cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extraction methods and an investigation of Drosophila lipids.

In earlier work (8) we extracted lipids from dried, macerated Drosophila melanogaster with ether, but later, working with larger quantities of undried flies, we found that most of the phospholipids were autolyzed. Kates' studies (2) led him to suggest n-propanol or isopropanol for lipid extraction (isopropanol was his later choice (6, 7)). Attempting to meet the requirements discussed above, we developed a new and relatively simple method of extraction employing n-propanol (9), or chloroformmethanol (2:1). The latter proved to be a more useful solvent. The method will be described in detail below, with results of an examination of Drosophila lipids.
Label-Free Biochemical Sensors Based on Optical Microresonators

Biochemical sensors play a significant role in extensive applications that have tight relationship with human life. These sensors require high sensitivity and low detection limit. In this chapter, two optical sensors that meet the requirement will be discussed: polymer microring biochemical sensors and microtube resonator sensors. Both have advantages of high sensitivity, label-free detection capability, low cost, robustness, and simple fabrication process. The former devices show high sensitivity over 70 nm per RIU and low detection limit as 250 pg mm−2, while the latter ones can push sensitivity to 600 nm per RIU. Moreover, polymer microring biochemical sensors are compact and integrable in an array on a substrate; while microtube-based sensors have built-in fluidic handling capability. These features facilitate the development of miniature and highly sensitive lab-on-a-chip sensors.
15N2 Fixation by Bacteria Associated with Maize Roots at a Low Partial O2 Pressure

Nitrogen fixation by bacteria associated with roots of intact maize plants was measured by exposing the roots to 15N2 at a partial O2 pressure (pO2) of 2 or 10 kPa. The plants were grown in a mixture of Weswood soil and sand and then transferred to plastic cylinders containing an N-free plant nutrient solution. The solution was sparged continuously with a mixture of air and N2 at a pO2 of 2 or 10 kPa. Acetylene reduction was measured after the roots were exposed to the low pO2 overnight. The air-N2 atmosphere in the cylinders was then replaced with an O2-He atmosphere at the same pO2, and the roots were exposed to 20 kPa of 15N2 for 20 to 22 h. Incorporation of 15N into the roots was 200 times greater at 2 kPa of O2 than at 10 kPa of O2. Adding l-malate (1 g of C liter−1) to the nutrient solution increased root-associated nitrogenase activity, producing a strong 15N label which could be traced into the shoots. Fixed 15N was detected in the shoots within 5 days after the plants were returned to unfertilized soil. In a similar experiment with undisturbed plants grown in fritted clay, movement of fixed 15N into the shoots was evident within 4 days after the roots were exposed to 15N2 at 2 kPa of O2. Inoculation with Azospirillum lipoferum yielded no significant differences in shoot dry weight, total nitrogen content, percent nitrogen, or 15N enrichment of plant tissues. Inoculated plants did exhibit greater root dry weight than uninoculated plants, however.
Differential DNA methylation profile of key genes in malignant prostate epithelial cells transformed by inorganic arsenic or cadmium

Previous work shows altered methylation patterns in inorganic arsenic (iAs)- or cadmium (Cd)-transformed epithelial cells. Here, the methylation status near the transcriptional start site was assessed in the normal human prostate epithelial cell line (RWPE-1) that was malignantly transformed by 10μM Cd for 11weeks (CTPE) or 5μM iAs for 29weeks (CAsE-PE), at which time cells showed multiple markers of acquired cancer phenotype. Next generation sequencing of the transcriptome of CAsE-PE cells identified multiple dysregulated genes. Of the most highly dysregulated genes, five genes that can be relevant to the carcinogenic process (S100P, HYAL1, NTM, NES, ALDH1A1) were chosen for an in-depth analysis of the DNA methylation profile. DNA was isolated, bisulfite converted, and combined bisulfite restriction analysis was used to identify differentially methylated CpG sites, which was confirmed with bisulfite sequencing. Four of the five genes showed differential methylation in transformants relative to control cells that was inversely related to altered gene expression. Increased expression of HYAL1 (>25-fold) and S100P (>40-fold) in transformants was correlated with hypomethylation near the transcriptional start site. Decreased expression of NES (>15-fold) and NTM (>1000-fold) in transformants was correlated with hypermethylation near the transcriptional start site. ALDH1A1 expression was differentially expressed in transformed cells but was not differentially methylated relative to control. In conclusion, altered gene expression observed in Cd and iAs transformed cells may result from altered DNA methylation status.
A lipoprotein from the membranes of Streptococcus pyogenes and its stabilized L-form.

Abstract The lack of cell wall formation by a stabilized L-form from Streptococcus pyogenes may be related to, or reflected in, changes of a particular type of membrane lipid. Therefore, this study details the first comparative investigation of isolated membranes from this Streptococcus and its stabilized L-form of isoprenoid-containing components. A lipoprotein present in minute amounts in the membranes from both this Streptococcus and its derived L-form was detected, isolated, purified and partially characterized. Lipoprotein from both membrane sources appeared to be identical, contained phosphorus and was electrophoretically homogeneous. A ratio of streptococcal to L-form membrane lipoprotein of at least 10 was observed. Chemical, physical and chromatographic studies of isolated and nonsaponifiable lipid of lipoprotein protein indicated the absence of quinones but the presence of isoprenoid units and hydroxyl group(s). Also, the spectral characteristics of lipid of lipoprotein and its chromatographic behavior, before and after acetylation, were similar to those of an isoprenoid alcohol isolated from lactobacilli and Staphylococcus aureus by others and known to be involved in bacterial cell wall peptidolgycan biosynthesis. Protein of lipoprotein, seemingly covalently linked to lipid, was unique because of its high ornithine content: with all of the ornithine of the coccal and L-form membrane apparently concentrated within this membrane component. Approximately one-half of this lipoprotein was composed of protein. The possibility of lipoprotein being related to an inability of this L-form to synthesize a rigid cell wall is indicated.
The new LLNL AMS spectrometer

Abstract The multi-user tandem laboratory at Lawrence Livermore is a new facility dedicated to AMS and a variety of other ion-beam analysis techniques. The AMS spectrometer design aims and implementation are presented here, and present performance and planned improvements are discussed.
African American College Students' Health Behaviors and Perceptions of Related Health Issues.

The authors identify specific health-related behaviors of African American college students and compare them with the students' perceptions of corresponding health issues. Among students surveyed, the rate of cigarette smoking (4%) was very low compared with smoking rates found in a national survey (14%); but alcohol consumption was relatively high (63%), although lower than the national average of 91%. More men than women smoked, but more women than men reported they drank alcoholic beverages. Most students (90.2%) said they did not usually eat breakfast, 73.6% reported that their diets were not nutritionally balanced, and the majority (55.4%) were not involved in daily physical activity. More than half (63%) of the students reported satisfactorily handling stress, and 74.1% indicated that they were sexually active. Respondents perceived the most important health issues facing college students as HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), birth control, date rape, stress management, suicide, and alcohol and other drugs.
Quantification of in vivo autofluorescence dynamics during renal ischemia and reperfusion under 355 nm excitation.

We explore a method to quantitatively assess the ability of in vivo autofluorescence as a means to quantify the progression of longer periods of renal warm ischemia and reperfusion in a rat model. The method employs in vivo monitoring of tissue autofluorescence arising mainly from NADH as a means to probe the organ’s function and response to reperfusion. Clinically relevant conditions are employed that include exposure of the kidney to ischemia on the order of tens of minutes to hours. The temporal profile during the reperfusion phase of the autofluorescence intensity averaged over an area as large as possible was modeled as the product of two independent exponential functions. Time constants were extracted from fits to the experimental data and their average values were found to increase with injury time.
Expression of flagellar genes carried by bacteriophage lambda.

THE specific interaction of many components is necessary for the assembly and function of flagella in Escherichia coli. Twenty genes have been shown to participate1–3 and at least eleven polypeptides are associated with the structure of the flagellar organelle4. The synthesis and assembly of these components and of flagellin, the major flagellar subunit protein, is tightly coupled and regulated5–7. It has not been possible to analyse these regulatory mechanisms in great detail because: (1) the tight coupling between events usually leads either to the synthesis of a complete organelle, or to no detectable flagellar structure, and (2) most of the flagellar components are present at low levels and their synthesis is difficult to measure. To analyse the hierarchy of control and regulation in this system we have prepared a series of hybrid transducing phages that carry different combinations of flagellar genes. We describe here one of these phages and show that it can be used to study the expression of flagellar gene activities.
Dissolution of slightly soluble powders under sink conditions III: Transport of drug solution across screens and membrane barriers

Transport studies were carried out with a three-compartment apparatus developed for dissolution studies of slightly soluble powders under sink conditions. Effects of different pore-size screens and membrane barriers, propeller placement, and rate of agitation were investigated. Experiments were also carried out to study the effect of temperature and the presence of polysorbate 80 in the dissolution medium. Screens and barriers proved to be potential hindrances to the transport of drug molecules in solution. Increases in the barrier pore size and rate of agitation decreased the time for development of equilibrium across the barriers. The presence of an additional impeller, above and close to the barrier, was found to be much more effective than rate of agitation alone. An increase in the temperature of the system also lowered the equilibrium time, while the presence of polysorbate 80 in the dissolution medium increased the time for equilibration.
Promoting Literacy in Students with ASD: The Basics for the SLP.

Purpose This article provides a tutorial for speech-language pathologists (SLPs) concerning approaches for improving the reading skills of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). SLPs are enc...
One-dimensional organic nanostructures : A novel approach based on the selective adsorption of organic molecules on silicon nanowires

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is used to investigate the formation of one-dimensional organic nanostructures by chemisorption of specific molecules on silicon nanowires. STM data demonstrate that depending on the molecular functional groups, the molecules adsorb either randomly on the substrate or preferentially on the nanowires. In the latter case, chemisorption of suitable organic molecules on the nanowires leads to a well-defined one-dimensional aggregation and changes the metallic character of the nanowires to a semi-conducting one.
Using attractor localization to improve nonlinear prediction error for structural health monitoring

Recently, damage sensitive features extracted from the phase space reconstruction of a structural response have proven to be successful for use in the field of structural health monitoring. One such feature utilizes the evolutions of randomly selected points on a baseline attractor to predict evolutions of corresponding points on an attractor in some unknown state of health. The error based on this prediction can be used to determine the presence and/or extent of damage. One drawback of this approach is that some regions of the attractor geometry may be more or less sensitive to damage-induced changes in the dynamics. Thus, prediction error could incur large variances in its distribution, and results could change significantly depending on the size and location of the randomly selected subset of points used for prediction. This paper examines the effect of spatial location on prediction error in an effort to better utilize the geometry of phase space. Investigations will involve a chaos-driven oscillator subject to parametric changes simulating damage.
Impact of the Internet on Consumer Information Search Behavior in the United States

AbstractThis study examines the impact of Internet search capabilities on consumer pre-purchase decision-making. Studying changes in U.S. consumer attitudes between 2000 and 2005, it finds that online information search is increasing among those who engage in pre-purchase information seeking for major financial commitments, that those who engage in online search perceive it to enhance their shopping/decision-making capabilities, that they rely less on traditional mass media information sources and that, despite the increased information sources available online, most consumers are not confused by their information options. Conclusions suggest strategies for both marketers and media firms.
A single methionine residue dictates the kinetic mechanism of interprotein electron transfer from methylamine dehydrogenase to amicyanin.

Amicyanin is a type 1 copper protein that is the natural electron acceptor for the quinoprotein methylamine dehydrogenase (MADH). A P52G amicyanin mutation increased the Kd for complex formation and caused the normally true electron transfer (ET) reaction from O-quinol MADH to amicyanin to become a gated ET reaction (Ma, J. K., Carrell, C. J., Mathews, F. S., and Davidson, V. L. (2006) Biochemistry 45, 8284−8293). One consequence of the P52G mutation was to reposition the side chain of Met51, which is present at the MADH−amicyanin interface. To examine the precise role of Met51 in this interprotein ET reaction, Met51 was converted to Ala, Lys, and Leu. The Kd for complex formation of M51A amicyanin was unchanged but the experimentally determined electronic coupling increased from 12 cm-1 to 142 cm-1, and the reorganization energy increased from 2.3 to 3.1 eV. The rate and salt dependence of the proton transfer-gated ET reaction from N-quinol MADH to amicyanin is also changed by the M51A mutation. These ch...
Training undergraduates to work with children from multiproblem families: A missing piece in calls for action☆

The purpose of this paper is to describe a training module that is designed to provide college students from a variety of disciplines with the knowledge and experiential background necessary for effective work with children from multiproblem families. Special emphasis is placed on preparing students to work with children from multiproblem families not only within more traditional child care programs such as Head Start or campus-based preschool, but also within the broad variety of settings and program structures that are reflected in the emerging phenomenon of community-based prevention family support programs.
Qualitative analysis of lumbar stabilization using point light and normal video displays.

Professionals in many fields use qualitative analysis to improve human movement. In previous research examining the reliability of physical therapists' qualitative assessments of lumbar stabilization, three experienced observers showed substantial agreement when viewing point light displays, but only moderate agreement when observing normal video displays. Replication of these findings in a larger group of less experienced observers would strengthen the notion that point light displays enhance qualitative analysis. The present study examined the reliability of qualitative assessments of lumbar stabilization when novice observers made judgments from two types of video displays. 50 fourth-year physical therapy students viewed either normal or point light video displays to judge lumbar stabilization of individuals performing a floor to waist lift. Multirater kappa coefficients for assessments made from normal displays and point light displays were .30 and .46, indicating fair and moderate agreement, respectively. These results suggest that point light displays may enhance observers' visual perception of human movement.
The absorption, distribution, and excreion of [14C] nitrosoproline by rats

Adult male rats were given [14C] nitrosoproline by oral intubation and were sacrificed at various time intervals from 0.5 h to 7 days following administration. In the first 24 h, approx. 99% of the 14C radioactivity given had been absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract of led rats and about 98% was recovered in the urine and feces. In fasted rats, absorption and excretion appeared to be more rapid and complete. About 1 to 2% of the total radioactivity was recovered as 14CO2 from expired air; most of this amount was recovered within the first 24-h period of collection. 14C radioactivity in various organs was determined throughout the 7-day period; no significant storage site was apparent in any of the tissues examined.
Cap and capture-release techniques applied to solid-phase synthesis of oligosaccharides.

This paper reports a new strategy for oligosaccharide synthesis by combining solid-phase methods with cap and capture−release separation techniques, using the p-(5-(ethoxycarbonyl)pentyloxy)benzyl group (CPB) as a tag for the capture of desired oligosaccharides. After a complex carbohydrate mixture was obtained by solid-phase synthesis, the desired oligosaccharide containing a free carboxyl group derived from CPB was attached to an amino resin. The loaded resin was readily separated from side products by filtration and finally treated with acid to release the pure oligosaccharide product.
On content-driven search-keyword suggesters for literature digital libraries

We propose and evaluate a "content-driven search keyword suggester" for keyword-based search in literature digital libraries. Suggesting search keywords at an early stage, i.e., while the user is entering search terms, is helpful for constructing more accurate, less ambiguous, and focused search keywords for queries. Our search keyword suggestion approach is based on an a priori analysis of the publication collection in the digital library at hand, and consists of the following steps. We (i) parse the document collection using the Link Grammar parser, a syntactic parser of English, (ii) group publications based on their "most-specific" research topics, (iii) use the parser output to build a hierarchical structure of simple and compound tokens to be used to suggest search terms, (iv) use TextRank, a text summarization tool, to assign topic-sensitive scores to keywords, and (v) use the identified research-topics to help user aggregate search keywords prior to the actual search query execution.We experimentally show that the proposed framework, which is optimized to work on literature digital libraries, promises a more scalable, high quality, and user-friendly search-keyword suggester when compared to its competitors. We validate our proposal experimentally using a subset of the ACM SIGMOD Anthology digital library as a testbed, and by employing the research-pyramid model to identify the "most-specific" research topics.
Genome Reactivation after the Silence in Mitosis: Recapitulating Mechanisms of Development?

Transcription is silenced during mitosis and reactivated at mitotic exit. The dynamics and identities of "bookmarking" transcription factors and chromatin marks that mediate reactivation often recapitulate those observed during cell identity establishment in development. Thus, features of postmitotic gene reactivation can provide insights into mechanisms of developmental cell fate establishment.
Nondestructive assay of uranium in infinitely-thick material

Abstract A new nondestructive technique has been developed to permit the assay of uranium in nuclear material that is “infinitely-thick” with respect to the 185.7-keV gamma ray. This new method not only provides a way of analyzing material that previously could not be analyzed, but also removes the requirement for geometry and self-absorption corrections. Assays, in g U/g, are determined using the ratio of the 98.4-keV uranium X rays generated from fluorescence activity to the 185.7-keV gamma ray from 235 U. Enrichment values needed for the assay calculation can be nondestructively determined from the same spectrum if they are not known. The weight of the sample can then be used to obtain absolute quantities. In material containing large amounts of uranium the mass absorption coefficients for the 235 U gamma ray and uranium X ray are nearly the same. Thus, no self absorption corrections are necessary. A number of different uranium materials in a variety of configurations were analyzed with an average difference of 6% between accepted and measured results.
The exterior matrix method for sequentially coupled fourth-order equations

Abstract This paper introduces the exterior matrix method as a means to compute asymptotically the eigenfrequencies for the vibrations of serially connected elements which are each governed by fourth-order equations. The Timoshenko beams and a tapered Euler–Bernoulli beams are just two examples that are solved by this method. The technique involves not just lifting the transfer matrices into the higher dimensional exterior algebra space, but also lifting the original fourth-order equation to generally produce a sixth-order exterior equation, but occasionally the exterior equation is only fifth order. The original fourth-order equation does not have to be solvable for this technique to work, since only the approximate solutions for the exterior equation are needed to compute the eigenfrequencies asymptotically.
Collaborating across telemedicine specialties for improved cancer care

Cancer is a devastating disease that even under the best of clinical circumstances is difficult to deal with. Patients living in rural and medically underserved communities are further disadvantaged due to their geographic isolation and lack of specialty care clinicians providing service in their communities. The problem spans screening opportunities through treatment, follow-up, support and education. Telemedicine can help remove some of these barriers and provide specialty care across the spectrum of clinical specialties, improving cancer-related healthcare for all patients regardless of their location.
Reply to Stan Becker, “Has the World Really Survived the Population Bomb? (Commentary on “How the World Survived the Population Bomb: Lessons from 50 Years of Extraordinary Demographic History”)”

My 2011 PAA presidential address (Lam 2011), the focus of Stan Becker’s comment, presented an optimistic perspective on how the world fared during the last 50 years of demographic history. An online commenter of a related op-ed column I wrote for the Los Angeles Times called me “Professor Happy Talk.” In my opinion, this optimistic view is entirely warranted. Although the last 50 years saw what was by far the fastest population growth the world has ever seen, it seems quite certain that this period also saw the largest improvements in the human condition of any 50 years in history. This remarkable achievement should surely make us optimistic about our ability to address the many complex challenges we will face in the next 50 years. Although I am optimistic about the future of humanity, I am not as optimistic as Julian Simon’s statement that “every trend in material welfare has been improving—and promises to do so, indefinitely” (Simon 1996). That position ignores serious setbacks, such as a decrease in life expectancy in some African countries resulting from HIV/AIDS as well as many kinds of environmental degradation that are effectively losses in wealth. In my address, I discussed some areas in which the record of the last 50 years is less positive, including disappointing progress in reducing poverty in Africa and environmental problems, such as global warming. I concede, however, that these topics received only limited discussion. I deliberately focused on the positive because I believe that the positive trends dominate the negative and because the positive trends are often overlooked. I’m pleased that Becker has continued the discussion and given more attention to some of these important areas in which we face real challenges. Becker notes areas in which the world does not look as rosy as the world I described in my address. Among these are depletion of aquifers, depletion of oil, global warming, and species loss. One possible response to these points is to counter with a list of additional indicators that suggest the world has been improving. Becker could respond with more indicators that have showed deterioration. We could continue this “half empty or half full” debate through many issues of Demography. The reality, of course, is that some things are getting better and some things are getting worse. I think the good far outweighs the bad. Rather than adding more items to my “half full” list, I will focus on some “big picture” questions raised in Becker’s comment.
Sequential, Long Baseline Navigation for REMUS, An Autonomous Underwater Vehicle

Many of the problems of operating an AUV can be reduced to one of navigation: How accurately do you know where you are. Navigational precision determines the ability to follow track liens,the ability to map a target to world coordinates, and ultimately, even determines the areas where you are willing to operate the vehicle. This paper presents the technique used for long baseline acoustic navigation by REMUS, a low cost AUV developed by the Oceanographic Systems Laboratory of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Adapting the traditional long base line approach to this vehicle presents a complex problem because it must be low power, low cost, and small in size, and in addition must work in a shallow water environment. The REMUS system uses a single data acquisition system and DSP to interrogate and receive multiple transponders in a sequential manner. It uses spread spectrum technology which reduces the impact of multi-path in the shallow water environment. A moored pair of acoustic transponders whose coordinates are determined using differential or P-Code GPS allow the vehicle to navigate in world coordinates. The DSP minimizes the hardware requirements, thus lowering the associated hardware cost, size, and complexity. This paper describes the techniques used and provides result of this system using frequencies in the 20-30 khz band, giving a range of up to 1500 meters in water 4 meters deep, and also 10-15 khz band, giving a range of up to 7000 meters in waters 14 meters deep.
Vapor–liquid equilibria and densities of ternary mixtures of fluorinated ethers with hydrofluorocarbons as R22 alternatives

Abstract Vapor pressure data below the normal boiling point are presented for ternary mixtures that are prepared from the following chemicals: perfluoro[methylethyl ether] (RE-218), pentafluorodimethylether (RE-125), 1,1,1-trifluorodimethylether (RE-143a), dimethylether (RE-170), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a), 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (R-143a), 1,1-difluoroethane (R-152a), fluoroethane (R-161), and difluoromethane (R-32). Liquid–liquid phase separation in the binary mixtures RE-218/RE-170 and RE-218/R-161 is eliminated with the ternary mixtures, RE-218/RE-143a/RE-170 and RE-218/R-134a/R-161. A sufficient amount of vapor pressure data was obtained for these ternary mixtures to calculate vapor–liquid phase relations using van Laar equations for ternary mixtures. Vapor pressure data are also reported for a number of ternary mixtures containing RE-125. Liquid density data and the critical parameters are reported for the equimolar mixtures, RE-218/R-134a/R-161, RE-125/R-32/R-152a, and RE-125/R-32/R-134a, which are judged to have a high potential as R-22 alternatives based on their boiling point and critical temperature.
Associations between State Minimum Wage Policy and Health Care Access: A Multi-level Analysis of the 2004 Behavioral Risk Factor Survey

Minimum wage policies have been advanced as mechanisms to improve the economic conditions of the working poor. Both positive and negative effects of such policies on health care access have been hypothesized, but associations have yet to be thoroughly tested. To examine whether the presence of minimum wage policies in excess of the federal standard of $5.15 per hour was associated with health care access indicators among low-skilled adults of working age, a cross-sectional analysis of 2004 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data was conducted. Self-reported health insurance status and experience with cost-related barriers to needed medical care were adjusted in multi-level logistic regression models to control for potential confounding at the state, county, and individual levels. State-level wage policy was not found to be associated with insurance status or unmet medical need in the models, providing early evidence that increased minimum wage rates may neither strengthen nor weaken access to care as previously predicted.
The ability of ice‐flow indicators to record complex, historic deglaciation events, Burroughs Glacier, Alaska

Known changes in ice-flow direction during a 100-year interval have been used to evaluate how well ice-flow indicators record complex deglaciation events. At Burroughs Glacier, nunataks emerging from a thinning Neoglacial ice mass and differential ice-surface lowering caused by calving ice margins have produced major changes in ice-flow direction sincc 1892. Cross-cutting striae with angles of divergence of up to 105′ reflect the past range of flow directions in the area. Striae from the oldest flow events are deepest, and striae from some late-stage flow events are missing. This may be caused by overprinting during late-stage reversals in the direction of ice movement. The orientation of flutes and surficial bullet boulders reflects the final ice-flow direction, but boulder orientations are less clustered than flute orientations. Surficial till pebble fabrics are weakly to moderately developed, but till fabrics vary with depth and record ice-flow direction changes with time.
Potential Drought Impacts on Electricity Generation in Texas

Many power plants in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) region require a large amount of water for system cooling. To improve the understanding of potential risks of electricity generation curtailment due to drought, an assessment of water availability and its potential impacts on generation during drought was performed. For this impact analysis, we identified three drought scenarios based on historical drought records and projected climate data from the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory global climate model, for greenhouse gas emission scenario A2 defined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The three drought scenarios are (1) 2011 drought conditions (the worst drought in history), with the current level of water use; (2) a single-year drought (2022) projected for the period of 2020–2030, with the assumed projected water use level for 2030; and (3) a multiple-year drought constructed with climate data for 1950–1957 and water demand projected for 2030. The projected drought scenario in 2022 and the historical droughts in 2011 and 1950–1957 represent two different precipitation patterns in the Texas-Gulf river basin.The hydrologic model constructed for the Texas-Gulf river basin covers most of the ERCOT region. The model incorporates climate and water use data that correspond to three drought scenarios, respectively, to estimate evapotranspiration, water yield from watersheds, stream flow and water storage in reservoirs. Using criteria based on observed (< 50% storage) and predicted (< 55% storage) reservoir data, we identified 15 low-storage reservoirs in 2011, 10 in 2022, and 20 in 1956 (the last year of the multiple-year drought). The power plants that are supported by these reservoirs would be potentially at risk of being derated for thermoelectric cooling because of a lack of water supply. These power plants are located mainly in watersheds near and between Houston and Austin, as well as surrounding Dallas.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Determinants of electricity use for residential water heating: The hood river conservation project

Abstract Because 85% of the homes in the Pacific Northwest have electric water heaters, water heating is the second most important residential electricity end-use in the region (second to space heating). This paper analyses the determinants of water-heating electricity use, using end-use load data and responses to a detailed home interview. These data are available for 142 homes in Hood River, Oregon. On average, these homes used 5000 kWh/yr for water heating. Almost 60% of the household-to-household variation in electricity use was explained with eight variables in a simple regression model. The number and ages of household members are the strongest determinants of electricity use: use increases by roughly 1000 kWh/yr with each additional household member. Other statistically significant determinants of water-heating electricity use are hot-water temperature, water-heater location, number of showers in the home and house type. Electricity use varies considerably throughout the year (as well as across households). Weekly usage was 50% higher in mid-winter than in summer. About half of this temporal variation is due to changes in outdoor temperatures and half is due to seasonal changes in behavior (i.e. increased use of hot water in winter).
Acoustic tweezers: patterning, focusing, and separating cells and microparticles using standing surface acoustic waves (SSAW)

In this talk we will summarize our recent progress on a “acoustic tweezers” technique that utilizes standing surface acoustic wave (SSAW) to manipulate cells and microparticles.
Prediction of fetoplacental blood volume in isoimmunized pregnancy

Direct intravascular fetal transfusion under ultrasound guidance allows precise evaluation of both fetal anemia and adequacy of therapy. In addition, the change in hematocrit after transfusion may be used to estimate the circulatory fetoplacental blood volume. In this study we present the estimates of fetoplacental blood volume calculated at the time of intravascular fetal transfusions. Between March 1986 and March 1988, 60 intravascular fetal transfusions were performed in 20 patients. The 56 procedures in which fetal hematocrits were obtained both before and after transfusion were analyzed. The mean fetoplacental blood volume before transfusion was 94.0 ml/kg. Furthermore, the fetoplacental blood volume per kilogram fetal weight decreased with advancing gestation. These estimates of fetoplacental blood volume and changes relative to gestational age may be useful in the treatment of the severely isoimmunized fetus. Reliance on the more recently generated fetoplacental blood volumes may allow more accurate predictions of transfusion volumes and estimation of the hematocrit after transfusion.
Determination of localization accuracy based on experimentally acquired image sets: applications to single molecule microscopy.

Fluorescence microscopy is a photon-limited imaging modality that allows the study of subcellular objects and processes with high specificity. The best possible accuracy (standard deviation) with which an object of interest can be localized when imaged using a fluorescence microscope is typically calculated using the Cramer-Rao lower bound, that is, the inverse of the Fisher information. However, the current approach for the calculation of the best possible localization accuracy relies on an analytical expression for the image of the object. This can pose practical challenges since it is often difficult to find appropriate analytical models for the images of general objects. In this study, we instead develop an approach that directly uses an experimentally collected image set to calculate the best possible localization accuracy for a general subcellular object. In this approach, we fit splines, i.e. smoothly connected piecewise polynomials, to the experimentally collected image set to provide a continuous model of the object, which can then be used for the calculation of the best possible localization accuracy. Due to its practical importance, we investigate in detail the application of the proposed approach in single molecule fluorescence microscopy. In this case, the object of interest is a point source and, therefore, the acquired image set pertains to an experimental point spread function.
Do ads matter? An exploration of web search behavior, visual hierarchy, and search engine results pages

Users tend to ignore advertisements when viewing a web page, however, when searching for a specific product or service, advertisements can be very useful. This exploratory study examines the impact of online advertisements within search results. The findings provide support for the competition for attention theory in that users are looking at advertisements and entries when evaluation SERPs. We also examine web page search behavior and how it can affect user experience. The results show that eye tracking data is valuable for designers, marketers, and usability experts to develop and evaluate web page design.
Spinal PKC activity and expression: role in tolerance produced by continuous spinal morphine infusion.

It has been hypothesized that spinal morphine tolerance results from protein kinase C (PKC) mediated phosphorylation. Chronic lumbar intrathecal (i.t.) infusion of morphine (20 nmol/microl/h) was shown to produce antinociception on day 1 (d1) that disappeared by d5 (tolerance). On d6, a bolus i.t. probe dose of morphine (60 nmol) produced a more profound antinociception in saline-infused rats than in morphine-infused rats. Coinfusion of morphine with a PKC inhibitor, chelerythrine, prevented tolerance to the probe morphine dose. Bolus i.t. chelerythrine or GF109203X (GF), another PKC inhibitor, on d5, but not the inactive homologue of GF Bisindolymaleimide V, also blocked development of tolerance after 24 h. I.t. morphine infusion, but not saline, produced a 2-fold increase in dorsal horn PKC phosphorylating activity and in the expression of PKCalpha/gamma. Bolus chelerythrine on d5 after spinal morphine infusion blocked upon an increase in PKC activity, confirming that at the behaviorally active dose the drug had the intended biochemical effect upon spinal PKC activity. PKC activity and protein expression did not change when assessed 1 h after bolus i.t. morphine in naive rats. Thus, tolerance produced by morphine infusion is dependent upon an increase in local phosphorylating activity by PKC. Blocking the PKC activity prevents expression of the morphine tolerance.
Developmental changes in frog actomyosin characteristics.

Abstract The changes in the enzyme characteristics of actomyosin ATPase during frog ontogeny were investigated with respect to kinetics, pH optima, effects of variations of ionic strength, divalent ions, and other environmental conditions. Multireprecipitated skeletal actomyosin was isolated from extracts of trunk fragments of Rana pipiens embryos at various stages of development by precipitation with adult antiactomyosin serum. The actomyosin content was calculated from quantitative measurements of the isolated antigen-antibody precipitates. All ATPase activity of the euglobulin fraction was found to be associated with the actomyosin antibody-precipitable protein. The ATPase activity was expressed as micrograms phosphorus split per milligram of antibody-precipitable protein per minute; it was studied during development under widely varied experimental conditions. The quantities of actomyosin antibody-precipitable protein and its associated ATPase activity as well as the supernatant-soluble ATPase activity per dorsal fragment increased linearly from tailbud to hatching, followed by a steeper linear rate thereafter. Contraction of actomyosin fibers at stage 20 (hatching) was 60% of the contraction of stage 25 and adult fibers. Actomyosin antiserum completely inhibited the contraction of tadpole and adult fibers but did not affect the ATPase activity of antigen-antibody precipitates. Many ATPase characteristics of multireprecipitated actomyosin were found to change markedly during development of young tadpoles, reaching the adult characteristics at later tadpole stages. Differences were found with respect to: (1) specific activity in the presence of Ca ++ or Mg ++ ; (2) extent of ATP hydrolysis; (3) effects of variations of the substrate concentration in the presence of Mg ++ ; (4) pH optima in the presence of Ca ++ and Mg ++ ; (5) effects of varying Mg ++ and K + concentrations. The results are discussed in relation to the formation and differentiation of actomyosin.
A simple test to determine the effectiveness of different braze compositions for joining Ti-tubes to C/C composite plates

A simple tube-plate joint tensile test was implemented to compare the effectiveness of commercial brazes, namely, TiCuNi, TiCuSil, and Cu-ABA, used for bonding Ti-tubes joined to C-C composite plates. The different braze systems yielded different; yet, repeatable results. The Cu-ABA system proved to have about twice the load-carrying ability of the other two systems due to the fact that the bonded area between the braze material and the C-C plate was largest for this system. The orientation of the surface fiber tows also had a significant effect on load-carrying ability with tows oriented perpendicular to the tube axis displaying the highest failure loads. Increasing the process load and modifying the surface of the C-C plate by grooving out channels for the Ti-Tube to nest in resulted in increased load-carrying ability for the TiCuSil and Cu-ABA systems due to increased bonded area and better penetration of the braze material into the C-C composite.
Toxic and teratogenic effects of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids on house fly larvae

Toxicities and teratogenic effects on Musca domestica L. of 2 saturated fatty acids and a complete series of n unsaturated fatty acids containing 8 to 12 carbon atoms in the chain and a trans -2-double bond are described. Two fatty acids with a triple bond in position 2 also have been investigated. These acids were found to interfere with the emergence of the adults.
Inscribing Bodies, Inscribing the Future: Gender, Sex, and Reproduction in Outer Space

This paper examines the ways in which gender, sex, and reproduction in the U.S. space program are represented as social, cultural, and scientific problems. In 1992, a married couple served on the crew of a U.S. space shuttle, prompting a flurry of public curiosity and controversy over the possibility of “celestial intimacy” between these astronauts. Ironically, countless missions prior to this historic flight had not raised similar issues of human desire and fecundity, attesting to the “legitimacy” of the heterosexual paradigm. Drawing on a range of data sources and theoretical perspectives, we analyze discourses and practices through which female bodies in particular are constructed as problematic, a gendered process which, in turn, renders sexuality and reproduction in space as controversial. We argue that contemporary institutional, cultural, and scientific accounts of gender, sex, and reproduction in space inscribe both contemporary and future scenarios, with potentially negative implications.
Living Coupling Reaction in Living Cationic Polymerization. 3. Coupling Reaction of Living Polyisobutylene Using Bis(furanyl) Derivatives

Living coupling reactions of living polyisobutylene (PIB) with bis(furanyl) compounds, 2,2-difurylmethane (DFM), 2,5-bis(2-furylmethyl)furan (bFMF), 2,2-difurylpropane (DFP), and 2,5-bis(2-furyl-2-propyl)furan (bFPF) were investigated in the presence of TiCl4 as Lewis acid in hexanes/CH3Cl 60/40 and 40/60 (v/v) at −80 °C and with bFPF in conjunction with BCl3 in CH3Cl at −40 °C. The products obtained with DFM and bFMF were slightly colored most probably due to α-hydride abstraction and the development of conjugated structures. DFP and bFPF, lacking α-hydrogens, yielded colorless products. In hexanes/CH3Cl 60/40 (v/v), coupling was very slow and incomplete after 2 h with DFM and DFP, which was ascribed to deactivation of the second furanyl ring after monoaddition. Coupling was faster with bFMF; however, the coupling efficiency was only 85% after 2 h due to some side reactions that consumed bFMF. Coupling was rapid and quantitative with bFPF in the presence of TiCl4 in hexanes/CH3Cl 60/40 (v/v) at −80 °C. I...
Temporal variation of oxygen isotope ratios (δ18O) in drinking water: implications for specifying location of origin with human scalp hair.

Previous work suggests that d 18 O values of human hair can be used to constrain the region-of-origin of unknown individuals, but robust assessments of uncertainties in this method are lacking. Here we assess one source of uncertainty – temporal variation in the d 18 O value of drinking water – using a monthly tap water survey of d 18 O to develop geospatial models (i.e., maps) of the intra-annual variation (seasonality) in tap water d 18 O for the contiguous USA. Temporal variation in tap water d 18 O was correlated with water-supply type, and was related to geographic patterns of precipitation d 18 O seasonality and water residence time. The maps were applied in a Bayesian framework to identify the geographic origin of an unidentified woman found in Utah, based on measured d 18 O of scalp hair. The results are robust in specifying parts of the western USA as the most likely region-of-origin. Incorporation of tap water d 18 O seasonality in the analysis reduces the precision of geographic assignments, but other sources of uncertainty (e.g., spatial interpolation uncertainty) have an equal or larger effect.
Vulnerability of a public supply well in a karstic aquifer to contamination

To assess the vulnerability of ground water to contamination in the karstic Upper Floridan aquifer (UFA), age-dating tracers and selected anthropogenic and naturally occurring compounds were analyzed in multiple water samples from a public supply well (PSW) near Tampa, Florida. Samples also were collected from 28 monitoring wells in the UFA and the overlying surficial aquifer system (SAS) and intermediate confining unit located within the contributing recharge area to the PSW. Age tracer and geochemical data from the earlier stage of the study (2003 through 2005) were combined with new data (2006) on concentrations of sulfur hexafluoride (SF(6)), tritium ((3)H), and helium-3, which were consistent with binary mixtures of water for the PSW dominated by young water (less than 7 years). Water samples from the SAS also indicated mostly young water (less than 7 years); however, most water samples from monitoring wells in the UFA had lower SF(6) and (3)H concentrations than the PSW and SAS, indicating mixtures containing high proportions of older water (more than 60 years). Vulnerability of the PSW to contamination was indicated by predominantly young water and elevated nitrate-N and volatile organic compound concentrations that were similar to those in the SAS. Elevated arsenic (As) concentrations (3 to 19 microg/L) and higher As(V)/As(III) ratios in the PSW than in water from UFA monitoring wells indicate that oxic water from the SAS likely mobilizes As from pyrite in the UFA matrix. Young water found in the PSW also was present in UFA monitoring wells that tap a highly transmissive zone (43- to 53-m depth) in the UFA.