cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Model-based determination of closed-loop input impedance for dual active bridge converters

This study proposes a method of determining the input impedance of a phase shift modulated dual active bridge (DAB) converter in closed-loop operation. Input impedance is an important characterization of converter behavior, particularly in regards to interactions with external sources or systems. When converter models are available, model-based determinations of input impedance are possible through the application of the Extra Element Theorem (EET). However, DAB converters are not easily modeled using standard techniques due to their high-frequency ac stage. Instead, DAB models are derived using generalized average modeling (GAM). The GAM approach allows ac power stages to be modeled accurately but creates difficulties for model-based calculations of closed-loop impedances. This study simplifies determinations of closed-loop input impedance for DAB converters by deriving standalone expressions for the driving point impedances needed to apply the EET. These expressions allow the closed-loop input impedance to be calculated for any linear controller without the derivation of a corresponding closed-loop model. The values of input impedance calculated from these expressions are validated through comparison to experimental results from hardware tests.
Realization of the Advanced Toroidal Facility Torsatron Magnetic Field

The Advanced Toroidal Facility is a large torsatron device with a major radius R0 = 2.1 m, an average plasma minor radius a ≈ 0.3 m, and a magnetic field B0 ≤ 2T. The sheared magnetic configuration...
Central injection of a synthetic chicken partial leptin peptide does not affect food intake in chicks.

Leptin is an adipose tissue-derived hormone in mammals that plays an important role in whole body energy balance via its inhibitory effects on food intake mediated through the hypothalamus. Chicken leptin has a low sequence homology to mammalian leptin and its role in appetite regulation is not reported; hence the objective of this study was to determine effects of central injection of chicken leptin on food and water intake and associated behaviors in chicks. Chicks were intracerebroventricularly injected with 0 (vehicle), 0.3, 1.0, or 3.0 nmol of a synthetic chicken leptin partial peptide and food and water intake were monitored. There were no effects observed and a second experiment was conducted to evaluate food and water intake at higher doses; after injection of 0, 2.5, 5.0, or 10.0 nmol leptin. Again, there were no effects on food or water intake. In the third experiment, behaviors were analyzed during the first 30 min post-injection of vehicle or 10 nmol leptin. At 5 min post-injection, vehicle-injected chicks spent more time sitting than leptin-injected chicks. A wide dose range was evaluated however, the absence of an effect on food intake or behavior suggests that the chicken leptin peptide that was tested does not mediate effects on appetite in the brain and that chicken leptin likely has a different physiological role in birds than in mammals.
Effect of propofol and ketamine-diazepam on intraocular pressure in healthy premedicated dogs.

Abstract Objective To compare the effect of propofol and ketamine/diazepam for induction following premedication on intraocular pressure (IOP) in healthy dogs. Study design Prospective, quasi-experimental, unmasked, longitudinal. Animals A total of 61 client-owned dogs. Methods Dogs were anesthetized twice with a 4 week washout period. Premedication with dexmedetomidine (5 μg kg–1) and hydromorphone (0.1 mg kg–1) intramuscularly was followed by either propofol (4 mg kg–1) or ketamine (5 mg kg–1) and diazepam (0.25 mg kg–1) intravenously for induction and inhaled isoflurane for maintenance. IOP was measured by applanation tonometry using TonoPen-XL before premedication and after 5, 10, 20 and 30 minutes. IOP was measured again immediately after induction and after 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 and 40 minutes. Data were analyzed using one- or two-way repeated measures ANOVA. Results No difference was found between right and left IOP (p = 0.45), and data from both the eyes of each dog were averaged and considered as one set of data. Following premedication, IOP was significantly lower at all time points than at baseline when animals were grouped together, mean difference –1.6 ± 0.2 mmHg (p Conclusions and clinical relevance Sedation with hydromorphone and dexmedetomidine significantly decreased IOP in normal dogs and may be an appropriate choice for dogs that cannot tolerate acute increases in IOP. However, IOP increased significantly after both induction protocols, abolishing the effect of premedication.
David Oliver: Supporting care assistants when clients become ill at home

In England, personal care and support for dependent older people is largely unpaid, provided by family.1 For people who have no one to do this, however—and who pass very stringent eligibility criteria for statutory social services2 or can afford to pay regardless—it’s generally provided by care assistants.3 These carers often earn the national living wage or not much more,4 and reports show that many have zero hours contracts5 or are not properly reimbursed for time spent travelling between numerous clients’ homes each day.6 Personal care of older people is hard, highly responsible work. But recruitment and retention of care assistants is collapsing in many parts of the country, along with the provider market.7 Without these workers, who could earn more in less demanding jobs, our health and …
Changes in maternal investment with climate moderate social behaviour in a facultatively social bee

Facultatively social species allow for empirical examination of the factors underlying evolutionary transitions between primitive and complex forms of sociality. Variation in climate along altitudinal and latitudinal gradients often influences social behaviour in these species. This facultative sociality has been well-documented in the ground-nesting bees, which have consistently greater social complexity in warmer, lower latitudes and altitudes. However, the potential combined effects of nesting biology and local climatic condition on social behaviour remain largely overlooked. To address this, we performed a long-term study on the facultatively social stem-nesting bee, Ceratina australensis, by assessing populations in three distinct climate zones over the course of three consecutive years. We compared nesting strategies across populations and found that the frequency of social nesting was stable with latitudinal changes in climate. Further, offspring survival was high for both solitary and social colonies, despite large fluctuations in the rate of parasitism across years, indicating that both nesting strategies are successful. However, maternal brood investment, which can strongly affect the social environment of a colony, was observed to fluctuate with climatic variation. Most notably, mothers produced small offspring of both sexes in the hottest driest years. Across all populations, social females were slightly larger than solitary females on average. As such, changes in maternal investment in response to annual and latitudinal climatic variation may be one of the many factors that ultimately determine that rate of social nesting. Variation in nest composition and climatic condition thus suggest that reproductive strategies in facultatively social stem-nesting bees may be influenced by climate constraints on maternal investment. Climate alters the expression of social behaviour in many arthropod species but the relationship between climate and behaviour can vary broadly with taxa. For facultatively social species, theory generally predicts that sociality will increase in warmer climates, as longer brood rearing seasons provide opportunities for overlapping generations and cooperative brood care. However, little is known of the effect of compounding life-history factors, such as nesting biology. Here, we present a 3-year study on an incipiently social stem-nesting bee, Ceratina australensis. We find that the rate of sociality is stable across a broad latitudinal and climatic gradient, and we discuss the idea that nesting biology could potentially temper behavioural responses to climate. However, foundresses may alter their offspring investment in response to both annual weather and regional climatic variation, and this responsiveness could influence colony social behaviour.
Nonlinear dynamic response of concrete gravity dams considering the deconvolution process

Abstract In order to model any physical system, including concrete dams, one needs to apply simplifications to the real system to make the modeling feasible. To study the dynamic response of concrete dams, relevant assumptions are made regarding foundation modeling, input motion mechanism, dam-reservoir interaction, and material behavior. Some of these simplifications may lead to more conservative and uneconomical outcomes. In this paper, nonlinear time-domain dynamic analyses are conducted to evaluate the effect of the input motion mechanism on the concrete gravity dam response. An ideal model of a dam-reservoir-foundation system, considering the inertia of the foundation, appropriate boundary conditions and precise deconvolved base motions, is selected as the reference model. The process of deconvolution of seismic waves through the frequency- and time-domain approaches is discussed, and suggestions for the selection of an appropriate damping model for the rock foundation are presented. The results are compared to those of the standard model of a massless foundation system as recommended by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The numerical results indicate that, generally, the nonlinear response of the two dam models follow similar patterns, but with a larger amplitude for the massless system. It is noted that the consequence of neglecting the dynamic effect of the foundation can be significant. Additionally, the results demonstrate that the degree of overestimation varies dramatically for the various seismic excitations. The average overestimation of the massless system for the crest displacement, crest acceleration, and the contact opening and sliding are 57%, 45%, 152%, and 90%, respectively. It is further shown that the use of the deconvolved input excitation at the base of the finite foundation derived from the frequency-domain approach can yield discrepancies between the target and convolved surface ground motions, which can also have a considerable effect on the dam response.
Preoperative serum ST2 level predicts acute kidney injury after adult cardiac surgery.

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between preoperative levels of serum ST2 and acute kidney injury following cardiac surgery. Previous research has shown that biomarkers facilitate the prediction of acute kidney injury and other complications after cardiac surgery. Methods Preoperative serum ST2 proteins were measured in 1,498 patients undergoing isolated coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery at eight hospitals participating in the Northern New England Biomarker Study from 2004 to 2007. Acute kidney injury severity was defined using the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) definition. Preoperative ST2 levels were measured using multiplex assays. Ordered logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between ST2 levels and levels of acute kidney injury severity. Results Participants in this study showed a significant association between elevated preoperative ST2 levels and acute kidney risk. Before adjustment, the odds of patients developing AKIN Stage 2 or 3, compared to AKIN Stage 1, are 2.43-times higher (95% CI: 1.86-3.16; p= Conclusions Preoperative ST2 levels are associated with postoperative acute kidney injury risk and can be used to identify patients at higher risk of developing acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery.
Identifying Food Literacy Educational Opportunities for Youth.

Background. Recent efforts supporting children’s dietary behaviors suggest the importance of food literacy (FL), which is a multidimensional concept that encompasses food-related knowledge, skills,...
Pathogenesis of Plasmacytomas in Mice

The malignant plasmacytoma is a rare tumor type that occurs naturally in several mammals—the dog (Osborne et al., 1968), the cat (Farrow and Penny, 1971), the hamster (Cotran and Fortner, 1962), the rat (Bazin et al., 1972), the mouse (Dunn, 1954, 1957), and man (Azar, 1973). Because plasmacytomas occur infrequently, it is difficult to study their pathogenesis. It is possible, however, to induce plasmacytomas in high frequency in a few uniquely susceptible inbred strains of mice by the intraperitoneal implantation of solid plastic materials (Merwin and Algire, 1959; Merwin and Redmon, 1963) or the intraperitoneal injection of mineral oils and related substances (Potter and Robertson, 1960; Potter and Boyce, 1962; Anderson and Potter, 1969). While this unusual method of induction is a laboratory method and has no apparent relationship to any known natural form of plasmacytoma development, it provides a means for studying the pathogenesis of plasmacytomas. In many forms of carcinogenesis, a specific differentiated cell type is the selective target. The reasons for cytotropism in the carcinogenic process are an intriguing problem. In plasma cell tumor formation in mice, the problem is even more complex because a segment of the plasma cell population appears particularly vulnerable. At present, immunology is an area of biology that has captured broad interest, and from many investigations have come a wealth of data on the differentiation, development, physiology, and proliferation of plasma cells. These data provide the background for understanding the normal plasma cell and the process of plasmacytoma formation. In this chapter, the pathogenesis of the induction of peritoneal plasmacytomas will be the main topic. The underlying mechanisms of peritoneal plasmacytoma formation in the mouse are not yet established, but it is hoped that insight gained from this study will provide a basis for understanding how plasmacytomas may develop “spontaneously” in the mouse and in other species, including man.
Exploring Surface-Level Heuristics for Negation and Speculation Discovery in Clinical Texts

We investigate the automatic identification of negated and speculative statements in biomedical texts, focusing on the clinical domain. Our goal is to evaluate the performance of simple, Regex-based algorithms that have the advantage of low computational cost, simple implementation, and do not rely on the accurate computation of deep linguistic features of idiosyncratic clinical texts. The performance of the NegEx algorithm with an additional set of Regex-based rules reveals promising results (evaluated on the BioScope corpus). Current and future work focuses on a bootstrapping algorithm for the discovery of new rules from unannotated clinical texts.
Birds of a Feather: George Herbert's "Easter-wings"

The fame of George Herbert’s “Easter-wings” is due not only to the complex theological meanings developed throughout the poem but also to how its form and shape function poetically: the words of th...
Wired to be connected? Links between mobile technology engagement, intertemporal preference and frontostriatal white matter connectivity.

Youth around the world are increasingly dependent on social media and mobile smartphones. This phenomenon has generated considerable speculation regarding the impacts of extensive technology engagement on cognitive development and how these habits might be ‘rewiring’ the brains of those growing up in a heavily digital era. In an initial study conducted with healthy young adults, we utilized behavioral and self-report measures to demonstrate associations between smartphone usage habits (assessed both subjectively and objectively) and individual differences in intertemporal preference and reward sensitivity. In a follow-up neuroimaging study, we used probabilistic tractography of diffusion-weighted images to determine how these individual difference characteristics might relate to variation in white matter connectivity, focusing on two dissociable pathways—one connecting the ventral striatum (vSTR) with the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) and the other connecting the vSTR with the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). Regression analyses revealed opposing patterns of association, with stronger vSTR–vmPFC connectivity corresponding to increased mobile technology engagement but stronger vSTR–dlPFC connectivity corresponding to decreased engagement. Taken together, the results of these two studies provide important foundational evidence for both neural and cognitive factors that can be linked to how individuals engage with mobile technology.
Removal of Arsenate and Chromate by Lanthanum-modified Granular Ceramic Material: The Critical Role of Coating Temperature

The development of economical, low-maintenance, environmentally friendly and effective water filtration techniques can have far-reaching public health, social and economic benefits. In this research, a cost-effective La-modified granular ceramic material made of red art clay and recycled paper fiber was developed for the removal of two major anionic contaminants, As(V) (arsenate) and Cr(VI) (chromate). La modification temperature significantly impacted the resulting composition and properties of the adsorbents, and thus played a crucial role in the adsorbent performance. The La-modified ceramic materials were extensively characterized through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area measurement, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), zeta potential measurements, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The characterization results suggested that surface coating by LaONO3-related compounds was critical for As(V) and Cr(VI) adsorption. At the modification temperature of 385 °C, the adsorption of As(V) and Cr(VI) reached maximum, which were 23 mg/g and 13 mg/g, respectively, under circumneutral conditions that are relevant to various aquatic systems. The adsorption kinetics and isotherm, the influence of pH, ionic strength and coexisting anions on As(V) and Cr(VI) adsorption were investigated to further understand both As(V) and Cr(VI) adsorption behavior. Findings from this research showed that La-modified ceramic material made of recycled paper waste represents a cost-effective adsorbent for anionic contaminant removal under environmentally relevant conditions.
Predictors of death for patients treated with palliative intent radiation using prospective databases.

e18325Background: Radiation therapy (RT) effectively palliates pain and other symptoms due to cancer and is frequently offered to patients with metastatic disease. Standard palliative RT schedules ...
Effects of Cattle Backgrounding Diets on Carcass Characteristics and Beef Quality

ObjectivesTo determine how backgrounding cattle will affect carcass characteristics and fresh beef quality. It was hypothesized that backgrounding cattle will result in an increased hot carcass weight, without impacting fresh beef quality. Materials and MethodsThe impact of utilizing a moderate energy backgrounding diet was evaluated using 95 crossbred steers (initial body weight: 352 ± 30 kg) that were randomly assigned to 1 of 15 pens. Each pen was randomly assigned 1 of 2 dietary treatments. Dietary treatments included a traditional high energy (HigE) finishing diet (n = 7) or a moderate energy (ModE) backgrounding diet (n = 8). Cattle on HigE were fed a high energy finishing diet for all 193 d; those fed ModE were fed the moderate energy diet for 63 d followed by feeding the HigE diet for the last 130 d. All steers received Revalor-XS on d 1. Two steers were randomly chosen from each pen for further evaluation. Hot carcass weight (HCW), 12th rib backfat (BF), ribeye area (REA), marbling score, USDA yield grade, and percent kidney, pelvic, and heart fat (KPH) were collected 48 h postmortem. Strip loins (IMPS #180) were retrieved and evaluated for vacuum purge loss and objective backfat color. The strip loins were fabricated into 2.54 cm steaks for drip loss, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), sensory evaluation, and subjective and objective color score evaluation. Data were analyzed using the mixed procedure of SAS (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC) with treatment as a fixed effect and pen as a random effect. Pen was the experimental unit. Significance was determined at p ≤ 0.05, while trends were determined at p ≤ 0.10. ResultsThere was a tendency for HCW to be heavier for ModE cattle (P = 0.06). There was no treatment effect for BF (P = 0.43), REA (P = 0.96), Marbling (P = 0.16), YG (P = 0.76), or KPH (P = 0.22). No moisture loss attributes differed between treatments: Purge loss (P = 0.40) and drip loss (P = 0.41). Backfat a* (P = 0.43) and b* (P = 0.18) values were not statistically significant between treatments, however, L* (P = 0.06) tended to be higher for HigE cattle. Warner-Bratzler shear force values did not differ between treatments (P = 0.72). There were no treatment effects for any of the steak subjective sensory attributes evaluated: Overall liking (P = 0.80), flavor liking (P = 0.75), texture liking (P = 0.44), toughness (P = 0.31), juiciness (P = 0.65), and off-flavor (P = 0.21). Objective color score did not differ between the 2 treatments: L* (P = 0.39), a* (P = 0.55), and b* (P = 0.68). Subjective color (P = 0.11) and discoloration (P = 0.21) scores also showed no differences between treatments. Subjective sensory analysis showed that steaks from the HigE treatment tended to be more desirable (P = 0.10). ConclusionFeeding a backgrounding diet before finishing led to similar carcass characteristics with a lower reliance on concentrate feed ingredients. Backgrounded cattle also had similar fresh beef qualities but could be compromised at the retail display case with subjective desirability scores tending to be lower.
Book review: Mitra, S. 2018. Disability, Health and Human Development. Palgrave MacMillan: New York.

Book review of: Mitra, S. 2018. Disability, Health and Human Development. Palgrave MacMillan: New York.
Hardness of Approximate Nearest Neighbor Search under L-infinity.

We show conditional hardness of Approximate Nearest Neighbor Search (ANN) under the $\ell_\infty$ norm with two simple reductions. Our first reduction shows that hardness of a special case of the Shortest Vector Problem (SVP), which captures many provably hard instances of SVP, implies a lower bound for ANN with polynomial preprocessing time under the same norm. Combined with a recent quantitative hardness result on SVP under $\ell_\infty$ (Bennett et al., FOCS 2017), our reduction implies that finding a $(1+\varepsilon)$-approximate nearest neighbor under $\ell_\infty$ with polynomial preprocessing requires near-linear query time, unless the Strong Exponential Time Hypothesis (SETH) is false. This complements the results of Rubinstein (STOC 2018), who showed hardness of ANN under $\ell_1$, $\ell_2$, and edit distance. Further improving the approximation factor for hardness, we show that, assuming SETH, near-linear query time is required for any approximation factor less than $3$ under $\ell_\infty$. This shows a conditional separation between ANN under the $\ell_1/ \ell_2$ norm and the $\ell_\infty$ norm since there are sublinear time algorithms achieving better than $3$-approximation for the $\ell_1$ and $\ell_2$ norm. Lastly, we show that the approximation factor of $3$ is a barrier for any naive gadget reduction from the Orthogonal Vectors problem.
Rapid changes in serum IL-6 levels in preterm newborns with Gram-negative early-onset sepsis.

Abstract Early-onset sepsis (EOS) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality for newborns, especially in preterm birth. Serum IL-6 levels are used as an accurate marker for EOS; however, no study has focused on the changes in serum IL-6 levels in newborns with EOS. Here, we investigated 6 preterm newborns (23.4–28.2 wks’ gestational age) with birthweights of 570–1080 g who were diagnosed with EOS. All newborns received active treatment, including exchange transfusions and/or polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column direct hemoperfusion for septic shock. In the 3 surviving newborns, serum-IL-6 levels peaked at >500,000, 256,500, and 356,000 pg/mL within 12 h of life, and then decreased to 500,000, 198,000, and 1,354,000 pg/mL, respectively, prior to death. Therefore, in preterm newborns suspected of EOS, serial serum IL-6 determinations would be useful for not only detecting EOS, but also for monitoring sepsis severity.
Ultrafast Vibronic Phenomena Directly Revealed by Multidimensional Electronic-Vibrational Spectroscopy

This dissertation demonstrates multidimensional Electronic-Vibrational spectroscopy as a direct probe of ultrafast vibronic phenomena in photoexcited molecules. These experimental and theoretical advancements reveal new insights into nature’s fastest reactions: electron transfer and proton transfer.
Speaking for the youth, speaking for the planet: Greta Thunberg and the representational politics of eco-celebrity

Greta Thunberg is the world’s best-known environmental activist. She has been covered by the international press, featured on television talk shows, presented in music videos, and been the object o...
L-bodies are RNA–protein condensates driving RNA localization in Xenopus oocytes

In Xenopus oocytes, RNAs required for proper germ layer patterning localize to the vegetal cytoplasm in RNP granules, which we have termed localization bodies (L-bodies). In this work, we find that...
The planner ensemble: Motion planning by executing diverse algorithms

Autonomous systems that navigate in unknown environments encounter a variety of planning problems. The success of any one particular planning strategy depends on the validity of assumptions it leverages about the structure of the problem, e.g., Is the cost map locally convex? Does the feasible state space have good connectivity? We address the problem of determining suitable motion planning strategies that can work on a diverse set of applications. We have developed a planning system that does this by running competing planners in parallel. In this paper, we present an approach that constructs a planner ensemble - a set of complementary planners that lever-age a diverse set of assumptions. Our approach optimizes the submodular selection criteria with a greedy approach and lazy evaluation. We seed our selection with learnt priors on planner performance, thus allowing us to solve new applications without evaluating every planner on that application. We present results in simulation where the selected ensemble outperforms the best single planner and does almost as well as an off-line planner. We also present results from an autonomous helicopter that has flown missions several kilometers long at speeds of up to 56m/s which involved avoiding unmapped mountains, no-fly zones and landing in cluttered areas with trees and buildings. This work opens the door on the more general problem of adaptive motion planning.
Slow walking on a treadmill desk does not negatively affect executive abilities: an examination of cognitive control, conflict adaptation, response inhibition, and post-error slowing

An increasing trend in the workplace is for employees to walk on treadmills while working to attain known health benefits; however, the effect of walking on a treadmill during cognitive control and executive function tasks is not well known. We compared the cognitive control processes of conflict adaptation (i.e., congruency sequence effects—improved performance following high-conflict relative to low-conflict trials), post-error slowing (i.e., Rabbitt effect), and response inhibition during treadmill walking (1.5 mph) relative to sitting. Understanding the influence of treadmill desks on these cognitive processes may have implications for worker health and productivity. Sixty-nine individuals were randomized to either a sitting (n = 35) or treadmill-walking condition (n = 34). Groups did not differ in age or body mass index. All participants completed a computerized Eriksen flanker task and a response-inhibition go/no-go task in random order while either walking on a treadmill or seated. Response times (RTs) and accuracy were analyzed separately for each task using mixed model analysis of variance. Separate ANOVAs for RTs and accuracy showed the expected conflict adaptation effects, post-error slowing, and response inhibition effects when collapsed across sitting and treadmill groups (all Fs > 78.77, Ps .38), suggesting no decrements or enhancements in conflict-related control and adjustment processes or response inhibition for those walking on a treadmill versus sitting. We conclude that cognitive control performance remains relatively unaffected during slow treadmill walking relative to sitting.
Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent protein kinases Ia and Ib from rat brain I. Identification, purification, and structural comparisons.

Abstract Two Ca(2+)-calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinases were purified from rat brain using as substrate a synthetic peptide based on site 1 (site 1 peptide) of the synaptic vesicle-associated protein, synapsin I. One of the purified enzymes was an approximately 89% pure protein of M(r) = 43,000 which bound CaM in a Ca(2+)-dependent fashion. The other purified enzyme was an apparently homogenous protein of M(r) = 39,000 accompanied by a small amount of a M(r) = 37,000 form which may represent a proteolytic product of the 39-kDa enzyme. The 39-kDa protein bound CaM in a Ca(2+)-dependent fashion. Gel filtration analysis indicated that both enzymes are monomers. The 43- and 39-kDa enzymes are named Ca(2+)-CaM-dependent protein kinases Ia and Ib (CaM kinases Ia, Ib), respectively. The specific activities of CaM kinases Ia and Ib were similar (5-8 mumol/min/mg protein). CaM kinase Ia (but not CaM kinase Ib) activity was enhanced by addition of a CaM-Sepharose column wash (non-binding) fraction suggesting the existence of an "activator" of CaM kinase Ia. Both kinases phosphorylated exogenous substrates (site 1 peptide and synapsin I) in a Ca(2+)-CaM-dependent fashion and both kinases underwent autophosphorylation. CaM kinase Ia autophosphorylation was Ca(2+)-CaM-dependent and occurred exclusively on threonine while CaM kinase Ib autophosphorylation showed Ca(2+)-CaM independence and occurred on both serine and threonine. Proteolytic digestion of autophosphorylated CaM kinases Ia and Ib yielded phosphopeptides of differing M(r). These characteristics, as well as enzymatic and regulatory properties (DeRemer, M. F., Saeli, R. J. Brautigen, D. L., and Edelman, A. M. (1992) J. Biol. Chem. 267, 13466-13471), indicate that CaM kinases Ia and Ib are distinct and possibly previously unrecognized enzymes.
Plant Indicators in Ecology

Over five decades ago, Clements1 2 reviewed the literature dealing with the use of plant indicators in ecology. The result was a volume of nearly 400 pages, with about 450 references. In this definitive work, he stated: “Every plant is a measure of the conditions under which it grows ... an index of soil and climate ... an indicator of the behavior of other plants and of animals in the same spot.” Clements considered Hilgard, in 1860, to have reported the first work done with “distinct” indicator objectives. At the rate of growth of scientific literature,30 a similar review using Clements’ perspective should now encompass over 8,000 references in somewhat more than 400 pages. That will not be attempted here. The manipulation of numbers does reflect, however, the volume of literature that is somewhat pertinent to the use of plant indicators in ecological contexts. In fact, much of the current research in terrestrial plant ecology relates directly to the concept of indicators.
Decreased Temporal Precision of Auditory Signaling in Kcna1-Null Mice: An Electrophysiological Study In Vivo

The voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channel subunit Kv1.1, encoded by the Kcna1 gene, is expressed strongly in the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN) and the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) of the auditory pathway. To examine the contribution of the Kv1.1 subunit to the processing of auditory information, in vivo single-unit recordings were made from VCN neurons (bushy cells), axonal endings of bushy cells at MNTB cells (calyces of Held), and MNTB neurons of Kcna1-null (-/-) mice and littermate control (+/+) mice. Thresholds and spontaneous firing rates of VCN and MNTB neurons were not different between genotypes. At higher sound intensities, however, evoked firing rates of VCN and MNTB neurons were significantly lower in -/- mice than +/+ mice. The SD of the first-spike latency (jitter) was increased in VCN neurons, calyces, and MNTB neurons of -/- mice compared with +/+ controls. Comparison along the ascending pathway suggests that the increased jitter found in -/- MNTB responses arises mostly in the axons of VCN bushy cells and/or their calyceal terminals rather than in the MNTB neurons themselves. At high rates of sinusoidal amplitude modulations, -/- MNTB neurons maintained high vector strength values but discharged on significantly fewer cycles of the amplitude-modulated stimulus than +/+ MNTB neurons. These results indicate that in Kcna1-null mice the absence of the Kv1.1 subunit results in a loss of temporal fidelity (increased jitter) and the failure to follow high-frequency amplitude-modulated sound stimulation in vivo.
Variational Approach to the Bound-State Faddeev Equations

A variational principle for the bound-state Faddeev equations is given. This principle takes the form of a variational expression for the linear eigenvalues of the Faddeev kernel. The variational expression is investigated for the case in which the wave function is expanded in terms of known functions. In this case it can be reduced to the variational method of Rosenberg, and hence the energies obtained are variational upper bounds for the bound-state energy. The variational expression is also used to generate a new set of one-dimensional integral equations for the bound-state problem.
TiO2 mediated photooxidation of trichloroethylene and toluene dissolved in fluorocarbon solvents

Titanium dioxide mediated photodegradation of trichloroethylene (TCE) and toluene dissolved in a fluorocarbon solvent (Galden® HT110) was demonstrated. The photodegradation of TCE yielded dichloroacetic acid as a major intermediate. The TCE reaction kinetics and high photoefficiency suggest autocatalysis and/or a radical chain reaction mechanism. Photooxidation of toluene is a first-order reaction. Membrane-assisted solvent extraction of TCE from water to the fluorocarbon solvent was demonstrated, and the combination of photooxidation and extraction form the basis for a novel two-stage process for the removal and destruction of organic contaminants from water.
A click chemistry approach to site-specific immobilization of a small laccase enables efficient direct electron transfer in a biocathode

Controlled orientation of a small laccase on a multi-walled carbon nanotube electrode was achieved via copper-free click chemistry mediated immobilization. Modification of the enzyme was limited to only the tethering site and involved the genetic incorporation of the unnatural amino acid 4-azido-L-phenylalanine (AzF). This approach enabled efficient direct electron transfer.
Viscous induced drag

A fundamentally new approach to the aircraft minimum induced drag problem is presented. The method, a 'viscous lifting line', is based on the minimum entropy production principle and does not require the planar wake assumption. An approximate, closed form solution is obtained and compared with several classical results. In addition, the problem of optimizing in-plane wing sweep with constant wing root bending moment is considered. Like the classical lifting line theory, this theory predicts that induced drag is proportional to the square of the lift coefficient and inversely proportional to the wing aspect ratio. Unlike the classical theory, it predicts that in-plane wing sweep may significantly reduce induced drag, that induced drag is Reynolds number dependent, and that the optimum spanwise circulation distribution is non-elliptic.
Effects of orchidectomy on gonadotropin and inhibin subunit messenger ribonucleic acids in the pituitary of the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta).

Our research programs required the preparation of hypophysectomized and orchidectomized rhesus monkeys. This afforded us the possibility to characterize and compare levels of the gonadotropin and inhibin subunit mRNAs in pituitaries from intact and castrate monkeys. Eighteen adult male monkeys, four of which had been bilaterally orchidectomized 5-9 months previously, were used in this study. Plasma concentrations of LH and FSH were, respectively, 188.5 +/- 5.3 and 246.8 +/- 25.2 ng/ml in the castrate monkeys and 25.8 +/- 4.5 and 4.1 +/- 1.1 ng/ml (mean +/- SEM) in the intact animals. Total pituitary RNA was hybridized to cDNA probes for cynomolgus monkey gonadotropin subunits (FSH beta, LH beta, and the common alpha-subunit) and for human inhibin subunits (alpha, beta B, and beta A) by Northern blot analysis, and mRNA levels were normalized by subsequent hybridization to cyclophilin. Each of the gonadotropin subunit probes hybridized to a single RNA species with the approximate sizes of 1.6 kilobases (kb;...
Laboratory investigations into the effects of the pesticides mancozeb, chlorothalonil, and prosulfuron on nitrous oxide and nitric oxide production in fertilized soil

Abstract Independent soil microcosm experiments were used to investigate the effects of the fungicides mancozeb and chlorothalonil, and the herbicide prosulfuron, on N 2 O and NO production by nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria in fertilized soil. Soil cores were amended with NH 4 NO 3 or NH 4 NO 3 and pesticide, and the N 2 O and NO concentrations were monitored periodically for approximately 48 h following amendment. Nitrification is the major source of N 2 O and NO in these soils at soil moistures relevant to those observed at the field site where the cores were collected. At pesticide concentrations from 0.02 to 10 times that of a standard single application on a corn crop, N 2 O and NO production was inhibited by all three pesticides. Generally N 2 O production was inhibited by the pesticides from 10 to 62% and 20 to 98% at the lowest and highest dosages, respectively. Nitric oxide production was generally inhibited from about 5 to 47% and by 20 to 97% at the lowest and highest dosages, respectively. Nitrous oxide and nitric oxide production by nitrification was more susceptible to inhibition by these pesticides than denitrification. Production of both N 2 O and NO by nitrification was inhibited by as much as 99%, at the highest concentration of pesticide applied. The net production of N 2 O increased as soil moisture increased. The rate of NO production was greatest at the intermediate moistures investigated, between 14 and 19% gravimetric soil moisture, suggestive that nitrification is the dominant source of NO.
Origin of the lithospheric stress field

[1] An understanding of the tectonic stress field is geologically important because it is the agent that preserves in the crust a memory of dynamical processes. In an effort to elucidate the origin of the present state of stress of the lithosphere we use a finite element model of the Earth's lithosphere to calculate stresses induced by mantle flow, crustal heterogeneity, and topography and compare these to observations of intraplate stresses as given by the World Stress Map. We explore two models of lithospheric heterogeneity, one based directly on seismic and other observational constraints (Crust 2.0), and another that assumes isostatic compensation. Mantle tractions are computed from two models of mantle density heterogeneity: a model based on the history of subduction of the last 180 Myr, which has proved successful at accurately reproducing the present-day geoid and Cenozoic plate velocities, and a model inferred from seismic tomography. We explore the effects of varying assumptions for the viscosity structure of the mantle, and the effects of lateral variations in viscosity in the form of weak plate boundaries. We find that a combined model that includes both mantle and lithospheric sources of stress yields the best match to the observed stress field (∼60% variance reduction), although there are many regions where agreement between observed and predicted stresses is poor. The stress field produced by mantle tractions alone shows a greater degree of long-wavelength structure than is apparent in the stress observations but agrees very well with observations in some areas where radial mantle tractions are particularly strong such as in southeast Asia and the western Pacific. The stress field produced by lithospheric heterogeneity alone depends strongly on the assumed crustal model: Whereas the isostatically compensated model yields very poor agreement with observations, the model based on Crust 2.0 matches the observations about as well as mantle tractions alone and matches very well in certain areas where the influence of high topography is very important (e.g., Andes, East Africa). A possible interpretation of our results is that the stress field is significantly influenced by lateral variations in the viscosity of the mantle, which leads to variable amounts of decoupling between lithosphere and mantle, allowing the mantle signature to dominate in some areas and the crustal signature to dominate in others. The poor fit between the isostatically compensated crustal model and observations and the large differences between the two crustal models point toward the importance of dynamic topography and remaining uncertainties in crustal structure and rheology. We also consider the possibility that observations of stress from the shallow crust may not reflect the state of stress of the entire plate; stresses in the upper plate may be at least partially decoupled from broader-scale plate driving forces by lateral and vertical variations in lithospheric rheology.
Distribution of REE and HFSE between low-Ca pyroxene and lunar picritic melts around multiple saturation points

Abstract The abundances and distribution of incompatible trace elements in low-Ca pyroxene are important to the interpretation of the thermal and chemical evolution of the lunar magma ocean and cumulate mantle. We conducted high pressure (2 GPa) and high temperature (1340–1450 °C) experiments to constrain trace elements partitioning between low-Ca pyroxene and a wide range of lunar picritic melt compositions (TiO2 = 1.6–16.6 wt%) under reducing conditions imposed by graphite-lined molybdenum capsules. We show that addition of TiO2 in the melt decreases rare earth element (REE) and Y partition coefficients in low-Ca pyroxene and quantified this effect through a parameterized lattice strain model. Together with published high quality partitioning data of tetravalent high field strength elements (HFSEs) in the literature, we also developed a parameterized lattice strain model for Ti, Hf and Zr partitioning in low-Ca pyroxene. Partition coefficients of REE and HFSE are positively correlated with Al and Ca abundances in low-Ca pyroxene and negatively correlated with temperature. HFSE partition coefficients show an inverse correlation with Fe content in low-Ca pyroxene. As examples of lunar applications, we estimated REE and HFSE partition coefficients in low-Ca pyroxene close to the multiple saturation points of lunar picritic melts, and found small variations of these partition coefficients in low-Ca pyroxene from individual lunar picritic melts. Constant REE and HFSE partition coefficients can be used in melting models exploring the petrogenesis of individual picritic melts. On the other hand, large variations in estimated REE and HFSE partition coefficients for low-Ca pyroxene are expected during lunar magma ocean crystallization, underscoring the significance of temperature-composition dependent REE and HFSE partition coefficients for understanding lunar magma ocean evolution.
Regulation of aldosterone secretion during altered sodium intake.

Abstract The interactions of the renin-angiotensin system with other factors in the regulation of aldosterone secretion were analyzed during altered sodium in the rat. During sodium restriction, the rise in aldosterone secretion was accompanied by trophic changes in the adrenal glomerulosa zone including increased angiotensin II receptors and enzymes of early and late steps in the aldosterone biosynthetic pathway. All these effects of sodium restriction were reproduced by infusion of angiotensin II, and could be prevented by administration of the converting enzyme inhibitor, SQ 14,225. These findings indicate that the adrenal secretory and trophic responses to sodium restriction are mediated by angiotensin II. In hypophysectomized rats, the basal activities of the enzymes of the early aldosterone biosynthetic pathway were reduced, contributing to the blunted aldosterone responsiveness to sodium deficiency. However, sodium restriction for 6 days significantly increased adrenal glomerulosa angiotensin II receptors and enzymes of the early and late aldosterone biosynthetic pathway, indicating that the pituitary gland is not necessary for the adrenal effects of angiotensin II. In contrast to the prominent glomerulotropic actions of angiotensin II in rats on normal or low sodium intake, infusion of angiotensin II during high sodium intake did not increase blood aldosterone, angiotensin II receptors, or 18-hydroxylase activity, indicating that the trophic actions of the octapeptide are determined by the state of sodium balance. In recent studies, other factors including potassium, dopamine and somatostatin have been shown to potentiate or inhibit the actions of angiotensin II on the adrenal gland. The ability of such factors to influence the effects of angiotensin II could serve as a protective mechanism to modulate aldosterone responses to angiotensin II when elevations in the circulating level of the peptide occur in the absence of sodium deficiency.
New oxovanadium bis(1,2-dithiolate) compounds that mimic the hydrogen-bonding interactions at the active sites of mononuclear molybdenum enzymes.

Reaction of VO(acac)2 with 1,2-dithiols in the presence of triethylamine gives pentacoordinate oxovanadium complexes [HNEt3]2[VO(bdt)2] (1), [HNEt3]2[VO(tdt)2] (2), and [HNEt3]2[VO(bdtCl2)2] (3) (where H2bdt = 1,2-benzenedithiol, H2tdt = 3,4-toluenedithiol, and H2bdtCl2 = 3,6-dichloro-1,2-benzenedithiol). Compounds 1−3 have been characterized by IR, UV/visible, EPR, and mass spectroscopies. The X-ray crystal stuctures of 1 and 2 show hydrogen-bonding interactions between the terminal oxo atom and triethylammonium counterions and between ligand sulfur atoms and the counterions. These interactions are comparable with those found at the active sites of mononuclear molybdenum enzymes.
Nesiritide - not verified.

Dr. Eric Topol asks, How can a drug that is associated with higher rates of both renal dysfunction and death than placebo — and that costs 50 times as much as standard therapies — be given to more than 600,000 patients and be promoted throughout the United States for serial outpatient use, an indication not listed on the label?
Cancer in Wild Freshwater Fish Populations with Emphasis on the Great Lakes

Abstract Reports of tumors in wild freshwater fish populations have been increasing. The highly industrialized nature of the Great Lakes basin suggests that chemically-induced tumors could occur in Great Lakes fish. Several indices of tumors in these fish are reviewed, including: thyroid hyperplasia, gonadal neoplasm, papillomas, skin tumors, and tumors of the liver. The results of this study show that papillomas in white sucker, gonadal tumors in carp x goldfish hybrids, and hyperplasia in coho salmon are widespread in the Great Lakes. Tumor incidence is proposed as a sensitive indicator of the level of carcinogenic compounds in the environment.