cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Numerical investigation of oblique shock wave/vortex interaction

Abstract The purpose of the present study was to investigate the interaction between stream-wise vortices with oblique shock fronts of various intensities. A three-dimensional, Navier–Stokes solution of the problem with an orthogonal grid incorporating a RANS approach with a RNG k–ɛ turbulence model was used to simulate earlier experimental studies of the problem. The accuracy of the computational study was examined by comparing the results to the previous experiments of oblique shock vortex interactions using three different shock wave intensities leading to weak, moderate and strong interactions as identified in our previous experimental investigations. Similar to the experimental findings, the weak and the moderate interactions did not result in vortex breakdown as the vortex was seen to deflect in the direction of the main flow downstream of the shock with lowered intensity. Computational simulation of the strong interaction case however, confirms presence of a supersonic vortex breakdown having many of the characteristics of subsonic vortex breakdown. The flow field generated by the strong interaction is characterized by the formation of a bulged forward shock structure followed by a rapid expansion of the vortex core, formation of a stagnation point on the vortex axis and appearance of a reversed flow region in a recirculation zone. The vortex was modeled by implementing the experimentally measured vortex properties at the inlet, namely total and static pressures, while constant total temperature was assumed to calculate the velocity, and components of the Mach number. Inlet values for turbulent kinetic energy and turbulent dissipation rate were calculated from assumed values of turbulence intensity.
Application of a Square‐Wave Potential Program for Time‐Dependent Amperometric Detection in Capillary Electrophoresis

Use of a square-wave potential program for time-dependent amperometric detection of analyte zones in capillary electrophoresis (CE) is described. Electrochemical detection for CE requires that the separation field be isolated from that of the electrochemical detection. This is generally done by physically separating the CE separation field from that of the detection. By applying a time variant potential program to the detection electrode, the detector current has a time dependence that can be used to help isolate the electrochemical detection current from that of the separation. When using a 20 μm inner-diameter capillary, we find that a square-wave potential program decreases the RMS baseline current from 4.5×10−10 A, found with a constant potential amperometric detection, to 1.1×10−10 A when using a square-wave potential program. With a 75 μm inner-diameter capillary, the improvement is even more dramatic, from 2.3×10−9 A with amperometric detection to 2.06×10−10 A when using a 1 Hz square-wave potential program. When not using the time-dependent detection with the 75 μm capillary, the analyte zones were beneath the S/N for the system and not detected. With the square-wave potential program and time-dependent detection, however, the analyte zones for an electrokinetic injection of 200 μM solution of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid were observed with the 75 μm inner-diameter capillary. The improvement in the ability to discriminate the analytical signal from the background found experimentally is consistent with modeling studies.
Early nonmaternal care and infant attachment: In search of process

The current empirical controversy concerning the effects of early nonmaternal care on the quality of infant-mother attachment is, in part, the product of fundamental theoretical differences among researchers.
Fungal-derived semiochemical 1-octen-3-ol disrupts dopamine packaging and causes neurodegeneration

Parkinson disease (PD) is the most common movement disorder and, although the exact causes are unknown, recent epidemiological and experimental studies indicate that several environmental agents may be significant risk factors. To date, these suspected environmental risk factors have been man-made chemicals. In this report, we demonstrate via genetic, biochemical, and immunological studies that the common volatile fungal semiochemical 1-octen-3-ol reduces dopamine levels and causes dopamine neuron degeneration in Drosophila melanogaster. Overexpression of the vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT) rescued the dopamine toxicity and neurodegeneration, whereas mutations decreasing VMAT and tyrosine hydroxylase exacerbated toxicity. Furthermore, 1-octen-3-ol also inhibited uptake of dopamine in human cell lines expressing the human plasma membrane dopamine transporter (DAT) and human VMAT ortholog, VMAT2. These data demonstrate that 1-octen-3-ol exerts toxicity via disruption of dopamine homeostasis and may represent a naturally occurring environmental agent involved in parkinsonism.
Neurobehavioral and Psychosocial Issues in Klinefelter Syndrome

Klinefelter Syndrome (KS) is a relatively common (1/500 to 1/1,000) genetic syndrome caused by an extra X chromosome in males, leading to an XXY karyotype. In most cases, the physical and neurobehavioral characteristics of KS are relatively mild, and KS is not usually associated with moderate or severe mental retardation. However, KS is often associated with significant language-based learning disabilities and executive dysfunction, making it a plausible genetic model for understanding the neurobiology of these areas of cognition that are so fundamental to learning in a classroom. Additionally, the psychosocial aspects of KS, which can have a significant impact on school performance and learning, have been explored only on an anecdotal level. We have conducted pilot studies in a small group of KS adolescents and adults to begin to identify the social, emotional, and adaptive behavior issues facing KS subjects and have identified several areas for further research. This includes characterization of mild maladaptive behaviors, as well as significant strengths in other areas. Further work is needed to determine how the social-emotional and cognitive features of the disorder interact or change over the lifetime of subjects and how the learning disabilities respond to hormonal or cognitive-based therapy.
Partnering to Reduce Environmental Hazards Through a Community-Based “Healthy Home Museum”:Education for Action

Abstract Home environmental hazards can pose health threats, particularly to low-income children living in substandard housing. National agencies urge integrated treatment of such hazards; locally, however, home hazard reduction is often managed issue-by-issue. Helping diverse local groups understand the sources, health impacts, and solutions to home hazards is a critical first step toward action. Rochester's Healthy Home was a hands-on museum operated by a community-university partnership from 2006–2009 with the goal of supporting community members' and groups' efforts to address key environmental health hazards in high-risk housing. A secondary goal was to build connections between interest groups, government, and academic stakeholders to advance systems changes in support of environmental justice. Rochester's Healthy Home educated nearly 3,500 visitors about reducing home environmental hazards, served as a focal point for community action, and integrated over 30 local groups into the Healthy Home Partn...
Vitamin D receptor: no evidence for allele-specific mRNA stability in cells which are heterozygous for the Taq I restriction enzyme polymorphism.

Abstract Allelic variations of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene have been associated with the risk of developing prostate cancer in men and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Three RFLP's (TaqI, ApaI, BsmI) define two common haplotypes: BAt and baT. None of these polymorphisms change the translated protein. Since sequence variations in the 3′ UTR of VDR have been linked to the different haplotypes, investigators have proposed that the stability of VDR mRNA is influenced by allelic variations. Indirect evidence suggested that allele T is less stable than allele t. In this study, we used a RT-PCR based approach to compare the stability of the big T and small t allele in normal heterozygous lymphocytes and the heterozygous cell lines NB4 (myeloid leukemia) and PC-3 and DU 145 (prostate cancers). In all three cases, we did not find a significant difference in stability. Interestingly, we consistently observed 30% less RT-PCR product derived from the small t allele mRNA in steady state, a finding which also speaks against a higher stability of the small t allele mRNA. These results indicate a variation in transcriptional regulation rather than mRNA stability between the alleles. We hypothesize that an unknown gene or genes in linkage with the polymorphisms is (are) responsible for the relationship between risk of prostate cancer and VDR polymorphisms.
Insulating polymer coated Si photoelectrode

Nouveau type de photoelectrode Si revetue de polyvinylbutyral, film isolant ayant une excellente adhesion au metal
Genetic clustering for the identification of species

Artificial life simulations can yield distinct populations of agents representing different adaptations to a common environment or specialized adaptations to different environments. Here we apply a standard clustering algorithm to the genomes of such agents to discover and characterize these subpopulations. As evolution proceeds new subpopulations are produced, which show up as new clusters. Cluster centroids allow us to characterize these different subpopulations and identify their distinct adaptation mechanisms. We suggest these subpopulations may reasonably be thought of as species, even if the simulation software allows interbreeding between members of the different subpopulations. Our results indicate both sympatric and allopatric speciation are present in the Polyworld artificial life system. Our analysis suggests that intra- and inter-cluster fecundity differences may be sufficient to foster sympatric speciation in artificial and biological ecosystems.
Ultrasound-guided paravertebral neurolytic block: a report of two cases

Paravertebral block is commonly used in the treatment for acute and chronic pain. The duration of paravertebral block could theoretically be prolonged with neurolytic agents. We report two cases of ultrasound-guided neurolytic paravertebral blocks in patients suffering from intense cancer-related thoracic pain. Ultrasound was used to identify the space and plane of injection at the mid-thoracic level. Absolute alcohol was used to block the nerves at different segments. The two patients had great pain relief. Neurolytic paravertebral block can be a useful technique in patients with intractable cancer pain. Because of the risk of complication, it is recommended that this technique should be limited to relief of intractable pain in cancer patients with a poor prognosis.
The design and implementation of a ventilator-management advisor

VentPlan is an implementation of the architecture developed by the qualitative-quantitative (QQ) research group for combining qualitative and quantitative computation in a ventilator-management advisor (VMA). VentPlan calculates recommended settings for four controls of a ventilator by evaluating the predicted effects of altemative ventilator settings. A belief network converts clinical diagnoses to distributions on physiologic parameters. A mathematical-modeling module applies a patient-specific mathematical model of cardiopulmonary physiology to predict the effects of alternative ventilator settings. A decision-theoretic plan evaluator ranks the predicted effects of alternative ventilator settings according to a multiattribute-value model that specifies physician preferences for ventilator treatments. Our architecture allows VentPlan to interpret quantitative observations in light of the clinical context (such as the clinical diagnosis). We report a retrospective study of the ventilator-setting changes encountered in postoperative patients in a surgical intensive-care unit (ICU). We conclude that the QQ architecture allows VentPlan to apply a patient-specific physiologic model to calculate ventilator settings that are optimal with respect to a decision-theoretic value model describing physician preferences for setting the ventilator.
Induction of apoptosis by a secreted lipocalin that is transcriptionally regulated by IL-3 deprivation

Many hematopoietic cells undergo apoptosis when deprived of specific cytokines, and this process requires de novo RNA/protein synthesis. Using DNA microarrays to analyze interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent murine FL5.12 pro-B cells, we found that the gene undergoing maximal transcriptional induction after cytokine withdrawal is 24p3, which encodes a secreted lipocalin. Conditioned medium from IL-3-deprived FL5.12 cells contained 24p3 and induced apoptosis in naive FL5.12 cells even when IL-3 was present. 24p3 also induced apoptosis in a wide variety of leukocytes but not other cell types. Apoptotic sensitivity correlated with the presence of a putative 24p3 cell surface receptor. We conclude that IL-3 deprivation activates 24p3 transcription, leading to synthesis and secretion of 24p3, which induces apoptosis through an autocrine pathway.
Severity of mutant phenotype in a series of chlorophyll-deficient wheat mutants depends on light intensity and the severity of the block in chlorophyll synthesis.

Analyses of a series of allelic chlorina mutants of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), which have partial blocks in chlorophyll (Chl) synthesis and, therefore, a limited Chl supply, reinforce the principle that Chl is required for the stable accumulation of Chl-binding proteins and that only reaction centers accumulate when the supply of Chl is severely limited. Depending on the rate of Chl accumulation (determined by the severity of the mutation) and on the rate of turnover of Chl and its precursors (determined by the environment in which the plant is grown), the mutants each reach an equilibrium of Chl synthesis and degradation. Together these mutants generate a spectrum of phenotypes. Under the harshest conditions (high illumination), plants with moderate blocks in Chl synthesis have membranes with very little Chl and Chl-proteins and membrane stacks resembling the thylakoids of the lethal xantha mutants of barley grown at low to medium light intensities (which have more severe blocks). In contrast, when grown under low-light conditions the same plants with moderate blocks have thylakoids resembling those of the wild type. The wide range of phenotypes of Chl b-deficient mutants has historically produced more confusion than enlightenment, but incomparable growth conditions can now explain the discrepancies reported in the literature.
According to Davis: Connecting Principles and Practices.

Abstract In this article, the author allows Robert B. Davis to state for himself his own Principles concerning how children learn, and how teachers can best teach them. These principles are put forward in Davis’ own words along with detailed documentation. The author goes on compare Davis’ words with his practices. A single Davis video (Towers of Hanoi) is analyzed to determine if, and to what extent, his principles are evident in his teaching of this lesson.
Dilepton radiation at the CERN super-proton synchrotron

Abstract A quantitative evaluation of dilepton sources in heavy-ion reactions is performed taking into account both thermal and non-thermal production mechanisms. The hadronic thermal emission rate is based on an electromagnetic current-correlation function with a low-mass region (LMR, M ≲ 1 GeV ) dominated by vector mesons (ρ, ω, ϕ) and an intermediate-mass region (IMR, 1 GeV ⩽ M ⩽ 3 GeV ) characterized by (the onset of) a multi-meson continuum. A convolution of the emission rates over a thermal fireball expansion results in good agreement with experiment in the low-mass spectra, confirming the predicted broadening of the ρ meson in hadronic matter in connection with the prevalence of baryon-induced medium effects. The absolute magnitude of the LMR excess is mostly controlled by the fireball lifetime, which in turn leads to a consistent explanation of the dilepton excess in the IMR in terms of thermal radiation. The analysis of experimental transverse-momentum ( q T ) spectra reveals discrepancies with thermal emission for q T ≳ 1 GeV in non-central In–In collisions, which we address by extending our calculations by: (i) a refined treatment of ρ decays at thermal freeze-out, (ii) primordially produced ρ's subject to energy-loss, (iii) Drell–Yan annihilation, and (iv) thermal radiation from t-channel meson exchange processes. We investigate the sensitivity of dilepton spectra to the critical temperature and hadro-chemical freeze-out of the fireball. The ρ broadening in the LMR turns out to be robust, while in the IMR Quark–Gluon Plasma radiation is moderate unless the critical temperature is rather low.
Tropical myeloneuropathies — a new aetiology

Abstract Tropical myeloneuropathies are a group of neurological disorders known to occur in subtropical and tropical regions. Many aetiologies have been postulated and investigated over the past 100 years, but no single cause has been found. Recent studies suggest that human T-cell lymphotropic virus HTLV-I is the causative agent of one of these tropical myeloneuropathies, endemic tropical spastic paraparesis, and of a related disorder in southern Japan called HTLV-I-associated myelopathy. Endemic tropical spastic paraparesis is now being reported from geographical and climatic regions that were previously thought to be free of these disorders.
Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR)-Active Pharmaceuticals Are Selective AHR Modulators in MDA-MB-468 and BT474 Breast Cancer Cells

Leflunomide, flutamide, nimodipine, mexiletine, sulindac, tranilast, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, and omeprazole are pharmaceuticals previously characterized as aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) agonists in various cell lines and animal models. In this study, the eight AHR-active pharmaceuticals were investigated in highly aggressive aryl hydrocarbon (Ah)-responsive BT474 and MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cell lines, and their effects on AHR protein, CYP1A1 (protein and mRNA), CYP1B1 (mRNA), and cell migration were determined. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) was used as a positive control. The AHR agonist activities of the pharmaceuticals depended on structure, response, and cell context. Most compounds induced one or more AHR-mediated responses in BT474 cells, whereas in Ah-responsive MDA-MB-468 cells effects of the AHR-active pharmaceuticals were highly variable. 4-Hydroxytamoxifen, mexiletine, and tranilast did not induce CYP1A1 in MDA-MB-468 cells; moreover, in combination with TCDD, mexiletine was a potent AHR antagonist, tranilast was a partial antagonist, and 4-hydroxytamoxifen also exhibited some AHR antagonist activity. Omeprazole and, to a lesser extent, sulindac and leflunomide were full and partial AHR agonists, respectively, in both breast cancer cell lines. These data indicate that the AHR-active pharmaceuticals are selective AHR modulators, and applications of these drugs for targeting the AHR must be confirmed by studies using the most relevant cell context.
Image analysis and superimposition of 3-dimensional cone-beam computed tomography models

Three-dimensional (3D) imaging techniques can provide valuable information to clinicians and researchers. But as we move from traditional 2-dimensional (2D) cephalometric analysis to new 3D techniques, it is often necessary to compare 2D with 3D data. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) provides simulation tools that can help bridge the gap between image types. CBCT acquisitions can be made to simulate panoramic, lateral, and posteroanterior cephalometric radioagraphs so that they can be compared with preexisting cephalometric databases. Applications of 3D imaging in orthodontics include initial diagnosis and superimpositions for assessing growth, treatment changes, and stability. Three-dimensional CBCT images show dental root inclination and torque, impacted and supernumerary tooth positions, thickness and morphology of bone at sites of mini-implants for anchorage, and osteotomy sites in surgical planning. Findings such as resorption, hyperplasic growth, displacement, shape anomalies of mandibular condyles, and morphological differences between the right and left sides emphasize the diagnostic value of computed tomography acquisitions. Furthermore, relationships of soft tissues and the airway can be assessed in 3 dimensions.
The interplay between cell signalling and mechanics in developmental processes

Force production and the propagation of stress and strain within embryos and organisms are crucial physical processes that direct morphogenesis. In addition, there is mounting evidence that biomechanical cues created by these processes guide cell behaviours and cell fates. In this Review we discuss key roles for biomechanics during development to directly shape tissues, to provide positional information for cell fate decisions and to enable robust programmes of development. Several recently identified molecular mechanisms suggest how cells and tissues might coordinate their responses to biomechanical cues. Finally, we outline long-term challenges in integrating biomechanics with genetic analysis of developing embryos.
Using a land cover classification based on satellite imagery to improve the precision of forest inventory area estimates

Estimates of forest area were obtained for the states of Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, and Missouri in the United States using stratified analyses and observations from forest inventory plots measured in federal fiscal year 1999. Strata were created by aggregating the land cover classes of the National Land Cover Data (NLCD), and strata weights were calculated as proportions of strata pixel counts. The analyses focused on improving the precision of unbiased forest area estimates and included evaluation of the correspondence between forest/nonforest aggregations of the NLCD classes and observed attributes of forest inventory plots, evaluation of the utility of the NLCD as a stratification tool, and estimation of the effects on precision of image registration and plot location errors. The results indicate that the combination of NLCD-based stratification of inventory plots and stratified analyses increases the precision of forest area estimates and that the estimates are only slightly adversely affected by image registration and plot location errors.
The Use of Differential Pulse and D.C. Polarography in the Analysis of Solutions Containing Surfactants

Abstract Peak currents in differential pulse polarography (DPP) are often used for quantitative analysis. In the presence of surfactants, peak currents depend not only on the concentration of the electroactive species, but also on that of the surfactant. In the presence of surfactants of biological origin, limiting currents obtained by d.c. polarography are often less sensitive to the effects of surfactants and are more suitable for quantitative analysis than DPP peak currents. Effects of surfactants on DPP curves were demonstrated for 4-nitrobenzoic acid in the presence of oligomers resulting from washing lignin preparations with water. In the study of adsorption of nitro compounds on lignin, d.c. polarographic curves yielded reliable adsorption isotherms whereas DPP peak currents indicated erroneously much stronger adsorption of nitro compounds on lignin.
Synthesis, Characterization, and in vitro Testing of a Bacteria-Targeted MR Contrast Agent

A bacteria-targeted MR contrast agent, Zn-1, consisting of two Zn-dipicolylamine (Zn-dpa) groups conjugated to a GdIII chelate has been synthesized and characterized. In vitro studies with S. aureus and E. coli show that Zn-1 exhibits a significant improvement in bacteria labeling efficiency vs. control. Studies with a structural analogue, Zn-2, indicate that removal of one Zn-dpa moiety dramatically reduces the agent's affinity for bacteria. The ability of Zn-1 to significantly reduce the T1 of labeled vs. unlabeled bacteria, resulting in enhanced MR image contrast, demonstrates its potential for visualizing bacterial infections in vivo.
Triptolide-induced Cell Death in Pancreatic Cancer Is Mediated by O-GlcNAc Modification of Transcription Factor Sp1

Pancreatic cancer, the fourth most prevalent cancer-related cause of death in the United States, is a disease with a dismal survival rate of 5% 5 years after diagnosis. One of the survival proteins responsible for its extraordinary ability to evade cell death is HSP70. A naturally derived compound, triptolide, and its water-soluble prodrug, Minnelide, down-regulate the expression of this protein in pancreatic cancer cells, thereby causing cell death. However, the mechanism of action of triptolide has not been elucidated. Our study shows that triptolide-induced down-regulation of HSP70 expression is associated with a decrease in glycosylation of the transcription factor Sp1. We further show that triptolide inhibits glycosylation of Sp1, inhibiting the hexosamine biosynthesis pathway, particularly the enzyme O-GlcNAc transferase. Inhibition of O-GlcNAc transferase prevents nuclear localization of Sp1 and affects its DNA binding activity. This in turn down-regulates prosurvival pathways like NF-κB, leading to inhibition of HSF1 and HSP70 and eventually to cell death. In this study, we evaluated the mechanism by which triptolide affects glycosylation of Sp1, which in turn affects downstream pathways controlling survival of pancreatic cancer cells.
The Fractional Hyperbolic Functions: With Application to Fractional Differential Equations

This paper develops the fractional hyperbolic functions based on fractional generalization of the exponential function, the R-function. The fractional hyperbolic functions contain the traditional hyperbolic functions as proper subsets. Laplace transforms and various identities are derived for the new functions and are used to generate solution sets for various classes of fractional differential equations. Also developed are relationships between the R-function and the fractional hyperbolic functions.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Proposed model of a high-temperature excitonic superconductor

We present a detailed calculation of the transition temperature of a model filamentary excitonic superconductor. The proposed structure consists of a linear chain of transition-metal atoms to which is complexed a ligand system of highly polarizable dyelike molecules. Calculations of the electronic properties and experimental data on related materials are used to estimate the strength of the excitonic interaction, Coulomb repulsion, and band structure. From this the superconducting transition temperature was calculated by integration of the gap equation. For the particular structure proposed, transition temperatures of several hundred degrees are calculated. However, we find superconductivity only in those systems where the excitonic medium is within a covalent bond length of, and completely surrounds, the conductive spine. This imposes severe constraints on the structure of any excitonic superconductor. We show that for the structure proposed the momentum dependence of the exciton interaction results in the superconducting state being favored over the Peierls state and in vertex corrections to the electron-exciton interaction which are small.
A convenient synthesis of nitrones by N-alkylation of O-trimethylsilyloximes

Abstract Aldoxime and ketoxime-O-trimethylsilyl ethers can be alkylated with trialkyloxonium tetrafluoroborates and alkyl triflates at or below room temperature to produce nitrones in good yields.
Improved method for ribonuclease zymogram.

Abstract An improved method for ribonuclease zymogram in agarose overlays is described which enables significantly enhanced sensitivity and the avoidance of false-positive activity. Two critical aspects of the zymogram method—the fixation/staining technique and the RNA substrate concentration—were evaluated for the RNase activity in RNase A and in human serum and urine. The zymogram method is sensitive to at least 10 pg of RNase A and does not show a false-positive reaction from 1500 μg of non-RNase protein following electrophoresis in thin-layer polyacrylamide gel.
Space-Frequency Ultrawideband Time-Reversal Imaging Method as Applied to Subsurface Objects

We present a time-reversal (TR) ultrawideband (UWB) imaging technique based on the utilization of joint spatial and UWB frequency data acquired by limited-aspect antenna arrays. The targets are assumed to be discrete scatterers embedded in homogeneous or random inhomogeneous subsurface media. A singular value decomposition (SVD) is applied to space-frequency multistatic scattering data matrices indexed by sensor location and frequency data. The resulting singular values and vectors are employed to construct time-domain excitation signals for UWB imaging of the embedded scatterer(s) via synthetic backpropagation.
Pathogenesis of Herpetic Neuritis and Ganglionitis in Mice: Evidence for Intra-Axonal Transport of Infection

The pathogenesis of acute herpetic infection in the nervous system has been studied following rear footpad inoculation of mice. Viral assays performed on appropriate tissues at various time intervals indicated that the infection progressed sequentially from peripheral to the central nervous system, with infectious virus reaching the sacrosciatic spinal ganglia in 20 to 24 hr. The infection also progressed to ganglia in mice given high levels of anti-viral antibody. Immunofluorescent techniques demonstrated that both neurons and supporting cells produced virus-specific antigens. By electron microscopy, neurons were found to produce morphologically complete virions, but supporting cells replicated principally nucleocapsids. These results are discussed in the context of possible mechanisms by which herpes simplex virus might travel in nerve trunks. They are considered to offer strong support for centripetal transport in axons.
Character and Genesis of the Ingersoll Shale, A Compact Continental Fossil-Lagerstätte, Upper Cretaceous Eutaw Formation, Eastern Alabama

The Ingersoll shale, a thin (<1 m) clay-dominated lens within the Upper Cretaceous Eutaw Formation in eastern Alabama, contains a well-preserved, primarily continental biota that includes a diverse, carbonized, and variably pyritized flora, abundant amber with fossil inclusions, and common feathers. Geometry of the Ingersoll shale lens and its position between high-energy tidal deposits below and estuarine central bay deposits above indicate deposition in a shallow, narrow channel in the lower reaches of a bayhead delta in response to estuarine transgression. Tidal rhythmites and textural trends indicate that the channel filled very rapidly (55–80 cm per yr), under progressively waning energy regimes. Ichnofabrics, high organic carbon contents, and abundant pyrite indicate highly fluid and reducing sediments. Marine palynomorphs, sulfide contents, and δ34S values of pyrite sulfur indicate normal to near-normal marine salinities. Environmental factors and sedimentary processes contributing to preservation of the Ingersoll shale biota include (1) rapid deposition and burial (obrution); (2) reducing pore waters (stagnation), which limited bioturbation and scavenging, promoted pyritization of some fossils (diagenetic mineralization), and facilitated bacterial replacement of others (i.e., feathers); and (3) concentration of allochthonous or para-autochthonous amber clasts (preservation traps) by tidal currents. Lessons from the Ingersoll shale may help prospect for similar, isolated yet fossil-rich marginal marine deposits.
Delay of 2 or 6 Weeks Adversely Affects the Functional Outcome of Augmented Primary Repair of the Porcine Anterior Cruciate Ligament

BackgroundEnhanced primary anterior cruciate ligament repair, in which suture repair is performed in conjunction with a collagen-platelet composite to stimulate healing, is a potential new treatment option for anterior cruciate ligament injuries. Previous studies have evaluated this approach at the time of anterior cruciate ligament disruption.HypothesisDelaying surgery by 2 or 6 weeks would have a significant effect on the functional outcome of the repair.Study DesignControlled laboratory study.MethodsSixteen female Yorkshire pigs underwent staged, bilateral surgical anterior cruciate ligament transections. Anterior cruciate ligament transection was initially performed on 1 knee and the knee closed. Two or 6 weeks later, enhanced primary repair was performed in that knee while the contralateral knee had an anterior cruciate ligament transection and immediate repair. Biomechanical parameters were measured after 15 weeks in vivo to determine the effect of delay time relative to immediate repair on the heal...
A study of the fragmentation of singly and multiply charged ions produced by 252Cf fission fragment bombardment of polypeptides bound to nitrocellulose

Abstract A time-of-flight mass spectrometric study of the prompt and metastable decomposition of ions produced by 252 Cf fission fragment bombardment is presented. Results for a series of polypeptides with molecular weights between 1000 and 14000 u are given. Comparisons are made between the amount of fragmentation observed in ions desorbed from bulk (electrosprayed) polypeptide samples and the amount of fragmentation observed in the corresponding ions desorbed from polypeptides bound to nitrocellulose. Ions desorbed from nitrocellulose were found to undergo much less decomposition than those desorbed from bulk polypeptide. Details of the slow unimolecular decay of high molecular weight multiply protonated polypeptides were investigated for the first time. The metastable decomposition of multiply protonated polypeptides was found to occur, in substantial part, with the formation of two charged fragmentation products.
Role of a class DHC1b dynein in retrograde transport of IFT motors and IFT raft particles along cilia, but not dendrites, in chemosensory neurons of living Caenorhabditis elegans.

The heterotrimeric motor protein, kinesin-II, and its presumptive cargo, can be observed moving anterogradely at 0.7 microm/s by intraflagellar transport (IFT) within sensory cilia of chemosensory neurons of living Caenorhabditis elegans, using a fluorescence microscope-based transport assay (Orozco, J.T., K.P. Wedaman, D. Signor, H. Brown, L. Rose, and J.M. Scholey. 1999. Nature. 398:674). Here, we report that kinesin-II, and two of its presumptive cargo molecules, OSM-1 and OSM-6, all move at approximately 1.1 microm/s in the retrograde direction along cilia and dendrites, which is consistent with the hypothesis that these proteins are retrieved from the distal endings of the cilia by a retrograde transport pathway that moves them along cilia and then dendrites, back to the neuronal cell body. To test the hypothesis that the minus end-directed microtubule motor protein, cytoplasmic dynein, drives this retrograde transport pathway, we visualized movement of kinesin-II and its cargo along dendrites and cilia in a che-3 cytoplasmic dynein mutant background, and observed an inhibition of retrograde transport in cilia but not in dendrites. In contrast, anterograde IFT proceeds normally in che-3 mutants. Thus, we propose that the class DHC1b cytoplasmic dynein, CHE-3, is specifically responsible for the retrograde transport of the anterograde motor, kinesin-II, and its cargo within sensory cilia, but not within dendrites.
Leakage current modeling of series-connected thin film transistors

The leakage current of an arbitrary number of series-connected polysilicon Thin Film Transistors (TFTs) with a common gate is shown to be easily computed from the I-V characteristics of a single FET for the first time, both by an analytical model and by graphical techniques. Good agreement with experimental data is obtained for drain biases greater than /spl sim/1 V. The work is also applicable to single crystal Silicon-On-Insulator (SOI) TFTs. >
Pulmonary Lymphoproliferative Disorders

Pulmonary lymphoproliferative disorders are a diverse group of conditions that primarily or secondarily involve the lungs. Modern diagnostic modalities, including immunologic and molecular genetics techniques, have contributed substantially to the continuously evolving understanding of these complex lesions. In this review, we classified pulmonary lymphoproliferative disorders into benign, intermediate or indeterminate, and malignant categories and described the clinical, radiographic, and pathologic features for the entire spectrum. Our emphasis is on the clinical findings and the role of tissue biopsy as well as ancillary techniques in diagnosis. Various treatments and expected responses are also discussed.
Perchlorate Isotope Forensics

Perchlorate has been detected recently in a variety of soils, waters, plants, and food products at levels that may be detrimental to human health. These discoveries have generated considerable interest in perchlorate source identification. In this study, comprehensive stable isotope analyses (37Cl/35Cl and 18O/17O/16O) of perchlorate from known synthetic and natural sources reveal systematic differences in isotopic characteristics that are related to the formation mechanisms. In addition, isotopic analyses of perchlorate extracted from groundwater and surface water demonstrate the feasibility of identifying perchlorate sources in contaminated environments on the basis of this technique. Both natural and synthetic sources of perchlorate have been identified in water samples from some perchlorate occurrences in the United States by the isotopic method.
Building Organizational Supports for Knowledge Sharing in County Human Service Organizations: A Cross-Case Analysis of Works-in-Progress

Building on the literature related to evidence-based practice, knowledge management, and learning organizations, this cross-case analysis presents twelve works-in-progress in ten local public human service organizations seeking to develop their own knowledge sharing systems. The data for this cross-case analysis can be found in the various contributions to this Special Issue. The findings feature the developmental aspects of building a learning organization that include knowledge sharing systems featuring transparency, self-assessment, and dissemination and utilization. Implications for practice focus on the structure and processes involved in building knowledge sharing teams inside public human service organizations.
'Germs' in the heart of the other: emigrant scripts, the Celtic Tiger and lived realities of return

Abstract During the 1990s and 2000s, the period coinciding with Ireland's economic and social transformation and ubiquitously referred to as the ‘Celtic Tiger’ years, the Irish nation transitioned from being an emigrant-sending to an immigrant-receiving society. In association with this shift, considerable attention has been devoted to Ireland's new immigrant groups, including refugees and asylum seekers and more recently to migrant workers from new EU accession states. During the same period, inward migration was consistently comprised of significant numbers of former emigrants returning to Ireland; however, the place and experiences of Ireland's return migrants has received comparatively little attention from mainstream media sources and is a relatively recent development in scholarship on migration. Taking as its impetus Piaras MacEinri's (2001) call for scholarship that places Ireland's history of emigration alongside contemporary immigration, this paper critically explores scripts – media representat...
Human eosinophils express the high affinity IgE receptor, FcεRI, in bullous pemphigoid.

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune blistering disease mediated by autoantibodies targeting BP180 (type XVII collagen). Patient sera and tissues typically have IgG and IgE autoantibodies and elevated eosinophil numbers. Although the pathogenicity of the IgE autoantibodies is established in BP, their contribution to the disease process is not well understood. Our aims were two-fold: 1) To establish the clinical relationships between total and BP180-specific IgE, eosinophilia and other markers of disease activity; and 2) To determine if eosinophils from BP patients express the high affinity IgE receptor, FceRI, as a potential mechanism of action for IgE in BP. Our analysis of 48 untreated BP patients revealed a correlation between BP180 IgG and both BP180 IgE and peripheral eosinophil count. Additionally, we established a correlation between total IgE concentration and both BP180 IgE levels and eosinophil count. When only sera from patients (n = 16) with total IgE ≥ 400 IU/ml were analyzed, BP180 IgG levels correlated with disease severity, BP230 IgG, total circulating IgE and BP180 IgE. Finally, peripheral eosinophil count correlated more strongly with levels of BP180 IgE then with BP180 IgG. Next, eosinophil FceRI expression was investigated in the blood and skin using several methods. Peripheral eosinophils from BP patients expressed mRNA for all three chains (α, β and γ) of the FceRI. Surface expression of the FceRIα was confirmed on both peripheral and tissue eosinophils from most BP patients by immunostaining. Furthermore, using a proximity ligation assay, interaction of the α- and β-chains of the FceRI was observed in some biopsy specimens, suggesting tissue expression of the trimeric receptor form in some patients. These studies provide clinical support for the relevance of IgE in BP disease and provide one mechanism of action of these antibodies, via binding to the FceRI on eosinophils.
Runtime Integrity for Cyber-Physical Infrastructures

Cyber-physical systems integrate cyber capabilities (e.g., communications and computing) with physical devices (e.g., sensors, actuators and control processing units). Many of these systems support safety-critical applications such as electric power grids, water distribution systems and transportation systems. Failures of these systems can cause irreparable damage to equipment and injury or death to humans. While most of the efforts to protect the systems have focused on reliability, there are urgent concerns regarding malicious attacks. Trusted computing is a security paradigm that enables platforms to enforce the integrity of execution targets (code and data). However, protection under this paradigm is restricted to static threats.
Scalable Frequency Comb Emitters: Fundamental and Practical Performance Limits

Recently developed frequency comb sources include programmable spectral pitch, and contiguous NIR/SWIR coverage. The use and limitations of phase-locked, frequency mispitched frequency combs in remote sensing and imaging is described. Application of new source in hyperspectral, speckle-resilient and Doppler-aided imaging is discussed.
Uranium(IV) BINOLate Heterobimetallics: Synthesis and Reactivity in an Asymmetric Diels–Alder Reaction

The first heterobimetallic BINOLate complexes incorporating uranium were prepared, and their reactivity in an asymmetric Diels–Alder reaction was investigated. The contributions of both the Li+ and UIV cations to the reaction selectivity were addressed through control of the two different Lewis acidic centers. The presence of an anionic ligand in the seventh coordination site of the central uranium cation resulted in enhanced selectivity compared to the RE(III) catalyst with the same alkali metal cation and represents the highest enantioselectivities obtained with a uranium-based catalyst to date. Additionally, we describe a simple workup procedure to obtain organic products free of the trace radioactivity present in the reaction mixtures.
An Investigation of Web Writing Styles and Distance Education

Increasingly, the Internet is being seen as a vehicle for distance education. However, this medium presents new challenges for developers of distance education content. For example, do we read material on the Web the same way that we read from paper? Is there a different writing style for web-based information that facilitates on-line reading? This study explored four different writing styles in either a printed or on-line format. Examination of free recall from 80 undergraduates indicated that fewer idea units were correctly recalled for the concise writing style than the scannable, objective, and combined writing styles within the Web medium. In addition, in the paper format, more idea units were correctly recalled with the combined writing style than the scannable and objective writing styles. These results may be driven by the reading behavior associated with a distance education task. Possible limitations and suggestions for future research are provided.
Building Quality into Clinical Trials

C linical research can be an extremely fast-paced and high-pressure environment. When we add the regulatory requirements of study execution, it can be easy to lose sight of the reason why we do these studies in the first place. These challenges can be in direct conflict with quality, yet quality is
Assessing Wire Navigation Performance in the Operating Room

Objective There are no widely accepted, objective, and reliable tools for measuring surgical skill in the operating room (OR). Ubiquitous video and imaging technology provide opportunities to develop metrics that meet this need. Hip fracture surgery is a promising area in which to develop these measures because hip fractures are common, the surgery is used as a milestone for residents, and it demands technical skill. The study objective is to develop meaningful, objective measures of wire navigation performance in the OR. Design Resident surgeons wore a head-mounted video camera while performing surgical open reduction and internal fixation using a dynamic hip screw. Data collected from video included: duration of wire navigation, number of fluoroscopic images, and the degree of intervention by the surgeon׳s supervisor. To determine reliability of these measurements, 4 independent raters performed them for 2 cases. Raters independently measured the tip-apex distance (TAD), which reflects the accuracy of the surgical placement of the wire, on all the 7 cases. Setting University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, IA—a public tertiary academic center. Participants In total 7 surgeries were performed by 7 different orthopedic residents. All 10 raters were biomedical engineering graduate students. Results The standard deviations for anteroposterior, lateral, and combined TAD measurements of the 10 raters were 2.7, 1.9, and 3.7 mm, respectively, and interrater reliability produced a Cronbach α of 0.97. The interrater reliability analysis for all 9 video-based measures produced a Cronbach α of 0.99. Conclusions Several video-based metrics were consistent across the 4 video reviewers and are likely to be useful for performance assessment. The TAD measurement was less reliable than previous reports have suggested, but remains a valuable metric of performance. Nonexperts can reliably measure these values and they offer an objective assessment of OR performance.