cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Loss of heterozygosity on chromosome 11q22-23 in melanoma is associated with retention of the insertion polymorphism in the matrix metalloproteinase-1 promoter.

Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1, collagenase-1), which degrades interstitial collagen, is expressed at high levels by some tumor cells and is thought to enhance their invasiveness and metastatic potential. We recently described a common single nucleotide insertion polymorphism (2G allele) at −1,607 bp in the promoter of the MMP-1 gene that creates a binding site for the ETS family of transcription factors, and that is associated with enhanced transcription of this gene and increased enzyme activity. Allelic loss at the MMP-1 locus on chromosome 11 occurs in many tumors including melanoma, an invasive and aggressive cancer. We hypothesized that although loss of either the 1G or 2G allele from 1G/2G heterozygotes is random, retention of the transcriptionally more active 2G allele would favor tumor invasion and metastasis. As a result, a higher proportion of metastases would contain the 2G genotype than the 1G genotype. We report here the development of quantitative methods for assessing allelic loss at the MMP-1 locus, and demonstrate that 83% of the metastatic melanomas with loss of heterozygosity at this locus retained the 2G allele. This supports the hypothesis that retention of the 2G allele favors tumor invasion and metastasis in melanoma.
The kinetics and thermodynamics of death in multicellular organisms

Abstract The survivorship curves for Drosophila melanogaster, determined from experiments in which the flies are individually housed, are better fitted by a two-constant power law of the form, −1/N(dN/dt) = Atn, than by the Gompertz function: −1/N(dN/dt) = R0eαt. Such curves, taken for different ambient temperatures, show that A is a strong function of temperature, while n is not. Over the limited temperature range of the experiments (25–33°C), and Arrhenius plot is obtained for A, yielding an activation enthalpy for death ( ΔH † ) of 190 kcal/mole. This value is much higher than that reported by Strehler of 18.4 kcal/mole, but is consistent with the high activation enthalpies reported for unicellular organisms and mammalian cells in tissue culture. The power law plots, in either differential or integral form, appear to be generally applicable to mammalian age-related death statistics as shown by data on mice, rats and humans. The values of n are approximately 4–5 for all species tested. For human mortality rates, the three major individual causes of death are also well represented by power law plots. The ordinary distribution laws of the theory of probability do not give the correct forms for the mortality rates. However, the asymptotic distribution of extremes in order statistics do yield both the power law and the Gompertz function distributions. We speculate that the existence of high values of activation enthalpies for death predict that small decreases in core body temperatures of homeothermic mammals should produce marked increases in life expectancy.
USES OF METAL CLUSTERS IN HOMOGENEOUS AND HETEROGENEOUS CATALYSIS

Molecular metal carbonyl clusters can serve as pivotal metal derivatives for a large variety of chemical processes. These are illustrated in Scheme 1, where a tetranuclear cluster, the majority of which are 3-dimensional and tetrahedral, is indicated.
Field experiments on the magnesium requirement of cereals, potatoes and sugar beet in relation to nitrogen and potassium application

In 43 experiments on a range of soils there was little indication that magnesium sulphate applied to the seedbed increased yield of cereals, potatoes or sugar beet. In one experiment only, on potatoes, a very high rate of muriate of potash induced magnesium deficiency. Different rates of ammonium sulphate, compared on cereals only, did not affect crop response to magnesium. The magnesium content of barley foliage and the effects of magnesium sulphate and ammonium sulphate on this content were shown to be related to soil potassium and magnesium levels.
Wireless Magnetothermal Deep Brain Stimulation

Wireless deep brain stimulation of well-defined neuronal populations could facilitate the study of intact brain circuits and the treatment of neurological disorders. Here, we demonstrate minimally invasive and remote neural excitation through the activation of the heat-sensitive capsaicin receptor TRPV1 by magnetic nanoparticles. When exposed to alternating magnetic fields, the nanoparticles dissipate heat generated by hysteresis, triggering widespread and reversible firing of TRPV1(+) neurons. Wireless magnetothermal stimulation in the ventral tegmental area of mice evoked excitation in subpopulations of neurons in the targeted brain region and in structures receiving excitatory projections. The nanoparticles persisted in the brain for over a month, allowing for chronic stimulation without the need for implants and connectors.
Clearer sentences—Part 1

On the recommendation of George Gopen, coauthor of “The Science of Writing Science” ( American Scientist , 1990), my favorite article on technical writing, I picked up a short text called STYLE—Toward Clarity and Grace by Joseph M. Williams. What a find! In his preface Williams writes, “Do not take what we offer here as draconian rules of composition, but rather as diagnostic principles of interpretation. We offer these principles as the basis for questions that allow a writer or editor to anticipate how readers are likely to respond to a piece of prose, a species of knowledge usually unavailable to writers when they unreflectively reread their own writing.” This and future columns are rooted in Williams' vade mecum. I have taken many examples directly from Williams. How would you describe these sentences? 1. Our lack of knowledge about local geology precluded determination of the planner's effectiveness in resource allocation to those areas of investigation with greatest potential. 2. Because we knew nothing about local geology, we could not determine how effectively the planners had allocated resources to investigate areas of greatest potential. Most would call sentence 2 clearer and more concise. This is because sentence 1 makes us sort out and then reassemble its actions through abstract nouns— knowledge, determination , etc. The rearranging distorts the sequence of actions and obscures who does what. In 2, we have converted the abstract nouns into verbs, we've made the actors the subjects of these verbs, and we have rearranged the events into a logical sequence. …
X-Frame-actuator servo-flap acuation system for rotor control

A design is presented of a 1/6 Mach scaled CH-47D rotor blade incorporating a X-Frame discrete actuator for control of a trailing edge servo-flap. The second generation design of the X-Frame actuator is described focusing on the design changes made from the actuator prototype. The function of the components that restrain the actuator to the rotor blade and connect it to the servo-flap are described. The major challenge in placing a discrete actuator into a rotor blade is in allowing the required functionality in the aggressive acceleration environment of the blade. In particular, a new centrifugal flexure is used to restrain the actuator in the spanwise direction and special fittings are incorporated into the blades to allow the required actuator degrees of freedom while reacting the out of plane vibrational accelerations of the blade. Concentric steel rods are used to transfer actuator motion to the servo-flap and to eliminate the compliant blade fairing from the actuation load path. A slotted flap design was used to reduce the required hinge moments. The aerodynamic implications of using such a flap design are described. Furthermore, retention of the flap and the pre-stress of the actuator were accomplished by a steel wire centered on the flap rotational axis. The design of this part and its influence on choosing an optimum flap length is discussed. The manufacture of the composite rotor blades is described. The diversion of composite unidirectional plies to allow access to the actuator bay within the blade spar is described.
Perceptions of Color Preferences—A Clue to Marital Prediction?

Summary In a study of marital adjustment prediction (N = 75 couples), each spouse was asked to indicate a color preference for nine common household articles and predict which color the spouse would choose. A discrepancy score between perceived and actual choices was calculated and compared with scores on the Nye-MacDougall Marital Adjustment Scale. The correlation coefficient between the discrepancy score and ego's marital adjustment was —.27 for the sample as a whole, —.33 for husbands, and —.21 for wives. The correlation between the discrepancy score and mate's marital adjustment was —.17 for the whole sample, —.10 for husbands, and —.23 for wives.
Corporate communication strategies are applicable for teaching non-science communication skills to pharmaceutical sciences PhD students

Abstract The Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences recognizes that employers value certain soft skills such as communication with non-science audiences and mentoring ability, both of which are not part of our formal curriculum. We sought to evaluate the utility of a corporate tool, the "Elevator Speech," to introduce Pharmaceutical Sciences graduate students to communicating scientific research to a non-expert audience and to understand why soft skills are necessary for future success. Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars were invited to present their research in an elevator pitch competition. A pre-survey and a post-survey were administered to participants, mentors, and judges. Judges were members of the College External Advisory Board. The pre-event survey was completed by all participants and most mentors (82%, n = 11). The post-event survey was completed by all participants and judges, but fewer mentors (27%, n = 3). Participants and their mentors hoped that participants improved their public speaking skills and learned how to communicate with an audience naive to their research. The post-event survey indicated that participants and mentors felt that participants improved simple speaking skills, confidence in speaking, and speaking without tools/devices. The judges applauded the event but highlighted the need for formal mechanisms to improve soft skills necessary for professional development. Both judges and organizers recognized that participation was poor, and the expected content of the "pitch" was poorly defined. Intentional use of the elevator pitch model may be valuable as part of the formal graduate program curriculum to teach non-traditional communication skills and better prepare graduates for a variety of future employers.
Some general observations on religion and violence

(1991). Some general observations on religion and violence. Terrorism and Political Violence: Vol. 3, Violence and the Sacred in the Modern World, pp. 118-140.
Shock index predicts mortality in geriatric trauma patients: an analysis of the National Trauma Data Bank

BACKGROUND: Heart rate and systolic blood pressure are unreliable in geriatric trauma patients. Shock index (SI) (heart rate/systolic blood pressure) is a simple marker of worse outcomes after injury. The aim of this study was to assess the utility of SI in predicting outcomes. We hypothesized that SI predicts mortality in geriatric trauma patients. METHODS: We performed a 4-year (2007-2010) retrospective analysis using the National Trauma Data Bank. Patients 65 years or older were included. Transferred patients, patients dead on arrival, missing vitals on presentation, and patients with burns and traumatic brain injury were excluded. A cutoff value of SI greater than or equal to 1 (sensitivity, 81%; specificity, 79%) was used to define hemodynamic instability. The primary outcome measure was mortality. Secondary outcome measures were need for blood transfusion, need for exploratory laparotomy, and development of in-hospital complications. Multiple logistic regressions were performed. RESULTS: A total of 485,595 geriatric patients were reviewed, of whom 217,190 were included. The mean (SD) age was 77.7 (7.1) years, 60% were males, median Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was 14 (range, 3-15), median Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 9 (range, 4-18), and mean (SD) SI was 0.58 (0.18). Three percent (n = 6,585) had an SI greater than or equal to 1. Patients with SI greater than or equal to 1 were more likely to require blood product requirement (p = 0.001), require an exploratory laparotomy (p = 0.01), and have in-hospital complications (p = 0.02). The overall mortality rate was 4.1% (n = 8,952). SI greater than or equal to 1 was the strongest predictor for mortality (odds ratio, 3.1; 95% confidence interval, 2.6-3.3; p = 0.001) in geriatric trauma patients. Systolic blood pressure (p = 0.09) and heart rate (p = 0.2) were not predictive of mortality. CONCLUSION: SI is an accurate and specific predictor of morbidity and mortality in geriatric trauma patients. SI is superior to heart rate and systolic blood pressure for predicting mortality in geriatric trauma patients. Geriatric trauma patients with SI greater than or equal to 1 should be transferred to a Level 1 trauma center. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic/epidemiologic study, level III. Language: en
Identification of Methylated Genes Associated with Aggressive Bladder Cancer

Approximately 500,000 individuals diagnosed with bladder cancer in the U.S. require routine cystoscopic follow-up to monitor for disease recurrences or progression, resulting in over $2 billion in annual expenditures. Identification of new diagnostic and monitoring strategies are clearly needed, and markers related to DNA methylation alterations hold great promise due to their stability, objective measurement, and known associations with the disease and with its clinical features. To identify novel epigenetic markers of aggressive bladder cancer, we utilized a high-throughput DNA methylation bead-array in two distinct population-based series of incident bladder cancer (n = 73 and n = 264, respectively). We then validated the association between methylation of these candidate loci with tumor grade in a third population (n = 245) through bisulfite pyrosequencing of candidate loci. Array based analyses identified 5 loci for further confirmation with bisulfite pyrosequencing. We identified and confirmed that increased promoter methylation of HOXB2 is significantly and independently associated with invasive bladder cancer and methylation of HOXB2, KRT13 and FRZB together significantly predict high-grade non-invasive disease. Methylation of these genes may be useful as clinical markers of the disease and may point to genes and pathways worthy of additional examination as novel targets for therapeutic treatment.
Everyday Matters: Reception and Use as Productive Design of Health-Related Texts

This article uses research in cultural–historic activity theory, exploring patients' use of technical health care texts to produce knowledge and design their choices related to their bodies and health. Drawing on a case study of Meagan, who dealt with colitis and complications due to pregnancy, the author argues that we should consider reception and use as multisemiotic acts of repurposing, inscription, and reproduction alongside the research of the production of texts by professionals.
Apneic preterms and methylxanthines: arousal deficits, sleep fragmentation and suppressed spontaneous movements

To determine if apneic preterm infants currently treated with methylxanthines develop evidence of sleep deprivation from cumulative arousal and motor activational effects. Sleep, wake, arousal and actigraphic movements were monitored in extubated clinically stable premature infants (N=37). Neonates were free of other medications for >72 h and were grouped based on methylxanthine exposure: >5 days with caffeine (n=14), >5 days theophylline (n=13) or no prior exposure (n=10). Duration of methylxanthine treatment predicted increased arousals, wakefulness and actigraphic movements, and decreased active sleep. Recording from 1200 to 0500 hours, methylxanthine-treated groups showed reductions in all arousal parameters: waking state, number of wake epochs, brief arousals and composite arousal index, and shorter fast-burst, sleep-related motility than untreated controls. In apneic preterms, chronic methylxanthine treatment appears to produce sleep deprivation secondary to the stimulatory action of methylxanthines on arousal and motor systems.
Serum hexosaminidase activity in man under simulated diving conditions (38523).

SummaryThe activities of serum hexos-aminidases from human divers before, during and after simulated dives was measured. Decreases in hexosaminidase A activities were observed in the 1000 FSW saturation dive, whereas an increase in hexosaminidase A activity was observed during decompression in the subsaturation dives at 400 FSW and 650 FSW.The authors thank Debora Bork for the excellent technical assistance.The opinions and statements contained herein are the private ones of the authors and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the views of the Navy Department or the naval service at large.
Biological Control of the Wetlands Weed Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) in the Pacific Northwestern United States

Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) is an Eurasian perennial hydrophyte that has become naturalized in wetlands and in and along waterways throughout temperate North America. The ecological integrity of such areas is threatened by rapidly forming monotypic infestations that displace valued flora and diminish critical fish and wildlife habitat. The inability of physical, cultural, and chemical methods to provide adequate control of the weed has led to the development of an insect-based biological control program. The first field releases of the bud and leaf feeding beetles, Galerucella calmariensis and G. pusilla, and a root-mining weevil, Hylobius transversovittatus, were made in the United States and Canada in 1992. A total of 4740 Galerucella spp. adults were released in central Washington during 1992 and 1993 at eight sites and 471 H. transversovittatus egg inoculations were made in 1993 at three locations. Establishment of both Galerucella spp. was confirmed and Hylobius colonization was achieved.
Accommodating innovation in building regulation: lessons and challenges

Over the past 25 years, building regulations in many countries have become less prescriptive and more functional or performance oriented. Concurrently, there has been an increase in the application of performance-based design concepts and in the use of innovative building methods and materials. In some cases, there has also been an increased reliance on self-certification by design professionals. Each of these changes promises flexibility in design and reduction of regulatory burden. In most cases, the promises are fulfilled. However, there are also cases where some aspect of the system does not work as intended, and buildings are constructed that do not meet performance expectations, sometimes with serious consequences. Focusing on experiences from member countries of the Inter-Jurisdictional Regulatory Collaboration Committee (IRCC), challenges faced and lessons learned from issues associated with accommodating innovation within building regulatory systems are examined: innovation outpacing readiness, a...
Activity of paclitaxel liposome formulations against human ovarian tumor xenografts

Although the current clinical formulation of paclitaxel (Taxol) is an important new anti-cancer agent, it has significant side effects, some of which are related to its formulation in Cremophor/ethanol. Paclitaxel is difficult to formulate for i.v. administration because of its poor aqueous solubility. Here, we report the therapeutic effects of 2 liposome formulations of paclitaxel against human ovarian A121 tumor growing as an s.c. xenograft in athymic nude mice. The liposome formulations used were ETL and TTL, which have I or 3 lipid components, respectively. TTL was used as a reconstituted lyophilate or as a stable aqueous suspension. ETL was used as a reconstituted lyophilate only. Both paclitaxel-liposome formulations were much better tolerated than Taxol after i.v. or i.p. administration. The acute reactions seen after Taxol administration did not occur when paclitaxel-liposome formulations were administered. All ETL and TTL preparations significantly delayed A121 tumor growth similarly to Taxol at equivalent doses and schedules. Based on pharmacokinetic data, it is possible that paclitaxel rapidly dissociates from ETL or TTL after i.v. administration and distributes in a manner similarly to Taxol. ETL and TTL formulations may be useful clinically not only for eliminating toxic effects of the Cremophor/ethanol vehicle but also for allowing alterations in route and schedule of drug administration.
A Statistical Method to Evaluate Homogeneity of Structural Populations

For any specific rock unit in a discontinuous rock mass, the determination of structural domain boundaries is important because geologic and hydrologic properties vary from one domain to another. A domain can be considered as a structural population characterized by a distinct pattern of structure orientations (i.e., fracture, bedding, or foliation orientations).Boundaries are usually determined by comparing samples of structural data, each of which consists of a Schmidt plot that commonly displays at least 150 poles to fractures. When fracture orientations appear dispersed and random on the plots, visual comparisons are not sufficient to determine whether the samples were obtained from the same structural domain. An appropriate x2test has been adapted to this situation and is capable of evaluating the homogeneity of structural populations. The method uses a contingency table analysis based on the frequencies of fracture poles that occur in corresponding patches on the Schmidt plots being compared.
Morphological stems: what William of Ockham really said

Two concepts that have figured widely in morphological analysis and theory for centuries are root and stem (or theme). The OED defines root in its linguistic sense as ‘an ultimate unanalysable element of language’ and gives a first citation from John Palsgrave’s grammar of French printed in 1530, said to be the first French grammar printed in any language. In that same citation, Palsgrave also uses the term theme in much the same sense that I will use stem here. The OED definition of this sense of theme is ‘The inflexional base or stem of a word, consisting of the “root” with modification or addition’. According to the OED, stem does not appear in its linguistic sense, which is given there as ‘the theme of a word (or of a particular group of its cases or tenses), to which the flexional suffixes are attached’, until 1851. A root is thus defined in terms of analyzability (it is unanalyzable morphologically), while a stem or theme is defined in terms of the inflectional elements that attach to it. I will make the same distinction in this work. In recent work, David Embick and Morris Halle (Embick & Halle 2005), have questioned whether we need both concepts, root and stem, in linguistics:
Comparison of freeze-dried daughter strains of BCG by aerogenic immunization and virulent challenge.

Summary Experimental aerogenic infection of guinea pigs with small numbers of bacterial cells from freeze-dried BCG vaccine preparations has revealed that one preparation was greatly superior to four others. It was shown that killing guinea pigs three weeks after challenge, with virulent tubercle bacilli by aerogenic infection provides a rapid test of the efficacy of an immunizing agent. A strong correlation of a positive tuberculin reaction with immunity following aerogenic vaccination with small numbers of BCG was demonstrated.
The effect of copper deficiency on the formation of hemosiderin in sprague-dawley rats.

We demonstrated previously that loading iron into ferritin via its own ferroxidase activity resulted in damage to the ferritin while ferritin loaded by ceruloplasmin, a copper-containing ferroxidase, was not damaged and had similar characteristics to native ferritin (Welch et al. (2001) Free Radic Biol Med 31:999–1006). Interestingly, it has been suggested that the formation of hemosiderin, a proposed degradation product of ferritin, is increased in animals deficient in copper. In this study, groups of rats were fed normal diets, copper deficient diets, iron supplemented diets, or copper deficient-iron supplemented diets for 60 days. Rats fed copper-deficient diets had no detectable active serum ceruloplasmin, which indicates that they were functionally copper deficient. There was a significant increase in the amount of iron in isolated hemosiderin fractions from the livers of copper-deficient rats, even more than that found in rats fed only an iron-supplemented diet. Histological analysis showed that copper-deficient rats had iron deposits (which are indicative of hemosiderin) in their hepatocytes and Kupffer cells, whereas rats fed diets sufficient in copper only had iron deposits in their Kupffer cells. Histologic evidence of iron deposition was more pronounced in rats fed diets that were deficient in copper. Additionally, sucrose density-gradient sedimentation profiles of ferritin loaded with iron in vitro via its own ferroxidase activity was found to have similarities to that of the sedimentation profile of the hemosiderin fraction from rat livers. The implications of these data for the possible mechanism of hemosiderin formation are discussed.
Renewable hydrogen production

The U.S. Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory are developing technologies to produce hydrogen from renewable, sustainable sources. A cost goal of $2.00–$3.00 kg−1 of hydrogen has been identified as the range at which delivered hydrogen becomes cost competitive with gasoline for passenger vehicles. Electrolysis of water is a standard commercial technology for producing hydrogen. Using wind and solar resources to produce the electricity for the process creates a renewable system. Biomass-to-hydrogen processes, including gasification, pyrolysis, and fermentation, are less well-developed technologies. These processes offer the possibility of producing hydrogen from energy crops and from biomass materials such as forest residue and municipal sewage. Solar energy can be used to produce hydrogen from water and biomass by several conversion pathways. Concentrated solar energy can generate high temperatures at which thermochemical reactions can be used to split water. Photoelectrochemical water splitting and photobiology are long-term options for producing hydrogen from water using solar energy. All these technologies are in the development stage. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Signal instability in inductively coupled plasma emission due to electrostatic effects in the nebulizer spray chamber

Abstract Electrostatic fields created by the charge on the spray in the pneumatic nebulizer are found to be an intermittent source of several types of ICP emission instability. The electrostatic effects act to reduce the sample aerosol density leaving the spray chamber. Simple diagnostics allow unambiguous confirmation of the presence of electrostatic signal depression and suggest techniques for its control.
A ProtonT1,T2, and NOE Study of Relative Motion of the Indole Ring of Tryptophans in Gramicidin Analogs Incorporated into SDS Micelles

Abstract The proton spin–lattice relaxation time, spin–spin relaxation time, and NOE of the indole ring NH proton of tryptophan residues have been determined for seven analogs of gramicidin A incorporated into SDS micelles. The data obtained indicate that the motion of the indole rings systematically decreases, proceeding from the aqueous interface to the interior of the micelle.
Radical vulvectomy and bilateral groin lymphadenectomy utilizing separate groin incisions: Report of a case with recurrence in the intervening skin bridge☆

Postoperative wound breakdown is very common following the en bloc dissection of the vulva and inguinal/femoral lymph nodes for carcinoma of the vulva. To decrease the incidence of wound morbidity, techniques have been described for performing the inguinal/femoral lymphadenectomy through separate groin incisions. This approach leaves a bridge of tissue between the vulvar excision and the lymph node dissection. A case of stage I squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva that was treated with a radical vulvectomy and bilateral inguinal/femoral lymphadenectomy utilizing separate groin incisions is presented. This patient later developed a recurrence in the tissue bridge between the vulvar and groin excisions. The mechanism for this recurrence is discussed.
Impact of neutron and gamma radiation on the design of NIF diagnostics and target-bay systems

The design of a wide range of components in and near the target bay of the National Ignition Facility (NIF) must allow for significant radiation from neutrons and gammas. Detailed 3D Monte Carlo simulations are critical to determine neutron and gamma fluxes for all target-bay components to allow optimization of location and auxiliary shielding. Demonstration of ignition poses unique challenges because of the large range (∼3 orders of magnitude) in the yield for any given attempt at ignition. Some diagnostics will provide data independent of yield, while others will provide data for lower yields and only survive high yields with little or no damage. In addition, for a given yield there is a more than 10 orders of magnitude range in neutron and gamma fluxes depending on location in the facility. For example, sensitive components in the diagnostic mezzanines and switchyards require auxiliary shielding for high-yield shots even though they are greater than 17 meters from target chamber center (TCC) and shielded by the 2 m-thick target-bay wall. In contrast, there are components 0.2 to 2 m from TCC with little or no shielding. For these components, particular attention is being made to use low-activation material because of the extremely high neutron loading levels. Many of the components closest to target center are designed to be single use to reduce worker dose from having to refurbish highly activated components. The cryogenic target positioner is an example where activation and ease of component replacement is an important part of the design. We are developing a design process for all target-bay systems that will assure reliable operation for the full range of planned yields.
Local measurements of velocity fluctuations and diffusion coefficients for a granular material flow

Measurements were made of two components of the average and fluctuating velocities, and of the local self-diffusion coefficients in a flow of granular material. The experiments were performed in a 1 m-high vertical channel with roughened sidewalls and with polished glass plates at the front and the back to create a two-dimensional flow. The particles used were glass spheres with a nominal diameter of 3 mm. The flows were high density and were characterized by the presence of long-duration frictional contacts between particles. The velocity measurements indicated that the flows consisted of a central uniform regime and a shear regime close to the walls. The fluctuating velocities in the transverse direction increased in magnitude from the centre towards the walls. A similar variation was not observed for the streamwise fluctuations. The self-diffusion coefficients showed a significant dependence on the fluctuating velocities and the shear rate. The velocity fluctuations were highly anistropic with the streamwise components being 2 to 2.5 times the transverse components. The self-diffusion coefficients for the streamwise direction were an order-of-magnitude higher than those for the transverse direction. The surface roughness of the particles led to a decrease in the self-diffusion coefficients.
Response of Pacific walruses to disturbances from capture and handling activities at a haul-out in Bristol Bay, Alaska

Observations were made on herds of the Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) to study their response during the capturing and handling of adult males in summer 1995 at a haul-out at Cape Peirce in southwestern Alaska. Three behaviors (alertness, displacement, and dispersal) were quantified from 16 capture sessions. Herd sizes ranged from 622 to 5,289 walruses. Handling of an immobilized walrus consisted of attempts to attach telemetry devices to the tusks and collect various biological samples. Handling activities re­ sulted in an average of about 1 0-fold or greater levels of behavior in alertness, displacement, and dispersal than during precapture and darting periods. High levels of behavior usually occurred within the first 45 min of handling. In 8 of 10 capture sessions, walruses returned to predisturbance levels of behavior within 40 min of cessation of the handling disturbance. Alertness and dis­ placement were moderately and negatively correlated with herd size during the handling period, which may reflect an effect of a threshold distance from the point of disturbance to responding individuals. Observations of walruses tagged with VHF radio transmitters indicated that the activities from a given capture session did not preclude tagged walruses from using the haul-out over a subsequent 11-wk monitoring period. Moreover, non-tagged walruses con­ tinued to extensively use the haul-out during and after the period in which capture sessions were conducted.
An RF ToF Based Ranging Implementation for Sensor Networks

Localization is important for self-configuring sensor networks. One of the core tasks of localization is ranging (estimating distances) to reference points. In this paper a radio signal based Time of Flight (ToF) measuring ranging system for wireless sensor networks is proposed, designed and prototyped. The prototype measurement error is within -0.5m to 2m while operating at 100Msps sampling rate and using a 50MHz signal in the 2.4 GHz ISM band. The system accuracy is limited by the sampling rate and can be linearly improved with increasing rates. This RF method is more cost effective than acoustic signal based ranging schemes, as it does not require ultrasonic transducers. The system is multipath resilient and can coexist with 2.4Ghz band devices such as 802.11b/g networks.
Extinction models and conservation.

In their seminal book, The Theory of Island Biogeography, MacArthur and Wilson 1 proposed that ‘(the principles derived from island biogeography] apply, and will apply to an accelerating extent in the future, to formerly continuous natural habitats now being broken up by the encroachment of civilization’. Debate over the validity of this statement has raged for a decade, focusing particularly on reserve design ‘rules’ and whether a single large reserve or several small reserves will protect more species? These arguments have led to some new insights, if not a fresh perspective, on some old but fundamental topics in ecology and evolution. Most notable among these is extinction.
A Numerical Study on the Influence of CO2 Addition on Soot Formation in an Ethylene/Air Diffusion Flame

Earlier studies have confirmed that the addition of CO2 to a diffusion flame suppresses the formation of soot. However, a consensus has not been reached on the fundamental mechanisms of the suppression. In this paper, the influence of CO2 addition on soot formation in an ethylene/air diffusion flame is investigated by numerical simulation, with focus on the fundamental mechanism of the suppression effect on soot formation. A special strategy is employed to separate the chemical effect from the thermal and dilution effects. The simulation results confirm that the addition of CO2 suppresses soot formation through not only the thermal and dilution effects, but also the chemical effect. The chemical effect of CO2 addition is primarily caused by the reduced concentration of radical H due to the reaction CO + OH ⇐ CO2 + H, which suppresses the soot inception and surface growth rate. The chemical effect of CO2 addition has negligible effect on soot oxidation process.
A PET-Compatible Tissue Bioreactor for Research, Discovery, and Validation of Imaging Biomarkers and Radiopharmaceuticals: System Design and Proof-of-Concept Studies

Research and discovery of novel radiopharmaceuticals and targets thereof generally involves initial studies in cell cultures, followed by animal studies, both of which present several inherent limitations. The objective of this work was to develop a tissue bioreactor (TBR) enabling modulation of the microenvironment and to integrate the TBR with a small-animal PET scanner to facilitate imaging biomarker research and discovery and validation of radiopharmaceuticals. Methods: The TBR chamber is a custom-blown, water-jacketed, glass vessel enclosed in a circulating perfusion bath powered by a peristaltic pump, which is integrated within the field of view of the PET scanner. The chamber is in series with a gas exchanger and a vessel for degassing the system during filling. Dissolved oxygen/temperature probes and septa for injection or sampling are located at the inlet and outlet of the cell chamber. A pH probe is located at the chamber outlet. Effluent is collected in the fraction collector as mixed-cup samples. In addition, both medium and tissue chamber can be sampled to investigate tissue and secretory products through multiscale analysis. As a proof of concept, we studied the effects of lipids on glucose uptake using HepG2 cells. To that end, we varied the nutrient substrate environment over a period of approximately 27 d, before and after the addition of lipids, and studied the effects of pioglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ agonist, on lipid and glucose uptake. In parallel, the TBR was imaged by PET in conjunction with 11C-palmitate in the presence and absence of lipids to characterize 11C-palmitate uptake. Results: The O2 consumption, glucose consumption, lactate production, and free fatty acid consumption and production rates were consistent in demonstrating the effects of lipids on glucose uptake. Pioglitazone exhibited improved glucose uptake within 3 d of treatment. Semiquantitative analysis suggested that lipids induced greater 11C-palmitate uptake. Conclusion: The integrated TBR offers a platform to monitor and modulate the tissue microenvironment, thus facilitating tissue-specific imaging and therapeutic biomarkers of disease, identification of molecular diagnostic markers, and validation of radiopharmaceuticals in both rodent and human cell lines.
The magnetospheric banana current

[1] It is shown that the banana current, a current system in the inner magnetosphere closing entirely within the magnetosphere (i.e., not through the ionosphere or on the magnetopause) but not circumflowing around the Earth, is a regular feature of near-Earth space. Closure options for the eastward asymmetric current on the inside of a localized pressure peak were explored, with the conclusion that the current must close via westward current around the outside of the high pressure region. It is a current that encircles a pressure peak and, therefore, whenever there is a pressure peak in the inner magnetosphere, a banana current exists. If multiple pressure peaks exist in the inner magnetosphere, then multiple banana currents will also coexist. Its occurrence rate is equal to that of the partial ring current, defined here as westward magnetospheric current that closes through field-aligned currents into and out of the ionosphere. Its magnitude can reach a few mega-amps during the main phase of storms, but drops to <0.1 MA during extended quiet intervals. The magnetic perturbation related to this current is strong within the region of high plasma pressure that it encircles, but is otherwise very weak outside of the banana current loop because the oppositely-directed current flow on either side of the loop largely cancels each other. In general, its related magnetic field is a few nanotesla of northward perturbation for both ground-based and geosynchronous magnetometers, making it difficult to magnetically detect. The banana current is placed in the context of the other near-Earth nightside current systems.
Semi-global stabilization of a class of uncertain nonlinear systems by linear output feedback

This brief deals with the problem of semi-global stabilization by output feedback for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems. Due to the presence of mismatched uncertainties and the lack of triangularity condition, the systems under consideration are not uniformly completely observable. In addition, the uncertain nonlinear dynamics of the systems are higher order, rather than linearly growing, in the unmeasurable states. All these make the systems not semi-globally stabilizable by the existing output feedback design schemes. In this brief, by extending the feedback domination design techniques proposed by Qian and Lin, a systematic design scheme is developed to construct linear output feedback controllers that semi-globally stabilize a general class of uncertain nonlinear systems under less restrictive conditions.
Somatic Mutation in Anti‐Phosphorylcholine Antibodies

A detailed analysis of the genes and proteins that participate in the murine immune response to PC has provided key insights at the structural level into the phenomenon of somatic mutation in B cells. Most anti-PC antibodies are encoded by 1 VH gene of the S107 subfamily, and 3 VK genes, VKT15 of the VK22 subfamily, VKM3 from the VK8 subfamily, and VK167 from the VK24 subfamily. No mutation was detected in these genes until the 2nd wk after immunization, indicating that mutation is under developmental control. The protein sequences of 73 heavy and light chains derived from the secondary response support the concept of developmental activation of mutation after antigen stimulation. No mutation was found in the IgM antibodies, whereas half of the IgG and IgA antibodies had mutation. Most of the mutated antibodies had higher affinity for antigen than their germline counterparts, which suggests that the major role of somatic mutation is to increase affinity rather than to create new specificities. Nucleotide sequencing established two hallmarks of mutation in immunoglobulin genes: mutations are targeted to a 1 kilobase region surrounding and including the rearranged variable gene, and they occur at an extraordinary frequency of 10(-2) nucleotide substitutions. Mutation is probably caused by DNA repair, and may occur during error-prone repair of nicked DNA around the variable gene or during mismatch repair of misaligned structural intermediates. The elucidation of this remarkable mechanism clearly requires studies of a more dynamic character. Two major questions that need to be answered are: what targets mutation to the variable gene, and what enzymes are involved?
Some properties of a LaGrangian Wiener-Hermite expansion

Wiener proposed that the turbulent velocity be expanded in Hermite functionals of a Gaussian white noise random function advected by the fluid. This paper describes the mechanics of converting his suggestion into a computable model, and assesses its range of validity as an approximation for incompressible, homogeneous, and isotropic turbulence. The terms retained are a linear term, v1, representing an arbitrary Gaussian velocity, and a quadratic term, v2, representing a non-Gaussian contribution to the velocity needed for energy transfer. The requirement that advection by the dependent velocity v = v1 + v2 does not alter the statistics of the base necessitates a further truncation of the base to antisymmetric quadratic basis elements. Realizability of any statistics of v is common to all Wiener–Hermite expansions. The projected equations for the Lagrangian expansion conserve energy by non-linear interaction, preserve the inviscid Gaussian equipartition ensemble, and are invariant to random Galilean transformations. Numerical calculations with an approximate form of these equations reveal that irreversible relaxation to the inviscid equipartition solution is not a property of the Lagrangian model, and that the rapid convergence advanced as the original motivation for studying Wiener–Hermite expansions does not survive closure by truncation. The dynamics of the model is not inconsistent with the existence of an inertial range. A simple numerical search routine failed to produce a solution corresponding to such an equilibrium ensemble.
Investigation of Flow Instability Mechanism Causing Compressor Rotor-Blade Nonsynchronous Vibration

This paper investigates the aerodynamic excitation mechanism of the rotor-tip flow instabilities leading to nonsynchronous vibration in a high-speed multistage axial compressor. Numerical simulations for the one-seventh annulus periodic sector of 1-1/2 stage are performed using an unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes solver with a fully conservative, sliding interface, boundary condition to capture wake propagation between adjacent blade rows. The present numerical simulations for rigid blades demonstrate that the tip flow instability is the main cause of the compressor nonsynchronous vibration excitation and is generated by the circumferentially traveling vortices. The frequency of the vortex passing each blade in the counter-rotation direction is roughly equal to the nonsynchronous vibration excitation frequency. Three different rotor-tip clearance sizes and shapes are studied. The nonsynchronous vibration excitation frequency and amplitude vary slightly with the tip clearance size when the clearanc...
Results of a two‐year in situ bioventing demonstration

A full-scale bioventing demonstration was recently completed at a large diesel spill site located at a major railroad facility in Nebraska. An estimated 11,500 cubic meters of soil are being treated in this demonstration. During this two-year demonstration, both in situ respiration rates and volatilization were routinely monitored to estimate total fuel removal rates. This paper discusses the relative contributions of biodegradation and volatilization in this bioventing application and presents two-year soil sampling results which indicate that significant fuel remediation has occurred at the site. Both capital and operating costs for this system are very competitive and will be detailed in this document. 10 refs., 5 figs.
Improving the Recognition of Hereditary Interstitial Kidney Disease

Autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease is characterized by the poorly recognized inheritance of slowly progressive renal failure leading to ESRD in later life. Patients with this condition have bland urinary sediment, and renal ultrasound typically reveals normal to small kidneys, with occasional individuals having small medullary cysts. Diagnosis relies on the clinical acumen of the nephrologist. Obtaining a thorough family history and records of affected family members is especially helpful. Kidney biopsy is frequently unhelpful, whereas genetic linkage studies or mutations in the UMOD gene may identify the problem.