cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A multi-scale model analysis of ozone formation in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, Thailand

Abstract Over the last three decades, Thailand's rapid industrialization and urbanization have led to an impact on urban air quality. A majority of the country's development has occurred within and around Bangkok (BKK), the capital city of Thailand, and the Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR). Since 1995, the BMR has experienced air quality degradation, in particular, enhanced ozone (O3) due to a combination of the local increase in emissions from accelerated growth in automotive and industrial activities, local meteorology including strong solar radiation, high temperature and high humidity, and potential long-range effects of regional transport from China. To investigate the O3 formation in the BMR due to the effects of long-range transport and local meteorology feedbacks, we perform a multi-scale simulation with the Weather Research and Forecasting model with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) during the O3 season (January to March), 2010; since O3 mixing ratio exceedances in the BMR occur primarily during this period The results in this study indicate the significance of China's emission reductions on the regional-scale and the local-scale pollution, as far as the BMR region and southern Thailand. Applying China's oxide of nitrogen (NOx)-only emission controls, generally, enhance the domain-wide monthly-average peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) and O3 in the regional scale, in the order of ~1–7% and ~1–5%, respectively, while those in the local scale are ~ 0.2–6% and ~0.1–5% compared with the baseline simulation. However, the increases in PAN and O3 are mitigated by 40% China's Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) reduction along with 40% NOx reduction. The results, supported by an indicator analysis, suggest that northern and eastern China, northern and central Thailand and the BMR, are likely VOC-limited during the O3 season. Since the BMR is VOC-limited regime, controlling anthropogenic VOC emissions will show more benefit to control O3 than controlling NOx-only emissions. Other factors that influence on O3 levels in the BMR are biogenic VOC emissions from the Tenasserim range and land- and sea-breeze circulations that recirculate and disperse pollutants along the coastal areas.
Growth performance, oxidative stress, and antioxidant capacity of newly weaned piglets fed dietary peroxidized lipids with vitamin E or phytogenic compounds in drinking water

ABSTRACT Objective This study evaluated the use of vitamin E and phytogenic compounds in drinking water on growth performance, oxidative stress, and immune status of piglets fed peroxidized lipids. Materials and Methods In a 35-d study, 21-d-old weaned piglets (n = 96; 6.10 ± 0.64 kg of BW) were assigned within sex and BW blocks to 1 of 4 treatments, using 24 pens (4 pigs per pen; 6 replications per treatment). Diets contained either 6% soybean oil or 6% peroxidized soybean oil. Pigs fed peroxidized soybean oil received drinking water without (control) or with supplemental vitamin E (100 IU/L of RRR-α-tocopherol) or phytogenic compounds (60 μL/L for wk 1 and 30 μL/L for wk 2 to 5). Results and Discussion Peroxidized soybean oil decreased (P Implications and Applications Peroxidized soybean oil reduced growth performance of weaned nursery pigs, which did not appear to be related to oxidative stress or immune status. The negative effects of peroxidized soybean oil on animal performance could not be improved by supplementation of vitamin E or phytogenic compounds in the drinking water.
Pro-organic radical contrast agents ("pro-ORCAs") for real-time MRI of pro-drug activation in biological systems.

Nitroxide-based organic-radical contrast agents (ORCAs) are promising as safe next-generation magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tools. Nevertheless, stimuli-responsive ORCAs that enable MRI monitoring of prodrug activation have not been reported; such systems could open new avenues for prodrug validation and image-guided drug delivery. Here, we introduce a novel “pro-ORCA” concept that addresses this challenge. By covalent conjugation of nitroxides and drug molecules (doxorubicin, DOX) to the same brush-arm star polymer (BASP) through chemically identical cleavable linkers, we demonstrate that pro-ORCA and prodrug activation, i.e., ORCA and DOX release, leads to significant changes in MRI contrast that correlate with cytotoxicity. This approach is shown to be general for a range of commonly used linker cleavage mechanisms (e.g., photolysis and hydrolysis) and release rates. Pro-ORCAs could find applications as research tools or clinically viable “reporter theranostics” for in vitro and in vivo MRI-correlated prodrug activation.
Routine Preoperative Nutritional Screening in All Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty Patients Has Little Utility.

Abstract Background Nutritional optimization before total joint arthroplasty (TJA) may improve patient outcomes and decrease costs. However, the utility of serologic laboratory markers, including albumin, transferrin, and total lymphocyte count (TLC), as primary indicators of nutrition is unclear. We analyzed the prevalence of abnormal nutritional values before TJA and identified factors associated with them. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 819 primary cases of TJA performed at 1 institution from January to December 2018. Patient demographic characteristics were assessed for associations with abnormal preoperative nutritional values (albumin Results Values were abnormal for albumin in 21 cases (2.6%), transferrin in 26 cases (5.6%), and TLC in 185 cases (25%). Thirteen cases (1.7%) had abnormal values for 2 markers. Age was associated with abnormal albumin and TLC, and race with abnormal transferrin. Congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, pancreatic insufficiency, gastroesophageal reflux disease, osteoporosis, dementia, and CCI were associated with abnormal albumin; Parkinson disease and American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status with abnormal transferrin; and dementia, body mass index, cancer history, and CCI with abnormal TLC. Conclusion We report low prevalence of and a low concordance rate among abnormal nutritional values before primary TJA. Our results suggest that routine testing of all healthy patients is not warranted before TJA.
Comparative evaluation of isogenic mesodermal and ectomesodermal chondrocytes from human iPSCs for cartilage regeneration.

Generating phenotypic chondrocytes from pluripotent stem cells is of great interest in the field of cartilage regeneration. In this study, we differentiated human induced pluripotent stem cells into the mesodermal and ectomesodermal lineages to prepare isogenic mesodermal cell–derived chondrocytes (MC-Chs) and neural crest cell–derived chondrocytes (NCC-Chs), respectively, for comparative evaluation. Our results showed that both MC-Chs and NCC-Chs expressed hyaline cartilage–associated markers and were capable of generating hyaline cartilage–like tissue ectopically and at joint defects. Moreover, NCC-Chs revealed closer morphological and transcriptional similarities to native articular chondrocytes than MC-Chs. NCC-Ch implants induced by our growth factor mixture demonstrated increased matrix production and stiffness compared to MC-Ch implants. Our findings address how chondrocytes derived from pluripotent stem cells through mesodermal and ectomesodermal differentiation are different in activities and functions, providing the crucial information that helps make appropriate cell choices for effective regeneration of articular cartilage.
Some remarks on even-hole-free graphs

A vertex of a graph is bisimplicial if the set of its neighbors is the union of two cliques; a graph is quasi-line if every vertex is bisimplicial. A recent result of Chudnovsky and Seymour asserts that every non-empty even-hole-free graph has a bisimplicial vertex. Both Hadwiger's conjecture and the Erdős-Lovasz Tihany conjecture have been shown to be true for quasi-line graphs, but are open for even-hole-free graphs. In this note, we prove that for all $k\ge7$, every even-hole-free graph with no $K_k$ minor is $(2k-5)$-colorable; every even-hole-free graph $G$ with $\omega(G) \chi(G)/3$. Furthermore, we prove that every $9$-chromatic graph $G$ with $\omega(G)\le 8$ has a $K_4\cup K_6$ minor. Our proofs rely heavily on the structural result of Chudnovsky and Seymour on even-hole-free graphs.
Improving Predictions of COVID-19 Preventive Behavior: Development of a Sequential Mediation Model.

Background: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing, self-quarantining, wearing masks, and washing hands have become part of the new norm for many, but not all. It appears that such preventive measures are critical to “flattening the curve” of the spread of COVID-19. The public’s adoption of such behaviors is an essential component in the battle against what has been referred to as the “invisible enemy.” Objective: The primary objective of this study was to develop a model for predicting COVID-19 preventive behaviors among US college students. The Health Belief Model has a long history of use and empirical support in predicting preventive health behaviors, but it is not without its purported shortcomings. This study identifies a more optimal and defensible combination of variables to explain preventive behaviors among college students. This segment of the US population is critical in helping slow the spread of COVID-19 because of the relative reluctance of college students to perform the needed behaviors given they do not feel susceptible to or fearful of COVID-19. Methods: For this study, 415 US college students were surveyed via Qualtrics and asked to answer questions regarding their fear of COVID-19, information receptivity (seeking relevant information), perceived knowledge of the disease, self-efficacy, and performance of preventive behaviors. The PROCESS macro (Model 6) was used to test our conceptual model, including predictions involving sequential mediation. Results: Sequential mediation results show that fear of COVID-19 leads individuals to seek out information regarding the disease, which increases their perceived knowledge and fosters self-efficacy; this is key to driving preventive behaviors. Conclusions: Self-imposed preventive measures can drastically impact the rate of infection among populations. Based on this study’s newly created sequential mediation model, communication strategies for encouraging COVID-19 preventive behaviors are offered. It is clear that college students, and very possibly adults of all ages, must have a healthy fear of COVID-19 to set in motion a process where concerned individuals seek out COVID-19–related information, increasing their store of knowledge concerning the disease, their self-efficacy, and ultimately their likelihood of performing the needed preventive behaviors.
Molecular Dynamics Simulation of the Stress–Strain Behavior of Polyamide Crystals

Author(s): Yang, Quanpeng; Li, Wenjun; Stober, Spencer T; Burns, Adam B; Gopinadhan, Manesh; Martini, Ashlie
Distal posterolateral corner injury in the setting of multiligament knee injury increases risk of common peroneal palsy

The purpose of this study was to identify if the location of posterolateral corner (PLC) injury was predictive of clinical common peroneal nerve (CPN) palsy. A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients presenting to our institution with operative PLC injuries. Assessment of concomitant injuries and presence of neurologic injury was completed via chart review and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) review. A fellowship-trained musculoskeletal radiologist reviewed the PLC injury and categorized it into distal, middle and proximal injuries with or without a biceps femoral avulsion. The CPN was evaluated for signs of displacement or neuritis. Forty-seven operatively managed patients between 2014 and 2019 (mean age-at-injury 29.5 ± 10.7 years) were included in this study. Eleven (23.4%) total patients presented with a clinical CPN palsy. Distal PLC injuries were significantly associated with CPN palsy [9 (81.8%) patients, (P = 0.041)]. Nine of 11 (81.8%) patients with CPN palsy had biceps femoral avulsion (P = 0.041). Of the patients presenting with CPN palsy, only four (36.4%) patients experienced complete neurologic recovery. Three of 7 patients (43%) with an intact CPN had full resolution of their clinically complete CPN palsy at the time of follow-up (482 ± 357 days). All patients presenting with a CPN palsy also had a complete anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture in addition to a PLC injury (P = 0.009), with or without a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injury. No patient presenting with an isolated pattern of PCL-PLC injury (those without ACL tears) had a clinical CPN palsy. Distal PLC injuries have a strong association with clinical CPN palsy, with suboptimal resolution in the initial post-operative period. Specifically, the presence of a biceps femoris avulsion injury was highly associated with a clinical CPN palsy. Additionally, CPN palsy in the context of PLC injury has a strong association with concomitant ACL injury. Furthermore, the relative rates of involvement of the ACL vs. PCL suggest that specific injury mechanism may have an important role in CPN palsy. IV.
How generic is eternal inflation

Everlasting inflation has far-reaching implications for cosmology and the standing of self-localizing inferences made by observers, which have been subjects of renewed interest in light of the growing acceptance of theory landscapes and the attendant anthropic arguments. Under what assumptions and to what extent does inflation generically produce an eternal "multiverse," without fine-tuning with respect to measures over the space of inflationary cosmologies driven by a single minimally coupled scalar field? We address this and related questions with numerical simulations of inflationary dynamics across populations of randomly generated inflation models, instantiating a few particular simply-defined measures.
Chapter 2. Pharmacology of Neurotrophic Factors in Models of Neurodegenerative Disease

Publisher Summary The archetypal neurotrophic factor, nerve growth factor (NGF), was discovered some 45 years ago for its ability to support neurite outgrowth and survival of sympathetic and neural crest-derived sensory neurons. The recent cloning of additional NGF family members revealed the structures of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), and neurotrophin-4/5 (NT-4/5), collectively known as the neurotrophins. This chapter discusses the in vitro actions of the neurotrophins and ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) as well as recent pharmacological studies of these factors in animal models of nerve trauma and neurodegeneration. Advances in biotechnology have allowed largescale production of recombinant neurotrophic factors, permitting the study of these factors in various animal models of the nervous system disorders. Nerve growth factor (NGF) has distinct survival and neurite outgrowth promoting activities on sympathetic and neural crest-derived sensory neurons of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG). However, sensory neurons derived from the neural placodes do not appear to require NGF for survival or process outgrowth. The observation that NGF displays a limited spectrum of neurotrophic activities within the nervous system prompted the search for additional trophic substances, potentially related to NGF that might subserve trophic functions on neuronal populations not responsive to NGF. The current status of the biological spectra of the four known neurotrophins on cultured embryonic neurons is described and emphasizes the point that many factors have overlapping as well as distinct patterns of activities, fulfilling the notion that multiple factors exists to subserve various trophic functions on the wide array of neurons within the peripheral and the central nervous systems (PNS, CNS). Rapid advances in the field of neurotrophic factors and emerging animal studies have brought hopes for novel therapies for a multitude of neurodegenerative disorders for which there is currently no treatment. Owing in great part to the advances in biotechnology that allow the gram-kilogram scale production of these proteins, the pharmacology of neurotrophic factors can be elucidated.
Effect of C-C chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) knockout on type-2 (schistosomal antigen-elicited) pulmonary granuloma formation: analysis of cellular recruitment and cytokine responses.

Monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1 is postulated to play a role in cellular recruitment during inflammatory reactions. C-C chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) is considered the major G-protein coupled receptor for MCP-1/JE. We reported that mice with knockout of the CCR2 gene display partially impaired type-1 granuloma formation. The present study similarly examined the effect of CCR2 deficiency on synchronously developing type-2 (Th2) cytokine-mediated lung granulomas elicited by embolization of beads coated with Ags of Schistosoma mansoni eggs. Systemically, blood monocytes were reduced by about half throughout the 8-day study period. At the local level, granuloma size and macrophage content were impaired during the early growth phase (days 1 to 2). By day 4, granuloma sizes were similar to controls. In granulomatous lungs, CCR2 knockout increased mRNA for CCR2 agonists, MCP-1, MCP-3, and MCP-5, but reduced IL-4 and IFNγ mRNA. The latter was possibly related to decreased CD4+ T cell recruitment. Regionally, draining lymph nodes showed panlymphoid hyperplasia with impaired production of IFNγ, IL-2, and IL-4, but not IL-5, IL-10, or IL-13. Analysis of procollagen gene expression indicated transient impairment of procollagen III transcripts on day 4 of granuloma formation. These findings indicate that agonists of CCR2 contribute to multiple facets of type-2 hypersensitivity granulomatous inflammation.
Party Polarization and the Business Cycle in the United States

A large literature has studied the trend of greaterpolarization between Democrats and Republicans in Congress.This paper empirically examines the extent to which inflationand unemployment explain cyclical movements ofpolarization over time. An informal application of thestandard Downsian spatial competition model of partiesgenerates the following relationships, ceteris paribus: (1)inflation should be associated with policy convergence, (2)unemployment should be associated with polarization, (3) theeffect of unemployment on polarization should be larger inmagnitude than the effect of inflation on convergence, and (4)the effect of unemployment on polarization should be strongerin the House than in the Senate. We estimate the relationshipbetween vote records and business cycle conditions over the1947–1999 period using a GLS model with varying lags. Ourresults are broadly consistent with these business cyclehypotheses of polarization, though greater support is found inHouse data than in Senate data.
Damage accumulation and fatigue life of particle-abraded ceramics.

Purpose This investigation compared initial and fatigue strengths of particle-abraded ceramics to those of as-polished alumina and zirconia ceramics in crown-like layer structures. Materials and methods Alumina or zirconia plates bonded to polycarbonate substrates were subjected to single-cycle and multi-cycle contact (fatigue) loading. Cementation surfaces of the ceramic were damaged by controlled particle abrasion, indentation with a sharp diamond at low load, or a blunt indenter at high load. The stresses needed to initiate radial fractures were evaluated. Results The strengths of specimens were lowered by fatigue loading. After the equivalent of 1 year of occlusal contacts, the strengths of undamaged specimens degraded to approximately half of their single-cycle values. In particle-abraded specimens, an additional 20% to 30% drop in strength occurred after several hundred load cycles. Particle abrasion damage was approximately equivalent to damage from sharp indentation at low load or blunt indentation at high load. Conclusion Damage from particle abrasion, not necessarily immediately apparent, compromised the fatigue strength of zirconia and alumina ceramics in crown-like structures. In fatigue, small flaws introduced by particle abrasion can outweigh any countervailing strengthening effect from compression associated with surface damage or, in the case of zirconia, with phase transformation.
Organometallic conformational equilibria : XVII. The orientation of the π-allyl ligand in π-cyclopentadienyl and π-indenyl complexes of iron and ruthenium☆

Abstract Only one isomer has been found for π-allyl derivatives of π-C 5 H 5 -π-C 3 H 5 M(CO) and π-C 9 H 7 -π-C 3 H 5 M(CO) (M = Fe, Ru) in purified samples. This isomer does not convert to the other on prolonged standing in solution and it has been assigned the configuration where the anti protons are away from the ring.
In vitro rooting and early greenhouse growth of micropropagated Paulownia elongata shoots

Experiments focused on improving methods for rooting micropropagated Paulownia elongata shoots and enhancing the quality of plants grown from rooted shoots transferred to the greenhouse. Micropropagated shoots rooted on basal Murashige and Skoog medium, but inclusion of 0.2 mg/l naphthaleneacetic acid and 0.4 mg/l indole-3-butyric acid during a 10-day rooting treatment resulted in a shorter rooting time, a greater number of roots per shoot, and shorter roots that were more easily manipulated during transfer to the greenhouse. Shoots with a greater initial height had greater rooting success than short shoots. Shoots from 1.1 to 2.0 cm in height were preferable to taller shoots because: (1) less time is required to produce them, (2) their smaller leaf size makes them easier to handle, (3) they root with about the same frequency, (4) rooted shoots are more easily transferred to the greenhouse, and (5) once in the greenhouse they attain a height that is indistinguishable from shoots that were classified as very tall at the start of the rooting process. Inclusion of sucrose in the rooting medium promoted rooting as compared to shoots rooted without sucrose. Of the fertilizer treatments applied to plants newly transferred to the greenhouse, 17-17-17 (N-P-K) and 0-44-0 each applied at 1 g/l with each watering resulted in the highest portion of plant fresh mass allocated to roots (49%).
DERMOID CYSTS OF THE OVARY PRESENTING AS A CAUSE OF ACUTE ABDOMINAL PAIN IN CHILDHOOD

Benign dermoid ovarian cysts uncommonly cause symptoms in young girls. It is estimated that they constitute 0.35% of all tumors occurring in children of both sexes less than 15 years of age. Symptoms produced by the cysts may mimic other intra-abdominal disease, and in three of the four cases reported in this series the girls were initially considered to have either acute appendicitis or infection of the urinary tract. All three had a pelvic mass palpable per rectum. The fourth girl was found to have bilateral calcified densities in the ovaries when examined roentgenographically for low back pain. In three of the four children, calcified or ossified material in the pelvis was seen in roentgenograms of the lower abdomen, and this finding was considered by the radiologist to be indicative of ovarian dermoid cyst. In two patients the cysts and associated Fallopian tubes had undergone torsion with infarction, and salpingo-oophorectomies were performed. In one girl, a simple oophorectomy was carried out, and, in the fourth child with bilateral dermoids, a bilateral ovarian cystectomy with preservation of tubes and as much ovarian tissue as possible was performed. All four girls have subsequently made satisfactory progress.
Hypervelocity Stars and the Galactic Center

A summary of the current knowledge on hypervelocity stars (HVSs). HVSs are fascinating because their properties are linked to Sgr A* and the stellar environment of the Galactic Center. Observing the distribution of HVSs can address: 1) the nature of the black hole ejection mechanism, 2) the in-fall history of stars onto Sgr A*, 3) the types of stars orbiting Sgr A*, and 4) a unique measurement the shape of the Galaxy's dark matter potential. The challenge to observers is to find new HVSs and strengthen the connection between HVSs and the Galactic Center.
Economic analysis of a randomized clinical trial to compare filgrastim-mobilized peripheral-blood progenitor-cell transplantation and autologous bone marrow transplantation in patients with Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Purpose: High-dose chemotherapy (HDC) with peripheral-blood progenitor cell (PBPC) and autologous bone marrow (ABM) transplant (T) has documented survival benefits for relapsed Hodgkin's disease (HD) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Treatment costs associated with HDC and its supportive care have restricted its use both on and off clinical trial. In a prospective randomized clinical trial, filgrastim-mobilized PBPCT resulted in faster recovery of bone marrow function, with less hospitalization and supportive care than ABMT. This study was undertaken to analyze the costs of the two strategies using prospectively collected data from a randomized clinical trial that compared filgrastim-mobilized PBPCT versus ABMT. Patients and Methods: Clinical results and resource utilization from a randomized clinical trial that compared filgrastim-mobilized PBPCT versus ABMT following carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan (BEAM) HDC for HD and NHL are presented. The trial was performed in six centers in Germany, the United Kingdom, and Belgium. Resource utilization data were used to project costs and Massey Cancer Center (MCC) in the United States incurred the cost of treating the cohort. Costs were projected to the United Stares, because the economic implications to United States centers are significant, costs of care vary markedly among countries but resource utilization on this trial did not, and a randomized trial is unlikely to be performed in the United States. Results: Fifty-eight patients with relapsed HD or NHL underwent HDC with BEAM. The PBPCT and ABMT groups had similar short-term survival after BEAM. PBPCT patients had a shorter hospitalization (median, 17 v 23 days; P = .002), neutrophil recovery (11 v 14 days; P = .005), platelet recovery to greater than or equal to 20 x 10(9)/L (16 v 23 days; P=.02), and days of platelet transfusions (6 v 10; P < .001). Estimated costs were $8,531 for ABM harvest and $5,760 for PBPC collection, including filgrastim mobilization. The total estimated average cost was $59,314 for each ABMT patient versus $45,792 for each PBPCT patient. Cost savings of $13,521 (23%) were due to shorter hospitalizations with less supportive care. Conclusion: PBPCT is as safe and more effective than ABMT for HD and NHL in the short term. PBPCT represents a significant cost savings due to lower autograft collection costs, shorter hospital stays, and less supportive care. The savings exceed the costs for filgrastim mobilization and PBPC collection. Actual savings will vary depending on local practice patterns, charges, and costs. (C) 1997 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Oracle parallel RDBMS on massively parallel systems

Oracle relational database technology implemented on massively parallel hardware architectures, which allows both OLTP and decision support on the same database image, is discussed. Both queries and transaction processing power scale linearly on massively parallel processor platforms. This technology delivers scalable relational database superservers. >
The differentiation of Leydig cells, steroidogenesis, and the spermatogenetic wave in the testis of Necturus maculosus.

The study of seminiferous tubule—Leydig cell interactions in relation to specific germ cell stages during the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium is extremely difficult in most mammalian species due to the continual presence of different spermatogenetic stages in the testis from the onset of puberty. The problem is also compounded by the uniform distribution of both seminiferous tubules and interstitial tissue throughout the entire testis. This difficulty can be circumvented, however, by studying certain species where there is a topographical distribution of germ cell stages within the testis. The urodele amphibian Necturus maculosus exhibits a breeding cycle during which a longitudinal wave of spermatogenesis occurs along the length of the testis, resulting in a spatial and temporal segregation of differentiating germ cells. Moreover, this topographical pattern of spermatogenesis is also reflected in the degree of development of adjacent Leydig cells. This anatomical arrangement allows distinct testicular: regions to be obtained using a dissecting microscope. The isolated zones, containing germ cells and Leydig cells in various stages of development, were analyzed for 17α-hydroxylase, C-17,20-lyase, and aromatase activities (key enzymes for the synthesis of androgens and estrogen), estrogen binding, and cytochrome P-450 content. Functional parameters were then correlated with the morphology of Leydig cells in the various zones observed by both light and electron microscopy. It was found that there existed a distinct correlation between the state of differentiation of the Leydig cells, their steroidogenic potential, and the distribution of estrogen receptors. These results in Necturus indicate in this species, at least, the steroidal microenvironment of different germ cell associations may be quite specific.
Opposing influence of basolateral amygdala and footshock stimulation on neurons of the central amygdala

Background The basolateral complex (BLA) and the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) are believed to mediate the expression of affective responses. After affective learning, conditioned stimulus–related information is thought to be conveyed from the BLA to the CeA; the medial CeA (Cem), in turn, projects to hypothalamic and brainstem structures involved with induction of affective responses. Although the conditioned stimulus and unconditioned stimulus both evoke affective responses, the precise response often differs. It is unknown whether this difference is represented by distinct activity patterns of single Cem neurons. Furthermore, the nature of the interaction between the BLA and Cem is unknown. Methods Using in vivo extracellular and intracellular recordings, we examined how the BLA affects the Cem and compared this with effects induced by footshock (unconditioned stimulus) in the same neurons. Results Our results demonstrate that, contrary to conventional views, BLA stimulation primarily inhibits Cem neurons by a polysynaptic circuit, and show that single Cem neurons respond to both BLA input and footshock in an opposite manner. Conclusions These results demonstrate the predominantly inhibitory nature of the BLA–Cem interaction. These data further demonstrate the distinct cellular events that might lead to differential modulation of conditioned and unconditioned affective responses.
Using climate impacts indicators to evaluate climate model ensembles: temperature suitability of premium winegrape cultivation in the United States

We explore the potential to improve understanding of the climate system by directly targeting climate model analyses at specific indicators of climate change impact. Using the temperature suitability of premium winegrape cultivation as a climate impacts indicator, we quantify the inter- and intra-ensemble spread in three climate model ensembles: a physically uniform multi-member ensemble consisting of the RegCM3 high-resolution climate model nested within the NCAR CCSM3 global climate model; the multi-model NARCCAP ensemble consisting of single realizations of multiple high-resolution climate models nested within multiple global climate models; and the multi-model CMIP3 ensemble consisting of realizations of multiple global climate models. We find that the temperature suitability for premium winegrape cultivation is substantially reduced throughout the high-value growing areas of California and the Columbia Valley region (eastern Oregon and Washington) in all three ensembles in response to changes in temperature projected for the mid-twenty first century period. The reductions in temperature suitability are driven primarily by projected increases in mean growing season temperature and occurrence of growing season severe hot days. The intra-ensemble spread in the simulated climate change impact is smaller in the single-model ensemble than in the multi-model ensembles, suggesting that the uncertainty arising from internal climate system variability is smaller than the uncertainty arising from climate model formulation. In addition, the intra-ensemble spread is similar in the NARCCAP nested climate model ensemble and the CMIP3 global climate model ensemble, suggesting that the uncertainty arising from the model formulation of fine-scale climate processes is not smaller than the uncertainty arising from the formulation of large-scale climate processes. Correction of climate model biases substantially reduces both the inter- and intra-ensemble spread in projected climate change impact, particularly for the multi-model ensembles, suggesting that—at least for some systems—the projected impacts of climate change could be more robust than the projected climate change. Extension of this impacts-based analysis to a larger suite of impacts indicators will deepen our understanding of future climate change uncertainty by focusing on the climate phenomena that most directly influence natural and human systems.
Mass transfer driving forces in packed and fluidized beds

The evaporation of n-decane into air from the surface of Celite particles, has been used for the establishment of mass transfer factors for both packed and fluidized bed systems. For these calculations log mean partial pressure differences were used. Actual concentration profiles of the transferable component were also experimentally measured by monitoring, at different bed heights, the concentration of n-decane vapor present in air used as the carrier gas. This was made possible through the use of an extremely sensitive hydrocarbon analyzer. The resulting profiles were used to obtain, by graphical integration, the actual driving force prevailing for each run. A nearly one-to-one correspondence was found to exist between the actual driving force and the corresponding log-mean value for both packed and fluidized bed runs.
What if we don't party ? Political partisanship in Taiwan and Korea in the 1990s

The 1990s witnessed major developments in Korea and Taiwan's continuing democratization. Rather than focus on voters with some level of partisan identification, though, in this paper we take on a "road less traveled" by examining the behavior of independent voters. Specifically, this article addresses the following questions: What are the impacts of independent voters on the emerging party systems in Taiwan and Korea? What are the implications of independent voters on democratic consolidation and, more particularly, the volatility of elections in Taiwan and Korea? Based on a comparative analysis of "independent" voter behavior in these two countries, the paper discusses the implications of their political development and the direction of future research.
Effect of plasma albumin on sodium reabsorption in patients with nephrotic syndrome.

Effect of plasma albumin on sodium reabsorption in patients with nephrotic syndrome.The effects of plasma albumin on renal tubular sodium reabsorption were studied in patients with the nephrotic syndrome who had severe hypoalbuminemia and edema.The technique of distal tubular blockade by chlorothiazide and ethacrynic acid with replacement of urinary losses was used to assess sodium reabsorption."Proximal" tubular fractional reabsorption was distinctly lower than has been reported in normal individuals and in patients with cirrhosis and ascites studied under similar conditions.This finding suggests that hypoalbuminemia in man decreases fractional sodium reabsorption in the proximal tubules as has been demonstrated in laboratory animals.This conclusion was strengthened by demonstrating increased fractional and absolute sodium reabsorption when concentrated albumin was infused in the presence of the diuretic agents.Volume expansion with an iso-oncotic electrolyte solution resulted in a further decrease in "proximal" tubular fractional sodium reabsorption, usually in association with increased GFR.The data suggest that sodium retention and edema formation in patients with the nephrotic syndrome and hypoalbuminemia occurs despite depressed proximal tubular fractional reabsorption and therefore may involve reabsorption of an excessively large fraction of filtered sodium in distal portions of the nephron, primarily at sites where ethacrynic acid blocks sodium reabsorption.
Evidence supporting WNT2 as an autism susceptibility gene.

We examined WNT2 as a candidate disease gene for autism for the following reasons. First, the WNT family of genes influences the development of numerous organs and systems, including the central nervous system. Second, WNT2 is located in the region of chromosome 7q31-33 linked to autism and is adjacent to a chromosomal breakpoint in an individual with autism. Third, a mouse knockout of Dvl1, a member of a gene family essential for the function of the WNT pathway, exhibits a behavioral phenotype characterized primarily by diminished social interaction. We screened the WNT2 coding sequence for mutations in a large number of autistic probands and found two families containing nonconservative coding sequence variants that segregated with autism in those families. We also identified linkage disequilibrium (LD) between a WNT2 3'UTR SNP and our sample of autism-affected sibling pair (ASP) families and trios. The LD arose almost exclusively from a subgroup of our ASP families defined by the presence of severe language abnormalities and was also found to be associated with the evidence for linkage to 7q from our previously published genomewide linkage screen. Furthermore, expression analysis demonstrated WNT2 expression in the human thalamus. Based on these findings, we hypothesize that rare mutations occur in the WNT2 gene that significantly increase susceptibility to autism even when present in single copies, while a more common WNT2 allele (or alleles) not yet identified may exist that contributes to the disorder to a lesser degree.
Acoustic communication in the trilling field cricket,Gryllus rubens (Orthoptera: Gryllidae)

Male field crickets produce calling songs that are used for attracting conspecific females for mating. Acoustic communication was studied in the trilling field cricket, Gryllus rubens.A “trilled” calling song consists of a continuous train of sound pulses, each of which was repeated at a stereotyped rate. Singing males were recorded at different temperatures. The pulse period of the calling song decreased with increasing temperature; there was less effect of temperature on pulse duration. Female phonotaxis was studied on a noncompensating, spherical treadmill. In two-stimulus (choice) playback experiments, females preferred the conspecific “trilled” song over the “chirped” calling song of a sympatric species, Gryllus fultoni.This preference persisted even when the song of G. fultoniwas 6 dB louder. Females also discriminated between synthetic trills having different pulse periods; females chose trills with the conspecific pulse period over trills having lower and higher pulse periods.
ESR lineshapes in viscous liquids. 1. Relaxation Due to secular interactions: “Principal line” analysis

Abstract Line shapes have been calculated for the ESR spectra of slow-tumbling molecules with anisotropic g-factors and no hyperfine interactions, and measurements have been made for such a molecule, (n-C4H9)4NNiS4C4(CN)4, over a wide range of viscosities. Axially symmetric g-tensors and isotropic rotational diffusion have been assumed and, at high viscosity, only secular terms have been included. The agreement between experiment and theory is encouraging, but discrepancies occur because the temperature dependence of the components of the g-tensor have been neglected. The “principal” portion of the spectrum can be well-described by means of a Lorentzian line plus a dispersive contribution with the same width and at the same frequency. By simply studying this “principal” line, one can obtain good information concerning the rotational correlation time for slow-tumbling molecules. At moderate viscosities, the lines are slightly asymmetric, exhibit a secular shift, and are much narrower than predicted by perturbation theories valid in the extreme motionally narrowed (low viscosity) regime. In properly reduced units, the linewidths, secular shifts, and spectral asymmetries for molecules with axially symmetric g-tensors can all be represented by functions which are independent of the particular values of the g-tensor. The theory can readily be extended to secular hyperfine interactions. The principal line becomes the “perpendicular line” in the solid, and an extension of the theory allows one to study the “parallel line” as well.
Calibration of MIRAN Gas Analyzers: Extent of Vapor Loss Within a Closed Loop Calibration System

The use of a Closed Loop Calibration System (CLCS) for calibration of several portable models of MIRAN infrared gas analyzers has been recommended by the manufacturer. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of organic vapor loss due to wall adsorption that may result in erroneous light absorbance data. Two MIRAN-1A gas analyzers that had passed the performance and wavelength accuracy tests were connected in series to a bellows pump to form a CLCS. Fourteen organic solvents, with vapor pressure: 0.43-350 mm Hg (at 25°C), were used in the study. Increments (0.5-5 µL) of high purity solvents were introduced into the CLCS via a septum. Simultaneous gas chromatographic (G.C.) analyses were performed on aliquots of gas mixture drawn between consecutive injections of solvent liquid to determine the actual concentrations of organic vapors within the CLCS. Absorbance data were recorded separately for each gas analyzer. Two regression lines were established for each organic vapor: (i) between expecte...
Synthetic Spectra of Cool, Roche Lobe-filling Stars in Close Binary Systems

We present the details of LinBrod, a program that calculates synthetic spectra of cool Roche lobe-filling stars in close binary systems. The program has two modes of operation. In the primary mode it calculates the spectra by adding wavelength-dependent, velocity-shifted specific intensities from the distorted and gravity-darkened surface of the lobe-filling star. The wavelength-dependent specific intensities are calculated externally using the ATLAS9 stellar atmosphere program and a modified version of the MOOG spectrum synthesis program. In its secondary mode LinBrod calculates phase-dependent line-broadening functions that can be convolved with the spectra of nonrotating single stars to yield approximate synthetic spectra. We use the line-broadening functions to isolate and assess the effects of the physical processes that broaden the absorption lines in the spectra of lobe-filling stars. The synthetic spectra can be used to extract radial velocities, mass ratios, and chemical abundances from observed spectra of lobe-filling stars. Originally written to analyze observations of the secondary stars in X-ray binaries containing black holes, the program can also be used to analyze observations of the secondary stars in Algol systems, cataclysmic variables, and low-mass X-ray binaries containing neutron stars.
Segregation measures for diffusion-controlled A+B reactions

Abstract New measures of segregation are defined and calculated for the A + B→0 reaction on one-dimensional and fractal lattices (Sierpinski carpet and gasket). We differentiate between local and global segregation parameters. Results and comparisons are given for steady-state simulations that strictly conserve the equality of A and B particle densities. This work demonstrates that global kinetic laws are related to both local and global segregation.
Lung defenses in aging: Responses to influenza vaccine and inflammatory stimuli

This study examined the immunobiologic properties of the respiratory tract in young adult and aged rats. Macrophages obtained by lung lavage technique were enumerated and tested in vitro for migratory, phagocytic and fungicidal activities. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids from the animals were assessed for C5 cleaving activities. Circulatory antibody responses following intranasal immunization with influenza subunit vaccine were determined by ELISA technique. Total numbers of alveolar cells and their differential distribution were comparable between the two groups. Phagocytosis and fungicidal capabilities of the lung-derived macrophages at 60, 120, and 180 minutes of incubation were not different in young adult and aged animals. Random and directed migration of macrophages in vitro remained unaltered. C5 cleaving activities of the BAL fluids were significantly enhanced in the aged animals. In contrast, specific antibody responses to influenza vaccine declined in the aged rats compared to the young adult rats. Aging may adversely affect immunologic balance of the respiratory tract by reducing specific protective immune responses and enhancing ability to mount inflammatory reactions.
The weak production of Λ particles in antineutrino–proton scattering and the contributions of the form factors

Abstract In support of proposed experiments which might be carried out by the MINERνA Collaboration and eventually elsewhere, we study the strangeness changing charged current reactions ν ¯ L + p → Λ + L + where L stands for an electron, muon, or tau lepton. We calculate the total and differential cross sections for these reactions from near threshold to several GeV. We also obtain the contributions of the various form factors and interference terms to the total and differential cross sections. The calculation is phenomenologically based and makes use of SU(3) relations to obtain the standard vector current form factors and data from Λ beta decay to obtain the axial current form factor. We also make estimates for the contributions of the pseudoscalar form factor and for the F E and F S form factors to the total and differential cross sections. The latter two are second class current form factors for the corresponding p ↔ n transition and forbidden by G-parity but are not forbidden here. We discuss our results and consider under what circumstances we might extract the various form factors. In particular we wish to test the SU(3) obtained form factors and to test the assumptions made in determining the others over a range of q 2 values.
Joint Direction of Arrival and amplitude estimation using Particle Swarm Optimization and a single snapshot

Direction of Arrival (DOA) estimation is a problem which concerns very diverse fields of interest. In most applications, not only the DOA but also the estimation of the amplitude of the incoming signals is becoming an important issue. In that sense, Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) has shown a great capability to solve the DOA problem accurately and this communication presents a method to estimate both the amplitude and the Direction of Arrival of several incoming signals of a given wavelength.
Analytical characteristics of a helium/hydrogen capacitively coupled microwave plasma

Abstract Excitation temperatures and rotational temperatures have been determined in a helium/hydrogen plasma as a function of the concentration of hydrogen in the plasma gas. The helium/hydrogen plasma was then evaluated in terms of matrix effects of Na+ and PO43− on Ca atomic emission signals. Little interference by Na+ on Ca atomic emission signals was observed while there was no suppression of Ca atomic signals by PO43− at PO43− concentrations below 100 ppm. Above this concentration, some suppression of the Ca signal was observed. Limits of detection determined in this work were comparable to the limits of detection by other workers by capacitively coupled plasmas using molecular gases as the plasma gas.