cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Growth in a biofilm sensitizes Cutibacterium acnes to nanosecond pulsed electric fields.

Abstract The Gram-positive anaerobic bacterium Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) is a commensal of the human skin, but also an opportunistic pathogen that contributes to the pathophysiology of the skin disease acne vulgaris. C. acnes can form biofilms; cells in biofilms are more resilient to antimicrobial stresses. Acne therapeutic options such as topical or systemic antimicrobial treatments often show incomplete responses. In this study we measured the efficacy of nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF), a new promising cell and tissue ablation technology, to inactivate C. acnes. Our results show that all tested nsPEF doses (250 to 2000 pulses, 280 ns pulses, 28 kV/cm, 5 Hz; 0.5 to 4 kJ/ml) failed to inactivate planktonic C. acnes and that pretreatment with lysozyme, a naturally occurring cell-wall-weakening enzyme, increased C. acnes vulnerability to nsPEF. Surprisingly, growth in a biofilm appears to sensitize C. acnes to nsPEF-induced stress, as C. acnes biofilm-derived cells showed increased cell death after nsPEF treatments that did not affect planktonic cells. Biofilm inactivation by nsPEF was confirmed by treating intact biofilms grown on glass coverslips with an indium oxide conductive layer. Altogether our results show that, contrary to other antimicrobial agents, nsPEF kill more efficiently bacteria in biofilms than planktonic cells.
A large majority of awake hippocampal sharp-wave ripples feature spatial trajectories with momentum

Abstract During periods of rest, hippocampal place cells feature bursts of activity called sharp-wave ripples (SWRs). Heuristic approaches to their analysis have revealed that a small fraction of SWRs appear to “simulate” trajectories through the environment—called awake hippocampal replay—while the functional role of a majority of these SWRs remains unclear. Applying a novel probabilistic approach to characterize the spatio-temporal dynamics embedded in SWRs, we instead show that almost all SWRs of foraging rodents simulate such trajectories through the environment. Furthermore, these trajectories feature momentum, that is, inertia in their velocities, that mirrors the animals’ natural movement. This stands in contrast to replay events during sleep which seem to follow Brownian motion without such momentum. Lastly, interpreting the replay trajectories in the context of navigational planning revealed that similar past analyses were biased by the heuristic SWR sub-selection. Overall, our approach provides a more complete characterization of the spatio-temporal dynamics within SWRs, highlights qualitative differences between sleep and awake replay, and ought to support future, more detailed, and less biased analysis of the role of awake replay in navigational planning.
Pulsed Ultraviolet Light Treatment of Chicken Parts

With increasing production and consumption of chicken, it is appropriate to investigate the functionality and effectiveness of microbial reduction interventions and the qualitative effects they have on food. The effectiveness of pulsed ultraviolet (PUV) light applied to chicken on a moving conveyor was evaluated for inactivation of Escherichia coli on the surface of raw boneless/skinless (B/S) chicken breasts, B/S chicken thighs, and bone-in/skin-on chicken thighs. The conveyor height (distance from the flashlamp) and speed were set to deliver total energy fluences of 5, 10, 20, and 30 J/cm2 to the surface of the products. The product type by energy fluence interaction was significant (P = 0.015) for microbial reduction of E. coli. Exposure to PUV light for 5 and 30 J/cm2 resulted in Log10 reductions of 0.29 and 1.04 for B/S breasts, 0.34 and 0.94 for B/S thighs, and 0.10 and 0.62 for bone-in/skin-on thighs, respectively. Lipid oxidation and changes in color of chicken samples were evaluated after 30 J/cm2 of PUV light treatment. Lipid oxidation was measured at 0, 24, 48, and 120 h after the treatment. PUV light treatment did not produce significant (P > 0.05) changes in lipid oxidation values for each product type. International Commission on Illumination L*, a*, and b* parameters were used to report lightness and color of samples before and after treatment for B/S breasts and thighs and bone-in/skin-on thighs. Color parameters were not significantly (P > 0.05) affected by PUV light treatments. In conclusion, this study indicates that PUV light applied to the surface of raw chicken parts on a moving conveyor is an effective surface antimicrobial treatment while inducing minimal change in quality of the product over a 5-d storage period under aerobic conditions.
Characterizing the role of the dark kinome in neurodegenerative disease - A mini review.

Abstract Background Drugs that modulate previously unexplored targets could potentially slow or halt the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Several candidate proteins lie within the dark kinome, those human kinases that have not been well characterized. Much of the kinome (~80%) remains poorly studied, and these targets likely harbor untapped biological potential. Scope of review This review highlights the significance of kinases as mediators of aberrant pathways in neurodegeneration and provides examples of published high-quality small molecules that modulate some of these kinases. Major conclusions There is a need for continued efforts to develop high-quality chemical tools to illuminate the function of understudied kinases in the brain. Potent and selective small molecules enable accurate pairing of an observed phenotype with a protein target. General significance The examples discussed herein support the premise that validation of therapeutic hypotheses surrounding kinase targets can be accomplished via small molecules and they can serve as the basis for disease-focused drug development campaigns.
Application of Lean Principles to Preanalytic and Analytic Processes

Quality assurance (QA) efforts in the anatomical pathology (AP) laboratory today mainly involve analysis of batched assembly line-like workflow. Furthermore, the data that are generated are often hard to access due to limited laboratory information system (LIS) functionality as well as lack of LIS interoperability with interconnecting information systems. There are a number of “middleware” systems that offer business intelligence enabling extraction of valuable LIS data. Converting the anatomical laboratory workflow to a Lean process and using modern informatics tools such as bar-coded tracking systems in the AP lab results in more standardized workflow with automated processes leading to a reduction in errors, particularly in the preanalytical and analytical phases of the surgical pathology specimen life cycle. Creating auditable events in the workflow using barcodes and other technologies permits real-time data capture directly into the LIS that is available for real-time QA monitoring. Additional informatics tools such as synoptic reporting, computerized provider order entry (CPOE), and LIS-driven presign out random QA help to improve quality and reduce errors in AP.
Quantum Mechanics of Simple Chemical Reactions

The exact calculation of cross-sections for the collisions leading to chemical reactions requires, in general, the solution of the Schrodinger equation for all of the particles, electrons and nuclei, involved. Fortunately, this impossibly difficult problem can be simplified for most reactions at the energies of interest for chemistry by means of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. Thus, the scattering calculation can, just as in the more commonly studied bound-state case, be divided into two parts — the first, that of determining the potential surface or surfaces involved in the reaction and the second, that of the motion on the surface of the atoms treated as point particles (with spin, if necessary).
Nocturia and Overactive Bladder

The relationship between overactive bladder (OAB) and nocturia is not well understood. Research has been hampered because of difficulties presented by the definitions of both conditions as well as the lack of methods for discerning the difference between voiding during sleep hours because of awakening for some other reason and voiding after being awakened by urgency, the cardinal symptom of OAB. Notwithstanding these difficulties, it seems clear that OAB is a major risk factor in both men and women for having nocturia, but the converse is not true – only about one-third of nocturics have OAB.
N-best Speech Hypotheses Reordering Using Linear Regression

We propose a hypothesis reordering technique to improve speech recognition accuracy in a dialog system. For such systems, additional information external to the decoding process itself is available, in particular features derived from the parse and the dialog. Such features can be combined with recognizer features by means of a linear regression model to predict the most likely entry in the hypothesis list. We introduce the use of concept error rate as an alternative accuracy measurement and compare it withy the use of word error rate. The proposed model performs better than human subjects performing the same hypothesis reordering task.
Natural and anthropogenic variation in coarse wood among and within lakes

Summary 1 Residential development is often concentrated near aquatic ecosystems and understanding riparian–littoral zone interactions is therefore critical for assessing its ecological effects. 2 Introduction of wood from riparian forests into the littoral zone, where it becomes habitat for aquatic organisms, is an important, but poorly understood, process. We related the density of littoral coarse wood both among and within 45 lakes in Vilas County, Wisconsin, USA, to forest structure, abiotic drivers and land use. 3 Among all lakes and among a subset of low-development lakes, the best predictor of the density of littoral coarse wood was the density of riparian coarse wood. At the within-lake (site) level, two alternative models explain variability in coarse wood abundance: as a function of exposure to wind and amount of riparian coarse wood or as a function of exposure to wind and land-use intensity. 4 Both among and within lakes, areas more modified by humans had a lower density of littoral coarse wood. Conversely, areas with little (current) human impact were tremendously variable; some sites and lakes had abundant wood and others had virtually none. 5 Contrary to previous studies, there was no relationship between living trees and coarse wood density, suggesting that riparian and littoral coarse wood densities may be strongly influenced by past disturbance, both human and natural. 6 This study highlights the importance of cross boundary subsidies in understanding the impact of development on ecosystems. The concentration of residential development at the boundary between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems appears to reduce the flow of coarse wood from forests to lakes. Loss of this resource may have negative consequences for lake biota and the aquatic food web.
CRIME AS AN OCCUPATION

Students of crime have traditionally stressed the uniqueness of the criminal world and have developed special concepts in their attempt to explain the functioning of this “special” domain. In contrast, others in the field have asserted that the concepts used to investigate the coventional world can also be employed to provide insight into its criminal counterpart. This sentiment has been particularly evident among those who have utilized the concept of “occupation” to analyze criminal behavior. Building on the “crime as work” perspective, this research illustrates that, similar to conventional occupations, criminal work is stratified by prestige and stereotyped by sex. Further, the data suggest that Davis and Moore's (1945) functional theory may be a useful explanation not only of the stratification of conventional work but of criminal occupations as well.
Income Redistribution with Well-Informed Local Governments

This paper examines the problem of redistributing incomeacross jurisdictions and to mobile workers within jurisdictionswhen local governments have better information than the centralgovernment about local production conditions. Under the centralgovernment‘s optimal policy, the subsidies or taxes that localgovernments provide to mobile workers normally depend on whetherthese governments are net recipients or net donors of interjurisdictionalincome transfers. Moreover, the public-input decisions of somelocal governments are distorted. The analysis demonstrates thatit may not be desirable to harmonize social policies across jurisdictions,even when the beneficiaries are quite mobile.
PHASE TRANSITIONS IN DENSE ASTROPHYSICAL PLASMAS

The realization that dense plasmas may freeze, forming crystallized cores in white dwarfs and crusts in neutron stars, initiated an exploration of phase transitions in dense stars. In the intervening 20 years, several other types of phase transitions have been studied. In this review, I shall summarize the advances and identify areas that seem to me particularly interesting and important from the point of view of astrophysics. These include the following: (1) The transition to a glassy state has been proposed as an alternative to crystallization in white dwarfs. (2) The freezing and possible phase separation of binary mixtures, which had been suggested as a possible energy source in very cool C/O white dwarfs, seems unlikely to occur, according to recent calculations. (3) Fe/H phase separation, first suggested as a possibility to account for the solar neutrino problem, almost certainly does not occur in the Sun. It may be a significant effect in the evolution of low mass stars and “brown dwarfs,” however. (4) H/He phase separation almost certainly does occur in giant planets and provides a significant energy source in these bodies. (5) It has been suggested that the metallization of H may occur via a “plasma phase transition”. Some recent theoretical work supports this idea, but experimantal tests are still necessary.
Measurement location analysis for information embedded power systems

With the advent of various smart grid implementations, it has become feasible and perhaps suggested, to investigate the preferred location for measurement reference. The highest ranked reference would most accurately observe the power system status taking into account errors on indirect measurements. A process for this selection is presented in the work, where the effect of both network and power system perturbations such as measurement distortion and load change are analyzed to aid in the decision-making.
An improved small bowel meal technique using orally administered methylecellulose

Objectives: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of conventional barium small bowel meal (BSBM) & methylcellulose mixed barium small bowel meal (MC-BSBM). Materials & Methods: One hundred patients were subjected to MC-BSBM and were compared to a control group of 30 patients who had conventional BSBM studies performed. The MC-BSBM technique involves replacing much of the barium given in the conventional BSBM study with methylcellulose (MC). The transit time, luminal distension, terminal ileal visualization and radiation exposures of the two techniques were compared. Results: Patients found both protocols equally acceptable. The mean transit time for the MC-BSBM group was slightly shorter, resulting in reduced numbers of films and thus radiation exposure. The quality of images was distinctly better in the MC-BSBM group due to optimal mucosal delineation, luminal distension and proper visualization of the deeper small intestine through overlapping bowel loops. Conclusion: The use of oral MC as an adjunct to the BSBM technique results in improved visualization and distension of small bowel loops, without any identified disadvantages.
Physiology of transmission at a giant glutamatergic synapse in cerebellum

Publisher Summary The majority of excitatory synaptic pathways within the cerebellum utilize glutamate as the neurotransmitter. The three principal glutamatergic synapses in cerebellum are those formed between climbing fibers and Purkinje cells, mossy fibers and their targets within the granular layer, and parallel fibers and their targets within the molecular layer. The unipolar brush cells (UBCs) are found in the dorsal cochlear nucleus—a center that is innervated by primary auditory fibers and receives many other non-auditory inputs. The UBC receives innervation from glutamatergic afferent fibers, and both the synaptic ultrastructure and physiology of transmission are unique in the central nervous system. This chapter discusses the recent data concerning the physiology of transmission at this novel glutamatergic synapse. The ultrastructure of the MF–UBC synapse is unique among glutamatergic synapses, for at all other glutamatergic synapses studied to date, the release sites are generally apposed to discrete areas of post-synaptic density in which ionotropic receptors are concentrated, but between which the density of ionotropic receptors in the areas of neuronal membrane is low. The synaptic currents evoked in UBCs by stimulation of mossy fiber afferents have been studied using patch-clamp recording methods in thin slices of rat cerebellar vermis.
The Two-step Formation and Inactivation of Acylphosphatase by Agents Acting on Glyceraldehyde Phosphate Dehydrogenase

Conditions are described for optimal conversion of the glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase of muscle and yeast by oxidation with o-iodosobenzoate to a highly active acylphosphatase which can be crystallized. One mole of oxidant is required per essential sulfhydryl group. Measurements of —SH groups that disappear suggest that the process may possibly be more complex than simple formation of a disulfide bond at each active center. The process is reversible on treatment with —SH compounds. The same reversible conversion is brought about by treatment with limited amounts of iodine. However, small amounts of additional iodine lead to inactivation of the acylphosphatase generated by either iodine or o-iodosobenzoate and concomitantly to the irreversible loss of most of the dehydrogenase function. Because there is no loss of —SH groups during this process, it appears that another iodine-sensitive group on the protein is required for both the acylphosphatase and dehydrogenase activity. The inactivation of the acylphosphatase is also observed with low concentrations of N-bromosuccinimide.
Enhancing pedagogy via eBay: some assembly (language) required

A number of CPU simulators have been developed, for various purposes, one of which has been to aid in the teaching of assembly language concepts. An alternate and time-honored approach is to use actual, existing systems for this purpose. In this paper, it is argued that these form two ends of a spectrum of approaches, and that there is a point somewhere in the middle that preserves many of the benefits of both ends: through the use of the SPIM simulator for the MIPS CPU, and a modest purchase on eBay, our students have not only had the flexibility and educational benefits that a simulator provides, but have also been able to apply that knowledge to investigating and manipulating a real computer that uses those very same instructions. Some of the activities that were developed for this purpose are presented, as well as some ideas for further use of this equipment.
Engaging uncertainty in hydrologic data sets using principal component analysis: BaNPCA algorithm

[1] Principal component analysis (PCA) is the most widely used method for dimensionality reduction, data reconstruction, feature extraction, and data visualization in geosciences. However, in its standard form, PCA makes no distinction between data points for which the associated measurement errors vary in both space and time. Using the backdrop of sea surface temperature (SST) data, a Bayesian variant of noisy principal component analysis (BaNPCA) was developed to incorporate observation uncertainty when performing PCA. The algorithm was first assessed using synthetic data sets. Comparison of BaNPCA results with current PCA techniques showed that BaNPCA has lower data reconstruction error; that is, for a given number of principal components, it explains more variance in SST data. Using the automatic relevance determination method, BaNPCA could correctly identify the appropriate number of principal components in the data. BaNPCA was shown to exhibit distinct advantages in filling missing values in the data when compared to existing methods. In addition, the extracted principal vectors from BaNPCA were found to be smoother and more representative of large-scale signals like El Nino-Southern Oscillation and Pacific Decadal Oscillation. To classify extreme states of all India summer monsoon rainfall, we used robust optimization that utilizes the PCs along with computed uncertainty from BaNPCA algorithm as inputs, thus engaging uncertainty in data. Results from this study demonstrate the value of utilizing uncertainty information available with hydrologic data sets.
Inhomogeneity of methane emissions from a dairy waste lagoon.

Methane (CH4) is the dominant greenhouse gas emitted by animal agriculture manure. Since the gas is relatively insoluble in water, it is concentrated in discrete bubbles that rise through waste lagoons and burst at the surface. This results in lagoon emissions that are inhomogeneous in both space and time. Emissions from a midwestern dairy waste lagoon were measured over 2 weeks to evaluate the spatial homogeneity of the source emissions and to compare two methods for measuring this inhomogeneous emission. Emissions were determined using an inverse dispersion model based on CH4 concentrations measured both by a single scanning tunable diode laser (TDL) aimed at a series of reflectors and by flame ionization detection (FID) gas chromatography on line-sampled air. Emissions were best estimated using scanned TDL concentrations over relatively short optical paths that collectively span the entire cross-wind width of the source, so as to provide both the best capture of discrete plumes from the bursting bubble...
Non-monotonic effect of growth temperature on carrier collection in SnS solar cells

We quantify the effects of growth temperature on material and device properties of thermally evaporated SnS thin-films and test structures. Grain size, Hall mobility, and majority-carrier concentration monotonically increase with growth temperature. However, the charge collection as measured by the long-wavelength contribution to short-circuit current exhibits a non-monotonic behavior: the collection decreases with increased growth temperature from 150 °C to 240 °C and then recovers at 285 °C. Fits to the experimental internal quantum efficiency using an opto-electronic model indicate that the non-monotonic behavior of charge-carrier collection can be explained by a transition from drift- to diffusion-assisted components of carrier collection. The results show a promising increase in the extracted minority-carrier diffusion length at the highest growth temperature of 285 °C. These findings illustrate how coupled mechanisms can affect early stage device development, highlighting the critical role of direct...
A resurgence of β-lactamase inhibitor combinations effective against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative pathogens

β-Lactamase inhibitors (BLIs) have played an important role in combatting β-lactam resistance in Gram-negative bacteria, but their effectiveness has diminished with the evolution of diverse and deleterious varieties of β-lactamases. In this review, a new generation of BLIs and inhibitor combinations is presented, describing epidemiological information, pharmacodynamic studies, resistance identification and current clinical status. Novel serine BLIs of major interest include the non-β-lactams of the diazabicyclo[3.2.1]octanone (DBO) series. The DBOs avibactam, relebactam and RG6080 inhibit most class A and class C β-lactamases, with selected inhibition of class D enzymes by avibactam. The novel boronic acid inhibitor RPX7009 has a similar inhibitory profile. All of these inhibitors are being developed in combinations that are targeting primarily carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative pathogens. Two BLI combinations (ceftolozane/tazobactam and ceftazidime/avibactam) were recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the designation of a Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP). Other inhibitor combinations that have at least completed phase 1 clinical trials are ceftaroline fosamil/avibactam, aztreonam/avibactam, imipenem/relebactam, meropenem/RPX7009 and cefepime/AAI101. Although effective inhibitor combinations are in development for the treatment of infections caused by Gram-negative bacteria with serine carbapenemases, better options are still necessary for pathogens that produce metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs). The aztreonam/avibactam combination demonstrates inhibitory activity against MBL-producing enteric bacteria owing to the stability of the monobactam to these enzymes, but resistance is still an issue for MBL-producing non-fermentative bacteria. Because all of the inhibitor combinations are being developed as parenteral drugs, an orally bioavailable combination would also be of interest.
Wnt-4 activates the canonical β-catenin-mediated Wnt pathway and binds Frizzled-6 CRD: functional implications of Wnt/β-catenin activity in kidney epithelial cells

The Wnt signaling pathway is central to the development of all animals and to cancer progression, yet largely unknown are the pairings of secreted Wnt ligands to their respective Frizzled transmembrane receptors or, in many cases, the relative contributions of canonical (beta-catenin/LEF/TCF) versus noncanonical Wnt signals. Specifically, in the kidney where Wnt-4 is essential for the mesenchymal to epithelial transition that generates the tissue's collecting tubules, the corresponding Frizzled receptor(s) and downstream signaling mechanism(s) are unclear. In this report, we addressed these issues using Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells, which are competent to form tubules in vitro. Employing established reporter constructs of canonical Wnt/beta-catenin pathway activity, we have determined that MDCK cells are highly responsive to Wnt-4, -1, and -3A, but not to Wnt-5A and control conditions, precisely reflecting functional findings from Wnt-4 null kidney mesenchyme ex vivo rescue studies. We have confirmed that Wnt-4's canonical signaling activity in MDCK cells is mediated by downstream effectors of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway using beta-Engrailed and dnTCF-4 constructs that suppress this pathway. We have further found that MDCK cells express the Frizzled-6 receptor and that Wnt-4 forms a biochemical complex with the Frizzled-6 CRD. Since Frizzled-6 did not appear to transduce Wnt-4's canonical signal, data supported recently by Golan et al., there presumably exists another as yet unknown Frizzled receptor(s) mediating Wnt-4 activation of beta-catenin/LEF/TCF. Finally, we report that canonical Wnt/beta-catenin signals cells help maintain cell growth and survival in MDCK cells but do not contribute to standard HGF-induced (nonphysiologic) tubule formation. Our results in combination with work from Xenopus laevis (not shown) lead us to believe that Wnt-4 binds both canonical and noncanonical Frizzled receptors, thereby activating Wnt signaling pathways that may each contribute to kidney tubulogenesis.
CONFU: Configuration Fuzzing Testing Framework for Software Vulnerability Detection

Many software security vulnerabilities only reveal themselves under certain conditions, that is, particular configurations and inputs together with a certain runtime environment. One approach to detecting these vulnerabilities is fuzz testing. However, typical fuzz testing makes no guarantees regarding the syntactic and semantic validity of the input, or of how much of the input space will be explored. To address these problems, the authors present a new testing methodology called Configuration Fuzzing. Configuration Fuzzing is a technique whereby the configuration of the running application is mutated at certain execution points to check for vulnerabilities that only arise in certain conditions. As the application runs in the deployment environment, this testing technique continuously fuzzes the configuration and checks "security invariants'' that, if violated, indicate vulnerability. This paper discusses the approach and introduces a prototype framework called ConFu CONfiguration FUzzing testing framework for implementation. Additionally, the results of case studies that demonstrate the approach's feasibility are presented along with performance evaluations.
π -Carbon Elastic Scattering Near the 33 Resonance

Elastic ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{C}$ scattering is calculated with the Kisslinger optical model from 120 to 280 MeV. With parameters obtained from ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{-}N$ phase shifts, general qualitative agreement is obtained with the recent Binon et al. data. Modifying the parameters further improves the fit.
Potamogeton × haynesii (Potamogetonaceae), a new species from northeastern North America

Potamogeton×haynesii is described as a new species from northeastern North America. The nameP. longiligulatus has been misapplied to this plant. Following the study of type material,P. longiligulatus is placed in synonymy underP. strictifolius.
A VERSATILE LOAD SIMULATOR FOR ELECTRIC DRIVES

Abstract An economical and versatile load simulator is described. The load simulator is capable of modeling arbitrary torque-speed load characteristics and emulating load inertia. Alteration of load characteristics is implemented by change of the EPROM stored program in the 8-bit microprocessor-based controller. Limits on application range are defined and discussed. Verification of the load simulator's ability to model several different torque-speed characteristics is presented.
Binding dynamics of targeted microbubbles in response to modulated acoustic radiation force

Detection of molecular targeted microbubbles plays a foundational role in ultrasound-based molecular imaging and targeted gene or drug delivery. In this paper, an empirical model describing the binding dynamics of targeted microbubbles in response to modulated acoustic radiation forces in large vessels is presented and experimentally verified using tissue-mimicking flow phantoms. Higher flow velocity and microbubble concentration led to faster detaching rates for specifically bound microbubbles (p < 0.001). Higher time-averaged acoustic radiation force intensity led to faster attaching rates and a higher saturation level of specifically bound microbubbles (p < 0.05). The level of residual microbubble signal in targeted experiments after cessation of radiation forces was the only response parameter that was reliably different between targeted and control experiments (p < 0.05). A related parameter, the ratio of residual-to-saturated microbubble signal (Rresid), is proposed as a measurement that is independent of absolute acoustic signal magnitude and therefore able to reliably detect targeted adhesion independently of control measurements (p < 0.01). These findings suggest the possibility of enhanced detection of specifically bound microbubbles in real-time, using relatively short imaging protocols (approximately 3 min), without waiting for free microbubble clearance.
Ca2+ exchange with troponin C and cardiac muscle dynamics

Controversy abounds in the cardiac muscle literature over the rate-limiting steps of cardiac muscle contraction and relaxation. However, the idea of a single biochemical mechanism being the all-inclusive rate-limiting step for cardiac muscle contraction and relaxation may be oversimplified. There is ample evidence that Ca(2+) concentration and dynamics, intrinsic cross-bridge properties, and even troponin C (TnC) Ca(2+) binding and dissociation can all modulate the mechanical events of cardiac muscle contraction and relaxation. However, TnC has generally been thought to play no role in influencing cardiac muscle dynamics due to the idea that Ca(2+) exchange with TnC is very rapid. This definitely is the case for isolated TnC, but not for the more sophisticated biochemical systems of reconstituted thin filaments and myofibrils. This review will discuss the biochemical influences on Ca(2+) exchange with TnC and their physiological implications.
Juvenile hormone III titers and regulation of soldier caste in coptotermes formosanus (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae).

Abstract Juvenile hormone (JH) is an important growth hormone in insects that has also been implicated in caste determination in termites. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to establish that the JH in the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki, is JH III. JH III titers were measured in workers, pre-soldiers, and soldiers from samples collected from the field. The average titers of JH III in workers and soldiers were about 13 and 25 pg mg−1, respectively. However, pre-soldiers contained a significantly higher amount, 596 pg mg−1. As expected, treatment of workers with a JH-analogue, methoprene, triggered rapid formation of pre-soldiers. However, these pre-soldiers had a very low JH III titer (62 pg mg−1). It appears that the application of JHA, while inducing pre-soldier formation, does not increase the endogenous JH III titer. The titer, however, increased as the pre-soldiers aged and before transforming into soldiers.
Portable execution of legacy binaries on the Java virtual machine

The move toward pure managed-code environments is held back by the vast amount of legacy software available only as statically compiled binaries for some legacy instruction set architecture (ISA). Catering to this legacy software requires all sorts of compromises, from the necessity of providing backward compatibility with dated instruction sets to the need for unsatisfactory mixed-mode environments, in which the legacy code runs "besides" (rather than on top of) the managed code platform. We have been investigating strategies for running legacy binaries on top of, rather than "besides", a managed code platform, by virtualizing the legacy ISA. Our system "upcompiles" low-level machine code to high-level Java code, which can then be executed on any Java Virtual Machine (JVM). On JVMs that have a just-in-time compiler, our generated JVM bytecode is subsequently "downcompiled" again into the native code of the host machine (which may be identical or different from the starting ISA). Despite executing on top of the Java Virtual Machine, our system delivers performance comparable to commercial-strength dynamic translators such as QEMU that directly generate platform-dependant machine code.
Specificity of RNA chain initiation by bacteriophage T7-induced RNA polymerase

Abstract Analysis of the nucleotide sequence at the 5′-triphosphate termini of RNA chains synthesized by T7 RNA polymerase from T7 DNA template indicates that nearly all RNA chains synthesized in this polymerase reaction contain the sequence, pppGpGp. In addition, studies carried out on T7 DNA-dependent 32PPi exchange into ribonucleoside triphosphates suggest that immediately following the guanine residues at the 5′-end of RNA formed in the T7 RNA polymerase reaction, there is one or more adenine residues. These results indicate a high degree of specificity of initiation of RNA synthesis by T7 RNA polymerase.
Aberrant parenting and delayed offspring development in rats exposed to lithium

Natural lithium (Li) salts, including those used routinely in manic depressive illness, consist of two stable nonradioactive isotopes: lithium-7 (Li-7) (92.6%) and lithium-6 (Li-6) (7.4%). Female rats (3 months old) were treated with either Li-7 chloride or Li-6 chloride or were untreated prior to and during gestation and lactation. Birth weights were lower for Li-treated animals than for normal pups. Maternal behavior of all Li-treated mothers was altered. Li-7 mothers ignored their pups and nursed them infrequently. Li-6 mothers groomed and nursed their pups more often than normal mothers. All pups showed delays in development, especially in the maturation of depth perception. Although Li-6-treated dams were over-protective mothers, their offspring showed longer developmental delays than those of Li-7-treated offspring.
Stage-related properties of cognitive development

Abstract The analysis of a particular interpretation of “cognitive-developmental stage” serves here as a vehicle for the presentation of some ideas about the way human cognitive development typically proceeds. It is argued, among other things, that the various forms of knowledge, abilities, strategies, etc. that define membership in a Piagetian type stage: (1) represent genuine qualitative novelties, but may also be causal-developmentally linked with other, more quantitative-looking sorts of changes (2) may evolve towards their full functional maturity much more slowly and gradually than is commonly supposed, often achieving it only well after that stage's conventional closing date (3) need not (theoretically) and often do not (empirically) evolve in strict developmental synchrony or concurrence, one with another (4) typically become functionally interlocked to form networks of cognitive structures, once sufficiently mature.
A study on the PbCrO3 perovskite

Abstract The perovskite compound PbCrO 3 has been prepared from CrO 2 and PbO at high pressure. The product was formed as small black cubes suitable for electrical resistivity measurements. Magnetic susceptibility data were obtained in the region 77 to 550°K. The oxide phase was found to be a semiconductor with antiferromagnetic behavior below a transition temperature of about 160°K.
Nonreaders and Nonwriters in Special Education: Crossing New Literacy Thresholds.

This paper reports on the way in which a teacher led the literacy development of two students who were nonreaders and nonwriters. The two students received instruction in a special education room for students with learning disabilities. The teacher implemented an integrated instructional program in reading and writing that was designed to: (a) embed literacy instruction in meaningful and purposive activities, (b) respond to the needs, capabilities and interests of learners, and reflect their zones of proximal development, (c) promote self-regulated learning, and (d) foster students' membership in a literacy community. This paper focuses on the strategies the teacher used to mediate reading and writing development and the effects of the strategies on the narrative and expository writing performance of her students.
Compilation and integration of studies of radon levels in U.S. homes by states and counties

Abstract The final compilation of mean radon levels in U.S. counties from the University of Pittsburgh data base is presented. It is derived from 272,000 measurements satisfying bias reduction criteria, and gives means for 1217 counties in 49 states after properly combining data from basements and upper floors. EPA data tapes were analyzed to separate basements and upper floor measurements and these were properly combined to derive mean radon levels from 1141 counties in 39 states based on 40,000 measurements. State‐sponsored studies in Florida, New Jersey, South Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, Iowa, Idaho, Ohio, and Utah also are utilized, after appropriate analysis in some cases, to give mean radon levels in 391 counties. All data sets are renormalized to give a national average in agreement with the National Residential Radon Survey. Correlations among the various data sets were studied to estimate uncertainties in each. A combined data set is then assembled, giving best estimates of average radon l...
Links between surface electrostatic potentials of energetic molecules, impact sensitivities and C–NO2/N–NO2 bond dissociation energies

Earlier work has shown a link—not necessarily a causal relationship—between the impact sensitivities of energetic compounds and the electrostatic potentials on their molecular surfaces. The latter are anomalous in that the positive regions are strikingly dominant, contrary to what is typical of organic molecules. In this work, we show that the presence of several electron-withdrawing NO2 groups and/or aza nitrogens (common features of energetic systems), which is the reason for the anomalously positive surface potentials, also weakens the C–NO2 and/or N–NO2 bonds. Thus, insofar as these are trigger linkages, the rupture of which is a key step in detonation initiation, an approximate correlation between the features of the surface potentials and sensitivity may be expected. A group of eight nitramines is used to demonstrate this. Work is in progress to elucidate the basis for the surface potential–sensitivity link when a non-trigger-linkage mechanism is operative.
Synthesis, purification by HPLC and characterization of monoiodoglucagon labeled with carrier free 125I: use as glucagon receptor probe.

AbstractMethods are described: a to iodinate glucagon with carrier-free 125I using Iodogen© as the oxidizing agent and, b to purify from the reaction medium a mixture of [125I-Tyr10] monoiodoglucagon and [125I-Tyr13] monoiodoglucagon using reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC).
Pulmonary Medicine and Certification

Excerpt To the editor: In November 1987, the American Board of Internal Medicine will administer a special certifying examination in critical care medicine. To qualify to sit for this examination, ...
Intracavernous pressure responses to physical and electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerve in rats

Abstract Objectives. To better define the techniques of nerve-sparing prostate dissection that would result in preservation of erectile function, we characterize the effects of physical pressure on the prostate and cavernous nerve, electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerve, and pharmacologic manipulations on intracavernous pressure (ICP) in normal and diabetic rats. Methods. Fischer-34 rats, both normal and diabetic, underwent dissections that isolated the cavernous bodies and cavernous nerves. Cavernous body pressures were characterized during surgical manipulation, during electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerves, and following papaverine hydrochloride injection. Results. In normal rats, baseline cavernous pressures ranged from 5 to 15 cm H 2 O (mean 12.29). In diabetic rats, the baseline pressure was significantly lower (3 to 7.5 cm H 2 O). Lateral nerve displacement caused ICP to rise to approximately 35 cm H 2 O in normal rats, but only to 20 cm H 2 O in diabetic rats. Electrostimulation resulted in cavernous pressure increases of 10-fold from baseline in normal rats and sevenfold from baseline in diabetic rats. ICPs were not disturbed appreciably with nerve-sparing dissection techniques. Neurotomy resulted in declines in baseline cavernous pressures in all rats. Electrostimulation of the distal end of a severed nerve resulted in pressure rises to 50% of those observed in rats with intact cavernous nerves. Intracavernous papaverine injection before or after nerve stimulation masked subsequent (expected) pressure changes. Conclusions. A change in cavernous pressure is a sensitive indicator of cavernous nerve manipulation. Both cavernous pressure measurements and electrostimulation of cavernous nerves may aid surgeons during radical prostatectomy.
New advances in solid state powder lasers: the effects of external seeding and external mirrors

temperature pumped at X575-590 nm exhibits a laser-like behavior without an external cavity. After somethreshold pump energy, the Nd emission spectrum narrowed to a single intense line and short emissionpulses appeared in response to a 30 ns Q-switched laser pulse. In succeeding papers by the same group thiseffect was investigated in more details [2
Fourier transform differences and averaged similarities in diatoms

Phase contrast photographs of diatoms are characterized from their Fourier transform taken through an optical diffractometer. The system output is placed on line to a PDP11/40 providing digital subtraction of two output spectral distributions due to different species. Differences obtained in this manner are used for characterizing various species. An average Fourier transform taken through coherent additions is also analyzed to find common features in a given set of diatoms.
Minding the gap: World Bank's assistance to power shortage mitigation in the developing world

Abstract This paper describes the World Bank's technical assistance and lending efforts in support of developing countries facing power shortages. The paper reviews the World Bank's experience in helping governments to mitigate power shortages in Africa, South Asia, East Asia, and Latin America regions. The paper stresses the need to consider each power “crunch” on an individual basis, and describes the process used in diagnosing a shortage situation and prescribing mitigation strategies. Several brief case studies are presented, including Botswana, Brazil, Uganda, and South Africa. The political and customer-centric dimensions of power shortage mitigation are briefly described, with suggestions for minimizing the socio-economic impacts of power shortages on the urban and rural poors. The paper concludes that an integrated supply–demand portfolio approach works best, and within the portfolio a mix of market-based rationing, emergency mobilization of customer-owned generation, interruptible rates, load control, and energy efficient lighting should be sought. Although the best formulation will vary according to market structure, demand composition, and nature of the crisis, World Bank practitioners have found one program that works almost everywhere to produce fast and effective results – mass market Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) replacement programs.
Paper or plastic? The United States’ demand for paper and paperboard in packaging

Analysis of consumer demand for packaging suggests that: plastic packaging is a luxury good, while paper packaging is a normal good, paper packaging demand increases with the price of plastic packaging, and that demand for paper packaging is most sensitive to its own price, and to the income of consumers. In a complementary analysis of input demand in the converting paper industry it was found that the demand for each paper grade is price inelastic, capital and other materials are substitutes for paper, while labor is a complement, technical change rapidly decreases the use of unbleached kraft packaging and industrial converting, and increases the use of other grades. The demand for each paper grade, derived from the consumer demand and the factor demand functions, showed that, from 1983 to 1991, the demand for paper in packaging was influenced mainly by consumer income, and by the price of paper packaging, and less so by the price of paper itself, or by the price of plastic packaging.
Performance characteristics of second generation polysilicon resonating beam force transducers

Polysilicon resonating beam force transducers and their performance characteristics are studied. Doubly clamped beams in vacuum display a shift in resonant frequency with applied axial load. Functionality, miniaturization, and batch fabrication were accomplished using surface micromachining techniques with tensile, fine-grained polysilicon as the construction material. The device could be a very accurate, cost-effective alternative to presently available force transducers if it displays sharply defined and stable resonant frequencies. The devices are driven into resonance by means of electrothermomechanical or capacitive forces. Analytical expressions are derived to illustrate the detrimental effect the drive mechanisms have on the resonant frequency. Material and process sensitivities are calculated from a closed-form expression for the fundamental resonant frequency. Experimental beams have typical dimensions of 200- mu m length, 45- mu m width, and 2- mu m thickness. The fundamental unloaded resonant frequency is near 650 kHz and can be adjusted by processing. It will shift to nearly 900 kHz with an applied strain level of +0.1%. A temperature coefficient of the frequency of -75 p.p.m./ degrees C for the finished batch-fabricated device was demonstrated. Theory and experiment are in agreement, showing that the resonant frequency stability and not the ability to measure frequency limits the force resolution. >