cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
General analytical solutions of groundwater flow toward multi-dimensional sources/sinks in a confined aquifer with leakage and distributed recharge

Abstract A variety of hydrogeologic conditions and parameters play roles in obtaining analytical solutions for groundwater flow in aquifers. Changes of these influencing conditions typically require finding a new solution. Therefore, it is very useful if a general approach and solution can be provided to conveniently construct the solutions corresponding to the condition changes. In this study, two general analytical solutions for multi-dimensional groundwater flow in homogeneous, confined aquifers are derived using Green’s function method for instantaneous and continuous sources/sinks. A library of analytical solutions can be readily obtained by combining the general solutions with directional solutions for a variety of hydrogeologic and geometric conditions. The aquifer can be one-, two-, or three-dimensional and vertically and horizontally finite, semi-infinite, or infinite. The geometry of sources/sinks can be point, line, areal, and volumetric. Leakage from adjacent aquifers and distributed precipitation recharge are also included. The general solutions are validated by reported analytical solutions. A series of typical solutions for one-, two-, and three-dimensional groundwater flow are presented. A computational example is provided to compare the drawdown distributions caused by point, vertical line, vertical areal, and volumetric sinks. A field investigation and design at a groundwater-contaminated site using the derived analytical solution suggests that drainage slots (vertical areal sinks) can be an effective alternative to pumping wells (vertical line sinks) in lowering the groundwater level for a shallow aquifer.
Farm-scale phosphorus budgets of beef cow-calf operations

Beef cattle production in Florida consists of extensively managed cow-calf operations where animals are stocked on native and planted pastures with minimal P inputs. Despite the extensive literature documenting multiple benefits of cow-calf systems, concerns exist regarding their negative impacts on water quality, especially P in ecologically sensitive areas. This study evaluated farm-to-gate P balance for two cow-calf operations [a 3159-ha section of Archbold’s Buck Island Ranch (BIR) and the 1170 ha University of Florida Range Cattle Research and Education Center (RCREC)] both managed using typical regional practices. Mean annual P inputs were 2.4 and 2.1 kg P ha−1 yr−1 in BIR and RCREC, respectively, with animal feed being the single largest source of P imported (71% and 42% of total P inputs in BIR and RCREC, respectively). Total P outputs were similar for both operations (~ 1.9 kg P ha−1 yr−1) and was mostly (77%) from sold animals. Estimated P balance was nearly balanced for both RCREC and BIR (0.3 and 0.5 kg P ha−1 yr−1, respectively), largely as a result of significant reductions in fertilizer inputs from earlier years. The relatively high enterprise efficiency (proportion of P outputs in animal product relative to P inputs; 81 to 97%) suggested that typical cow-calf operations as those evaluated in this study represent an environmentally sustainable land management. Although improving nutrient efficiency is an important goal for sustainable agriculture, achieving neutral balance may be unrealistic in low-input systems that are largely affected by seasonal variations in weather and soil legacy P effects.
Large fluctuations of the fusion intermediate help SARS-CoV-2 capture host cell membranes

Cell entry of SARS-CoV-2 is accomplished by the S2 subunit of the spike S protein on the virion surface by fusion of the viral envelope and host cell membrane. Fusion requires the prefusion S2 to transit to its potent, fusogenic form, the fusion intermediate (FI). However, the FI structure is unknown, detailed computational models of the FI are unavailable, and the mechanisms of fusion and entry remain unclear. Here, we constructed a full-length model of the CoV-2 FI by extrapolating from known CoV-2 pre- and postfusion structures. Atomistic and coarse-grained simulations showed the FI is a remarkably flexible mechanical assembly executing large orientational and extensional fluctuations due to three hinges in the C-terminal base. Fluctuations generate a large fusion peptide exploration volume and may aid capture of the host cell target membrane and define the clock for fluctuation-triggered refolding and membrane fusion. This work suggests several novel potential drug targets.
Outcomes After Corneal Crosslinking for Keratoconus in Children and Young Adults

Purpose The aim of this study was to assess the effect of corneal crosslinking on vision and keratometry in children and young adults with progressive keratoconus. Methods A retrospective medical records review of patients aged 22 years or younger with keratoconus who underwent corneal crosslinking between January 2013 and November 2019 at Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University was conducted. Outcome measures included logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA); keratometry, including maximum keratometry (Kmax); pachymetry; and total wavefront aberration. Measurements were taken at baseline and at 12 and 24 months postoperatively. Results Fifty-seven eyes of 49 patients aged 12 to 22 years were assessed. The mean preoperative CDVA was logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution 0.38 ± 0.32 (20/48), with a mean postoperative CDVA of 0.29 ± 0.31 (20/39) and 0.31 ± 0.31 (20/41) at 12 and 24 months postoperatively, respectively. Compared with preoperative mean Kmax, there was an improvement of -0.8 diopters (D) to a mean postoperative Kmax of 59.1 ± 9.1 D at 12 months and -1.3 D to 59.7 ± 8.8 D at 24 months. Subanalysis excluding the second eye of patients who underwent bilateral crosslinking showed similar results. Linear mixed modeling showed significant improvement in Kmax at both 12 and 24 months postoperatively. Minimum central corneal thickness initially decreased but stabilized at 24 months after crosslinking. Total wavefront aberration remained stable. Conclusions Corneal crosslinking stabilizes, and in some cases improves, visual and corneal parameters in pediatric and young adult patients with keratoconus. The procedure is safe and well-tolerated and may prevent keratoconus progression in young patients.
Birthing a Movement: Midwives, Law, and the Politics of Reproductive Care. By Renée Ann Cramer. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2021. 288 pp. $30.00 paperback

Mayo-Adam reviews Birthing a Movement: Midwives, Law, and the Politics of Reproductive Care by Renee Ann Cramer.
Respiratory-swallow coordination and swallowing impairment in head and neck cancer.

BACKGROUND The aim of the study was to determine the link between frequency of optimal respiratory-swallow coordination, swallowing impairment, and airway invasion in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. METHOD A cross-sectional study of a heterogeneous group of HNC patients (49), precancer (N = 30) or postcancer treatment (N = 29), participated in a single Modified Barium Swallow Study (MBSS) with synchronized respiratory data. RESULTS Spearman correlation coefficients revealed significant negative correlations between optimal respiratory-swallow phase pattern and objective measures of swallowing impairment: penetration-aspiration scale max, pharyngeal total, and oral total scores with Spearman correlation coefficients of -0.53 (z .001), -0.50 (P < .001), and -0.43 (P = .002), respectively. Optimal respiratory-swallow pattern was significantly decreased (P = .03) in patients after cancer treatment compared with another patient group before cancer treatment. CONCLUSION These findings indicate that as the percentage of optimal respiratory-swallow phase patterns increase, swallowing impairment decreases in the HNC patient population.
The E-Cigarette Phenomenon: What it is, Why it is Happening, and What You Should Know About it

In 2018, the FDA Commissioner described the “disturbing and accelerating trajectory” of youth e-cigarette use as an “almost ubiquitous” trend among youth, and the FDA Commissioner and the U.S. Surgeon General called youth e-cigarette use an “epidemic.” While there is some hope that e-cigarette use is declining modestly, more than one fifth of high school students and about one in ten middle school students are using e-cigarettes every day. This increase in use frequency may be associated with greater nicotine dependence among young users, highlighting the threat of hooking a new generation on nicotine and other tobacco products, including combustible cigarettes. E-cigarettes are associated with a number of significant health consequences, including cardiovascular and respiratory impacts, nicotine harms and addiction, toxic effects of flavors, and psychological, social, and educational effects. Adolescents and young adults are especially attracted to using e-cigarettes because of their youth-friendly flavors; the new salt-based nicotine formulation which makes the products easier to use, less harsh, and allows users to more easily take in higher levels of nicotine more quickly which effectively makes them more addictive; the appealing designs and concealability of the e-cigarette devices; the aggressive marketing that targets youth; misperceptions about the products’ harmfulness; and their ability to easily access and afford e-cigarettes. Previous successful efforts to reduce adolescent, young adult, and adult tobacco use are being eroded through the adolescent e-cigarette epidemic. Clearly there is a great deal of work to do to once again bring tobacco use levels to single digits. Proven tobacco control measures should be adopted to reduce and prevent e-cigarette use, including effective education campaigns; rigorous regulations at the federal, state, and local levels; and measures taken to ensure that these programs and laws will not become obsolete with the introduction of new and enticing tobacco products in the future.
Treating Cells as Reagents to Design Reproducible Assays.

The reproducibility of high-throughput cell-based assays is dependent on having a consistent source of cells for each experiment. Developing an understanding of the nature of cells growing in vitro...
The Corona Problem in Several Complex Variables

We survey and describe some results about the corona problem in several complex variables. We indicate connections with classical results, and point in some new directions as well.
Scaling Bandwidth Estimation to High Speed Networks

Existing bandwidth estimation tools fail to perform well at gigabit and higher network speeds. In this paper we study several sources of noise that must be overcome by these tools in high-speed envrionments and propose strategies for addressing them. We evaluate our Linux implementation on 1 and 10Gbps testbed networks, showing that our strategies help significantly in scaling bandwidth estimation to high-speed networks.
The Effect of Vitamin B12 Deprivation on the Enzymes of Fatty Acid Synthesis

The enzymes of fatty acid synthesis from liver and brain in normal and B12-deprived rats were studied. Both total and specific activities of fatty acid synthetase and acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase were 2- to 5-fold greater in B12 deprivation than in the normal state. The presence of excess activators in the B12-deprived rat or an excess inhibitor in the normal rat was not found by serial admixtures of the respective cytosol preparations or by partial purification of the enzymes. Since B12 deficiency is associated with an increase in the tissue concentrations of propionic and methylmalonic acid, the effect of the coenzyme A derivatives of these acids on fatty acid synthetase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity was studied. Propionyl-CoA was a substrate for fatty acid synthetase, while methylmalonyl-CoA markedly inhibited synthetase activity. Methylmalonyl-CoA markedly inhibited acetyl-CoA carboxylase activity. Propionyl-CoA was shown to be a substrate for acetyl-CoA carboxylase, competing with acetyl-CoA, and the product synthesized was methylmalonyl-CoA. Thus, in vitamin B12 deprivation propionyl-CoA competes with acetyl-CoA as substrate providing a mechanism for odd chain fatty acid production, and its product, methylmalonyl-CoA, may function as an inhibitor of the enzymes of fatty acid synthesis.
Does dust change the clear sky top of atmosphere shortwave flux over high surface reflectance regions

[1] Using four stream radiative transfer calculations, satellite-derived aerosol optical thickness at 558 nm and top of atmosphere (TOA) broadband radiative fluxes we examine the effect of mineral dust aerosols on the clear sky TOA shortwave (0.3–5 μm) fluxes over the Saharan desert [30E-10W, 15N-30N]. Over very bright surfaces (surface albedo > 35%), the TOA shortwave flux, from both satellite measurements and model calculations, is nearly insensitive to the increase in dust optical thickness. Below this surface albedo value, known as the critical albedo, mineral dust aerosols show scattering effects and above this they show absorbing effects. Therefore, over desert regions with a large range of surface albedo values, scattering and absorbing effects compensate each other thereby making the TOA shortwave aerosol radiative effect rather small.
IL-10-Dependent Suppression of Experimental Allergic Encephalomyelitis by Th2-Differentiated, Anti-TCR Redirected T Lymphocytes

We previously showed that transgenically expressed chimeric Ag-MHC-ζ receptors can Ag-specifically redirect T cells against other T cells. When the receptor’s extracellular Ag-MHC domain engages cognate TCR on an Ag-specific T cell, its cytoplasmic ζ-chain stimulates the chimeric receptor-modified T cell (RMTC). This induces effector functions such as cytolysis and cytokine release. RMTC expressing a myelin basic protein (MBP) 89–101-IAs-ζ receptor can be used therapeutically, Ag-specifically treating murine experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) mediated by MBP89-101-specific T cells. In initial studies, isolated CD8+ RMTC were therapeutically effective whereas CD4+ RMTC were not. We re-examine here the therapeutic potential of CD4+ RMTC. We demonstrate that Th2-differentiated, though not Th1-differentiated, CD4+ MBP89–101-IAs-ζ RMTC prevent actively induced or adoptively transferred EAE, and treat EAE even after antigenic diversification of the pathologic T cell response. The Th2 RMTC both Th2-deviate autoreactive T cells and suppress autoantigen-specific T cell proliferation. IL-10 is critical for the suppressive effects. Anti-IL-10R blocks RMTC-mediated modulation of EAE and suppression of autoantigen proliferation, as well as the induction of IL-10 production by autoreactive T cells. In contrast to IL-10, IL-4 is required for IL-4 production by, and hence Th2 deviation of autoreactive T cells, but not the therapeutic activity of the RMTC. These results therefore demonstrate a novel immunotherapeutic approach for the Ag-specific treatment of autoimmune disease with RMTC. They further identify an essential role for IL-10, rather than Th2-deviation itself, in the therapeutic effectiveness of these redirected Th2 T cells.
Locked Finger Due to Foreign Body in the Flexor Sheath

A patient is described in whom a wooden splinter penetrated the finger and impaled the flexor tendons. It was pulled out but part remained inside and the finger could not be moved until an operation was performed and the remaining part of the splinter removed.
Purification and Properties of Undecyl Acetate Esterase from Pseudomonas cepacia Grown on 2-Tridecanone

Abstract Undecyl acetate esterase has been purified from Pseudomonas cepacia grown on the methyl ketone, 2-tridecanone. The Km for undecyl acetate was 2.3 × 10−2 M. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that two esterase bands were being recovered during purification. These bands were separated by preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Molecular weights were estimated to be approximately 34,500 by several methods. Molecular sieve polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that the two esterases had the same molecular weight but different charge, which is indicative of isoenzymes.
Variation in tissue carnitine concentrations with age and sex in the rat

Diabetes, starvation and various hormonal treatments are known to alter drastically carnitine concentrations in the body. Before the mechanisms controlling carnitine metabolism could be determined, it was necessary to establish normal carnitine concentrations in both sexes at different ages. Carnitine was assayed in plasma, liver, heart and skeletal muscle of rats from birth to weaning. The plasma carnitine increased rapidly during the first 2 days after birth. Carnitine in both heart and skeletal muscle increased, whereas liver concentrations declined during the first week of life. A carnitine-free diet containing sufficient precursors for carnitine biosynthesis was fed to weanling rats. Groups of ten male and ten female rats were killed each week for 10 consecutive weeks. Carnitine was determined in plasma, liver, heart, skeletal muscle, urine and epididymis in the male. There was no difference in carnitine concentrations between the sexes at weaning. Plasma, heart and muscle concentrations were higher in adult male rats than in adult females. However, liver carnitine and urinary carnitine concentrations were higher in adult female than in adult male rats. The epididymal carnitine concentration increased very rapidly during 50 to 70 days of age and the differences in carnitine concentrations between the sexes also became apparent during this time. Thus both the age and the sex of the human subject or experimental animal must be considered when investigating carnitine metabolism.
Attitudes toward premarital, extramarital, and homosexual relations in the U.S. in the 1970s

Abstract Reported attitudes of American adults toward premarital, extramarital, and homosexual relations in the mid‐1970s are examined by use of data from seven independently drawn national samples of about 1,500 respondents each. Standards concerning extramarital and homosexual relations were highly restrictive, but standards concerning premarital sex were much more permissive and were rapidly changing in a permissive direction. Examination of reported attitudes by sex, age, race, religious preference, and level of education revealed marked inter‐category variation. Jews, persons with no religion, young adults, and persons with more than 12 years of school were distinctly more permissive—and Protestants, older persons, and persons with less than 12 years of school were distinctly more restrictive—than the adult population as a whole.
Unfolding the singularities in superspace

A method is described for unfolding the singularities in superspace,\(\mathcal{G} = \mathfrak{M}/\mathfrak{D}\), the space of Riemannian geometries of a manifoldM. This unfolded superspace is described by the projection
Peptide mimicry of carbohydrate epitopes on human immunodeficiency virus

Cancer-related, mucin-type carbohydrate epitopes, principally mannose and sialo-syl residues, are expressed on the envelope protein gp 160 of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Anticarbohydrate antibodies directed toward these and other carbohydrate epitopes are known to neutralize HIV-1 infection by cell-free virus. Carbohydrates, however, being T cell-independent antigens, typically elicit diminished immune responses. To overcome this potential draw back, we have examined the ability of peptides that mimic such epitopes to elicit immune responses that cross-react with carbohydrate structures. We report that mouse polyclonal antisera generated against peptides that mimic mucin-related carbohydrate epitopes have anti-HIV-1 activity. Generation of antibodies was not lr-gene restricted, as at least two different strains of mice. Balb/c (H-2d) and C57Bl/6 (H-2b), responded equally to the peptides. The antipeptide sera displayed neutralizing activity against HIV-I/MN and HIV-I/3B viral strains. This neutralization was as good as human anti-HIV sera. These results indicate that peptide mimics of carbohydrates provide a novel strategy for the further development of reagents that elicit immune responses to carbohydrate epitopes associated with many infectious organisms and tumor cells.
Preparation of 2-aminomuconate from 2-aminophenol by coupled enzymatic dioxygenation and dehydrogenation reactions.

A method for the preparation of 2-aminomuconate which comprises adding 2-aminophenol to a mixture of 2-aminophenol 1,6-dioxygenase, 2-aminomuconic semialdehyde dehydrogenase and NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, oxidized form) in a buffer, and recovering a fraction containing 2-aminomuconate from the mixture.
Economic Governance of Software Delivery

Agility without objective governance cannot scale, and governance without agility cannot compete. Agile methods are mainstream, and software enterprises are adopting these practices in diverse delivery contexts and at enterprise scale. IBM's broad industry experience with agile transformations and deep internal know-how point to two key principles to deliver sustained improvements in software business outcomes with higher confidence: measure and streamline change costs, and steer with economic governance and Bayesian analytics. Applying these two principles in context is the crux of measured improvement in continuous delivery of smarter software-intensive systems. This article describes more meaningful measurement and prediction foundations for economic governance. The Web extra at http://youtu.be/ghAM8ifyeVI is a video in which Walker Royce, author, IEEE Software editorial board member, and IBM Chief Software Economist, describes how to reason about software delivery governance with lean principles.
Implementing Self-Advocacy Training Within a Brief Psychoeducational Group to Improve the Academic Motivation of Black Adolescents

Black adolescents are confronted with ongoing social barriers that affect their academic motivation. School counselors can improve the educational landscape for Black adolescents by employing advocacy competencies in their schools. In this article I describe a brief psychoeducational group that can be used to teach self-advocacy skills to Black adolescents, with the ultimate goal of improving their self-concept and academic motivation.
Instructional usage of the compustat data files

Abstract This paper describes the use of the COMPUSTAT data files in connection with a one-quarter course in financial statement analysis. A description of the programming necessary to prepare the files for student use and the projects undertaken by the students are provided. Some future enhancements planned for subsequent offerings of the course are discussed as well. The results of the exercise were found to be entirely satisfactory and student enjoyment and learning were judged to be high.
Time-dependent loss of prostaglandin E release by adherent cells in response to stimulation by thyroid cells: Prevention of this loss by phytohemagglutinin

Abstract Preplating human adherent peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) for up to 24 hr results in a progressive decrease in their basal PGE release, and in the loss of their ability to increase PGE release during a subsequent 72-hr coculture period with allogeneic human thyroid cells. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) present during a 24-hr adherent-cell preplating period prevents, in part, the loss of this PGE response to thyroid cells. These data indicate that adherent cells require continual stimulation by the thyroid cells or by PHA in order to maintain their ability to increase PGE secretion in response to thyroid cells.
Strategies of language maintenance and ethnic marking among the Pennsylvania Germans

Abstract In the Pennsylvania German community, each subgroup has devised its own strategies for maintaining Pennsylvania German and its own set of linguistic ethnic markers. The diglossic behavior of the separatist religious sects effectively maintains Pennsylvania German in their communities and, compared to the English of other Pennsylvania Germans, the English of the sectarians is relatively free of Pennsylvania German influence. Nonsectarian native speakers use Pennsylvania German as an in-group solidarity marker but do not speak it to their children. Their English is characterized by interference features which do not persist in subsequent generations. Among the nonfluent bilinguals and monolingual English speakers, English carries the markers of Pennsylvania German ethnic identification. These language behaviors are interpreted in terms of Giles's speech accomodation theory and ethnic boundary model. The results confirm the proposition that the most linguistic differentiation in the dominant language occurs in groups which have the softest nonlinguistic ethnic boundaries.
Initiating Conformation Transitions of Individual YOYO-Intercalated DNA Molecules with Optical Trapping

This letter reports that the commonly used DNA intercalator dye YOYO-1 can act as a condensing agent under moderately acidic pH conditions (pH 5.7) for DNA molecules ranging in size from ∼2.7 kbp (pUC19) to ∼105 kbp (T5). With atomic force microscopy, individual YOYO-intercalated λ-DNA condensates (∼48.5 kbp) were shown to exhibit a toroidal structure that ranged in diameter from 100 to 150 nm with a maximum height of ∼6 nm. Once these molecules are compacted, optical trapping can be used to initiate the conformational transitions of such single, condensed DNA molecules with excellent time resolution.
Development and validation of a standardized ELISA for the detection of soluble Fc-epsilon-RI in human serum.

The aim of this study was to develop a standardized enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of human soluble Fc-epsilon-RI (sFceRI), a serum isoform of the high affinity IgE receptor. A recombinant version of sFceRI was produced in baculovirus and used as standard. ELISA plates were coated with anti-mouse IgG followed by incubation with the monoclonal capture antibody CRA1. This FceRI-alpha-specific antibody binds to the stalk region of the protein and does not inhibit IgE-binding. After incubation with standards or serum samples, plates were incubated with chimeric IgE followed by detection with horseradish peroxidase conjugated anti-human IgE. Enzymatic activity was visualized with (3,3',5,5')-tetramethylbenzidine. Specificity was demonstrated by omission of capture or detection reagents. Units (U) of detection were established and the dynamic range of the assay was defined as 10-640 U/ml for a 1/5 serum dilution. Parameters of linearity (R(2)>0.999), matrix interference test (recovery of 70-110%), intra-assay variability (coefficient of variation (CV) <20%) and inter-assay variability (CV <20%) met acceptance criteria for immunoassay validation. Correlation analysis of serum units of sFceRI measured with the new ELISA and serum IgE levels confirmed earlier published data describing a weak correlation of the two parameters in patients with elevated serum IgE while no correlation in patients with normal serum IgE or the total patient group was found. In summary, we established and validated a standardized ELISA for the detection of sFceRI. This novel method now allows for comparative analysis of sFceRI levels in health and disease.
Time Reversal and Its Application to Tomography with Diffracting Sources

An exact time-domain method is proposed to time reverse a transient scalar wave using only the field measured on an arbitrary closed surface enclosing the initial source. Under certain conditions, a time-reversed field can be approximated by retransmitting the measured signals in a reversed temporal order. Exact reconstruction for three-dimensional broadband diffraction tomography (a linearized inverse scattering problem) is proposed by time-reversing the measured field back to the time when each secondary source is excited. The algorithm is verified by a numerical simulation. Extension to the case using Green's function in a heterogeneous medium is discussed.
Near-dipole-dipole effects in dense media: Generalized Maxwell-Bloch equations.

A self-consistent generalization of the Maxwell-Bloch formulation is presented here for a nonlinear system of saturable two-level atoms interacting with the electromagnetic field, under the condition that the atomic density is such that there are, on the average, many atoms within a cubic resonance wavelength such that near--dipole-dipole interactions, which lead to local-field corrections, cannot be neglected.
Development of forensic assay signatures for ebolaviruses.

Ebolaviruses are a diverse group of RNA viruses comprising five different species, four of which cause fatal hemorrhagic fever in humans. Because of their high infectivity and lethality, ebolaviruses are considered major biothreat agents. Although detection assays exist, no forensic assays are currently available. Here, we report the development of forensic assays that differentiate ebolaviruses. We performed phylogenetic analyses and identified canonical SNPs for all species, major clades and isolates. TaqMan-MGB allelic discrimination assays based on these SNPs were designed, screened against synthetic RNA templates, and validated against ebolavirus genomic RNAs. A total of 45 assays were validated to provide 100% coverage of the species and variants with additional resolution at the isolate level. These assays enabled accurate forensic analysis on 4 “unknown” ebolaviruses. Unknowns were correctly classified to species and variant. A goal of providing resolution below the isolate level was not successful. These high-resolution forensic assays allow rapid and accurate genotyping of ebolaviruses for forensic investigations.
EPR studies of methylated benzo(a)pyrene cation radicals

EPR spectra have been obtained from benzo[a]pyrene (BP) and all 12 monomethyl derivatives in coned HzS04. The l-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5,8-, 9-, 1 I-, and 12-methyl BPS were obtained from the NC1 Chemical Repository and 6-, 7-, and lo-methyl BPS were synthesized by literature methods. The spectra have enabled us to estimate and assign splitting constants to all positions in the BP cation radical. The EPR spectrum of
Threshold Effects of Acetylcholine on Primary Pacemaker Cells of the Rabbit Sino-Atrial Node

Leading or primary pacemaker cells located within the rabbit sino-atrial node have been identified by using electrophysiological and pharmacological techniques. Stable intracellular recordings lasting 20-30 min from cells within the s.a. node reveal three distinct patterns of spontaneous intracellular responses: (i) leading or primary pacing; (ii) follower or subsidiary pacing; and (iii) \`anomalous' pacemaker discharge. Our main objective was to measure the first detectable effect, or effects, of acetylcholine on the spontaneous intracellular electrical activity in mammalian primary pacemaker cells. Trains of brief \`field' stimuli were applied to evoke transmitter release from endogenous nerve varicosities. Systematic variations in the amplitude and duration of each stimulus, and in the train length; in conjunction with application of $\beta $ blockers (l-pindolol (10$^{-6}$ M); l-propranolol, (2 $\times $ 10$^{-7}$ M)) yielded small and transient, but very consistent negative chronotropic effects. These electrophysiological changes were blocked by atropine (1 $\times $ 10$^{-7}$ M) and were mimicked by bath application of low doses of acetylcholine (10$^{-7}$-10$^{-6}$ M) or muscarine chloride (10$^{-8}$-10$^{-7}$ M). In primary cells the first, or threshold effect of vagal excitation is a decrease in the slope of the pacemaker potential, without a detectable (less than 2 mV) hyperpolarization or change in action potential duration. A reduction in the dV/dt$_{\max}$ of the initial depolarization is also quite consistently observed. Application of longer stimulus trains yield the classical hyperpolarizing response, which is often assumed to be the major electrophysiological correlate of the negative chronotropic effect. These data provide a detailed electrophysiological description of the `physiological' effects of the vagus nerve excitation on primary or leading pacemaker cells of the mammalian s.-a. node. A plausible explanation for the absence of hyperpolarization is suggested; and a working hypothesis is presented for the changes in ionic current or currents, that underlie this negative chronotropic effect.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of 4-aminopyridine in awake guinea pigs.

ABSTRACTThe selective blockade of potassium channels on excitable membranes by 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) leads to facilitation of neurotransmitter release at a wide variety of synapses. This compound has been shown to be efficacious against lethality induced by saxitoxin (STX) and tetrodotoxin (TTX) in guinea pigs. To characterize the actions of 4-AP in guinea pigs we have investigated its pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics following a 2 mg/kg, intramuscular (im) dose in awake chronically instrumented (IN) animals. Animals were chronically instrumented for electrophysiologic recordings of diaphragmatic electromyogram (DEMG), lead II electrocardiogram (ECGII) and electro-corticogram (ECoG). Also, PK studies were carried out in uninstrumented (UN) guinea pigs. Blood and electrophysiologic data were collected at predetermined time intervals up to 4 hours post 4-AP administration. High performance liquid chromatography was used to determine plasma 4-AP concentrations. For IN and UN animals, plasma concen...
Source-induced fading of a multiple-input-singleoutput optical satellite communication system described by beta functions

In this study, the authors investigate the outage behaviour of optical inter-satellite communication links. The main issues addressed in the present work are: (i) source-induced fading, (ii) transmitter diversity and (iii) maximal ratio combining (MRC). They show that the fading follows the ‘reciprocal Pareto distribution’. Then they derive a set of closed-form outage probabilities in terms of the ‘beta function’ and the ‘incomplete beta function’. Numerical examples reveal that there is a threshold that determines the superiority of multiple-input–single-output (MISO) MRC. Influence of wavelengths is also observed.
Teaching for the Future

Abstract IN FIRST thinking about this topic, the title selected was as listed on your program “Teaching for the Future,” but there was more to the title—a “so what” was added. The reason for this negative addition was the quote “A close look at the college-educated people in the United States is enough to dispel any notion that our institutions of higher learning are doing a good job of liberal education” (Changing Times, 1962), and the statement “He is a school teacher, which means he is an underpaid drudge. Even a politician stands higher because power in the street seems less of a mockery than power in the classroom” (Barzun, 1959). Undergraduate college teaching is and has been the most talked about, the most maligned and least done about area in the realm of poultry science. This is not specifically the fault of anyone, but rather the result of several…
Effect of temporal corneal phacoemulsification on intraocular pressure in eyes with prior trabeculectomy with an antimetabolite.

Abstract Objective To evaluate the effect of temporal corneal phacoemulsification on intraocular pressure (IOP) in eyes after primary trabeculectomy with intraoperative fluorouracil (5-FU) or mitomycin C (MMC). Design Retrospective case–control study. Patients Twenty-nine patients who were participants in a prospective randomized double-masked trial comparing the efficacies of intraoperative 5-FU and MMC and who underwent temporal corneal phacoemulsification after the primary trabeculectomy were matched to 29 patients enrolled in the same study who did not undergo cataract surgery. The 2 groups were matched for length of follow-up after the trabeculectomy and the antimetabolite used at the time of trabeculectomy. Methods Comparisons of IOP, visual acuity (VA), and the number of glaucoma medications were made between the 2 groups and within the groups at various follow-up intervals to detect any statistically significant differences. Main outcome measures Intraocular pressure before phacoemulsification and at various times postoperatively were compared with IOP in the control group at the matched follow-up times. Results The mean of all IOP measurements beyond 3 months after phacoemulsification for each subject was significantly higher than the prephacoemulsification IOP (11.8±4.2 vs. 8.7±4.5 mmHg; P = 0.00003, paired t test). In contrast, the mean IOP remained stable in the control group during the equivalent time period (9.6±3.5 vs. 9.1±3.1 mmHg; P = 0.42, paired t test). Postphacoemulsification IOP was significantly higher than the corresponding IOP in the time-matched control group ( P P = 0.0002) but remained stable in the control group. Conclusion Temporal corneal phacoemulsification can affect long-term IOP control after trabeculectomy with 5-FU or MMC.
Peroxyacetyl nitrate: measurement of its mutagenic activity using the Salmonella/mammalian microsome reversion assay.

Abstract Exposures of Salmonella typhimurium strain TA100 with and without S9 metabolic activation to low ppm levels of pure peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) in the gas phase were conducted. Measurements of the gas-phase PAN exposure concentration and the concentration of its decomposition products in surrogate test media led to a measured mutagenic activity of 34 ± 5 revertants/μmole. The data indicate that PAN is a relatively weak direct-acting mutagen with TA100
Diode and resistance cryogenic thermometry: A comparison

Abstract The types of resistance and diode thermometers in common use today are discussed and the sensitivities of the two different types of thermometer are compared.
Activation of ARF6 by ARNO stimulates epithelial cell migration through downstream activation of both Rac1 and phospholipase D

Migration of epithelial cells is essential for tissue morphogenesis, wound healing, and metastasis of epithelial tumors. Here we show that ARNO, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) GTPases, induces Madin-Darby canine kidney epithelial cells to develop broad lamellipodia, to separate from neighboring cells, and to exhibit a dramatic increase in migratory behavior. This transition requires ARNO catalytic activity, which we show leads to enhanced activation of endogenous ARF6, but not ARF1, using a novel pulldown assay. We further demonstrate that expression of ARNO leads to increased activation of endogenous Rac1, and that Rac activation is required for ARNO-induced cell motility. Finally, ARNO-induced activation of ARF6 also results in increased activation of phospholipase D (PLD), and inhibition of PLD activity also inhibits motility. However, inhibition of PLD does not prevent activation of Rac. Together, these data suggest that ARF6 activation stimulates two distinct signaling pathways, one leading to Rac activation, the other to changes in membrane phospholipid composition, and that both pathways are required for cell motility.
Kettlewell from an Error Statistician's Point of View

Bayesians and error statisticians have relied heavily upon examples from physics in developing their accounts of scientific inference. The present essay demonstrates it is possible to analyze H.B.D...
An Observational Emphasis in Undergraduate Psychology Laboratories

This article describes a program that focuses on observational methodology. We argue for greater emphasis on systematic observation in teaching research methodology because of its efficacy in helping students master scientific principles and techniques. Observational methods allow students to establish criterion-based validity of self-reports, appreciate the dynamic nature of psychological phenomena, and understand the importance of interob-server reliability. Observational methods and instrumentation also show students how subdisciplines of psychology can be integrated. Laboratory exercises illustrating some of these principles and concepts are also described.
Molecular Cloning and Developmental Expression of Mouse p130, a Member of the Retinoblastoma Gene Family

With sequence homology to the SV40 T antigen-binding domain of the retinoblastoma protein (Rb), p107 and p130 constitute two additional members of the Rb family. To explore the potential function of p130 in mouse development, we cloned the full-length mouse cDNA for p130 and characterized p130 mRNA expression in mice. The deduced mouse p130 protein sequence shares a higher degree of similarity with mouse p107 than with mouse Rb. In adult mice, p130 mRNA is found in all tissues examined. Levels of p130 mRNA vary among different adult tissues, with the highest level in testis. Within testis, p130 mRNA is found predominantly in Leydig cells. Additionally, p130 expression in testis correlates with sexual maturation, suggesting p130 is important for the development of testis and, in particular, Leydig cells. In situ hybridization shows that in post coitus day 12.5 and 14.5 mouse embryos, distribution of p130 mRNA is quite uniform with the exception of a few tissues. Little differences in mRNA levels of either p130 or p107 were found between normal and Rb-deficient embryos, suggesting that p130 and p107 are expressed independently of Rb. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that p130 and p107 do not compensate for the loss of Rb and support the view that p130 is related to, yet distinct from, the RB gene.
Alloimmune Reactions Among Recently Wild Syrian Hamsters and Classical Inbred Strains Include Alloantibody Production

Partially inbred lines of Syrian hamsters, the descendants of animals caught wild in Syria within the past decade, have been studied to determine their immunogenetic relationships to the long established domestic inbred strains. These new sources of hamster genes display strong alloimmune reactions when confronted with tissues from the domestic inbred strains and vice versa: acute skin graft rejection, strong mixed lymphocyte reactions, and intense graft-versus-host reactions. While these forms of reactivity have also characterized the disparities among the domestic inbred strains, no evidence of alloantibodies specific for putative transplantation antigens has ever been found in hamsters. We report, for the first time, that immunization of recently wild hamsters with tissues from domestic inbred strain donors elicits high titer cytotoxic antibodies directed at alloantigens. Similarly, animals of the domestic inbred strains produce comparably strong alloantibody responses when immunized with tissues from the recently wild hamsters. Availability of these alloantisera will make the possibility of defining the major histocompatibility complex equivalent in this species much more likely.
Circadian efferent input to Limulus eyes: anatomy, circuitry, and impact.

Much is known about the anatomy of Limulus retinal efferent neurons and the structural and functional consequences of their activation. Retinal efferent axons arise from cell bodies located in the cheliceral ganglia of the brain, and they project out all of the optic nerves. Their unique neurosecretory-like terminals contact all cell types in lateral eye ommatidia, the retinular cells of the median eye, and the internal rhabdom of ventral photoreceptors. Lateral and median rudimentary photoreceptors are also innervated. The activity of the efferents is circadian. They are active during the subjective night and inactive during the subjective day. Activation of the efferents drives dramatic and diverse changes in the structure and function of Limulus eyes and causes the sensitivity and responsiveness of the eyes to light to increase at night. Relatively little is known about the molecular mechanisms that produce these structural and functional changes, but one efferent-activated biochemical cascade has been identified. The biogenic amine octopamine is released from efferent terminals, and an octopamine-stimulated rise in cAMP in photoreceptors, with a subsequent activation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase, mediates many of the known effects of efferent input. A photoreceptor-specific protein, myosin III, is phosphorylated in response to efferent input; this protein may play a role in the efferent stimulated changes in photoreceptor structure and function. Anatomical, biophysical, biochemical, and molecular approaches are now being effectively combined in studies of Limulus eyes; thus, this preparation should be particularly useful for further detailed investigations of mechanisms underlying the modulation of primary sensory cells by efferent input.
Presmoothing effects in Artificial Color image segmentation

Artificial Color is the application of Nature's basic way of discriminating and segmenting images according to their spectra to technologically acquired images. It has proved very successful, but it produces somewhat ragged segmented images when the spectra of the target class and background are so close that some pixels are hard to distinguish even with the most powerful nonlinear discriminants. Post processing, including median filtering or mathematical morphology can improve the resultant segmented images, but they seldom solve the problem entirely. In this paper, we explore application of another technique utilized by Nature - presmoothing. The results are dramatically superior to those obtained by post smoothing. Qualitative and quantitative support for that assertion is offered.
Generalized motion by mean curvature as a macroscopic limit of stochastic ising models with long range interactions and Glauber dynamics

We study themacroscopic limit of an appropriately rescaledstochastic Ising model withlong range interactions evolving withGlauber dynamics as well as the correspondingmean field equation, which is nonlinear and nonlocal. In the limit we obtain an interface evolving with normal velocity ϑk, wherek isthe mean curvature and thetransport coefficient ϑ is identified by aneffective Green-Kubo type formula. The above assertions are valid for all positive times, the motion of the interface being interpreted in theviscosity sense after the onset of the geometric singularities.
Torsional relaxation and friction on the nanometer length scale: Comparison of small-molecule rotation in poly(dimethylsiloxane) and poly(isobutylene)

The rotation time of dissolved anthracene is used as a measure of the viscosity on a nanometer-sized object, and this “nanoviscosity” is compared to the ordinary macroscopic viscosity of polymers. Measurements in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) as a function of the chain length extend from a small oligomer (M = 162 g/mol) to the entangled polymer (M = 139 000 g/mol). The results are compared to similar ones in poly(isobutylene) (PIB) [J. Phys. Chem. B 2002, 106, 7385]. Despite many similarities in the static structures of PDMS and PIB, qualitative differences are found in the behavior of the nanoviscosity. The nanoviscosity in the infinite polymer limit is 15 000 times lower in PDMS than in PIB. The difference arises in the oligomeric region, where the nano- and macroviscosities diverge at a much shorter chain length in PDMS than in PIB. Because the barriers between torsional conformations are much lower in PDMS than in PIB, these findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the divergence of macro- and...