cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Studies of Madagascan Ptiliidae (Coleoptera) 3: The genus Acrotrichis including twenty seven new species

This is the third report detailing Ptiliidae collected from forest leaf litter by the Moravian Museum (Brno, Czech Republic) expeditions to Madagascar 2010-2013. After completion of the first draft, which identified 16 new species, more Madagsacan Acrotrichis, collected at earlier dates, were found in the Natural History Museum in London (BMNH). These included 17 unpublished new species determined by Colin Johnson in 1969, 7 of which proved to be the same as those in the Czech material. The decision was taken, therefore, to broaden the scope of the report to include all the mounted Madagascan material in the Museum and to use Johnson's ms names to avoid potential future confusion. 27 new species are described and figured: Acrotrichis absona sp. n.; A. barclayi sp. n.; A. bibula sp. n.; A. boothi sp. n.; A. clareae sp. n.; A. colini sp. n.; A. cuspida sp. n.; A. difficilis sp. n.; A. exigua sp. n.; A. hammondi sp. n.; A. heissi sp. n.; A. hova sp. n.; A. impressa sp. n.; A. lacrimosa sp. n.; A. lauta sp. n.; A. loganovi sp. n.; A. magnifica sp. n.; A. malitiosa sp. n.; A. obscura sp. n.; A. perexigua sp. n.; A. perfida sp. n.; A. strenua sp. n.; A. subafricana sp. n.; A. tampoketsae sp. n.; A. terminalis sp. n.; A. truncata sp. n. and A. tuberosa sp. n., and new data recorded for six others: a. africana Johnson, A. africanoides Johnson, A. cursitans (Nietner), A. discoloroides Johnson, A. minuscula Johnson, and A. superbioides Johnson. New criteria for assessing speciation in Acrotrichis are suggested, the definition of subgenera discussed and a key to all the known species from the island provided.
Abstract 345: Circulating tumor cells from perfusable tumor nodules grown on decellularized rat lung scaffold has mesenchymal characteristics

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Circulating tumor cells are thought to be responsible for metastasis. These cells leave the primary site of cancer and enter the circulation after undergoing epithelial to mesenchymal transition. The tumor cells lose the epithelial features, such as expression of E-cadherin, and acquire mesenchymal characteristics, such as expression of Twist1, Zeb and N-cadherin. In this study, we developed a novel ex vivo model that utilizes a decellularized rat lung scaffold to grow tumor nodules and study circulating tumor cells. We hypothesized that circulating tumor cells in our ex vivo model will have mesenchymal characteristics. We created the decellularized rat lung scaffold using SDS and Triton-X. We then placed 344SQ or 393P mice lung cancer cell lines in the decellularized rat lung scaffold and perfused them in a customized bioreactor. We measured tumor growth on the scaffold and the number of circulating tumor cells for 14 days. We then analyzed the functional characteristics of the circulating tumor cells using the Boyden chamber and determined gene expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, Zeb1 and Twist. Both the 344SQ and 393P lung cancer cell lines formed tumor nodules that gradually increased in size with an increase in the number of circulating tumor cells over the 14-day period in our model. The circulating tumor cells had greater ability to migrate than the monolayer cell cultures in the Boyden chamber assay, with 100% of the circulating tumor cells migrating in contrast to 69% and 71% of the monolayer cell cultures of 344SQ and 393P, respectively. The circulating 393P tumor cells had a significant increase in Twist (58-fold), Zeb (20-fold) and N-cadherin (14-fold) and decrease in E-cadherin compared to the 393P cells from the monolayer cell culture. This difference was even more dramatic for the circulating 344SQ tumor cells with an increase in Twist (>6000-fold), Zeb (14-fold) and N-cadherin (88-fold) compared to the 344SQ cells from the monolayer. There was small 4-fold increase in E-cadherin expression in the circulating 344SQ tumor cells compare to the 344SQ cells from the monolayer. The circulating tumor cells in our model have both phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of mesenchymal cells. The cancer cells that are more mesenchymal at the baseline have a greater difference in these characteristics. The circulating tumor cells in our model may be the sub-population of cells responsible for metastasis. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 345. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-345
Evolution: a guide to perturb protein function and networks

Protein interactions give rise to networks that control cell fate in health and disease; selective means to probe these interactions are therefore of wide interest. We discuss here Evolutionary Tracing (ET), a comparative method to identify protein functional sites and to guide experiments that selectively block, recode, or mimic their amino acid determinants. These studies suggest, in principle, a scalable approach to perturb individual links in protein networks.
Large discrete resistance jump at grain boundary in copper nanowire

Copper is the current interconnect metal of choice in integrated circuits. As interconnect dimensions decrease, the resistivity of copper increases dramatically because of electron scattering from surfaces, impurities, and grain boundaries (GBs) and threatens to stymie continued device scaling. Lacking direct measurements of individual scattering sources, understanding of the relative importance of these scattering mechanisms has largely relied on semiempirical modeling. Here we present the first ever attempt to measure and calculate individual GB resistances in copper nanowires with a one-to-one correspondence to the GB structure. Large resistance jumps are directly measured at the random GBs with a value far greater than at coincidence GBs and first-principles calculations. The high resistivity of the random GB appears to be intrinsic, arising from the scaling of electron mean free path with the size of the lattice relaxation region. The striking impact of random GB scattering adds vital information for understanding nanoscale conductors.
Characterization of Sodium Channel α- and β-Subunits in Rat and Mouse Cardiac Myocytes

Background—Sodium channels isolated from mammalian brain are composed of α-, β1-, and β2-subunits. The composition of sodium channels in cardiac muscle, however, has not been defined, and disagreement exists over which β-subunits are expressed in the myocytes. Some investigators have demonstrated β1 expression in heart. Others have not detected any auxiliary subunits. On the basis of Northern blot analysis of total RNA, β2 expression has been thought to be exclusive to neurons and absent from cardiac muscle. Methods and Results—The goal of this study was to define the subunit composition of cardiac sodium channels in myocytes. We show that cardiac sodium channels are composed of α-, β1-, and β2-subunits. Nav1.5 and Nav1.1 are expressed in myocytes and are associated with β1- and β2-subunits. Immunocytochemical localization of Nav1.1, β1, and β2 in adult heart sections showed that these subunits are expressed at the Z lines, as shown previously for Nav1.5. Coexpression of Nav1.5 with β2 in transfected cell...
Kilwa Kisiwani: The Rise of an East African City State

Stepping ashore upon the ruined site of Kilwa island in 1824, British official W. F. W. Owen sadly reflected upon the history of the East African coast: It is really melancholy to contemplate the devastation that the monopolizing spirit of mankind has produced on the east coast of Africa; wherever we went, even in the most obscure harbours, we could trace the remains of former wealth and civilization, contrasted strongly with present poverty and barbarism. The courage and perseverance of the old Portuguese must be admired; at the same time we cannot but deprecate that avarice which knew no bounds, but was constantly reducing thriving and populous countries to wild and desolate wastes (Owen 1833, p. 4). Owen's astute observations characterize the East African coast as it appeared in the nineteenth century; as he noted, the situation was far different prior to the European arrival. Long before Portuguese caravels rounded the Cape, the East African coast played an important part in the Indian Ocean trading complex. The littoral was certainly known by the people of Arabia in the eighth century before Christ. In fact, the ancient Southern Arabian state of Ausan traded extensively there and may have actually held a portion of the coast (Gray 1962, p. 11; Wainwright 1947). In later centuries, adventurers and merchants from far more distant centers began to traverse the Indian Ocean in order to reach the land of Zanj.
Investigation of PEMFC operation above 100 °C employing perfluorosulfonic acid silicon oxide composite membranes

Abstract Various perfluorosulfonic acid membranes (PFSAs) were studied as pure and silicon oxide composite membranes for operation in hydrogen/oxygen proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) from 80 to 140 °C. The composite membranes were prepared either by impregnation of pre-formed PFSAs via sol–gel processing of a polymeric silicon oxide, recasting a film using solubilized PFSAs and a silicon oxide polymer/gel. All composite membranes had a silicon oxide content of less than or equal to 10% by weight. Decreasing the equivalent weight and thickness of the PFSAs, in addition to the incorporation of silicon oxide helped improve water management in a PEMFC at elevated temperatures. Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy–attenuated total reflectance (FT-IR–ATR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) experiments indicated an evenly distributed siloxane polymer in all of the composite membranes. At a potential of 0.4 V the Aciplex 1004/silicon oxide composite membrane in a humidified H 2 /O 2 PEMFC at 130 °C and a pressure of 3 atm delivered six times higher current density than unmodified Nafion 115 under the same conditions, and 1.73 times the current density when unmodified Nafion 115 was operated with humidified gases at 80 °C and 1 atm of pressure. Furthermore, the PEMFC performances with the PFSA/silicon oxide composite membranes were physically more robust than the control membranes (unmodified PFSAs), which degraded after high operation temperature and thermal cycling.
Existence and a priori bounds for steady stagnation flow toward a stretching cylinder

We investigate the nonlinear boundary value problem (BVP) that is derived from a similarity transformation of the Navier–Stokes equations governing fluid flow toward a stretching permeable cylinder. Existence of a solution is proven for all values of the Reynolds number and for both suction and injection, and uniqueness results are obtained in the case of a monotonic solution. A priori bounds on the skin friction coefficient are also obtained. These bounds achieve any desired order of accuracy as the injection parameter tends to negative infinity.
Interactions of murine leukemia virus (mulv) with isolated lymphocytes. I. Virus replication in lymphocytes infected with friend virus and cultured in diffusion chambers in vivo

A new technique for infection of mature lymphocytes with murine leukemia virus (Friend) MuLV-F) is described. Spleen cells for normal, non-infected donors were placed into diffusion chambers (constructed with 0.22 mum por size Millipore filters) which were then implanted into the peritoneal cavities of normal syngeneic recipient mice. The cells were infected with an injection of MuLV-F into the peritoneal cavity and, in some instances, also by placing virus into the chambers. Cells were recovered by treating the chamber content with elastase and collagenase. The infection was determined in two ways: (1) cells with replicating MuLV were enumerated as infection centers (IC) on S+L- indicator cells; and (2) virus-related cell membrane antigen (MA) was detected by immunofluorescence. Cells recovered from chambers after 2-3 weeks of culture represented about 10% of the original inoculum; viability was approximately 90%. The number of IC in MuLV-F-infected chambers was about 10 times higher than obtained by infection and cultivation of spleen cells in vitro. The kinetics of IC and MA in chamber-cultured. MuLV-F-infected spleen cells was similar to that in the spleen of infected mice during the first 10 days after infection. Later on, the process of infection within the chambers slowed down, reaching about 50% MA-positive and about 10% IC-positive cells, whereas the number of both IC- and MA-positive cells in the spleen reached 80% or more. The infection of splenic lymphocytes in diffusion chambers occurred equally well when chambers were implanted into: (1) syngeneic, virus susceptible hosts; (2) syngeneic, lethally irradiated hosts; and (3) allogeneic, virus-resistant hosts, suggesting that the process within the chamber is independent of MuLV replication in the tissues of the chamber-bearing mouse. The diffusion chamber technique seems to provide an environment in which various types of isolated lymphocytes of different mouse strains can interact with MuLV almost as efficiently as in vivo.
Non-Equilibrium Acceptor Concentration in GaN:Mg Grown by Metalorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition

It is shown that the high p-type conductivity in GaN:Mg, grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition followed by post-growth annealing, is due to non-equilibrium acceptor concentrations. A series of samples cut from a single GaN:Mg wafer, which initially had undergone rapid thermal annealing (RTA) after growth, has been investigated. The samples were annealed at various temperatures in nitrogen ambient for over 12 hours, and temperature-dependent Hall effect measurements were performed. For samples annealed at temperatures higher than 850 °C, the hole concentrations decrease by at least an order of magnitude, compared with the original sample. This behavior is explained by an Mg acceptor concentration in excess of its equilibrium solubility limit in the original sample; thus, at high enough temperatures, in the absence of hydrogen, Mg acceptors diffuse either to form electrically inactive precipitates or are eliminated. It is worth noting that the acceptor activation energy remains the same for all samples.
Grain boundary planes: New dimensions in the grain boundary character distribution

Abstract The five parameter grain boundary character distribution quantifies the relative areas of different types of grain boundaries, distinguished by their lattice misorientation and grain boundary plane orientation. The viewpoint presented in this paper is that this distribution is a sensitive metric of polycrystalline structure that can be related to macroscopic properties. To demonstrate the influence of the grain boundary character distribution on macroscopic properties, the stored elastic energy is calculated in model microstructures.
World production trends-edible fats and oils

In the past decade, production trended upwards at nearly a million tons a year. Below-trend growth in foreign production between 1968 and 1970 sparked sharp price rises in 1969 and 1970, which in turn stimulated a strong increase in foreign production in 1971 and 1972. This increase appears likely to continue in 1973, barring unfavorable weather. Continued expansion of production, however, could again lead to depressed prices and a subsequent diminution of growth, repeating the price and production cycle of the sixties.
C II* Absorption in Damped Lyα Systems. I. Star Formation Rates in a Two-Phase Medium

We describe a technique that for the first time measures star formation rates (SFRs) in damped Lyα systems (DLAs) directly. We assume that massive stars form in DLAs and that the far-ultraviolet (FUV) radiation they emit heats the gas by the grain photoelectric mechanism. We infer the heating rate by equating it to the cooling rate measured by the strength of C II* λ1335.7 absorption. Since the heating rate is proportional to the product of the dust-to-gas ratio, the grain photoelectric heating efficiency, and the SFR per unit area, , we can deduce for DLAs in which the cooling rate and dust-to-gas ratio have been measured. We consider models in which the dust consists of carbonaceous grains and silicate grains. We present two-phase models in which the cold neutral medium (CNM) and warm neutral medium (WNM) are in pressure equilibrium. In the CNM model the line of sight passes through CNM and WNM gas, while in the WNM model the line of sight passes only through WNM gas. Since the grain photoelectric heating efficiency is at least an order of magnitude higher in the CNM than in the WNM, most of the C II* absorption arises in the CNM in the CNM model. We use the measured C II* absorption lines to derive for a sample of ≈30 DLAs in which κ has been inferred from element depletion patterns. We show that the inferred corresponds to an average over the star-forming volume of the DLA rather than to local star formation along the line of sight. We obtain the average and show that = 10-2.2 M☉ yr-1 kpc-2 for the CNM solution and = 10-1.3 M☉ yr-1 kpc-2 for the WNM solution. Interestingly, the SFR per unit area in the CNM solution is similar to that measured in the Milky Way interstellar medium.
Infection in Acute Leukemia Patients Receiving Oral Nonabsorbable Antibiotics

During a 20-month period all acute nonlymphocytic patients (87 patient trials) receiving cytotoxic chemotherapy were placed on an oral nonabsorbable antibiotic regimen consisting of gentamicin, vancomycin, and nystatin in addition to an intensive program of infection prevention aimed at reducing exogenously acquired and body-surface potential pathogens. Although side effects of anorexia, diarrhea, and nausea were common, gentamicin-vancomycin-nystatin was ingested 80% of the study time. Microbial growth in gingival and rectal cultures was substantially reduced. The incidence of bacteremias and other serious infections was low. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, other gram-negative bacilli, and Candida species caused few infections along the alimentary canal, whereas infections of the skin (especially Staphylococcus aureus) were not reduced compared with those occurring in former years. A total of the 104 acquired gram-negative bacilli were gentamicin resistant; 5 subsequently caused infection. Thus, despite certain definite drawbacks, the use of oral nonabsorbable antibiotics to suppress alimentary tract microbial flora in combination with other infection prevention techniques in granulocytopenic cancer patients has proven feasible and tolerable and has been associated with a low order of life-threatening infections.
Jovian and Saturnian satellites

Theoretical and empirical models of the Jovian and Saturnian satellites are discussed, reviewing results published during the period 1983-1986. The emphasis is on analyses of Voyager and Pioneer data. Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto, and Titan are characterized in detail, and consideration is also given to the intermediate-sized Saturnian satellites, some of the smaller satellites, and the rings of Saturn.
Characterization of a transport system for anionic amino acids in human fibroblast lysosomes

L-Aspartate and L-glutamate are transported into human fibroblast lysosomes by a single, low Km, Na(+)-independent transport system, which has been provisionally named lysosomal system d. This system resembles the Na(+)-dependent plasma membrane system chi-AG, although these differences have been observed: (1) lysosomal system d recognizes the D- as well as the L-isomers of both aspartate and glutamate, whereas only for aspartate is the D-isomer recognized by system chi-AG; (2) the anion L-homocysteate is not accepted by system chi-AG, but is an effective inhibitor of lysosomal system d; (3) N-methyl, alpha-methyl, and omega-hydroxamate derivatives of both aspartate and glutamate inhibit lysosomal system d, but only the aspartate derivatives are accepted by system chi-AG; (4) lysosomal system d shows a preference for the substrate amino group in the alpha-position, a preference not seen for system chi-AG. These points imply differences at the two recognition sites with respect to substrate length, size, and rotation, with the lysosomal site generally being the less restrictive.
Medical radar considerations for detecting and monitoring Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease is a condition that causes inflammation and associated complications along any section of the digestive tract. Over the years, numerous radiological and endoscopic methods as well as the use of ultrasound have been developed to examine and diagnose inflammatory bowel disorders such as Crohn's disease. While such techniques have much merit, an alternative medical solution that is safe, non-invasive, and inexpensive is proposed in this paper. Reflections from electromagnetic signals transmitted by an ultra-wide band (UWB) radar allow for not only range (or extent) information but also spectral analysis of a given target of interest. Moreover, the radar cross-section (RCS) of an object measures how detectable the electromagnetic return energy of such an object is to the radar. In the preliminary phase of research, we investigate how disparities in the dielectric properties of diseased versus non-diseased portions of the intestines can aid in the detection of Crohn's disease. RCS analysis from finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method simulations using a simple 3D model of the intestines are presented. The ultimate goal of our research is to design a UWB radar system using a suitable waveform to detect and monitor Crohn's disease.
Electrochemical mechanism of ion-ionophore recognition at plasticized polymer membrane/water interfaces.

Here, we report on the first electrochemical study that reveals the kinetics and molecular level mechanism of heterogeneous ion–ionophore recognition at plasticized polymer membrane/water interface...
Mössbauer spectroscopy evidence for reductive loss of bromine from C 60 Br 24 in reactions of halogenated C 60 with ferrocene

Reactions of ferrocene (C5H5)2Fe with halogenated fullerenes C60X n for X=F, Cl, Br andn = 15–39) yield non-stoichiometric solids with intense singlet Mossbauer spectra characteristic of Cp2Fe+ (where Cp=C5H5). The material isolated from reaction of Cp2Fe with C60Br24 exhibits two different iron environments and magnetic ordering temperatures of ≈ 14 K and between 4.6 and 1.32 K. These data are seen to be consistent with loss of bromine from the fullerene and formation of ferricenium tetrahaloferrate salts.
Distal CO2 Coronary Artery Endarterectomy and Proximal Vein Bypass Graft

Abstract Distal carbon dioxide coronary gas endarterectomy with a proximal vein bypass graft provides immediate direct revascularization of the myocardium in patients whose blood vessels are diffusely or totally occluded and who are not amenable to standard vein bypass graft procedures. Evaluation of 15 patients revealed improved ventricular function with patent grafts in 14 and 1 late death. The advantages of this procedure over standard CO 2 gas endarterectomy are that a high-flow vein bypass graft replaces arteriotomy closure; the left coronary system, either the anterior descending or circumflex coronary artery, can be revascularized with this technique without jeopardizing the other vessel; blind aortic inflow endarterectomy is avoided; and competitive flow is decreased because the proximal obstruction is not removed.
A limit on the energy transfer rate from the human fat store in hypophagia

A limit on the maximum energy transfer rate from the human fat store in hypophagia is deduced from experimental data of underfed subjects maintaining moderate activity levels and is found to have a value of (290+/-25) kJ/kgd. A dietary restriction which exceeds the limited capability of the fat store to compensate for the energy deficiency results in an immediate decrease in the fat free mass (FFM). In cases of a less severe dietary deficiency, the FFM will not be depleted. The transition between these two dietary regions is developed and a criterion to distinguish the regions is defined. An exact mathematical solution for the decrease of the FFM is derived for the case where the fat mass (FM) is in its limited energy transfer mode. The solution shows a steady-state term which is in agreement with conventional ideas, a term indicating a slow decrease of much of the FFM moderated by the limited energy transferred from the fat store, and a final term showing an unprotected rapid decrease of the remaining part of the FFM. The average resting metabolic rate of subjects undergoing hypophagia is shown to decrease linearly as a function of the FFM with a slope of (249+/-25) kJ/kgd. This value disagrees with the results of other observers who have measured metabolic rates of diverse groups. The disagreement is explained in terms of individual metabolic properties as opposed to those of the larger population.
Electrochemically Induced Release of DNA from Gold Ultramicroelectrodes

Cathodic desorption is used for inducing the release of single and double-stranded DNA layers from gold microelectrodes (12.5 μm radius). The desorption behavior has been characterized by electrochemical quartz microbalance (EQCM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and cyclic voltammetry (CV) “blocking” experiments. These studies indicate an effective removal of the assembled nucleic acids from the surface to solutions of physiological pH and shed useful insights into the confinement of relatively long (350bp) segments of dsDNA on gold surfaces. The effect of various parameters influencing the release of the attached DNA, including the desorption potential and time, has been examined, with 2−5 min at −1.30 V (vs Ag/AgCl) sufficient for a complete removal. The time scale for the desorption of nucleic acids is shorter than that of alkanethiol monolayers. Such an on-demand electrochemical release of DNA holds great promise for delivering small amounts of the genetic material to specific locations at ap...
Modeling of heat capacities of metals

Abstract Modeling methods are developed here to obtain a generalized approach across the periodic table for calculating Cp for the metallic elements. A Debye model is used for the harmonic lattice vibration contributions with the Debye temperature given by an expression of the form θ D = θ 0 [1 − exp ( −C 0 T ) + exp ( −C ∞ T )] . Expressions are also developed to describe the temperature dependent behavior of the dilatation and electronic contributions to Cp. The average deviation between calculation and experiment is found to be ± 1.6% for Cp.298 and ± 1.0% for derived values of S°298.
Length-normalized pulse photoplethysmography: a noninvasive method to measure blood hemoglobin.

To determine whether blood hemoglobin concentration ([Hb]) could be measured noninvasively as the ratio of pulsatile changes in attenuation (absorbance plus scatter) of light (D) across a body part to changes in light path length (l), we measured transmission of near-infrared light (905±10 nm) through a finger, using a modified pulse oximeter, and simultaneously monitored fingertip diameter, using a sonomicrometer. In 25 subjects with [Hb] ranging from 3.1 to 18.2 gm/dl, and with normal oxygenation, average D/l ratio over 30–60 s correlated strongly with [Hb] measured by Coulter counter (r=0.84, p≪0.001), though with considerable scatter, with absolute value of differences averaging 17% of the mean. Using 12 gm/dl and 0.75 mm-1 as the lower limits of normal for [Hb] and D/l, respectively, two of nine normals had low (D/l) (78% specificity), and only one of 16 anemic subjects had borderline normal (D/l) (94%–100% sensitivity). The positive predictive value of a low (D/l) was 88% and the negative predictive value was 87.5%. With further development, this technique may reduce the need for phlebotomy, thereby reducing risks and costs and improving the experience of being a patient. © 2002 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC2002: 8763Lk, 8714Ee
Determination of δ-aminolevulinic acid in plasma

Abstract A method for determination of ALA in plasma is reported. The procedure is adapted from the ion-exchange resin chromatography procedure of Mauzerall and Granick (2) for determination of ALA in urine. Normal fasting children and fasted patients with symptomatic lead intoxication and acute intermittent porphyria were studied. The mean normal value found in healthy subjects is 0.056 μg/ml. This method is best suited to the study of acutely ill patients in whom the concentration of ALA in plasma is increased by 4- to 40-fold.
A conversation with Gerald L. Barkdoll

Interviewees should be persons who are important stakeholders for evaluations and those with views of general interest to practicing evaluators. Interviewers and interviewees may be one person or several; for example, one person may interview one individual or a panel of individuals, a panel of interviewers may interview one or more interviewees, and so forth. Douglas L. Sporn of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is coordinating the interview section of Evaluation Practice.
Global analysis of genetic, epigenetic and transcriptional polymorphisms in Arabidopsis thaliana using whole genome tiling arrays.

Whole genome tiling arrays provide a high resolution platform for profiling of genetic, epigenetic, and gene expression polymorphisms. In this study we surveyed natural genomic variation in cytosine methylation among Arabidopsis thaliana wild accessions Columbia (Col) and Vancouver (Van) by comparing hybridization intensity difference between genomic DNA digested with either methylation-sensitive (HpaII) or -insensitive (MspI) restriction enzyme. Single Feature Polymorphisms (SFPs) were assayed on a full set of 1,683,620 unique features of Arabidopsis Tiling Array 1.0F (Affymetrix), while constitutive and polymorphic CG methylation were assayed on a subset of 54,519 features, which contain a 5′CCGG3′ restriction site. 138,552 SFPs (1% FDR) were identified across enzyme treatments, which preferentially accumulated in pericentromeric regions. Our study also demonstrates that at least 8% of all analyzed CCGG sites were constitutively methylated across the two strains, while about 10% of all analyzed CCGG sites were differentially methylated between the two strains. Within euchromatin arms, both constitutive and polymorphic CG methylation accumulated in central regions of genes but under-represented toward the 5′ and 3′ ends of the coding sequences. Nevertheless, polymorphic methylation occurred much more frequently in gene ends than constitutive methylation. Inheritance of methylation polymorphisms in reciprocal F1 hybrids was predominantly additive, with F1 plants generally showing levels of methylation intermediate between the parents. By comparing gene expression profiles, using matched tissue samples, we found that magnitude of methylation polymorphism immediately upstream or downstream of the gene was inversely correlated with the degree of expression variation for that gene. In contrast, methylation polymorphism within genic region showed weak positive correlation with expression variation. Our results demonstrated extensive genetic and epigenetic polymorphisms between Arabidopsis accessions and suggested a possible relationship between natural CG methylation variation and gene expression variation.
Disturbance of feedback controllers

THE FUNCTION of many industrial regulating systems is to hold some process quantity reasonably constant in the face of a diversity of disturbances which would otherwise cause that quantity to vary with time in an unacceptable manner. While such systems operate by developing corrective measures which are of opposite sign to the errors in the regulated quantity, the reference quantity, which is usually thought of as the standard of comparison, frequently does not appear explicitly.
Inhibitio of Na transport by prostacyclin (PGI2) in rabbit cortical collecting tubule

The effects of prostacyclin (PGI2) on transepithelial potential difference (PD) and sodium transport were examined in rabbit cortical collecting tubules (CCT) perfused in vitro. Addition of PGI2 (10-6M) to the bathing medium, which was bubbled with 95% O2 - 5% CO2, caused a reversible decrease in PD averaging 49 +/- 9.4(SE)%. Maximal effect was evident between 5-10 min. after addition of PGI2 and PD returned spontaneously towards control values within 30 min., corresponding to the rapid degradation of PGI2. In a more alkaline bathing solution achieved by bubbling with 100% O2, in which the degradation of PGI2 is known to be delayed markedly, the decrease in PD by PGI2 was continuous and dose-dependent, with half-maximal and maximal effects achieved at 10-7M and 10-5M, respectively. Neither 10-8M PGI2 nor vehicle alone exerted significant effects on PD. 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (10-5M), believed to be the major metabolite of PGI2, had no effect on PD. Lumen-to-bath flux of Na decreased with PGI2 from 9.0 to 5.6 pEq/cm/sec (n=4, p less than 0.005), although bath-to-lumen flux did not change significantly. In summary, PGI2 caused a dose-dependent decrease in PD of rabbit CCT and inhibited Na absorption in this segment in vitro. These results suggest that PGI2 may play as important role in regulating Na transport in CCT.
Six additional systematic lateral cores enhance sextant biopsy prediction of pathological features at radical prostatectomy

Purpose: We evaluated the contribution of 6 additional systematically obtained, laterally directed biopsy cores to traditional sextant biopsy for the prediction of final pathological findings in the radical prostatectomy specimen. Materials and Methods: We studied 178 consecutive patients with no history of prostate biopsy in whom prostate cancer was diagnosed during an initial systematic 12 core biopsy and who subsequently underwent radical prostatectomy. Of the systematic 12 cores we compared the subset of the 6 traditional sextant cores (S6C), the set of 6 laterally directed cores (L6C) and the complete 12 core set, which included the 6 traditional sextant and the 6 laterally directed cores. Biopsy Gleason score, number of positive cores, total cancer length and percent of tumor in the biopsy sets were examined for their ability to predict extracapsular extension, total tumor volume and pathological Gleason score. Results: On univariable analyses the biopsy parameters of the complete 12 core set correlated more strongly with extracapsular extension and total tumor volume than the biopsy parameters of S6C or L6C. On multivariable analyses S6C and L6C were independent predictors of pathological features at prostatectomy. Conclusions: The addition of 6 systematically obtained, laterally directed cores to traditional sextant biopsy improved the ability to predict pathological features at prostatectomy by a statistically and prognostically significant margin. Preoperative nomograms that use data from a full complement of 12 systematic cores, specifying sextant and laterally directed biopsy cores, should demonstrate improved performance in predicting prostatectomy pathology.
Baryon Masses in a Relativistic Quark-Diquark Model

Masses of ground-state spin-$\frac{3}{2}$ baryons are calculated in a relativistic quark-diquark model with a potential motivated by QCD. The parameters of the model are determined by fitting vector-meson masses, and so the calculation for baryons contains no free parameters. Results are in rather good agreement with experiment. Moreover, starting from dynamical quark masses close to the so-called current masses, effective quark masses are obtained in the right range to be identified with constituent masses.
Heart transplantation in infancy

The first year of life is the time of greatest hazard for infants with congenital cardiac defects. Surgical techniques have allowed for survival in many infants with lethal cardiovascular anomalies. Yet as many as 10% of all congenital cardiac abnormalities are so extensive that physiologic repair is impossible or associated with a prohibitively high mortality rate.’ The incidence of congenital heart disease in the United States is 1% of all live births. With an annual birth rate of at least 3 million, >3,OOO infants are born in this country each year with lethal defects that could be treated by heart transplantation. Palliative operations prevent deaths in some of these unstable infants, but even in these infants a mortality rate as high as 50% occurs during the first year of life.2 Furthermore, an incremental increase in risk is associated with the palliative procedure itself. Although successful palliation can often prolong life, it usually requires additional operations at older ages, which in many cases are associated with a high mortality.3 The age at which humans acquire immune competence is not established. Several studies have documented immunologic immaturity at birth and in early infancy. 4-6 The greatest risks for patients . with heart transplantation are rejection and infec-
A Note on Food Stamp Reform

In a recent paper, the food stamp voucher scheme was extensively analyzed in the framework of Pareto optimal redistribution (Giertz and Sullivan). This note employs a part of that analysis to compare the current scheme to one aspect of the Dole-Mc Govern "reform" proposal. The present scheme sells a fixed quantity of food stamps to each recipient for a cost less than their face value.' The difference between the cost of the stamps and their face value is called the "bonus value" and is, in addition to any administrative expenses, the donors' cost. Figure 1 illustrates this situation on the recipient's indifference map (see Olsen). The horizontal axis measures food (F) and the vertical axis nonfood (Y), so that the slope of the budget line before subsidy (Y'F') is -PF, the relative price of food. The recipient is then offered the alternative of purchasing F* food stamps, F* being determined by family size, at a cost M*, approximately 30% of income net of several deductions.2 The recipient's feasible consumption set is then bounded by Y'bcd, where the line segment F*c is of length Y' M*, and the "bonus value" measured in terms of food is the length of the line segment ac. In the Dole-McGovern proposal, the "bonus value" worth of stamps is given to recipients free. In figure 1 this generates the feasible consumption set bounded by Y'ed, containing point c. There are three possible outcomes. Outcome 1, illustrated by indifference curve U1, is that the recipient optimizes by choosing a point between c and d, regardless of the scheme. Outcome 2, illustrated by U2 and U'2, is that the recipient chooses point c under the present scheme and some point along ec under the Dole-McGovern scheme. Outcome 3, illustrated by U3 and U'3, is that the recipient chooses a point along Y'b under the present program (i.e., refuses to participate) and some point along ec (quite possibly e) under the DoleMc Govern scheme. Comparison of these outcomes serves to compare the welfare results of the schemes.
The use of the wittig reaction in the modification of purine nucleosides

The Pfitzner-Moffatt oxidation of 6-chloro-9-(2,3-O-isopropylidene-β-D-ribofuranosyl)purine, 9-(2,3-O-isopropylidene-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-6-(methylthio)purine, and 2′,3′-O-isopropylideneadenosine gave the corresponding 5′-aldehydes (3, 13, and 4), which were allowed to react with a number of Wittig ylids. The resulting olefins, primarily trans, were reduced either catalytically or with diimide before removal of the 2′,3′-O-isopropylidene groups to give the desired 5′-substituted purine ribonucleosides.
Search for Neutral-Weak-Current Effects in the Nucleus F 18

The circular polarization of the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays from the 1.08\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0.0 MeV transition of $^{18}\mathrm{F}$ has been measured to be (-0.7 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 2.0) \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$, a value significantly smaller than predicted by recent calculations which include the effects of neutral weak currents.
A Comparison of the Standard 12-Lead Electrocardiogram to Exercise Electrode Placements

In order to determine the effect of electrode placement and standing on the 12-lead electrocardiogram required prior to exercise testing, 104 male patients with stable coronary heart disease were studied. Electrocardiograms were recorded with two different placements of the arm electrodes commonly used for exercise testing with the patient supine and standing. These were compared to a standard ECG with the electrodes placed at the wrists and ankles with the patient supine. The four ECGs gathered on each patient were analyzed using standard visual techniques for diagnostic changes and using a computer for analysis of axis, amplitudes, and durations. There were important differences between the standard 12-lead ECG and the ECGs gathered with the pre-exercise test modifications. These differences were minimized by placing the arm electrodes as close to the shoulders as possible and by recording the ECG with the patient supine.
Section 1031 Like-Kind Exchanges: Review of the Past and Proposal for the Future

ABSTRACT: Congress created the tax-free exchange of like-kind property over 90 years ago and has since made several revisions to the law to prevent tax abuse and limit its application. However, the like-kind exchange rules, now governed by Section 1031, are expanding over time. In this article, we review the legislative history of Section 1031 and recently proposed changes to the law. In line with recent proposals, we recommend that Congress eliminate the special tax treatment granted to like-kind exchanges. However, in the event that Congress is unable or unwilling to make such a change, we also offer policy suggestions to limit current abuses of the like-kind provision relating to exchanges of investment property, the use of qualified intermediaries in non-simultaneous exchanges, and exchanges involving dual-use property.
Numerical simulation of ceramic breeder pebble bed thermal creep behavior

The evolution of ceramic breeder pebble bed thermal creep deformation subjected to an external load and a differential thermal stress was studied using a modified discrete numerical code previously developed for the pebble bed thermomechanical evaluation. The rate change of creep deformation was modeled at the particle contact based on a diffusion creep mechanism. Numerical results of strain histories have shown lower values as compared to those of experimentally observed data at 740 °C using an activation energy of 180 kJ/mol. Calculations also show that, at this activation energy level, a particle bed at an elevated temperature of 800 °C may cause too much particle overlapping with a contact radius growth beyond 0.65 radius at a later time, when it is subjected to an external load of 6.3 MPa. Thus, by tracking the stress histories inside a breeder pebble bed the numerical simulation provides an indication of whether the bed may encounter an undesired condition under a typical operating condition.
COCKROACH HEART RESPONSE TO CARDIO‐ACCELERATORS*

Stimulation of the segmental nerve bundle of the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana caused a short increase in heartbeat rate of the isolated heart. The amount of rate increase was related sigmoidally to the stimulation frequency. Very low frequency stimulation of the segmental bundle caused initial slowing of the heartbeat rate. The cardio-accelerating property of cockroach blood and of lateral cardiac nerve cord extracts could not be compared with in vitro stimulation of the segmental nerve. The blood factor was heat-stable, dialyzable and did not withstand ashing. The factor was not a simple ion imbalance, and acted both on the cardiac neurons and the denervated myocardium by causing an increase in activity. The effect of the blood factor could be reproduced by assay of low concentrations of a molecule with calcium-chelating properties. Since the cardio-acceleration had no specific site of action, and its effects could be reproduced by molecules with calcium-chelating abilities, the so-called cardio-excitatory factors were considered artifacts until their actions are more clearly defined in vivo. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG REAKTIONEN DES SCHABENHERZENS AUF HERZBESCHLEUNIGER Das isolierte Herz von Periplaneta americana reagiert auf Segmentalnervenreize mit Anstieg der Herzschlagfrequenz. Die Pulszunahme ist sigmoidal von der Stimulationsfrequenz abhangig. Blut- und Herzseitennerven-Extrakte, die eine Erhohung des Pulsschlags des isolierten Herzens verursachen, wirkten nachweislich durch Verstarkung der Aktivitat der Herzneurone und durch direkten Einflus auf das denervierte Myocard. Zwischen Stimulation und den extrahierten herzanregenden Faktoren wurden keine Beziehungen gefunden. Der Blutfaktor war hitzestabil, dialysierbar und gegenuber den ublichen chromatographischen Verfahren bestandig. Da die Herzbeschleunigung keinen spezifischen Wirkungsort hat und ihre Wirkungen durch Molekule mit Calcium-chelierenden Eigenschaften hervorgerufen werden konnten, waren die sogenannten herzerregenden Faktoren als Artefakte zu betrachten, bis ihre Wirkungen klarer in vivo definiert werden konnen.
Particle-scale reversibility in athermal particulate media below jamming.

We perform numerical simulations of repulsive, frictionless athermal disks in two and three spatial dimensions undergoing cyclic quasistatic simple shear to investigate particle-scale reversible motion. We identify three classes of steady-state dynamics as a function of packing fraction $\ensuremath{\phi}$ and maximum strain amplitude per cycle ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathrm{max}}$. Point-reversible states, where particles do not collide and exactly retrace their intracycle trajectories, occur at low $\ensuremath{\phi}$ and ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathrm{max}}$. Particles in loop-reversible states undergo numerous collisions and execute complex trajectories but return to their initial positions at the end of each cycle. For sufficiently large $\ensuremath{\phi}$ and ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathrm{max}}$, systems display irreversible dynamics with nonzero self-diffusion. Loop-reversible dynamics enables the reliable preparation of configurations with specified structural and mechanical properties over a broad range of $\ensuremath{\phi}$.
An information addition technique for indoor self-localization systems using SS ultrasonic waves

In this paper, we propose an information addition technique for a 3-D indoor positioning system using spread spectrum (SS) ultrasonic waves, and evaluate its effectiveness. The system can position a target with high resolution, noise tolerance, and an ability of implementing CDMA by SS code using a limited number of transmitting channels. An M-sequence is employed as the SS ultrasonic code. Our aim is a positioning system for self-localization of people and robots; the location of a receiver installed on a target can be measured with SS signals from transmitters mounted in the positioning area. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed technique, an experiment to measure the distance from transmitter to receiver was conducted with the original hardware used with this technique. In this experiment, 4-bit information in a period of the M-sequence, generated by an 8-bit shift register, was applied. The result showed that the distance from transmitter to receiver and the added information can be detected at the same time. This experiment demonstrated the effectiveness of the information addition technique for SS ultrasonic waves.
Progress towards elucidating the structure-function relationships of a natural nanoscale photonic device in cuttlefish chromatophores

The adaptive coloration observed in cuttlefish Sepia officinalis skin is facilitated in part by properties of pigmented chromatophores that have not been previously reported. We found that chromatophore coloration is enabled by a tethering system that distributes layered pigment granules, comprised of fluorescent nanostructures, to optimize color intensity as the chromatophores are actuated. The design features gleaned from these studies provide intriguing insights into the development of artificial photonic systems useful for products ranging from conformable, high-definition color displays to optical fabrics capable of adapting their coloration within an ambient environment.