cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Yield estimation of soybean breeding lines under drought stress using unmanned aerial vehicle-based imagery and convolutional neural network

Crop yield is a primary trait to select superior genotypes and evaluate breeding efficiency in breeding programs. Crops with high yield potential are usually selected from numerous breeding lines in multiple years and locations. However, the efficiency of conventional breeding programs is limited by the capacity of field phenotyping, which can be improved by developing high-throughput field phenotyping systems using emerging technologies, including Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) imagery and deep learning technologies. The goal of this study was to evaluate the performance of a UAV imaging system and convolutional neural network (CNN) in estimating yield of soybean breeding lines. In this study, 972 soybean breeding lines in three maturity groups were planted under rainfed conditions for testing their drought tolerance. Aerial images were taken at the late vegetation (V6), early (R1), and late reproductive (R6-R8) growth stages. Seven image features associated with plant height, canopy colour, and canopy texture were selected to estimate the yield of each breeding line. A mixed CNN model was built to estimate soybean yield by taking the seven image features and two categorical factors, i.e. maturity group and drought tolerance, as predictors. Results show that image features collected at the early and late reproductive growth stages are comparably promising in estimating soybean yield. The prediction model could explain 78% of the measured yield with a root mean square error of 391.0 kg·ha−1 (33.8% to the average yield), indicating that the UAV imagery and deep learning models are promising in estimating yield for soybean breeding purposes.
Two-dimensional THz Spectroscopy of Multiferroic BiFeO 3

Multiferroic materials exhibit coupling between spin, lattice, and electronic degrees of freedom, and the ability to enhance these interactions to drive multiferroic properties may be the key to future high-speed, low-power technologies. We apply two-dimensional (2D) terahertz (THz) spectroscopy to examine these couplings in multiferroic BiFeO 3 . With extreme excitation using high-field THz light, 2D THz spectroscopy can reveal how anharmonic phonon-magnon coupling results in coherent energy transfer between modes and can potentially lead to experimental extraction of phonon-magnon coupling constants.
Opioid use and social disadvantage in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain

BACKGROUND Historically, marginalized patients were prescribed less opioid medication than affluent, white patients. However, because of persistent differential access to nonopioid pain treatments, this direction of disparity in opioid prescribing may have reversed. OBJECTIVE To compare social disadvantage and health in patients with chronic pain who were managed with versus without chronic opioid therapy. It was hypothesized that patients routinely prescribed opioids would be more likely to live in socially disadvantaged communities and report worse health. DESIGN Cross-sectional analysis of a retrospective cohort defined from medical records from 2000 to 2019. SETTING Single tertiary safety net medical center. PATIENTS Adult patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain who were managed longitudinally by a physiatric group practice from at least 2011 to 2015 (n = 1173), subgrouped by chronic (≥4 years) adherent opioid usage (n = 356) versus no chronic opioid usage (n = 817). INTERVENTION Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome was the unadjusted between-group difference in social disadvantage, defined by living in the worst national quartile of the Area Deprivation Index (ADI). An adjusted effect size was also calculated using logistic regression, with age, sex, race, and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Pain Interference and Physical Function scores as covariates. Secondary outcomes included adjusted differences in health by chronic opioid use (measured by PROMIS). RESULTS Patients managed with chronic opioid therapy were more likely to live in a zip code within the most socially disadvantaged national quartile (34.9%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 29.9-39.9%; vs. 24.9%; 95% CI 21.9-28.0%; P < .001), and social disadvantage was independently associated with chronic opioid use (odds ratio [OR] 1.01 per ADI percentile [1.01-1.02]). Opioid use was also associated with meaningfully worse PROMIS Depression (3.8 points [2.4-5.1]), Anxiety (3.0 [1.4-4.5]), and Pain Interference (2.6 [1.7-3.5]) scores. CONCLUSIONS Patients prescribed chronic opioid treatment were more likely to live in socially disadvantaged neighborhoods, and chronic opioid use was independently associated with worse behavioral health. Improving access to multidisciplinary, nonopioid treatments for chronic pain may be key to successfully overcoming the opioid crisis.
After the Storm: Racial Differences in Allegiance to America’s Democracy

Many observers of American politics despair over the possible consequences for the health of America’s democratic political culture of the 2020 presidential election, the January insurrection, and the Trump impeachment and acquittal. The specific fear is that popular support for American democratic institutions has been eroded and compromised. Based on a nationally representative survey with a large oversample of African Americans, I address the hypotheses that a) support for democratic institutions is not widespread, b) that significant inter-group differences in support exist, c) that awareness and assessment of these events are connected to democratic support, and d) that support for these institutions is grounded in more elemental and obdurate democratic values. After finding that African Americans extend significantly less support to America’s democratic institutions, I consider whether reverence for these institutions was undermined by the election and its aftermath. My findings cautiously suggest that the election/insurrection events may not have changed many American minds, Black or White; instead, it appears that those already low in support for democratic values were the ones most receptive to elite canards regarding the legitimacy of the election and its outcome. On all aspects of this analysis, I find strong inter-racial differences.
Correspondence Between Clinician Ratings of Vulvovaginal Health and Patient-Reported Sexual Function After Cancer.

Abstract Background Tools for diagnosing sexual dysfunction and for tracking outcomes of interest include clinician interviews, physical exam, and patient self-report. Limited work has described relationships among these three sources of information regarding female sexual dysfunction and vulvovaginal health. Aim We describe correlations among data collected from clinician interviews, clinical gynecological examination, and patient self-report. Methods Data are from a single-site, single-arm, prospective trial in 100 postmenopausal patients with a history of breast or endometrial cancer who sought treatment for vulvovaginal symptoms. The trial collected a standardized clinical gynecologic exam, clinician-reported outcome (ClinRO) measures of vulvovaginal dryness and pain, and patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures of sexual function, including PROMIS Sexual Function and Satisfaction (SexFS) lubrication, vaginal discomfort, labial discomfort, and clitoral discomfort and Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) lubrication and pain. We examined polyserial correlations between measures with bootstrapped 95% confidence intervals from the baseline and 12–14-week timepoints. Results All of the relationships between the ClinRO variables and the PRO variables were in the expected direction (ie, positive), but the strength of the relationships varied substantially. At 12–14 weeks, there were medium-to-large correlations between ClinRO vaginal dryness and SexFS Lubrication (0.64), ClinRO vulvar dryness and SexFS Lubrication (0.46), ClinRO vulvar discomfort and SexFS Labial Discomfort (0.70), and ClinRO vulvar discomfort and SexFS Clitoral Discomfort (0.43). With one exception, the correlations between the exam variables and the corresponding PRO scores were small (range 0.01–0.27). Strengths & Limitations Our study included a comprehensive, standardized gynecologic exam designed specifically to evaluate sexual dysfunction as well as established PRO measures with significant evidence for validity. A limitation of our findings is that the sample size was relatively small, and our sample was restricted to women who received cancer treatments known to have dramatic effects on vulvovaginal tissue quality. Conclusion Patient- and clinician-reported vulvovaginal dryness and discomfort were moderately correlated with each other but not with clinical gynecologic exam findings. Understanding the relationships among these different types of data highlights the distinct contributions of each to understand vulvovaginal tissue quality and patient sexual function after cancer. Flynn KE, Lin L, Carter J, et al. Correspondence Between Clinician Ratings of Vulvovaginal Health and Patient-Reported Sexual Function After Cancer. J Sex Med 2021;18:1768–1774.
Physical Impairment and Function in Children and Adolescents With Sickle Cell Disease: A Systematic Review

Abstract Objective To examine the factors that underlie physical impairments and function is needed to develop targeted rehabilitation interventions. Thus, the purpose of this systematic review was to examine physical impairments and physical function in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD). Data Sources PubMed, Embase (embase.com), CINAHL (EBSCO), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Wiley), and Dissertations and Theses (ProQuest) were searched from January 1, 1990 to September 25, 2020. References retrieved were required to include a term for sickle cell disease and a term for physical impairments or physical function. Results were limited to articles with children and adolescents and in the English language. Study Selection A total of 3,054 non-duplicate articles were independently screened by two reviewers, resulting in 240 articles for full-text review. The full-text review, performed by two independent reviewers, resulted in 67 articles. Data Extraction Data was extracted from each full text to a custom Excel document by a single reviewer and was verified by a secondary reviewer. Data Synthesis The studies identified in this systematic review offer evidence that children and adolescents with SCD demonstrate physical impairments and physical function limitations compared to controls as noted by varying percentages in deficits up to 19-58% in muscle and bone composition/symptoms, muscle strength, cardiopulmonary function, motor performance, physical activity, and physical function domains of quality of life questionnaires. Conclusions Children and adolescents with SCD present with physical impairments and physical function limitations. Scientists and clinicians should consider developing collaborative standards to define and objectively measure physical impairment and function in this population to comprehensively examine the underlying factors that contribute to physical impairments and function.
Hydrothermal Alteration of Organic Matter in Marine and Terrestrial Systems

The discovery in 1977 of active hydrothermal venting and associated mineralization at the seafloor spreading center of the Galapagos (Corliss et al., 1979) initiated extensive surveys of global ridge crests. Hydrothermal systems associated with ocean spreading centers are now recognized as a relatively common phenomenon and are thus one of the most actively researched topics in geology, biology, and geochemistry. The morphology, mineralization, and fluid chemistry of the active systems in spreading centers have been reviewed (e.g., Barrett and Jambor, 1988; Rona, 1988; Rona et al., 1983; Von Damm, 1990) and related to ancient deposits (e.g., Franklin et al., 1981; Scott, 1985). Other nonrift areas with analogous hydrothermal systems are tectonically active subduction zones, fracture zones, and back-arc basins. The active seafloor systems are a major niche for fauna carrying out chemosynthetic biochemistry. This and the characterization of new species is now a main topic in biology (e.g., Jones, 1985; Childress, 1988; Grassle, 1985).
σ-Alkyl and -Aryl Derivatives of Transition Metals

Publisher Summary This chapter describes σ-alkyl and -aryl derivatives of transition metals. By far the most widely applied method for the formation of metal-carbon σ-bonds is the reaction of a metal-X compound where X is a halide or some other leaving group, with an anionic alkylating agent. The degree of alkylation often depends on the activity of the alkylating reagent. By varying the metal complex anion and RX, a wide variety of metal compounds containing transition metal-carbon σ-bonds have been prepared directly by this reaction. In addition, aryl metal derivatives prepared by this method may be decarbonylated to give alkyl and aryl metal complexes. A semiquantitative estimation of the relative nucleophilicities of a series of transition metal anions has been made by measuring the rates of their reactions with alkyl halides. Transition metal-carbon a-bond formation by this method most commonly involves the insertion of some carbon-containing species into a metal-hydrogen bond.
Using Message Semantics to Reduce Rollback in the Time Wrap Mechanism

The time warp mechanism is one of the most favorite paradigm to carry out a distributed discrete event simulation, where the synchronization of events can be determined a priori when the program is being executed. The forward computation performed optimistically has to be rolled back when an out-of-order synchronization message is received. This excessive amount of rollback often haunts the performance of a time warp mechanism. We propose in this paper that the semantics of the synchronization messages being sent in a time warp execution can be exploited to reduce the amount of rollback. In particular, we illustrate with some examples how the commutativity and dependency properties of messages can be used to avoid certain types of rollback. For example, two commutative messages can be processed in any order and the resultant computation remains valid. We present a protocol for message handling in the time warp mechanism. We also give a correctness argument for the protocol, leaving the formal proof in the full paper. In the discussion, we suggest several optimization techniques that can be used in our protocol for a better improvement.
Ultrasonic Attenuation Results of Thermoplastic Resin Composites Undergoing Thermal and Fatigue Loading

Before airframe manufacturers introduce new materials into aeronautic structures, they require that these materials must be fully characterized for the environment they will be used in. For high speed aircraft, this would include the material’s response to thermal and fatigue loading representative of high numbers of flight cycles. At the same time that these materials are undergoing the necessary mechanical testing, it is prudent to also investigate nondestructive evaluation (NDE) methods that can be used in the field to assess the condition of these new materials simultaneously with their mechanical evaluation.
Acyl Carrier Protein VIII. STUDIES OF ACYL CARRIER PROTEIN AND COENZYME A IN ESCHERICHIA COLI PANTOTHENATE OR β-ALANINE AUXOTROPHS

Abstract A pantothenate-requiring auxotroph and a β-alanine-requiring auxotroph of Escherichia coli were grown in media supplemented with radioactive pantothenate or β-alanine, respectively. Analyses of extracts of these organisms showed that acyl carrier protein accounts for approximately 90% of the radioactivity associated with the protein fraction. Studies with the pantothenate auxotroph indicate that under the conditions of these experiments acyl carrier protein and coenzyme A are the major cellular constituents which contain pantothenate. In addition, it was found that the cellular concentration of coenzyme A is directly related to the concentration of pantothenate in the medium, whereas the concentration of acyl carrier protein does not vary under a variety of growth conditions.
Assessment of future runoff trends under multiple climate change scenarios in the Willamette River Basin, Oregon, USA

We investigated trends in future seasonal runoff components in the Willamette River Basin (WRB) of Oregon for the twenty-first century. Statistically downscaled climate projections by Climate Impacts Group (CIG), eight different global climate model (GCM) simulations with two different greenhouse gas (GHG) emission scenarios, (A1B and B1), were used as inputs for the US Geological Survey's Precipitation Runoff Modelling System. Ensemble mean results show negative trends in spring (March, April and May) and summer (June, July and August) runoff and positive trends in fall (September, October and November) and winter (December, January and February) runoff for 2000–2099. This is a result of temperature controls on the snowpack and declining summer and increasing winter precipitation. With temperature increases throughout the basin, snow water equivalent (SWE) is projected to decline consistently for all seasons. The decreases in the centre of timing and 7-day low flows and increases in the top 5% flow are caused by the earlier snowmelt in spring, decreases in summer runoff and increases in fall and winter runoff, respectively. Winter runoff changes are more pronounced in higher elevations than in low elevations in winter. Seasonal runoff trends are associated with the complex interactions of climatic and topographic variables. While SWE is the most important explanatory variable for spring and winter runoff trends, precipitation has the strongest influence on fall runoff. Spatial error regression models that incorporate spatial dependence better explain the variations of runoff trends than ordinary least-squares (OLS) multiple regression models. Our results show that long-term trends of water balance components in the WRB could be highly affected by anthropogenic climate change, but the direction and magnitude of such changes are highly dependent on the interactions between climate change and land surface hydrology. This suggests a need for spatially explicit adaptive water resource management within the WRB under climate change. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
In Brief: (Mis)splicing in disease

Splicing of pre-mRNAs is a crucial step in the gene expression pathway. Disruption of splicing has been linked to the pathogenesis of several human diseases and is particularly widespread in cancer. Recently, a number of mutations affecting genes of the core spliceosome machinery have been identified in haematological malignancies, yet the effect of such mutations on RNA splicing is unclear. A better understanding of how mis-splicing contributes to malignancies may provide diagnostic or prognostic information and new drug targets for therapeutic approaches. Copyright © 2014 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
THE BACTERIAL INDUCTION OF HOMOGRAFT SENSITIVITY I. EFFECTS OF SENSITIZATION WITH GROUP A STREPTOCOCCI

Heat-killed Group A hemolytic streptococci can induce in guinea pigs a state of altered reactivity to skin homografts which is indistinguishable from that which results from sensitization with homologous tissues. Challenge of suitably prepared recipients with first-set skin homografts obtained from unrelated randomly selected donors elicits white graft reactions or accelerated rejection of such grafts. The gross and histologic appearance of these grafts is identical with that observed in similar reactions obtained in guinea pigs sensitized with homologous tissues. The ability of Group A hemolytic streptococci to induce homograft sensitivity in the guinea pig is a property shared by Types 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 14, and 49 of Group A streptococci.
Protein kinase C deficiency-induced alcohol insensitivity and underlying cellular targets in Drosophila.

Multiple subtypes of protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes are implicated in various neurological disorders including alcohol insensitivity, a trait strongly associated with alcoholism in humans, but molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the PKC activities remain poorly understood. Here we show that functional knockdown of conventional, novel or atypical PKC in the fly nervous system each resulted in alcohol insensitivity. Neuroanatomical mapping of conventional Ca2+-sensitive PKC53E activity uncovers a previously uncharacterized role of Drosophila serotonin neurons in alcohol sensitivity. The deficiency of PKC53E but not novel Ca2+-independent PKC98E appears to reduce synaptic serotonin levels, since acute inhibition of serotonin reuptake by citalopram and Prozac reversed alcohol insensitivity in flies expressing PKC53E double-stranded RNA in serotonin neurons. Together, findings from this and our previous studies indicate that PKC53E and PKC98E differentially regulate fly alcohol sensitivity through independent modulation of conserved serotonin and neuropeptide Y-like systems.
Effect of porosity on the magneto-mechanical behavior of polycrystalline magnetic shape-memory Ni–Mn–Ga foams

Abstract Porosity in polycrystalline Ni–Mn–Ga alloys reduces internal constraints imposed by grain boundaries which suppress magnetic-field-induced strain in non-porous, polycrystalline magnetic shape-memory alloys. We present here a systematic study of the porosity effect on the magneto-mechanical properties of polycrystalline Ni–Mn–Ga foams. Starting from replicated foams created by casting with ceramic space holders, their porosities were increased by successive acid dissolution steps after which the magnetic-field-induced strain was measured, for each porosity level, after thermo-magneto-mechanical training. Consistently, the magnetic-field-induced strain increased with increasing porosity, in the extreme case by one order of magnitude for a small porosity increase of 1.3%, demonstrating that removal of constraints by porosity is responsible for the high magnetic-field-induced strain in polycrystalline Ni–Mn–Ga foams.
The screen hole plasma sheath of an ion accelerator system

Results of the first probing of the screen hole sheath of an ion accelerator system are presented. The screen hole sheath, represented as a set of equipotential contours, extends over a large distance within the discharge plasma. Under no conditions examined does the sheath enter the screen hole. Edge hole defocusing of multiaperture accelerator systems is due primarily to local plasma density variations rather than adjacent screen hole sheath interactions. The sheath boundary is independent of screen-to-accelerator grid spacing when the grid set is operated at the minimum ion beam divergence condition. Significant ion focusing effects occur in the sheath adjacent to the screen grid webbing leading to increased ion source beam current efficiency with decreasing screen-to-accelerator grid separation and/or screen grid thickness.
Is laparoscopy a risk factor for bile duct injury during cholecystectomy

Background and Objectives: Previously, risk factors for bile duct injury have been identified as acute cholecystitis, male gender, older age, aberrant biliary anatomy, and laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 1998 to 2006 was performed with an inclusion criterion of cholecystectomy performed on hospital day 0 or 1. Patient- and hospital-level factors potentially associated with bile duct injury were examined by logistic regression. Results: A total of 377,424 cholecystectomy patients were identified. There were 1124 bile duct injuries (0.30%), with 177 (0.06%) in the laparoscopic cholecystectomy group and 947 (1.46%) in the open cholecystectomy group (P .001). On multivariate analysis, significant risk factors for bile duct injury were male gender (odds ratio [OR], 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06–1.38; P .006), age 60 years (OR, 2.23; 95% CI, 1.61–3.09; P .001), and academic hospital status (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.05–1.79; P .02). Acute cholecystitis was associated with a lower risk of bile duct injury (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.46–0.99; P .044). Conclusion: Independent risk factors for bile duct injury included male gender, age 60 years, and academic hospital status. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, obesity, insurance status, or hospital volume was not associated with an increased risk of bile duct injury.
Interrelationships among Psychological Measures of Cognitive Style and Fantasy Predisposition in a Sample of 100 Children in the Fifth and Sixth Grades.

For a sample of 100 fifth and sixth grade pupils of middle-class background (51 girls and 49 boys), intercorrelations among measures of three cognitive style constructs of reflection-impulsivity, field dependence-independence, and internal-external locus of control and three measures of fantasy predisposition were for the most part low and statistically not significant. Exceptions were noted in the instance of the sample of girls for whom coefficients of .36, .38, and .51 between the measure of locus of control and each of three measures of fantasy predisposition were statistically reliable beyond the .01 level. The hypothesis of a positive relationship between a measurable construct of fantasy predisposition and each of three measurable constructs of cognitive style received only limited support. Furthermore, it did not appear that fantasy was a part of a larger or more general construct of cognitive style or that a universal construct of cognitive style existed.
Collaborative optimization with disciplinary conceptual design

For the first time, a multilevel optimization approach with disciplinary conceptual design is demonstrated. Collaborative optimization is used to decompose an example bridge design problem among two groups of designers --- a superstructure design group and a deck design group. The disciplinary groups are allowed to search over different design concepts and formulate the design variables and constraints for each. The autonomy of the two groups is managed by a system-level group which insures that overall system objectives are met and coupling is properly accounted for. Even though discrete conceptual design occurs within the disciplinary groups, a continuous gradient-based optimization algorithm is used at the system level. The procedure was started from a nonoptimal concept, and converged to the optimal concept.
Bisubstrate Inhibition: Theory and Application to N-Acetyltransferases†

Bisubstrate inhibitors represent a potentially powerful group of compounds that have found significant therapeutic utility. Although these compounds have been synthesized and tested against a number of enzymes that catalyze sequential bireactant reactions, the detailed theory for predicting the expected patterns of inhibition against the two substrates for various bireactant kinetic mechanisms has, heretofore, not been presented. We have derived the rate equations for all likely sequential bireactant mechanisms and provide two examples in which bisubstrate inhibitors allow the kinetic mechanism to be determined. Bisubstrate inhibitor kinetics is a powerful diagnostic for the determination of kinetic mechanisms.
Prediction of Hemorrhage at Cesarean Delivery

Objective:To identify and quantitate the risk factors that might be predictive of hemorrhage during abdominal delivery.Methods:Over a 2-year period, 1610 women underwent cesarean delivery and 127 (7.9%) had hemorrhage, defined as a decrease in hematocrit of 10% or greater, estimated blood loss great
Wind and Temperature Representations in the 26-month Oscillation

Reed and Rogers1 have presented amplitudes of the 26-month zonal wind oscillation at various heights and latitudes. Elsewhere, Reed2,3 has presented temperature amplitudes and phases and shown that meridional forces are in geostrophic equilibrium. The purpose of this communication is to present an analytical expression for the zonal wind oscillation which accurately describes the observations and which, through the thermal wind equation, also leads to an accurate analytical expression for the temperature oscillation. These expressions should prove useful in theoretical investigations of the oscillation.
Asymptotic normality of the multiscale wavelet density estimator

A multiscale wavelet density estimator (MWDE) was recently introduced and was shown to have nice convergence properties as well as good simulation results (Wu, 1995). This paper studies the asymptotic normality of the MWDE. It is proved that, under mild conditions, the MWDE has the asymptotic normality in the support of the unknown density f.As by-products, the author establishes the asymptotic normality of the wavelet estimator and discovers several interesting statistical properties of the reproducing kernel qm(x,t)ofVm .
Single versus multiple cues in mate discrimination by males and females

Courtship communication can function in both species recognition and mate choice. Little is known about how animals prioritize signals or cues for species identification versus intraspecific mate choice when several information sources are available, such as when communication spans several sensory modalities or spatiotemporal scales. Cricket courtship, for example, involves transmission of acoustic signals as well as chemosensory contact. We explored how chemical cues function in sex and species recognition for both male and female crickets, and then evaluated their use in a mating context where additional stimuli were available. First, we observed the response of female and male Gryllus integer to the chemical cues of conspecifics and sympatric G. lineaticeps. Males' strongest response was to conspecific female chemical cues. Although females responded most strongly to male chemical cues, they did not show species discrimination. Next, we compared the responses of male and female G. integer to conspecifics and heterospecifics in mating trials. Females directed more aggressive behaviour and less chemosensory behaviour towards heterospecific males, but males courted females of both species with equal intensities. These results suggest a sex-based difference in cue usage: for males, the additional stimuli present during mating trials appeared to override species-specific chemical cues, whereas for females, additional stimuli apparently bias responses towards conspecifics.
Cochlear implant speech processor frequency allocations may influence pitch perception.

Objective:To investigate the effects of assigning cochlear implant speech processor frequencies normally associated with more apical cochlear locations to the shallow insertion depths of the Iowa/Nucleus Hybrid electrode.Study Design:Subjects using the Hybrid implant for more than 1 year were tested
Nitrogen metabolism and blood metabolites in three goat breeds fed increasing amounts of protein

Twelve wethers (27–33 kg and 12–14 months of age) representing meat (Nubian), milk (Alpine) and mohair (Angora) producing goats were used to evaluate breed differences in protein utilization with diets containing 9 (L), 15(M) or 21% CP (H) and 2.4 Mcal ME/kg DM in a digestion trial. Fecal N, urine N and absorbed N as percent of N intake were not affected (P>0.05) by breed. Retained N as percent of absorbed N was not different (P>0.05) between breeds. Ruminal propionate (molar %) was lower (P 0.05) by diet or breed. Plasma urea-N increased (P 0.05) by breed or diet. Plasma glucagon concentrations increased (P<0.05) with increasing CP intake (72.4, 167.6 and 239.1 pg/ml for L, M and H, respectively). The study indicated that there was no apparent breed difference between Nubian, Alpine and Angora goats in nitrogen utilization when goats were fed pelleted diets containing 9 to 21% CP.
The thermodynamic properties of acetone + cyclopentanol mixtures at 298.15 K

Abstract Excess enthalpies, excess volumes, and vapor-liquid equilibria were determined for acetone + cyclopentanol mixtures at 298.15 K. The behaviour of the excess properties of acetone + alcohol mixtures is discussed.
Getting Help From Others: The Effects of Demand and Supply

Results. Analyses suggest limited evidence that the receipt of help is a supply-driven phenomenon. Although the measures of child–caregiver supply are not associated with a binary indicator of help received, caregiver-supply factors are associated with the number of helpers and the total hours of help received. Discussion. Findings on the total number of helpers and total hours of care have implications for the division of care labor within families and between families and nonfamily members. Foreseeable trends in the demand for and the supply of help suggest further evolution in patterns of elders’ receipt of help with care needs. Even if those with needs for care continue to have their needs addressed by one or more helpers, the number of helpers, and the aggregate amount of help they provide, is likely to undergo adjustment in response to changing family patterns.
Phase relations in the niobium-gallium system

Abstract Niobium-gallium alloys and diffusion couples were studied in the composition range 0–70 wt.% Ga by metallography, thermal analysis, electron microprobe, and X-ray diffraction. Five intermetallic compounds were identified; their tentative formulae, modes of formation, and melting or decomposition temperatures are as follows: 1. (A) Nb 3 Ga peritectic 1900 ° ± 20 °C 2. (B) Nb 3 Ga 2 congruent about 1800 °C 3. (C) NbGa peritectic 1490 ° ± 20 °C 4. (D) Nb 2 Ga 3 peritectic 1280 ° ± 10 °C 5. (E) NbGa 3 peritectic 1240 ° ± 10 °C A eutectic reaction occurs between the first two compounds at 1750 ° ± 25 °C and 25 wt.% Ga. The solubility of Ga in Nb decreases from 12 wt.% at 1900 °C to about 7 wt.% at 1600 °C.
Simultaneous selection for major and minor resistance genes

In many crop species, genes that confer resistance to diseases or insects often exhibit strong dominance and epistasis. As a result, it is generally considered difficult or impossible to accumulate, or pyramid, resistance genes with both large and small effects in a single population or cultivar. Availability of differential disease or insect cultures or molecular markers linked to major resistance loci may allow such loci to be pyramided efficiently, along with minor genes. A deterministic model was used to simulate recurrent selection by truncation in a population segregating at multiple loci with intra- and interlocus interactions similar to those that occur in systems of resistance genes. Selection at major loci generated large nonadditive genetic variances and gametic disequilibria. Phenotypic selection at minor loci was generally ineffective when major genes were also present; pleiotropic penalties on resistance genes caused minor resistance alleles to be eliminated from the population, illustrating the Vertifolia effect. The most effective method by which frequencies of both major and minor genes could be increased simultaneously was to use data from differential cultures or linked markers to discard all individuals with more than one major allele and then select the most resistance of the remaining individuals in each cycle, based on means of their selfed progenies. This methodology increased the frequency of desired genotypes to a level at which use of the population in a breeding program would be practical.
Impacts of reduced pH from ocean CO2 disposal: Sensitivity of zooplankton mortality to model parameters

The authors have developed a methodology to quantify mortality suffered by marine zooplankton passing through a CO{sub 2}-enriched sea water plume. Here the authors explore model sensitivity to some of the more important biological, physical and engineering design parameters, with particular reference to CO{sub 2} injection as a buoyant droplet plume. Uncertainty in the dose-response relationship, e.g. caused by the use of data for surface organisms, will affect predicted values of total mortality by less than a factor of two for a single point discharge from 10 standard (500 MWe) coal-fired values of total mortality by less than a factor of two for a single point discharge from 10 standard 500 MWe coal-fired electric power plants and a factor of five for a single point discharge from one standard plant. The most important design variable is the number of physically separated discharge points (diffuser ports or groups of ports) used to disperse the CO{sub 2}. Predicted mortality drops to zero as the number of discharge points per standard plants exceeds two. Finally the most important physical parameters are ambient current speed and turbulent diffusivity. As with the dose-response data, most physical oceanographic measurements have been conducted near the ocean surface.more » Model sensitivity suggests that a factor of 2.5 reduction in current speed or a factor of 3 reduction in ambient diffusivity, relative to the base case, would require that the number of discharge points per standard plant increase from 2 to 12 in order to avoid mortality. Thus, impacts can be strongly site-specific, and additional oceanographic measurements are needed at depths appropriate for CO{sub 2} sequestration. Nonetheless, it should be easy to design an environmentally conservative multi-point discharge system that can disperse CO{sub 2} as a droplet plume without significant mortality, even under adverse environmental conditions.« less
Adrenocortical carcinoma with cerebral metastasis in a child: case report and review of the literature

Objective and importance: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is rare in the pediatric population, and brain metastasis seldom occurs. Clinical presentation: The authors report a case of metastatic ACC to the brain in a 9-year-old patient who had an adrenal cortex neoplasm removed at 4 years of age, and was free of symptoms for 5 years. Two weeks before admission she complained of blurred vision in both eyes. Intervention: Examination revealed bilateral papilledema, and a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed a mass in the left lateral ventricle with extensive vasogenic edema and hydrocephalus. The tumor was removed, and histopathologic examination demonstrated metastatic ACC. Conclusion: Although ACC is a rare neoplasm it must be considered in the differential diagnosis of cerebral lesions in patients with a history of this tumor. Periodic long-term brain imaging is suggested as part of the follow up in patients with adrenocortical neoplasms.
Fully Integrated Microprocessor-Controlled Surveying Instrument

Progress in opto-electronic components combined with the development of the micro-processor made it possible to realize a new family of surveying instruments which can measure angles and distances, combine these readings and yield true three dimensional position information. The paper describes the HP3820A which combines a one arc second tiltmeter and a microprocessor in a single instrument.
Efficient cross-layer resource allocation for H.264/SVC video transmission over downlink of an LTE system

We formulate a PHY/APP cross-layer resource allocation problem for efficient transmission of video streams in a multiple-user LTE downlink system. To achieve a predetermined video PSNR, the number of bits needed for different users is calculated using a parameterized Rate-Distortion (RD) model proposed by [4]. We design an admission policy which assigns frequency-time OFDMA channel resource to video users based on a cross layer metric. For the admitted users, we use a tracking algorithm to serve the users as the video source content and channel conditions evolve. The goal of the resource allocation is to maximize the number of admitted users from a fixed user population and guarantee that the video quality of admitted users will achieve the predetermined PSNR threshold. The performance of the proposed algorithms is compared to four baseline algorithms which exploit different levels of cross layer knowledge about the channel and source characteristics, and the results show benefits from cross-layer optimization.
Ion elution and release sequence from deep snowpacks in the central Sierra Nevada, California

Elution of Cl−, SO4 2−, NO3 −, and H+ often occurred in that order at a site in the central Sierra Nevada, California, that receives an annual average of 1000 cm of snowfall which is low in acidic components. During eight winter periods of above-base level snowpack outflow, and one spring melt period, on the average 25% of the ions were discharged at the following percentages of outflow volumes: Cl− at 11%, NO3 − at 13%, SO4 2− at 18%, and H+ at 20%. Seven of eight winter outflows were associated with low ionic strength rainfall onto the snowpack. Mean solute concentrations during the first 25% and first 50% of the total outflow were significantly greater than during the last 75% and last 50% of the total outflow for Cl−, NO3 −, and SO4 2−, but not for H+. Maximum solute concentrations were up to 2.9 times the overall event volume-weighted mean concentrations for Cl−, 3.7 times for NO3 −, 3.0 times for SO4 2−, and 2.9 times for H+.
The Long Road to Public Diplomacy 2.0: The Internet in US Public Diplomacy

The United States has a long history of deploying new technology as a mechanism for public diplomacy (the conduct of foreign policy by engagement with foreign publics) but it was relatively slow to make full use of the on-line technologies known as Web 2.0. This essay reviews the early work of the US Information Agency (1953–1999) in the field of computer and on-line communications, noting the compatibility of a networking approach to USIA's institutional culture. The essay then traces the story forward into the work of the units within the US Department of State which took over public diplomacy functions in 1999. The article argues that this transition deserves a large part of the blame for the difficulty which the risk-averse State Department displayed in embracing first the web and then the full range of qualities associated with Web 2.0. The State Department has emphasized one-way broadcast media rather than two-way relational media and functions connected with listening and exchange diplomacy were subordinated to advocacy. The essay also notes the challenge of a non-diplomatic agency—the Department of Defense—playing a dominant role in digital and other forms of outreach at some points in the process. The essay ends by noting the recent evolution of the State Department's approach to digital media and the emergence of a non-governmental model for American digital outreach (known by the acronym SAGE) which may overcome many of the institutional limits experienced thus far and provide a way to bring together the relational priorities of the New Public Diplomacy with the relational capacities of Web 2.0 technology.
Arundo donax water use and photosynthetic responses to drought and elevated CO2.

Arundo donax L., commonly known as giant reed or Carrizo grande, has been identified as an excellent biomass feedstock, because of its high yields delivered from low nutrient inputs. Two criticisms of cultivating A. donax are that it has a history of biological invasion, and also that it may require great quantities of water to sustain its rapid growth. Yet, there is little research reported quantifying the water-use requirements; and it is unknown how growth and water-use will be altered by the atmospheric enrichment of carbon dioxide (CO2) in combination with drought, two environmental conditions that have been predicted to occur in regions where A. donax is cultivated or has colonized. An experiment using close-topped CO2 chambers was conducted to study the interactive effects of elevated CO2 and limited water on A. donax growth and leaf physiology. Enrichment of atmospheric CO2 from 400 to 800 μmol mol−1 decreased transpiration rates by 100% (p < 0.05). Reduced transpiration delayed drought responses and extended periods of assimilation, but ultimately could not prevent desiccation and photosynthetic decline during extreme drought. Reduced transpiration also increased water use efficiencies (WUE). A linear model created from whole-plant water use estimates A. donax consumption at 186,500 and 139,500 L H2O Mg−1 (11.65 and 8.72 L H2O MJ−1), at 400 μmol mol−1 or 800 μmol mol−1 CO2 respectively. The improved WUE of plants grown in high CO2 was still less than values reported for Miscanthus, a C4 bioenergy feedstock. Moreover, comparisons between A. donax stable carbon isotope (13C) discrimination and values reported for other C3 species suggest that A. donax has relatively high conductance levels, and will likely transpire more water than most species. These findings present the first reported values for A. donax water-use in response to atmospheric enrichment of CO2.
Population-based diallel analyses among nine historically recognized alfalfa germplasms

Identification of heterotic groups and patterns among breeding populations provides fundamental information to help plant breeders more knowledgeably manipulate heterosis. A diallel analysis was conducted among nine alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) germplasms, commonly referred to as African, Chilean, Flemish, Indian, Ladak, M. falcata, M. varia, Peruvian, and Turkistan, which represent a significant proportion of the genetic diversity present in US cultivars. Heterotic responses were determined by evaluating forage yield of the germplasms and their 36 half-diallel hybrids in seeded plots that were harvested five times in each of 2 years. Commercially acceptable yields were obtained from some hybrids of unimproved parents, where at least one parent was adapted to the study environment. Variation among crosses was attributed primarily to general combining ability (GCA) effects; however, specific combining ability effects were also significant. GCA estimates for African, Chilean and Peruvian were positive, while those for Ladak, M. falcata, and M. varia were negative. Estimates for variety heterosis effects were positive for Peruvian and M. falcata and negative for Indian and M. varia. Significant mid-parent heterosis [(MPH) range of −21% to 55%] and high-parent heterosis [(HPH) range of −33% to 23%] was detected. M. falcata hybrids exhibited the highest MPH values. However, this likely reflects the poor yield of M. falcata per se in the study environment and consequently, low MPH values. Peruvian hybrids demonstrated the highest cross mean performance, significant positive MPH in all crosses, and positive HPH in five out of eight crosses. The results indicate that Peruvian should be recognized as a heterotic group. Alfalfa breeders may wish to explore opportunities for heterotic yield gains that are likely to exist in hybrids between the Peruvian germplasm and elite breeding populations, in particular, those adapted to the southwestern United States. MPH results suggest that alfalfa breeders may have capitalized on the heterotic response between Flemish and M. varia during past development of alfalfa synthetics adapted to the central and northern latitudes of the United States.
Role stressors as predictors of changes in womens’ optimistic expectations

Abstract Theorists have suggested that optimistic expectations can be modified by stress. The present longitudinal study predicted that stress in women’s roles would reduce optimism over one year for 182 women who occupied the roles of caregiver, mother, wife, and employee. Results revealed that while 62% of participants reported little or no change in optimism, 38% reported increases or decreases in optimism over one year. Consistent with predictions, increases in wife and employee stress predicted decreased optimism over one year. Increases in wife stress remained predictive of decreased optimism, even after considering baseline role stressors and changes in stress in the other three roles. The present findings highlight the importance of stress as a contextual factors that can change or influence optimism.