cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Opportunistic evolution: Abiotic environmental stress and the fossil record of plants

Abstract Abiotic stress has played a major role in the evolution of vascular plants by creating or delimiting habitats with low interspecific competition. These are, in effect, opportunities for survival of divergent phenotypes through non-adaptive evolution. The patterns and processes associated with stress-related evolution lend support to concepts of evolution as a process with a distinct hierarchy of levels. There are two fundamental forms of abiotic stress. Extrinsic stress is induced by an external agent(s) that impinges on ecosystems, altering conditions and leading to selection against indigenous forms; these are aperiodic or have long return times and are thus beyond the limits of adaptation. Intrinsic stress is caused by physical, usually edaphic conditions of certain kinds of habitats that select against almost all plants. These kinds of stress are fundamentally different from “stress” induced by competition or intracommunity, short-period disturbance. Extrinsic stress induces differential migration and extirpation/extinction as proximate effects. Evolution is a by product of disrupted communities in which momentary opportunities for divergence are created. The fossil record provides most of the critical sequences recording the effects of extrinsic stress. Evolution in stressed ecosystems is a “sweepstakes”, with colonizers/dispersers and preadapted forms speciating the most and gaining the greatest ecological advantage during these episodes. Extrinsic stress has been of extreme importance in shaping the phylogenetic tree of vascular plants by progressively and sequentially pruning clades from the role of ecological codominance. Intrinsically stressful environments are bounded by asymmetrical ecotones. Entry to these habitats is made possible by preadaptation. They generally are low diversity “species sinks” with highly specialized floras, rarely sites of evolutionary innovations that subsequently spread into non-stressful habitats. Due to limited species exchange with surrounding environments, these kinds of habitats tend to become progressively more archaic through time, preserving a flora that changes little for long periods. They are very susceptible to mass extinction and vegetational reorganization, at which point the cycle of increasing archaicism is reset. They appear to be good analogs for the initial phases of “adaptive” breakthrough in general, and strongly suggest a highly stochastic process. Competition-mediated adaptive evolution may hone morphologies created during periods of non-adaptive cladogenesis. The fossil record provides primary data and permits testing of theories by evaluation of predicted patterns versus empirically-determined patterns.
Bulk moduli and high-pressure crystal structures of rutile-type compounds

Abstract Unit-cell parameters and crystal structures of five rutile-type compounds, including TiO 2 ; SnO 2 , GeO 2 , RuO 2 ; and MnF 2 ;, have been determined at pressures to 50 kbar at 20°C. All five compounds compress anisotropically with the a axis approximately twice as compressible as c . The one variable positional parameter, x of oxygen or fluorine, changes little with pressure. The uniform behavior of these RX 2 compounds at high pressure contrasts with their highly variable structural changes at high-temperature. Rutile-type oxides are, therefore, unlike most oxides and silicates, in which structural variations at high pressure mirror those at high temperature.
Photoionized Lines in X‐Ray Spectra of SMC X‐1

We present a detailed spectral analysis of Chandra ACIS-S continuous clocking (CC) mode observations of the massive X-ray binary system SMC X-1. The system was observed during both the high and low X-ray states of the roughly 60 day superorbital period. The continuum spectra during both states are well represented by a power law with photon index α = 0.9 and a blackbody of kT = 0.15 keV. The high-state spectra are dominated by the continuum and independent of orbital phase, whereas the low-state spectra show a strong orbital dependence as well as line emission from O, Ne, Mg, Fe, and Si. This is consistent with the states attributed to disk precession: during the high state, X-ray emission is dominated by the compact source, which is abruptly eclipsed; during the low state, the compact object is hidden by the disk, and a larger, less luminous scattering region is responsible for the X-ray emission. A prominent Ne IX feature places a stringent limit (log ξ = 2.0-2.5) on the ionization parameter, which constrains the wind dynamics of the system. The Fe line fluxes are related linearly to the blackbody fluxes, indicating that both originate in the same region or are excited by the same mechanism. There is evidence for structure in the Fe line that cannot be fully resolved by the current observations. The pulse period measured during our observations, 0.7057147 ± 0.00000027 s, shows that the uninterrupted spin-up trend of SMC X-1 continues. We discuss the implications of our results for models of SMC X-1.
Additional New Records of Mosses from Pennsylvania

Abstract. Campylopus tallulensis, Didymodon rigidulus, Grimmia anodon, G. muehlenbeckii, and Pohlia longicolla are reported for the first time from Pennsylvania. Ditrichum rhynchostegium and Orthotrichum lescurii are newly confirmed from the Commonwealth. Racomitrium heterostichum var. gracilescens (= R. affine) is excluded from Pennsylvania. The specimen upon which this report was based is R. venustum. There are currently 443 moss taxa documented from Pennsylvania.
On-Line Measurement of Fabric Bending Behavior Part II: Effects of Fabric Nonlinear Bending Behavior

A generalized fabric bending model is developed based on the nonlinear bending moment-curvature relationship of fabrics. This model makes it possible to theoretically investigate the effects of fabric nonlinear bending behavior on measured bending prop erty values. The dependence of measured parameters (e.g., bending length, bending rigidity) on the conditions for the cantilever and heart loop, loop 3, and loop 4 tests is determined theoretically. Calculated results show good agreement with experimental observations reported in the literature for the cantilever and heart loop. An important discovery in this investigation is that the bending length values calculated and measured from loop 3 and loop 4 are not influenced by fabric sample length if that length is beyond a certain critical value.
Partitioning of penoxsulam, a new sulfonamide herbicide.

Penoxsulam (trade name Granite) is a new acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitor herbicide for postemergence control of annual grasses, sedges, and broadleaf weeds in rice culture. This study was done to understand the equilibrium phase partitioning of penoxsulam to soil and air under conditions simulating California rice field conditions. Partitioning of penoxsulam was determined between soil and water (Kd) by the batch equilibrium method and between air and water (KH) by the gas-purge method. In four representative soils from the Sacramento Valley, the Kd values ranged from 0.14 to 5.05 and displayed a modest increase with soil pH. In soil amended with manure compost, soil sorption increased 4-fold with increasing soil organic matter content, but was still low with a Kd of 0.4 in samples with high organic carbon contents of 15%. Penoxsulam was confirmed to be extremely nonvolatile and did not partition into air at any measurable rate at 20 or 40 °C. KH (pH 7) was estimated at 4.6 × 10-15 Pa·L·mol-1 on the...
Crack Propagation and Arrest in Pressurized Containers

The problem of crack propagation and arrest in a finite volume cylindrical container filled with pressurized gas is considered. It is assumed that the cylinder contains a symmetrically located longitudinal part-through crack with a relatively small net ligament. The net ligament suddenly ruptures initiating the process of fracture propagation and depressurization in the cylinder. Thus the problem is a coupled gas dynamics and solid mechanics problem the exact formulation of which does not seem to be possible. The problem is reduced to a proper initial value problem by introducing a dynamic fracture criterion which relates the crack acceleration to the difference between a load factor and the corresponding strength parameter. The results indicate that generally in gas filled cylinders fracture arrest is not possible unless the material behaves in a ductile manner and the container is relatively long.
Limited allelic polymorphism in the human interleukin-3 gene.

Interleukin-3 (IL-3) is a cytokine expressed primarily in activated T cells mast cells and natural killer (NK) cells. Interleukin-3 has the capability to stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of multipotential stem cells and has a role in shaping the immune response. In order to better understand the biological role of IL-3, a study of polymorphisms within the human IL-3 gene and its upstream regulatory elements has been conducted. Using a modification of the bidirectional dideoxy fingerprinting method, a group of 88 Caucasoid individuals were screened for polymorphism in the IL-3 enhancer, promoter and gene coding regions. Analysis revealed the presence of several infrequent polymorphisms which may affect IL-3 functionality.
Big Maps - Little People

Abstract This article serves as a guide to individuals or groups who have an interest in preparing a large playground map for the benefit of young learners. Beyond being a step–by–step set of instructions detailing the procedures for preparing a large playground map, the article provides helpful suggestions for using the map effectively with elementary school children.
Measurment of astigmatism in microlithography lenses

The direction, (phi) , and magnitude, A 1 , of residual astigmatism in microlithography lenses used for semiconductor circuit fabrication is determined by measuring the focal position, F, of lines orientated at four values of (Theta) equals 0 degrees, 45 degrees, 90 degrees, 135 degrees. These parameters are related by F equals A 0 plus A 1 cos2((Theta) + (phi) ) which is solved for the four measured values of F. If the lens is axially symmetric the angle (phi) will be that of the field diameter, but real lenses have fabrication errors that may introduce non-classical astigmatism, so (phi) may have values 0 less than or equal to (phi) less than or equal to (pi) at any point in the field. It is for this reason that conventional resolution reticles with perpendicular resolution targets are inadequate to accurately measure residual astigmatism. Using such a reticle will result in under estimation of the actual astigmatism. Wafers are exposed through focus using a reticle having an array of resolution targets, each having the four orientations. Measuring the focal position of each of the four orientations by examination of their photoresist images with a dark field optical microscope enables determination of astigmatism with a standard deviation 7 nm. Application of this procedure used to evaluate the residual astigmatism in high quality lithography lens is reported.
Statistical dynamics of crystalline diffusion II. Vacancy mechanism

Abstract The method of treating diffusion of atoms in crystals developed in the first paper of this series is applied to the vacancy mechanism of atomic migration in substitutional alloys. The method is used on a body centered cubic binary system (including vacancies) with the chemical potential gradient along a [100] direction. The system is isothermal and a flow of atoms is maintained by two particle reservoirs of different chemical potentials placed at the two ends of the system. First, the path probability g for change of state during a short time interval is written in terms of the path parameters by using the pair approximation of the cluster-variation method and following the recipe previously proposed by the author. The most probable change of state is then derived by maximizing g with respect to the path parameters. The relations between the atomic fluxes and the chemical potential gradients are derived for the stationary state. Onsager's reciprocal relation holds. The limiting case for no chemical potential gradient becomes identical with the state derived from the equilibrium theory. When the pressure gradient in the system is neglected, the diffusion coefficient for B atoms in the matrix of A atoms is given as D ∗ B =28x 3 θ A θ B exp(ϵ M −ϵ A ) kT 7θ A +2θ B exp(ϵ M −ϵ A ) 2kT , where x 3 is the mole fraction of vacancies in the lattice, θ A (or θ B ) is the probability for a unit jump of an A atom (or a B atom) into an adjacent vacancy per unit time, and ϵ M and ϵ a are potential energies for an A-B pair and an A-A pair, respectively. By setting θ A =θ B and ϵ M =ϵ A , the self-diffusion coefficient for A atoms is derived as D ∗ =( 28 9 )x 3 θ A .
PPARgamma, PTEN, and the Fight against Cancer.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a ligand-activated transcription factor, which belongs to the family of nuclear hormone receptors. Recent in vitro studies have shown that PPARγ can regulate the transcription of phosphatase and tensin homolog on chromosome ten (PTEN), a known tumor suppressor. PTEN is a susceptibility gene for a number of disorders, including breast and thyroid cancer. Activation of PPARγ through agonists increases functional PTEN protein levels that subsequently induces apoptosis and inhibits cellular growth, which suggests that PPARγ may be a tumor suppressor. Indeed, several in vivo studies have demonstrated that genetic alterations of PPARγ can promote tumor progression. These results are supported by observations of the beneficial effects of PPARγ agonists in the in vivo cancer setting. These studies signify the importance of PPARγ and PTEN's interaction in cancer prevention.
Fine Line Patterning Of Al, Polysilicon, And Polycide

Patterning of 1.0-2.0 μm features in polysilicon, TaSi 2 ,/polysilicon (polycide) and aluminum films requires highly directional and selective etching techniques. Chlorine based reactive ion etching in a hexagonal cathode reactor can be used to achieve these profile control goals. The major factors affecting the degree of etch directionality in this system are the dc self bias voltage and etch rate. For example, anisotropic etching of Al can be performed in BC1 3 /C1 2 plasmas at a dc self bias of -200 V. As this voltage is lowered, the lateral etch rate increases with respect to the vertical etch rate giving a nearly isotropic line profile at -100 V. At a given dc self bias voltage, anisotropic etching is favored by low etch rates. A similar voltage and etch rate dependence is found for etching of polycide in BC13/C12 plasmas. Polysilicon etching in C1 2 /SF 6 plasmas displays the etch rate dependence without the voltage dependence. In each process selectivity for SiO 2 and photoresist degrades as the dc self bias potential becomes more negative.
Formaldehyde-based whole-mount in situ hybridization method for planarians.

Whole-mount in situ hybridization (WISH) is a powerful tool for visualizing gene expression patterns in specific cell and tissue types. Each model organism presents its own unique set of challenges for achieving robust and reproducible staining with cellular resolution. Here, we describe a formaldehyde-based WISH method for the freshwater planarian Schmidtea mediterranea developed by systematically comparing and optimizing techniques for fixation, permeabilization, hybridization, and postprocessing. The new method gives robust, high-resolution labeling in fine anatomical detail, allows co-labeling with fluorescent probes, and is sufficiently sensitive to resolve the expression pattern of a microRNA in planarians. Our WISH methodology not only provides significant advancements over current protocols that make it a valuable asset for the planarian community, but should also find wide applicability in WISH methods used in other systems. Developmental Dynamics 238:443– 450, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Outsourcing Central Banking: Lessons from Estonia

An orthodox currency board (CB) renders central banking redundant for interest and exchange rate determination. Thereby, monetary policy is de facto outsourced. Foreign direct investment (FDI) in banking can lead to outsourcing of the second important central bank function, responsibility for banking supervision. Economic and political conditions for outsourcing of central banking are discussed. Estonia's experience with a CB and expanding foreign involvement in banking is reviewed. The Argentine CB experience is discussed briefly to provide a contrast. The conclusion outlines the conditions for successful currency outsourcing to another country or regional authority.
Molecular cloning of a cDNA that encodes the peptide core of a mouse mast cell secretory granule proteoglycan and comparison with the analogous rat and human cDNA

Abstract A cDNA that encodes a mouse secretory granule proteoglycan peptide core was isolated from a cDNA library prepared from nontransformed mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) using as a probe a 280-base-pair fragment of a rat cDNA that encodes the proteoglycan peptide core of rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)-1 cells. Based on the consensus nucleotide sequence and deduced amino acid sequence of the cDNA, the mouse BMMC proteoglycan peptide core is 16.7 kDa and contains a 21-amino acid glycosaminoglycan attachment region consisting of alternating serine and glycine residues. When the predicted amino acid sequence of the mouse BMMC proteoglycan peptide core was compared with the predicted amino acid sequences of the homologous molecules expressed in RBL-1 cells and in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells, the mouse-derived sequence was more closely homologous to the rat sequence than the human sequence except for the length of the serine-glycine repeat region. The N terminus was found to be a highly conserved region of the molecule in the three species, suggesting that this region is important for the structure, function, and/or metabolism of this family of proteoglycans. Nucleotide sequences within the 5' and 3' untranslated regions of the mouse, rat, and human proteoglycan cDNA were conserved. That similar sequences were also present in the corresponding regions of a cDNA that encodes a rat mast cell protease suggests that particular nucleotide sequences may be important for regulation of expression of those proteins that are destined to reside in secretory granules.
Pertussis Toxin Lesions of the Rat Substantia Nigra Block the Inhibitory Effects of the γ-Hydroxybutyrate Agent, S(-)HA-966 without Affecting the Basal Firing Properties of Dopamine Neurons

S(-)3-amino-1-hydroxypyrrolidone-2 (S(-)HA-966), a potent γ-hydroxybutyrate-like drug, inhibits spontaneous firing and induces a pacemaker-like discharge pattern in nigral dopamine (DA)-containing neurons. Recent evidence has suggested that these effects could be mediated by GABAB receptors and, thus, is likely to involve G protein intermediaries. To test this hypothesis, extracellular single-unit recording techniques were used to assess the effects of S(-)HA-966 in animals that had received an intranigral injection of pertussis toxin (PT). Failure to respond to the inhibitory effects of apomorphine was taken as presumptive evidence that PT-sensitive G protein-coupled receptors had been inactivated. No significant differences were observed in the basal firing properties of DA cells recorded in control and PT-lesioned animals. However, in marked contrast to the inhibitory effects observed in uninjected and sham-lesioned animals, S(-)HA-966 significantly increased the firing rate of apomorphine-insensitive DA neurons in PT-lesioned rats. The excitatory effects of S(-)HA-966 were accompanied by a significant reduction in bursting activity and an increase in the regularity of firing. These data indicate that the inhibitory effects of S(-)HA-966 are mediated locally within the substantia nigra by a PT-sensitive substrate, presumably a G protein-coupled receptor.
Pulse thermography for quantitative nondestructive evaluation of sound, de-mineralized and re-mineralized enamel

Current limitations for diagnosing mineralization state of tooth enamel can lead to improper surgical treatments. A method is investigated by which the tooth health state is characterized according to its thermal response, which is hypothesized to be sensitive to increased porosity in enamel that is caused by demineralization. Several specimens consisting of previously extracted human teeth a re prepared by exposure to Streptococcus mutans A32-2 in trypticase-soy-borth supplemented with 5% sucrose at 37°C for 3 or 6 days to de-mineralize two 1×1mm 2 -windows on each tooth. One of these windows is then re-mineralized with 250 or 1,100ppm-F as NaF for 10 days by pH-cyclic-model. Pulse thermography is used to measure the thermal response of these sections as well as the sound (healthy) portions of the specimen. A spatial profile of the thermal parameters of the specimens is then extracted from the thermography data and are used to compare the sound, de-mineralized, and re-mineralized areas. Results show that the thermal parameters are sensitive to the mineralization state of the tooth and that this method has the potential to accurately and quickly characterize the mineralization state of teeth, thereby allowing future dentists to make informed decisions regarding the best treatment for teeth that have experienced demineralization.
Harmonic and Null Descriptions of Gravitational Radiation

Abstract : The problem of an axially symmetric space-time containing gravitational waves in the usual Bondi null coordinate system is considered. This Bondi frame is then related to asymptotically harmonic coordinates by means of a characteristic initial value problem. The resultant functional relationship between the null and asymptotically harmonic frames is used to transform Bondi's radiative metric into its equivalent asymptotically harmonic form. This is then compared to the radiative solution which Fock has calculated directly using harmonic coordinates. In agreement with Fock, one finds that the harmonic form of the radiation metric contains logarithmic terms. The treatment clearly shows that these logarithmic metric components do not result from the well known logarithmic terms in the harmonic coordinate description of the light cones for Schwarzschild-like geometries. The principal result of this paper is that they arise from higher order radiative corrections.
Inelastic scattering of electrons by absorbate vibrations in the impact scattering regime: CO on Ni(100) as an example

We have used a formalism developed by us recently to carry out a series of calculations of electron-energy-loss (EELS) cross sections for excitations of vibrations in a $c(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2)$ overlayer of CO on the Ni(100) surface. The calculations explore impact scattering and cover a wide range of energies and scattering geometries. We examine the sensitivity of the various cross sections to the CO bond length, and also to the C-Ni distance. We also find a series of selection rules that apply to the impact-scattering problem. These are discussed and illustrated with numerical calculations of the angular variation of the EELS cross sections.
Spatially localized band-gap renormalization and band-filling effects in three growth-interrupted multiple asymmetric coupled narrow quantum wells

For the first time to our knowledge, we have observed a large excitonic linewidth broadening at low temperatures in three growth-interrupted asymmetric coupled GaAs/Al0.3Ga0.7As narrow quantum wells as the irradiance increases. We attribute this broadening to the decrease of the exciton binding energy that results from spatially localized band-gap renormalization. We also observed the stepwise saturation of the photoluminescence emission peaks as irradiance increases. We attribute this saturation to the result of spatially localized band filling. Based on time-resolved photoluminescence measurements, we have determined the nature of the recombination processes. We have also determined the exciton densities. In both undoped and modulation-doped samples, the small interface island area that results from growth interruption allows us to generate a large carrier density in the islands; both band-gap renormalization and band-filling effects become stronger even at low irradiances. When the temperature is higher than the transition temperature, the free-carrier recombination dominates the photoluminescence spectrum. The band-gap renormalization then results in a red shift of the photoluminescence emissions.
Improving cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills retention: effect of two checklists designed to prompt correct performance.

Previous research has shown that regardless of an individual’s experience, life support skills such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) are poorly performed as soon as 1 month following training. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of two checklists designed to prompt correct CPR performance. We compared the performance of 169 undergraduate students, at the time of course assessment, with retention testing that occurred 2 months following the course assessment. Students were randomly assigned to a control group, a short version of a CPR checklist and a longer more detailed version. Two groups of variables were created: procedural and compression‐ventilation variables. In addition, an overall-performance variable was created, summarizing performance on the procedural variables. Binary variables were assessed with x 2 -tests of independence. One-way ANOVAs, using ‘group’ as the between-subjects factor, were used to assess each continuous variable. Comparisons between groups yielded significant differences of PB0.05. The long checklist generally led to superior performance on the procedural variables. The results support the hypothesis that remembering the steps of CPR is too complex for some. Though preliminary, the findings of this study indicate that the detailed checklist was an effective strategy to improve the post-course performance of CPR. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.
ACUTE HEMODYNAMIC AND BLOOD GAS EFFECTS OF INHALED NITRIC OXIDE IN NEWBORNS WITH LUNG DISEASE AND PULMONARY HYPERTENSION. † 1966

A prospective unblinded study is being performed to determine whether 20 ppm inhaled nitric oxide (NO) improves oxygenation in newborn patients (pts) with hypoxemia secondary to lung disease and pulmonary hypertension (excluding lung hypoplasia). Pts with an oxygenation index (OI) of 25-40 are randomized to therapy with or without NO. Pts with an OI>40 are treated with NO without comparable controls. Heart rate, blood pressure, blood gases, and Doppler measurements of the proportion of right-to-left ductal shunt(nonrestrictive ductus arteriosus) or tricuspid valve regurgitation(restrictive or closed ductus arteriosus) are measured at baseline and after 30-60 min of observation or NO therapy.
A modification of Powell's dogleg method for solving systems of nonlinear equations

Abstract We present in this paper an algorithm for solving nonlinear equation systems that is a modification of Powell's dogleg method. The modifications are designed to make the technique more efficient and reliable and to reduce storage requirements. The performance of the new algorithm on a set of standard test problems demonstrates its effectiveness.
A fermentation process for producing both ethanol and lysine-enriched yeast.

In 18 batch-fermentation experiments, baker's yeast was grown in an enriched mineral medium, containing 10% by weight glucose, at various pH and temperature levels. The pH and temperature are just two representative engineering variables which can be easily varied at negligible cost. The commercial yeast inoculum, 20% by weight or about .16% viable cells, was selected to represent industrial (nonsterile) conditions. Free L-lysine, ethanol, and cell growth were followed in time for each batch run held at a fixed pH and temperature. The maximum free lysine level reached at either 10 1/2 or 24 hr occurred at a pH of 5 and 32 degrees C. At 24 hr, the peak free lysine level, 120 mg/liter, is three times as great as the uncontrolled pH counterpart. In terms of total L-lysine (free plus protein-bound) the peak represents a 25% improvement over the uncontrolled case, based on an average 3.5% lysine level per cell weight. The greatest measured cell level, .9% by weight in the fermentation broth, or a 5 1/2-fold increase over th inoculum, was reached during the 36 degrees C and pH 3 run, while the largest measured ethanol value (3%, or 30% conversion by weight from glucose) was achieved during the 28 degrees C and pH 6 experiment. The optimal lysine run product, however, no less than 15% of the maximum cell and 30% of the maximum ethanol levels.
From Gestalt to Structure Maurice Merleau-Ponty’s Early Analysis of the Human Sciences

This paper outlines the earliest writings of Maurice Merleau-Ponty: his proposals in the early 1930s which study a synthesis of science and philosophy as well as his first text, The Structure of Behavior (completed in 1938, published in 1942). The first section of the paper traces the historical development of his thought from a simple championing of the sciences (in contrast to the dominant neo-Kantian philosophy of the time) to a strongly critical stance toward any kind of reductionism in psychology. The second section describes how Merleau-Pomty’s critique of psychology’s overestimation of the ability to localize the causes of behavior leads him to limit the reach of scientific psychology. In conclusion, it outlines how his early idea of structure in psychology is offered as a solution to poles of naive materialism in the sciences and abstract intellectualism in philosophy.
Plasma levels of bone Gla-protein reflect bone formation in patients on chronic maintenance dialysis

Plasma levels of bone Gla-protein reflect bone formation in patients on chronic maintenance dialysis. Predictive value of plasma levels of bone Gla-protein (BGP) for bone histology was evaluated in 30 chronically dialyzed patients. All patients underwent bone biopsies and serum biochemical parameters, including BGP, parathyroid hormone, and alkaline phosphatase; calcium and phosphate were measured at the time of biopsy. Bone histology showed renal osteodystrophy with low bone turnover and osteomalacia (LT-ROD) in 13 patients, and renal osteodystrophy with high bone turnover and prevailing hyperparathyroid bone disease (HT-ROD) in 17 patients. Values for BGP were above normal in LT-ROD (47.3 ± 7.9 vs. 6.8 ± 0.2 ng/ml) and extremely elevated in HT-ROD (831 ± 170 ng/ml). Similar differences were not found with the other serum biochemical parameters, even though BGP correlated with parathyroid hormone (r = 0.64) and alkaline phosphatase (r = 0.85). There were significant correlations between BGP and cellular and non-cellular parameters of bone formation (r = 0.73 to 0.91). Weaker or no correlations were found between BGP and histologic parameters of bone, reflecting mainly mineralization or resorption. These correlations and the finding of significant differences in plasma BGP between LT-ROD and HT-ROD indicate that plasma levels of BGP reflect bone formation in uremia and predict underlying bone histology. Les taux plasmatiques de la Gal-proteine osseuse refletent la formation osseuse chez les malades en dialyse chronique. La valeur des taux plasmatiques de la Gla-proteine osseuse pour la prediction de l'histologie osseuse a ete evaluee chez 30 hemodialyzes chroniques. Une biopsie osseuse a ete pratiquee chez tous les malades et les prelevements sanguins pour la mesure de la BGP, parathormone, alcaline phosphatase, calcium et phosphore ont ete effectues au moment de la biopsie. L'histologie osseuse a revele une osteodystrophie renale a faible niveau de remodelage (LT-ROD) chez 13 malades et une osteodystrophie renal a haut niveau de remodelage avec hyperparathyroidisme (HT-ROD) chez 17 malades. Les taux de BGP etaient au dessus de la normale chez les malades avec LT-ROD (47.3 ± 7.9 vs. 6.8 ± 0.2 ng/ml) et extremement eleves chez les malades avec HT-ROD (831 ± 170 ng/ml). Aucune difference entre les deux groupes n'a ete retrouvee avec la parathormone ou alcaline phosphatase bien que BGP soit correlee avec la parathormone (r = 0.64) et la phosphatase alcaline (r = 0.85). Des correlations significatives ont ete etablies entre la BGP et les parametres cellulaires et non cellulaires de la formation osseuse (r = 0.73 a 0.91). Des correlations plus faibles ou une absence de correlation ont ete trouvees entre BGP et les parametres histologiques osseux de la mineralisation et de la resorption. Ces correlations et la presence de differences significatives des taux plasmatiques de la BGP entre LT-ROD et HT-ROD indiquent que la BGP plasmatique refletent la formation osseuse chez les malades uremiques et predisent les anomalies histologiques osseuses.
The Cell Biology of TRIM5α

The tripartite motif (TRIM)–containing proteins are involved in many cellular functions such as cell signaling, apoptosis, cell differentiation, and immune modulation. TRIM5 proteins, including TRIM5α and TRIM-Cyp, are known to possess antiretroviral activity against many different retroviruses. Besides being retroviral restriction factors, TRIM5 proteins participate in other cellular functions that have recently emerged in the study of TRIM5α. In this review, we discuss properties of TRIM5α such as cytoplasmic body formation, protein turnover, and trafficking. Also, we discuss recent insights into innate immune modulation mediated by TRIM5α, highlighting the various functions TRIM5α has in cellular processes.
Synthesis and binding to β-adrenergic receptors of p-aminobenzyl analogues of practolol and atenolol

Abstract The p ‐aminobenzyl analogues ( 8a and 8b , respectively) of the cardioselective β ‐adrenergic receptor antagonists practolol and atenolol were prepared from the corresponding phenoxymethyloxiranes in 30 and 13% yields, respectively. The dissociation constants for the β ‐adrenergic receptor were measured in membrane preparations of rat heart and lung, in membranes from the heart (which contain mostly β 1 ‐adrenergic receptors), the affinities of the derivatives and parent compounds were similar. By contrast, in membranes from the lung (which contain mostly β 2 ‐adrenergic receptors), the derivatives were more potent than the parent compounds. Thus, the cardioselectivities of the p ‐aminobenzyl analogues 8a and 8b were about one‐sixth those of the respective parents.
Electron-cooling scenarios at Fermilab

According to Run II upgrade plans, peak luminosity of the proton–antiproton beams in the Tevatron has to increase 7–8 times in coming years. This requires 5–6 times more antiprotons, which is supposed to be reached by means of electron cooling of accumulated pbars. A main scenario is to apply this in the Recycler (RR). However, there is an alternative, i.e to e-cool pbars in the accumulator, without using RR at all. Advantages and disadvantages of both scenarios are discussed.
Pretreatment of metastatic disease

Prostate cancer is a disease of older men, with more than 80% of cases being diagnosed in men 65 years of age and older. Broader participation in screening and early detection programs has resulted in many diagnoses being made earlier in the course of the disease. However, an estimated 25-30% of cases among older men will be diagnosed as metastatic disease. These will be men initially diagnosed with metastatic disease as well as men previously treated for localized disease that has progressed to metastatic disease. The treatment of metastatic prostate cancer has been straightforward. Objective prognostic factors are assessed, and recommendations for the most suitable hormonal therapy are made. Androgen withdrawal, androgen blockade, or combination therapy are current first-line treatment modalities. Patients with good prognostic factors will generally do well for a long time, even experiencing a time-limited remission. Patients with a poor prognosis will die of their disease, with median survival being 18 months. Pretreatment assessment of men diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer should include prognostic factors (tumor volume, histologic grade, DNA ploidy, and prostate specific antigen), health status (comorbidity and performance status), quality of life factors (as a baseline against which to evaluate subjective response and to predict subjective progression), and psychosocial dimensions (sexuality and sexual function, self image, sociability, and social support). Each of these assessment areas will provide important predictors for suitable treatment, response and progression, and survival. The challenge presented is the time and difficulty involved in weighing all these areas and in making an informed physician-patient decision on the most appropriate treatment plan. The physician must direct a health care team to treat metastatic prostate cancer effectively. This team includes oncology nurses, dietitians, social workers, spouses, significant others, and the patient himself.
Targeted Reduction of Nucleoside Triphosphate Hydrolase by Antisense RNA Inhibits Toxoplasma gondii Proliferation

Nucleoside triphosphate hydrolase (NTPase) is a very abundant protein secreted by the obligate intracellular parasiteToxoplasma gondii shortly after invasion of the host cell. When activated by dithiols, NTPase is one of the most potent apyrases known to date, but its physiological function remains unknown. The genes encoding NTPase have been cloned (Bermudes, D., Peck, K. R., Afifi-Afifi, M., Beckers, C. J. M., and Joiner, K. A. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 29252–29260). We have recently shown that the enzyme is tightly controlled within the vacuolar space and may influence parasite exit from the host cell (Silverman, J. A., Qi, H., Riehl, A., Beckers, C., Nakaar, V., and Joiner, K. A (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 12352–12359). In the present study, we have generated an antisense NTP RNA construct in which the 3′-untranslated region is replaced by a hammerhead ribozyme. The constitutive synthesis of the chimeric antisense RNA-ribozyme construct in parasites that were stably transfected with this construct resulted in a dramatic reduction in the steady-state levels of NTPase. This inhibition was accompanied by a decrease in the capacity of the parasites to replicate. The reduction in parasite proliferation was due to a specific effect of antisense NTP RNA, since a drastic inhibition of hypoxanthine-xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HXGPRT) expression by a chimeric antisense HXGPRT RNA-ribozyme construct did not alter NTPase expression nor compromise parasite replication. These data implicate NTPase in an essential parasite function and suggest that NTPase may have more than one function in vivo. These results also establish that it is possible to study gene function in apicomplexan parasites using antisense RNA coupled to ribozymes.
Thermomechanical modelling and force analysis of friction stir welding by the finite element method

AbstractFriction stir welding (FSW) is a solid-state jointing technology, in which the butted plates are heated, plasticized and jointed locally by the plunged probe and shoulder moving along the j...
A Revolving Iterative Algorithm for Decoding Algebraic Cyclic and Quasi-Cyclic LDPC Codes

Cyclic and quasi-cyclic algebraic LDPC codes constructed based on finite fields, finite geometries, and combinatorial designs can achieve excellent performance in terms of error rate, error floor and rate of decoding convergence with iterative decoding. However, the relatively high density of the parity-check matrix of an algebraic cyclic or quasi-cyclic LDPC code makes the hardware implementation complexity of the decoder quite large, which may be a critical issue in practical applications. This paper presents an effective reduced-complexity algorithm for decoding algebraic cyclic and quasi-cyclic LDPC codes based on the block cyclic structure and cyclic grouping of the rows of their parity-check matrices. The decoding of a code is carried out based on a single small submatrix of the parity-check matrix of the code in a revolving manner. The proposed decoding algorithm significantly reduces the hardware implementation complexity and the size of memory required to store information.
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography in the Diagnosis of Anomalous Coronary Artery

![Figure][1] [![Graphic][3] ][3] A 42-year-old woman presented with a 1-month history of worsening exertional chest discomfort and dyspnea. An exercise nuclear perfusion study was normal, by both electrocardiographic and scintigraphic criteria. Because her symptoms persisted, a
Dynamic Cropping Systems: Contributions to Improve Agroecosystem Sustainability

Cropping systems need to be inherently flexible to take advantage of economic opportunities and/or adapt to environmental realities. A dynamic cropping systems concept-characterized by a management approach whereby crop sequencing decisions are made on an annual basis-has been proposed to improve the adaptability of cropping practices to externalities. A symposium on dynamic cropping systems was held at the 2005 ASA-CSSA-SSSA annual meetings in Salt Lake City, UT. Presentations at the symposium reviewed research results from a recent experiment near Mandan, ND, investigating short-term crop sequence effects on crop production, plant diseases, soil residue coverage, and soil water depletion. This paper briefly reviews each of the presentations at the symposium. Future research opportunities on dynamic cropping systems abound, and may have increased impact if emerging issues in agriculture (e.g., increased use of biofuels; livestock integration in cropping systems) are incorporated in evaluations.
Quark fragmentation in gauge theories

Abstract A theory of quark fragmentation is based on the phenomenon of spontaneous pair creation in a strong Coulomb field, applied to the color field surrounding the leading quarks.
Ribbon Wire Versus Round Wire Reliability for Hybrid Microcircuits

In an effort to create a more reliable bond interface in hybrid microcircuits, a study was launched to evaluate the relative bond strengths of round wire and ribbon wire of comparable cross section, and to determine which is inherently more reliable after thermal degradation. This correspondence presents a comparative bonding reliability study of aluminum ribbon wire versus round wire, and gold ribbon wire versus round wire in hybrid microcircuits. The wires were ultrasonically bonded to thick film gold, thin film aluminum, thin film chromium-gold, and thin film molybdenumgold. Results showed that ribbon wire was superior to round wire and, that after 1000 hours of high temperature storage, aluminum round wire averaged 91% bond degradation on all types of substrates, while gold ribbon wire averaged 57% degradation. The average degradation of the wires on all of the substrate types is shown below in summarized form.
Pitfalls and Opportunities in Measuring Patient Outcomes in Lupus

Health outcomes and their measures used as end points in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patient care and clinical trials have been varied and are still evolving. Although significant reductions in morbidity and mortality in SLE have been achieved, the medications approved for SLE have remained the same during the past 50 years. Despite the pressing need, aggressive advocacy in the community, and advances in drug development and testing in SLE, no medications have met US Food and Drug Administration guidelines for a new indication claim approval for SLE. This may be attributable to its multisystemic, remitting, and relapsing nature, and difficulty in identifying useful end points and appropriate tools to measure them. Thus, it is pivotal to identify and validate appropriate global, disease-specific, and perhaps organ-specific health outcomes for clinical research. This article reviews recent physician- and patient-generated health outcomes in SLE.
Diversity and geographic distribution of riboprints from three cosmopolitan species of Colpoda müller (Ciliophora: Colpodea)

Summary Ribosomal RNA gene restriction site polymorphisms were determined for 114 isolates of three cosmopolitanly distributed species of Colpoda , a common soil ciliate genus. Isolates were obtained from soil samples and identifications confirmed using silver staining techniques. Based on restriction site analysis of a 1095 bp region of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene, thirty-one distinct riboprints were observed; 11 unique to Colpoda steinii , 8 unique to Colpoda inflata , 10 unique to Colpoda cucullus , and two riboprints shared by several isolates of C. inflata and C. cucullus . The average intraspecific genetic distance estimated from riboprint data was greatest among C. steinii isolates (0.0790, n = 37), intermediate among C. cucullus isolates (0.0519, n = 37), and the least among C. inflata isolates (0.0383, n = 40). Phylogenetic analysis of riboprint data using distance methods revealed no geographic pattern in the distribution of riboprints in any of the species examined. Furthermore, many of the riboprints were globally distributed, suggesting no equatorial barrier to species dispersal in the species examined. Several riboprints, however, appeared to be restricted on the basis of temperature, suggesting the possibility of fitness differences among riboprints with respect to environmental variables. Shared riboprints between two species of Colpoda indicates the limitations of riboprints in species discrimination within in this group, possibly due to the retention of ancestral polymorphisms or the inadequate resolution of the region of LSU rRNA gene that we examined. Additional molecular markers will be needed in order to resolve this issue.
Modulation of E-receptor expression on activated T lymphocytes

Abstract Our study indicated that the newly synthesized E-receptor, as measured with 125 I-labeled monoclonal anti-E receptor antibody, on activated T lymphocytes were responsible for forming stable E-rosettes at 37°C. Maximum induction of new E-receptor expression required at least 50 hr of culture with polyclonal T-cell activators, phytohemagglutinin, or phorbol myristate acetate. Polyclonal B-cell activator, lipopolysac-charide were not able to induce new E-receptor expression on the surface of T lymphocytes. The expression of the new E-receptor paralleled with the induction of Tac antigen expression. Interleukins 1 and 2 or Interferon-γ were not able to initiate the induction of new E-receptors. However, a neuropeptide, endorphin exhibited biphasic effect on modulating the E-receptor expression, in the absence of polyclonal activators. As is the case with Tac antigen expression, induction of new E-receptor antigen may be a marker for activated T lymphocytes.
An Estimation Procedure for Range Composition Problems

Abstract In this article a method is presented which provides an efficient technique for estimating herbage weight composition on range units. The estimator derives from a weighted regression of species weight on species cover, i.e., the proportion of ground area covered by foliage of the species. Use of the present method of estimation in conjunction with a “pin-frame” field sampling procedure results in quite substantial savings in sampling cost for given precision, compared to the usual method for estimating weight composition. Empirically derived isoqant maps of sampling allocations for the two-phase design are presented. Some discussion of the problems associated with the pin-frame sampling method is also included.