cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ontogenic development of the renal ornithine decarboxylase response to testosterone.

In neonatal mice, renal ornithine decarboxylase was not altered by testosterone injection, in contrast to adult mice in which the enzyme was greatly elevated following treatment with testosterone.
Giotto in Padua: A New Geography of the Human Soul

In the Arena Chapel in Padua, Giotto painted seven allegorical representations of virtues and seven allegorical representations of vices. This article probes the sources for the list of virtues and the list of vices. The ensemble of virtues can be located in St. Thomas Aquinas; the ensemble of the vices, however, is original. The result is a new account of vices that displaces the odler account of the “seven deadly sins.”
Stability of potato yellow-dwarf virus

Abstract The infectiousness of purified potato yellow-dwarf virus was markedly stabilized by concentrated sucrose solutions, by plant sap, and by combinations of glycine and magnesium chloride. The sucrose solutions may be effective because of their high osmotic pressure. All salts tested stabilized the virus particles to some degree. The stabilization by magnesium chloride in combination with glycine was much greater than that for other salts at equivalent concentrations and probably was not due solely to an increase in osmotic pressure. Low concentrations of other cations, amino acids, and proteins also stabilized the virus particles but were not tested as extensively as were glycine and magnesium. The morphological integrity of the virus particles, but not their infectiousness, was preserved by such fixatives as heat, formaldehyde, and mercuric chloride.
Bending of a finite beam in bonded and unbonded contact with an elastic foundation

Abstract Numerical methods are used to investigate the problem of a beam of finite length which rests on a continuous elastic foundation and which carries a central concentrated load. Two conditions are considered—in one case the beam is bonded to the elastic foundation while in the second case the beam is not bonded to the elastic foundation. Values of the maximum bending moment and deflection induced in the beam are computed for both the bonded and unbonded condition and the magnitude of the contact length is calculated for the unbonded case. The dependence of these quantities on the dimensional parameters is also studied.
Vacancy-antistructure defect interaction diffusion in β-LiAl and β-LiIn

Abstract The lithium mass transport mechanisms of the NaTl-type intermetallic compounds β-LiAl and β-LiIn were studied by using the pulsed-field-gradient (PFG) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spin-echo technique over a temperature range of 297–485 K. The lithium self-diffusion coefficients in β-LiAl alloys were found to follow Arrhenius behavior. The lithium diffusion coefficient and the associated diffusion constant D 0 (Li) and activation energy 〈E〉 decrease with increasing lithium content. The results can be interpreted if two types of vacancy point defects are considered: vacancies associated with immobile antistructure defects and vacancies which are otherwise free. A vacancy-diffusion mechanism based on two mean effective jump times, τ A and τ B τ B / τ A = 9.0), for these two types of vacancies yields a quantitative description of the dependence of the lithium diffusion rate on defect concentrations under a V Li − Li Al attractive interaction at a nearest neighbor distance. Very high values of lithium diffusivities (approximately 10 −6 cm 2 s −1 at room temperature) which increase with decreasing lithium content were observed in β-LiIn alloys. The lithium self-diffusion coefficient obeys the Arrhenius relation over the temperature range 300–400 K. The diffusion constant D 0 (Li) and activation energy 〈E〉 determined from the Arrhenius relation decrease with increasing lithium content. The results suggest that there is a repulsive interaction between the vacancy V Li and the antistructure atom Li In . Theoretical analyses based on a three-effective-jump-times diffusion model indicate that this V Li − Li In repulsive interaction is so strong that it extends well into the second nearest-neighbor distance.
Rapid-scan voltammetry of Ag(I) and Pb(II) in molten sodium nitrate-barium nitrate eutectic

Summary The reduction of Ag(I) and Pb(II) in molten sodium nitrate-barium nitrate eutectic was studied at platinum wire micro-electrodes. The reduction of Ag(I) occurs reversibly and uncomplicated by any reaction of the deposited metal with either the platinum electrode or the nitrate solvent. The reduction of Pb(II), on the other hand, results in the deposition of a liquid metal which reacts with the nitrate solvent to form the oxide. The technique of rapid scan voltammetry was employed to study the above electrode reactions. Scan rates of 20 mV–130 V s −1 were used. It was shown that the reaction between the lead metal and nitrate solvent was negligible at fast scan rates (20–130 V s −1 ).
Planteome annotation wiki: a semantic application for the community curation of plant genotypes and phenotypes

Two notable trends currently impacting biology curation are 1) the use of wikis to input, store, and disseminate research data and 2) the development of semantic technologies to facilitate higher-order data description and exploration. These separate developments, when brought together, have the potential to deliver on one promise of the "semantic web": structured, self-described data used to further scientific research and analysis. The Semantic MediaWiki [5] extension, when used in conjunction with Semantic Forms [4], provides an avenue to create a semantically-driven, community-powered research platform on the web.The Planteome Annotation Wiki implements these technology platforms to provide a user interface for annotation, personal user accounts, a set of previously-curated annotations (i.e. from TAIR [6], Gramene [7], and the Plant Ontology Consortium [3]) and a rigorous semantic data structure.The wiki also dynamically integrates data from other sites via web services. For example, Gene Ontology [2] and Plant Ontology terms, PubMed references and taxonomic data are all available. An import utility accepting large-scale GO Annotation File Format (GAF [1]) data has also been developed, and the wiki provides multi-format import, export, and semantic browsing and search capabilities. Future enhancements include an exploration of semantic inferencing capabilities using ontologies, a curatorial approval mechanism, and further data integration with other biowikis.
Effects of chondroitin sulfate on metabolism of trabecular meshwork.

Abstract Glycosaminoglycans are believed to play a role in the physiological functions of trabecular meshwork. The effects of chondroitin sulfate on the metabolism of trabecular meshwork were studied by replacing the aqueous humor in the right eye (experimental eye) of 12 albino rabbits with 0·3 ml of chondroitin-4-sulfate solution (10 mg ml−1 in glucose-supplemented phosphate buffered saline). The aqueous humor in the left eye (control eye) was replaced with the phosphate buffered saline-glucose solution in the same manner. The intracameral procedures were performed twice a week for four weeks (initial injection period), and then discontinued for another four weeks (resting period). No significant or prolonged increase in the intraocular pressure was observed during either period in any eyes. Subsequent intracameral injections performed after the resting period, however, caused an intraocular pressure elevation in 10 of the 12 experimental eyes. During this second injection period, the injections were carried out whenever the intraocular pressure of experimental eyes dropped to the control value. The pressure generally remained 5–10 mmHg above that of the control eyes for periods ranging from two days to four weeks. In the eyes with elevated intraocular pressure, light microscopy showed that the trabecular beams were compact and sclerotic and the intertrabecular spaces were narrower. Chamber angle tissues obtained from the eyes with elevated intraocular pressure incorporated more radioactive precursors into glycosaminoglycans than those from the control eyes. The synthesis of glycosaminoglycans and the metabolism of trabecular meshwork seemed to be modified by the long-term chondroitin sulfate treatment.
Reduction of immunosuppression for transplant-associated skin cancer: rationale and evidence of efficacy.

Background Solid organ transplant recipients may develop numerous or life-threatening skin cancers. In addition to aggressive standard treatment of skin cancer, reduction of immunosuppression has been considered an adjuvant therapeutic strategy, albeit without direct proof of efficacy. Objective To review the rationale for and evidence supporting the efficacy of reduction of immunosuppression for severe skin cancer in transplant recipients. Methods Review of the literature regarding direct and indirect evidence on reduction of immunosuppression for transplant-associated skin cancer. Results Although there are no randomized controlled trials of reduction of immunosuppression as a therapeutic intervention for transplant patients with skin cancer, multiple lines of evidence suggest that this strategy may be an effective adjuvant therapy. A randomized trial has demonstrated a lower incidence of skin cancer in transplant recipients after reduction of immunosuppression, albeit in a cohort not previously affected by skin cancer. Case series of reduction or cessation of immunosuppression demonstrate a lower incidence of skin cancer or improved outcomes of preexisting skin cancer. Lower overall immunosuppression is associated with a lower incidence of skin cancer. Multiple cancers affecting the skin have been shown to regress with reduction of immunosuppression. Conclusions Reduction of immunosuppression may be an effective adjuvant therapeutic strategy when confronting severe transplant-associated skin cancer. The risks of reduction of immunosuppression must be better defined, and randomized trials of this strategy are necessary. CLARK C. OTLEY, MD, AND SHERRY L. H. MARAGH, MD, HAVE INDICATED NO SIGNIFICANT INTEREST WITH COMMERCIAL SUPPORTERS.
Determination of spectral properties of aqueous I2 and I3 and the equilibrium constant.

At low pH values and in the presence of excess peroxide, lactoperoxidase and horseradish peroxidase will catalyze the stoichiometric oxidation of iodide to iodine. Neither enzyme oxidizes iodine to iodate. These peroxidases can be used, therefore, to prepare pure I2 solutions. This has made possible a reassessment of the extinction coefficients of aqueous I2 and I3−, and of the iodine-triiodide equilibrium constant. Millimolar extinction coefficients for I3− at 350 nm and 460 nm are 21.0 and 0.87, respectively. Millimolar extinction coefficients for I2 at the same wavelengths are 0.035 and 0.70. A value of 768 M−1 was obtained for the iodine-triiodide equilibrium constant at 24°C.
Uses and benefits of MSW compost: A review and an assessment

Abstract Soil incorporation of composted municipal solid waste (MSW) usually results in a positive effect on the growth and yield of a wide variety of crops and the restoration of ecologic and economic functions of land. Agricultural uses of MSW have shown promise for a variety of field crops (e.g., maize, sorghum, forage grasses) and vegetables for human consumption (e.g., lettuce, cabbage, beans, potatoes, cucumbers). Responses by plant systems have ranged from none to over a twofold increase in yield. Specific responses are crop and site dependent. In most cases, yields were highest when composts were applied with fertilizer management programs. In some cases, elevated trace metal uptake was noted with lead and boron of greatest concern. Where long-term monitoring has been possible, benefits persist and actually accrue when sound soil/crop management practices are followed. Levels of toxic elements in plants for human consumption are either not well known or thresholds were not reached, as little mention was made in the literature. Container-grown ornamental crops are not for human consumption and this concern does not apply. However, they are high value commodities, and therefore, safe, satisfactory growth is important. Because composts can replace peats and barks which are becoming expensive, this application shows great promise. Silvicultural or forestry applications also represent a nonconsumptive, potentially large use of compost. These uses range from low volume/high value nursery and Christmas tree applications to high volume/low value uses in forest regeneration. Land reclamation whether for minespoil, landfill cover or soil stabilization as in the establishment and rehabilitation of road shoulders represents another potential beneficial use. However, tonnages recycled in this way will be less than in agriculture and silviculture. Compost utilization will occur in response to a number of factors including their benefits to soil-plant systems, especially those having economic value. As important, however, is the realization by policymakers that composting and compost use in agro or natural ecosystems are an integral part of the entire waste management system. Thus, a systems perspective that includes full cost accounting of waste collection, handling, and processing must incorporate marketing, distributing, and recycling in a life cycle analysis that reflects external costs and societal benefits for composting-based solid waste systems to be competitive.
Cholinergic synapses in the lateral hypothalamus for the control of predatory aggression in the rat

Summary Direct central stimulation, via chronically implanted cannulas, of sites in the lateral hypothalamus with either carbachol, acetylcholine mixed with physostigmine, or neostigmine, facilitated frog-killing and mouse-killing in natural killer rats. The cholinergic stimulation was believed to have affected predatory aggression because of (a) the stereotyped nature of the killing response, (b) the lack of increased irritability in nearly all subjects, (c) the neuroanatomical correspondence to the hypothalamic areas in rat and cat which, when stimulated electrically, elicit predatory aggression. These results, as well as the effects of systemically administered cholinergic blocking agents, were found to be compatible with the hypothesis that acetylcholine is involved in the control of predatory aggression at the lateral hypothalamus. The study also indicated that the lateral hypothalamic neural elements which regulate predatory aggression are distinct from those which regulate drinking, although both are sensitive to cholinergic stimulation.
Sedimentary effects of interplay between the Kuroshio Extension and Pacific plate motion

Several apparent sediment drifts of Tertiary age occur in the central northwest Pacific, and some form east-trending bands of thick sediment north and south of the axis of a major near-surface current, the Kuroshio Extension. The intervening area of thin sediment is located directly below the present axis of the Kuroshio Extension. These spatial relationships suggest that the zone of condensed sediment section and the adjacent sediment drifts are causally related to the Kuroshio Extension. The condensed section probably results from the partial insulation of the sea floor from the normal "pelagicrain" due to the high-energy portion of the Kuroshio and from the erosion of the sea floor by benthic storms associated with the Kuroshio. The bordering sediment drifts may represent the preferential deposition of fine sediments transferred from the high-energy to the low-energy portion of the water column. The interplay between the Kuroshio Extension and the northwestward drift of the Pacific plate should result in predictable variations in the timing and locations of pronounced sedimentation-rate changes. Such variations will depend both on the intensity and spatial stability of the Kuroshio, as well as direction and rate of Pacific plate motion. If the Kuroshio has remained spatially stable and active for at least several million years, then sites presently north of the Kuroshio should exhibit two periods of increased sedimentation. These periods represent the times when the site came into the influence of the high-sedimentation zones, first south and later north, of the Kuroshio. There should also be a diachronous unconformity in areas north of the Kuroshio that separates the two periods of increased sedimentation and represents the effect of passage of the plate directly beneath the Kuroshio. We conclude that some regional unconformities and zones of anomalously high sediment accumulation both in the northwest Pacific and elsewhere may arise largely independent of regional variations in bottom-water flow induced by climate change.
Helicobacter pylori infection activates NF-kappa B in gastric epithelial cells

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS: Helicobacter pylori adheres to gastric epithelial cells and stimulates interleukin (IL)-8 production. This may be instrumental in neutrophil infiltration of the gastric epithelium that characterizes H. pylori gastritis. This study examined the molecular mechanisms leading to H. pylori-induced epithelial cell IL-8 production. METHODS: Electrophoretic mobility shift analyses for NF- kappa B were performed on cell and nuclear extracts from H. pylori- infected AGS and Kato III human gastric epithelial cells. RESULTS: H. pylori infection activated the transcription factor NF-kappa B and induced nuclear translocation of both NF-kappa B p50/p65 heterodimers and p50 homodimers. Nuclear translocation of NF-kappa B (30 minutes) was followed by increased IL-8 messenger RNA (1 hour) and protein levels (4 hours) consistent with NF-kappa B up-regulation of IL-8 gene transcription. Pretreatment of AGS cells with PDTC, which blocks NF- kappa B activation, inhibited H. pylori-induced increases in IL-8 production by 90%. Immunohistochemical studies using a monoclonal antibody that recognizes the I-kappa B binding region of p65 showed activated NF-kappa B in gastric epithelial cells of patients with H. pylori gastritis. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori infection activates NF-kappa B in gastric epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo. NF-kappa B is a transcriptional regulator of IL-8 production, and its activation after bacterial infection may be an important defense response in gastrointestinal epithelial cells. (Gastroenterology 1997 Oct;113(4):1099-109)
A framework to advise tests using tests

Tests generated by different approaches can form a rich body of information about the system under test (SUT), which can then be used to amplify the power of test suites. Diversity in test representations, however, creates an obstacle to extracting and using this information. In this work, we introduce a test advice framework which enables extraction and application of information contained in existing tests to help improve other tests or test generation techniques. Our framework aims to 1) define a simple, yet expressive test case language so that different types of tests can be represented using a unified language, and 2) define an advice extraction function that enables the elicitation and application of the information encoded in a set of test cases. Preliminary results show how test advice can be used to generate amplified test suites with higher code coverage and improved mutants killed scores over the original test suite.
Synthesis of the chiral tripyridyldiamine ligand Bn-CDPy3 and characterization of its Co(III) complex [Co(Bn-CDPy3)Cl]Cl2

Synthesis of the tripyridyldiamine Bn-CDPy3, a chiral pentadentate ligand, and characterization of its low-spin Co(III) complex [Co(Bn-CDPy3)Cl]Cl2 by X-ray crystallography, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR and UV-vis spectroscopy as well as molar conductivity and mass spectrometry, is described.
Some Aspects of the Geometry of First-Quantized Theories

An alternative method of identifying base-space and fiber tensors is presented and is used to describe interacting Dirac and Yang-Mills fields with “internal affine symmetry.” In a separate construction, the cosmological constant is derived from the fiber bundle structure of a generalized theory of Poincare gauge symmetry. Mathematical foundations of the computations are discussed.
A boundary element model for acoustic-elastic interaction with applications in ultrasonic NDE

The boundary integral equation method is applied to a class of time-harmonic acoustic scattering problems where the bounded elastic scatterer is submerged in a fluid. An exact mathematical model is presented for a finite scatterer with a closed surface, where the surface integral equations are exclusively used to represent the fluid-solid or acoustic-elastic interaction of the scattering process. The numerical procedure involves application of point collocation with quadratic isoparametric approximations that reduce the integral equations to a discrete set of complex linear algebraic equations. Examples emphasize the potential of the method to solve three-dimensional problems of practical interest. Limitations of the formulations and the extension to the case of a semi-infinite plane and curved fluid-solid interface are discussed in the latter part of the paper.
Space Transportation System/Spacelab accommodations

A description is provided of the capabilities offered by the Spacelab design for doing research in space. The Spacelab flight vehicle consists of two basic elements including the habitable pressurized compartments and the unpressurized equipment mounting platforms. Spacelab services to payloads are considered, taking into account payload mass, electrical power and energy, heat rejection for Spacelab and payload, aspects of Spacelab data handling, and the extended flight capability. Attention is also given to the Spacelab structure, crew station and habitability, the electrical power distribution subsystem, the command and data management subsystem, the experiment computer operating system, the environmental control subsystem, the experiment vent assembly, the common payload support equipment, the instrument pointing subsystem, and details concerning the utilization of Spacelab.
THE EFFECTS OF SALINITY AND NUTRIENTS ON A TRITROPHIC SALT-MARSH SYSTEM

In recent years, ecologists have begun to develop a more fine-grained and integrative approach to examining the importance of top-down and bottom-up effects on herbivore populations by investigating how changes in abiotic heterogeneity affect the relative roles of these forces. We performed two factorial field experiments to determine how increasing salinity and nutrient supply affected the relative strengths of top-down and bottom-up forces among the gall-making midge, Asphondylia borrichiae, its host plant Borrichia frutescens, and a suite of parasitoids. Salinity was increased by the addition of salt pellets, and nutrient supply was increased by the addition of fertilizer. In both experiments, parasitism pressure was decreased by trapping hymenopteran parasitoids with yellow sticky traps. In both experiments, bottom-up manipulations had significant effects on gall density. Elevated salinity levels decreased the number of galls per 200 Borrichia stems, and fertilization increased the number of galls. In...
The role of Helicobacter pylori urease in the pathogenesis of gastritis and peptic ulceration

Helicobacter pylori produces a 550 kDa, multimeric, nickel-containing urease that catalyses the hydrolysis of urea to yield ammonia and carbonic acid. The ure gene cluster, comprised of seven genes, encodes the two structural subunits UreA (26.5 kDa) and UreB (60.3 kDa), and five accessory proteins: UreI, UreE, UreF, UreG and UreH. Accessory proteins are required for nickel ion insertion into the apoenzyme. The native protein consists of six copies each of UreA and UreB; two nickel ions are coordinated into each UreB active site. Urease is found in the cytosol, but may also localize on the surface (although this may be an artefact) and elicits a strong serum immunoglobulin response. Urease aids in colonization of the host by neutralizing gastric acid and providing ammonia for bacterial protein synthesis. Host defences are avoided by urease by continuing to neutralize acid locally and by shedding urease, which may be bound by immunoglobulin, from the surface of the bacterium. Host tissues can be damaged directly by the urease-mediated generation of ammonia and indirectly by urease-induced stimulation of the inflammatory response, including recruitment of leukocytes and triggering of the oxidative burst in neutrophils.
Feeding Ration, Genetics, and Reproductive Traits in Female Coho Salmon: Is Bigger Better?

We assessed the effects of different feeding regimes on reproductive traits in coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch. Ration treatments subjected fish to different energy levels during oocyte proliferation (Year 1) and oocyte maturation (Year 2). Fish from 10 full-sibling families were fed at either the recommended feeding rate or double the recommended ration during the first year. At the beginning of the second year, each ration group was split again into recommended and double ration tanks for a total of four dietary treatments. At the end of the second year, 365 females from the four treatment groups were spawned and body weight, egg weight, and egg number were measured. Overall, the fish fed the double ration during both years grew the fastest (50.1% larger than controls), had the highest egg number (46.3% larger), and had the largest eggs (9.6% larger), although similar increases were observed feeding at the double ration level during the second year alone. Ration modification produced significant changes in some reproductive traits, especially egg number, while family effects had a greater influence on relative fecundity (eggs/g female body weight) and egg weight. In fact, family effects were significant for all of the traits. Results indicate that reproductive traits can be manipulated through changes in ration and/or via genetic selection, either directly or indirectly.
Caronary vascular function and morphology in hydralazine treated DOCA salt rats

The purpose of these studies was to evaluate structural and functional changes in a model of hypertension-induced cardiac hypertrophy in which vasodilator therapy prevented the increase in blood pressure. Uninephrectomized weanling (125 g) Sprague-Dawley rats received a Silastic implant containing deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA, 150 mg/kg) subcutaneously and were given drinking water containing sodium chloride and potassium chloride. Vasodilator antihypertensive treatment (hydralazine; HYD) was started immediately after DOCA implantation. The rise in blood pressure was prevented in DOCA + HYD (124±5.4 mm Hg, ±s.e.m) compared to DOCA (213±7.5 mm Hg), and blood pressure was not different from control (CON; 118±5.5 mm Hg). Hydralazine lowered blood pressure in CON + HYD (102+3.9 mm Hg) but this decrease was not significant (P>0.05). Hydralazine treatment prevented hypertension in DOCA + HYD but did not prevent development of cardiac hypertrophy (heart weight/body weight of DOCA + HYD 3.99±0.1 vs. DOCA 4.15±0.1; CON, 3.23±0.2 and CON+HYD 3.27±0.1). Coronary flow reserve measured by adenosine vasodilatation in a modified Langendorff isolated perfused rat heart model, was decreased in hearts from DOCA rats (41% increase in flow above baseline) compared to controls (CON, 132%; CON + HYD 139%), and was significantly improved in DOCA+HYD (98%). Morphometric evaluation of perfusion-fixed coronary arteries demonstrated a significant increase in the slope of the regression line comparing the square root of medial area vs. outer diameter in DOCA (0.619) compared to CON (0.501) and CON + HYD (0.491). Blood vessels from DOCA + HYD were not different from control (0.503). These studies suggest that significant alterations in coronary vascular structure and function occur in hypertension-induced cardiac hypertrophy. The coronary vasculature is responsive to blood pressure, independent of cardiac hypertrophy, although coronary deficits do remain after antihypertensive therapy.
Exome sequencing in the clinical diagnosis of sporadic or familial cerebellar ataxia.

Importance Cerebellar ataxias are a diverse collection of neurologic disorders with causes ranging from common acquired etiologies to rare genetic conditions. Numerous genetic disorders have been associated with chronic progressive ataxia and this consequently presents a diagnostic challenge for the clinician regarding how to approach and prioritize genetic testing in patients with such clinically heterogeneous phenotypes. Additionally, while the value of genetic testing in early-onset and/or familial cases seems clear, many patients with ataxia present sporadically with adult onset of symptoms and the contribution of genetic variation to the phenotype of these patients has not yet been established. Objective To investigate the contribution of genetic disease in a population of patients with predominantly adult- and sporadic-onset cerebellar ataxia. Design, Setting, and Participants We examined a consecutive series of 76 patients presenting to a tertiary referral center for evaluation of chronic progressive cerebellar ataxia. Main Outcomes and Measures Next-generation exome sequencing coupled with comprehensive bioinformatic analysis, phenotypic analysis, and clinical correlation. Results We identified clinically relevant genetic information in more than 60% of patients studied (n = 46), including diagnostic pathogenic gene variants in 21% (n = 16), a notable yield given the diverse genetics and clinical heterogeneity of the cerebellar ataxias. Conclusions and Relevance This study demonstrated that clinical exome sequencing in patients with adult-onset and sporadic presentations of ataxia is a high-yield test, providing a definitive diagnosis in more than one-fifth of patients and suggesting a potential diagnosis in more than one-third to guide additional phenotyping and diagnostic evaluation. Therefore, clinical exome sequencing is an appropriate consideration in the routine genetic evaluation of all patients presenting with chronic progressive cerebellar ataxia.
Water-Retention of Fractal Soil Models Using Continuum Percolation Theory: Tests of Hanford Site Soils

For 43 Hanford site soils, we use fractal analysis and assume proportionality of pore radii to particle radii to generate water-retention curves, h (θ), from particle-size distributions. The air-entry head is used as an adjustable parameter to optimize the fit to experimental data for h (θ). At a low moisture content, θ d , the predicted and observed water-retention curves deviate. It is shown here that the moisture content at which this deviation occurs is in most cases probably the same value, at which previous experiments found a vanishing of solute diffusion. Where this correlation is indicated, we interpret θ d as a critical moisture content for percolation of capillary flow paths, and the relevance of other mechanisms of water transport, such as film flow, to equilibration at lower moisture contents. In other individual cases, however, the deviation is correlated with very low values of the hydraulic conductivity associated with capillary flow. In either case, we infer that the deviation from fractal predictions is due to the lack of equilibration of the medium. Our work thus exploits theoretical and analytical gains from percolation theory and fractal analysis to define the equilibrium limits on water retention curves.
Volatilization of metolachlor from water

Abstract The volatilization of metolachlor [2‐chloro‐N‐(2‐ethyl‐6‐methylphenyl)‐N‐(2‐methoxy‐l‐methylethyl)acetamide]from water was studied in the laboratory and in an outdoor open‐channel experiment. As expected, volatilization was not significant at temperatures ≤ 25 °C. However, at temperatures ≥ 30 °C, there was significant volatilization (e.g., half‐life of 20 days at 40 °C in unstirred solutions). This increased volatility reflected the rapid increase of the Henry's law constant with temperature. Additional experiments indicated that aeration of water significantly accelerated volatilization losses. Such air‐stripping may be important in very turbulent streams and rivers and when water flows over hydraulic structures such as weirs. The experiments reported here indicate the importance that ecosystem‐specific characteristics can have on the persistence of environmental contaminants.
Effects of Age and Endogenous Cortisol Concentrations on Blood-Brain Barrier Development in the Ovine Fetus

Effects of Age and Endogenous Cortisol Concentrations on Blood-Brain Barrier Development in the Ovine Fetus
The role of electrode position in the electrical induction of limb regeneration in subadult rats

Abstract Eight-week-old rats were subjected to mid-forearm amputations, then divided into four groups. One group received no further treatment. One received inactive electrical implants, while the others received implants with either a positive or negative electrode at the dorsoulnar surface of an unclosed amputation wound. Controls and sham-implanted animals repaired their wounds, but did not regenerate. Animals with positively charged electrodes at the surface regenerated considerable amounts of connective tissue but no distal limb structures, while those receiving negatively charged electrodes regenerated complex structures reminiscent of carpal elements. The most effective current density level employed was 1.04 × 10 −6 A/mm 2 . The results of these experiments, when compared to those performed previously, demonstrate that the position of the electrode at the wound surface is important for obtaining maximal regenerative response.
Whispering Gallery Mode Spool as an Optical Buffer

We discuss designs of photonic systems based on the propagation of light beams with nonzero angular momentum in cylindrical waveguides for applications as all-optical buffers.
Limited yield estimation for visual defect sources

Although kill rate, kill ratio, and limited yield for visual defects are useful concepts in yield management, the formal definitions of these concepts, how to estimate them, especially in the presence of inspection error, and assumptions necessary for their application, are lacking in the literature. The concept of limited yield as the effect of a visual defect source on overall yield of a process is formally derived and the product of the individual limited yields for the visual defect sources is shown to equal the overall yield of the process. As a result of a more rigorous definition of limited yield, a major simplification in the calculation of limited yield over other methods is obtained. Basic to the notion of limited yield are the concepts of kill rate and kill ratio. The kill rate expresses how likely it is that a die with a certain visual defect will be rejected at probe. The kill ratio is shown to be the increased chance, relative to the baseline yield, of a die being rejected when a particular visual defect type is present. The limited yield concept is discussed and illustrated with a practical example using semiconductor visual defect data.
Large-Scale Manifold Learning Using an Adaptive Sparse Neighbor Selection Approach for Brain Tumor Progression Prediction

Manifold learning performs dimensionality reduction by identifying low-dimensional structures (manifolds) embedded in a high-dim- ensional space. Many algorithms involve an eigenvector or singular value decomposition (SVD) procedure on a similarity matrix of size n ×n, where n denotes the number of data samples, making them not scalable to big data. A method to overcome large data set size is to create a manifold with a subset of the original data while embedding the rest into the manifold skeleton. An adequate number of neighbors varies and depends on the geometry of the manifold. Points that contain too few neighbors may not be able to encompass the intrinsic manifold geometry. Conversely, too many neighbors will cause a short circuit in the manifold. To overcome these problems, we introduce a novel adaptive neighbor selection approach using l1 optimization. We show that this neighborhood selection can be useful in creating a more robust manifold in regards to MRI brain tumor data.
Effects of dietary cis 9, trans 11-18 : 2, trans 10, cis 12-18 : 2 or vaccenic acid (trans 11-18 : 1) during lactation on body composition, tissue fatty acid profiles, and litter growth in mice

Cis 9, trans 11 (c 9, t11)-18:2 and trans 10, cis 12 (t10, c12)-18:2 are the major conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers in dietary supplements which reduce milk fat content in nursing women. The present study evaluated the effects of each CLA isomer or vaccenic acid on body composition and tissue fatty acids during lactation in mice. Dams were fed 30 g rapeseed oil (control)/kg diet or 20 g control plus 10 g 18:0, trans 11-18:1 (t11-18:1), c 9, t11-18:2, or t10, c12-18:2. Dietary t10, c12-18:2 reduced food intake by 18 % and carcass fat weight of the dams by 49 % compared with the other treatments. Milk fat percentage ranked by treatment was 18:0>t11-18:1=c 9, t11-18:2>t10, c12-18:2. The sum of saturated 12:0 to 16:0 in milk fat was lower when c 9, t11-18:2 was fed compared with the control, 18:0, or t11-18:1 treatments. Dietary t10, c12-18:2 caused further reductions in milk fat 12:0 to 16:0. The proportion of CLA isomers was 3-fold greater in milk fat than in the carcasses of the dams. The pups nursing from the dams fed t10, c12-18:2 had the lowest body weights and carcass fat, protein, and ash contents. Nursing from the dams fed c 9, t11-18:2 also resulted in lower carcass fat compared with the 18:0 or t11-18:1 treatments. The ratios of cis 9-16:1:16:0 or cis 9-18:1:18:0, proxies for Delta(9)-desaturase activity, were markedly lower in the carcasses of the dams and pups fed t10, c12-18:2. The ratio of 20:4n-6:18 : 2n-6, a proxy for Delta(6)- and Delta(5)-desaturase and elongase activity, in the liver of the dams and pups fed t10, c12-18:2 also was lower. Dietary t11-18:1 enhanced the content of c 9, t11-18:2 in milk fat and carcasses. As in previous studies, the reduction in food intake by t10, c12-18:2 could not entirely account for the marked decrease in carcass fat content and milk fat concentration. T10, c12-18:2 probably had a negative effect on Delta(9)-desaturase and mammary de novo fatty acid synthesis. Although these effects need to be confirmed in lactating women, the results suggest that the consumption of supplements containing t10, c12-18:2 should be avoided during the nursing period.
Parallelized Huffman and Hu-Tucker searching

Forests constructed by the binary Huffman (1952) and Hu-Tucker (1971) algorithms solve parallelized search problems. Bounds on the resulting minimum average search lengths for items occurring with given probabilities are established. >
Interpersonal Barriers to Stopping Animal Abuse Exploring the Role of Adolescent Friendship Norms and Breeches

Research into bystander apathy has focused on the barriers to intervening when the perpetrators and witnesses of violence are strangers. Although violence also occurs in the presence of friends, family, and other close ties, it is unclear how these affiliations constrain the behavior of bystanders in these situations. To explore this question, qualitative interviews were conducted with 25 adolescents who were bystanders to animal abuse committed and/or witnessed by family members, friends, or known others. Most interviewees claimed that, despite feeling disturbed by the animal abuse, they did little if anything to stop the abuse and did not report it to adult authority figures. Friendship norms and breeches presented most interviewees with significant barriers that either stopped or tempered their interventions. Implications of these findings are discussed for educating adolescents to intervene on behalf of abused animals.
C. S. Lewis Surprised and Humanized by Joy

: C. S. Lewis' views on sexuality and the relationship between men and women changed radically through his relationship with Joy, his friend and later wife. Lewis makes a sharp distinction between love and friendship in his writings. This article shows how his concrete experience of love and grief with Joy transformed his understanding of relationships between men and women, and, eventually, the meaning of being human and its implications for Christianity.
Recency effects as a window to generalization: Separating decisional and perceptual sequential effects in category learning.

Accounts of learning and generalization typically focus on factors related to lasting changes in representation (i.e., long-term memory). The authors present evidence that shorter term effects also play a critical role in determining performance and that these recency effects can be subdivided into perceptual and decisional components. Experimental results based on a probabilistic category structure show that the previous stimulus exerts a contrastive effect on the current percept (perceptual recency) and that responses are biased toward or away from the previous feedback, depending on the similarity between successive stimuli (decisional recency). A method for assessing these recency effects is presented that clarifies open questions regarding stimulus generalization and perceptual contrast effects in categorization and in other domains.
Much Ado about Zero

LINE retrotransposons actively shape mammalian genomes. Denli et al. reveal a new open reading frame, ORF0, on the antisense strand of human LINE-1 encoding a small regulatory protein. This finding may represent the birth of an emerging retrotransposon gene that can adopt various fates, as it can be fused to adjacent host sequences.
Viewpoint: transitions in cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology…team mates or rivals?

New and effective minimally-invasive treatments for coronary artery and structural heart disease are emerging at an accelerating rate. Cardiac surgery, traditionally the gold standard treatment for most of these conditions, is no longer the immediate choice for discerning patients, attending physicians and healthcare funders. These factors when combined with pace of technological advances mean that cardiac surgery is undergoing a period of change. In this article, we consider how the transition from historical generalist–cardiologist–cardiac surgeon patients flows to more integrated patient specific care. Specifically, we will discuss how effective transition will require awareness of the drivers for change, models of best practice from other specialties and the potential benefits that this may have for patients, doctors and providers. To illustrate contemporary practice, we present a typical day in 2015 for our cardiac surgery teams: ‘We started out the day at the 06:30 with our weekly multidisciplinary heart failure/ventricular assist/transplant meeting to review the current inpatient and outpatient consults, the postoperative left ventricular assist patients and the current cardiac transplant waiting list. Present at the meeting were heart failure cardiologists, transplant/VAD surgeons, anaesthesiologists, mid-level and allied health providers. We adjourned to the operating room where a 23 y/o woman with Shone's syndrome who had undergone two previous operations on her mitral valve as a child complicated by endocarditis was undergoing closure of a recurrent para-valvular leak by inserting a vascular plug in the left atrium under direct vision, augmented with a prosthetic patch, by an interventional and surgical team. This treatment plan was formulated in our multidisciplinary adult congenital team meeting and clinic a few weeks previously. Meanwhile, in the hybrid operating room, an 83 y/o with aortic valve stenosis was undergoing a transapical transcatheter aortic valve implantation by a team led by a cardiac surgeon and interventional cardiologist. This patient …
Pertussis toxin inhibits early chemokine production to delay neutrophil recruitment in response to Bordetella pertussis respiratory tract infection in mice.

Pertussis is an acute respiratory disease of humans caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. Pertussis toxin (PT) plays a major role in the virulence of this pathogen, including important effects that it has soon after inoculation. Studies in our laboratory and other laboratories have indicated that PT inhibits early neutrophil influx to the lungs and airways in response to B. pertussis respiratory tract infection in mice. Previous in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that PT can affect neutrophils directly by ADP ribosylating Gi proteins associated with surface chemokine receptors, thereby inhibiting neutrophil migration in response to chemokines. However, in this study, by comparing responses to wild-type (WT) and PT-deficient strains, we found that PT has an indirect inhibitory effect on neutrophil recruitment to the airways in response to infection. Analysis of lung chemokine expression indicated that PT suppresses early neutrophil recruitment by inhibiting chemokine upregulation in alveolar macrophages and other lung cells in response to B. pertussis infection. Enhancement of early neutrophil recruitment to the airways in response to WT infection by addition of exogenous keratinocyte-derived chemokine, one of the dominant neutrophil-attracting chemokines in mice, further revealed an indirect effect of PT on neutrophil chemotaxis. Additionally, we showed that intranasal administration of PT inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced chemokine gene expression and neutrophil recruitment to the airways, presumably by modulation of signaling through Toll-like receptor 4. Collectively, these results demonstrate how PT inhibits early inflammatory responses in the respiratory tract, which reduces neutrophil influx in response to B. pertussis infection, potentially providing an advantage to the pathogen in this interaction.
Static and Dynamic Approaches to Vowel Perception

The goal of this chapter is to provide a broad overview of work leading to the view that vowel inherent spectral change (VISC) plays a significant role in vowel perception. The view that implicitly guided vowel perception research for many years was the idea that nearly all of the information that was needed to specify vowel quality was to be found in a cross section of the vowel spectrum sampled at a reasonably steady portion of the vowel. A good deal of evidence shows that this static view is incomplete, including: (1) measurement data showing that most nominally monophthongal English vowels show significant spectral change throughout the course of the vowel; (2) pattern recognition studies showing that vowel categories are separated with far greater accuracy by models that take spectral change into account than otherwise comparable models using features sampled at steady-state; (3) perceptual experiments with “silent center” vowels showing that vowel steady-states can be removed with little or no effect on vowel intelligibility; and (4) perceptual experiments with both naturally spoken and synthetic speech showing that vowels with stationary spectral patterns are not well identified.
Challenges with multiple translations in international surveys

A significant challenge in supporting international surveys is to ensure that the survey is efficiently and accurately translated into foreign languages for presentation to respondents who do not speak English. Major issues include fonts, oral languages being converted to written, dialects and other nuances, and challenges with native translators. This paper will discuss issues and lessons learned during the development of a standard automated translation template, and a process for importing those translations.
Why Muslim Women Are Re-Interpreting the Qur'an: A Transformative Scholarship-Activism

Muslim women all over the world have been mostly viewed as secondary and/or complementary in the structure of Muslim societies. In order to challenge and transform these un-Islamic views, women needed to retake their principal role and reinterpret the primary source of Islam, the Qur'an. In doing so during the past two decades, some American Muslim women, including myself, are transforming the conventional understanding of Islam in the hope to implement a fundamental aspect of the social justice contract between Muslims and Islam. Indeed, Muslim women are challenging the unwarranted authority, the hijacked Islamic authority by Muslim men, and moving toward accomplishing the comprehensive human rights for themselves.