cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The volatilization of organic compounds in unsaturated porous media during infiltration.

Abstract A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the validity of equilibrium assumptions for steady-state vapor-phase transport in homogenous, well-packed porous media in the presence of water infiltration. A volatile, slightly water-soluble compound, trichlorethylene (TCE) was chosen for the experiments. The movement of the compound was from a reservoir of solute dissolved in water, through a tension saturated zone and overlying unsaturated zone, to the soil surface. The experimental data and modeling results suggest that numerical models based on the assumption of thermodynamic equilibrium between the liquid- and gas-phase concentrations are inappropriate to describe this system. A model that assumes thermodynamic equilibrium between phases and uniform infiltration velocities predicts negligible gas-phase flux at any of the infiltration rates applied to our sand columns. We have observed fluxes ranging from 0.0464 μg h−1 cm−2 for an infiltration rate of 0.210 cm−1 to 0.006 μg h−1 cm−2 for an infiltration rate of 1.34 cm h−1. An equilibrium model adapted for a nonuniform velocity,field, i.e. one that assumes all nonuniformities can be described by a dispersion coefficient, predicts that dissolved-phase dispersive phenomena will dominate solute transport of a slightly soluble compound in soils during infiltration. This dispersive transport acts counter to the average velocity field, and it is physically irrational that dispersion counter to the average flow is the predominant transport mechanism. Therefore, we propose a nonequilibrium model in which the infiltration flow regime is assumed to be nonuniform and the fluid phases are not assumed to in in equilibrium with each other. The method requires the knowledge of a gas-liquid mass-transfer coefficient for volatile compounds in a porous medium. Values of this mass-transfer coefficient have not been previously reported.
Thermodynamic properties of KAlO2

Abstract The heat capacity of KAlO 2 has been measured from 5 to 303 K by adiabatic calorimetry. High-temperature enthalpies were determined up to 1197.8 K by copper-block drop calorimetry. A reversible transition was found at 810 K with an enthalpy of transition of 1295 J mol −1 . The values at 298.15 K of C p o , { S o ( T )− S o (0)}, and − {G o (T)−H o (0)} T are calculated as 76.12, 85.55, and 40.76 J K −1 mol −1 , respectively. These thermodynamic functions are also calculated from 5 to 1400 K.
Role of homology and pathway specificity for recombination between plasmids and bacteriophage λ

To determine the minimum amount of homology required for efficient recombination in Escherichia coli, we measured recombination frequencies between bacteriophage λ and pBR322 derivatives containing λ DNA fragments of various sizes by assaying for phages that could transduce the bla and ori genes of pBR322. Efficient recombination required about 40 bp of homology; increases in homology above 40 bp resulted in proportionate increases in recombination, while decreases below 40 bp resulted in precipitous decreases in recombination. The recA+ gene stimulated recombination over the entire range of homologies tested. Restriction enzyme digests of several recombinant DNA molecules indicated that they contained the complete plasmid DNA inserted in the λ genome as expected for a reciprocal crossover. Analysis of recombination frequencies in different recombination-deficient mutant strains indicated that the formation of λ-plasmid cointegrates by homologous recombination proceeded predominantly by the RecBC pathway and very inefficiently, if at all, by the RecE and RecF pathways.
An approximate calculation of the strong interaction on a transonic airfoil

This paper describes an interactive computational scheme that calculates the transonic flow field over an airfoil. The inviscid flow, the turbulent boundary layer in the weak interaction region, and the elliptic flow in the strong interaction region are computed separately, and the solutions are matched iteratively in a direct, second-order interaction scheme. The pressure distribution, obtained from a transonic, small-perturbation solution, is prescribed on the boundary layer and the Navier-Stokes equations and the ensuing displacement thicknesses are used to modify the inviscid flow. The best overall results are obtained by using a turbulence model that eliminates the eddy viscosity in the strong interaction region. Computed pressure distributions are compared with experimental data and with Navier-Stokes solutions. In weak interactions, the agreement with experimental data is very good, as it is also in strong interactions except for the pressures in the separated-flow region. There the agreement is qualitative only, and the pressure recovery is too high. The results in both cases are superior or equal to those of the Navier-Stokes solutions, and the present method is significantly faster.
An Electrophoretic Analysis of RNA Synthesis in Normal and Lobeless Ilyanassa Embryo

RNA from pulse-labelled normal and lobeless Ilyanassa embryos was analysed by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels. The proportional distribution of radioactivity among the RNAs made by these two types of embryos was compared statistically. It was shown that removal of the third polar lobe from the Ilyanassa egg at first cleavage did not produce any change in the proportion of several size classes of RNA transcribed during the first day of development. The post-gastrular lobeless embryo did show a significant deviation from the normal pattern of RNA synthesis, though it is not clear that this was a direct effect on transcription by the polar lobe cytoplasm.
Processing Zr52.5Cu17.9Ni14.6Al10Ti5 metallic glass containing high levels of oxygen by microalloying with erbium

Abstract Zr 52.5 Cu 17.9 Ni 14.6 Al 10 Ti 5 was doped with oxygen and erbium to determine the effect of impurity oxygen and microalloying on the stability of the liquid during processing from the melt. It was established that oxygen concentrations of 5000–14,000 ppm ( atomic herein) destabilized the alloy significantly, consistent with data trends seen in the literature. The oxygen containing materials crystallized into tetragonal and cubic intermetallics during processing. The highest levels of oxygen facilitated complete transformation to the cubic structure. The addition of 0–1 at.% rare-earth Er to the impure materials stabilized the liquid by the formation of anticatalyst (Er, Al) 2 O 3 dispersions, allowing the production of glassy matrix composites in the form of 6.4 mm diameter × 70 mm rods with oxygen contents up to 16,000 ppm. Compression testing of the Er-doped samples showed that their rupture strengths varied little with Er/O content.
Octaphenylnaphthalene and Decaphenylanthracene

Octaphenylnaphthalene (2) was synthesized by the addition of tetraphenylbenzyne to tetraphenylcyclopentadienone, and decaphenylanthracene (3) was synthesized by the addition of the same aryne to hexaphenylisobenzofuran followed by deoxygenation of the adduct. The structures of both compounds were determined by X-ray analysis. Compound 2 adopts a conformation of approximate Ci symmetry with a slightly undulating naphthalene nucleus, but compound 3 exhibits C2 (and approximate D2) symmetry with a 63° twist of the central anthracene.
Defining a core set of actin cytoskeletal proteins critical for actin-based motility of Rickettsia.

Many Rickettsia species are intracellular bacterial pathogens that use actin-based motility for spread during infection. However, while other bacteria assemble actin tails consisting of branched networks, Rickettsia assemble long parallel actin bundles, suggesting the use of a distinct mechanism for exploiting actin. To identify the underlying mechanisms and host factors involved in Rickettsia parkeri actin-based motility, we performed an RNAi screen targeting 115 actin cytoskeletal genes in Drosophila cells. The screen delineated a set of four core proteins—profilin, fimbrin/T-plastin, capping protein, and cofilin—as crucial for determining actin tail length, organizing filament architecture, and enabling motility. In mammalian cells, these proteins were localized throughout R. parkeri tails, consistent with a role in motility. Profilin and fimbrin/T-plastin were critical for the motility of R. parkeri but not Listeria monocytogenes. Our results highlight key distinctions between the evolutionary strategies and molecular mechanisms employed by bacterial pathogens to assemble and organize actin.
PSYCHOLOGICAL COSTS OF BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTATION IN CHILDREN

The emotional strain of bone marrow transplantation procedures on child patients, family members and hospital personnel is described, and an illustrative case history is offered. Reasons for the unusually close relationship between family and staff are considered, and the necessity of appropriate psychological support for patients, siblings, parents, and members of the medical team is delineated.
Structure-Resonance Theory for π-Hydrocarbon Iron Tricarbonyl Complexes

Structure-resonance theory is applied to transition metal π ligand complexes. This theory leads to specific, quantitative predictions of bond orders, charge distributions in ions, and relative stabilities of ground state species or reaction intermediates. In applications to hydrocarbon systems, numerical results correlate precisely with experimental properties, and with results of LCAO-MO-SCF calculations. Initial extensions to iron tricarbonyl derivatives are described herein. A unique advantage of structure-resonance theory is that it can be applied rapidly by hand calculation, allowing numerous applications with little labor. The orbital basis for describing iron complexes allows one to use graph-theoretical algorithms to further simplify the theoretical formulism.
Recognition time for excerpts from musical compositions

Does the time required for listeners to recognize excerpts from musical compositions depend upon whether the excerpt is from the beginning, middle, or end of the composition? The musical compositions were four tape-recorded Debussy etudes for piano with distinct (nonrepetitious) beginning, middle, and end sections. The compositions were learned one at a time. The recognition tests determined response times for recognizing excerpts from the beginning, middle, and end sections. The results indicate that whether a musical phrase is at the beginning, middle, or end of a composition does not in itself determine recognition time. Although we have to hear the beginning of a composition before we hear the end, this temporal order in perception does not determine the cognitive structure of the composition as remembered.
On Assessing Local Conditional Symmetric Instability from Atmospheric Soundings

Abstract The standard parcel method of assessing the susceptibility of the atmosphere to moist convection using tephigrams is extended to account for the centrifugal as well as the gravitational potential energy of the displaced air parcel. This leads to a measure of the stability of the moist baroclinic atmosphere to finite slantwise reversible displacements of a two-dimensional air parcel; such a measure differs from previously derived measures of conditional symmetric instability which have considered only infinitesimal displacements in saturated atmospheres. It is demonstrated that the combined gravitational and centrifugal potential of a two-dimensional air parcel or “tube” can be assessed by displacing the tube slantwise along a surface of constant angular momentum, and that this combined potential energy can be estimated using a single atmospheric sounding. Several examples of the application of this technique are presented in the context of a case study of apparent slantwise convection. The result...
An adaptive distributed data aggregation based on RCPC for wireless sensor networks

One of the most important design issues in wireless sensor networks is energy efficiency. Data aggregation has significant impact on the energy efficiency of the wireless sensor networks. With massive deployment of sensor nodes and limited energy supply, data aggregation has been considered as an essential paradigm for data collection in sensor networks. Recently, distributed source coding has been demonstrated to possess several advantages in data aggregation for wireless sensor networks. Distributed source coding is able to encode sensor data with lower bit rate without direct communication among sensor nodes. To ensure reliable and high throughput transmission with the aggregated data, we proposed in this research a progressive transmission and decoding of Rate-Compatible Punctured Convolutional (RCPC) coded data aggregation with distributed source coding. Our proposed 1/2 RSC codes with Viterbi algorithm for distributed source coding are able to guarantee that, even without any correlation between the data, the decoder can always decode the data correctly without wasting energy. The proposed approach achieves two aspects in adaptive data aggregation for wireless sensor networks. First, the RCPC coding facilitates adaptive compression corresponding to the correlation of the sensor data. When the data correlation is high, higher compression ration can be achieved. Otherwise, lower compression ratio will be achieved. Second, the data aggregation is adaptively accumulated. There is no waste of energy in the transmission; even there is no correlation among the data, the energy consumed is at the same level as raw data collection. Experimental results have shown that the proposed distributed data aggregation based on RCPC is able to achieve high throughput and low energy consumption data collection for wireless sensor networks
Observations of volcanic lightning during the 2009 eruption of Redoubt Volcano

Abstract Observations of volcanic lightning during the eruption of Redoubt Volcano in March and April 2009 were made with the Lightning Mapping Array. During the eruption twenty-three distinct episodes of volcanic lightning were observed. Electrical activity occurred as either a volcanic lightning storm with up to thousands of lightning discharges or as a weak electrical event with only a handful of lightning discharges. During the volcanic lightning storms we observed two phases of electrical activity: the explosive phase and the plume phase. The explosive phase consisted of very small discharges (on the order of 10–100 m) occurring directly above the vent while an explosive eruption was ongoing, whereas the plume phase was comprised of discharges occurring throughout the plume subsequent to the explosive eruption. The area of discharges during the explosive phase ranged from less than 1 km2 to 50 km2 or more. The electrical activity at the beginning of the plume phase was dominated by small discharges. Over time the horizontal extent of the flashes increased, with the largest flashes occurring at the end of the plume phase. The distribution of the horizontal size of the discharges over the lifetime of the storm indicate that the charge structure of the plume evolved from a complex and ‘clumpy’ structure to a more simple horizontally stratified structure. Plume height was shown to be a key factor in the quantity of lightning in a storm. The volcanic lightning storms occurred in plumes with column heights greater than 10 km. The tall plumes may contribute to the efficiency of charge generation through ice collisions by providing strong updrafts from the large thermal energy input from the eruption.
Job satisfaction among police constables: A comparative study in three developing nations

The determinants of job satisfaction are explored extensively in organizational behavior literature but have not been addressed adequately in criminal justice. A conceptual model is developed in this paper, which draws on recent research in developed nations from both of those literatures. The model is then applied to police constables in three structurally similar but socially different developing Caribbean nations. Predictions are made concerning (1) the applicability of a developed-nation model to less developed nations and (2) the effects of differing sociopolitical factors on the constables' levels of job satisfaction and the efficacy of the model. The findings show that traditional predictors from the organizational behavior literature, such as promotion policy, affect satisfaction levels as do predictors from the police literature, such as citizens' support. Yet not all traditional predictors, such as individual characteristics, influence job satisfaction. The findings suggest that nation-specific ...
FAIRTHORNE'S TRIADS AS AN AID IN TEACHING INFORMATION SCIENCE

It is pleasant to be able to welcome some theory in a social science field such as librarianship. It is especially pleasing when direct and forceful applications of the theory are fruitful. It is the intent of this paper to demonstrate to librarians how the theory of Robert Arthur Fairthorne can aid in systematizing the analysis and improvement of library operations. This demonstration has evolved during the teaching of information science courses in graduate library schools.
Functional coordination within the global firm

Abstract In this article the authors present a framework that describes coordination difficulties for each of five international strategy alternatives. For each international strategy, the authors discuss the conditions that can create conflicts in managing marketing, operations, and product development. They then suggest functional coordinating mechanisms that are best suited to the particular demands of each strategy.
Describing agent based real-time distributed systems using design patterns

In this paper, we define a set of design patterns to formalize the common elements of an agent based distributed control systems. These design patterns can be used individually or together depending on the type of control system that is needed. The Agent Interface Design Pattern includes a Current Value Table as well as an Agent Factory and Pheromone Trail digital blackboard. The Agent-Based Optimization Design Pattern implements multivariable closed loop control using mobile agents. The Sequential Control Design Pattern provides an interlocking safety control also using mobile agents.
Targeted therapy for lung cancer

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of death in men and women in the United States. This status is attributed to late diagnosis and lack of effective chemotherapy for metastatic lung cancer. Understanding of the mechanism by which mutated genes confer a neoplastic phenotype on cells has resulted in the development of many potential targeted cancer therapies. This article briefly discusses the work being done with some of these targeted agents in the treatment of lung cancer.
Effect of estrogen and androgen administration on α‐difluoro‐methylornithine‐enhanced putrescine uptake by the rat prostate

Radiolabeled putrescine is a potential imaging agent for carcinoma of the prostate. The intrinsically high uptake of putrescine into the rat prostate and prostatic carcinoma can be further stimulated by pretreatment of the animals with alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) uptake, a polyamine synthesis inhibitor. Pharmacological castration of the animals followed by androgen stimulation and DFMO pretreatment achieved a 30:1 prostate/muscle ratio of 14C-putrescine uptake in elderly rats.
Simple geometric fractals

Recently, vision scientists have begun to explore fractals. This paper describes a set of programs that can be used to create fractal and fractal-like drawings. The programs were implemented on the Apple II series of computers. The programs were primarily designed to create deterministic and random fractal-like patterns with fractal dimensionality between 1 and 2. A supplementary program computes the box dimensionality, a measure of dimensionality that does not assume an infinite recursive process. The advantages of this measure of dimensionality over the more typical self-similar measure are discussed.
Field operation of a robotic small waterplane area twin hull boat for shallow-water bathymetric characterization

An innovative robotic boat has been developed for performing bathymetric mapping of very shallow coastal, estuarine, and inland waters. The boat uses a small waterplane area twin hull design to provide natural platform stability for a multibeam sonar payload, and a navigation system automatically guides the boat in a “lawn-mowing” pattern to map a region of interest. Developed in stages over five years as part of a low-cost student design program, the boat is now operational and is being used to generate science-quality maps for scientific and civil use; it is also being used as a testbed for evaluating the platform for other types of scientific missions and for demonstrating advanced control techniques. This paper reviews the student-based development process, describes the design of the boat, presents results from field operations, and reviews plans for future extensions to the system. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evaluation of 163Ho production options for neutrino mass measurements with microcalorimeter detectors

Abstract The rare-earth isotope 163 Ho is of interest for large experiments hoping to improve the precision of neutrino mass measurements to less than 0.1 eV. While a variety of potential production methods exist, production of this isotope in quantities and purities suitable for large-scale neutrino mass measurements is challenging. In particular, the co-production of 166m Ho may limit the utility of a given production method; avoiding this radioactive contaminant is discussed. This work compares available production methods and presents the results of theoretical studies which examine achievable quantity and purity of 163 Ho production in support of the effort to measure neutrino mass.
An interpretation of water‐table fluctuations at four wells in Southern California

The urban and agricultural development in most areas of southern California have depended on the underground water-resources of which more and more use has been made. It has been estimated that in the South Coastal Basin during the summer 90 per cent of the water-supply for irrigation and other purposes developed locally is obtained from underground sources [see 1 of “References” at end of paper]. Because of the economic importance of this resource, measurements of the depth of water-level are made regularly at hundreds of wells in the area to obtain knowledge of the draw-down and replenishment.
Energy Transfer in Doped Organic Crystals

Abstract This paper summarizes the results we have obtained in studying energy transfer in doped organic crystals as a function of temperature, dopent concentration, sample size, method of crystal growth and method of excitation. Neither the theory of energy transfer by exciton diffusion nor the theory of long range resonance energy transfer can adequately explain the experimental observations. We also show that the predictions of exciton diffusion do not agree with the observed fluorescence rise times reported previously by other workers. Unsuccessful attempts to fit the data with a theory of exciton diffusion in two dimensions are also reported.
On the prestressing and deformation of rectangular particle detector frames

Abstract Particle detectors such as spark chambers and multiwire proportional chambers (MWPC) generally contain planar electrodes streched across rectangular frames. For detectors of reasonable size, this can result in fairly large forces acting on the frames. To maintain the electrode planes under uniform tension and to prevent sagging, the frames must be prestressed. This paper contains a detailed examination of the deformation of rectangular frames under stress. A simple model for this phenomenon is presented. The model consists of treating each side of the frame as an elastic beam subject to the condition that the sides remain perpendicular at the corners. The predictions of the model are in good agreement with measured deflections of a MWPC frame. The model is used to determine the optimum value of a single concentrated prestressing force F to best approximate the total distributed force W of a uniformly tensed electrode plane. For most geometries it is found that F is about 62% of W .
A Brief Self Report Form of the Cartoon Scale of Preschool and Primary Nowicki-Strickland Internal-External Control Scale

This study presents construct validity evidence for a brief self report form of the Nowicki-Strickland Preschool and Primary Internal-External control scale (PPNSIE). The 13 item scale was completed by 376 first and second graders. Based on a series of analyses, this brief self report scale appeared to have a factor structure similar to that of the PPNSIE as well as comparable reliability, item characteristics, and relation to achievement.
A Gateway MultiSite Recombination Cloning Toolkit

The generation of DNA constructs is often a rate-limiting step in conducting biological experiments. Recombination cloning of single DNA fragments using the Gateway system provided an advance over traditional restriction enzyme cloning due to increases in efficiency and reliability. Here we introduce a series of entry clones and a destination vector for use in two, three, and four fragment Gateway MultiSite recombination cloning whose advantages include increased flexibility and versatility. In contrast to Gateway single-fragment cloning approaches where variations are typically incorporated into model system-specific destination vectors, our Gateway MultiSite cloning strategy incorporates variations in easily generated entry clones that are model system-independent. In particular, we present entry clones containing insertions of GAL4, QF, UAS, QUAS, eGFP, and mCherry, among others, and demonstrate their in vivo functionality in Drosophila by using them to generate expression clones including GAL4 and QF drivers for various trp ion channel family members, UAS and QUAS excitatory and inhibitory light-gated ion channels, and QUAS red and green fluorescent synaptic vesicle markers. We thus establish a starter toolkit of modular Gateway MultiSite entry clones potentially adaptable to any model system. An inventory of entry clones and destination vectors for Gateway MultiSite cloning has also been established (www.gatewaymultisite.org).
Understanding Senile Dementia: A Challenge for the Future

The causes of dementia in later life are reviewed. Special attention is paid to senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type, its prevelance, the characteristic structural changes in the brains of perso...
Genomic targeting and mapping of tiller inhibition gene (tin3) of wheat using ESTs and synteny with rice

Changes in plant architecture have been central to the domestication of wild species. Tillering or the degree of branching determines shoot architecture and is a key component of grain yield and/or biomass. Previously, a tiller inhibition mutant with monoculm phenotype was isolated and the mutant gene (tin3) was mapped in the distal region of chromosome arm 3AmL of Triticum monococcum. As a first step towards isolating a candidate gene for tin3, the gene was mapped in relation to physically mapped expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and sequence tag site (STS) markers developed based on synteny with rice. In addition, we investigated the relationship of the wheat region containing tin3 with the corresponding region in rice by comparative genomic analysis. Wheat ESTs that had been previously mapped to deletion bins provided a useful framework to identify closely related rice sequences and to establish the most likely syntenous region in rice for the wheat tin3 region. The tin3 gene was mapped to a 324-kb region spanned by two overlapping bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) of rice chromosome arm 1L. Wheat–rice synteny was exceptionally high at the tin3 region despite being located in the high-recombination, gene-rich region of wheat. Identification of tightly linked flanking EST and STS markers to the tin3 gene and its localization to highly syntenic rice BACs will assist in the future development of a high-resolution map and map-based cloning of the tin3 gene.
Optics for diffuse photon density waves

We perform experiments which confirm the existence of diffuse photon density waves in homogeneous diffusive media and show that these waves obey some simple principles of optics. In particular, experiments are done to show that Snell's law holds for waves moving across a boundary between media of different diffusional indices of refraction. Other experiments are performed which investigate the scattering of these waves from spherical objects, and simple models are presented to explain these results. Finally we demonstrate that it is possible to excite a fluorescent object with a diffuse photon density wave, creating a transduced diffuse photon density wave with a different wavelength. In summary we discuss the implications of these results for medical imaging.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The pupil response of a teleost fish, Porichthys notatus: description and comparison to other species

The pupil response of Porichthys notatus to different intensities of illumination is described and compared to that of P. myriaster, Cephaloscyllium ventroisum, and a human. While the fully dark adapted pupil is round, at the highest light intensities it consists of only two small, almost independent, apertures with a total area 4.9% of that observed in the fully dilated animal. The response is at least partially consensual and occurs, albeit at a much reduced rate, in isolated eyes. P. notatus also displays retinomotor movements comparable to those seen in most teleosts, suggesting that, contrary to most previous assumptions, pupillary responses and retinomotor migrations are not mutually exclusive.
Drugs for Children: The World Situation:

Much of the global burden of death and disease is concentrated in the world's developing countries. There is a core group of prophylactic and therapeutic substances capable of meeting the vast majority of health needs in these countries. Yet, the cost of purchasing pharmaceuticals can account for a high proportion of the total health expenditure of a developing nation. The World Health Organization initiated the Action Program of Essential Drugs to ensure worldwide access to affordable drugs of high quality as well as their rational and appropriate use. The world's children too, by right and by necessity, deserve access to essential drugs that have been tested and formulated for pediatric populations and accompanied by information for their appropriate use in children. The off-label use of drugs in children is common and additional problems of access to health care, and availability and cost of drugs, are even greater for children in poor countries. A first step in addressing these problems would be an in...
Effect of multimode fibre core diameter on modal noise suppression in white-light interferometry

Abstract A study of the effect of modal noise in a Michelson interferometer system with a multimode down-lead fibre is reported. The experimental results show that the larger the core diameter of the multimode fibre used, the higher the signal-to-noise ratio ( S N ) obtained at the output of system. A simplified theoretical analysis is used to support this, and indicates that, to a reasonable approximation, the output S N ratio of the system is proportional to the square root of the mode number of the light propagating in the fibre.
Evaluating soil management with microbial community-level physiological profiles

Abstract Soil management practices such as crop rotations and crop production inputs can affect soil microbial communities. Carbon substrate utilization patterns have been used to distinguish microbial community functional activity in different ecosystems. Microbial community functional activity from a long-term crop rotation experiment (HRE) and from Pennsylvania farms was evaluated by analysis of microbial community-level physiological profiles (CLPP) based on Gram-negative Biolog ® plate reactions. Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analyses of substrate reactions were analyzed after 72 h of incubation. In the HRE, treatments with manure and crop rotations formed a different cluster than treatments with no manure and continuous corn. Farms with routine organic amendments formed a different cluster than farms with few or no organic additions. Whole plate metrics—mean plate intensity (MPI), number of C substrate reactions—were particularly effective as indicators of soil management impacts on microbial community activity. Substrate utilization diversity was different in treatments with manure additions and crop rotations treatments of HRE, but not for farms with different management. Although not without limitation, microbial community-level physiological profiling can be used as a tool to explore the impacts of different soil management on the functional activity of soil microbial communities.
Effect of a magnetic field on the melting curve of 3 He

The melting curve of3He was measured below 25 mK and in magnetic fields of 2.12, 6.36, 31.8, and 63.6 kG. The compressional cooling technique was used with a capacitive pressure gauge and a54Mn-in-iron γ-ray anisotropy thermometer. A depression was observed in the melting curve, indicating nuclear spin ordering in the solid3He. The effect is larger in magnitude and develops more rapidly with field than the theoretically expected results.
Multiple Components Mapping of Live Tissue by Phasor Analysis of Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging

In fluorescence lifetime microscopy (FLIM) of live tissues a major issue is the assignment of autofluorescence to specific molecular components and their interactions within the physiological context. Here we use the phasor approach to fluorescence lifetime imaging to analyze complex decays in a live tissue. The tissues used were seminiferous tubules from the testes of wild type mice or mice expressing GFP from an Oct4 transgene. Lifetime images were acquired in the time domain and analytically transformed in the phasor representation. By examination of the clustering of the phasors we identified different molecular components: auto fluorescence, GFP, collagen and retinol. Each chemical species was identified and categorized by its specific location in the phasor plot. This phasor fingerprint reduces the importance of knowing the exact lifetime distribution of the fluorophores and emphasizes the contribution of the species to the signal. To better identify specific tissue components we also used spectral imaging and second harmonic generation microscopy. Linear combinations in the same pixel of molecular species were recognized and their relative fraction was calculated and mapped. The analysis of the fluorescence decay with higher harmonics of the phasor plot separates different molecular components that have the same location in the phasor plot at one harmonic but arise from different lifetime distributions. The phasor approach to lifetime imaging in live tissue provides a unique and straightforward method for interpreting complex decays in terms of molecular features by identifying fluorophores and obtaining functional maps of their relative concentration. This method has the potential to become a non invasive tool to characterize the local microenvironment and monitor differentiation and diseases in label-free live tissues. Work supported by NIH-P41 P41-RRO3155 and P50-GM076516, NIH RO1 HD49488, NIH PO1 HD47675, CIRM RC1-00110 PD.
The weight-reduction index: Suitable for cross-study comparisons?

Abstract The past 10 yr have witnessed a remarkable proliferation of behavioral strategies for weight reduction. Treatment studies have reported on the effectiveness of these strategies, however, using a variety of outcome measures, thereby making cross-study comparisons difficult at best. The Weight-Reduction Index (RI), an algebraic combination of weight lost, initial weight, surplus weight, and target weight, has been proposed as a more widely applicable dependent measure and has been used in several studies. The RI, however, appears to be inordinately influenced by initial degree of obesity and duration of treatment. This and other drawbacks regarding its feasibility as a cross-study index are discussed, along with suggestions for more suitable indices.
Multistep gradual rounding

A value V is to be rounded to an arbitrary precision resulting in the value V". Conventional rounding technique uses one step to accomplish this. Multistep rounding uses several steps to round the value V to successively shorter precisions with the final rounding step producing the desired value V". This alternate rounding method is one way to implement with the minimum of hardware, the denormalization process that the IEEE Floating-Point Standard 754 requires when underflow occurs. There are certain cases for which multistep rounding produces a different result than single-step rounding. To prevent such a step error, the author introduces a rounding procedure called gradual rounding that is very similar to conventional rounding with the addition of two tag bits associated with each floating-point register. >
Preliminary design analysis of the ALT-II limiter for TEXTOR ☆

Abstract Installation of a large toroidal belt pump limiter, Advanced Limiter Test II (ALT-II), on the TEXTOR tokamak at Julich, FRG is anticipated for early 1986. This paper discusses the preliminary mechanical design and materials considerations undertaken as part of the feasibility study phase for ALT-II. Since the actively cooled limiter blade is the component in direct contact with the plasma edge, and thus subject to the severe plasma environment, most preliminary design efforts have concentrated on analysis of the blade. The screening process which led to the recommended preliminary design consisting of a dispersion strengthened copper or OFHC copper cover plate over an austenitic stainless steel base plate is discussed. A 1 to 3 mm thick low atomic number coating consisting of a graded plasma-sprayed Silicon Carbide-Aluminum composite is recommended subject to further experiment and evaluation. Thermal-hydraulic and stress analyses of the limiter blade are also discussed.
The Structure and Morphology of the Ionized Gas in Starburst Galaxies: NGC 5253/5236*

We investigate the interplay between starbursts and host galaxies by studying the structure and physical characteristics of the ionized gas surrounding the central starbursts in the two nearby galaxies NGC 5253 and NGC 5236. The two systems form a pair that presumably interacted about 1 Gyr ago. They represent very different galactic environments, NGC 5253 being a metal-poor dwarf and NGC 5236 being a metal-rich, massive, grand-design spiral. We present images of the starburst regions in these two galaxies in the light of the line emission [O III], H?, and [S II] and in continuum U, V, and R. For NGC 5253, the images are deep enough that we can detect faint H? arches and filaments out to ~1.9 kpc and [S II] filaments out to ~1 kpc from the main ionizing cluster. The ground-based line images are complemented with an archival HST Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 H? image. Line ratio maps [O III]/H? and [S II]/H? show that in the outer regions the diffuse ionized gas is partially excited by a nonphotoionization process (shocks). The shocked gas is mostly concentrated southwest of the galaxy's center, in coincidence with the position of H? bubbles and with extended soft X-ray emission. The H? emission from the shock-excited gas is ?1%?2% of the total and ?10%?20% of the diffuse ionized gas emission, although the mechanical input from the starburst would be sufficient to support a shocked H? luminosity ~3 times the observed one. About 80%?90% of the diffuse gas is consistent with being photoionized, requiring that about 10% of the ionizing photons escape from the starburst site. The starburst in NGC 5253 appears to be fed by gas infalling along the galaxy's optical minor axis, while hot gas expanding from the starburst has a preferential direction along the major axis. The results for NGC 5236 are less clear than for NGC 5253, as the images are not as deep. In the central region of NGC 5236, the H? image traces the U emission from the ionizing stars more closely than in NGC 5253; the emission-line ratio maps show very little or no evidence for presence of shock excitation. Very little or no ionized gas appears expanding from the center of the galaxy outward along the disk plane, and ionization is a local process. The starburst in NGC 5236 is thus more strongly confined than that in NGC 5253; the deeper gravitational-potential well of the more massive galaxy probably keeps the ionized gas near to the ionizing stars.
A computerized analysis of platelet aggregation detected by ultrasound

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine if computerized image processing could be used to characterize platelet aggregation visualized by ultrasound. Citrated whole blood (WB) or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was imaged with a 12 mHz transducer before and after the addition of adenosine diphosphate. The images were digitized using a 512 × 512 pixel resolution with 256 levels of gray. Raster interference was eliminated by filtering and aggregates were separated from background by gray level discrimination. The results showed that platelet aggregation in PRP can be described by the number of aggregates counted, their sizes or their gray levels. However, aggregation in WB can be detected only by the sizes or gray levels of the aggregates due to the greater echogenicity of ex vivo WB. This methodology, applied to ultrasonic images of brachial arteries and veins, demonstrates that venous particles are common in patients and normal controls, but arterial particles are more common in patients. Differences in the size and brightness of these particles may have prognostic implications.
Surveillance of Nuclear Pore Complex Assembly by ESCRT-III/Vps4

The maintenance of nuclear compartmentalization by the nuclear envelope and nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) is essential for cell function; loss of compartmentalization is associated with cancers, laminopathies, and aging. We uncovered a pathway that surveils NPC assembly intermediates to promote the formation of functional NPCs. Surveillance is mediated by Heh2, a member of the LEM (Lap2-emerin-MAN1) family of integral inner nuclear membrane proteins, which binds to an early NPC assembly intermediate, but not to mature NPCs. Heh2 recruits the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT)—III subunit Snf7 and the AAA-ATPase Vps4 to destabilize and clear defective NPC assembly intermediates. When surveillance or clearance is compromised, malformed NPCs accumulate in a storage of improperly assembled nuclear pore complexes compartment, or SINC. The SINC is retained in old mothers to prevent loss of daughter lifespan, highlighting a continuum of mechanisms to ensure nuclear compartmentalization.
The Use of Matrix Methods in the Modeling of Spectroscopic Data Sets

We describe a general approach to the model-based analysis of sets of spectroscopic data that is built upon the techniques of matrix analysis. A model hypothesis may often be expressed by writing a matrix of measured spectra as the product of a matrix of spectra of individual molecular species and a matrix of corresponding species populations as a function of experimental conditions. The modeling procedure then requires the simultaneous determination of a set of species spectra and a set of model parameters (from which the populations are derived), such that this product yields an optimal description of the measured spectra. This procedure may be implemented as an optimization problem in the space of the (possibly nonlinear) model parameters alone, coupled with the efficient solution of a corollary linear optimization problem using matrix decomposition methods to obtain a set of species spectra corresponding to any set of model parameters. Known species spectra, as well as other information and assumptions about spectral shapes, may be incorporated into this general framework, using parametrized analytical functional forms and basis-set techniques. The method by which assumed relationships between global features (e.g., peak positions) of different species spectra may be enforced in the modeling without otherwise specifying the shapes of the spectra will be shown. We also consider the effect of measurement errors on this approach and suggest extensions of the matrix-based least-squares procedures applicable to situations in which measurement errors may not be assumed to be normally distributed. A generalized analysis procedure is introduced for cases in which the species spectra vary with experimental conditions.
Massive Infarction of Spinal Cord and Vertebral Bodies as a Complication of Dissecting Aneurysm of the Aorta

A case of spinal cord and vertebral body necrosis as a complication of dissecting aneurysm of the aorta has been presented. Previous report of vertebral body necrosis complicating this entity could not be found. The incidence of intercostal and lumbar artery involvement in this condition is not known; a disparity appears between the incidence of involvement and necrosis of structures supplied by them. Factors believed to be important in assessing the significance of involvement of these vessels are mentioned. All cases of dissecting aneurysm in which there are neurologic signs should have thorough study of the spinal cord and vertebral bodies if they come to autopsy.
Paracetamol in the treatment of osteoarthritis pain

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disease and OA of the knee, in particular, is the major cause of chronic disability among people > 65 years. Because nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) improve symptoms in many patients with OA, it is widely considered that OA pain is due to synovial inflammation. However, OA pain may arise also from subchondral bone, the joint capsule ligaments, tendons, entheses and periarticular muscle spasm. In many patients, the relief of OA pain and overall satisfaction with therapy may be as great with paracetamol (acetaminophen [APAP]) as with an NSAID. Cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-1-sparing NSAIDs (coxibs) are no more effective in the treatment of OA pain than non-selective NSAIDs and, although they may significantly decrease the risk of serious adverse effects related to gastrointestinal ulcers (GI) and ulcer complications, their gastroprotective effect may be reduced by concomitant administration of low-dose aspirin. Also, they may increase the risk of myocardial infarction in predisposed individuals. Because coxibs do not inhibit platelet aggregation, if prophylaxis against thromboembolic disease is required in patients being treated with a selective COX-2 inhibitor, low-dose aspirin should be used in conjunction with the coxib. Furthermore, nonselective NSAIDs and coxibs may have adverse effects on the kidney, fracture healing and salt and water homeostasis. This paper discusses the relative positioning of APAP, NSAIDs and coxibs in the management of OA, on the basis of considerations of tolerability, efficacy and costs.