cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hydrostratigraphic modeling of a complex, glacial-drift aquifer system for importation into MODFLOW.

Deposition from at least three episodes of glaciation left a complex glacial-drift aquifer system in central Illinois. The deepest and largest of these aquifers, the Sankoty-Mahomet Aquifer, occupies the lower part of a buried bedrock valley and supplies water to communities throughout central Illinois. Thin, discontinuous aquifers are present within glacial drift overlying the Sankoty-Mahomet Aquifer. This study was commissioned by local governments to identify possible areas where a regional water supply could be obtained from the aquifer with minimal adverse impacts on existing users. Geologic information from more than 2200 existing water well logs was supplemented with new data from 28 test borings, water level measurements in 430 wells, and 35 km of surface geophysical profiles. A three-dimensional (3-D) hydrostratigraphic model was developed using a contouring software package, a geographic information system (GIS), and the 3-D geologic modeling package, Earth Vision®. The hydrostratigraphy of the glacial-drift sequence was depicted as seven uneven and discontinuous layers, which could be viewed from an infinite number of horizontal and vertical slices and as solid models of any layer. Several iterations were required before the 3-D model presented a reasonable depiction of the aquifer system. Layers from the resultant hydrostratigraphic model were imported into MODFLOW, where they were modified into continuous layers. This approach of developing a 3-D hydrostratigraphic model can be applied to other areas where complex aquifer systems are to be modeled and is also useful in helping lay audiences visualize aquifer systems.
Nucleotide sequence of a cDNA clone encoding mouse transition protein 1

We have determined the nucleotide sequence of cDNA clones encoding mouse transition protein 1 (TP1), a basic nuclear protein involved in nuclear condensation during spermiogenesis. The nucleotide sequence predicts that transition protein 1 in rats and mice differs by only one amino acid. The rate of substitution of nucleotides in the coding region of mouse and rat transition protein 1 mRNA is close to the average of many proteins in rats and mice, and the usage of degenerate codons is typical of the mouse. The identification of this cDNA clone, in conjunction with previous work (Kleene et al. (1983) Dev. Biol. 98, 455-464; Hecht et al. (1986) Exp. Cell Res. 164, 183-190), demonstrates that the mRNA for mouse transition protein 1 accumulates during the haploid phase of spermatogenesis.
Vestibular Nerve Response to Pressure Changes in the External Auditory Meatus of the Guinea Pig

Increases and decreases of action potential (pulse) rate were observed in some single vestibular ganglion nerve cells of the guinea pig in response to pressure changes in the external auditory meatus. Minimum stimulus intensities necessary to elicit clear responses were in the range of 1-2 cm Hg. These results (1) support an hypothesis regarding mechanisms of vestibular activation by intense infra- and audiofrequency sound, and (2) suggest a new stimulus technique for neurophysiological investigations of the vestibular pathway and central sensory integration.
Preference regions and their probabilities based on a rectangular grid

In this article we consider a town in which the thoroughfares are laid out in a rectangular grid. Using the l1 metric, we determine the Dirichlet regions for competitive convenience stores. Under the assumption of normality, we exemplify a technique for calculating the probability of the Dirichlet region associated with each convenience store. This method is generalized to the case where intersecting thoroughfares are oblique. Finally the example is used to illustrate the calculation of posterior Pitman's measure of closeness for various Bayesian estimators.
Auditory Neuroscience: Recalibration of Space Perception Requires Cortical Feedback

Summary Behavioral implications for the massive feedback connections from auditory cortex to the inferior colliculus have been elusive, but at last one has been identified — cortical feedback is required for recalibration of spatial hearing following changes to the auditory periphery.
Plug-Based Microfluidics with Defined Surface Chemistry to Miniaturize and Control Aggregation of Amyloidogenic Peptides

Small with control: For miniaturization of protein aggregation experiments the interfacial chemistry must be controlled to avoid protein aggregation caused by interfacial adsorption. Plug-based microfluidics with defined surface chemistry (see schematic picture) can then be used to perform hundreds of aggregation experiments with volume-limited samples, such as cerebrospinal fluid from mice.
The TolC protein of Escherichia coli serves as a cell-surface receptor for the newly characterized TLS bacteriophage.

The TolC protein of Escherichia coli is implicated in a variety of diverse cellular functions, including antibiotic efflux and alpha-hemolysin secretion. An incidental role of TolC is to facilitate the entry of the bacteriophage TLS and colicin E1 into the bacterial cell. Despite the resolution of TolC's atomic structure, the roles of specific residues in its diverse functions are unknown. Here, we describe a genetic strategy for isolating missense tolC mutations that abolish the bacteriophage receptor activity of the TolC protein without influencing its role in antibiotic efflux. These spontaneous mutations affected two regions of the TolC protein and included base-pair substitutions, insertions, and deletions. Comparison of the TolC sequence with those of its homologues revealed two hypervariable stretches that were predicted to represent loops. Interestingly, all but one of the TolC alterations preventing phage binding were located in these two hypervariable regions, which are likely to be exposed on the cell surface. This was substantiated by the recently solved three-dimensional structure of TolC. Curiously, all the phage-resistant TolC mutants showed varying degrees of resistance to colicin E1, suggesting the involvement of overlapping regions of TolC in colicin E1 import and phage binding. The phage used in this study, TLS, was earlier reported as a strain of U3. However, we show here that, unlike the previously reported lipopolysaccharide-specific U3 phage, this phage displays a distinctly different host range and discrete morphological features and, in addition to utilizing TolC as receptor, it requires the inner core of a lipopolysaccharide.
Isolation of amino acid acceptor RNA from purified avian myeloblastosis virus

Abstract Two RNA components were isolated from avian myeloblastosis virus which had been purified by a procedure that includes RNase treatment of the virus. About 60% of the RNA had a sedimentation coefficient of 65 s, whereas the remainder of the RNA had a sedimentation coefficient of 4 s. The 4 s AMV RNA can be aminoacylated by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases prepared from chick embryos. The larger RNA cannot be charged. Compared to RNA from myeloblasts or chick embryos, aminoacylation of 4 s AMV RNA was nearly the same, or elevated, for Val, Pro, Met, Gly, Asp and Arg. It was greatly reduced, or undetectable, for Ile, Ser, Phe, Thr and Tyr. It is concluded that the 4 s RNA found in AMV does not have the same amino acid-accepting activity as that found in host cells.
Karyotypes of some asian mosquitoes of the subfamily culicinae (Diptera: Culicidae).

The chromosome complements of the following 15 species of culicine mosquitoes were studied and illustrated: Aedes (Christophersiomyia) thomsoni (Theobald), Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse), Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus), Armigeres (Armigeres) subalbatus (Coquillett), Culex (Lutzia) fuscanus Wiedemann, Culex (Lutzia) raptor (Edwards), Culex (Culex) fuscocephala Theobald, Culex (Culex) pipiens fatigans Wiedemann, Culex (Culex) annulus Theobald, Culex (Culex) pseudovishnui Colless, Culex (Culex) tritaeniorhynchus Giles, Culex (Culex) sitiens Wiedemann, Culex (Culex) neolitoralis Bram, Culex (Culex) bitaeniorhynchus Giles, and Culex (Culex) gelidus Theobald. The chromosomes of 11 of these species had not previously been studied, and the subgenera Christophersiomyia and Lutzia were examined for the first time. The diploid chromosome number for all species examined was 6. No heteromorphic chromosomes were found in tissues from testis or ovary. While the karyotypes of 12 of these species were in conformity to previous work, i.e., chromosome 1 being considerably shorter than chromosome 2 and 3 with chromosome 2 approximating chromosome 3, new karyotypes for 3 species, C. (L.) fuscanus, C. (L.) raptor and C. (C.) gelidus , were described in which chromosome 2 is considerably shorter and approximates chromosome 1.
Experimental verification of calculated IGBT losses in PFCs

Measurements of insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) losses in modulated converters present a difficult challenge because of the wide variations in the waveform. As an alternative, earlier references (1994, 1995) provided a means of calculating these losses from out-of-circuit test data, but no experimental verification was presented. To provide this verification, this present study compares these calculated losses with measured losses obtained from the temperature rise of the heat sink of the IGBT. These experimental results agree quite well with the earlier loss calculations, and the largest deviation for four test cases is less than 4%.
TH‐D‐M100J‐09: Activity Recovery From Dual Radiotracer PET Scans

Purpose: Comprehensive assessment of tumor biological substructure requires multiple PETradiotracers resulting in time‐consuming imaging procedures. Ideally, multiple PET scans should be performed during one “imaging session,” resulting in the presence of multiple radiotracers during the later scans. We aim to develop a methodology to recover the activities of two mixed radionuclides present during a PET scan. Method and Materials: A heterogeneous tumor phantom composed of empty acrylic spheres mounted inside a cylindrical “background region” filled with low‐activity 18 F solution was scanned for 10‐minutes. Then, high‐activity 64 Cu solution was injected into the spheres while low‐activity 64 Cu solution was mixed into the background region and a 600‐minute dynamic PET scan was acquired. Images containing one radionuclide were subtracted from dual‐radionuclide images, yielding “recovered images” of each radionuclide. Recovered images were compared with single radionuclide reference images. Subsequently, canine subjects with nasopharyngeal tumors were injected with 64 Cu ‐ATSM (hypoxia radiotracer) and scanned 24 hours later, followed immediately by 18FLT injection (cellularproliferationradiotracer) and another scan. Images from 64 Cu ‐ATSM canine scans were subtracted from dual‐radiotracer images.Results: Recovered phantom images closely correlated with reference images. 64 Cu image correlation coefficients were consistently higher than 0.96 and increased as 18 F “contamination” decayed. 18 F image correlation coefficients were higher than 0.95 for 18 F background activities greater than 14% of the total background activity. By image subtraction, the biological distribution of 18FLT in the canine nasopharyngeal tumors was recovered from the dual‐radiotracer images.Conclusions: Radionuclide activities can be effectively recovered from PET scans containing two mixed radionuclides. Subtraction of single radiotracerimages from dual‐radiotracer images is a reliable method of activity recovery, provided the pharmacokinetics of one radiotracer is stable during dual‐radiotracer image acquisition. Implications are positive for sequential imaging of different physiological functions using multiple radiotracers during one “multiple PET scan” imaging session.
Comparative squalene synthase gene expression in mouse liver and testis.

RNA from various mouse organs was analyzed by Northern hybridization to determine the response of squalene synthase (SQS) mRNA to dietary cholesterol, or lovastatin and cholestyramine, administration. Two size-classes of highly abundant mouse SQS (mSQS) mRNAs of approximately 1.9 and 2.0 kb were found in testis. These transcripts were unresponsive to sterol regulation. A single size-class of liver mSQS mRNA of approximately 1.9 kb was sterol-regulated. Studies using primer extension and 5' rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) indicated that the size differences in liver and testis mSQS transcripts were due to variations in the lengths of the 5' untranslated regions (UTRs). The longest testis 5' UTR extended approximately 106 nt 5' of the primary transcription initiation site in liver of mice fed lovastatin and cholestyramine. These results suggest that tissue-specific promoter elements control the transcriptional regulation of the promoters for the mSQS gene in liver and testis.
The Partition Algebra as a Centralizer Algebra of the Alternating Group

ABSTRACT In this article, we focus on the result of V.F.R. Jones which says that the partition algebra is the algebra of all transformations commuting with the action of the symmetric group on tensor products of its permutation representation. In particular, we restrict the action of the symmetric group to the action of the alternating group. In this context, we compute a basis for the centralizer algebra and show when the centralizer is isomorphic to the partition algebra.
The Chairman of a Department of Surgery

Article II of the Constitution of the Association for Academic Surgery [l] states that, “The objective of this Association shall be to stimulate young surgeons to pursue careers in academic surgery. . . .” A possible corollary to this objective would be the encouragement of members of the Association to seek a career culminating in Chairman of a Department of Surgery. An often-heard figure with regard to the incidence of vacant Chairs within Departments of Surgery in the United States and Canada approaches 25%. Likewise, one often hears that the half-life of Chairmen of Departments of Surgery, like their counterparts, the Deans of Medical Schools, within these two countries, is measured in months rather than in years. While this enigma challenges investigation, the Committee On Issues felt the need to explore first the role of the Chairman of a Department of Surgery prior to initiating an investigation of his apparent neonatal mortality. In an attempt to address the former question, and perhaps in preparation for ultimately addressing the latter question, we elected to direct a questionnaire to Chairmen of Departments of Surgery, as well as their immediate superiors, the Deans of
The effect of protein degradability on milk composition and production of early lactation, somatotropin-injected cows.

Abstract Twenty multiparous Holstein cows in early lactation that received 500 mg bST injected every 2 wk were assigned to one of two treatments to examine the influence of diets that varied in degradability of protein. Effects of degradability were determined on milk production and components and on nutrient digestibility. Treatments consisted of a basal ration (control) containing soybean meal as its primary degradable protein source and a ration (treatment) containing corn gluten and meat and bone meals as the primary undegradable protein source, representing 33% undegradable protein in CP. The undegradability of protein sources did not influence DMI and BW. Milk yield, 3.5% FCM, and production efficiency of bST-treated cows were not affected by increased undegradable protein in the diet. Milk fat and SNF were not significantly increased by treatment. Lactose was significantly higher for the control diet (5.0 vs. 4.9%) but was not biologically significant. Increasing undegradability of protein significantly increased total protein in milk and casein percentage in milk protein (3.14 vs. 2.86% and 62.11 vs. 58.24%, respectively). Total tract digestibility of nutrients was unaffected by treatment; however, CP digestibility tended to be higher as undegradability increased (67.85 vs. 62.83%).
KAR5 Encodes a Novel Pheromone-inducible Protein Required for Homotypic Nuclear Fusion

KAR5 is required for membrane fusion during karyogamy, the process of nuclear fusion during yeast mating. To investigate the molecular mechanism of nuclear fusion, we cloned and characterized the KAR5 gene and its product. KAR5 is a nonessential gene, and deletion mutations produce a bilateral defect in the homotypic fusion of yeast nuclei. KAR5 encodes a novel protein that shares similarity with a protein in Schizosaccharomyces pombe that may play a similar role in nuclear fusion. Kar5p is induced as part of the pheromone response pathway, suggesting that this protein uniquely plays a specific role during mating in nuclear membrane fusion. Kar5p is a membrane protein with its soluble domain entirely contained within the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. In pheromone-treated cells, Kar5p was localized to the vicinity of the spindle pole body, the initial site of fusion between haploid nuclei during karyogamy. We propose that Kar5p is required for the completion of nuclear membrane fusion and may play a role in the organization of the membrane fusion complex.
Generational Differences in Work Ethic Among 3 Generations of Registered Nurses

OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study was to understand if differences in dimensions of work ethic exist among 3 generations of nurses working in an inpatient setting at an acute care facility.BACKGROUND:Generational differences are linked with increased turnover, with work ethic frequently cited as a
An ACE inhibitor improves vascular outcomes in a PKD model.

cardiovascular complications are the most common cause of death in patients with polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Within the context of clinical practice, two possible theories have been reviewed that could help describe the pathogenesis of vascular complications in PKD ([7][1]). Theory 1 points to
Patient perceptions of discomfort and changes in vision and functional status associated with intravitreal triamcinolone injection.

Purpose To assess patient perceptions concerning discomfort and changes in vision associated with intravitreal triamcinolone injections (IVTA). Design Prospective consecutive case series. Methods Fifty patients treated with IVTA between June 2003 and February 2005 were interviewed by telephone 10 to 12 weeks after injection. Each question was answered on a 1 to 5 scale. Results There was no significant difference in reported amount of ocular discomfort pre-injection vs post-injection (1.0 vs 1.1, respectively). Expected pain level (2.9) was higher than the actual pain level (1.6; P P Conclusions Patient expectation of discomfort during IVTA was greater than their actual experience; approximately two-thirds of patients reported improved vision and about one-third reported improved functional status after injection.
Why Have Debt Ratios Increased for Firms in Emerging Markets

I study trends in capital structure between 1980 and 2004 in a sample of over 11,000 firms from 34 emerging markets. The average firm's book-value debt ratio rose by 10 percentage points over this quarter century; market-value debt ratios rose by 15 percentage points. I study how this rise in leverage was influenced by the firm-level demand for and the country-level supply of debt financing. The central finding is that the increase in debt ratios can largely be attributed to changes in the characteristics of emerging market firms over this period. For the average firm, the most prominent determinants of capital structure -- size, profitability, asset tangibility, and growth opportunities -- all shifted in the direction implying a higher optimal level of debt. On the supply side, increased financial development within the country is associated with lower debt ratios, but increased financial openness to foreign markets is associated with higher debt ratios.
The Impact of U.S. Government Antiterrorism Policies on Canada-U.S. Cross-Border Commerce: An Exploratory Study from Western New York and Southern Ontario

This article examines the extant and potential impact of U.S. antiterrorism policies on Canada-U.S. cross-border commerce. Particular attention is focused on the cross-border trade that takes place between southern Ontario (Canada) and western New York (United States). Evidence from a survey of Canadian and U.S. exporters suggests that U.S. antiterrorism measures have inflated the business costs of exporters on both sides of the border. These measures have also created shipment delays that ultimately imply lost revenues for producers, as well as higher prices for consumers. Security-related initiatives motivated by a genuine concern for the well-being of U.S. citizens may nevertheless act as nontariff barriers to bilateral trade. We argue that a potential long-run consequence of these additional costs is trade diversion. The article concludes with a brief discussion of the implications of the empirical findings for the geography of Canada-U.S. bilateral trade.
Soil-Transmitted Helminth Prevalence and Infection Intensity Among Geographically and Economically Distinct Shuar Communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections can result in a variety of negative health outcomes (e.g., diarrhea, nutritional deficiencies). Market integration (MI; participation in market-based economies) has been suggested to alter levels of STH exposure due to associated changes in diet, sanitation, and behavior, but the effects are complicated and not well understood. Some effects of economic development result in decreased exposure to certain pathogens, and other factors can lead to higher pathogen exposure. With geographic location used as a proxy, the present study investigates the effects of economic development on parasite load among an indigenous population at multiple points along the spectrum of MI. This research has many implications for public health, including an increased understanding of how social and economic changes alter disease risk around the world and how changing parasite load affects other health outcomes (i.e., allergy, autoimmunity). Specifically, this study examines the prevalence of intestinal helminths among the Shuar, an indigenous group in the Morona-Santiago region of Ecuador, from 2 geographically/economically separated areas, with the following objectives: (1) report STH infection prevalence and intensity among Shuar; (2) explore STH infection prevalence and intensity as it relates to age distribution in the Shuar population; (3) compare STH infection patterns in geographically and economically separated Shuar communities at different levels of MI. Kato-Katz thick smears were made from fresh stool samples and examined to determine STH presence/intensity. Results indicate that 65% of the 211 participants were infected with at least 1 STH. Twenty-five percent of the sample had coinfections with at least 2 species of helminth. Infection was more common among juveniles (<15 yr) than adults. Infection prevalence and intensity was highest among more isolated communities with less market access. This study documents preliminary associations between STH infection and exposure to MI, with implications for public health research and interventions.
Effect of abscisic acid on sucker development and callus formation on excised roots of Populus tremuloides

Abscisic acid (ABA) inhibited sucker development and promoted callus formation from cambium exposed at cut ends of excised roots from two clones of trembling aspen, Populus tremuloides Michx. Clonal differences in response to ABA inhibition of sucker outgrowth appeared to be related to the developmental stage of the preexisting shoot primordia. When ABA treatment was followed about a month later by gibberellic acid, ABA inhibition was partially reversed. This is one of few investigations in which both promotive and inhibitory effects of ABA have been demonstrated simultaneously on the same plant part.
DISPERSAL OF INVERTEBRATES AMONG TEMPORARY PONDS: ARE GENETIC ESTIMATES ACCURATE?

Dispersal is difficult to quantify in most temporary pond invertebrates. As a consequence, researchers often infer the movement of individuals from indirect estimates of gene flow. Here, we review the assumptions associated with the most common gene flow estimate, which approximates migration using a simple island model and assumes equilibrium. Particular attention is focused on empirical studies of temporary pond invertebrates, where nonequilibrium conditions may be particularly important. When populations have not reached a long-term equilibrium between the migration of genes and random drift, estimates of movement can be biased dramatically. Eight comparative and theoretical tests for ascertaining these biases are described here. In some cases, specific hypotheses regarding contemporary and historical processes can also be tested statistically using computer simulations. Although the accuracy of gene flow estimates in temporary pond species varies widely, empirical and theoretical methods for assessing...
Restoring Resiliency: Case Studies from Pacific Northwest Estuarine Eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) Ecosystems

An objective of many ecological restoration projects is to establish resilience to disturbances. Eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) represents a useful model to evaluate resilience because the plant community is dominated by one species and the estuarine environment is dynamic. Our studies of planted and reference plots used shoot density monitoring data from three projects spanning 3 to 12 years. Data show that eelgrass can recover from major shifts in pond position and shape on sandflats, as well as natural disturbances causing >20-fold change in density. However, cumulative effects of multiple stressors on unestablished plantings suggest algal blooms of unusual magnitude can tip normally marginal conditions to unfavorable. Thus, potential resilience appears to depend on landscape conditions. A dynamic equilibrium was evinced in even the deepest, lowest-density plantings, probably associated with light-mediated carrying capacity and vegetative belowground production characteristic of the Pacific Northwest. We recommend eight resilience-related planning elements to reduce uncertainties in eelgrass restoration.
Oxygen Therapy in the Neonatal Care Environment

The use of oxygen in the treatment of neonates with respiratory distress has been reported for more than a century. Oxygen therapy is generally titrated to one or more measures of blood oxygenation and administered to reverse or prevent hypoxia. Individual responses to oxygen therapy vary greatly, depending on the particular cause of hypoxia and the degree of impairment. Despite this focused purpose, oxygen administration in this patient population has become complex. The longer we deliver this drug, the more we discover its beneficial and detrimental effects. New and innovative ways to deliver and monitor this therapy have improved outcomes. Despite this vast experience there still remain some unanswered questions regarding the use of oxygen in the neonatal environment. Nonetheless, oxygen is a major staple in our treatment arsenal for neonates.
A parametric survey of the first critical Mach number for a fast MHD shock

The first critical fast Mach number is rigorously defined to be the one at which the downstream flow speed in the shock frame equals the ordinary downstream sound speed. Above the first critical Mach number, resistivity alone is unable to provide all the dissipation needed for the required Rankine-Hugoniot shock jump. A survey of the dependence of the first critical Mach number upon upstream plasma parameters is needed to guide studies of the structure of collisionless shocks in space. We vary the upstream plasma beta, the upstream shock normal angle, and the ratio of specific heats for the plasma. The first critical Mach number depends sensitively upon upstream plasma parameters, and is between 1 and 2 for typical solar wind parameters, rather than the often quoted value of 2·7, which is valid for perpendicular shocks propagating into a cold plasma. We introduce the suggestion that the flux of superthermal and energetic ions upstream at quasi-parallel shocks might increase suddenly at the first critical Mach number. Our parametric survey indicates that this hypothesis might be most conveniently tested using interplanetary shocks.
Approximate hybrid query processing in wireless sensor networks

We address the problem of efficient in-network processing of hybrid spatial queries in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN), where the data may correspond to different physical phenomena in different regions. We propose space and communication efficient schemes capable of correlating spatial dimension with different physical values. To trade-off (im)precision vs. energy consumption, the proposed schemes combine rank order statistics, regular sampling, and bitmap representation. We present a proof of concept implementation of the proposed methodology and quantify the benefits of our approach through simulations.
Distinct Angiogenic Mediators Are Required for Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor– and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor–induced Angiogenesis: The Role of Cytoplasmic Tyrosine Kinase c-Abl in Tumor Angiogenesis

Signaling pathways engaged by angiogenic factors bFGF and VEGF in tumor angiogenesis are not fully understood. The current study identifies cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase c-Abl as a key factor differentially mediating bFGF- and VEGF-induced angiogenesis in microvascular endothelial cells. STI571, a c-Abl kinase inhibitor, only inhibited bFGF- but not VEGF-induced angiogenesis. bFGF induced membrane receptor cooperation between integrin beta(3) and FGF receptor, and triggered a downstream cascade including FAK, c-Abl, and MAPK. This signaling pathway is different from one utilized by VEGF that includes integrin beta(5), VEGF receptor-2, Src, FAK, and MAPK. Ectopic expression of wild-type c-Abl sensitized angiogenic response to bFGF, but kinase dead mutant c-Abl abolished this activity. Furthermore, the wild-type c-Abl enhanced angiogenesis in both Matrigel implantation and tumor xenograft models. These data provide novel insights into c-Abl's differential functions in mediating bFGF- and VEGF-induced angiogenesis.
Relationship between heterogeneous changes in airway morphometry and lung resistance and elastance

We present a dog lung model to predict the relation between inhomogeneous changes in airway morphometry and lung resistance (RL) and elastance (EL) for frequencies surrounding typical breathing rates. The RL and EL were sensitive in distinct ways to two forms of peripheral constriction. First, when there is a large and homogeneous constriction, the RL increases uniformly over the frequency range. The EL is rather unaffected below 1 Hz but then increases with frequencies up to 5 Hz. This increase is caused by central airway wall shunting. Second, the RL and EL are extremely sensitive to mild inhomogeneous constriction in which a few highly constricted or nearly closed airways occur randomly throughout the periphery. This results in extreme increases in the levels and frequency dependence of RL and EL but predominantly at typical breathing rates (<1 Hz). Conversely, the RL and EL are insensitive to highly inhomogeneous airway constriction that does not produce any nearly closed airways. Similarly, alterations in the RL and EL due to central airway wall shunting are not likely until the preponderance of the periphery constricts substantially. The RL and EL spectra are far more sensitive to these two forms of peripheral constriction than to constriction conditions known to occur in the central airways. On the basis of these simulations, we derived a set of qualitative criteria to infer airway constriction conditions from RL and EL spectra.
Intraoperative Echocardiography in Pediatric Heart Disease

Intraoperative echocardiography has become an invaluable diagnostic and monitoring technique in surgery for pediatric heart disease. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has largely replaced epicardial echocardiography as the pre ferred approach. TEE has the advantage of allowing serial assessment of anatomy and function with no interruption of surgery. Recent advances in transducer technology of the TEE probe and the introduction of novel modes of imaging have greatly increased the applicability of TEE in pediatric congenital cardiac repair. TEE has been used for a spectrum of congenital lesions such as valve anomalies, shunts, ob structions, and complex heart defects, as well as to monitor for myocardial ischemia and left ventricular preload. Expe rience and evidence suggest that intraoperative TEE can improve clinical outcomes in children undergoing repair of congenital cardiac defects. The safety and efficacy of TEE in children have been well established. This article outlines the development of int...
SAGE profiling of UV-induced mouse skin squamous cell carcinomas, comparison with acute UV irradiation effects†

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation is the primary environmental insult responsible for the development of most common skin cancers. To better understand the multiple molecular events that contribute to the development of UV-induced skin cancer, in a first study, serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) was used to compare the global gene expression profiles of normal SKH-1 mice epidermis with that of UV-induced squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) from SKH-1 mice. More than 200 genes were found to be differentially expressed in SCCs compared to normal skin (P < 0.0005 level of significance). As expected, genes related to epidermal proliferation and differentiation were deregulated in SCCs relative to normal skin. However, various novel genes, not previously associated with skin carcinogenesis, were also identified as deregulated in SCCs. Northern blot analyses on various selected genes validated the SAGE findings: caspase-14 (reduced 8.5-fold in SCCs); cathepsins D and S (reduced 3-fold and increased 11.3-fold, respectively, in SCCs); decorin, glutathione S-transferase omega-1, hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha, insulin-like growth factor binding protein-7, and matrix metalloproteinase-13 (increased 18-, 12-, 12-, 18.3-, and 11-folds, respectively, in SCCs). Chemokine (C-C motif), ligand 27 (CCL27), which was found downregulated 12.7-fold in SCCs by SAGE, was also observed to be strongly downregulated 6-24 h after a single and multiple UV treatments. In a second independent study we compared the expression profile of UV-irradiated versus sham-treated SKH-1 epidermis. Interestingly, numerous genes determined to be deregulated 8 h after a single UV dose were also deregulated in SCCs. For instance, genes whose expression was upregulated both after acute UV-treated skin and SCCs included keratins 6 and 16, small proline-rich proteins, and S100 calcium binding protein A9. Studies like those described here do not only provide insights into genes and pathways involved in skin carcinogenesis but also allow us to identify early UV irradiation deregulated surrogate biomarkers of potential use in chemoprevention studies.
Association of the home environment with cardiovascular and metabolic biomarkers in youth.

article i nfo Objective. To examine the relationship between the home environment and biomarkers associated with the cardiovascular and metabolic risks in adolescents. Methods. Three hundred fifty-eight adolescents (185 males and 173 females) living in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, Minnesota, between the ages of 10-17 years agreed to participate. Data were collected from August 2006 through March 2008. A fasting blood sample was drawn and assayed for insulin, glucose and lipids. Resting blood pressure, percent body fat (PBF) and body mass index were also measured. The home environment was assessed using a self-report of physical activity (PA) and media inventory (PAMI) completed by the parents. Density of PA and media equipment was calculated by summing the number of items present in the home and dividing by the total number of locations in the home. PA and screen media density were modeled as independent variables. Results. Our results found that the density of PA equipment was negatively associated with insulin levels, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total cholesterol, insulin resistance, and PBF. Media density was positively associated with insulin, LDL, total cholesterol, and PBF. Conclusions. The results of this study suggest that the home environment is associated with metabolic and cardiovascular health in adolescents.
Common electron‐impact fragmentations of 2‐methoxy‐8,9‐dehydroadamantane and 2‐exo‐methoxyprotoadamantene

2-Methoxy-8,9-dehydroadamantane and 2-exo-methoxyprotoadamantene undergo common electron-impact fragmentations at 70, 20 and 14.3 eV.
Parties, cleavages and issue evolution The case of the religious–secular cleavage in Chile

Several recent articles have reached different conclusions regarding the impact of the religious–secular cleavage in Chile. The resolution of this debate has important consequences for the understa...
Risk Factors for Enamel Fluorosis in a Nonfluoridated Population

The purpose of this case-control investigation was to investigate the possible association between mild-to-moderate enamel fluorosis and exposure during early childhood to infant formula, fluoride toothpaste, and/or fluoride supplements. Analysis was performed on 401 residents of fluoridated communities in Connecticut, who were 12-16 years old and born prior to 1980. The case and control subjects for this study were selected on the basis of a clinical examination given in 1991. Subject fluorosis status was determined using the Fluorosis Risk Index. Risk factor exposure was ascertained via a mailed questionnaire with a response rate of 89% and a questionnaire reliability of 87%. Logistic regression analyses, which adjusted for confounding variables, revealed that mild-to-moderate enamel fluorosis on early forming (Fluorosis Risk Index (FRI) classification I) enamel surfaces was strongly associated with both milk-based (odds ratio (OR) = 3.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.38-8.07) and soy-based (OR = 7.16, 95% CI 1.35-37.89) infant formula use, as well as with frequent brushing (OR = 2.80, 95% CI 1.15-6.81). A very strong association was observed with inappropriate fluoride supplement use (OR = 23.74, 95% CI 3.43-164.30). Respectively similar associations were observed between mild-to-moderate enamel fluorosis on later forming (FRI classification II) enamel surfaces and frequent brushing and fluoride supplement use, but not with infant formula use.
A physiologic approach to cord clamping: Clinical issues

Recent experimental physiology data and a large, population-based observational study have changed umbilical cord clamping from a strictly time-based construct to a more complex equilibrium involving circulatory changes and the onset of respirations in the newly born infant. However, available evidence is not yet sufficient to optimize the management of umbilical cord clamping. Current guidelines vary in their recommendations and lack advice for clinicians who face practical dilemmas in the delivery room. This review examines the evidence around physiological outcomes of delayed cord clamping and cord milking vs. immediate cord clamping. Gaps in the existing evidence are highlighted, including the optimal time to clamp the cord and the interventions that should be performed before clamping in infants who fail to establish spontaneous respirations or are severely asphyxiated, as well as those who breathe spontaneously. Behavioral and technological changes informed by further research are needed to promote adoption and safe practice of physiologic cord clamping.
A membraneless single compartment abiotic glucose fuel cell

Abstract A simple energy harvesting strategy has been developed to selectively catalyze glucose in the presence of oxygen in a glucose/O 2 fuel cell. The anode consists of an abiotic catalyst Al/Au/ZnO, in which ZnO seed layer was deposited on the surface of Al/Au substrate using hydrothermal method. The cathode is constructed from a single rod of platinum with an outer diameter of 500 μm. The abiotic glucose fuel cell was studied in phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.4) containing 5 mM glucose at a temperature of 22 °C. The cell is characterized according to its open-circuit voltage, polarization profile, and power density plot. Under these conditions, the abiotic glucose fuel cell possesses an open-circuit voltage of 840 mV and delivered a maximum power density of 16.2 μW cm −2 at a cell voltage of 495 mV. These characteristics are comparable to biofuel cell utilizing a much more complex system design. Such low-cost lightweight abiotic catalyzed glucose fuel cells have a great promise to be optimized, miniaturized to power bio-implantable devices.
The 100-kW millimeter-wave radar at the Kwajalein Atoll

Kwajalein Atoll is home for four high-power instrumentation radars. Of these four radars, the Millimeter-Wave sensor (MMW) is the most technologically advanced, and has the highest resolution. Although originally designed as an adjunct to the ALCOR radar, MMW was built as a stand-alone system. Since its original design, MMW has undergone a number of modifications. These past modifications, along with the current system architecture, are discussed. In addition, the future plans for MMW, as it evolves into an even-more-powerful sensor, are addressed. The authors begin by giving a superficial discussion of the Kiernan Reentry Measurements Site (KREMS) program, of which MMW is an active participant, and the suite of sensors located there. The system description includes a discussion concerning the transmitter, antenna, receiver, and signal-processing systems. >
Seismic noise cancellation in a geothermal field

High background seismic noise due to process machinery in production oil or geothermal fields can present a major problem for active seismic studies such as reflection and refraction surveys and passive seismic studies such as microearthquake monitoring. The general noise suppression problem is a difficult one since process noise may be due to a large number of sources distributed over a large region. In some situations, one or a few sources may dominate the noise field locally, presenting an opportunity for noise suppression by cancellation. In this note we describe an application of adaptive noise cancellation (Widrow, et al., 1975) in which we attempt to suppress noise recorded at a primary monitoring site using reference noise recorded at a major nearby noise source.
All covariance controllers for linear discrete-time systems

The authors characterize the set of covariances that a linear discrete-time plant with a specified-order controller can have. The controllers that assign such covariances to any linear discrete-time system are given explicitly in closed form. The freedom in these covariance controllers is explicit and is parameterized by two orthogonal matrices. By appropriately choosing these free parameters, additional system objectives can be achieved without altering the state covariance, and the stability of the closed-loop system is guaranteed. >
Description of vegetation and soil properties in sagebrush steppe following pipeline burial, reclamation, and recovery time

Abstract Sagebrush ( Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) steppe displays a high degree of heterogeneity in vegetation structure and in the spatial distribution of soil properties. Sagebrush steppe in south central Wyoming, USA, is experiencing a multitude of surface disturbances that involve vegetation removal and soil mixing. We hypothesized that drastic disturbance associated with pipeline burial would result in homogenization of above- and below-ground properties and that soil variability would be higher in areas with longer recovery time. We established a spatially explicit sampling design (
Ligand Substitution Reactions of [Re6S8Br6]4-: A Basis Set of Re6S8 Clusters for Building Multicluster Assemblies

Access to the molecular solution chemistry of face-capped octahedral cluster cores of the type [Re6(μ3-Q)8]2+ (Q = S, Se) has recently been realized in this laboratory by the protocol of dimensional reduction of solid frameworks containing bridged cores. A new series of triethylphosphine-ligated hexanuclear rhenium clusters has been prepared from the starting cluster [Re6S8Br6]4- by ligand substitution of terminal bromide ligands using excess Et3P in DMF at elevated temperatures. These clusters are of the general formula [Re6S8(PEt3)nBr6-n](n-4)+ (n = 2−6). The following compounds were synthesized: (Bu4N)2[cis-Re6S8(PEt3)2Br4] (in limited quantity), (Bu4N)2[trans-Re6S8(PEt3)2Br4], (Bu4N)[mer-Re6S8(PEt3)3Br3], (Bu4N)[fac-Re6S8(PEt3)3Br3], cis-[Re6S8(PEt3)4Br2], trans-[Re6S8(PEt3)4Br2], [Re6S8(PEt3)5Br]Br, and [Re6S8(PEt3)6]Br2. All clusters exhibit characteristic 31P NMR spectra, and all except (Bu4N)[fac-Re6S8(PEt3)3Br3] have been characterized by X-ray crystallography. The [Re6S8]2+ core is analogous to...
Efficient and Robust RFI Extraction Via Sparse Recovery

This paper presents a simple adaptive framework for robust separation and extraction of multiple sources of radio-frequency interference (RFI) from raw ultra-wideband (UWB) radar signals in challenging bandwidth management environments. RFI sources pose critical challenges for UWB systems since 1) RFI often occupies a wide range of the radar’s operating frequency spectrum; 2) RFI might have significant power; and 3) RFI signals are difficult to predict and model due to the nonstationary nature as well as the complexity of various communication devices. Our proposed framework involves an initial RFI estimation step that operates directly on already contaminated radar signals to identify RFI-dominant frequency sub-bands. This vital prior information is then taken into account to construct an adaptive RFI dictionary with various sinusoidal patterns covering the aforementioned RFI-contaminated frequency spectrum. Finally, we employ a sparsity-driven optimization strategy to separate and then extract RFI from the received radar signals. Our method can be implemented as a denoising preprocessing stage for raw radar signals prior to image formation and other follow-up tasks such as target detection and classification. Recovery results from extensive simulated data sets as well as real-world signals collected by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL) UWB synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems illustrate the robustness and effectiveness of our proposed framework.
Some Aspects of Distribution Cost Analysis

R ECENT cost accounting literature reflects a growing awareness of the fact that the cost to produce a particular product is not an absolute figure but rather that there are different costs for different purposes.1 The relative nature of cost allocations-whether to products or to customers, territories, and so onprobably has been given greater recognition, by some writers at least, in the field of distribution cost analysis than in factory cost accounting. Even here, however, implicit assumptions that there is only one cost, which is the "real" cost, are common.
Yeasts from wheat and flour.

The yeast flora of wheat and flour from six geographical areas was examined. Cryptococcus albidus was the most commonly found species on wheat from all six areas, but it was not present in the flou...
Silver deposition on a polymer substrate catalyzed by singly charged monodisperse copper nanoparticles.

Aerosol deposition of singly charged monodisperse copper nanoparticles was used to catalytically activate a polymer substrate for electroless silver deposition. An ambient spark discharge was used to produce aerosol copper nanoparticles, and the particles were electrostatically classified at an equivalent mobility diameter of 10 nm, using a nanodifferential mobility analyzer. Deposition of the copper particles onto the surface of the substrate was enhanced by thermophoresis. The copper-deposited substrate was then immersed in a Ag(I) solution, resulting in the electroless deposition of silver (∼17 μm line width) on the previously deposited copper (∼12 μm line width, using a shadow mask with a 100 μm in width patterned stripe). The arithmetic mean roughness and electrical resistivity of the silver pattern were 44.7 nm and 7.9 μΩ cm, respectively, which showed an enhancement compared to those from the nonclassified copper particles (roughness = 162.2 nm, resistivity = 13.3 μΩ cm), because of a more-uniform ...