cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Two to Tango: Dialog between Immunity and Stem Cells in Health and Disease.

Stem cells regenerate tissues in homeostasis and under stress. By taking cues from their microenvironment or “niche,” they smoothly transition between these states. Immune cells have surfaced as prominent members of stem cell niches across the body. Here, we draw parallels between different stem cell niches to explore the context-specific interactions that stem cells have with tissue-resident and recruited immune cells. We also highlight stem cells’ innate ability to sense and respond to stress and the enduring memory that forms from such encounters. This fascinating crosstalk holds great promise for novel therapies in inflammatory diseases and regenerative medicine.
Perioperative Adverse Events in Women Undergoing Concurrent Hemorrhoidectomy at the Time of Urogynecologic Surgery.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to describe the incidence and trends of outcomes after concurrent surgeries for symptomatic hemorrhoids and pelvic floor disorders. METHODS This was a retrospective matched cohort study. Women who underwent concurrent vaginal urogynecologic and hemorrhoid surgery between 2007 and 2017 were identified by their surgical codes and matched to a cohort of women who underwent vaginal urogynecologic surgery only. The medical record was queried for demographic and perioperative data. RESULTS Thirty-three subjects met the inclusion criteria; 198 subjects were matched accordingly (N = 231). Mean age and body mass index were 57 ± 12 years and 28.9 ± 5.6 kg/m, respectively. Subjects who underwent concurrent hemorrhoidectomy were more likely to have had previous prolapse surgery (27.3% vs 15.2%, P = 0.09) and preoperative fecal incontinence (27.3% vs 13.6%, P = 0.05). Concurrent cases were more likely to have unplanned office visits (27.2% vs 12.6%, P = 0.03) and phone calls (range, 1-7 vs 0-10; P = 0.001), mostly for pain complaints. Reoperation was higher in combined cases (3% vs 0%, P = 0.01); however, the overall rate of serious perioperative adverse events was low and not different between groups. Concurrent cases were more likely to be discharged home with a Foley (42.4% vs 18.2%, P = 0.002) and to have a postoperative urinary tract infection (33.3% vs 10.6%, P = 0.005). In the concurrent group, 33.3% of the patients experienced severe rectal pain. CONCLUSIONS Patients undergoing concurrent hemorrhoidectomy at the time of vaginal urogynecologic surgery are at higher risk of minor events such as postoperative urinary tract infection and need for discharge home with a Foley, as well as risk of pain that may be greater than urogynecologic surgery alone.
Sydney’s Iberoamerican Plaza and the Limits of Multiculturalism

Since the 1970s, immigration has been one of the primary means of understanding connections between Australia and a variety of Latin American nations. However, when compared to the number of Asian migrants arriving in Australia in the same period, Latin Americans are often overlooked. Instead, they are contextualized as part of Australia’s turn toward multiculturalism that was first officially sanctioned by Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. Using Sydney’s Iberoamerican Plaza as a case study, this chapter considers the conceptual limits to multicultural representation in late twentieth-century Australia. Specifically, the chapter demonstrates how the construction, maintenance, and legacy of the plaza were very much affected by a general lack of understanding among Sydney city officials about Latin American, Spanish, and Portuguese cultures and traditions (and the distinctions between them). It also demonstrates that attempting to include a large number of stakeholders as well as shifts in government policy often hampers multiculturalist efforts of this sort.
Kooperative Dienstleistungsentwicklung im Gesundheitswesen : die Umsetzung des Health-Value-Chain-Ansatzes

Nach der Darstellung der Herausforderungen der kooperativen Leistungserstellung im Gesundheitswesen, wird das Konzept der Health-Value-Chain aufgezeigt. Anschliessend wird ein Reifegradmodell dargestellt, mit dem der Stand der Umsetzung eingeordnet werden kann. Es folgt die Darstellung intra- und interorganisationaler Erfolgsfaktoren, die als notwendige Voraussetzungen fur eine intensivere Kooperation gelten. Dazu wird auf das KWD-Modell (Konnen, Wollen, Durfen) eingegangen. Abgerundet wird der Beitrag mit der Darstellung einer eigenen Fallstudie und einer Einschatzung, inwieweit die dargestellten Konzepte in andere Dienstleistungsbranchen ubertragbar sind.
Epidemiology, Comorbidities, and Outcomes of Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome in Children in the United States.

Abstract Background Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is an increasingly recognized entity with certain identified predisposing factors in children. However, the actual incidence, comorbidities, outcomes, and hospitalization charges among children (aged less than 20 years) in the United States are largely unknown. Methods We analyzed the Kids' Inpatient Database for incidence of PRES-related hospitalizations, associated diagnoses, in-hospital outcomes, and charges for children in the United States in 2016. We report demographics, risk factors, discharge status, mortality, length of stay, and hospitalization charges. Results In 2016, 825 pediatric hospitalizations related to PRES were captured in the Kids' Inpatient Database. Hospital discharges including solid organ transplant, bone marrow transplant, hypertension, renal disorder, primary immunodeficiency, malignancy, sepsis, severe sepsis, systemic connective tissue disorder, blood transfusion, hypomagnesemia, and sickle cell anemia were queried for presence of PRES. The majority of patients were discharged home. We found that PRES-related hospitalizations were significantly associated with increased length of stay and hospitalization charges in 2016 (P Conclusion PRES accounted for 0.04% of the hospitalizations in this database. Hypertension and the presence of a renal disorder are the most significant risk factors found to be associated with PRES. The presence of PRES was associated with a significant increase in hospitalization charges and increased length of stay.
Partial Distal Biceps Tendon Tears: Surgical Release and Primary Repair

Athletes place an elevated demand on their biceps during and in preparation of competition. The biceps contribution to flexion and supination strength increases as the forearm approaches higher degrees of rotation. Maximum biceps function is required for strength training, contact sports, as well as racket/club sports. Whether completing a tackle, swinging a club, or getting extra movement on a curve ball, a biceps deficit arm can considerably hinder performance. Improved understanding of native anatomy and advances in surgical technique allows us to successfully treat our patients and get them back in the game. This chapter will cover primary surgical repair of partial biceps ruptures in athletes.
Diseases of Pomegranate (Punica granatum) in Florida

Pomegranate production is becoming increasingly popular in the Southeast. Florida’s humid subtropical to tropical climate is favorable for not only pomegranate tree establishment, but also several diseases. This new 5-page publication of the UF/IFAS Plant Pathology Department, written by Katia V. Xavier, Achala N. KC, and Gary E. Vallad, describes the various diseases affecting pomegranate in Florida and provides some management recommendations. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp349
Annals On Call - Striving to Decrease Hospital Infection

In this episode of Annals On Call, Dr. Centor discusses the prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infection in hospitalized patients with Dr. Jennifer Meddings from the University of Mich...
Precision medicine approach to dialysis including incremental and decremental dialysis regimens.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Conventional standardization of haemodialysis for treatment of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is predicated upon the fixed construct of one disease stage and one patient category. Increasingly recognized are subgroups of patients for whom less-intensive haemodialysis, such as incremental or decremental haemodialysis, could be employed. RECENT FINDINGS Almost 30% of patients with incident ESKD have clinical and residual kidney function (RFK) parameters that could accommodate less-intensive haemodialysis. In one study, patients with incident ESKD and substantial RKF treated with low-dose haemodialysis had similar mortality rate as those treated with standard-dose haemodialysis, adding to the evidence that endogenous kidney function -- when present -- can complement less-intensive haemodialysis schedules. Hazards related to incremental haemodialysis include insidious development of fluid overload and higher rates of fluid removal. Finally, deintensification of haemodialysis treatment could be employed in patients with ESKD who seek conservative care. SUMMARY A shift in approach to ESKD from a dichotomous frame -- disease presence versus absence -- to stages of dialysis-dependent kidney disease, each stage associated with attuned haemodialysis intensity, has been proposed. Haemodialysis standardization and personalization -- often considered mutually exclusive -- can be combined in incremental haemodialysis. Data from ongoing and future randomized clinical trials, comparing less-intensive with standard haemodialysis schedules, are required to change practice.
A conserved allosteric element controls specificity and activity of functionally divergent PP2C phosphatases from Bacillus subtilis.

Reversible phosphorylation relies on highly regulated kinases and phosphatases that target specific substrates to control diverse cellular processes. Here, we address how protein phosphatase activity is directed to the correct substrates under the correct conditions. The serine/threonine phosphatase SpoIIE from Bacillus subtilis, a member of the widespread protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C) family of phosphatases, is activated by movement of a conserved α-helical element in the phosphatase domain to create the binding site for the metal cofactor. We hypothesized that this conformational switch could provide a general mechanism for control of diverse members of the PP2C family of phosphatases. The B. subtilis phosphatase RsbU responds to different signals, acts on a different substrates, and produces a more graded response than SpoIIE. Using an unbiased genetic screen, we isolated mutants in the α-helical switch region of RsbU that are constitutively active, indicating conservation of the switch mechanism. Using phosphatase activity assays with phosphoprotein substrates, we found that both phosphatases integrate substrate recognition with activating signals to control metal-cofactor binding and substrate dephosphorylation. This integrated control provides a mechanism for PP2C family of phosphatases to produce specific responses by acting on the correct substrates, under the appropriate conditions.
In Situ Measurement of Ionic and Electronic Conductivities of Conductive Polymers as a Function of Electrochemical Doping in Battery Electrolytes

Conductive polymers are being studied increasingly as additives in lithium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, and other electrochemical devices due to their ability to conduct electrons and ions and s...
Application of Advanced Multi-Sensor Non-Destructive Testing System for the Evaluation of Pavements Affected by Transverse Crack-Heaving:

Pavement tenting, also referred to as crack-heaving, is a distress condition that primarily affects bituminous roads constructed in cold climates. This type of distress spreads over long stretches ...
Developmental thyroid disruption causes long-term impacts on immune cell function and transcriptional responses to pathogen in a small fish model.

Current evidence suggests thyroid hormones (THs) impact development of the immune system, but few studies have explored the connection between the thyroid and immune systems, especially in fish. This is important as some environmental contaminants disrupt TH homeostasis and may thus have negative impacts on the immune system. To determine the long-term consequences of early life stage (ELS) hypothyroidism on immune function, fathead minnows were exposed to the model thyroid hormone suppressant propylthiouracil (PTU) from < 1 to 30 days post hatch. Fish were transferred to clean water and raised to adulthood (5-7 months post hatch) at which time, several aspects of immune function were evaluated. Ex vivo assessment of immune cell function revealed significant decreases (1.2-fold) in the phagocytic cell activity of PTU-treated fish relative to the controls. Fish were also injected with Yersinia ruckeri to evaluate their in vivo immune responses across a suite of endpoints (i.e., transcriptomic analysis, leukocyte counts, spleen index, hematocrit, bacterial load and pathogen resistance). The transcriptomic response to infection was significantly different between control and PTU-treated fish, though no differences in bacterial load or pathogen resistance were noted. Overall, these results suggest that early life stage TH suppression causes long-term impacts on immune function at the molecular and cellular levels suggesting a key role for TH signaling in normal immune system development. This study lays the foundation for further exploration into thyroid-immune crosstalk in fish. This is noteworthy as disruption of the thyroid system during development, which can occur in response to chemicals present in the environment, may have lasting effects on immune function in adulthood.
The Geo-imaginaries of potential in Mexico's Burgos Basin

Abstract In this paper, we use the geo-imaginary analytic to show how actors utilized narratives of resource potential and speculative economic futures for the Burgos Basin in northeastern Mexico to affect a broader liberalization of the nation's hydrocarbon sector. Our research traces the history of the word “potential” as a discrete and repetitive rhetorical technique used variously to speculate on hydrocarbon production, economic development, regional energy development, and risks associated with the Burgos. We also identify an array of visualizations, what we refer to as ‘conjurings,’ used with narratives of potential to encourage investments in the Basin's development. These include: maps depicting Burgos geologic continuity with productive Texas fields, quantitative forecasts of growing production, visual depictions of private firms facilitating future production, and fracking as a necessary wedge to pry open the Burgos' unrealized potential. Finally, using governmentality, we link Burgos potentiality discourses to socio-political outcomes, including in the early 2000s, when the Basin was imagined as a way to counterbalance the skyrocketing costs of imported natural gas, continuing with the 2013–2014 Reforms, and into the post-Reform oil and gas conference spaces that facilitated financial investing opportunities. We also argue that the current administration leveraged anti-fracking discourse to reverse the liberalization of Mexico's hydrocarbon sector. By drawing together overlapping elements from scholarship into resources, speculation, and governmentality, and by parsing the ways that potential narratives and conjuring tools are deployed, this research contributes to ongoing debates in political geography around natural resources and the geopolitics of the subsurface.
La Capacidad de la Fe

In lieu of an abstract, below is the essay's first paragraph. "In the Fall semester of 2007 I studied abroad in Santiago, Chile. It was a big step to move to South America considering that my house is only fifteen minutes away from campus. I would like to say it was the easiest thing I have ever done, but at the beginning it was a terrifying experience. I remember getting on the plane and hyperventilating because I thought I wasn’t prepared. My mind was racing with questions like “How can I manage the language? Will I make friends? Are Chileans nice?” I remember getting on the plane about to leave my country for half a year and thinking “Maybe there is still time to change my mind.” Luckily I didn’t change my mind and went through with it. It was the best experience of my life! What finally calmed me down on that hot July night was some prayer. I started breathing slowly and reciting those good old “Our Fathers” and “Hail Marys” I had learned as a toddler. I amazingly felt myself being calmed and almost immediately fell asleep. I woke up in Santiago de Chile. This was perhaps my first religious experience while studying abroad. Little did I know that there would be many more to come that would further teach me what people could do with the power of faith." This alumni corner is available in Verbum: http://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/verbum/vol5/iss2/16
C11H2 Hydrocarbons—I

Abstract Cyclooctatetraene dianion was condensed with 1,3-dichloro-2-tetrahydropyranyloxypropane to afford tricyclic ether 8a, which was converted in three steps to the C11H12 hydrocarbon 4a. The latter fragments readily to benzene and cyclopentadiene upon thermolysis and upon direct or sensitized photolysis. The dianion reacted with 1,2,3-trichloropropane in a surprising way to afford the cyclobutane derivative 13.
Assistant District Attorney decision making when referring to drug treatment court.

Background Contact with the criminal justice system represents a critical point for drug involved offenders to access treatment and prevention services. Treatment and service provision under community supervision are known to be more likely than incarceration to affect positive change in terms of reduced substance use, reduced HIV risk behaviors, and increments in community reintegration. The decision-making process by Assistant District Attorneys (ADAs), frequent primary gate-keepers of jail diversion programming, when referring to diversion programs (as opposed to traditional adjudication) is poorly understood. Objective To contribute to literature regarding the optimization of jail diversion referral practice, the current study sought to investigate what influences such decisions by Dane County ADAs. Methods We surveyed 24 ADAs and received 19 completed questionnaires. Results ADA decision making was in agreement with existing literature regarding offender factors associated with drug court completion, including social factors, criminal history, and primary substance used. ADA beliefs conflicted with current literature regarding drug treatment facilitating reductions in criminal behavior. Conclusion Additional research is needed to further assess the decision-making process by primary diversion program gatekeepers. Scientfic Significance Dissemination of relevant findings to prosecutors will facilitate optimization of referral to therapeutic jurisprudence programming and the matching of offenders to services. (Am J Addict 2013;22:381–387)
A Fatal Interaction of Methocarbamol and Ethanol in an Accidental Poisoning

A case is presented of a fatal drug interaction caused by ingestion of methocarbamol (Robaxin) and ethanol. Methocarbamol is a carbamate derivative used as a muscle relaxant with sedative effects. Therapeutic concentrations of methocarbamol are reported to be 24 to 41 micrograms/mL. Biological fluids were screened for ethanol using the Abbott TDx system and quantitated by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC). Determination of methocarbamol concentrations in biological tissue homogenates and fluids were obtained by colorimetric analysis of diazotized methocarbamol. Blood ethanol concentration was 135 mg/dL (0.135% w/v) and urine ethanol was 249 mg/dL (0.249% w/v). Methocarbamol concentrations were: blood, 257 micrograms/mL; bile, 927 micrograms/L; urine, 255 micrograms/L; gastric, 3.7 g; liver, 459 micrograms/g; and kidney, 83 micrograms/g. The combination of ethanol and carbamates is contraindicated since acute alcohol intoxication combined with carbamate usage can lead to combined central nervous system depression as a result of the interactive sedative-hypnotic properties of the compounds.
From memory to problem solving: mechanism reuse in a graphical cognitive architecture

This article describes the extension of a memory architecture that is implemented via graphical models to include core aspects of problem solving. By extensive reuse of the general graphical mechanisms originally developed to support memory, this demonstrates how a theoretically elegant implementation level can enable increasingly broad architectures without compromising overall simplicity and uniformity. In the process, it bolsters the potential of such an approach for developing the more complete architectures that will ultimately be necessary to support autonomous general intelligence.
Whole-Exome Sequencing of 10 Scientists: Evaluation of the Process and Outcomes.

Abstract Objective To understand motivations, educational needs, and concerns of individuals contemplating whole-exome sequencing (WES) and determine what amount of genetic information might be obtained by sequencing a generally healthy cohort so as to more effectively counsel future patients. Patients and Methods From 2012 to 2014, 40 medically educated, generally healthy scientists at Mayo Clinic were invited to have WES conducted on a research basis; 26 agreed to be in a drawing from which 10 participants were selected. The study involved pre- and posttest genetic counseling and completion of 4 surveys related to the experience and outcomes. Whole-exome sequencing was conducted on DNA from blood from each person. Results Most variants (76,305 per person; range, 74,505-77,387) were known benign allelic variants, variants in genes of unknown function, or variants of uncertain significance in genes of known function. The results of suspected pathogenic/pathogenic variants in Mendelian disorders and pharmacogenomic variants were disclosed. The mean number of suspected pathogenic/pathogenic variants was 2.2 per person (range, 1-4). Four pharmacogenomic genes were included for reporting; variants were found in 9 of 10 participants. Conclusion This study provides data that may be useful in establishing reality-based patient expectations, outlines specific points to cover during counseling, and increases confidence in the feasibility of providing adequate preparation and counseling for WES in generally healthy individuals.
Three- and four-photon absorption in InAs

Summary form only given. Two-photon absorption in solids is well known and an extensively characterized nonlinear optical process. Higher order multi-photon absorption has received comparatively little study because most materials are damaged before entering this regime. In a series of experiments using 1 W ps CO/sub 2/ laser pulses, we identified conditions for three- and four-photon absorption in samples of bulk InAs.
The Effect of Birth Order on Occupational Choice

Research suggests that birth order has a profound influence on personality development, but there has been little research investigating the effect of birth order on a person’s occupational choice. A number of psychologists, including Frank Sulloway and Reid Claxton, argue that first-borns are more likely to become managers because their order in the family trains them in managerial and leadership skills. In contrast, several economists, such as Gary Becker, argue that first-borns are often economically successful because they receive more resources from their parents than other children. This occurs both because they tend to have fewer siblings and because they receive their parents’ unshared attention before their younger siblings are born. Using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY) of 1979, we investigate which of these models best accords with the data. We find that first-borns are indeed more likely to select managerial positions than later-borns, but that this effect is due to first-borns having, on average, fewer siblings than others, not to being first-born per se. Further, we find the effect of family size is strongest among lower-income families, lending support to Becker’s hypothesis.
Gene expression normalization in a dual-compartment system: a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction protocol for symbiotic anthozoans.

Traditional real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction protocols cannot be used accurately with symbiotic organisms unless the relative contribution of each symbiotic compartment to the total nucleic acid pool is known. A modified ‘universal reference gene’ protocol was created for reef-building corals and sea anemones, anthozoans that harbour endosymbiotic dinoflagellates belonging to the genus Symbiodinium. Gene expression values are first normalized to an RNA spike and then to a symbiont molecular proxy that represents the number of Symbiodinium cells extracted and present in the RNA. The latter is quantified using the number of genome copies of heat shock protein-70 (HSP70) amplified in the real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Gene expression values are then normalized to the total concentration of RNA to account for differences in the amount of live tissue extracted among experimental treatments and replicates. The molecular quantification of symbiont cells and effect of increasing symbiont contributions to the nucleic acid pool on gene expression were tested in vivo using differentially infected sea anemones Aiptasia pulchella. This protocol has broad application to researchers who seek to measure gene expression in mixed organism assemblages.
Covariate-adjusted cost–effectiveness ratios

Abstract We describe a method for estimating the marginal cost–effectiveness ratio (CER) of two competing treatments or intervention strategies after adjusting for covariates that may influence the primary endpoint of survival. A Cox regression model is used for modeling covariates and estimates of both the cost and effectiveness parameters, which depend on the survival curve, are obtained from the estimated survival functions for each treatment at a specified covariate. Confidence intervals for the covariate-adjusted CER are presented.
Encapsulated carotenoid preparations from high-carotenoid canola oil and cyclodextrins and their stability

Cyclodextrin complexes were prepared using 1∶1 and 1∶0.5 molar ratios of cyclodextrins and high-carotenoid canola oil. β-Cyclodextrin formed powdered complexes with a molar ratio of 1∶0.5, cyclodextrin/high-carotenoid canola oil. With a 1∶1 molar ratio, the complex was clumpy. In the case of α-cyclodextrin, powdery complexes were formed with either 1∶1 or 1∶0.5 molar ratio. The triglyceride oil present in the complexes varied between 28.87 and 48.2%, and there, was no segregation of the triglyceride oil during complex formation. The stability of carotenoids and tocopherols was also the same in brown bottles whether the complexes were kept under nitrogen or under oxygen. In clear glass vials, the amounts of α-and β-carotene went down, but there was very little change in tocopherols. With respect to sterols, more than 90% of the sterols present in the degummed oil were present in the α-cyclodextrin complexes, thereby indicating a higher affinity of the sterols in the cyclodextrin cavity.
Employment protection and high-tech aversion

Abstract Do institutional firing costs slow the diffusion of information and communications technology (ICT)? The paper develops a model in which, as the technology at a given plant drops behind the best practice, it optimally reduces its workforce. As a result, firing costs are particularly detrimental to profits in industries in which the rate of technical change is rapid—such as ICT—and countries with high firing costs specialize in industries in which technical change is sluggish. The paper suggests that industry composition is a new channel through which labor market regulation might impact macroeconomic aggregates.
Disposable Polydimethylsiloxane/Silicon Hybrid Chips for Protein Detection

This paper presents disposable protein analysis chips with single and multiple chambers - constructed from poly (dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and silicon. The chips are composed of a multilayer stack of PDMS layers that sandwich a silicon microchip. This inner silicon chip features an etched array of microcavities hosting agarose beads. The sample is introduced into the fluid network in the top PDMS layer where it is directed to the bead chamber. After reaction of the analyte with the probe beads, signal generated on the beads is captured with a CCD camera, digitally processed, and analyzed. An established bead-based fluorescent assay for C-reactive protein (CRP) was used here to characterize these hybrid chips. The detection limit of the single chamber protein chip was found to be 1ng/mL. Additionally, using the back pressure compensation method, the signals from each of the four-chamber chip were found to be within 10% of each other. Moreover, the fabrication of the multiple-chamber chip may increase throughput and multiplex assay capacity.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
The placental ribonuclease inhibitor (RNH) gene is located on chromosome subband 11p15.5

The ribonuclease inhibitor from human placenta is a tight-binding inhibitor of alkaline and neutral ribonucleases, including the blood vessel-inducing protein, angiogenin. The location of the inhibitor gene within the human genome has now been determined. Utilizing human-rodent hybrid cell lines, it was found on chromosome 11. The localization was refined to chromosome band 11p15 by in situ hybridization of the ribonuclease inhibitor cDNA to normal metaphase chromosomes. A further refinement was obtained by in situ hybridization of the probe to metaphase chromosomes from RPMI 8402 cells, a line containing a well-characterized translocation t(11;14)(p15;q11) with a chromosome 11 breakpoint between the insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) and Harvey rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog genes. This analysis has localized the ribonuclease inhibitor gene to chromosome subband 11p15.5, distal to the IGF2 gene.
Seeding-Opportunity Recognition in Winter Orographic Clouds

Abstract Detailed measurements of supercooled cloud water, precipitation, cloud-top temperature and vertical air motion in winter orographic clouds are used to develop criteria for the seedability of those clouds. Winter orographic clouds over the upwind mountain base with cloud-top temperatures between 0 and −22°C are found to be primarily composed of supercooled water and are therefore seedable. The supercooled water concentration is empirically found to depend on the updraft velocity. The potential precipitation yield is dependent on the flux of supercooled water over the barrier. Because the updraft velocity is approximately proportional to the cross-barrier wind, the potential precipitation yield is approximately proportional to the square of the cross-barrier wind, provided that the cloud-top temperature is in the seedable range of temperatures. These findings are strongly substantiated by systematic use of aircraft icing reports over a full winter season (November–March 1978–79). It is shown that a...
Space madness: the dreaded disease that never was

Psychiatrists working with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the late-1950s feared the worst of the men they examined to be America's first astronauts: that they would be impulsive, suicidal, sexually aberrant thrill-seekers. The examiners, though, were surprised – and a little disappointed – when tests revealed the would-be astronauts to be sane, poised professionals able to absorb extraordinary stresses. A Space Age malady with no incidence among human populations, ‘space madness’ is the stuff of Hollywood: a cultural manifestation of popular fears of a lonely, dehumanizing, and claustrophobic future among the stars.
Opto-mechanics and quantum dot-nanocavity QED

Phonon assisted interaction between a quantum dot and an off-resonant nanocavity has been studied and employed for coherent quantum dot spectroscopy.
Aging effects on the structure and properties of recycled wastepaper fiber cement composites

Dry-processed wastepaper (magazine) fibers possess desirable mechanical characteristics as reinforcing fibers in cement-based matrices; up to 50% of virgin wood fibers have been replaced with wastepaper fibers in cement composites without any significant change in short-term performance characteristics. The large volumes of fibrous cement board used in building construction promise to provide wastepaper with a large-volume and high-value application. In this study, the effects of weathering on the performance of recycled wastepaper fiber-cement composites were investigated through accelerated aging tests simulating natural aging conditions. Microstructural studies were conducted in order to establish the mechanisms of aging in the composite material. These mechanisms provided the basis for the selection of certain refinements in the matrix composition, which were successfully evaluated for the control of weathering effects on the composite material structure and properties. The effects of aging and moisture on composites were best controlled by measures which reduced the calcium hydroxide content of hydration products and improved the watertightness and the structure of interface zones; these refinements were made using relatively high levels of cement replacement with silica fume or through full substitution of Portland cement with a special cement.
Circuit and volume conductor models of transcutaneous electrical stimulation

Electrical stimulation of peripheral nerves is a widespread technique for the treatment of neurological diseases and disorders. However, peripheral stimulation typically requires surgical implantation of an electrode and a pulse generator. Transcutaneous stimulation with an external electrode and pulse generator could provide a noninvasive alternative for nerve stimulation. In this study we implemented a lumped parameter electrical circuit and a distributed parameter volume conductor model to quantify the distribution of potentials in the tissue, including frequency-dependent dielectric properties, during transcutaneous electrical stimulation with a very high frequency sinusoidal carrier and rectangular envelope pulse. The circuit model exhibited a highpass behavior with a corner frequency around 100 kHz, whereas the volume conductor model revealed maximum penetration of the potential for high frequency signals. Taken together, these results suggest that incorporating high frequency components in voltage-controlled transcutaneous stimulation may make it possible to reach deeper structures in the tissue, such as nerves.
Superfluid and Fermi-liquid phases of Bose-Fermi mixtures in optical lattices

We describe interacting mixtures of ultracold bosonic and fermionic atoms in harmonically confined optical lattices. For a suitable choice of parameters we study the emergence of superfluid and Fermi-liquid (noninsulating) regions out of Bose-Mott and Fermi-band insulators due to finite boson and fermion hoppings. We obtain the shell structure for the system and show that angular momentum can be transferred to the noninsulating regions from Laguerre-Gaussian beams, which combined with Bragg spectroscopy can reveal all superfluid and Fermi-liquid shells.
Potentiating effects of adrenal cortical extract on insulin-induced abnormalities of chick development.

It has been shown in earlier reports that the injection of insulin into chicken eggs leads to the appearance of embryo malformations. The kind of abnormality which insulin induces varies with the developmental stage during which embryos are exposed to the hormone. The principal effect of such treatment before the beginning and during the first 48 hours of incubation is rumplessness (Landauer, 1945). At later stages, especially during the fourth and fifth days of development, insulin chiefly induces micromelia and defects of the beak (Landauer, 1947). It seemed of interest to determine whether or not other hormones have similar teratogenic properties and also what their possible interaction with insulin might be. The experiments on which we wish to report here were concerned with epinephrine and adrenal cortical extract and with tests in which one of these adrenal hormones was, either at the same time or after an interval of 24 hours, combined with insulin treatment.
Further studies on the identity of proteins at the subunit interface of the 70 S E. coli ribosome

Abstract The ability of 1 m NH4Cl to detach iodinated 50 S ribosomal proteins from 50 S subunits and 70 S ribosomes was compared. High salt treatment was effective in preferentially releasing L16, L20, L24, L26, L27, L29, and L30 from the 50 S subunit. Similar but smaller effects were seen for L2, L6, L15, L19, L28, and L31. When these results are combined with several previous studies on accessibility, twelve 50 S proteins appear to be less exposed in the 70 S particle than in the free subunit, by more than one entirely different measure of accessibility. These twelve must be considered strong candidates for possible subunit interface proteins. Lactoperoxidase catalyzed iodination was used to probe the surface topography of active and reversibly inactivated 30 S subunits. The magnesium depleted inactive 30 S particle reproducibly incorporates more 125I than the active subunit indicating that a conformational change, characterized by an opening or expansion of the 30 S particles, accompanies 30 S inactivation. Seven 30 S proteins, S5, S21, S4, S7, S10, S13, and S16 become more accessible to lactoperoxidase as a result of inactivation. These proteins are different from those known to become more accessible to lactoperoxidase as a result of the conformational reorganization accompanying subunit association, S3, S6, S9, and S18. Thus, although both inactive 30 S and 50 S-bound 30 S are more open or reactive compared with free active 30 S, the regions which are affected appear to be different.
A more informed evaluation of medial compartment loading: the combined use of the knee adduction and flexor moments.

Summary Objective To evaluate if the peak knee flexor moment (pKFM) provides unique and meaningful information about peak medial compartment loading above and beyond what is obtained from the peak knee adduction moment. Methods Standard video-based motion capture and EMG recordings were collected for 10 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructed subjects walking at a self-selected speed. Knee joint moments were obtained using inverse dynamics and medial contact force was computed using an EMG-driven musculoskeletal model. Linear regression with the peak adductor moment entered first was implemented to isolate the unique contribution of the peak flexor moment to peak medial loading. Results Peak moments and medial contact force occurred during weight acceptance at approximately 23% of stance. The peak knee adduction moment (pKAM) was a significant predictor of peak medial loading ( P = 0.004) accounting for approximately 63% of the variance. The pKFM was also a significant predictor ( P = 0.009) accounting for an additional 22% of the variance. When entered together pKAM and pKFM accounted for more than 85% of the variance in peak medial compartment loading. Conclusion The combined use of the peak knee flexor and adductor moments provides a significantly more accurate estimate of peak medial joint loading than the peak adduction moment alone. More accurate inferences of joint contact force will assist clinicians and researchers investigating relationships between joint loading and the onset and progression of knee osteoarthritis (OA).
The Relationship of Egg Shape to Shell Strength

Abstract FRANK et al. (1964) reported that egg shell strength measured by the weight required to crush cannot be totally explained by shell thickness, specific gravity of the whole egg, egg weight and percent of egg as shell when these factors are considered either individually or in combination. They concluded that additional factors, particularly those concerned with the geometry of the intact egg, might be capable of explaining some of the residual variation in shell strength. The role of egg shape in shell strength has received limited consideration in the past. Stewart (1936) studied several shell characteristics and concluded that when equal pressure was applied to both ends of the egg, the breaking strength so determined did not depend to any appreciable degree upon egg shape. Edin et al., as reported by Tyler (1961), reached a similar conclusion. The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate egg shape, in conjunction with shell…
Development and application of an in situ x-ray fluorescence spectrometer for underwater sediment analysis

Abstract An energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer has been developed that provides in situ analyses for thirty elements in the 5 to 50 ppm range (dry weight) in sediments at water depths to 100 m. The analyzer consists of a radionuclide excitation source, 109 Cd, and a solid cryogen-cooled Si(Li) detector with a 0.2-mm beryllium window. The spectrometer has been designed to analyze elements in sediment surfaces as well as a function of sediment depth. The spectrometer has been utilized on a minisubmersible and from a surface vessel. This instrument was applied to several environmental studies. The in situ spectrometer is compared with a laboratory X-ray fluorescence spectrometer.
America's Polarized Politics: Causes and Solutions

Commentary on contemporary American national politics is almost universally critical. Gridlock reigns: Politics is polarized, government is dysfunctional, and public policy is stalemated. Elected officials barely avoid one cliff only to find themselves on the brink of another. Credit downgrades, debt crises, national bankruptcy, climate catastrophe, and other forms of Armageddon loom. The system is broken.
Domain-disjoint routing based on topology aggregation for survivable multidomain optical networks

In a multidomain network, topology aggregation (TA) may be adopted to provide limited information regarding intradomain connectivity without revealing detailed topology information. If the TA information does not include details on the mapping of aggregated links in the TA over the physical topology, then physical disjointness cannot be guaranteed in the case in which two interdomain paths traverse the same domain through different aggregated links. Thus, in order to provide survivability over multiple domains, it may be necessary to find two domain-disjoint paths in the multidomain network. In this paper, we propose an algorithm for finding domain-disjoint working and backup paths for a multidomain connection request. The algorithm modifies the original multidomain network topology by adding cyclic structures that enable the direct application of Bhandari's algorithm to find a pair of diverse paths with minimum total cost over the modified topology. We give detailed analysis of various scenarios that may occur during the routing procedure, and the corresponding performance of our approach in these scenarios. We show that our approach can achieve good performance in finding domain-disjoint paths with minimum total cost.
Role of density imbalance in an interacting bilayer hole system.

We study interacting GaAs hole bilayers in the limit of zero interlayer tunneling. When the layers have equal density, we observe a phase-coherent bilayer quantum Hall state (QHS) at a total filling factor 1, flanked by a reentrant insulating phase at nearby fillings which suggests the formation of a pinned, bilayer Wigner crystal. As we transfer charge from one layer to another, the phase-coherent QHS becomes stronger, evincing its robustness against charge imbalance, but the insulating phase disappears, suggesting that its stability requires the commensurability of the two layers.
Bounded cascade clouds: albedo and effective thickness

Abstract. If climate models produced clouds having liquid water amounts close to those observed, they would compute a mean albedo that is often much too large, due to the treatment of clouds as plane-parallel. An approximate lower-bound for this "plane-parallel albedo bias" may be obtained from a fractal model having a range of optical thicknesses similar to those observed in marine stratocumulus, since they are more nearly plane-parallel than most other cloud types. We review and extend results from a model which produces a distribution of liquid water path having a lognormal-like probability density and a power-law wavenumber spectrum, with parameters determined by stratocumulus observations. As the spectral exponent approaches -1, the simulated cloud approaches a well-known multifractal, referred to as the "singular model", but when the exponent is -5/3, similar to what is observed, the cloud exhibits qualitatively different scaling properties, the socalled "bounded model". The mean albedo for bounded cascade clouds is a function of a fractal parameter, 0
Directional instability of microtubule transport in the presence of kinesin and dynein, two opposite polarity motor proteins

Kinesin and dynein are motor proteins that move in opposite directions along microtubules. In this study, we examine the consequences of having kinesin and dynein (ciliary outer arm or cytoplasmic) bound to glass surfaces interacting with the same microtubule in vitro. Although one might expect a balance of opposing forces to produce little or no net movement, we find instead that microtubules move unidirectionally for several microns (corresponding to hundreds of ATPase cycles by a motor) but continually switch between kinesin-directed and dynein-directed transport. The velocities in the plus-end (0.2-0.3 microns/s) and minus-end (3.5-4 microns/s) directions were approximately half those produced by kinesin (0.5 microns/s) and ciliary dynein (6.7 microns/s) alone, indicating that the motors not contributing to movement can interact with and impose a drag upon the microtubule. By comparing two dyneins with different duty ratios (percentage of time spent in a strongly bound state during the ATPase cycle) and varying the nucleotide conditions, we show that the microtubule attachment times of the two opposing motors as well as their relative numbers determine which motor predominates in this assay. Together, these findings are consistent with a model in which kinesin-induced movement of a microtubule induces a negative strain in attached dyneins which causes them to dissociate before entering a force-generating state (and vice versa); reversals in the direction of transport may require the temporary dissociation of the transporting motor from the microtubule. The bidirectional movements described here are also remarkably similar to the back-and-forth movements of chromosomes during mitosis and membrane vesicles in fibroblasts. These results suggest that the underlying mechanical properties of motor proteins, at least in part, may be responsible for reversals in microtubule-based transport observed in cells.
Opening the “Black Box”: The Genetic and Biochemical Basis of Eye Evolution

Eyes provide a rich narrative for understanding evolution, having attracted the attention of preeminent scientists and communicators alike. Until recently, this narrative has focused primarily on the evolution of eye structure and far less on biochemistry or genetics. Although eye biochemistry was once likened to an unknown “black box;” the flood of discoveries in biochemistry is now allowing an increasingly detailed understanding of the processes involved in vision. As a result, evolutionary comparative (“tree-thinking”) analyses that use these data currently allow a new and still unfolding narrative, both richer in detail and more comprehensive in scope. Rather than toppling evolutionary theory by finding irreducibly complex molecular machines, eye evolution provides detailed accounts of how natural processes tinker with existing genetic components, duplicating and recombining them, to yield complex, intricate, and highly functional eyes. Understanding the new biochemical narrative is critical for researchers and teachers alike, in order to answer anti-evolutionist claims, and to provide an up-to-date account of the state of knowledge on the subject of eye evolution.