cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Superoxide reacts with hydroethidine but forms a fluorescent product that is distinctly different from ethidium: potential implications in intracellular fluorescence detection of superoxide.

Abstract Hydroethidine (HE) or dihydroethidium (DHE), a redox-sensitive probe, has been widely used to detect intracellular superoxide anion. It is a common assumption that the reaction between superoxide and HE results in the formation of a two-electron oxidized product, ethidium (E+), which binds to DNA and leads to the enhancement of fluorescence (excitation, 500–530 nm; emission, 590–620 nm). However, the mechanism of oxidation of HE by the superoxide anion still remains unclear. In the present study, we show that superoxide generated in several enzymatic or chemical systems (e.g., xanthine/xanthine oxidase, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, or potassium superoxide) oxidizes HE to a fluorescent product (excitation, 480 nm; emission, 567 nm) that is totally different from E+. HPLC measurements revealed that the HE/superoxide reaction product elutes differently from E+. This new product exhibited an increase in fluorescence in the presence of DNA. Mass spectral data indicated that the molecular weight of the HE/superoxide reaction product is 330, while ethidium has a molecular weight of 314. We conclude that the reaction between superoxide and HE forms a fluorescent marker product that is different from ethidium. Potential implications of this finding in intracellular detection and imaging of superoxide are discussed.
Loss of Bmal1 leads to uncoupling and impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in β-cells.

The circadian clock has been shown to regulate metabolic homeostasis. Mice with a deletion of Bmal1, a key component of the core molecular clock, develop hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia suggesting β-cell dysfunction. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully known. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the regulation of β-cell function by Bmal1. We studied β-cell function in global Bmal1-/- mice, in vivo and in isolated islets ex vivo, as well as in rat insulinoma cell lines with shRNA-mediated Bmal1 knockdown. Global Bmal1-/- mice develop diabetes secondary to a significant impairment in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS). There is a blunting of GSIS in both isolated Bmal1-/- islets and in Bmal1 knockdown cells, as compared with controls, suggesting that this is secondary to a loss of cell-autonomous effect of Bmal1. In contrast to previous studies, in these Bmal1-/- mice on a C57Bl/6 background, the loss of stimulated insulin secretion, interestingly, is with glucose but not to other depolarizing secretagogues, suggesting that events downstream of membrane depolarization are largely normal in Bmal1-/- islets. This defect in GSIS occurs as a result of increased mitochondrial uncoupling with consequent impairment of glucose-induced mitochondrial potential generation and ATP synthesis, due to an upregulation of Ucp2. Inhibition of Ucp2 in isolated islets leads to a rescue of the glucose-induced ATP production and insulin secretion in Bmal1-/- islets. Thus, Bmal1 regulates mitochondrial energy metabolism to maintain normal GSIS and its disruption leads to diabetes due to a loss of GSIS.
Effects of interstitial oxygen on the superconductivity of niobium

Superconductivity in niobium-oxygen body-centered-cubic solid-solution alloys (oxygen content 0.024-3.50 at.%) was studied by calorimetric, magnetic, and resistive measurement techniques. These measurements included low-temperature-specific-heat capacity, superconducting-normal transition temperature ${T}_{c}$, direct-current magnetization, and electrical resistivity, as well as x-ray lattice parameter, microhardness, and optical metallography to characterize the samples. Oxygen in solid solution lowers the ${T}_{c}$ of niobium. In contrast to the prediction of DeSorbo, we found that $\ensuremath{\gamma}$, the electronic coefficient of low-temperature-specific-heat capacity, also decreases with oxygen concentration. Our data indicated that the "band-structure" electronic density of states at the Fermi level ${N}_{\mathrm{bs}}(0)$ and the electron-phonon coupling constant $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ both decrease with oxygen content. Therefore, both the density of electronic states and the phonon spectrum may be controlling the magnitude of ${T}_{c}$ in the niobium-oxygen system. Additional superconducting parameters were calculated for the niobium-oxygen alloys from our calorimetric, magnetic, and resistive data. The Ginzburg-Landau parameter ${\ensuremath{\kappa}}_{\mathrm{GL}}$ was found to increase from less than 1.0 for essentially pure Nb to about 10 for the Nb-3.5-at.%-O alloy. Calculated values of ${H}_{c2}(4.2 \mathrm{K})$ versus atomic-percent oxygen exhibit a maximum at 2-at.% oxygen which was observed experimentally.
Fate and Transport of Hexavalent Chromium in Undisturbed Heterogeneous Soil

The disposal of toxic metals [e.g., Cr(VI)] generated by the Department of Energy during the cold war era has historically involved shallow land burial in unconfined pits and trenches. The objectiv...
Personal Assistance Services: The Hub of the Policy Wheel for Community Integration of People with Severe Physical Disabilities

The success of persons with severe physical disabilities in living independently in the community, engaging in self-directed productive activities, and staying healthy depends, in part, on getting and maintaining adequate personal assistance with basic tasks such as getting out of bed and tending to personal hygiene. Although few policymakers would disagree with the contention that many people with disabilities need assistance with daily tasks, there is considerable debate about who should provide assistance, what services should be included, who should pay, who should be entitled to publicly provided and paid services, how much assistance should be provided, and who should control its administration. The prevailing model for delivery of personal assistance services has been primarily medical, with control of services by health care professionals, rather than independent living, with control by consumers receiving services. Traditionally there has been an institutional bias of funding for disability-related service, despite its much higher expense than community-based personal assistance services and its violation of basic human rights. Proponents of various solutions to health care reform have given little consideration to the provision of support services for people with disabilities. The advantages of implementing a uniform national system for the delivery of personal assistance services based on consumer control are discussed.
Xanthine oxidoreductase and neurological sequelae of carbon monoxide poisoning

Neurological sequelae (NS) is a common complication of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and structural alterations of myelin basic protein have been proven to initiate immunological reactions leading to NS. To determine whether xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) participates in the pathophysiology of CO-mediated NS, we examined myelin basic protein in CO poisoned XOR-depleted rats and performed radial maze studies to evaluate the alteration of cognitive function. Carbon monoxide poisoned XOR-depleted rats did not exhibit myelin basic protein alterations or impaired cognitive function, both found in CO poisoned control rats. These results indicate that XOR is essential to the pathological cascade of CO-mediated NS.
Prospective use of a clinical decision rule to identify pulmonary embolism as likely cause of outpatient cardiac arrest

Abstract A clinical decision rule (CDR) derived retrospectively found that 57% of outpatients aged 65 years or less, with witnessed arrest+PEA had pulmonary embolism (PE) as cause of cardiac arrest. These retrospectively studied patients also had significant frequency of pre-arrest respiratory distress, altered mental status, and shock. Objectives: (1) To test prospectively the feasibility and diagnostic accuracy of this CDR. (2) To test if the pre-arrest clinical triad of respiratory distress, altered mental status and shock predicts the presence of PE. All EMS personnel ( N =204) in an urban EMS system and Emergency Department physicians ( N =143) at 7 hospitals were included in the CDR and data collection. Inclusion criteria: age 18–70, non-trauma, witnessed arrest, PEA as the first and primary rhythm. Exclusion: defibrillation before or more often than once after PEA. Criterion standards: autopsy or predefined cardiopulmonary imaging for PE. Over 21 months, 44 subjects were enrolled. Thirty-three subjects had a criterion standard ( N =20 autopsy, 13—other criteria). 18/33 (54%; 95% CI 36–72%) had PE. Of the PE arrests, 88% were witnessed by EMS ( N =8) or ED physicians ( N =8), compared with 47% in the non-PE group ( N =3 EMS and N =4 ED). Of the PE arrests, 83% had at least two of the three components of the triad versus 33% of the non-PE group (95% CI for difference 20–79). Mortality was 100% in the PE group. Analysis of the EMS cardiac arrest registry indicated that 65% of all patients served by the EMS system, age ≤70 recorded as having pre-hospital PEA arrest were enrolled during the study period. Conclusions: We implemented successfully a CDR in a large, urban prehospital system to detect PE rapidly as most likely cause of cardiac arrest.
Upgrading the MMT primary mirror actuator test stand: a unique vehicle for evaluating EtherCAT as a future I/O standard for systems

The MMT Observatory (MMTO) uses a complex system of pneumatic actuators to support the telescope's 6.5m primary mirror. For operational checkout after repair and to collect calibration data for use in the primary mirror support control software, the Steward Observatory Mirror Lab (SOML) built a test stand that accurately measures the output forces and moments from the actuator using a 6-DOF (degree of freedom) work plate. The electronics and software provided by SOML are outdated and needed replacing. In this report, we discuss the selection of EtherCAT as the data-acquisition hardware, the software development required, and the some aspects of using the test stand in the lab.
Testing of low Z coated limiters in tokamak fusion devices

Extensive testing on a laboratory scale has been used to select those coatings most suitable for this environment. From this testing which included pulsed electron beam heating, low energy ion bombardment and arcing, chemical vapor deposited coating of TiB/sub 2/ and TiC on Poco graphite substrates have been selected and tested as limiters in ISX. Both limiter materials gave clean, stable, reproducible tokamak discharges the first day of operation. After one weeks exposure, the TiC limiter showed only superficial damage with no coating failure. The TiB/sub 2/ limiter had some small areas of coating failure. TiC coated graphite limiters have also been briefly tested in the tokamaks Alcator and PDX with favorable results.
A characterization of sheaf-trivial, proper maps with cohomologically locally connected images

Abstract Let f: X → Y be a proper surjection of locally compact metric spaces. Throughout, the Leray sheafs of f are assumed to be (locally) trivial either in all dimensions or through a given dimension. Using a spectral sequence, the cohomological local connectivity of Y is analyzed and thus characterized by the structure of f. We define f to be cohomologically locally connected if, for each y ϵ Y, neighborhood U of y and q ⩾ 0, there is a neighborhood V ⊂ U of y such that the image of the inclusion-induced homomorphism Hq(f−1(U)) → Hq(f−1(V)) is finitely generated. The main result is: Theorem. If f : X → Y is a proper surjection of locally compact metric spaces and each Leray sheaf H q[f] of f is locally constant, then any two of the following statements imply the third: 1. (1) Y is cohomologically locally connected. 2. (2) The stalk of H q[f] is finitely generated, for all q ⩾ 0. 3. (3) f is cohomologically locally connected.
Endovascular treatment of distal cervical and intracranial dissections with the neuroform stent.

Objective Endovascular stent reconstruction is the primary intervention for cervical and intracranial dissections in symptomatic patients refractory to medical management. Advancement of traditional balloon-expanding stents into the distal internal carotid artery and vertebrobasilar artery can be technically challenging and potentially traumatic. Methods On retrospective review, nine patients at our institution with distal cervical and/or intracranial dissections were alternatively treated with the self-expanding, dedicated intracranial Neuroform stent. Three patients with dissecting aneurysms also required stent-assisted coil embolization. Seven patients were followed with imaging and clinical assessment for a mean of 16.3 months. Results All patients (five men, four women; mean age, 50 yr) were symptomatic. Spontaneous (n = 4) or traumatic and/or iatrogenic (n = 5) dissections involved the internal carotid artery (n = 2), vertebral artery (n = 5), and vertebrobasilar artery (n = 2). Indications for treatment included transient ischemic attacks, impending infarcts, antiplatelet failure, enlarging or ruptured dissecting aneurysms, intracranial dissections, or subarachnoid hemorrhages. Dissections were treated with single (n = 4), overlapping (n = 2), or tandem (n = 3) Neuroform stents. Dissection-related mean stenosis improved from 76% preprocedure to 23% postprocedure, with further reduction to 8% at follow-up imaging. Stent-assisted coil embolization of large dissecting aneurysms (n = 3) resulted in retreatment of a neck remnant (n = 1). Small dissecting aneurysms (n = 5) underwent spontaneous stent-induced thrombosis. There were no procedure-related complications. Mortality was limited to the presenting sequelae of vertebrobasilar artery thrombosis (n = 2). Suboptimal technical outcomes were related to delayed in-stent stenosis (n = 2). All surviving patients (n = 7) reported clinical improvement or resolution of symptoms. Conclusion The Neuroform stent seems to be safe and technically effective in the endovascular management of distal cervical and intracranial dissections, with favorable clinical outcomes.
Hydraulic turbine contra-angle handpiece.

A high rotary speed enhances the effi­ ciency of instruments used for cutting teeth in operative procedures. The small diameters of the dental cutting tools make it necessary to turn the instru­ ments at high rates of speed in order to obtain effective linear speeds for the re­ moval of enamel. For example, a /s inch (22.2 mm.) disk rotating at 1,000 rpm has the same linear or surface speed as a 5/32 inch (3.9 mm.) disk dental tool rotating at 5,600 rpm. Some dentists have been reluctant to use high speeds in many operations in the mouth because of the hazard to the patient. This danger is due chiefly to the high inertia of the revolv­ ing instrument. This report describes a contra-angle dental handpiece containing a small tur­ bine which is propelled by a high speed stream of fluid in a closed system. This handpiece was developed at the National Bureau of Standards in cooperation with the American Dental Association. Because of certain characteristics inherent in hy­ draulic systems, many o f the objections to the use of high rotary speeds in cavity preparation can be eliminated with the use of this new instrument.
Environmental and Genetic Trends in Production and Their Effects on Sire Evaluation

Abstract The objectives of the investigation were to estimate, from DHIA records initiated between December, 1956, and November, 1962, the magnitudes of the intraherd environmental and genetic trends in the milk and milk fat production of the New York State, Holstein, artificially sired, DHIA population and to determine the effects of these trends on the New York State sire-evaluation procedures. The total intraherd trend was estimated to be 176±8kg of milk and 6.4±0.3kg of milk fat per year. Estimates of the intraherd environmental and genetic trends indicated an environmental trend of 128±17kg of milk and 4.9±0.7kg of milk fat per year and a genetic trend of 47±17kg of milk and 1.5±0.6kg of milk fat per year. Product-moment correlations between standard estimates of sire breeding values and estimates adjusted for the effects of the genetic trend were close to one. However, there were two categories of sires where significant differences between the two types of proofs were noted: 1) sires that had not recently been used in the population, and 2) sires that had above or below average birth dates and, in addition, had relatively few daughters.
Accentuation of interferon production by metabolic inhibitors and its dependence on protein synthesis.

Abstract We examined the effect of protein inhibitors on interferon production by rabbit kidney cell cultures stimulated with a complexed polyribonucleotide (poly I-poly C). Puromycin and p -fluorophenylalanine, inhibitors which alter primary structure of peptides, inhibited interferon production. Cycloheximide and emitine, which retard elongation of nascent peptides, inhibited interferon production at high doses but for each inhibitor a dose range was found that would accentuate interferon production. Interferon production in the presence of accentuating concentrations of cycloheximide and emetine could be inhibited by puromyein. After treatment with actinomycin D, interferon production is dose-responsively inhibited by cycloheximide. We explain these results in terms of the modes of action of the inhibitors and their effect on a hypothetical labile regulatory protein which is involved in shutting off interferon production. We conclude that interferon production requires new protein synthesis in this system.
Numerical simulation of thixoforming

Processing of alloys and composites in the solid plus liquid range has advantages over casting, forging, and powder metallurgy techniques. The sensitivity of semisolid slurries to temperature variations and their history and rate dependent behavior, however, make process design and control difficult. Precise selection of die velocity, process temperature, and die design is necessary to produce satisfactory products. Therefore, a computational capability for the prediction of the rheological behavior of semisolid materials would be an invaluable tool in process design. This work presents preliminary results on numerical simulations of thixoforming operations. Constitutive models that are able to describe qualitatively the transient flow behavior of semisolid materials are implemented in a finite element program. Simple but realistic thixoforming operations are simulated. Weaknesses of currently available constitutive models and numerical techniques are identified and discussed.
State of the Antartic climate system Excerpts from SASOCS (Mayewski et al. 2009)

Dos informes recientemente publicados documentan el pasado y presente, y las predicciones futuras para el clima sobre la Antartica y el Oceano Austral. De estas sintesis es claro que Antartica juega un rol critico en el cambio climatico sufrido a nivel hemisferico y regional, y que las actividades humanas en tiempos recientes estan empezando a tener un marcado impacto sobre la temperatura, precipitacion, circulacion atmosferica, circulacion oceanica, extension del hielo marino y quimica de la atmosfera en la Antartica.
Developmental changes in protein carboxylmethylation and in the benzodiazepine receptor proteins in rat brain

The intraventricular administration of [3H-methyl]-methionine resulted in a steady increase in carboxyl-[~H]methylated protein formation in the brain of developing rats (2-42 days). The analysis by gel filtration on Sepharose-4B of Lubrol-Px-SOlubilized membrane proteins, ~neluding benzodiaz~pine receptor proteins, revealed co-migration of carboxyl-[JH]methylated and [JH]flunitrazepam-binding protein species. The latter displayed a single pe~k at 2 days and 2-3 p~aks subsequently. At 26 days the lighter of the two [~H]flunitraz~pam and [ H]muscimol-binding peaks associated with the principal carboxyl-[~H] methylated protein peak. The findings suggest the participation of carboxylmethylation in the maturation of benzodiazepine receptor proteins.
Effect of Gauge Length on Compression Properties of Unidirectional Fiber Composites

Compression modulus and strength have been measured for unidirectional carbon fiber/thermoplastic matrix composites Values obtained from the use of a Northrop loading fixture are compared to those from an IITRI fixture Low Northrop modulus values are explained using buckling theory and the effect of fiber curvature within the lam inate. Also, data are compared tor composites with different fiber forms with emphasis on fiber curvature.
Full-term gestation and transvaginal delivery after wide resection of an abdominal desmoid tumor during pregnancy

A 29-year-old female was diagnosed with a symptomatic, extra-abdominal desmoid tumor during the first trimester of pregnancy. Computerized tomography (CT) and transabdominal ultrasound (US) noted a mass within the left rectus sheath measuring up to 15 cm in greatest diameter, with mild compression of the uterus. Preoperative diagnosis was confirmed by core-needle biopsy of the lesion. At 20-weeks gestation, wide local resection of the tumor with disease-free margins, as well as abdominal wall reconstruction with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) mesh was successfully undertaken. Histological examination of the tumor ex vivo confirmed that the lesion was a desmoid tumor consisting of spindle cells with dense infiltrating collagenous fibers. Subsequent to her resection, the patient completed a full-term pregnancy without complication, and proceeded with a complication-free transvaginal delivery at 39 weeks. This case illustrates the probable contribution of estrogens towards desmoid tumor development, the durability of abdominal wall reconstruction when subjected to the extraordinary strain of both a gravid uterus and labor, as well as the safety and efficacy of aggressive surgical therapy during pregnancy.
ESCA studies of metal-oxygen surfaces using argon and oxygen ion-bombardment

Abstract ESCA has been used to monitor alterations of catalytically and electrochemically important metal-oxygen surfaces following exposure to Ar + and O 2 + ion bombardment. This treatment resulted not only in sputtering, but also, in many cases, in reduction to the corresponding metal or lower oxide. A model based on bulk thermodynamic free energy considerations Is proposed to explain this phenomenon. We have also exploited this approach to obtain an in-depth concentration profile of various oxidation states of an element, to selectively prepare desired surface oxide compositio and to aid in interpreting complex O ls spectra. Results obtained from metal-oxygen surfaces for Ni, Ru and Mo are presented. Ni 2 O 3 and RuO 3 , which are gross defect structures of the bulk species, are present on NiO and RuO 2 respectively, with the former being confined to the surface layers. The MoO 2 , on the other hand, is covered with a surface layer of MoO 3 present as a regular crystal structure.
Modeling radiative transport in ICF plasmas on an IBM SP2 supercomputer

Summary form only given, as follows. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison we have integrated a collisional-radiative-equilibrium model into our CONRAD radiation-hydrodynamics code. This integrated package allows us to accurately simulate the transport processes involved in ICF plasmas; including the important effects of self-aborption of line-radiation. However, as we increase the amount of atomic structure utilized in our transport models, the computational demands increase nonlinearly. In an attempt to meet this increased computational demand, we have recently embarked on a mission to parallelize the CONRAD program. The parallel CONRAD development is being performed on an IBM SP2 supercomputer. The parallelism is based on a message passing paradigm, and is being implemented using PVM. At the present time we have determined that approximately 70 percent of the sequential program can be executed in parallel. Accordingly, we expect that the parallel version will yield a speedup on the order of three times that of the sequential version. This translates into only 10 hours of execution time for the parallel version, whereas the sequential version required 30 hours.
Kinetics of thermo-fixation of solvent dyes and pigments in polyester fibres

The diffusion coefficient of a dye in fibres is critical to understanding the dyeing process and coloration quality of products. In this paper, the diffusion kinetics of solvent dyes in the thermosol dyeing of polyester fibres was studied by measuring K/S of the dyed polyester fabrics based on the Kubelka-Munk equation. The diffusion coefficients of two model solvent dyes were estimated with Hill's equation using the experimentally measured K/S values and were found to be in good agreement with those calculated from the traditional extraction method. Such a measurement method was applied to several other solvent dyes and pigments that have different molecular sizes and a good correlation between the measured diffusion coefficients and sizes of these dyes and pigments was found. The results indicate that it is feasible to use K/S measurement of dyed fabrics and Hill's equation to evaluate the kinetics of the thermosol dyeing process under certain conditions.
Transdermal lontophoretic Peptide Delivery: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies with Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone

Protein and peptide drugs are not orally active. Their large molecular size and charged character make them poor candidates for passive transdermal delivery. With an applied electromotive force, these drugs can be forced through the skin to be absorbed by the systemic circulation. The present study investigates the transdermal iontophoretic delivery of a peptide hormone in an in vitro model system, the isolated perfused porcine skin flap, as well as in vivo. It is shown that with knowledge of the systemic disposition of the drug, transdermal fluxes can be utilized to accurately predict in vivo serum concentrations. It is also shown that the iontophoretically delivered hormone retains both its immunologic and biologic activity.
Constituents from Gymnem sylvestre Leaves VI: Acylated Genins of the Gymnemic Acids-Isolation and Preliminary Characterization

With the aid of a selective enzyme system, genins G, K, N, and gymnestrogenin were isolated and shown to be the aglycones of gymnemic acids A-D, respectively. Genin G was found to be an acylated derivative of gymnemagenin containing formic, acetic, isovaleric, and tiglic acids, while genin K differed from G by the absence of the acetic acid residue. Genin N was observed to be gymnestrogenin tiglate. Genin J, probably an artifact originating from genin G, was also isolated and indicated to be gymnemagenin esterified with acetic, isovaleric, and tiglic acids. The sugar moieties of acids A and B are not acylated, while those of acids C and D are indicated to be esterified with ferulic acid.
Electron Beam Ionization for Coal Fly Ash Precipitators

Coal fly ash removal by electrostatic precipitation strongly depends on ion current flux and electric field geometry. In preliminary experiments with accelerated electron beams passing through air, ion current densities have been measured which are 50 times larger than those which can be obtained in a duct type electrostatic precipitator with corona ionization. Theoretical calculations show that even larger values can be obtained with driving voltages higher than the 10 kV available in the preliminary experiments. An additional advantage of the high ion current flux is the enhancement of the electric fields in the vicinity of the collection plate. These results are the basis for a design of an experimental precipitator system with which to test electron beam ionization on reentrained coal fly ash. A further possible application of electron beams lies in the fact that energetic electrons will ionize solid materials as well as gases. Consequently, electron irradiation will reduce resistivity in the fly ash layer deposited on a conduction plate.
Unexpected Behavior of Nonautonomous Linear Dynamical Systems in Two Dimensions

We show two examples of systems $$\dot{z}_{t} = -na_{t} z_{t}$$ in $$\mathbb{R}^{2}$$ with $$a_{t} = a_{t}^{*} \geqslant 0$$ such that |Zt| is strictly decreasing in time for any n but $$|z_{t}| \nrightarrow 0$$ as $$n \rightarrow \infty$$ .
An Autoethnography of a Face

Deleuze and Guattari (1987) suggest that one is a hacceity, an individuation that is not an individual, and a Body without Organs (BwO), multiplicities on a plane of immanence. Hacceities and BwOs flow unimpeded. Without direction they continually change. But on earth, hacceities and BwOs often fold into a singular face as they submit to a machine of faciality, an abstract system that totally integrates signification and subjectification. In this poststructural autoethnography, the author plays with these ideas. Following flows and coagulations, the author uses prose, theory, and drawing to bring to the fore faces and bodies of herself.
Remeasuring the extraterrestrial solar spectral irradiance

We will measure the solar spectral irradiance by deploying a CCD-array solar spectrograph to a high altitude favorable site, as part of a self-contained autonomous system with a calibration system using a monochromator and absolute photodiode "trap detectors." Data will be reduced using Langley extrapolation (and in the stronger absorption bands methods similar to Reagan-Brugge fitting), to yield the solar output free of atmospheric absorption. This measurement system will substantially improve the accuracy of the field measurements by making the instrument continuously self-calibrating against a local absolute standard in the range 400 - 900 nm. In the ranges 360 - 400 nm and also 900 - 1100 the trap detectors are not an absolute standard, but serve as a very reproducible transfer standard from an irradiance scale to be taken from either NIST lamps, or more recently-introduced detectors with calibrated efficiencies. We expect an absolute accuracy of 0.3% for solar-spectrum determination in the range 400 to 900 nm, not including the O2 band at 760 nm, and the H2O bands at 820 and 940 nm. In the 360 - 400 nm domain we may be able to extend trap-detector quantum efficiency to allow an accuracy better than a secondary irradiance transfer, otherwise this domain and the range 900 to 1100 nm will have an accuracy of ≈ 1 %. The extrapolations in the strong-absorption bands will have an increased uncertainty which can be estimated from the statistics of the data. We describe the instrument and self-calibration methadologies and design.© (2003) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Isolation of physarum DNA segments that support autonomous replication in yeast

Hybrid plasmids containing the bacterial resistance-transfer factor pBR322 and the yeast leu2+gene have been used to isolate DNA fragments of Physarum that are capable of initiating DNA replication in a yeast host. Five of forty hybrid plasmids containing Physarum sequences transform leu2-yeast to Leu+ at high frequency. The resulting Leu+ transformants are characterized by phenotypic instability. Supercoiled plasmid molecules containing pBR322 sequences can be detected in the transformed yeast, indicating that the transforming DNA replicates autonomously. Plasmid DNA isolated from Leu+ yeast can transform leuB bacteria. The hybrid plasmid recovered from the Leu+ bacterial transformants is identical to the original plasmid, indicating structural integrity is maintained during passage through the yeast host. These hybrid plasmids containing Physarum sequences have the same characteristics as those containing autonomously replicating yeast chromosomal sequences. As the temporal sequence of DNA replication is particularly accessible to study in Physarum plasmodia, the functional significance of these segments should be amenable to study.
Structural and mechanistic insights into hepatitis C viral translation initiation

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) uses an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) to directly recruit ribosomes to the viral mRNA translation-start site. Recent structural studies and biochemical data reveal how the HCV IRES interacts with the 40S ribosomal subunit and the cellular protein-synthesis machinery to direct efficient translation initiation.
Monocyte Chemotaxis under Agarose: Defects in Atopic Disease, Aspirin Therapy, and Mucocutaneous Candidiasis

Using Ficoll-Hypaque-separated cells, monocyte chemotaxis was measured by an agarose technique in patients with increased susceptibility to infection, with atopic dermatitis, and in individuals taking aspirin. In vitro effects of aspirin, hydrocortisone, aminophylline, ephedrine, and diphenhydramine were also studied. Significantly decreased chemotaxis was found in one 9-year-boy with severe mucocutaneous candidiasis and three of 22 patients with atopic dermatitis. In the atopic group of patients greater than 10 years of age, mean monocyte chemotaxis was significantly decreased from the age-matched control group. This decrease did not correlate with serum IgE levels, absolute blood eosinophil counts, or clinical symptom scores. Following aspirin ingestion, mean monocyte chemotaxis significantly decreased whereas neutrophil chemotaxis was unaffected. Using therapeutic concentrations, drug levels of aspirin and aminophylline in vitro caused greater than 35% inhibition of monocyte movement.
Evaluating design tradeoffs in on-chip power management for CMPs

In light of the recent shift towards multi-core processor designs, dynamic power-management techniques that were designed for single-core microprocessors must be augmented with larger chip-level control. In this paper, we explore the design-tradeoffs associated with CMP power management solutions in a full-system simulation environment. We show that global power management solutions outperform solutions that locally manage power per-core. We then show that global power management is most effective at finer granularities that allow it to adapt to changing workload behavior and thus conclude that on-chip hardware solutions for CMP power management are an important consideration for future CMP microprocessors.
Transcription Program of Murine Gammaherpesvirus 68

Murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68 [also referred to as γHV68]) is phylogenetically related to Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV [also referred to as HHV-8]) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). However, unlike KSHV or EBV, MHV-68 readily infects fibroblast and epithelial cell lines derived from several mammalian species, providing a system to study productive and latent infections as well as reactivation of gammaherpesviruses in vivo and in vitro. To carry out rapid genome-wide analysis of MHV-68 gene expression, we made DNA arrays containing nearly all of the known and predicted open reading frames (ORFs) of the virus. RNA obtained from an MHV-68 latently infected cell line, from cells lytically infected with MHV-68 in culture, and from the lung tissue of infected mice was used to probe the MHV-68 arrays. Using a tightly latent B-cell line (S11E), the MHV-68 latent transcription program was quantitatively described. Using BHK-21 cells and infected mice, we demonstrated that latent genes are transcribed during lytic replication and are relatively independent of de novo protein synthesis. We determined that the transcription profiles at the peak of lytic gene expression are similar in cultured fibroblast and in the lung of infected mice. Finally, the MHV-68 DNA arrays were used to examine the gene expression profile of a recombinant virus that overexpresses replication and transcription activator (RTA), C-RTA/MHV-68, during lytic replication in cell culture. The recombinant virus replicates faster then the parental strain and the DNA arrays revealed that nearly every MHV-68 ORF examined was activated by RTA overexpression. Examination of the gene expression patterns of C-RTA/MHV-68 over a time course led to the finding that the M3 promoter is RTA responsive in the absence of other viral factors.
Reproductive cycle of the Namibian striped skink, Trachylepis sparsa (Squamata: Scincidae) from southern Africa

ABSTRACT The reproductive cycle of the Namibian striped skink is described from a histological examination of gonadal material from museum specimens. Males followed a seasonal testicular cycle in which sperm were produced primarily during spring and summer. Testes in regression were present mainly in March. Females with oviductal eggs or corpora lutea were present September to March and May to June. Not all females reproduced annually. Clutch (= litter size) for 23 females was 4.9 ± 0.97 S.D., range: 3–6.
Practice of Internal Medicine in Latin America. Role of the internist

This article explores the causes of the crisis in the role of internists. As in the United States, the progressive specialization of internists lead to a dehumanized, expensive and technical practice of medicine. Aiming to better incomes and prestige, more than 60% of internists practice as specialists. Primary care physicians, with a very low rate of problem solving, cover 75% of consultations. Specialists, with increasing costs, cover the rest of consultations. Patients, medical schools and health organizations are claiming the return of the general internal medicine specialist. To increase the interest for general internal medicine, several strategies are applicable. Medical students interested in general internal medicine could receive a focused training, provided by these specialists. A greater emphasis should be put on primary care. More independent, secondary care diagnostic and treatment centers, should be created. Continuous medical education should be done with periodical re certification of physicians. The public health system should increase its wages and the generalist view should be maintained by physicians when practicing at their private offices.
Secure route discovery for QoS-aware routing in ad hoc networks

We address the problem of securing the route discovery for quality-of-service (QoS)-aware routing in ad hoc networks. We provide a specification of secure route discovery for QoS-aware routing. We propose a reactive secure routing protocol, SRP-QoS, to defend against adversaries manipulating link and route metrics and, thus, prevent them from influencing the route selection. SRP-QoS ensures the accuracy of the discovered route(s) with respect to generalized link and route metrics. SRP-QoS is generally applicable, as it does not make restrictive assumptions on the network membership and trust, and it provides metrics for the constituent links of the discovered route(s), allowing the implementation of any route selection algorithm. As a result, SRP-QoS can enable QoS-aware routing in a wide range of ad hoc network instances
Radiation of parietal cells with and without histamine stimulation.

Summary Heidenhain pouches were exposed to 4876 to 4977 rad by means of intracavitary P 32 , with or without concomitant histamine stimulation. Depression of secretory capacity in response to intravenous histamine occurred in all eight animals, but was somewhat (not significantly) less in the four radiated during stimulation. Maximal effect occurred at 3 weeks, after which there was partial recovery to 13 to 66 per cent of preradiation secretion, little change between 2 months and 1 year. After radiation there was often some bleeding from pouches during histamine stimulation. Histologic evidence of damage was more severe on prominent parts of rugae.
Stiffness-Thermal Expansion Relationships in High Modulus Carbon Fibers

Improved crystallite orientation in carbon fibers increases the axial stiffness while decreasing the axial coefficient of thermal expansion. Measurements of unidirectional Pitch 120 and Pitch 140 fibers, with axial tensile Young's moduli of 828 GPa (120 msi) and 966 GPa (140 msi), respectively, in epoxy and aluminum matrices are described. The axial CTE of these fibers was found to be -1.62 ± 0.04 × 10-6 C-1 in the range 0 ± 60°C. The positive deviation is attributed to high compressive stresses (P140/A1) while the most negative value is achievable by fiber misalignments of a few degrees from unidirectional. The stiffness-expansion relation changes for fiber stiffness above 680 GPa. This suggests a decoupling of the CTE dependence on preferred orientation with possible emphasis on defect structure.
Converging measures of binaural detection yield estimates of precision of coding of interaural temporal disparities.

This presentation reports binaural detection data obtained using a special set of three stimulus configurations. The configurations are shown to yield “converging” measures that allow one to describe how precision of coding of interaural temporal disparities (ITDs) changes as a function of both reference ITD and the center frequency of the stimuli.
Fungi isolated from Miscanthus and sugarcane: biomass conversion, fungal enzymes, and hydrolysis of plant cell wall polymers

Biofuel use is one of many means of addressing global change caused by anthropogenic release of fossil fuel carbon dioxide into Earth’s atmosphere. To make a meaningful reduction in fossil fuel use, bioethanol must be produced from the entire plant rather than only its starch or sugars. Enzymes produced by fungi constitute a significant percentage of the cost of bioethanol production from non-starch (i.e., lignocellulosic) components of energy crops and agricultural residues. We, and others, have reasoned that fungi that naturally deconstruct plant walls may provide the best enzymes for bioconversion of energy crops. Previously, we have reported on the isolation of 106 fungi from decaying leaves of Miscanthus and sugarcane (Appl Environ Microbiol 77:5490–504, 2011). Here, we thoroughly analyze 30 of these fungi including those most often found on decaying leaves and stems of these plants, as well as four fungi chosen because they are well-studied for their plant cell wall deconstructing enzymes, for wood decay, or for genetic regulation of plant cell wall deconstruction. We extend our analysis to assess not only their ability over an 8-week period to bioconvert Miscanthus cell walls but also their ability to secrete total protein, to secrete enzymes with the activities of xylanases, exocellulases, endocellulases, and beta-glucosidases, and to remove specific parts of Miscanthus cell walls, that is, glucan, xylan, arabinan, and lignin. This study of fungi that bioconvert energy crops is significant because 30 fungi were studied, because the fungi were isolated from decaying energy grasses, because enzyme activity and removal of plant cell wall components were recorded in addition to biomass conversion, and because the study period was 2 months. Each of these factors make our study the most thorough to date, and we discovered fungi that are significantly superior on all counts to the most widely used, industrial bioconversion fungus, Trichoderma reesei. Many of the best fungi that we found are in taxonomic groups that have not been exploited for industrial bioconversion and the cultures are available from the Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures in Utrecht, Netherlands, for all to use.
Activity and Regulation of Alpha Interferon in Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Human Metapneumovirus Experimental Infections

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and human metapneumovirus (hMPV) cause a similar spectrum of respiratory infections in humans. Classified within the Paramyxoviridae family, Pneumovirinae subfamily, RSV and hMPV present a significant degree of divergence in genome constellation, organization, and protein sequences. RSV has been reported to be a poor inducer of alpha/beta interferons (IFN-alpha/beta) and partially resistant to its antiviral activity. The nature of the innate immune response to hMPV is currently unknown. Herein, an experimental mouse model was used to investigate the interplay between RSV and hMPV infections and IFN-alpha in the airways. RSV-infected BALB/c mice treated intranasally with either poly-ICLC, a potent inducer of IFN-alpha, or directly with recombinant IFN-alpha showed significantly reduced lung viral titers, inflammation, and clinical disease than untreated controls. However, RSV was significantly less sensitive to the antiviral activity of IFN-alpha than hMPV. Similarly, when the ability to directly induce IFN-alpha production was assessed, RSV was clearly a weaker inducer of IFN-alpha than hMPV, as shown by both kinetics and the absolute amount of IFN-alpha secreted into the bronchoalveolar lavage. To further investigate the putative inhibitory effect of these viruses on IFN-alpha production, mice were infected for 48 h prior to treatment with poly-ICLC or a specific Toll-like receptor 9 ligand, CpG oligodeoxynucleotides. Strikingly, both poly-ICLC- and CpG-mediated IFN-alpha production was abrogated by either RSV or MPV infection. These results suggest that a complex interplay between virus-specific and host-mediated responses regulates IFN-alpha in the lung during infection by members of the Pneumovirinae family.
Phase sweeping transmitter diversity in mobile communications

In mobile communications, multipath fading can severely degrade the performance. A diversity technique called phase sweeping transmitter diversity (PSTD) was introduced to mitigate the effects of slow fading common to many mobile wireless systems. We present a thorough study of the PSTD system combined with binary convolutional codes with coherent and differentially coherent PSK transmission. We find the performance using PSTD significantly improves over that without PSTD on a slow Rayleigh fading channel especially in the coherent detection case. Comparisons of results with existing diversity techniques are also given. The issue of power spectrum broadening and combined bit interleaving are also discussed.
Not All Special Interests Are Created Equal: The Role Of Industry Lobbying On WTO Patterns Of Protection

This paper examines to what degree increase in bilateral and multilateral trade agreements has opened up liberalization process to the special interests of powerful industries in industrialized nations. A political economy model of endogenous tariff formation is used to compare the effects of industry lobbying on the tariff structure under unilateral and cooperative liberalization. The results of this analysis illustrate that industry special interests do have an effect on the tariff structure when trade policy is determined unilaterally or cooperatively (especially if the industries of major trading partners are not organized into effective lobbies). However, the model also illustrates that as countries pursue the ongoing liberalization of tariff protection, large industries will experience larger tariff reductions than smaller ones. In fact, during the process of ongoing unilateral or cooperative liberalization, the industries most able to maintain high levels of protection are those that are characterized by high displacement costs and are particularly susceptible to harm from imports. The paper concludes that regardless of the liberalization mechanism the organized special interests of large industries will affect the pattern of protection, however, this effect diminishes if a country commits to an ongoing liberalization process. Instead, ongoing multilateral liberalization through the WTO keeps tariff policy open as an avenue for the government objective of minimizing the deadweight loss associated with liberalization and protecting industries particularly susceptible to harm from imports.