cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Implications of a Lower Pennsylvanian Ultisol for equatorial Pangean climates and early, oligotrophic, forest ecosystems

A well-formed, upland soil profile, preserved beneath the Lower Pennsylvanian, Lykens Valley #2 coal in the Southern Anthracite Field of northeastern Pennsylvania, is geologically the oldest example of an Ultisol yet identified. The Lykens Valley paleosol is a complete soil profile that exhibits characteristics consistent with a sustained period of soil formation in a highly oxidizing and leaching upland environment. This paleosol provides evidence that an active and complex forest ecosystem occupied tropical uplands at a time when coal formation dominated the adjacent lowland environments. In addition, it provides insights for understanding the evolution of land plants, the development of oligotrophic, terrestrial ecological interactions, and global carbon cycling. The distribution of kaolinite, illite, chlorite, and aluminum and iron hydroxides within the profile shows that this paleosol formed in a warm, moist, oxidizing environment. Further, on the basis of modern analogs, this profile suggests that a stable substrate may have persisted for as long as a hundred thousand years. The formation of Ultisols during the Lower Pennsylvanian demonstrates that plant communities had complex rooting systems that were capable of collecting nutrients and surviving in a base-poor and well-drained environment at a much earlier time than previous Upper Pennsylvanian estimates. The existence of a viable, upland-forest plant community greatly increases the land area available for terrestrial primary productivity and carbon pumping in equatorial Pangea and should thus have a major impact on global climate during the Lower Pennsylvanian.
Phospholipids determination in vegetable oil by thin-layer chromatography and imaging densitometry

Abstract A rapid reliable method was developed to measure vegetable oil phospholipid content by thin-layer chromatography–imaging densitometry. Phospholipid samples were obtained from crude soybean oil by water degumming and then analyzed and quantified by thin-layer chromatography and imaging densitometry. Phosphatidyl choline (PC), phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE) and phosphatidyl inositol (PI) standard curves were generated. The total phospholipid content of the oil was 1.12–1.26%, of which 27.1 ± 1.86% was PC, 22.7 ± 0.45% was PE, while PI accounted for 17.2 ± 0.85% of the total. A high correlation coefficient of 0.985 was found for reproducibility of pixel area (OD*mm) at a constant concentration of standard phospholipid. Regression analysis of the pixel area vs the phospholipid (PC, PE, and PI) weights ( μ g) generated R 2 greater than 0.983. Thin-layer chromatography–imaging densitometry proved a useful tool for rapid determination and quantification of the major phospholipids in soybean oil.
Shared Displays for Remote Rover Science Operations

Robotic rovers are expected to play a major role in future lunar in-situ resource prospecting. Prospecting missions will involve a ground control team of planetary scientists and rover operators. These ground controllers will need to evaluate prospecting data gathered by a rover and make operational decisions in real-time. In October 2014, the NASA Ames Research Center conducted a lunar analog robotic prospecting mission in the Mojave Desert to study how to support such operations. This paper describes the roles within the Science Operations Team during this analog mission, as well as preliminary findings regarding the scientists' use of shared displays.
An Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Design for Sophomores at Purdue University

Universities play a key role in developing future engineers who understand the full scope of the product realization process, and are well equipped to produce effective, creative solutions to open-ended problems. A key step toward instilling the problem-solving mind-set in students is to lay the proper foundation early. Thus, a new cornerstone course, Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Design, has been developed in the School of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University to bridge the gap between the freshman science and mathematics courses, and the more traditional mechanical engineering core courses such as thermodynamics, heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and machine design. This paper presents the goals of the new sophomore course, some details of its implementation, and results of the first three offerings. The primary goal of the course is to teach the students effective strategies for solving problems that have many acceptable solutions. This goal is met by a mixture of design theory presentations and design practice in a carefully guided semester-long project. Distinction is made throughout the course between effective problem-solving strategies for single-solution problems, common in math, physics, and chemistry courses for example, and multiple-solution problem-solving strategies. Results from the first three offerings of this course indicate that it is changing the way students approach problems in their later courses. Plans for future revisions of the course are also included.
Laser Damage Testing Of Coated Reflectors At Excimer Laser Wavelengths

An important parameter in the design of large-scale ultraviolet lasers - such as those envisioned for Inertial Confinement Fusion and Molecular Laser Isotope Separation - is the resistance to optical damage of windows, AR-coatings, and coated reflectors. In addressing the problem of evaluating and optimizing highly reflective dielectric stacks, we have measured the damage thresholds of a variety of 248-nm, 308-nm, and 351-nm reflectors. The coatings were composed of quarterwave stacks of oxide and/or fluoride films deposited on Suprasil 2 substrates. Testing was accomplished at 35 Hz with nominal 10-ns pulses focused to a mean 1/e2 diameter of 0.5 - 0.6 mm. Damage threshold - defined as the highest fluence at which 10/10 sites survived 1000 shots - ranged from 1 - 5 J/cm2, with a strong dependence upon laser wavelength and reflector coating materials.© (1981) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Signal extraction from long-term ecological data using Bayesian and non-Bayesian state-space models

Abstract Emerging ecological time series from long-term ecological studies and remote sensing provide excellent opportunities for ecologists to study the dynamic patterns and governing processes of ecological systems. However, signal extraction from long-term time series often requires system learning (e.g., estimation of true system state) to process the large amount of information, to reconstruct system state, to account for measurement error, and to handle missing data. State-space models (SSMs) are a natural choice for these tasks and thus have received increasing attention in ecological and environmental studies. Data-based learning using SSMs that connect ecological processes to the measurement of system state becomes a useful technique in the ecological informatics toolkit. The present study illustrates the use of the Kalman filter (KF), an estimator of SSMs, with case studies of population dynamics. The examples of the SSM applications include the reconstruction of system state using the KF method and Markov chain Monte Carlo methods, estimation of measurement-error variances in the estimates of animal population abundance using basic structural models (BSMs), and estimation of missing values using the KF and Kalman smoother. Estimation of measurement-error variances by BSMs does not require knowledge of the functional form that generates the time series data. Instead, BSMs approximate the trajectory or deterministic skeleton of a system dynamics in a semi-parametric fashion, and provide a robust estimator of measurement-error variances. The present study also compares Bayesian SSMs with non-Bayesian SSMs. The joint use of the KF method or its extensions and Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods is a promising approach to the parameter estimation of SSMs.
Phase behavior of β-d galactose pentaacetate–carbon dioxide binary system

Abstract Phase behavior of β- d galactose pentaacetate–carbon dioxide binary system is investigated by dew-point and bubble-point measurements conducted in a high pressure variable volume sapphire cell. The phase envelope for solutions of β- d galactose pentaacetate in supercritical CO2 is obtained for β- d galactose pentaacetate concentrations between 2 and 26 wt%, and for the temperature range of 308–323 K. The system exhibits lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior and high solubility of β- d galactose pentaacetate is observed. The densities of the system are also measured, and liquid-like densities (near 1 g/cm3) are observed for single-phase solutions of β- d galactose pentaacetate in supercritical CO2 at concentrations of 18 wt% and higher. Viscosity is measured for solutions of 18 and 25 wt% β- d galactose pentaacetate in the single-phase region at 313 K and 17 MPa and the viscosity values, 0.095 and 0.103 cp, respectively, are similar in magnitude to the viscosity of pure carbon dioxide.
Effects of processing on the nutritional quality of canola meal

Abstract Two 10-day chick bioassays and two amino acid digestibility trials using cecectomized cockerels were conducted to assess the effects of steam heating and commercial processing on in vivo protein quality of canola meal. In vitro protein solubility measurements in .2 or .5% KOH were evaluated as predictors of in vivo protein quality. Commercial solvent-extracted canola meal autoclaved at 121 C and 105 kPa (international pressure units) for 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 60, or 90 min, was fed to 8-day-old chicks in corn-canola meal diets containing 20% CP. Growth performance of chicks fed autoclaved canola meal decreased linearly (P ≤ .001) as autoclaving time increased. The analyzed lysine content in canola meal was reduced markedly by increased autoclaving time, with little or no effects observed for other amino acids. True digestibilities of indispensable amino acids decreased (P ≤ .05) as autoclaving time increased, with lysine providing the most notable change. The decreased digestibility of lysine was due both to reduced concentration of analyzed lysine and to reduced digestibility of the analyzed lysine remaining after autoclaving. Protein solubility in .2 and .5% KOH decreased as autoclaving time increased. Use of .5% KOH provided a larger range in solubility values over autoclaving times. Four samples of canola from different stages of processing (full-fat seeds, flaked or conditioned meal, expeller meal, and solvent-extracted meal) were also evaluated. Protein solubility in .2% KOH decreased upon solvent extraction, but there were no significant changes in amino acid digestibility due to stage of processing.
Controlling and utilizing aberrations in solid state lasers

A solid-state laser cavity is studied where the laser crystal aberrations are corrected by a diffractive optic element. The type of aberration and the location of the correction plate are found to influence the modal performance of the cavity significantly. The largest modal discrimination is obtained for axicon-like crystal aberrations and when the correction is performed close to the end mirror. An experiment is performed with a laser- diode-pumped Nd:YVO4 laser. With no correction, a thermally induced aberration of approximately two waves is measured across the crystal. By using a diffractive corrector plate, the single-mode slope efficiency is increased by a factor of 4, and the total single-mode output power is increased by a factor of 3.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Structure of Epstein-Barr Virus Glycoprotein 42 Suggests a Mechanism for Triggering Receptor-Activated Virus Entry

Epstein-Barr virus requires glycoproteins gH/gL, gB, and gp42 to fuse its lipid envelope with B cells. Gp42 is a type II membrane protein consisting of a flexible N-terminal region, which binds gH/gL, and a C-terminal lectin-like domain that binds to the B-cell entry receptor human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II. Gp42 triggers membrane fusion after HLA binding, a process that requires simultaneous binding to gH/gL and a functional hydrophobic pocket in the lectin domain adjacent to the HLA binding site. Here we present the structure of gp42 in its unbound form. Comparisons to the previously determined structure of a gp42:HLA complex reveals additional N-terminal residues forming part of the gH/gL binding site and structural changes in the receptor binding domain. Although the core of the lectin domain remains similar, significant shifts in two loops and an alpha helix bordering the essential hydrophobic pocket suggest a structural mechanism for triggering fusion.
Understanding the financial score

Abstract Financial statements and information drawn from them confront us daily: in the media, in corporate annual reports, in the treasurer’s reports for clubs or religious groups, in documents provided to employees and managers, as one considers alternative investments, in documents provided by homeowners’ association and government agencies Various readers of a company’s “financial score” make decisions based on financial information: the company’s managers devise actions to improve operations; investors buy or sell the corporation’s securities; creditors decide how much to lend; customers judge the reliability of this supplier; potential employees decide whether to invest their careers in the company. If you are training to be an accountant, find another book. This book’s objective is to increase your ability to draw useful information from financial statements, and thus to make better decisions—in both your personal life and your professional life. Studying this book should help you be a better manag...
A rachitogenic and growth-promoting effect of citrate.

Abstract In studies with rats it was found that the absorption of Ca from a vitamin D-free diet which contained adequate amounts of Ca (0.5%) and a low supply of P (0.015%) was greatly reduced by the incorporation of Na citrate and citric acid. When vitamin D was added, in addition to the citrate, the absorption of Ca was increased but the level attained was still lower than when citrate was omitted. It is concluded from observed negative Ca and P balances, decreases in bone ash, and increases in metaphyseal widths that citrate had a rachitogenic effect.
A new relation between diffusions and superdiffusions with applications to the equation lu=uα

Abstract We establish a relation between a diffusion ξ and the superdiffusion X corresponding to the spatial motion ξ and branching parameter α. It involves, on one hand, the range R and linear additive functionals of X and, on the other hand, h -transforms of process ξ. By using this relation, we investigate boundary singularities of solutions of the semilinear partial differential equation Lu=u α .
Pion decay constant, electromagnetic form factor, and quark electromagnetic self-energy in quantum chromodynamics

We examine dynamical chiral symmetry breaking in quantum chromodynamics (QCD). To lowest order in a double perturbation expansion in $g$, the gauge coupling, and $\ensuremath{\lambda}=\mathrm{exp}(\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{b{g}^{2}})$ we obtain exact representations for the pion decay constant ${f}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}$ and electromagnetic form factor ${F}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}({q}^{2})$. Using the experimental values for ${f}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}$ and ${F}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}({q}^{2})$, we estimate the dynamically generated quark mass to be 270-300 MeV, in good agreement with a value obtained from ${e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ annihilation data. We also calculate the finite electromagnetic self-energy of a quark in QCD and discuss the implications.
Dynamic inventory and pricing models for competing retailers

We address infinite-horizon models for oligopolies with competing retailers under demand uncertainty. We characterize the equilibrium behavior which arises under simple wholesale pricing schemes. More specifically, we consider a periodic review, infinite-horizon model for a two-echelon system with a single supplier servicing a network of competing retailers. In every period, each retailer faces a random demand volume, the distribution of which depends on his own retail price as well as those charged by possibly all competing retailers. We also derive various comparative statics results regarding the impact several exogenous system parameters (e.g., cost or distributional parameters) have on the equilibrium decisions of the retailers as well as their expected profits. We show that certain monotonicity properties, engrained in folklore as well as in known inventory models for centralized systems, may break down in decentralized chains under retailer competition. Our results can be used to optimize the aggregate profits in the supply chain (i.e., those of the supplier and all retailers) by implementing a specific wholesale pricing scheme. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2004.
Exact Solution of a Time-Varying Capacitance Problem

By means of a new method, a closed-form solution is obtained for the harmonics generated by a sinusoidally varying capacitance in series with a fixed resistor and battery. The solution describes the behavior of the condenser microphone, the vibrating-reed electrometer, a vibrating plate contact potential measuring apparatus, and a special loudspeaker improvement. With only minor modifications the solution can also apply to the case of a sinusoidally varying resistance in series with a fixed inductance and battery; thus, it may, in addition, be usedl to caculate the response of a carbon microphone. The present large-signal solution, which applies for any finite values of the modulation index and frequency, is compared with previous small-signal approximate results, and the dependence on modulation index and frequency is investigated for such quantities as output waveform, total harmonic distortion, harmonic amplitude and phase, and average input and output power. A very distorted waveshape is obtained for low relative frequencies and values of the modulation index near and including unity.
Achieving Water Security in Agriculture: The Human Factor

Published in Agron. J. 107:1557–1560 (2015) doi:10.2134/agronj14.0039 Available freely online through the author-supported open access option. Copyright © 2015 by the American Society of Agronomy, 5585 Guilford Road, Madison, WI 53711. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. aBstract
Covert Netted Wireless Noise Radar Sensor: OFDMA-Based Communication Architecture

We address the need for covert situational awareness by the effective use of random waveforms in ad-hoc networks, wireless communication, and radar sensors. UWB random noise radar is well-known for its LPD and LPI properties. Notch filtering is used to fragment this radar's band-limited random noise transmit signal and the intermediate bandwidth so obtained is used for establishing a covert wireless multi-user communication platform between the radars. This being the primary goal of this paper, we prove that the radar's detection and ranging function can occur simultaneously with data communication. Our results also show that embedding OFDM symbols into the intermediate bandwidth not only preserves the random nature of the transmitted signal but also lets the receiver retrieve the embedded data from the noise-data radar received signal. Next, the CDF of the camouflaged noise-data signal can be made to look very similar to the CDF of a Gaussian random noise signal, by proper adjustments to the number of carriers used in the OFDM symbol. This CDF can be used as a metric to measure the covertness of this system. Further, the effect of this tradeoff on the BER of the system can be brought into allowable limits with the use of OFDM-based data redundancy technique. Now, using this deterministic ally fragmented noise spectrum as the communication channel and OFDMA/FDD as a multiplexing technique, a number of such noise radars can be configured to form an ad-hoc multi-radar wireless network. An algorithm in this regard is also presented. Thus, as seen by any hostile target, the transmitted noise-data waveform appears random and noise-like. However, for the radar sensors in the network, this noise-like signal contains camouflaged information
Steroidogenesis by the human oocyte-cumulus cell complex in vitro

The ability of the human oocyte-cumulus cell complex to synthesize progesterone, androgens and estrogens and to modify its endocrine environment in vitro was investigated. Germinal-vesicle stage oocytes with adhering layers of cumulus cells were recovered from human ovaries and maintained for 40--50 h in vitro in a culture medium with or without antral fluid. The results show that oocyte-cumulus (O-C) cell complexes were capable of synthesizing progesterone, androgens and estrogens. Oocytes with the capacity of resuming meiosis in vitro were part of an O-C complex producing significantly more progesterone than those O-C complexes containing oocytes incapable of resuming meiosis. Irrespective of the stage of oocyte maturation at the end of culture, testosterone and estrone were respectively the major androgen and estrogen produced. It is concluded that the oocyte-cumulus compartment of the antral follicle is a steroidogenically competent unit and that it has the capacity to modify the endocrine microenvironment of the follicle.
Evaluation of Morphological and Agronomical Characterization of Turkish Pepper Accessions

Collection and characterization of plant genetic resources and assessment of genetic variation plays a fundamental role in plant breeding programs. Pepper is an important crop in many countries and Turkey is fourth in world pepper production. A large number of cultivars and landraces are grown in commercial production in Turkey. Morphological traits of Turkish pepper accessions were evaluated and genetic variation in the population was assessed for further breeding. Principal component (PC) analysis indicated that 75.46% of total variation was accounted for on 10 PC axes and the first three axes were used in principal coordinate analysis for qualitative traits. The clustering pattern and principal coordinates revealed no relationship between geographic origin and geographic diversity in examined populations. There was considerable morphologic variation assessed among pepper genotypes likely due to introduction of diverse pepper genetic material to Turkey and continuing local selection. The large diversity...
Abortion Rights along the Irish-English Border and the Liminality of Women's Experiences

My research in European abortion laws and restrictions focuses on the migration of thousands of Irish women who travel to England each year to access safe and legal abortion services. This article is an investigation of the Irish-English border as a symbol for reproductive freedom and the new value systems in which Irish women participate when they cross its boundary. I provide a brief history of abortion law in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and emphasize a specific case in which border crossing was severely restricted for a young rape victim desiring an abortion. Additionally, my research examines women’s experiences of liminality as they cross the Irish-English border and the complex, conflicting emotions that they may feel as they travel abroad. In particular, I address a recent pro-choice initiative by a Dutch organization called Women on Waves, which sent a ship converted into a reproductive clinic to Dublin to provide services to Irish women. The ship, which has since sailed to Poland and Portugal to offer further assistance to women in countries with bans on abortion, complicates the notion of crossing concrete national lines as it moves throughout international waters.
Successful Removal of a Severed Transvenous Pacemaker Electrode

The ease and simplicity of the transvenous approach to permanent pacing continue to be among its greatest advantages. However in a small proportion of transvenously paced patients complications can occur, A rare complication is an incompletely removed pacing catheter with subsequent embolization to more central parts of the cardiovascular system.’This communication reports the migration of a severed transvenous pacemaker electrode and its removal from the left iliac vein with a femoral-ventricular pigtail catheter, (PACE, Vol. 4, November-December, 1981)
Stressors and Supports for Baccalaureate Nursing Students Completing an Accelerated Program

Background This study examined stressors and resources for nursing students in an accelerated program. The research questions asked what the stressors and coping strategies are for accelerated option students. It also asked which learning strategies help or hinder accelerated option students in meeting the program objectives. The sample included students from an accelerated nursing program in an urban Midwestern university school of nursing. Participants completed a quantitative questionnaire and an interview. Findings suggested that nearly half of the students preferred the lecture format for classroom presentations. Clinical experiences were perceived as the most important component of the program. Resources included peers, family, and faculty. In understanding the stressors experienced by accelerated option students and the preferred learning strategies, the institution of nursing education may assist faculty to facilitate learning. This study forms the foundation for a second study exploring the differences in perceptions of accelerated students and the nursing faculty.
High Night Temperatures During the Floral Bud Stage Increase the Abscission of Reproductive Structures in Cotton

Cotton-producing regions throughout the world often experience high night temperatures (HNTs), affecting flowering and yield in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of high nighttime temperatures on the physiological and biochemical characteristics of cotton during the floral bud and flowering stages. Growth chamber experiments were conducted in 2011–2012 and treatments included a control (day/night temperature of 32/24 °C) and two HNT treatments (32/29 °C from 8:00 pm to 12:00 am) for 3 weeks from the beginning of each phenological stage, i.e., first floral bud (B1) and first flower (F1). The results indicated that increased night temperatures (NTs) during the floral bud and flowering stages increased the rate of flower production per plant. However, no increase was observed in the final number of reproductive structures because the rate of floral abortion also increased for both treatments compared to the control. Additionally, the increase in night temperature during the floral bud stage reduced the sucrose content in the flower, resulting in decreased pollen viability and premature abortion of reproductive structures while the onset of flowering period was also delayed and lower accumulation of reproductive dry matter was observed. HNTs during the flowering stage reduced the number of seeds per locule and the number of seeds per boll. In general, higher than optimum NTs affected sucrose metabolism of the cotton flower and consequently its pollen viability. As a result the flowering period was delayed and a reduction in reproductive dry matter accumulation was observed due to premature abortion of reproductive structures. Finally, cotton is more sensitive to HNT at floral bud stage and this finding may be important to adjust cotton planting date, management and breeding.
The Response regulator HrpY of Dickeya dadantii 3937 regulates virulence genes not linked to the hrp cluster.

HrpX/Y is a putative two-component system (TCS) encoded within the type III secretion system (T3SS) gene cluster of Dickeya dadantii. A linear regulatory cascade initiated by HrpX/Y that leads to a...
Ion transport through protective polymeric coatings exposed to an aqueous phase

Aspects physiques et chimiques du transport ionique de materiaux de revetement (polybutadiene, resine epoxyde, etc.) exposes a une phase aqueuse
Treatment of a Large Infected Thoracic Spine Wound Using High Voltage Pulsed Monophasic Current

This case report describes the use of electrical stimulation with high voltage pulsed monophasic current for treatment of a large, infected wound of the thoracic spine, following a surgical debridement procedure. The patient was a 21-year-old man with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy who was dependent for all self-care and was severely mentally retarded. The initial wound size was as follows: length=17 cm, top width=7.5 cm, middle width=5.5 cm, bottom width=2 cm, and depth=5 cm. The wound was infected with Staphylococcus aureus. The initial treatment consisted of 60 minutes of electrical stimulation (20 minutes of negative polarity followed by 40 minutes of positive polarity) once daily. The frequency of treatment was increased to twice daily after 2 weeks. Total treatment duration was 10 weeks. The patient received antibiotic treatment and daily nursing wound care in addition to electrical stimulation treatment. The wound was completely closed after 10 weeks of treatment. The possible role of high voltage pulsed monophasic current in accelerating the wound-healing process is discussed.
Exercise and Lipoprotein Metabolism

Physical activity can have a significant effect on plasma lipoproteins and lipoprotein metabolism. The effect of exercise on lipoprotein subclasses is often more significant than is reflected by routine measures of lipoprotein cholesterol. These effects have important clinical implications. Some apolipoprotein levels, with the exception of those of lipoprotein (a), are affected by physical activity. Changes in enzymes, as well as transfer protein, activity can help explain the exercise-induced changes in lipoprotein levels. Understanding the complex interaction between exercise and lipoprotein metabolism will enable the therapeutic use of exercise in the appropriate patient population.
New Segmented Copolymers by Combination of Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization and Ring Opening Polymerization

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and ring opening polymerization (ROP) were combined to synthesize various polymers with various structures and composition. Poly(e-caprolactone)-b-poly(n-octadecyl methacrylate), PCL-PODMA, was prepared using both sequential and simultaneous polymerization methods. Kinetic studies on the simultaneous process were performed to adjust the rate of both polymerizations. The influence of tin(ll) 2-ethylhexanoate on ATRP was investigated, which led to development of new initiation methods for ATRP, i.e., activators (re)generated by electron transfer (AGET and ARGET). Additionally, block copolymers with two crystalizable blocks, poly(e-caprolactone)-b-poly(n-butyl acrylate)-b-poly(n-octadecyl methacrylate), PCL-PBA-PODMA, block copolymers for potential surfactant applications poly(e-caprolactone)-b-poly(n-octadecyl methacrylate-co-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate), PCL-P(ODMA-co-DMAEMA), and a macromolecular brush, poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-graft-poly(e-caprolactone), PHEMA-graft-PCL, were prepared using combination of ATRP and ROP.
Why Women Have Less Heart Disease Than Men and How Diabetes Modifies Women's Usual Cardiac Protection: A 40-Year Rancho Bernardo Cohort Study

Abstract Forty years ago, few cohort studies of cardiovascular disease (CVD) included women and fewer still included diabetes or glycemia as risk factors. I describe here the Rancho Bernardo Study (RBS), a single-site, >40-year cohort study of sex differences in heart disease and how diabetes modifies women's natural cardioprotection. More than 6,000 participants were followed for morbidity and mortality, with nearly 3,000 survivors (and death certificates for >85% of decedents). In RBS, more than one-half of diabetes cases were undiagnosed without an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT); more women than men had isolated post-challenge hyperglycemia as their only glucose evidence of diabetes; men had more diabetes, with higher fasting but lower post-challenge glucose levels than did women; women with diabetes had more classic CVD risk factors than did men; and excess risk factor clustering partially explained how diabetes eradicates female cardioprotection. Post-challenge glucose was a stronger CVD risk factor than was fasting glucose. Endogenous insulin was not an independent CVD risk factor in women or men. Men with higher testosterone levels developed fewer cases of diabetes and had fewer metabolic syndrome components. In men, higher total testosterone levels predicted reduced risks for all-cause and CVD but not cancer mortality. In women, both extremes of bioavailable testosterone predicted fatal coronary heart disease but not all-cause mortality. Summary point estimates from large systematic reviews of individual data have replicated most RBS findings. Ongoing research can further clarify how diabetes modifies women's cardioprotection from mid-life to old age.
Observation of oscillatory energy exchange in a coupled-atom–cavity system

Observations of the oscillatory exchange of excitation between N two-state atoms and a single mode of a high-finesse optical cavity are reported in a regime of weak-field excitation and of comparable atomic and cavity damping rates. The observed frequencies of oscillation, approximately given by g√N, where g is the single-photon Rabi frequency, are in reasonable agreement with theoretical predictions.
Economics, Religion and the Decline of Europe

This article asks whether there is any casual connection between the contemporaneous decline in industriousness and religiosity in Europe over the past 25 years. In the United States working hours and levels of religious faith and observance have held steady or even increased over this period. But in most European countries they have declined together. Could this be a posthumous vindication of Max Weber's thesis about the Protestant work ethic and the rise of capitalism? Though there clearly are some important links between religion and economic behaviour, the article concludes that the evidence does not perfectly fit Weber's theory, which emphasised abstinence rather than consumption as a determinant of economic development.
An FPGA implementation of the two-dimensional finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) algorithm

Understanding and predicting electromagnetic behavior is needed more and more in modern technology. The Finite-Difference Time-Domain (FDTD) method is a powerful computational electromagnetic technique for modelling the electromagnetic space. The 3D FDTD buried object detection forward model is emerging as a useful application in mine detection and other subsurface sensing areas. However, the computation of this model is complex and time consuming. Implementing this algorithm in hardware will greatly increase its computational speed and widen its use in many other areas. We present an FPGA implementation to speedup the pseudo-2D FDTD algorithm which is a simplified version of the 3D FDTD model. The pseudo-2D model can be upgraded to 3D with limited modification of structure. We implement the pseudo-2D FDTD model for layered media and complete boundary conditions on an FPGA. The computational speed on the reconfigurable hardware design is about 24 times faster than a software implementation on a 3.0GHz PC. The speedup is due to pipelining, parallelism, use of fixed point arithmetic, and careful memory architecture design.
Experimental Investigation of a Morphable Biplane

A low-speed wind-tunnel investigation was conducted to evaluate the behavior of a morphable biplane configuration.Morphing encompassed a rotation of the wings around the fuselage such that they could bemerged to form amonoplane or split to form anX-shaped biplane. Circular arc and Clark Y wing sections were evaluated. The Reynolds number as well as the wing’s anhedral/dihedral angle were varied. The results indicated that the biplane increased the lift curve slope,maximum lift, and endurance parameter.However, the increase inwetted area caused a reduction in the range parameter. The proposed morphing concept would be beneficial for low-aspect-ratio geometries.
Analytical formulas for risk assessment for a class of problems where risk depends on three interrelated variables

We derive general analytical formulas for assessing risks in a problem domain where the risk depends on three interrelated variables. More specifically, we derive general analytical formulas for propagating beliefs in a network where three binary variables, A, B, and C, are related to a fourth binary variable Z through an 'AND' relationship. In addition, we assume that variables A, B, and C are interrelated in that a change in one variable may affect the value of each of the other two. The analytical formulas derived in this article determine the overall belief and plausibility that Z is true or not true, given that we have beliefs on variables A, B and/or C. To demonstrate the importance of the general results, we use the results to develop models applicable to three real-world situations. The first model can aid external auditors in assessing the quality of an audit client's internal audit function to determine the extent to which the internal auditor's work can be relied on in the conduct of a financial audit while the second can aid in assessing the risk of impaired auditor independence when conducting a financial statement audit. The third model can be used to assess the risk of management fraud in financial reporting. Assessment of such risks is of critical importance to external auditors, regulators, and the investing public. Analytical formulas to help address these types of important business and economic problems have not been available prior to these derivations.
Interactions between past land use, life-history traits and understory spatial heterogeneity

Past land use has contributed to variability in the distribution of herbaceous species by reducing plant abundance and altering species’ chances of recolonizing suitable habitat. Land use may also influence plant heterogeneity by changing environmental conditions within stands. We compared the variability of understory herb abundance in southern Appalachian forests with different land-use histories to examine how past land use influenced plant heterogeneity. The cover of eleven focal species or genera was estimated and mineral soil concentrations were determined during 2001 and 2002 in eight stands that were farmed, logged, or had no disturbance history (reference) in western North Carolina. Analysis of the coefficients of variation revealed that the abundance of understory plants was more heterogeneous in disturbed stands compared with reference stands. However, when nutrient availability differences were accounted for by detrending the plant cover data, understory variability within stands declined, and no differences between disturbed and reference stands could be distinguished. This finding suggests that nutrient availability has important effects on plant heterogeneity, which depend on past land use. Species dispersal, seed size, and phenology also explained variability in the spatial heterogeneity of plants, but generally only before soil nutrient differences were statistically controlled. In addition to demonstrating that past land use has longterm effects on plant heterogeneity, these results indicate that soil nutrients may play different roles in determining vegetation patterns in historically altered and unaltered forests.
Sperm quality following 4 days of cooled storage: impact on fertility

degrade protein components of extracellular matrix and basement membranes, and are thought to be involved in pre-fertilization events. The purpose of this study was to compare the levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in different fractions of SP, and to evaluate the correlation of the MMP levels with fertility. During the breeding season, semenwas collected from 43 stallions (20 Standardbreds, 17 Finnhorses, 4 warmblood riding horses, 2 ponies; ages 4-23 years) residing at nine different stud farms in Finland. The breeding history and current use of the stallions was variable, with the stallions serving 2 to 150 (median 14) mares during the season. Semen jets were collected as 1-4 fractions using an open-ended artificial vagina (AV) or a modified closed AV. After semen collection, the gel was removed and the volume of each fraction was measured. A sample representing the whole ejaculate was formed by combining 10% of the volume of each fraction. The samples were centrifuged at 4000 x g (15 min), and the supernatant was filtered using 0.45 mm filters. The SP samples were stored frozen in 1-mL aliquots in -75 C until analyzed. The levels of the pro-form of MMP-2, active MMP-2 and total MMP-9 were evaluated using gelatin zymography and densitometry. Fertility data were provided by the stud farms and the Finnish trotting and breeding association (Suomen Hippos). The first cycle pregnancy rate was calculated from all of the reported matings in the year in question for the stallions included in the study, and all mares that foaled or aborted were considered pregnant. Pro-MMP-2, active MMP-2 and total MMP-9 were detected in stallion seminal plasma, with the highest levels found in the sperm-rich fraction. In all fractions, the levels of proMMP-2 were significantly higher than the levels of active MMP-2 and total MMP-9, which did not differ. The levels of the different types of MMP were not correlated with the first cycle pregnancy rate. Pro-MMP-2, active MMP-2 and MMP-9 are present in all fractions of the stallion's ejaculate, with the highest levels in the sperm-rich fraction. Despite a possible role in the fertilization process, the levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were not correlated with fertility in this study on a limited number of animals.
Estimating measurement uncertainties

This tutorial will describe some general methods of estimating measurement uncertainties. These include estimates based on theory, simulation, and altering the measurement system. Combining uncertainties will be discussed. The conditions for the validity of the central limit theorem will be considered. Finally, a measurement example from planar near-field measurements will be given.
Symmetric Galerkin boundary integral fracture analysis for plane orthotropic elasticity

This paper discusses the formulation and implementation of the symmetric Galerkin boundary integral method for two dimensional linear elastic orthotropic fracture analysis. For the usual case of a traction-free crack, the symmetry of the coefficient matrix can be effectively exploited to significantly reduce the computational work required to construct the linear system. In addition, computation time is reduced by employing efficient analytic integration formulas for the analysis of the orthotropic singular and hypersingular integrals. Preliminary test calculations indicate that the method is both accurate and efficient.
Development and Characterization of Complex DNA Fingerprinting Probes for the Infectious Yeast Candida dubliniensis

Candida albicans is the most common yeast species carried as a commensal by healthy individuals (42) and the most common species isolated from yeast infections (21, 44). The next most common species include Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida krusei (9, 25). All of these species are readily distinguishable from C. albicans both phenotypically and genotypically. However, over the years there have been an ever-increasing number of reports of atypical strains of C. albicans that have been distinguished primarily by unusual fingerprint patterns (3, 18, 19, 22, 27, 45). Based upon phenotypic and genotypic differences, Coleman, Sullivan, and coworkers in Dublin, Ireland, were the first to argue that a majority of these atypical C. albicans isolates represented a separate species, which they named Candida dubliniensis (46). Because strains of the putative species C. dubliniensis exhibited the two major phenotypic characteristics used to identify C. albicans, chlamydospore and true hypha formation (46), and because they hybridized with putative C. albicans-specific fingerprinting probes (3, 22, 45, 46), there has been some hesitation in considering them members of a bona fide species separate from C. albicans. However, the fact that several DNA typing methods, including species-specific probes (3, 22, 45, 46), multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (3, 12, 27, 47), randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (45, 46), electrophoretic karyotyping (46), oligonucleotide fingerprinting probes (45, 46), microsatellite DNA analysis (20), and restriction fragment length polymorphism without probes (46), discriminated these strains from typical C. albicans strains suggested that they indeed represent a separate species. For this reason, several methods based on phenotype have recently been developed to distinguish isolates of C. dubliniensis from isolates of C. albicans, including growth at 42°C (7, 33, 46, 47), β-glucosidase activity (3, 33, 47), colony color on CHROMagar (7, 33), and fluorescence after growth on methyl blue-Sabouraud agar (33). However, none of these methods appear to definitively identify all C. dubliniensis isolates. If C. dubliniensis is a bona fide species, it should contain species-specific repetitive elements dispersed throughout the genome, as has been demonstrated for C. albicans (28, 31, 40), C. tropicalis (11, 41), C. glabrata (15), C. krusei (4) and C. parapsilosis (7a). Demonstration of such species-specific sequences in the C. dubliniensis genome would not only reinforce the arguments by Sullivan and Coleman (48) that it is a bona fide species but also provide the basis for a DNA fingerprinting system (39). We therefore screened for and cloned three DNA fingerprinting probes that included moderately repetitive elements. One of them, Cd25, not only proved to be effective in broad epidemiological studies but also contained one or more C. dubliniensis-specific sequences dispersed throughout the genome, supporting the argument that C. dubliniensis is a distinct species.
Scientific Truth or False Hope? Understanding Alzheimer's Disease from an Aging Perspective

In this paper, we argue that the current official definition for Alzheimer's disease is misleading, since it defines senile dementia (SD), a long-known incurable senile/geriatric condition, as a discrete/curable disease. This overly optimistic definition was incepted in the 1970s amid the public's fear of the upcoming SD crisis and desperate hope for a cure. Scientifically, however, it has overturned Alois Alzheimer's age-based concept for disease classification—the essence of modern Geriatric Medicine and the National Institute of Aging. Thus, the current definition for SD, though socially and politically appealing, would be scientifically flawed. As an authoritative study guideline, it has caused profound and far-reaching confusions in research by misleading attention to the presumptive pathogenic/erroneous factors as drug targets for "silver bullets". Such well-intentioned studies would generate numerous data, but render SD a scientific and logical enigma. In this context we discuss: 1) why and how senile conditions including SD differ from discrete diseases by origin, thus also by study paradigm and intervention strategy; 2) why senile conditions may not be explained by abnormal/pathogenic factors, but logically should be explained by "normal" elements in life, perhaps advanced aging plus risk factors; and 3) why the "amyloid- toxicity" controversy, a simple scientific issue, has lasted for so long. Finally, we ask: can scientific inquiry preserve its integrity and objectivity under social pressure? It appears that these fundamental questions warrant serious attention if the scientific nature of SD is to be eventually understood. Corresponding author: Ming Chen. E-mail: ming.chen@va.gov.