cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Paleosols, stable carbon isotopes, and paleoenvironmental interpretation of Kanapoi, Northern Kenya

This study uses the interpretation of paleosol features at Kanapoi, Kenya (4.2-3.4 Ma) to reconstruct the ecosystem occupied by Australopithecus anamensis. The paleosols at Kanapoi provide a unique and fortuitous opportunity, in that the bulk of the hominid specimens derive from paleosols, providing direct evidence of the environment that the Kanapoi hominids occupied. Seven named types of paleosols are recognized at Kanapoi, each representing a trace fossil of the local ecosystem during soil formation. The hominid-bearing Dite paleosols provide evidence that A. anamensis inhabited areas of semi-arid, seasonal climate regimes with mean annual precipitation ranging from about 350-600 mm. The in situ hominid collections from Dite paleosols show that A. anamensis at least occasionally occupied relatively open low tree-shrub savanna vegetation formed in well drained settings, and may have preferred these conditions over other poorly drained soils. The relatively open conditions of Dite paleosols existed within a spatially variable ecosystem, characterized by a mosaic of environments, ranging from forb-dominated edaphic grassland to gallery woodland, providing a larger view of the mixed ecosystem in which A. anamensis lived. Synthesis of paleoenvironmental indicators of A. anamensis at Kanapoi and Allia Bay, Kenya suggests that as early as 4 Ma hominids thrived in varied ecosystems.
The development and implementation of a population-based intervention model for public health nursing practice.

Mandatory enrollment of Medicaid recipients into Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) in 1994 resulted in a major reduction in primary medical care provided by the Peninsula Health District (PHD) in southeastern Virginia. This article describes how the PHD responded proactively by changing from a predominantly primary care clinic practice to a population-based public health practice and changed the role of public health nursing. A participatory planning process involving all PHD employees carefully defined this new direction over several years. As public health care resources were redirected into preventive programs to serve the health needs of the entire community rather then the individual, a new intervention model evolved. The intervention model became the framework for program planning and implementation and has now been in use by the PHD for 3 years. The planning process used by the PHD to devise a population-based intervention model is described in this article.
Rapid and reproducible radiosynthesis of [18F] FHBG

9-(4-[18F] Fluoro-3-hydroxymethylbutyl) guanine ([18F] FHBG), an imaging agent for gene therapy using PET, was prepared in a one-pot, two-step synthesis. Microwave (MW) mediated nucleophilic fluorination of N2, monomethoxytrityl-9-[4-(tosyl)-3-monomethoxytrityl-methylbutyl] guanine using no-carrier-added [18F] fluoride, followed by deprotection with hydrochloric acid and HPLC purification, gave [18F] FHBG. The radiochemical yield (decay corrected) was 12+/-5% (n = 35), the synthesis time was 55-60 min, and the radiochemical purity was >99%. The compound was used for lung imaging and was injected into Sprague-Dawley rats previously infected with the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-tk) reporter gene. MicroPET imaging showed accumulation confined to the lungs.
Plasmodium berghei: Relationship between protective immunity and anti-sporozoite (CSP) antibody in mice

Abstract Protective immunity and production of anti-sporozoite (CSP) antibody was studied in A/J mice injected with X-irradiated sporozoites using different immunization schedules and antigen doses. Data were also obtained on the immunogenicity of X-irradiated as compared to nonirradiated sporozoites. After a single immunization (1.5 × 105 or 7.5 × 104 X-irradiated sporozoites) a number of animals was completely protected when challenged, but the percentage of protected mice varied considerably from experiment to experiment. Maximal protection was obtained 7 days after the immunization. When the first injection of parasites was followed by a single booster administered 3, 4 or 5 days later, protection was considerably enhanced and the results more consistent. After a single injection of 1.5 × 105 or 7.5 × 104 sporozoites, CSP antibody was detectable from the 19th and 23rd day, respectively, i.e., at a time point when protection was diminishing. This antibody persisted only for a short period. When a single booster was given soon after the first injection, CSP antibody was present in the sera of all the mice from the ninth day on and persisted for greater than 80 days. A single dose of X-irradiated sporozoites injected into rats, induced antibody (CSP) formation which reached a peak after 2 weeks and persisted at this level for more than 3 months. However in rats injected with viable sporozoites, the antibody titers fell rapidly and became undetectable after 4 weeks. From these data we can conclude that (a) the immune response induced by attenuated X-irradiated sporozoites is considerably longer-lasting than that induced by viable sporozoites; (b) CSP antibodies are not detectable during the early stages of the immune response; and (c) protective immunity precedes the presence of detectable serum and antibodies.
Constraints on neutrino oscillations from big bang nucleosynthesis.

We discuss in detail the effect of neutrino oscillations in big bang nucleosynthesis between active and sterile neutrinos as well as between active and active neutrinos. We calculate the constraints on mixings between active and sterile neutrinos from the present observation of the primordial helium abundance and discuss the potential implications on various astrophysical and cosmological problems of such oscillations. In particular, we show that large-angle sterile neutrino mixing seems to be excluded as a MSW solution to the solar neutrino situation or a solution to the atmospheric neutrino mixing hinted at in some underground experiments. We show how, with this constraint, the next generation of solar neutrino experiments should be able to determine the resolution of the solar neutrino problem. It is also shown how sterile neutrinos remain a viable dark matter candidate.
Cardiopulmonary bypass vs CPR as treatment for prolonged canine cardiopulmonary arrest.

Although in vitro studies have demonstrated functional recovery of neurons after prolonged ischemia, in vivo experience with patients resuscitated from cardiopulmonary arrest demonstrates much less cerebral resistance to global ischemia. The purpose of our investigation was to compare the effectiveness of femoro-femoral veno-arterial cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) to standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the treatment of prolonged cardiopulmonary arrest. Ten mongrel dogs were electrically fibrillated and left in cardiopulmonary arrest without any therapy for 12 minutes. Subsequently, either CPB (n = 5) or CPR (n = 5) was initiated and resuscitation attempted according to a standardized protocol that included administration of the calcium channel blocker lidoflazine in an effort to optimize cerebral and myocardial recovery. If there was return of spontaneous circulation, the animal was managed in an intensive care setting with invasive hemodynamic monitoring and ventilatory support for up to nine hours. Neurologic function was graded using a standardized neurologic deficit scoring (NDS) system at 12 hours after insult and daily for one week or until death. Prearrest hemodynamic and metabolic parameters were comparable in both groups ( P > .05). All CPB animals were resuscitated successfully and alive at 24 hours after insult as opposed to none in the CPR group ( P
Tests for a weak neutral current in l+- n ---> l+- anything at high energy

Tests for a weak neutral current in high-energy inclusive ${l}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}\ensuremath{-}N$ scattering are discussed, where $l$ is a charged lepton and $N$ a nucleon. If the polarization of the incoming lepton of the target nucleon can be varied, or the outgoing lepton's polarization observed, an unambiguous measurable consequence of such a current is parity violation. Some general expressions for parity-violating correlations are derived, and their magnitude in particular models is calculated. Further consequences of such a current are (i) a difference between ${l}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{-}N$ and ${l}^{+}\ensuremath{-}N$ cross sections and (ii) a deviation of the ${l}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{-}N$ cross section from the form implied by one-photon exchange only. Tests for these effects are similarly examined, but an accurate knowledge of higher-order electromagnetic contributions to them is necessary before such tests can be implemented.
Development and Dissipation of Ca2+ Gradients in Adrenal Chromaffin Cells

We used pulsed laser imaging to measure the development and dissipation of Ca(2+) gradients evoked by the activation of voltage-sensitive Ca(2+) channels in adrenal chromaffin cells. Ca(2+) gradients appeared rapidly (<5 ms) upon membrane depolarization and dissipated over several hundred milliseconds after membrane repolarization. Dissipation occurred with an initial fast phase, as the steep gradient near the membrane collapsed, and a slower phase as the remaining shallow gradient dispersed. Inhibition of active Ca(2+) uptake by the endoplasmic reticulum (thapsigargin) and mitochondria (carbonylcyanide p-trifluoro-methoxyphenylhydrazone/oligomycin) had no effect on the size of Ca(2+) changes or the rate of gradient dissipation, suggesting that passive endogenous Ca(2+) buffers are responsible for the slow Ca(2+) redistribution. We used a radial diffusion model incorporating Ca(2+) diffusion and binding to intracellular Ca(2+) buffers to simulate Ca(2+) gradients. We included a 3D optical sectioning model, simulating the effects of out-of-focus light, to allow comparison with the measured gradients. Introduction of a high-capacity immobile Ca(2+) buffer, with a buffer capacity on the order of 1000 and appropriate affinity and kinetics, approximated the size of the Ca(2+) increases and rate of dissipation of the measured gradients. Finally, simulations without exogenous buffer suggest that the Ca(2+) signal due to Ca(2+) channel activation is restricted by the endogenous buffer to a space less than 1 microm from the cell membrane.
CRYPTIC CONSEQUENCES OF A DISPERSAL MUTUALISM: SEED BURIAL, ELAIOSOME REMOVAL, AND SEED‐BANK DYNAMICS

In moving seeds from one location to another, dispersers define the ecological context that a plant will experience throughout its lifetime. Because seed deposition sites may benefit one plant life cycle stage but not others, dispersal may give rise to a conflict between a plant's dispersal needs (e.g., predator escape) and its requirements for successful establishment (e.g., suitable habitat). In this study, we assessed the effects of two com- ponents of seed dispersal by ants (seed burial depth and elaiosome removal) at several stages during the recruitment of Leucospermum truncatulum, an ant-dispersed plant from the fynbos shrublands of South Africa. A seed-predator exclusion experiment revealed that the removal of elaiosomes significantly reduced rodent predation on seeds buried 1 cm deep and increased the viability of seeds that were not consumed. In contrast, we found that elaiosomes had no effect on the probability of a living seed emerging as a seedling. In a seed burial depth experiment in which predators were not excluded, deeper burial significantly enhanced seed survival, but this benefit came at the expense of reduced seedling emergence, delayed emergence, and smaller cotyledon size. Despite the potential importance of these seedling characteristics, elaiosomes and burial depth had no significant effect on seedling survival through the first year of this study. In contrast, burial depth had strong positive effects on the fraction of seeds that persisted in the seed bank. Although dormant individuals may die before germinating and reproducing, those that persist at greater soil depths can play a crucial role in rescuing populations from local extinction in unpredictable environments. Given the extreme variability in fire frequency in fynbos, the net effect of seed dispersal by ants on plant populations will depend on how temporal fluctuations in fire regimes influence cost-benefit thresholds related to seed dormancy and seed mortality.
Phagocytic funnel-like pseudopodia in lectin-treated gastropod hemocytes

L. R. Renwrantz, T. Yoshino, T. Cheng, and K. Auld (Zoo/. Jb. Physiol. 83, l12, 1979) have described a phagocytic mechanism of Crassostrea virginica (Mollusca: Pelecypoda) hemocytes by which rat erythrocytes could be internalized through a single funnel-shaped pseudopodium. These structures were similar to those seen in vertebrate leukocytes (J. M. Orenstein and E. Shelton, Lab. Invest. 36, 363-374, 1977). This paper reports that hemocytes from two gastropods, Biomphalaria glabrata and Bulinus truncatus, will form funnel-like pseudopodia by which human erythrocytes may be phagocytosed. These pseudopodia may also form in the absence of erythrocyte-sized particles, but after treatment with a lectin. Certain lectin treatments may increase the rate of endocytosis in short-term experiments (D. A. Schoenberg and T. C. Cheng, Devel. Comp. Zmmunol., in press). and sealed with nail polish. In preparations requiring incubation with living human erythrocytes, a hypertonic CBSS (HS, 276 mosM) (D. A. Schoenberg and T. C. Cheng, lot. cit.) was substituted during lectin treatment. A 5 x 10’ cell/ml suspension of human erythrocytes in Dulbecco’s phosphate-buffered saline (DPBS, R. Dulbecco and M. Vogt, J. Exp. Med. 99, 167184, 1954) was added to the lectintreated hemocytes, and incubated for 30 min, rinsed, and incubated in DPBS for an additional 30 min. This was followed by fixation and staining.
Schizosaccharomyces pombe Disaggregation Machinery Chaperones Support Saccharomyces cerevisiae Growth and Prion Propagation

Hsp100 chaperones protect microorganisms and plants from environmental stress by cooperating with Hsp70 and its nucleotide exchange factor (NEF) and Hsp40 cochaperones to resolubilize proteins from aggregates. The Saccharomyces cerevisiae Hsp104 (Sc-Hsp104)-based disaggregation machinery also is essential for replication of amyloid-based prions. Escherichia coli ClpB can substitute for Hsp104 to propagate [PSI(+)] prions in yeast, but only if E. coli DnaK and GrpE (Hsp70 and NEF) are coexpressed. Here, we tested if the reported inability of Schizosaccharomyces pombe Hsp104 (Sp-Hsp104) to support [PSI(+)] propagation was due to similar species-specific chaperone requirements and find that Sp-Hsp104 alone supported propagation of three different yeast prions. Sp-Hsp70 and Sp-Fes1p (NEF) likewise functioned in place of their Sa. cerevisiae counterparts. Thus, chaperones of these long-diverged species possess conserved activities that function in processes essential for both cell growth and prion propagation, suggesting Sc. pombe can propagate its own prions. We show that curing by Hsp104 overexpression and inactivation can be distinguished and confirm the observation that, unlike Sc-Hsp104, Sp-Hsp104 cannot cure yeast of [PSI(+)] when it is overexpressed. These results are consistent with a view that mechanisms underlying prion replication and elimination are distinct.
Correlates of Heavy Drinking Behaviors of Latino Mothers and their Adult Daughters

Abstract This study explored associations between adult Latina heavy drinking behaviors and potential psychosocial and demographic correlates. It used mother-daughter dyads and a cross-sectional design. Data were drawn from a community-based sample of 158 dyads of adult Latinas (n = 316), age 18 years or older, recruited between 2004 and 2006. Bivariate and multivariate statistical methods, including logistic regression and pathway models, were used to analyze data. The study found that protective factors for heavy drinking behaviors for the mother included daughter's social support and mother's age, while for the daughter, they were mother's attachment and daughter's country of birth. Risk factors for daughter's heavy drinking behaviors were mother's social support and daughter's education. For both mother and daughter, chronic stress and drinking behavior associations were mediated by attachment and social support. Preventive interventions should target increasing levels of mother-daughter attachment an...
Targeting myeloid-derived suppressor cells augments antitumor activity against lung cancer

Lung cancer evades host immune surveillance by dysregulating inflammation. Tumors and their surrounding stromata produce growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines that recruit, expand, and/or activate myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). MDSCs regulate immune responses and are frequently found in malignancy. In this review the authors discuss tumor-MDSC interactions that suppress host antitumor activities and the authors' recent findings regarding MDSC depletion that led to improved therapeutic vaccination responses against lung cancer. Despite the identification of a repertoire of tumor antigens, hurdles persist for immune-based anticancer therapies. It is likely that combined therapies that address the multiple immune deficits in cancer patients will be required for effective therapy. MDSCs play a major role in the suppression of T-cell activation and they sustain tumor growth, proliferation, and metastases. Regulation of MDSC recruitment, differentiation or expansion, and inhibition of the MDSC suppressive function with pharmacologic agents will be useful in the control of cancer growth and progression. Pharmacologic agents that regulate MDSCs may be more effective when combined with immunotherapies. Optimization of combined approaches that simultaneously downregulate MDSC suppressor pathways, restore APC immune-stimulating activity, and expand tumor-reactive T cells will be useful in improving therapy.
Bridge Rail Rating Curves and Submergence Characteristics

This paper describes a three-parameter model used for determining the hydraulic performance of bridge rails during extreme flood events as well as two submergence models. Typically the geometry of the bridge rails is not considered when conducting floodplain analysis. The use of certain bridge rails with large height or minimal open space may adversely impact the surrounding floodplain. Therefore, a mathematical model used to characterize the hydraulic performance of bridge rails has been developed in order to understand how different bridge rail systems may impact a floodplain. Physical modeling experiments are conducted in order to determine rating curves for various rail geometries that describe the upstream specific energy as a function of the flow rate passing over the rail. In addition, the effects of the submergence of bridge rails by an increase in downstream water surface elevation are also evaluated, as well as the submergence effects of two bridge rails in series. Two different mathematical models are used to approximate and characterize the effects of rail submergence.
Isotopic composition of gadolinium in meteorites

An alternative explanation is presented for the neutron effects observed by EUGSTER et al. (1970) in Gd extracted from the Norton County achondrite. It is suggested that an ‘early’ irradiation of the solar system material occurred at a temperature much higher than 200°K assumed by the above investigators. It appears that the Gd anomalies are closely related to the O and Mg anomalies recently observed in various meteorites.
Estimation of the shape of magnetic transitions by a deconvolution technique

The measurement of magnetic transitions in a digital recording system through the application of digital signal processing is presented. The observability of the magnetization waveform in the presence of uncertainties in the readback parameters of the head is discussed. The effect of noise on the deconvolution process and algorithmic techniques for minimizing the resulting measurement errors are outlined. Finally the measurement is demonstrated for an experimental head/disk system. A procedure for inferring the dead layer depth in a Mn-Zn head is discussed and the measured M(x) is compared with some popular models.
Elevated CNS average diffusion constant in Fabry disease.

Aims: Evaluation of the average brain diffusion constant in Fabry disease. Introduction: Fabry disease is an X-linked recessive lysosomal storage disorder secondary to deficiency of α-galactosidase A and resulting in excess tissue globotriaosylceramide, particularly in cerebral blood vessels. This has been associated with cerebral hyperperfusion. Increased tissue perfusion should increase interstitial water by the Starling relationship. This hypothesis was examined by measuring the average CNS diffusion constant (Dav) in patients with Fabry disease using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI). Methods: Axial DWI was performed at b= 1000 seconds/mm2 and b= 1000 seconds/mm2 (TR (pulse repetition time), 10 000; TE (time to echo), 100; FOV (field of view), 22 cm; 3 mm interleaved slices; image matrix, 128 × 128; GE Signa, 1.5T). Eight healthy male volunteers (age range, 21–47 years) and 17 hemizygous patients with Fabry disease (age range, 19–49 years) were examined. Following DWI acquisition, the trace image and the diffusion distribution map were calculated. The diffusion distribution curve was then fitted by a multi-modal Gaussian curve, allowing estimation of Dav. Results: The Dav was 0.743 ±; 0.024 ±; 10-5 cm2/second (mean ±; SD) for patients with Fabry disease and 0.726 ±; 0.014 ±; 10-5 cm2/second for the control group. Dav was significantly increased in the patients with Fabry disease compared with the controls (p= 0.029) Conclusions: The elevated Dav indicates increased brain tissue water diffusivity in patients with Fabry disease, a finding consistent with increased extracellular water and increased cerebral blood flow.
Space Shuttle main engine performance assessment - Columbia's first flight

Design features and performance of the Shuttle main engines first flight are presented. Each of the three engines produces 470,000 lb of thrust, operates at 3,012 psia, and has a 77.5 to 1 nozzle expansion ratio. The engines are designed for a 7.5 hr operational life, and will be tested at 109% capacity in future Shuttle flights. The developmental program is outlined, and includes 127,000 sec of operational testing on 19 engines. Engine operations and components are described, noting 100% burning of the hydrogen and oxidizer, high pressure fuel turbopumps, the controller assembly, etc.; details of solutions to fatigue failures and subsequent certification are provided. The nine minute first flight firing revealed a radiant heating of a control sensor transducer, which was shielded for succeeding flights. Alternatives are given for thrust augmentation, for which each 1% yields an additional 800 lb payload increase capability, and can be implemented by 1987.
Optimal module clustering in program organization

Computer assisted process organization (CAPO) designs a hierarchy chart for a system or program. Published CAPO methods develop a single measure for intermodule connections based on quantification of the most common measures such as cohesion and data coupling. Utilizing common attributes described by a data flow diagram and complete system dictionary, a mathematical clustering model then describes interactions among system or program modules. When used in conjunction with integer programming methods, the clustering model derives a hierarchy chart of organized processes in a top-down, optimal fashion. Extensions to existing CAPO methods include guidelines to allow the model to iterate successive levels of a complete hierarchy and a procedure to determine the number of modules at each level. The model is applied to a sample business application and the resulting design is compared to a manually derived design. >
The expression of the nuclear matrix proteins NuMA, topoisomerase II-α, and -β in bone and osseous cell culture: regulation by parathyroid hormone

Bone cells undergo changes in cell structure during phenotypic development. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) induces a change in osteoblast shape, a determinant of collagen expression. We hypothesize that alterations in bone cell shape reflect and direct gene expression as governed, in part, by nuclear organization. In this study, we determined whether the expression of nuclear matrix proteins that mediate nuclear architecture, NuMA, topoisomerase II (topo II)-α, and -β, were altered during osteoblast development and response to PTH in vivo. NuMA forms an interphase nuclear scaffold in some cells, the absence of which may accommodate alterations in nuclear organization necessary for specific functions. Topo II enzymes are expressed in bone cells; the α-isoform is specific to proliferating cells. We used immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry to determine whether NuMA is expressed in the primary spongiosa of the rat metaphyseal femur and whether expression of NuMA, topo II-α, and II-β changes during osteoblast development or with PTH treatment. NuMA and topo II-β were expressed in marrow cells, osteoblasts, osteocytes, and chondrocytes. These proteins were not detected in osteoclasts in vivo, but were observed in cultured cells. Bone marrow cells expressed topo II-α. All three proteins were expressed in cultures of rat osteoblast-like UMR-106 cells. PTH treatment downregulated the number of topo II-α-immunopositive cells, correlated with a decrease in S-phase cells, in both bone tissue and cell culture. We conclude that, in vivo, nuclear matrix composition is altered during bone cell development and that anabolic doses of PTH attenuate the proliferative capacity of osteogenic cells, in part, by targeting topo II-α expression.
Rotational relaxation in ultracold CO + He collisions

Cold and ultracold collisions involving rotationally hot CO molecules are investigated using quantum me- chanical coupled channel, coupled states, and effective potential scattering formulations. Quenching rate co- efficients are given for initial rotational levels near the dissociation threshold. The stability of the CO "super rotors" against collisional decay is compared to previous investigations involving homonuclear molecules. It is found that quasiresonant transitions provide a significantlystronger contribution to the total relaxation rate than in the comparable case of O2. As in the case of H2, sharp structures in the distribution of total quenching rate coefficients are found at rotational levels where quasiresonant scattering is not allowed. Experimental schemes to cool and trap neutral polar mol- ecules using a time-varying electric fieldhave been proposed 1,2 and recently realized 3 . Meijer and co-workers have applied the so-called Stark decelerator to slow down meta- stable CO molecules 1 . Schemes to produce diatomic mol- ecules in highly excited rotational states have also been pro- posed 4,5 and recently realized 6 . Theoretical studies have suggested that the collisional dynamics of such rota- tionally hot molecules would be particularly interesting at low temperatures 7-1 1 . These studies concentrated on homonuclear diatomic molecules where it was found that quasiresonant vibration-rotation QR VR transitions contrib- uted significantly in quenching the highly rotationally ex- cited molecules. Another recent investigation showed that QR VR transitions have a neglible effect on the relaxation of rotationally hot oxygen molecules and that the quenching is very efficient for all rotational levels and dominated by pure rotational deexcitation 12 . Each of the theoretical investi- gations 7-12 assumed a helium atom collision partner. He- lium buffer gas cooling 13 has proven to be an effective technique for loading molecules into a magnetic trap 14 and it has recently been shown that the cooling technique may be applied to a beam of molecules 15 . Therefore, col- lisions involving helium atoms are of considerable interest in ultracold molecular physics. In this work, we perform relax- ation studies for helium collisions with CO. We compute an extensive amount of collisional data that may be used as a point of comparison to the molecular hydrogen and oxygen systems studied previously and investigate whether hetero-
Pregnancy Enhances Sustained Ca2+ Bursts and Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Activation in Ovine Uterine Artery Endothelial Cells Through Increased Connexin 43 Function

Endothelium-mediated vasodilation is specifically enhanced in uterine circulation during pregnancy, and production of nitric oxide (NO) is increased in response to a wide array of agonists. Uterine artery endothelial cells from nonpregnant (NP-UAECs) or pregnant (P-UAECs) ewes maintained in culture still show a pregnancy-enhanced difference in ATP-stimulated endothelial NO synthase (eNOS; official symbol NOS3) activation, even though NOS3 protein, purinergic receptors, and associated cell signaling proteins are expressed at equal levels. We have also shown that the pregnancy-enhanced endothelial cell NO response to ATP requires an enhanced and sustained capacitative entry phase that is likely mediated via canonical transient receptor potential protein/inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 2 interaction. In this study, we now show by simultaneous video imaging of individual Fura-2-loaded cells that the pregnancy-enhanced capacitative entry phase is not continuous and equal in all cells, but is in fact mediated as a series of periodic [Ca(2+)](i) bursts within individual cells. Not only does pregnancy increase the number of bursts over a longer time period in individual cells, but also a greater proportion of cells exhibit this burst activity, and at high cell density this occurs in a synchronous manner. The mediator of cell synchronization is connexin 43 (Cx43) gap junctions because 1) Cx43 is readily detectable by Western blot analysis in UAECs, whereas Cx40 and Cx37 are weakly detected or absent, and 2) pregnancy-specific enhancement of [Ca(2+)](i) bursts by ATP is blocked by inhibitory loop peptides selective to Cx43 ((43,37)GAP27) but not by a scrambled control peptide or (40)GAP27 or (40,37)GAP26 peptides, which are specific to Cx40 or Cx37. The relationship between Ca(2+) bursts and NOS3 activation is further established by the finding that (43,37)GAP27 inhibits ATP-stimulated NOS3 activation but has no effect on cell mitogenesis. We conclude that it is pregnancy-enhanced gap junction communication between cells that underlies pregnancy enhancement of capacitative entry via TRPC3 and, in turn, NOS3 activation. Such improved gap junction function allows greater and more sustained [Ca(2+)](i) responses to agents such as ATP within a single cell, as well as the additional recruitment of greater numbers of cells to the response in a coordinated and synchronous manner to support enhanced NO production.
Becoming Job-Ready Collaborative Future Plans of Latina Adolescent Girls and Their Mothers in a Low-Income Urban Community

This article examined the future plans constructed by Latina adolescent girls and their mothers within a lower income urban community. Seventeen high school juniors and their mothers were interviewed about the girls’ pursuit of a trade during high school and anticipated postsecondary pathways in the nursing field. Thematic content analyses illustrated how families selected and invested in this career pathway together. Trades were viewed as providing access to jobs and financial stability. Mothers and daughters alike anticipated that the workplace would facilitate access to college, and they also described a closer connection to nursing trade preparation than to math or science academic classes. Case illustrations highlighted the importance of family involvement, ethnic background, and socioeconomic status in the construction of college plans. Interventions and future research focused on families and positive educational outcomes for Latina adolescent girls are discussed.
Indigenous Land Tenure Insecurity Fosters Illegal Logging in Nicaragua

SUMMARY Titling of Indigenous common-property lands in eastern Nicaragua is a necessary base for forest management. Titling alone will not be sufficient to assure sustainable practices, and the success of demarcation programmes rests on processes of negotiation leading up to tenure decisions. Nevertheless, a review of decades of history in Indigenous territories suggests that key problems in forest resource administration are inextricably linked to tenure insecurities, as explorations of current resource disputes in seven villages demonstrate. Analysis also suggests that ineffective implementation of Nicaragua's multiethnic autonomy fosters illegality and resource mismanagement. Fundamental structural changes to improve inclusion, accountability and transparency are necessary. Remediation also requires inclusive multiscale negotiations of land claims and participatory mapping to resolve tenure disputes.
On the range of the derivate of a smooth function and applications

We survey recent results on the structure of the range of the derivative of a smooth real valued function f defined on a real Banach space X and of a smooth mapping F between two real Banach spaces X and Y . We recall some necessary conditions and some sufficient conditions on a subset A of L(X; Y ) for the existence of a Fr?echet-differentiable mapping F from X into Y so that F0(X) = A. Whenever F is only assumed G?ateaux-differentiable, new phenomena appear : we discuss the existence of a mapping F from a Banach space X into a Banach space Y , which is bounded, Lipschitz-continuous, and so that for all x; y 2 X, if x 6= y, then kF0(x) i F0(y)kL(X;Y ) > 1. Applications are given to existence and uniqueness of solutions of Hamilton-Jacobi equations.
Evaluation of Toxic Effects of Aeration and Trichloroethylene Oxidation on Methanotrophic Bacteria Grown with Different Nitrogen Sources

In this study we evaluated specific and nonspecific toxic effects of aeration and trichloroethylene (TCE) oxidation on methanotrophic bacteria grown with different nitrogen sources (nitrate, ammonia, and molecular nitrogen). The specific toxic effects, exerted directly on soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO), were evaluated by comparing changes in methane uptake rates and naphthalene oxidation rates following aeration and/or TCE oxidation. Nonspecific toxic effects, defined as general cellular damage, were examined by using a combination of epifluorescent cellular stains to measure viable cell numbers based on respiratory activity and measuring formate oxidation activities following aeration and TCE transformation. Our results suggest that aeration damages predominantly sMMO rather than other general cellular components, whereas TCE oxidation exerts a broad range of toxic effects that damage both specific and nonspecific cellular functions. TCE oxidation caused sMMO-catalyzed activity and respiratory activity to decrease linearly with the amount of substrate degraded. Severe TCE oxidation toxicity resulted in total cessation of the methane, naphthalene, and formate oxidation activities and a 95% decrease in the respiratory activity of methanotrophs. The failure of cells to recover even after 7 days of incubation with methane suggests that cellular recovery following severe TCE product toxicity is not always possible. Our evidence suggests that generation of greater amounts of sMMO per cell due to nitrogen fixation may be responsible for enhanced TCE oxidation activities of nitrogen-fixing methanotrophs rather than enzymatic protection mechanisms associated with the nitrogenase enzymes.
Engine Efficiency Improvements Enabled by Ethanol Fuel Blends in a GDi VVA Flex Fuel Engine

Advances in engine technology including Gasoline Direct injection (GDi), Dual Independent Cam Phasing (DICP), advanced valvetrain and boosting have allowed the simultaneous reductions of fuel consumption and emissions with increased engine power density. The utilization of fuels containing ethanol provides additional improvements in power density and potential for lower emissions due to the high octane rating and evaporative cooling of ethanol in the fuel. In this paper results are presented from a flexible fuel engine capable of operating with blends from E0-E85. The increased geometric compression ratio, (from 9.2 to 11.85) can be reduced to a lower effective compression ratio using advanced valvetrain operating on an Early Intake Valve Closing (EIVC) or Late Intake Valve Closing (LIVC) strategy. DICP with a high authority intake phaser is used to enable compression ratio management. The advanced valvetrain also provides significantly reduced throttling losses by efficient control of intake air and residuals. Increased ethanol blends provide improvements in power density due to knock resistance. Knock resistance also provides a significant potential for reduced NOx since higher dilution without knock is enabled at moderate loads typical of normal driving. E85 also shows significant advantages for particulate emissions that enable broader authority in selection of optimal injection timings for improving efficiency. An increase in the ethanol content improves low end torque providing an addition opportunity for improved fuel economy by using down-speeding for more efficient vehicle operation
Restoration and colonization of freshwater mussels and fish in a southeastern United States tailwater

The French Broad River originates in North Carolina, flows west into Tennessee and at its confluence with the Holston River forms the Tennessee River. Douglas Dam, located on the French Broad River 52 km above its mouth, is operated primarily for peaking hydroelectric power and flood control. Prior to completion of the dam in 1943, the lower French Broad River contained about 53 species of freshwater mussels and 100 species of fish. By 1977, the fauna in the 52-km-long tailwater was reduced to 12 species of mussels and 42 native species of fish. Improvements in tailwater conditions occurred following initiation of minimum flows in 1987, and consistent reaeration of discharge in 1993. From 1988 to 2002, we sampled three sites (4, 28, and 39 km downstream of the dam) to monitor the fish assemblage. Each year since 1988, we have collected one or more additional species, indicating continued immigration. We collected 82 native and 9 exotic species of fish overall, but the maximum of 67 species in 1 year suggests that some species reside in the tailwater at low densities or all immigrants may not successfully colonize the tailwater. There is limited potential for most extirpated species of mussels to naturally recolonize the tailwater because source populations are isolated. Consequently, 19 754 adult mussels of 19 species were introduced between 1997 and 2000. Survival of translocated mussels has been high, and successful reproduction of at least one translocated species has occurred. Additionally, four mussel species are naturally colonizing the tailwater. Colonization and recruitment of additional mussel species is expected as populations of their host fishes increase. We believe that the improved conditions of the tailwater may allow for the re-establishment of sustaining populations of 30 mussel species of historic occurrence, but the continued operation of Douglas Dam as a peaking hydroelectric project will reduce the probability of successfully reintroducing some species. Published in 2006 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Magnesium accumulation and mineral balance in Sudangrass as influenced by potassium, calcium and sodium

Abstract Sudangrass (Sorghum sudanense, ‘Piper’ Stapf) was grown in the greenhouse in a slightly calcareous sample of Shano silt loam. The purpose of the study was to evaluate plant response to Mg and to determine any changes in Mg nutrition following individual or composite application of Mg, Ca, K and Na as nitrate compounds. The concentration of Mg in plant tissue decreased following K application and increased with each increment of Mg applied irrespective of variations in the proportions of Ca and Na included in the treatments. A base treatment including Ca, Na, and K applied with or without Mg showed a significant yield response to Mg. The Mg response was attributed to a more favorable ionic balance in the growth medium with respect to Mg because the soil was not particularly Mg deficient. Application of Mg in this case lowered the plant K concentration significantly, increased the concentration of Mg, and gave a lower K/(Ca+Mg) ratio in the foliage than was obtained without Mg. Results suggest that...
Improving requirements tracing via information retrieval

We present an approach for improving requirements tracing based on framing it as an information retrieval (IR) problem. Specifically, we focus on improving recall and precision in order to reduce the number of missed traceability links as well as to reduce the number of irrelevant potential links that an analyst has to examine when performing requirements tracing. Several IR algorithms were adapted and implemented to address this problem. We evaluated our algorithms by comparing their results and performance to those of a senior analyst who traced manually as well as with an existing requirements tracing tool. Initial results suggest that we can retrieve a significantly higher percentage of the links than analysts, even when using existing tools, and do so in much less time while achieving comparable signal-to-noise levels.
No evidence for systemic oxidant stress in Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease

Abstract Oxidant stress secondary to dopamine metabolism has been proposed as a pathogenic factor in the development of Parkinson's disease. Biochemical abnormalities extending beyond the central nervous system have been identified in patients with this condition. Previous investigators have found abnormally elevated concentrations of the lipid peroxidation product, malondialdehyde, in the plasma and serum of patients with Parkinson's disease. We attempted to replicate these findings but controlled for other factors that could influence malondialdehyde levels. We detected no significant elevations in mean serum malondialdehyde concentrations in either levodopa-treated or untreated patients with Parkinson's disease, compared to normal controls; similarly, no elevation was found in a group of patients with dementia of Alzheimer's type. On the other hand, a group of subjects with diabetes mellitus but no neurodegenerative disease had significantly elevated mean serum malondialdehyde levels, consistent with previous studies of diabetic patients. Autoxidation is one of the two major routes by which dopamine and dopa metabolism may generate oxygen free radicals. We analyzed the autoxidation product of dopa, 5-S-cysteinyl-dopa, in the plasma of these same groups of patients with neurodegenerative disease and normal controls; no significant differences were identified. Serum concentrations of two other antioxidant substances, alpha-tocopherol and uric acid, were also statistically similar in these groups. In conclusion, analysis of several blood products relevant to oxidant stress, including malondialdehyde, 5-S-cysteinyl-dopa, alpha-tocopherol, and uric acid, failed to distinguish patients with Parkinson's disease or dementia of Alzheimer's type from controls.
Monocyte rolling, arrest and spreading on IL-4-activated vascular endothelium under flow is mediated via sequential action of L-selectin, beta 1-integrins, and beta 2-integrins

Leukocyte interactions with vascular endothelium at sites of inflammation can be dynamically regulated by activation-dependent adhesion molecules. Current models, primarily based on studies with polymorphonuclear leukocytes, suggest the involvement of multiple members of the selectin, integrin, and immunoglobulin gene families, sequentially, in the process of initial attachment (rolling), stable adhesion (arrest), spreading and ultimate diapedesis. In the current study, IL-4-activated human umbilical vein endothelium, which selectively expresses VCAM-1 and an L-selectin ligand but not E-selectin, and appropriate function blocking monoclonal antibodies, were used to study monocyte-endothelial interactions in an in vitro model that mimics microcirculatory flow conditions. In this system, L-selectin mediates monocyte rolling and also facilitates alpha 4 beta 1-integrin-dependent arrest, whereas beta 2-integrins are required for spreading of firmly attached monocytes on the endothelial cell surface but not their arrest. These findings provide the first in vitro evidence for human monocyte rolling on cytokine-activated endothelium, and suggest a sequential requirement for both beta 1- and beta 2-integrin-dependent adhesive mechanisms in monocyte-endothelial interactions.
Impact of power-electronics systems on the performance and durability of tubular solid-oxide fuel cell

This paper analyzes the impacts of steady-state and transient electrical-feedback effects from the power-conditioning system (PCS) on the performance and durability of tubular solid-oxide fuel cells (TSOFCs). Subsequently, this paper explores the impacts of modulation/control strategies on the transient response, flow parameters and current density. This paper demonstrates how traditionally known superior modulation/control methodologies may have a negative effect on the TSOFC performance and lifetime unless carefully implemented. The interaction-analysis methodologies and the results presented in this paper lead to an improved understanding, and may yield realization of cost-effective, reliable and optimal power-electronics systems for TSOFC PCS.
Grinding wheel condition monitoring with boosted minimum distance classifiers

Abstract Grinding wheels get dull as more material is removed. This paper presents a methodology to detect a ‘dull’ wheel online based on acoustic emission (AE) signals. The methodology has three major steps: preprocessing, signal analysis and feature extraction, and constructing boosted classifiers using the minimum distance classifier (MDC) as the weak learner. Two booting algorithms, i.e., AdaBoost and A-Boost, were implemented. The methodology was tested with signals obtained in grinding of two ceramic materials with a diamond wheel under different grinding conditions. The results of cross-validation tests indicate that: (i) boosting greatly improves the effectiveness of the basic MDC; (ii) over all A-Boost does not outperform AdaBoost in terms of classification accuracy; and (iii) the performance of the boosted classifiers improves as the ensemble size increases.
Molecular systematics and geographical distribution of the Drosophila longicornis species complex (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

Here we examine the phylogenetic relationships of eleven species previously hypothesized to be members of the Drosophila longicornis complex (repleta group, mulleri subgroup) using combined analyses of four mitochondrial genes. This complex, as currently redefined, is composed of the longicornis cluster (D. longicornis, D. pachuca, D. propachuca, and D. mainlandi), the ritae cluster (D. desertorum, D. mathisi, and D. ritae), and several miscellaneous species (D. hamatofila, D. hexastigma, D. spenceri, and an undescribed species “from Sonora”). A maximum likelihood inference also includes the huckinsi cluster (D. huckinsi and D. huichole) as the most distant members in the longicornis complex, a condition not recovered using maximum parsimony. We were unable to diagnose species in the triad of sibling species D. longicornis, D. pachuca, and D. propachuca using rapidly evolving mitochondrial DNA data, and we discuss possible species concept conflict for this triad. Comprehensive distribution information for these species, gathered over the past 60 years, is synthesized and displayed in range maps. Available information about the ecology and host plants of each species is also included.