cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Back in focus

In 1995, periodic variations in the Doppler shift of the light from the star 51 Pegasi hinted at the presence of a planet -- the first ever detected around another Sun-like star. Then last year, spectral line variations appeared to be present, which could only be caused by an undulating, pulsating stellar surface, not an orbiting planet. But now the spectral evidence of pulsations has disappeared, leaving planets as the only plausible interpretation.
Chapter 5 - Multiscale Methods for Denoising and Compression

Multiscale methods for denoising and compression are discussed in this chapter. Denoising of an individual signal is usually performed by various filtering methods based on assumptions about the nature of the errors and the smoothness of the underlying signal. These methods are the primary emphasis of this chapter. For denoising multivariate data, fundamental or empirical models relating the variables may be used. Denoising with fundamental process models is referred to as “data reconciliation,” and requires solution of a constrained optimization problem. If an accurate fundamental model is not available, multivariate data may be denoised by empirical modeling methods, such as principal component analysis. Because accurate process models relating the hundreds of measured variables are not easily obtained, the simplest and most widely used denoising methods do not rely on a fundamental or empirical process model. The chapter reviews multiscale wavelet-based representation of data and its advantages. Then, various filtering and compression techniques are described, which include linear filtering such as finite impulse response (FIR) and infinite impulse response (IIR) filtering, and nonlinear filtering and compression such as median hybrid filters (FMH) filtering and multiscale filtering. Finally, an online multiscale filtering technique is presented.
A Review of: “Handbook of Learning and Approximate Dynamic Programming”

In the modern world, we see more and more examples of large-scale complex systems that need to be carefully controlled by making decisions over time. When uncertainties and nonlinearities are invol...
The Claws of the Bear: Russia’s Targeted Killing Program

While there has been a good deal of attention and scholarly research on the use of targeted killings by Israel and the United States, there has surprisingly not been as much focus on the use of this strategy by the Russian government. In the interest of filling this gap, I provide the first, to my knowledge, quantitative examination of the effectiveness of Russia’s use of targeted killings. Building off of Morehouse (forthcoming), I model the impact of Chechen leadership losses from targeted killings on the later number and severity of Chechen militant attacks between 2004 and 2011. I find that at best, targeted killings had no significant impact, and at worst, they led to increases in the number and severity of militant operations.
Inhibition of replicon initiation in human cells following stabilization of topoisomerase-DNA cleavable complexes.

Abstract Diploid human fibroblast strains were treated for 10 min with inhibitors of type I and type II DNA topoisomerases, and after removal of the inhibitors, the rate of initiation of DNA synthesis at replicon origins was determined. By alkaline elution chromatography, 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide (amsacrine), an inhibitor of DNA topoisomerase II, was shown to produce DNA strand breaks. These strand breaks are thought to reflect drug-induced stabilization of topoisomerase-DNA cleavable complexes. Removal of the drug led to a rapid resealing of the strand breaks by dissociation of the complexes. Velocity sedimentation analysis was used to quantify the effects of amsacrine treatment on DNA replication. It was demonstrated that transient exposure to low concentrations of amsacrine inhibited replicon initiation but did not substantially affect DNA chainelongation within operating replicons. Maximal inhibition of replicon initiation occurred 20 to 30 min after drug treatment, and the initiation rate recovered 30 to 90 min later. Ataxia telangiectasia cells displayed normal levels of amsacrine-induced DNA strand breaks during stabilization of cleavable complexes but failed to downregulate replicon initiation after exposure to the topoisomerase inhibitor. Thus, inhibition of replicon initiation in response to DNA damage appears to be an active process which requires a gene product which is defective or missing in ataxia telangiectasia cells. In normal human fibroblasts, the inhibition of DNA topoisomerase I by camptothecin produced reversible DNA strand breaks. Transient exposure to this drug also inhibited replicon initiation. These results suggest that the cellular response pathway which downregulates replicon initiation following genotoxic damage may respond to perturbations of chromatin structure which accompany stabilization of topoisomerase-DNA cleavable complexes.
Zinc and copper influence excitability of rat olfactory bulb neurons by multiple mechanisms.

Zinc and copper are highly concentrated in several mammalian brain regions, including the olfactory bulb and hippocampus. Whole cell electrophysiological recordings were made from rat olfactory bul...
Macroscale water fluxes 2. Water and energy supply control of their interannual variability

[1] Controls on interannual variations in water and energy balances of large river basins (10,000 km 2 and greater) are evaluated in the framework of the semiempirical relation E=P ¼½ 1 þð R=PÞ � n � � 1/n in which and E, P, and R are basin mean values of annual evaporation, precipitation, and surface net radiation, respectively, expressed as equivalent evaporative water flux, overbars denote long-term means, and n is a parameter. Precipitation is interpolated from gauges; evaporation is taken as the difference between precipitation and runoff, with the latter determined from basin discharge measurements and a simple storage-delay model; and radiation is based on a recent analysis in which 8 years of satellite observations were assimilated into radiative transfer models. Objective estimates of precipitation errors are considered; results suggest that past estimates of n may have been biased by systematic errors in estimates of precipitation. Under the assumption that the semiempirical relation applies also to annual values, long-term mean observations are sufficient to predict the sensitivity of annual runoff to fluctuations in precipitation or net radiation. Additionally, an apparent sensitivity of runoff to precipitation can be inferred from the observations by linear regression. This apparent sensitivity is generally in good agreement with the predicted sensitivity. In particular, the apparent sensitivity increases with decreasing basin R/P; however, slightly excessive apparent sensitivity (relative to the prediction) is found in humid basins of the middle latitudes. This finding suggests a negative correlation between precipitation and net radiation: the increase in runoff caused by a positive precipitation anomaly is amplified by an accompanying decrease in surface net radiation, possibly induced by increased cloud cover. The inferred sensitivity of radiation (water flux equivalent) to precipitation is on the order of � 0.1. Such a value is supported by independent direct analysis of annual precipitation and radiation data. The fraction of interannual variance in runoff explained by the annual precipitation anomaly (including any correlative influence of net radiation) varies systematically with climatic aridity, approaching unity in humid basins and falling to 40–80% in very arid basins. We conclude that the influence of seasonality of the precipitation anomaly on annual runoff is negligible under humid conditions, though it may be significant under arid conditions. INDEX TERMS: 1812 Hydrology: Drought; 1818 Hydrology: Evapotranspiration; 1854 Hydrology: Precipitation (3354); 1878 Hydrology: Water/energy interactions; 3359 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Radiative processes; KEYWORDS: water balance, interannual variability, runoff, radiation
A New Multiviewer Proctosigmoidoscope for Teaching use

Summary A new multiviewer proctosigmoidoscopy is described which permits two observers to view the procedure of proctosigmoidoscopy simultaneously with the operator. It is thought that this instrument is of distinct value for teaching purposes.
The Powers of Separate Substances

Unless one understood the mechanism of the automatic gearshift which is found in some automobiles, he would find it hard to comprehend the unity of operation which is found in the processes of shifting and clutching such automobiles. In the same way, if one does not first attend to the different way in which the concept, “active potency”, is applied to composite substances and to separate substances — he will fail to understand the more advanced type of powers which are attributable to separate substances. The power of intellection, for instance, is attributed to both rational (i.e. composite intellectual) creatures and pure (i.e. separate) intellectual creatures; but it has immensely different meanings in each attribution. For, as applied to men, it signifies a perfection which is gradually and temporally acquired, which is separable into distinct “moments”, actus primi and actus secundi, and so forth. But in separate substances, there is to be found neither temporal elaboration of thought, nor temporal perfectibility of impressed species1. In other words, in separate substances, there is never a “time” when the thought of some action to be done is conceived, without having already been done; never a “time” when some principle is conceived, without the conclusions being immediately and explicitly conceived also.
Learning to advocate for educational equity in a teacher credential program

Abstract Drawing on a 5-year program-wide investigation of ways preservice teachers learn to teach to diversity, this study uses focus groups of graduates to illuminate survey results of their feeling well prepared to advocate for equity in classrooms and schools. Offering suggestions for improvement, graduates nonetheless reported two broad categories of program strength. The first was the value of infusion of culture, language, and equity content in coursework. Themes in strong coursework included focus on culturally responsive, equity-focused pedagogy; preparation to teach English language learners; developing cultural knowledge and sensitivity; and learning advocacy beyond the classroom. Faculty taught and modeled these concerns through many means. The second, which extended coursework, was sustained and scaffolded apprenticeships in teaching for equity, including student teaching supervisors as equity mentors, placements that support teaching for equity, and ongoing cohort discussions of equity teaching.
The NANIVID: a new device for cancer cell migration studies

Cancerous tumors are dynamic microenvironments that require unique analytical tools for their study. Better understanding of tumor microenvironments may reveal mechanisms behind tumor progression and generate new strategies for diagnostic marker development, which can be used routinely in histopathological analysis. Previous studies have shown that cell invasion and intravasation are related to metastatic potential and have linked these activities to gene expression patterns seen in migratory and invasive tumor cells in vivo. Existing analytical methods for tumor microenvironments include collection of tumor cells through a catheter needle loaded with a chemical or protein attractant (chemoattractant). This method has some limitations and restrictions, including time constraints of cell collection, long term anesthetization, and in vivo imaging inside the catheter. In this study, a novel implantable device was designed to replace the catheter-based method. The 1.5mm x 0.5mm x 0.24mm device is designed to controllably release chemoattractants for stimulation of tumor cell migration and subsequent cell capture. Devices were fabricated using standard microfabrication techniques and have been shown to mediate controlled release of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). Optically transparent indium tin oxide (ITO) electrodes have been incorporated into the device for impedance-based measurement of cell density and have been shown to be compatible with in vivo multi-photon imaging of cell migration.
Analysis of measured photovoltaic module performance for Florida, Oregon, and Colorado locations

Abstract A study was conducted to determine and compare the measured energy production of photovoltaic (PV) modules for three climatically diverse locations: Cocoa, Florida; Eugene, Oregon; and Golden, Colorado. The PV modules were 2010 vintage and included single-crystalline silicon (x-Si), multi-crystalline silicon (m-Si), cadmium telluride (CdTe), copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS), amorphous silicon (a-Si) tandem and triple-junction, amorphous silicon/crystalline silicon or heterojunction with intrinsic thin-layer (HIT), and amorphous silicon/microcrystalline silicon (a-Si/μx-Si). Annual performance metrics for reference yield, final PV yield, performance ratio, and the losses associated with angle-of-incidence (AOI), PV module temperature, and low light or irradiance level were determined. Results showed considerable variation in energy production because of both the site-to-site differences in reference yield and the PV module characteristics; for example, the best-performing PV modules in Cocoa had final PV yield values nearly 60% greater than the lowest performing PV module in Eugene. In Cocoa, the final PV yield of the a-Si/μx-Si PV module was greater, after considering measurement uncertainty, than other PV modules in Cocoa, except for the CdTe PV module. In Eugene, more PV modules performed more similarly to each other. The final PV yield values for the a-Si/μx-Si and CdTe PV modules were not measurably greater than the final PV yield values for the HIT and a-Si PV modules. In Golden, the final PV yield values of the PV modules varied the least, within measurement uncertainty, except for one PV module. Losses from AOI effects were from 2½% to 3%; losses from PV module temperature were from 2.3% to 10.8%; and low-light-level effects ranged from a loss of 7.4% for a CIGS PV module deployed in Eugene to a gain of 0.3% for a CdTe PV module deployed in Cocoa. Spectral effects also appeared to be present, with increased performance of the CdTe modules and a-Si PV module in Cocoa and decreased performance in Golden.
Assessment of Cytotoxicity by Analysis of Impedance Fluctuations

Electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) has been used to monitor cell behavior in tissue culture and has proven to be very sensitive to cell morphological changes and cell motility. In this method, cells are cultured on small gold electrodes carrying weak AC signals. The impedance of these electrodes changes dramatically when cells attach and spread on their surface, because the cell membranes restrict the current flow. In addition, cell motion may reveal itself as a fluctuation in the measured impedance, which is always associated with living cells and persists even when the cells grow into a confluent layer. The impedance fluctuation is attributed to incessant changes in the size of the cell-substrate space as cells persistently rearrange their cell-substrate adhesion sites. The magnitude of this sort of vertical motion detected by ECIS is of the order of nanometers and referred to as micromotion. Here, we applied ECIS to evaluate dose-dependent responses of NIH 3T3 cells exposed to cytochalasin B, cadmium chloride, and H-7 dihydrochloride, a protein kinase C inhibitor. To detect the alternation of cell micromotion in response to cytotoxic challenge, time-series impedance fluctuations of cell-covered electrodes were monitored and the values of power spectrum, variance, and variance of the increment were calculated to verify the difference. While a dose-dependent relationship for each chemical was generally observed from the overall resistance of the cell monolayer, the analysis of impedance fluctuations distinguished cytochalasin B, cadmium chloride, and H-7 dihydrochloride levels as low as 0.1, 10, and 1 micromole respectively. The analytical methods used in this study can serve as a model approach for ECIS and other electrochemical impedance biosensors to investigate various aspects of cellular responses to toxins in general.
The Effects of a Jet-Like Current on Gravity Waves in Shallow Water

Abstract The effects of a strong current with horizontal shear on shallow water waves is studied. For jet-like currents, the existence of trapped waves and the reciprocity of scattering coefficients are pointed out. Detailed consequences of current dimensions and intensity on waves are analyzed for a top-hat current.
Qutrit Influence On Entanglement Dynamics

Following the entanglement dynamics of atoms and fields, we study how the entanglement dynamics of a bi-partite system is affected by its own dimensionality and the dimensionality of a model reservoir with which it interacts.
Correlated data gathering in wireless sensor networks based on distributed source coding

We propose in this paper a novel scheme for correlated data gathering in energy- and bandwidth-limited wireless sensor networks based on Distributed Source Coding (DSC). We develop a special Viterbi Algorithm, denoted as VA-DSC, for decoding of the sensor data encoded by DSC. DSC principles have recently been applied to sensor data gathering by constructing practical DSC schemes using channel coding approach. However, existing schemes have not yet taken into account the inherent difference between source coding and channel coding. In this proposed algorithm, we take advantage of the known parity bits at the decoder when the data is encoded by DSC. When the proposed algorithm is applied to Recursive Systematic Convolutional (RSC) and Turbo codes, we demonstrate that VA-DSC is able to reduce both decoding error probability and computational complexity. When the proposed algorithm is applied to correlated data gathering in wireless sensor networks, we demonstrate that VA-DSC is also capable of receiving all data correctly, while, at the same time, reducing the energy consumption in the networks. Our simulation results show that the proposed scheme results in superior performance in terms of data reception accuracy and energy consumption efficiency.
Cardiovascular Health and Protection Against CVD: More Than the Sum of the Parts?

Five years ago, the American Heart Association (AHA) launched a bold new initiative to begin promoting “cardiovascular health” in individuals and the population, in addition to continuing its decades-long fight to reduce cardiovascular and stroke mortality and decrease cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. This shift in priorities came as a result of a “quiet revolution,”1 turning the adverse-outcomes-oriented and risk-focused perspective on its head, and instead focusing on creating the opportunity for promoting and preserving attributes associated with healthy, CVD-free longevity. The first-ever formal definition for this construct of cardiovascular health, published in 2010,2 was based on a broad review of the literature designed to determine groups of factors associated with excellent prognosis in long-term CVD-free survival and quality of life. It was designed to be simple, accessible, and actionable, allowing all patients, clinicians, and communities to focus on improving cardiovascular health. And it was crafted in a way so that it could be measured in the broad US population and major subgroups, monitored over time, and influenced by the AHA portfolio of programs.2 Although the entire spectrum of cardiovascular health was captured (from birth through living with CVD), a critical observation was the recognition of an “ideal cardiovascular health” phenotype that consisted of the simultaneous presence of ideal levels of 7 health behaviors and health factors: smoking status, physical activity, eating pattern, body weight, and blood cholesterol, blood glucose, and blood pressure levels. Article see p 1676 In the 5 years since publication of the definition of cardiovascular health, numerous investigators have examined the prevalence of levels of ideal cardiovascular health in diverse populations from around the globe.3–8 In countries with more developed economies, it seems to be a universal finding that the prevalence of truly ideal cardiovascular health in adults …
Sleep Disturbances and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

This article examines how primary attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects nighttime sleep. The effects of drug treatment on sleep in this population are reviewed, including the impact of stimulant medications and sleep-promoting agents. The article then examines the ways in which primary sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and periodic limb movement disorder, may cause daytime somnolence, inattention, and hyperactivity that mimic the features of ADHD. Discussion focuses on pediatric aspects of these conditions and briefly addresses available adult data.
The analytical investigation of synthetic street drugs containing cathinone analogs

Synthetic drugs, often marketed as "legal highs," are entering the drug market at an accelerated pace. Analysis of these "designer drugs" and the determination of their composition are necessary in order to aid law enforcement and also to understand what potential users may be subjected to. Ten synthetic cathinones were identified in 14 separate street samples analyzed utilizing a variety of techniques, including gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC-MS) and flame ionization (GC-FID). Additionally, preparatory high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the fractionation of multi-component samples and the use of direct infusion tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was necessary to identify compounds which were not available as reference materials. These cathinones include 3,4-methylenedioxy pyrovalerone (MDPV), 3,4-methylenedioxy-α-pyrrolidinobutiophenone (MDPBP), 4-fluoromethcathinone (4-FMC), butylone, mephedrone, naphyrone, 4-methylethcathinone (4-MEC), ethcathinone, α-pyrrolidinopentiophenone (α-PVP), and 3-methyl-α-pyrrolidinopropiophenone (3-MPPP). Concentrations of the active compounds varied between samples. For example, MDPV was determined to be the most common cathinone. It was found in five of the 14 samples and ranged from 11% to 73% between samples.
Management of the Cardiac Transplant Recipient: Roles of the Transplant Cardiologist and Primary Care Physician

Cardiac transplantation has become an accepted treatment for selected patients with end-stage heart failure. Despite a successful transplant, denervated transplanted hearts respond differently to cardiac drugs than nontransplanted hearts. The treatments for bradycardia, tachycardia, and hypotension are different than for nontransplanted hearts. Despite the improvement in long-term survival, a number of complications may occur posttransplantation. These complications include, allograft rejection, infection, allograft coronary artery disease, and malignancy. Additionally, posttransplant patients may have complications from the immunosuppressive agents cyclosporine, prednisione, and azathioprine. Such complications include drug interactions with commonly prescribed medications, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, osteoporosis, and gastrointestinal complications. The purpose of this article is to discuss the management of the cardiac transplant recipient as it relates to the aforementioned complications. Management of the cardiac transplantation patient by the primary care physician will also be discussed, including indications for consultation by the primary care physician with the transplant center.
Properties of morphologically variant haploid prog cells formed by combined treatment with mengo virus and the polyene antibiotic mediocidin

Comparison have been made of cell surface glycoproteins, concanavalin A agglutinability, and cloning efficiencies in liquid media of ICR 2A (haploid frog cells), ICR 2A M (three cloned populations of haploid frog cells resistant to 5 μg per ml of the polyene antibiotic mediocidin), and ICR 2A M/MV cells (five cloned populations of morphologically variant haploid frog cells produced by exposure of the parental cells to the combined effects of mediocidin and an RNA mammalian virus, Mengo virus). Independently isolated ICR 2A M/MV clones exhibited altered cell surface glycoproteins, increased concanavalin A agglutinability, and enhanced cloning efficiency in liquid media when compared with ICR 2A parental cells. In contrast, ICR 2A M cells had properties similar to ICR 2A cells, with the exception of the former's increased resistance to mediocidin. The differences in properties between ICR 2 M/MV and ICR 2 cells suggest that alterations resembling transformation have occurred in ICR 2A M/MV cells as a consequence of combined treatment with mediocidin and Mengo virus.
Habitat subdivision causes changes in food web structure

Theory suggests that the response of communities to habitat subdivision depends on both species’ characteristics and the extent to which species interact. For species with dynamics that are independent of other species, subdivision is expected to promote regional extinction as populations become small and isolated. By contrast, intermediate levels of subdivision can facilitate persistence of strongly interacting species. Consistent with this prediction, experimental subdivision lengthened persistence of some species, altering the extent of food web collapse through extinction. Extended persistence was associated with immigration rescuing a basal prey species from local extinction. As predicted by food web theory, habitat subdivision reduced population density of a top predator. Removal of this top predator from undivided microcosms increased the abundance of two other predator species, and these changes paralleled those produced by habitat subdivision. These results show that species interactions structured this community, and illustrate the need for investigations of other communities.
Sympathetic preganglionic efferent and afferent neurons mediated by the greater splanchnic nerve in rabbit

Motion sickness, a multisymptom disorder characterized by abnormal gastrointestinal motility and emesis, can be induced by vestibular effects on the sympathetic portion of the autonomic nervous system. However, the vestibular-autonomic pathways are unknown. As a first step in the analysis, we identified the locus of preganglionic sympathetic neurons (PSNs) and dorsal root afferent ganglionic neurons (DRGs) which supply sympathetic innervation to major portions of the gastrointestinal tract in the rabbit. Retrograde labeling of neurons was obtained by application of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) to the cut end of the greater splanchnic nerve. Labeled PSNs were found, ipsilaterally, within the T1 to T11 spinal cord segments, with the highest density of neurons in T6. Most PSNs were located within the intermediolateral column (IML), but a significant portion also occurred within the lateral funiculus (LF), the intercalated region (IC) and the central autonomic area (CA). The proportion of labeling between the four regions depended on the spinal cord segment. In the midthoracic levels, the distribution of labeled neurons was denser in the IML and LF, and in the caudal thoracic segments, the majority were localized in the IC and CA. Labeled cells in these four areas varied morphologically from large fusiform neurons in the IC to small fusiform neurons in the LF, small stellate neurons in the CA, and medium-size stellate neurons in the IML. The DRGs were labeled in thoracic segments T1 to T12, with the majority between T5 and T11. These labeled DRG somata of the greater splanchnic nerve were smaller in comparison with unlabeled ones.
Electron transport in GaAs/AlxGa1−xAs heterojunctions at low temperatures

Abstract We have performed Monte Carlo studies of transient and steady-state low temperature (10 K) transport for electrons in GaAs/Al x Ga 1−x As single-well heterojunction structures. Besides polar optical, acoustic phonon (coupled by the deformation potential or piezoelectrically), and ionized impurity scattering we account for the interactions between the electrons through the effect of plasmons and single pair collisions. Results of ensemble Monte Carlo simulations for several values of the electric field are shown, pointing out the effect of the various scattering mechanisms on the electron velocity and distribution function. Our results do not confirm theoretical reports of scattering induced negative differential resistance.
Search for Heavy Stable Charged Particles at CMS

Heavy Stable Charged Particles can be searched for with the CMS experiment. Such particles can be distinguished by Standard Model particles exploiting their unique signature: a high momentum particle of the order of a hundred GeV with a low relativistic f3 value. In this talk two models predicting different types of Heavy Stable Charged Particles are described and used as benchmark models for the search analysis strategy. Two techniques to measure f3 using the silicon tracker and the drift tubes in the muon detector are used in the proposed analysis. The reach for different models in 100 pb1 integrated luminosity is shown.
Effects of swimming on metabolic recovery from anoxia in the painted turtle.

SUMMARY Anoxic submergence in the Western painted turtle results in a severe metabolic acidosis characterized by high plasma lactate and depressed arterial pH, a response similar to that seen in other vertebrates following exhaustive exercise. We tested the hypothesis that 1 or 2 h of aerobic swimming following anoxic submergence would enhance the rate of lactate disappearance from the blood just as sustained aerobic exercise does in mammals and fishes following strenuous exercise. Following 2 h of anoxic submergence at 25° C and 1 h of recovery, the pattern of plasma lactate disappearance in turtles previously trained to swim in a flume and swum aerobically (2–3× resting V O 2 ) for 1 or 2 h did not differ significantly from that in trained and untrained non-swimming turtles. Turtles were fully recovered by 7–10 h post-anoxia. The response patterns also did not differ between treatments for arterial P O 2 , P CO 2 , pH, and plasma glucose and HCO 3 – . Blood pH and plasma HCO 3 – recovered by 1 and 4 h, respectively. Despite the large lactate load, painted turtles are able to sustain periods of continuous swimming for at least 2 h without compromising metabolic recovery. Although this activity did not consistently enhance recovery, the rate of lactate disappearance was positively correlated with oxygen consumption rate in actively and passively recovering turtles. We suggest that active recovery was not a more important enhancer of recovery either because swimming may have had an inhibitory effect on hepatic gluconeogenesis or that there is variation in fuel utilization during the swimming period.
Progress in single-molecule tracking spectroscopy

A topic of much current interest is the chemical reactivity in complex environments, involving dynamical processes spanning multiple scales in both time and space. While challenging to study using standard ensemble-averaged methods, it is amenable to investigations using single-molecule approaches. Ultimately, one would like to monitor the dynamics of individual molecules as they undergo chemical transformations through time-dependent spectroscopic studies, and to correlate various molecular properties with their immediate physical and chemical environments. This article provides an overview of the recent advances toward this goal and describes future developments and potential applications.
The Spectral Variability of the T Tauri Star DF Tauri

We analyze 117 echelle spectra of the T Tauri star DF Tau, concentrating on variations in the optical continuum veiling and the strong emission lines. Although this star was the inspiration for the original suggestion of magnetospheric accretion in T Tauri stars (TTSs), this hypothesis is only partially supported in our data. We find that variations in the Ca II infrared triplet lines correlate with the veiling variations; there is some evidence that the broad component of the He I line does, too. The narrow component of He I is shown to arise at the stellar surface, but it correlates with the broad component. There is a surprising lack of periodicity in the lines, and it does not occur where expected when seen. The correlation between continuum veiling and the line components expected to be most related to the veiling is poor. There is a great deal of variability in all the lines and line components; a snapshot spectrum is a poor way to characterize the star as a whole. The total Balmer line fluxes are poorly correlated with the veiling, unlike previous results on a large sample of TTSs. Redshifted absorption components are found in the weaker lines but are not common. The strength of the blueshifted absorption feature in Hα is correlated with the veiling, but changes in it perhaps occur before veiling changes by about one day. This time delay supports the idea that the wind originates at some distance from the stellar surface and is related to accretion. Spherically symmetric wind models are unable to reproduce well the relative absorption levels on the blue side of the Hα and Hβ lines simultaneously. Hα does not display the asymmetries expected of magnetospheric accretion, but it is sometimes suggestive of azimuthally asymmetric corotating structures. The line wings indicate that the formation region of the Hα line is dominated by high turbulence. Hβ does show more of the asymmetry expected of magnetospheric accretion.
Repair of Rectal Injury During Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy

Introduction Rectal injury is a potential devastating complication in radical prostatectomy. We reviewed the incidence and management of rectal injuries with robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy performed by a single surgeon. Of the first 251 robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomies performed, 2 (0.8%) were complicated by rectal injury. Technical Considerations All patients underwent bowel preparation and received preoperative intravenous antibiotics. Both rectal injuries were detected intraoperatively and treated robotically. The rectotomy was closed in two layers of absorbable sutures and imbricated with a nonabsorbable suture. The rectum was then tacked to the levator fibers on one side with nonabsorbable suture to pull the injury away from the vesicourethral anastomosis. An omental flap was developed and tacked posterior to the urethra to cover the repair. A closed suction drain was placed. After surgery, the patients received broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics and resumed oral intake on postoperative day 1. At 2 weeks, the Foley catheter was removed after voiding cystourethrography confirmed no extravasation. Conclusions Rectal injury during robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy can be identified and managed intraoperatively without requiring open conversion. A three-layer closure tacked away from the vesicourethral anastomosis and reinforced by an omental flap resulted in an uneventful recovery.
Effects of three plant growth regulators on the immune response of young and aged deer mice Peromyscus maniculatus.

Male and female deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) over 2 years old and female mice less than 1 year old were fed chlorocholine chloride (CCC, 40 mg/kg mouse/day) or glyphosine (GPS, 30 mg/kg mouse/day) to test if the effects of these compounds on selected immune responses differed by age and sex. Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEEV) and Modoc virus (MODV) were inoculated into other mice at day 23, both separately and in combination, to observe age-related toxicant-induced changes in mortality. Gibberellic acid (GA), daminozide (DAZ), and GPS also were fed to mice to examine their effects on viremia and antibody patterns following challenge with VEEV, MODV, or Pichinde (PICHV) viruses. Age and sex of mice influenced several measured immune parameters regardless of type of feed consumed, GPS and CCC also affected some immune functions, but the effects were similar for all age and sex groups except for final body weight which decreased only for old females fed GPS and lymphocyte viability which decreased only in young females fed CCC. Increases in mortality following VEEV infection of GPS-fed mice were the same in all mice but old females had a shorter time until death (4 days) than old males (9 days) or young females (7.5 days). CCC increased mortality three times more in old and young females than in young males. No mortality occurred in mice inoculated with MODV alone. An apparent interactive effect occurred between VEEV and MODV decreasing percent mortality below that caused by VEEV alone and reducing CF antibody titers to MODV. The toxicants also significantly increased mortality following
Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) potently dilates middle meningeal arteries: implications for migraine

Migraine is a debilitating neurological disorder characterized by mild to severe headache that is often accompanied by aura and other neurological symptoms. Among proposed mechanisms, dilation of the dural vasculature especially the middle meningeal artery (MMA) has been implicated as one component underlying this disorder. Several regulatory peptides from trigeminal sensory and sphenopalatine postganglionic parasympathetic fibers innervating these vessels have been implicated in the process including pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP). Although PACAP has been well described as a potent dilator in many vascular beds, the effects of PACAP on the dural vasculature are unclear. In the current study, we examined the ability of PACAP to dilate MMAs that were isolated from rats and pressurized ex vivo. PACAP38 potently dilated pressurized MMAs with an EC50 of 1 pM. The PAC1 receptor antagonist, PACAP(6-38), abolished MMA dilation caused by picomolar concentrations of PACAP. In contrast, cerebellar arteries isolated from the brain surface were ~1,000-fold less sensitive to PACAP than MMAs. Although cerebellar arteries expressed transcripts for all three PACAP receptor subtypes (PAC1, VPAC1, and VPAC2 receptors) by RT-PCR analyses, MMA demonstrated only PAC1 and VPAC2 receptor expression. Further, multiple variants of the PAC1 receptor were identified in the MMA. The expression of PAC1 receptors and the high potency of PACAP to induce MMA vasodilation are consistent with their potential roles in the etiology of migraine.
Mapping the dynamics of ligand reorganization via 13CH3 and 13CH2 relaxation dispersion at natural abundance.

Flexible ligands pose challenges to standard structure-activity studies since they frequently reorganize their conformations upon protein binding and catalysis. Here, we demonstrate the utility of side chain 13C relaxation dispersion measurements to identify and quantify the conformational dynamics that drive this reorganization. The dispersion measurements probe methylene 13CH2 and methyl 13CH3 groups; the latter are highly prevalent side chain moieties in known drugs. Combining these side chain studies with existing backbone dispersion studies enables a comprehensive investigation of μs–ms conformational dynamics related to binding and catalysis. We perform these measurements at natural 13C abundance, in congruence with common pharmaceutical research settings. We illustrate these methods through a study of the interaction of a phosphopeptide ligand with the peptidyl-prolyl isomerase, Pin1. The results illuminate the side-chain moieties that undergo conformational readjustments upon complex formation. In particular, we find evidence that multiple exchange processes influence the side chain dispersion profiles. Collectively, our studies illustrate how side-chain relaxation dispersion can shed light on ligand conformational transitions required for activity, and thereby suggest strategies for its optimization.
NeuMORE: Ontology in stroke recovery

Hemiparesis is the most common impairment after stroke, and the initial severity of hemiparesis had been the strongest predictor of neuromotor functional recovery level. However, the intervention response of stroke survivors does not always correlate with their initial level of impairment, which implies the existence of other factors that may significantly affect stroke survivors' recovery process. It is critical to consider these factors in a principled, comprehensive way so that physical rehabilitation (PR) researchers may predict which stroke survivors will respond best to therapy and, as a result, to determine if a particular type of therapy is a more optimal match. Currently, such prediction is primarily a manual process and remains a challenging task to PR researchers and clinicians. Based upon a domain-specific ontology, NeuMORE, we propose a computing framework that aims to facilitate knowledge acquisition from existing sources via semantics-enhanced data mining (SEDM) techniques. It will assist PR researchers and clinicians in better predicting stroke survivors' neuromotor functional recovery level, and will help physical therapists customize most effective intervention therapy plans for individual stroke survivors.
Fast time-resolved surface temperature measurements by electronic resonant second harmonic generation

ABSTRACT A nonlinear optical technique based on second harmonic generation (SHG) is introduced to probe the tranient temperature jump induced by pulsed laser excitation of a metal surface. This technique is surface sensitive, nonintrusive and has time resolution limited only by the probe laser pulsewidth. For the Ag(1 10) surface, a strong temperature dependence of SHG enhanced by interband transitions is observed, and is used to detect a > 1010 K/sec heating rate induced by a nanosecond IR excitation pulse. A much strongertemperature dependence is also observed in the SHG resonantly enhanced by a surface statetransition on Ag(1 10) and can in principle be used for surface temperature measurements.This kind of surface temperature measurement method can be generally applied to metals,semiconductors and solids that have temperature dependent electronic transitions.I. INTRODUCTION Exact knowledge of the surface temperature during a surface process is essential forthe correct interpretation of observed phenomena and for the accurate extraction of
Rheology, fiber dispersion, and robust properties of Engineered Cementitious Composites

The capability of processing robust Engineered Cementitious Composites (ECC) materials with consistent mechanical properties is crucial for gaining acceptance of this new construction material in various structural applications. ECC’s tensile strain-hardening behavior and magnitude of tensile strain capacity are closely associated with fiber dispersion uniformity, which determines the fiber bridging strength, complementary energy, critical flaw size and degree of multiple-crack saturation. This study investigates the correlation between the rheological parameters of ECC mortar before adding PVA fibers, dispersion of PVA fibers, and ECC composite tensile properties. The correlation between Marsh cone flow rate and plastic viscosity was established for ECC mortar, justifying the use of the Marsh cone as a simple rheology measurement and control method before fibers are added. An optimal range of Marsh cone flow rate was found that led to improved fiber dispersion uniformity and more consistent tensile strain capacity in the composite. When coupled with the micromechanics based ingredient-tailoring methodology, this rheological control approach serves as an effective ECC fresh property design guide for achieving robust ECC composite hardening properties.
Embedding Problems for Modules and Rings with Application to Model-Companions

Abstract We study embedding problems for modules and rings. The first of these problems is the well-known problem of extension of scalars. Any ring can be embedded in a ring A such that for any ring A ′ containing A and any A -module M the canonical homomorphism: M → A ′ (⊗) A M is one-one. The second one concerns the embedding of couples ( A , M ) where M is an A -module into couples of the form ( B , B ) where B is a ring. We relate this problem to the existence of a model-companion for theories of modules over theories of rings and give some applications.
Accuracy of urine collection methods compared to measured GFR in adults with liver disease.

Abstract Background Assessment of kidney function is necessary to stage kidney disease, dose medications, and to make decisions about organ allocation. Estimating equations that incorporate serum creatinine (SCr) are not consistently reliable. However, assessment of creatinine clearance (CrCl) using 24-hour urine collection methods is also prone to errors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of measured CrCl determined using shorter urine collection times compared to glomerular filtration rate measured by 125I-iothalamate clearance (125I-CL) in patients with liver disease. Methods Adult patients with chronic liver disease were enrolled. All patients received 125I-iothalamate and had a catheter placed for urine collection. Blood samples were collected at designated times over 8 hours to determine 125I-CL. CrCl was determined from a 1-hour and a 4-hour urine collection and compared to 125I-CL. Results Characteristics of the eight patients enrolled included age 52 ± 6 years; SCr 1.2 ± 0.4 mg/dL; and Model for End-stage Liver Disease score of 13 ± 3. All patients were Child-Pugh Class B. Mean estimates of kidney function (mean ± SD, mL/min/1.73 m2) by method were 74 ± 38 for 125I-CL, 79 ± 28 for the 1-hour urine collection, and 72 ± 26 for the 4-hour urine collection. Measured CrCl did not differ significantly from 125I-CL (P = .641 for 1-hour CrCl versus 125I-CL, and P = 1.0 for the 4-hour CrCl versus 125I-CL). Conclusion When urine collection methods are necessary for an individualized assessment of kidney function, shorter collection times can provide accurate results and would be more feasible for the patient.
Silicon nitride cavity optomechanical transducers

Planar fabrication technology has enabled the demonstration of on-chip systems in which interacting nanophotonic and nanomechanical resonators are directly integrated within a common platform. Such devices can be used for a variety of purposes in sensing, precision measurement, and signal transduction. Here, we review different nanocavity optomechanical systems that we are developing in thin film, stoichiometric Si 3 N 4 , in which mechanical modes with frequencies ranging from a few MHz to a few GHz are coupled to the optical modes of structures such as microdisk and photonic crystal cavities.
Estimating hydraulic conductivity from specific capacity for Hawaii aquifers, USA

Site-specific relationships between specific capacity and hydraulic parameters (transmissivity and hydraulic conductivity) were investigated for volcanic rocks in Maui, Hawaii, USA. Details about well construction were commonly ignored in previous studies. To improve on such efforts, specific-capacity values were normalized by the open interval of the well. Correcting specific capacity for turbulent head losses using step-drawdown tests and including aquifer penetration length improved the correlation between specific capacity and hydraulic conductivity and reduced uncertainty in the prediction of hydraulic parameters. The relationships provide estimates of aquifer parameters with correlation coefficients between 0.81 and 0.99. The relationships for Maui can probably be extended to other Hawaii islands, given the similarity of aquifer formations and a reasonable fit to step-drawdown data from Oahu. Hydraulic conductivity was estimated from 1,257 specific-capacity values in the Hawaii’s well database. Hydraulic-conductivity estimates for dike-free volcanic rocks are consistent on different islands. For all islands, the estimates range from 3 to 8,200 m/d, with a geometric-mean and median value of 272 and 291 m/d, respectively. A geostatistical approach was applied to Maui and Oahu to generate island-wide hydraulic-conductivity maps to facilitate groundwater management efforts.