cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heidegger and Our Twenty-first Century Experience of Ge-Stell

I propose an etymological translation of Ge-Stell, Heidegger’s word for the essence of modern technology, from its Greek and Latin roots as “syn-thetic com-posit[ion]ing,” which presciently portends our twenty-first century experience of the internetted WorldWideWeb with its virtual infinity of websites in cyberspace, Global Positioning Systems, interlocking air traffic control grids, world-embracing weather maps, the 24-7 world news coverage of cable TV-networks like CNN, etc., etc.—all of which are structured by the complex programming based on the computerized and ultimately simple Leibnizian binary-digital logic generating an infinite number of combinations of the posit (1) and non-posit (0). The sharp contrast between the global time-space technologically foreshortened into instantaneity and simultaneity and the radically local time-space of our situated historical existence—in short, the temporal-spatial tension between Ge-Stell and Da-Sein—is examined for ways and means of bringing them together in contemporaneous compatibility.
Follicular phase gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist and human gonadotropins: a better alternative for ovulation induction in in vitro fertilization

The efficacy of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist analog (GnRH-a) administered during the luteal phase of the preceding ovarian stimulation cycle has been demonstrated in in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Growth-promoting effects of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on hematopoietic cells: overexpression of introduced IGF-1 receptor abrogates interleukin-3 dependency of murine factor-dependent cells by a ligand-dependent mechanism

Although insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) stimulated 3H-thymidine incorporation upon addition to the interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent cell line FDC-P1, IGF-1 did not relieve IL-3 dependency for growth. To further examine the effects of IGF-1 on hematopoietic cells, FDC-P1 cells were infected with a retroviral construct (LISN) containing the human IGF-1 receptor (hIGF-1R) and neo genes. IL-3-independent cells were readily isolated after LISN infection when either IGF-1 or supraphysiologic concentrations of insulin were included in the culture medium. These cells were transformed to IL-3 independence by a ligand- dependent mechanism because their growth was dependent on the presence of either IGF-1 or insulin and growth factors capable of supporting autocrine growth were not detected. Furthermore, a monoclonal antibody (MoAb) directed against the human IGF-1R (alpha IR-3) inhibited IGF-1 but not IL-3-induced proliferation and these cells contained 20- to 200- fold more IGF-1 receptors than uninfected FDC-P1 cells. In contrast, when LISN-infected cells were plated in medium without exogenously supplied IGF-1 or insulin, factor-independent cells were rarely isolated. Growth of these cells was also inhibited by the alpha IR-3 MoAb and they expressed 100- to 400-fold more IGF-1 receptors than uninfected FDC-P1 cells. The endogenous IGF-1 and/or insulin present in the calf serum may have enabled their growth because these cells, unlike the parental cells, would proliferate in serum-free defined media and their growth was again inhibited by the alpha IR-3 MoAb. These results demonstrate that IGF-1 can replace IL-3 for growth when FDC-P1 cells overexpress the IGF-1R. Given the fairly ubiquitous expression of the IGF-1 receptor, these and additional experiments might help to determine whether increased expression of endogenous receptors by cells can lead to leukemogenesis and tumorigenesis. Moreover, hIGF-1R-infected cells will be useful in investigating the mechanisms of IGF1-mediated signal transduction because they are now known to proliferate in response to IGF-1.
Projection Printing of Three-Dimensional Tissue Scaffolds with Tunable Poisson’s Ratio

Natural tissues have complex structural hierarchy and biological heterogeneity. Tissue engineering utilizes biomaterial scaffolds to mimic various natural properties in order to augment regeneration therapies. Current tissue engineering techniques typically incorporate imprecise scaffold geometries with random cell placement. As a result, little can be known about the specific influences of controlled changes in 3D scaffold properties on cell behavior and therefore making the results less predictive of how cell behaves in a 3D environment. Digital micromirror-assisted projection printing (DMD-PP) technology has become a promising tool to develop user-defined precise 3D microenvironments using complex biological components such as cells and native extracellular matrix (ECM). DMD-PP technology has been used in a variety of applications ranging from tissue engineering to cancer cell migration to neural stem cell culture, with the potential of patterning multiple cells in precise 3D locations. This chapter describes the novel use of DMD-PP technology in developing biomaterial scaffolds with tunable Poisson’s ratio, a fundamental aspect of mechanical property of all biomaterials.
Characterization of coplanar strip lines on dielectric boards for RF and microwave applications: Research Articles

We report the characterization of coplanar strip (CPS) transmission lines on dielectric boards at millimeter-wave frequency up to 40 GHz. The CPS line was analyzed and simulated using computer-aided design tools. Many CPS lines were built on RT/Duroid board and the measured attenuation is as low as 0.8 dB/cm at 30 GHz. CPS lines of various electrode width and width-to-gap ratios were measured to obtain key design guidelines. The CPS line has both the signal and ground electrodes on the front surface of the board. In contrast to the microstrip line, the CSP line does not include the backside of the board as a part of the transmission line. Thus, the backside can be left open as dielectric or metallized. The backside condition can affect the wave propagation if it is too close to the electrodes. We simulated and measured the attenuation coefficient, line impedance, and electrical field distributions for different backside conditions. Our results clearly indicate that the CPS line is an attractive transmission line on the board level in millimeter electromagnetic waves applications. Its applications can be extended to microwave and millimeter-wave integrated circuits. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE, 2008.
Portrayal and Cartography

This chapter summarizes the state of the art in cartography, offers design guidelines as advice on how to maximize the effectiveness of the map as a communications medium, and illustrates how certain characteristics may be better displayed one way over another. Cartography is a huge subject; this chapter does not attempt to be a comprehensive course, nor a definitive text in the subject of cartography (of which there are a number of excellent examples cited in the references section). However, once you have read this chapter, you will find yourself better equipped to understand cartography and be more critically aware of how to represent your information effectively. It also invites you to learn more about cartography as a crucial part of Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
Malnutrition, Learning and Animal Models of Cognition

The possibility that severe malnutrition experienced eariy in the life of a child may permanently lower ultimate cognitive potential has stimulated a great deal of multidisciplinary research. The major objectives were to determine (1) whether malnutrition does alter the cognitive functioning of the brain, (2) whether the effects are permanent, and (3) the mechanism(s) through which malnutrition affects cognition. Although the major concern of these studies is the consequences of malnutrition on human cognition, the strategy of many researchers is to investigate the effects of early malnutrition on animal learning and behavior.
Reference intervals for blood-based biochemical analytes of southern Beaufort Sea polar bears.

Accurate reference intervals (RIs) for commonly measured blood-based analytes are essential for health monitoring programmes. Baseline values for a panel of analytes can be used to monitor physiologic and pathophysiologic processes such as organ function, electrolyte balance and protein catabolism. Our reference population includes 651 serum samples from polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from the southern Beaufort Sea (SB) subpopulation sampled in Alaska, USA, between 1983 and 2016. To establish RI for 13 biochemical analytes, we defined specific criteria for characterizing the reference population and relevant subgroups. To account for differences in seasonal life history characteristics, we determined separate RI for the spring and fall seasons, when prey availability and energetic requirements of bears differ. We established RI for five subgroups in spring based on sex, age class and denning status, and three subgroups in fall based on sex and age class in females only. Alkaline phosphatase activities were twice as high in subadult as in adult polar bears in spring (zmales = 4.08, Pmales < 0.001, zfemales = 3.90, Pfemales < 0.001) and did not differ between seasons. Denning females had significantly higher glucose concentrations than non-denning females (z = 4.94, P < 0.001), possibly reflecting differences in energy expenditure during lactation. A total of 10 of the 13 analytes differed significantly between seasons in either males or females; however, the physiologic importance of these differences may be minimal. Establishing these RIs allows for temporal monitoring of polar bear health in the SB and may prove useful for assessing and monitoring additional polar bear subpopulations in a changing Arctic environment.
High-throughput screening yields several small-molecule inhibitors of repeat-associated non-AUG translation.

Repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) translation is a noncanonical translation initiation event that occurs at nucleotide-repeat expansion mutations that are associated with several neurodegenerative diseases, including fragile X–associated tremor ataxia syndrome (FXTAS), ALS, and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Translation of expanded repeats produces toxic proteins that accumulate in human brains and contribute to disease pathogenesis. Consequently, RAN translation constitutes a potentially important therapeutic target for managing multiple neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we adapted a previously developed RAN translation assay to a high-throughput format to screen 3,253 bioactive compounds for inhibition of RAN translation of expanded CGG repeats associated with FXTAS. We identified five diverse small molecules that dose-dependently inhibited CGG RAN translation, while relatively sparing canonical translation. All five compounds also inhibited RAN translation of expanded GGGGCC repeats associated with ALS and FTD. Using CD and native gel analyses, we found evidence that three of these compounds, BIX01294, CP-31398, and propidium iodide, bind directly to the repeat RNAs. These findings provide proof-of-principle supporting the development of selective small-molecule RAN translation inhibitors that act across multiple disease-causing repeats.
The Leader's Guide to Working with Underperforming Teachers: Overcoming Marginal Teaching and Getting Results

Under increasing pressure in the face of teacher evaluation systems and accountability measures, schools must focus on those teachers that exhibit marginal to incompetent teaching behaviors in their classrooms. This book is a vital resource for educational leaders who are responsible for instructional programs and teacher evaluation. Zepeda’s tried-and-true strategies will help you take the necessary steps to support and mentor struggling teachers by detecting underperformance, developing strategies to help teachers, engaging in difficult conversations to enact plans of improvement, and following legal requirements. The practical tools found in this book will help teachers improve their instruction, assessment, classroom management, and teamwork.
Parental Knowledge and Attitudes About Universal Lipid Screening Among Children Aged 9 to 11 Years.

Nationally recommended universal lipid screening (ULS) in children aged 9 to 11 years is low. Little is known about parents’ understanding of screening. We conducted a survey exploring parental kno...
Joint Detection of Human and Object Motion Using Harmonic Micro-Doppler Radar and Harmonic Tags

We present a new method for jointly detecting the motion of moving people and tagged objects using harmonic micro-Doppler radar and passive harmonic tags. Wirelessly measuring the motion of people and held objects is important for applications, including sensing in living spaces and industrial monitoring. A significant challenge in discriminating the motion of objects from that of people is the relatively low signal power generated by the radar return from a held object relative to the clutter return power. We overcome this limitation by using harmonic tags that generate a response at a harmonic of the incident radar signal. The radar emits a continuous-wave (CW) signal at a fundamental frequency of 2.5 GHz, which scatters off the person and is collected by a 2.5 GHz receiver. The harmonic tag collects the 2.5 GHz signal and generates a harmonic response at 5 GHz, which is collected by a 5 GHz receiver on the radar. Frequency modulation on the 5 GHz signal is thus generated only by the motion of the tag, while the 2.5 GHz modulation is predominantly due to the motion of the person. The fundamental and harmonic received signals can thus be processed separately for direct joint detection of the dynamic motion of people and held objects.
La evaluación del español: entre la academia y el mercado comercial

In 2015, the University of Salamanca, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and the Cervantes Institute signed the agreement to jointly develop the Spanish Assessment System (SIELE), which will serve as the language certificate. Telefonica Educacion Digital (TED) would be the company in charge of the implementation and logistics of the distribution of the exam at a global level. Two years later, other universities joined the project as collaborators in the development of the test but contracted by TED. In this paper, I analyze the role of Telefonica and UNAM in the production, commercialization, and promotion of the Spanish exam, which seems to exploit the idea of language as a labor and economic resource.
A primary solitary vascular tumor of calcaneum: case report and review of literature.

Abstract Epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) is a rare vascular tumor with metastatic potential and estimated prevalence of less than one case per million. Among the musculoskeletal system, the long bones are commonly involved with approximately half patients experiencing multicentric involvement. Clinical course of EHE is often variable and nonspecific. Poorly demarcated osteolytic lesions are most commonly seen radiologically. Diagnostic confirmation is usually obtained by biopsy and histopathological exam, including immunostaining for endothelial markers. We present a rare case of unicentric EHE involving the calcaneum. Our patient had an indolent course of disease after surgical resection and no recurrence in seven years on clinical and radiological surveillance.
Estrogen Induces Coronary Arterial Dilation via Downregulation of Voltage-gated, Ca2+ Channels

Gender studies have suggested that the female sex protects against abnormal vascular tone. Our lab has previously shown that estrogen (E2) can downregulate voltage-gated, L-type Ca2+ channels (VGCC...
Methods and models for predicting fatigue crack growth under random loading

Papers are presented in the volume summarizing the baseline data, methodology, procedures, and results of a round-robin analysis which was conducted to predict the fatigue crack growth in 2219-T851 aluminum center-cracked specimens subjected to flight loading in random cycle-by-cycle format. The objective of the analysis was to assess whether data from constant-amplitude fatigue crack growth tests on center-cracked specimens can be used to predict fatigue crack growth lives under random loading. The following approaches are discussed in detail: a root-mean-square approach, a crack-closure model, a multi-parameter yield zone model, and a load-interaction model.
Visualizing Biological Data in Google Earth

Meaningful visualization of large scale biological data is the key for achieving new discoveries in system biology research. Typical types of biological data in research includes: biological pathways or networks, biological ontologies, and experimental data. Visualization tools used in these areas often fail to present a meaningful and insightful view of underlining data. We present a new interactive visualization tool, MetNetGE, which features novel visualization techniques for three kinds of biological data: pathway, ontology and omics data. For a given biological pathway, we proposed a novel 3D layout algorithm, aligned 3D tiered layout, which arrange the pathway nodes into different tiers to make the cross-layer connection patterns stand out. Biologists interested in a species may want to see all hundreds of metabolic pathways for that species. Instead of simply showing hundreds of pathways in one network in a complex and incomprehensible graph, MetNetGE organizes those pathways based on the hierarchical pathway ontology, and visualizes the structure using the proposed 3D Enhanced Radial Space-Filling (ERSF) technique. The ERSF algorithm uses an orbit metaphor to present the non-tree edges in the ontology. Mapping cumulative omics statistics on the ERSF drawing aids biologists in easily identifying highly activated pathways or categories in an experiment. MetNetGE uses Google Earth (GE) as the underlining visualization tool. All the biological entities are converted to objects in the KML (Keyhole Markup Language) file and loaded in GE. A user study with 20 participants to demonstrate the improved efficiency of MetNetGE over Cytoscape regards certain biological tasks. Although MetNetGE requires higher learning time (680 seconds vs. 350 seconds) on average, it helps participants quickly finish the tasks. Results showed that the completion time of using MetNetGE is about half of using Cytoscape.
BLACK HOLE MASS, VELOCITY DISPERSION, AND THE RADIO SOURCE IN ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI

The recent discovery by Gebhardt et al. and Ferrarese & Merritt of a correlation between nuclear black hole mass Mbh and stellar velocity dispersion σ* in elliptical galaxies and spiral bulges has raised the question whether such a relationship exists for active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Estimates of Mbh for many AGNs, made using reverberation mapping techniques, allow exploration of the relationship between black hole mass, the host galaxy, and the energetics of nuclear emission. However, since only a few AGNs have both Mbh and σ* measurements, we use the [O III] λ5007 emission-line widths on the assumption that for most AGNs the forbidden line kinematics are dominated by virial motion in the host galaxy bulge. We find that a relation does exist between Mbh and the [O III] line width for AGNs, which is similar to the one found by Gebhardt et al., although with more scatter, as expected if secondary influences on the gas kinematics are also present. Our conclusion is that both active and inactive galaxies follow the same relationship between black hole mass and bulge gravitational potential. We find no compelling evidence for systematic differences in the mass estimates from reverberation mapping and stellar dynamics. We also find that for radio-quiet AGNs, the radio power and black hole mass are highly correlated, linking emission on scales of kiloparsecs with the nuclear energy source.
The outer radio halo: Typical of atypical radio sources?

The outer radio halo of M 87 is one of an unusual class of radio halo sources attached to cluster-center galaxies in cooling cores. The M 87 halo appears to be a young source, partially mixed with the ambient thermal plasma, expanding rather like a bubble into that plasma. The radio jet provides a significant energy source to the thermal core plasma. In turn, flows in the X-ray emitting plasma appear to disrupt the radio jet and account for formation of the radio halo.
The effect of extreme temperatures and starvation on the body proportions of the rat.

The effects of extremely cold and hot environments on body proportions of rats were studied. These effects included changes in the length of the tail, trunk, extremities, cranio-facial and nasal dimensions, in bone robusticity and bone shape, in the size of the ear and in some characteristics of the skin and hair. Since animals in both extreme temperatures fail to gain normal body weight, all changes were also studied in a group of starving rats. Because of the lower body weight and its concomitant reduction of body measurements, absolute values were avoided for analysis and all parameters were related to neurocranial length and trunk length. Such a triple experimental approach (response to cold, heat, and starvation) combined with a two-fold frame of reference (neurocranial length and trunk length), as well as statistical corrections for body weight loss, made it possible to differentiate between nutrition-specific and temperature-specific responses under conditions of extreme temperature exposure. Moreover, some attention was given to endocrine pathways involved in some morphological changes. The methodological advantages of a multi-experimental approach over a single-experimental technique were demonstrated.
Fat Composition Changes in Bone Marrow During Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy

Purpose To quantify changes in bone marrow fat fraction and determine associations with peripheral blood cell counts. Methods and Materials In this prospective study, 19 patients received either highly myelotoxic treatment (radiation therapy plus cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil mitomycin C [FU/MMC], or cisplatin/5-FU/cetuximab) or less myelotoxic treatment (capecitabine-radiation therapy or no concurrent chemotherapy). Patients underwent MR imaging and venipuncture at baseline, midtreatment, and posttreatment visits. We performed mixed effects modeling of the mean proton density fat fraction (PDFF[%]) by linear time, treatment, and vertebral column region (lumbar [L]4-sacral [S]2 vs thoracic [T]10-L3 vs cervical[C]3-T9), while controlling for cumulative mean dose and other confounders. Spearman rank correlations were performed by white blood cell (WBC) counts versus the differences in PDFF(%) before and after treatment. Results Cumulative mean dose was associated with a 0.43% per Gy ( P =.004) increase in PDFF(%). In the highly myelotoxic group, we observed significant changes in PDFF(%) per visit within L4-S2 (10.1%, P P =.01), relative to the reference C3-T9. In the less myelotoxic group, we did not observe significant changes in PDFF(%) per visit according to region. Within L4-S2, we observed a significant difference between treatment groups in the change in PDFF(%) per visit (5.36%, P =.04). Rank correlations of the inverse log differences in WBC versus the differences in PDFF(%) overall and within T10-S2 ranged from 0.69 to 0.78 ( P P Conclusions Magnetic resonance imaging fat quantification is sensitive to marrow composition changes that result from chemoradiation therapy. These changes are associated with peripheral blood cell counts. This study supports a rationale for bone marrow-sparing treatment planning to reduce the risk of hematologic toxicity.
Incomplete Hydrocarbon Biodegradation in Contaminated Soils: Limitations in Bioavailability or Inherent Recalcitrance?

Abstract Bioremediation has been used to treat soils contaminated with complex mixtures of organic compounds such as total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), oil and grease (O&G), or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Despite the common use and cost-effectiveness of bioremediation for treating hydrocarbon-contaminated soils, it has been observed that a residual fraction remains undegraded in the soil even when optimal biodegradation conditions have been provided. This paper provides a brief review of the two major conceptual models that have been used to explain why a residual hydrocarbon fraction remains in the soil after bioremediation treatment. The contaminant sequestration model is based on the assumption that a certain fraction of hydrocarbons is “locked up” in small soil pores within soil particles or aggregates. These sorbed hydrocarbons are believed to be inaccessible to soil microorganisms. Consequently, limitations in bioavailability are thought to be the major reason for incomplete hydrocarbo...
MO-D-BRD-02: In Memoriam of Bengt Bjarngard: SBRT II: Small Field Dosimetry – TG155

Specialized radiation treatment such as SRS/SRT. SBRT, IMRT, VMAT, Tomotherapy, CyberKnife and Gamma Knife use small fields or combination of small fields where dosimetry is challenging and uncertain due to non-equilibrium conditions such as longitudinal and lateral disequilibrium. Additionally the primary photon fluence is greatly affected by the obstruction of the source size by the jaws creating a large dose gradient across the field. Electronic equilibrium is a phenomenon associated with the range of secondary particles which depend on the beam energy, photon spectrum and the composition of the medium. Additionally, the finite size of detectors creates volume averaging and fluence perturbations especially in small fields. The IAEA/AAPM has provided a frame work for non-compliant reference dosimetry in small fields1. The AAPM TG-1552 has adopted this frame work to provide guidelines in relative dosimetry. This course provides the insight of TG-155 that defines small field, provides recommendations for suitable detectors and associated correction factors to convert reading to dose. Recommendations of a good working practice for relative dosimetry measurements (PDD, TMR, output factor, etc.) and dose calculations based on the new formulation is are elaborated. It also discusses beam modeling and dose calculations as a critical step in clinical utilizationmore » of small field radiotherapy. Small errors in beam data, approximations in dose algorithms, or misaligned of detectors and field settings can propagate into large errors in planned and delivered dose. The modeling and treatment planning aspects of small field dosimetry are reviewed with emphasis on the most critical parts for ensuring accurate and safe radiation therapy. Discussion on k(fmsr, fclin) for commercially available detectors are also provided.1 P. Alfonso, P. Andreo, R. Capote, M. S. Huq, W. Kilby, P. Kjall, T. R. Mackie, H. Palmans, K. Rosser, J. Seuntjens, W. Ullrich and S. Vatnitsky, “A new formalism for reference dosimetry of small and nonstandard fields,” Med Phys 35, 5179–5186 (2008).2 I. J. Das, P. Francescon, A. Ahnesjo, M. M. Aspradakis, C. W. Cheng, G. X. Ding, G. S. Ibbott, M. Oldham, M. S. Huq, C. S. Reft and S. O.A., “Task Group 155 report: Small fields and non-equilibrium condition photon beam dosimetry,” Med Phys (under review). Learning Objectives: Physics of cavity theory for non-equilibrium condition and definition of small fields Description of absolute and relative dosimetry in the context of TG-155 Choice of detector in small field dosimetry, perturbations and corrections (K(fmsr, fclin)) for accurate dosimetry Understand the advantages and limitations of commercially available detectors for small field dosimetry.« less
Transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms are responsible for the increased expression of c-myc protooncogene in lymphocytes from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Abstract Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have increased expression of the c-myc protooncogene. The factors which are responsible for the accumulation of c-myc mRNA levels in SLE MNC, however, have not been determined. We have investigated the steady-state mRNA accumulation, nuclear transcription rate, rate of mRNA degradation as well as methylation status for the c-myc protooncogene in patients with SLE. Increased transcription rate of c-myc protooncogene and slow degradation rate of c-myc mRNA both appear to contribute to the accumulation of c-myc RNA in peripheral blood MNC of patients with SLE. Sitespecific methylation of the human c-myc protooncogene in patients with SLE does not differ from that of normal controls. These findings provide evidence for both transcriptional and post-transcriptional alterations of c-myc protooncogene expression in human SLE.
First Report of Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 2 in a Hybrid Grape 'Vidal Blanc' in Missouri.

Grapevine leaf roll disease (GLRD) is one of the most prevalent viral diseases in vineyards worldwide. At least 10 Grapevine leafroll-associated viruses (GLRaV-1 to -7, and -9, -10, and -11) are associated with GLRD. GLRaV-2 has a number of distinct isolates that are associated not only with GLRD, but also with graft incompatibility, young vine decline, and rootstock stem lesions. In the United States, GLRaV-2 isolates have been reported in the states of California (4), New York (1), Oregon, and Washington (3). A survey of grapevine viruses was conducted on seven grape cultivars, Norton, Chambourcin, Chardonel, Vignoles, Vidal Blanc, Traminette, and Cayuga White, in a vineyard located at Mountain Grove, MO during the falls of 2009 and 2010 and late summer of 2011. Vines from each cultivar were assigned into three blocks. From each block, six individual vines were randomly selected. Phloem scrapings were collected for detecting viruses by ELISA and reverse-transcription (RT)-PCR. To test for GLRaV-2, a set...
Opening-Price Performance of Initial Public Offerings in China

In studying the opening-price performance of Chinese initial public offerings (IPOs), we found that more than 95 percent of the first-day return is earned by initial subscribers who sell the shares at the market open. Purchasing at the market open on the first trading day, investors earn 4.21 percent if they sell the shares at the market close on the same day (the median is 0.97 percent). If they sell the shares at the market close after a month (on the twenty-first trading day), they earn -3.41 percent (the median is -5.19 percent). This pattern is consistent over time and across the market, firms, and offer-specific characteristics, with a few exceptions for IPOs initiated during favorable stock market conditions and in certain industries. The overall results are consistent with the asymmetric information hypothesis that outside investors possess better information about the market demand for new shares and the opening price is an efficient indicator of the closing prices on the first and twenty-first t...
Riboflavin as a tracer of medication compliance

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the accuracy of urine ultraviolet fluorescent tests for riboflavin, which has been used as a tracer for medication compliance in several clinical drug trials. Observer accuracy in discriminating riboflavin-positive or negative urine samples was found to vary with the method of observation, dose of riboflavin, observer experience, and time postingestion. The results showed that, while the 5-mg dose used in previous clinical trials was too small to permit reliable assessment of compliance, larger doses of riboflavin could produce nearly 100% accuracy for minimally trained observers who used a matching-to-sample observation procedure. The findings are discussed in terms of the potential clinical and research applications of this type of simple but reliable compliance assessment procedure.
Reconfigurable parallel processor for noise suppression

Digital images corrupted with noise regularly require different filtering techniques to optimally correct the image. Software provides convenience for implementing a variety of different filters, but suffers a speed penalty due to its serial nature of the filter calculations. In converse fashion, implementation using ASIC technology allows for a speed advantage due to parallel processing but at the cost of increased hardware overhead for implementing a variety of filters individually. Advances in Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) technology offers a middle ground in which the speed advantages of an ASIC and the reprogrammable aspect of a general purpose conventional CPU or DSP software approach are combined. In this paper, we present an FPGA-based, reconfigurable system, that can perform an assortment of noise filtering algorithms using the same hardware. Implementation of Gaussian and salt-and-pepper noise are evaluated for this system.
A dynamical model for mixing of axial vector (Q) mesons

Abstract The 45° mixing angle experimentally observed for the Q states with one eigenstate decoupled from the K∗ β channel and the other decoupled from Kϱ is shown to arise naturally in a simple model where the mixing originates from coupling through the decay channels and SU(3) breaking is introduced by kinematic phase space factors.
Isolation and characterization of Brush border fragments from mosquito mesenterons

Brush border fragments were isolated from homogenates of mesenterons from the mosquito, Culex tarsalis, by a combination of Ca2+ precipitation and differential centrifugation. These preparations were routinely enriched seven- to eightfold for the brush border marker enzyme, leucine aminopeptidase. Alkaline phosphatase, a putative brush border marker for both vertebrate and invertebrate brush borders, was found to be unsuitable for Cx. tarsalis. Isoelectric focusing electrophoresis coupled with histochemical enzyme detection was used to enumerate isozymic species of nonspecific esterases [3], leucine aminopeptidase [1], and alkaline phosphatase [1] in isolated brush border fragments. Leucine aminopeptidase activity was solubilized by papain digestion, suggesting an extrinsic active site for this membrane-bound enzyme. The predominant nonspecific esterase isozyme remained membrane-bound. Conventional staining (ie, Coomassie Blue and silver) of proteins separated by isoelectric focusing, sodium dodecylsulfate, and two-dimensional electrophoresis indicated a simple pattern for brush border fragments, with two proteins predominating among the 11–14 routinely detected.
Discrimination of UXO buried under magnetic soil

Electromagnetic induction (EMI) has become a promising technique for UXO detection and discrimination. In most studies the effect of the ground itself is assumed small and neglected. This assumption holds up relative to ground conductivity and corresponding induced electric currents. However experience shows that magnetic effects may sometimes be significant. Here we consider the case when the ground itself is mildly permeable, a common condition. Magnetic (i.e. permeable) soil could conceivably affect the EMI response of buried metallic targets in three ways: (1) the half space of soil itself produces a scattered field, dependent on the position of the sensor, which becomes part of the background; (2) The incident field that reaches the target and the response that reaches the sensor are altered by the air-ground interface; and (3) the frequency response of the target may be altered by changes in the ratio of its magnetic permeability to that of the ground in which it is buried. Regarding the first factor, analysis shows that the response of a half space to an above-ground dipole source should be flat across the EMI spectrum. By describing our actual sensor in terms of a collection of infinitesimal dipoles, we are thus able to calculate the response due to the ground alone as a function of antenna elevation and tilt. This can then be subtracted from the data as background. Examination of realistic ground parameters at UXO sites and reference to basic magneto-quasistatic solutions allows to discount the effects of the second and third factors. We then construct a forward model which takes the soil effect into account via the first factor, and apply the model in a pattern matching approach for UXO discrimination. Example results show that the effect of soil is important in some cases, and neglecting soil effect may cause quite significant difficulty or error in UXO discrimination.
Resident education in electroconvulsive therapy.

Objective: In 2001, the American Psychiatric Association's Task Force on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) recommended that psychiatry residents should receive at least 4 hours of didactic instruction on ECT, participate in at least 10 treatments, and assist in the care of at least 3 patients receiving ECT. Residency accreditation requirements as of 2007, however, require only that training programs ensure competency in "understanding the indications and uses" of ECT. Anecdotally, training in ECT is said to vary widely between residency programs. The purpose of the study was to obtain more systematic information about ECT training. Method: A survey was e-mailed to directors of all accredited psychiatry residency programs in the United States and Puerto Rico in early to mid 2008, requesting information regarding their didactic and clinical instruction in ECT and estimates of number of treatments provided by their institutions. Results: Responses were obtained from 91 training programs. Of these programs, 75% reported that some clinical exposure to ECT was required of their residents, but 37% estimated that the typical resident would participate in fewer than 10 treatments and 27% estimated that the typical resident would care for fewer than 5 patients receiving ECT. Most programs devoted less than 4 hours of lecture time to ECT. Most respondents believed that ECT was underused nationally; this perception did not differ based on the theoretical orientation of the training program. Conclusions: This study suggests that resident education in ECT varies considerably between programs but is often less than that suggested by the American Psychiatric Association's Task Force.
Measurements of Air Breakdown Process using 193 NM Focused Laser Radiation

Summary form only given. We report the measurements and analysis of air breakdown process by focusing 193 nm, 200 mJ, 10 MW high power UV laser radiation on to a 10-20 mum spot size that can produce a maximum laser intensity of 1012-1013 W/cm2, and well above the threshold flux for air ionization. The breakdown threshold is measured and compared with the theoretical models such as classical and quantum analyses. The air breakdown threshold is measured for wide pressures range from 90 Torr to 5 atmosphere pressures. Above atmospheric pressures are required to increase the collisional frequency comparative to the high laser frequency (1015 Hz). Multiphoton ionization processes are also expected to play a substantial role at 193 nm due to the high photon energy (6.4 eV). The breakdown threshold data for air at 193 nm is correlated with the microwave breakdown using the concept of universal scaling, for which extensive microwave breakdown data is available at frequencies of 0.99, 2.8 and 9.4 GHz and current microwave breakdown results obtained at Texas Tech University. An extensive range of optical and spectroscopy diagnostics with 5 ns time scale gating and 13 mum ICCD resolution has been constructed to characterize the plasma. The spatial and temporal evolution of the laser focused plasma is measured using the shadowgraphy technique. The plasma temperatures can be obtained by measuring the velocity of the shock wave front and also by using optical emission spectroscopy. Optical emission spectroscopy is performed to diagnose the plasma temperature using the emission lines of the N2 second positive system N2 (2+) (0,0) at 337.1 nm. Plasma density is measured using two color laser interferometry. Phase shift produced by the laser focused plasma for two different probe laser wavelengths such as red (632 nm) and green (532 nm) wavelengths will be measured, which is used to measure the plasma density.
High Frequency Dynamics in Hemoglobin Measured by Magnetic Relaxation Dispersion

The magnetic relaxation dispersion profiles for formate, acetate, and water protons are reported for aqueous solutions of hemoglobin singly and doubly labeled with a nitroxide and mercury(II) ion at cysteines at β-93. Using two spin labels, one nuclear and one electron spin, a long intramolecular vector is defined between the two β-93 positions in the protein. The paramagnetic contributions to the observed 1H spin-lattice relaxation rate constant are isolated from the magnetic relaxation dispersion profiles obtained on a dual-magnet apparatus that provides spectral density functions characterizing fluctuations sensed by intermoment dipolar interactions in the time range from the tens of microseconds to ∼1 ps. Both formate and acetate ions are found to bind specifically within 5 A of the β-93 spin-label position and the relaxation dispersion has inflection points corresponding to correlation times of 30 ps and 4 ns for both ions. The 4-ns motion is identified with exchange of the anions from the site, whereas the 30-ps correlation time is identified with relative motions of the spin label and the bound anion in the protein environment close to β-93. The magnetic field dependence of the paramagnetic contributions in both cases is well described by a simple Lorentzian spectral density function; no peaks in the spectral density function are observed. Therefore, the high frequency motions of the protein monitored by the intramolecular vector defined by the electron and nuclear spin are well characterized by a stationary random function of time. Attempts to examine long vector fluctuations by employing electron spin and nuclear spin double-labeling techniques did not yield unambiguous characterization of the high frequency motions of the vector between β-93 positions on different chains.
A model for the variability of maintained discharges and responses to flashes of light

Previous studies of the variability of firing of retinal ganglion cells have led to apparently contradictory conclusions. To a first approximation, maintained discharges derive their variability from a noise source that is linearly added to the signal setting the mean firing rate. On the other hand, the variability of responses to abrupt changes in lighting seems to result from a nonlinear interaction between signal and noise. In both the cat and the goldfish retinae, the variance of rate is a fractional power function of the mean response amplitude (impulses/s). The exponent of that power function depends on the duration of the period in which the response is sampled after each transition in luminance; longer durations have a larger exponent. These results are difficult to explain with any simple model. The variability of the maintained discharges also deviates from the predictions of simple additivity. We propose a model for the variability of responses to abrupt changes in lighting that incorporates variability of the form observed for maintained discharges. The parameters of our model that provide the best fits to the variability of responses also provide a reasonable fit to the variability of maintained discharges. Thus, a single explanation can account for the variability of maintained discharges and responses of ganglion cells.
Medication manipulation in Bulimia nervosa : an additional diagnostic criterion?

Manipulation or abuse of certain medications by patients can result in changes in their weight. Case examples are presented. We propose that the criteria for the diagnosis of Bulimia Nervosa be expanded to include the possibility of manipulation or abuse of medications in order to intentionally avoid weight gain or to lose weight
Optimum Topical Delivery of Adrenergic Agonists to Oral Mucosa Vasculature

Purpose Identify an orotopical vehicle to deliver an α-adrenergic vasoconstrictor to submucosal vasculature that is readily palatable to cancer/bone marrow transplant patients that suppresses chemo-radiotherapy-associated oral mucositis.
Acousto-optic frequency shifter for single-mode fibres

A fibre-optic frequency shifter has been constructed using a birefringent single-mode fibre positioned asymmetrically within two acoustic resonators driven 90° out of phase. The incident wave in one polarisation state is coupled to a frequency-shifted wave in the orthogonal state. Sideband suppression of better than 20 dB is achieved.
A progressive failure theory for woven polymer-based composites subjected to dynamic loading

A progressive failure approach, applicable to woven polymer-based composites is developed and validated with experiments. Constitutive equations are formulated to characterize the mechanical response for fully non-linear, rate dependent, anisotropic behavior under dynamic loading. A mechanistic fiber failure theory is implemented, while a degradation model describes the stiffness reductions after failure. The approach is implemented in the Abaqus finite element code using a user material subroutine (UMAT) that defines the constitutive theory and implements the progressive failure methodology. The progressive failure approach is validated using basic tension and open hole tension experiments. The tests are performed using digital image correlation, which provides the complete non-uniform strain and displacement fields. The validation testing has included cases involving large deformations, where strains to failure are as high as 20%. The simulation results are in good agreement with experimental data.
Possibilities and Limits of Comparative Literature Today

Abstract: In his article “Possibilities and Limits of Comparative Literature Today” Dario Villanueva discusses the itinerary of comparative literature and its problematics and queries the discipline's adherence to literary history and its identification with the theory of literature. Villanueva's discussion is with particular reference to Spanish-language works such as by Claudio Guillen's systemic view of literature and the study of literature, as well as similar approaches to the study of literature such as by Siegfried J. Schmidt, Itamar Even-Zohar, and Steven Totosy de Zepetnek. Further, Villanueva discusses aspects of the field of (comparative) cultural studies he sees relevant and useful for the study of literature comparatively. In an attempt to abandon the identification of genetic relationships to justify comparativist research, the last twenty-five or thirty years have seen the emergence of a new paradigm of comparative literature. A basic principle of the new paradigm is that whenever the same or a similar phenomenon appears in two separate literatures or in one literature and in another type of artistic expression, the comparative approach must include a fundamental theoretical element, that is to say, a possible or hypothetical point of departure. The immediate consequence of such an approach is comparative literature's if not exclusive, then at least preferential link with literary theory (see Fokkema 3). Thus, since the 1970s, roughly, comparative literature developed with a theoretical component and that gave the discipline its innovative character.
Coal desulfurization by mild pyrolysis in a dual-auger coal feeder

Abstract A dual-screw coal feeder reactor was constructed and tested for desulfurization of coal. The reactor consists of two concentric screw tubes, the inner tube acting as a coal pyrolyzer and the outer tube acting as a desulfurizer with hot calcined lime (CaO) pellets or other renewable sorbent pellets. The experimental results showed that under mild pyrolysis conditions, the devolatilization and the desulfurization processes of Ohio #8 coal could be represented by a pseudo first-order reaction model. Up to 33.2% of the total sulfur, which includes almost all the organic sulfur, was removed at a temperature of 475°C and a residence time of 6 min using a coal particle size of 4–35 mesh. The activation energies for the devolatilization and the desulfurization processes were estimated to be 170,021 kJ/kg mol and 78,732 kJ/kg mol, respectively. The H2S concentration in the pyrolyzed gas was reduced from 4% to an undetectable level in the outer tube desulfurizer indicating a high sulfur removal efficiency of CaO pellets in the dual-screw feeder reactor.