cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Strain-induced pseudo-magnetic fields and charging effects on CVD-grown graphene☆

Atomically resolved imaging and spectroscopic characteristics of graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) on copper are investigated by means of scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy (STM/STS). For CVD-grown graphene remaining on the copper substrate, the monolayer carbon structures exhibit ripples and appear strongly strained, with different regions exhibiting different lattice structures and electronic density of states (DOS). In particular, ridges appear along the boundaries of different lattice structures, which exhibit excess charging effects. Additionally, the large and non-uniform strain induces pseudo-magnetic field up to ~ 50 T, as manifested by the DOS peaks at quantized energies that correspond to pseudo-magnetic field-induced integer and fractional Landau levels. In contrast, for graphene transferred from copper to SiO_2 substrates after the CVD growth, the average strain on the whole diminishes, so do the corresponding charging effects and pseudo-magnetic fields except for sample areas near topological defects. These findings suggest feasible nano-scale “strain engineering” of the electronic states of graphene by proper design of the substrates and growth conditions.
Platelet adhesion/aggregation in an in vitro model of coronary artery stenosis.

Platelet adhesion/aggregation (PAA) at a site of coronary artery stenosis is believed to be a process strongly modulated by local shear rates and the functional state of neighboring endothelium. One purpose of the present work, therefore, is to describe an in vitro model for the direct imaging of such PAA. Another is to apply the model to the question as to whether the use of nonionic vs. ionic contrast media (CM) in the presence of vascular endothelium contributes to PAA at the stenosis site. Toward these ends, we utilized a special flow chamber which incorporates a monolayer of endothelial cells (ECs), a step 66% flowpath constriction at a site preadsorbed with microfibrillar collagen, and arterial shear rates. By epifluorescence microscopy and digital image analysis of video recordings, PAA was found to be greater with dysfunctional ECs (pretreated with lysine acetylsalicylate) than with normal ECs, thereby confirming a modulatory role in PAA of functionally intact ECs. When nonionic (iohexol) or ionic (ioxaglate, diatrizoate) CM was added to the flowing blood at a concentration of 20% by non-red cell volume, PAA was inhibited in the order diatrizoate > ioxaglate > iohexol > saline control. No inhibition by any CM was seen, however, when chamber prefill culture medium containing 20% by volume CM was displaced by CM-free blood, in simulation of bolus administration of CM. In terms of inhibition of PAA during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), therefore, our model provides a conceptual basis by which one may anticipate in flowing blood no clear benefit of ionic over nonionic CM. This is because the greater antiplatelet effects of the ionic CM are lost with hemodilution by CM-free blood, while a greater anti-EC effect is likely to persist. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Conformational characterization of square planar nickel(II) tetraaza macrocyclic complexes by proton NMR. Crystal structure of [Ni(13aneN4)]ZnCl4

Abstract Conformations in solution of several diamagnetic nickel(II) complexes of macrocyclic tetraaza ligands are elucidated using proton NMR. There are six possible configurational isomers of planar [Ni(13aneN4)]2+ (13aneN4 = 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclotridecane due to the orientation of the NH protons above or below the plane of the macrocyle. Using NMR it is shown that in aqueous solution the [Ni(13aneN4)]2+ complex has the R,S,R,S or trans-II configuration. A single-crystal X-ray study demonstrates the same configuration of the nitrogen atoms in the complex [Ni(13aneN4)]ZnCl4. In the case of the 14-membered ring macrocyle cyclam (cyclam = 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane), previous NMR studies revealed the presence, in aqueous solution, of the previously unobserved trans-I or R,S,R,S isomer, whose spectrum is examined in greater detail here. Solution structures of nickel(II) complexes of bicyclam (1,5,8,12-tetraazabicyclo[10.2.2]hexadecane) and dachden (N, N′-bis(2-aminoethyl)-1,4-diazacycloheptane) are also reported.
Competitively awarded government grants

Abstract The model of consumer behavior subject to a budget constraint, often applied to such programs as Federal grants to local governments, ignores the fact that the terms and size of the grant may be influenced by the potential recipient's own efforts. This is most clearly true for competitively awarded grants. In a simple case the marginal recipient of a competitively awarded grant receives no net private benefit and imposes a net loss on society for his effort. The issue is general and should be considered in adopting a grant program to achieve social goals.
Morphometric comparisons of the Gulf sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi Mitchill, 1815) in western and eastern population extremes

Summary The Gulf sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi Mitchill 1815, is an anadromous fish native to the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). This threatened species ascend northern GOM rivers ranging from the Pearl River, Louisiana to the Suwannee River, Florida. The drainage fidelity seen within this species coupled with the complex migration patterns create many unknowns concerning the functionality between drainages and size classes. Being a threatened species that cannot be sacrificed, morphometric measurements are difficult to acquire due to minimized handling times and non-lethal data collection methods. Seven morphometric measurements of Gulf sturgeon were compared between western and eastern GOM rivers and multiple size classes (juvenile, sub-adult, and adult). Principal Component, Discriminant Function, and Maximum Chance Criterion analyses were conducted and identified differentiating morphometrics and classified groupings among size classes and rivers of Gulf sturgeon. This morphometric approach has the potential to be used in parallel with molecular findings and should allow managers to identify sub-populations for a variety of threatened and endangered species.
The Role of Professional Historical Scholarship in the Creation and Distortion of Memory

The article takes a middle position between the idea of objectivity which accompanied the professionalization of historical studies in the nineteenth century ascribed to Leopold von Ranke and the postmodern position identified with Hayden White that histories and novels are indistinguishable. A main function of historical writing, whether professional or literary, has been the creation of collective memory which in turn has been a key element in the formation of collective identity. Despite its claim to value neutrality, professional history as practiced in the nineteenth century researched and wrote steadily in the service of ideologies, frequently nationalistic. Research served to buttress this ideology and thus in fact distorted the past. Nevertheless while the historian cannot free himself from value commitments that guide his research and conclusions and thus because of the complexity of the source can never recreate the past wie es eigentlich gewesen, a past which lends itself to multiple interpreta...
Catastrophic Debris Avalanche from Ancestral Mount Shasta Volcano, California

A debris-avalanche deposit extends 43 km northwestward from the base of Mount Shasta across the floor of Shasta Valley, California, where it covers an area of at least 450 km 2 . The surface of the deposit is dotted with hundreds of mounds, hills, and ridges, all formed of blocks of pyroxene andesite and unconsolidated volcaniclastic deposits derived from an ancestral Mount Shasta. Individual hills are separated by flat-topped laharlike deposits that also form the matrix of the debris avalanche and slope northwestward about 5 m/km. Radiometric ages of rocks in the deposit and of a postavalanche basalt flow indicate that the avalanche occurred between about 300,000 and 360,000 yr ago. An inferred average thickness of the deposit, plus a computed volume of about 4 km 3 for the hills and ridges, indicate an estimated volume of about 26 km 3 , making it the largest known Quaternary landslide on Earth.
Electromechanical Unzipping of Individual DNA Molecules Using Synthetic Sub-2 nm Pores

Nanopores have recently emerged as high-throughput tools for probing and manipulating nucleic acid secondary structure at the single-molecule level. While most studies to date have utilized protein pores embedded in lipid bilayers, solid-state nanopores offer many practical advantages which greatly expand the range of applications in life sciences and biotechnology. Using sub-2 nm solid-state nanopores, we show for the first time that the unzipping kinetics of individual DNA duplexes can be probed by analyzing the dwell-time distributions. We performed high-bandwidth electrical measurements of DNA duplex unzipping as a function of their length, sequence, and temperature. We find that our longer duplexes (>10 bp) follow Arrhenius dependence on temperature, suggesting that unzipping can be approximated as a single-barrier crossing, but the unzipping kinetics of shorter duplexes do not involve a barrier, due to the strong biasing electrical force. Finally, we show that mismatches in the duplex affect unzipping times in a position-sensitive manner. Our results are a crucial step toward sequence variability detection and our single-molecule nanopore sequencing technology, which rely on parallel detection from nanopore arrays.
Borderline Personality Disorder: Considerations for Inclusion in the Massachusetts Parity List of “Biologically-Based” Disorders

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a common and severe mental illness that is infrequently included under state mental health parity statutes. This review considers BPD parity, using the Massachusetts mental health parity statute as a model. While BPD can co-occur with other disorders, studies of its heritability, diagnostic validity/reliability, and response to specific treatments indicate it is best considered an independent disorder, one that negatively impacts the patient’s treatment response to comorbid disorders, particularly mood disorders. Persons with BPD are high utilizers of treatment, especially emergency departments and inpatient hospitalizations—the most expensive forms of psychiatric treatment. While some patients remain chronically symptomatic, the majority improve. The findings from psychopharmacologic and other biologic treatment data, coupled with associated brain functioning findings, indicate BPD is a biologically-based disorder. Clinical data indicate that accurately diagnosing and treating BPD conserves resources and improves outcomes. Based on this analysis, insuring BPD in the same manner as other serious mental illnesses is well-founded and recommended.
Parallel pivoting combined with parallel reduction and fill-in control

Parallel algorithms for triangularization of large, sparse, and unsymmetric matrices are presented. The method combines the parallel reduction with a new parallel pivoting technique, control over generation of fill-ins and check for numerical stability, all done in parallel with the work being distributed over the active processes. The parallel pivoting technique uses the compatibility relation between pivots to identify parallel pivot candidates and uses the Markowitz number of pivots to minimize fill-in. This technique is not a preordering of the sparse matrix and is applied dynamically as the decomposition proceeds.
TRACE METALS IN GIANT KELP, MACROCYSTIS'

Concentrations of 38 elements present in Macrocystis tissues are listed. Mean concentrations of Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn were similar for samples of juvenile and adult sporophytes from field sites. Cu in Macrocystis tissues rose above background levels when concentrations of 0.05 to 0.1 M were added to the culturing medium. Above-normal accumulation for Zn occurred at 0.1 M and for Fe at 10 lSM. Tissue Mn appeared independent of the ambient Mn concentration over the ranges studied. Computations indicated that upwelling is important for N and P renewal to Macrocystis beds but may be less significant for import of trace metals. THE STUDIES reported herein represent one phase of a larger project whose ultimate goal is to grow kelp on oceanic farms as a biomass feedstock for fuel production. We have demonstrated that near-surface layers of offshore waters require artificial fertilizing before they can support rapid kelp growth. We thus are attempting to identify critical elements which might enhance kelp growth in seawater. METHODS-Tissue composition-Concen
To Screen or Not to Screen? A Decision Analysis of the Utility of Screening for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip

Background: The United States Preventive Services Task Force recently determined that they could not recommend any screening strategies for developmental dysplasia of the hip. Disparate findings in the literature and treatment-related problems have led to confusion about whether or not to screen for this disorder. The purpose of the present study was to determine, with use of expected-value decision analysis, which of the following three strategies leads to the best chance of having a non-arthritic hip by the age of sixty years: (1) no screening for developmental dysplasia of the hip, (2) universal screening of newborns with both physical examination and ultrasonography, or (3) universal screening with physical examination but only selective use of ultrasonography for neonates considered to be at high risk. Methods: Developmental dysplasia of the hip, avascular necrosis, and the treatment algorithm were carefully defined. The outcome was determined as the probability of any neonate having a non-arthritic hip through the age of sixty years. A decision tree was then built with decision nodes as described above, and chance node probabilities were determined from a thorough review of the literature. Foldback analysis and sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: The expected value of a favorable hip outcome was 0.9590 for the strategy of screening all neonates with physical examination and selective use of ultrasonography, 0.9586 for screening all neonates with physical examination and ultrasonography, and 0.9578 for no screening. A lower expected value implies a greater risk for the development of osteoarthritis as a result of developmental dysplasia of the hip or avascular necrosis; thus, the optimum strategy was selective screening. This model was robust to sensitivity analysis, except when the rate of missed dysplasia rose as high as 4/1000 or the rate of treated hip subluxation/dislocation was the same; then, the optimum strategy was to screen all neonates with both physical examination and ultrasonography. Conclusions: Our decision analytic model indicated that the optimum strategy, associated with the highest probability of having a non-arthritic hip at the age of sixty years, was to screen all neonates for hip dysplasia with a physical examination and to use ultrasonography selectively for infants who are at high risk. Additional data on the costs and cost-effectiveness of these screening policies are needed to guide policy recommendations. Level of Evidence: Economic and decision analysis Level II. See Instructions to Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Influence of the distance between the welding head and the surface material of the weld shape

Experiments have been performed with identical welding parameters (such as power and welding rate) and focus distance varying from f: 20 mm to f: 120 mm. For example, using a small focus lens, the fact that the welding head is in the plume modifies the weld shape. This focus distance provides different problems than the other parameters (gas, welding energy, etc.) which do not have the same effects with respect to the classic focus distance.
Uncovering the truth about covered stents: is there a difference between covered versus uncovered stents with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts?

Abstract Introduction Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-covered transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) stents purportedly provide superior patency. This study was undertaken to determine whether covered stents provide better long-term patency and outcomes after TIPSs. Methods Patients with portal hypertension undergoing TIPS at a large teaching hospital from 2001 to 2010 were studied. Median data are presented. Results Two hundred forty-six patients underwent TIPS; 70 received uncovered stents, and 176 received covered stents. Patients who received uncovered stents had more severely impaired liver function (41% were Child class C cirrhotics). The follow-up was longer with uncovered stents (48 vs 24 months, P P = .01). Shunt dysfunction occurred in 57% with uncovered stents versus 21% covered ( P = .05). A deterioration of hepatic function occurred in 31% with uncovered stents versus 30% with covered ( P = .32). Survival with uncovered stents was 31 months versus 33 months with covered stents ( P = .55, Kaplan-Meier). Conclusions Covered stents may improve patency but do not mitigate postshunt hepatic dysfunction and do not improve survival.
Sorption of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) to clay particulates and effects of desorption on phytoplankton

Abstract The sorption of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) on illite and chlorite, two minerals of defined composition, was investigated. Illite particles adsorbed higher [14C]PCB (Aroclor 1254) concentrations than did chlorite particles, with equilibrium concentration factors between particles and water being 1.4 × 104 for illite and 1.0 × 104 for chlorite. Desorbed PCB inhibited photosynthesis and reduced chlorophyll-a content of natural phytoplankton assemblages within dialysis membrane bags suspended in the water of a tidal marsh. There was no significant difference in effects on the phytoplankton of PCB desorbed from the two minerals. The rate of [14C]PCB desorption was dependent on the initial concentration on the clay particles. The rate of [14C]PCB loss from bags with particles was slower than that from bags without particles.
Oogenesis: Setting one sister above the rest

Abstract Recent studies have revealed that the Par-1 protein, in addition to its established role in anterior–posterior patterning of the Drosophila oocyte, has both microtubule-dependent and microtubule-independent roles very early in oogenesis.
Idiopathic CD4+ T lymphocytopenia is associated with increases in immature/transitional B cells and serum levels of IL-7

Idiopathic CD4+ T lymphocytopenia (ICL) is a rare heterogeneous disorder defined by CD4+ T-cell counts below 300 cells/μL in the absence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or other known immune deficiency disorders. Here, we report the expansion of immature/transitional B cells in patients with ICL, which is associated with elevated serum levels of IL-7. Both the percentage of immature/transitional B cells and levels of IL-7 were inversely correlated with levels of CD4+ T-cell counts and directly correlated to each other. Further analyses of B cells indicated that, in contrast to the activating effects of HIV disease on mature B cells, the expansion of immature/transitional B cells in patients with ICL occurred at the expense of memory B cells. These findings extend previous reports on primary immunodeficiencies as well as HIV disease by suggesting that CD4+ T-cell lymphopenia has an impact on human B-cell development either directly or indirectly via the associated elevation of IL-7 levels.
Altered responses of nociceptive cat lamina I spinal dorsal horn neurons after chronic sciatic neuroma formation.

Abstract The activity of lumbar spinal dorsal horn lamina I neurons with afferent drive from the sciatic nerve was studied in intact cats and in cats with acute sciactic nerve transection or chronic sciatic nerve transection with neuroma formation. The majority (51 of 75) of neurons recorded in lamina I ipsilateral to a neuroma had no receptive field and could only be identified by their responses to electrical stimulation of the sciatic nerve. The remainder could be activated by the sciatic nerve, but their responses to mechanical stimulation were irregular in comparison to the stable responses of cells recorded in control animals and to the responses of cells contralateral to chronic nerve lesions. Animals with acute nerve transections demonstrated as loss sciatic nerve-innvervated cells with receptive fields except for those cells located on the lateral edge of the dorsal horn, which had normal, proximal receptive fields and response characteristics. In addition, the characteristic somatotopy of lamina I cells was not observed in some cats with chronic neuromata. The mediolateral distribution of cell types indicated that some cells had altered receptive fields following chronic nerve transection. The data presented for lamina I neurons agrees with the observation of spinal cord plasticity first presented for cat dorsal horn cells. Since there is no evidence for a redistribution of intact afferent fibers following chronic nerve transection in adult mammals, the mechanism of altered somatotopy may involved alterations in synaptic efficacy at existing synapses.
Molecular chaperones in cellular protein folding

Protein folding in the cell requires molecular chaperones. The chaperone proteins of the hsp70 and hsp60 (chaperonin) classes stabilize unfolded or partially folded polypeptides, thereby preventing aggregation, and mediate folding to the native state in ATP-dependent reactions. Recent advances include a more detailed understanding of the mechanistic principles of hsp70 and hsp60 action, the solution of the crystal structure of the chaperonin GroEL, and the definition of pathways of chaperone-mediated protein folding.
Anomalies and the Lattice Schwinger Model: Paradigm Not Paradox

This paper shows that, contrary to statements extant in the literature, it is possible to introduce fermions into a lattice gauge theory in such a way as to preserve the continuous chiral symmetries of the massless theory and the physics of the axial anomaly. The particular model discussed is the lattice Schwinger model and the methods used are based upon the nonperturbative gauge-invariant variational techniques introduced by Horn and Weinstein. It is demonstrated that the physics of the anomaly, and its relation to the angles appearing in the exact solution to the continuum model, appears in a simple and elegant way. The generalization of the model to several sets of independent fermions is discussed at the end of the paper. Some brief remarks are made about what happens if one attempts to gauge an anomalous current. These results are of interest, since the Drell-Weinstein-Yankielowicz prescription is the only known way of writing down purely lattice gauge theories with only left-handed fermions.
Application of POD and DEIM on dimension reduction of non-linear miscible viscous fingering in porous media

A discrete empirical interpolation method (DEIM) is applied in conjunction with proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) to construct a non-linear reduced-order model of a finite difference discretized system used in the simulation of non-linear miscible viscous fingering in a 2-D porous medium. POD is first applied to extract a low-dimensional basis that optimally captures the dominant characteristics of the system trajectory. This basis is then used in a Galerkin projection scheme to construct a reduced-order system. DEIM is then applied to greatly improve the efficiency in computing the projected non-linear terms in the POD reduced system. DEIM achieves a complexity reduction of the non-linearities, which is proportional to the number of reduced variables, whereas POD retains a complexity proportional to the original number of variables. Numerical results demonstrate that the dynamics of the viscous fingering in the full-order system of dimension 15,000 can be captured accurately by the POD–DEIM reduced s...
Synthesis and in Vitro Evaluation of New Cephalosporins Exhibiting Antimicrobial Activity against Gram‐Positive Bacteria, in Particular Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococci

The preparation and biological evaluation of 7β-[[2-(phenyl)thiazol-4-yl]acetamido]cephalosporins and 7β-[[(2-(pyridin-2-yl)thiazol-4-yl]acetamido]cephalosporins, 9a-o, substituted at the 3-position with acetyloxymethyl, chlorine, hydrogen, and methyl are described. Hantzsch's thiazole synthesis is employed to provide thiazoleacetic acids 5a-e, subsequently followed by Morpho CDI-assisted amidation to complete the synthesis of target cephalosporins 9a-o. These compounds display activity selectively against Gram-positive bacteria, but are inactive against most Gram-negative bacteria tested. Those with acetyloxymethyl at the 3-position, i.e., 9a, 9e, 9i, 9m, and 90, exhibit activity with minimal inhibitory concentrations of 16 (μg/mL or lower against four strains of methicillin-resistant staphylococci, namely Staphylococcus aureus X400 and S13E and Staphylococcus epidermidis 270 and 222. Notably, 9a displays an activity profile similar to that of vancomycin regarding its spectrum and potency.
High-mobility group box 1 is a novel deacetylation target of Sirtuin1

High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) undergoes acetylation, nuclear-to-cytoplasmic translocation, and release from stressed kidneys, unleashing a signaling cascade of events leading to systemic inflammation. Here, we tested whether the deacetylase activity of Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) participates in regulating nuclear retention of HMGB1 to ultimately modulate damage signaling initiated by HMGB1 secretion during stress. When immunoprecipitated acetylated HMGB1 was incubated with SIRT1, HMGB1 acetylation decreased by 57%. Proteomic analysis showed that SIRT1 deacetylates HMGB1 at four lysine residues (55, 88, 90, and 177) within the proinflammatory and nuclear localization signal domains of HMGB1. Genetic ablation or pharmacological inhibition of SIRT1 in endothelial cells increased HMGB1 acetylation and translocation. In vivo, deletion of SIRT1 reduced nuclear HMGB1 while increasing its acetylation and release into circulation during basal and ischemic conditions, causing increased renal damage. Conversely, resveratrol pretreatment led to decreased HMGB1 acetylation, its nuclear retention, decreased systemic release, and reduced tubular damage. Thus, a vicious cycle is set into motion in which the inflammation-induced repression of SIRT1 disables deacetylation of HMGB1, facilitates its nuclear-to-cytoplasmic translocation, and systemic release, thereby maintaining inflammation.
Measurement of choline acetyltransferase with [14C]acetate by a cycling procedure

A multiple enzyme and multisubstrate cycling system is described for the radiometric determination of cholineacetyltransferase (ChAT) activity in crude tissue homogenates. The methods employs [14C]acetate coupled with the enzymes acetate kinase (AK) and phosphotransacetylase (PTA) for the generation of [14C]acetyl CoA. By recycling it was possible to avoid product inhibition of ChAT by CoA, ATP was maintained constant by rephosphorylation of ADP. Kinetics of the individual enzyme reactions were studied and the parameters obtained were used to select appropriate conditions to maintain linearity of varying amounts ChAT activity over a sixty minute time course. The sensitivity of the method is limited only by the specific activity of commercially available isotope labeled acetate.
Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscopy (NSOM) Studies of Nanoscale Polymer Ordering in Pristine Films of Poly(9,9-dialkylfluorene)

Near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) is used to characterize nanoscale topographic and fluorescence features of pristine films of the stiff-chain polymer polyfluorene. The pristine films o...
A comparison of engagement and interaction among university distance learning students

When facilitating instruction in distance learning environments, educators are presented with challenges in student motivation and development of community. We used a mixed-method approach to analyse the interaction patterns and quality of discussion among distance learning college students who used two different course tools to complete assignments. Six patterns of discussion emerged from the posts: agreement, disagreement, countering, belief, statement, and re-state. We used a five-point scale to assess the quality of students’ posts. The student posts from VoiceThread™ (VT) assignments had higher quality scores and higher frequency of countering and belief statements. Whereas, the student posts from discussion board (DB) assignments had lower quality scores and a higher frequency of re-statement and agree statements. Student feedback regarding the use of the VT tool was positive. Additional analysis of using the VT tool with different types of assignments and in other online courses is necessary.
Grid generation for 3D turbomachinery configurations

A numerical grid generation algorithm associated with the flow field about turbomachinery geometries is presented. Graphical user interface is developed with the FORMS Library to create an interactive, user-friendly working environment. This customized algorithm reduces the man-hours required to generate a grid associated with turbomachinery geometry, as compared to those required by general-purpose grid generation softwares. Bezier curves are utilized both interactively and automatically to accomplish grid line smoothness and orthogonality. Graphical user interactions are provided in the algorithm and allow the user to design and manipulate the grid lines with a mouse.
High- and low-affinity receptors regulate platelet responses to phorbol diesters and teleocidin.

Abstract We examined binding of 3H-phorbol dibutyrate (3H-PDBu) to gel filtered human platelets (GFP) and discovered that GFP possess two classes of receptors for phorbol diesters (PDE). High-affinity (HA) receptors, approximately 5000/GFP, bound 3H-PDBu with an apparent dissociation constant (KD) of approximately 12 nM. Low-affinity receptors were approximately 5 times more numerous (2.4 × 104/GFP) and had a 10-fold lower affinity for 3H-PDBu (apparent KD = 115 nM). The potencies of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and PDBu paralleled their binding affinities to the PDE receptors. Teleocidin (Tel), although structurally distinct from PDE, competed with 3H-PDBu for its HA-receptors (KI Tel = 1.9 nM). Binding of PDE to HA- or LA- receptors was rapid, reversible, saturable and stereospecific. The HA- and LA-receptors modulated different platelet responses. HA-receptors regulated the secretion of β-thromboglobulin from α-granules and the release of N-acetyl-β-D-hexosaminidases from lysosomes. LA-receptors mediated both platelet aggregation and the release of serotonin from dense granules. This is the first demonstration of two physiologically active classes of PDE/Tel receptors in human platelets, and demonstrates that particular platelet responses may be directed by distinct classes of receptors for specific agonists.
IMPROVED PROCEDURES FOR MATHEMATICAL EVALUATION OF HEAT PROCESSES

It is frequently necessary to determine the heating time of a thermal process producing a specified sterilizing value. This sterilizing value is one usually required for “microbially safe” heat processing. In most cases the determination is accomplished through iterative calculations. To minimize these calculations, an assumed heating time for the first iteration should be as close as possible to a correct onc. Since no reliable procedure for estimating the approximate heating times is published, mathematical procedures were developed for this estimation. Mathematical evaluation of safe thermal processes may be accomplished with considerably less computation through the application of the developed procedures.
1021-58 Differences in Pulmonary Vein inertance: An Explanation for Why Pulmonary Venous Flow is not the Same in Each Vein

Doppler of pulmonary venous (PV) flow have revealed that peak systolic flow velocity is often different in each of the four PVs, In patients with mitral regurgitation (MR), such differences have been ascribed to different relations between the MR jet and PVs. However, anatomic studies also suggest that the effective length of each PV tree may be different, creating differences in the inertia of PV blood that must be accelerated by driving pressure gradients between lungs and LA, both normally and with MR. Such inertance. which varies with PV length. is a major determinant of pulsatile flow velocity, suggesting the hypothesis that differences in PV inertia may cause or contribute to clinically observed differences in PV flow. Methods A mathematical model of the atrium with two PVs was developed using an elastance model to describe pressure-volume relations. Using the unsteady Bernoulli equation in a system of differential equations, an analytical solution of systolic PV flow in each vein was achieved. Using the same conditions of initial atrial pressure (10 mmHg) and relaxation, PV length was varied in one vein (5–15 cm). while PV length remained constant (10 cm) in the other PV. Results As PV length increased (more blood to be accelerated and greater inertia), peak systolic PV flow decreased from 105 to 50 cm/s in that vein, while peak flow increased in the other from 55 to 70 cm/s, even though its length was constant, reflecting the reduced LA pressure response to less volume influx from the other pv. Conclusions PV inertance (length) is a major determinant of PV flow. As PV inertia increases, peak systolic flow velocity decreases. PV flow in one vein influences flow in another. Hence, differences in PV vein length and inertance may be responsible for the differences in PV flow seen clinically in the same atrium. and may also mimic or mask differences created by MR jets.
Enhanced production of hairy root metabolites using microbubble generator

Previously, increased partitioning of the natural product nicotine from tobacco hairy roots into the culture media was achieved by altering the expression of the nicotine uptake permease gene. The present study demonstrated that further increases in nicotine yield in the media were attained by using surfactant-stabilized microbubbles. Compared to other non-ionic surfactants (Tween 20 and Tween 80) and the ionic surfactant SDS, Triton X-100 (TX100) both increased total nicotine production and exudation into the hairy root culture media. In comparison to surfactant-free medium, TX100 at 10, 25, and 50 mg l−1 did not show strong inhibition of hairy root growth. At 4,000 rpm shear speed, microbubbles stabilized by 10, 25, and 50 mg l−1 TX100 had k L a of 22.3, 36.2, and 44.1 h−1 in Gamborg’s B5 medium, respectively, in comparison to 16.4 h−1 with conventional air sparging. In a 1-l bioreactor, microbubbles stabilized by TX100 were applied to hairy roots after the inoculated root tips were self-immobilized by branching. With microbubble dispersion, dissolved oxygen rapidly increased from 60 to 85 %, and hairy root growth rate increased. Nicotine accumulation in culture medium with microbubbles reached 146 mg l−1 after 30 days cultivation. These results show that combining genetic modification with surfactant-stabilized microbubble dispersion can substantially increase levels of nicotine in the media of hairy root cultures.
Relating United States Crop Land Use to Natural Resources and Climate Change

Crop production depends not only on the yield but also on the area harvested. The yield response to climate change has been widely examined, but the sensitivity of crop land use to hypothetical climate change has not been examined directly. Crop land-use regression models for estimating crop area indices (CAIs)-the percent of land used for corn, soybean, wheat, and sorghum production-are presented. Inputs to the models include available water-holding capacity of the soil, percent of land available for rain-fed agricultural production, annual precipitation, and annual temperature. The total variance of CAI explained by the models ranged from 78% from wheat to 87% for sorghum, and the root-mean-square errors ranged from 1.74% for sorghum to 4.24% for corn. The introduction of additional climatic variables to the models did not significantly improve their performance. The crop land-use models were used to predict the CAI for every crop reporting district in the United States for the current climatic condition and for possible future climate change scenarios (various combinations of temperature and precipitation changes over a range of -3{degrees} to +6{degrees}C and -20% to +20% respectively). The magnitude of climatic warming suggested by GCMs (GISS and GFDL) is from 3.5{degrees} to 5.9{degrees}C for regionsmore » of the United States. For this magnitude of warming, the model suggests corn and soybean production areas may decline while wheat and sorghum production areas may expand. If the warming is accompanied by a decrease in annual precipitation from 1% to 10%, then the areas used for corn and soybean production could decrease by as much as 20% and 40%, respectively. The area for sorghum and wheat under these conditions would increase by as much as 80% and 70%, respectively; the exact amount depending strongly on the change in precipitation. 15 refs., 6 figs.« less
A second-order bulk boundary-layer model

Bulk mass-flux models represent the large eddies that are primarily responsible for the turbulent fluxes in the planetary boundary layer as convective circulations, with an associated convective mass flux. In order for such models to be useful, it is necessary to determine the fractional area covered by rising motion in the convective circulations. This fraction can be used as an estimate of the cloud amount, under certain conditions. 'Matching' conditions have been developed that relate the convective mass flux to the ventilation and entrainment mass fluxes. These are based on conservation equations for the scalar means and variances in the entrainment and ventilation layers. Methods are presented to determine both the fractional area covered by rising motion and the convective mass flux. The requirement of variance balance is used to relax the 'well-mixed' assumption. The vertical structures of the mean state and the turbulent fluxes are determined analytically. Several aspects of this simple model's formulation are evaluated using results from large-eddy simulations.
Automated system for acoustic research

An automated system is described for stimulus presentation and response collection in psychoacoustic research. The system is capable of producing rapidly and precisely a wide range of discrete frequencies.
Morbidity risks among older adults with pre-existing age-related diseases.

Abstract Multi-morbidity is common among older adults; however, for many aging-related diseases there is no information for U.S. elderly population on how earlier-manifested disease affects the risk of another disease manifested later during patient's lifetime. Quantitative evaluation of risks of cancer and non-cancer diseases for older adults with pre-existing conditions is performed using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Registry data linked to the Medicare Files of Service Use (MFSU). Using the SEER-Medicare data containing individual records for 2,154,598 individuals, we empirically evaluated age patterns of incidence of age-associated diseases diagnosed after the onset of earlier manifested disease and compared these patterns with those in general population. Individual medical histories were reconstructed using information on diagnoses coded in MFSU, dates of medical services/procedures, and Medicare enrollment/disenrollment. More than threefold increase of subsequent diseases risk was observed for 15 disease pairs, majority of them were i) diseases of the same organ and/or system (e.g., Parkinson disease for patients with Alzheimer disease, HR = 3.77, kidney cancer for patients with renal failure, HR = 3.28) or ii) disease pairs with primary diseases being fast-progressive cancers (i.e., lung, kidney, and pancreas), e.g., ulcer (HR = 4.68) and melanoma (HR = 4.15) for patients with pancreatic cancer. Lower risk of subsequent disease was registered for 20 disease pairs, mostly among patients with Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease, e.g., decreased lung cancer risk among patients with Alzheimer's (HR = 0.64) and Parkinson's (HR = 0.60) disease. Synergistic and antagonistic dependences in geriatric disease risks were observed among US elderly confirming known and detecting new associations of wide spectrum of age-associated diseases. The results can be used in optimization of screening, prevention and treatment strategies of chronic diseases among U.S. elderly population.
Di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP), a relatively ineffective peroxisome inducing straight chain isomer of the environmental contaminant di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP), enhances the development of putative preneoplastic lesions in rat liver.

Di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP) is the straight chain isomer of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) which is a widely used plasticizer and an environmental contaminant. DEHP is a strong inducer of peroxisome proliferation in rat liver. This is significant since other compounds which are strong inducers of peroxisome proliferation have been reported to be weak carcinogens (Reddy, J.K. and Lalwani, N.D., CRC Crit. Rev. Toxicol., 12 (1983) 1). In contrast to DEHP, DOP causes little or no induction of liver peroxisomes (Mann, A.H. et al., Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 77 (1985) 116, and Gray, T.J.B. et al., Toxicology, 28 (1983) 167). In the current study the ability of 1% DOP to promote the development of putative preneoplastic lesions was evaluated. The effect of feeding 0.5% DEHP as well as equimolar amounts of its 2 major metabolites, mono(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (MEHP) and 2-ethylhexanol (2-EH) were also investigated. GGT+ foci were initiated in the livers of Sprague--Dawley male rats with a single dose of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) following partial hepatectomy. The control group of rats was fed a semipurified diet (Co) for 10 weeks while the experimental groups received the semipurified diet containing the respective compounds. Induction of peroxisome proliferation was monitored by carnitine acetyltransferase (CAT) levels. DOP treatment resulted in a 6-fold increase in the number of GGT+ foci (20.8 +/- 4.0 vs. 3.5 +/- 1.3; P less than 0.05). This was accompanied by no change in liver weight and only a slight increase in CAT activity when compared with control animals. In contrast to DOP, 2-EH produced essentially no effect with regard to number of foci, peroxisome proliferation or liver weight. DEHP and MEHP induced significant peroxisome proliferation and hepatomegaly but the number of foci were significantly lower than in 2-EH-treated rats. The mechanism for the promoting ability of DOP is not clear but would not appear to be related to peroxisome proliferation. Because of the close similarity of chemical structure and metabolism between DOP and DEHP, it is possible that studies to define the mechanism of DOP induced promotion might also serve to further clarify the mechanism of DEHP induced carcinogenesis.
Enteral Albuterol Decreases the Need for Chronotropic Agents in Patients With Cervical Spinal Cord Injury-Induced Bradycardia

Background Cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) is often complicated by autonomic instability and life-threatening bradycardia. β-adrenergic receptors offer a potential target for modulating cardiac vagal activity and heart rate. Enteral albuterol may mitigate symptomatic bradycardia in CSCI patients. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of enteral albuterol on the frequency of symptomatic bradycardia and the need for rescue therapy in CSCI patients. Methods The charts of CSCI patients admitted to a Level I trauma center from February 2008 through March 2012 were reviewed for demographics, episodes of symptomatic bradycardia (defined as heart rate Results Eighteen patients with CSCI-induced bradycardia were identified. Eight patients received treatment with enteral albuterol, and 10 patients did not. The median age did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, the median Injury Severity Score (ISS) was higher in the albuterol group (median ISS, 36.5; interquartile range, 35-66.5 vs. median ISS 26; interquartile range, 27-37.25 in no-albuterol group). Patients receiving albuterol experienced 1.8 symptomatic bradycardic episodes versus 4.3 episodes in those patients not receiving albuterol (p = 0.08). Hospital days on chronotropic agents were significantly less in the albuterol group (1.8 vs. 8.6, p = 0.01). One patient, in the no-albuterol group, required pacemaker placement. Conclusion Enteral albuterol may reduce the frequency of symptomatic bradycardia in patients with CSCI, resulting in less rescue therapy using chronotropic agents. Level of evidence Therapeutic study, level IV.
Dithiane, Trithiane, and Dithiazane-Based Photolabile Scaffolds for Molecular Recognition: Mechanism and Efficiency of the Photoinduced Fragmentation in Aqueous Reductive Environments

Abstract Photoinduced fragmentation in dithiane and trithiane adducts of aromatic ketones and aldehydes was studied in aqueous reductive environments. Density functional computations were carried out for thioxanthone derivatives bearing donor and acceptor substituents in the aromatic ring to identify the substitution pattern that is most promising for the productive irreversible electron transfer.
Effect of High Humic Substance Levels on Growth and Nutrient Concentration of Corn under Calcareous Conditions

This study investigated the effect of high humic substance (HS) levels (0, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg HS kg−1) on growth and nutrient concentrations of corn grown on calcareous soils. For these, soil samples were collected from the six different provinces of Turkey. According to the average values, HS levels had no significant effect alone on dry weight, nitrogen (N), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn) concentrations. Soil differences significantly affected dry weight, N, Mg, and Cu concentrations (p ≤ 0.05). Looking at HSxsoil interactions on K, Ca, Fe, and Mn concentrations, it could be seen that there was no effect or that the effect was negative. Only plant Fe concentrations obtained from Konya and Urfa provinces were positively affected from HSxsoil interaction. It was concluded that high level of HS had no or negative effect on corn growth and some nutrient concentration under calcareous conditions.
Impact of a passive social marketing intervention in community pharmacies on oral contraceptive and condom sales: a quasi-experimental study.

Almost 50% of pregnancies in the United States are unwanted or mistimed. Notably, just over one-half of unintended pregnancies occurred when birth control was being used, suggesting inappropriate or poor use or contraceptive failure. About two-thirds of all women who are of reproductive age use contraceptives, and oral hormonal contraceptives remain the most common contraceptive method. Often, contraceptive products are obtained in community pharmacies. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a pharmacy-based intervention would impact sales of contraceptive products in pharmacies.