cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Barotropic growth of monsoon depressions

Author(s): Diaz, M; Boos, WR | Abstract: Although monsoon depressions are a principal synoptic-scale element of the South Asian monsoon, producing extreme rainfall over India and surrounding regions, there exists no widely accepted mechanism explaining their occurrence. This study presents a hierarchy of numerical experiments aimed at finding such an explanation. Using a perturbation-basic state decomposition, we derive an anelastic system of equations that can represent disturbances growing in the complex, three-dimensional monsoon basic state. We find that modal solutions to these equations linearized about this basic state can explain many features of observed monsoon depressions, including their warm-over-cold core structure, westward propagation, and lower-tropospheric wind maximum. For the zonally symmetric case, these modes are barotropically unstable, drawing energy from the meridional shear of the monsoon trough. For the zonally varying basic state, modal solutions still derive energy from barotropic conversion, but fail to achieve positive net growth rates when dissipative processes are included. For the nonlinear equation set, these modes can be excited by a heating impulse, and their energy then remains roughly constant over several days as barotropic energy transfers oppose dissipative losses. Our results support the idea that the general concept of barotropic instability can explain the structure, propagation, and geographic distribution of monsoon depressions, but not their rapid growth rates. We speculate that condensational heating coupled to these waves is needed to obtain a positive growth rate.
Boundaries of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act

The Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 (“FVRA”) authorizes the president to temporarily fill Senate-confirmed positions when the prior officeholder “dies, resigns, or is otherwise unable to perform the functions and duties of the office.” Does the FVRA apply when the officeholder was fired? The FVRA was once a “rather obscure area of the law.” Unprecedented personnel turmoil in the Trump Administration, however, has thrust it into the national spotlight. The President has to date fired three cabinet secretaries—Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs David Shulkin, and Secretary of Defense James Mattis—and replaced them with acting officers ostensibly under FVRA authority. Yet the interpretive question of whether the Act applies to removal has found conflicting answers the few times it has come up. On November 14, 2018, for instance, the Office of Legal Counsel (“OLC”) determined the FVRA would apply when the president fired the previous officeholder. Two weeks later, a federal judge concluded in dicta that the Act would not apply in that situation. This Note aims to clarify this critical, yet disputed, boundary of the FVRA. This Note argues that the FVRA does not authorize the president to temporarily fill vacancies created by firing the prior officeholder. To arrive there, it examines the Act’s text and structure, its historical context, its legislative history, and relevant OLC and judicial opinions. It finds the Act is best read as encompassing vacancies created by the outgoing officer’s decisions or circumstances, but does not reach those forced by the president. This Note finds such a result sensical but suboptimal. This interpretation laudably prevents a president from circumventing the Senate’s constitutional advice and consent role by firing a Senate-confirmed official only to install an unconfirmed replacement. But it also creates a policy problem. It leaves no mechanism for the president to temporarily replace most fired officers, even under urgent circumstances. Congress, this Note concludes, should respond by authorizing the president to temporarily replace a fired officer with the officer’s “first assistant,” but not with officials otherwise eligible for appointment under the FVRA. Such an amendment would protect the Senate’s advice and consent role while allowing the relevant agency to function until a permanent replacement took office.
Macrophyte Diversity and Complexity Reduce Larval Mosquito Abundance

The role of aquatic arthropod diversity and community interactions of larval mosquitoes are important for understanding mosquito population dynamics. We tested the effects of aquatic macrophyte diversity and habitat structural complexity in shaping the predator and competitor invertebrate communities associated with mosquito larvae. Experimental mesocosms were planted with live aquatic macrophytes and allowed to be naturally colonized by local invertebrates. Results indicated a positive effect of macrophyte diversity on competitor diversity and a negative effect on predator diversity. In turn, predator diversity negatively impacted mosquito abundance through a direct effect, while competitor diversity showed an indirect negative effect on mosquito larval abundance through its positive effect on predator diversity. The enhancement of aquatic macrophyte diversity and structural complexity has practical applications for the reduction of mosquito populations in managed systems where complete source elimination is not possible.
Impact of COVID-19 on Manufacturing and Supply Networks — The Case for AI-Inspired Digital Transformation

Manufacturing and supply networks worldwide are undergoing digital transformation under the umbrella of Smart Manufacturing and Industry 4.0. Just as companies embrace digital technologies and leverage the opportunities presented by Artificial Intelligence (AI) forming digital supply networks, the world has been hammered by one of the biggest interruptions in the modern history—the COVID-19 pandemic. Many businesses are facing existential threats and scrambling to survive in the short term. Conceivably, some are inclined to scrap AI initiatives and projects as non-essential in these horrific times, as evidenced by canceled and delayed consulting contracts with the projected loss of US$30 billion in 2020 alone. In this article, we make the case that digital technology and AI can mitigate the adversities and strengthen the resiliency and preparedness of manufacturing and supply networks in the future.
Knots and Non-Hermitian Bloch Bands

Knots have a twisted history in quantum physics. They were abandoned as failed models of atoms. Only much later was the connection between knot invariants and Wilson loops in topological quantum field theory discovered. Here we show that knots tied by the eigenenergy strings provide a complete topological classification of one-dimensional non-Hermitian (NH) Hamiltonians with separable bands. A Z_{2} knot invariant, the global biorthogonal Berry phase Q as the sum of the Wilson loop eigenphases, is proved to be equal to the permutation parity of the NH bands. We show the transition between two phases characterized by distinct knots occur through exceptional points and come in two types. We further develop an algorithm to construct the corresponding tight-binding NH Hamiltonian for any desired knot, and propose a scheme to probe the knot structure via quantum quench. The theory and algorithm are demonstrated by model Hamiltonians that feature, for example, the Hopf link, the trefoil knot, the figure-8 knot, and the Whitehead link.
AIR POLLUTION: THE ROLE OF PARTICLES

Although air pollution may seem like a modern concern, governments have been dealing with it since the late 13th century, when a commission was set up to investigate the problem in London. Legislation to regulate pollution sources first appeared in England early in the following century. Indeed, a repeat offender of this law is thought to have been tortured and executed in 1307.
Generative deep learning for macromolecular structure and dynamics.

Much scientific enquiry across disciplines is founded upon a mechanistic treatment of dynamic systems that ties form to function. A highly visible instance of this is in molecular biology, where characterizing macromolecular structure and dynamics is central to a detailed, molecular-level understanding of biological processes in the living cell. The current computational paradigm utilizes optimization as the generative process for modeling both structure and structural dynamics. Computational biology researchers are now attempting to wield generative models employing deep neural networks as an alternative computational paradigm. In this review, we summarize such efforts. We highlight progress and shortcomings. More importantly, we expose challenges that macromolecular structure poses to deep generative models and take this opportunity to introduce the structural biology community to several recent advances in the deep learning community that promise a way forward.
The divine art of dying: how to live well while dying

In the book, The divine art of dying: How to live well while dying, Speerstra and Anderson (2014) synthesize their personal stories and those of their community along with wisdom from the arts, phi...
The MttB superfamily member MtyB from the human gut symbiont Eubacterium limosum is a cobalamin-dependent γ-butyrobetaine methyltransferase.

The production of trimethylamine (TMA) from quaternary amines such as l-carnitine or γ-butyrobetaine (4-(trimethylammonio)butanoate) by gut microbial enzymes has been linked to heart disease. This has led to interest in enzymes of the gut microbiome that might ameliorate net TMA production, such as members of the MttB superfamily of proteins, which can demethylate TMA (e.g., MttB) or l-carnitine (e.g., MtcB). Here, we show that the human gut acetogen Eubacterium limosum demethylates γ-butyrobetaine and produces MtyB, a previously uncharacterized MttB superfamily member catalyzing the demethylation of γ-butyrobetaine. Proteomic analyses of E. limosum grown on either γ-butyrobetaine or dl-lactate were employed to identify candidate proteins underlying catabolic demethylation of the growth substrate. Three proteins were significantly elevated in abundance in γ-butyrobetaine-grown cells: MtyB, MtqC (a corrinoid-binding protein), and MtqA (a corrinoid:tetrahydrofolate methyltransferase). Together, these proteins act as a γ-butyrobetaine:tetrahydrofolate methyltransferase system, forming a key intermediate of acetogenesis. Recombinant MtyB acts as a γ-butyrobetaine:MtqC methyltransferase but cannot methylate free cobalamin cofactor. MtyB is very similar to MtcB, the carnitine methyltransferase, but neither was detectable in cells grown on carnitine nor was detectable in cells grown with γ-butyrobetaine. Both quaternary amines are substrates for either enzyme, but kinetic analysis revealed that, in comparison to MtcB, MtyB has a lower apparent Km for γ-butyrobetaine and higher apparent Vmax, providing a rationale for MtyB abundance in γ-butyrobetaine-grown cells. As TMA is readily produced from γ-butyrobetaine, organisms with MtyB-like proteins may provide a means to lower levels of TMA and proatherogenic TMA-N-oxide via precursor competition.
Bundling Human Papillomavirus Vaccination and Rapid Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing for Young Gay and Bisexual Men

Abstract This study explored the feasibility and acceptability of a bundled human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing program for young gay and bisexual men (YGBM). YGBM aged 18–26 years (N=55) were recruited to receive HPV vaccine with optional HIV testing and personalized counseling. Sexual risk behaviors and knowledge were assessed at three study visits. By visit 3, about 98% had received an HIV test with HPV vaccination; 59% received repeat HIV testing. Findings support the bundling of HPV vaccination with HIV testing among YGBM. Future directions include examining the scalability of integrating clinic-based HIV and HPV healthcare services.
Creating effective decision aids for complex tasks

Engineering design tasks require designers to continually compare, weigh, and choose among many complex alternatives. The quality of these selection decisions directly impacts the quality, cost, and safety of the final product. Because of the high degree of uncertainty in predicting the performance of alternatives while they are still just sketches on the drawing board, and the high cost of poor choices, mathematical decision methods incorporating uncertainty have long held much appeal for product designers, at least from a theoretical standpoint. Yet, such methods have not been widely adopted in practical settings. The goals of this work are to begin understanding why this is so and to identify future questions that may lead to solutions. This paper summarizes the results of several studies by the authors: two laboratory studies in which we asked product designers to use various mathematical models to compare and select design alternatives, and a set of ethnographic studies in which we observed product designers as they worked so that we could better understand their actual practices and needs during decision making. Based on these studies, we concluded that the mathematical models, as formulated, are not well suited to designers' needs and approaches. We propose a research agenda for developing new approaches that combine decision theoretic and user-centered methods to create tools that can make product designers' decision making work easier, more systematic, more effective, and more reportable.
Lateral IMPATT diodes in standard CMOS technology

We investigate the use of a lateral IMPATT diode built in 0.25/spl mu/m CMOS technology as a high frequency power source. These diodes are monolithically integrated in coplanar waveguides and characterized by S-parameter measurements from 40 MHz to 110 GHz. These measurements show excellent agreement with predictions of theoretical models. To our knowledge, this is the first such structure built in a standard CMOS technology.
Reduced Toxicity of Shiga Toxin (Stx) Type 2c in Mice Compared to Stx2d Is Associated with Instability of Stx2c Holotoxin.

Shiga toxin (Stx) is an AB5 ribotoxin made by Stx-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). These organisms cause diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis and the hemolytic uremic syndrome. STEC make two types of Stxs, Stx1 and/or Stx2. Stx2 has one prototype (a) and six subtypes (b–g), but only STEC that make Stx2a, and/or Stx2c, or Stx2d are associated with severe disease. However, Stx2c is about 10-fold less toxic than Stx2d in vivo despite only two amino acid differences in the A subunit at positions 291 and 297. We made mutations at these two sites to create intermediate toxins between Stx2c and Stx2d, and determined the 50% cytotoxic dose on Vero cells before and after heat treatment, and the 50% lethal dose in mice of the toxins. We found that serine 291 was associated with increased toxicity in vivo and that either amino acid change from that in Stx2c to that in Stx2d increased heat stability. We also assessed the secondary structure of Stx2c and Stx2d by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. The CD studies suggest that Stx2c has a less-ordered secondary structure than Stx2d. We conclude that both amino acids at positions 291 and 297 in Stx2c contribute to its decreased stability and in vivo toxicity compared to Stx2d.
Regional nodal management in the light of the AMAROS trial.

The last decade witnessed the gradual adoption of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) to stage the axilla of breast cancer (BC) patients presenting with clinically negative lymph nodes; aiming to minimize the complications of the formal (gold standard) axillary lymph node dissection (ALND). Although abandoning ALND in pathologically negative sentinel node (SN) became the current standard of care, a similar consensus remains lacking in patients with positive SN.
Serologic Studies In Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus And Central Nervous System Dysfunction

Serologic studies were performed on 25 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) during 29 acute episodes of central nervous system (CNS) disease. Increased anti-DNA antibody and decreased total serum hemolytic complement activity were observed only in those patients with associated extra-CNS disease manifestations. Patients with isolated CNS disease were otherwise in apparent clinical and serological remission regarding these two indices. No special association of cold-reactive IgM antilymphocyte antibodies was demonstrable in patients with ongoing CNS injury. Of special interest was an increased incidence of anti-Sm antibodies in the patients with CNS dysfunction relative to that in a large group of patients without neuropsychiatric disease. The incidence of anti-RNP was not increased. The data do not support direct involvement in SLE brain injury of either DNA/anti-DNA complexes or of lymphocytotoxic antibodies cross-reactive with brain cells, but do suggest an association of anti-Sm with CNS disease in this disorder.
Piezotronic Nanowire-Based Resistive Switches As Programmable Electromechanical Memories

We present the first piezoelectrically modulated resistive switching device based on piezotronic ZnO nanowire (NW), through which the write/read access of the memory cell is programmed via electromechanical modulation. Adjusted by the strain-induced polarization charges created at the semiconductor/metal interface under externally applied deformation by the piezoelectric effect, the resistive switching characteristics of the cell can be modulated in a controlled manner, and the logic levels of the strain stored in the cell can be recorded and read out, which has the potential for integrating with NEMS technology to achieve micro/nanosystems capable for intelligent and self-sufficient multidimensional operations.
Comparison of arthritis and cancer pain patients: are distinct clinical pain syndromes definable using the McGill Pain Questionnaire?

Melzack ( 2 ) set the agenda for one aspect of subsequent pain-measurement research when, in 1975, he presented the McGill Pain Questionnaire ( M P Q ) as a method for the multidimensional measurement of clinical pain, capable of defining individual pain syndromes and identifying interesting differences between major syndromes. This study compared 4 0 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 20 with degenerative arthritis to 20 patienn with cancer pain using a new method which yields two indices of pain intensity [APT-over-all intensity for all questionnaire word groups within the sensory or affective dimension and APC-average intensiry reflected by only those word groups selected within a dimension] and an index of complexity (APT-APC) for both the sensory and affective dimensions of the questionnaire ( 1 ) . Recent work2 has shown these arthritides to be indistinguishable as pain syndromes in terms of intensity and complexity of associated pain. Cancer pain patients ( M = 2.14, S D = .98) and subgroups of arthritis pain patients (rheumatoid: M = 2.26, SD = .98; degenerative: M = 1.98, S D = 9 7 ) are virtually identical with respect to the intensity and complexity of their clinical pain descriptions (F3.18 = 1.78, p > .05). All three groups emphasize the affective ( M = 2.24, S D = 1.13) rather than the sensory ( M = 2.08, S D = .70) intensity of their pain (F1,;a = 4.02, p < .05) . However, the sensory aspects of pain are described with greater complexity (Fl,;o = 11.85, p < .05) , reflecting varied sources and combinations of somatic pathology. O n APT means for both sensory and affective dimensions were 1.63. O n APC the mean for the affective dimension ( M = 2.85) was higher than for the sensory ( M = 2.53). Higher affective scores may indicate that fear o r anxiety plays a significant role in the perception of pain. Not only is any form of arthritis chronic, but it is also progressive, while cancer is fraught with its own profound, often life-threatening, implications. In sum, results d o not permit specification of a particular pattern of pain intensitycomplexity relationships which uniquely defines cancer pain as a clinical pain syndrome distinct from arthritis pain. Whether further research with this questionnaire will yield interesting and potentially unique differences among the major pain syndromes is problematic, based on these data.
Racial and ethnic disparity in blood pressure and cholesterol measurement.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate racial and ethnic disparity in blood pressure and cholesterol measurement and to analyze factors associated with any observed disparity.
Political environments and labour market opportunities as contributors to housing indebtedness: a US state-level analysis

In this paper, I suggest that one creator of state-level economic inequalities is the ability to accumulate personal debt through home mortgage financing schemes. My analysis assesses the extent to which local political environments and labour market opportunities are systematically related to housing distress in the 48 continental United States. The results suggest that poor labour market opportunities, a dirth of community social capital and concentrated corporate political elites contribute to state-level housing distress. The paper concludes by arguing that easily available consumer credit reflects a flight from the economic fundamentals of tying consumption to steady jobs and productivity-enhanced wage growth. Copyright 2011, Oxford University Press.
Diverse Effects on Mitochondrial and Nuclear Functions Elicited by Drugs and Genetic Knockdowns in Bloodstream Stage Trypanosoma brucei

Background: The options for treating the fatal disease human African trypanosomiasis are limited to a few drugs that are toxic or facing increasing resistance. New drugs that kill the causative agents, subspecies of Trypanosoma brucei, are therefore urgently needed. Little is known about the cellular mechanisms that lead to death of the pathogenic bloodstream stage. Methodology/Principal Findings: We therefore conducted the first side by side comparison of the cellular effects of multiple death inducers that target different systems in bloodstream form parasites, including six drugs (pentamidine, prostaglandin D2, quercetin, etoposide, camptothecin, and a tetrahydroquinoline) and six RNAi knockdowns that target distinct cellular functions. All compounds tested were static at low concentrations and killed at high concentrations. Dead parasites were rapidly quantified by forward and side scatter during flow cytometry, as confirmed by ethidium homodimer and esterase staining, making these assays convenient for quantitating parasite death. The various treatments yielded different combinations of defects in mitochondrial potential, reactive oxygen species, cell cycle, and genome segregation. No evidence was seen for phosphatidylserine exposure, a marker of apoptosis. Reduction in ATP levels lagged behind decreases in live cell number. Even when the impact on growth was similar at 24 hours, drug-treated cells showed dramatic differences in their ability to further proliferate, demonstrating differences in the reversibility of effects induced by the diverse compounds. Conclusions/Significance: Parasites showed different phenotypes depending on the treatment, but none of them were clear predictors of whether apparently live cells could go on to proliferate after drugs were removed. We therefore suggest that clonal proliferation assays may be a useful step in selecting anti-trypanosomal compounds for further development. Elucidating the genetic or biochemical events initiated by the compounds with the most profound effects on subsequent proliferation may identify new means to activate death pathways.
Importance of isothermal mixing processes to the understanding of lift-off and blowout of turbulent jet diffusion flames

Abstract Many different theoretical analyses have been developed to predict the lift-off and blowout behaviors of axisymmetric, turbulent jet diffusion flames. Past theoretical and experimental work is summarized. It is then shown that these flame stability properties can be predicted using the known time-averaged concentration and velocity profiles of the corresponding nonreacting jet flows of the fuels into air. In contrast to past theoretical treatments of these processes, it is not necessary to consider interactions of the turbulent concentration and/or velocity fluctuations with the combustion process. Possible physical mechanisms that can lead to such a finding are discussed.
A posteriori finite element error estimation for second-order hyperbolic problems

Abstract We develop a posteriori finite element discretization error estimates for the wave equation. In one dimension, we show that the significant part of the spatial finite element error is proportional to a Lobatto polynomial and an error estimate is obtained by solving a set of either local elliptic or hyperbolic problems. In two dimensions, we show that the dichotomy principle of Babuska and Yu holds. For even-degree approximations error estimates are computed by solving a set of local elliptic or hyperbolic problems and for odd-degree approximations an error estimate is computed using jumps of solution gradients across element boundaries. This study also extends known superconvergence results for elliptic and parabolic problems [Superconvergence in Galerkin Finite Element Methods, Springer Verlag, New York, 1995] to second-order hyperbolic problems.
Vasodilator therapy of idiopathic lactic acidosis.

Abstract Afterload reduction with sodium nitroprusside was performed in a patient with idiopathic lactic acidosis in whom sodium bicarbonate therapy had precipitated pulmonary edema. The drug reduced mean pulmonary-artery wedge pressure from 28 to 12 mm Hg, accompanied by a modest rise in left ventricular stroke work index from 33 to 43 g-m per square meter. Concomitantly, there was dramatic resolution of the metabolic acidemia, the arterial pH rising from 7.19 to 7.61, arterial carbon dioxide tension from 13 to 26 mm Hg, and bicarbonate content from 6 to 28 mEq per liter, and the anion gap falling from 32 to 11 mEq per liter. Metabolic improvement occurred despite a fall in cardiac output from 5.5 to 4.8 liters per minute. These findings support the concept that regional vasoconstriction plays a part in idiopathic lactic acidosis, and suggests that vasodilators may be an effective form of therapy for this almost uniformly fatal disorder. (N Engl J Med 293:468–471, 1975)
Electrodynamics at a metal surface with applications to the spectroscopy of adsorbed molecules. I. General theory

Recently, a large number of surface-spectroscopic phenomena have been discussed in terms of models which provide phenomenological equations for the response of the adsorbed molecule to the external fields and compute these fields by assuming that the macroscopic Maxwell equations are valid. Since the macroscopic equations neglect the spatial dispersion of the dielectric constant of the metal and its variation with the distance to the surface, one expects that the computation of the field near or inside the interface may have substantial errors. In order to study the extent of such errors, we use a jellium-electron-gas model to develop a microscopic theory of the electromagnetic fields at the interface. The electron-gas properties needed in such calculations are obtained by using the random-phase approximation. Numerical results are planned to be presented in future papers.
The Return of Nostalgia: A Fetishistic Spectator in Leslie Scalapino's The Return of Painting and the Hudson River School of Art

Do you see the story? Do you see anything? (Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness) Though there is a relation to the retina. There is no way to live. (Leslie Scalapino, Orion)1 When the Metropolitan Mus...
Exosite-dependent regulation of factor VIIIa by activated protein C.

Activated protein C (APC) is a natural anticoagulant serine protease in plasma that down-regulates the coagulation cascade by degrading cofactors Va and VIIIa by limited proteolysis. Recent results have indicated that basic residues of 2 surface loops known as the 39-loop (Lys 37 -Lys 39 ) and the Ca 2 + -binding 70-80–loop (Arg 74 and Arg 75 ) are critical for the anticoagulant function of APC. Kinetics of factor Va degradation by APC mutants in purified systems have demonstrated that basic residues of these loops are involved in determination of the cleavage specificity of the Arg 506 scissile bond on the A2 domain of factor Va. In this study, we characterized the properties of the same exosite mutants of APC with respect to their ability to interact with factor VIIIa. Time course of the factor VIIIa degradation by APC mutants suggested that the same basic residues of APC are also critical for recognition and degradation of factor VIIIa. Sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of the factor VIIIa cleavage reactions revealed that these residues are involved in determination of the specificity of both A1 and A2 subunits in factor VIIIa, thus facilitating the cleavages of both Arg 336 and Arg 562 scissile bonds in the cofactor.
Cytochrome c-556, a di-heme protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

A procedure is described for the purification of cytochrome c-556 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The isolated hemoprotein exists as a dimer with a molecular weight of approximately 77 200. The dimer can be dissociated into a monomeric species (or single polypeptide chain) of 40 500 molecular weight by means of sodium dodecyl sulfate or 4 M urea. The amino acid composition demonstrates the presence of four half-cystine residues per 43 000 molecular weight. Heme and iron analyses indicate that two c-type hemes are covalently linked to each polypeptide chain. The absorption spectrum of ferrocytochrome c-556 has a double α-band with a peak at 556 nm and a shoulder at 552 nm; the β-band appears at 521 nm and the Soret band at 420 nm. The electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum of ferricytochrome c-556 contains the elements of two ferric iron species, one a low spin and the other a high spin form. The function of cytochrome c-556 is obscure. The purified cytochrome does not react with Pseudomonas cytochrome oxidase nor with the Pseudomonas cytochrome c-551 or copper protein. The properties of cytochrome c-556 indicate that it is probably not the same species as the cytochrome c-554 previously isolated from the same organism.
In Vivo proton spectroscopy and spectroscopic imaging of {1‐13C}‐g1ucose and its metabolic products

Metabolism of {1- 13 C}-glucose was studied in situ in cat brain using gradient-enhanced proton-detected heteronuclear spectroscopy. Proton detection of {1- 13 C}-glucose, {3- 13 C}lactate, 4-{ 13 C}-glutamine, 4-{ 13 C}-glutamate and the combined signals 2-{ 13 C}-glutamate/glutamine and 3-{ 13 C}-glutamate/glutamine was achieved, despite the fact that some of the associated proton resonances are close to the water signal. Two-dimensional { 1 H- 13 C}-spectra demonstrate the possibility of in situ spectral assignment with 1 H sensitivity and 13 C resolution. Spectroscopic images of glucose and its metabolic products were also acquired, showing the possibility to study spatial dependence of metabollsm
The role of snowfall in forming the seasonal ice caps of Mars: Models and constraints from the Mars Climate Sounder

Abstract Wintertime observations of the martian polar regions by orbiting spacecraft have provided evidence for carbon dioxide clouds, which measurably alter the polar energy budget and the annual CO2 cycle. However, it has remained unclear whether snowfall contributes a substantial quantity to the accumulating seasonal ice caps. We develop models to constrain precipitation rates based on observations of south polar CO2 clouds by the Mars Climate Sounder (MCS), and show that snowfall contributes between 3% and 20% by mass to the seasonal deposits at latitudes 70–90°S. The lower bound on this estimate depends on a minimum effective cloud particle size of ∼50 μm, derived by comparing the short lifetimes (less than a few hours) of some clouds with calculated sedimentation velocities. Separate constraints from infrared spectra measured by MCS suggest CO2 cloud particles in the size range 10–100 μm. Snow particles are not likely to re-sublime before reaching the surface, because the lower atmosphere in this region remains near saturation with respect to CO2. Based on cooling rate calculations, snowfall originating below 4 km altitude likely contributes a comparable or greater amount to the seasonal deposits than the rest of the atmosphere. Due to the positive feedback between cloud particle number density and radiative cooling, CO2 snow clouds should propagate until they become limited by the availability of condensation nuclei or CO2 gas. Over the south polar residual cap, where cloud activity is greatest, atmospheric radiative cooling rates are high enough to offset heat advected into the polar regions and maintain consistent snowfall. At latitudes of 60–80°S the lower atmosphere tends to be slightly sub-saturated and rapid cooling by mechanical lift driven by orography or convergent flow may be required to initiate a snowstorm, consistent with the more sporadic clouds observed by MCS in this region, and their correlation with topographic features. Snowfall and accumulation at the surface are found to be inevitable consequences of the polar energy budget, unless advection redistributes heat from lower latitudes in much greater quantities than expected.
New Nanomedicine Approaches Using Gold-thioguanine Nanoconjugates as Metallo-ligands.

Abstract Gold–thioguanine nanoconjugates (AuNP–TG) of size 3–4 nm were synthesized and the ratio between gold and 6-thioguanine (TG) was estimated as ∼1:1.5 using a cyanide digestion method and confirmed by flame atomic absorption spectroscopic analysis. AuNP–TG constructs showed high in vitro stability under different pH conditions and biologically relevant solutions for a period of 24 h. Reaction of AuNP–TG with europium or platinum salts resulted in the formation of organized self-assembled metallo-networks.
Clinical features and correlates of major depressive disorder in individuals with body dysmorphic disorder.

Abstract Background: Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) appear highly comorbid. However, MDD in individuals with BDD has received little investigation. Methods: The prevalence and characteristics of comorbid MDD were assessed in 178 BDD subjects. BDD subjects with current comorbid MDD (n = 68) were compared to BDD subjects without current comorbid MDD (n = 96) on demographic and clinical characteristics. Predictors of current MDD were determined using logistic regression. Results: 74.2% of subjects had lifetime MDD, and 38.2% had current MDD. The melancholic subtype was most common, and a majority of depressed subjects had recurrent episodes. Mean onset of BDD occurred at a younger age than MDD. Subjects with current comorbid MDD had many similarities to those without MDD, although those with comorbid MDD had more severe BDD. Subjects with comorbid MDD were also more likely to have an anxiety or personality disorder, as well as a family history of MDD. They also had greater social anxiety, suicidality, and poorer functioning and quality of life. Current MDD was independently predicted by a personality disorder and more severe BDD. Limitations: It is unclear how generalizable the results are to the community or to subjects ascertained for MDD who have comorbid BDD. The study lacked a comparison group such as MDD subjects without BDD. Conclusions: MDD is common in individuals with BDD. Individuals with current MDD had greater morbidity in some clinically important domains, including suicidality, functioning, and quality of life. A personality disorder and more severe BDD independently predicted the presence of current MDD.
A Generalized Distance Measure for Integrating Multiple Environmental Assessment Indicators

The paper presents a new distance measure useful for integrated environmental assessments. It is a generalized weighted Euclidean distance whose weights are calculated based on the coefficients of determination among environmental quality indicators in the data set. The proposed distance allows all environmental quality indicators to be used directly without any reduction in dimension (e.g., as in principal component analysis). Hypothetical and case-study examples are given to illustrate the distance measure. Examples demonstrate that the proposed distance is suitable and valuable for integrating multiple indicators into a single index, a common task in integrated environmental assessment.
Oat residue and soil compaction influences on common root rot ( Aphanomyes euteiches ) of peas in a fine-textured soil

Management of common root rot (Aphanomyces euteiches Drechs.) in peas (Pisum sativum L.) is sought primarily by host crop avoidance for several years. Soil compaction is known to aggravate A. euteiches disease in peas but effects on infection and subsequent symptom development are not sufficiently known to assist in cultural control. Several isolated observations have noted that oat crop residues may suppress A. euteiches infection and disease in pea roots. The individual and combined influence (a factorial combination of two factors each at two levels) of a prior oat crop and soil compaction were studied for their effects on common root rot severity in processing peas grown in an A. euteiches disease nursery on a fine-textured soil in the northern Corn Belt of the USA. A previous crop of summer oats relative to prior-year peas significantly suppressed common root rot and increased pea fresh vine weight 210% at peak bloom stage. Both fresh vine weight and green pea yield were reduced as much as 63% by soil compaction and increased as much as 48% by a prior oat crop. Greater soil bulk density at the 10 to 25-cm depth identified wheel traffic compaction patterns in each year. A 10-fold reduction of saturated hydraulic conductivity in the 10 to 25-cm compacted zone and high soil-water potentials within the upper 60 cm both confirmed an impaired water drainage, especially during infiltration events. These observations support the use of a previous full season or summer oat crop jointly with chisel plowing, plus the prevention of excessive traffic during secondary tillage and planting, to reduce common root rot in a field infested with A. euteiches. Shallow incorporation of oat shoot and root residue by chiseling could be a crucial component of the cultural control of the disease. R Rodriguez Kabana Section editor
Dynamic operation of magnetic amplifiers with real-core and rectifier functions

AS magnetic-amplifier circuitry has evolved from the saturable-reactor circuits to the self-saturating types, the basic limitations on magnetic-amplifier performance are inevitably associated with the nonlinear materials of the cores and rectifiers. The analytic descriptions of the core and rectifier characteristics introduce the critical parameters in a representation of the dynamic operation of the self-saturating types in contrast to the dependence of the saturable-reactor circuits on essentially linear resistance functions.1 Unrealistic assumptions concerning these nonlinear material functions, which under some circumstances might well be idealized, give results which are of limited usefulness to those concerned with the design and analysis of magnetic amplifiers as system components.
Susceptibility of Electrical Control Systems to Electromagnetic Disturbances

The susceptibility of electrical systems to electromagnetic disturbances is mostly specified in the frequency domain. Similarly, the efficiency of suppression techniques, such as filtering and shielding, is also presently specified in the frequency domain. As an appreciable part of the malfunctions (destructive and nondestructive) in control systems is caused by nonrepetitive transient type of electromagnetic disturbances, it is proposed that the susceptibility slhould additionally be specified in the time domain. This is particularly true for control systems containing semiconductor devices, because these devices operate on the principle of minimum clharge injection. Although a transient in the time domain can be mathematically converted into the frequency domain for the purpose of analysis, this procedure does not correspond to the physical situation and therefore does not give the true susceptibility of the system. Finally, several criteria are proposed for specifying the susceptibility of control systems to electromagnetic disturbances.
A powerless optical microsensor for monitoring intraocular pressure with keratoprostheses

Frequent and accurate measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP) is required in monitoring patients who are at high risk of developing glaucoma. We present a novel electronic-free, wireless, optomechanical implantable IOP microsensor. The microsensor has a total volume of less than 1mm3 and is integrated into a keratoprosthesis (KPro). We performed ex-vivo experiments by implanting the microsensor/KPro assembly into human eyebank globes for two weeks. Our microsensor had 2 mmHg accuracy and less than 1 mmHg zero-drift.
Surface antigens of Biomphalaria glabrata (Gastropoda) hemocytes: functional heterogeneity in cell subpopulations recognized by a monoclonal antibody.

Abstract A hemocyte surface membrane marker (BGH 1 ) has been identified using hemocyte-specific monoclonal antibodies (mABs) generated by somatic cell fusion methods. The BGH 1 epitope was expressed on a subpopulation of circulating, glass-adherent blood cells from two strains of the snail, Biomphalaria glabrata . Approximately 40% of the circulating hemocytes from the PR albino (M-line) B. glabrata strain were BGH 1 − , compared to a prevalence of 10% BGH 1 + cells in the 10-R2 snail strain. When hemocytes were firmly attached and spread on a glass surface, BGH 1 + cells were morphologically distinguishable from BGH 1 − cells by their ovoid shape and the presence of short, thin filopodial projections along the ectoplasmic border. In contrast, BGH 1 − hemocytes were more pleomorphic and possessed long, spike-like filopodia. Moreover, the BGH 1 epitope was trypsin-resistant and retained its antigenic reactivity with probe mABs following fixation with paraformaldehyde or paraformaldehyde/MeOH. Fixation with glutaraldehyde, however, significantly reduced mAB binding to the BGH 1 surface epitope. There was no apparent age-dependent expression of the BGH 1 determinant since circulating hemocyte populations in very young (1–2 mm) to adult (10–12 mm) snails were composed of both BGH 1 + and BGH 1 − subpopulations. Quantitative shifts in the prevalence of epitope-bearing hemocytes between the smallest snail size class (1–2 mm) and the larger snails (3–4 and 10–12 mm) are believed to be due to a differential production and/or release of BGH 1 − hemocytes within the blood circulation rather than a gradual age-related change in the expression of surface antigens on individual cells. Experiments designed to assess the in vitro phagocytic capability and lysosomal acid phosphatase (APase) activity of mAB-reactive hemocytes revealed that BGH 1 + cells, when compared to those lacking the surface marker, were significantly reduced in both their phagocytic and APase-producing activities. Since the PR albino strain of B. glabrata possesses a higher proportion of BGH 1 − hemocytes and a lower total concentration of circulating cells than do snails of the 10-R2 strain, PR albino snails are thus potentially reduced in their natural capacity to mount cellular reactions against foreign materials.
Are drift-wave eigenmodes unstable?

It is shown that the eigenmodes of the collisionless drift wave in slab geometry are stable. Previous studies yielding instability (the "universal" instability) were based upon an incomplete treatment of the electron dynamics; i.e., the principal part of the plasma dispersion function was ignored.
Collateral vessel development after right ventricular infarction in the pig.

Abstract Although the right coronary artery supplies both ventricles in the pig, a gradual proximal right coronary occlusion produces infarction in the left ventricle, whereas the right ventricle is usually spared. This study evaluates the influence of right ventricular hypertension and hypertrophy (RVHH) on the occurrence of right ventricular infarction and the difference in the rate and extent of collateral vessel development after gradual right coronary occlusion in pigs with (RVHH group) and without (control group) increased right ventricular pressure and mass. Right ventricular hypertension and hypertrophy were induced by pulmonary arterial banding which raised right ventricular systolic pressure from 24 to 74 mm Hg and doubled right ventricular mass in 4 weeks. Right coronary occlusion was produced with an ameroid constrictor in 24 control group pigs and 15 RVHH pigs. Serial selective coronary cineangiograms on days 4, 8, 14, 21 and 28 after ameroid constrictor placement showed no difference in first appearance of collateralization to the occluded right coronary artery. Total collateralization, which was present in all pigs studied in the control group by days 21 and 28, was present in only 57 percent of the RVHH group at the same time. Although left ventricular infarction occurred in all animals in both groups, right ventricular infarction was not found in the control group but was seen in 80 percent of the RVHH group. There was no correlation between the degree of collateralization seen and the size of the right ventricular infarction found. Experimentally induced right ventricular hypertrophy and hypertension make the right ventricle susceptible to infarction and impeded total collateral filling of the occluded right coronary artery in some of the animals studied.
ANCF Tire Assembly Model for Multibody System Applications

The aim of this paper is to propose a new numerical approach for modeling tires in multibody system (MBS) applications. In this approach, the tires, including the rigid rim, are modeled using one mesh developed using the finite element (FE) absolute nodal co-ordinate formulation (ANCF). The FE tire mesh, which allows for high spinning speed, has a constant inertia matrix and zero Coriolis and centrifugal forces. The connectivity conditions between the tire tread and rim are imposed at a preprocessing stage using linear constraint equations, thereby allowing for the elimination of dependent variables before the start of the simulation. The concept of the rim node is introduced in this paper to allow for the tire/axle assembly in MBS vehicle simulations. The rim node, which is not associated with a particular FE, is used to define the inertia of the rim, treated in this investigation as a rigid body. The procedure for evaluating the inertia coefficients associated with the rim node gradients is described. It is shown how fully parameterized ANCF beam and plate elements can be used to develop new tire geometry that captures details that cannot be captured using existing tire models. The concept of mixed ANCF FEs can also be used with both higher order fully parameterized and gradient deficient ANCF FEs to obtain a better distribution of the tire contact forces.
Comparison of phase separation structures in blends of polyaniline/camphor sulfonic acid and nylons 6 and 12

Abstract Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) techniques were used to characterize the PANI-0.5-HCSA morphology in nylon blends. SAXS shows that the polyaniline (PANI) salt resides mainly in the inter-spherulitic region of the nylon host. The morphology of the conducting salt component was analyzed by SANS data and was treated by two standard models: Debye—Bueche (D—B) and inverse power law (IPL). Due to deviations in the linear curve fitting over a large scattering range, neither the D—B nor the IPL model could be used to characterize the size and shape of all PANI-0.5-HCSA/nylon blend systems. At 3 vol.% PANI loading concentrations, the D—B model suggested salt domains with characteristic lengths of 22 nm for the nylon 12 blend. This differs in the blend reported with nylon 6 where the IPL model indicated a fractal geometry. As salt concentrations are increased in both nylons, the structures are observed to change, but there is no simple structural model that provides a suitable basis for comparison.