718 days later for complications related to severe multi-drug resistant, skin infections. In conclusion, this report highlights a novel role for nutritionally balanced home-made diets designed by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist could substantially increase time interval between AAI and outcome in dogs with SND.
Epidemic features and etiology of hand-foot-mouth disease in children in Huizhou

Objective To provides scientific basis for making measures for prevention and control of hand-foot-mouth disease ( HFMD ) by investigating the epidemic characteristics of etiological features of the disorder.Methods A total of 578 children with HFMD were enrolled from April 2009 to October 2010.Enterovirus universal type ( pan-EV ) and type 71 ( EV71 ) and coxsackie virus group A 16 ( CoxA 16 ) were detected by real-time RT-PCR.Results 406 of 578 ( 70.24％ ) children were positive with pan-EV,208 ( 35.99％ )were positive with EV71,and 145 were positive with CoxA 16.CoxA 16 was the leading pathogen in 2009 and EV71 infection was prevalent in 2010.The epidemic characteristics of enterovirus infection differed significnatly between severe and mild HFMD.The EV71 positive rate was 81.55％ in the children with severe HFMD.HFMD mainly occurred in younger children,especially in those under 4,accounting for 83.91％.Conclusions Hand-foot-mouth disease has different epidemic characteristics at different times of enterovirus infection.Children with EV71 infection who are under 3 are at high risk for severe HFMD.Prompt epidemical investigation of hand-foot-mouth disease and prediction of spreading features is helpful for making better measures for the prevention and control of the disorder. Key words: Hand-foot-and-mouth disease; EV71; Cox A16; Etiology
Dynamics of Hydroxyl Anions Promotes Lithium Ion Conduction in Antiperovskite Li2OHCl

Li2OHCl is an exemplar of the antiperovskite family of ionic conductors, for which high ionic conductivities have been reported, but in which the atomic-level mechanism of ion migration is unclear....
Surgical Management of Retrocrural Disease in Germ Cell Tumors: Outcomes and Evolution of Practice

Introduction:Residual retrocrural disease in testis cancer following chemotherapy is a surgical challenge. We sought to assess the outcomes and evolution with surgical management of residual retroc...
Does Aerobic and Resistance Exercise Influence Episodic Memory through Unique Mechanisms

Aerobic and resistance exercise (acute and chronic) independently and collectively induce beneficial responses in the brain that may influence memory function, including an increase in cerebral blood flow, neurogenesis, neuroelectrical alterations, and protein production. However, whether aerobic and resistance exercise improve memory via similar or distinct mechanisms has yet to be fully explained. Here, we review the unique influence of aerobic and resistance exercise on neural modulation, proteins, receptors, and ultimately, episodic memory. Resistance training may optimize neural communication, information processing and memory encoding by affecting the allocation of attentional resources. Moreover, resistance exercise can reduce inflammatory markers associated with neural communication while increasing peripheral and central BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) production. Aerobic training increases hippocampal levels of BDNF and TrkB (Tropomyosin receptor kinase B), protein kinases and glutamatergic proteins. Likewise, both aerobic and anaerobic exercise can increase CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein) phosphorylation. Thus, we suggest that aerobic and resistance exercise may influence episodic memory via similar and, potentially, distinct mechanisms.
Science in Action: Biological and Ecological Principles of Urban Agriculture

The development and implementation of a sustainable and resilient urban agriculture system depends on the interactions occurring between its biophysical basis, the ecological processes that either synergize or offset the provision of agroecosystems services, and the socio-economic context where it occurs. Urban agriculture can be conceptualized as complex socio-ecological systems in which human-nature interactions define the dynamic of such systems. The study of urban agriculture requires understanding a web of interrelated concepts and principles, providing an ideal context for science teaching and learning aligned to the demands of current reforms in science education. In this chapter we present and discuss learning progressions for urban agriculture from a socio-agroecological perspective based on networks of concepts associated to the cross-cutting concepts of Interdependence, Diversity, System, Matter/Energy Flow, and Scale for four grade ranges: K-2, G3-5, G6-8, and G9-12. Applications to classroom instruction and future educational research in this arena are also discussed.
Performance enhancement of ultra-thin TMDC-based photovoltaic systems for space applications

There is a great demand for high performance materials and technology in space photovoltaics (PV) to meet the power needs of satellites. Transition Metal Di-Chalcogenides (TMDCs) are strong candidates for such applications, as they are very lightweight and resilient to high energy radiation, compared to most PV semiconductors. We have modeled an ultra-thin photovoltaic system based on tungsten disulfide (WS2) and demonstrated performance enhancement by addition of light trapping and anti-reflection coating. Our photovoltaic model consists of a 100 nm thick WS2-based heterojunction solar cell, similar to the Hetero Junction Intrinsic Thin Layer (HIT) solar cell structure. A 1-D grating light trapping structure has been implemented using silver as the reflector material, with the grating period and thickness optimized for highest absorption enhancement. An antireflection coating layer was added to further enhance absorption, with the thickness optimized to minimize surface reflection. We have simulated our model under AM0 solar spectrum over the temperature range of geostationary satellite orbits (313-343K). The baseline photovoltaic model design was calculated to have an efficiency around 12%. The absorption enhancement from light trapping increased the short-circuit current (JSC) by 25%, which gave an efficiency around 16%. The additional absorption due to anti-reflection coating increased the JSC by a further 15%, leading to efficiency around 19%. In addition, TMDC-based solar cells have lower temperature coefficient for efficiency degradation compared to low bandgap semiconductor solar cells. These results show that our TMDC-based photovoltaic system with light trapping and anti-reflection coating is a strong candidate for space photovoltaic applications.
Opsonic Activity in the Newborn: Role of Properdin

Relative to pooled adult serum, most cord sera have normal or slightly diminished opsonic activity. Fifteen percent of the cord sera had markedly impaired opsonic power. This activity did not correlate with immunoglobulin or C3 levels but was associated with significantly subnormal concentrations of GBG, a component of the properdin system. The deficient opsonic activity of some cord serum is thus due to hypofunction of the alternate complement pathway.
Do SEC regulations constrain offer price revisions of IPOs

This paper examines how the setting of the final offer price for initial public offerings (IPOs) is influenced by Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations. The regulations require the issuer to file an amendment when deviating from the prior price estimate by greater than 20%. IPOs priced at the 20% limit are significantly more underpriced than IPOs that file an amendment for a larger price increase. However, this association is reversed, albeit weaker, for IPOs with negative price revisions. Offerings with constrained downward price revisions tend to be more over-priced. Issuers rationally choose not to re-file in order to avoid the cost and risk associated with delaying the offering. In comparison to offerings that constrain price revisions to within 20% of the prior estimate, offerings filing pricing amendments for changes of more than 20% take longer to complete and are associated with an increased risk of offering failure. Thus, ex ante issuers could be willing to leave some money on the table in terms of underpricing so as to increase the probability of deal success and complete the offering without delay. The Regulatory Constraint Hypothesis also provides an alternative explanation for the partial adjustment phenomenon that is independent of whether the information about demand for the offering is public or private. In response to unexpectedly high demand, the issuer is compelled to only partially adjust the offer price in order to stay within the allowable pricing threshold and avoiding delaying the offering. For positive revisions of the offer price, the results show a significant positive relationship between underpricing and offer price revision up to the point of the regulatory threshold, while the slope change at the regulatory threshold is negative and significant. I interpret these results as consistent with the hypothesis that SEC regulations are an impediment to accurate pricing of IPOs.
Reading Too Much into what the Court Doesn't Write: How Some Federal Courts have Limited Title VII's Participation Clause's Protections after Clark County School District v. Breeden

In 2001, the Supreme Court issued its opinion in Clark County School District v. Breeden, in which it refused to determine what a plaintiff must prove to demonstrate that she engaged in "protected activity" under Title VII’s anti-retaliation provision’s opposition clause. Although the Court declined to answer this question, courts have interpreted Breeden as requiring an opposition-clause plaintiff to prove a good-faith, objectively reasonable belief of an unlawful employment practice. Although Breeden involved Title VII’s opposition clause, some courts are now applying Breeden to cases involving Title VII’s participation clause. This is baffling for two reasons. First, Breeden involved the opposition clause, not the participation clause, and prior to Breeden, federal courts had concluded that the participation clause provided more protection than the opposition clause provided. Second, Breeden never definitely established the standard for opposition-clause cases. Despite this, some courts are now applying Breeden’s objectively reasonable standard to participation-clause cases. This Article argues that courts should not apply Breeden in participation-clause cases and should protect participation-clause plaintiffs even if the plaintiffs’ beliefs about unlawful employment practices are unreasonable. Courts should do this because of (1) the participation clause’s plain language; (2) the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s opposition on this issue; (3) the canon of statutory construction that requires remedial statutes such as Title VII to be interpreted broadly; and (4) the fact that Breeden neither addressed the participation clause nor provided a definitive standard for opposition-clause cases.
Hexagonal ABC semiconductors as ferroelectrics

We use a first-principles rational-design approach to identify a previously unrecognized class of ferroelectric materials in the $P{6}_{3}mc$ LiGaGe structure type. We calculate structural parameters, polarization, and ferroelectric well depths both for reported and as-yet hypothetical representatives of this class. Our results provide guidance for the experimental realization and further investigation of high-performance materials suitable for practical applications.
A novel charge recycling approach to low-power circuit design

A novel charge-recycling scheme has been designed and implemented to demonstrate the feasibility of operating digital circuits using the charge scavenged from the leakage and dynamic load currents inherent to digital logic. The proposed scheme uses capacitors to efficiently recover the ground-bound charge and to subsequently boost the capacitor voltage to power up the source circuit. This recycling methodology has been implemented on a 12-bit Gray-code counter within a 12-bit multi-channel Wilkinson ADC. The circuit has been designed in 0.5µm BiCMOS and in 90nm CMOS processes. SPICE simulation results reveal a 46–53% average reduction in the energy consumption of the counter. The total energy savings including the control generation aggregates to an average of 26–34%.
Comparison of methionine-enkephalin and morphine in the stimulation of gastric acid secretion in the dog

Abstract In dogs with Heidenhain pouches and gastric fistulas, we studied acid secretion in response to systemic or portal infusion of methionine-enkephalin (met-enkephalin), enkephalin-analog, or morphine. All these opiate compounds caused a dose-dependent increase in acid secretion under basal conditions and resulted in a significant rise in pentagastrin- or histamine-induced acid secretion. The stimulation by opiates of gastric secretion was accompanied by an increase in the mucosal blood flow but without any significant change in serum gastrin concentration. Gastric acid stimulation by met-enkephalin and morphine was strongly inhibited not only by naloxone, an opiate antagonist, but also by blockers of H 2 -receptors (metiamide) or cholinergic receptors (atropine), suggesting a cooperative interaction between opiates and other stimuli of parietal cells. The gastric stimulation by met-enkephalin and its analog, but not by morphine, was markedly reduced by portal administration of these compounds, indicating a marked inactivation of opiate peptides by hepatic transit. This study shows that enkephalin and morphine stimulate gastric acid secretion by a gastrin-independent mechanism sensitive to atropine and H 2 -blocker and probably involving opiate receptors.
Adolescence: Development, Diversity, Context, and Application

1. Adolescent Development: The Laws and the Lore of Adolescence. 2. Theories of Adolescence. 3. Puberty, Physical Development, and Health. 4. Cognitive Development. 5. Moral Development, Behavior, and Civil Society. 6. Identity: The Search for Self-Definition During Adolescence. 7. Role Development and Work in Adolescence. 8. Adolescents and Their Families. 9. The Adolescent Peer Group. 10. Sexuality in Adolescence. 11. Schools and Education During Adolescence. 12. The World of Contemporary Adolescents. 13. Problem Behaviors in Adolescence. 14. Potentials of Adolescents: Community Programs and Public Policy. 15. Beyond Adolescence: Launching the Young Adult Years. Appendix: Studying Adolescent Development: Methods and Designs.
Soviet Perspectives on the Prospects For Socialist Development in Africa

THIS IS A STUDY of Soviet perceptions on the prospects of socialist development in Africa. There is, of course, no dearth of literature regarding the myriad of forms which socialism in Africa has taken in the post-imperial period. Indeed, this inquiry has little new to offer regarding the internal dynamics of the multifarious African experiments with leftist ideology that have been described traditionally under the rubric of African socialism. Numerous case studies of socialist experimentation and ideology already exist, some by African statesmen and intellectuals, as well as a number of ambitious attempts by Western authors comprehensively to categorize African socialism in its various forms and to evaluate the performance of regimes which proclaim various ideological predilections.' It is not the purpose of this article to determine whether this or that African nation meets a particular definition of African socialism, or 'Afro-communism'. Nor is it the purpose of this article to 'expose' the methods by which Soviet influence appears to have spread so rapidly in Africa over the past decade. Studies of this nature, some rather alarmist, and many others of a more discerning and balanced nature already populate the shelves of libraries in the
The ULF magnetic fields generated by thunderstorms: A source of ULF geomagnetic pulsations?

It has long been known that thunderstorms produce strong electric field fluctuations in their immediate vicinity, but it has been little recognized that these storms can also be a source of strong ULF magnetic field fluctuations (ULF; frequencies less than 5 Hz). Some characteristics of these magnetic field fluctuations were documented for a thunderstorm occurring in 1990. We now describe further measurements of these magnetic field changes for a well-defined and comparatively intense thunderstorm that passed over the San Francisco Bay area on 8–9 September 1999. The thunderstorm is further characterized by measurements of its associated lightning by the National Lightning Detection Network. As compared with the results reported for the 1990 thunderstorm, the new measurements were made by two independent systems and more components of the magnetic field changes are measured. Given the possibility that the thunderstorm-related ULF magnetic field changes can stimulate ULF hydromagnetic waves in the ionosphere, these measurements suggest, once again, that thunderstorms may be a source of ULF energy in the magnetosphere that can, in turn, lead to the generation of some of the ULF geomagnetic pulsations commonly observed on the ground. In addition, it may also be significant that the frequencies associated with these hydromagnetic waves in the magnetosphere are ideally suited for them to interact with some populations of the protons and ions in the radiation belts, potentially inducing them to precipitate into the atmosphere.
A change in paradigm: Giving back identity to donors in the anatomy laboratory

This article describes a paradigm of teaching in the anatomy laboratory where students interact with the families of the deceased persons whom they are dissecting. This approach focuses learning anatomy and medicine on the patient via the implementation of five guiding principles: the First Patient; Knowledge; Reflection and Reflective Practice; Treating the Total Patient; and Professionalism. Physician training typically begins with cadaveric dissection (i.e., dissection of the first patient), and therefore the medical school gross anatomy course provides an ideal environment for multifaceted educational experiences where cadaveric dissection is used to teach structure and function as well as the skills and competencies critical to patient care. Here, these principles are described, and the impact on student doctors and outcomes discussed. The results suggest that mastery of basic science knowledge and competencies, including professionalism, compassion, and leadership skill is enhanced by this protocol.
Discipline of the Clergy: Medieval and Modern

Discipline of the clergy is a subject of perennial interest—both in the popular press whenever something sensational takes place, and among the clergy and thoughtful lawyers when they are confronted either with the general problem of how best to fashion the church's law or the more immediate problem of how to deal with offenders against the church's law. The subject also has a long history. The purpose of this article is to bring to light a chapter from the century or so before the Reformation. Evidence taken from the medieval canon law and from the court records of the later Middle Ages may be of interest—and perhaps even relevance—to members of the Ecclesiastical Law Society. It has been my pleasure and good fortune to discover that many of them are not immune to the claims of history.
Mechanoregulation of chondrocyte proliferation, maturation, and hypertrophy: ion-channel dependent transduction of matrix deformation signals.

Mechanical stress-induced matrix deformation plays a fundamental role in regulating cellular activities; however, little is known about its underlying mechanisms. To understand the effects of matrix deformation on chondrocytes, we characterized primary chondrocytes cultured on three-dimensional collagen scaffoldings, which can be loaded mechanically with a computer-controlled "Bio-Stretch" device. Cyclic matrix deformation greatly stimulated proliferation of immature chondrocytes, but not that of hypertrophic chondrocytes. This indicates that mechanical stimulation of chondrocyte proliferation is developmental stage specific. Synthesis of cartilage matrix protein (CMP/matrilin-1), a mature chondrocyte marker, and type X collagen, a hypertrophic chondrocyte marker, was up-regulated by stretch-induced matrix deformation. Therefore, genes of CMP and type X collagen are responsive to mechanical stress. Mechanical stimulation of the mRNA levels of CMP and type X collagen occurred exactly at the same time points when these markers were synthesized by nonloading cells. This indicates that cyclic matrix deformation does not alter the speed of differentiation, but affects the extent of differentiation. The addition of the stretch-activated channel blocker gadolinium during loading abolished mechanical stimulation of chondrocyte proliferation, but did not affect the up-regulation of CMP mRNA by mechanical stretch. In contrast, the calcium channel blocker nifedipine inhibited both the stretch-induced proliferation and the increase of CMP mRNA. This suggests that stretch-induced matrix deformation regulates chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation via two signal transduction pathways, with stretch-activated channels involved in transducing the proliferative signals and calcium channels involved in transducing the signals for both proliferation and differentiation.
Natural-field and controlled-source methods in electromagnetic exploration

Abstract Electromagnetic methods have been used effectively in minerals exploration for over half a century. However, over the last several years, advances have been made in theory and instrumentation which will lead to the wide use of electromagnetic methods for quantitative determinations of earth structure in other kinds of exploration problems: in engineering studies, in the search for petroleum, in the evaluation of hyperthermal cells for power development, and in the study of the earth's deep interior. One advantage of electromagnetic methods is the flexibility in technique that is available; electromagnetic fields may be generated with current-carrying loop sources, with long or short grounded wires, or even by the natural electromagnetic field of the earth. Each type of source may have special advantages with respect to operating ease for different types of exploration problems. Another important feature of electromagnetic methods is that resistivity may be determined as a function of depth merely by altering the frequency content of the electromagnetic field, rather than by moving the source and receiver apart, as is done in direct current methods. This reduces the amount of physical labor involved in electromagnetic methods tremendously in comparison with direct-current methods. Electromagnetic methods also provide a greater depth of investigation than direct current methods for a given source-receiver separation, and surveys may be designed using available equipment to prospect to depths of tens of kilometers.
Coronary arterial air embolus occurring during cesarean delivery

We present a case of a severe systemic (paradoxical) air embolism occurring during spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery in an otherwise healthy 35-year-old parturient. Uncomplicated spinal anesthesia and satisfactory surgical anesthesia were obtained; no sedatives were used and the patient was awake and alert and tolerating the procedure well. Immediately following infant and placental delivery (approximately 25 min after the spinal anesthetic was induced) the patient had acute onset of markedly decreased mental status, profound ventricular ectopy and labile blood pressure. The event lasted for approximately 10 min with spontaneous resolution. Neurologic status returned to normal by the end of the surgery, but electrocardiogram findings in the immediate postoperative period were consistent with myocardial ischemia and serial cardiac troponin levels confirmed myocardial injury. On postoperative day 1, an echocardiogram demonstrated the presence of a patent foramen ovale. The events in this case are likely to be due to paradoxical coronary and cerebral air embolism.
Stable isotope records of hydrologic change and paleotemperature from smectite in Cenozoic western North America

Abstract The oxygen and hydrogen isotopic composition of soil water (δ18Ow and δDw hereafter) reflect the history of water through processes such as source evaporation, precipitation and vapor recycling. Temperature, humidity, evaporation, and post-condensation processes can affect δ18Ow and δDw. As such, isotope proxy records are often limited in their ability to constrain paleoclimate, paleoecology or paleoelevation without independently corroborating data. Smectite preserves both the hydrogen and oxygen isotope signature of parent water, and therefore provides critical insight into meteoric water line relationships and paleotemperature. Here, we use in situ pedogenic smectite δ18O and δD records to characterize the evolution of the hydrologic cycle in Cenozoic western North America. We incorporate 192 samples, 119 of which are previously unpublished, from 11 Cenozoic basins representing a range of environments in the Basin and Range, Rocky Mountains and Great Plains. Our results indicate that the processes controlling smectite isotopic compositions vary both regionally and temporally. In some localities such as Oligocene to Pleistocene western Nebraska, change in temperature is the primary control on smectite isotopic composition. In other basins such as in Miocene Trapper Creek, ID, isotope values lie along the meteoric water line, suggesting change in meteoric water composition is responsible for the variation. In most basins, especially those in the Neogene Basin and Range, smectite line slope suggests either evaporation of previously meteoric water or a combination of change in paleotemperature and meteoric water composition. Smectite geothermometry suggests mineral formation temperatures of 30–40 °C in the Middle Miocene in the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains and Basin and Range, and a decrease of 10–15 °C since the Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum, consistent with clumped isotope and paleofloral temperature estimates.
Stereoscopic atlas of amino acid structures

Abstract Stereoscopic drawings and tables of torsion angles are presented for twenty common amino acid structures, most of which have been subjected to precision structural refinements based on neutron diffraction data.
A new source for vibrationally excited and rotationally cold metal-oxide molecules: spectroscopic characterization of the low-lying a 3Π2 metastable excited state of the MgO molecule

Abstract Several ν =0–4 series of hot bands in the 36 000–39 000 cm −1 spectral region have been recorded from the MgO(a 3 Π 2 ) metastable state (produced by the products of laser vaporization of a magnesium rod reacting with N 2 O) to higher-lying MgO( 3 Π 2 ) vibronic levels, and have been rotationally resolved. From the analysis of the spectra, rotational and vibrational spectroscopic constants for this interesting low-lying MgO(a 3 Π 2 ) excited state, which formally has Mg + O − ‘open-shell’ character, have been determined.
Tables of rate constants extracted from chemical kinetics and photochemical data for use in stratospheric modeling. Evaluation number 7

These tables of evaluated rate constants for use in stratospheric modeling have been taken from the most recent report of the NASA Panel that has been periodically producing such reviews. They are reproduced here to make a broader community aware of their existence. This article should NOT be cited, nor should these rate constants be used without consulting the full report. All citations should be to that original report (JPL Publ. 85-37), which contains extensive documentation and discussion of the rationale of the evaluation. Copies may be obtained by requesting JPL Publ. 85-37 from Documentation Services, 111-116B, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109.
Observation and Modeling of the Solar Transition Region. I. Multi-Spectral Solar Telescope Array Observations

We report on observations of the solar atmosphere in several extreme-ultraviolet and far-ultraviolet bandpasses obtained by the Multi-Spectral Solar Telescope Array, a rocket-borne spectroheliograph, on flights in 1987, 1991, and 1994, spanning the last solar maximum. Quiet-Sun emission observed in the 171-175 A bandpass, which includes lines of O V, O VI, Fe IX, and Fe X, has been analyzed to test models of the temperatures and geometries of the structures responsible for this emission. Analyses of intensity variations above the solar limb reveal scale heights consistent with a quiet-Sun plasma temperature of 500,000 ≤ Te ≤ 800,000 K. The structures responsible for the quiet-Sun EUV emission are modeled as small quasi-static loops. We submit our models to several tests. We compare the emission our models would produce in the bandpass of our telescope to the emission we have observed. We find that the emission predicted by loop models with maximum temperatures between 700,000 and 900,000 K are consistent with our observations. We also compare the absolute flux predicted by our models in a typical upper transition region line to the flux measured by previous observers. Finally, we present a preliminary comparison of the predictions of our models with diagnostic spectral line ratios from previous observers. Intensity modulations in the quiet Sun are observed to occur on a scale comparable to the supergranular scale. We discuss the implications that a distribution of loops of the type we model here would have for heating the local network at the loops' footpoints.
Common analytical errors in the radiodating of recent sediments

Four possible sources of analytical error in the measurement of unsupported210Pb and/or nuclear fallout radionuclide (such as137Cs) profiles in sediment cores are pointed out. Each of these errors, if present, can significantly alter the true profile of the radionuclide under consideration. It is shown that simple procedural modifications can substantially improve the quality of analytical data that are subsequently used to develop intricate mathematical models to aid the interpretation of observed radionuclide profiles.
A high-yielding supramolecular reaction.

The X-ray crystal structure determinations of twelve cocrystals involving iso-nicotinamide and a variety of carboxylic acids have revealed a very consistent pattern of hydrogen-bond preferences. The combination of a monocarboxylic acid, an amide, and a pyridine moiety leads, in every case, to discrete “supermolecules” (consisting of two molecules of iso-nicotinamide and two molecules of the relevant carboxylic acid) with well-defined and robust connectivity. The two dominant (regularly occurring) supramolecular synthons in these crystal structures are (1) the heteromeric carboxylic acid···pyridine hydrogen bond and (2) a self-complementary amide···amide hydrogen-bond interaction, both of which prevail in the presence of widely differing chemical functionalities. In four of these cocrystals, a dicarboxylic acid is employed, which alters the structural outcome from discrete entities to infinite assemblies (or to a hexameric complex in a “U-shaped” dicarboxylic acid), which is fully expected since the two pr...
Multiobjective evolutionary algorithm for long-term planning of the national energy and transportation systems

The transportation and electric sectors are by far the largest producers of greenhouse emissions in the United States while they consume a significant amount of the national energy. The ever rising demand for these systems, the growing public concern on issues like global warming or national security, along with emerging technologies that promise great synergies between both (plug-in hybrid vehicles or electrified rail), creates the necessity for a new framework for long-term planning. This paper presents a comprehensive methodology to investigate long-term investment portfolios of these two infrastructures and their interdependencies. Its multiobjective nature, based on the NSGA-II evolutionary algorithm, assures the discovery of the Pareto front of solutions in terms of cost, sustainability and resiliency. The optimization is driven by a cost-minimization network flow program which is modified in order to explore the solution space. The modular design enables the use of metrics to evaluate sustainability and resiliency and better characterize the objectives that the systems must meet. An index is presented to robustly meet long-term emission reduction goals. An example of a high level representation of the continental United States through 2050 is presented and analyzed using the present methodology.
Functional reconstitution of skeletal muscle Ca2+ channels: separation of regulatory and channel components.

Abstract Regulatory properties of a partially purified Ca2+ -channel preparation from isolated rabbit skeletal muscle triads were examined in proteoliposomes. These properties included (i) inhibition by phenylalkylamine antagonists, such as verapamil, (ii) inhibition by the GTP-binding protein Go in the presence of guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate, and (iii) regulation of phenylalkylamine inhibition as a result of phosphorylation by a polypeptide-dependent protein kinase (PK-P). By selective reconstitution of protein fractions obtained by wheat germ lectin and ion-exchange chromatography, a separation of Ca2+-channel activity (fraction C) from regulatory component(s) (fraction R) responsible for verapamil sensitivity was achieved. Reconstitution of fraction C alone yielded vesicles that exhibited channel-mediated 45Ca2+ uptake that could be directly inhibited by coreconstitution of Go in the presence of guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate. However, the 45Ca2+ uptake obtained with fraction C was not inhibited by verapamil. Coreconstitution of fractions C and R yielded vesicles in which the sensitivity of 45Ca2+ uptake to verapamil was restored. The verapamil sensitivity of this preparation could be inhibited by PK-P. Fraction C, obtained by wheat germ agglutinin-Sepharose chromatography followed by DEAE-Sephacel chromatography, included a 180-kDa protein that was phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PK-A) but not by PK-P and a 145-kDa protein (180 kDa under nonreducing conditions) that was not phosphorylated by either kinase. Fraction R contained proteins that did not adsorb to wheat germ lectin and included 165-kDa and 55-kDa proteins that were phosphorylated by PK-P but not by PK-A. These results suggest a complex model for Ca2+-channel regulation in skeletal muscle involving a number of distinct, separable protein components.
Remote quantification of smokestack effluent mass flow rates using imaging Fourier transform spectrometry

A Telops Hyper-Cam midwave infrared (1.5 - 5.5μm) imaging Fourier-transform spectrometer (IFTS) was used to estimate industrial smokestack total effluent mass flow rates by combining spectrally-determined species concentrations with flow rates estimated via analysis of sequential images in the raw interferogram cube. Measurements of the coalburning smokestack were made with the IFTS at a stand-off distance of 350m. 185 hyperspectral datacubes were collected on a 128(W)×64(H) pixel sub-window (11.4×11.4cm2 per pixel) at a 0.5cm-1 spectral resolution. Strong emissions from H2O, CO2, CO, SO2, and NO were observed in the spectrum. A previously established single-layer radiative transfer model was used to estimate gas concentrations immediately above stack exit, and results compared reasonably with in situ measurements. A simple temporal cross-correlation analysis of sequential imagery enabled an estimation of the flow velocity at center stack. The estimated volumetric flow rate of 106±23m/s was within 4% of the reported value. Final effluent mass flow rates for CO2 and SO2 of 13.5±3.8kg/s and 71.3±19.3g/s were in good agreement with in situ rates of 11.6±0.1kg/s and 67.8±0.5g/s. NO was estimated at 16.1±4.2g/s, which did not compare well to the total NOx (NO +NO2) reported value of 11.2±0.2g/s. Unmonitored H2O, HCl , and CO were also estimated at 7.76±2.25kg/s, 7.40±2.00g/s, and 15.0±4.1 g/s respectively.
The pupation rhythm in Aedes taeniorhynchus. IV. Further studies of the endogenous diurnal (circadian) rhythm of pupation.

The basic characteristics of the endogenous diurnal rhythm of pupation in the black salt-marsh mosquito, A. taeniorhynchus (Wiedemann), have been investigated in detail. A distinct sinusoidal pattern of pupation, which is evident only under continuous darkness, was the result of simultaneous hatching of the eggs. A nonrepeated light pulse synchronized each peak of pupation and established a new phase for the rhythm. If the nonrepeated light pulse was at least 4 hours in duration, it was effective in phase-establishment as early as immediately after simultaneous hatching of the eggs and as late as 72 hours after hatch. The amount of phase-shift was proportional to the duration of the light stimulus, the greater phase-shift resulting from the longest signals. A light pulse, given at different phases of the subjective light-dark (LD) cycle, showed that sensitivity to light stimuli was greater during the first 12 hours than during the second 12 hours of the subjective LD cycle, and the phase-response curve obtained for the pupation rhythm under standardized conditions was very similar to those reported for different single animals and populations. The persistence of the pupation rhythm under constant conditions of light and temperature following alternate conditions, the distinct displaying of phase-shift, transients, and phase resetting substantiate that this pupation rhythm is an endogenous diurnal rhythm. LD cycles of less than 24 hrs, varying from 12 to 22 hours, imposed during earlier stages of development did entrain the pupation rhythm, although these LD cycles were not learned. Phase-shifts, transients, and phase-resetting by temperature perturbations differ from those generated by light perturbations. The temperature stimuli produce spectacular transients with relatively little phase-shift in the ultimate steady-state, whereas light pulses have spectacular effects on the steady state phase-shift. It is concluded that though the diurnal rhythm of pupation in A. taeniorhynchus is endogenous in its characteristics, it is suitable to study neither time measurement nor the general properties of circadian clocks. However, this endogenous rhythm is valuable in studying the physio-ecological processes in this insect.
Quantifying the interference levels due to antenna pointing errors in satellite communications

The effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) from Earth terminals that are mounted on vehicle platforms is time-varying and hence will result in a time-varying interference signal at neighboring geostationary satellites. This paper provides a methodology to analyze and quantify the time-varying interference resulting from vehicle mounted Earth stations. Time-varying interference effects from non-geostationary satellites have been addressed previously in ITU-R Recommendation S.1323-2. This recommendation also establishes the maximum permissible time allowance for short-term interference levels. This paper follows the guidelines established in the above recommendation and develops a methodology to analyze the interference due to time-varying antenna pointing errors of Earth terminals mounted on vehicles.
Analytic Approaches to Stochastic Gene Expression in Multicellular Systems

Deterministic thermodynamic models of the complex systems, which control gene expression in metazoa, are helping researchers identify fundamental themes in the regulation of transcription. However, quantitative single cell studies are increasingly identifying regulatory mechanisms that control variability in expression. Such behaviors cannot be captured by deterministic models and are poorly suited to contemporary stochastic approaches that rely on continuum approximations, such as Langevin methods. Fortunately, theoretical advances in the modeling of transcription have assembled some general results that can be readily applied to systems being explored only through a deterministic approach. Here, I review some of the recent experimental evidence for the importance of genetically regulating stochastic effects during embryonic development and discuss key results from Markov theory that can be used to model this regulation. I then discuss several pairs of regulatory mechanisms recently investigated through a Markov approach. In each case, a deterministic treatment predicts no difference between the mechanisms, but the statistical treatment reveals the potential for substantially different distributions of transcriptional activity. In this light, features of gene regulation that seemed needlessly complex evolutionary baggage may be appreciated for their key contributions to reliability and precision of gene expression.
Selenium in the environment

Abstract Selenium is one of the most widely distributed elements of the earth's crust. Much of the selenium in the earth's crust occurs associated with sulfide minerals. The presence or absence of selenium in any soil is dependent upon the composition of the parent material, and is also dependent upon leaching or processes subsequent to soil formation, that may have added selenium. Selenium can be easily oxidized from Se 0 to Se +4 or Se +6 . Selenium is usually recovered as a by-product of the refining of the sulfide ores of other metals such as copper. The greatest amounts of selenium are used for the manufacture of the photoelectric cell. Selenium is taken up by plants as selenate, selenite or organic selenium. Se 75 selenite in 30 minutes was translocated primarily to selenomethionine. In sheep or pigs the duodenum is the main site of Se 75 absorption. Selenium is excreted in the feces, the urine, and the expired air, the amounts and proportions depending upon the level and form of the intake, the nature of the rest of the diet, and the species. A dietary intake of 0.1 μg/g Se provides a satisfactory margin of safety for grazing sheep and cattle. In humans, the recommended daily allowance for selenium is between 100 to 200 μg/day. The toxicity of selenium to animals varies with the amounts of chemical forms of selenium ingested, with the duration and continuity of intake, and with the type and nature of the diet, especially its protein and sulfate content. Deficiency of selenium results in selenium responsive diseases in various animal species, such as muscular dystrophy, exudative diathesis and hepatosis dietetica. Selenium also prevents several type of chemically induced cancer in animals, and, where more selenium occurs in the environment, human cancer death rates are lower. Selenium deficient rats and lambs develop abnormal electrocardiograms accompanied by blood pressure changes. Human heart disease mortality is also lower in the high selenium areas. In China, a large clinical trial is underway showing that selenium prevents a congestive heart failure in children from severely selenium deficient areas.
Pleural Manometry: Technique and Clinical Implications

Introduction: Pleural manometry during large-volume thoracentesis can prevent the development of excessively negative pleural pressures, which have been associated with re-expansion pulmonary edema; can diagnose an unexpandable lung; and can predict pleurodesis success. We currently perform pleural manometry simultaneously with both a vertical-column water manometer with an interposed resistive element, and a hemodynamic transducer connected to a standard physiologic system. We present the technique as well as the advantages and disadvantages of both systems in measuring pleural liquid pressures. Technique: A flexible thoracentesis catheter is inserted in the most dependent portion of the pleural effusion. The water manometer consists of two lengths of IV tubing connected through a 22-gauge needle inserted into an injection terminal. The system is connected to the zeroing port of the pressure transducer, and both are carefully purged of air. The electronic system is zeroed at the level the thoracentesis catheter is introduced into the patient. Measurements are performed initially and after each 250 mL of fluid that is withdrawn. Accuracy of the water manometer: Forty consecutive patients who underwent therapeutic thoracentesis had pressure measurements. Pleural fluid removed ranged from 50 to 4,200 mL (mean, 1,445 mL). A total of 291 pressure measurements were acquired and analyzed. Mean pleural liquid pressure obtained by the water manometer had a strong positive correlation with the values obtained by a standard physiologic system ( r = 0.97, p Conclusion: An overdamped water manometer is a valid method to measure mean pleural liquid pressure. Coughing invalidates pressure measurements with the water manometer; however, with the electronic method, periods of quiet breathing can be identified, allowing for the measurement of pleural pressure.