cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Co-localization of glucocorticoid metabolizing and prostaglandin synthesizing enzymes in rat kidney and liver.

Abstract Aims The kidney metabolizes endogenous glucocorticoids using one of 2 isoforms of the enzyme 11s-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase (11s-HSD). 11s-HSD1 is located in the later portion of the proximal tubule and interstitial cells and 11s–HSD2 is found in the mineralocorticoid sensitive collecting duct. Both renal isoforms appear to function as dehydrogenases, inactivating glucocorticoids. Since our laboratory has established that both renal cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 11s-HSD1 co-localize in human kidney, we hypothesized that the two enzymes might functionally interact and influence each other's expression and/or activity. Methods and results Using immuno-histochemistry staining with specific antibodies, both enzymes co-localize in later segments of proximal tubules in rat kidney and in rat hepatocytes. There was no co-localization with 11s-HSD2 in the kidney. The co-localization was confirmed by Western blot and by immuno-precipitation in cultured rat proximal tubular cells (IRPTC). IRPTC incubated with corticosterone 1 µM or with corticosterone 10 nM plus the 11s-HSD inhibitor carbenoxolone 1 µM demonstrated a decrease in the expression of COX-2 by Western blot at 24 h. When IRPTC were exposed to the COX-2 inhibitor, celecoxib, 11s-HSD1 dehydrogenase activity was inhibited in a dose dependent manner with an IC50 of 1.4 µM. Celecoxib 2 µM had minimal effect on reductase activity in liver slices. Conclusions Thus, COX-2 and 11s-HSD1 co-localize in renal proximal tubules and in hepatocytes. In the kidney, each can influence the biological function of the other. The NSAID celecoxib may exert some of its anti-inflammatory effects on the kidney by locally prolonging the biologic half-life of endogenous glucocorticoids.
Conductivity and length relationships in heat‐flow transducer performance

In recent years many investigators have used thermoelectric heat-flow transducers to measure heat conduction in natural soil. If the transducer has thermal properties different from those of the soil it will interfere with the natural heat transfer and an error in measurement will occur. An analysis of the error for a transducer placed in an infinite medium in steady-state conditions is made in terms of two non-dimensional parameters: (1) the ratio of transducer conductivity to soil conductivity, and (2) the ratio of transducer thickness to transducer width. An exponential relationship is postulated on the basis of physical considerations and is verified by the results of an electrical analogy experiment for a square transducer having a thickness-width ratio of 0.125 for conductivity ratios from about 0.1 to 2.2. An error of −70 pct was found for a conductivity ratio of 0.1 and an error of +5 pct for a conductivity ratio of 2.2. The results are used to estimate error in measurements made during the Great Plains Turbulence Field Program.
NADPH Oxidase 4 Mediates Monocyte Priming and Accelerated Chemotaxis Induced by Metabolic Stress

Objective— Metabolic disorders increase monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)-induced monocyte chemotaxis in mice. The goal of this study was to determine the molecular mechanisms responsible for the enhanced responsiveness of monocytes to chemoattractants induced by metabolic stress. Methods and Results— Chronic exposure of monocytes to diabetic conditions induced by human LDL plus high D-glucose concentrations (LDL+HG) promoted NADPH Oxidase 4 (Nox4) expression, increased intracellular H 2 O 2 formation, stimulated protein S -glutathionylation, and increased chemotaxis in response to MCP-1, platelet-derived growth factor B, and RANTES. Both H 2 O 2 added exogenously and overexpression of Nox4 mimicked LDL+HG-induced monocyte priming, whereas Nox4 knockdown protected monocytes against metabolic stress-induced priming and accelerated chemotaxis. Exposure of monocytes to LDL+HG promoted the S -glutathionylation of actin, decreased the F-actin/G-actin ratio, and increased actin remodeling in response to MCP-1. Preventing LDL+HG-induced protein S -glutathionylation by overexpressing glutaredoxin 1 prevented monocyte priming and normalized monocyte chemotaxis in response to MCP-1. Induction of hypercholesterolemia and hyperglycemia in C57BL/6 mice promoted Nox4 expression and protein S -glutathionylation in macrophages, and increased macrophage recruitment into MCP-1–loaded Matrigel plugs implanted subcutaneous in these mice. Conclusion— By increasing actin- S -glutathionylation and remodeling, metabolic stress primes monocytes for chemoattractant-induced transmigration and recruitment to sites of vascular injury. This Nox4-dependent process provides a novel mechanism through which metabolic disorders promote atherogenesis.
Cross-validated detection of crack initiation in aerospace materials

A cross-validated nondestructive evaluation approach was employed to in situ detect the onset of damage in an Aluminum alloy compact tension specimen. The approach consisted of the coordinated use primarily the acoustic emission, combined with the infrared thermography and digital image correlation methods. Both tensile loads were applied and the specimen was continuously monitored using the nondestructive approach. Crack initiation was witnessed visually and was confirmed by the characteristic load drop accompanying the ductile fracture process. The full field deformation map provided by the nondestructive approach validated the formation of a pronounced plasticity zone near the crack tip. At the time of crack initiation, a burst in the temperature field ahead of the crack tip as well as a sudden increase of the acoustic recordings were observed. Although such experiments have been attempted and reported before in the literature, the presented approach provides for the first time a cross-validated nondestructive dataset that can be used for quantitative analyses of the crack initiation information content. It further allows future development of automated procedures for real-time identification of damage precursors including the rarely explored crack incubation stage in fatigue conditions.
Detecting remote evolutionary relationships among proteins by large-scale semantic embedding.

Virtually every molecular biologist has searched a protein or DNA sequence database to find sequences that are evolutionarily related to a given query. Pairwise sequence comparison methods—i.e., measures of similarity between query and target sequences—provide the engine for sequence database search and have been the subject of 30 years of computational research. For the difficult problem of detecting remote evolutionary relationships between protein sequences, the most successful pairwise comparison methods involve building local models (e.g., profile hidden Markov models) of protein sequences. However, recent work in massive data domains like web search and natural language processing demonstrate the advantage of exploiting the global structure of the data space. Motivated by this work, we present a large-scale algorithm called ProtEmbed, which learns an embedding of protein sequences into a low-dimensional “semantic space.” Evolutionarily related proteins are embedded in close proximity, and additional pieces of evidence, such as 3D structural similarity or class labels, can be incorporated into the learning process. We find that ProtEmbed achieves superior accuracy to widely used pairwise sequence methods like PSI-BLAST and HHSearch for remote homology detection; it also outperforms our previous RankProp algorithm, which incorporates global structure in the form of a protein similarity network. Finally, the ProtEmbed embedding space can be visualized, both at the global level and local to a given query, yielding intuition about the structure of protein sequence space.
Socio-cognitive habilitation using the math interactive learning experience program for alcohol-affected children.

Background: Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) has been recognized as a disabling condition with asignificant impact on the neurobehavioral functioning of affected individuals, including cognition,behavior, and academic functioning, but little research has been performed on targeted interventionsfor these children.Methods: A socio-cognitive habilitative program focused on improving behavior and mathfunctioning in children 3 to 10 years of age (n561) was developed and evaluated. The interventionprovided parental instruction on FAS, advocacy, and behavioral regulation via workshops andinteractive math tutoring with children. All families received parental instruction and were then ran-domly assigned to either the math instruction or standard psychoeducational care groups.Results: Satisfaction with workshops was very high, with over 90% agreeing that trainers wereknowledgeable and materials easy to understand and helpful. Significant gains in knowledge werefound for information provided in the instructional groups. At posttesting, caregivers reported fewerproblem behaviors on the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist, Internalizing Problem Behavior,Externalizing Problem Behavior, and Total Problem Behavior summary scales. After 5 months, bothgroups of children demonstrated gains in math knowledge but significantly higher gains were foundin the group receiving direct math instruction. The math treatment group was also more likely todemonstrate a gain of over 1 standard deviation on any of the 4 math outcome measures used.Conclusions: These ﬁndings suggest that parents of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders(FAS(D)) beneﬁtfrominstruction inunderstandingtheir child’salcohol-related neurological damageand strategies to provide positive behavioral supports and that targeted psychoeducational programsmay be able to remediate some of the math deficits associated with prenatal alcohol exposure.Key Words: Prenatal Alcohol, Intervention, Math, Parent Training.
Some nonlinear dynamics of a heated channel

Abstract Linear and nonlinear mathematical stability analyses of parallel channel density wave oscillations are reported. The two phase flow is represented by the drift flux model. A constant characteristic velocity v 0 ∗ is used to make the set of equations dimensionless to ensure the mutual independence of the dimensionless variables and parameters: the steady-state inlet velocity v , the inlet subcooling number N sub and the phase change number N pch . The exact equation for the total channel pressure drop is perturbed about the steady-state for the linear and nonlinear analyses. The surface defining the marginal stability boundary (MSB) is determined in the three-dimensional equilibrium-solution/operating-parameter space v − N sub − N pch . The effects of the void distribution parameter C 0 and the drift velocity V g j on the MSB are examined. The MSB is shown to be sensitive to the value of C 0 and comparison with experimental data shows that the drift flux model with C 0 > 1 predicts the experimental MSB and the neighboring region of stable oscillations (limit cycles) considerably better than do the homogeneous equilibrium model ( C 0 = 1, V g j = 0 ) or a slip flow model. The nonlinear analysis shows that supercritical Hopf bifurcation occurs for the regions of parameter space studied; hence stable oscillatory solutions exist in the linearly unstable region in the vicinity of the MSB. That is, the stable fixed point v becomes unstable and bifurcates to a stable limit cycle as the MSB is crossed by varying N sub and/or N pch .
MOTT-PEIERLS TRANSITION IN THE EXTENDED PEIERLS-HUBBARD MODEL

The one-dimensional extended Peierls-Hubbard model is studied at several band fillings using the density-matrix renormalization-group method. Results show that the ground state evolves from a Mott-Peierls insulator, with a correlation gap at half-filling, to a soliton lattice with a small band gap away from half-filling. It is also confirmed that the ground state of the Peierls-Hubbard model undergoes a transition to a metallic state at finite doping. These results show that electronic correlation effects should be taken into account in theoretical studies of doped polyacetylene. They also show that a Mott-Peierls theory could explain the insulator-metal transition observed in this material.
The mobility of a fluorescent ubiquinone in model lipid membranes. Relevance to mitochondrial electron transport.

The diffusion and location of a functional, fluorescent ubiquinone molecule, NBDHA-Q, were determined as a function of temperature using microscopic observation, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching and fluorescence spectroscopy in protein-free, pure-lipid dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine/cholesterol multibilayers. The data reveal that in a liquid-crystalline membrane (1) ubiquinone is highly mobile, (2) ubiquinone uniformly diffuses laterally with the same diffusion coefficient (3 · 10 −8 cm 2 /s at 25°C) as the phospholipids in which it resides, (3) the diffusion coefficients of ubiquinone and phospholipid both decrease at the exothermic phase transition of the phospholipid, (4) cholesterol affects the diffusion coefficients of ubiquinone and phospholipids to the same degree, (5) cholesterol induces a lateral phase separation progressively excluding ubiquinone from cholesterol-containing domains. These data suggest that ubiquinone does not reside at the membrane surface or in the mid-plane for any appreciable length of time. Rather, the data indicate that ubiquinone is highly mobile laterally and transversely, spending the majority of its time in the acyl chain region of the membrane, where its lateral and transverse diffusion is limited by the lateral diffusion and the transverse microviscosity gradient of the phospholipids and where its lateral location can be affected by the presence of cholesterol. In addition, based upon a comparison of the diffusion coefficients for ubiquinone, phospholipids and mitochondrial redox complexes, we hypothesize that no significant portion of the ubiquinone pool remains bound to redox complexes for any significant length of time relative to that for electron transport as resolvable by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching.
Altered CD31 expression and activity in helper T cells of acute coronary syndrome patients

In acute coronary syndrome (ACS), T cell abnormalities are associated to a worse outcome. Loss of inhibitory activity of CD31, an Ig-like adhesion molecule, on peripheral leukocytes has been found to enhance atherosclerosis in experimental models. In this study, we examined the expression of CD31 on T cells, and its role on TCR signaling in 35 patients with non-ST elevation ACS, in 35 patients with stable angina (SA), and in 35 controls. Furthermore, 10 ACS and 10 SA patients were re-analyzed at 1-year follow-up. Flow-cytometry analysis showed that in ACS patients, CD31 expression was reduced on total CD4(+) and CD4(+)CD28(null) (P < 0.001, ACS vs. SA), on naive (P < 0.001, ACS vs. SA) and on central-memory and effector-memory CD4(+) T cells (P < 0.05, ACS vs. SA and controls). The immunomodulatory effect of CD31 on TCR signaling of CD4(+) and CD4(+)CD28(null) T cells, was lower in ACS than SA patients (P < 0.05, for both comparisons). At 1-year follow-up, CD31 expression and function increased in ACS becoming similar to that found in SA. CD31 recruitment in the immunological synapse was lower in ACS than controls (P = 0.012). Moreover, CD31 modulated MAPK signaling and reduced the expression of T bet and Rorγ-t, necessary for Th1 and Th17 differentiation. Finally, we studied TCR signaling in CD31(+) naive and primed T cell subsets observing a different pattern of protein phosphorylation. A CD31-mediated regulatory pathway is enhanced in SA and temporarily downregulated in ACS. As CD31 modulates both T cell activation, by increasing the threshold for TCR stimulation, and T cell differentiation, it might represent a novel molecular target to treat T cell abnormalities in ACS.
Temporal induction of blackness—I. Color appearance

Abstract Three color-normal observers described the appearance of colors under conditions of temporal induction. One of four inducing fields (unique blue, unique green, unique yellow, unique white) was foveally viewed for 5 sec followed immediately by a 400 msec reference stimulus of the same size (0.75 deg) and spatial location as the inducing field. The reference stimulus was 3 or 5 td and appeared achromatic to the observer when viewed without the inducing field. After presentation of this temporal sequence, the observers described the reference stimulus by assigning percentages to the terms red, green, yellow, blue, white and black. The range of inducing field intensities was −0.4−3.2 log td. Both chromatic and achromatic induction occurred at low illuminance levels of the inducing fields. As the illuminance of the inducing field increased, the reference stimulus gradually became blacker and the chromatic components less prominent. The minimum illuminance level at which the reference appeared 100% black was the same for the four different inducing fields.
S-WAVE SHAPE DEPENDENT SCATTERING PARAMETERS OF THE PROTON-PROTON INTERACTION

The shape-dependent parameters $P$ and $Q$ of the effective-range expansion for the $S$-wave $p\ensuremath{-}p$ interaction have been obtained from experimental data between 0 and 10 MeV, including recent results at 6.141, 8.097, and 9.918 MeV. The preferred best values are $P=0.072\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.005$ and $Q=0.034\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.004$.
Inelastic Proton Scattering from Phosphorus and Zinc

Inelastic proton spectra from targets containing phosphorus and zinc have been studied at bombarding energies of 3.72 and 4.66 Mev using a double-focusing spectrometer. Proton groups have been observed corresponding to levels in ${\mathrm{P}}^{31}$ at 1.264\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.004, 2.230\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.005, 3.134\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.006, and 3.292\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.005 Mev. Excitation curves for these four inelastic groups measured in the region of ${E}_{p}=4.55 \mathrm{to} 4.70$ Mev show the same general resonant structure, although differing in detail. At ${E}_{p}=4.66$ Mev, no additional groups from ${\mathrm{P}}^{31}$ were observed for the excitation region 0 to 1.26 Mev with an intensity greater than 2% of the intensity of the first excited state group.Four inelastic proton groups were observed from zinc. From a comparison with the known level schemes of the zinc isotopes, three of these groups were assigned to the following isotopes: ${\mathrm{Zn}}^{64}$, 0.991\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.005 Mev; ${\mathrm{Zn}}^{66}$, 1.038\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.005 Mev; and ${\mathrm{Zn}}^{68}$, 1.078\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.005 Mev. The remaining group with $Q=\ensuremath{-}1.802\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.005$ Mev remains unassigned.
Geologic Constraints On Seismic Inversion

Velocity model estimation from seismic data using prestack depth migration is an underdetermined problem: there are many subtly different models which are not kinematically equivalent. As these models can give rise to dramatically different interpretations and decisions there is a clear need for a selection criterion in order to choose the best (i.e. geologically most plausible) one. Interpreter guided velocity estimation provides this criterion but is nonreproducible and nonquantifiable while automatic methods (which are reproducible and quantifiable) will find just one out of many kinematically equivalent models and mostly one which is geologically not attractive. Application of geologic constraints in conjunction with inversion by Differential Semblance Optimization produces models that are both geologically appealing, kinematically correct and have a very good fit to observed data.
Enriching chemical space with diversity-oriented synthesis: parallel synthesis of low molecular weight acyclic and heterocyclic compounds from resin-bound polyamides

Abstract Diversity-Oriented Synthesis (DOS), also known as combinatorial synthesis, is a process, by which multiple compounds are generated simultaneously, in a predictable fashion using techniques that involve parallel chemical transformations. Through diversity-oriented synthesis organic chemists are now able to achieve more structural complexity than in the early days of combinatorial chemistry. Combinatorial chemistry techniques offer unique enhancement in the potential identification of new and/or therapeutic candidates. Over the past fifteen years in the design and diversity oriented synthesis of low molecular weight acyclic and heterocyclic combinatorial libraries derived from amino acids, peptides and/or peptidomimetics are described. Employing a “toolbox” of various chemical transformations, the “libraries from libraries” concept has enabled the continued development of an ever-expanding, structurally varied, series of organic chemical libraries.
Blood–Brain Barrier Dysfunction as a Cause and Consequence of Alzheimer's Disease:

The blood–brain barrier (BBB) plays critical roles in the maintenance of central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis. Dysfunction of the BBB occurs in a number of CNS diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). A prevailing hypothesis in the AD field is the amyloid cascade hypothesis that states that amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition in the CNS initiates a cascade of molecular events that cause neurodegeneration, leading to AD onset and progression. In this review, the participation of the BBB in the amyloid cascade and in other mechanisms of AD neurodegeneration will be discussed. We will specifically focus on three aspects of BBB dysfunction: disruption, perturbation of transporters, and secretion of neurotoxic substances by the BBB. We will also discuss the interaction of the BBB with components of the neurovascular unit in relation to AD and the potential contribution of AD risk factors to aspects of BBB dysfunction. From the results discussed herein, we conclude that BBB dysfunction contributes to AD through a number of mechanisms that could be initiated in the presence or absence of Aβ pathology.
The evolutionary genetic underpinnings of schizophrenia: the developmental instability model

The importance of genes in the etiology of schizophrenia is well known, but the manner in which the relevant genomic factors influence neural development and the nature of selection forces operating on these factors are poorly understood. In several prominent papers, Crow has provided a unique and comprehensive theory that attempts to deal with these issues. A central aspect of his theory is that a single gene leads to reduced cerebral lateralization, increased ventricular size, and risk for developing schizophrenia. He relies greatly on Annett's right shift theory of individual variation in handedness. An alternative approach, based on the construct of developmental instability, provides a different way to conceptualize genetic influences, selection forces, and atypical lateralization in schizophrenia. We suggest that the developmental instability model has stronger empirical support and is better grounded in contemporary evolutionary genetics.
Structure-Activity relationships in environmental toxicology and chemistry: Narcosis, electrophile and proelectrophile toxicity mechanisms: Application of SAR and QSAR

A historic account is provided of the development of quantitative structure‒activity relationships (QSARs) for the toxicity of simple nonelectrolyte organic compounds. The aquatic toxicity of many such compounds has been shown to be consistent with a narcosis mechanism involving pseudo‒steady‒state partitioning into a lipoidlike biophase site of action. These data are well fitted to a linear QSAR model involving solely the log P parameter. The toxicity of such nonelectrolytes administered by inhalation yields a linear QSAR based on the oil/gas partition coefficient. In contrast, the toxicity of these substances produced by nonequilibrium routes of administration, such as rat oral LD50, yields a parabolic or bilinear relationship consistent with observations published by Cros in France in 1863. Electrophile toxicants capable of forming covalent adducts with biochemical target molecules are more toxic than predicted by the corresponding narcosis models. Proelectrophile toxicants, which require metabolic activation to electrophiles, are also more toxic than would be predicted by narcosis QSARs.
The sterically crowded four-coordinate copper(I) complexrac-bis[2,2′-bis(1-ethyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)biphenyl]copper(I) trifluoromethanesulfonate toluene solvate dihydrate

The title salt, rac-[Cu(C30H26N4)2](CF3SO3)·C7H8·2H2O, contains Cu(L1)2+ cations, where L1 is 2,2′-bis(1-ethyl­benzimidazol-2-yl)­bi­phenyl, separated by tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate anions, toluene solvent mol­ecules and two water mol­ecules of hydration, only one of which could be defined crystallographically. Chemical and crystallographic evidence are consistent with a second, highly disordered water mol­ecule in the asymmetric unit located in voids of 111 A3. The ligands L1 form two nine-membered chelate rings with the CuI ion, resulting in a Cu[N(imine)]4 coordination geometry which is best described as distorted 222 (D2). Cu—N bond distances in the coordination sphere are long compared with those in other four-coordinate copper(I) structures containing benz­imidazole ligands, possibly owing to the steric bulk associated with the ligands L1. Within each cation, the eight ring systems, consisting of four benz­imidazole and four benzene fragments, are linked together by weak C—H⋯π and C—H⋯N interactions, suggesting that the cations are relatively tightly constrained sterically. The structure, when viewed along the b direction, may be described as a criss-crossed array of alternating cation/toluene and anion/water columns along the b direction arranged parallel to the (102) and (10\overline 2) planes.
Double cycle covers and the Petersen graph

Let O(G) denote the set of odd-degree vertices of a graph G. Let t ϵ N and let t denote the family of graphs G whose edge set has a partition. E(g) = E1 U E2 U … U Etsuch that O(G) = O(G[Ei]) (1 ⩽ i ⩽ t). This partition is associated with a double cycle cover of G. We show that if a graph G is at most 5 edges short of being 4-edge-connected, then exactly one of these holds: G ϵ 3, G has at least one cut-edge, or G is contractible to the Petersen graph. We also improve a sufficient condition of Jaeger for G ϵ 2p+1(p ϵ N).
A comparison of two cloned mouse β-globin genes and their surrounding and intervening sequences

Abstract The BALB/c mouse has two nonallelic β-globin genes that appear to reside on two different Eco R1 fragments of genomic DNA. We have already cloned one of these fragments and shown that the gene encoded within it is interrupted by at least one large intervening sequence of DNA. We have now cloned and characterized the second β-globin gene-containing fragment. The coding sequence of its gene is also interrupted by an intervening sequence of DNA that occurs in about the same position, relative to the coding sequence, as does the first. Because some shared features of the structure of these two genes might be responsible for their coordinate expression and the elimination of their intervening sequences, we have compared their surrounding, coding and intervening sequences by restriction endonuclease analysis and by visualization of the heteroduplex structures formed between them. Of the 7000 bp of sequence compared in this way, we find only a few hundred base pairs of homology in addition to the coding sequence. These shared sequences flank the coding sequence and appear to include only those portions of the intervening sequence immediately adjacent to the interrupted structural gene.
Experimental optimization of transverse jet injector geometries for mixing into a supersonic flow

Preliminary experiments were performed in a supersonic wind tunnel at a Mach number of 3.0 in which transverse injection into a crossflow was optimized. The method is used to find the locations of circular cross section holes which provide optimum mixing. The holes were located on injector disks which could be fabricated on a rapid prototyping stereolithography system. The injected gas, seeded with ethanol vapor, is illuminated at various locations downstream using an ND: YAG pulsed laser providing spanwise images of the injected plume. From these images, quantities such as cross sectional area, penetration depth, and growth rate could be found. This allowed for optimization of two holes using a simulated annealing method which produced improvements in cross sectional area and penetration depth of 83%and 8% respectively from the baseline case consisting of a single, equivalent area injector. Similarly, when optimization of three holes was performed, improvements in cross-sectional area and penetration depth of 65% and 2%, respectively, were found. Also, a figure of merit was calculated which combined these parameters and gave improvements of 43% and 5% for the two and three hole injector scenarios, respectively.
Mass Formula of a Five-dimensional Almost-BPS Supergravity Soliton with a Magnetic "Bolt"

We derive the Smarr formula for a five-dimensional spacetime which has a magnetic “bolt” in its center and is asymptotically R 1,3 ×S 1 . Supersymmetry – and so the BPS-bound – is broken by the holonomy. We show how each topological feature of a space-like hypersurface enters the mass formula and which ones in particular give rise to the violation of the BPS-bound.
'Keeping in the race': physics, publication speed and national publishing strategies in Nature, 1895-1939

By the onset of the Second World War, the British scientific periodical Nature--specifically, Nature's 'Letters to the editor' column--had become a major publication venue for scientists who wished to publish short communications about their latest experimental findings. This paper argues that the Nobel Prize-winning physicist Ernest Rutherford was instrumental in establishing this use of the 'Letters to the editor' column in the early twentieth century. Rutherford's contributions set Nature apart from its fellow scientific weeklies in Britain and helped construct a defining feature of Nature's influence in the twentieth century. Rutherford's participation in the journal influenced his students and colleagues in the field of radioactivity physics and drew physicists like the German Otto Hahn and the American Bertram Borden Boltwood to submit their work to Nature as well, and Nature came to play a major role in spreading news of the latest research in the science of radioactivity. Rutherford and his colleagues established a pattern of submissions to the 'Letters to the editor' that would eventually be adopted by scientists from diverse fields and from laboratories around the world.
Surgical Principles for Children/Adolescents With Newly Diagnosed Rhabdomyosarcoma: A Report from the Soft Tissue Sarcoma Committee of the Children's Oncology Group.

The roles of pediatric surgeons in the treatment of RMS have changed signi”cantly through the years,as other adjuvant therapies have become more ef”cacious.The purpose of this manuscript is todescribe the current surgical therapy recommen-dations of the Soft Tissue Sarcoma Committee of theChildren’s Oncology Group (COG),formerly knownas the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Group(IRSG).
Expression and deletion analysis of the Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense cysteine protease in Escherichia coli.

Abstract Trypanosoma brucei, the cause of African sleeping sickness, differentiates in the mammalian bloodstream from a long, slender trypanosome into a short, stumpy trypanosome. This event is necessary for infection of the tsetse fly and maintenance of the life cycle. We have previously shown that the stumpy form contains 10- to 15-fold-greater cysteine protease activity than either the slender form or the insect midgut procyclic, and we have isolated a cDNA encoding the protease. In order to determine whether the cDNA encodes the developmentally regulated cysteine protease, we have purified the protease from trypanosomes and have made a polyclonal antiserum against it. The trypanosomal protease gene was then expressed in Escherichia coli with three different methionines within the pre- and propeptides acting as initiation sites. In each case, a protein was synthesized that was recognized by an antiserum specific for the developmentally regulated trypanosomal cysteine protease. The protein synthesized from the more upstream initiation site within the propeptide was proteolytically active. The recombinant protease and the trypanosomal enzyme were identical with respect to peptide substrates and protease inhibitors. The protein remained active when synthesized in a truncated form lacking the nine consecutive prolines and carboxy-terminus extension, indicating that the terminal 108 amino acids are not necessary for proteolytic activity.
Parasite Prevalence and the Distribution of Intelligence among the States of the USA.

In this study, we tested the parasite-stress hypothesis for the distribution of intelligence among the USA states: the hypothesis proposes that intelligence emerges from a developmental trade-off between maximizing brain vs. immune function. From this we predicted that among the USA states where infectious disease stress was high, average intelligence would be low and where infectious disease stress was low, average intelligence would be high. As predicted, we found that the correlation between average state IQ and infectious disease stress was − 0.67 (p < 0.0001) across the 50 states. Furthermore, when controlling the effects of wealth and educational variation among states, infectious disease stress was the best predictor of average state IQ.
Processes of Mental Health Service Use by Adolescents with Depression

Purpose: To begin development of a substantive theory of the processes of mental health service use by adolescents who are depressed and by their families. Design: Grounded theory. Methods: Open-ended interviews were conducted with 52 young adults who were depressed as adolescents, four of their parents, and eight professionals who work with adolescents who are depressed. The constant comparison method was used to analyze the data. Findings: Adolescents who are depressed and their families perceived several “treatment pitfalls” associated with formal mental health services: (a) “They'll (mental health clinicians) think I'm crazy,” (b) “They'll tell my business,” and (c) “They won't have a clue.” The adolescents and their families interacted with the mental health care providers by engaging in the psychosocial process of “venturing through the system,” that is, proceeding despite possible dangers and risks by steering clear, holding back, and letting it take hold. Conclusions: Mental health service use by adolescents with depression involved complex and fluid interactional processes among the depressed adolescents, their parents or caretakers, and mental health care providers. Strategies are needed to avoid creating the pitfalls that concern adolescents and their families.
Acquisition Of MRI Equipment By Doctors Drives Up Imaging Use And Spending

Some orthopedists and neurologists acquired their own magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment during the early 2000s. This paper examines changes in imaging use and in overall spending by patients of orthopedists and neurologists who began billing for MRI scans between 1999 and 2005. Results show that physicians ordered substantially more scans once they began billing for MRI. For example, after orthopedists began billing for MRI, the number of MRI procedures used within thirty days of a first visit increased by about 38 percent. Not only did MRI spending increase for their patients, but spending for other aspects of care rose as well. Attention should be paid to ensuring that advanced medical equipment acquired in physician practices is used appropriately.
Scholarly information architecture, 1989 - 2015

If we were to start from scratch today to design a quality-controlled archive and distribution system for scientific and technical information, it could take a very different form from what has evolved in the past decade from pre-existing print infrastructure. Ultimately, we might expect some form of global knowledge network for research communications. Over the next decade, there are many technical and non-technical issues to address along the way, everything from identifying optimal formats and protocols for rendering, indexing, linking, querying, accessing, mining, and transmitting the information, to identifying sociological, legal, financial, and political obstacles to realization of ideal systems. What near-term advances can we expect in automated classification systems, authoring tools, and next-generation document formats to facilitate efficient data mining and long-term archival stability? How will the information be authenticated and quality controlled? What differences should be expected in the realization of these systems for different scientific research fields? Can recent technological advances provide not only more efficient means of accessing and navigating the information, but also more cost-effective means of authentication and quality control? Relevant experiences from open electronic distribution of research materials in physics and related disciplines during the past decade are used to illuminate these questions, and some of their implications for proposals to improve the implementation of peer review are then discussed.
Multiple junction cell characterization using the LBIC method: early results, issues, and pathways to improvement

A Light Beam Induced Current (LBIC) measurement is a non-destructive technique that produces a spatial graphical representation of current response in photovoltaic cells with respect to position when stimulated by a light beam. Generally, a laser beam is used for these measurements because the spot size can be made very small, on the order of microns, and very precise measurements can be made. Sandia National Laboratories Photovoltaic System Evaluation Laboratory (PSEL) uses its LBIC measurement technique to characterize single junction mono-crystalline and multi-crystalline solar cells ranging from miniature to conventional sizes. Sandia has modified the already valuable LBIC technique to enable multi-junction PV cells to be characterized.
A Safety Analysis Framework for COTS Microprocessors in Safety-Critical Applications

The use of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) microprocessors in safety-critical applications poses many challenges for system safety engineers. Due to liability and intellectual property concerns, important details, such as the register transfer level (RTL) implementation of the microprocessor, are often unavailable to those qualifying systems for use in safety-critical applications. Therefore, engineers must rely on high level specifications and other documents in order to prove the safety of using these microprocessors. In this abstract, we describe a microprocessor safety analysis framework that may assist engineers facing this situation. This framework focuses on demonstrating the logical correctness of microprocessors by verifying their features. The five steps of this framework are feature identification, feature risks analysis, feature modeling, feature verification, and safety analysis.
Learning Curve for use of the Sonopet Ultrasonic Aspirator in Endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy

Purpose: The Sonopet Ultrasonic Aspirator is a surgical tool that uses low-frequency ultrasonic vibrations to fragment tissue while simultaneously irrigating and aspirating the surgical field. This technology is becoming more widely used in orbital, lacrimal, neurological, and skull base surgery, but few studies have examined the learning curve associated with adoption of this technology. We present our surgical learning curve, pearls, and pitfalls using the newest generation Sonopet Ultrasonic Aspirator Universal handpiece in endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (eDCR) surgery. Methods: Retrospective chart review of consecutive eDCR surgeries performed by a single surgeon adopting the Sonopet Universal handpiece. Data collected include demographic information, indications for surgery, surgical time, intraoperative findings, anatomic and functional results, and complications. Results: Twenty-six eDCR surgeries in 20 patients were performed from October 2011 – May 2013. Most patients were female (85.7%) with mean age 53.6 years (range 4–84) and mean follow up of 378 days (range 7–761). For routine unilateral and bilateral surgeries, surgery time decreased by 36.4% and 33.9% before reaching a plateau of 67.2 and 80.7 minutes per case, respectively. Mean surgery time for non-sequential unilateral complex cases was 85.1 minutes, which did not vary significantly over the learning curve. We achieved 100% anatomic success and 84.6% functional success. Conclusions: The Sonopet Ultrasonic Aspirator Universal handpiece can be used safely and effectively for eDCR surgery. A significant learning curve exists for adoption of this technology. Appropriate handpiece tip selection and machine setting adjustments are crucial for successful adoption of this technology and avoidance of complications.
The Performance of Point Level Sensors in Liquid Hydrogen

The point level sensor test program described herein was initiated in 1961 by the National Bureau of Standards as part of a state-of-the-art evaluation of cyrogenic instrumentation for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Lewis Research Center, This is a summary of the work reported in quarterly reports to the sponsor and a detailed final report currently in press.
Fellowships in international emergency medicine in the USA: A comparative survey of program directors' and fellows' perspectives on the curriculum

Objective Experts have proposed core curriculum components for international emergency medicine (IEM) fellowships. This study examined perceptions of program directors (PDs) and fellows on whether IEM fellowships cover these components, whether their perspectives differ and the barriers preventing fellowships from covering them. Methods From 1 November 2011 to 30 November 2011, a survey was administered to PDs, current fellows and recent graduates of the 34 US IEM fellowships. Respondents quantified their fellowship experience in six proposed core curriculum areas: emergency medicine (EM) systems development, EM education, humanitarian assistance, public health, emergency medical services and disaster medicine. Analysis was performed regarding what per cent of programmes fulfil the six curriculum areas. A paired t test determined the difference between PDs’ and fellows’ responses. Agreement between PDs and fellows within the same programme was determined using a κ statistic. Results Only 1/18 (6%) (according to fellows) to 2/24 (8%) (according to PDs) of programmes expose fellows to all six components. PDs consistently reported higher exposure than fellows. The difference in mean score between PDs and fellows was statistically significant (p Conclusions While IEM fellowships have varying structure, this study highlights the importance of further discussion between PDs and fellows regarding delineation and objectives of core curriculum components. Transparent curricula and open communication between PDs and fellows may reduce differences in reported experiences.
Late Miocene Activity on San Gabriel Fault as Indicated by Paleoenvironment of Castaic Formation: ABSTRACT

End_Page 1700------------------------------The upper Miocene Castaic Formation was deposited in the Ridge basin along the east side of the San Gabriel fault. Paleoecologic analysis of the Castaic Formation furnished information about the paleotopography along the fault, and provides information about activity on the fault during the late Miocene. The northern part of the Castaic Formation was deposited in an embayment bounded on the west by land extending southward immediately west of the fault to the vicinity of Castaic. Southeastward from Castaic, this positive feature extended as a submarine sill, behind which the maximum water depth in the Castaic basin was not less than 50 fathoms. The microfauna in the mudstones deposited in this silled basin consists of diatoms, radiolaria, normal planktonic forams, and dwarfed and defo med benthic forams. The southern part of the Castaic Formation was deposited on a broad shelf open westward to the Pacific Ocean. Sediments along the southeastern margin of the basin suggest little relief and slight tectonic activity in the areas of the southern Soledad basin and the western San Gabriel Mountains, in contrast to the high relief west of the San Gabriel fault along the northwestern boundary of the Castaic basin. The Castaic Formation was deposited in a normal-marine environment. Lateral faunal variations, interpreted in the past to indicate brackish conditions, are attributed instead to variations in substrate and topography along the basin margin. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1701------------
Mucormycosis in Renal Transplant Patients - A Report of Two Cases and Review of the Literature

SUMMARY Mucormycosis is a rare complication of diabetic ketoacidosis and immunosuppressed states, such as those occurring after renal transplantation. We describe two cases of mucormycosis in renal allograft recipients and present a review of similar cases previously reported. An analysis of these data suggests that renal transplant patients with concomitant diabetes mellitus are most susceptible to developing this complication.
The Effects of Eucalyptus Pollen on Longevity and Fecundity of Eucalyptus Longhorned Borers (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

The longevity and fecundity of adult Phoracantha recurva and Phoracantha semipunctata were strongly affected by diet. Female P. recurva fed a diet of Eucalyptus pollen and sucrose solution lived 34 Ð56% longer than females fed diets containing other types of pollen, ground dog chow, or sucrose solution alone. Diet had no signiÞcant effect on longevity of P. recurva males. Similarly, longevities of P. semipunctata females were increased 48 Ð71% on the Eucalyptus pollen diet compared with the other diets. Male P. semipunctata also lived longer on the Eucalyptus pollen diet than most of the other diets. Fecundity was dramatically affected by diet, with P. recurva females fed the Eucalyptus pollen diet laying4 Ð 8 times more eggs than females on the other diets. Eucalyptus pollen also increased the fecundity of P. semipunctata females 3Ð5-fold. Diet resulted in only minor effects on egg size and percent egg hatch for both beetle species.
Harnessing surface plasmons for solar energy conversion

NASA research on the feasibility of solar-energy conversion using surface plasmons is reviewed, with a focus on inelastic-tunnel-diode techniques for power extraction. The need for more efficient solar converters for planned space missions is indicated, and it is shown that a device with 50-percent efficiency could cost up to 40 times as much per sq cm as current Si cells and still be competitive. The parallel-processing approach using broadband carriers and tunable diodes is explained, and the physics of surface plasmons on metal surfaces is outlined. Technical problems being addressed include phase-matching sunlight to surface plasmons, minimizing ohmic losses and reradiation in energy transport, coupling into the tunnels by mode conversion, and gaining an understanding of the tunnel-diode energy-conversion process. Diagrams illustrating the design concepts are provided.