cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Respiration and growth of sorghum and sunflower under predicted increased night temperatures

Little information exists concerning how crops will respond to the predicted increased night temperatures. The objective of this work was to determine if respiration and growth of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], a C 4 plant, and sunflower (Heliantbus annuus L.), a C3 plant, are affected when the night temperature is increased by 5 °C compared to the long-term (19 year) average night temperature in June in Kansas. Sorghum and sunflower were grown in two walk-in growth chambers with either the ambient night temperature (21 C) or a high night temperature (26 C). Day temperature was the same for all plants (27 C). Both sunflower and sorghum had higher respiration rates under the elevated night temperature than under the ambient temperature. The average respiration rate of sunflower grown under elevated night temperature increased by 19 % (0.89 vs. 0.75 μmol m -2 s -1 ) and that of sorghum by 44 % (0.52 vs. 0.36 μmol m -2 s -1 ). After 74 days, sunflower plants grown under the ambient night temperature were 30.2 cm taller than sunflower plants grown under the elevated night temperature; sorghum plants under the ambient temperature were 24.8 cm taller. Sunflower plants grown under the elevated night temperature formed flowers one week earlier than those grown under the ambient temperature. Sorghum formed no flowers by 74 days. Results suggest that, if climate change does increase night temperature, respiration will be increased more in C 4 than C 3 plants.
Evaluation of the planck mean absorption coefficients for radiation transport through smoke

A literature review of experimental measurements of mass specific extinction coefficients,  s for combustion-generated particulate has been conducted to obtain an improved value of the constant in the frequently used expression for the Planck mean absorption coefficient through smoke, s m = C 0 f v T . This expression, which results from the product of the spectral absorption coefficient for smoke particles and the Planck spectral distribution curve integrated over all wavelengths, is used to simplify radiative transport calculations in combustion systems. It is shown that a value of C 0 = 2370 - 240 m m 1 K m 1 is consistent with the available data and that this value is approximately two times the values commonly used. Using the available experimental values of  s to calculate C 0 eliminates the problems associated with the large uncertainties in soot refractive index encountered when Rayleigh theory is used to predict C 0 . It is also shown that a value of K e = 8.8 - 0.9 for the dimensionless extinc...
Short-term variability of 7Be atmospheric deposition and watershed response in a Pacific coastal stream, Monterey Bay, California, USA

Beryllium-7 is a powerful and commonly used tracer for environmental processes such as watershed sediment provenance, soil erosion, fluvial and nearshore sediment cycling, and atmospheric fallout. However, few studies have quantified temporal or spatial variability of 7Be accumulation from atmospheric fallout, and parameters that would better define the uses and limitations of this geochemical tracer. We investigated the abundance and variability of 7Be in atmospheric deposition in both rain events and dry periods, and in stream surface-water samples collected over a ten-month interval at sites near northern Monterey Bay (37°N, 122°W) on the central California coast, a region characterized by a rainy winters, dry summers, and small mountainous streams with flashy hydrology. The range of 7Be activity in rainwater samples from the main sampling site was 1.3–4.4 Bq L−1, with a mean (±standard deviation) of 2.2 ± 0.9 Bq L−1, and a volume-weighted average of 2.0 Bq L−1. The range of wet atmospheric deposition was 18–188 Bq m−2 per rain event, with a mean of 72 ± 53 Bq m−2. Dry deposition fluxes of 7Be ranged from less than 0.01 up to 0.45 Bq m−2 d−1, with an estimated dry season deposition of 7 Bq m−2 month−1. Annualized 7Be atmospheric deposition was approximately 1900 Bq m−2 yr−1, with most deposition via rainwater (>95%) and little via dry deposition. Overall, these activities and deposition fluxes are similar to values found in other coastal locations with comparable latitude and Mediterranean-type climate. Particulate 7Be values in the surface water of the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz, California, ranged from <0.01 Bq g−1 to 0.6 Bq g−1, with a median activity of 0.26 Bq g−1. A large storm event in January 2010 characterized by prolonged flooding resulted in the entrainment of 7Be-depleted sediment, presumably from substantial erosion in the watershed. There were too few particulate 7Be data over the storm to accurately model a 7Be load, but the results suggest enhanced watershed export of 7Be from small, mountainous river systems compared to other watershed types.
Transient and Permanent Patterns of Expression of the Low-Affinity Neurotrophin Receptor in the Interpeduncular Nucleus of the Rat

There is a prominent cholinergic projection from the medial habenular to the interpeduncular nucleus (IPN) which develops postnatally. In this study we examined the developmental course of expression of the low-affinity neurotrophin receptor (LANR), a receptor that binds to all members of the neurotrophin family, in the IPN. Three systems express LANR in the IPN. The cholinergic habenular axons that project to the intermediate and central subnuclei of the IPN are immunoreactive only during the time that the axons are growing and forming characteristic crest synapses in the intermediate subnuclei. The dorsomedial (DM) subnuclei, which are neither cholinergic targets nor contain cholinergic neurons, develop LANR immunoreactivity postnatally and the expression remains high in the adult. The walls of the prominent system of arterioles and venules that penetrate the IPN and ascend through the intermediate subnuclei are strongly immunoreactivity during the time of active angiogenesis and retain detectable but diminished levels of immunoreactivity in the adult. The LANR immunoreactivity seen in the vessels is likely to be associated with the peripheral sympathetic axons that innervate the smooth muscle in the vessels. These three systems within the same nucleus, which differ in phenotype, develop neurotrophin receptor immunoreactivity contemporaneously but their levels of expression differ in the adult, suggesting that they are regulated in different ways, possibly by different members of the neurotrophin family.
Dopaminergic activity and the discriminative stimulus effects of mu opioids in pigeons: importance of training dose and attenuation by the D3 agonist (+/-)-7-OH-DPAT.

The present investigation examined the effects of several dopaminergic compounds in pigeons trained to discriminate either a 0.1 (low) or 5.6 (high) mg/kg dose of the mu opioid butorphanol from saline. Various dopamine (DA) re-uptake inhibitors, releasers, a D1 agonist, a D2 agonist and a D3 agonist engendered partial substitution (50–79% butorphanol responding) for the butorphanol stimulus in the low-dose group. In the high-dose group, with a few exceptions, these compounds produced predominately saline responding. In the low-dose group, the opioid antagonist naloxone antagonized the stimulus effects produced by butorphanol, but failed to attenuate the butorphanol-like discriminative stimulus effects produced by the DA re-uptake inhibitors mazindol and cocaine. The D1 antagonist (+)-SCH 23390 and the D2 antagonist raclopride failed to attenuate the stimulus effects produced by either the low or high training dose of butorphanol. Doses of mazindol and cocaine that engendered between 16% and 70% butorphanol responding failed to alter the butorphanol dose-effect curve in either the low- or high-dose group, indicating a less than additive interaction. In the high-dose group, the D3 agonist (±)-7-hydroxy-dipropylaminotetralin [(±)-7-OH-DPAT] attenuated butorphanol’s stimulus effects in a dose-dependent manner along with the butorphanol-like stimulus effects produced by nalbuphine and morphine. The present findings indicate that direct and indirect DA agonists share similar stimulus effects with a low but not high training dose of butorphanol, and in the high-training dose group, activation of the D3 receptor by (±)-7-OH-DPAT results in the attenuation of the discriminative stimulus effects of mu opioids.
Preformulation studies I: Molindone hydrochloride

Preformulation studies on molindone hydrochloride, a dihydroindolone tranquilizer, are described. A TLC assay is outlined, degradation products are identified, and results of stability studies are presented. The dissociation constant is estimated using pH determinations.
The development of age-related deficits in several presynaptic processes associated with brain [3H]acetylcholine release

Abstract Isolated nerve terminals were prepared from the neocortices and striate cortices of Fischer 344 rats from 6 to 26 months of age and then assayed for release of newly synthesized [ 3 H]acetylcholine (ACh) triggered by secretagogues with different mechanisms of action: 35 mM K + , 10μM veratridine and 5 μM A23187. Secretagogue-induced release of newly sythesized [ 3 H]ACh decreased with age in both brain regions, with reduction in A23187-induced release paralleling those seen with depolarizing agents. This observation was consistent with the hypothesis that aging attenuates the release-triggering ability of calcium ions coincident with or before it affects voltage-sensitive calcium influx. In neocortex, phorbol-stimulated translocation of protein kinase C (PKC) activity was attenuated in isolated nerve terminals concomitantly with A23187-induced release deficits. These results suggest that one of the earliest deficits in the ACh-release process may involve intracellular calcium potency, which may be associated with the onset of functional PKC deficits. Both brain regions also displayed gradual, age-related reductions in [ 3 H]ACh synthesis, but this effect was more pronounced in the striatum. Choline acetyltransferase (CAT) activity decreased only in the striatum with aging
On Hadamard embeddability

Abstract Given any k vectors of dimension nk which are mutually orthogonal, it is well known that this matrix can be completed to an n × n orthogonal matrix. Hadamard matrices form a subclass of orthogonal matrices. By contrast it is shown that it is possible to construct Hadamard submatrices with 2 t +2 rows that cannot be completed to a Hadamard matrix of order 4 t for infinitely many values of t . Some familiarity with Hasse–Minkowski invariants is assumed. A large number of unsolved problems in this area are pointed out.
Towards a transport theory of the quark-gluon plasma: Infrared divergences and scalar-meson theory

Abstract We consider the transport theory of an ultra-relativistic gas of particles. We study infrared divergences which may appear in a naive perturbative treatment in a massless scalar meson theory. We briefly discuss the potential applications of transport theory for ultra-relativistic nuclear collisions.
Wolbachia run amok

Symbiotic associations between microorganisms and higher eukaryotes are extremely common, and they range from mutualistic (beneficial) to commensal (neutral) and parasitic (harmful). Vertical vs. horizontal transmission mode is believed to play an important role in determining whether parasitic or mutualistic interactions evolve (1–5). According to this view, frequent horizontal (infectious) transmission favors virulent microbes (especially if virulence increases propagule number), whereas vertical (inherited) transmission favors evolution of benign and mutualistic associations. The level of virulence, therefore, is expected to depend on the relative importance of vertical and horizontal transmission for maintenance of the microbe. The process may apply, for example, to bacteriophage and other viruses that have both lytic (horizontal) and lysogenic (vertical) transmission modes (5). A variety of symbiotic microorganisms are known that are predominantly or exclusively transmitted through host reproduction. Examples include Buchnera aphidicola , a nutritional bacterial symbiont of aphids (6), and Wolbachia , a group of intracellular rickettsia found in invertebrates (7). The expectation that vertical transmission will lead to avirulence makes intuitive sense. If the primary mode of transmission of a microbe is through the reproduction of the host, then harming the host will reduce transmission of the microbe, whereas a benign or beneficial effect will enhance transmission. Contrary to this expectation, Min and Benzer (8) report discovering a highly virulent strain of Wolbachia that is vertically transmitted but causes tissue degeneration and adult death in Drosophila melanogaster . Their discovery has several practical and theoretical implications, which are discussed below. But first, some background information is necessary. Wolbachia are intracellular bacteria (rickettsia) that are transmitted within the egg cytoplasm and found in reproductive and other tissues of invertebrates. These remarkable bacteria are extremely common and widespread. They are estimated to occur in 15–20% of insect species (9) and have also been …
Measurement of electron transfer through cytochrome P450 protein on nanopillars and the effect of bound substrates.

Electron transfer in cytochrome P450 enzymes is a fundamental process for activity. It is difficult to measure electron transfer in these enzymes because under the conditions typically used they exist in a variety of states. Using nanotechnology-based techniques, gold conducting nanopillars were constructed in an indexed array. The P450 enzyme CYP2C9 was attached to each of these nanopillars, and conductivity measurements made using conducting probe atomic force microscopy under constant force conditions. The conductivity measurements were made on CYP2C9 alone and with bound substrates, a bound substrate–effector pair, and a bound inhibitor. Fitting of the data with the Poole–Frenkel model indicates a correlation between the barrier height for electron transfer and the ease of CYP2C9-mediated metabolism of the bound substrates, though the spin state of iron is not well correlated. The approach described here should have broad application to the measurement of electron transfer in P450 enzymes and other me...
The natural history of pelvic vein thrombosis: the natural history of involution?

b s a a v In this issue of the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Khalil et al present very provocative data. They btained images of low-risk women with magnetic resoance venography (MRV) 1-4 days after spontaneous vagial delivery and found definite evidence of pelvic vein hrombosis in 30% of subjects, probable evidence in 27% of ubjects, and possible evidence in another 10% of subjects. None of the thrombi was occlusive.) Of the 30 participants, nly one-third of the women had no evidence of thrombois. In a previous article, the same investigators reported a imilarly high rate of pelvic vein thrombosis after cesarean elivery. In that study, the investigators used MRV at the time of hospital discharge to obtain images of women who were at moderate-to-high risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) and found definite evidence of pelvic vein thrombosis in 47% of subjects, probable evidence in 7% of subjects, and possible evidence in another 13% of subjects. (One of the thrombi was occlusive.) Of the 15 participants, only one-third of the women had no evidence of thrombosis. Therefore, in both studies, two-thirds of the subjects had evidence of thrombosis. On reading these results, an obstetrician’s first reaction has to be incredulity, and he or she is prompted to ask several questions. Were the MRV studies performed correctly? The imaging was conducted according to accepted protocols in a large, university medical center that was known for conducting studies in thromboembolism. Therefore, one has to assume that the imaging was performed correctly. Is MRV actually sensitive and specific for the detection of VTE in the pelvis? Studies of MRV in nonpregnant patients, with contrast venography as the gold standard for the detection of pelvic vein thrombosis, revealed sensitivities of 100% and specificities of 95-98%. Dupas et al found a negative predictive value of 100%. Is postartum asymptomatic pelvic vein thrombosis of any clinical onsequence? Because none of these subjects went on to expeience symptomatic VTE, we can assume that, in almost all
Effects of Yb and Zr microalloying additions on the microstructure and mechanical properties of dilute Al–Sc alloys

Abstract It is known that Zr and Yb partition to the Al3Sc precipitates created during aging when microalloyed separately in dilute binary Al–Sc alloys. Addition of Zr delays precipitate coarsening, thereby improving the coarsening resistance of the ternary Al-Sc-Zr alloys. Addition of Yb increases the resistance against dislocation climb, thereby improving the creep resistances of the ternary Al-Sc-Yb alloys. A combination of microhardness, creep, and atom probe tomography measurements provide evidence that these effects of Zr and Yb additions are cumulative in quaternary dilute Al–Sc–Yb–Zr alloys: Yb increases their creep resistance at 300 °C compared with ternary Al–Sc–Zr alloys and Zr improves their coarsening resistance at 300 °C compared with ternary Al–Sc–Yb alloys. Additionally, excellent coarsening resistance is observed at 350 and 375 °C.
A Life Review Model: The Bridge between Older Home Care Clients and Direct Care Workers

nursing care provided to geriatric patients, a chief nurse executive challenged her nursing staff to ‘‘Get Smart about Getting Old!’’ and attain gerontology certification. To help accomplish this goal, staff development educators developed an innovative gerontological nursing education course. Project Outcomes: Thus far in 2008, more than 40 nurses have attended the course, which is offered bimonthly. Most of these nurses are scheduled to take the certification exam. Nurses are using the course information to change their nursing practice. Outcomes include significant increases in satisfaction among geriatric patients and nursing staff. Other quality measures include reductions in patient falls and skin integrity problems. Project Implications: Nurses must provide high-quality, evidence-based nursing care to geriatric patients. Innovative gerontological nursing educational programs assist nurses in improving their ability to care for the elderly, as measured by improvements in quality outcomes.
Psychology and Aging: Enhancing the Lives of an Aging Population

A pressing need for upcoming decades is ensuring that older adults, who constitute an increasing percentage of the population, are able to function independently and maintain an acceptable quality of life. One important concern is the usability of new technologies. Unfortunately, the science that could direct proper design and implementation of current and future technological advancement is underdeveloped and less mature than the engineering that supports technological advancement. We review data documenting age-related usability issues and how psychological science can remedy such problems. We also outline how training principles can be applied to older adults. We conclude that psychological science has much to contribute to the goal of enhancing the lives of older adults.
Lutein Content in Sweetpotato Leaves

Fresh leaves of 6 sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) genotypes, Beau- regard, Bienville, L99-35, L00-8, L01-145, and L01-29, were characterized for lutein. Lutein is a carotenoid capable of delaying blindness-related macular degeneration. The content of lutein in sweetpotato ranged from 0.38 to 0.58 mgg -1 fresh weight. Beta- carotene separated from lutein on high-pressure liquid chromatograms and when spiked in pure lutein extract did not interfere with lutein separation. High-resolution electro- spray ionization mass spectrometric analysis was used to confirm the presence of lutein in sweetpotato leaves. Stems were also characterized and found not to contain lutein. Our results showed that sweetpotato leaves are an excellent source of dietary lutein and surpass levels found in leafy crucifers. Leaves of sweetpotato and a related species are human food in some countries and may be a major source of lutein for commercial purposes.
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor perturbs lymphocyte mitochondrial function and inhibits cell cycle progression.

Sera from healthy subjects receiving recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rHuG-CSF) to mobilize CD34(+) peripheral blood progenitors (PBPC) have been recently shown to induce unresponsiveness of allogeneic lymphocytes to mitogenic challenge. In the present investigation, the effects of rHuG-CSF on the early stages of lymphocyte activation-induced apoptosis and on lymphocyte cell cycle entry were evaluated. Sera were obtained from HLA-identical donors receiving rHuG-CSF to mobilize CD34(+) PBPC for allogeneic transplantation. Normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were challenged with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) in the presence of serum collected before (preG) or after rHuG-CSF administration (postG). Mitochondrial function, that is, incorporation of 3,3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide [DiOC(6)(3)] and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as expression of c-Myc and Bcl-2 family members (Bcl-2, Bcl-X(L), Bax) were evaluated by multiparameter flow cytometry. The activation-induced fragmentation of genomic DNA was detected by highly sensitive LM-PCR assay.CD4(+)DiOC(6)(3)(low) and CD8(+)DiOC(6)(3)(low) T lymphocytes increased and reached 32% (range 27%-38%) and 20% (range 15%-23%) of circulating T cells, respectively, on day 4 of rHuG-CSF administration. Hypergeneration of ROS could be demonstrated in 65% (range 58%-82%) of CD4(+) T lymphocytes and in 0.4% (range 0.2%-0. 8%) of circulating CD8(+) T cells. rHuG-CSF determined no alteration of mitochondrial function if added to allogeneic PBMC in vitro, thus suggesting indirect effects mediated by soluble factors; on the contrary, when PBMC were challenged with PHA in the presence of postG serum, both perturbation of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Deltapsi(m)) and hypergeneration of ROS were induced, and lymphocytes were predominantly arrested in a G(0) -like phase of the cell cycle and displayed genomic DNA fragmentation. Interestingly, the preincubation of PBMC with a blocking antibody directed against CD95 abrogated the perturbation of lymphocyte Deltapsi(m), suggesting that the CD95 signaling pathway might play a role in the induction of apoptosis after PHA stimulation in the presence of postG serum. Moreover, Bax protein was overexpressed in postG (median fluorescence intensity = 180, range 168-186) compared with preG cultures (median fluorescence intensity = 75, range 68-80; p < 0.01), while no differences in Bcl-2, Bcl-X(L), and c-Myc staining intensity were observed. Our findings demonstrate a humoral-mediated rHuG-CSF-induced dissipation of lymphocyte mitochondrial Deltapsi(m); these effects might be mediated by Bax overexpression, with imbalance between apoptosis-promoting and apoptosis-inhibiting Bcl-2 family members and with subsequent induction of mitochondrial permeability transition. Whether immune dysfunction will favorably impact on incidence and severity of acute graft vs host disease after allogeneic PBPC transplantation remains to be determined.
A Numerical Scheme for a Class of Parametric Problem of Fractional Variational Calculus

Fractional derivatives (FDs) or derivatives of arbitrary order have been used in many applications, and it is envisioned that in future they will appear in many functional minimization problems of practical interest. Since fractional derivatives have such property as being non-local, it can be extremely challenging to find analytical solutions for fractional parametric optimization problems, and in many cases, analytical solutions may not exist. Therefore, it is of great importance to develop numerical methods for such problems. This paper presents a numerical scheme for a linear functional minimization problem that involves FD terms. The FD is defined in terms of the Riemann-Liouville definition; however, the scheme will also apply to Caputo derivatives, as well as other definitions of fractional derivatives. In this scheme, the spatial domain is discretized into several subdomains and 2-node one-dimensional linear elements are adopted to approximate the solution and its fractional derivative at point within the domain. The fractional optimization problem is converted to an eigenvalue problem, the solution of which leads to fractional orthogonal functions. Convergence study of the number of elements and error analysis of the results ensure that the algorithm yields stable results. Various fractional orders of derivative are considered and as the order approaches the integer value of 1, the solution recovers the analytical result for the corresponding integer order problem.© 2011 ASME
Cytogenetic and molecular aspects of Philadelphia negative chronic myeloproliferative disorders: clinical implications.

Abstract Chronic myeloproliferative disorders (CMPD) are clonal disorders of the hematopoietic stem cell. The myeloid lineage shows increased proliferation with effective maturation, while peripheral leukocytosis, thrombocytosis or elevated red blood cell mass are found. In Philadelphia negative CMPD recurrent cytogenetic abnormalities occur, but no specific abnormality has been defined to date. The spectrum of cytogenetic aberrations is heterogeneous ranging from numerical gains and losses to structural changes including unbalanced translocations. The most common chromosomal abnormalities are 20q−, 13q−, 12p−, +8, +9, partial duplication of 1q, balanced translocations involving 8p11 and gains in 9p. Cytogenetic analysis of CMPD by conventional or molecular techniques has an important role in establishing the diagnosis of a malignant disease, adding also more information for disease outcome. Molecular studies may detect the possible role of candidate genes implicated in the neoplastic process, addressing new molecular target therapies. FIP1L1/PDGFRα rearrangements, as well as alterations of PDGFRβ or FGFR1 gene have been found to be associated with specific types of CMPD. Recently, a novel somatic mutation, JAK2V617F, has been reported in most of the polycthemia vera (PV) patients, as well as in a lower percentage in essential thrombocythemia (ET) or idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF) patients. This finding represents the most important advance in understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlined the pathogenesis of CMPD, contributing to the classification and management of patients.
Rural Nurses’ Research Use

This descriptive study explored the availability of research findings to rural nurses and how they use those findings in clinical practice. Surveys were completed by 200 registered nurses located in the rural northern United States. The results indicate that research findings were available to most participants. The majority (82.9%) of participants agreed that changing practice based on research was beneficial; however, less than 40% of the respondents indicated that they would change their practice based on research findings if those findings contradicted previously-held knowledge, beliefs, intuition, or common sense. This study identifies a need for greater emphasis in the practice setting and in generic nursing education programs on the value and implementation of evidence based-practice.
The global nursing faculty shortage: status and solutions for change.

Background In addition to a global shortage of nurses, there is also a shortage of academically qualified faculty available to teach in schools of nursing. Methods A systematic review examined proposed solutions to the global shortage of nursing faculty. Metasynthesis was used to compare and critically appraise strategies offered for solving or ameliorating the global nursing faculty shortage by premier nursing organizations. Findings 181 recommendations in 62 publications were categorized into eight major themed solutions, including centralizing data management, international collaboration in nursing research, and increased funding for full-time faculty positions in nursing programs. Discussion The nursing faculty shortage is due to a confluence of factors, including the global migration of nurses, a seeming persistent devaluation of faculty by academic programs, disincentives, and an overall reduction in full-time equivalent faculty positions. Conclusions Results point to a needed change in direction and approach to solving the nursing faculty shortage. By designing new education models that fit global healthcare needs and pooling teaching resources, designing and using the same databases across organizations to track and project faculty needs, and collaborating between schools and businesses to create mutually beneficial agreements for services, nursing faculty capacity can be enhanced, and nursing's capacity to meet global healthcare needs can be expanded. Clinical Relevance The results of this systematic review can be used as a rubric for the design and development of strategies to end the nursing faculty shortage and expand global nursing capacity.
Postconditioning via stuttering reperfusion limits myocardial infarct size in rabbit hearts: role of ERK1/2

Emerging evidence suggests that restoration of blood flow in a stuttering manner may limit lethal myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, the mechanisms contributing to this phenomenon, te...
On a search for a moving target

We consider the problem of searching for a target that moves in discrete time and space according to some Markovian process. At each time, a searcher attempts to detect the target. If the searcher's action at each time is such as to maximize his chances of immediate detection, we call his strategy “myopic.” We provide a computationally useful necessary condition for optimality, and use it to provide an example wherein the myopic strategy is not optimal.
The Criticality Of Cultural Awareness In Global Marketing: Some Case Examples

International trade has taken place for thousands of years. One might assume that with such a long history, those involved with international business would have learned how it is done. For the most part, the major players are sensitive to cultural differences and how important it is to conduct business within the boundaries of the prevailing culture. However, there are hundreds of examples of cultural faux pas. This paper focuses on some of the top trading partners with the United States and the business opportunities that they represent. It also addresses general business etiquette guidelines that should be understood and applied when working with the key trading partners. Several cultural business missteps are presented to illustrate that the simplest decision can lead to embarrassment or worse, major economic loss. The need to research foreign cultural and language differences is just as important as researching the market for sales opportunities. In the global marketplace, the players who are aware and sensitive to the culture of their trading partners have a greater probability of success, than those who do not.
Self-ownership and non-culpable proviso violations

Left and right libertarians alike are attracted to the thesis of self-ownership (SO) because, as Eric Mack says, they ‘believe that it best captures our common perception of the moral inviolability of persons’. Further, most libertarians, left and right, accept that some version of the Lockean Proviso (LP) restricts agents’ ability to acquire worldly resources. The inviolability of SO purports to make libertarianism more appealing than its (non-libertarian) egalitarian counterparts, since traditional egalitarian theories cannot straightforwardly explain why, e.g. forced organ donation and forced labor are serious wrongs even when they generate more equitable outcomes or benefit the greater good. I argue that, when SO is coupled with LP, this appeal is unfounded. SO, as usually construed, allows for the possibility of justified incursions of non-culpable agents up to and including forced organ donation. I conclude by considering a few possible responses on behalf of the libertarian, assessing each one’s pl...
Effects of intracellular adenosine-5'-diphosphate and orthophosphate on the sensitivity of sodium efflux from squid axon to external sodium and potassium.

A study was made of sodium efflux from squid giant axon, and its sensitivity to external K and Na. When sodium efflux from untreated axons was strongly stimulated by Ko, Nao was inhibitory; when dependence on Ko was low, Nao had a stimulatory effect. Incipient CN poisoning or apyrase injection, which produces high intracellular levels of ADP1 and Pi, rendered sodium efflux less dependent on external K and more dependent on external Na. Injection of ADP, AMP, arginine, or creatine + creatine phosphokinase, all of which raise ADP levels without raising Pi levels, had the same effect as incipient CN poisoning. Pi injection had no effect on the K sensitivity of sodium efflux. Axons depleted of arginine and phosphoarginine by injection of arginase still lost their K sensitivity when the ATP:ADP ratio was lowered and regained it partially when the ratio was raised. Rough calculations show that sodium efflux is maximally Ko-dependent when the ATP:ADP ratio is about 10:1, becomes insensitive to Ko when the ratio is about 1:2, and is inhibited by Ko when the ratio is about 1:10. Deoxy-ATP mimicked ADP when injected into intact axons. Excess Mg, as well as Pi, inhibited both strophanthidin-sensitive and strophanthidin-insensitive sodium efflux. An outline is presented for a model which might explain the effects of ADP, Pi and deoxy-ATP.
Optical strain analysis of composite and monolithic materials

Abstract Optical techniques of moire, holography, speckle and thermographic stress analysis† are very effective for analysing engineering problems involving materials such as man-made (fibre reinforced) and natural (wood, paperboard) composites, metals and rubber. The photo-mechanical techniques are combined herein with computer-vision (digital-imaging) concepts. Attention is also devoted to hybrid methods for processing and differentiating recorded optical data. Applications include those to fracture, stress waves, paper physics, material behavior, wood engineering, energy storage, and hostile environments.
Array antennas for DGPS

Multipath interference limits the speed and accuracy of determining position by 'differential' GPS techniques. A geodetic surveyor, for example, requires multipath interference rejection of about 36+20 log/sub 10/ sin /spl epsi/ dB, where /spl epsi/ is the elevation angle of the satellite being observed. Signal processing in a GPS receiver cannot satisfy this requirement. A receiving antenna is required that can sufficiently reject signals arriving from below the horizon. Available antennas have inadequate rejection, and brute-force methods of improving them, e.g., by enlarging their ground-planes, are impractical. A compact, ground-plane-less, dual-band, GPS antenna with improved multipath rejection has been designed and field-tested. This antenna resembles a vertical post rather than a horizontal platter; within its 0.1-m diameter, 0.4-m tall radome is a vertical array of turnstile elements. In field tests, a three-element array antenna rejected multipath better than a 0.5-m diameter ground-plane antenna by an average of 5 dB. A five-element array antenna appears superior to a 0.9-m diameter ground-plane antenna.
Complete Initial Scoping Tests on the Incorporation of Novel Loaded Iodine Getters into GCM.

This study encompasses initial scoping tests on the incorporation of a novel iodine loaded getter material into the Sandia developed low temperature sintering glass ceramic material (GCM) waste form. In particular, we studied the PNNL Ag-I-Aerogel. Optical microscopy indicates inhomogenous samples based on particle sizes and variations in color (AgI vs Ag/AgO on silica). TGA/MS data when heated in air indicates loss of iodine and organics (CO2) between 250-450°C a total of ~15wt% loss, with additional / small iodine loss when during 550°C hold for 1 hr. TGA/MS data when heated in N2 indicates less organic and slightly less iodine loss below 550°C, with no loss of iodine in 550°C 1 hour hold. Furthermore, a substantial mass loss of sulfur containing compounds is observed (m/e of 34 and 36) between 150 – 550°C in both air and N2 sintering atmospheres. In an effort to capture iodine lost to volatilization during heating (at temps below glass sintering temperature of 550°C), we added 5 wt% Ag flake to the AgIaerogel. Resulting data indicates the iodine is retained with the addition of the Ag flake, resulting in only a small iodine loss (< 1wt%) at ~350°C. No method of curtailing loss of sulfur more » containing compounds due to heating was successful in this scoping study. « less
Animated Pedagogical Agents and Emotion

Abstract Animated agents represent a new paradigm for education and training in interactive learning environments, providing a new metaphor for human-computer interaction. This chapter focuses specifically on the role, benefits, and design of animated pedagogical agents in web- and computer-based instruction. It addresses the role of emotion in the design of animated pedagogical agents and its effect in human-agent interactions in a learning environment. The chapter also discusses recent research efforts on the effect of the emotional dimension of animated pedagogical agents on learning, and how the research helps us understand which emotion elements are critical for the design of believable animated pedagogical agents.
Nearly Singular Integrals in 3D Stokes Flow

A straightforward method is presented for computing three-dimensional Stokes flow, due to forces on a surface, with high accuracy at points near the surface. The flow quantities are written as boundary integrals using the free-space Green’s function. To evaluate the integrals near the boundary, the singular kernels are regularized and a simple quadrature is applied in coordinate charts. High order accuracy is obtained by adding special corrections for the regularization and discretization errors, derived here using local asymptotic analysis. Numerical tests demonstrate the uniform convergence rates of the method.
Artifacts on Spores of Discineae Induced by Common Reagents

6. Hwang, S. 1966. Long-term preservation of fungus cultures with liquid nitrogen refrigeration. Appl. Microbiol. 14: 784-788. 7. Little, G. N., and M. A. Gordon. 1967. Survival of fungus cultures maintained under mineral oil for twelve years. Mycologia 59: 733-736. 8. Raper, K. B., and D. F. Alexander. 1945. Preservation of molds by the lyophil process. Mycologia 37: 499-525. 9. Sutthill, L. C., and C. C. Campbell. 1965. Feathers as substrate for Histoplasma capsulatum in its filamentous phase of growth. Sabouraudia 4: 1-2.
The Unified Modelling Language

Throughout this book we have used several kinds of UML diagrams to describe various aspects of the system under consideration. UML is a complex language and it is hard to grasp all the details at the beginning.
Recent progress in the theoretical study of Cu_2ZnSnS_4 and related chalcogenide semiconductors

In the past sixty years,most of the studies about semiconductors focused on the elementary,binary and ternary semiconductors.Recently in searching for cheap,environmentally-friendly and high-efficiency solar cell absorbers,quaternary chalcogenides I2-II-IV-VI4,such as Cu2ZnSnS4,have drawn more and more attention,and their potential application as different functional materials are being explored.However,their fundamental material properties have not been well studied.In this paper,after giving a simple introduction to the history and application of I2-II-IV-VI4 semiconductors,we will review our first-principles calculation study on these semiconductors,which includes,(i)revealed the general rules in the change of crystal and electronic structure as the number of elements increases from 2 to 4,and found clear chemical trends in their dependence on the composition elements,(ii)discussed the possible confusion in the previous structure characterization and band gap measurement,(iii)studied the phase stability of the representative compound Cu2ZnSnS4 relative to the competitive binary and ternary compounds,as well as the properties of its intrinsic defects.We believe the results presented in this paper will offer some hints for the future study of the series of I2-II-IV-VI4 semiconductors.
A study on the efficacy of β-lactam antibiotics combined with macrolides in treatment of severe community-acquired pneumonia in children

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy of β-lactam combined with macrolides antibiotics in treatment of severe community-acquired pneumonia(CAP) in children. Methods Children with severe CAP on admission between 2012 February and 2012 April were divided into treatment group and control group. With the same symptom specific supportive treatment, the patients in the treatment group were treated with both cefmetazole and azithromycin, while the patients in the control group were treated with cefmetazole alone. The total effective rate, number of days of symptoms and signs disappeared and number of days of hospitalization were observed. Results The total effective rate was 87.8% in the trearment group and 61.3% in the control group with significant difference(P0.05). Compared with control group, the recovery time of temperature, time of pulmonary rale disappearing and cough retraction were reduced(P0.05). As well as the number of days of hospitalization was decreased(P0.05). Conclusions The treatment of severe CAP in children with combination of azithromycin and cefmetazole results in better curative effect. A combined medication of β-lactam and macrolides antibiotics may be rational and effective.
Selective and Orthogonal Post-Polymerization Modification using Sulfur(VI) Fluoride Exchange (SuFEx) and Copper-Catalyzed Azide–Alkyne Cycloaddition (CuAAC) Reactions

Functional polystyrenes and polyacrylamides, containing combinations of fluorosulfate, aromatic silyl ether, and azide side chains, were used as scaffolds to demonstrate the postpolymerization modification capabilities of sulfur(VI) fluoride exchange (SuFEx) and CuAAC chemistries. Fluorescent dyes bearing appropriate functional groups were sequentially attached to the backbone of the copolymers, quantitatively and selectively addressing their reactive partners. This combined SuFEx and CuAAC approach proved to be robust and versatile, allowing for a rare accomplishment: triple orthogonal functionalization of a copolymer under essentially ambient conditions without protecting groups.
Micron-scale phenotyping quantification and three-dimensional microstructure reconstruction of vascular bundles within maize stalks based on micro-CT scanning

Vascular bundles within maize (Zea mays L.) stalks play a key role in the mechanical support of plant architecture as well as in water and nutrient transportation. Convenient and accurate phenotyping of vascular bundles may help phenotypic identification of germplasm resources for breeding. Based on practical sample preparation procedures for maize stalks, we acquired serials of cross-sectional images using a micro-computed tomography (CT) imaging device. An image processing pipeline dedicated to the phenotyping of vascular bundles was also developed to automatically segment and validate vascular bundles from the cross-sectional images of maize stalks, from which phenotypic traits of vascular bundles, i.e. number, area, and spatial distribution, were calculated. More profound quantification of spatial distribution was given as area ratio of vascular bundles, which described the distribution of vascular bundles associated with the centroid of maize stalks. In addition, three-dimensional visualisation was performed to reveal the spatial configuration and distribution of vascular bundles. The proposed method significantly improves computation accuracy for the phenotypic traits of vascular bundles compared with previous methods, and is expected to be useful for illustrating relationships between phenotypic traits of vascular bundles and their function.
Running on character? Running on policy? An analysis of Japanese candidates' campaign platforms

We present theoretical and empirical analyses of candidates' platforms in the 2003 and 2009 Japanese House of Representatives elections, in an effort to understand candidates' strategic decisions to emphasize policy debates and to highlight their character-based qualities. Our study highlights the significance of comparative electoral advantages that motivate differing strategies between candidates from different parties, between candidates competing in rural versus urban districts, and between candidates contesting the 2003 versus the 2009 elections. Our study contributes to the growing literature that jointly analyzes politicians' policy-based vote-seeking strategies versus electoral appeals based on valence-related attributes such as competence, integrity, and leadership ability, that may appeal to voters because they enhance winning candidates’ performance in office.
The cesium physics package design for the PARCS experiment

The primary atomic reference clock in space (PARCS) is a collaboration between the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the University of Colorado to build a laser-cooled cesium-beam atomic clock as a science payload for the International Space Station (ISS). The three primary goals of the PARCS experiment are: (1) to demonstrate laser cooling of atoms in space; (2) to use laser cooling to build the most accurate space clock; (3) to use the clock to test fundamental assumptions and predictions of relativity theory. We discuss aspects of the PARCS cesium physics package subsystem design addressing magnetic, microwave and vacuum requirements as well as operational scenarios.