cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Changes in physiology and microbial diversity in larval ornate chorus frogs are associated with habitat quality

Environmental change associated with anthropogenic disturbance can lower habitat quality, especially for sensitive species such as many amphibians. Variation in environmental quality may affect an organism's physiological health and, ultimately, survival and fitness. Using multiple health measures can aid in identifying populations at increased risk of declines. Our objective was to measure environmental variables at multiple spatial scales and their effect on three indicators of health in ornate chorus frog (Pseudacris ornata) tadpoles to identify potential correlates of population declines. To accomplish this, we measured a glucocorticoid hormone (corticosterone; CORT) profile associated with the stress response, as well as the skin mucosal immune function (combined function of skin secretions and skin bacterial community) and bacterial communities of tadpoles from multiple ponds. We found that water quality characteristics associated with environmental variation, including higher water temperature, conductivity and total dissolved solids, as well as percent developed land nearby, were associated with elevated CORT release rates. However, mucosal immune function, although highly variable, was not significantly associated with water quality or environmental factors. Finally, we examined skin bacterial diversity as it aids in immunity and is affected by environmental variation. We found that skin bacterial diversity differed between ponds and was affected by land cover type, canopy cover and pond proximity. Our results indicate that both local water quality and land cover characteristics are important determinants of population health for ornate chorus frogs. Moreover, using these proactive measures of health over time may aid in early identification of at-risk populations that could prevent further declines and aid in management decisions.
Effects of charged interfaces on electrolyte decomposition at the lithium metal anode

Abstract Lithium–Sulfur batteries are promising candidates to substitute conventional Li-ion batteries due to their higher energy density and reduced cost. However, several challenges related to the reactivity of the lithium metal anode have prevented this technology from becoming broadly commercialized. Lithium's high reactive nature leads to the continuous decomposition of the electrolyte and the formation of the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of how the SEI film is formed is crucial to help elucidate improvements for this battery technology. In this work, we use density functional theory (DFT) based computational methods to investigate the effect of charged interfaces on the electrolyte degradation at the lithium anode. Several electrolyte mixtures were considered including 1,2-dimethoxyethane (DME) and 1,3-dioxolane (DOL) as solvents, and lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI) and lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) as salts. It is found that the extent of salt decomposition is higher when the interface is charged. In addition, two types of solvent reduction mechanisms are identified: C–O bond cleavage and radical attacks. Charge transfer and evolution analysis are characterized in detail. Finally, solvent decomposition reactions are found to become more thermodynamically favorable and their activation barriers to be diminished under the effect of constant potentials and electric fields.
Diabetes and kidney cancer risk among post-menopausal women: The Iowa women's health study.

Abstract Background Many studies have reported a positive association between diabetes and kidney cancer. However, it is unclear whether diabetes is a risk factor for kidney cancer independent of other risk factors, such as obesity and hypertension. We comprehensively examined the association of diabetes and its duration with incident kidney cancer in the prospective cohort Iowa Women’s Health Study (1986–2011). Methods Diabetes status was self-reported at baseline (1986) and on five follow-up questionnaires. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations of baseline and time-dependent diabetes with the risk of incident kidney cancer. Results During the 25 years of follow-up, 245 cases of kidney cancer occurred among 36,975 post-menopausal women. In an age-adjusted model, there was a significant association between time-dependent diabetes and the risk of kidney cancer [HR (95% CI) = 1.76 (1.26, 1.45)]; the association was attenuated after multivariable adjustment for age, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), hypertension, physical activity, diuretic use, pack-years of smoking, alcohol intake, and total caloric intake [HR = 1.35 (0.94, 1.94)]. However, among non-obese women or women with a waist circumference less than 34.6 in., diabetes was significantly associated with kidney cancer risk: for time-dependent diabetes, HRs (95% CIs) were 1.82 (1.10, 3.00) among those with BMI Conclusions Our results suggest that diabetes is associated with kidney cancer risk among non-obese post-menopausal women.
Industry 4.0: Latin America SMEs Challenges

In the light of several national advanced manufacturing strategies such as Industry 4.0, this article examines the challenges of Industry 4.0 adoption of Latin American small and medium-sized manufacturing firms (SMEs).The future of Industrial systems that has encompassed so many investigative processes in the last decade, surrounds the fourth industrial revolution, which covers the Internet of Things, Augmented Reality, real-time connection, Data Mining, Big Data, Cloud computing, Cyber Physical Systems (CPS), among others. The reality is that the majority of industries that have implemented these technologies are those large-scale companies with great leverage and long-term investment power. The development of this so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution is disconnected from the SMEs, despite the fact that in Latin America they represent more than 95% of registered companies. In this study, an analysis of scientific publications on small and medium-sized companies is carried out, in addition, some variables necessary for the real measurement of the application of Industry 4.0 in Latin America are proposed. Flexibility, quality, competitive advantage and cost benefit were key variables to create a suitable model to be implemented in SMEs.
Discovery of Coupling between Periodic and Aperiodic Variability and X-Ray Quasi-periodic Oscillations from Hercules X-1

We report the discovery of coupling between periodic and aperiodic variability and 12 mHz X-ray quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) from the X-ray binary pulsar Hercules X-1 using data from the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer. We found two different couplings, one during the preeclipse dips and the other during the normal state of the source, using a method that directly compares the low-frequency power-density spectra (PDSs) with those of the sidebands around the coherent pulse frequency. The preeclipse dip light curves show significant time variation of photon counts, and this variation appears in the PDSs as both strong millihertz powers and well-developed sidebands around the coherent pulse frequency. The linear correlation coefficients between the millihertz PDSs and the sideband PDSs obtained from two preeclipse dip data segments are 0.880 ? 0.003 and 0.982 ? 0.001, respectively. This very strong coupling demonstrates that the amplitudes of the coherent pulsations are almost exactly modulated by the aperiodic variabilities, suggesting that both the periodic and aperiodic variabilities are related to time variation of obscuration of X-rays from the central pulsar by an accretion disk during preeclipse dips. We also found weak coupling during the normal state of the source, together with 12 mHz QPOs. The normal state coupling seems to reconcile with the prediction that a significant fraction of the aperiodic variabilities from X-ray binary pulsars are due to time-varying accretion flows onto the pulsar's magnetic poles. We discuss the possible origin of the 12 mHz QPOs.
Pre-Operative Femoral Cartilage Ultrasound Characteristics Are Altered in People Who Report Symptoms at 1 year After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Abstract We assessed whether pre-operative femoral cartilage thickness and echo intensity on ultrasound are different between individuals who are symptomatic (n = 6) and asymptomatic (n = 7) at 1 year after a primary unilateral anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (age, 23 ± 4 y; 31% women, 69% men; body mass index, 24.9 ± 3.7 kg/m2). A pre-operative, bilateral ultrasound assessment was used to quantify average thickness and echo intensity in the medial, middle and lateral femoral trochlear regions. An inter-limb ratio (ACL/contralateral limb) was calculated for average thickness and echo intensity. At 1 y after ACL reconstruction, we operationally defined the presence of symptoms as scoring ≤85% on at least two Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score subscales. Independent-sample t-tests and Cohen's d effect sizes were used to compare ultrasound pre-operative inter-limb ratios between participants with and without symptoms at 1 y after ACL reconstruction. For medial femoral cartilage, symptomatic participants had significantly greater average cartilage thickness inter-limb ratios (p = 0.01, d = −1.65) and significantly lower echo intensity inter-limb ratios (p = 0.01, d = 1.72) compared with asymptomatic participants. Middle and lateral femoral cartilage average thickness and echo intensity were not different between symptomatic and asymptomatic participants. These findings provide preliminary evidence that a clinically feasible ultrasound assessment of the femoral trochlear cartilage may be prognostic of self-reported symptoms at 1 y after ACL reconstruction.
Automatic information extraction from neutron radiography imaging to estimate axial fuel expansion in EBR-II

Abstract Approximately 130,000 metal fuel pins were irradiated in the Experimental Breeder Reactor II (EBR-II) during its 30 years of operation to develop and characterize existing and prospective fuels. For many of the metal fuel irradiation experiments, neutron radiography imaging was performed to characterize fuel behavior, like fuel swelling. However, due to the lack of technology or resources, many of the images have not been processed or were processed manually through visual examination. This paper represents first-attempt to develop an image processing algorithm capable of automatically extracting information regarding the degree of fuel swelling from neutron radiography imaging. The algorithm was applied to 120 images of three different metallic fuel pin compositions—U-10Zr, U-8Pu-10Zr, and U-19Pu-10Zr. The algorithm performs operations of image intensity adjustment, image binarization, region finding, and labeling to extract information about fuel swelling. The average growth for U-10Zr was found to be 8.49% with 95% Confidence Interval (CI) [8.33 –8.66%], for U-8Pu-10Zr — 7.50% with 95% CI [7.23 – 7.78%], and for U-19Pu-10Zr — 3.15%, with 95% CI [2.40 – 3.91%]. The results obtained by applying this automatic image processing algorithm are consistent with previously reported studies of the same types of fuels. The automatic image processing algorithm will be expanded to include thousands of available neutron radiography images and different types of fuels to investigate empirical dependencies of fuel swelling, which can be subsequently applied to advanced fuel modeling. Results from this study can later be compared to BISON simulations to further benchmark modeling efforts and develop assessment cases.
Formation and characterization of an inclusion complex of triphenyl phosphate and β-cyclodextrin and its use as a flame retardant for polyethylene terephthalate

Abstract Triphenyl phosphate (TPP) is widely used as a flame retardant (FR). However, recent studies have indicated that FRs like TPP can be detected in household dust and wildlife and could contribute to obesity and osteoporosis in humans. We hypothesize that the formation of an inclusion complex (IC) between TPP and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) will reduce its toxicological effects, while retaining the flame retarding properties of TPP, since the formation of FR-CD-ICs is expected to eliminate unnecessary loss of FRs, especially volatile FR compounds like TPP, and release them only during a fire when they are actually needed. After creating the TPP-β-CD-IC, we applied it to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films by a hot press technique. Untreated PET films, as well as PET films embedded with uncomplexed β-CD and TPP, were prepared in the same way and had comparable thicknesses. Flame tests were conducted for all film samples by following a modified ASTM D 6413 standard. TPP-β-CD-IC exhibited flame resistant performance matching that of neat TPP, even though much less TPP was contained in its β-CD-IC. Incorporation of FRs and other chemical additives into textile substrates in the form of their crystalline CD-ICs is a promising way to reduce the exposure of hazardous chemicals to humans and to our environment while not impacting their efficacy.
SUPPRESSION OF A LAC O° MUTATION IN ESCHERICHIA COLI

Schwartz, Norman M. (Yale University, New Haven, Conn.). Suppression of a lac o° mutation in Escherichia coli. J. Bacteriol. 88:996–1001. 1964.—A class of pro– markers which can be cotransduced with lac map close to the i side of the lac region. The relative order of markers transferred by Hfr H is thr leu proA proB lac proC ade. Nine of ten slowgrowing lactose-utilizing revertants of a lac o° mutant are suppressed mutants. The time of entry of su-lac o-5 from an Hfr H derivative is 27 min. Su-lac o-5 is separated from the lac region by a 10-min interval. Su-lac o-5 is unstable, restores 7% of the wild-type level of β-galactosidase activity, suppresses a try– mutation, and has a deleterious effect upon growth rate. The primary lac o° mutation is interpreted as being a z– polarity mutation which constitutes nonsense. Su-lac o-5 could act at the level of messenger ribonucleic acid translation converting nonsense to sense by promoting mistakes in protein synthesis.
Production of Uninfectious Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Containing Viral Protein R Fused to a Single-Chain Antibody against Viral Integrase

A single-chain antibody (scAb) against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase was expressed as a fusion protein of scAb and HIV-1 viral protein R (Vpr), together with the HIV-1 genome, in human 293T cells. The expression did not affect virion production much but markedly reduced the infectivity of progeny virions. The fusion protein was found to be incorporated into the virions. The incorporation appears to account for the reduced infectivity.
Neutron radii of 208 Pb and neutron stars

A new relation between the neutron skin of a heavy nucleus and the radius of a neutron star is proposed: the larger the neutron skin of the nucleus the larger the radius of the star. Relativistic models that reproduce a variety of ground-state observables cannot determine uniquely the neutron skin of a heavy nucleus. Thus, a large range of neutron skins is generated by supplementing the models with nonlinear couplings between isoscalar and isovector mesons. We illustrate how the correlation between the neutron skin and the radius of the star can be used to place important constraints on the equation of state and how it may help elucidate the existence of a phase transition in the interior of the neutron star.
Community analysis of chronic wound bacteria using 16S rRNA gene-based pyrosequencing: Impact of diabetes and antibiotics on chronic wound microbiota

Background: Bacterial colonization is hypothesized to play a pathogenic role in the non-healing state of chronic wounds. We characterized wound bacteria from a cohort of chronic wound patients using a 16S rRNA gene-based pyrosequencing approach and assessed the impact of diabetes and antibiotics on chronic wound microbiota. Methodology/Principal Findings: We prospectively enrolled 24 patients at a referral wound center in Baltimore, MD; sampled patients' wounds by curette; cultured samples under aerobic and anaerobic conditions; and pyrosequenced the 16S rRNA V3 hypervariable region. The 16S rRNA gene-based analyses revealed an average of 10 different bacterial families in wounds-approximately 4 times more than estimated by culture-based analyses. Fastidious anaerobic bacteria belonging to the Clostridiales family XI were among the most prevalent bacteria identified exclusively by 16S rRNA gene-based analyses. Community-scale analyses showed that wound microbiota from antibiotic treated patients were significantly different from untreated patients (p = 0.007) and were characterized by increased Pseudomonadaceae abundance. These analyses also revealed that antibiotic use was associated with decreased Streptococcaceae among diabetics and that Streptococcaceae was more abundant among diabetics as compared to non-diabetics. Conclusions/Significance: The 16S rRNA gene-based analyses revealed complex bacterial communities including anaerobic bacteria that may play causative roles in the non-healing state of some chronic wounds. Our data suggest that antimicrobial therapy alters community structure-reducing some bacteria while selecting for others.
The M-Hypercube

Techniques for advanced logic design in spatial dimensions for the purposes of nano-devices and nanoICs are being formulated to incorporate topologies that satisfy certain requirements of nanotechnology. The hypercube is considered a relevant topology for this design. We propose using a similar topology to the N-hypercube [1] for designing of sequential logic in spatial dimensions. The M-hypercube which is an extension of the hypercube topology is introduced as a building block for spatial sequential logic design.
Impact of hydrogen on indium incorporation at m -plane and c -plane In 0.25 Ga 0.75 N surfaces: First-principles calculations

We present first-principles calculations for $m$-plane and $c$-plane ${\text{In}}_{0.25}{\text{Ga}}_{0.75}\text{N}$ surfaces. The results elucidate the dependence of indium incorporation on growth conditions. For both surfaces the calculations indicate that In incorporation is energetically favorable provided the surface is wetted by In adlayers rather than passivated by hydrogen and ${\text{NH}}_{2}$ groups. Growth of an ${\text{In}}_{0.25}{\text{Ga}}_{0.75}\text{N}$ alloy therefore requires that the chemical potential of hydrogen be kept low. The results predict that a reduction in the abundance of hydrogen can lead to greater In incorporation on the $m$ plane as well as the $c$ plane.
The meaning of the third cocycle in the group cohomology of nonabelian gauge theories

Abstract We demonstrate the relation between the third cocycle in the group cohomology of nonabelian gauge theories and commutation relations like those pointed out by 't Hooft that detect the presence of singular magnetic monopoles.
Learning in Presence of Ontology Mapping Errors

The widespread use of ontologies to associate semantics with data has resulted in a growing interest in the problem of learning predictive models from data sources that use different ontologies to model the same underlying domain (world of interest). Learning from such \emph{semantically disparate} data sources involves the use of a mapping to resolve semantic disparity among the ontologies used. Often, in practice, the mapping used to resolve the disparity may contain errors and as such the learning algorithms used in such a setting must be robust in presence of mapping errors. We reduce the problem of learning from semantically disparate data sources in the presence of mapping errors to a variant of the problem of learning in the presence of nasty classification noise. This reduction allows us to transfer theoretical results and algorithms from the latter to the former.
The Effecting of All Things Possible

I welcome the opportunity to deliver this year's Presidential address. The occasion has special meaning for me. The American Society of Zoologists was my first Society. I delivered my first paper in one of its sessions in New York City in 1949. Although over the years I have drawn upon the concepts and tools of other fields? immunochemistry, molecular biology, and most recently virology?my preoccupation has always been with the developing organism. I have always found in the meetings of this Society, encouragement, interest, and support. The setting of this gathering also has special meaning for me. It was at Indiana University that as a young faculty member I was encouraged to develop forwardlooking independent research. At the same time my youthful excesses were checked, almost without my realizing it. In the De? partment of Zoology teaching and research were both respected?and expected?and I learned by example from the senior facul? ty in the Department, especially from its chairman T. W. Torrey, that one could be independent while respecting the needs and wishes of others.
Conexity Of Level Sets For Solutions To elliptic Ring Problems

(1990). Conexity Of Level Sets For Solutions To elliptic Ring Problems. Communications in Partial Differential Equations: Vol. 15, No. 4, pp. 541-556.
Role of the GABA-A system in estrogen-induced protection against brain lipid peroxidation in ethanol-withdrawn rats.

Background: Our previous study showed that 17 β-estradiol (E2) treatment protects against cerebellar neuronal death and related motor deficits in ethanol-withdrawn rats, in part through the GABAergic system. In this study, we examined the effect of the GABA-A antagonist bicuculline on the neuroprotective effect of E2 by assessing the oxidative marker thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) during ethanol withdrawal (EW). Methods: Ovariectomized animals that had implants of E2 (EW/E2) or oil (EW/Oil) pellets received liquid ethanol (7.5% w/v) or dextrin for 7 days by gavage. The GABA-A antagonist bicuculline (1.25 mg/kg) was administered (three times a day intraperitoneally) for 4 days starting 3 days before the onset of EW. After testing for overt EW signs at 7 hr of EW, one set of the animals was immediately killed for the collection of the cerebellum, hippocampus, and cortex. The brain homogenates were further processed for TBARS assay to detect TBARS in the presence or absence of FeCl3. For assessing motor capacity, the other set of animals was tested for the latency to fall from a rotarod after 1 week of EW. Results: The EW/Oil animals had enhanced endogenous and FeCl3-stimulated TBARS levels in the cerebellum and the hippocampus in a manner potentiated by bicuculline but inhibited by E2. Bicuculline counteracted the protective effect of E2 when administered along with E2. Pearson correlation coefficients indicated that the latency to fall from the rotarod covaried with TBARS levels in the cerebellum and the hippocampus. Conclusion: These data suggest that E2 protects against lipid peroxidation in vulnerable brain areas of ethanol-withdrawn rats, in part through the GABAergic system.
Lewis Nkosi: A Fragile Soul’s Quest for Home

Lewis Nkosi left South Africa in 1961 on a permanent exit visa on his way to study at Harvard as a Nieman Fellow. During his seventy-three years, he lived in England, America, Zambia, Poland, and Switzerland, and he transitioned from denying homesickness (because he had no home) to feeling it acutely (because he had no home) whilst ever taking issue with the concept of it.
Development and experimental validation of a conceptual model for biotrickling filtration of H2S

A dynamic model that describes the behavior of high-performance hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S)-degrading biotrickling filters for odor control was developed. The model attempts to accurately describe pollutant mass transfer in the biotrickling filter i.e., external mass transfer resistances, and both direct gas-biofilm and gas-liquid-biofilm mass transfer were considered. In order to calibrate the model, an innovative differential biotrickling filter was constructed in which the effect of air velocity on the removal of H 2 S could be studied. Model outputs were compared with experimental data to determine the sensitivity of the system to selected parameters. At low H 2 S concentration, diffusion of H 2 S within the biofilm, and biofilm thickness were the major governing factors among nine considered model parameters. At higher H 2 S concentrations and lower airflow rates, external mass transfer played a very important role. This new finding, confirmed experimentally, has important implications, as it proves that the performance limit of H 2 S degrading biotrickling filters has not yet been reached.
Distribution modes and possible origins of sheep wool hydrocarbons

An unusual mode of distribution of low-molecular-weight n-alkanes (C11-C15) with a slight even carbon-number predominance has been observed in the gas Chromatographic analysis of the paraffin fraction which was extracted from the wool of live sheep. This is in addition to the other two modes of medium-, C15-C24, and high-, C24-C33, molecular-weight alkanes usually present in wool wax which have also been found in sheep’s manure. The high-molecular-weight hydrocarbons (predominantly odd carbon-numbered) are presumed to be derived from the diet (pasture plants) whereas the other two hydrocarbon distributions probably result from the combined action of animal and microbial metabolism.
Archives, Databases and the Emerging Virtual Observatories

Historically, any newly discovered object needed to be “confirmed” with optical observations. Catalogs were published, such as the PKS (Parkes Catalog), with stamp-sized photographs that allowed us to “see” what was just found. This is still somewhat true, although far less than in the past.
The Federal Home Loan Bank Board, Redlining, and the National Proliferation of Racial Lending Discrimination, 1921–1950

By utilizing the annual reports of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board (FHLBB) and its monthly journal, the Federal Home Loan Bank Review, this essay argues that the incorporation of the Home Owners’ ...
The course and mortality of a hematopoietic neoplasm in the soft-shell clam, Mya arenaria☆

Abstract Results from two experiments containing approximately 280 Mya arenaria indicated that significantly higher (P The prevalence of the neoplasm in clams collected from an epizootic area followed a biphasic seasonal pattern. The highest prevalences occurred in October, November, and in May. The hematopoietic neoplasm in M. arenaria was also age and species specific.
Computing the Number of Calls Dropped Due to Failures

Defects per million (DPM), defined as the number of calls out of a million dropped due to failures, is an important service (un)reliability measure for telecommunication systems. Most previous research derives the DPM from steady-state system availability model. In this paper, we develop a novel method for DPM computation which takes into consideration not only system availability, but also the impact of service application as well as the transient behavior of failure recovery. We illustrate this approach using a real system which is the IBM SIP SLEE cluster. Our method takes into account software/hardware failures, different stages of recovery, different phases of call flow, retry attempts and the interactions between call flow and failure/recovery behavior.
Neurophysiological evidence that musical training influences the recruitment of right hemispheric homologues for speech perception.

Musicians have a more accurate temporal and tonal representation of auditory stimuli than their non-musician counterparts (Kraus & Chandrasekaran, 2010; Parbery-Clark, Skoe, & Kraus, 2009; Zendel & Alain, 2008; Musacchia, Sams, Skoe, & Kraus, 2007). Musicians who are adept at the production and perception of music are also more sensitive to key acoustic features of speech such as voice onset timing and pitch. Together, these data suggest that musical training may enhance the processing of acoustic information for speech sounds. In the current study, we sought to provide neural evidence that musicians process speech and music in a similar way. We hypothesized that for musicians, right hemisphere areas traditionally associated with music are also engaged for the processing of speech sounds. In contrast we predicted that in non-musicians processing of speech sounds would be localized to traditional left hemisphere language areas. Speech stimuli differing in voice onset time was presented using a dichotic listening paradigm. Subjects either indicated aural location for a specified speech sound or identified a specific speech sound from a directed aural location. Musical training effects and organization of acoustic features were reflected by activity in source generators of the P50. This included greater activation of right middle temporal gyrus (MTG) and superior temporal gyrus (STG) in musicians. The findings demonstrate recruitment of right hemisphere in musicians for discriminating speech sounds and a putative broadening of their language network. Musicians appear to have an increased sensitivity to acoustic features and enhanced selective attention to temporal features of speech that is facilitated by musical training and supported, in part, by right hemisphere homologues of established speech processing regions of the brain.
Catalyzed symmetry breaking in strongly coupled QED.

We speculate that quantum electrodynamics near its conjectured ultraviolet-stable fixed point acts as a microscope of unlimited resolving power for short-distance interactions, in close analogy with monopole catalysis of proton decay. We illustrate this phenomenon analytically in the quenched ladder approximation by showing that a perturbatively nonrenormalizable parity-violating interaction becomes renormalizable at the fixed point.
Mixing characteristics of injector elements in liquid rocket engines - A computational study

A computational study has been performed to better understand the mixing characteristics of liquid rocket injector elements. Variations in injector geometry as well as differences in injector element inlet flow conditions are among the areas examined in the study. Most results involve the nonreactive mixing of gaseous fuel with gaseous oxidizer but preliminary results are included that involve the spray combustion of oxidizer droplets. The purpose of the study is to numerically predict flowfield behavior in individual injector elements to a high degree of accuracy and in doing so to determine how various injector element properties affect the flow.
Inundative Release of Predatory Stink Bugs for Control of Colorado Potato Beetle

Abstract Release of Periflus bioculatus (F.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) nymphs at either 1.6/row-m (0.5/row-ft) or 9.8/row-m (3/row-ft) significantly reduced the number of both small and large larvae of the Colorado potato beetle in small plots. The number of Colorado potato beetle egg masses was significantly reduced by the high release rate as well as by the low rate in combination with a reduced spray schedule of Bacillus thuringiensis var. tenebrionis Berliner. Potato plant defoliation was significantly reduced by the high release rate. Three systemic soil insecticides (disulfoton, phorate, and aldicarb) caused significant mortality of P. bioculatus nymphs exposed to potato foliage 11 weeks after soil application. Four foliar insecticides had no effect on P. bioculatus nymphs exposed to recently sprayed foliage.
An alternative pathway of T-cell activation: A functional role for the 50 kd T11 sheep erythrocyte receptor protein

A series of seven monoclonal antibodies was produced against the T-lineage-specific 50 kd T11 sheep erythrocyte rosette (SRBC) receptor protein in order to define the function of the molecule. Three distinct epitopes were detected: T11(1), the SRBC binding site expressed on all T lymphocytes and thymocytes; T11(2), an epitope unrelated to the SRBC binding site but with a similar distribution; and T11(3), a neo-epitope expressed only upon T-cell activation. Simultaneous triggering of T11(2) and T11(3) epitopes by monoclonal antibodies induces T lymphocytes to proliferate and mediate their functional programs in the absence of antigen and/or antigen-presenting cells. This antigen-independent mode of triggering is distinct from that involving the T3-Ti antigen receptor complex and represents an alternate pathway of T-cell activation. Given that T11 is the earliest T-lineage surface glycoprotein to appear in thymic ontogeny and is thus expressed before T3-Ti, the former may be involved in clonal expansion and/or differentiation during early development.
Optimizing the technique of embryo transfer

Objective To review currently available literature on various technical aspects of the ET procedure. Design Publications related to ET technique were identified using PubMed and Medline. Result(s) Numerous technical aspects of the ET procedure have been studied to determine their effect on pregnancy outcome. Although much of the published data that evaluates these factors is conflicting or confounded, good and consistent evidence does appear to support the following: optimizing the "ease" of the transfer, ultrasound guidance, and soft catheters. Limited evidence also supports trial transfers, removal of cervical mucus, deposition of embryos in the midportion of the uterus, avoiding negative pressure from the catheter, and completion of the procedure in a timely manner. Conclusion(s) Although there is no consensus on the optimal technique of ET, there is evidence that certain methods in the ET are associated with improved outcomes after IVF.
Multiscale Processes Leading to Supercells in the Landfalling Outer Rainbands of Hurricane Katrina (2005)

AbstractShallow supercells are frequently observed within the outer rainbands—both onshore and offshore—of landfalling tropical cyclones (TCs). Such supercells can produce tornadoes along the coast even when the center of the parent TC is hundreds of kilometers from land, as was the case with Hurricane Katrina (2005). A convection-permitting simulation with 1.5-km grid spacing in the innermost domain is used in conjunction with radar, radiosonde, and surface observations to investigate the multiscale conditions conducive to supercells in the landfalling outer rainbands of Katrina. Several hours before the eye of the TC made landfall, a baroclinic zone developed along the coast; this front strongly influenced the horizontal distributions of cell-relative helicity and CAPE such that the largest values of these parameters were located over land and water, respectively. An example of a tornadic supercell in the outer rainbands of Katrina is examined. This cell intensified just before landfall and spawned a to...
SOCIOLINCUISTICS IN THE CLASSROOM

Sociolinguistics and Language Teaching. Edited by Sandra Lee McKay and Nancy H. Hornberger.
Non-Linear Dynamics of Microcantilevers in Liquid Environment Atomic Force Microscopy When Operating at the Second Eigenmode: Subharmonics, Multiple Impacts, and Chaos

Many newer atomic force microscopy (AFM) methods aim to excite higher-order eigenmodes of the microcantilevers in multi-frequency excitation/detection schemes for improving compositional contrast in nanoscale imaging. Yet, before moving to multi-mode excitation schemes it is important to understand how, if at all, operating the microscope at eigenmodes beyond the fundamental is different from operating at the fundamental eigenmode. This question becomes particularly relevant for biological applications when cantilevers are operated in liquid environments, which is critical for studying biological processes under physiological “native” conditions. In this work, the dynamics of AFM cantilevers in liquids are investigated when the cantilever is driven at its second natural frequency — a situation, which from prior work in air or vacuum, ought not be essentially different from operating at the first natural frequency. The dynamics of cantilevers in liquids tapping on samples are in fact found to be surprisingly different when operating at the second eigenmode. A complex set of behaviors are found including sub-harmonic (e.g. only one impact every four drive cycles), drum-roll like multiple-impacts (e.g.two or three impacts every drive cycle) and chaotic. The subharmonic behaviors, in particular, have not been studied before in liquids and are not accounted for in any current method. These behaviors are demonstrated through numerical simulations and confirmed with experiments.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Light diffraction patterns and sarcomere length variation in striated muscle fibers of Limulus.

Light diffraction patterns produced byLimulus striated muscle fibers were examined. Segments of fibers were glycerinated, fixed or bathed in relaxing solution. Profiles of the intensity of a diffracted order vs. the angle of incidence of the laser beam often exhibited narrow peaks with the fiber at rest length. The incident angles at which the intensity of left and right orders is greatest are used to calculate the sarcomere length, supporting the notion that regions of the fiber are organised into Bragg reflecting planes. These profiles developed subpeaks and broadened upon stretch of the fiber. The broad angle scan profiles are suggested to result from a decrease in the regular packing of myofibrils as the fiber is lengthened. The angular width of the subpeaks is used to estimate the thickness of clusters of myofibrils. The variation in sarcomere length along the fiber, as determined by the 0th to 1st diffraction order spacing, was dependent upon the fiber preparation. Glycerinated fibers and those bathed in relaxing solution showed more variation than fixed fibers. The variation of sarcomere length is compared to the variation in thick filament lengths inLimulus reported by Dewey et al. (1982) lengths inLimulus reported by Dewey et al. (1982). These results are compared to those obtained from frog fiber segments.
HOSPITAL PRACTICE PATTERNS IN NONINVASIVE POSITIVE PRESSURE VENTILATION USE AMONG PATIENTS WITH ACUTE HEART FAILURE

Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) has been used in acute heart failure (AHF) for 20 years with no consensus as to its role. Little is known about hospital practice patterns of NIPPV use in AHF, including the timing and setting of therapy, and the relationship between hospital NIPPV
Combining mesocosm and field experiments to predict invasive plant performance: a hierarchical Bayesian approach

Invasive plant fecundity underlies propagule pressure and ultimately range expansion. Predicting fecundity across large spatial scales, from regions to landscapes, is critical for understanding invasion dynamics and optimizing management. However, to accurately predict fecundity and other demographic processes, improved models that scale individual plant responses to abiotic drivers across heterogeneous environments are needed. Here we combine two experimental data sets to predict fecundity of a widespread and problematic invasive grass over large spatial scales. First, we analyzed seed production as a function of plant biomass in a small-scale mesocosm experiment with manipulated light levels. Then, in a field introduction experiment, we tracked plant performance across 21 common garden sites that differed widely in available light and other factors. We jointly analyzed these data using a Bayesian hierarchical model (BHM) framework to predict fecundity as a function of light in the field. Our analysis reveals that the invasive species is likely to produce sufficient seed to overwhelm establishment resistance, even in deeply shaded environments, and is likely seed-limited across much of its range. Finally, we extend this framework to address the general problem of how to scale up plant demographic processes and analyze the factors that control plant distribution and abundance at large scales.
Palynological evidence of floristic change across the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary in Eastern Montana (U.S.A.)

Abstract The percentage contribution of the gymnosperms and dicotyledons of the pollen flora of the latest Cretaceous and earliest Tertiary of mid-continent U.S.A. shows differences which may prove to be of value in delimiting these two periods Absolute number of species declines from Cretaceous to Tertiary, but the percentage contribution of fern species remains the same. The percentage of dicotyledon species is high in the Cretaceous and low in Tertiary, and that of the gymnosperms is lower in the Cretaceous than in the Tertiary. These differences may be related to moderate climatic deterioration across the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary.
Serotonergic neural precursor cell grafts attenuate bilateral hyperexcitability of dorsal horn neurons after spinal hemisection in rat.

Abstract Hemisection of the rat spinal cord at thoracic level 13 provides a model of spinal cord injury that is characterized by chronic pain attributable to hyperexcitability of dorsal horn neurons. Presuming that this hyperexcitability can be explained in part by interruption of descending inhibitory modulation by serotonin, we hypothesized that intrathecal transplantation of RN46A-B14 serotonergic precursor cells, which secrete serotonin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, would reduce this hyperexcitability by normalizing the responses of low-threshold mechanoreceptive, nociceptive-specific, and multireceptive dorsal horn neurons. Three groups ( n =45 total) of 30-day-old male Sprague–Dawley rats underwent thoracic level 13 spinal hemisection, after which four weeks were allowed for development of allodynia and hyperalgesia. The three groups of animals received transplants of no cells, 10 6 RN46A-V1 (vector-only) or 10 6 RN46A-B14 cells at lumbar segments 2–3. Electrophysiological experiments were done two weeks later. Low-threshold mechanoreceptive, nociceptive-specific, and multireceptive cells ( n =394 total) were isolated at depths of 1–300 and 301–1000 μm in the lumbar enlargement. Responses to innocuous and noxious peripheral stimuli were characterized, and analyses of population responses were performed. Compared with normal animals, dorsal horn neurons of all types in hemisected animals showed increased responsiveness to peripheral stimuli. This was true for neurons on both sides of the spinal cord. After hemisection, the proportion of neurons classified as multireceptive cells increased, and interspike intervals of spontaneous discharges became less uniform after hemisection. Transplantation of RN46A-B14 cells restored evoked responses to near-control levels, normalized background activity, and returned the proportion of multireceptive cells to the control level. Restoration of normal activity was reversed with methysergide. These electrophysiological results corroborate anatomical and behavioral studies showing the effectiveness of serotonergic neural precursors in correcting phenomena associated with chronic central pain following spinal cord injury, and provide mechanistic insights regarding mode of action.
An evaluation of the micronuclei test using triethylenemelamine, trimethylphosphate, hycanthone and niridazole.

To determine the feasibility of the micronuclei procedure for cytogenetic studies, a comparatively weak chromosome breaking agent, trimethylphosphate (TMP) and the potent alkylating agent, triethylenemelamine (TEM) were evaluated. The procedure followed was that of Matter and Schmid with the following modifications: (a) direct flushing of bone marrow with 0.2 ml calf fetal serum. (b) air drying slides for a period of only I h, and (c) the use of pH 6.0 phosphate buffer to dilute both Wright and Giemsa stains. With this technique a dose response curve was generated for both TMP and TEM, using mice as the experimental animal. With TMP, a doubling over background was found when a concentration of 0.5 g/kg per day for five days was administered. To establish a statistically significant doubling dose over the control, a minimum of five animals must be used with 2000 polychromatic cells being analyzed per animal. Of the two antischistosomal agents tested, hycanthone yielded an increase of 20-fold in the number of micronuclei over control at 40 mg/kg administered i.p. for five days, while with niridazole no increase in micronuclei at several concentrations tested both by single and multiple injection was found. The results obtained with these compounds compare favorably with what has been reported for the standard in vivo metaphase analysis.
Applying hybrid artificial intelligence techniques in wastewater treatment

Abstract This paper proposes an automatic control system for the operation of the wastewater treatment process, by applying hybrid artificial intelligence (AI) techniques in real-time control. The main goal of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is to reduce the level of pollution of the wastewater; that is, to remove, within certain limits, strange pollutants in the inflow water prior to discharge to the environment. Most WWTP designs, based on the crisis condition, waste resources and energy, and also reduce the cost effectiveness of reaching permissible effluent levels. The application of AI techniques in wastewater treatment provides an alternative way to operate the complex treatment process, to reduce the energy consumption in the operation, and to improve the efficiency of the treatment equipment. The entire system was developed in G2, a real-time expert system developed by Gensym Corporation.
Chemical composition and quality characteristics of chevon from goats fed three different post-weaning diets

Thirty-six Boer × Spanish intact male goats (BW = 18 ± 0.8 kg; age 4 months) were used to determine the effects of dietary treatments on the chemical composition and quality characteristics of goat meat (chevon). Animals were allotted to three treatment groups (n = 12/treatment) with three pens for each treatment. Each pen of four goats was fed one of three dietary treatments for 90 d: (1) a hay diet, consisting of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) hay alone (H); (2) a 18% CP concentrate diet, consisting predominantly alfalfa meal and yellow corn (C); or (3) a combined diet, consisting of the hay diet for the first 45-d, followed by the concentrate diet (HC). At the end of the feeding trial, goats were slaughtered and Longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle and subcutaneous fat samples were obtained from each carcass to determine chemical and fatty acid compositions. Loin chops were used to evaluate color (CIE L*a*b*), cooking loss, and Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) values. The LD muscle from goats fed the H diet contained higher (P < 0.05) moisture (77.1 vs. 74.7%), but a lower (P < 0.05) total lipid (1.32 vs. 2.67%) than those from goats fed the C diet. However, the percentages of moisture and total lipid in the LD muscle from HC group were not statistically different from those fed either the H or C group. Compared with goats fed the H diet, goats fed the C diet had: (1) a higher (P < 0.05) level of oleic acid (C18:1n9; 43.9 vs. 38.7%), but a lower (P < 0.05) level of linolenic acid (C18:3n3; 0.12 vs. 0.46%) in the LD muscle lipid; (2) a higher (P < 0.05) level of linoleic acid (C18:2n6; 4.27 vs. 3.11%), but lower (P < 0.05) levels of myristic acid (C14:0) and C18:3n3 (0.44 vs. 0.76%) in the subcutaneous fat. The L* (lightness) and b* (yellowness) values of loin chops from goats fed the H diet were higher (P < 0.05) than those fed the C diet; however, a* values (redness) were not statistically different among the dietary treatments. The WBSF values and cooking losses were not influenced by the dietary treatments. The results indicated that chevon from the H diet had healthier nutritional properties compared with that from the C diet; however, the meat qualities were not different among the treatment groups.