cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Studies on the 1alpha, 25-dihydroxycholecalciferol-like activity in a calcinogenic plant. Cestrum diurnum, in the chick.

Cestrum diurnum (day-blooming jessamine) has been proposed to cause calcinosis in horses and cattle in Florida. The present studies investigated some physiological properties of the plant, using the chick as the experimental animal. The inclusion of dried leaf powder in a rachitogenic diet restored intestinal calcium-binding protein synthesis (CaBP) and increased calcium absorption in the cholecalciferol-deficient chick. The estimated level of cholecalciferol-equivalents in the dried leaf was about 30,000 to 35,000 IU/kg. Most of the activity was extractable with methanol : chloroform (2:1), indicating that the major cholecalciferol-like component in C. diurnum was different from the water soluble factor(s) in Solanum malacoxylon. The time course of effect of C. diurnum extract in rachitic chicks was similar to that of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol but the former had a longer lag time. The strontium fed chick, in which the kidney 25-hydroxycholecaliciferol-1..cap alpha..-hydroxylase is inhibited, responded to C. diurnum extract, confirming the 1..cap alpha..,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol-like character of the Cestrum factor. The extract also appeared to interact with the intestinal 1..cap alpha..,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol cytosol receptor although this observation is preliminary. These findings indicate that the 1..cap alpha..,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol-like principle in C. diurnum may cause excessive calcium and phosphate absorption leading to calcinosis.
Measurement-to-modeling correlation of the power delivery network impedance of a microprocessor system

An automated system for measuring the power delivery impedance profile on a functional system is presented. The data collected by this system is used to assess the accuracy of a distributed power delivery system model.
Science of Casting and Solidification: ASM Handbook Contributions — Honoring Professor Doru Michael Stefanescu

Many of the metal casting processes are still empirical in nature. Many others are deeply rooted in mathematics and therefore, suitable for modeling. Science of casting and solidification is a major technical asset for foundry operations and of extreme importance in understanding different length scales microstructural changes and evolution as well as developing new processes and materials. In his attempt to describe combinations of solidification theory, research results and industrial practice, Professor Doru Michael Stefanescu (ASM Fellow, 1997) has made tremendous contributions to the field. Many of his views on casting and solidification are valued as important impacts within professional environments such as TMS and ASM International. He has written many articles for the ASM Handbook series on subjects including basic metallurgy of cast iron, compacted graphite irons, solidification, thermodynamic properties of iron-base alloys, and computational modeling. He was also Volume Chair for Volume 15: Casting, of the 9th Edition Metals Handbook.
State Clean Energy Practices: Renewable Portfolio Standards

The State Clean Energy Policies Analysis (SCEPA) project is supported by the Weatherization and Intergovernmental Program within the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. This project seeks to quantify the impacts of existing state policies, and to identify crucial policy attributes and their potential applicability to other states. The goal is to assist states in determining which clean energy policies or policy portfolios will best accomplish their environmental, economic, and security goals. For example, a renewable portfolio standard (RPS) mandates an increase in the use of wind, solar, biomass, and other alternatives to fossil and nuclear electric generation. This paper provides a summary of the policy objectives that commonly drive the establishment of an RPS, the key issues that states have encountered in implementing an RPS, and the strategies that some of the leading states have followed to address implementation challenges. The factors that help an RPS function best generally have been explored in other analyses. This study complements others by comparing empirical outcomes, and identifying the policies that appear to have the greatest impact on results.
Contribution to the Discussion of the Paper ‘Geodesic Monte Carlo on Embedded Manifolds’

We would like to start by congratulating Byrne and Girolami for writing such a thoughtful and extremely interesting paper. This is in fact a worthy addition to other high impact papers recently published by Professor Girolami’s lab in this field. The common theme of these papers is to use geometrically motivated methods to improve efficiency of sampling algorithms. In their seminal paper, Girolami & Calderhead (2011) proposed a novel Hamiltonian Monte Carlo (HMC) method, called Riemannian manifold HMC, that exploits the Riemannian geometry of the target distribution to improve standard HMC’s efficiency by automatically adapting to the local structure. Although this is a natural and beautiful idea, there are significant computational difficulties, which arise in effectively implementing this algorithm. In contrast, in this current contribution, Byrne and Girolami focused on special probability distributions, which give rise to particularly nice Riemannian geometries. In particular, the examples under consideration described in Section 4 allow for closed-form solutions to the geodesic equation, which can be used to reduce computational cost of geometrically motivated Monte Carlo methods. Although the proposed splitting algorithm is quiet interesting, we initially doubted its impact because Riemannian metrics with closed-form geodesics are extremely rare. However, we are now convinced that this approach will likely see application beyond what is outlined herein. For example, we believe that this approach can be used to improve computational efficiency of sampling algorithms when the parameter space is constrained. The standard HMC algorithm needs to evaluate each proposal to ensure that it is within the boundaries imposed by the constraints. Alternatively, as discussed by Neal (2011), one could modify standard HMC so the sampler bounces back after hitting the boundaries. In Appendix A, Byrne and Girolami discussed this approach for geodesic updates on the simplex. In many cases, a constrained parameter space can be bijectively mapped to a unit ball,
Source parameter inversion of a reservoir-induced seismic sequence: Lake Kariba, Africa (1963 September)

Summary. The depth and seismic source parameters of the three largest reservoir-induced earthquakes associated with the impoundment of Lake Kariba, Africa, were determined, using a moment tensor formalism of the generalized inverse technique. The events, characterized by mb > 5.5, consisted of the foreshock and main event (0640 and 0901 GMT, 1963 September 23) and the principal aftershock (0703 GMT, 1963 September 25). From the analysis of analogue rift valley source crustal models, a three-layer over a half-space model were selected for the analysis of the Lake Kariba events. The epicentral proximity and the comparable source parameters of the three large events suggest a common source fault with an approximate strike of S 9°W ± 4°, dip of 62°± 10°, and rake of 266°± 4°. The body wave modelling indicates that the Lake Kariba events occurred at depths of less than 10 km. The inferred source parameters, complemented by the structural maps derived from the photo-interpretation of Landsat imagery of the region, indicate a normal fault that uniquely transects the reservoir's deep Sanyati Basin in a north-south heading. The active fault seems to correlate with the location of the Umi River's submerged river channel. The confirmation of shallow depths and the determination of source parameters establishes a basis for addressing the actual triggering mechanisms of these earthquakes.
Seismic Signal Processing

The sections in this article are 1 Wavelets 2 Spectral Analysis 3 The Stratified or Layered Model 4 General Convolutional Model 5 Seismic Migration 6 Velocity Analysis and Tomography 7 Seismic Data Interpretation 8 Conclusion
The crystal resonator- a digital transducer

Precision piezoelectric quartz resonators have evolved during a half century of research, development, and engineering. It is an evolution that started with rudimentary concepts and a precision of one part in a thousand, and emerged today with a precision of a few parts in 1012. Although there have been significant steps forward through single contributions, the evolution has been a continuous improvement with an order of magnitude achieved every five to seven years. Not that anyone was particularly aware of these milestones, but, viewed in total, this improvement of a billion to one must stand as one of the truly amazing developments of this electronic age.
Static analysis of exception handling in Ada

Since the signature of an Ada subprogram does not specify the set of exceptions that the subprogram can propagate, computing the set of exceptions that a subprogram may encounter is not a trivial task. This is a source of error in large Ada systems: for example, a subprogram may not be prepared to handle an exception propagated from another subprogram several layers lower in the call-tree. In a large system, the number of paths in exceptional processing is so great that it is unlikely that testing will uncover all errors in inter-procedural exception handling. Nor are compilers or code inspections likely to locate all such errors. Exception handling is an area where static analysis has a high potential payoff for systems with high reliability requirements. We discuss fundamental notions in computing exception propagation and describe an analysis tool that has proved to be effective in detecting inconsistencies in the exception-handling code of Ada applications.
Density-functional calculation of the static electronic polarizability of a small metal sphere

The response of a small metal sphere to a uniform electrostatic field is calculated within density-functional theory. The gradient-expansion approximation is used for the kinetic-energy functional, while exchange and correlation are treated in the local-density approximation. A jellium model is assumed and the electron density is determined by a variational method. Calculations were performed for spheres containing between 5 and 8000 electrons. The applied field was found to induce a substantial amount of charge outside the sphere. This causes the electronic polarizability $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ to be larger than the classical value ${R}^{3}$, where $R$ is the radius of the sphere. Our calculations give $\ensuremath{\alpha}={(R+\ensuremath{\delta})}^{3}$, where $R+\ensuremath{\delta}$ plays the role of an effective radius, and $\ensuremath{\delta}$ is approximately 2.0 a.u. for the electron-radius parameter ${r}_{s}=2$ and is approximately 1.0 a.u. for ${r}_{s}=4$. Our calculated values of $\ensuremath{\delta}$ are nearly independent of $R$. As $R$ approaches infinity, $\ensuremath{\delta}$ approaches the image-plane distance for the problem of a flat surface. It is shown that there is a force sum rule that is not well satisfied by previous calculations, and is approximately satisfied by most of our calculations.
PP2A-dependent control of transcriptionally active FOXO3a in CD8 + central memory lymphocyte survival requires p47 phox

Forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a) transcription factor is regulated by complex post-translational modifications that allow for transcriptional control of various apoptosis factors including pro-apoptotic Bim. Although it has been shown that kinases phosphorylate FOXO3a in memory T cells, the role of protein phosphatases in the control of memory T lymphocyte FOXO3a function is less clear. Here, we report that FOXO3a is dephosphorylated (activated) by a protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A)-dependent mechanism in CD8+ memory lymphocytes (Tm) during Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) infection, which allows for enhanced Bim transcription in nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-oxidase p47phox-deficient (p47phox−/−) Tm. Consequently, CD8+ Tm from Lm-infected p47phox−/− mice express significantly higher levels of each pro-apoptotic Bim protein isoform. Furthermore, there was a profound reduction in the accumulation of CD8+ T central memory (Tcm) cells in infected p47phox−/− spleens, and 65% p47phox−/− mouse moribundity following secondary Lm reinfection compared with 25% in wild-type mice. Notably, blocking PP2A activity attenuated FOXO3 activation and Bim transcription in p47phox−/− CD8+ memory lymphocytes. Our findings indicate a critical role for p47phox in a dynamic interplay between PP2A and FOXO3a that regulates pro-apoptotic Bim transcription in CD8+ memory lymphocytes during infection.
Resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionization and third-harmonic generation in xenon gas

Resonantly enhanced multiphoton ionization signals through the $6s[\frac{3}{2}]J=1$ state of Xe rapidly disappear at pressures above 0.30 Torr; concurrently, intense, vacuum-ultra-violet third-harmonic radiation is detected in the forward direction. Laser excitation spectra of the vacuum ultraviolet light exhibit increasing blue shifts and bandwidths with increasing pressure. The observed competition between ionization and third-harmonic generation is discussed in terms of a model involving fast collective emission.
Identification of Clinical Features and Autoantibodies Associated With Calcinosis in Dermatomyositis

Importance Prior studies have estimated that up to 20% of adults with dermatomyositis (DM) have calcinosis, which can lead to significant morbidity. Identification of risk factors may provide a better understanding of the pathogenesis and ultimately therapy for this difficult clinical problem. Risk factors for calcinosis in adults with DM have not been extensively studied. Objectives To determine the prevalence of calcinosis and to identify associated clinical features in a cohort of extensively phenotyped adults with DM. Design, Setting, and Participants A cross-sectional study of 126 patients diagnosed as having DM from January 1, 2006, through January 1, 2013, was performed. Patients were adults (≥18 years of age) attending the Stanford University Medical Center clinic. Main Outcomes and Measures Calcinosis, defined as the presence of calcium deposition in the skin and subcutaneous tissues on physical examination. Results Fourteen patients (11.1%) had calcinosis, with the extremities most commonly involved. Patients with vs those without calcinosis had a longer disease duration (median, 6.9 years; range, 2.4–18.1; vs median, 3.9 years; range, 0.2-19.2 years; P = .003) and more fingertip ulcers (50.0% vs 9.3%, P Conclusions and Relevance Calcinosis was a relatively uncommon clinical feature in our cohort of adults with DM. Our data suggest that calcinosis is positively associated with longer disease duration, fingertip ulcers, and NXP-2 autoantibodies and negatively associated with transcriptional intermediary factor 1-γ antibodies. A common vascular mechanism may underlie the development of both calcinosis and fingertip ulcers in patients with DM.
IR, DR and BC with wireless mesh networks

This paper examines wireless mesh network use in small businesses as well as large organizations and how they are compromised. This paper uses an evaluation approach to understanding how organizations protect their wireless mesh networks and how incident response, disaster recovery and business continuity plans are affected as a result. As network architectures continue to change, the use of wireless mesh networks are growing. Network monitoring and incident handling polices mechanisms are important and effective deterrents to computer abuse when they are actively enforced when using wireless mesh networks. This paper provides valuable considerations in developing a complete security policy when using wireless mesh networks in organizations.
A Novel Mechanism Involving Four-and-a-half LIM Domain Protein-1 and Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase-2 Regulates Titin Phosphorylation and Mechanics

Understanding mechanisms underlying titin regulation in cardiac muscle function is of critical importance given recent compelling evidence that highlight titin mutations as major determinants of human cardiomyopathy. We previously identified a cardiac biomechanical stress-regulated complex at the cardiac-specific N2B region of titin that includes four-and-a-half LIM domain protein-1 (Fhl1) and components of the mitogen-activated protein signaling cascade, which impacted muscle compliance in Fhl1 knock-out cardiac muscle. However, direct regulation of these molecular components in mediating titin N2B function remained unresolved. Here we identify Fhl1 as a novel negative regulator of titin N2B levels and phosphorylation-mediated mechanics. We specifically identify titin N2B as a novel substrate of extracellular signal regulated-kinase-2 (Erk2) and demonstrate that Fhl1 directly interferes with Erk2-mediated titin-N2B phosphorylation. We highlight the critical region in titin-N2B that interacts with Fhl1 and residues that are dependent on Erk2-mediated phosphorylation in situ. We also propose a potential mechanism for a known titin-N2B cardiomyopathy-causing mutation that involves this regulatory complex. These studies shed light on a novel mechanism regulating titin-N2B mechano-signaling as well as suggest that dysfunction of these pathways could be important in cardiac disease states affecting muscle compliance.
Somatic Cell Reprogramming into Cardiovascular Lineages

Ischemic cardiac disease is the leading cause of death in the developed world. The inability of the adult mammalian heart to adequately repair itself has motivated stem cell researchers to explore various strategies to regenerate cardiomyocytes after myocardial infarction. Over the past century, progressive gains in our knowledge about the cellular mechanisms governing fate determination have led to recent advances in cellular reprogramming. The identification of specific factors capable of inducing pluripotent phenotype in somatic cells as well as factors that can directly reprogram somatic cells into cardiomyocytes suggests the potential for these approaches to translate into clinical therapies in the future. Although conceptually appealing, the field of cell lineage reprogramming is in its infancy, and further research will be needed to improve the efficiency of the reprogramming process and the fidelity of the reprogrammed cells to their in vivo counterpart.
Helium isotopes in geothermal and volcanic gases of the western United States, I. Regional variability and magmatic origin

Abstract Helium isotope ratios in gases of thirty hot springs and geothermal wells and of five natural gas wells in the western United States show no relationship to regional conductive heat flow, but do show a correlation with magma-based thermal activity and reservoir fluid temperature (or total convective heat discharge). Gases from high-T (> 200°C) reservoirs have 3He/4He > 2 × the atmospheric value, with high He concentrations due to the input of magmatic helium. Low-T reservoirs generally have 3He/4He less than the atmospheric ratio, with very low H2 contents, which appear to be qualitative criteria for the absence of a magmatic heat source. To first order, He/(CO2 + H2S) ratios are inversely correlated with 3He/4He and are consistent with a two-component mixture of radiogenic (crustal) and magmatic (mantle) helium. The 3He-enriched high-T component has a restricted range of He/(CO2 + H2S) between about 5 and 50 ppmv. On the premise that CO2 and H2S concentrations are T-dependent due to mineral-fluid equilibria, the correlation of reservoir temperature and 3He/4He ratio, together with the restricted range of He/(CO2 + H2S) ratios observed in high-T magmatic systems, suggests that the amount of magmatic He and the amount of CO2 (and H2S) in these geothermal reservoirs are related to fluid temperature via the amount of magmatic heat and volatiles input to a particular geothermal reservoir.
Optical Ramsey interference and its performance in D1 line excitation in rubidium vapor for implementation of a vapor cell clock

Pulsed coherent population trapping in atomic vapor provides a convenient method for generating frequency narrowed atomic resonance using Ramsey interference. Here, we present our experimental results showing high-contrast and sub-kilohertz Ramsey interference fringes produced by coherently prepared 85 Rb atoms using Raman excitation formed in D1 line transitions. A test system for atomic clock has been constructed to measure light shift for both continuous and pulsed Raman excitation cases. Our measurements show that light shift measured using pulsed Raman excitation, is reduced compared to the continuous excitation case. Our ability to measure light shift is currently limited by the resolution of the frequency counter, and performance of the locking electronics used.
736—Ion conductance during amphibian early development

Abstract Fertilization of Xanopus leavis egg is accompanied by a transient depolarization, the fertilization potential (FP), which appears to act as a fast block to polyspermy. The amplitude of the FP was affected by variations in the extracellular Cl− activity whereas the membrane potential before fertilization and after repolariztion was unaffected. The peak FP never reached the Cl− equilibrium potential (UCl) and changed by 47.3 mV for a tenfold change in the extracellular Cl− activity over the range 8.3 to 48.9 mM. In the presence of TEA, the peak FP became more positive and approached UCl suggesting the involvement of a hyperpolarizing K+ conductance increase at a similar time to that of Cl−. The peak FP was also influenced by Substituting Cl− with any of the halides. It became more positive as the free energy of hydration of the halide increased in the sequence I−, Br−, Cl−, F−. Eventhough the peak FP was markedly reduced in solution containing raised Cl− levels, subsequent membrane potential and resistance changes following monospermic fertilization were normal.
Indirect calibration of visible channel data

Abstract To provide quantitative measurements for Earth studies accurate and comprehensive calibration of satellite radiometers is critically needed. The recent increase in the use of satellite data for climate studies calls for the retrieval of physical parameters from the measured radiances and therefore for absolute calibrations that are known over long time periods. However, even the use of classification or “index” type analyses of satellite data to monitor changes in climate requires that the relative stability of the satellite radiometers be known for long-term data sets. Moreover, plans to collect global satellite data over decadal periods, to monitor changes in surface conditions and in climate, require a calibration standard that can be transferred from one satellite to another in a series. Although most instruments undergo a thorough calibration prior to their launch on a satellite, there appears to be no predictable relationship between these pre-launch calibrations and the post-launch performance. Thus, comprehensive, well-documented post-launch calibrations are needed. Because the solar channels used for imaging on most operational satellites do not have onboard calibration capabilities, a number of indirect approaches have been developed using the Earths surface as a target. A variety of earth targets have been used in calibration ranging from a single target (such as White Sands, NM) to multiple targets covering the entire globe. The use of such targets to monitor the relative calibration of satellite instruments over long time periods introduces a number of uncertainties such as diurnal and seasonal changes in the radiation from the target as seen by the satellite. These temporal changes arise from variations in viewing and illumination geometry, changes in the atmosphere, navigation errors, changes in the surface characteristics (such as soil moisture and vegetation), and cloud variations. Relative calibration methods require periodic absolute calibration checks. There is a demonstrated need for routine aircraft calibration flights to validate the various approaches.
Antiretroviral drug interactions.

Abstract It has recently been estimated that persons with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) receive on average 5.6 prescription medications throughout their disease course, and this number may be as high as 9 [1,2]. With the development and testing of new antiretroviral agents and drugs for opportunistic infections associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease, the issue of polypharmacy and multiple drug interactions will become increasingly complex. Since antiretroviral therapy and treatment or prophylaxis of opportunistic infections is lifelong, the nature of these interactions requires delineation to provide an optimal pharmacologic strategy for the use of these agents in combination. This article will address antiretroviral drug interactions from a pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic perspective. A background on the clinical pharmacology of antiretroviral agents is provided as is a discussion of selected interations.
Raman modes of 6H polytype of silicon carbide to ultrahigh pressures: A comparison with silicon and diamond.

We report the Raman study on $6H$-SiC to ultrahigh pressure of 95 GPa in a diamond anvil cell. The $\mathrm{LO}(\ensuremath{\Gamma})$ and $\mathrm{TO}(\ensuremath{\Gamma})$ Raman frequencies increase with increasing pressures. A very interesting turnaround in the LO-TO splitting is observed above 60 GPa. The density variation of the mode Gr\"uneisen parameters for $6H$-SiC is compared to that of silicon, cubic boron nitride, and diamond. The SiC is transparent to the visible light at 95 GPa and the anticipated metallic phase was not observed.
From measurements of hydrodynamics to computation of species transport in falling films

Abstract Falling films on horizontal tube banks are widely used in absorption heat pumps. Liquid film heat and mass transfer models in the literature are based on simplistic assumptions about such flows. Droplets forming under the tubes fall on subsequent tubes, and the ensuing waviness and mixing on the liquid film affect absorption. High-speed flow visualization, image analysis, and computations are used to understand the effect of hydrodynamics on local absorption phenomena. Image analysis mathematically describes the interface, and the surface area and volume of the droplets. These flows are also numerically analyzed using the volume-of-fluid method for the liquid–vapor interface. The 3-D model corroborates with high fidelity the droplet formation, detachment and impact observed in experiments. Fully resolved 3-D computations of the coupled fluid flow and heat and mass transfer reveal the local gradients and transfer rates, and their spatial and temporal variations in the falling-film and inter-tube regions.
Characterization of ultrathin oxide-based multilayer SERS nanoprobes for intracellular sensing

ABSTRACT Photonic nanosensors (e.g. PEBBLES, quantum dots-based sensors, etc.) have begun to allow the study of these previously inaccessible environments. Unfortunately, many current techniques suffer from biocompatibility issues, limited ability to monitor multiple species simultaneously and/or complicated fabrication chemistries. Recently SERS immuno-nanoprobes have demonstrated the capability to overc ome many of these limitations. Such intracellular SERS nanosensors require optimized substrate geometry to achieve the sensitivity necessary to detect the trace analyte concentrations present. To address this, we have developed a novel multilayered SERS substrate nanoarchitecture that is capable of enhancing SERS signals by over two orders of magnitude relative to comparable single layer substrates. These structures are fabricated using different deposition techniques (PVD, ALD, etc) in which multiple films of Ag (between 10-125 nm thick) are alternately deposited with ultrathin dielectric layers (tens of A). This geometry allows surface plasmons from different metal layers to be generated. The resulting multilayer enhancement increases the sensitivity while also improving the robustness of the nanoprob es. In this paper, we investigate and characterize SERS immuno-nanoprobes fabricated using this multilayered geomet ry and discuss the effect of the dielectric spacer (Ag
Comparison of Prognostic Health Management Algorithms for Assessment of Electronic Interconnect Reliability

This paper compares three prognostic algorithms applied to the same data recorded during the failure of a solder joint in ball grid array component attached to a printed circuit board. The objective is to expand on the relative strengths and weaknesses of each proposed algorithm. Emphasis will be placed on highlighting differences in underlying assumptions required for each algorithm, details of remaining useful life calculations, and methods of uncertainty quantification. Metrics tailored specifically for Prognostic Health Monitoring (PHM) are presented to characterize the performance of predictions. The relative merits of PHM algorithms based on a Kalman filter, extended Kalman filter, and a particle filter all demonstrated on the same data set will be discussed. The paper concludes by discussing which algorithm performs best given the information available about the system being monitored.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
A comparison of pain measurement characteristics of mechanical visual analogue and simple numerical rating scales

Numerical rating scales and mechanical visual analogue scales (M-VAS) were compared for their capacity to provide ratio scale measures of experimental pain. Separate estimates of experimental pain sensation intensity and pain unpleasantness were obtained by each method, as were estimates of clinical pain. Orofacial pain patients made numerical scale and VAS ratings in response to noxious thermal stimuli (45-51 degrees C) applied for 5 sec to the forearm by a contact thermode. The derived stimulus-response function was well fit as a power function only in the case of sensory M-VAS. The power function derived from sensory M-VAS ratings predicted temperatures chosen as twice as intense as standard temperatures of 47 degrees C and 48 degrees C, thereby providing evidence for ratio scale characteristics of M-VAS. The stimulus-response function derived from sensory numerical ratings differed from that obtained with M-VAS and did not provide accurate predictions of temperatures perceived as twice intense at 47 degrees C or 48 degrees C. Both M-VAS and numerical rating scales produced reliably different stimulus response functions for pain sensation intensity as compared to pain unpleasantness and both provided consistent measures of experimental and clinical pain intensity. Finally, both mechanical and pencil-and-paper VAS produced very similar stimulus-response functions. The ratio scale properties of M-VAS combined with its ease of administration and scoring in clinical settings offer the possibility of a simple yet powerful pain measurement technology in both research and health care settings.
Human stem cells as targets for the aging and diseases of aging processes.

Abstract While many theories have been proposed for the aging process, and many debates on the matter of aging and the diseases of aging being either the result of the same or independent processes, most have not considered humans as a hierarchical system made up of cybernetically interacting levels of organization. To understand the aging process and the diseases of aging, one must view the human as the result of the total genomic DNA in the single fertilized egg that proliferates, differentiates and develops into an individual of about 100 trillion cells, organized by different cell types (pluri-potent stem cells, progenitor stem cells, terminally differentiated cells) into multiple tissue, organ and organ systems which interact with each other via endogenous factors and with exogenous factors. Our hypothesis is that both aging and diseases of aging are dependent of the normal functioning of the pluri-potent stem cell pool. Specifically, the concept involves the cybernetic feedback between the ‘quantity’ of the stem cell pool in each tissue niche with the ‘quality’ of the stem cells in the pool. The process of gap junctional inter-cellular communication (GJIC), which has been implicated in the evolution from the single cell organism to the multi-cellular organisms, requiring growth control, differentiation, apoptosis, adaptive response capability of differentiated cells and senescence, is speculated to be a shared mechanism in stem cell biology and in many chronic disease processes (teratogenesis; carcinogenesis, atherogenesis, diabetigenesis, etc.). Specifically, stem cells are assumed to be ‘immortal’ until induced to express their connexin genes and have functional GJIC, at which time they can differentiate and become ‘mortal’. As long as the stem cells are communicating with their differentiated daughters via some extra-cellular soluble negative growth factor, the homeostatic control of their growth and differentiation is maintained for the organism. However, if the stem cell pool is depleted by any process, replacement of tissue due to wear and tear is diminished. The dependence of this tissue/organ to maintain homeostatic control of other organ systems then diminishes, leading to ‘systems failure’. In addition, if the stem cells in the pool have been exposed to agents that prevent the normal terminal differentiation of that cell, but whereby these ‘initiated’ stem cells can be expanded in any tissue, clones of partially differentiated and non-functional appear in the tissue. This diminishes the efficacy of that tissue to function properly and, thereby, also contributes to ‘system failure’ by contributing to the breakdown of homeostatic organ system control. One clear example, that of carcinogenesis, illustrates this point.
Some Factors Affecting the Keeping Quality of Whole Milk Powders

Summary A study of the keeping quality of 216 samples representing three types of whole milk powders is described as follows: Powders whose moisture content was increased by exposing the powders to moist air exhibited very inferior keeping qualities. Oxidation of the fat, giving rise to a tallowy odor, was the cause of deterioration. Containers in which the powders were stored greatly influenced the keeping quality. Containers permitting the entrance of air proved to be useless for long time storage. Deterioration was very pronounced in the samples stored in these containers, the extent of deterioration was usually more marked in case of the Creamora and Creamon A powders. Klim powder is not exposed to as much air as either of the other powders in the package. It has smaller individual powder grains which permit closer packing than Creamora A and Creamon, and the air cell when present within the powder grain is much smaller than that of the other spray powder, Creamon. Superior keeping quality was observed in samples of powders stored in tin "Doubletite" containers. These containers provided for absolute exclusion of outside air and moisture. In some cases samples were practically unchanged after a year in storage. Protection against discoloration, due to high storage temperature, was afforded when this type of container was used. This was not the case when other containers were used. Lacquered tin containers afforded no better protection than the unlacquered. In most instances the keeping quality was inferior to powders stored in the unlacquered tins. Pasteboard containers proved to be unsatisfactory, since air and moisture gained access to the powder. Tallowy and musty flavors were the main deteriorations observed. The temperature at which the powders were stored proved to be an important factor. Not a great deal of difference was observed between powders stored at 4° and 20°C, but a great difference was observed when powders were stored at 37°C. Most of these powders deteriorated very rapidly at this temperature and became very hard and discolored. The powders stored in the tin containers "Doubletite" did not become discolored, and the deterioration was not so pronounced as in cases where other containers were used. The influence of the time of storage depends on factors such as type of containers used and temperature of storage. Powders stored in opaque glass containers with screw tops and those in paste board containers showed signs of deterioration after three months in storage, while some powders stored in tin "Doubletite" containers showed scarcely no deterioration after one year in storage at 4° and 20°C. All powders stored at 37°C. showed pronounced deterioration at the time the first examination was made, or after three months in storage.
Spectroscopic and Computational Studies on the Trans-μ-1,2-Peroxo-Bridged Dinickel(II) Species [{Ni(tmc)}2(O2)](OTf)2: Nature of End-On Peroxo−Nickel(II) Bonding and Comparison with Peroxo−Copper(II) Bonding

Resonance Raman (rR) spectroscopic and density functional theory (DFT) computational studies on a trans-μ-1,2-peroxo-bridged (Ni2+)2 complex, [{(tmc)Ni2+}2(O2)]2+ (1, tmc = 1,4,8,11-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane), are presented and discussed. These studies afford a detailed description of the geometric and electronic structures of the Ni2O2 core in 1 and provide a suitable basis for a quantitative comparison between Ni−peroxo and Cu−peroxo bonding. From a normal coordinate analysis of rR data of 1, values of kNi-O = 1.52 mdyn/A and kO-O = 2.58 mdyn/A are obtained for the Ni−O and O−O stretch force constants, respectively, which are considerably smaller than kCu-O = 2.05 mdyn/A and kO-O = 3.09 mdyn/A reported for a representative trans-μ-1,2-peroxo-bridged (Cu2+)2 complex, [{(TMPA)Cu2+}2(O2)]2+. These differences primarily reflect a strongly reduced covalency of the metal−peroxo bonds in 1 relative to the (Cu2+)2 dimer as a result of the lower effective nuclear charge of Ni2+ than Cu2+. DFT...
Growth Factors in Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Pathogenic and Therapeutic Implications

Purpose: To investigate the role of growth factors in choroidal neovascularization in humans with age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) and in rats with choroidal neovascularizati
Distribution of axis-splitting in Mojave Desert shrub species along an elevational gradient

Although highly branched from the base, all shrubs have short main axes linking canopies to root systems. Main axes become increasingly segmented into independent canopy/stem/root segments as aridity increases across continents. The resulting hydraulic modularity has been proposed as an adaption to low soil moisture that prevents runaway embolism and minimizes risk of hydraulic failure. Here we test the hypotheses that (1) at a regional scale, the importance of axis-splitting species in communities declines with increasing elevation, as a proxy for precipitation, and (2) that this decline is explained by lower occurrence of low-elevation dominant species. We evaluated all species for axis splitting and determined importance values in plots along an elevational transect in the Mojave Desert. As predicted, as elevation increased, the total importance of axis-splitting species declined from 100% at low-elevation sites to 75% at the highest elevation site. However, this decline was not due solely to the decline of the lower elevation dominant species. At the high elevation site, the influx of new species resulted in a six-fold increase in species richness and almost all of the new high elevation woody eudicotyledonous species exhibited axis splitting; non-splitting species were represented by other growth forms.
Ten Years After: Enduring Lessons Learned from Mars Pathfinder

On July 4, 1997, the eyes of the world were focused on the high-risk entry, descent, and landing (EDL) of Mars Pathfinder (MPF). The mission employed a system of aeroshell, parachute, altimeter, retrorockets, and airbags in an audacious attempt to emplace a small science station on Mars and deploy a microrover for short-scale exploration. The project was implemented under NASA's new "faster-better-cheaper" (FBC) paradigm, which included a short development cycle and a hard cost cap. MPF and Sojourner, "the little rover that could," proved to be highly successful and received much press at the time. The Mars Pathfinder team had produced a set of lessons learned presentations following launch. This material captured what were believed to be the key lessons, both positive and negative, from 5 years of difficult and dynamic work, and was intended to offer guidance to future NASA projects. Over time, however, what had been considered to be "lessons" in 1997 would be questioned by future FBC and non-FBC projects. Looking back from a vantage point 10 years after MPF launch in December 1996, it is possible to more objectively separate out the enduring lessons from ones that did not remain valid, represented one-time-only occurrences, or carried unintended adverse consequences. Today's assessment encompasses what worked, what did not work, and what could have been done better, from a 2006 perspective. This paper gives a brief overview of the Mars Pathfinder project, its requirements, and its management approach; identifies the principal lessons learned as understood at the time; provides examples of lessons that did not stand the test of time; and describes what are considered to be the lasting messages of a successful and exciting endeavor.
Social Media as Information Source: Recency of Updates and Credibility of Information

Social media are increasingly being used as an information source, including information related to risks and crises. The current study examines how pieces of information available in social media impact perceptions of source credibility. Specifically, participants in the study were asked to view 1 of 3 mockTwitter.compages that varied the recency with which tweets were posted and then to report on their perceived source credibility of the page owner. Data indicate that recency of tweets impacts source credibility; however, this relationship is mediated by cognitive elaboration. These data suggest many implications for theory and application, both in computer-mediated communication and crisis communication. These implications are discussed, along with limitations of the current study and directions for future research.
Maternal psychosocial stress during pregnancy is associated with newborn leukocyte telomere length

ObjectiveIn adults, one of the major determinants of leukocyte telomere length (LTL), a predictor of age-related diseases and mortality, is cumulative psychosocial stress exposure. More recently we reported that exposure to maternal psychosocial stress during intrauterine life is associated with LTL in young adulthood. The objective of the present study was to determine how early in life this effect of stress on LTL is apparent by quantifying the association of maternal psychosocial stress during pregnancy with newborn telomere length.Study DesignIn a prospective study of N = 27 mother-newborn dyads maternal pregnancy-specific stress was assessed in early gestation and cord blood peripheral blood mononuclear cells were subsequently collected and analyzed for LTL measurement.ResultsAfter accounting for the effects of potential determinants of newborn LTL (gestational age at birth, weight, sex, and exposure to antepartum obstetric complications), there was a significant, independent, linear effect of pregnancy-specific stress on newborn LTL that accounted for 25% of the variance in adjusted LTL (β = −0.099; P = .04).ConclusionOur finding provides the first preliminary evidence in human beings that maternal psychological stress during pregnancy may exert a “programming” effect on the developing telomere biology system that is already apparent at birth, as reflected by the setting of newborn LTL.
Gating of the Mechanosensitive Channel Protein MscL: The Interplay of Membrane and Protein

The mechanosensitive channel of large conductance (MscL) belongs to a family of transmembrane channel proteins in bacteria and functions as a safety valve that relieves the turgor pressure produced by osmotic downshock. MscL gating can be triggered solely by stretching of the membrane. This work reports an effort to understand this mechanotransduction by means of molecular dynamics (MD) simulation on the MscL of mycobacterium tuberculosis embedded in a palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylethanolamine membrane. Equilibrium MD under zero membrane tension produced a more compact protein structure, as measured by its radii of gyration, compared to the crystal structure, in agreement with previous experimental findings. Even under a large applied tension up to 1000 dyn/cm, the MscL lateral dimension largely remained unchanged after up to 20 ns of simulation. A nonequilibrium MD simulation of 3% membrane expansion showed a significant increase in membrane rigidity upon MscL inclusion, which can contribute to efficient mechanotransduction. Direct observation of channel opening was possible only when an explicit lateral bias force was applied to each of the five subunits of MscL in the radially outward direction. Using this force, open structures with a large pore of radius 10 A could be obtained. The channel opening takes place in a stepwise manner and concurrently with the water chain formation across the channel, which occurs without direct involvement of protein hydrophilic residues. The N-terminal S1 helices stabilize the open structure, and the membrane asymmetry (different lipid density on the two leaflets of membrane) promotes channel opening.
Consumption and Metabolism of 1,2-Dimethoxy-4-(3-Fluoro-2-Propenyl)Benzene, a Fluorine Analog of Methyl Eugenol, in the Oriental Fruit Fly Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel)

Methyl eugenol (ME) is a natural phenylpropanoid highly attractive to oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) males. The flies eagerly feed on ME and produce hydroxylated metabolites with both pheromonal and allomonal functions. Side-chain metabolic activation of ME has long been recognized as a primary reason for hepatocarcinogenicity of this compound on rodents. In an attempt to develop a safer alternative to ME for fruit fly management, we developed a fluorine analog 1,2-dimethoxy-4-(3-fluoro-2-propenyl)benzene (I), which, in earlier field tests, was as active to the oriental fruit fly as ME. Now we report that B. dorsalis males are not only attracted to, but also eagerly consume (up to ∼1 mg/insect) compound I, thus recognizing this fluorinated benzene as a close kin of the natural ME. The flies metabolized the fluorine analog I in a similar fashion producing mostly two hydroxylated products, 2-(3-fluoro-2-propenyl)-4,5-dimethoxyphenol (II) and (E)-coniferyl alcohol (III), which they stored in rectal glands. However, the introduction of the fluorine atom at the terminal carbon atom of the double bond favors the ring hydroxylation over a side-chain metabolic oxidation pathway, by which coniferyl alcohol is produced. It also appears that fluorination overall impedes the metabolism: at high feed rate (10 μl per 10 males), the flies consumed in total more fluorine analog I than ME but were unable to metabolize it as efficiently as ME.