cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
VLPs Displaying a Single L2 Epitope Induce Broadly Cross-Neutralizing Antibodies against Human Papillomavirus

Background Virus-like Particles (VLPs) display can be used to increase the immunogenicity of heterologous antigens. Here, we report the use of a bacteriophage MS2-based VLP display platform to develop a monovalent vaccine targeting a broadly neutralizing epitope in the minor capsid protein human papillomavirus (HPV) that provides broad protection from diverse HPV types in a mouse pseudovirus infection model. Methodology/Principal Findings Peptides spanning a previously described cross-neutralizing epitope from HPV type 16 were genetically inserted at the N-terminus of MS2 bacteriophage coat protein. Three of the four recombinant L2-coat proteins assembled into VLPs. L2-VLPs elicited high-titer anti-L2 antibodies in mice, similar to recombinant VLPs that we had previously made in which the L2 peptide was displayed on a surface-exposed loop on VLPs of a related bacteriophage, PP7. Somewhat surprisingly, L2-MS2 VLPs elicited antibodies that were much more broadly cross-reactive with L2 peptides from diverse HPV isolates than L2-PP7 VLPs. Similarly, mice immunized with L2-MS2 VLPs were protected from genital and cutaneous infection by highly diverse HPV pseudovirus types. Conclusion/Significance We show that peptides can be displayed in a highly immunogenic fashion at the N-terminus of MS2 coat protein VLPs. A VLP-based vaccine targeting HPV L2 elicits broadly cross-reactive and cross-protective antibodies to heterologous HPV types. L2-VLPs could serve as the basis of a broadly protective second generation HPV vaccine.
Entropy generation analysis of fan-supplied gas cooler within the framework of two-stage CO2 transcritical refrigeration cycle

Abstract Optimization design of heat exchangers based on entropy generation analysis is critical to improve the efficiency of CO 2 refrigeration systems. However, most of the previous studies in this field were focused on individual components that are isolated from the entire system. Little has been done on the component analysis within the framework of entire refrigeration cycle. To probe this important issue, the entropy generation analysis is performed in this study on the fan-supplied gas cooler within a two-stage CO 2 refrigeration system. The optimum circuit length is found by investigating the influences of geometrical parameters such as tube spacing, fin density and tube diameter on the heat transfer rate and entropy generation number of the gas cooler. The designed fan-coil is then put into the frame of the two-stage refrigeration cycle and its energy performance and exergy performance are both evaluated on the system level. The results show that the analysis with isolated gas cooler can lead to overestimated or unrealistic predictions on the heat transfer performance compared to the analysis within the framework of entire cycle.
Breeding dispersal of Mexican Spotted Owls in the Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico

ABSTRACT Dispersal is a key process influencing population dynamics and gene flow in species. Despite this, little is known about breeding dispersal in threatened Mexican Spotted Owls (Strix occidentalis lucida), here defined as movement of a non-juvenile owl between territories where it had the opportunity to breed. We observed 28 cases of breeding dispersal during a study of color-banded Mexican Spotted Owls in the Sacramento Mountains, New Mexico, 2003–2011. This represented 4.9% of total opportunities to disperse (n = 575 observed occasions, range = 0–9.0% of owls dispersing per yr). Breeding dispersal probability was greater for single owls and paired owls whose mate disappeared or moved than for paired owls whose mate remained in the original territory, greater for subadult than for adult owls, and greater for owls that failed to reproduce the year prior to dispersing than for owls that reproduced successfully. There was some evidence that dispersal probability was greater for female owls and th...
Alcohol consumption is associated with alterations in macrophage responses to interferon-γ and infection by Salmonella typhimurium

Abuse of ethanol (EtOH) by human beings and administration of EtOH to experimental animals has been shown to be associated with a suppression of the immune system. Consumption of EtOH has also been associated with an increased incidence and severity of infections of human beings and experimental animals, which has been attributed to the immunosuppression associated with EtOH consumption. It has been shown that EtOH also affects the function of macrophages (MO), which are important effector cells in the innate and adaptive immune responses to infectious agents. The present studies were designed to investigate the effects of EtOH on MO function with an animal model of EtOH consumption. The experiments reported in this paper were done with inflammatory MO and were designed to determine the effects of EtOH on the ability of inflammatory MO to respond to interferon-γ (IFN-γ) to control the intracellular growth of Salmonella typhimurium, as well as the production of proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide. The ability of MO from EtOH-fed mice to respond to bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide (LPS)) and IFN-γ was also evaluated. MO isolated from EtOH-fed mice did not respond as well to IFN-γ as MO isolated from control mice as measured by control of S. typhimurium, as well as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and nitric oxide production. Interleukin (IL)-6 production was not affected. Activation of MO from EtOH-fed mice with LPS and IFN-γ produced levels of nitric oxide and TNF only slightly less than the levels seen in MO from control mice, but a significant decrease in IL-6 was seen when MO from EtOH-fed mice were stimulated with this combination. Flow cytometric analyses showed that IFN-γ receptor expression was not affected by EtOH. Together the data presented in this paper show that consumption of EtOH is associated with changes in inflammatory MO responses to IFN-γ.
Plasmon modes and negative refraction in metal nanowire composites

Optical properties of metal nanowires and nanowire composite materials are studied. An incident electromagnetic wave can effectively couple to the propagating surface plasmon polariton (SPP) modes in metal nanowires resulting in very large local fields. The excited SPP modes depend on the structure of nanowires and their orientation with respect to incident radiation. A nanowire percolation composite is shown to have a broadband spectrum of localized plasmon modes. We also show that a composite of nanowires arranged into parallel pairs can act as a left-handed material with the effective magnetic permeability and dielectric permittivity both negative in the visible and near-infrared spectral ranges.
JiST: an efficient approach to simulation using virtual machines†

Discrete event simulators are important scientific tools and their efficient design and execution is the subject of much research. In this paper, we propose a new approach for constructing simulators that leverages virtual machines and combines advantages from the traditional systems-based and language-based simulator designs. We introduce JiST, a Java-based simulation system that executes discrete event simulations both efficiently and transparently by embedding simulation semantics directly into the Java execution model. The system provides standard benefits that the modern Java runtime affords. In addition, JiST is efficient, out-performing existing highly optimized simulation runtimes. As a case study, we illustrate the practicality of the JiST framework by applying it to the construction of SWANS, a scalable wireless ad hoc network simulator. We simulate million node wireless networks, which represents two orders of magnitude increase in scale over what existing simulators can achieve on equivalent hardware and at the same level of detail. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A model for design of health administration curriculum and instruction or “If you don't know where you're going, any route will take you there”

Faculty members in health administration programs as in other professional programs tend to be trained in content appropriate to their field rather than as educators. Enhancement of the teaching skills of faculty will potentially improve the quality of the students' educational experience. Of particular note is the tendency of faculty to teach at the basic knowledge level and expect students to perform at the application and problem-solving levels. The purpose of this paper is to aid faculty in health administration improve their teaching activities and student evaluation. This goal will be accomplished through presentation of a model for systematic design of curriculum application of this model at the course and lesson levels.
Hemodynamic disturbances in premature infants born after chorioamnionitis: association with cord blood cytokine concentrations.

Chorioamnionitis and elevated cord blood inflammatory cytokine concentrations are associated with detectable disturbances of systemic and cerebral hemodynamics in premature newborns. Fifty-five infants (25-31 wk gestation) were enrolled. Chorioamnionitis was defined by placental histology. IL-6, IL-1beta, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were quantified by ELISA. Blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output, stroke volume, fractional shortening, and middle cerebral artery blood flow velocities were measured at 3 +/- 1 h after birth. Chorioamnionitis was evident in 22 placentas and was associated with increased IL-6 (p or=38.0 degrees C and newborn immature-to-total white blood cell ratio >or=0.4 were associated with significant decreases in left ventricular fractional shortening (p = 0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively). Neither chorioamnionitis nor elevated cytokine concentrations were associated with changes in middle cerebral artery Doppler blood flow velocities. Chorioamnionitis and elevated cord blood IL-6 concentrations are associated with decreased blood pressure in premature newborns. Inflammation of the fetal vessels and nonspecific indicators of infection are associated with disturbances in cardiac function. Infants with chorioamnionitis and elevated cytokine concentrations do not manifest changes in cerebral Doppler indices within the first few postnatal hours. We speculate that cytokine-associated systemic hemodynamic disturbances in premature infants born after chorioamnionitis predispose such infants to perinatal brain injury.
Reconciling Justice and Pleasure in Epicurean Contractarianism

Epicurean contractarianism is an attempt to reconcile individualistic hedonism with a robust account of justice. The pursuit of pleasure and the requirements of justice, however, have seemed to be incompatible to many commentators, both ancient and modern. It is not clear how it is possible to reconcile hedonism with the demands of justice. Furthermore, it is not clear why, even if Epicurean contractarianism is possible, it would be necessary for Epicureans to endorse a social contract. I argue here that Epicurean contractarianism is both possible and necessary once we understand Epicurean practical rationality in a new way. We are left with an appealing version of teleological, individualistic contractarianism that is significantly different from Hobbesian contractarianism.
An accelerated program in computer science

This paper is in the nature of a preliminary report on a pilot project aimed at developing quality instructional materials in three basic areas of computer science (problem solving and programming, hardware and software) for presentation in a concentrated manner. A total of 162 90-minute (54 periods per area) class periods in a classroom environment and an equal amount of supervised workshop study are contemplated. It is expected that the project implementation would extend the capability of the computer science departments across the nation to offer a unique opportunity to students to earn a special minor in computer science and/or to prepare for entering a computer science graduate program - all in the shortest possible time. The courses were offered for the first time during the summer of 1981. The course outlines, the background of the participants and other details of the project are included in the paper.
Nasal drug delivery system of a quaternary ammonium compound: clofilium tosylate

The blood levels of the [14C]clofilium ion in rats after various routes of administration of clofilium tosylate were compared. The results indicate that the blood levels after nasal administration were not statistically different from levels after intravenous administration (p > 0.05). Administration by the oral route resulted in considerably lower blood levels. Nasal administration of clofilium tosylate appeared to be superior to oral administration. Histological examinations of nasal mucosa were conducted. At the lower concentration, mild necrosis was observed, and large areas of mucosa were unaffected. However, necrosis of large areas of mucosa occurred after exposure to the higher concentration. Levels of radioactivity in heart, liver, lung, and kidney tissue, as a function of time, were also studied. Unlike the blood levels after nasal administration, the levels of radioactivity were persistent in heart tissue. The data suggest that the [14C]clofilium ion and/or metabolite concentrate in the heart and that blood levels of radioactivity may not be an accurate index of cardiac levels or biological response.
Benzyl 2,3,4,6-tetra­methyl­benzoate

In the title compound, C18H20O2, the C(=O)O group is twisted by 68.1 (1)° from the plane of the 2,3,4,6-tetra­methyl­benzyl ring. The methyl­ene C atom is almost coplanar with the carbonylate group.
Discrete cosine transform(DCT)-based reconfigurable system design

In this paper, a DCT-based image processing system is developed on Xilinx Spartan3E Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) device using embedded development kit (EDK) tools from Xilinx. Two different hardware architectures of two-dimensional (2-D) DCT have been implemented as a coprocessor in an embedded system. One is direct implementation of 2-D DCT by cascading two 1-D DCT. Another is 2-D DCT implementation with control and architecture optimization. In addition, the hardware cost of these two architectures is compared for benchmark images.
Disordered polaron transport: a theoretical description of the motion of photoinjected charges in molecularly doped polymers

Abstract We present a model for the description of the temperature and concentration dependence of the mobility of photoinjected charge carriers in molecularly doped polymers on the basis of polaron transport in disordered media. We develop an existing variable range hopping technique to incorporate excluded volume effects which can be of importance in molecularly doped polymers, use the technique in conjunction with a Gaussian distribution of site energies in the polymeric solid, apply the formalism to calculate the mobility and address recent observations on hole motion in TPD and TTA in polycarbonate matrices. We show that the competition between spatial and energetic disorder can provide a reasonable mechanism for the observed concentration dependence of the activation energy for charge transport. Our theory thus provides an alternative to a recently proposed explanation based on an adiabatic-diabatic polaron transition.
l(+)-Lactic acid production from corncobs by Rhizopus oryzae NRRL-395

Abstract Corncobs were used as a substrate for production of l (+)-lactic acid by Rhyzopus oryzae NRRL-395. The concentrations of CaCO3, corncobs and Rapidase Pomaliq, a commercial apple juice processing enzyme preparation were found to significantly enhance lactic acid production by the mold. Under optimal conditions (0.2 g/100 mL CaCO3, 0.5 mL/100 mL Rapidase Pomaliq, and 5 g/100 mL corncobs), R. oryzae NRRL-395 yielded 299.4±6.8 g per kg dry matter of corncobs after 48 h of fermentation at 30°C.
S(anger) Goes Postal in The Woman Rebel: Angry Rhetoric as a Collectivizing Moral Emotion

This essay maintains that the intensive anger that scholars have dismissed in Margaret Sanger’s The Woman Rebel functioned rhetorically to redefine morality in the Progressive Era. After advancing a theory of angry rhetoric as a public moral emotion, I offer a reading strategy of emotional adherence to track anger’s diffuse discursive power in The Woman Rebel . The angry rhetoric of The Woman Rebel not only laid a new cultural ideal for the morality of contraception, it also constituted a militant identity for those oriented by their anger at The Woman Rebel’ s suppression and Sanger’s criminal indictments. This essay closes by meditating upon the lasting role that anger has played in energizing the International Planned Parenthood Federation over the past 60 years.
The undervalued self: social class and self-evaluation.

Social class ranks people on the social ladder of society, and in this research we examine how perceptions of economic standing shape the way that individuals evaluate the self. Given that reminders of one’s own subordinate status in society are an indicator of how society values the self in comparison to others, we predicted that chronic lower perceptions of economic standing rank vis-a-vis others would explain associations between objective social class and negative self-evaluation, whereas situation-specific reminders of low economic standing would elicit negative self-evaluations, particularly in those from lower-class backgrounds. In Study 1, perceptions of social class rank accounted for the positive relationship between objective material resource measures of social class and self-esteem. In Study 2, lower-class individuals who received a low (versus equal) share of economic resources in an economic game scenario reported more negative self-conscious emotions relative to upper-class individuals. Discussion focused on the implications of this research for understanding class-based cultural models of the self, and for how social class shapes self-evaluations chronically.
Participants' perceptions of ethical issues in research with humans.

The recent concern about ethical issues in research with human subjects has fostered an interest in learning more through empirical methods. The present study provides information from potential participants regarding (1) their perception of the likelihood of physical or emotional harm from various experimental procedures and (2) their willingness to participate in experiments using such procedures. Responses were obtained from 1,586 students in introductory psychology classes and were analyzed on the basis of the respondents' age, sex, class standing, and academic major. Besides providing normative data from a typical subject pool, the present study suggests a method of using a research questionnaire as a way of minimizing the chances of offending individual subjects.
SU‐FF‐T‐301: Monte Carlo Computed Dose Kernels and Convolution Dose Calculations for Rapid Internal Dosimetry

Purpose: To compute tissue specific dose kernels using Monte Carlo(MC) methods for a variety of gamma‐emitting radioisotopes to enable a rapid and accurate determination of organdoses from internal irradiation based on convolution dose algorithms. This is a part of the effort to develop countermeasures in response to a radiological terrorism or accident. Methods and Materials: The EGSnrc Monte Carlo system was used to generate dose kernels in four types of materials (soft tissue,lung, bone, and air) for a series of possible isotopes that may be encountered in radiological terrorism. The list of isotopes includes: Cs‐137, Ir‐192, I‐125, I‐123, I‐131, In‐111, Tc‐99m, Tl‐201, Xe‐133, and Sr/Y‐90. Both gamma and beta emissions were considered for each. The dose kernels were constructed by extracting relative doses from the distributions generated by the EGSnrc simulations for each of the radioisotopes. These tissue‐specific and isotope‐dependent dose kernels are used in the convolution dose calculation algorithm. A software tool was developed with Matlab for rapid dose computation based on the algorithm. Preliminary comparisons were done. Results: The dose kernels the radioisotopes in four media were generated, and the convolution algorithm was constructed with these kernels. The 3D dose distributions calculated with the convolution algorithms for three isotopes I‐131, I‐125, and Cs‐137 distributed spatially in a heterogeneous phantom and a patient CT dataset were found to agree within 5% with those directly calculated with the MC method. The computing times for the convolution algorithm were a few minutes using a Pentium4 CPU and were at least 40 times shorter than those from the MC simulations.Conclusion: The tissue‐specific dose kernels are generated for a variety of possible radioisotopes that may be encountered in terrorism. The dose calculations using the convolution algorithm based on these kernels are fast and agree with the direct MC simulations.
Organelle Targeting of Myosin XI Is Mediated by Two Globular Tail Subdomains with Separate Cargo Binding Sites

Myosin XI are actin-based molecular motors that are thought to drive organelle movements in plants, analogous to myosin V in animals and fungi. Similar domain structure of these myosins suggests that binding to organelles may occur via the globular tail domain in both types of motors, even though sequence similarity is low. To address this hypothesis, we developed a structure homology model for the globular tail of MYA1, a myosin XI from Arabidopsis, based on the known structure of yeast myosin V (Myo2p) globular tail. This model suggested an interaction between two subdomains of the globular tail which was verified by yeast two-hybrid assay and by in vivo bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC). Interface mapping demonstrated that this subdomain interaction depends critically on the C terminus of helix H6 as well as three specific residues in helices H3 and H15, consistent with the structural prediction. The reconstituted globular tails of several Arabidopsis myosin XIs in BiFC assays targeted to peroxisomes in plant cells, identifying this domain as sufficient for cargo binding. Unlike myosin V, either subdomain of myosin XI alone was targeting-competent and responsible for association with different organelles. In addition, our data suggest that organelle binding is regulated by an allosteric interaction between two tail subdomains. We conclude that the globular tail of myosin XI shares a similar structure with that of myosin V, but has evolved plant-specific cargo binding mechanisms.
Use of fiber optic sensors and recurrence quantification analysis in detecting and localizing damage in a thin steel plate

A new algorithm is presented for detecting damage in structures subject to ambient or applied excitation. The approach is derived from an attractor-based technique for detecting nonstationarity in time series data and is referred to as recurrence quantification analysis (RQA). Time series data collected from the structure are used to reconstruct the system's dynamical attractor in phase space. The practitioner then quantifies the probabilities that a given trajectory will visit local regions in this phase space. This is accomplished by forming a binary matrix consisting of all points that fall within some predefined radius of each point on the attractor. The resulting recurrence plot reflects correlations in the time series across all available time scales in a probabilistic fashion. Based on the structure found in recurrence plots a variety of metrics are extracted including: percentage of recurrence points, a measure reflecting determinism, and entropy. These "features" are then used to detect and track damage-induced changes to the structure's vibrational response. The approach is demonstrated experimentally in diagnosing the length of a crack in a thin steel plate. Structural response data are recorded from multiple locations on the plate using a novel fiber-based sensing system.
Assessment of left ventricular function: comparison of cardiac multidetector-row computed tomography with two-dimension standard echocardiography for assessment of left ventricular function

Objective To compare global Left Ventricular (LV) systolic function assessment by 16-detector row Computed Tomography (MDCT) with Two-Dimensional Standard Echocardiography (2DSE) in a routine cardiology practice setting and to ascertain the degree of correlation between LV volumes and measurements obtained by 2DSE with those measured by MDCT.
Complexity of unification problems with associative-commutative operators

The unification problem for terms containing associative and commutative functions is of importance in theorem provers based on term rewriting and resolution methods as well as in logic programming. The complexity of determining whether two such terms are unifiable was known to be NP-hard. It is proved that the problem is NP-complete by describing a nondeterministic polynomial time algorithm for it. The case where the terms are linear and have no common variables is shown to be in P. The NP-completeness of other similar unification problems, in particular, when a function symbol is also idempotent and/or has a unit (identity), is also discussed. Finally, a table of the complexity of E-matching and E-unification problems is given.
Cesium as an activatable tracer for studying biological intrusion of plant roots into waste burial areas

This pape discusses the use, of stable Cs as an activatable tracer for measuring performance of plant root intrusion barriers for solid waste disposal site cover systems. Experiments conducted at small-scale demonstrate the effectiveness and practicality of the technique and suggest that the methodology has application to a better understanding of plant root ecology.
Quantifying Intermediates in Template-Directed Natural Product Biosynthesis

High-performance mass spectrometry is providing new experimental windows into the enzymology of natural product biosynthesis. The first quantitative assessments of covalently attached biosynthetic intermediates promise to shine new light on template-directed biosynthesis.
3-D printing: The new industrial revolution

Abstract This article examines the characteristics and applications of 3-D printing and compares it with mass customization and other manufacturing processes. 3-D printing enables small quantities of customized goods to be produced at relatively low costs. While currently used primarily to manufacture prototypes and mockups, a number of promising applications exist in the production of replacement parts, dental crowns, and artificial limbs, as well as in bridge manufacturing. 3-D printing has been compared to such disruptive technologies as digital books and music downloads that enable consumers to order their selections online, allow firms to profitably serve small market segments, and enable companies to operate with little or no unsold finished goods inventory. Some experts have also argued that 3-D printing will significantly reduce the advantages of producing small lot sizes in low-wage countries via reduced need for factory workers.
“What are the Yanks Doing?” The U.S. Experience with Implantable Gastric Stimulation (IGS) for the Treatment of Obesity — Update on the Ongoing Clinical Trials

Abstract The prevalence of obesity is growing worldwide. Medical therapies are often ineffective, and surgical treatments have significant risk. IGS® offers a novel approach to weight loss that was found to be safe and effective in European trials. In the U.S., 2 consecutive trials have been undertaken. In 2000, a multicenter, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving 103 morbidly obese patients (U.S. O-01) was undertaken. In 2002, a prospective, open label trial involving 30 morbidly obese patients was initiated (DIGEST). Patients were followed for complications, postoperative untoward events, and weight loss. In O-01, there were no significant perioperative complications. However, 20 patients were found to have had lead dislodgements. At 7 months, there was no significant difference in weight loss between the activated and non-activated groups. After 29 months, loss of excess weight (EWL) approached 20%. With DIGEST, there was 1 operative complication (a lost needle retrieved surgically). There were no untoward events or known lead dislodgements. EWL was 23% after only 16 months follow-up. With the introduction of a preoperative screening algorithm, almost 40% EWL was achieved for selected patients in both trials. In the U.S., the IGS system for the treatment of obesity has been shown to be safe. Technical improvements and better patient selection resulted in improved weight loss. The preliminary results of these trials suggest that IGS may be a suitable surgical option for selected patients.
NEURONAL MECHANISMS IN SWALLOWING.

1. Neuronal mechanisms of swallowing were investigated by means of single fiber recordings from afferent (superior laryngeal) and efferent (hypoglossal and vagus) nerves and by means of extracellular micro-electrode recordings from nerve cells in the solitarius, ambiguus and hypoglossus nuclei in unanesthetized, midcollicularly decerebrate cats. 2. Afferent fibers showed a great variety of patterns of discharge during swallowing and the same was true for nerve cells in nucleus solitarius. Efferent fibers, on the other hand, and nerve cells in ambiguus and hypoglossal nuclei showed much less variability, their response consisting primarily of a short burst of action potentials synchronous with activity in geniohyoid muscle. 3. Gallamine-induced motor paralysis abolished all swallowing response of afferent nerve fibers and of nerve cells in nucleus solitarius but left unchanged that of efferent fibers and of nerve cells of ambiguus and hypoglossus nuclei. Motor paralysis did not alter the response of nerve fibers or cells to electrical and mechanical stimulation of mucosa and deeper structures in the oropharyngeal cavity. 4. Nerve cells in ambiguus and hypoglossus nuclei could be divided into two groups. One consisted of nerve cells which were “silent” when first encountered but became momentarily active during swallowing. The second group comprised nerve cells discharging rhythmically in phase with respiration, also producing a short burst of action potentials during swallowing. Response of the latter group to swallowing disappeared when the animal was asphyxiated but that of nerve cells in the first group and efferent fibers of hypoglossal and vagus nerves persisted. 5. The functional organization of nerve cells controlling swallowing and its relationship with central respiratory mechanisms is discussed.
Atomic Hyperfine Structure. II. First-Order Wave Functions for the Ground States of B,C,N,O, and F

Ab initio computations of hyperfine structure have been made for the ground states of B, C, N, O, and F using a first-order wave function designed to include the strongly structure-dependent part of the electron distribution. The magnetic hyperfine constants are in poorer agreement with experiment than for the previously studied and less extensive polarization wave functions, but the discrepancies are more uniform, particularly for the spin density at the nucleus.
Detection and characterization of uranium–humic complexes during 1D transport studies

Abstract The speciation and transport of uranium (VI) through porous media is highly dependent on solution conditions, the presence of complexing ligands, and the nature of the porous media. The dependency on many variables makes prediction of U transport in bench-scale experiments and in the field difficult. In particular, the identification of colloidal U phases poses a technical challenge. Transport of U in the presence and absence of natural organic matter (Suwannee River humic acid, SRHA) through silica sand and hematite coated silica sand was tested at pH 4 and 5 using static columns, where flow is controlled by gravity and residence time between advective pore volume exchanges can be strictly controlled. The column effluents were characterized by traditional techniques including ICPMS quantification of total [U] and [Fe], TOC analysis of [DOC], and pH analysis, and also by non-traditional techniques: flow field flow fractionation with online ICPMS detection (FlFFF-ICPMS) and specific UV absorbance (SUVA) characterization of effluent fractions. Key results include that the transport of U through the columns was enhanced by pre-equilibration with SRHA, and previously deposited U was remobilized by the addition of SRHA. The advanced techniques yielded important insights on the mechanisms of transport: FlFFF-ICPMS identified a U–SRHA complex as the mobile U species and directly quantified relative amounts of the complex, while specific UV absorbance (SUVA) measurements indicated a composition-based fractionation onto the porous media.
Naltrexone dampens ethanol-induced cardiovascular and hypothalamic- pituitary-adrenal axis activation.

Alcohol ingestion activates the autonomic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. This study examined naltrexone effects on alcohol-induced increases in physiological responses and their association with alcohol liking. Using a within-subjects design, heavy drinking men (N = 19) were maintained on each of three naltrexone doses (0, 50, and 100 mg, p.o.) over an 8-day inpatient stay. Within each naltrexone dose, subjects had three alcohol challenge sessions (none, moderate, high) in random order. Autonomic, subjective and endocrine measurements were collected regularly prior to and following alcohol administration. High-dose alcohol ingestion increased heart rate, diastolic blood pressure, skin temperature, ACTH, cortisol and liking of drink effects; responses following the moderate alcohol dose were less consistent. Naltrexone significantly dampened alcohol-induced increases in heart rate, diastolic blood pressure, hormone levels and subjective liking of drink effects. This dampening of cardiovascular and hormonal responses may contribute to the therapeutic effectiveness of naltrexone for reducing alcohol liking and decreasing relapse in alcohol-dependent persons.
Cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni and Plants: Attempt to penetrate Phaseolus vulgaris and Hedychium coronarium produces a Cercaricide

DURING the development of a method for evaluating the penetration of the cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni1, a large percentage of the larvae were observed to penetrate the skin of dead as well as living mice. In addition, many cercariae attacked isolated mouse tissue, as had previously been reported2. Furthermore, similar numbers of cercariae entered the skin of a wide variety of rodents regardless of whether or not the animals were hosts within which the larvae could complete their life cycle3. It is well known that avian schistosomes penetrate mammalian skin where they die; in man this results in a severe dermatitis known as “swimmer's itch”4. Thus these organisms seem to be bereft of any discriminatory mechanism in their attack on mammalian tissues. In the plant kingdom, cercariae were observed to attempt to penetrate the integument of the green string bean, Phaseolus vulgaris, lose their tails in the process and thereby immobilize themselves. Investigation of eighty-one aquatic plants failed to reveal a similar penetration phenomenon, but resulted in the discovery of a cercaricidal substance which exuded from the cut stem of the white butterfly lily, Hedychium coronarium.
Synthesis of the first rotaxane containing a paracyclophane ring

Abstract A rotaxane, formed in ∼50% yield via the standard threading procedure, exhibits profound changes in the NMR spectrum which are attributed to magnetic anisotropy caused by aromatic rings in the trityl groups and the [2.18] paracyclophane.
Evaluation of Small Amounts of Synthetic Rubber

Abstract In research on rubber synthesis, as in any broad program of chemical research, it is a distinct advantage to be able to do all work on a normal laboratory or test-tube scale. With rubber, however, the standard laboratory testing methods require from 200 to 500 grams of rubber for each batch. Hence it was obvious that, if the advantages of small-scale work in the preparational stages were to be realized, a new technique of rubber testing would have to be developed. The use of entirely new and unrelated procedures has two definite objections. In the first place the new procedures must be thoroughly tested and compared with the older methods of testing or with the processing and use requirements of the new rubbers. In the second place the significance of the results of such new tests can be conveyed, even to experienced rubber technologists, only after considerable interpretation of the methods. It seemed best, therefore, to modify standard rubber-testing methods so that they could be applied to ver...
Enhancement of Design and Manufacturing Curriculum Through Rapid Prototyping Practices

Advances in computer technology opened new horizons in teaching Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) technologies. This paper will report the outcomes of two current NSF grants, 0311586 and 0302314, funded on Rapid Prototyping (RP) curriculum development. The objective of these RP projects is to provide advanced instruction and laboratory practices in the areas of CAD/CAM/CAE through challenging laboratory assignments and industrial projects that are integrated into any engineering curriculum. These projects create web-based materials, and also adapt and implement RP experiences and educational practices following successful similar models at various engineering schools to enhance pedagogy in design and manufacturing curriculum. Enhanced RP capabilities enable the students to build physical models directly from CAD data, where the prototype communicates important information about parts, including engineering data such as fit and limited functional testing, labeling, highlighting, and appearance simulation. Developed RP labs are used in junior and senior level design and manufacturing courses, including the senior capstone courses.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
The trochlear pre-ossification center: a normal developmental stage and potential pitfall on MR images

The hypertrophic changes that occur in the cartilage of an epiphysis prior to the onset of ossification are known as the pre-ossification center. Awareness of the appearance of the pre-ossification center on MR images is important to avoid confusing normal developmental changes with pathology. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of the trochlear pre-ossification center on MR imaging and examine age and gender differences. We retrospectively analyzed MR images from 61 children. The trochleas were categorized into three types on the basis of signal intensity (SI). Trochlear types were compared to age and gender. There was no significant difference between the ages of boys and girls. Type 1 trochleas showed homogeneous SI on all pulse sequences. Type 2 trochleas demonstrated a focus of high SI in the epiphyseal cartilage on fat-suppressed water-sensitive sequences, with high or intermediate SI on gradient-echo images (pre-ossification center). Type 3 trochleas showed low SI on fat-suppressed water-sensitive sequences and gradient-echo images. Thirty-seven trochleas were described as type 1, sixteen as type 2 and eight as type 3. ANOVAs confirmed a statistically significant difference in the age of children with type 3 trochleas and those with types 1 and 2 (P < 0.001). Spearman rank correlations determined a positive relationship between trochlear type and age of the children (r = 0.53). Development-related changes in the trochlea follow a predictable pattern. The signal characteristics of the pre-ossification center likely reflect normal chondrocyte hypertrophy and an increase in free water in the matrix.
Climatologists' Communication of Climate Science to the Agricultural Sector

Farming is a risky business. Climate science information can assist agriculture in formulating management decisions that hedge against uncertainty and risks. Climatologists are key actors in communicating historical trends and forecast information. Interviews and surveys of climatologists in the North Central Region reveal that they are providing accurate and objective information but are likely to let the science speak for itself. This suggests missed opportunities to communicate climate science in ways that make science relevant to decision maker beliefs, values, and practical applications. Furthermore, more active engagement with agriculture could increase colearning necessary for effective adaptive management under increasingly variable climate conditions.
Seamount volcanism along the Gakkel Ridge, Arctic Ocean

SUMMARY The Gakkel Ridge in the Arctic Ocean is the slowest spreading portion of the global midocean ridge system. Total spreading rates vary from 12.8 mm yr −1 near Greenland to 6.5 mm yr −1 at the Siberian margin. Melting models predict a dramatic decrease in magma production and resulting crustal thickness at these low spreading rates. At slow spreading ridges, small volcanic seamounts are a dominant morphologic feature of the rift valley floor and an important mechanism in building the oceanic crust. This study quantitatively investigates the extent, nature and distribution of seamount volcanism at the ultraslow Gakkel Ridge, the manner in which it varies along the ridge axis and the relationship of the volcanoes to the larger scale rift morphology. A numerical algorithm is used to identify and characterize isolated volcanic edifices by searching gridded swath-bathymetry data for closed concentric contours protruding above the surrounding seafloor. A maximum likelihood model is used to estimate the total number of seamounts and the characteristic height within different seamount populations. Both the number and size of constructional volcanic features is greatly reduced at the Gakkel Ridge compared with the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR). The density of seamounts (number/area) on the rift valley floor of the Western Volcanic Zone (WVZ) is ∼55% that of the MAR. The observed volcanoes are also much smaller, so, the amount of erupted material is greatly reduced compared with the MAR. However, the WVZ is still able to maintain a MAR-like morphology with axial volcanic ridges, volcanoes scattered on the valley floor and rift valley walls consisting of high-angle faults. Seamount density at the Eastern Volcanic Zone (EVZ) is ∼45% that of the WVZ (∼25% that of the MAR). Seamounts are clustered at the widely spaced magmatic centres characteristic of the EVZ, although some seamounts are found between magmatic centres. These seamounts tend to be located at the edge of the rift valley or on the valley walls rather than on the valley floor. Seamounts in the Sparsely Magmatic Zone (SMZ) are located almost entirely at the 19 ◦ E magmatic centre with none observed within a 185 km-long portion of the rift valley floor. The EVZ and SMZ appear to display a mode of crustal accretion, characterized by extreme focusing of melt to the magmatic centres. Magmas erupted between the magmatic centres appear to have ascended along faults. This is very different from what is observed at the WVZ (or the MAR), and there is a threshold transition between the two modes of crustal accretion. At the Gakkel Ridge, the location of the transition appears to be localized by a boundary in mantle composition.
Cytogenetic evaluation of functionalized single‐walled carbon nanotube in mice bone marrow cells

With their unique structure and physicochemical properties, single\-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have many potential new applications in medicine and industry. However, there is lack of detailed information concerning their impact on human health and the environment. The aim of this study was to assess the effects, after intraperitoneal injection of functionalized SWCNTs (f-SWCNT) on the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), frequency of structural chromosomal aberrations (SCA), frequency of micronuclei induction, mitotic index, and DNA damage in Swiss-Webster mice. Three doses of f-SWCNTs (0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 mg/kg) and two controls (negative and positive) were administered to mice, once a day for 5 days. Bone marrow and peripheral blood samples were collected 24 h after the last treatment following standard protocols. F-SWCNT exposure significantly enhanced ROS, increased (p < 0.05) the number of SCA and the frequency of micronucleated cells, increased DNA damage, and decreased the mitotic index in exposed groups compared to negative control. The scientific findings reported here suggest that purified f-SWCNT have the potential to induce oxidative stress mediated genotoxicity in Swiss-Webster mice at higher level of exposure. Further characterization of their systemic toxicity, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity is also essential. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 31: 1091-1102, 2016.
Inorganic Phosphorus Uptake in a Carbonate-dominated Seagrass Ecosystem

Seasonal phosphate (Pi) uptake kinetics were determined using chambers encompassing the water column, sediment and the entire system (water column + sediment + seagrass/epiphyte) in Florida Bay (FB) during 2003–2006 and on the Little Bahama Bank (LBB) during a cruise June, 2004. Pi uptake was a linear function of concentration at low Pi levels ( 2,800 x 10-6 m s-1) measured. Phytoplankton accounted for 88% of this sequestered Pi with only 12% in the acid extractable fraction, likely as calcium bound and/or adsorbed P, and only 1% attributable to small heterotrophs. When chl α levels declined (2 μg I-1) Pi uptake was still dominated by phytoplankton (77%), the acid extractable pool increased (18%) and the heterotrophic community became more important (22%). In carbonate-dominated seagrass systems, Pi is primarily taken up by the water column biota and is subsequently remineralized/hydrolyzed in the water column or settles to the benthos where it becomes available to benthic primary producers.
Physical factors influencing the distribution of a top predator in a subtropical oligotrophic estuary.

We used longline fishing to determine the effects of distance from the ocean, season, and short-term variation in abiotic conditions on the abundance of juvenile bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) in an estuary of the Florida Everglades, U.S.A. Logistic regression revealed that young-of-the-year sharks were concentrated at a protected site 20 km upstream and were present in greater abundance when dissolved oxygen (DO) levels were high. For older juvenile sharks (age 1+), DO levels had the greatest influence on catch probabilities followed by distance from the ocean; they were most likely to be caught at sites with .3.5 mg L21 DO and on the main branch of the river 20 km upstream. Salinity had a relatively small effect on catch rates and there were no seasonal shifts in shark distribution. Our results highlight the importance of considering DO as a possible driver of top predator distributions in estuaries, even in the absence of hypoxia. In Everglades estuaries hydrological drivers that affect DO levels (e.g., groundwater discharge, modification of primary productivity through nutrient fluxes) will be important in determining shark distributions, and the effects of planned ecosystem restoration efforts on bull sharks will not simply be mediated by changing salinity regimes and the location of the oligohaline zone. More generally, variation in DO levels could structure the nature and spatiotemporal pattern of top predator effects in the coastal Everglades, and other tropical and subtropical estuaries, because of interspecific variation in reliance on DO within the top predator guild.