cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adaptation in marine invasion: a genetic perspective

Genetic adaptation—heritable changes that alter an organism’s performance—may facilitate invasion at several scales, but is seldom considered in predicting and managing marine invasions. However, a growing body of research—largely based on emerging genetic approaches—suggests that adaptation is possible and potentially widespread in the marine realm. Here, I review evidence for adaptation in marine invasion, considering both quantitative and genetic studies. Quantitative studies, which consider trait-based differences between populations or individuals without directly examining genetic makeup, have suggested local adaptation in several high-profile species. This implies that invasion risk may not be constant from population to population within a species, a key assumption of most invasion models. However, in many quantitative studies, the effects of heritable adaptive changes may be confounded with the effects of plasticity. Molecular approaches can help disentangle these effects, and studies at the genomic level are beginning to elucidate the specific genetic patterns and pathways underlying adaptation in invasion. While studies at this scale are currently rare in the marine invasion literature, they are likely to become increasingly prevalent—and useful—now that next-generation sequencing approaches have become tractable in non-model systems. Both traditional and emerging genetic approaches can improve our understanding of adaptation in marine invasions, and can aid managers in making accurate predictions of invasion spread and risk.
WE-D-AUD B-08: An Easy Method to Implement the Portal Dosimetry for IMRT Validation

Purpose: The aim of this study was to develop a convenient method for IMRT validation with an amorphous siliconelectronic portal imaging device(EPID). Instead of using Monte Carlo simulation or custom‐built proprietary software, a commercial treatment planning software(TPS) was utilized to calculate the dose response of the imager.Method and Materials: To calculate the dose response of the EPID, a series of images were acquired for the commissioning of TPS. A new machine was created in the TPS for modeling the scattering properties of the detectors. Each pixel of the portal image was first converted to dose and followed by the off‐center correction. The pixel value at field center was used to project the absolute dose delivered to the EPID.Results: The accuracy of this method was investigated with several IMRT plans for different sites(prostate, head & neck and breast). The corrected portal images and calculated dose maps were compared by isodose lines, percent dose difference and gamma (γ) function. Both the absolute dose level and relative dose distribution show excellent agreement. For all the test cases, the passing rates of γ function with 3% and 3 mm criteria are more than 90% of the area enclosed by 20% isodose lines, and the passing rates with 5% and 5 mm criteria are higher than 99%. Conclusion: There are many challenging problems when the EPID is used for dosimetric applications. The proposed method applied necessary corrections to the portal images and the they showed excellent agreement with the calculated dose maps. The pencil‐beam algorithm in the TPS successfully modeled the dose kernels of the detectors. Most importantly, the simplicity of this method make it very easy to be implemented for most of the users of EPID.
Measures of sleep in rheumatologic diseases: Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Functional Outcome of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)

Fatigue is a major symptom associated with rheumatologic diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosis and rheumatoid arthritis and may be a direct manifestation of disease activity, but such fatigue may also be related to sleep disturbances (1, 2). Indeed, sleep disturbances are common in a variety of rheumatologic diseases (3–5). Such disturbed sleep may be due to pain, depression, lack of exercise, or corticosteroid usage (6–8). Sleep quality may also be impaired by comorbid sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea or restless leg syndrome, the prevalences of which are reported to be high in rheumatologic populations (9–12). Sleep disturbances may, in turn, impact functional disability, lower pain thresholds, or impair immune function and thus contribute to rheumatologic-associated morbidities (13–15). Sleep disturbances in fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis have received relatively more attention than in other rheumatologic diseases, but even in fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis, there are many unanswered questions related to the causes and outcomes of sleep disturbances (3). The study of sleep disturbances can be onerous because gold standard direct tests, such as polysomnography and multiple sleep latency testing, are both expensive and require considerable commitment of time from research subjects. Laboratory-based sleep studies may present an additional challenge in rheumatologic populations in whom mobility restriction and pain may significantly increase subject burden. Thus, there is strong impetus for utilizing patient-reported measures in assessing sleep and sleep-related outcomes in rheumatologic diseases. Four patient-reported measures are discussed in this section, each of which captures a different sleep-related domain and has been extensively utilized in a variety of populations: [1] the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, which assesses daytime sleepiness, [2] the Functional Outcome of Sleep Questionnaire, which assesses sleep-related quality of life, [3] the Insomnia Severity Index, which measures the subjective symptoms and consequences of difficulties initiating and maintaining sleep, and [4] the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, which assesses perceived sleep quality more generally. Please note that the Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale, a global measure of sleep quality and sleep-related outcomes, is discussed separately in this issue of Arthritis Care & Research, within the section on fibromyalgia. None of the scales reviewed here was developed specifically for rheumatologic or musculoskeletal conditions and, indeed, each has relied heavily for validation on populations with primary sleep disorders. To varying extents, as discussed below, each of these measures has been used in rheumatologic populations. Nonetheless, clinicians and researchers must carefully consider their objectives and the appropriateness of their populations in selecting a sleep questionnaire to meet their needs.
Financial Conditions and Performances: A Sector Analysis of the Restaurant Industry

ABSTRACT This article reports on an analysis of financial ratios across different sectors of the restaurant industry to determine how the financial conditions and performances of the different restaurant types might differ. Such an analysis may offer some explanation for the differences seen in the financial conditions of the different restaurant types. Significant differences in the ratios among the restaurant types was found only in die solvency ratios leading to the conclusion that while the long-term financing policies of the four types of restaurants may differ, their short-term financing policies, as implied by their liquidity positions, may not differ.
Human immunodeficiency virus gp120 downregulates CD1d cell surface expression.

Abstract CD1d is an MHC class I-like surface molecule that presents endogenous glycoplipid antigens. The effect of HIV infection on CD1d surface expression has not yet been reported. FACS analysis revealed significantly lower levels of CD1d on CD14 + monocytes from HIV-infected subjects compared to HIV-infected subjects on HAART and healthy controls. CD1d expression correlated inversely with viral load in infected individuals. CD1d surface expression on human cell lines was downregulated after infection with M-tropic HIV, T-tropic HIV, or after exposure to HIV gp120 in vitro. These data suggest that CD1d-mediated responses are altered during HIV infection and may thus contribute to the global immunodeficiency seen in these patients.
Search for a Venus Halo Effect During 1970

Photometric observations of Venus during 1970 inferior conjunction, in contrast to observations made during the 1969 inferior conjunction, show no evidence of a Venus halo effect at 158 phase angle. The upper limit to brightening is about 0.005 mag but can still be reconciled with earlier results. Because of the importance of the question of H2O-ice in the Venus clouds, further observations are encouraged to remove the marginality of most observations to date.
Deriving scale values from the analysis of variance.

Subjects' responses to ordered stimuli may be used to derive interstimulus scale values without additional experimental procedures. From the conventional data matrix used for analysis of variance, it is possible to maximize selected ratios of sums of squares in a fashion which is equivalent to factor analysis or the classical discriminant problem. Given the assumption of a linear stimulus/response relationship, the calculations are straightforward and provide valuable additional information.
Input saturation and global stabilization of nonlinear systems via state and output feedback

For multi-input multi-output nonlinear systems whose free dynamics are Lyapunov stable, the author shows how the problem of global stabilization via dynamic output feedback can be solved by using the technique of input saturation. The power of this technique is also illustrated by solving the problem of global stabilization via bounded state feedback for affine nonlinear systems with stable unforced dynamics. Analogous results are established for discrete-time nonlinear systems. >
Water conservation policy alternatives for the Ogallala Aquifer in Texas

Texas groundwater law is based on the rule of capture; however, recent legislation provides groundwater conservation districts with the authority to implement groundwater use rules to manage aquifers. The objective of this study was to develop optimization models to analyze effects of groundwater policies on the Ogallala Aquifer and evaluate economic impacts on the Southern High Plains of Texas. The results of this study indicate that a policy that restricts the quantity of groundwater pumped conserved more water over the 50-year time horizon than implementation of a water use fee, but at a higher cost to local economies.
A new way to represent jet pump performance

Researchers commonly represent jet pump performance with a Head-Ratio, Flow-Ratio curve (HR/FR curve). Our goals are to show that the HR/FR curve has several problems and to propose a new way to represent jet pump performance. Analysis shows that a HR/FR curve does not give enough information to predict the operating point of a system which includes a jet pump. Moreover, the way a HR/FR curve specifies data can force a designer to estimate head losses inside a jet pump and can make data acquisition very difficult. We propose using two curves to represent jet pump performance.
Individual entrepreneurial orientation: development of a measurement instrument

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to develop a measurement instrument for individual entrepreneurial orientation to be used to measure the entrepreneurial orientation of students and other individuals.Design/methodology/approach – A measure of Individual Entrepreneurial Orientation (IEO) was generated, validated, and then tested on 1,100 university students. The items for the scale were based on the definitions of the five entrepreneurial orientation dimensions presented by Lumpkin and Dess. Final analysis of the IEO items using exploratory factor analysis resulted in reliable and valid measures for three of the dimensions.Findings – The scale development process for IEO resulted in three distinct factors that demonstrated reliability and validity: innovativeness, risk‐taking, and proactiveness, which statistically correlated with measures of entrepreneurial intention.Research limitations/implications – The study comprised students at one university in the central southern USA and should be extended ...
TIPS stenosis: Incidence, histology, and etiology

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) stenosis continues to limit the long-term effectiveness of this treatment for portal hypertension. Several radiological and histological studies indicate that TIPS stenosis is evident in 25% to 50% of patients by 6 to 12 months. The lesions commonly occur at the hepatic vein end of the shunt, in the parenchymal portion of the shunt, or at both sites. The hepatic vein end stenosis is probably a myointimal hyperplastic response venous trauma occurring during initial stent placement and balloon dilatation, or from subsequent stent retraction. Stenoses in the intraparenchymal portion of the shunt are caused by pseudointimal hyperplasia, which may be accelerated by bile duct injury during TIPS placement or by gaps in the luminal endothelial lining. Because the first manifestation of shunt stenosis may be life-threatening variceal hemorrhage, regular shunt screening with duplex Doppler sonography or TIPS venography is recommended.
Field-based, degree-day model for pink bollworm (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) development

Lower and upper developmental temperature thresholds of 13.9 and 32.8 degrees C were determined for the pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders), using 21 occurrences documenting overwintering larvae to adult moth development in the field. The events were induced by irrigation of pink bollworm infested cotton bolls held in emergence cages in experiments conducted from 1987 through 1991 in the Palo Verde Valley, CA. The whole day, sine wave method with a horizontal upper cutoff was found to be the best of several methods for calculating daily degree-days. Dates of beginning and peak spring moth emergence from overwintering diapaused larvae were determined from plots of male moth captures in 48 pheromone-baited survey traps situated along roadsides throughout the cotton producing area. Using the same method, degree-days from 1 February (determined to be the best starting date for heat accumulation) to the peak of spring moth emergence were calculated to be 510 DD (centigrade). Two weeks before peak infested cotton flowers was used as the date for initial in-field infestation. Numbers of male pink bollworm moths captured in field-situated pheromone traps were used to establish subsequent peak activity points for the 1st and 2nd generations. Using 12 of these generation events and the 13.9/32.8 degrees C thresholds, horizontal cutoff, and whole day sine wave method, the degree-days for 1 generation, adult to adult, were determined to be 492 DD. These field-derived thresholds corresponded well with thresholds obtained by some researchers using constant temperature laboratory trials
A Stochastic Model of Elections in Two-Party Systems

Abstract The model assumes that there exists a distribution of the percentage of votes cast for Party A in each electoral district and that the parameters of this distribution themselves obey a distribution over districts. After some general theorems, specific assumptions are made about these distributions and the predictions from the model are compared to recent empirical results as well as predictions of the so-called Cube Law. It is found that the model in question is consistent with recent empirical findings which are not in accord with predictions of the Cube Law. The empirical measures investigated in particular are the swing ratio defined as the change in the fraction of seats obtained by a party resulting from a one percent change in the popular vote, and the “bias” defined as the excess of seats over 50 percent captured by a party when its popular vote is exactly 50 percent.
Transcription in isolated nuclei of the slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum

Abstract Conditions are described in which nuclei isolated from Dictyostelium discoideum can incorporate exogenously supplied nucleoside triphosphates into RNA over time periods exceeding 60 min. The transcriptive process has been characterized with respect to salt requirements and sensitivity to α-amanitin and actinomycin D. The product has been characterized with respect to size and base composition. Nuclei isolated from vegetative cells and from cells engaged in fruiting body construction display significant differences in vitro .
Deformation of the cell nucleus under indentation : Mechanics and mechanisms

Computational models of the cell nucleus, along with experimental observations, can help in understanding the biomechanics of force-induced nuclear deformation and mechanisms of stress transition throughout the nucleus. Here, we develop a computational model for an isolated nucleus undergoing indentation, which includes separate components representing the nucleoplasm and the nuclear envelope. The nuclear envelope itself is composed of three separate layers: two thin elastic layers representing the inner and outer nuclear membranes and one thicker layer representing the nuclear lamina. The proposed model is capable of separating the structural role of major nuclear components in the force-induced biological response of the nucleus (and ultimately the cell). A systematic analysis is carried out to explore the role of major individual nuclear elements, namely inner and outer membranes, nuclear lamina, and nucleoplasm, as well as the loading and experimental factors such as indentation rate and probe angle, on the biomechanical response of an isolated nucleus in atomic force microscopy indentation experiment.
Vortices and ring solitons in Bose-Einstein condensates

The form and stability properties of axisymmetric and spherically symmetric stationary states in two and three dimensions, respectively, are elucidated for Bose-Einstein condensates. These states include the ground state, central vortices, and radial excitations of both. The latter are called ring solitons in two dimensions and spherical shells in three. The nonlinear Schroedinger equation is taken as the fundamental model; both extended and harmonically trapped condensates are considered. It is found that the instability times of ring solitons can be long compared to experimental time scales, making them effectively stable over the lifetime of an experiment.
The roles of catalysis and reaction engineering in overcoming the energy and the environment crisis

An overview of the environmental and energy problems is given with emphasis on the challenges and opportunities for the catalysis and reaction engineering community. Important research directions, entailing the hydrogen economy, process intensification, enhanced efficiency, transformation of underutilized energy resources (e.g., natural gas from remote and offshore locations), and biomass conversion with novel processing schemes, are outlined. Recommendations for future research needs are made.
The sociolinguistic problem of generations

Abstract There exists a strong tendency – both on the part of participants and outside observers – to treat linguistic change as a process that takes place across static generational grids. However, age needs to be treated as more than just an independent variable; it is a dimension of identity as complex and constructed as gender, race, or class. This is especially true in contexts where language shift is taking place. In this essay, I take a critical look at how the notions of inter-generational relations and youth identity have been employed by linguists and linguistic anthropologists and offer some suggestions about how to investigate the linguistic dimensions of generational identity.
Toxoplasma gondii infections in chickens from Venezuela : Isolation, tissue distribution, and molecular characterization

The prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, in free-ranging chickens is a good indicator of the prevalence of T. gondii oocysts in the soil because chickens feed from the ground. The prevalence of T. gondii in 46 free-range chickens (Gallus domesticus) from Venezuela was determined. Antibodies to T. gondii were assayed by the modified agglutination test (MAT). Antibodies were found in 16 (32%) chickens with titers of 1:5 in 1, 1:10 in 2, 1:40 in 2, 1:80 in 2, 1:160 in 2, 1:320 in 3, 1: 640 in 2, and 1:1,280 or higher in 2. Hearts, pectoral muscles, and brains of 13 chickens with MAT titers of 1:40 or more were bioassayed individually in mice. Tissues of each of 3 chickens with titers of 1:5 or 1:10 were pooled and bioassayed in mice. Tissues from the remaining 30 seronegative chickens were pooled and fed to 1 T. gondii-free cat. Feces of the cat were examined for oocysts; it did not shed oocysts. Toxoplasma gondii was isolated from 12 of 13 chickens with MAT titers of 1:40 or more. Toxoplasma gondii was isolated from pooled tissues of 1 of 2 chickens with titers of 1:10. Eight of these 13 isolates were virulent for mice. Genotyping of 13 of these isolates using the SAG2 locus indicated that 10 were type III, and 3 were type II. Phenotypically and genetically these isolates were different from T. gondii isolates from North America and Brazil. This is the first report of isolation of T. gondii from chickens from Venezuela.
Automated determination of nitrate in waters with a reduction column in a microcomputer-based stopped-flow sample processing system

Abstract An automated method for the determination of nitrate in waters with a microcomputer-based stopped-flow mixing system is described. Nitrate is reduced to nitrite with a copperized cadmium—silver alloy or cadmium tube column fitted to the stopped-flow system. Nitrite is determined using fast kinetic, multi-point or single-point procedures with N -(1-naphthyl)ethylenediamine dihydrochloride as the color reagent. Reduction time parameters are evaluated and optimized. Water samples in the range of 0.025–3 ppm NO - 3 —N can be processed with a throughput of up to 100 samples per hour and a detection limit of 0.013 ppm. Interference studies show that cyanide; dichromate, iodide, sulfide, copper and tin ions cause negative results.
3-D structure of the transmembrane c-terminal domain of the amyloid precursor protein (C99), the immediate precursor of amyloid-β

Background: The soluble As oligomers have been proposed to be the disease causing entity in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but the conformation and time course of the As oligomers are not well established. Genetically modified mouse models recapitulate pathological and biochemical processes involved in the pathogenesis of AD, and are instrumental in studying disease mechanisms and testing therapeutic strategies. Methods: In the present study, we investigated the As assemblies in the cortex of 4-20 months of age APPSwedish transgenic Tg2576 mouse, and compared these with the As assemblies that were detected in autopsy brain tissue from AD patients (58-88 years) (Bao et al. submitted). We serially extracted As species into TBS (soluble), TBST (detergent soluble) and GuCHl (insoluble) fractions. The conformation and level of the As species were determined by ELISA and immunoblotting with Ab-derived diffusible ligands (ADDLs) specific antibodies. Results: As assemblies ranging from dimers to hexamers were detected in all three extraction fractions in the Tg2576 mice, and showed a gradual increased level from 6 months of age. The dodecamers were detected from 6 months of age in Tg2576 mice brain extractions, and the levels remained the same in the older mice. Monomeric As was also detected in the TBST and GuHCl fractions, and interestingly a sharp increased level in the GuHCl fraction of 20 months old Tg2576 mice, which is the age known to show very high plaque load in this transgenic mice. Lower molecular weight As species were generally detected in the cerebral cortex of transgenic mice similar to those detected in AD patients carrying the same APPSwedish mutation. In contrast, no lower molecular weight As assemblies were detected in cortical brain tissue from sporadic AD patients. Conclusions: These results suggest that the soluble As assemblies in the Tg2576 mice brain were not same as the As species presented in the brain tissue from AD patients, and suggest that there may be a different As dynamic processes in this transgenic mice compare to AD patients, and it need to be taken into consideration when using this mouse model to evaluate anti-As therapy.
Institutionalizing shame: The effect of Human Rights Committee rulings on abuse, 1981-2007

What motivates compliance with "toothless" international human rights norms? This article analyzes the effectiveness of procedures that allow individuals to petition an international human rights body, the Human Rights Committee, alleging state abuse of their treaty-protected rights under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Using methodological tools that account for selection biases arising from a country's decision to authorize petitions and its subsequent propensity to be targeted by abuse claims, I find that basic civil rights and religious freedoms improved after states were found to have violated their human rights treaty obligations, whereas physical integrity abuses such as disappearances and extrajudicial killing were somewhat more impervious to change. These findings are interpreted with reference to the concept of "coupling" as borrowed from organizational sociology, and their implications for treaty design and enforcement are considered.
Visible region MCD and MLD spectra of nitrosylferrohemoglobin and oxyhemoglobin.

Abstract Magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) and magnetic linear dichroism (MLD) spectroscopies at various applied magnetic fields (0–6 T) and temperatures (2.0–31 K) have been used to investigate the electronic properties of the visible (Q 0–0 , or α band) region of oxy- and nitrosylferrohemoglobin (HbNO). OxyHb, a d 6 ( S =0) diamagnet, exhibits the expected pseudo-first derivative MCD and pseudo-second derivative MLD temperature-independent features centered at 574 nm. HbNO, a d 7 ( S =1/2) paramagnet, also exhibits a temperature-independent pseudo-first derivative MCD spectrum, but centered at 571 nm. So far as we are aware, this behavior is unprecedented in the MCD spectra of paramagetic iron-porphyrins, which are expected to be dominated by temperature-dependent C 0 terms. The HbNO MCD spectrum does, however, demonstrate limited field-dependent saturation magnetization behavior and the MLD spectrum is currently below the detection limit. In addition, an MCD signal from reoxygenated venous blood is reported and compared with MCD signals from oxy- and HbNO derivatives. Finally, a combination of MCD and MLD spectroscopies has been used to estimate the orbital angular momentum ( M L ) value of the α band excited state of oxyHb as 4.2 (±0.7).
Dendritic computations, dendritic spiking and dendritic plasticity in nanoelectronic neurons

Dendritic computations play a major role in the processing that occurs within each cortical neuron. In particular, for many pyramidal neurons, dendritic spiking has a major effect on neural behavior and must be modeled in order to capture nonlinear response of a neuron to its presynaptic inputs. This paper presents electronic circuits for dendritic spiking that demonstrate the global and local reset of dendritic spiking mechanisms. The dendritic computations are illustrated with circuits simulating entire cortical neurons, using carbon nanotube FET SPICE models.
Scanning electron microscope analysis of fretting fatigue damage

Abstract Scanning electron microscope examinations of surfaces damaged by fretting fatigue were performed to establish variations in microstructural and environmental effects on the fretting fatigue process of ferrite/pearlite and martensite microstructures of a .40 .50 carbon steel. The observations suggest differences in fretting mechanisms in laboratory air and “vacuum” conditions as well as differences due to surface hardness.
Measurement of social health in a general population survey.

Abstract This paper describes an attempt to define and measure the social health of individuals in terms of the degree to which they are functioning members of their community. Data were taken from questionnaires completed by 6928 adults in an area-probability sample of Alameda County, California households. Components of the social health index are employability, marital satisfaction, sociability, and community involvement. This index was associated with psychological well-being and other psychological measures, with the physical health spectrum, and with subjective evaluations of own health. Physically and psychologically healthy people are presumably better equipped than others to qualify for secure jobs, to maintain satisfactory marriages, and to become involved with others informally or in organized contexts. At the same time, socially healthy people may, as a consequence of their social health, be more likely to enjoy good physical health and psychological well-being than people who are dissatisfied with their marriages, socially isolated, and/or relatively unemployable.
Fluoride relay: a new concept for the rapid preparation of anhydrous nucleophilic fluoride salts from KF

Fluoride relay is used to generate exceptionally nucleophilic fluoride reagents from KF on a time scale commensurate with radiotracer synthesis.
Radonifying Mappings and Functional Central Limit Theorems

The theory of Radonifying mappings, developed by Laurent Schwartz [-7, 8], provides a powerful tool for the study of measures on linear spaces. The purpose of this paper is to show how this theory can be applied to obtain functional central limit theorems (invariance principles) concerning the convergence of probability measures to Wiener measure. The pattern of this paper is as follows. In w which is purely descriptive, we recall the basic definitions and results about Radonifying mappings which we shall need. Full details of these results are given in [1, 7] and [-8]. w contains the fundamental compactness result which we need; this result enables us to avoid the usual tightness arguments. In w 4 we show how the operation of integration on the interval [0, 1] can be factorised as the product of a Radonifying mapping and a compact mapping. Throughout this paper we have not hesitated to restrict attention to special cases, and this is particularly true here. Although we go a little further in some directions, the mappings that we consider are special cases of mappings considered in a more sophisticated way by Schwartz(J7] Exposes XIV and XV). The last two sections contain applications of these preceding results to functional central limit theorems. Here a common feature is that rather strong conditions have to be placed on the moments of the random variables (for example, finite fourth moments, which are not too large compared to the second moments). By way of compensation, it is possible to consider fairly weak mixing conditions, and also to consider convergence of the measures on spaces smaller than the space C, [0, 1] of continuous functions on [0, l] vanishing at 0. The results obtained here are similar in nature to those obtained recently by Philipp and Webb [5].
Reevaluation of the choline requirement of fingerling channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) and determination of the availability of choline in common feed ingredients

The dietary choline requirement of fingering channel catfish in the presence of 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, a specific inhibitor of choline biosynthesis, was reevaluated. The correlation between dietary choline and liver choline was used to estimate the choline availability in seven common feed ingredients for channel catfish. Initially, 10 semipurified diets were fed to fingerling channel catfish for 8 weeks: three contained graded levels of choline at 0, 200 and 400 mg/kg diet and no inhibitor, seven others contained 0.3% 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol and increasing levels of choline at 0, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 mg/kg diet. Two linear regression equations were obtained based on the data of liver choline vs. dietary choline. The regression equation for the three inhibitor-free diets had a slope of 0.87. The regression equation for the seven inhibitor-containing diets had a slope of 1.02. These data indicate that: (1) the synthesis of choline was blocked when the inhibitor was added; and (2) in the absence of the inhibitor, adequate choline biosynthesis was observed to meet the metabolic needs of this species. In the second 8-week experiment, three semipurified diets, containing 0.3% 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol, and 0, 200 and 400 mg choline/kg diet, were used to generate a standard curve for determining the choline availability in seven test diets containing the following common feed ingredients, corn meal (CM), cooked corn meal (CCM), cottonseed meal (CSM), soybean meal (SBM), wheat middlings (WM), menhaden fish meal (MFM), and meat and bone/blood meal (MBM). Based on liver choline data, choline availability values were 69, 78, 55, 74, 54, 92 and 90% in CM, CCM, CSM, SBM, WM, MFM and MBM, respectively. The available choline in typical catfish feed formulations is more than sufficient to meet the choline needs of this species. This observation along with evidence for endogenous choline synthesis indicates that choline supplementation of commercial catfish feeds no longer appears warranted.
A comprehensive cartographic approach to evacuation map creation for Hurricane Ike in Galveston County, Texas

Hurricane evacuation maps raise awareness of the risks associated with potential inundation from storm surge and provide evacuation route information to residents leaving their residences for safet...
Seasonal Variations of the Subsurface Thermal Structure in the Gulf of Guinea

Abstract The subsurface thermal structure in the Gulf of Guinea is analyzed using the historical hydrographic data file. Of particular interest is the rapid vertical displacement of the thermal structure from the warm (March–May) season to the cold (July–August) season. This displacement field is trapped at the equator with vertical and meridional scales appropriate to a second or third mode baroclinic Kelvin wave. It has a maximum amplitude between 4°W and 10°W with a node near 2°E. South of 4°S no seasonal displacement of the thermocline underlies the seasonal variation in the sea surface temperature. Along the eastern boundary north of the equator to 3°E the displacement field vanishes. Thus the coastal upwelling associated with a vertical displacement tightly bound to the northern coast from 2°E to 10°W appears detached from the equatorial regime.
An Economic Analysis of Contributions under the Income Tax Laws

IN TIlS note classical tools are used to examine the treatment of "gifts in kind" under the federal income-tax laws as they were but a few years ago, as they are today, and as they should be, given the objective that the law appears to be trying to achieve. It will be demonstrated that, under certain conditions, firms today can maximize profit after taxes by producing some output to be given to acceptable charities.
Differing synaptic strengths between homologous mechanosensory neurons

Leeches have four mechanosensory pressure neurons (P cells) in each midbody ganglion. Within a ganglion, P cells show complex electrical and chemical connections that vary between species. In Hirudo verbana, stimulating one P cell causes a weak depolarization followed by a strong hyperpolarization in the other P cells; however, stimulating a P cell in Erpobdella obscura produces strong depolarizations in the other P cells. In this study, we examined interactions between P cells in the American medicinal leech Macrobdella decora. Not only is Macrobdella more closely related to Hirudo than to Erpobdella, but Hirudo and Macrobdella also have very similar behavioral responses to mechanical stimulation. Despite the phylogenetic relationship and behavioral similarities between the two species, we found that intracellular stimulation of one P cell in Macrobdella causes a depolarization in the other P cells, rather than the hyperpolarization seen in Hirudo. Experiments performed in a high Mg2+, 0 Ca2+ saline solution and a high Mg2+, high Ca2+ saline solution suggest that the P cells in Macrobdella have a monosynaptic excitatory connection, a polysynaptic inhibitory connection, and a weak electrical coupling, similar to the connections between P cells in Hirudo. The difference in net response of P cells between these two species seems to be based on differences in the strengths of the chemical connections. These results demonstrate that even when behavioral patterns are conserved in closely related species, the underlying neural circuitry is not necessarily tightly constrained.
Cat in the hat or cat in the cap? An investigation of the developmental trajectories of phonological awareness for Korean children

This study investigated trajectories of Korean children's growth in the awareness of four phonological units –syllable, body, rime and phoneme– over time, by following a sample of 215 children over a period of 15 months, beginning at their first year of preschool and collecting four waves of data. Much of the existing research suggests that children who speak European languages tend to find subsyllabic phonological units, onset and rime, salient. In contrast, the results revealed that Korean children tended to find body and coda more accessible, and that the growth trajectories for body and rime awareness differed. Korean children had a higher awareness of the body unit than the rime unit at the beginning of the study, and their body awareness grew at a much faster rate than did their rime awareness. These findings support the emerging evidence that young Korean children find body–coda more accessible than onset–rime.
Potato planting rates with dryland culture in Western Nebraska

1. Three varieties of potatoes were grown on dryland in Western Nebraska for 3 and 7 years with three planting rates using combinations of two seed piece sizes at two planting distance. 2. An intermediate planting rate (approximately 12 bushels per acre) appeared the most practical because of the highest yields, especially the highest net yields of marketable potatoes. This appears to be the most practical rate for most dryland production. 3. With the intermediate planting rate, close planting of small seed pieces was much more desirable than twice the distance with seed pieces weighing twice as much. 4. With planting rates of 23.5 bushels per acre total yields were only slightly greater than with the intermediate rate attained by close planting of small seed pieces, but tubers were usually smaller. 5. The heaviest planting rate (23.5 bushels per acre) was found to be desirable for producing greatest total yields and greatest yields of seed-size potatoes (U. S. #1-small and B size tubers), but least efficient in production per bushel of seed planted. Increased returns for the additional bushels planted (beyond those required for the intermediate rate) were relatively small, indicating that the heavy rates are not likely to be economical except when seed potatoes are very cheap. 6. The lowest planting rate (approximately 6 bushels per acre) produced the greatest yield per bushel of seed planted and the largest tubers, but yields per acre were too low to merit consideration of this rate except when very high-priced seed potatoes or stocks of new or superior strains or varieties are to be increased as rapidly as possible.
Co adsorption site exchange between step and terrace sites on Pt(112)

The dynamics of site exchange between CO molecules chemisorbed on step and terrace sites has been investigated using temperature programmed desorption. Isotopically labeled CO molecules adsorbed on stepped sites have been shown to completely randomize with CO molecule adsorbed on terrace sites during the temperature programmed experiment. This is consistent with an activation energy for CO migration under full coverage conditions, Em≤20 kcal/mol. In addition, intermolecular isotopic mixing process involving C-O bond scission have been shown to be absent on this surface. Finally, in contrast to similar experiments on Ni(100), it has been shown that the exchange process CO*(g)+CO(ads)→CO(g)+CO*(ads) is slow (or absent) at 220 K compared to the CO collision rate with the Pt(112) surface.
Partial extracorporeal circulation in acute heart failure

Abstract Acute heart failure was produced in twenty-five dogs by a combination of mitral insufficiency, overtransfusion and ligation of small branches of coronary arteries in order to study the effects of partial extracorporeal circulation. It was found that the failing heart returned to compensation following short periods of partial perfusion. In some other animals the failure was more profound and longer periods of partial perfusion were necessary before their hearts could maintain compensation. There was an optimal flow rate which most benefited the failing heart. This was different for each dog and varied under different conditions in the same animal. Severe persistent hypotension set in after several hours of experimentation in several dogs, but the blood pressure of these animals was restored to normal by means of partial extracorporeal circulation with appropriate flow rates.
Piano stool complexes containing the bulky pentaphenylcyclopentadienyl(C5Ph5) ligand : Preparation, characterization and X-ray structure of C5Ph5Zr(N(CH3)2)3 (I)

Abstract Tris(dimethylamido) pentaphenylcyclopentadienyl zirconium (I) has been prepared and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The structure reflects the strong p–d amido donation with short Zr–N distances and Zr–C distances that are longer than those in the 16 electron C5Ph5(C5H5)ZrCl2. The reaction of I with (R)-(+)-sec-phenethyl alcohol to form the alkoxide complexes proceeds rapidly to the spectroscopically characterized tris((R)-(+)-sec-phenethyl alkoxide) complex, suggesting an activating effect upon alkoxide substitution.
Marginal biotin deficiency is teratogenic in mice and perhaps humans: a review of biotin deficiency during human pregnancy and effects of biotin deficiency on gene expression and enzyme activities in mouse dam and fetus.

Recent studies of biotin status during pregnancy provide evidence that a marginal degree of biotin deficiency develops in a substantial proportion of women during normal pregnancy. Several lines of evidence suggest that although the degree of biotin deficiency is not severe enough to produce the classic cutaneous and behavioral manifestations of biotin deficiency, the deficiency is severe enough to produce metabolic derangements in women and may be teratogenic. In studies of mice, a similar degree of biotin deficiency induces characteristic fetal malformations at a high rate. Fetal hepatic biotin content and PCC activity decrease indicating that the fetuses also become biotin deficient. Fetal hepatic acetyl-CoA carboxylase, pyruvate carboxylase, propionyl-CoA carboxylase and β-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase abundances determined by Western blotting decreased more than the dam holocarboxylase abundances (10% of sufficient vs. 50% of sufficient); however, hepatic mRNA for the carboxylases and for HCS did not change significantly in either dams or fetuses. These observations suggest that maternal biotin deficiency results in a lack of adequate biotin to biotinylate apocarboxylases in the fetus despite the normal expression of genes coding for the apocarboxylases and holocarboxylase synthetase.
Reconstructing cellular lineages in endometrial cells

We demonstrate that the cellular lineages and geographic relationship of endometrial cells from an endometrial tissue sample can be reconstructed using the molecular epigenetic clock, suggesting that the history of endometriotic lesions may be feasibly reconstructed by today's technology.
Delivering software projects using captive university crowd

After two decades of hyper growth, Indian IT outsourcing market has reached a saturation level and is looking for the next breakthrough. The industry also faces a unique resourcing challenge a) abundant human resource supply but lack of industry ready deployable talent pool b) the next generation workforce’s outlook on workplace seems to be very different to the current workforce. In this paper we explore if Crowdsourcing can help in addressing these challenges. We conducted controlled experiments on a captive university crowd using organization’s Crowdsourcing platform. Typical tasks from real life projects were created and floated as contests. The results lead us to believe that Crowdsourcing using a captive university crowd has the potential to create deployable talent pool and also become an alternate resource pool in outsourcing delivery model – which can herald the next wave in outsourcing.
Shared intelligence: American painting and the photograph

edited by Barbara Buhler Lynes and Jonathan Weinberg Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 2011, 240 pages ISBN: 9-780-52026-906-4 (hardcover) Price $39.95 Reviewed by Albert S....
Growing Pains Developing Collective Efficacy in the Detroit Theory Group

We describe the process of developing a "Think Tank," or discussion and outreach group for individuals who successfully completed the inside-out Prison Exchange classes offered at a Level 2 correctional facility in Detroit, Michigan in 2008. We employ the concept of "collective efficacy" and mem- bers' own accounts of their experiences to describe the Theory Group's evolution: (a) formation and initial growth, (b) public outreach, and (c) work- shops, trainings, and future activities. We document the complicated dynam- ics of working with prison officials and make suggestions for those seeking to continue the inside-out dynamic beyond the classroom.
Defining Belief in Self: Intelligent Young Men in an Urban High School.

To address the [ILLEGIBLE] of research on high-ability youth in urban environments this article chronicles the experiences of six intelligent young men in an urban high school. Through a qualitativ...
Using spin images for efficient object recognition in cluttered 3D scenes

We present a 3D shape-based object recognition system for simultaneous recognition of multiple objects in scenes containing clutter and occlusion. Recognition is based on matching surfaces by matching points using the spin image representation. The spin image is a data level shape descriptor that is used to match surfaces represented as surface meshes. We present a compression scheme for spin images that results in efficient multiple object recognition which we verify with results showing the simultaneous recognition of multiple objects from a library of 20 models. Furthermore, we demonstrate the robust performance of recognition in the presence of clutter and occlusion through analysis of recognition trials on 100 scenes.
A Motion Planner for a Hybrid Robotic System with Kinodynamic Constraints

The rapidly increasing complexity of tasks robotic systems are expected to carry out underscores the need for the development of motion planners that can take into account discrete changes in the continuous motions of the system. Completion of tasks such as exploration of unknown or hazardous environments often requires discrete changes in the controls and motions of the robot in order to adapt to different terrains or maintain operability during partial failures or other mishaps. The contribution of this work toward this objective is the development of an efficient motion planner for a hybrid robotic system. The controls and motion equations of the robot could change discretely in order to enable the robot to operate in different terrains. The framework in this paper blends discrete searching with sampling-based motion planning for continuous state spaces and is well-suited for robotic systems modeled as hybrid systems with numerous discrete modes and transitions. This multi-layered approach offers considerable improvements over existing methods addressing similar problems, as indicated by the experimental results.
Commentary: No comparison: conservative management of painful spontaneous osteoporotic compression fractures is the way to go

Commentary on Lee HM, Park SY, Lee SH, et al. Comparative analysis of clinical outcomes in patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs): conservative treatment versus balloon kyphoplasty. Spine J 2012;12:998–1005 ( in this issue ).