cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Strategic recurring traits that contribute to firm loyalty: case studies of best business practices

Fostering best business practices by organisations to strategically leverage its human capital and develop the professional intellect are important goals to meet to ensure sustainable levels of profitability and employee productivity. Selected employees from five companies located in the metropolitan area of Pittsburgh, PA, were given a set of questions to answer concerning the successful traits of inspiring leadership, outstanding or knockout facilities and the ability of companies to frame their work as part of a deep, rewarding purpose. Management has found that there is wisdom in this line of thought, even in difficult economic times, since a commitment to develop a corporate culture helps management optimise its human capital's productivity with the least amount of supervision. Optimisation the potential of the workforce through trust and goodwill, employees and management usually find a convergence of common goals that ultimately increases operational efficiency and profitability for the firm. Usually both employees and management mutually benefit by the optimisation the potential of the workforce through trust and goodwill that ultimately results in a convergence of common goals that increases the firm's operational efficiency and profitability.
Microbial asymmetric hydrolysis of 3-substituted glutaric acid diamides.

Aims Micro-organisms were screened for their ability to produce (R)-3-(4-chlorophenyl) glutaric acid monoamide (CGM) from 3-(4-chlorophenyl) glutaric acid diamide (CGD) through stereoselective hydrolysis. (R)-CGM is a useful synthetic intermediate for arbaclofen. Methods and Results Four CGD-assimilating micro-organisms were found to be potential catalysts for (R)-CGM production. Among these micro-organisms, Comamonas sp. KNK3-7 (NITE BP-963) produced (R)-CGM with the highest optical purity [98·7% enantiomeric excess (e.e.)] and was selected as the most promising strain. In addition, Comamonas sp. KNK3-7 could asymmetrically hydrolyse 3-isobutyl glutaric acid diamide (IBD) to produce (R)-3-isobutyl glutaric acid monoamide [(R)-IBM] with high optical purity (>99·0% e.e.). Conclusion The synthesis of a (R)-3-substituted glutaric acid monoamide by desymmetrization of 3-substituted glutaric acid diamide with a micro-organism and an enzyme has not been previously reported. This finding indicates the possibility of the preparation of a variety of optically active 3-substituted glutaric acid monoamides using the amidase from Comamonas sp. KNK3-7. Significance and Impact of the Study The amidase from Comamonas sp. KNK3-7 may be useful for the chemoenzymatic synthesis of various kinds of chiral gamma-aminobutyric acids and may be used in a ‘green’ process to produce gamma-aminobutyric acids.
The Dyadic Stream Merging Algorithm

We study the stream merging problem for media-on-demand servers. Clients requesting media from the server arrive by a Poisson process, and delivery to the clients starts immediately. Clients are prepared to receive up to two streams at any time, one or both being fed into a buffer cache. We present an on-line algorithm, the dyadic stream merging algorithm, whose recursive structure allows us to derive a tight asymptotic bound on stream merging performance. In particular, let ? be the Poisson request arrival rate, and let L be the fixed media length. Then the long-time ratio of the expected total stream length under the dyadic algorithm to that under an algorithm with no merging is asymptotically equal to 3log(?L)2?L. Furthermore, we establish the near-optimality of the dyadic algorithm by comparisons with experimental results obtained for an optimal algorithm constructed as a dynamic program. The dyadic algorithm and the best on-line algorithm of those recently proposed differ by less than a percent in their comparison with an off-line optimal algorithm. Finally, the worst-case performance of our algorithm is shown to be no worse than that of earlier algorithms. Thus, the dyadic algorithm appears to be the first near optimal algorithm that admits a rigorous average-case analysis.
Yellow water in La Jolla Bay, California, July 1980. II. suppression of zooplankton grazing

Abstract Experiments were conducted to determine how much grazing pressure adult females of Calanus pacificus Brodsky, a dominant planktonic herbivore in local waters, exerted upon a bloom of the dino- flagellate, Gymnodinium flavum Kofoid & Swezy, in the waters off La Jolla in July, 1980. One set of females was presented with water collected from the chlorophyll maximum, and a second set was presented with Thalassiosira weissflogii Grunow, which is readily ingested by Calanus . Filtration rates upon the diatom were significantly higher (8.4 ml · copepod −1 · h −1 ) than upon the dinoflagellate (0.30 ml · copepod −1 · h −1 ). Calanus did not exert a significant grazing pressure upon the dinoflagellate bloom. Gut content analyses support this conclusion. The persistence of the bloom was probably due, in part, to the avoidance of Gymnodinium flavum by copepod grazers and to the consequent lack of grazing pressure.
Temperature and perfusion responses of muscle and lung tissue during chronic heating in vivo.

For the first time, both temperature and perfusion responses have been obtained from in vivo studies of chronically heated lung and muscle tissue of calves. In each tissue, the spatial temperature distribution was measured by thermistors placed in needles at several distances from an implanted heated disc. A perfusion parameter was defined for a bioheat transfer model that describes temperature dynamics with distance from the heated disc. Estimates of perfusion were obtained by a least-squares fit of the model output to a step change in heat flux. Except for short transient experiments several times a week, a constant heaf flux of 0.04, 0.06 or 0.08 W cm−2 was maintained at the disc surface for up to seven weeks. At the higher heat fluxes, the steady-state tissue temperature decreased with heating duration. Also, the characteristic time constants of the tissues decreased with heating duration. Muscle perfusion showed a statisticaly significant increase during chronic heating. Tissue adapts to chronic heating above 42°C by allowing more capillary blood flow that increases heat loss to reduce tissue temperature.
Pump fluctuation effects on parametric instabilities in plasmas

Etude de l'effet de pompes stochastiques sur les instabilites parametriques, incluant l'effet de la largeur de bande de la pompe, l'effet du desaccord de frequence et des fluctuations de temperature du plasma induits par les fluctuations dans la pompe
Marital instability and the economic status of women

This paper uses longitudinal data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics to examine the relationship between changes in marital status and economic status. Differences between men and women and between whites and blacks are also considered. A major finding is that, after adjusting for changes in family size, the economic status of divorced or separated men improves, while that of women declines. Components of income change are discussed, with special emphasis on changes in the labor force and welfare status of women who were divorced or separated during the analysis period. Finally, data on the magnitude and distribution of alimony/child-support payments are presented.
The unique stability of CoAr6+: Coordination complex or close-packed structure?

Cobalt atomic ions (Co+) generated in a laser-driven plasma and expanded supersonically with 10% Ar/He serve as the nucleation site for the production of cobalt argon cluster ions, CoArn+, 1 ⩽ n < 20. Under mild expansion conditions (p0d < 1 Torr cm) these ions have sufficient internal energy to dissociate prior to mass analysis. Under these conditions a particular cobalt argon cluster, CoAr6+, dominates the observed mass distribution. The possible nature of CoAr6+ is discussed.
Color effects on the impulsivity and activity of hyperactive children

Nonrelevant color stimulation has been used to normalize the sustained attentional performance and activity of hyperactive children. In this study we hypotheszed that if sustained attention is also required in tasks that assess impulsivity, similar gains from color could be expected. To this purpose, hyperactive and normal second- and third- grade children were administered either the black/white form of the Matching Familiar Figures Test (MFFT-20) (Cairnes & Cammock, Developmental Psychology, 5, 555–560, 1978) and 1 month later a colored version, or the reverse color order, in a repeated-measures crossover design, counterbalanced for condition and form order. It was found that the addition of nonrelevant color to this task normalized the activity of hyperactive children, such that group differences were observed only in the black traditional form of the MFFT. Hyperactive children also responded with more time on task when presented colored and then black stimuli, relative to controls. The findings are discussed in terms of their support (a) for the understimulation theory of hyperactivity, and (b) for the requirement of both sustained and systematic attention in the assessment of impulsivity.
Evaporating black holes and entropy.

We study the Hawking radiation for the geometry of an evaporating (1+1)-dimensional black hole. We compute Bogoliubov coefficients and the stress tensor. We use a recent result of Srednicki to estimate the entropy of entanglement produced in the evaporation process, for the (1+1)-dimensional hole and for the (3+1)-dimensional hole. It is found that the one-space-dimensional result of Srednicki is the pertinent one to use, in both cases.
Estimation of exposure-specific rates from sparse case-control data

Abstract Several methods for estimation of exposure-specific rates from case-control data have been developed, but none are practical for application to sparse stratifications, such as individually matched case-control data. This paper presents a method for estimating standardized exposurespecific rates that can be applied to sparse data, as well as other (non-sparse) stratifications. An application to a matched-pair case-control study of prostate cancer is given.
Comparison of Plate-Screw Systems Used in Mandibular Fracture Reduction: Finite Element Analysis

A finite element model of the human dentate mandible has been developed to provide a comparison of fixation systems used currently for fracture reduction. Volume domains for cortical bone, cancellous bone, and teeth were created and meshed in ANSYS 8.0 based on IGES curves created from computerized tomography data. A unilateral molar clench was loaded on the model with a fracture gap simulated along the symphysis. Results based on Von Mises stress in cortical and cancellous bone surrounding the screws, and on fracture surface spatial fixation, show some relative differences between different screw-plate systems, yet all were judged to be appropriate in their reduction potential.
Topographic representation of the sensory and motor roots of the vagus nerve in the medulla of goldfish, Carassius auratus

The coelomic root of the vagus nerve in goldfish is connected with sensory and motor nuclei of the medulla that are distinct from those serving the orobranchial roots of the same nerve. The primary sensory nucleus for coelomic sensation is itself divisible into medial and lateral subnuclei on the basis of afferent input and immunocytochemistry. The lateral subnucleus receives sensory input from the specialized chewing organ in the posterior pharynx and is poor in both substance P-like and tyrosine-hydroxylase-like immunoreactivities. The medial subnucleus receives input from the subdiaphragmatic gastrointestinal tract and is rich in substance P-like and tyrosine-hydroxylase-like immunoreactivities. The primary sensory fibers that innervate the gastrointestinal tract also project directly to the area postrema and to the vicinity of subdiaphragmatic visceral motor neurons. The vagal motor neuronal pool is divisible into three columns: paramedian (cardiac), medial, and lateral. The paramedian group innervates the heart and is situated in a loosely aggregated column at the boundary zone between the ventricular ependyma and the underlying brainstem. The medial vagal motor neurons innervate the subdiaphragmatic viscera, while the lateral column motor neurons innervate the posterior pharynx and muscles of the chewing organ. The motor neurons in this motor column are arranged in a topographic rostrocaudal order within the motor column according to the muscle of innervation. Thus both the general visceral sensory and general visceral motor nuclei of the medulla are organized into functional domains. Furthermore, in the goldfish, the special visceral (gustatory) and general visceral sensory nuclei form a continuous series in the medulla with the external and oral systems represented anteriorly and the pharyngeal and digestive systems represented posteriorly.
Controlling the Sunni Insurgency in Iraq: ‘Political’ and ‘Military’ Strategies from Successful Counterinsurgency in Punjab – India

This article examines the ‘political’ and ‘military’ strategies used by the Indian state successfully to quell the Sikh insurgency in Punjab, and applies these lessons to controlling the Sunni insurgency in Iraq. At a conceptual level, this article argues that insurgencies are both a ‘military’ and ‘political’ phenomenon, and that ways to quell them can be either ‘military’ or ‘political,’ or a combination thereof. At the empirical level, this article argues that stability cannot be restored to Iraq until Sunni political actors are effectively brought into the mainstream political process through either ‘military’ or ‘political’ means, or a combination thereof. The analysis in this article provides substantive depth and detail to these otherwise seemingly straightforward propositions.
Predictive accuracy of bioelectrical impedance equations for women

This study assessed the predictive accuracy of age- and fatness-specific BIA equations in estimating the fat-free mass (FFM) of a heterogeneous sample (N = 152) of women, 20–72 years (yr), with 11–57% body fat (BF). The criterion method was hydrostatic weighing (HW) at residual volume. The Siri (Siri [1961] Natl. Acad. Sci., pp. 78–89) two-component model was used to convert body density into relative body fat (% BF) for calculation of criterion FFWHW. Average FFMHW and predicted FFMBIA did not differ significantly (P > .05) for the Lohman (Lohman [1981] Hum. Biol. 53:181–225) (20–29 yr), Van Loan and Mayclin (Van Loan and Mayclin [1987] Hum, Biol. 59:299–309) (18–64 yr), Gray (Gray [1989] Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 50:225–260) (19–59% BF), and Segal (Segal et al. [1988] Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 47:7–14) (<30% BF and ≥30% BF) equations. The SEE for these equations ranged from 2.11 to 2.65 kg. All other equations (Lohman 30–49 yr and 50–70 yr; Durenberg (Durenberg et al. [1990] Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 51:3–6) 20–40 yr and 60–83 yr) significantly underestimated (P < .05) FFMHW by as much as 5 kg, with the SEEs ranging from 2.12 to 2.82 kg., The prediction error of equations developed specifically for young (Lohman, 20–29 yr) and non-obese (Segal, <30% BF) women was less than that for older (Van Loan and Mayclin, 18–64 yr) and obese (Segal, ≥30% BF; Gray, 19–59% BF) women. In conclusion, Lohman's equation for older (30–49 yr) women or Durenberg's equations for younger (20–40 yr) and older (60–83 yr) women are not recommended. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A clinician-educator’s roadmap to choosing and interpreting statistical tests

As educators seek confirmation of successful trainee achievement, medical education must move toward a more evidence-based approach to teaching and evaluation. Although medical training often provides physicians with a general background in biostatistics, many are not prepared to apply these skills. This can hinder clinician educators as they wish to develop, analyze and disseminate their scholarly work. This paper is intended to be a concise educational tool and guide for choosing and interpreting statistical tests aimed toward medical education assessment. It includes guidelines and examples that clinician-educators can use when analyzing and interpreting studies and when writing methods and results sections of reports.
Commonly Used Aggregate Materials and Placement Methods: Comparative Analysis for a Wearing Course on Low-Volume Roads in Pennsylvania

Aggregate-surfaced roads are a viable component of the transportation network; they provide significant increases in road stability over earthen-surfaced roads while avoiding the high placement and maintenance costs of pavements. The use of higher-quality, more stable aggregates will significantly reduce both the cost of maintaining gravel roads and the environmental concerns related to road runoff. This paper aims to provide a better understanding of wearing course aggregates by describing a comparative analysis experiment done as part of Pennsylvania's Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Program. Three aggregates commonly used in Pennsylvania were placed side by side under two different placement methods for each type of aggregate as part of a 3-year study to compare their long-term durability and cost-effectiveness. The two methods tested were the "dump and spread" method known as tailgating and the application of aggregate by a motor paver. Cross-sectional surveys were done on each aggregate section for ...
Antibodies Against the Bovine Brain Glutamate Binding Protein

Antibodies against the purified bovine brain glutamate binding protein (GBP) were raised in rabbits. Both nonderivatized and dinitrobenzene-derivatized GBP produced strong immunological responses in rabbits. Using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we have quantified the antibody production and determined the specificity of the antibodies. Bovine brain GBP and the analogous protein from rat brain interacted most strongly with the antibodies. A bacterial glutamate-aspartate binding protein, as well as the enzymes glutamate dehydrogenase (EC 1.4.1.3), glutamine synthetase (EC 6.3.1.2), and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (EC 2.3.2.2), showed little or no cross-reactivity with the anti-GBP antibodies. A crude bacterial glutamate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.15) preparation gave a small to moderate cross-reaction with the anti-GBP antibodies. The sensitivity of the ELISA assay and the specificity of the antibodies were such that GBP levels as low as 3-10 ng could be detected.
Contribution of Microlayer Evaporation During Flow Boiling Inside Microchannels

Flow boiling through microchannels is characterized by nucleation and growth of vapor bubbles that fills the entire channel cross-sectional area. As the bubble nucleates and grows inside the microchannel, a thin film of liquid or a microlayer gets trapped between the bubble and the channel walls. The heat transfer mechanism present at the channel walls during flow boiling is studied numerically. These mechanisms are compared to the heat transfer mechanisms present during nucleate boiling and in a moving evaporating meniscus. It is shown that the thermal and the flow fields present inside the microchannels around the bubbles are fundamentally different compared to nucleate boiling or in a moving evaporating meniscus. It is explained that how thin film evaporation is responsible for creating an apparent nucleate boiling heat transfer mechanism inside the microchannels.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Green's relations on a connected algebraic monoid†

Let S be a connected algebraic monoid with group of units G and idempotent set E(S). Let e f ϵ E(S),a,b ϵ S b regular. Then 1) if and only if x-1 ex = f for some x ϵ G.2) if and only if xay = b for some x y ϵ G. 3) if and only if ax = b for some x ϵ G. 4) if and only if ya = b for some y ϵ G. 5) if and only if ex = xe = a for some x ϵ G. 6) if and only if e′ ⩾ f for some e′ϵE(S) with . 7) bub = b for som u ϵ G. Several other related results are obtained.
Effects of metal cations on pituitary hormone secretion in vitro

Increased body burdens of metal cations are known to affect adversely reproductive function in several species. The effects of these metals on gonadal function are well documented. In contrast, little is known about their possible direct effects on pituitary hormone release. The purpose of this study was to determine, in vitro, the effects of nickel, cadmium, and zinc (50 microM) on both baseline and potassium chloride (KCl)-stimulated pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (Prl), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) release. Anterior pituitary fragments from adult male Long-Evans rats were evaluated using a continuous-flow perifusion system. Baseline and stimulated LH releases were unaffected by nickel and zinc; however, cadmium caused an increase in baseline LH secretion. Baseline Prl release was decreased by zinc, while cadmium resulted in increased release of this hormone. Stimulated Prl release was lower during exposure to zinc but unaltered by nickel and cadmium. Following exposure to zinc, a rebound in stimulated release was noted for all three hormones measured. These results showed that the metal cations tested did have a direct effect on pituitary hormone release at a dose lower than those reported to alter testicular function in vitro. Furthermore, the changes in pituitary hormone secretion varied depending upon the metal and hormone being evaluated.
Precise and accurate measurement of 226Ra–230Th–238U disequilibria in volcanic rocks using plasma ionization multicollector mass spectrometry

Abstract We describe analytical techniques for the measurement of 226Ra–230Th–238U disequilibria in volcanic rocks using plasma ionization multicollector mass spectrometry (MC-ICP-MS). Our methods build upon previous MC-ICP-MS techniques for 232Th/230Th and 238U/234U measurements with the addition of new chemical and/or mass spectrometric procedures for the determination of Th, U and 226Ra abundances. Using sample sizes that are similar to the requirements of state-of-the-art thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS), we are able to measure Th isotope ratios and 226Ra–230Th–238U disequilibria with a precision that is at least ∼2–3× better than TIMS and U isotope ratios with a precision that is comparable to TIMS. Replicate analyses of a 226Ra–230Th–234U–238U radioactive equilibrium rock standard (Table Mountain Latite) demonstrate that our MC-ICP-MS techniques are also highly accurate. An additional bonus is that analyses of Ra, Th and U isotope ratios by MC-ICP-MS are much less time-consuming than by TIMS. These analytical improvements will increase the usefulness of U-series isotopes as high-resolution tracers of the nature and timing of magmatic processes at active volcanoes.
Self‐Assembly of Pseudoperiodic Arrays of Nanoislands on YSZ‐(001)

The semiconductor industry has pioneered the field of lithographic patterning over the last few decades to the point where it is possible to produce patterned features with sub-micrometer resolution consistently and reproducibly.With the advent of techniques such as electronand ion-beam lithography, scanning tunneling microscope lithography, and dip-pen nanolithography, it is even possible to achieve resolutions on the order of tens of nanometers. Although the utility of lithographic methods has been well demonstrated, they require expensive state-of-the-art facilities and trained technicians. Furthermore, scaling up these methods to cover large areas is a significant challenge. Self-assembly of nanometer-scale features provides a route for device fabrication with low-cost processing in relatively short time frames. One nanometer-scale self-assembly method that has received significant attention relies on utilizing the Asaro– Tiller–Grinfeld (ATG) instability to create an array of islands. An epitaxial thin film with low lattice mismatch to its substrate is inherently unstable when coherency is maintained without plasticity. Because of kinetic limitations the film may remain well-adhered to the substrate in the metastable planar geometry. But if an energetic perturbation is applied, allowing the film to break up, the stored elastic energy arising from lattice misfit is sufficient to cause significant morphological reordering of the surface. A competition is set up between relieving stored elastic energy and the creation of new free surface when the islands form. To date, themost widely studied experimental systems are semiconductors. Mostly these islands form during deposition as Stranski–Krastinov (S–K) islands (as opposed to break-up of a planar film), and they are Ge-Si solid solutions on Si-(100). Some III–V and II–VI semiconductors have also been shown to form these structures. The islands thus formed are potentially useful for quantum dot applications; however, there is a need for the islands to be of similar size and shape, and they should be arranged with a regular periodicity. In many of the semiconductor systems, the islands exhibit narrow distributions of size and shape, but
Time-Resolved Picosecond Laser Spectroscopy

Abstract Techniques of picosecond laser spectroscopy in Physics, Chemistry and Biology using Video systemsare discussed. _Introduction Picosecond Laser Spectroscopy has become an important and invaluable tool for probing ultrafastmolecular and energy transfer processes. The application of Video imaging systems to this field hasgreatly facilitated the acquisition and analysis of the spectroscopic and time -resolved data. Recently an impressive amount of new information has been gained on rapid phenomena in materials by using soph-isticated and novel optical measuring techniques which utilize picosecond light pulses. The growth in interest in the development of these new techniques arises from the fact that the relaxation rates for thefundamental processes studied in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology take place on the picosecond tonanosecond time scale. The relaxation rates for some of the energy transfer processes occurring innature are presented in Table 1. TABLE 1PRIMARY RELAXATION TIME SCALES IN PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY, AND BIOLOGY
Video signal coding with DCT and vector quantization

An image coding scheme using the discrete cosine transform is analyzed when the transform coefficients are vector quantized. The coding method is based on the known scheme proposed by Chen and Smith (1977) which sorts the picture blocks into classes according to the level of image activity. The coding scheme is modified to allow for vector quantization of the ac coefficients, in particular a pyramid vector quantizer (PVQ) is used. This is based on the statistical and geometric properties of a Laplacian source which, in fact, is the best model for the ac coefficients of the two-dimensional discrete cosine transform (2D-DCT) of an image. A method for forming almost statistically independent vectors is also suggested and improves quantization performance. Images are encoded with both the PVQ and standard scalar quantizer transform coders, demonstrating that the PVQ coder reduces the mean square encoding error and improves image quality. In particular, emphasis is given to how the use of fractional bit rates affects the objective and subjective gains obtained. The results presented (i.e. mean square error values and printed images) have been obtained experimentally, working with a statistical criterion in a group of images whose size was in accordance with the 50 Hz CCIR Recommendation 601 Standard. >
Nutrient enrichment of seagrass beds in a rhode island coastal lagoon

Seagrass and algal beds showed a variety of reponses when the water column was treated with low level additions of ammonium, nitrate and phosphate. The nutrients were added separately to 3 uniform seagrass beds of a temperature coastal lagoon during 1979 and 1980. (1) Ammonium caused the production of dense mats of free-floating green algae Enteromorpha plumosa and Ulva lactuca. It also stimulated growth in both the leaf and root-rhizome fractions of Zostera marina. This growth response in Z. marina was greater in the area where current reached 12 cm · s-1 than in the area with little or no current. The concentration of nitrogen in the tissue did not change. In contrast, where current was lacking, Z. marina growth increase with ammonium was small, but the concentration of nitrogen in the tissue doubled over that in control plots. The growth of Ruppia maritima was inversely related to the growth of green algae in the same plots. The red alga Gracilaria tikvahiae did not grow better in ammonium, but its tissue reddened. (2) Nitrate additions enhanced the growth of the green seaweeds Enteromorpha spp. and U. lactuca, but not Z. marina or R. maritima. G. tikvahiae, when fertilized in isolation from other plants, showed a marginal response to this nutrient, and the tissue always reddened. (3) Phosphate enhanced growth in Z. marina and R. maritima exposed to moderate current. G. tikvahiae growing alone showed a small growth response to phosphate. The phosphate made no difference in the growth of the green seaweeds. (4) None of the nutrient supplements noticeably altered the species composition of either epiphytic or planktonic algae associated with the beds, although we did detect small increases in their numbers. The rapid and dense growth of green algae in nitrogen-enriched water probably limited growth of adjacent seagrasses and red algae. Because these seaweeds did not use the phosphate, it became available to other plant components. The overall floral response to nutrient addition in seagrass communities depends, therefore, upon the particular nutrient supplied, the ability of alternate species in the area to compete for that nutrient and the velocity of current in the specific area.
A modulator design for smart pixel multispectral imaging arrays

In multispectral imagers direct conversion of pixel current to digital data using oversampling and a noise shaping modulator circuit enables advanced digital signal processing to reduce noise and enhance image quality. This may be an important technology for noisy imaging detectors such as infrared or experimental UV detectors. However, when more than one detector is used with the modulator circuitry, as in multispectral imaging systems, frames rates drop dramatically. Using one modulator circuit per detector maximizes the frame rate possible and further reduces noise by eliminating analog signal distribution lines. We describe the design and simulation of a 0.25 micron CMOS modulator small enough to allow multiple modulators to reside beneath each pixel of an experimental multi-detector multi-spectral imager.
The Impact of Technical Change, Scale Effects, and Forward Ordering on U.S. Fiber Demands

This paper estimates a complete system of input cost shares in U.S. textile production, using time-series data and a linear logit specification incorporating the impact of technical change and scale effects on derived demands for natural and manmade fibers. The specification accounts for forward ordering dynamics in the textile industry. Technical change has decreased natural fiber use in U.S. textile mills in favor of manmade fibers. Decomposition analysis of economic factors affecting long-run use of natural versus manmade fiber indicates that nonprice factors account for 70% of the decline in long-run natural fiber use.
Evidence of reduced glutamate in the frontal lobe of HIV-seropositive patients.

Neurological complications associated with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, in particular, HIV-associated dementia, continue to plague those infected. We report our finding that the concentration of brain Glu is reduced in the frontal white matter region in this condition. In addition, our data appear to absolve highly active retroviral therapy (HAART) from blame, as drug-naive patients were equally affected. Our findings suggest that Glu neurotransmission is abnormal and may be a key target for early interventions to reduce the later incidence of neurocognitive impairment and dementia among HIV-seropositive patients. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Personalized medicine approach in mycobacterial disease

Mycobacterial diseases are a group of illnesses that cause a considerable number of deaths throughout the world, regardless of years of public health control efforts. Personalized medicine is a new but rapidly advancing field of healthcare. Personalized medicine in the field of mycobacteriology may be applied in the different levels of management such as prevention, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis. A genetic predisposition and a protein dysfunction study are recommended to tailor an individual approach in mycobacterial diseases.
Vaccine-Induced Measles Virus-Specific T Cells Do Not Prevent Infection or Disease but Facilitate Subsequent Clearance of Viral RNA

Infection with wild-type measles virus (MeV) induces lifelong protection from reinfection, and parenteral delivery of the live attenuated measles vaccine (LAV) also provides protection from measles. The level of neutralizing antibody is a good indicator of protection, but the independent roles of MeV-specific antibody and T cells have not been identified. In this study, macaques immunized with LAV through a nebulizer and a mouthpiece developed MeV-specific T-cell responses but not neutralizing antibodies. Upon challenge with wild-type MeV, these animals developed rashes and viremias similar to those in naive animals but cleared viral RNA from blood 25 to 40 days faster. The nebulizer-immunized animals also had more robust MeV-specific CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell responses than the naive animals after challenge, characterized by a higher number and better durability of gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-producing cells. Induction of MeV-specific circulating CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells capable of producing multiple cytokines correlated with clearance of viral RNA in the nebulizer-immunized macaques. These studies demonstrated that MeV-specific T-cell immunity alone did not prevent measles, but T-cell priming enhanced the magnitude, durability, and polyfunctionality of MeV-specific T cells after challenge infection and correlated with more rapid clearance of MeV RNA. IMPORTANCE The components of vaccine-induced immunity necessary for protection from infection and disease have not been clearly identified for most vaccines. Vaccine development usually focuses on induction of antibody, but T-cell-based vaccines are also under development. The live attenuated measles vaccine (LAV) given subcutaneously induces both T cells and neutralizing antibody and provides solid protection from infection. LAV delivered to the upper respiratory tract through a nebulizer and mouthpiece induced a T-cell response but no neutralizing antibody. These T-cell-primed macaques demonstrated no protection from rash or viremia when challenged with wild-type MeV, but viral RNA was cleared more rapidly than in unimmunized animals. Thus, T-cell immunity did not protect from infection or acute disease but facilitated virus clearance during recovery. These studies demonstrate the importance and independent roles of T cells and antibody in protection and recovery from measles.
Test scheduling in high performance VLSI system implementations

The authors provide tools for exploring the inherent parallelism introduced by design for testability (DFT) and built-in self-test (BIST) techniques in order to reduce test length. Since the potential for parallel test execution is most apparent at the organization level and DFT and BIST hardware is also often added at that level, the organization level is used as a foundation for the work. A broader modeling foundation that encompasses both dimensions, space and time, of test parallelism is introduced. A set of simple schedulability criteria for concurrent issuing of tests is developed. Effective suboptimum heuristic-based algorithms for scheduling tests on general-purpose high-performance VLSI system implementation are presented. The scheduling algorithms have been implemented and performance results are presented. >
Nucleation kinetics versus nitrogen partial pressure during homoepitaxial growth of stoichiometric TiN(0 0 1): A scanning tunneling microscopy study

We grow homoepitaxial stoichiometric TiN(0 0 1) layers by ultra-high vacuum reactive magnetron sputtering in Ar/ N2 mixtures and use scanning tunneling microscopyto studynucleation as a function of the N 2 gas fraction fN2 and growth temperature Ts. The characteristic island size Rc necessaryto nucleate a new layer decreases continuouslywith fN2 , varying from 18.0 nm at Ts = 740 � C with fN2 = 0.10 to 11.2 nm with fN2 ¼ 1:00. Over the temperature range 600 6 Ts 6 860 � C, nucleation is diffusion limited with an activation energy Es of 1.1 ± 0.1 eV for TiN(0 0 1) growth with fN2 ¼ 0:10 and 1.4 ± 0.1 eV in pure N2. We attribute the increase in Es to a higher steady-state N coverage resulting in an increase in the average x-value of the primarysurface-diffusing species, TiN x admolecules. � 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Boundary finding with prior shape and smoothness models

We propose a unified framework for boundary finding, where a Bayesian formulation, based on prior knowledge and the edge information of the input image (likelihood), is employed. The prior knowledge in our framework is based on principal component analysis of four different covariance matrices corresponding to independence, smoothness, statistical shape, and combined models, respectively. Indeed, snakes, modal analysis, Fourier descriptors, and point distribution models can be derived from or linked to our approaches of different prior models. When the true training set does not contain enough variability to express the full range of deformations, a mixed covariance matrix uses a combined prior of the smoothness and statistical variation modes. It adapts gradually to use more statistical modes of variation as larger data sets are available.
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Imaging of the Newborn Brain—A Technical Review

Magnetic resonance imaging has been widely used noninvasively for pediatric neuroimaging for more than a decade. More recently, with advances in computing, functional techniques for imaging water diffusion, cellular metabolite levels, and blood flow are becoming available. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy imaging (MRSI) offers a snapshot of the metabolic status in the tissue of interest. It is complementary to the more traditionally used anatomic imaging for diagnoses of various abnormalities. This review describes the physical basis of proton MRSI, summarizes currently available techniques and their applications, highlights challenges of performing MRSI in the pediatric population, and previews the newest techniques currently on the horizon.
Pluralist Family Values: Domestic Strategies for Living with Religious Difference

As microcosms of pluralist society, interfaith families reveal distinctive strategies for managing religious difference with respect, integrity, and creative problem-solving. In these families, assumptions about and possibilities for a religiously pluralist civil society are embedded in the daily choices of women, men, and children trying to create coherent relationships and spiritualities, a task for which the institutions of family and religion have for many Americans ceased to offer reliable instruction. This analysis of interfaith families, based on a series of face-to-face interviews with interfaith couples and five years of online exchanges among participants in interfaith family discussion groups, highlights the insights and skills developed in these families, and critically assesses their potential to transfer to the work of citizenship in pluralist civil society.
Angiotensin II Activates RhoA in Cardiac Myocytes A Critical Role of RhoA in Angiotensin II–Induced Premyofibril Formation

The organization of actin into striated fibers (myofibrils) is one of the major features of cardiac hypertrophy. However, its signal transduction mechanism is not well understood. Although Rho-family small G proteins have been implicated in actin organization in many cell types, it is not fully elucidated whether Rho mediates the organization of actin fibers by hypertrophic stimuli in cardiac myocytes. Therefore, we examined (1) whether Rho is activated by the hypertrophic stimulus, angiotensin II (Ang II), and (2) whether Rho mediates the Ang II-induced organization of actin fibers in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. Treatment of myocytes with Ang II caused a rapid formation of both striated (mature myofibrils) and nonstriated (premyofibrils) actin fibers within 30 minutes, as determined by phalloidin stainings of the polymerized actin and troponin T stainings. Immunoblot analyses and immunostainings have indicated that cardiac myocytes express RhoA, but RhoB is undetectable. In the control state, RhoA was observed predominantly in the cytosolic fraction, but it was translocated in part to the particulate fraction in response to Ang II, consistent with activation of RhoA by Ang II. Incubation of myocytes with exoenzyme C3 for 48 hours completely ADP-ribosylated Rho in vivo. The C3 treatment abolished formation of premyofibrils induced by Ang II, suggesting that Ang II causes premyofibril formation via a Rho-dependent mechanism. The Ang II-induced mature myofibril formation was only partly abolished by C3. Expression of constitutively active RhoA (V14RhoA) caused the formation of premyofibrils but not mature myofibrils. The C3 treatment inhibited Ang II-induced atrial natriuretic factor induction, whereas it had no effect on c-fos induction. These results indicate that RhoA is activated by Ang II and mediates the Ang II-induced formation of premyofibrils and induction of a subset of genes. Distinct signaling mechanisms seem to be responsible for striated mature myofibril formation by Ang II.
Fretting about fat: a new look at the lipid droplet surface and the roundabout role of Plin2 in cellular lipid storage. Focus on “Direct interaction of Plin2 with lipids on the surface of lipid droplets: a live cell FRET analysis”

understanding the basic biology of fat storage remains a fundamental challenge in biology and a significant issue in medicine. Essentially all eukaryotic cells have lipid droplet structures that store neutral lipids (mainly triglycerides and cholesterol esters) within a monolayer of phospholipids ([
The Theory of Quantized Fields. IV

The principal development in this paper is the extension of the eigenvalue-eigenvector concept to complete sets of anticommuting operators. With the aid of this formalism we construct a transformation function for the Dirac field, as perturbed by an external source. This transformation function is enlarged to describe phase transformations and, when applied to the isolated Dirac field, yields the charge and energy-momentum eigenvalues and eigenfunctions. The transformation function describing the system in the presence of the source is then used as a generating function to construct the matrices of all ordered products of the field operators, for the isolated Dirac field. The matrices in the occupation number representation are exhibited with a classification that effectively employs a time-reversed description for negative frequency modes. The last section supplements III by constructing the matrices of all ordered products of the potential vector, for the isolated electromagnetic field.
Preoperative Evaluation for Pelvic Discontinuity Using a New Reformatted Computed Tomography Scan Protocol.

Abstract Background The identification of suspected pelvic discontinuity is important for preoperative planning in revision hip arthroplasty. Computed tomography (CT) of the pelvis with reconstructions in the axial, sagittal, and coronal planes has been previously described for the identification of pelvic discontinuity but fails to show some discontinuities. The purpose of this study was to determine whether reformatted 45° oblique CT scans of the pelvis, similar in projection to Judet views on plain films, provide advantages in detecting pelvic discontinuity preoperatively over standard reconstruction CT scans. We describe a new technique of reformatting conventional CT scans to present 45° oblique views of the pelvis. Methods Using an institutional joint registry, we retrospectively identified 22 patients who had intraoperative findings of pelvic discontinuity and also had a preoperative CT scan of the pelvis. The criterion for diagnosis of pelvic discontinuity was a continuous visible fracture line involving the entire width of the anterior and posterior columns. Results In this study, standard reconstruction CT scans were 73% sensitive in identifying discontinuity based on these parameters and the addition of reformatted 45° oblique CT scans increased sensitivity to 91%. Conclusion Unique reconstructive techniques in revision hip arthroplasty can be used, and the operative plan may be modified if pelvic discontinuity is identified preoperatively. CT scans of the pelvis with reconstructions at 45° iliac oblique and obturator oblique views in patients with suspected pelvic discontinuity provide a high level of sensitivity when the diagnosis cannot be firmly established from plain films.
Nonhistotoxic clostridial bacteremia.

From 1962 to 1969 the Anaerobic Bacteriology Laboratory received 114 isolates of nonhistotoxic Clostridia from human blood specimens. We studied the clinical and bacteriologic data for 86 patients with bacteremia caused by 12 groups or species of these Clostridia. Eighteen patients were newborns. The bacteremia was commonly associated with intraabdominal lesions, hematologic disorders, genitourinary diseases, recent surgical procedures, cardiac diseases, intercurrent antibiotic therapy, and tumors or leukemias. Almost all of the patients had fever and leukocytosis; some also had hypotension. Clinically, their condition resembled Gram-negative bacillus septicemia, sepsis neonatorum, or fever of unknown origin. The clinical course was typically self-limited and was probably not affected by antibiotic therapy. An endogenous origin of the Clostridia was proposed, since only two patients had external trauma and none had gas gangrene. As with so many other opportunistic organisms, these nonhistotoxic Clostridia may invade systemically when host defense mechanisms are lowered by underlying illnesses.
Spatial and temporal quantification of forest residue volumes and delivered costs

Growing demand for bioenergy, biofuels, and bioproducts has increased interests in the utilization of biomass residues from forest treatments as feedstock. In areas with limited history of industrial biomass utilization, uncertainties in the quantity, distribution, and cost of biomass production and logistics can hinder the development of new bio-based industries. This paper introduces a new methodology to quantify and spatially describe delivered feedstock volumes and costs across landscapes of arbitrary size in ways that characterize operational and annual management decision-making. Using National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP) imagery, the forest is segmented into operational-level treatment units. A remote sensing model based on NAIP imagery and Forest Inventory and Analysis plot data are used to attribute treatment units with stand-level estimates of basal area, tree density, aboveground biomass, and quadratic mean diameter. These methods are applied to a study site in southwestern Colorado to assess the quantity and distribution of treatment residue for use in bioenergy production. Results from the case study demonstrate how this generalized approach can be used in the analysis and decision-making process when establishing new bioenergy industries that use forest residue as feedstock.