cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling biogeochemistry and forest management practices for assessing GHGs mitigation strategies in forested wetlands

Despite the importance of forested wetland in the global carbon cycle, no widely applicable ecosystem model exists for this ecosystem. This study reports the linkage between Wetland-DNDC and MIKE SHE for carbon dynamics and GHGs mitigation strategies analyses in forested wetland. Wetland-DNDC was modified by parameterizing forest management practices and refining anaerobic biogeochemical processes. Mortality due to senescence was estimated as a function of tree age or as a function of the relative biomass. We used a harvesting damage mortality coefficient as a linear function of time with three parameters: Initial mortality, Duration of the damage and Intensity of the initial harvesting. The model was validated against experimental data obtained from the GNF site near Florida. As a preliminary application, we simulated the effect of water table position and forest management practices on GHGs emissions and carbon dynamics to test the capabilities of the models for simulating seasonal and long-term carbon budget in forested wetland.
Effect of Thyrotropin Injection on Pyridine Nucleotide Content of Thyroid in Normal and Hypophysectomized Rat

The oxidized and reduced forms of NAD and NADP were measured in the rat thyroid gland before and 3 hr after TSH was given intravenously to normal and hypophysectomized animals. In the normal rat, TSH increased the total NADP content and particularly the reduced form. Total NAD was unchanged 3 hr after TSH stimulation, and NADH was significantly increased. These data suggest that TSH either promoted new synthesis of pyridine nucleotides or inhibited their degradation, and also enhanced processes leading to reduction of pyridine nucleotides. Hypophysectomy had little effect on the concentration of pyridine nucleotides in the thyroid gland of the rat. TSH increased NADP with little change in NADPH, suggesting a lesser response to injected TSH of NADPH generating systems in the thyroid glands of hypophysectomized rats. (Endocrinology 78: 1049, 1966)
Polymorphic variation in the human myostatin (GDF-8) gene and association with strength measures in the Women's Health and Aging Study II cohort.

Objectives To determine whether polymorphic variation in the myostatin gene differentially influences the maintenance of muscle strength in older adults, and to find supportive evidence in a cohort of older women. Design Correlation study of polymorphic variation in a cohort of older women. Setting Representatively sampled older female population living in the eastern half of Baltimore, Maryland. Participants Participants were 286 women, age 70 to 79. Of these, 81.1% were Caucasian, 18.8% were African American, and 0.2% were Asian or Hispanic. Measurements Overall strength was measured with a dynamometer and defined as the sum of the strongest measures of hip, knee, and grip strength on the dominant side. Results We identified or confirmed six myostatin polymorphic variants in the Women's Health and Aging Study II population. Of the polymorphisms, K153R is the most common, with an allele frequency of 0.19 in African Americans. Unadjusted mean strength by genotype suggested lower muscle strength in those African-American women with the R genotype compared with those with the K genotype (K/K: 72.50 +/- 13.9 kg (n = 39) vs K/R: 67.14 +/- 11.4 kg (n = 13) vs R/R: 63.1 +/- 11.3 kg (n = 3)). After adjustment for race in a linear regression model, the R genotype remained associated with lower strength levels (P = .04). Statistical significance decreased when body mass index and race were both added to the model (P = .09). Conclusions Recognizing that small sample size in the study of genes of modest effect are unlikely to yield significant differences, these data suggest an association of the R153 allele with lower strength in high-functioning older women, which should be studied further in a larger cohort.
Continuous significant linear dimensionality: Geometric interpretation and statistical characteristics

A continuous measure of the degree of mutual linear independence between the vectors of a given dataset, continuous significant dimensionality (CSD), was introduced in a previous paper. In this report a simple and clear geometric interpretation of the CSD formula is determined, which has allowed to describe a parametric class of such measures and present the conventional linear dimensionality as a limiting case of that class. Two additional methods for measuring CSD are developed and their properties are investigated both theoretically and based on computational experiments. A special attention is devoted to measuring CSD of datasets with different levels of noise. An efficient method for eliminating the impact of such noise on the CSD estimate is developed. It is demonstrated that the three methods for CSD measurement have different statistical characteristics and the scopes of their practical application are outlined.
Oxygen and chlorine isotopic fractionation during perchlorate biodegradation: laboratory results and implications for forensics and natural attenuation studies.

Perchlorate is a widespread environmental contaminant having both anthropogenic and natural sources. Stable isotope ratios of O and Cl in a given sample of perchlorate may be used to distinguish its source(s). Isotopic ratios may also be useful for identifying the extent of biodegradation of perchlorate, which is critical for assessing natural attenuation of this contaminant in groundwater. For this approach to be useful, however, the kinetic isotopic fractionations of O and Cl during perchlorate biodegradation must first be determined as a function of environmental variables such as temperature and bacterial species. A laboratory study was performed in which the O and Cl isotope ratios of perchlorate were monitored as a function of degradation by two separate bacterial strains (Azospira suillum JPLRND and Dechlorospirillum sp. FBR2) at both 10 °C and 22 °C with acetate as the electron donor. Perchlorate was completely reduced by both strains within 280 h at 22 °C and 615 h at 10 °C. Measured values of is...
In-flight radiometric calibration of ASTER by reference to well-characterized scenes

ASTER will be calibrated in the laboratory by reference to sources traceable to NRLM and NIST standards and through the use of transfer radiometers. Partial aperture on-board calibration systems will be used in the solar-reflective range and an on-board blackbody source will be used in the infrared. An important independent source of calibration data will be provided through the in-flight radiometric calibration of ASTER by reference to well- characterized scenes. The latter is the subject of this paper. Methods that make use of ground reflectance and radiance measurements made simultaneously with atmospheric measurements at selected sites and used as input to radiative transfer codes are described. The results of error analyses are presented indicating that, depending on the method used, the predicted uncertainties fall between +/- 2.8% and +/- 4.9%, for the solar-reflective range. In the thermal infrared, the goal is an uncertainty of less than 1 K. A method that provides in-flight cross calibrations with other sensors also is described.
Thermodynamics of the dissociation of boric acid in seawater at S = 35 from 0 to 55°C

The stoichiometric dissociation constants of boric acid in seawater at S = 35 have been determined from 0 to 55°C. The constants were determined from electromotive force measurements made with the cell, Pt|H2 (g, 1 atm)|;borax in synthetic seawater|;AgCl, Ag. The results are discussed in terms of “total” hydrogen ion scale. Our results are in excellent agreement (±0.0004 in ln K∗) with the measurements of Dickson (1990a). This study demonstrates that the measurements made by Dickson (1990a) are more reliable than the earlier measurements (Buch, 1933; Lyman, 1956; Hansson, 1973b) and should be used in all future studies of the carbonate system in seawater.
Preventing myocardial infarction in the young adult in the first place: how do the national cholesterol education panel iii guidelines perform?

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the utility of the new National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) III guidelines in a group of young adults. Background These guidelines have been hailed as an improvement in their potential to identify individuals at risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) complications. Compared with the NCEP II, the new guidelines will increase the number of patients who qualify for medical management. However, the effectiveness of these guidelines to identify young adults at risk for a cardiac event is yet to be studied. Methods A retrospective review of clinical data from young adults (age ≤55 years for men and ≤65 years for women) hospitalized for acute myocardial infarction over a three-year period was conducted. Patients with a history of CHD or CHD equivalent were excluded. Using the NCEP III guidelines, we calculated a 10-year risk for coronary events on all patients. Results A total of 222 patients met criteria for inclusion. The mean age was 50 years and 25% were women. Mean lipid levels were all within the normal range; however, rates of smoking and obesity were high. When the 10-year risk of these patients was stratified by the number of risk factors and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, only 25% met criteria to qualify for pharmacotherapy. For women in this population, only 18% met criteria for treatment. Conclusions The new guidelines offer multiple new features but have a tendency to underappreciate the risk for disease in young adults. To improve performance in young adults, statistical adjustments may be necessary.
Cervical Cord Compression Secondary to Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament

Study Design Resident's case problem. Background A 52-year-old Chinese male with a 10-year history of gradually worsening right hip stiffness, weakness, and pain was referred to physical therapy by his orthopedist, who made a diagnosis of developmental dysplasia of the right hip, with possible Legg-Calve-Perthes disease. The patient reported multiple falls over the last several years and a gradual onset of low back pain with an onset of “electricity” down both legs. The patient also reported mild numbness in both forearms and the right hand over the previous several months. This resident's case problem illustrates how a physical therapist recognized the presence of an atypical musculoskeletal pathology through the use of hypothesis-driven clinical reasoning and detailed physical examination. Diagnosis Examination of the patient's lumbar and cervical spine and hips revealed joint dysfunctions. Neurological testing revealed hyperreflexia. Special testing revealed lower extremity clonus with a positive Babin...
Structure/Function Relationship of the cAMP Response Element in Tyrosine Hydroxylase Gene Transcription

Expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is limited to catecholamine-producing neurons and neuroendocrine cells in a cell type-specific manner and is inducible by the cAMP-regulated signaling pathway. Previous results indicated that the cAMP response element (CRE) residing at −45 to −38 base pairs upstream of the transcription initiation site is essential for both basal and cAMP-inducible promoter activity of the 2.4-kilobase or shorter upstream sequence of the TH gene (Kim, K. S., Lee, M. K., Carroll, J., and Joh, T. H. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 15689–15695; Lazaroff, M., Patankar, S., Yoon, S. O., and Chikaraishi, D. M. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 21579–21589). Here, we further report that the CRE is critical for the promoter activity of the 5.6- or 9.0-kilobase upstream sequences of the rat TH gene, which had been shown to direct the cell-specific TH expression in vivo. To define the structure/function relationship of the CRE in transcriptional activation of the TH gene, we performed saturated mutational analyses of 12 nucleotides encompassing the CRE. Mutation of any nucleotide within the octamer motif results in a significant decrease of both basal and cAMP-inducible transcriptional activity of the TH reporter gene construct. Among the four nucleotides adjacent to the CRE (two 5′ and two 3′), only the G residue at the immediate 3′ position is important for full transcriptional activity. DNase I footprint analysis indicates a positive correlation between in vivo promoter activity and in vitro interaction between the CRE motif and its cognate protein factor(s). Reconstruction experiments using a TH promoter in which the native CRE was rendered inactive show that the CRE can transactivate transcription in either orientation through a window of approximately 200 base pairs upstream of the transcription initiation site, suggesting that CRE supports transcriptional activation of the TH gene in a distance-dependent manner. Finally, when the distance between the CRE and TATA box was changed by inserting an additional 5 or 10 bases, it was observed that both insertional mutations increased activity by approximately 3-fold. The cAMP inducibility was as intact as the wild type construct. Together, these results are consistent with a model in which transcriptional activation of the TH gene by the CRE requires that it be located within a certain proximity of the CAP site but does not depend on a stringent stereospecific alignment in relationship to the TATA element.
Role of peptide radioimmunoassay in understanding peptidepeptide interactions and clinical expression of gastroenteropancreatic endocrine tumors

Peptide radioimmunoassay has become an important clinical and research tool in understanding the role of peptides in the pathophysiology of gut endocrine tumor syndromes. A gut peptide radioimmunoassay laboratory has been established for the diagnosis and clinical monitoring of endocrine tumors of the gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) system. Radioimmunoassay has enhanced our awareness that co-occurring peptide interactions may modify and ultimately influence the clinical expression of these tumors. Furthermore, it has helped develop a rationale for the use of prototype peptides such as somatostatin and its long-acting analogue Sandostatin (SMS 201-995) in the management of GEP tumors. This group's experience, as well as the experience of other investigators, is presented, and the clinical utility of peptide radioimmunoassay in the field of gut endocrinology is demonstrated.
Coupled hartree—fock hyperpolarizabilities of FH and the basis set dependency problem

Abstract Numerical coupled Hartree—Fock hyperpolarizabilities through order have been computed for FH. The values are compared with previous LCAO calculations, and the inadequacy of the basis sets used in those calculations is demonstrated. A simple procedure for choosing adequate gaussian basis sets for molecular hyperpolarizability calculations is presented.
Approximate evaluations of Gabor expansions

Gabor function expansions are of particular interest in image analysis and understanding because they offer a means by which an image can be represented in an invariant form in both time and frequency domains. An asymptotic technique is developed for determining the coefficients of Gabor expansions. The technique overcomes some of the problems of the analytical determination of the coefficients of the expansions and may permit dealing with a larger class of functions.
Note on the Persistence of Pattern in a Gross Body Movement

In studying the movement patterns of 25 male undergraduates at Tufts University we found marked individual differences when the movement from sitting-to-standing was recorded by multiple-image photography (1). In the course of the study we selected one of the fastest and one of the slonrest Ss and marked the head with a small dot of reflecting tape centered in the Frankfort Plane. Multiple-image photographs were taken by a strobe flashing at 50 fps while S, with profile to the camera moved as quickly as possible from sitting to standing. Three photographs were obtained of each S and the six trajectories reproduced (p. 39). The two sets of curves differ markedly from each other, while within each set the individual curves show the same basic shape.
Fast Ferroelectric Liquid-Crystal Electrooptics

Present and future information technology requires ever faster data transmission rates, but conventional circuitry has serious limitations. In his Perspective, Walba describes a new generation of electrooptical devices based on liquid crystals. These ‘spatial light modulators’ can be integrated with silicon circuits to offer compact, ultrafast optical processing of data.
The role of monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of lymphomas.

Introduction: Monoclonal antibodies are a relatively new class of agents for the treatment of lymphoma. Areas covered: Review of the published literature focusing on therapeutic trials of monoclonal antibodies in lymphoma. Because of the extensive number of antibodies under development, this review will focus on either commercially available antibodies or those under development with published advanced clinical data. Expert opinion: The monoclonal antibodies are a unique class of drugs, which induce tumor lysis by immunologic mechanisms rather than DNA damage by more traditional chemotherapy or radiotherapy. These agents have a relatively benign side effect profile and have significant activity in chemoresistant lymphoma. Because this is a relatively new class of therapeutic agents, their role in the treatment of lymphoma is still being ascertained. These drugs appear to be synergistic with traditional chemotherapeutic agents and may play a significant role in maintenance therapy of the lymphomas.
Transporter Targeted Gatifloxacin Prodrugs: Synthesis, Permeability, and Topical Ocular Delivery

In this work, we aim to design and synthesize prodrugs of gatifloxacin targeting organic cation transporter (OCT), monocarboxylate transporter (MCT), and ATB (0, +) transporters and to identify a prodrug with enhanced delivery to the back of the eye. Dimethylamino-propyl, carboxy-propyl, and amino-propyl(2-methyl) derivatives of gatifloxacin (GFX), DMAP-GFX, CP-GFX, and APM-GFX, were designed and synthesized to target OCT, MCT, and ATB (0, +) transporters, respectively. An LC-MS method was developed to analyze drug and prodrug levels in various studies. Solubility and log D (pH 7.4) were measured for prodrugs and the parent drug. The permeability of the prodrugs was determined in the cornea, conjunctiva, and sclera-choroid-retinal pigment epitheluim (SCRPE) and compared with gatifloxacin using an Ussing chamber assembly. Permeability mechanisms were elucidated by determining the transport in the presence of transporter specific inhibitors. 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium iodide (MPP+), nicotinic acid sodium salt, and α-methyl-DL-tryptophan were used to inhibit OCT, MCT, and ATB (0, +) transporters, respectively. A prodrug selected based on in vitro studies was administered as an eye drop to pigmented rabbits, and the delivery to various eye tissues including vitreous humor was compared with gatifloxacin dosing. DMAP-GFX exhibited 12.8-fold greater solubility than GFX. All prodrugs were more lipophilic, with the measured log D (pH 7.4) values ranging from 0.05 to 1.04, when compared to GFX (log D: -1.15). DMAP-GFX showed 1.4-, 1.8-, and 1.9-fold improvement in permeability across the cornea, conjunctiva, and SCRPE when compared to GFX. Moreover, it exhibited reduced permeability in the presence of MPP+ (competitive inhibitor of OCT), indicating OCT-mediated transport. CP-GFX showed 1.2-, 2.3-, and 2.5-fold improvement in permeability across the cornea, conjunctiva, and SCRPE, respectively. In the presence of nicotinic acid (competitive inhibitor of MCT), the permeability of CP-GFX was reduced across the conjunctiva. However, the cornea and SCRPE permeability of CP-GFX was not affected by nicotinic acid. APM-GFX did not show any improvement in permeability when compared to GFX across the cornea, conjunctiva, and SCRPE. Based on solubility and permeability, DMAP-GFX was selected for in vivo studies. DMAP-GFX showed 3.6- and 1.95-fold higher levels in vitreous humor and CRPE compared to that of GFX at 1 h after topical dosing. In vivo conversion of DMAP-GFX prodrug to GFX was quantified in tissues isolated at 1 h after dosing. The parent drug-to-prodrug ratio was 8, 70, 24, 21, 29, 13, 55, and 60% in the cornea, conjunctiva, iris-ciliary body, aqueous humor, sclera, CRPE, retina, and vitreous humor, respectively. In conclusion, DMAP-GFX prodrug enhanced solubility, log D, as well as OCT mediated delivery of gatifloxacin to the back of the eye.
THE EQUILIBRIUM CONSTANTS FOR MOLECULAR HYDROGEN ADSORPTION IN CARBON NANOTUBES BASED ON ITERATIVELY DETERMINED NANO-CONFINED BOUND STATES

A model for H2 inside single-walled carbon nanotubes is outlined. ARPACK (the Arnoldi package), a robust iterative matrix-vector eigenvalue software library, is used to determine the allowed quantum states of H2 inside various carbon nanotubes. This information is used to construct the equilibrium constants for H2 adsorption as a function of temperature for a variety of CNTs.
Emerging characterization of the role of SIRT3-mediated mitochondrial protein deacetylation in the heart

Studies to quantify the protein acetylome show that lysine-residue acetylation rivals phosphorylation in prevalence as a posttranslational modification. Interesting, this posttranslational modification is modified by nutrient flux and by redox stress and targets the vast majority of metabolic pathway proteins in the mitochondria. Furthermore, the mitochondrial deacetylase enzyme SIRT3 appears to be regulated by exercise in skeletal muscle and in response to pressure overload in the heart. The alteration of protein lysine residues by acetylation and the enzymes controlling deacetylation are beginning to be explored as important regulatory events in the control of mitochondrial function and homeostasis. This review focuses on the mitochondrial targets of SIRT3 that are functionally implicated in heart biology and pathology and on the direct cardiac consequences of the genetic manipulation of SIRT3. As therapeutic modulators of other SIRT isoforms have been identified, the longer-term objective of our understanding of this biology would be to identify SIRT3 modulators as putative cardiac therapeutic agents.
Relationship of macrofungal population to silvicultural treatments in a recently harvested pine forest

Abstract Both mechanical and chemical treatments of clear-cut pine forests have been shown to promote both growth and vigor in forest regeneration. Although the relationship between certain macrofungi and the forest ecosystem is well established, there is little information regarding the effects of silvicultural site-preparation treatments on the occurrence of these fungi. Randomly selected plots that received no (additional) treatment after clear-cutting [control (C)] and plots that were sheared roller-chopped (SC), and chopped and herbicide-treated (CH) following clear-cutting were sampled for visible macrofungal fruiting bodies. Fifty-five fungal genera were collected from the entire study areas. There were 29, 41 and 32 species collected in C, SC and CH plots, respectively. Fifty percent of the fruiting-body biomass occurred within CH plots, while 30% and 17% occurred within SC and C plots, respectively. The degree of correlation between both site-preparation and fungal biomass varied according to species.
Out of respect for life: Nazi abortion policy in the eastern occupied territories

(1999). Out of respect for life: Nazi abortion policy in the eastern occupied territories. Journal of Genocide Research: Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 379-385.
Lipids and carotid plaque in the Northern Manhattan Study (NOMAS)

Background Lipids, particularly low-density (LDL) and high-density (HDL) lipoproteins, are associated with increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease, probably due to atherosclerosis. The objective of this cross-sectional analysis was to investigate the relation between blood lipids and carotid plaque.
Marine invertebrate preparations useful in the bioassay of acetylcholine and 5-hydroxytryptamine.

CERTAIN isolated muscle and heart preparations of marine invertebrates are highly sensitive to acetylcholine, to 5-hydroxytryptamine (enteramine, serotonin), or to both of these substances. Bacq1 was the first and Ambache and Sawaya2 among the more recent to demonstrate the sensitivity to acetylcholine of muscle strips from holothurians (Echinodermata). Inhibition of heart-beat of the bivalve mollusc, Venus mercenaria, was first used by Welsh3 for the quantitative estimation of acetylcholine in tissue extracts. Recently, the same heart has been found to respond by increases in amplitude and frequency to low concentrations of 5-hydroxytryptamine4. Earlier, it had been reported5,6 that certain molluscan hearts had a low threshold to 5-hydroxytryptamine or tissue extracts containing this substance. At the Marine Biological Laboratory, during the summer of 1953, the need arose for the quantitative estimation of acetylcholine and 5-hydroxytryptamine in certain tissues. Several species of echinoderms and molluscs from the Plymouth region were secured, and isolated muscle and heart preparations were screened for their suitability in bioassay of these substances. Available holothurians were Holothuria nigra, Cucumaria normani, C. elongata, and a single specimen of Thyone sp. Pieces or entire lengths of the longitudinal muscle bands were dissected free from the inner body wall and set up in the manner commonly used for muscle strips during recording of contractions. In the case of C. normani the peristomal (pharyngeal) retractor muscles were also tried. While all these preparations contracted in low concentrations of acetylcholine, especially after eserinization, the difficulties that were encountered by earlier workers1,7 who had used other species of holothurians were obvious. Chief among these were spontaneous contractions, tendency to contract and remain contracted after eserine, and sensitivity to mechanical stimulation after eserine. This last was especially marked in the muscles from the single specimen of Thyone which, otherwise, were most promising since they were not spontaneously active.
Large amplitude axisymmetric vibrations of geometrically imperfect circular plates

Abstract This paper deals with the effects of geometric imperfections on the large amplitude vibrations of circular plates. It is found that geometric imperfections of the order of a fraction of the plate thickness may significantly raise the linear vibration frequencies. Furthermore, such imperfections may even change the inherent non-linear hard-spring character of the circular plates and cause them to exhibit soft-spring behavior. The effects of various boundary conditions are examined.
First-order 4-D data assimilation in a distributed model of surface temperature and energy fluxes

Reviews a first-order four-dimensional (4D) data assimilation exercise carried out as part of an investigation into the spatial scaling of surface temperature and energy fluxes in a semi-arid watershed, the upper San Pedro (/spl sim/7600 km/sup 2/), in SE Arizona. Realistic estimates of several spatial and temporal data sets were required prior to calculating surface fluxes. The choice of these parameters presents several challenges related to: typical model assumptions, scarcity of data, spatial resolution and model validation. Some of these problems, and ways to address them, are described. >
Postexposure Application of Fas Receptor Small-Interfering RNA to Suppress Sulfur Mustard–Induced Apoptosis in Human Airway Epithelial Cells: Implication for a Therapeutic Approach

Sulfur mustard (SM) is a vesicant chemical warfare and terrorism agent. Besides skin and eye injury, respiratory damage has been mainly responsible for morbidity and mortality after SM exposure. Previously, it was shown that suppressing the death receptor (DR) response by the dominant-negative Fas-associated death domain protein prior to SM exposure blocked apoptosis and microvesication in skin. Here, we studied whether antagonizing the Fas receptor (FasR) pathway by small-interfering RNA (siRNA) applied after SM exposure would prevent apoptosis and, thus, airway injury. Normal human bronchial/tracheal epithelial (NHBE) cells were used as an in vitro model with FasR siRNA, FasR agonistic antibody CH11, and FasR antagonistic antibody ZB4 as investigative tools. In NHBE cells, both SM (300 µM) and CH11 (100 ng/ml) induced caspase-3 activation, which was inhibited by FasR siRNA and ZB4, indicating that SM-induced apoptosis was via the Fas response. FasR siRNA inhibited SM-induced caspase-3 activation when added to NHBE cultures up to 8 hours after SM. Results using annexin V/propidium iodide-stained cells showed that both apoptosis and necrosis were involved in cell death due to SM; FasR siRNA decreased both apoptotic and necrotic cell populations. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of rats exposed to SM (1 mg/kg, 50 minutes) revealed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in soluble Fas ligand and active caspase-3 in BALF cells. These findings suggest an intervention of Fas-mediated apoptosis as a postexposure therapeutic strategy with a therapeutic window for SM inhalation injury and possibly other respiratory diseases involving the Fas response.
MAPS goes underground

The Honeywell Ore Recovery/Tunneling Aid (HORTA) is a precision inertial positioning and pointing system for use on mining equipment. The HORTA is based on the Honeywell Modular Azimuth Positioning System (MAPS) that is used in military applications. The HORTA is a completely autonomous self-contained Dynamic Reference Unit (DRU) inertial navigator mechanized using strapdown inertial algorithms, three ring laser gyroscopes (RLGs) for angular motion sensing, three Q-Flex accelerometers for translation measurements and special software for mining applications. The HORTA is used to determine the position of a continuous miner (CM) from remote controlled equipment. This allows the mining industry the ability to keep the workers at safe distances during the mining process and to have an accurate, reliable navigation system providing heading and location of the ore extraction equipment.
Macroscopic Magnetic Properties of High Temperature Superconductors: Effect of a Pinning Barrier Distribution

The magnetic properties of YBaCuO crystals are strongly affected by thermally activated flux creep over pinning barriers. Here the effect of a power-law distribution of pinning barriers is explored. The critical current density is predicted to have a power-law dependence on the reduced temperature difference approaching the transition temperature Tc and a logarithmic dependence on the timescale of the measurement. The dependence of the critical current on the measurement time provides a possible explanation of the disparity between the critical current measured in thin film transport experiments and Jc obtained from magnetic data. Also, in contrast to some earlier theory, the normalized logarithmic time derivative of the remanent magnetization is shown to not diverge near Tc, irrespective of the pinning barrier distribution.
Cerebral oximetry with blood volume index in asystolic pediatric cerebrospinal fluid malfunctioning shunt patients

Pediatric cerebrospinal fluid shunt malfunctions can present with varying complaints. The primary cause is elevated intracranial pressure (ICP). Malfunctioning sites are the proximal or distal sites[1-4]. A rare presenting complaint is cardiac arrest. Immediate ICP reduction is the only reversible option for this type of cardiac arrest.
Unilateral Multicystic Dysplastic Kidney With Progressive Infundibular Stenosis in the Contralateral Kidney: Experience at 1 Center and Review of Literature

Purpose: We analyzed the association between unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney and subsequent contralateral infundibular stenosis, which can result in progressive calyceal dilatation, and has been linked to global hyperfiltration injury and renal impairment.Materials and Methods: During the last 10 years 200 children presented with unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney. Of these children 5 subsequently exhibited contralateral infundibular stenosis. We reviewed the published data on multicystic dysplastic kidney as well as infundibular stenosis to examine this association further.Results: Three patients underwent open surgical exploration since rapid progression with associated parenchymal thinning was detected. Literature review failed to identify any discussion of infundibular stenosis in studies focusing on long-term followup of children with a unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney. Several case reports and case series discuss this condition in association with other collecting system anoma...
Synthesizing and Salvaging NAD+: Lessons Learned from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

The essential coenzyme nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) plays important roles in metabolic reactions and cell regulation in all organisms. Bacteria, fungi, plants, and animals use different pathways to synthesize NAD+. Our molecular and genetic data demonstrate that in the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas NAD+ is synthesized from aspartate (de novo synthesis), as in plants, or nicotinamide, as in mammals (salvage synthesis). The de novo pathway requires five different enzymes: L-aspartate oxidase (ASO), quinolinate synthetase (QS), quinolate phosphoribosyltransferase (QPT), nicotinate/nicotinamide mononucleotide adenylyltransferase (NMNAT), and NAD+ synthetase (NS). Sequence similarity searches, gene isolation and sequencing of mutant loci indicate that mutations in each enzyme result in a nicotinamide-requiring mutant phenotype in the previously isolated nic mutants. We rescued the mutant phenotype by the introduction of BAC DNA (nic2-1 and nic13-1) or plasmids with cloned genes (nic1-1 and nic15-1) into the mutants. NMNAT, which is also in the de novo pathway, and nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) constitute the nicotinamide-dependent salvage pathway. A mutation in NAMPT (npt1-1) has no obvious growth defect and is not nicotinamide-dependent. However, double mutant strains with the npt1-1 mutation and any of the nic mutations are inviable. When the de novo pathway is inactive, the salvage pathway is essential to Chlamydomonas for the synthesis of NAD+. A homolog of the human SIRT6-like gene, SRT2, is upregulated in the NS mutant, which shows a longer vegetative life span than wild-type cells. Our results suggest that Chlamydomonas is an excellent model system to study NAD+ metabolism and cell longevity.
Scalable Room Synchronizations

This paper presents a scalable solution to the group mutual exclusion problem, with applications to linearizable stacks and queues, and related problems. Our solution allows entry and exit from the mutually exclusive regions in $O(t_r + \tau)$ time, where $t_r$ is the maximum time spent in a critical region by a user, and $\tau$ is the maximum time taken by any instruction, including a fetch-and-add instruction. This bound holds regardless of the number of users. We describe how stacks and queues can be implemented using two regions, one for pushing (enqueueing) and one for popping (dequeueing). These implementations are particularly simple, are linearizable, and support access in time proportional to a fetch-and-add operation. In addition, we present experimental results comparing room synchronizations with the Keane–Moir algorithm for group mutual exclusion.
Effects of intrathecal kynurenate on arterial pressure during chronic osmotic stress in conscious rats.

Increased plasma osmolality elevates mean arterial pressure (MAP) through activation of the sympathetic nervous system, but the neurotransmitters released in the spinal cord to regulate MAP during ...
Deadline aware packet scheduling in switches for multimedia streaming applications

We consider the problem of scheduling packets in an input queued switch with a focus on processing streamed multimedia data. In such applications, packets arrive with hard service deadlines; after the deadline for a packet has passed, it is no longer useful and does not get delivered - it is dropped. We seek policies to minimize the number of late packets, which are then dropped. The problem is formulated in a Dynamic Programming framework and shown to be intractable. The formulation is contrasted to the related crossbar switch scheduling problem, with an emphasis on the fact that we have a different objective function. A simplified probabilistic version of the streaming problem is used as motivation for a heuristic solution. Finally, we present results from a simulation in which a simple heuristic based on weighting queues according to the deadline of the leading packet consistently outperforms the well-known maximum weight matching (MWM) algorithm.
International Crisis Decisionmaking as a Two-Level Process

The primary focus of this article is to break the ties to examining democracies to the exclusion of other regime types. Inspired by work in the two-level games approach to the larger question of foreign policy behavior, we broaden the two-level approach by examining the impact of domestic factors on decisionmaking across regime types and how they relate to the use and extent of violence in international crisis. Our analysis is bounded substantively and conceptually, however, by our exclusive focus in this article on decisionmaking in international crises. We use the 895 foreign policy crisis cases of the International Crisis Behavior (ICB) dataset for our analysis, which entails an examination of process and decisionmaking structural variables using cross-tabulations and a series of logistic regression models. We find that democracies exhibit many behaviors similar to non-democracies in crisis. The prevalent effects of action-reaction processes that result from the initial impact of the crisis-trigger sup...
The KEEP ON GOING Protein of Arabidopsis Recruits the ENHANCED DISEASE RESISTANCE1 Protein to Trans-Golgi Network/Early Endosome Vesicles

Loss-of-function mutations in the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) ENHANCED DISEASE RESISTANCE1 (EDR1) gene confer enhanced resistance to powdery mildew infection, enhanced senescence, and enhanced programmed cell death under both abiotic and biotic stress conditions. All edr1-mediated phenotypes can be suppressed by a specific missense mutation (keg-4) in the KEEP ON GOING (KEG) gene, which encodes a multidomain protein that includes a RING E3 ligase domain, a kinase domain, ankyrin repeats, and HERC2-like (for HECT and RCC1-like) repeats. The molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying this suppression are poorly understood. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy and fluorescent protein fusions, we determined that KEG localizes to trans-Golgi network/early endosome (TGN/EE) vesicles. Both the keg-4 mutation, which is located in the carboxyl-terminal HERC2-like repeats, and deletion of the entire HERC2-like repeats reduced endosomal localization of KEG and increased localization to the endoplasmic reticulum and cytosol, indicating that the HERC2-like repeats facilitate the TGN/EE targeting of KEG. EDR1 colocalized with KEG to the TGN/EE when coexpressed but localized primarily to the endoplasmic reticulum when expressed alone. Yeast two-hybrid and coimmunoprecipitation analyses revealed that EDR1 and KEG physically interact. Deletion of the HERC2-like repeats abolished the interaction between KEG and EDR1 as well as the KEG-induced TGN/EE localization of EDR1, indicating that the recruitment of EDR1 to the TGN/EE is based on a direct interaction between EDR1 and KEG mediated by the HERC2-like repeats. Collectively, these data suggest that EDR1 and KEG function together to regulate endocytic trafficking and/or the formation of signaling complexes on TGN/EE vesicles during stress responses.
When Does Employee Turnover Matter? Dynamic Member Configurations, Productive Capacity, and Collective Performance

In theory, employee turnover has important consequences for groups, work units, and organizations. However, past research has not revealed consistent empirical support for a relationship between aggregate levels of turnover and performance outcomes. In this paper, we present a novel conceptualization of turnover to explain when, why, and how it affects important outcomes. We suggest that greater attention to five characteristics—leaver proficiencies, time dispersion, positional distribution, remaining member proficiencies, and newcomer proficiencies—will reveal dynamic member configurations that predictably influence productive capacity and collective performance. We describe and illustrate the five properties, explain how particular member configurations exacerbate or diminish turnover's effects, and present a new measurement approach that captures these characteristics in a collective context and over time.
The detection of blood impurities using ultrasound Doppler.

Abstract The atraumatic detection of blood impurities such as charcoal particles has potential importance in the monitoring of extracorporeal blood flow for hemodialysis systems using carbon slurry in the dialisate and for blood detoxification using carbon columns. It is shown that existing clinical ultrasound Doppler systems can detect carbon particles whose diameter is comparable to that of an erythrocyte in concentrations as low as 1.5 × 10 −6 g/ml in less than one second. It is shown that for particle detection in flow, Doppler systems are more sensitive than pulse echo systems of equivalent resolution by the ratio of the velocity of sound to that of the flow.
Fabry's disease

Summary Fabry's disease is an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder caused by abnormalities in the GLA gene, which leads to a deficiency in α-galactosidase A. The consequent abnormal accumulation of glycosphingolipids results in several clinical signs and symptoms and substantial morbidity and mortality. This review covers all basic aspects of the disease such as epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation by systems, diagnosis, management, prevention, and repercussions on quality of life. With the development of enzyme replacement therapy in the past few years, early initiation of treatment is key for improvement in major affected organs with decreased cardiac mass and stabilisation of kidney function, and improvement in neuropathic pain, sweating, gastrointestinal symptoms, hearing loss, and pulmonary symptoms. However, treatment of individual symptoms in addition to enzyme replacement therapy seems to be needed for many patients, especially those who have had some degree of organ dysfunction. Additional data are needed to document long-term treatment outcomes.
Computational modeling of direct print microlithography

Using a combination of experiment and simulations, we have studied the equilibrium shapes of liquid microstructures on flat but chemically heterogeneous substrates. The surface patterns, which define regions of different surface energy, induce deformations of the liquid-solid contact line, which in turn can either promote or impede capillary break-up and bulge formation. We study numerically the influence of the adhesion energies on the hydrophilic and hydrophobic surface areas, the pattern geometry and the deposited fluid volume on the liquid surface profiles
Methamphetamine-induced decrease in tryptophan hydroxylase activity: role of 5-hydroxytryptaminergic transporters

Abstract Methamphetamine-induced 5-hydroxytryptaminergic neuronal damage purportedly involves transport of newly released dopamine from extracellular spaces into 5-hydroxytryptaminergic terminals. This hypothesis is based primarily on findings that dopamine is required for, whereas 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) uptake inhibitors prevent, methamphetamine-induced deficits in 5-hydroxytryptaminergic neuronal function. This hypothesis is not, however, supported by findings presented in this study that 5-hydroxytryptaminergic neuronal damage, induced by p-chloroamphetamine, does not decrease [3H]dopamine uptake into rat brain synaptosomes prepared from 5-HT-transporter-containing tissue. Moreover, despite having greater affinity for the 5-HT transporter, citalopram has an IC50 for [3H]dopamine transport into these synaptosomal preparations that is considerably greater than that of fluoxetine. These data suggest that 5-HT transporters may not effect dopamine uptake and thereby methamphetamine-induced 5-hydroxytryptaminergic neuronal damage. Other possible mechanisms related to 5-HT uptake inhibitor attenuation of methamphetamine-induced deficits were investigated. Fluoxetine pretreatment prevented the methamphetamine-induced decrease in tryptophan hydroxylase activity: this effect cannot be attributed to altered body temperatures or brain concentrations of methamphetamine which suggests that neither, per se, is sufficient to impair 5-hydroxytryptaminergic neuronal function. © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Microwave observations of daily Antarctic sea-ice edge expansion and contraction rates

Algorithms for estimating sea-ice extent from remotely sensed microwave sensor data can benefit from knowledge of the "a priori" distribution of the daily expansion and contraction of the sea-ice pack. To estimate the probability distribution of daily Antarctic sea-ice extent change, two independent sea-ice datasets are analyzed: sea-ice extent derived from the QuikSCAT scatterometer and ice concentration estimates from the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager. The daily sea-ice advance and retreat is tracked over a four-year period. The distribution of the daily sea-ice advance/retreat from each sensor is similar and is approximately double-exponential. Daily ice-pack statistics are presented.
Probing trivalent actinide ions in heavy metal fluoride glasses via laser excitation

Abstract The demonstration of efficient fluorescence of americium and curium in heavy metal fluoride glasses opens up new possibilities for the study of the electronic structure of actinide ions. Fluorescence spectra, lifetimes and branching ratios give complementary information to absorption spectra that aids in determining energies and wavefunctions of electronic excited states as well as providing unique information on the interaction of ions and the migration of energy. Heavy metal fluoride glasses are excellent hosts for fluorescence studies, with a broad range of transparency and no high energy vibrations to compete with fluorescence via multiphonon non-radiative decay. Our studies have helped resolve the energy level structure of americium and suggest an explanation for the failure to observe laser action. Fluorescence line-narrowing experiments in curium-doped glasses allow us to estimate the ground state splitting and measure the temperature dependence of homogeneous broadening.
A new spiral model for Saturn's magnetosphere

Rather than a clock-like strobe, a rotating spiral may underlie the ~10.7 h periodicities observed in many phenomena in Saturn's magnetosphere. This spiral is a density or flux wave propagating outward from the planet, and the periodicity is generated when a spacecraft encounters the wave. The wave moves outward with the Alfven speed, which can be computed from the magnetic field strength and plasma mass density. Using data from the first 200 days of 2010, the observed field strength and plasma density are used to compute this speed and construct the spiral. When the Cassini spacecraft “flies through” this model on a real trajectory, the model produces a strong main period at 10.7 h with weaker secondary periods at 10.4 h and 11.0 h resulting from Doppler effects. Periodograms of observed phenomena from the same interval show a main peak at 10.7 h but with spurious secondary peaks due to noise.