cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sexual Differentiation of the Brain: Effects of Testosterone on Brain RNA Metabolism in Newborn Female Rats

RNA metabolism in two regions of the amygdala and anterior hypothalamus of the brain of the newborn female rat responds to testosterone administration quite differently from that in the brain as a whole. These two regions may represent primary sites for the action of this hormone on the brain.
Peaking at the right time: Perceptions, expectations, and effects

Abstract We explore the concept of peaking at the right time. Study 1 is a content analysis of 325 National Football League articles identifying four key triggers that prompt proclamations of peaking at the right time: turnarounds, impressive prior events, winning streaks, and out-ofs. Study 2 experimental results reveal that turnarounds most strongly impact perceptions of peaking at the right time, anticipated performance, and expectations faced. However, nuanced differences occur across two time periods during the season. Studies 1 and 2 also indicate that observers expect teams to win their next games more often than actually happens. Study 3 demonstrates that teams prepare harder and make riskier game plans when their next opponent is peaking at the right time. Study 4 suggests that individuals more strongly desiring to peak at the right time than others will value various factors differently at different time points when envisioning upcoming seasons.
Microspore embryogenesis in Apiaceae

Haploid technology is used to develop uniform, true-breeding lines, as well as to accelerate crop improvement programs. Among 20 Apiaceae species screened for response to doubled haploidy, 11 generated microspore-derived embryos, and all but one of the latter yielded doubled haploid plants. Donor plant conditions, basal media, and culture conditions were evaluated for their efficacy on inducing microspore-derived embryos. Growing donor plants at temperature conditions of 10/5 or 15/10°C promoted microspore embryogenesis in fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.), whereas, growing donor plants at a temperature regime of 10/5°C, along with the use of a cold extraction method, enhanced embryogenesis in dill (Anethum graveolens L.) and anise (Pimpinella anisum L.). The culture of fennel and dill microspores in an NLN basal medium and caraway (Carum carvi L.) in AT-3 basal medium promoted the highest frequencies of embryo induction.
Human immunodeficiency virus infection, Part I

Initially recognized in 1982, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) has been the leading cause of death among young adults in the United States for much of this decade, and it has had a devastating impact on people in the developing world. It is estimated that 42 million people worldwide have been infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the virus that causes AIDS, and that almost 12 million people have died from AIDS-related diseases through 1997. Among these 12 million are 3 million children. Two thirds of the more than 30 million people with HIV or AIDS reside in sub-Saharan Africa. In the United States, 641,086 patients have been diagnosed with AIDS through 1997, and at least 385,000 have died. However, for the first time, new highly active antiretroviral therapies that include multiple drugs that attack the virus at several sites have slowed the progression from HIV to AIDS and from AIDS to death for those infected with HIV. The cumulative effect of these changes has been a reduction in both AIDS incident cases and AIDS deaths. Recent epidemiologic trends indicate that the proportion of AIDS incident cases and new HIV infections are increasing among women, African-Americans, and Hispanics, and the infections are more likely to be acquired through heterosexual transmission. The clinical management of HIV infection and AIDS has become increasingly complex in recent years. In addition to complete medical and social histories and physical examinations, hematologic, biochemical, serologic, and immunologic laboratory tests are required to predict the likelihood that patients will develop opportunistic infections and other complications related to HIV infection. Among the most important laboratory tests are measurements of HIV in plasma (viral load) in conjunction with peripheral blood CD4+ helper T lymphocyte counts. These tests are potent predictors of disease progression and their results have become markers for clinical response to therapy. The development of highly active antiretroviral therapy has had a profound impact on the epidemiology of AIDS and on the lives of individual patients. Through combinations of antiretroviral drugs, especially protease inhibitors, viral suppression can be achieved. However, adherence to these complex medical regimens and drug interactions have been problems for many patients. In addition, numerous questions remain unanswered, most importantly those regarding the timing of the initiation of treatment, the durability of viral suppression and clinical response, and the optimal "salvage" regimens for patients failing therapy either clinically or virologically.
Necrotizing soft tissue infections of the body wall: Computed tomographic evaluation

The spectrum of soft tissue infection ranges from cellulitis to uncommon, but potentially fatal, diseases like necrotizing fasciitis and myonecrosis. The severity and extent of infection can be difficult to assess by physical examination alone. Computed tomography can accurately define the location and extent of infection as well as aid in its characterization. This information is critical in guiding surgical intervention in necrotizing soft tissue infections, which have a high mortality rate and require early recognition and aggressive surgical debridement. The presence of soft tissue gas or the involvement of deep fascia is highly suggestive of severe necrotizing soft tissue infection. We describe the computed tomographic appearance of three cases of necrotizing infection involving the fascia and muscles of the body wall.
A method for processing polymeric beads for critical point drying.

SUMMARY Polymeric beads are increasingly being used for surface studies. Processing of these beads for critical point drying (CPD) poses a problem since these beads must be handled in suspension. For this processing, a method has been described here which relies on a capsule made by an ordinary micropipette tip covered on the end by parafilm and on the other by a filter paper which permits the exchange of fluid without the loss of beads.
A test of the subsidy–stability hypothesis: the effects of terrestrial carbon in aquatic ecosystems

Global change is altering the movement of materials across landscapes in ways that likely have major consequences for the functioning and stability of ecosystems. For example, the export of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from terrestrial to aquatic ecosystems is increasing globally. This browning phenomenon is expected to alter the stability of recipient aquatic ecosystems, but theory provides contrasting predictions about the form and direction of this response. We created a gradient in terrestrial DOC supply by adding humic substances on weekly basis to 10 experimental ponds (10 6 L each) over a growing season. The manipulation of terrestrial DOC supply had strong effects on the chemical, physical, and biological properties of the pond ecosystems. Light attenuation linearly increased with terrestrial DOC supply, which created a shading effect that negatively influenced whole-pond gross primary production and respiration. Despite this, bacterial contributions to basal energy mobilization and respiration increased with terrestrial DOC supply indicating that aquatic food webs were subsidized by terrestrial inputs. After establishing the DOC gradient, we used dynamic linear models to test the subsidy-stability hypothesis by measuring the resilience and sensitivity of each pond to a pulse nutrient perturbation. We found that recovery from the perturbation decreased nonlinearly along a gradient in terrestrial DOC supply. Reciprocal transplant experiments indicated that owing primarily to its light attenuating properties and recalcitrant nature, terrestrial DOC diminished aquatic ecosystem stability by reducing nutrient turnover rates (NTR). Together, our results demonstrate that global-change- mediated alterations in the movement of material and energy between habitats can have unpredictable and dramatic impacts on the reliability of ecosystem services.
individual decisions and functional systems: economic rationality and environmental adaptation

Ecological anthropology and substantive economic anthropology have developed along parallel fines during the past decade. They have both dealt with structured interrelationships between aggregate patterns of behavior on an institutional or subsystem level of analysis. Despite important differences, such as the relative emphasis on normative or behavioral data, they share a basic concern with functional explanations of these broad patterns in terms of their overall contribution to system-wide goals. In Fiji there are functional relationships among the aggregate village pattern of land use, shared norms about land tenure, and environmental patterns, which can be explained in terms of a cognized model of functionally significant technoenvironmental relationships. The unintended consequences of rational actions are also considered.
Subcellular Distribution of Cholesterol within Muscle and Adipose Tissues of Beef Loin Steaks

Subcellular distribution of cholesterol (membrane versus storage components) within muscle and adipose tissue of raw and cooked beef longissimus steaks from three quality grades and three subcutaneous fat trim levels was determined. In muscle tissue, 60–80% of total cholesterol was located in the membrane component while the storage component contained 20–40%. In adipose tissue, the membrane fraction contained 8–12% of total cholesterol while the storage fraction contained 88–92%. Cooking caused a significant change in cholesterol distribution between membrane and storage sites of adipose tissue. Quality grade affected (P < 0.05) subcellular distribution of cholesterol within muscle tissue, while subcutaneous fat trim level affected (P < 0.05) cholesterol distribution within adipose tissue.
Melting of two-dimensional vortex lattices in the self-consistent harmonic approximation

The melting temperature of thin-film superfluid and superconducting vortex lattices is calculated using a self-consistent harmonic approximation. The results are compared to the Kosterlitz-Thouless melting temperature for a thin-film vortex lattice.
An Integrated Model of Co-ordinated Community-Based Care

Purpose of the Study: Co-ordinated approac hes to community-based care are a central component of current and proposed efforts to help vulnerable older adults obtain needed services and supports and reduce unnecessary use of health care resources. Design and Methods: This study examines ElderHelp Concierge Club, an integrated community -based care model that includes comprehensive personal and environmental assessment, multilevel care co-ordination, a mix of professional and volunteer service providers, and a capitated, income-adjusted fee model. Evaluation includes a retrospective study (n = 96) of service use and perceived program impact, and a prospective study (n = 21) of changes in participant physical and social well-being and health services utilization. Results: Over the period of this study , participants showed greater mobility, greater ability to meet household needs, greater access to health care, reduced social isolation, reduced home hazards, fewer falls, and greater perceived ability to obtain assistance needed to age in place. Implications: This study pro vides preliminary evidence that an integrated multilevel care co-ordination approach may be an effective and efficient model for serving vulnerable community-based elders, especially low and moderate-income elders who otherwise could not afford the cost of care. The findings suggest the need for multisite controlled studies to more rigorously evaluate program impacts and the optimal mix of various program components.
A Recombinant Human Parainfluenza Virus Type 3 (PIV3) in Which the Nucleocapsid N Protein Has Been Replaced by That of Bovine PIV3 Is Attenuated in Primates

The shipping fever (SF) and Kansas (Ka) strains of bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 (BPIV3) are restricted in their replication in rhesus monkeys 100- to 1,000-fold compared to human parainfluenza virus type 3 (HPIV3), and the Ka strain also was shown to be attenuated in humans. To initiate an investigation of the genetic basis of the attenuation of BPIV3 in primates, we produced viable chimeric HPIV3 recombinants containing the nucleoprotein (N) open reading frame (ORF) from either BPIV3 Ka or SF in place of the HPIV3 N ORF. These chimeric recombinants were designated cKa-N and cSF-N, respectively. Remarkably, cKa-N and cSF-N grew to titers comparable to those of their HPIV3 and BPIV3 parents in LLC-MK2 monkey kidney and Madin-Darby bovine kidney cells. Thus, the heterologous nature of the N protein did not impede replication in vitro. However, cKa-N and cSF-N were each restricted in replication in rhesus monkeys to a similar extent as Ka and SF, respectively. This identified the BPIV3 N protein as a determinant of the host range restriction of BPIV3 in primates. These chimeras thus combine the antigenic determinants of HPIV3 with the host range restriction and attenuation phenotype of BPIV3. Despite their restricted replication in rhesus monkeys, the chimeric viruses induced a level of resistance to HPIV3 challenge in these animals which was indistinguishable from that conferred by immunization with HPIV3. The infectivity, attenuation, and immunogenicity of these BPIV3/HPIV3 chimeras suggest that the modified Jennerian approach described in the present report represents a novel method to design vaccines to protect against HPIV3-induced disease in humans.
National Expenditure For False-Positive Mammograms And Breast Cancer Overdiagnoses Estimated At $4 Billion A Year

Populationwide mammography screening has been associated with a substantial rise in false-positive mammography findings and breast cancer overdiagnosis. However, there is a lack of current data on ...
Pharmacotherapy of Attention-deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Reduces Risk for Substance Use Disorder

Objective. To assess the risk for substance use disorders (SUD) associated with previous exposure to psychotropic medication in a longitudinal study of boys with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods. The cumulative incidence of SUD throughout adolescence was compared in 56 medicated subjects with ADHD, 19 nonmedicated subjects with ADHD, and 137 non-ADHD control subjects. Results. Unmedicated subjects with ADHD were at a significantly increased risk for any SUD at follow-up compared with non-ADHD control subjects (adjusted OR: 6.3 [1.8–21.6]). Subjects with ADHD medicated at baseline were at a significantly reduced risk for a SUD at follow-up relative to untreated subjects with ADHD (adjusted OR: 0.15 [0.04–0.6]). For each SUD subtype studied, the direction of the effect of exposure to pharmacotherapy was similar to that seen for the any SUD category. Conclusions. Consistent with findings in untreated ADHD in adults, untreated ADHD was a significant risk factor for SUD in adolescence. In contrast, pharmacotherapy was associated with an 85% reduction in risk for SUD in ADHD youth.
Multiyear Performance of a Pervious Concrete Infiltration Basin BMP

The use of infiltration storm-water best management practices (BMPs) has become a more commonly used approach as a means of reducing postdevelopment runoff volumes in many areas throughout the United States. Although studies regarding the performance of infiltration BMPs are emerging, much remains to be learned about their design, construction, and operation. The increase in knowledge will improve the performance and longevity of these BMPs. The performance of one such infiltration basin over a 2-year cycle is presented in this paper. The study site is a pervious concrete infiltration basin BMP built in 2002 in a courtyard common area at Villanova University. The system consists of three linked infiltration beds lined with geotextile filter fabric, filled with coarse aggregate, and overlaid with pervious concrete. The natural soil beneath the infiltration BMP is a silty sand. The BMP is extensively instrumented to facilitate water quantity and quality research. Both water-quantity and -quality results are presented. The water-quantity analysis showed that the performance of the basin was directly related to its infiltration characteristics. The infiltration rate of the silty sand is cyclic, with higher rates during warmer periods and lower rates during colder periods. The water quality analysis investigated the pollutant reduction for chloride, copper, nitrogen, and phosphorus from the inlet to the surface-water outlet of the structure, as well as differences in pollutant concentration levels between the basin, surrounding ground, and varying soil layer elevations beneath the basin. In general, the pollutant reduction to the surface waters was greater than 90% from inlet to outlet, primarily influenced by the infiltration of the storm water into the natural soils below the BMP. The pollutant concentration of the infiltrating runoff was found to be higher than expected in the area adjacent to the bed when compared to concentration levels found at a similar depth beneath the infiltration bed. Comparison of pollutant concentration levels, as the water moved from within the storage bed to the soil beneath the bed, were shown to vary, with statistical differences found for mean concentration levels of both pH and copper levels; and no statistical differences were found for conductivity, total phosphorous, and chloride at each elevation.
Twenty-First-Century Multimodel Subtropical Precipitation Declines Are Mostly Midlatitude Shifts

AbstractDeclines in subtropical precipitation are a robust response to modeled twenty-first-century global warming. Two suggested mechanisms are the “dry-get-drier” intensification of existing subtropical dry zones due to the thermodynamic increase in vapor transport and the poleward expansion of these same dry zones due to poleward shifts in the modeled general circulation. Here, subtropical drying in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report multimodel archive is compared to each of these two mechanisms. Each model’s particular, biased, and seasonally and zonally varying mean state is considered relative to the location of that model’s predicted changes, and these relationships are recorded in a common framework that can be compared across models.The models have a strong tendency to reduce precipitation along the subtropical flanks of their existing midlatitude cyclonic precipitation belts. This broad result agrees with the poleward expansion mechanism and with a pole...
Large ventricular septal defects in infants

Abstract Large ventricular septal defects account for important clinical problems during infancy, notably congestive heart failure. Timing of clinical presentation is dependent on the rapidity of decline in pulmonary vascular resistance. The basic physiologic abnormality is massive volume overloading of the pulmonary circulation and the left heart ( Q P / Q S 3–4:1), For 1–3 months, pulmonary artery pressures are close to or at systemic levels, while the pulmonary vascular resistance is only slightly increased. Left-to-right shunting begins with isovolumic ventricular contraction and persists throughout systole, except for the period of isovolumic relaxation. Left-to-right shunting also takes place throughout diastole. The left ventricular pressure–volume curve is markedly increased in area, indicating an increase in stroke work. The inotropic state is difficult to define due to volume loading, but end-systolic pressure–volume studies indicate that there may be an element of decreased contractility in heart failure patients. Clinical signs and symptoms reflect volume loading of the pulmonary circulation, the development of systemic venous congestion and the operation of various adaptive mechanisms. Doppler echocardiography is particularly useful in localizing and sizing of the defect and in defining the flow dynamics. Cardiac catheterization and angiography is usually not required. Medical management primarily consists of the use of diuretics to decrease pulmonary and systemic venous congestion. The use of cardiac glycosides remains controversial. Afterload reduction with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor will diminish the left-to-right shunt, while enhancing systemic perfusion. Blood transfusion to elevate the hematocrit also diminishes shunting, while preserving oxygen transport. Early surgical correction is the preferred management after attempting to stabilize the clinical state by medical means. Delaying surgery is only indicated if there is documentation of the defect becoming smaller, favorable somatic growth and no evidence of an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance. Post-operative studies have demonstrated that with early surgical repair, normal growth and development occurs and left ventricular volumes and function normalize.
Quality of fresh-cut tomatoes as affected by salt content in irrigation water and post-processing ultraviolet-C treatment

BACKGROUND: There is little information available concerning the effect of sanitizing agents, including ultraviolet (UV-C) light, on nutritional composition of fresh-cut produce. In this study, the influence of UV-C light irradiation (3.2–19.2 kJ m−2) on the nutritional quality of fresh-cut tomato cv. Durinta grown under either low (2.4/2.8 dS m−1) or high (4.9/7.7 dS m−1) electrical conductivity (EC) of the hydroponic nutrient influx/efflux solution was investigated. RESULTS: When grown under low EC UV-C light treatment reduced development of microbial population of fresh-cut tomato, increased phenolic content and delayed degradation of vitamin C after 7 days of storage at 4–6 °C. UV-C light irradiation had no significant effect on appearance, color or lycopene content of fresh-cut tomato. In recently harvested intact tomatoes, the lycopene and vitamin C contents were 30% higher in tomatoes irrigated with high EC, whereas the phenolic content was unaffected by the salt treatment. After fresh-cut processing, phenolic and vitamin C contents of fresh cuts produced from tomatoes treated with high EC decreased by > 10%. This decline was initially accelerated in tomato treated with UV-C light irradiation. CONCLUSIONS: Our results revealed that fresh-cut tomatoes are affected dissimilarly by UV-C treatments, depending on the degree of salt stress undergone by plants before harvest. We determined the impact of a sanitizing procedure on nutritional composition, an effect often overlooked but with great significance to ensure overall quality of fresh produce. Our findings revealed the need for more nutritional studies addressing the effect of multiple stress factors from pre-harvest to post-processing stages. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry
The Scope of Human Thought

Biologically, we resemble other animals, but mentally, we leave them in the dust. The scope of human thought is vast. Why are we so different? This think-piece explores the scope of human thought, its possible origins, and the mental operations that make it possible.
Biodiversity of Borrelia burgdorferi Strains in Tissues of Lyme Disease Patients

Plant and animal biodiversity are essential to ecosystem health and can provide benefits to humans ranging from aesthetics to maintaining air quality. Although the importance of biodiversity to ecology and conservation biology is obvious, such measures have not been applied to strains of an invasive bacterium found in human tissues during infection. In this study, we compared the strain biodiversity of Borrelia burgdorferi found in tick populations with that found in skin, blood, synovial fluid or cerebrospinal fluid of Lyme disease patients. The biodiversity of B. burgdorferi strains is significantly greater in tick populations than in the skin of patients with erythema migrans. In turn, strains from skin are significantly more diverse than strains at any of the disseminated sites. The cerebrospinal fluid of patients with neurologic Lyme disease harbored the least pathogen biodiversity. These results suggest that human tissues act as niches that can allow entry to or maintain only a subset of the total pathogen population. These data help to explain prior clinical observations on the natural history of B. burgdorferi infection and raise several questions that may help to direct future research to better understand the pathogenesis of this infection.
Control of Stationary Cross-flow Modes Using Patterned Roughness at Mach 3.5

Spanwise-periodic roughness designed to excite selected wave lengths of stationary cross-flow modes was investigated in a 3-D boundary layer at Mach 3.5. The test model was a sharp-tipped 14° right-circular cone. The model and integrated sensor traversing system were placed in the Mach 3.5 Supersonic Low Disturbance Tunnel (SLDT) equipped with a “quiet design” nozzle at NASA Langley RC. The model was oriented at a 4.2° angle of attack to produce a mean cross-flow velocity component in the boundary layer over the cone. Three removable cone tips have been investigated. One has a smooth surface that is used to document the baseline (“natural”) conditions. The other two have minute “dimples” that are equally spaced around the circumference, at a streamwise location that is just upstream of the linear stability neutral growth branch for cross flow modes. The azimuthal mode numbers of the dimpled tips were selected to either enhance the most amplified wave numbers or to suppress the growth of the most amplified wave numbers. The results indicate that the stationary cross-flow modes were highly receptive to the patterned roughness.
EVEREST study: Efficacy of Vasopressin Antagonism in Heart Failure Outcome Study with Tolvaptan

Acute heart failure syndromes are a common cause of emergency department visits and hospitalization in North America and Europe. Although in-hospital mortality is relatively low, the postdischarge mortality and rehospitalization rates can be as high as 10-15 and 30%, respectively, within 60-90 days following discharge. It appears that the main reason for admission and readmission for heart failure is related to congestion manifested by dyspnea, jugular venous distension and edema. Often, congestion is associated with dilutional hyponatremia that is difficult to treat. Hyponatremia is an important predictor of increased mortality and the available therapies to treat congestion and/or hyponatremia are often ineffective and/or unsafe. Accordingly, there is an unmet need to develop a new agent that effectively relieves congestion due to high filling pressure without worsening renal function and improving or normalizing serum sodium in hyponatremic patients. This paper provides an overview of a new compound, tolvaptan, an oral selective V(2)-vasopressin antagonist in light of the recently published Efficacy of Vasopressin Antagonism in Heart Failure Outcome Study with Tolvaptan (EVEREST) trial. The biochemical and pharmacological properties are discussed in conjunction with its clinical efficacy and safety, exploring the potential role of tolvaptan in the management of acute heart failure syndromes presenting with or without hyponatremia.
Bacterial Monopolists: The Bundling and Dissemination of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Gram-Positive Bacteria

Antibiotic resistance is the unavoidable result of our placing selective pressure on the microbial community. Advances in molecular biology techniques in the past 2 decades have allowed us to greatly improve our understanding of the mechanisms by which resistance emerges and disseminates among human pathogenic bacteria. Gram-positive bacteria employ a diverse array of elements, including plasmids, transposons, insertion sequences, and bacteriophages, to disseminate resistance. An understanding of these mechanisms and their prevalence can improve our ability to treat clinical infections in hospitalized patients, as well as to predict and control the spread of resistant bacteria in the nosocomial environment.
Pumps, Aqueducts, and Drought Management Vascular Physiology in Vascular Cognitive Impairment

Vascular cognitive impairment has been traditionally defined by structural pathology, an accumulation of infarcts, leading to progressive cognitive decline. Recent evidence, however, suggests that cognitive impairment may be independently mediated by hemodynamic dysfunction, including global and hemispheral hypoperfusion and altered cerebral blood flow regulation. In this review, we examine evidence for the contribution of hemodynamic impairment to cognitive dysfunction in the setting of large vessel disease, cardiac failure, and microvascular disease. If there is a hemodynamic component of vascular cognitive impairment, then treatments proposed to correct impaired vascular physiology may reasonably be expected to treat the cognitive dysfunction as well.
Risk of Gestational Hypertension in Relation to Folic Acid Supplementation during Pregnancy

The authors investigated the association between folic acid supplementation and gestational hypertension. The study population included women with nonmalformed infants in the United States and Canada who were participating in the Slone Epidemiology Center Birth Defects Study between 1993 and 2000. Women were interviewed within 6 months after delivery about sociodemographic and medical factors, the occurrence of hypertension with or without preeclampsia, and multivitamin use in pregnancy. Relative risks, adjusted for weight, parity, twin pregnancy, diabetes, smoking, education, and family income, were estimated using Cox regression models. Of 2,100 women, 204 (9.7%) reported gestational hypertension (onset after the 20th week of gestation). The multivariate-adjusted relative risk of developing gestational hypertension during the month after folic acid supplementation, compared with not using folic acid during that same month, was 0.55 (95% confidence interval: 0.39, 0.79). This finding suggests that folic acid-containing multivitamins may reduce the risk of gestational hypertension.
Fundamental groups of 4-manifolds with circle actions†

Topological circle actions on 4-manifolds are studied using modifications of known techniques for smooth actions. This yields topological versions of some previously known restrictions on the fundamental groups of 4-manifolds admitting smooth circle actions.
Boehmite Actual Waste Dissolution Studies

Abstract The U.S. Department of Energy plans to vitrify approximately 60,000 metric tons of high-level waste (HLW) sludge from underground storage tanks at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. To reduce the volume of HLW requiring treatment, a goal has been set to remove a significant quantity of the aluminum, which comprises nearly 70 percent of the sludge. Aluminum is found in the form of gibbsite, sodium aluminate and boehmite. Gibbsite and sodium aluminate can be easily dissolved by washing the waste stream with caustic. Boehmite, which comprises nearly half of the total aluminum, is more resistant to caustic dissolution and requires higher treatment temperatures and hydroxide concentrations. Samples were taken from four Hanford tanks and homogenized in order to give a sample that is representative of REDOX (Reduction Oxidation process for Pu recovery) sludge solids. Bench scale testing was performed on the homogenized waste to study the dissolution of boehmite. Dissolution was studied at three different ...
Development of K-band spatial combiner using active array modules in an oversized rectangular waveguide

This paper presents the development of a broadband spatial combining system based on the tapered-slot antenna arrays integrated in an oversized rectangular waveguide at K-band, which could accommodate 24 or more devices. The active antenna cards are designed and built monolithically, providing planar to planar transitions between the slot antennas and the transmission-line with low return loss. A proof-of-concept passive array has been developed for 18-22 GHz, and an 18 GHz amplifier has been fabricated using Flip-Chip technology (FCIC).
A review of the genus Engystenopus (Crustacea: Decapoda: Stenopodidea) Juxtastenopus, gen. nov. , a new combination for E. spinulatus Holthuis, 1946, and transfer of E. palmipes Alcock & Anderson, 1894 to the family Spongicolidae Schram, 1986*

A review of the genus Engystenopus is presented. A new genus, Juxtastenopus, is created for the rare deepwater stenopodid shrimp, Engystenopus spinulatus based on a series of specimens from the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and the Philippines. The genus Engystenopus is now restricted to E. palmipes, its range is extended to Australian, Indonesian, and Madagascan waters, a new diagnosis of the genus is presented, and the genus is transferred to the family Spongicolidae.
Abstract 282: Biomarkers of Muscle Damage in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease

Introduction: Peripheral artery disease (PAD), a manifestation of systemic atherosclerosis (fat, plaque deposition and hardening of arterial walls), characterized by blockages of the arteries supplying the legs affects approximately 8 million lives in the United States. The classic symptom of PAD is intermittent claudication (IC), de[[Unable to Display Character: ﬁ]]ned as walking-induced calf pain and gait dysfunction relieved by rest. At the level of the skeletal muscle ischemic injury is manifested as a gradual and characteristic degradation of muscle histology. This injury includes altered metabolic processes, damaged organelles, and compromised bioenergetics in the affected muscle. In this study, we evaluated the hypothesis that Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of human biopsy samples (gastrocnemius muscle) can be used to identify biochemical alterations in PAD muscle and characterize severity of muscle damage. Method: FTIR spectral profiles were collected from muscle biopsies of the gastrocnemius from 13 patients consisting of 4 controls, 5 claudicating patients, and 4 critical limb ischemia (CLI) patients. Statistical analysis of the data included an analysis of variance, and partial least squares regression (PLRS) to identify significant differences in spectral peaks and correlate them with clinical diagnosis. Results: When comparing spectral peaks between controls, claudicants, and CLI patients, significant differences (p<.05) were found in the fingerprint region at spectral peaks between wavenumbers 1200-1250 cm-1. These spectral peaks have been attributed to alterations in protein content, lipids, and DNA or phospholipid groups. FTIR spectral biomarkers, of the muscle, also correlated (r=0.91) with clinical diagnosis of PAD. Conclusion: FTIR spectroscopy was able to characterize the secondary effects of PAD on the gastrocnemius by identifying unique biochemical signatures of diseased PAD skeletal muscle. These signatures can discriminate control from PAD muscle and correlate with the clinical presentation of the PAD patient. FTIR spectroscopy provides novel spectral biomarkers that may complement existing diagnosis and treatment monitoring methods for PAD.
Syntheses, crystal structures and optical spectroscopy of Ln2(SO4)3·8H2O (Ln=Ho, Tm) and Pr2(SO4)3·4H2O

The lanthanide sulphate octahydrates Ln{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3}.8H{sub 2}O (Ln=Ho, Tm) and the respective tetrahydrate Pr{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3}.4H{sub 2}O were obtained by evaporation of aqueous reaction mixtures of trivalent rare earth oxides and sulphuric acid at 300 K. Ln{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3}.8H{sub 2}O (Ln=Ho, Tm) crystallise in space group C2/c (Z=4, a{sub Ho}=13.4421(4) A, b{sub Ho}=6.6745(2) A, c{sub Ho}=18.1642(5) A, {beta}{sub Ho}=102.006(1) A{sup 3} and a{sub Tm}=13.4118(14) A, b{sub Tm}=6.6402(6) A, c{sub Tm}=18.1040(16) A, {beta}{sub Tm}=101.980(8) A{sup 3}), Pr{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3}.4H{sub 2}O adopts space group P2{sub 1}/n (a=13.051(3) A, b=7.2047(14) A, c=13.316(3) A, {beta}=92.55(3) A{sup 3}). The vibrational and optical spectra of Ho{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3}.8H{sub 2}O and Pr{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3}.4H{sub 2}O are also reported. -- Graphical abstract: In the lanthanide sulphate octahydrates the cations form slightly undulated layers. Between the layers are voids in which sulphate tetrahedra and water molecules are located. The holmium compound exhibits an Alexandrite effect. Display Omitted Highlights: {yields} Determination of the optimum conditions for the growth of single-crystals of Ln{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3}.8H{sub 2}O (Ln=Ho, Tm) and Pr{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3}.4H{sub 2}O. {yields} Single-crystal structure elucidation of Ln{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3}.8H{sub 2}O (Ln=Ho, Tm) including hydrogen bonds. {yields} Single-crystal structure determinationmore » of Pr{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3}.4H{sub 2}O including hydrogen bonds. {yields} UV-vis spectra of Ho{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3}.8H{sub 2}O and Pr{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3}.4H{sub 2}O recorded and interpreted: Assignation of bands and clarification of the Alexandrite effect of the Ho compound. {yields} IR and Raman spectra of Ln{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3}.8H{sub 2}O (Ln=Ho, Tm) and Pr{sub 2}(SO{sub 4}){sub 3}.4H{sub 2}O recorded and interpreted.« less
ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF MICROMYCETES AND STREPTOMYCETES FROM MOLDOVAN SOILS

All soil microorganisms influence on plants. Beneficial effect of microorganisms canÂ be direct and indirect, for example, through suppression of growth or destruction ofÂ phytopathogens.Â The purpose of our researches was to identify the strains-antagonists ofÂ phytopathogenic bacteria and fungi among micromycetes and streptomycetes, isolated fromÂ soil samples from different zones of Moldova.Â Investigated strains showed different ability of suppressing growth of phytopathogens.Â There were no antagonists to E. carotovora and A. tumefaciens found among micromycetes ofÂ genus Penicillium. Metabolites of strain Streptomyces sp. 66 caused formation of inhibitionÂ zone of growth (diameter-18,0 mm). The investigated strains had similarly poor inhibitionÂ effect on X. campestris. The streptomycetes and micromycetes demonstrated increasedÂ antagonism against C. michiganense: 7 strains of streptomycetes and 2 strains ofÂ micromycetes (zones of absence of growth - 12,0-30,0 mm).Â The ability to retain yeast growth was found only in 1 strain of micromycetes -Â Penicillium sp. 17 and 10 strains of streptomycetes retained the growth of S. cerevisiae 11 andÂ Rh. gracilis 3 (the diameter of zones - 18,0-25,0 mm).Â For B. cinerea one active fungal antagonist - Penicillium sp. 5 (zones of 30,0-35,0Â mm) was found and 2 strains of streptomycetes which completely suppressed growth of thisÂ test - microorganisme.Â Two strains of Penicillium sp. 2 and Penicillium sp. 5 actively retained the growth ofÂ A. alternata and 4 strains of genus Streptomyces completely suppressed the growth of this testÂ - microorganisme. Determination of the ability of micromycetes and streptomycetes toÂ suppress the phitopathogens of genus Fusarium reveled that 5 strains of genus PenicilliumÂ retained their growth (diameter of zones 15,0-25,0 mm). From 24 strains of streptomycetes 14Â strains retained growth of F. solani, F. oxysporum, F. graminearum. The most active strainsÂ of Streptomyces sp. 9, Streptomyces sp. 66 (zones 20,0-34,0Ð¼Ð¼) and Streptomyces sp. 10Â completely suppressed the growth of F. graminearum.Â Thus, the results received by us have shown, that among the fungi of genusÂ Penicillium the antifungal activity is shown in the greater degree, than the antibacterial one.Â There were identified streptomycetes with ability to cause full suppression of growth ofÂ phytopathogenic fungi. Strains of Streptomyces sp. 9 and Streptomyces sp. 66 has wideÂ antifungal spectrum - 8 test-microorganisms (14,0-34,0 mm). The received data correspondÂ with the literature data which emphasize perspectives of microbial antibiotics in plantÂ protection.
The Use of Shape Memory Polymers for MEMS Assembly

The advantages of utilizing the polymeric shape memory effect for deterministic assembly of microscale objects are explored in this paper. Assembly of building blocks, referred to as inks, by transfer printing is performed using a polymeric stamp with reversible adhesion as a manipulator. The dynamic rigidity control of a shape memory polymer (SMP) stamp afforded by heating or cooling it across its glass transition temperature allows for a dramatic increase in adhesion during ink retrieval. Furthermore, the shape-fixing and recovery property of the SMP material enables substantial freedom in stamp design, such as more complex surface patterning and heterogeneous surface features, to further reduce adhesion during release, not otherwise available. The mechanics of the stamp adhesion, including the effect of the material’s viscoelasticity and dynamic rigidity on performance, is discussed. Example structures, including a micro-motor structure with a movable rotor, are assembled in order to highlight the benefits afforded using the SMP material over existing alternatives. [2015–0026]
Moisture and Plastic Package Stability

Polymers used to encapsulate microelectronic devices absorb moisture – it’s their nature. But only recently, with the growing use of surface mount technologies, has this phenomenon fostered concern much beyond the traditional chemical (corrosion) issues. The mechanical stability of plastic encapsulated components in use is now affected by moisture and its complex relation to interfacial adhesion and stress distributions within the package under different environmental (test) conditions. Strategies to defend against moisture-associated problems involve control of the application environment (removing moisture), improving package structural designs (increasing robustness), and managing materials choice to reduce moisture sensitivity. Each strategy has limitations, both physical and practical (economic), and all currently are being pursued. This paper will review the technical challenges, with particular emphasis on the state of affairs with regard to material development and application.
Histocompatibility Testing in Organ Transplantation

The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system is crucial in lymphocyte activation, and HLA antigens can provoke potent humoral and cellular immune responses that mediate allograft rejection. Matching for HLA promotes the successful outcome of transplanting an organ such as a kidney or a heart. The role of the tissue-typing laboratory is to assess the degree of HLA compatibility between donor and recipient, and by serum screening and crossmatching to determine the presence of donor-specific antibodies that might be harmful to the organ transplant.
When War Helps Civil–military Relations Prolonged Interstate Conflict and the Reduced Risk of Coups

Coups remain a widespread and consequential political phenomenon, but it remains unclear whether interstate conflict protects leaders from the risk of coups or increases this risk. We theorize that interstate conflict—especially when it is prolonged—should protect domestic regimes from military overthrow by foreclosing many of the key pathways by which elites plot and execute coups. We test this argument using event history modeling. The evidence provides support for our claim that coup risk declines in the presence of enduring interstate conflict. Just as important, we detect no evidence that war increases coup risk.
Brain angiotensinergic mediation of enhanced water consumption in lactating rats

The mechanism by which lactating rats increase fluid consumption to meet the demands of milk production is unknown. Because ANG II is the most potent dipsogenic stimulus known, this study examined ...
Contrasting Levels of Molecular Evolution on the Mouse X Chromosome

The mammalian X chromosome has unusual evolutionary dynamics compared to autosomes. Faster-X evolution of spermatogenic protein-coding genes is known to be most pronounced for genes expressed late in spermatogenesis, but it is unclear if these patterns extend to other forms of molecular divergence. We tested for faster-X evolution in mice spanning three different forms of molecular evolution-divergence in protein sequence, gene expression, and DNA methylation-across different developmental stages of spermatogenesis. We used FACS to isolate individual cell populations and then generated cell-specific transcriptome profiles across different stages of spermatogenesis in two subspecies of house mice (Mus musculus), thereby overcoming a fundamental limitation of previous studies on whole tissues. We found faster-X protein evolution at all stages of spermatogenesis and faster-late protein evolution for both X-linked and autosomal genes. In contrast, there was less expression divergence late in spermatogenesis (slower late) on the X chromosome and for autosomal genes expressed primarily in testis (testis-biased). We argue that slower-late expression divergence reflects strong regulatory constraints imposed during this critical stage of sperm development and that these constraints are particularly acute on the tightly regulated sex chromosomes. We also found slower-X DNA methylation divergence based on genome-wide bisulfite sequencing of sperm from two species of mice (M. musculus and M. spretus), although it is unclear whether slower-X DNA methylation reflects development constraints in sperm or other X-linked phenomena. Our study clarifies key differences in patterns of regulatory and protein evolution across spermatogenesis that are likely to have important consequences for mammalian sex chromosome evolution, male fertility, and speciation.
Toward an Interdisciplinary Understanding of Sensory Dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Integration of the Neural and Symptom Literatures

Sensory processing differences have long been associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and they have recently been added to the diagnostic criteria for the disorder. The focus on sensory processing in ASD research has increased substantially in the last decade. This research has been approached from two different perspectives: the first focuses on characterizing the symptoms that manifest in response to real world sensory stimulation, and the second focuses on the neural pathways and mechanisms underlying sensory processing. The purpose of this paper is to integrate the empirical literature on sensory processing in ASD from the last decade, including both studies characterizing sensory symptoms and those that investigate neural response to sensory stimuli. We begin with a discussion of definitions to clarify some of the inconsistencies in terminology that currently exist in the field. Next, the sensory symptoms literature is reviewed with a particular focus on developmental considerations and the relationship of sensory symptoms to other core features of the disorder. Then, the neuroscience literature is reviewed with a focus on methodological approaches and specific sensory modalities. Currently, these sensory symptoms and neuroscience perspectives are largely developing independently from each other leading to multiple, but separate, theories and methods, thus creating a multidisciplinary approach to sensory processing in ASD. In order to progress our understanding of sensory processing in ASD, it is now critical to integrate these two research perspectives and move toward an interdisciplinary approach. This will inevitably aid in a better understanding of the underlying biological basis of these symptoms and help realize the translational value through its application to early identification and treatment. The review ends with specific recommendations for future research to help bridge these two research perspectives in order to advance our understanding of sensory processing in ASD.