cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Withering syndrome induced gene expression changes and a de-novo transcriptome for the Pinto abalone, Haliotis kamtschatkana.

In the abalone and Candidatus Xenohaliotis californiensis (Ca. Xc) system, the Ca. Xc bacterium infects abalone digestive tissues and leads to extreme starvation and a characteristic "withering" of the gastropod foot. First identified in black abalone in California after an El Nino event, withering syndrome (WS) has caused large declines in wild black and captive white abalone on the northeastern Pacific coast, but disease resistance levels are species-, and possibly population-specific. This study compared gene expression patterns in the digestive gland of Ca. Xc-exposed and unexposed (control) Pinto abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana), a particularly susceptible species. Lab-induced Ca. Xc infections were followed over 7 months and RNAseq was used to identify differential gene expression. Exposed Pinto abalone showed distinct changes in expression of 68 genes at 3 and 7 months post-infection relative to those in control animals. Upregulation of an orexin-like receptor (which is involved in feeding signaling) and a zinc peptidase-like region (many amino peptidases are zinc peptidases) in animals infected for 7 months indicates that animals with Ca. Xc infection may be starving and upregulating processes associated with feeding and digestion. Other groups of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were upregulated or downregulated across control and exposed individuals over the 7-month experiment, including DEG groups that likely correspond to early disease state and to general stress response of being held in captivity. No patterns emerged in genes known to be involved in molluscan immune response, despite this being an expectation during a 7-month infection; digestion-related genes and unannotated DEGs were identified as targets for future research on potential immune response to WS in abalone.
Localization and Turnover Studies of Membrane Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Glycohydrolase in Rat Liver

Abstract Cell fractionation experiments indicate that NAD glycohydrolase (EC 3.2.2.6) is a constituent enzyme of both the microsomal (endoplasmic reticulum) and plasmalemma membrane of the rat hepatocyte. The enzyme was solubilized by steapsin digestion from both fractions and subsequently purified ∼2000 over the homogenate and ∼500 over the microsomal fraction by successive DEAE-cellulose, Sephadex G-100 chromatography, and polyacylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified enzyme is a heterogeneous mixture of proteins with two or three major components. The apparent half-life of the purified NAD glycohydrolase was determined to be ∼18 days by the use of a double labeling procedure with uniformly labeled 14C-l-leucine and 3H-(4,5)-l-leucine. The results add another protein to the list of those (NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, cytochrome b5) known to turn over asynchronously in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. No gross differences were found between the half-life of microsomal and plasmalemmal NAD glycohydrolase.
NUCLEAR-FUELED CIRCULATORY SUPPORT SYSTEMS IV: RADIOLOGIC PERSPECTIVES.

Abstract If an implantable artificial heart can be developed, it should prove beneficial to a significant group of patients. A variety of energy sources, such as biologic, electromagnetic, and nuclear, are under evaluation. Currently, biologic fuel cell technology is not sufficiently advanced to permit its extrapolation to the power levels required for implantable circulatory support systems. Electromagnetic systems have the disadvantage of heavy batteries of considerable bulk requiring frequent recharging. Radioisotope-fueled thermal engine systems have the potential of providing degrees of freedom not possible with rechargeable units. However, radiosotope circulatory support systems subject their recipients to prolonged intracorporeal radiation, add to environmental background radiation, and constitute an exceedingly small, but finite, hazard due to possible violation of fuel containment.
The Illinois Prover: A General Purpose Resolution Theorem Prover

The Illinois prover is a resolution theorem prover fox first-order logic with equality, implemented as part of the first author's Ph.D. thesis at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This prover was originally intended as a testhed for the abstraction strategies given in PIaisted[81]. We needed a resolution theorem prover mainly for comparison purposes to know how good the abstraction strategy was. However, the resolution theorem prover improved so dramatically that our focus shifted to it instead. Abstraction may be useful on problems with many predicate and function symbols and short proofs, unlike the examples we tried.
The Natid Scale: Construction of a National Identity Scale for Application in International Marketing Research

The NATID scale is designed to explicate the degree to which respondents identify with their unique cultural characteristics. Measuring a culture's national identity will benefit marketing researchers by providing an instrument useful for theory building in international marketing as well as providing the practitioner a tool for guiding international decision-making.
Second Marriages: Challenges and Risks

Paradoxically, although second marriages have a significantly higher divorce rate than first marriages, the couples in functional and stable second marriages take greater pride and report higher sa...
Price dynamics and the adjusting mechanism – an empirical investigation of the US prices between 1950s–1990s

The paper analyses the impact of the labour costs and import costs on the prices of final goods in the USA during the 1950s–1990s period. The elasticity of the final prices with respect to the import and labour price indexes is a main determinant in the go through channel affecting the prices of final goods and services and inflation in the USA. I test several econometric specifications to estimate the correct function describing the labour and import cost indexes affecting the final prices. The analysis shows that lagged variables increase the overall fit of the estimation. The contribution of my paper is to propose a more complete specification of the price formation, than the ones existing in the current studies. In addition, the paper adds to the endogenous growth literature by providing an alternative explanation of the prices of final goods in last 50 years in the USA.
RHESSI Microflare Statistics. II. X-Ray Imaging, Spectroscopy, and Energy Distributions

We present the first statistical analysis of the thermal and nonthermal X-ray emission of all 25,705 microflares (RHESSI) observed between 2002 March and 2007 March. These events were found by searching the 6-12 keV energy range (see Paper I) and are small active region flares, from low (GOES) C class to below A class. Each microflare is automatically analyzed at the peak time of the 6-12 keV emission: the thermal source size is found by forward-fitting the complex visibilities for 4-8 keV, and the spectral parameters (temperature, emission measure, power-law index) are found by forward-fitting a thermal plus nonthermal model. The resulting wealth of information we determine about the events allows a range of the thermal and nonthermal properties to be investigated. In particular, we find that there is no correlation between the thermal loop size and the flare magnitude, indicating that microflares are not necessarily spatially small. We present the first thermal energy distribution of RHESSI flares and compare it to previous thermal energy distributions of transient events. We also present the first nonthermal power distribution of RHESSI flares and find that a few microflares have unexpectedly large nonthermal powers up to 1028 erg s−1. The total microflare nonthermal energy, however, is still small compared to that of large flares as it occurs for shorter durations. These large energies and difficulties in analyzing the steep nonthermal spectra suggest that a sharp broken power law and thick-target bremsstrahlung model may not be appropriate for microflares.
Newton polygons of L-functions of polynomials of the form Xd+λX

Let f(x)=x^[email protected] be a polynomial over F"q. The purpose of this paper is to determine the Newton polygon for the L-function L(f,T) of exponential sums attached to the one variable polynomial f(x) over a finite field of characteristic p. The first slope of the Newton polygon is calculated for all equivalence classes of d. The entire Newton polygon is given for when p=-1modd.
Athletics, Athletic Leadership, and Academic Achievement

This study examines the relationship between athletics, athletic leadership, and academic achievement. This is likely to be a tricky issue as athletes and athletic leaders are not likely to be a random group of students. To address this issue I control for school fixed effects and instrument the endogenous variables with height. I find that athletes perform better than nonathletes in every subject area tested by the High School and Beyond survey and that this effect appear to differ by sex and race. Based on the literature, these results are likely to be especially true for urban youths. In addition, there are large benefits from leadership on these athletic teams.
Characteristics and trends of newly identified HIV infections among incarcerated populations: CDC HIV voluntary counseling, testing, and referral system, 1992–1998

Inmate contact with the correctional health care system provides public health professionals an opportunity to offer HIV screening to a population that might prove difficult to reach otherwise. We report on publicly funded human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) voluntary counseling, testing, and referral (VCTR) services provided to incarcerated persons in the United States. Incarcerated persons seeking VCTR services received pretest counseling and gave a blood specimen for HIV antibody testing. Specimens were considered positive if the enzyme immunoassays were repeatedly reactive and the Western blot or immunofluorescent assay was reactive. Demographics, HIV risk information, and laboratory test results were collected from each test episode. Additional counseling sessions provided more data. From 1992 to 1998, there were 527,937 records available from correctional facilities from 48 project areas; 484,277 records included a test result and 459,155 (87.0%) tests came with complete data. Overall, 3.4% (16,797) of all tests were reactive for HIV antibodies. Of reactive tests accompanied by self-reports of previous HIV test results (15,888), previous test results were 44% positive, 23% negative, 6% inconclusive or unspecified, and 27% no previous test. This indicates that 56% of positive tests were newly identified. During the study period, the number of tests per year increased three-fold. Testing increased among all racial/ethnic groups and both sexes. The largest increase was for heterosexuals who reported no other risk, followed by persons with a sex partner at risk. Overall, the greatest number of tests was reported for injection drug users (IDUs) (128,262), followed by men who have sex with men (MSM) (19,928); however, episodes for MSM doubled during the study, while for IDUs, they increased 74%. The absolute number of HIV-positive (HIV+) tests increased 50%; however, the percentage of all tests that were HIV+ decreased nearly 50% due to the increased number of tests performed. HIV+ tests fell 50% among blacks (7.6% to 3.7%), Hispanics (6.7% to 2.5%), and males (5.1% to 2.5%); 33% among females (4.5% to 3.1%); 95% among IDUs (8.6% to 4.4%); and 64% among MSM (19.3% to 11.8%). Among HIV+ episodes, those for IDUs dropped from 61.5% to 36.6%, while episodes for heterosexuals with no reported risk factor increased from 4.3% to 18.2%. The use of VCTR services by incarcerated persons rose steadily from 1992 to 1998, and 56% of HIV+ tests were newly identified. High numbers of tests that recorded risk behaviors for
Designing for Dissemination: Development of an Evidence-Based Tobacco Treatment Curriculum for Psychiatry Training Programs

Psychiatry training programs provide a unique arena for affecting professional norms and increasing access to tobacco cessation services among smokers with mental illness. Psychiatry Rx for Change emphasizes evidence-based patient-oriented tobacco treatments relevant for tobacco users with psychiatric disorders. Following Diffusion of Innovations theory and the RE-AIM framework, the curriculum is being disseminated to psychiatry residency and graduate psychiatric nursing programs in the Western United States with plans to study curriculum adoption, implementation, and maintenance on a broad scale. Psychiatry Rx for Change aims to increase the likelihood that smokers with co-occurring disorders will receive evidence-based cessation treatment.
Cerebrovascular risk factors and depression in older primary care patients: testing a vascular brain disease model of depression.

The authors examined whether cerebrovascular risk factors (CVRFs) are associated with depressive diagnoses and symptoms in 303 primary-care patients age ≥60 years, as would be consistent with a small-vessel brain disease model of later-life depression. CVRFs were not significantly independently associated with major, minor, or subsyndromal depression, late-onset major depression, or overall depressive symptom severity. These data did not support the notion that a small-vessel brain disease model of depression might apply to the majority of older persons with depressive symptoms and syndromes in primary-care settings. Future work should include longitudinal study with larger sample sizes.
Is venus a polywater planet

Abstract The suggestion is made that polymerized water (polywater) is in quasi-equilibrium with its vapor at the base of the Cytherean atmosphere.
The effect of pH on rate constants, ion selectivity and thermodynamic properties of fluorescent calcium and magnesium indicators

Fluorescent calcium indicators fluo-3, fura-2 and indo-1, and fluorescent magnesium indicators mag-fura-2 (FURAPTRA) and mag-indo-1 were evaluated for the effects of pH on their association and dissociation rates, ion selectivity and thermodynamic properties. Calcium indicator affinities for Ca and Mg were reduced and the discrimination between Ca and Mg decreased in fura-2 and indo-1 at acidic pH. Alterations in apparent dissociation constants were caused primarily by reduced association rates. Magnesium indicators did not show these changes. The enthalphies of the calcium indicators' Ca complex were 1-3 kcal/mole and magnesium indicators' Mg complex were 7-9 kcal/mole. The potential effects of a biexponential dissociation rate of fluo-3 and of Ca interactions with magnesium indicators were examined.
Acidic sulfate aerosols: Formation from heterogeneous oxidation by O3 in clouds

We present a mathematically closed approximation which relates the extent of acid-sulfate aerosol production to the time for SO2 oxidation by O3 in cloud droplets. In warm clouds (778°K) of moderate liquid water content (≤0.6 g/m3) exposed to typical background levels of O3 (≥50 ppbv), this reaction can produce submicron particles in times ≤1 day with a resulting NH4+/SO2−4 molar ratio ≥1.5, an SO2SO2−4 molar ratio ≥4, and a sulfate mass concentration of about 20 μm−3. All these values are typical of the atmosphere, which suggests that this reaction is an important SO2 oxidation pathway.
Situational photographic postings for enhancing the proper operation of infrequently utilized x-ray devices.

Radiation safety surveillance activities conducted at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston indicated that x-ray devices were not being operated properly in settings where the device was used infrequently and where there were high demands of other job responsibilities. This situation was considered to be a possible precursor to the delivery of unnecessary dose to patients and workers and poor diagnostic image quality. To enhance the proper operation of such devices, photographic reminders customized for each use setting were created and posted in the rooms near the x-ray equipment. Each poster consisted of operators and patients exhibiting proper techniques while using appropriate protective equipment. The photographs were captured digitally and then augmented with brief informational text-boxes that highlighted key aspects. Verbal feedback from the user community after reviewing these simple images has been very positive, as many operators indicated that work demands impacted their ability to thoroughly reread instrument operating manuals prior to use. Therefore, the capturing of a simple situational photograph inclusive of the persons actually using the unit can serve as a powerful reminder of the desired and safe means of collecting quality x-ray images while avoiding unnecessary radiological exposure to health care professionals and patients.
Cranes, Crops and Conservation: Understanding Human Perceptions of Biodiversity Conservation in South Korea’s Civilian Control Zone

South Korea’s Civilian Control Zone (CCZ), a relatively untouched area due to tight military oversight since the end of Korean War, has received considerable attention nationally and internationally for its rich biodiversity. However, the exclusion of local communities from the process of defining problems and goals and of setting priorities for biodiversity conservation has halted a series of biodiversity conservation efforts. Through qualitative research, we explored CCZ farmers’ views of key problems and issues and also the sources of their opposition to the government-initiated conservation approaches. Key findings include the farmers’ concerns about the impact of conservation restrictions on their access to necessary resources needed to farm, wildlife impacts on the value of rice and other agricultural goods they produce, and farmers’ strong distrust of government, the military, and planners, based on their experiences with past conservation processes. The findings regarding farmers’ perceptions should prove useful for the design of future participatory planning processes for biodiversity conservation in the CCZ. This case highlights how conservative measures, perceived to be imposed from above—however scientifically valuable—can be undermined and suggests the value that must be placed on communication among planners and stakeholders.
Simplified analysis of asymmetric structures with supplemental damping

This study investigated the effects of neglecting off-diagonal terms of the transformed damping matrix on the seismic response of non-proportionally damped asymmetric-plan systems with the specific aim of identifying the range of system parameters for which this simplification can be used without introducing significant errors in the response. For this purpose, a procedure is presented in which modal damping ratios computed by neglecting off-diagonal terms of the transformed damping matrix are used in the traditional modal analysis. The effects of the simplification are evaluated first by comparing the aforementioned modal damping ratios with the apparent damping ratios obtained from the complex-valued eigenanalysis. The variation of a parameter that was defined by Warburton and Soni as an indicator of the errors introduced by the simplification is examined next. Finally, edge deformations obtained from the simplified procedure are compared with those obtained from the direct integration of the equations of motion. It is found that the simplified procedure may be used without introducing significant errors in response for most practical values of the system parameters. Furthermore, estimates of the edge deformations, in general, tend to be on the conservative side. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In vivo imaging of rapid deformation and strain in an animal model of traumatic brain injury

In traumatic brain injury (TBI) rapid deformation of brain tissue leads to axonal injury and cell death. In vivo quantification of such fast deformations is extremely difficult, but important for understanding the mechanisms of degeneration post-trauma and for development of numerical models of injury biomechanics. In this paper, strain fields in the brain of the perinatal rat were estimated from data obtained in vivo during rapid indentation. Tagged magnetic resonance (MR) images were obtained with high spatial (0.2 mm) and temporal (3.9 ms) resolution by gated image acquisition during and after impact. Impacts were repeated either 64 or 128 times to obtain images of horizontal and vertical tag lines in coronal and sagittal planes. Strain fields were estimated by harmonic phase (HARP) analysis of the tagged images. The original MR data was filtered and Fourier-transformed to obtain HARP images, following a method originally developed by Osman et al. (IEEE Trans. Med. Imaging 19(3) (2000) 186). The displacements of material points were estimated from intersections of HARP contours and used to generate estimates of the deformation gradient and Lagrangian strain tensors. Maximum principal Lagrangian strains of >0.20 at strain rates >40/s were observed during indentations of 2 mm depth and 21 ms duration.
16.4L: Late-News Paper: A Study on the Lamination Sequence of Novel Cholesteric Reflective Polarizer (CRP)

A novel broadband cholesteric reflective polarizer(CRP) was made by coating process followed with lamination steps. The processing sequence of the different color layers of have a strongly influence on the effective reflective bandwidth of the final CRP. A preliminary explanation is given from the results of this work.
Neoplasia: An Anniversary of Progress.

Abstract This issue marks the 10th year anniversary of Neoplasia where we have seen exciting growth on the impact that Neoplasia has had on cancer research worldwide. Neoplasia was founded in 1999 at which time manuscripts were accepted through e-mail. In 2000, Neoplasia became the first journal to offer web-based online manuscript submission and peer-review using a customdesigned application JournalSoft. Now, the use of web-based manuscript processing has become an industry standard as it provides authors with a rapid and useful dialog exchange for improving the quality of the science and the overall speed of the review process. Moreover, during the past 10 years, the Internet has experienced a massive growth of a complex global grid of now over an estimated 1.2 billion Internet users which have resulted in a major shift in the medium of scientific communication for scholarly publishing. Neoplasia continues to evolve with the technology and has implemented a rapid time-to-publication schedule to continue dissemination of published cancer research findings quickly to the scientific community.
Raman gain measurements and photo-induced transmission effects of germanium- and arsenic-based chalcogenide glasses.

The Raman gain spectra of millimeter thick As2S3 and As24S38Se38 glasses and Ge(23-x)GaxSb7S(70-y)Sey with x=0 and 5 and y=0, 2, 5 have been measured using a direct nonlinear optics technique. The pump light originated from a picosecond Nd:YAG laser operating at 1064 nm and a tunable optical parametric generator and amplifier (OPG/OPA) was used as a source for the probe light. A peak material Raman gain coefficient of (155±11)×10-13 m/W has been measured for the As24S38Se38 glass. A reversible photodarkening effect which responds to picosecond pulses is also reported. Finally, surface optical damage threshold measurements were found to be less than 9 GW/cm2 for the reported samples, values which are comparable to some TeO2-based glasses with lower nonlinearities.
Histopathology of remodelling induced by PUVA in the superficial dermis.

SUMMARY The histopathological alterations induced by PUVA within the skin are reported in a patient treated for psoriasis. The main impact is located at the site of former psoriatic plaques in which the target is the microvasculature. A residual coating sheath is present around vessels and fibrosis appears in the superficial dermis. These remodellings interfere with the normal dermo—epidermal relationships; the epidermis contains atypical keratinocytes, and melanocytes are no longer recognizable.
SU‐GG‐I‐184: New Graphical User Interface for the Solid State X‐Ray Image Intensifier (SSXII)

Purpose: A new Graphical User Interface (GUI) was developed and implemented using Laboratory Virtual Instrumentation Engineering Workbench (LabVIEW) for a high‐resolution, high‐sensitivity SSXII, a new x‐ray detector for radiographic and fluoroscopic imaging.Method and Materials: The new SSXII consists of an array of Electron Multiplying Charge Coupled Devices (EMCCDs). EMCCDs are enhanced CCDimage sensors with a unique feature that includes variable on‐chip signal amplification of up to 2000 times. These low‐noise light sensors view an x‐ray phosphor through a fiberoptic taper used to enlarge the field of view (FOV). An array of such modules has been built to further extend the FOV. The initial 1×2 array includes two identical EMCCD cameras connected to a National Instruments (NI) PCIe‐1430 dual‐channel Camera Link PC board. A new GUI was developed and implemented using LabVIEW for camera control, image acquisition, and to provide a variety of clinically‐relevant functions. Results: The GUI provides a user‐friendly interface that includes patient registration functionality and acquisition control to save 2k×1k images at a rate of 17 Hz (or faster with pixel binning). The parameter sets of each camera, including control of exposure time, trigger mode, and EMCCD gain, can be modified during imaging runs. An additional window allows the user to control all of the other camera parameters, which can be subsequently saved to a text file for reference. Initial 1×2 EMCCD camera array will be expanded to provide even larger FOVs. Conclusion: The control and acquisition capabilities provided by this GUI, along with the variable electron‐multiplication gain, high‐resolution, high‐sensitivity, and real‐time imaging capabilities of the new expanded‐FOV SSXII should provide angiographers and interventionalists with an improved ability to visualize details of small vessels and endovascular devices, making diagnoses and image‐guided interventions more accurate. (Supported by: NIH Grants R01‐EB008425, R01‐EB002873)
Effect of unsaturated fatty acids on protoporphyrinogen oxidation, a step in heme and chlorophyll synthesis in plant organelles

Summary Oleic acid stimulates enzymatic protoporphyrinogen oxidation by extracts of baryley mitochondria and etioplasts. Greater stimulation occurred with Triton X-100 extracts which had been passed over a Sephacryl S-200 column than with crude Triton extracts, suggesting that purification may have removed a lipid factor required for optimal enzymatic activity. Palmitic acid, various phospholipids and detergents, or esters and alcohols of oleic acid did not substitute for free oleic acid. Linoleic acid caused a greater stimulation of substitute for free oleic acid. Linoleic acid caused a greater stimulation of protoporphyrinogen oxidationi n both crude and purified barley organlle extracts and also caused a slow chemical oxidation of protoporphyrinogen. The stimulating effect of unsaturated fatty acids on enzymatic protoporophyrinogen oxidation may indicate a lipid requirement for this membrane bound enzyme or may also indicate involement of unsaturated lipid oxidation in plant protoporphyrinogen oxidation.
Surface arthroplasty in shoulder arthritis

Use of a resurfacing arthroplasty in shoulder arthritis has the advantage of bone preservation. It diminishes the risk of periprosthetic fractures of the humeral shaft by avoiding the stress concentration effect associated with stemmed implants. Revision or, when rarely needed, arthrodesis may be undertaken more easily since the bone stock has been maintained. The largest studies to date have concluded that the indications for this surface replacement are the same as those for the conventional stemmed prostheses, namely osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, avascular necrosis, instability arthropathy, posttraumatic arthropathy, and cuff arthropathy. The best results have been achieved in primary osteoarthritis. Results for other indications are comparable with those for stemmed prostheses with a similar follow-up and case mix. Use in cuff tear arthropathy has yielded successful outcomes consistent with the limited goals in these patients, similar to those with use of available stemmed implants but with technical advantages. The implant is not suitable where the humeral head is insufficient or in four-part fractures. In such cases, a stemmed implant should be used. Access to the glenoid is more difficult with this technique because of humeral head retention resulting in a greater propensity to perform hemiarthroplasty.
Analyzing the solutions of hermitian matrix models

Abstract We analyze in detail the nonperturbative solutions of both the usual and the bigeneric k-multicritical hermitian matrix models. We show that the methods of Boutroux can be generalized to provide “triply truncated” solutions of the string equations which are unique up to symmetries of the equations. For k even, the solutions to the string equations thus obtained are always complex. For k odd, the usual multicritical one-matrix models always have real solutions. The bigeneric models for k odd have real specific heat, but certain correlators may be complex. We also make explicit the relation between these results and an eigenvalue analysis on the sphere.
Dynamic Kinetic Asymmetric Transformation of Diene Monoepoxides: A Practical Asymmetric Synthesis of Vinylglycinol, Vigabatrin, and Ethambutol

The ability to perform a dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation (DYKAT) using the palladium-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation (AAA) is explored in the context of butadiene monoepoxide. The...
MULTIGRID TECHNIQUES FOR THE NUMERICAL SOLUTION OF THE DIFFUSION EQUATION

An accurate numerical solution of diffusion problems containing large local gradients can be obtained with a significant reduction in computational time by using a multi-grid computational scheme. The spatial domain is covered with sets of uniform square grids of different sizes. The finer grid patterns overlap the coarse grid patterns. The finite-difference expressions for each grid pattern are solved Independently by iterative techniques. Two interpolation methods were used to establish the values of the potential function on the fine grid boundaries with information obtained from the coarse grid solution. The accuracy and computational requirements for solving a test problem by a simple multigrid and a multilevel-multigrid method were compared. The multilevel-multigrid method combined with a Taylor series interpolation scheme was found to be best.
Energy of the isometric transition in 109Ag

Abstract The energy of the isomeric transition in 109 Ag from the decay of 109 Cd has been measured by intercomparison with X-rays of well-known energies. Using a Ge(Li) detector with 1.45 keV resolution, the gamma-ray energy was found to be 88.041 keV with an uncertainty believed to be less than 0.087 keV.
Error in Measurements of Incoming Shortwave Radiation Made from Ships and Buoys

Abstract Errors in shortwave solar radiation measurements resulting from mean tils and rocking motions, as well as from the response time of the sensors, are determined experimentally. The magnitude of the mean tilt error can be large and lead to errors in daily-averaged incoming shortwave radiation in excess of 10 W m−2. Mean errors due to rocking motions and time response errors are less severe. The spatial distribution of the diffuse component of the radiation and the motion of the platform must both be known to attempt to correct for this error. An algorithm to perform this correction was derived, yet is only sufficiently accurate when the time response of the pyranometer is significantly smaller than the period of the rocking motion. Gimballing the sensors may be a more practical method of error reduction.
Growth regulation of Eurasian watermilfoil with flurprimidol

Studies were conducted in 55-liter aquariums under controlled environment conditions to evaluate growth regulator effects of flurprimidol [α-(1-methylethyl)-α-[4-(trifluoromethoxy) phenyl]-5-pyrimidinemethanol] on Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L.). Treatments included flurprimidol concentrations ranging from 0 to 500 μg L-1, with exposure times varying from 0.25 to 28 days. Extending the flurprimidol contact time increased the growth inhibitory response. Flurprimidol-treated shoots were 14–64% shorter than untreated plants at 14 DAT (days after treatment). Growth inhibition persisted 56 DAT for plants exposed to 25 and 100 μg L-1 flurprimidol for 28 days or 200 μg L-1 flurprimidol for 10 days. Growth-inhibited plants accumulated starch in shoots and roots, whereas plants showing little or no growth suppression utilized available assimilate for growth. Treatments that most effectively suppressed shoot length accumulated up to 68% more total nonstructural carbohydrate compared with untreated plants. Shoot and root dry weight biomass were unaffected by flurprimidol.
Metallothionein in Pancreatic Endocrine Neoplasms

Metallothioneins (MTs) are intracellular proteins that bind to metal ions and are involved in heavy metal homeostasis and detoxification. Pancreatic islets were shown to be positive for zinc-containing matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9 by immunocytochemical staining. The immunolocalization of matrix metalloproteinases in pancreatic islets prompted us to study further the link between zinc and MT in 34 cases of pancreatic endocrine neoplasms, including insulinomas, glucagonomas, gastrinomas, pancreatic polypeptide-omas, and nonfunctioning endocrine neoplasms. Four types of islet cells were found to be positive for MT, whereas pancreatic endocrine neoplasms mostly were either weakly positive or negative for MT. The presence of MT in normal islet cells and pancreatic endocrine neoplasms is consistent with the notion that MTs modulate zinc homeostasis and metabolism in pancreatic islet cells and pancreatic endocrine neoplasms as those tissues contain zinc-containing matrix metalloproteinases.
Inhibition of mTOR kinase by AZD8055 can antagonize chemotherapy-induced cell death through autophagy induction and down-regulation of p62/sequestosome 1.

AZD8055 is an ATP-competitive inhibitor of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) that forms two multiprotein complexes, mTORC1 and mTORC2, and negatively regulates autophagy. We demonstrate that AZD8055 stimulates and potentiates chemotherapy-mediated autophagy, as shown by LC3I-II conversion and down-regulation of the ubiquitin-binding protein p62/sequestosome 1. AZD8055-induced autophagy was pro-survival as shown by its ability to attenuate cell death and DNA damage (p-H2AX), and to enhance clonogenic survival by cytotoxic chemotherapy. Autophagy inhibition by siRNA against Beclin 1 or LC3B, or by chloroquine, partially reversed the cytoprotective effect of AZD8055 that was independent of cell cycle inhibition. The pro-survival role of autophagy was confirmed using ectopic expression of Beclin 1 that conferred cytoprotection. To determine whether autophagy-mediated down-regulation of p62/sequestosome 1 contributes to its pro-survival role, we generated p62 knockdown cells using shRNA that showed protection from chemotherapy-induced cell death and DNA damage. We also overexpressed wild-type (wt) p62 that promoted chemotherapy-induced cell death, whereas mutated p62 at functional domains (PB1, UBA) failed to do so. The ability of ectopic wt p62 to promote cell death was blocked by AZD8055. AZD8055 was shown to inhibit phosphorylation of the autophagy-initiating kinase ULK1 at Ser757 and inhibited known targets of mTORC1 (p-mTOR Ser2448, p70S6K, p-S6, p4EBP1) and mTORC2 (p-mTOR Ser2481, p-AKT Ser473). Knockdown of mTOR, but not Raptor or Rictor, reduced p-ULK1 at Ser757 and enhanced chemotherapy-induced autophagy that resulted in a similar cytoprotective effect as shown for AZD8055. In conclusion, AZD8055 inhibits mTOR kinase and ULK1 phosphorylation to induce autophagy whose pro-survival effect is due, in part, to down-regulation of p62.
Elastic constants of silicon materials calculated as a function of temperature using a parametrization of the second-generation reactive empirical bond-order potential

A parametrization for silicon is presented that is based on the second-generation reactive empirical bond-order (REBO) formalism [Brenner, Shenderova, Harrison, Stuart, Ni, and Sinnott J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 14, 783 (2002)]. Because it shares the same analytic form as Brenner's second-generation REBO, this new potential is a step toward a single potential that can model many atom systems that contain C, Si, and H, where bond breaking and bond making are important. The widespread use of Brenner's REBO potential, its ability to model both zero-Kelvin elastic constants of diamond and the temperature dependence of the elastic constants, and the existence of parameters for many atom types were the motivating factors for obtaining this parametrization for Si. While Si-C-H classical bond-order potentials do exist, they are based on Brenner's original formalism. This new parametrization is validated by examining the structure and stability of a large number of crystalline silicon structures, by examining the relaxation energies of point defects, the energies of silicon surfaces, the effects of adatoms on surface energies, and the structures of both liquid silicon and amorphous silicon. Finally, the elastic constants of diamond-cubic and amorphous silicon between 0 and $1100\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ are calculated with this new parametrization and compared to values calculated using a previously published potential.
On the role of nuclear matrix elements in non-unique forbidden electron capture ratios

Abstract The β-decay theory of Behrens and Buhring is used to investigate the role of nuclear matrix elements in electron capture (EC) ratios. The ( L I + L II ) K and ( M I + M II ) K ratios are found to be independent of the nuclear matrix elements, but EC ratios for shells with different k = | κ | can be used to determine the nuclear matrix elements. The region of the decay energy where the L III K , M III L , and M v L ratios are large enough to be separated from the experimentally measured L K or M L ratios is determined. For three EC transitions, the ratio of non-relativistic and relativistic nuclear matrix elements are estimated from experimental EC ratios.
A parametric k-means algorithm

The k points that optimally represent a distribution (usually in terms of a squared error loss) are called the k principal points. This paper presents a computationally intensive method that automatically determines the principal points of a parametric distribution. Cluster means from the k-means algorithm are nonparametric estimators of principal points. A parametric k-means approach is introduced for estimating principal points by running the k-means algorithm on a very large simulated data set from a distribution whose parameters are estimated using maximum likelihood. Theoretical and simulation results are presented comparing the parametric k-means algorithm to the usual k-means algorithm and an example on determining sizes of gas masks is used to illustrate the parametric k-means algorithm.
Field studies on the ureogenic gulf toadfish in a subtropical bay. I. Patterns of abundance, size composition and growth

Opsanus beta abundance in Biscayne Bay, Florida, varied significantly depending on site and season. O. beta catch per unit eVort (cpue) was highest in southern study sites which tended to provide the combination of shallow mean depth, nocturnally high levels of dissolved oxygen, and Thalassia-dominated substrate. Significant seasonal diVerences in abundance were restricted to the three sites whereO. betacpue tended to be highest; two of these sites shared the same pattern of increase during the cool‐dry season (November‐April), followed by a return to lower levels during warm‐wet season (May‐September). Dramatic seasonal abundance increases could not be ascribed to large influxes of immature fish. Rather, size composition data suggested sexually mature individuals moved seasonally among habitats, possibly for reproductive purposes. Modal analysis of length‐frequency data followed by nonlinear regressions yielded preliminary values for the von BertalanVy growth parameters K and t0, given that L£=300 mm. Possible reasons for O. beta growing slower and attaining a smaller maximal size than its temperate congener, O. tau, are discussed. ? 1997 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles
Genetic testing for risk stratification in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and long QT syndrome: fact or fiction?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, affecting 1 in 500 persons, is the most common identifiable cause of sudden cardiac death in the young, whereas congenital long QT syndrome, affecting 1 in 5000 persons, is perhaps one of the most common causes of autopsy negative sudden unexplained death. Since May 2004, genetic testing has been available as a clinical diagnostic test for both hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and long QT syndrome. It is now critical to carefully scrutinize the relationships between genotype and phenotype as they pertain to clinical practice. RECENT FINDINGS: In 1990, the molecular underpinnings of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were exposed with the identification of a mutation in the MYH7-encoded beta myosin heavy chain. Since then, hundreds of mutations scattered among at least 14 genes confer the pathogenetic substrate for this 'disease of the sarcomere'. In 1995, the discipline of cardiac channelopathies was born with the revelation that mutations in critical cardiac channel genes cause long QT syndrome. Today, hundreds of mutations involving several cardiac channel genes account for approximately 75% of long QT syndrome. Over the past decade, scores of genotype-phenotype correlation studies in both hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and long QT syndrome have been conducted. SUMMARY: Genomic medicine has now entered the clinical practice as it pertains to the evaluation and management of both hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and long QT syndrome. The diagnostic utility of genetic testing for both diseases is clearly evident, as well as current limitations. While treatment decisions are certainly influenced by knowing the underlying genotype in long QT syndrome, there seems to be negligible prognostic value associated with particular hypertrophic cardiomyopathy-causing mutations at this time.
Finite Element Modeling of Flap Design After Skin Expansion

Tissue expansion is a common technique in reconstructive surgery used to resurface damaged areas such as burns, birth defects or after tumor removal. The procedure is characterized by the inflation of a balloon below the skin that leads to three-dimensional dome-like shapes of tissue. Skin then needs to be cut to create a flap, which is extended to cover the excised area. The latter procedure, called flap design, has been empirically studied and advantages and disadvantages of the use of one type of flap over another have been discussed [1]. However, to date, flap design has never been optimized from a mechanical point of view.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Isolation of gram amounts of arginine vasopressin, oxytocin, and α-MSH

Abstract A simple method is described for the isolation, on a preparative scale, of arginine vasopressin, oxytocin, and α-MSH, from a single beef posterior pituitary extract. These hormones are obtained in a high state of purity and with maximal biological activities. The method involves a preliminary precipitation, which is followed by chromatography on carboxymethylcellulose and gel filtration.
An Integrated Somatic Cell Hybrid, YAC, and BAC Map of the Rmc1 Region of Mouse Chromosome 1

Rmc1, the cellular receptor for the polytropic class of murine retroviruses, determines the tissue tropism of the virus and therefore plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of polytropic virus-induced leukemia. Previously we reported the physical mapping of this gene to a 5-cM region of mouse chromosome 1 and the construction of a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) contig across this region. In this report we describe the refinement of the Rmc1 candidate region to approximately 600 kb and the generation of an integrated somatic cell hybrid, YAC, and bacterial artificial chromosome contig spanning the region. A number of genes and loci were physically ordered along the chromosome, including a recently identified candidate for Rmc1.
Heat Transfer to Fluids in the Region of the Critical Temperature

H e a t t r ans fe r by forced convect ion in t h e region of t h e c r i t i ca l t e m p e r a t u r e h a s been s tud i ed expe r imen ta l ly , u s i n g oxygen a t superc r i t i ca l a n d a t subcr i t i ca l p ressures . Near t h e cr i t ica l t e m p e r a t u r e t h e r e exists a m i n i m u m in t h e h e a t t r ans fe r coefficient wh ich is apprec iab ly lower t h a n t h e value a t lower or a t h i g h e r t e m p e r a t u r e s . T h i s p h e n o m e n o n will l i m i t t h e use of t h i s liquefied gas as a h e a t t ransfer fluid.
A Novel Bioreactor Engineered With Mass Transport and Storage as Key Design Specifications

Successfully developing tissue and organ equivalents requires one to balance device design strategies with the complexities of supporting cells able to accomplish targeted functions. For these equivalents to attain the goal of wide spread clinical use with off-the-shelf availability, it is also critical that methods for storing these systems are considered during in the design phase. This study presents a liver equivalent system — a radial flow bioreactor (RFB) — designed with each of these goals in mind. Its unique features include its capacity for cell support and the design of its cellular space. Specifically it is able to accommodate functional and reasonably sized tissue (more than 2×108 cells). The RFB’s effectiveness in supporting functioning liver cells; the consequences of the system’s flow on O2 transport; and the results of cryopreserving its tissue equivalents at sub-zero temperatures, are all presented.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Muscarinic agonist-induced positive inotropic response in chick atria

Carbachol (10(-6)-3X10(-4)M) induces a positive inotropic response in paced, pertussis toxin-treated fibers which is atropine-sensitive and independent of endogenous catecholamines. At the same concentrations in atria from saline-treated chicks, carbachol's negative inotropic effect on the steady state contractions (SSC) is attenuated and the rested state contraction (RSC) is increased. The RSC and SSC in pertussis toxin-treated fibers are increased by carbachol (EC50 = 30 microM) indicating that repetitive electrical depolarization is not essential for the inotropic response. The inotropic response of the SSC is frequency-independent from 0.10-1.0 Hz; however it is decreased (approximately 50%) at a high frequency (3.0 Hz). In control untreated atrial muscle, carbachol (10(-4)M) selectively increases the early component of the RSC. The late component of the RSC, representing activation of transmembrane Ca2+ inward current, is not changed. Carbachol's positive inotropic effect is perhaps exerted by enhancing Ca2+ release and/or Ca2+ content of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The ability of various muscarinic agonists to induce a positive inotropic response was: carbachol > acetylcholine > oxotremorine. This order correlates with the ability of these agents to induce a tetrodotoxin-resistant Na+ inward current that increases intracellular Na+ and to promote phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that the carbachol-induced positive inotropic response may result from greater intracellular Ca2+ availability secondary to enhanced Na-Ca exchange. The greater Ca2+ availability, together with increased production of the Ca-mobilizing messenger, inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3), can exert a synergistic effect to regulate force generation.