cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Herbicide Tolerance of Buffalograss

Buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.) Engelm.) is a low-maintenance turfgrass alternative in many parts of the United States. When buffalograss is seeded, competition from weeds can significantly delay establishment. Additional research is needed on buffalograss seedling tolerance to herbicides, including newer herbicides such as the sulfonylurea family. Research was conducted in 2004 near Mead, NE and in Fayetteville, AR to evaluate both preemergence and postemergence herbicide tolerance of seedling buffalograss. Foramsulfuron, imazapic, metsulfuron, MSMA, oxadiazon, pendimethalin, prodiamine, quinclorac, rimsulfuron, simazine, and trifloxysulfuron-sodium were applied to seedling buffalograss as per warm-season grass label rates. All herbicides evaluated exhibited moderate to excellent safety for newly established buffalograss. Some initial, moderate injury may be expected with foramsulfuron and imazapic, but any injury observed 4 weeks after application was deemed acceptable for all herbicides evaluated. In general, buffalograss is tolerant to a majority of the herbicides used with other warm-season grasses. In addition, buffalograss exhibited adequate seedling tolerance to the sulfonylurea herbicide family.
Studies of placental morphogenesis. I. Radioautographic studies of human placenta utilizing tritiated thymidine.

SummaryPortions of human placental tissue have been studied by radioautography utilizing tritiated thymidine. Thymidine uptake could be demonstrated in cytotrophoblast, villous mesenchyme and vascu...
Underfill Encapsulant Flow Measured using Capacitance Measurement Techniques

Capillary flows of dense, model suspensions and industrial underfill encapsulants are investigated. Flow behavior is characterized by measuring the infiltration rate of an encapsulant or model suspension into a channel formed by parallel surfaces. A capacitance measurement technique is used to track the advancement of the front. Significantly this technique allows the channel surfaces to be formed from opaque materials such as those that found in the principal industrial application of electronics packaging. A scaling law to describe the functional dependence of the front position on channel spacing, surface tension and viscosity is presented.
Faculty Performance Evaluation Using Citation Analysis: An Update

This article provides a citation analysis for faculty from Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) member schools. The article argues that Google Scholar data is a particularly valuable source of citation data for urban planning because its coverage extends beyond traditional peer-reviewed publications. The analysis reports the level of scholarly activity within the urban planning discipline. The results show citation patterns for planning faculty, departments, and universities along with discussing the distribution of citation activity across the discipline. The article concludes by encouraging planning scholars and administrators to undertake more analysis of planning scholarship to understand scholarly performance and impact.
Coal and Gas Simultaneous Extraction Technology in High Gas and Super Close Distance Coal Seam Group

Aiming at specific occurrence condition of high gas and super close distance coal seam group in Pingmei shares No.6 coal mine,in the design process of automation working face,taking coal and gas simultaneous extraction theory as the instruction,on the basis of scientifically analyzing working face gas emission law in the process of super close distance coal seam group recovery,comprehensive differentiating source gas drainage scheme of buried pipe gas drainage in upper corner and high level drilling field gas drainage are applied.On the basis of effectively controlling working face gas drainage,coal and gas simultaneous extraction technology is further optimized,which makes very obvious technical effect.
STUDY ON THE DISINFECTION PERFORMANCE OF A COMPOUND PHENOLS HAND-DISINFECTANT GEL

Objective To observe the germicidal efficacy of a nano- silver skin antiseptic solution and the relationship between the efficacy and the concentration and microparticle diameter of the nano- silver. Methods Suspension quantitative germicidal test was used to observe the germicidal efficacy of a nano- silver skin antiseptic solution and the influential factors. Results The average killing logarithm values of Escherichia coli exposed to the nano- silver skin antiseptic solution of number Ⅰ、Ⅱand Ⅲ for 1 min were 3. 76、3. 06 and 2. 67 respectively; those of Staphylococcus aureus were 1. 38、0. 94 and 0. 48 respectively; those of Candida albicans were 1. 38、0. 94 and 0. 48 respectively. The skin antiseptic solution with higher concentration and smaller nano- silver particle had better germicidal efficacy. Conclusion The nano- silver skin antiseptic solution has germicidal efficacy and the concentration and microparticle diameter of the nano- silver have influence on its germicidal efficacy.
In vitro fertilization with concurrent pelvic reconstructive surgery

The recent advent of ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration by various approaches now allows access to ovaries previously deemed inaccessible by laparoscopy; however, a small group of candidates for in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) require laparotomy for associated gynecologic disorders. Twenty-five IVF-ET cycles at the time of laparotomy were compared with 309 IVF-ET cycles in which oocytes were retrieved laparoscopically. Five pregnancies occurred in the IVF-ET cycle with laparotomy and one pregnancy occurred spontaneously following microsurgical tubal reconstruction. The pregnancy rate per embryo transfer was 25% in the laparotomy IVF-ET patients compared with 15.4% for the laparoscopy IVF-ET group. Obvious advantages of combining IVF-ET and pelvic reconstructive surgery include a single anesthesia exposure and economic benefits. Patients with a long history of infertility undergoing tubal reconstructive surgery may be offered combined IVF-ET. Extended anesthesia exposure with pelvic surgery demonstrated no adverse effects on the pregnancy rate.
Come and Knock on Our Door Offenders’ Perspectives on Home Visits Through Ecological Theory

The use of home visits has a long and storied history in the United States from different disciplines, such as nursing, prenatal mothers, young families, health promotion, and community corrections. Ecological theory explains how formal actors play a role in the promotion in the health field through home visits, but does not address community corrections home visits. Through the use of 30 semi-structured interviews, this research seeks to expand the understanding of ecological theory by capturing the perceptions of offenders sentenced to home visits conducted by a sheriff’s office. The findings suggest the participants supported the home visits by formal agents and, in general, the home visits created an atmosphere of respect between the participants and sheriff’s office personnel. This study creates the context for future research to understand the role of formal agents in recidivism and evaluate the efficacy of home visits by community corrections agencies.
Geriatric home health care. Conceptual and demographic considerations.

Although informal, familial home health care remains a fundamental component of long-term geriatric care, formal home health services have emerged with the rise of third-party payment and the aging of the US population. Recipients of home health care services, rapidly increasing in number, are increasingly chronically ill, functionally limited elderly persons. Although a variety of formal service innovations are being developed to meet these growing needs, medical professional involvement in home health care emphasizes short-term, postacute therapeutic and restorative care.
Dynamical Effects of the Slowly Activating Delayed Rectifier Current on Voltage and Calcium Alternans in Cardiac Myocytes

Cardiac alternans is a precursor of cardiac arrhythmias. At the cellular level, alternans can be caused by the instability of voltage due to steep action potential duration (APD) restitution, instability of intracellular calcium (Ca) cycling due to steep sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca release vs SR Ca load relationship, or both. Dynamical systems of voltage and Ca are coupled via Ca sensitive currents such as the L-type Ca current and sodium-Ca exchanger. The slowly activating delayed rectifier current (IKs) is also one of the Ca sensitive currents. However, little is known about the role of IKs in the formation of alternans. In this study, we investigated dynamical effects of IKs on alternans using a physiologically detailed mathematical model of the ventricular myocyte. We define the coupling between Ca cycling and voltage dynamics as positive (negative) when a larger Ca transient at a given beat tends to prolong (shorten) the APD of that beat. We found that both increase of the maximum conductance of IKs and sensitization to Ca promote negative coupling at the cellular level. As IKs was increased, the coupling changed from positive to negative. Especially when alternans is Ca driven, electromechanically concordant alternans became electromechanically discordant alternans. These cellular level dynamics lead to different types of spatially discordant alternans in tissue.
Stratifying Patients with Diabetes into Clinically Relevant Groups by Combination of Chronic Conditions to Identify Gaps in Quality of Care.

Objective To find clinically relevant combinations of chronic conditions among patients with diabetes and to examine their relationships with six diabetes quality metrics. Data Sources/Study Setting Twenty-nine thousand five hundred and sixty-two adult patients with diabetes seen at eight Midwestern U.S. health systems during 2010–2011. Study Design We retrospectively evaluated the relationship between six diabetes quality metrics and patients' combinations of chronic conditions. We analyzed 12 conditions that were concordant with diabetes care to define five mutually exclusive combinations of conditions (“classes”) based on condition co-occurrence. We used logistic regression to quantify the relationship between condition classes and quality metrics, adjusted for patient demographics and utilization. Data Collection We extracted electronic health record data using a standardized algorithm. Principal Findings We found the following condition classes: severe cardiac, cardiac, noncardiac vascular, risk factors, and no concordant comorbidities. Adjusted odds ratios and 95 percent confidence intervals for glycemic control were, respectively, 1.95 (1.7–2.2), 1.6 (1.4–1.9), 1.3 (1.2–1.5), and 1.3 (1.2–1.4) compared to the class with no comorbidities. Results showed similar patterns for other metrics. Conclusions Patients had distinct quality metric achievement by condition class, and those in less severe classes were less likely to achieve diabetes metrics.
Prostacyclin Can Inhibit DNA Synthesis in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation plays a pivotal role in physiological processes such as wound repair and in pathological processes such as atheromatous plaque formation. However, little is known about the mechanism by which DNA synthesis and cell growth are stimulated or regulated in vascular smooth muscle cells. In part, this lack of information is because of the lack of a suitable model system. In this regard, Ross (1971) was among the first to grow vascular smooth muscle cells in culture. It was observed that vascular smooth muscle cells, like other cells in culture, growth arrest at the G1/G0 interphase when deprived of serum or essential nutrients. It was subsequently determined that the vascular smooth muscle cell mitogenic factor in serum originated from platelets and has been appropriately termed platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) (Ross et al., 1974).
Physical Education and Sport: Does Participation Relate to Physical Activity Patterns, Observed Fitness, and Personal Attitudes and Beliefs?

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between physical education (PE) and sports involvement with physical activity (PA), physical fitness, and beliefs about PA among a ...
Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Macrovascular Invasion: Defining the Optimal Treatment Strategy.

Background: Tumoral macrovascular invasion (MVI) of hepatic and/or portal vein branches is a common phenomenon in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is associated
PRESENTATION PATTERN AND FUNGAL AGENTS SPECTRUM CAUSING OTOMYCOSIS

Objective: This study was aimed to identify the pattern of presentation, influencing factors, and sort of the fungal species, distribution of sex of patients with otomycosis. Methods: Eighty-six patients attended to Ad-Diwaniyah teaching hospital, Iraq were screened for identification of fungi causing otomycosis from October 2014 to November 2015. 50 patients were females while 36 patients were males. 12 patients of the total number were with bilateral involvement. Diabetes mellitus, leukemia, chemotherapy, and chemoradiation were the associated systemic diseases which were recorded in patients with otomycosis and diabetes mellitus was detected in 53.84% of patients with systemic diseases. Results: The predominant complaints were pruritus and found in 76 patients (88.73%), discomfort and pain found in 62 patients (72.09%), aural fullness in 48 patients (55.81%), tinnitus in 34 patients (39.53%), hearing impairment in 50 cases (58.31%), ear discharge in 22 patients (25.58%), and most of the symptoms seen in 36 patients (68.14%). The results showed a total of eight fungal species belong to six different genera, namely, Aspergillus , Candida , Penicillium, Rhizopus, Alternaria , and Cephalosporium were isolated during this study. Among identified fungi, Aspergillus niger was found to be the most prevalent fungal species with 35.71% followed by Candida albicans (27.55%), Aspergillus flavus (10.20%), Aspergillus fumigatus (8.16), Penicillium digitatum (6.12%) and Cephalosporium species (4.08%), and Rhizopus species (5.1%), while Alternaria alternata had the lowest percentage (6.54%). Conclusion: Otomycosis/mycotic otitis externa is still a common problem and there is a rise in the occurrence of otomycosis in latest years, especially in tropical and subtropical humid climates.
New thinking about Catholic education from Latin America: what the bishops said at Medellin (1968), Puebla (1979), Santo Domingo (1992), Aparecida (2007)

The preparation, convocation, and implementation of the Second Vatican Council sparked changes at theological and organisational levels in the Catholic church. Both types of changes created a new s...
Public health sector influence in transportation decision-making: The case of health impact assessment

Abstract Health impact assessment (HIA) is a method of analyzing and communicating the potential health-related outcomes of policies and projects in a variety of fields, including transportation. The transportation policy process already has formal routines to incorporate information about air quality, noise, safety, and other health issues. However, the HIA method could broaden the set of issues under consideration (e.g., physical activity), the types of decisions assessed, and the actors involved. In theory, HIA seeks to influence transportation decisions and serve as a platform for public participation, but the literature is not clear about how HIAs in practice influence decisions and support participation. We used the Health Impact Project (HIP) archive to analyze 59 HIAs on transportation issues conducted between 2005 and 2016 in the United States. We critically reviewed each HIA, and developed a categorization strategy to create a typology of HIAs according to the transportation decisions they sought to influence, the partnerships it created, and the types of participation it used. We found that HIA has predominantly been a point of entry for the public health profession to be active in transportation, rather than a learning process originating with transportation professionals or grassroots initiatives. Our typology revealed that HIAs have been conducted for diverse purposes including influencing decisions, but the majority, instead, framed their purpose as providing information, expressing community support, building capacity, or serving as a planning tool. Participation in HIAs drew from government agencies across multiple sectors, but its reach seldom included grassroots community groups. The future of HIA practice in public health and transportation could build on the HIA’s adaptability to the local decision-making context, and embrace its various forms of informal policy influence. In addition, future practice could increase public participation among members of general public and organized grassroots groups.
Controls on Estuarine Sediment Dynamics in Merrymeeting Bay, Kennebec River Estuary, Maine, U.S.A.

Over the past several decades, estuaries have earned a reputation as sediment sinks through the theoretical and empirical works of many scientists (e.g. Postma, 1967; Pritchard, 1967; Meade, 1969, 1972, 1982; Biggs, 1970; Biggs and Howell, 1984; Schubel, 1984; Knebel, 1989; Dalrymple et al., 1990). These studies have documented the combined roles of sediment influx rates, sea-level rise, climate, and estuarine circulation as the dominant controls on estuarine infilling (Schubel, 1984). However, aspects of most of these models (e.g. distance-velocity asymmetry and settling lag and scour lag) only consider the movement of fine-grained sediments (<100 µm) capable of suspension or transport-limited systems in which estuarine sediment supply is greater than the transport capacity (Milliman and Meade, 1983). Much less is known about the dynamics (i.e. estuarine processes and time scales responsible for sediment fluxes) within fluvial-estuarine transition zones with respect to bedload sediment transport (Milliman and Meade, 1983)
Reexamining Data from the Past Related to the Evolution of the Functional Properties of the Haemoglobins of the Teleost Fish

The beautiful work of Berenbrink and his coworkers (2005) has renewed interest in the relationships among the evolution of the Root effect and of the choroid and swimbladder retia. Their work has confirmed, and gone well beyond earlier indications, that the Root effect appeared in evolution in conjunction with the choroid rete, and that the swimbladder rete was a later development that look advantage of the previously developed Root effect. However, it is important to note that evolution of the Root effect appears to have continued after its application to filling swimbladders using a rete. The ligand affinities of the minimum affinity states of the haemoglobins of abyssal fish, which have swimbladders, correlate with the depth of habitat. The minimum ligand affinity decreases as habitat depth increases, consistent with an adaptation to facilitate the unloading of oxygen at ever higher partial pressures.
SYNTHETIC AND STRUCTURAL STUDIES OF VISUAL PIGMENTS

Properties of synthetic visual pigments prepared from isomers of retinal, aromatic retinals and fluorinated retinals are described together with discussions of structural information on rhodopsin derived from such analogue studies.
Tunable Magnetism and Half-Metallicity in Hole-Doped Monolayer GaSe.

We find, through first-principles calculations, that hole doping induces a ferromagnetic phase transition in monolayer GaSe. Upon increasing hole density, the average spin magnetic moment per carrier increases and reaches a plateau near $1.0\text{ }{\ensuremath{\mu}}_{B}$ per carrier in a range of $3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{13}/{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}\ensuremath{-}1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{14}/{\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$, with the system in a half-metal state before the moment starts to descend abruptly. The predicted itinerant magnetism originates from an exchange splitting of electronic states at the top of the valence band, where the density of states exhibits a sharp van Hove singularity in this quasi-two-dimensional system.
Bio-inspired Polydopamine Surface Modification of Nanodiamonds and Its Reduction of Silver Nanoparticles

Surface functionalization of nanodiamonds (NDs) is still challenging due to the diversity of functional groups on the ND surfaces. Here, we demonstrate a simple protocol for the multifunctional surface modification of NDs by using mussel-inspired polydopamine (PDA) coating. In addition, the functional layer of PDA on NDs could serve as a reducing agent to synthesize and stabilize metal nanoparticles. Dopamine (DA) can self-polymerize and spontaneously form PDA layers on ND surfaces if the NDs and dopamine are simply mixed together. The thickness of a PDA layer is controlled by varying the concentration of DA. A typical result shows that a thickness of ~5 to ~15 nm of the PDA layer can be reached by adding 50 to 100 µg/mL of DA to 100 nm ND suspensions. Furthermore, the PDA-NDs are used as a substrate to reduce metal ions, such as Ag[(NH3)2]+, to silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The sizes of the AgNPs rely on the initial concentrations of Ag[(NH3)2]+. Along with an increase in the concentration of Ag[(NH3)2]+, the number of NPs increases, as well as the diameters of the NPs. In summary, this study not only presents a facile method for modifying the surfaces of NDs with PDA, but also demonstrates the enhanced functionality of NDs by anchoring various species of interest (such as AgNPs) for advanced applications.
Psychiatric Cultural Formulation in the Islamophobic Context

The DSM-5 Outline for Cultural Formulation is used (with an emphasis on the clinical relevance of Islamophobia) to guide the psychiatric assessment and treatment of Muslim patients. This chapter provides essential knowledge about Islam and Muslims in America while addressing Muslim identity, conceptualizations of distress, psychosocial factors, the relationship between the individual and the clinician, and services important to Muslims. Muslims understand distress or mental illness to be related to a combination of medical, psychosocial, religious, moral, and/or supernatural causes. Although only some Muslims in America are struggling with getting basic needs met, Muslims of varying socioeconomic backgrounds are affected by the negativity related to overt and covert forms of Islamophobic bias and discrimination. Clinicians need to be aware of their own inherent biases against Muslims as they themselves may have little knowledge about Islam or Muslims other than what they experience through Islamophobic misinformation. Muslims are a diverse group with growing mental health service needs that may not be adequately addressed in a system that presents barriers for Muslims to seek professional services or includes clinicians who are not trained to appropriately understand and address Muslim mental health needs.
Inaccuracy of height information on driver's licenses.

Height is an important variable in identification. In cases involving deceased individuals, height is measured directly on the corpse or estimated from the skeleton. This postmortem measurement or estimation is then compared with antemortem records, usually the driver's license. The accuracy of the license information, however, has been questioned. To assess the accuracy of driver's license information, volunteers' statures were measured, and then these figures were compared with those printed on the subjects' licenses. Even in our comparatively young, well-educated sample, the license height was significantly greater than the measured height. Some inaccuracies may be caused by failure to update license information when new licenses are issued, but some inaccuracies may be from personal deception. The implications of these results for forensic anthropology cases are discussed.
Are decision aids leading to shared prostate cancer screening decisions among African-American men?: iDecide.

African-Americans have prostate cancer mortality rates that are double their White counterparts. To reduce prostate cancer disparities, it is suggested that men engage in shared decision making about prostate cancer screening with their healthcare provider after learning about the benefits and harms of these screenings. While researchers have developed decision aids to support African-American’s screening decisions, there is some uncertainty whether these aids lead to shared decision making. The goal of the current study was to investigate the efficacy of iDecide, a computerized decision aid, for promoting African-American men’s engagement in shared decision making. Six months after their use of iDecide, a prostate cancer screening decision aid, 76 participants were surveyed to determine whether they spoke with a provider about screening, what this conversation entailed, and if shared decision making occurred. While iDecide is an effective tool for enhancing African-American’s intention to engage in shared decision making, there is no evidence this aid increased their likelihood of discussing prostate cancer with a provider or participation in shared decision making. Future research should employ stronger research designs and assess the various contexts that can affect the relationship between decision-aid use and shared decision making among African-Americans.
CyAn: A MATLAB toolbox for image and data analysis of cyanobacteria

Abstract Studies of photosynthetic cyanobacteria are often carried out by growing the bacteria in large volume cultures. However, this results in an uneven amount of light received by the cells due to cell-cell shading. Fluorescence microscopy solves this issue as cells can be grown in a single layer, eliminating shading issues. However, microscopy brings its own challenge as hundreds of cells are imaged at the same time, making it difficult to analyze the resulting data by hand. Here we present CyAn, a toolbox to process and analyze microscope images of cyanobacteria. The toolbox automates cyanobacteria identification in microscope images, tracks moving and dividing cells, and computes relevant biological data such as growth rates. As proof-of-principle, we demonstrate that wild type and mutants can be grown on the same slide and identified using the software, allowing a much more accurate probe into photosynthetic processes that are often masked due to cellular heterogeneity or those requiring precise light control to prevent cell-cell shading.
Health Insurance and Traffic Fatalities: The Effects of Substance Use Disorder Parity Laws

Each year, approximately 10,000 individuals die in alcohol-impaired traffic crashes in the United States, while psychoactive drugs are involved in 20% of all fatal traffic crashes. In this study, we investigate whether state-specific parity laws for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment have the added benefit of reducing traffic fatalities. Parity laws compel insurers to generously cover SUD treatment in private markets, thereby reducing the financial costs of and increasing access to treatment for beneficiaries. We employ 23 years of administrative data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) coupled with a differences-in-differences design to investigate the potential spillover effects of parity laws to traffic safety. Our findings indicate that passage of a parity law reduces traffic fatality rates by 5.8 to 8.6%. We also find that passage of parity laws reduces fatal alcohol poisonings and psychoactive drug overdoses. These findings suggest that government regulations requiring insurers to cover SUD treatment can significantly improve traffic safety, possibly by reducing the number of impaired drivers on roadways.
“Something is Better than Nothing:” Early Childhood Caregiver-Child Music Classes Taught Remotely in the Time of COVID-19

Many early childhood music teachers suddenly shifted to remote teaching in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this intrinsic case study was to gather information about parents’ observations of and reactions to remote teaching of caregiver-child early childhood music classes. The participant families were enrolled in an on-site music class when the switch in format happened due to COVID-19 and were given the option of continuing with instruction via Zoom or receiving a refund for the remainder of the semester. All families were invited to complete a survey with questions about their decision to participate or not and suggestions for ongoing remote programming. Families who chose to participate in synchronous online classes were invited to complete interviews. 11 adults, representing 9 enrolled children, offered their perceptions of the affordances and constraints of the remote caregiver-child music class and suggestions for improvement of remote teaching. Three themes arose in the interviews: (a) The Centrality of Interaction, (b) The Need to Support Families, and (c) The Kids & Screens Paradox. An overall sense of “something is better than nothing” was a common comment from families who had chosen to participate via Zoom, but families who chose not to do remote classes in the spring reported they were not interested in trying Zoom classes. The main reason families gave for not wanting to participate was concerns about children and screen time. We share our community music school program’s plan for moving forward in September, 2020 with remote music classes based on the results of this study.
An integrated remote neurosurgical system

The Neurovisualization Lab at the University of Virginia is developing the Integrated Remote Neurosurgical System (IRNS) to allow mentoring of neurosurgical procedures in remote locations. The system allows a remote neurosurgeon to control a robotic microscope through the use of a 3-D input device, communicate with the operating room (0/R) team through live audio and video, and view presurgical imagery. The surgical team in the O/R will have access to the same images and communication facilities. The system will serve as a training tool through the use of a complete robotic simulation we have developed. We have also instituted safety precautions in the form of restriction of robot motion, monitoring, and protocols of system use. We have developed a registration system to assist in the implementation of these guidelines. A task analysis has led to the development of a prototype user interface, and the preliminary integration of available components has been completed. We report on the current state of the system and ongoing development with respect to the user interface and experimentation.
Using GLEAMS to evaluate the agricultural waste application rule-based decision support (AWARDS) computer program

AWARDS is a rule-based program that uses artificial intelligence techniques. It predicts the potential for fields receiving agricultural waste applications to degrade water quality. Input data required by AWARDS include the physical features, management practices, and crop nutrient needs for all fields scheduled to receive these nutrients. Based on a series of rules AWARDS analyzes the data and categorizes each field as acceptable or unacceptable for agricultural waste applications. The acceptable fields are then ranked according to their potential for pollutant loading. To evaluate the validity of the AWARDS field ranking system, it was compared to pollutant loading output from GLEAMS, a complex computer model. GLEAMS simulated the characteristics of each field ranked by AWARDS. Comparison of the AWARDS field ranking to the GLEAMS pollutant loading was favorable where ground water and both surface and ground water were to be protected and less favorable where surface water was to be protected. The rule base in AWARDS may need to be refined to provide more reasonable results where surface water is the resource of concern.
Comparison among the lipogenic potential of various substrates in rat hepatocytes: the differential effects of fructose-containing diets on hepatic lipogenesis.

Fructose feeding has been reported to cause hypertriglyceridemia in rats. Apparently this is due to in creased hepatic fatty acid synthesis. In hepatocytes from female rats fed a 60% sucrose or fructose diet, the rate of lipogenesis was two times higher than in cells from rats fed a 60% glucose diet and three times higher than in cells from rats fed a commercial nonpurifA¬ed diet. In hepatocytes from rats fed the fructose-containing diets, lactate was a better substrate than either butyrate or acetate, whereas in cells from rats fed either the glucose diet or the non- purified diet, butyrate was the best lipogenic substrate, and the lipogenic potential of lactate and acetate was similar. In all cases, 1 mM fructose caused a 30â€"40% stimulation of lipogenesis, while 10 mM glucose did not enhance fat synthesis above the endogenous rates. These results sug gest that the differential effect of fructose-containing diets on hepatic lipogenesis results from activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase, thereby increasing the efficiency by which lactate is used as a carbon source for fatty acid synthesis. The differences in lipogenic potential of the various sub strates tested is discussed. J. Nutr. 119: 1304-1310, 1989.
Manufacturing Understanding: Brain-based Learning and the Internet in the High School Classroom

Over the past ten years, two remarkable influences have begun to make their mark on the high school classroom in an effort to make the high school more meaningful and worthwhile. One is, without question, the influence of the IInternet on curriculum, course work and student behavior. Second, and less well-known, is the rise of brain-based theories of educational instruction. Both hold the promise of radically changing the nature of classroom instruction, yet both are struggling to be implemented in such a way as to genuinely improve education. That is, for the web’s promise of revolutionizing education to be fulfilled, teachers must be prepared to invest a significant amount of time and effort to design curricular units which integrate the web in such a way as to direct and engage students to be responsible for their own learning. Furthermore, this engagement must motivate students to take risks, do more than they are asked and enjoy learning. Thus, the issue of boredom is replaced with the happy problem of students wanting (and, sometimes, even demanding) to understand.
Introduction to International Corporate Financial Management

Financial management decisions of most firms are not confined to domestic borders. Many financing and investment decisions involve economies and firms outside a firm's own domestic borders either directly, through international transactions, or indirectly, through the effects of international issues on the domestic economy. International financial management is the management of a firm's assets and liabilities considering the global economy in which the firm operates. Keywords: thin capitalization; transfer price; globalization; cross listing; depositary receipts; Euroequity issues; Eurobond market; foreign currency risk; political risk; currency forward contract; currency futures contracts; currency swaps; currency options
How Do English L1 Learners of Advanced Japanese Infer Unknown Kanji Words in Authentic Texts

This study investigates advanced Japanese language learners' abilities to infer unknown kanji (Chinese character) words while reading authentic Japanese texts. Data obtained from 42 English L1 students indicate that, first, although they can guess the meanings of unknown kanji words in context, they frequently make erroneous guesses or fail to guess at all. Second, the more proficient students can use context better than the less proficient students. Third, when reading comprehension ability is controlled, there is no difference in kanji inferencing ability between heritage language (HL) learners and non-HL learners. Fourth, when the students can pronounce the given semantically unknown kanji words fully or partially while reading, such phonological knowledge proved to be related to successful inferencing.
Scattering and radiation from cylindrical anisotropic shells

Two problems dealing with electromagnetic properties of anisotropic shells having arbitrary cylindrical shapes are examined. The first problem investigates the scattering response of the shell under external, normally incident plane wave excitation. The other problem involves the study of electromagnetic fields radiated through the shell due to a line source placed inside it. These two cases, in practice, simulate antenna radomes used to protect internally placed radiating elements from both environmental as well as external electromagnetic interference. The medium characteristics of the shell are assumed to be anisotropic, but homogeneous as well. Numerical results are presented for both the radar scattering cross section (RCS) of the radome, as well as radiation patterns of line sources located inside the shell. >
PhrA, the major photoreactivating factor in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 codes for a cyclobutane-pyrimidine-dimer-specific DNA photolyase.

A new broad-host-range plasmid, pSL1211, was constructed for the over-expression of genes in Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803. The plasmid was derived from RSF1010 and an Escherichia coli over-expression plasmid, pTrcHisC. Over-expressed protein is made with a removable N-terminal histidine tag. The plasmid was used to over-express the phrA gene and purify the gene product from Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803. PhrA is the major ultraviolet-light-resistant factor in the cyanobacterium. The purified PhrA protein exhibited an optical absorption spectrum similar to that of the cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD) DNA photolyase from Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 6301 (Anacystis nidulans). Mass spectrometry analysis of PhrA indicated that the protein contains 8-hydroxy-5-deazariboflavin and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FADH2) as cofactors. PhrA repairs only cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer but not pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidinone photoproducts. On the basis of these results, the PhrA protein is classified as a class I, HDF-type, CPD DNA photolyase.
Video multicast through cooperative incremental parity packet transmission

In this paper, a cooperative multicast scheme that uses Randomized Distributed Space Time Codes (R-DSTC), along with packet level Forward Error Correction (FEC), is studied. Instead of sending source packets and parity packets through two hops using R-DSTC as proposed in our prior work, the new scheme delivers both source packets and parity packets using only one hop. The source station (access point, AP) first sends all the source packets, then the source as well as all nodes that have received all source packets together send the parity packets using R-DSTC. As more parity packets are transmitted, more nodes can decode all source packets and join the parity packet transmission. The process continues until all nodes acknowledge (through feedback) the receipt of enough packets for recovering the source packets. For each given node distribution, the optimum transmission rates for source and parity packets, are determined such that the video rate that can be sustained at all nodes is maximized. This new scheme can support significantly higher video rates (and correspondingly higher PSNR of decoded video) than the prior approaches. We further present two suboptimal approaches, which do not require full information about user distribution and feedback, and hence are more feasible in practice. The new scheme using only the node count information and without feedback still outperforms our prior approach that assumes full channel information and no feedback, when the node density is sufficiently high.
Experimental and statistical characterization of brittle composites

Abstract Extensive processing cycles associated with brittle composites such as carbon/carbon result in a number of anomalies within the final product that influence its material and mechanical response. In order to understand and predict their response, potential defect parameters such as debonds, voids and misalignment of textile architecture under various loads must be addressed. First, these parameters are identified and statistically quantified by means of scanning electron microscopy and image processing techniques and they are then built into unit cell numerical models to reflect their impact on the stress/strain response of the lamina. Thorough material testing is undertaken in order to evaluate laminate moduli and tensile, compressive, shear and interlaminar tension strength values. Continuous microscopical inspection is performed to identify any changes in defects associated with loading.
Serum bone gla protein (BGP) and other markers of bone mineral metabolism in postmenopausal osteoporosis

Bone gla protein, the vitamin K-dependent protein synthesized by osteoblasts and measured in blood by radioimmunoassay, has been used as an index of the rate of bone turnover. The relationship of bone gla protein with other markers of bone mineral metabolism was determined in 31 untreated postmenopausal women with the osteoporotic syndrome. In addition to serum osteocalcin (BGP) we measured parathyroid hormone (PTH) (carboxyl and mid-molecule fragments), 25(OH)D, alkaline phosphatase, estradiol (E2), estrone (E1), dietary calcium intake, 24 hour urinary calcium excretion, and bone mineral density by CT scan of the lumbar vertebrae. Significant osteopenia was present on CT in untreated postmenopausal osteoporotic women (bone density in 18 out of 31 was below the critical value of 60 mg/cm3). Serum BGP correlated positively with CT scan (r + 0.647, P less than 0.001). CT and age were negatively correlated (r - 0.661, P less than 0.001) while CT and E2 showed a positive correlation (r + 0.554, P less than 0.01). Unexpectedly, BGP and age revealed a significant negative correlation (r - 0.421, P less than 0.05). These findings suggest a state of low bone turnover in this group with untreated postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Use of television in nursing education

Resume Si les debuts de la television educative aux Etats-Unis remontent presque a 1950, la television n'y est utilisee que depuis les 4 ou 5 dernieres annees et seulement a un certain degre pour l'enseignement du nursing. Les raisons d'un usage aussi peu repandu sont probablement la carence d'une faculte preparee a y recourir, le peu d'interet porte au developpement d'une telle faculte et le manque d'aide administrative soutenue pour la mise a disposition de l'equipement et des documents de television et audio-visuels necessaires. La television ordinaire est utilisee couramment et de differentes manieres dans la formation des infirmieres. Elle peut l'etre pour instruire une partie d'une classe ou pour illustrer une partie de cours ou un cours complet. La television "vivante" peut servir a observer des patients, des processus collectifs, diverses situations instructives sur le plan clinique, ou a la transmission de savoir. La television est employee de plus en plus pour former aux pratiques et techniques de base, generalement dans le cadre d'un laboratoire, pour l'enseignement de modes de communication, des sciences elementaires et de cours generaux, pour orienter les eleves vers differents services et stages prealables a l'experience clinique et, enfin, pour le developpement au niveau facultaire. L'emploi de documents pre-enregistres (bandes video) devient de plus en plus courant parce qu'il fait gagner au professeur le temps qu'il consacrait sinon a repeter les lecons et parce qu'il permet de reprojeter les images a des moments et des lieux differents. L'auteur a mene en 1967 des enquetes sur l'emploi de la television dans les programmes de formation d'infirmieres auxiliaires et d'infirmieres diplomees. Cet emploi a ete plutot limite dans ces deux cas. Une enquete sur l'emploi de la television dans les programmes de formation a la licence n'a revele qu'un usage a peine un peu plus etendu. Un certain nombre de plans d'utilisation de la television ont ete concus sous les auspices du Nurse Training Act de 1964. Quelques-uns ont abouti a la realisation de bandes video, qui repondent a leurs propres besoins et aussi aux besoins de nombreux autres programmes de nursing.
Biometric Technologies: Functionality, Emerging Trends, and Vulnerabilities

Biometric identification methods are quickly becoming commonplace in security and access control applications. This article presents a general overview of various biometric technologies along with some of the vulnerabilities related to them. Those reading this article will gain a general understanding of the history behind each biometric technology as well as the direction each method is taking for the future. Although the area of biometrics is still somewhat adolescent in regards to mainstream public acceptance, some of these technologies may one day be a part of our everyday lives.
Simultaneous time- and wavelength-resolved fluorescence microscopy of single molecules.

Single molecule fluorophores were studied for the first time with a new confocal fluorescence microscope that allows the wavelength and emission time to be simultaneously measured with single molecule sensitivity. In this apparatus, the photons collected from the sample are imaged through a dispersive optical system onto a time and position sensitive detector. This detector records the wavelength and emission time of each detected photon relative to an excitation laser pulse. A histogram of many events for any selected spatial region or time interval can generate a full fluorescence spectrum and correlated decay plot for the given selection. At the single molecule level, this approach makes entirely new types of temporal and spectral correlation spectroscopy of possible. This report presents the results of simultaneous time- and frequency-resolved fluorescence measurements of single rhodamine 6G (R6G), tetramethylrhodamine (TMR), and Cy3 embedded in thin films of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA).
Positronium formation in semicrystalline poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Abstract The probability of positronium (Ps) formation in semicrystalline poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), has been investigated by means of positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (p.a.l.s.). The p.a.l.s. data are correlated with the structural characteristics of the samples, such as crystalline content, interlamellar spacing and lamella thickness. The results show an approximately linear decrease of the intensity ( I 3 ) of the long-lived orthopositronium ( o -Ps) component with an increase in the crystalline content up to 53%, while the lifetime remains practically constant. It seems that the other structural parameters do not affect the Ps formation. The decrease of I 3 cannot be completely accounted for if one assumes that o -Ps localizes in the amorphous phase only. It is suggested that the o -Ps also forms in the crystalline regions, due to the inhomogeneous electron density distribution along the c -axis of the PET lattice.
The Nature of Gas Ions

OUR knowledge of the nature of gas ions is derived mainly from measurements of their mobility in an electric field. Experimental evidence has shown that as the pressure (p) is altered the mobility (fe) of the ion alters generally in accordance with the law, pk constant; when this law holds good it is safe to. conclude that the ion remains unaltered at the different pressures. One of the the most interesting results of experiment is that in the case of the negative ion formed in air the product pk increases as the pressure is diminished below about 10 cm.; this result indicates a simplification in the nature of the negative ion at the lower pressures. Prof. Townsend and his students have examined this phenomenon in great detail, and have come to the conclusion that the velocity (v) of the ion should be expressed as a function of the field (X) and the pressure (p) in the form v=f(X/p), indicating that the nature of the ion depends on the field and the pressure. In his recently published treatise Prof. Townsend concludes that the negative ion in a dry gas is in general a cluster of molecules which for a certain range of electric forces and pressures passes through a transition stage until finally, when X/p exceeds a certain value, the negative carriers are practically all electrons.