cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using a Facebook Group As an Educational Tool: Effects on Student Achievement

This study examined the effectiveness of using a Facebook group to increase pre-service teachers’ knowledge of core technology topics. Further, it examined their use of Facebook, their use of a course-related Facebook group, their participation habits in the group, and their perceptions of using Facebook for educational purposes. Results revealed a significant gain in achievement as measured by scores on pre- and posttests. Additionally, Facebook was most frequently used to maintain existing relationships, to share photographs, and to communicate. The Facebook group was used to lurk/read, post comments, “like” comments, and post additional information. The pre-service teachers indicated that the Facebook group was beneficial in improving readiness for course assessments, was convenient, provided a good means of communication, and enhanced learning.
Dissipated energy as the means for health monitoring of smart structures

NRL's Mechanics of Materials Branch has developed the Embedded Sensors for Smart Structures Simulator (ES) design tool which relates the output of a finite number of sensors to strain induced structural damage. This tool is based on the use of the dissipative part of the bulk nonlinear material behavior. The methodology used to identify this behavior has evolved at NRL over the past 20 years. This paper describes the role of strain measurements and their relation to sensor type and location, the conceptual framework of dissipated energy density as the metric employed for assessing material/structure performance, the facilities provided by the simulator and their use, as well as implementation details. Through this we hope not only to make designing and verifying embedded sensor layouts on composite material structures a tractable task, but also to promote the use of dissipated energy density as a foundation upon which to build an effective means of measuring material and structural health. 13© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Future and Conditional in Palenquero

Previous research (including the recent monographs of Friedemann & Patino Rosselli 1983 and Megenney 1986) states that Palenquero (henceforth PAL) has but a single future particle — tan — and lacks overt irrealis markers to express conditionals. This paper takes issue with earlier claims by showing that this creole language in fact has an additional irrealis marker — ake or its variants k(e) — whose principal function is to signal future and conditional.After the presentation of data, attention is focused on the syntax and origin of ake. In the course of the discussion it will become apparent that the PAL facts speak against Bickerton's well-known hypothesis about the prototypical creole tense-modality-aspect system, which is said to order preverbal morphemes as follows: tense (± anterior) + modality (±irrealis) + aspect (±durative). The final section offers a preliminary investigation into PAL modal distinctions (certain future versus probable future) which casts strong doubts on earlier assertions that PAL lacks contrastive mood differentiations. The article concludes with suggestions for further research.
Platform for intraoperative analysis of video streams

Interactive, image-guided surgery (IIGS) has proven to increase the specificity of a variety of surgical procedures. However, current IIGS systems do not compensate for changes that occur intraoperatively and are not reflected in preoperative tomograms. Endoscopes and intraoperative ultrasound, used in minimally invasive surgery, provide real-time (RT) information in a surgical setting. Combining the information from RT imaging modalities with traditional IIGS techniques will further increase surgical specificity by providing enhanced anatomical information. In order to merge these techniques and obtain quantitative data from RT imaging modalities, a platform was developed to allow both the display and processing of video streams in RT. Using a Bandit-II CV frame grabber board (Coreco Imaging, St. Laurent, Quebec) and the associated library API, a dynamic link library was created in Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 such that the platform could be incorporated into the IIGS system developed at Vanderbilt University. Performance characterization, using two relatively inexpensive host computers, has shown the platform capable of performing simple image processing operations on frames captured from a CCD camera and displaying the processed video data at near RT rates both independent of and while running the IIGS system.
Synthesis of prostaglandin by reproductive tissue of the male house cricket, Acheta domesticus.

Abstract Whole reproductive tracts of male house crickets, Acheta domesticus , incubated with arachidonic acid and glutathione yielded an average of 17 ug of prostaglandin (PG) E2/g of tissue. Biosynthesized PGE2 was identified by mass spectroscopy. A compound with thin layer and gas chromatographic properties identical to PGE1 was isolated from spermatophores of house crickets. This appears to be the first report of the occurrence of a PG in an insect species. The possible role of PG in insect reproduction is discussed.
Crepuscular flight activity of an invasive insect governed by interacting abiotic factors.

Seasonal and diurnal flight patterns of the invasive walnut twig beetle, Pityophthorus juglandis, were assessed between 2011 and 2014 in northern California, USA in the context of the effects of ambient temperature, light intensity, wind speed, and barometric pressure. Pityophthorus juglandis generally initiated flight in late January and continued until late November. This seasonal flight could be divided approximately into three phases (emergence: January–March; primary flight: May–July; and secondary flight: September–October). The seasonal flight response to the male-produced aggregation pheromone was consistently female-biased (mean of 58.9% females). Diurnal flight followed a bimodal pattern with a minor peak in mid-morning and a major peak at dusk (76.4% caught between 1800 and 2200 h). The primarily crepuscular flight activity had a Gaussian relationship with ambient temperature and barometric pressure but a negative exponential relationship with increasing light intensity and wind speed. A model selection procedure indicated that the four abiotic factors collectively and interactively governed P. juglandis diurnal flight. For both sexes, flight peaked under the following second-order interactions among the factors when: 1) temperature between was 25 and 30°C and light intensity was less than 2000 lux; 2) temperature was between 25 and 35°C and barometric pressure was between 752 and 762 mba (and declined otherwise); 3) barometric pressure was between 755 and 761 mba and light intensity was less than 2000 lux (and declined otherwise); and 4) temperature was ca. 30°C and wind speed was ca. 2 km/h. Thus, crepuscular flight activity of this insect can be best explained by the coincidence of moderately high temperature, low light intensity, moderate wind speed, and low to moderate barometric pressure. The new knowledge provides physical and temporal guidelines for the application of semiochemical-based control techniques as part of an IPM program for this invasive pest.
Evaluation of Immune-enhancing Effects of Ibuprofen in an Immunodeficiency Model

: Three children and one adult with chronic mucocutaneous candidosis with documented deficient cellular immunity to Candida antigen were evaluated as a model to study the specific cellular immune-enhancing potential of the prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor ibuprofen. Oral ibuprofen failed to have any consistent effect during sequential 4-week on and off cycles on the following parameters: delayed hypersensitivity skin testing; lymphocyte transformation to Candida antigen; T-cell subsets as determined by monoclonal antibody techniques; production of human immune interferon in response to staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA). Two patients showed a trend toward enhanced lymphocyte transformation to PHA while taking ibuprofen. In two patients who were studied 8–10 weeks after discontinuation of oral ketoconazole therapy, clinical recurrence of CMC was not prevented by oral ibuprofen therapy.
The cerebral oxidative metabolic response to acute ethanol administration in rats and cats.

Ethanol effects on mitochondrial respiratory chain components in intact cerebral cortex of cats and rats are reported. Changes in redox levels were monitored by non-invasive optical techniques (microfluorometry for intramitochondrial NADH: dual wavelength reflection spectrophotometry for cytochrome a,a3). Acute ethanol injections were accompanied by progressive increases in the level of reduced cytochrome a,a3, a response consistent with the cytochrome response to other depressants such as phenobarbital and chlorpromazine. Low ethanol doses (below approx. 1 g/kg) were accompanied by increased levels of reduced NAD and it appeared that the ethanol effect in vivo is due to a decrease in tissue activity common to central depressants. Higher ethanol doses (1–3 g/kg) produced increased levels of oxidized NAD whereas phenobarbital and chlorpromazine each resulted in increased levels of reduced NAD. Since many of the effects of ethanol have been attributed to the activity of its primary metabolic product, acetaldehyde. the latter's effects on energy metabolism were also considered. Acetaldehyde at all effective doses produced similar changes in NAD (i.e. oxidation) and cytochrome a,a3 (reduction) to those of the higher ethanol doses. The oxidation of NAD at higher ethanol doses and at all doses of acetaldehyde was interpreted as a unique effect of ethanol and due to acetaldehyde.
Performance Management for Large Scale Service Delivery Platforms

Managing performance of modern Service Delivery Platforms (SDPs) is a challenging task due to scale, dynamicity and heterogeneity of these systems. With the presence of a plethora of widely divergent applications, it becomes almost impossible to model these SDPs accurately enough for basic management tasks. The dynamicity of these platforms adds another dimension of complexity. Precisely due to these reasons, traditional learning based approaches are not adequate since these approaches are inherently very slow. In this paper, we present a novel technique for performance management in SDP environment to overcome these challenges. In our approach, we construct a multi-dimensional performance model grid called datagrid. Datagrid presents a unified management approach for various system management tasks such as provisioning, fault management and SLA management. According to our understanding, ours is a first system to have a unified approach for large scale SDP environments for multiple management tasks. We have implemented our technique in real distributed system and it shows promising results.
Plasmon-Coupled Fluorescence Probes: Effect of Emission Wavelength on Fluorophore-Labeled Silver Particles

We examined the emission intensity and wavelength of 40 nm diameter silver particles covalently coated with organic fluorophores with different absorption and emission wavelengths. The objective of this study is to use the interactions of fluorophores with the plasmon in the metal particles to create the brightest possible probes. We refer to the complexes as plasmon-coupled fluorescence probes (PCPs). The fluorophores were separated from the metal cores by 10 nm long polymer backbones. The fluorescence was observed to be enhanced for seven fluorophores with emission wavelength from 450 to 700 nm. The enhancement efficiency was shown to approximately increase with long wavelengths for the silver particle-bound fluorophores. When comparing a single fluorophore free in solution and bound to the silver particle, the emission intensity increases 3- to 17-fold. The relationship between the enhancement efficiency and loading number of fluorophore on each silver particle was studied to optimize the conditions for PCP brightness. Compared with the free single fluorophores in the absence of metal, the optimized single labeled silver particles were even more than 1000-fold brighter, showing their potentials in the applications of sensitive clinical and biological assays.
DEVELOPMENTAL AND FUNCTIONAL ULTRASTRUCTURE OF ORNITHODIPLOSTOMUM PTYCHOCHEILUS DIPLOSTOMULA (TREMATODA: STRIGEOIDEA) DURING INVASION OF THE BRAIN OF THE FISH INTERMEDIATE HOST, PIMEPHALES PROMELAS

We examined tegumental development of the diplostomulum of Ornithodiplostomum ptychocheilus, with respect to structural transformations that have functional relevance to the invasion, migration, and site establishment processes in the brain of the fish second-intermediate host, Pimephales promelas. Using a combination of brightfield, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and confocal microscopy (CM), we demonstrated that the diplostomula become established in the outer region of the optic lobes within 24–48 hr of penetration and continue to grow and transform over a period of 4–14 days. During this period, the J-shaped body consists of 2 distinct regions: (1) a highly motile prosoma with distinctive tegumental spines and (2) an opisthosoma, the tegument of which is elaborated into a dense uniform layer of long, thin microvilli. The prosoma is alternately invaginated into and everted from the opisthosoma, thus constituting a protrusible proboscis. By day 14 postinfecti...
p62 at the Crossroads of Autophagy, Apoptosis, and Cancer

The signaling adaptor p62 is a multidomain protein implicated in the activation of the transcription factor NF-κB. Recent findings link p62 activity to the extrinsic apoptosis pathway, and Mathew et al. (2009) now show that the modulation of p62 by autophagy is a key factor in tumorigenesis. These findings place p62 at critical decision points that control cell death and survival.
Effect of glucose deprivation on the incorporation of 3H precursors into pituitiary glycoproteins and on basal LH, FSH and prolactin release

Abstract Glucose can serve as a precursor for all of the components of the oligosaccharides of glycoproteins. The incorporation of various 3 H precursors into glycoproteins was examined by incubating rat anterior pituitaries in vitro for 4h in the presence and absence of glucose. Substituting succinate for glucose enhanced the incorporation of D-(2- 3 H)mannose six-fold, the incorporation of D-(1, 6- 3 H)-glucosamine two-fold and the incorporation of D-(6- 3 H) galactose was enhanced slightly. The incorporation of other 3 H precursors was unalterted or reduced by glucose deprivation. Rat anterior pituitaries incorporated minimal quantities of N-acetyl-D-(6- 3 H)mannosamine, the immediate precursor of N-acetyl-D-neuraminic acid, into glycoproteins. Glucose deprivation also stimulated the 4h basal release of LH and FSH by 58% and 95%, respectively, as well as stimulated net intracellular degradation of prolactin. Thus, glucose deprivation enhances the incorporation of some, but not all, 3 H precursors into glycoproteins as well as stimulates the basal release of LH and FSH.
Diurnal in vivo and rapid in vitro effects of estradiol on voltage-gated calcium channels in gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons

A robust surge of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) release triggers the luteinizing hormone surge that induces ovulation. The GnRH surge is attributable to estradiol feedback, but the mechanisms are incompletely understood. Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) regulate hormone release and neuronal excitability, and may be part of the surge-generating mechanism. We examined VGCCs of GnRH neurons in brain slices from a model exhibiting daily luteinizing hormone surges. Mice were ovariectomized (OVX), and a subset was treated with estradiol implants (OVX+E). OVX+E mice exhibit negative feedback in the A.M. and positive feedback in the P.M. GnRH neurons express prominent high-voltage-activated (HVA) and small low-voltage-activated (LVA) macroscopic (whole-cell) Ca currents (I(Ca)). LVA-mediated currents were not altered by estradiol or time of day. In contrast, in OVX+E mice, HVA-mediated currents varied with time of day; HVA currents in cells from OVX+E mice were lower than those in cells from OVX mice in the A.M. but were higher in the P.M. These changes were attributable to diurnal alternations in L- and N-type components. There were no diurnal changes in any aspect of HVA-mediated I(Ca) in OVX mice. Acute in vitro treatment of cells from OVX and OVX+E mice with estradiol rapidly increased HVA currents primarily through L- and R-type VGCCs by activating estrogen receptor beta and GPR30, respectively. These results suggest multiple mechanisms contribute to the overall feedback regulation of HVA-mediated I(Ca) by estradiol. In combination with changes in synaptic inputs to GnRH neurons, these intrinsic changes in GnRH neurons may play critical roles in estradiol feedback.
Identification and evaluation of cycling yeast metabolites in two-dimensional comprehensive gas chromatography-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry data

Abstract A yeast metabolome exhibiting oscillatory behavior was analyzed using comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography–time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (GC × GC–TOF-MS) and in-house developed data analysis software methodology, referred to as a signal ratio method ( S ratio method). In this study, 44 identified unique metabolites were found to exhibit cycling, with a depth-of-modulation amplitude greater than three. After the initial locations are found using the S ratio software, and identified preliminarily using ChromaTOF software, the refined mass spectra and peak volumes were subsequently obtained using parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC). The peak volumes provided by PARAFAC deconvolution provide a measurement of the cycling depth-of-modulation amplitude that is more accurate than the initial S ratio information (which serves as a rapid screening procedure to find the cycling metabolites while excluding peaks that do not cycle). The S ratio reported is a rapid method to determine the depth-of-modulation while not constraining the search to specific cycling frequencies. The phase delay of the cycling metabolites ranged widely in relation to the oxygen consumption cycling pattern.
Hydrogen bond lengths in aqueous hydroxylammonium nitrate as a function of concentration, temperature and pressure

Qualitative and quantitative information about the interspecies distance distributions in aqueous hydroxylammonium nitrate (HAN) is obtained as a function of concentration (7 to 17M), temperature (−120 to 60°C) and pressure (0.1 to 7100 MPa) using isotopic uncoupling techniques for the O-H⋯O and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds in conjunction with frequency-distance correlations.
Error Statistics and Duhem's Problem*

No one has a well developed solution to Duhem's problem, the problem of how experimental evidence warrants revision of our theories. Deborah Mayo proposes a solution to Duhem's problem in route to her more ambitious program of providing a philosophical account of inductive inference and experimental knowledge. This paper is a response to Mayo's Error Statistics (ES) program, paying particular attention to her response to Duhem's problem. It turns out that Mayo's purported solution to Duhem's problem is very significant to her project, for the epistemic license claimed by ES and the philosophical underpinnings to her account of experimental knowledge depend on this solution. By introducing the partition problem, I argue that ES fails to solve Duhem's problem and therefore fails to provide an adequate account of experimental knowledge.
Minimum variance time-frequency distribution kernels for signals in additive noise

We derive the minimum variance time-frequency distribution kernel for signals in additive circular complex Gaussian white noise processes. It is shown that the kernel that minimizes the average variance and simultaneously satisfies the time-frequency constraints for the noise-only ease remains optimum in the presence of frequency-modulated (FM) signals.
Germanium and Silicon Disulfides: Structure and Synthesis

Crystal structures of the tetragonal forms of germanium and silicon disulfide are similar and consist of (SiS 4 ) 4- and (GeS 4 ) 4- tetrahedra which share vertices to form three-dimensional networks. These tetragonal materials, synthesized at high pressure and temperature, are different from the previously known germanium and silicon disulfides.
Pitfall in the ct diagnosis of abdominal abscess—The full stomach☆

A case is presented to illustrate that the CT appearance of the unenhanced full stomach may be misinterpreted as an abdominal abscess in the appropriate clinical setting. The need for administering oral contrast material prior to the study is emphasized.
Orchitis: a rare complication of infectious mononucleosis.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated infectious mononucleosis is a ubiquitous illness most often presenting during adolescence and young adulthood. The classic findings of mononucleosis are the triad of fever, pharyngitis and lymph-adenopathy. Hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and malaise are common. Les
Replantation of avulsed central incisor with advanced periodontal disease: a case report.

— This paper describes the case of a 31 -year-old woman with advanced periodontal dlsease who lost a tooth due to trauma. The avulsed tooth had minimal bony support of only 4—-5 mm. The patient described was under good periodontal maintenance. The tooth was kept moist, and replantation occurred within an hour of avulsion. The tooth was returned to its position, splinted, and later endodontically treated. After 2 years the tooth appears and functions normally as it did before avulsion.
Material Selection for Cryogenic Support Structures

Design specifications for the support structures of low temperature instrumentation often call for low thermal conductivity between temperature stages, high stiffness, and specific load bearing capabilities. While overall geometric design plays an important role in both overall stiffness and heat conduction between stages, material selection can affect a structure’s properties significantly. In this contribution, we suggest and compare several alternative materials to the current standard materials for building cryogenic support structures.
Fish Assemblages in Shallow, Nearshore Habitats of the Bering Sea

Abstract The Bering Sea provides over one-half of U.S. fishery production, yet knowledge of the use of its shallow (<5 m), nearshore (<20 m from shore) waters by fish is limited. In June 2005, we sampled shallow, nearshore waters of the Bering Sea at three Aleutian islands with a beach seine to estimate the relative abundance and species distribution of fish. Three habitat types were sampled: Nonvegetated sand substrate, vegetated cobble substrate, and vegetated bedrock substrate. A total of 70 sites were seined on Akutan, Akun, and Unalaska islands. The total estimated catch was 83,910 fish representing 33 taxa. Five species comprised 98% of the total catch. Pacific sand lance Ammodytes hexapterus was the most abundant species; approximately 35,000 of these fish were captured, and they occurred in 60% of all seine hauls. The next most abundant fish were young-of-the-year (age-0) gadids (primarily walleye pollock Theragra chalcogramma), age-0 pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, age-0 Pacific sandfish Tric...
The New Urbanism and the fallacy of singularity

This paper reviews what the author terms the ‘single one-dimensional approach’ of the New Urbanists. He suggests that their claims resemble the ‘emperor's new clothes’ and that community may not be the unalloyed good that they assert. He concludes that designers need to approach the problems of cities with more openness to the range of ideas and approaches that arise from the contemporary urban condition.
Bullous and Exfoliative Esophagitis

Abstract Bullous pemphygoid is an uncommon cause of atypical esophagitis. Nevertheless, awareness of this condition is important to make a diagnosis and institute appropriate therapy. There are many autoimmune skin disorders that also affect the esophagus, as both skin and esophagus are covered with squamous epithelium. Some of these blister- and bullae-forming diseases are bullous pemphygoid, pemphygus vulgaris, cicatricial pemphygoid, epidermolysis bullosa acqusita, and lichen planus pemphygoides. Herein is presented a patient with bullous pemphygoid, focusing on the endoscopic and histological characteristics of the disease. This article is part of an expert video encyclopedia.
FRONTLINE--the Academy, the APA, and the women.

The origins of the theme of this issue of the Journal, “Women and Society,” can be traced back to the impact on many of us of two books. Simone de Beauvoir’s The Second Sex was published in France in 1948 and appeared here in translation in 1953. Challenging contemporary ideas on women’s nature, de Beauvoir attacked the myth of female fulfillment through domestic drudgery. She was hardly the first person to write on the subordination of women, but she was the first to describe the dilemma of her contemporaries who possessed basic political rights at the same time that they were marginalized socially, culturally, and economically. The second book that had a profound influence was The Feminine Mystique: by Betty Friedan, published in 1963. She wrote about housewives who had material comforts yet were miserable. Many of these women had dreams that were neither forgotten nor fulfilled. The book became a bestseller and resonated deeply with those of us who were treating these women, women who had hard-working husbands, healthy children, gracious homes, and blamed themselves for their unhappiness. They tried tranquillizers, sexual transgression, overinvestment in their children, volunteerism, labor-saving appliances and, eventually, psychotherapy. These books (and a few others) were integrated into the life and work of female analysts and their patients. We began to respond. It was serendipitous that Alexandra Symonds and I were both profoundly affected by the ideas of these books, and experienced a need to discuss our ideas on the startling changes that were beginning to be made by the women’s liberation movement. As I read the literature about women, power, and leadership, I kept wishing that Symonds and I had been able to take advantage of all that we now know. We did what we did without being aware of any theoretical underpinnings. Our first meeting occurred over 33 years ago. The American Academy of
Explicit and Constrained Generalized Ridge Estimation

A method, based upon minimizing estimators of the criteria E(L 1 2) and E(L 2 2), is given for selecting the k 1, in generalized ridge regression; an explicit, closed form solution is developed for the resulting estimator β* of the vector of parameters,β, in the linear regression model. A method is also proposed for obtaining constrained generalized ridge estimators, with constraints placed upon β*, to utilize a priori information concerning the signs of the model parameters along with ridge estimation. These and other ridge estimation procedures are then examined and compared with least squares or constrained least squares estimators in a Monte Carlo study which demonstrates their effectiveness. An example is given to indicate their behavior and use on an applied problem.
ATTENUATION AND HANDEDNESS OF AXIAL PROPAGATION MODES IN A CHOLESTERIC LIQUID CRYSTAL

The interplay of spatial and temporal periodicities in a cholesteric liquid crystal is responsible for the three zones into which axialpropagation may be classified. Each of the three zones is marked by specific attenuation and handedness characteristics. 0 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Znc.
Elevated early follicular gonadotropin levels in women with unexplained infertility do not provide evidence for disordered gonadotropin-releasing hormone secretion as assessed by luteinizing hormone pulse characteristics

Abstract Objective To determine whether women with rigorously defined unexplained infertility demonstrated altered GnRH secretion, as reflected by serum LH secretion patterns. Design Prospective observational study. Setting National Center for Infertility Research at Michigan. Patient(s) Nine women with rigorously defined unexplained infertility and 11 healthy, parous age-matched control women. Intervention(s) Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (25 ng/kg) as a bolus injection. Main outcome measure(s) Daytime pulse patterns of LH secretion measured every 10 minutes; mean serum concentrations of LH, FSH, E 2 , P, PRL, and cortisol; and response to a physiologic dose of GnRH in the early follicular, late follicular, mid-luteal, and late luteal phases of the same menstrual cycle. Result(s) Serum LH pulse frequency and pulse amplitude and LH secretion in response to a physiologic bolus of GnRH were not significantly different in unexplained infertility patients at any phase of the cycle. Luteinizing hormone pulse frequency and amplitude, as well as response to GnRH, varied significantly across the cycle. Mean early follicular serum LH and FSH concentrations were significantly higher in unexplained infertility patients than in fertile control subjects (LH: 5.31 ± .51 vs. 4.03 ± .33 [mIU/mL ± SEM]; FSH: 5.81 ± .63 vs. 3.80 ± .45) but were not different at any other phase of the cycle. Conclusion(s) These data do not support the hypothesis that unexplained infertility is caused by an abnormality in pulsatile GnRH secretion or abnormal pituitary sensitivity to GnRH. However, the results are consistent with a difference in negative feedback from the ovary to the pituitary in unexplained infertility patients that is suggestive of diminished ovarian reserve.
Response of cotton to nitrogen fertilization and early multiple applications of mepiquat chloride

Abstract Studies were conducted for three years to determine the effects of early multiple applications of mepiquat chloride (MC) on field‐grown cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) fertilized with high rates of soil‐applied urea‐N (134, 168, and 202 kg N/ha). Foliar treatments of 0, 0.006, and 0.012 kg MC/ha in combination with 0 and 0.22 kg B/ha were applied when the cotton reached the first square stage. Applications were continued on a seven‐day schedule for three additional weeks. Significant differences in lint yield, percent first harvest (PFH) and final plant height were observed as a function of the N rate‐MC‐B treatment combinations. Plant heights were reduced by the MC applications, especially the 0.012 kg/ha rate. Tallest plants were found in plots treated with the two highest N rates (202 and 168 kg N/ha) without any foliar treatment. Petiole NO3‐ analysis indicated that the greater N rates resulted in greater N uptake by the plants. Lint yield was suppressed by the 0.012 kg MC/ha treatments at all...
Uptake and release of calcium by microsomes of nonvascular smooth muscle.

Abstract Microsomes prepared from guinea-pig ileum longitudinal smooth muscle and rat uterus continuously sequester calcium for a one hour period in the presence of Mg-ATP as an energy source and oxalate anion as a trapping agent. Dithiothreitol is essential for maximal calcium uptake activity of the rat uterus microsomes. On sucrose density gradients, calcium uptake of the smooth muscle microsomes appears to be associated with intracellular membrane (sarcoplasmic reticulum). Release of sequestered calcium from the longitudinal muscle microsomes is very slow (20% in 50 minutes). A small labile fraction (20%) is released by EGTA (1 mM) in 10 minutes. Rapid release of sequestered calcium (90% in 10 minutes) occurs in presence of the calcium ionophore A23187 (2 μM) or in the presence of chlorpromazine (1 mM).
Estimation of stack height required to limit contamination of building air intakes.

Abstract When multiple sources release contaminants a short distance above the roof of a building, the gases are usually trapped in the eddy zone or cavity adjacent to the roof and side walls, and undesirably high concentrations may be produced at air intakes in the side walls. Since the side walls generally are regions of minimum concentration for exhausts located on the roof, the only recourse to effect a further reduction in concentration is to deposit some of the effluent outside of the cavity. This paper presents a method for calculating the stack height necessary to produce an arbitrary concentration at the side-wall intakes, by evaluating the partial entrapment of the plume in the cavity.
Computation of the Medial Axis Transform of 3-D polyhedra

The Medial Axis Transform is important in path planning, analysis of growth, determination of symmetries, and tinite element mesh generation, In [his paper, an algorithm forcomputing the Medial Axis Tranformof a 3-D polyhedral solid is presented, along with adiscussion of its complexity and stability. lle algorithm is based on a classification scheme for points on the Medial Axis which is also discussed. The algorithm provides the continuous representation of the Medial Axis andassociated radius function. Examples of the algorithm are also presented to illustrate the method.
Preventing postpartum depression: review and recommendations

Nearly 20 % of mothers will experience an episode of major or minor depression within the first 3 months postpartum, making it the most common complication of childbearing. Postpartum depression (PPD) is significantly undertreated, and because prospective mothers are especially motivated for self-care, a focus on the prevention of PPD holds promise of clinical efficacy. This study is a qualitative review of existing approaches to prevent PPD. A PubMed search identified studies of methods of PPD prevention. The search was limited to peer-reviewed, published, English-language, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of biological, psychological, and psychosocial interventions. Eighty articles were initially identified, and 45 were found to meet inclusion criteria. Eight RCTs of biological interventions were identified and 37 RCTs of psychological or psychosocial interventions. Results were mixed, with 20 studies showing clear positive effects of an intervention and 25 showing no effect. Studies differed widely in screening, population, measurement, and intervention. Among biological studies, anti-depressants and nutrients provided the most evidence of successful intervention. Among psychological and psychosocial studies, 13/17 successful trials targeted an at-risk population, and 4/7 trials using interpersonal therapy demonstrated success of the intervention versus control, with a further two small studies showing trends toward statistical significance. Existing approaches to the prevention of PPD vary widely, and given the current literature, it is not possible to identify one approach that is superior to others. Interpersonal therapy trials and trials that targeted an at-risk population appear to hold the most promise for further study.
Wetland Vegetation Response to the Restoration of Sheet Flow at Cheyenne Bottoms, Kansas

The restoration of inland salt-affected plant communities, including saltflat mixed prairie and playa lakes wetlands, has received little attention despite the importance of these communities for critical wildlife habitat. The salt-affected communities of Cheyenne Bottoms, located in central Kansas, are a crucial stopover site for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. In 1998, The Nature Conservancy attempted to restore native plant communities to grazed and former cropland at Cheyenne Bottoms by reestablishing sheet flow across these disturbed areas. We collected vegetation cover data along permanent transects established in rangeland, former cropland, and in a shallow basin 3 years (19961998) before the hydrological changes and continued to collect vegetation data for 3 years (19992001) after the hydrological changes. Vegetation composition changes in response to the restored hydrology were subtle, but the average wetland index along the transects in the basin and the rangeland significantly declined. Significant decreases occurred in the cover of perennials and graminoids in both spring and fall species assemblages of the rangeland area. Changes in the former cropped areas were mixed, indicating the difficulty of restoring these disturbed plant communities to native plant assemblages within a few years.
Shear-transformation-zone theory of plastic deformation near the glass transition

The shear-transformation-zone (STZ) theory of plastic deformation in glass-forming materials is reformulated in light of recent progress in understanding the roles played by the effective disorder temperature and entropy flow in nonequilibrium situations. A distinction between fast and slow internal-state variables reduces the theory to just two coupled equations of motion, one describing the plastic response to applied stresses and the other the dynamics of the effective temperature. The analysis leading to these equations contains, as a by-product, a fundamental reinterpretation of the dynamic yield stress in amorphous materials. In order to put all these concepts together in a realistic context, I conclude with a reexamination of the experimentally observed rheological behavior of a bulk metallic glass. That reexamination serves as a test of the STZ dynamics, confirming that system parameters obtained from steady-state properties such as the viscosity can be used to predict transient behaviors.
Time course of production of low molecular weight viral-neutralizing substance(s) in chickens.

Regressor (R) line chickens respond to Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) by producing low molecular weight (LMW) virus-neutralizing factors. LMW factors were detected in R-line sera as early as 4 days after initial challenge with RSV and disappear as the Rous sarcoma regresses. This LMW material does not appear to be produced in significant amounts by progressor chickens at the selected assay times. These LMW factor(s) may be stimulated by the R-Rs-1 gene.
Fitness Requirements for Scientific Theories

i The theory, if false, could be disconfirmed by a finite set of observations (i.e., was finitely testable); 2 The theory, if disconfirmed by a set of observations, would be disconfirmed by any superset of those observations (i.e., was irrevocably testable). The FITness criteria seem to capture the idea of operationality. In addition, they entail, for any theory that satisfies them, a number of desirable properties (Simon [I979]). First, the theoretical terms are (Ramsey) eliminable from any FIT theory. Second, while the axioms of a FIT theory may be infinite in number, no axiom can refer to more than a finite number of observations.
Effect of Delay Interval on Classical Eyeblink Conditioning in 5-Month-Old Human Infants

Associative learning was evaluated in human infants with simple delay classical eyeblink conditioning. A tone conditioned stimulus (CS) was paired with an airpuff unconditioned stimulus (US) at three different delay intervals (250, 650, and 1,250 ms). Independent groups of healthy, full-term 5-month-old human infants were assigned to these three paired conditions and received two identical training sessions 1 week apart. The two longer delays resulted in associa- tive conditioning, as confirmed by comparison with unpaired control groups. However, only at the 650-ms delay were associative eyeblinks adaptively timed to avoid the airpuff. The delay function at 5 months of age appears much sharper than is observed in adults. Together with the findings of A. H. Little, L. P. Lipsitt, and C. Rovee-Collier (1984), the present study suggests a downward shift in the optimal delay interval for associative eyeblink conditioning between 1 and 6 months of age. However, this delay remains longer than what is typically reported in adults.
Nicotine dependence, motivation to quit, and diagnosis in emergency department patients who smoke.

Abstract Objectives To assess the effect of diagnosis on motivation to quit in adult smokers in an emergency department (ED). Methods A survey of patients visiting two EDs from September to November, 2003. Patients screening positive for smoking completed a Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence and Ladder of Contemplation. ICD9 codes and disposition status were recorded. Smoking-related diagnoses were drawn from standard sources. Data were analyzed with parametric and non-parametric statistics. Results Five hundred and eighty-five were interviewed, median age 40 (interquartile range 29–50); 323 (55%) were female. Ninety percent of all patients were non-White; 69% were uninsured or had Medicaid. Of 152 patients with smoking-related diagnoses, the median Fagerstrom score was 4.7 vs. 4.1 for patients with a non-smoking-related diagnosis ( p = 0.02, 95% CI for the difference 0.2, 0.9). Patients with smoking-related and non-smoking-related diagnoses had similar levels of motivation to quit (Ladder score, respectively, 5.5 vs. 5.1, p = 0.03, 95% CI for difference 0.03, 0.8). Conclusions Adult ED smokers exhibit mild–moderate levels of nicotine addiction and interest in quitting. ED-based tobacco control should target all smokers.
Phase shifting of the circadian rhythm in the eye of Bulla by inhibition of chloride conductance

Inhibition of Cl- conductance has been previously found to shorten the free-running period of the circadian eye rhythm of the marine snail Bulla gouldiana. In this study, we describe a phase-response curve for 6-h pulses of Cl(-)-free seawater, consisting only of phase advances with the largest in the late subjective night (1.5 h) and smaller phase shifts in the late subjective day. Intracellular recordings revealed that at both circadian times retinal pacemaker neurons hyperpolarized in response to the removal of extracellular chloride. Since previous studies indicate that membrane potential generates both phase advances and delays it seems unlikely that the action of chloride removal is mediated exclusively by the change in membrane potential.
Biology of microbial communities--interview.

Video Link The video component of this article can be found at http://www.jove.com/video/205/
Composition space analysis of templated molybdates

Abstract A systematic investigation of the factors governing reaction product composition and three-dimensional structure was conducted in the MoO3/H2N(CH2)nNH2/H2O (n = 3–7) systems. Composition space analysis was performed through approximately 30 reactions using each amine under mild hydrothermal conditions. Ten new compounds were synthesized, of which single crystals of nine were grown. Five different molybdate structures were observed in these ten compounds, including β-[Mo8O26]4− molecular anions, two distinct [Mo3O10]n2n− chain polymorphs, [Mo8O26]n4n− chains and [Mo5O16]n2n− layers. The relative phase stabilities of the reaction products and associated molybdate architectures are dependent upon the concentrations of each reactant in solution.
Use of the S H 2 Symbol

Davies and Roberts1,2 have recently reviewed homolytic substitution reactions on metal or metalloid atoms which follow the stoichiometry Open image in new window where X· is any free radical and M is a metal or metalloid atom such as carbon, boron, oxygen, sulphur, tin, aluminium, mercury and so on. They have undoubtedly performed a service by calling attention to the prevalence of reactions of this type, but both Davies and Roberts1 and Nature's correspondent2 describe these reactions as SH2. I suggest that this is a misnomer and that it complicates distinctions which it is important to make in the mechanisms of these reactions.
Ground Cover Impacts on Nitrogen Export from Manured Riparian Pasture

Maintaining ground cover of forages may reduce the export of nitrogen (N) from pastures. The objective of this work was to determine the effect of ground cover on N export from pastured riparian areas receiving simulated rainfall. Plots were established on two adjacent sites in the North Carolina Piedmont: one of 10% slope with Appling sandy loam soils and a second of 20% slope with Wedowee sandy loam soils. Both sites had existing mixed tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.)-dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum Poir.) vegetation. Forage stands were modified to represent a range of ground cover levels: 0, 45, 70, and 95% (bare ground, low, medium, and high cover, respectively), and amended with beef steer (Bos taurus) feces and urine (|200 kg N ha 21 ). For all rain events combined, mean nitrate N export was greatest from bare ground and was reduced by 34% at low cover, which did not differ from high cover. Mean ammonium N export was slightly elevated (|1.37 kg N ha 21 ) in months when manures were applied and negligible (,0.02 kg N ha 21 ) in all other months. For all rain events combined, mean export of total N was greatest from bare ground and was reduced by at least 85% at all other cover levels. Whereas site did not impact N export, results indicated that cover and time of rainfall following manure deposition are important determinants of the impact of riparian grazing.
Self-compensation in nitrogen-doped ZnSe

The structural and electronic properties of column V acceptor impurities in ZnSe are reviewed with special emphasis on N. The results of our calculations indicate that As and P acceptors possess two atomic configurations: a metastable effective-mass state with a small lattice relaxation and a stable deep state with a large lattice relaxation. Substitutional N gives rise to shallow acceptor states in either configuration. The low 20–30% doping efficiency is proposed to be caused by N bonding at interstitial sites. Various interstitial bonding configurations are found to give both shallow donor and shallow acceptor states leading to self-compensation. Post growth in diffusion of N is proposed to be useful in increasing the concentration of shallow acceptor states.
Invariance and commutativity properties of some classes of solutions of the matrix differential equation X(t)X'(t) = X'(t)X(t)

Abstract This paper presents some new results about the 47 years old study of the matrix differential equation XX' = X'X. First, we prove that if for every t in an interval Ω ⊆ R a solution X(t) ∈ C n × n is similar to diag[Jq(0), …, Jq(0)], then for every k ∈ {0, …, q} the kernel and the image of X(t)k do not depend on t ∈ Ω . Furthermore, we show that in this case, the obvious nilpotency of index q of X(t), X(t) q = 0 ∀t ∈ ω spreads on Ω: X(t 1 )⋯X(t q ) = 0 n ∀t 1 ,…,t q ∈ ω This implies that when q = 2, the solution X is necessarily commutative: X(s)X(t) = 0n = X(t)X(s) for every s, t ∈ Ω . However, we show that when q = 3, there are analytic solutions that are not commutative. Also, we completely describe the solutions of XX' = X'X such that X2 = 0. Finally, we construct a class of analytic solutions whose kernel and image are not constant.
AIDS and the family: Implications for counselling

The presence of HIV spectrum illness stimulates a powerful emotional reaction from a patient's family and friends. Grief and shock over the infection, and its implications are frequent observations. Sadness, anxiety, helplessness and anger are also common. Health care staff should address these responses in order to strengthen coping skills and maximize interpersonal comfort. Stigmatization and isolation are major stressors. Bereavement is complicated by fear, shame, dependency and hopelessness. Therefore, a task in counselling is to maintain the integrity and supportiveness of the patient's social unit by encouraging open communications between those involved and by educating about AIDS. Information should be provided on HIV transmission, self-protection, and illness progression as well as the safety of causal contacts and the practices of 'safer sex'. The significant others should retain outside interests and be encouraged to seek help for patients from supportive social agencies. Instillation of hope lends benefit to patient, family and friends. Kind, non-judgmental counselling and good quality medical care should be made available, especially since HIV-related disorders are increasingly becoming a chronic disease. Advocacy for the significant others translates into better adjustment and it enhances the patient's medical prognosis.