cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of water quality file WATSTORE in geothermal exploration: An example from the Imperial Valley, California

The US Geological Survey water quality file WATSTORE contains chemical analyses for several hundred thousand ground-water samples from the United States. Nearly 100,000 of these analyses are sufficiently complete to be of use in geothermal exploration. Through examination of about 500 analyses of samples from the Imperial Valley, California, supplemented by an additional 8000 analyses from adjacent parts of the Basin and Range province, normal ranges were established for the various chemical geothermal indicators and the criteria by which a geothermal water may be recognized. For the Imperial Valley, California, the following values are proposed as signifying potential geothermal water: silica geotemperature, > 100/sup 0/C; Na-K-Ca geotemperature, > 125/sup 0/C; fluoride, >2.5 ppM; in situ temperature, > 35/sup 0/C; heat flow, > 120 mW m/sup -2/. These criteria were used to scan WATSTORE for potential geothermal prospects in the Imperial Valley. This scan outlined at least ten major anomalous areas, including all but one of the six Known Geothermal Resource Areas (KGRAs). The rediscovery of the KGRAs underscores the potential value of WATSTORE as a rapid reconnaissance tool in geothermal exploration. Anomalous areas that are not KGRAs are located east and west of the Salton Sea (Hot Mineral Well andmore » Holly Hot Well), near Coyote Wells, near Camp Dunlap, and east of Brawley. Smaller anomalies are present throughout the study area, particularly along the Brawley fault and the southern extension of the San Andreas fault zone.« less
Feature Selection using a Mixed-Norm Penalty Function

Feature selection is the process of selecting effective subsets of features that are effective in performing a given task. We propose an approach using a penalty function combined with a neural network to select a subset from a collection of features while maintaining the performance possible with the larger set. The penalty function is related to a mixed-norm function that has proven successful in pruning neural networks. The new function is shown to work on test cases with known redundancy and to be effective in feature selection for practical problems.
Expression of nerve growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptors in neural nevi with nevic corpuscles

The histogenesis of “nevic corpuscles” (NCs) in neural nevi is still controversial. Recent studies have revealed that nerve growth factors (NGFs) and other growth factors [that is, epidermal growth factor (EGF)] could have various paracrine and autocrine functions on Schwann cells and melanocytes. We examined the immunohistochemical expression of NGF and EGF receptors (r) in 15 cases of neural nevi containing NCs along with 37 cases of other benign and malignant melanocytic lesions without neural differentiation (total, 52). Sections were prepared from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues. Monoclonal antibodies to NGFr and EGFr were used with the Avidin-biotin-complex (ABC) technique. We found strong reactivity for NGFr in 14 of 15 neural nevi with a predilection for NCs, but only eight of 37 were positive in the other group of melanocytic lesions without neural differentiation (four Spitz nevi, two melanomas, and two compound nevi). EGFr expression was limited mainly to NCs in four cases of neural nevi. We conclude that neural differentiation and NC formation are associated with NGFr overexpression, whereas EGFr expression is only limited. The relative paucity of NGFr expression in other type of benign and malignant melanocytic lesions supports the view that neural “differentiation” is a distinct process in certain long-standing melanocytic nevi. We postulate that NGFr overexpression may be the result of the reactivation of oncofetal genes that could become manifest in either abnormal schwannian differentiation (as seen in neural nevi), in a neoplastic context (as seen in neural and melanocytic tumors).
Carbohydrate analyses with high-performance anion-exchange chromatography

Abstract High-performance anion-exchange chromatography (HPAEC), in tandem with pulsed amperometric detector (PAD) is a powerful tool for carbohydrate analysis. It requires no pre- or postcolumn derivatization, and yet offers superb resolution and sensitiviy. In its basic mode, alcoxide anions from the hydroxyl groups of carbohydrates as well as other anionic substituents are utilized. In addition to the number of hydroxyl groups, separation can be based on anomers, positional isomers, as well as degree of polymerization.
Prevention of peritoneal free (ascites) tumor cell growth and implantation by pretreatment with radioactive yttrium.

Summary and conclusions(1) Doses of 0.25 mc of radioactive yttrium phosphate (Y90PO4) were injected into peritoneal cavity of Albino mice immediately following administration of 2 ml of 0.85% NaCl solution; on 3rd to 4th day 105 cells of Krebs-2 Ascites Tumor were inoculated by same route into pre-treated animals and normal controls; their accumulated fluid was withdrawn after 3 or 4 days for estimate of its volume, tumor cell counts and smears; they were sacrificed for autopsies 1 or 2 days later. (2) Amount of ascitic fluid and extent of implant growth were considerably reduced in pretreated animals as compared with controls; free tumor cells in the fluid appeared enlarged, altered (distorted mitoses) and less viable, after transfer into new mice, than in controls; decrease of their concentration in the fluid was not as rapid and extensive as in animals treated with an isotope after inoculation in previous experiments. (3) Cell destruction was increased by injection of 0.1 mc into pretreated mice. (4) I...
Recent New Developments of Steady‐State and Time‐Dependent Density Functional Theories for the Treatment of Structure and Dynamics of Many‐Electron Atomic, Molecular, and Quantum Dot Systems

We pres ent a short ac count of re cent new de vel op ments of den sity-functional the ory (DFT) fo r ac cu rate and ef fi cient treat ments of the elec tronic struc ture and quan tum dy nam ics of many-electron sys tems. The con ven tional DFT cal cu la tions con tain spu ri ous self-interaction en ergy and im proper long- range po ten tial, pre vent ing re li able de scrip tion of the ex cited and res o nance states. We pres ent a new D F T with op ti mized ef fec tive po ten tial (OEP) and self-interaction-correction (SIC) to over come some of the ma jor dif fi cul ties en coun tered in con ven tional DFT treat ments us ing ex plicit en ergy functionals. The OEP-SIC for mal is m uses only or bital-independent sin gle-particle lo cal po ten tials and is self-interaction free, p ro vid ing a the o ret i cal frame work for ac cu rate de scrip tion of the ex cited-state prop er ties and quan tum d y nam ics. Sev eral ap pli ca tions of the new pro ce dure are pre sented, in clud ing: (a) the first suc cess ful DFT treat ment of the atomic autoionizing res o nances, (b) a rel a tiv is tic ex ten sion of the OEP-SIC for mal ism for the cal cu la tion of the atomic struc ture with re sults in good agree ment with the ex per i men tal data across the pe ri odic ta ble (Z = 2-106), (c) elec tronic struc ture cal cu la tion of the ion iza tion prop er ties of mol e cules, and (d) the delicated “shell-filling” elec tronic struc ture in quan tum dots. Finally we pres ent also new for mu la ti ons of time-dependent DFT for nonperturbative treat ment of atomic and mo lec u lar multiphoton and non li n ear op ti cal pro cesses in in tense and superintense la ser fields. Both the time-independent Floquet ap proach and the time-dependent OEP-SIC tech nique are in tro duced. Ap pli ca tion of the time-dependent DFT/OEP- S IC pro ce dure to the study of mul ti ple high-order har monic gen er a tion pro cesses in in tense ultras hort pulsed la ser fields is dis cussed in de tail.
Estimating relative crop yield loss resulting from herbicide damage using crop ground cover or rated stunting, with maize and sethoxydim as a case study

The research goal was to determine whether crop damage from herbicides measured early in the growing season soon after treatment could be used to estimate relative crop yield loss. Percentage stunting was rated visually and percentage crop ground cover (i.e. percentage of the ground surface covered by vegetation) was determined from video photographs taken 2-4 weeks after sethoxydim-susceptible maize (Zea mays L.) was sprayed with sethoxydim at various rates plus crop oil concentrate. Averaged over 3 years, relative percentage maize yield was a negative sigmoidal function of relative sethoxydim rates from 0.065x to 0.5x, where the 1x rate was 420 g a.i. ha -1 (r 2 = 0.80). Relative maize yield was positively linearly related to percentage crop ground cover and negatively linearly related to rated percentage stunting averaged over 3 years. Linear regression models of relative maize yield vs. percentage maize ground cover explained only slightly more data variability (r 2 = 0.86) than did rated stunting (r 2 = 0.82) over 3 years. The advantages and disadvantages of rated stunting and crop ground cover as scientific measurements are discussed.
Mirtazapine acutely inhibits basal and K(+)-stimulated release of corticotropin-releasing hormone from the rat hypothalamus via a non-genomic mechanism.

Originally described as a pivotal mediator of acute neuroendocrine responses to stress, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is currently envisioned as a peptide neurotransmitter involved in the pathogenesis of anxiety and depressive disorders; it has been postulated that antidepressant drugs are clinically effective insofar as they are able to reduce central CRH production and release. In this study we used a well validated in vitro model, i.e. acute rat hypothalamic explants, to investigate the effects of the antidepressant mirtazapine on the production and release of CRH from the hypothalamus in short-term experiments. CRH release was assessed through the measurement of CRH immunoreactivity in the incubation medium. We found that mirtazapine reduces in a concentration-dependent manner both basal and K+-stimulated CRH release in 30-min and 60-min experiments. Mirtazapine had no effect on CRH mRNA expression in 1-h and 3-h experiments; the intra-hypothalamic levels of peptide were not reduced, and even tended to increase, with respect to controls. Mirtazapine reduces CRH release from CRH-containing neurons in the rat hypothalamus through a mechanism independent from the modulation of CRH gene expression and peptide production.
Excuses and Dispositions in Criminal Law

What do criminal laws prohibit? A series of immoral or harmful acts? Or does the law also seek to prohibit performing those acts for certain reasons, acting on certain motives, or acting on the basis of certain character traits? In short, does the law look only at the quality of the act the defendant performs? Or does it look more broadly at whether the person who performed the prohibited act was righteous or ignoble, well-meaning or malign? The traditional view says that the criminal law focuses uniquely on acts. According to that view, character and motive are irrelevant to criminal liability. They are not relevant to the actus reus, since they merely serve to identify the prohibited conduct. And they are not relevant
Laser-based ultrasound detection through turbid media

Adaptive laser-based ultrasound detection uses laser homodyne detection in an adaptive interferometer to detect ultrasound displacements. This technique has been applied to non-destructive evaluation for detection of surface displacements. However, in biomedical ultrasound applications, ultrasound displacements of interest may be inside tissue and the detection light beam may need to propagate through turbid media. Here we report laser-based adaptive ultrasonic detection that can detect ultrasound displacements inside or through turbid media using a fsec-laser as the light source in an adaptive optical coherence detection scheme. The use of an interferometer and a femtosecond laser gates out the unwanted scatter while still allowing homodyne detection. In our laser-based ultrasound system, an adaptive Mach-Zehnder interferometer is based upon two-wave mixing in semiconductor quantum-well films. It provides depth information inside the sample by adjusting the optical delay in the reference beam arm. Homodyne detection was experimentally studied for low intensity and highly wavefront distortion caused by turbid media. Using this system, ultrasonic homodyne signals through 11 MFP turbid media have been successfully detected.
THE SPECTROCHEMISTRY OF ACTINIUM

Abstract For spectrochemical detection or determination of actinium (89Ac) the wavelengths and estimated relative intensities (100 or greater) of 109 strong lines are presented. The wavelengths range from 2558.08 to 7866.10 A. Thirty-two lines are characteristic of Ac I, 63 belong to Ac II, 7 are assigned to Ac III, 2 possibly to Ac IV, and 5 to Ac0. The energy levels involved in the production of lines in the first three spectra of actinium are given. Within the range of these observations the strongest Ac I line is the transition 6d7s22D1 1 2 –6d7s(a3D)7p2Fo2 1 2 with wavelength 4179.98 A and intensity 1000 in the arc or hollow cathode. The strongest line of Ac II appears to be 6d7s3D3−7s(2S)7p3Po2 with wavelength 4088.44 A, and intensity 3000 in the spark. The strongest observed line has a wavelength 2626.44 A, and intensity 5000 in the spark; it represents the transition 7s2S0 1 2 −7p2Po1 1 2 in Ac III, and must be regarded as the raie ultime in high-voltage condensed electrical discharges.
Earthquake recurrence and glacial loading in western Washington

The tectonic setting of the Puget lowland was simpler during late Tertiary time (10 6 –10 7 yr) when the transfer of stress from subduction was not modulated by periodic glacial loading. Each advance of the Cordilleran Ice Sheet during the Quaternary Period created an additional 10–13 MPa of vertical load that may have stabilized the thrust sheet beneath the Puget lowland, causing background tectonic stresses to accumulate beyond the strength of active faults in their unglaciated condition. Conversely, deglaciation may have been accompanied by a brief episode of intense seismicity caused by decreasing overburden stress, elevated pore pressures, and elastic flexure in the shallow crust, and by viscous drag at the base of the crust during relaxation of isostatic anomaly. If accumulated tectonic stress was effectively “erased” during deglaciation, then some, or nearly all, of the present interglacial may have been seismically quiet relative to the modern regime. Such a scenario would complicate the use of paleoseismic approaches to establish the recurrence frequency of damaging earthquakes in this heavily populated region.
Choline and Epithelial Hyperplasia in the Forestomach of Rats

SummaryCholine is necessary to help maintain normal squamous epithelium in the forestomach of rats fed white flour. This observation explains why protein tends to prevent and fat tends to increase hyperplasia of the forestomach epithelium.
The effect of a teak (Tectona grandis) plantation on the establishment of native species in an abandoned pasture in Costa Rica

Abstract Many tropical forest plantation projects, particularly those funded through governmental or development agencies are designed to provide secondary social or environmental benefits in addition to timber. The research reported here examined the ecological effects of establishing a teak (Tectona grandis) plantation on an abandoned pasture in southwestern Costa Rica. The 10-year-old plantation’s understory was evaluated using a nearby non-planted area as a baseline for potential local recruitment of native tree species. The native trees in the teak plantation were significantly less abundant, less diverse, and more restricted to the lower height classes than the trees in the abandoned pasture. Furthermore, trees with shrubby growth forms dominated the plantation’s understory, whereas larger species were more common in the unplanted abandoned pasture. Several aspects of teak’s biology may contribute to the species’ exclusion of native trees. The primary goal of nearly all forest plantations is the production of timber. However, for those managers secondarily interested in the goal of providing habitat for native forest species, teak appears to be a poor choice of crop tree.
Artifacts resembling budding bacteria produced in placer-gold amalgams by nitric acid leaching

Microscopic filiform morphologies in gold which are indistinguishable from forms originally interpreted as bacterial in origin were produced in the laboratory by treating amalgams made from natural and artificial gold with hot nitric acid. Textures ranging from cobblestone to deeply crenulated to nodular filiform were produced in the laboratory from all tested natural and artificial gold amalgams; analogous textures widespread in Alaskan placer gold may have a similar inorganic origin. These results indicate that morphology alone cannot be considered adequate evidence of microbial involvement in gold formation.
Pain in persons with cerebral palsy.

Abstract Objective: To examine the nature and scope of pain in persons with cerebral palsy (CP). Design: Standardized interviews to assess demographics, pain experiences, and the impact of pain on activities. Subjects: Ninety-three adults with CP recruited from medical clinics at the University of Washington and local residential and community housing for persons with developmental disabilities. Main Outcome Measures: Weekly and 3-month pain intensities, chronic pain grade, interference in daily activities caused by pain, and pain-exacerbating and pain-relieving factors. Results: Sixty-two subjects (67%) reported one or more areas of pain of ≥3 months' duration. Lower extremity pain and back pain were the most common complaints. Fifty-six percent of the subjects reporting pain indicated it occurred daily. Mean average pain intensity, graded on a scale of 0 (no pain) to 10 (pain as bad as could be), was 3.16 (SD = 2.45) in the preceding week and 4.45 (SD = 2.34) in the previous 3 months. Approximately 53% of subjects reporting pain indicated their average pain was of moderate to severe intensity (average pain rated as ≥5). Using Von Korff's Chronic Pain Grade classification system, the majority of subjects who reported pain fell into either grade II(low disability, low pain intensity; 51%) or grade II (low disability, high pain intensity; 39%). Subjects reported many factors that exacerbate pain (eg, stress or weather) or decrease it (eg, exercise or rest). Conclusions: The data suggest that pain is common in adults with CP. In many subjects, pain levels were moderate to intense
Accuracy of one-step versus two-step putty wash addition silicone impression technique

This study compared the accuracy of one-step putty wash with two-step putty wash impression techniques. Five addition silicone impression materials-Mirror 3 (MR), Mirror 3 Extrude (ME), Express (E), Permagum (P), and Absolute(A)--were tested. A stainless steel model containing two full-crown abutment preparations was used as the positive control. Five replications for one-step and two-step putty wash impressions of the master model were made for each test material. Accuracy of the materials was assessed by measuring six dimensions on stone dies poured from impressions of the master model. Accuracy of addition silicone impression material is affected more by material than technique. Accuracy of the putty wash one-step impression technique was not different from the putty wash two-step impression technique except at one of the six dimensions where one-step was more accurate than two-step. Mirror 3 putty wash two-step impression presented less distortion than Mirror 3 Extrude putty wash one-step or two-step impression.
Extended reconstruction rate for limb salvage with intraoperative prereconstruction angiography

Abstract A prospective study was performed between May 1982 and March 1987 to assess the value of intraoperative prereconstruction angiography (IPA) in limb salvage. Eligibility was limited to patients with rest pain, ischemic ulcers, or gangrene limited to the toes: only candidates for infrapopliteal bypass were included. Seventy-eight such patients were examined with preoperative angiography. Delayed films, selective catheterization, reactive hyperemia, or vasodilators were used routinely. In only 11 of 78 patients (14%) was the runoff adequately visualized, demonstrating the tibial vessels and the pedal arch. The remaining 67 patients (86%) (with nonreconstructable disease by currently accepted outflow criteria) had surgical exposure of a tibial or pedal artery for IPA. In 56 of these patients (84%) good runoff was demonstrated and bypass was performed. The reconstruction rate was 86% (67 of 78 patients), significantly higher than the 33% rate reported by others. The operative mortality rate was 2.8% (2 of 78 patients). We concluded that is severe ischemia preoperative angiography is often inadequate in demonstrating runoff, even with adjunctive measures to dilate the outflow vessels. IPA through the tibial and pedal vessels eliminates all of the proximal vascular resistance, thereby providing a "completion angiogram" before reconstruction. This in turn extends reconstructability to many patients who would otherwise undergo primary amputation. (J VASC SURG 1988;7:531-7.)
Control of ribonuclease and acid phosphatase by auxin and abscisic acid during senescence of Rhoeo leaf sections.

We report the effects of abscisic acid and auxin (alpha-naphthalene acetic acid) on regulation of enzyme synthesis during senescence of leaf sections of Rhoeo discolor Hance. Abscisic acid always accelerates the onset of and enhances the magnitude of the increase in activity of acid phosphatase; this is followed by an acceleration of the onset of a rapid increase in free space.RNase activity increases 2- to 5-fold after cutting of leaf sections. Abscisic acid increases RNase activity and inhibits the rate of incorporation of uridine and leucine in leaf sections removed from plants grown under stress but not favorable conditions. Auxin inhibits the increase in RNase and acid phosphatase and suppresses the effects of abscisic acid. The increase in activity of RNase and acid phosphatase is inhibited by inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis. This and other evidence suggests that the increases in hydrolase activity could result from new enzyme synthesis. The possible significance of the results in respect of hormonal regulation of enzyme activity and senescence is discussed.
Sequential chemical transformations of a tungsten carbyne ligand: Protonation, alkyne insertion, vinylcarbene formation, and metallacyclopropene/metallafuran isomerization

Proton addition and phenylacetylene insertion convert carbyne complexes of the type Tp‘(CO)2W⋮C−OAr (Ar = Ph, p-C6H4Me, p-C6H4OMe; Tp‘ = hydridotris(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)borate) into tungsten η3-vinylcarbene complexes of the form [Tp‘(CO)2W(η3-(Cα,Cβ,Cγ)CPh−CHCH(O(p-C6H4R)))][X] (R = H, X = BF4, 6a; R = Me, X = BF4, 6b; R = OMe, X = BF4, 6c; R = H, X = BAr‘4, 6a‘). The intermediate agostic carbene complex [Tp‘(CO)2WC(H)O(p-C6H4OMe)][BAr‘4] (7‘) was characterized by IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Addition of base to the cationic vinylcarbene complex 6 forms the metallafuran complex Tp‘(CO)2W(κ2-(Cα,O)CPh−CHCH−O) (9) as the major product. Although the net reaction corresponds to loss of C6H5+, mechanistically it is attractive to postulate addition of OH- to the electron-deficient Cγ site followed by proton removal by base coupled with loss of OPh- to generate the metallafuran stoichiometry. Isolation of an intermediate metallacyclopropene complex (10), possessing an aldehyde substituent on the three...
Searching the Water Resources Literature: Indexing/abstracting Coverage for Leading Water Resources Journals

: The Water Resources Scientific Information Center (WRSIC) provides comprehensive indexing/abstracting for the water resources literature. To determine in one objective way the coverage of this information service from a user's point of view, an extensive sampling of the journal literature was used to determine extent to which 10 leading water resources journals are indexed and abstracted by the system. Coverage is so high that some users will want to change toward greater use of the system.
Synthesis from caffeine of a mixed N-heterocyclic carbene-silver acetate complex active against resistant respiratory pathogens.

The bis(N-heterocyclic carbene) (NHC) silver complex, 3, with a methyl carbonate anion was formed from the reaction of the iodide salt of methylated caffeine, 1, with silver (I) oxide in methanol. Attempts to crystallize this complex from a mixture of common alcohols and ethyl acetate led to the formation of an NHC-silver acetate complex, 4. The more direct synthesis of 4 was accomplished by the in-situ deprotonation of 1 by silver acetate in methanol. Complex 4 demonstrated antimicrobial activity against numerous resistant respiratory pathogens from the lungs of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients including members of the Burkholderia cepacia complex that cause a high rate of mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Application of this NHC silver complex to primary cultures of murine respiratory epithelial cells followed by microarray analysis showed minimal gene expression changes at the concentrations effective against respiratory pathogens. Furthermore, methylated caffeine without silver showed some...
Multi-Dimensional Error Analysis of Nearshore Wave Modeling Tools, with Application Toward Data-Driven Boundary Correction

As the forecasting models become more sophisticated in their physics and possible depictions of the nearshore hydrodynamics, they also become increasingly sensitive to errors in the inputs, such as errors in the specification of boundary information (lateral boundary conditions, initial boundary conditions, etc). Evaluation of the errors on the boundary is less straightforward, and is the subject of this study. The model under investigation herein is the Delft3D modeling suite, developed at Deltares (formerly Delft Hydraulics) in Delft, the Netherlands. Coupling of the wave (SWAN) and hydrodynamic (FLOW) model requires care at the lateral boundaries in order to balance run time and error growth. To this extent, we will use perturbation method and spatio-temporal analysis method such as Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis to determine the various scales of motion in the flow field and the extent of their response to imposed boundary errors.
Risk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia differ depending on the control group chosen

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteraemia cause significant morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. Using a nested case-control design, 204 MRSA bacteraemia cases were compared to 301 unmatched methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) bacteraemia controls and were matched 1:2 with non-infected controls. The independent risk factors for MRSA bacteraemia compared to MSSA bacteraemia were older age ( P = 0·048), major organ transplant during current hospital stay ( P = 0·016) and quinolone use ( P = 0·016). Cases were more likely than non-infected controls to have renal failure ( P = 0·003), cirrhosis ( P = 0·013), and a central venous catheter ( P = 0·003) after controlling for other risk factors. This large case-control study made it possible to assess risk factors for MRSA bacteraemia using two sets of controls and showed that risk factors differed greatly depending on the control group chosen. These results confirm the need for careful selection of appropriate control groups and the need to carefully adjust for underlying severity of illness.
Infrared Study of the OH Groups in Expanded Kaolinite

Expansion of kaolinite with potassium acetate and with hydrazine followed by deuteration, shifts the absorption frequency at 3695 cm-1 to lower values, but does not aflect the intensity of the 3620-cm-1 absorption band. The band at 3695 cm-1 is correlated predominantly to inner-surface hydroxyls with the dipole at right angles to the basal plane and the band at 3620 cm-1 is related to inner hydroxyls with the dipole inclined toward empty octahedral sites.
Properties of liposomes with a phospholipid ratio similar to that of retinal rod outer segment membranes: Interaction with opsin and other proteins

Abstract Liposomes have been prepared with a phospholipid ratio and a cholesterol content similar to that of the outer segments of rod photoreceptor cells. Studies were made of the appearance, electrophoretic mobility and sodium leakage rates of the liposomes, with and without the inclusion of protein (albumin, myoglobin, ribonuclease, lysozyme, proteolipid or opsin). The findings indicate that although the appearance and properties of these liposomes closely resemble those of other liposomes reported in the literature, the liposomes become markedly changed in appearance, electrophoretic mobility and sodium permeability by the addition of opsin. These data emphasize the hydrophobic nature of the opsin-lipid interaction and suggest an ability of opsin to alter the ion leakage properties of a rod outer segment membrane.
Haematopoietic stem cell release is regulated by circadian oscillations

Haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) circulate in the bloodstream under steady-state conditions, but the mechanisms controlling their physiological trafficking are unknown. Here we show that circulating HSCs and their progenitors exhibit robust circadian fluctuations, peaking 5 h after the initiation of light and reaching a nadir 5 h after darkness. Circadian oscillations are markedly altered when mice are subjected to continuous light or to a 'jet lag' (defined as a shift of 12 h). Circulating HSCs and their progenitors fluctuate in antiphase with the expression of the chemokine CXCL12 in the bone marrow microenvironment. The cyclical release of HSCs and expression of Cxcl12 are regulated by core genes of the molecular clock through circadian noradrenaline secretion by the sympathetic nervous system. These adrenergic signals are locally delivered by nerves in the bone marrow, transmitted to stromal cells by the beta(3)-adrenergic receptor, leading to a decreased nuclear content of Sp1 transcription factor and the rapid downregulation of Cxcl12. These data indicate that a circadian, neurally driven release of HSC during the animal's resting period may promote the regeneration of the stem cell niche and possibly other tissues.
White specks in the esophageal mucosa: An endoscopic manifestation of non-reflux eosinophilic esophagitis in children.

Abstract Background White specks in the esophageal mucosa have been observed in children with eosinophilic esophagitis. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between white specks in the esophageal mucosa and allergic (non-reflux) eosinophilic esophagitis. Methods Endoscopic data, pH probe results, and histopathology reports for children with esophageal endoscopic abnormalities seen during a 17-month period were reviewed. Eosinophilic esophagitis was grouped according to the number of eosinophils per high power field (non-allergic, Results Of 1041 endoscopies performed during the study period, 153 revealed evidence of eosinophilic esophagitis. Of these 153, 61 had fewer than 15 eosinophils/high power field and 92 had 15 or more eosinophils/high power field. At 31 of the 153 procedures, white specks were noted in the esophageal mucosa. The sensitivity of white specks in the esophageal mucosa for allergic eosinophilic esophagitis was only 30%, but the specificity was 95%. pH probe testing was performed in 21 patients with white specks and was normal in all. Conclusions This report describes a new endoscopic finding associated with allergic eosinophilic esophagitis in children. Eosinophilic esophagitis tends to be severe when white specks are present (≥15 eosinophils/high power field) and is not associated with pathologic gastroesophageal reflux, as demonstrated by pH probe testing.
Factors influencing recyclability of Co(III)-salen catalysts in the hydrolytic kinetic resolution of epichlorohydrin

Abstract The recyclability of Co(III)-salen catalysts, where salen is defined by ( R , R )- N , N′ -bis(3,5-di- tert -butylsalicylidene)-1,2-cyclohexanediamine, for the hydrolytic kinetic resolution (HKR) of racemic epichlorohydrin is a strong function of the counterion of the Co(III)-salen catalyst. The nature of the counterion determines whether the HKR reaction follows primarily a bimetallic or monometallic reaction path, which significantly affects catalyst recyclability. For example, Co(III)-salen initially containing the nucleophilic Cl − counterion catalyzes the HKR of epichlorohydrin according to a bimetallic reaction path but loses activity upon recycle, as Cl − is replaced with OH − during the reaction. In contrast, a Co(III)-salen catalyst containing non-nucleophilic SbF 6 − counterion catalyzes the reaction according to a monometallic reaction path and is quite stable during multiple recycles, albeit at a low rate with less selectivity. A mixed catalyst system with Co(III)-salen initially containing Cl − to which Co(III)-salen with SbF 6 − is later added demonstrates high activity and high stability to recycling. Additional experiments with Co(III)-salen initially containing the acetate counterion reveal a progressive decline in activity with multiple recycles even after regeneration with acetic acid between runs, suggesting a destructive role of the regeneration process.
Evaluation of formulas for optimal positioning of central venous catheters.

Objective To evaluate the accuracy of formulas designed to estimate the optimum intravenous length of central venous catheters. Design A prospective study of catheter insertion sites to evaluate the accuracy of predetermined formulas that predict the intravascular insertion length required to avoid intracardiac catheter tip placement. Setting A 320-bed tertiary hospital. Patients Critically ill patients requiring central venous access for therapy or monitoring. Main results The formulas accurately predicted required intravascular length of the central venous catheter in 217 of 228 (95%) cases. The formula for predicting catheter length was most accurate when the subclavian vein was used. It was least accurate when the right internal jugular vein was selected. Conclusions The formulas can accurately predict the required length of catheters and thereby reduce the possibility of complications and save time and expense.
Teaching Politics Using Antigone

Antigone, Sophocles' 5th century take on the Oedipus story, dramatizes war, fratricide, attempted patricide, suicide, the loss of young love, civil disobedience, and capital punishment. These elements make for great theatre but Antigone is also an immensely useful tool to engage undergraduate students from many disciplines in learning about politics. I use Antigone as a “motivating text” in political theory courses to engage students in the study of politics and persuade them of the importance of this field of study (Turner 2005).
Airborne information initiatives: capitalizing on a multipurpose broadcast communications architecture

This paper describes an experimental broadcast data link system architecture to identify and validate requirements for a broadcast data link and associated applications. Three key broadcast applications, including: automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast, flight information services-broadcast, and traffic information service-broadcast, are being investigated. The experimental system comprises three prototype components. The components are the universal access transceiver, the airborne research prototype, and the ground broadcast server. Simplicity, affordability, and beneficial capabilities are the driving considerations for this work. The operational objectives are: to provide capabilities that are simple, affordable, and provide immediate benefit and utility to the aircraft operator; to enhance the user's ability to maintain separation from other aircraft; and to enable simplifications to the air traffic management process.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
TRANSFER OF RESPONSIVENESS TO HAPTEN CONJUGATES OF POLY-L-LYSINE AND OF A COPOLYMER OF L-GLUTAMIC ACID AND L-LYSINE TO LETHALLY IRRADIATED NON-RESPONDER GUINEA PIGS BY BONE MARROW OR LYMPH NODE AND SPLEEN CELLS FROM RESPONDER GUINEA PIGS

Hartley guinea pigs genetically unresponsive to hapten-PLL (poly-L-lysine) conjugates were lethally irradiated and given allogeneic bone marrow from Hartley responder animals. Many of the animals died of graft versus host disease before their response to 2,4-dinitrophenyl-PLL (DNP-PLL) could be measured. The immune response of the surviving recipient animals was evaluated by anti-DNP antibody production, development of delayed hypersensitivity to DNP-poly-L-lysine, as well as by lymph node cell stimulation in vitro by this antigen. 12 of 14 recipient animals thus treated made an immune response as measured by 2 of the 3 parameters. Strain 13 guinea pigs, genetically unable to respond immunologically to DNP-PLL and to DNP-GL (2,4-dinitrophenyl-L-glutamic acid L-lysine copolymer) were lethally irradiated and given bone marrow from (2 x 13) F1 responder animals or strain 13 bone marrow and (2 x 13) F1 lymph node and spleen cells. A high proportion of the animals survived this procedure; no evidence of graft versus host disease was observed. Three of three strain 13 animals irradiated and, given strain 13 bone marrow and (2 x 13) F1 lymph node and spleen, and then immunized with DNP-PL, made a specific immune response. 7 of 10 irradiated strain 13 animals given strain 13 bone marrow and (2 x 13) F1 lymph node and spleen made an immune response to DNP-GL. However, only one of six irradiated strain 13 animals made a vigorous immune response to DNP-GL after reconstitution with (2 x 13) F1 bone marrow alone. The ability to transfer the immune response to PLL antigens from responder to nonresponder animals demonstrates unequivocally that the defect in the non-responder animals is immunological rather than due to some other type of non-immunological mechanism. The bone marrow contains all the immunological cells necessary for the expression of the PLL gene. However, the finding that (2 x 13) F1 lymph node and spleen cells were more effective than (2 x 13)F1 bone marrow cell populations (known to be a rich source of monocyte precursors) suggests that the cells in which the PLL gene function is expressed may be lymphocytes rather than monocytes and macrophages.
Interaction of tritiated β-endorphin with rat brain membranes

Abstract An in vitro assay has been developed in which porcine β-endorphin, tritiated at ϵ-amino groups via reductive methylation to a specific activity of ca. 10 Ci/mmol, can be bound reversibly to membranes prepared from rat brain. The assay buffer contains glycerol (20% v v ) and bacitracin (0.1 mg/ml), and there is no apparent degradation of the tritiated opioid peptide after 2 h of incubation at 30°C. The equilibrium dissociation constant describing the β-endorphin-opiate receptor interaction is 0.4 ± 0.1 n m , and there is no evidence of cooperativity or multiple classes of receptors. However, kinetic studies indicate either that the peptide association to or dissociation from the receptor is complex (e.g., involving a molecular rearrangement) or that distinct receptor populations exist which can be distinguished by β-endorphin only in a temporal sense. Competition studies of tritiated β-endorphin with other opioid peptides can be described with a single class of receptors, but opiate alkaloid agonists and antagonists require at least two classes of receptors to best fit the data. Binding is inhibited by Na+ and other monovalent cations. Divalent cations also interfere with β-endorphin binding.
Assessment Center Dimensions: Individual differences correlates and meta‐analytic incremental validity

This study provides an investigation of the nomological net for the seven primary assessment center (AC) dimensions identified by Arthur, Day, McNelly, and Eden (Personnel Psychology, 56, 125–154, 2003). In doing so, the authors provide the first robust estimates of the relationships between all primary AC dimensions with cognitive ability and the Big 5 factors of personality. Additionally, intercorrelations between AC dimensions based on sample sizes much larger than those previously available in the meta-analytic literature are presented. Data were obtained from two large managerial samples (total N=4985). Primary data on AC dimensions, personality, and cognitive ability interrelationships were subsequently integrated with meta-analytic data to estimate incremental validity for optimally and unit-weighted AC dimension composites as well as overall AC ratings over psychometric tests of personality and cognitive ability. Results show that unit- and optimally weighted composites of construct-based AC dimensions add incremental validity over tests of personality and cognitive ability, while overall AC ratings (including those obtained using subjective methods of data combination) do not.
Characterization of the peptidase activity of recombinant porcine pregnancy-associated glycoprotein-2

The pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) belong to the aspartic peptidase family. They are expressed exclusively in trophoblasts of even-toed ungulates such as swine, cattle, sheep, etc. In pigs, two distinct PAG transcripts (and some variants) have been described. One of the transcripts, porcine PAG-1 (poPAG-1) may not be capable of acting as a peptidase. The second transcript, poPAG-2, possesses a conserved catalytic centre and has been predicted, but not shown, to have proteolytic activity. The thrust of this work was to test such a possibility. PoPAG-2 was expressed as a recombinant protein with an amino-terminal 'FLAG-tag' in a Baculoviral expression system. The expressed proteins were affinity purified by using an anti-FLAG antibody. The purified preparations were then analysed for proteolytic activity against a fluorescent substrate. Porcine PAG-2 had optimal proteolytic activity around pH 3.5. Against this substrate, it had a k(cat)/K(m) of 1.2 microM(-1) s(-1) and was inhibited by the aspartic peptidase inhibitor, pepstatin A, with a K(i) of 12.5 nM. Since the proteolytic activity of PAGs in the pig has now been established, the search for putative substrates to gain insight into the physiological role of PAGs will likely be the focus of future investigations.
A “four plus” future for general surgery and vascular surgery: Maintaining the union

My address concerns the future of training and certification for general surgeons and vascular surgeons. I will discuss the importance of training and certification, the compelling need for change, the constructive collaborative processes at work, and why it is advantageous for vascular surgery to continue to lead from within the existing framework of American surgery. I will also discuss the importance of our oversight of training and certification, some comments about credentials and competency or performance assessment, and the public interest in our oversight.
Viral-templated nanocrystalline Pd nanowires for chemiresistive hydrogen (H2) sensors

A palladium (Pd) nanowire-based hydrogen (H 2 ) sensor has been fabricated with a novel viral-templated assembly route. A filamentous M13 bacteriophage was used as the viral-template for assembly of Pd nanowires at ambient conditions. Scanning electron microscopy determined Pd nanowire distribution and morphology with the devices. The phage template concentration controlled the number of physical and electrical nanowire connections across the device. A greater phage concentration resulted in a higher connection density and thicker Pd deposition. A lower phage concentration generated devices which formed chain-like nanowires of Pd nanocrystals, whereas a higher phage concentration formed devices with a continuous mesh-like structure. The lower concentration devices showed 51-78% instantaneous response to 2000 ppm H 2 and response time less than 30 s.
Single-molecule spectroscopy, photon echoes, and hole burning in low-temperature glasses

Abstract We have developed a unified theory of photon echo, hole burning and single-molecule spectroscopies in low temperature glasses. The theory is based on the tunneling two-level system model. Our theoretical results are compared to experiment.
TCPP Presentation and Invited Speech Reinventing Computing

The many-core inflection point presents a new challenge for our industry, namely general-purpose parallel computing. Unless this challenge is met, the continued growth and importance of computing itself and of the businesses engaged in it are at risk. We must make parallel programming easier and more generally applicable than it is now, and build hardware and software that will execute arbitrary parallel programs on whatever scale of system the user has. The changes needed to accomplish this are significant and affect computer architecture, the entire software development tool chain, and the army of application developers that will rely on those tools to develop parallel applications. This talk will point out a few of the hard problems that face us and some prospects for addressing them.
Britain, France and the Gothic, 1764–1820: The Impact of Terror; The Fantastic and European Gothic: History, Literature and the French Revolution

These two books, between them surveying dozens of Gothic works published over120 years in Britain and France, reveal how contentiously entwined the two nations were, in politics, culture, literatur...
Suppression of Inhibitory GABAergic Transmission by cAMP Signaling Pathway: Alterations in Learning and Memory Mutants

The cAMP signaling pathway mediates synaptic plasticity and is essential for memory formation in both vertebrates and invertebrates. In the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, mutations in the cAMP pathway lead to impaired olfactory learning. These mutant genes are preferentially expressed in the mushroom body (MB), an anatomical structure essential for learning. While cAMP-mediated synaptic plasticity is known to be involved in facilitation at the excitatory synapses, little is known about its function in GABAergic synaptic plasticity and learning. In this study, using whole-cell patch-clamp techniques on Drosophila primary neuronal cultures, we demonstrate that focal application of an adenylate cyclase activator forskolin (FSK) suppressed inhibitory GABAergic postsynaptic currents (IPSCs). We observed a dual regulatory role of FSK on GABAergic transmission, where it increases overall excitability at GABAergic synapses, while simultaneously acting on postsynaptic GABA receptors to suppress GABAergic IPSCs. Further, we show that cAMP decreased GABAergic IPSCs in a PKA-dependent manner through a postsynaptic mechanism. PKA acts through the modulation of ionotropic GABA receptor sensitivity to the neurotransmitter GABA. This regulation of GABAergic IPSCs is altered in the cAMP pathway and short-term memory mutants dunce and rutabaga, with both showing altered GABA receptor sensitivity. Interestingly, this effect is also conserved in the MB neurons of both these mutants. Thus, our study suggests that alterations in cAMP-mediated GABAergic plasticity, particularly in the MB neurons of cAMP mutants, account for their defects in olfactory learning.