cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The contribution of stem cell factor and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in reducing neurodegeneration and promoting neurostructure network reorganization after traumatic brain injury.

Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability in young adults worldwide. TBI-induced long-term cognitive deficits represent a growing clinical problem. Stem cell factor (SCF) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) are involved in neuroprotection and neuronal plasticity. However, the knowledge concerning reparative efficacy of SCF + G-CSF treatment in post-acute TBI recovery remains incomplete. This study aims to determine the efficacy of SCF + G-CSF on post-acute TBI recovery in young adult mice. The controlled cortical impact model of TBI was used for inducing a severe damage in the motor cortex of the right hemisphere in 8-week-old male C57BL mice. SCF + G-CSF treatment was initiated 3 weeks after induction of TBI. Severe TBI led to persistent motor functional deficits (Rota-Rod test) and impaired spatial learning function (water maze test). SCF + G-CSF treatment significantly improved the severe TBI-impaired spatial learning function 6 weeks after treatment. TBI also caused significant increases of Fluoro-Jade C positive degenerating neurons in bilateral frontal cortex, striatum and hippocampus, and significant reductions in MAP2+ apical dendrites and overgrowth of SMI312+ axons in peri-TBI cavity frontal cortex and in the ipsilateral hippocampal CA1 at 24 weeks post-TBI. SCF + G-CSF treatment significantly reduced TBI-induced neurodegeneration in the contralateral frontal cortex and hippocampal CA1, increased MAP2+ apical dendrites in the peri-TBI cavity frontal cortex, and prevented TBI-induced axonal overgrowth in both the peri-TBI cavity frontal cortex and ipsilateral hippocampal CA1.These findings reveal a novel pathology of axonal overgrowth after severe TBI and demonstrate a therapeutic potential of SCF + G-CSF in ameliorating severe TBI-induced long-term neuronal pathology, neurostructural network malformation, and impairments in spatial learning.
Heterogeneous Integration Using Organic Interposer Technology

As the costs of advanced node silicon have risen sharply with the 7 and 5-nanometer nodes, advanced packaging is coming to a crossroad where it is no longer fiscally prudent to pack all desired functionality into a single die. While single-die packages will still be around, the high-end market is shifting towards multiple-die packages to reduce overall costs and improve functionality. This shift is not just to add local memory, such as the addition of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) module(s) to an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) die, but also to separate what would have been a monolithic ASIC in prior generations to its constituent parts, such as the central processing unit (CPU) cores, serializer/deserializer (SerDes) and input/output (I/O) blocks. By splitting the monolithic die into smaller functional blocks, costs can be reduced through improved wafer yield on the smaller CPU cores and re-using older, vetted intellectual property (IP) from a prior silicon node for the I/O and SerDes that do not necessarily need the most advanced silicon node.The traditional approach to fine-pitch multi-die packaging has been silicon interposers with Through Silicon Vias (TSVs). While the TSV approach has ushered in new performance levels never seen before, one of the major limitations is the inability to scale with higher and higher frequencies. The maximum frequency that a silicon interposer can handle between die-to-die interconnects is approximately 4 GHz due to the parasitics of the silicon. As dieto-die interconnects increase their bandwidth to higher and higher levels, the 4-6 GHz limitation can become a major bottleneck. Eliminating the silicon and silicon dioxide dielectrics and using polymers as the dielectric and the interposer itself can solve this problem.This paper will discuss how to use High-Density Fan-Out (HDFO) technology to replace the TSV-bearing silicon interposer with an organic interposer to enable higher bandwidth die-to-die interconnects for heterogeneous integration.
Enhanced Sensing of Weak Anharmonicities through Coherences in Dissipatively Coupled Anti-PT Symmetric Systems

In the last few years, the great utility of exceptional points in sensing linear perturbations has been recognized. However, physical systems are inherently anharmonic and macroscopic physics is most accurately described by nonlinear models. Considering the multitude of semiclassical and quantum effects ensuing from nonlinear interactions, the sensing of anharmonicities is a prerequisite to the primed control of these effects. Here, we propose an expedient sensing scheme relevant to dissipatively coupled anti parity-time (anti-PT) symmetric systems and customized for the fine-grained estimation of anharmonic perturbations. The sensitivity to anharmonicities is derived from the coherence between two modes induced by a common vacuum. Owing to this coherence, the linear response acquires a pole on the real axis. We demonstrate how this singularity can be exploited for the enhanced sensing of very weak anhamonicities at low pumping rates. Our results are applicable to a wide class of systems, and we specifically illustrate the remarkable sensing capabilities in the context of a weakly anharmonic yttrium iron garnet sphere interacting with a cavity via a tapered fiber waveguide. A small change in the anharmonicity leads to a substantial change in the induced spin current.
A Comparison of the Behavior of Concentrated Polyisobutylene Solutions and the Predictions of a New Constitutive Equation

A new constitutive equation is being proposed which contains as a special case the Bernstein, Kearsley and Zapas theory of an elastic fluid. In this equation, the non-linear moduli are corrected by a stiffening factor which depends on the previous strain history. The equation was applied in the description of the simple shearing behavior of a 19.3% solution of polyisobutylene (L-100) in cetane at 23°C. Having obtained the surface H(ί, t) of the single step stress relaxation response over a wide range of time t and strain ί, we proceeded to calculate the contribution of the siffening factor for a suddenly applied shear experiment where the rate of shear was 11.1 s-1. From all these data, we calculated the behavior as a function of time for rates of shear from 22.2 to 111 s-1. The comparison with experimental data was excellent. Very good agreement was obtained for stress relaxation after cessation of flow. The first normal stress difference behavior was also compared favorably for the same type of strain histories.
Ligand Exchange Reactions of Hemin and Vitamin B12a in the Presence of Surfactants in Water and in Nonpolar Solvents

Hemin is present as monomers in alcohol, aqueous micellar hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, CTAB, and sodium dodecyl sulfate, NaLS, as well as in the polar solvent pools in cyclohexane and in benzene, solubilized by polyoxyethylene(6) nonylphenol, Igepal CO-530. Conversely in water hemin exists as dimers. There are significant and specific micellar effects on the ligand exchange reactions of monomeric hemin with imidazole and cyanide ion. Vitamin B12a is completely insoluble in nonpolar solvents. In the presence of surfactants, capable of forming reversed micelles vitamin B12a is entrapped in the surfactant solubilized water pool and is shielded from the bulk apolar solvents by some 300 surfactant molecules. Depending on the size of the surfactant solubilized water pool, the effective polarity of the environment of vitamin B12a can vary considerably. Rate constants for the formation and decomposition of glycine, imidazole, azide and cysteine adducts of vitamin B12a in micellar environments differ dramatically and specifically from those in bulk water. Ligand exchange reactions with functionalized thiols are also affected. These data are discussed.
Why Do Immigrants and Refugees Give Back to Their Communities and What can We Learn from Their Civic Engagement

Each year thousands of immigrants and refugees begin their lives in new places, speaking new languages, and facing new challenges. Challenges include access to health/mental care, education, transportation, and employment. Researchers and practitioners frequently focus on challenges of newcomers and their deficits in meeting needs for self-sufficiency. This study explores newcomers’ giving back and emphasizes an untapped reservoir of strength and capacity. Based on qualitative semi-structured interviews with 54 immigrants and refugees, themes identified include (1) a desire to maintain ethnic identity and connection; (2) ethnic community as an extension of family; (3) a sense of duty and obligation; and (4) measure of achieved success. Researchers and practitioners should shift their view to recognize the strengths and capacities of newcomers who give back to their communities.
Beyond fast food and slow motion: weighty contributors to the obesity epidemic.

Decreased physical activity and marketing-driven increased consumption of “junk” food, dubbed “The Big Two”, are generally regarded as the most important contributors to the obesity epidemic. However, the full picture contains many more pieces of the puzzle. We address several additional issues and review current clinical developments in obesity research. In spite of dramatic advancements in our understanding of the adipose organ and its endocrine and immune products, the ultimate causes of the obesity epidemic remain elusive. Treatment is plagued by poor adherence to life style modifications, and available pharmacological options are marginally effective, often also associated with major side effects. Surgical treatments, albeit effective in decreasing body weight, are invasive and expensive. Thus, our approaches to finding the causes, improving the existing treatments, and inventing novel therapies must be manifold.
Efetivação dos Jovens Aprendizes nas Indústrias Moveleiras de Caxias do Sul

Diante dacompetitividade e globalizacao, as empresas buscam constantemente oaperfeicoamento do seu capital humano, para que possam oferecer produtos comqualidade e precos competitivos. Este estudo teve como proposito mensurar a efetivacaodos jovens aprendizes nas industrias moveleiras de Caxias do Sul. Ometodo utilizado na pesquisa possui abordagem quantitativa, de naturezaaplicada, com objetivo exploratorio e descritivo e como procedimento tecnicoutilizou-se o estudo de caso nas pequenase medias empresas filiadas ao Sindicato das Industrias Moveleiras deCaxias do Sul (SINDIMADEIRA), participaram os gestores e os aprendizes. O instrumento para coleta dosdados deu-se por meio de um questionario semiestruturado, assim, tomou-seconhecimento dos indices de efetivacao apos o periodo de qualificacao dosjovens nos processos de aprendizagem formal. Os resultados, analisados por meioda estatistica descritiva, apontam que empresas moveleiras nao se beneficiam dacontratacao da mao de obra qualificada dos jovens por meio da aprendizagemformal.
Are We Selfish, Are we Nice, or Are We Nice Because We Are Selfish?

Unto Others The Evolution and Psychology of Unselfish Behavior. Elliott Sober and David Sloan Wilson. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1998. 406 pp. $29.95. ISBN 0-674-93046-0. The authors of Unto Others present an evolutionary argument for unselfish behavior as the product of group selection, coupled with a "completely different" section on psychological altruism. They stress a pluralistic approach to altruism, and to levels of selection. The reviewer finds the book more focused on the debates than on the science.
The Zinin Reduction of Nitroarenes

The Zinin reduction is a method for the reduction of nitroarenes by negative divalent sulfur. This versatile reaction can be carried out in the laboratory and for plant-scale manufacture of aromatic amines when other reduction media are destructive to sensitive compounds or result in undesired side reactions. The first reaction, used by Zinin, was to prepare aniline from nitrobenzene. It has been of great importance in the preparation of aromatic amines. Refinements in technique and a better understanding of the reaction mechanism should make this method attractive for the preparation of a variety of amines. Keywords: zinin reduction; nitroarenes; side reactions; nitro groups. nitrosoarenes; arylamines; azobenzene reduction; hydrazobenzene; experimental conditions
Design of resilient processing plants—IV: Some new results on heat exchanger network synthesis

Abstract Simple and reliable methods to synthesize the most efficient network of heat exchangers to heat and cool known process streams between stated temperatu Examples in this paper demonstrate the strong need for systematic design procedures for resilient networks. Networks designed on the basis of intuitive Some fundamental properties of optimal resilient heat exchanger networks are proven first. On this basis a theoretically rigorous synthesis technique i
Cities, Aesthetics, and Human Community Some Thoughts on the Limits of Design

In experience, human relations, institutions and traditions are as much apart of the nature in which we live as is the physical world. But there are multitudes of ways of participating in [nature], and these ways are characteristic not only of various experiences of the same individual, but of attitudes of aspiration, need and achievement that belong to civilizations in their collective aspect. – Dewey (1980, 333) Many, many human beings are not thriving in the city, in fact they are barely surviving ... It is obvious that [the late-capitalist city is] eating its own children in order to satisfy the unquestioned demands of a market economy made manic by global greed. – Grange (1999, 193) In general, you can tell what really scares a society – its collective vision of the dangerous other – by examining its architectural arrangements for exclusion and isolation. – Mitchell (2005, 49)
Effects of Germination Duration on Milling, Physicochemical, and Textural Properties of Medium- and Long-Grain Rice

Germinated brown rice is popular in Asia for its increased γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content and sweeter and softer texture compared with conventional brown rice. However, most studies investigated germinated rice properties on medium-grain or aromatic rice. The objective of this study was to compare differences between a medium-grain (Jupiter) and a long-grain (Wells) rice under similar germination conditions on their milling, physicochemical, and textural properties over the course of germination. Rough rice was soaked in water at 25°C for 12 h and then incubated at 30–34°C for four germination durations. Wells had a higher breakage percentage and a greater weight decrease than Jupiter during germination. Wells had a significantly lower GABA content before germination and at the first two germination durations than Jupiter, but the GABA content in Wells significantly increased at the third germination duration to become significantly higher than that of Jupiter. There were no significant changes in gel...
Sarcopenia and failure to rescue following liver transplantation.

Introduction Sarcopenic liver transplant recipients have higher rates of mortality, but mechanisms underlying these rates remain unclear. Failure to rescue (FTR) has been shown to be a primary driver of mortality following major general and vascular surgery. We hypothesized that FTR is common in sarcopenic liver transplant recipients. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 348 liver transplant recipients with perioperative CT scans. Analytic morphomic techniques were used to assess trunk muscle size via total psoas area (TPA). One-yr major complication and FTR rates were calculated across TPA tertiles. Results The one-yr complication rate was 77% and the FTR rate was 19%. Multivariate regression showed TPA as a significant predictor of FTR (OR = 0.27 per 1000 mm2 increase in TPA, p < 0.001). Compared to patients in the largest muscle tertile, patients in the smallest tertile had 1.4-fold higher adjusted complication rates (91% vs. 66%) and 2.8-fold higher adjusted FTR rates (22% vs. 8%). Discussion These results suggest that mortality in sarcopenic liver transplant recipients may be strongly related to FTR. Efforts aimed at early recognition and management of complications may decrease postoperative mortality. Additionally, this work highlights the need for expanded multicenter collaborations aimed at collection and analysis of postoperative complications in liver transplant recipients.
Perturbation theory for electromagnetic radiation in magnetoplasma

A new perturbation technique is developed for resolving electromagnetic-radiation problems in a magnetoplasma with a weak anisotropy. The technique provides the capability of computing the full-wave fields in analytically closed form. Each successive term in the iterative solution is smaller than the preceding one by a small parameter of the anisotropy. As an example, the technique is used to calculate the Green function for a δ function source oriented parallel to the static magnetic field.
Uranium bearing glasses in the silicate and phosphate systems

The compositional aspects of high uranium content silicate and phosphate glasses were studied. Highly stable silicate glasses were prepared containing up to 45 wt% UO/sub 2/. In thc phosphate system comparatively stable glasses with UO/sub 2/ contents as high as 40 wt% were produced. An interniediate oxide, such as TiO/ or Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/ and/or a modifier, such as Na/sub 2/O was required in the preparation of uranium silicate glass. Glasses consisting entirely of urania and phosphorus pentoxide were prepared and the addition of alumina increased the durability of the uranium phosphate glasses. The best glasses from each system were highly devitrification-resistant and virtually insoluble in boiling water and most common reagents. HF attacked glasses in both systems and NaOH decomposed the phosphate glasses but not the silicates. Densities of the glasses ranged up to 3.56 g/cm/sup 3/. ln general, those glasses with the highest uraniuni contents had the highest densities. The linear thermal expansion coefficient for a typical silicate glass was 6.8 x l0/sup -6// deg C and for a typical uranium phosphate glass, 5.5 x 10/sup -6// deg C. (auth)
Binding of rare earths to serum proteins and DNA

Abstract In order to investigate further the physiological behavior of rare earths and rare earth chelates, studies of the binding of 46Sc, 91Y, and 140La to serum proteins and to nucleic acids were performed using the methods of equilibrium dialysis and ultrafiltration. The binding of lanthanum and yttrium as the chlorides to α-globulin increased as the free rare earth concentration increased. When scandium and lanthanum were chelated in nitrilotriacetate (NTA) the binding to α-globulin was considerably less and there was no binding to albumin. The binding of 46Sc chelated to ethylenediamine di(O-hydroxyphenylacetate) (EDDHA) was five times greater than of 46Sc chloride. When the free scandium concentration was increased, the moles bound per mole of protein increased proportionally and the binding was reversible. Scandium was 100% filterable from a mixture of human serum and from the scandium chelates with high stability constants scandium diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (ScDTPA), scandium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (ScEDTA) and scandium cyclohexane trans-1, 2-diaminetetraacetate (ScCDTA) respectively. In contrast, only 2% of the scandium was filterable when scandium nitrilotriacetate, a scandium chelate of low stability constant, was used. Both yttrium and lanthanum have been shown to bind to DNA and increasing the rare earth concentrations resulted in an increase of the moles of yttrium or lanthanum bound per mole of DNA. An analysis of the lanthanum-DNA binding suggests that there are multiple binding sites for this rare earth on the DNA molecule.
Targeted gene disruption of the endogenous c-abl locus by homologous recombination with DNA encoding a selectable fusion protein.

Abstract We have introduced a substitution mutation into the c-abl locus of murine embryonic stem cells by homologous recombination between exogenously added DNA and the endogenous gene. Model constructs were initially generated that consisted of a promoterless selectable neomycin resistance marker inserted into the v-abl gene of the complete Abelson murine leukemia virus genome, designed to be expressed either as a fusion protein or by translational restart. Tests of these viral genomes for transmission of v-abl and neo markers showed more stable coexpression in a protein fusion construct. The neo fusion was subcloned from this v-abl construct into a promoterless c-abl fragment, and the resulting DNA was used to transform embryonic stem cells. Direct screening of genomic DNAs showed that a high proportion of drug-resistant clones arose from homologous recombination into the endogenous c-abl locus.
Cardiac ATP-sensitive K+ channels. Evidence for preferential regulation by glycolysis.

The ability of glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, the creatine kinase system, and exogenous ATP to suppress ATP-sensitive K+ channels and prevent cell shortening were compared in patch-clamped single guinea pig ventricular myocytes. In cell-attached patches on myocytes permeabilized at one end with saponin, ATP-sensitive K+ channels were activated by removing ATP from the bath, and could be closed equally well by exogenous ATP or substrates for endogenous ATP production by glycolysis (with the mitochondrial inhibitor FCCP present), mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, or the creatine kinase system. In the presence of an exogenous ATP-consuming system, however, glycolytic substrates (with FCCP present) were superior to substrates for either oxidative phosphorylation or the creatine kinase system at suppressing ATP-sensitive K+ channels. All three groups of substrates were equally effective at preventing cell shortening. In 6 of 38 excised inside-out membrane patches, ATP-sensitive K+ channels activated by removing ATP from the bath were suppressed by a complete set of substrates for the ATP-producing steps of glycolysis but not by individual glycolytic substrates, which is consistent with the presence of key glycolytic enzymes located near the channels in these patches. Under whole-cell voltage-clamp conditions, inclusion of 15 mM ATP in the patch electrode solution dialyzing the interior of the cell did not prevent activation of the ATP-sensitive K+ current under control conditions or during exposure to complete metabolic inhibition. In isolated arterially perfused rabbit interventricular septa, selective inhibition of glycolysis caused an immediate increase in 42K+ efflux rate, which was prevented by 100 microM glyburide, a known blocker of ATP-sensitive K+ channels. These observations suggest that key glycolytic enzymes are associated with cardiac. ATP-sensitive K+ channels and under conditions in which intracellular competition for ATP is high (e.g., in beating heart) that act as a preferential source of ATP for these channels.
Aplastic anemia following stovarsol (acetarsone) therapy

Summary The patient was a seven-year-old girl with congenital syphilis, who suddenly developed a severe form of aplastic anemia apparently due to the arsenicals used in the treatment. The antisyphilitic treatment had extended over a period of ten months and had consisted of ten injections of a bismuth preparation, six injections of 0.1 gm. of neoarsphenamine (total of 0.6 gm.) and four courses of stovarsol (total of 56 gm.) Treatment included eleven blood transfusions, and the child gradually improved during the next four months making a complete recovery.
Avoiding hyperoxia in infants ≤ 1250 g is associated with improved short-and long-term outcomes

To determine the rate and severity of short- and long-term morbidity in very low birth weight infants treated before and after the implementation of a change in clinical practice designed to avoid hyperoxia. Analysis of a prospectively collected database of all infants ⩽1250?g admitted to two Emory University NICU's from January 2000 to December 2004. A change in practice was instituted in January 2003 with the objective of avoiding hyperoxia in preterm infants with target O2 saturation (SpO2) at 93 to 85% (Period II). Before the change in practice, SpO2 high alarms were set at 100% and low alarms at 92% (Period I). Statistical analysis included bivariate analyses and multivariate logistic regression comparing outcomes between the two periods. From January 2000 to December 2004, 502 infants met enrollment criteria and 202 (40%) were born in period II, after change in SpO2 targets. Birth weight, gestational age and survival were similar between both periods. The rates for any retinopathy of prematurity, supplemental oxygen at 36 weeks post-conceptional age and the use of steroids for chronic lung disease were significantly lower in the infants born in Period II. There was no difference in the rates of necrotizing enterocolitis, intraventricular hemorrhage and periventricular leukomalacia. At 18 months corrected age (CA), the infants treated during Period II had a higher Mental Developmental Index (MDI) scores (80.2±18.3 vs 89.2±18.5; P 0.02) and similar Psychomotor Developmental Index (PDI) scores (83.9±18.6 vs 89.4±17.2; P 0.08) than those treated during Period I. The proportion of infants with an MDI or a PDI less than 70 was similar between the periods. The change in practice to avoid hyperoxia is associated with a significant decrease in neonatal morbidity and does not have a detrimental effect on developmental outcomes at 18 months CA.
Energy conservation in Kenya's modern sector Progress, potential and problems☆

Abstract The importance that developing countries should attach to energy conservation has been a subject of some controversy. Results are presented here of a study that investigated efforts to improve efficiency of energy use in Kenya. It is shown that many firms have made substantial progress in reducing their energy use per unit of output. Although these are encouraging signs, we found a number of barriers that prevent the realization of the potential to improve the efficiency of energy use. We conclude that assistance to facilitate energy-efficient development in LDCs is as important in the long term, and probably more important in the short term, as aid to expand local energy supplies.
Buying Time—The Immune System Determinants of the Incubation Period to Respiratory Viruses

Respiratory viruses cause disease in humans characterized by an abrupt onset of symptoms. Studies in humans and animal models have shown that symptoms are not immediate and appear days or even weeks after infection. Since the initial symptoms are a manifestation of virus recognition by elements of the innate immune response, early virus replication must go largely undetected. The interval between infection and the emergence of symptoms is called the incubation period and is widely used as a clinical score. While incubation periods have been described for many virus infections the underlying mechanism for this asymptomatic phase has not been comprehensively documented. Here we review studies of the interaction between human pathogenic respiratory RNA viruses and the host with a particular emphasis on the mechanisms used by viruses to inhibit immunity. We discuss the concept of the “stealth phase”, defined as the time between infection and the earliest detectable inflammatory response. We propose that the “stealth phase” phenomenon is primarily responsible for the suppression of symptoms during the incubation period and results from viral antagonism that inhibits major pathways of the innate immune system allowing an extended time of unhindered virus replication.
Secure transmission power of cognitive radios for dynamic spectrum access applications

One of the major concerns of cognitive radios when used for secondary spectrum access is the potential of interfering primary users, considering especially that cognitive radios may be misbehaved or under malicious attacks. In this paper, we present a method for a cognitive radio to secure its transmission power purely from its physical-layer received signals. Built into the transceiver hardware as an independent self-check procedure, this method can guarantee the avoidance of excessive interference of cognitive radios to primary users even when the more flexible upper-layer software or policy regulator is compromised under attacks. Analysis and simulations show that the secure transmission power determined by this procedure can be very close to the ideal secondary transmission power in many practical situations, so the proposed method is helpful to guarantee both the efficiency and the security of cognitive radios.
Systemic hypoxia causes an increase in phagocytosis by peritoneal macrophages in a HIF-1 alpha dependent manner

METHODS: Macrophages were obtained from C3H/HeOUJ mice by peritoneal lavage. Hypoxia was induced in mice and RAW 264.7 macrophages using a modular hypoxic chamber (1% O2), and phagocytosis was quantified by confocal microscopy after internalization of IgG-opsonized erythrocytes (37degC). p38MAPK and HIF signaling were assessed by SDS-PAGE. HIF-1 alpha was inhibited using specific siRNA, and activated after overexpression with HIF-1 alpha cDNA. Data are mean / SEM.
Isolation and properties of inorganic pyrophosphatases from cockroach thoracic muscle mitochondria.

Abstract Three distinct inorganic pyrophosphatases with different pH optima have been isolated from thoracic muscle mitochondria of the American cockroach. Purification was achieved by sonication, differential centrifugation, ammonium sulphate fractionation, and column chromatography on Sephadex, DEAE † cellulose, and CM cellulose. Each of the enzymes required magnesium for maximal activation but the optimum magnesium to substrate ratio varied. The Michaelis constants were 1·2×10 −3 , 2×10 −3 , and 1·6×10 −3 M for the acid, neutral, and alkaline pyrophosphatase, respectively. All three of the enzymes split inorganic phosphate from polyphosphate and GTP to some degree. In addition, the enzymes were inhibited by NaF, DNP, NaCN, and to a lesser extent by certain purine and pyrimidine nucleotides. Divalent metal ions also inhibited the reactions presumably by competing with available magnesium ions.
Comparison of methods for geologic storage of carbon dioxide in saline formations

Abstract Preliminary estimates of CO2 storage potential in geologic formations provide critical information related to Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technologies to mitigate CO2 emissions. Currently multiple methods to estimate CO2 storage and multiple storage estimates for saline formations have been published, leading to potential uncertainty when comparing estimates from different studies. In this work, carbon dioxide storage estimates are compared by applying several commonly used methods to general saline formation data sets to assess the impact that the choice of method has on the results. Specifically, six CO2 storage methods were applied to thirteen saline formation data sets which were based on formations across the United States with adaptations to provide the geologic inputs required by each method. Methods applied include those by (1) international efforts – the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum ( Bachu et al., 2007 ); (2) United States government agencies – U.S. Department of Energy – National Energy Technology Laboratory ( US-DOE-NETL, 2012 ) and United States Geological Survey ( Brennan et al., 2010 ); and (3) the peer-reviewed scientific community – Szulczewski et al. (2012) and Zhou et al. (2008) . A statistical analysis of the estimates generated by multiple methods revealed that assessments of CO2 storage potential made at the prospective level were often statistically indistinguishable from each other, implying that the differences in methodologies are small with respect to the uncertainties in the geologic properties of storage rock in the absence of detailed site-specific characterization.
High Flexibility of Short DNA Probed by Single Molecule Cyclization

DNA duplex is classically viewed as an elastic rod and its mechanical properties are described by the worm-like chain model (WLC) with a persistence length of around 50 nm or 150 basepairs. However many biologically significant protein-DNA interactions involve looping and bending of DNA on a shorter length scale. Despite its conceptual and practical importance, experiments and computer simulations to measure cyclization of sub-persistence DNA molecules have yielded contradictory results. We developed a fluorescence-based cyclization assay for directly observing the cyclization of single DNA molecules. Our results show that short DNA of lengths 67- to 105-bp have an effective j-factor of up to 1010 times higher than the theoretical predictions. Our results also show that DNA at this length scale is more than 1000 fold more twistable than the model prediction. Finally we propose to use this assay as a fast and versatile tool to study the effect of DNA binding proteins and ligands as well as DNA defects on the global cyclization of DNA.
CANADIAN WHEAT ACREAGE RESPONSE

In spite of the criticisms which have been levied against statistical estimation of supply response, it is used in this study to determine the factors causing yearly fluctuations in Canadian wheat acreage. The estimates are derived from 1947–1966 time series data. In formulating price expectations, both the traditional and distributed lag models are used. It was found that wheat acreage response is not a random process. From a statistical standpoint, wheat and flax prices, wheat stocks on farms, and export sales did affect farmers' wheat acreage decisions. Among the elasticities computed, those for wheat prices were the largest but generally less than one. Barley prices, rainfall prior to seeding, and cattle prices were also considered but did not appear to have a serious influence on wheat acreage.
Distributed Cognition and the Task of Science

This paper gives a characterization of distributed cognition (d-cog) and explores ways that the framework might be applied in studies of science. I argue that a system can only be given a d-cog description if it is thought of as performing a task. Turning our attention to science, we can try to give a global d-cog account of science or local d-cog accounts of particular scientific projects. Several accounts of science can be seen as global d-cog accounts: Robert Merton's sociology of scientific norms, Philip Kitcher's 20th-century account of cognitive labor, and Kitcher's 21st-century notion of well-ordered science. Problems that arise for them arise just because of the way that they attribute a function to science. The paper concludes by considering local d-cog accounts. Here, too, the task is the crux of the matter.
Reaction mechanisms of non-heme diiron hydroxylases characterized in whole cells

Whole cells expressing the non-heme diiron hydroxylases AlkB and toluene 4-monooxygenase (T4MO) were used to probe enzyme reaction mechanisms. AlkB catalyzes the hydroxylation of the radical clock substrates bicyclo[4.1.0]heptane (norcarane), spirooctane and 1,1-diethylcyclopropane, and does not catalyze the hydroxylation of the radical clocks 1,1-dimethylcyclopropane or 1,1,2,2-tetramethylcyclopropane. The hydroxylation of norcarane yields a distribution of products consistent with an "oxygen-rebound" mechanism for the enzyme in both the wild type Pseudomonas putida GPo1 and AlkB from P. putida GPo1 expressed in Escherichia coli. Evidence for the presence of a substrate-based radical during the reaction mechanism is clear. With norcarane, the lifetime of that radical varies with experimental conditions. Experiments with higher substrate concentrations yield a shorter radical lifetime (approximately 1 ns), while experiments with lower substrate concentrations yield a longer radical lifetime (approximately 19 ns). Consistent results were obtained using either wild type or AlkB-equipped host organisms using either "resting cell" or "growing cell" approaches. T4MO expressed in E. coli also catalyzes the hydroxylation of norcarane with a radical lifetime of approximately 0.07 ns. No radical lifetime dependence on substrate concentration was seen. Results from experiments with diethylcyclopropane, spirooctane, dimethylcyclopropane, and diethylcyclopropane are consistent with a restricted active site for AlkB.
On the assay of brachytherapy sources

In many of brachytherapy procedures, a large amount of radioactive sources are used to deliver desired doses to the target volume. It is both the federal regulation recommendation (US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, 10 CFR 35.432) and recommendations of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) [Kutcher et al., Med. Phys. 21, 581-618 (1994); Nath et al., Med. Phys. 24, 1557-1598 (1997)] that users independently verify the sources' strength. Though the reports of AAPM Task Group 40 [Kutcher et al., Med. Phys. 21, 581-618 (1994)] and 56 [Nath et al., Med. Phys. 24, 1557-1598 (1997)] have made specific recommendations on the assay of brachytherapy sources, the relevant statistical significance of the recommendations remain unanswered. In this study, statistical theories were used and a method was presented to quantify the assay process of brachytherapy sources and to evaluate the recommendations. The results showed that the quality of a source assay process was dependent on the measured source strength deviation and number of assayed sources. Its dependence on the total number of sources becomes statistically insignificant if the total number is large enough. It was concluded that the assay process can be determined by the obtained assay information, instead of a presetmore » percentage of total sources. It was further found that the use of manufacturer's stated strength value may possibly lead to bigger uncertainty in source strength accuracy, unless the manufacturer's stated strength is the measured mean value of all the ordered sources.« less
Diversity in rat strains and tumor lines of DNA fragments homologous to an amplified 5.8 kilobase Eco R1 fragment of Novikoff hepatoma cells

Abstract The nuclear DNA of several different rat strains and rat tumor lines have been analyzed with respect to Eco R1 fragments homologous to the amplified 5.8 kb Eco R1 fragment (fragment A) of Novikoff hepatoma cells. Two Eco R1 fragments, 4.8 and 4.4 kb, which hybridized to the 5.8 kb Eco R1 fragment, were found in all the genomes investigated. Although none of the examined genomes exhibited evidence of the same degree of amplification of fragment A related sequences as that of Novikoff hepatoma, several had Eco R1 fragments of various other sizes which were homologous to fragment A. These results indicate that the family of fragment A homologous sequences consists of two populations, the constant 4.8 and 4.4 kb fragments, and a second group of sequences which varies with respect to size.
Histone Deacetylases Suppress CGG Repeat–Induced Neurodegeneration Via Transcriptional Silencing in Models of Fragile X Tremor Ataxia Syndrome

Fragile X Tremor Ataxia Syndrome (FXTAS) is a common inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by expansion of a CGG trinucleotide repeat in the 5′UTR of the fragile X syndrome (FXS) gene, FMR1. The expanded CGG repeat is thought to induce toxicity as RNA, and in FXTAS patients mRNA levels for FMR1 are markedly increased. Despite the critical role of FMR1 mRNA in disease pathogenesis, the basis for the increase in FMR1 mRNA expression is unknown. Here we show that overexpressing any of three histone deacetylases (HDACs 3, 6, or 11) suppresses CGG repeat–induced neurodegeneration in a Drosophila model of FXTAS. This suppression results from selective transcriptional repression of the CGG repeat–containing transgene. These findings led us to evaluate the acetylation state of histones at the human FMR1 locus. In patient-derived lymphoblasts and fibroblasts, we determined by chromatin immunoprecipitation that there is increased acetylation of histones at the FMR1 locus in pre-mutation carriers compared to control or FXS derived cell lines. These epigenetic changes correlate with elevated FMR1 mRNA expression in pre-mutation cell lines. Consistent with this finding, histone acetyltransferase (HAT) inhibitors repress FMR1 mRNA expression to control levels in pre-mutation carrier cell lines and extend lifespan in CGG repeat–expressing Drosophila. These findings support a disease model whereby the CGG repeat expansion in FXTAS promotes chromatin remodeling in cis, which in turn increases expression of the toxic FMR1 mRNA. Moreover, these results provide proof of principle that HAT inhibitors or HDAC activators might be used to selectively repress transcription at the FMR1 locus.
Updates on Rectal Cancer

In the last few decades there has been a shift in the paradigm of rectal cancer treatment. Surgery, historically the only weapon against rectal malignances, has found valuable allies in other treatment modalities, extending the range of cure to previously untreatable stages of disease. Perioperative protocols have led to a dramatic improvement in local control of locally advanced disease. The integration of targeted therapies with more effective cytotoxic protocols and refined surgical strategies has expanded the treatment of metastatic disease, resulting in improved survival. Advances in risk stratification will allow us to identify patients who may benefit from conservative surgical approaches in the future. This manuscript reviews the accepted standard of care protocols and highlights areas currently under debate.
Flavin adenine dinucleotide synthesis in animal tissues.

Abstract 1. 1. An enzyme which synthesizes flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) from flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and adenosine triposphate (ATP) has been localized in the soluble fraction of the cells of animal tissues. This activity has been shown to be widespread; it has been found to be especially high in mouse liver and is found even in skeletal muscle. 2. 2. Whole tissue homogenates show little ability to form FAD. This is due to the presence of an enzyme or enzymes in the particulate fraction, which cleave the dinucleotide. 3. 3. The enzyme from rat liver, which promotes FAD synthesis, has been separated from accompanying FAD-destructive activities by column chromatography on powdered cellulose and partially purified. 4. 4. The partially purified rat-liver enzyme has not yet been found to catalyze a pyrophosphorolysis of FAD as does the yeast enzyme. 5. 5. The properties of the synthesizing enzyme are discussed.
The preterm prediction study: Fetal fibronectin, bacterial vaginosis, and peripartum infection

Objective To determine the relation between vaginal and upper genital tract infection and cervical-vaginal fetal fibronectin levels. Methods We screened 2899 women at ten centers every 2 weeks from 23–24 to 30 weeks' gestation for cervical and vaginal fetal fibronectin. A positive test was defined as a level of at least 50 ng/mL. The relation between a positive test and bacterial vaginosis at 23–24 weeks and clinical or histologic chorioamnionitis at delivery plus neonatal sepsis was determined. Results Fetal fibronectin was present in 4.0% of cervical and/or vaginal samples at 23–24 weeks and was nearly twice as common in women with bacterial vaginosis. Adjusting for the presence of bacterial vaginosis, race, and parity, women positive for fetal fibronectin were much more likely to have clinical chorioamnionitis (mean ± standard deviation gestational age 30.6 ± 4.1 weeks), with an odds ratio of 16.4 and 95% confidence interval of 7.1–37.8, and neonatal sepsis (6.3 and 2.0–20.0, respectively), than those who were fetal fibronectin-negative. A positive cervical fetal fibronectin test was a better predictor of clinical chorioamnionitis and neonatal sepsis than was a vaginal test or a combination of vaginal and cervical tests. Among 40 women who delivered before 32 weeks and had placental histology available for evaluation, ten had a positive cervical and/or vaginal fetal fibronectin test before delivery; all ten had histologic evidence of chorioamnionitis, compared with only 13 of 30 women (43%) who were fetal fibronectin-negative ( P = .02). Conclusion Women with bacterial vaginosis were more likely to have a positive fetal fibronectin test than uninfected women. Women with a positive fetal fibronectin test who delivered before 32 weeks' gestation all had evidence of histologic chorioamnionitis. Women positive for fetal fibronectin also had a 16-fold increase in clinical chorioamnionitis and a sixfold increase in neonatal sepsis. There is strong evidence that upper genital tract infection and cervical and/or vaginal fetal fibronectin are closely linked.
Effect of Substrate Roughness and Feedstock Concentration on Growth of Wafer-Scale Graphene at Atmospheric Pressure

The growth of large-area graphene on catalytic metal substrates is a topic of both fundamental and technological interest. We have developed an atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method that is potentially more cost-effective and compatible with industrial production than approaches based on synthesis under high vacuum. Surface morphology of the catalytic Cu substrate and the concentration of carbon feedstock gas were found to be crucial factors in determining the homogeneity and electronic transport properties of the final graphene film. The use of an electropolished metal surface and low methane concentration enabled the growth of graphene samples with single layer content exceeding 95%. Field effect transistors fabricated from CVD graphene made with the optimized process had room temperature hole mobilities that are a factor of 2−5 larger than those measured for samples grown on as-purchased Cu foil with larger methane concentration. A kinetic model is proposed to explain the observed...
Antibiotics and Chick Growth During Hot Weather

Abstract The diet recommended by the ANRC Reference Chick Diet Committee (1956) contains a combination of 90 grams arsanilic acid and 4 grams procaine penicillin G per ton as the antibiotic supplement. Heywang (1957) reported that the average increase in the weight and efficiency of diet utilization of meat-type chicks during hot weather were about the same when their diet contained a combination of one gram procaine penicillin G and 3¾ grams of either chlortetracycline or oxytetracycline per ton as when it contained 50 or 100 grams of either alone. It was considered of interest to determine whether the combination we used was as effective as the one recommended by the Committee, and also to obtain comparative data on an antibiotic (erythromycin) which had not been fed at the station. Five experiments were conducted during hot weather in two consecutive summers, two of them with New Hampshires and three with New …
Simulation of Matrix Cracks in Composite Laminates Containing a Small Hole

This paper studies the matrix cracking sequence in [02/90 2]s graphite epoxy laminates that contain a small central hole. Experiment was performed first using specimens loaded in uniaxial, quasi-static tension, followed by inspections of the speci men at several prescribed loading increments by means of x-radiography. The inspection provides a quantitative measurement and a physical analysis of matrix cracking patterns near the hole.