cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Linear minimal variance estimation in target detection and location

Abstract In automatic target recognition, the determination of the observationally conditioned average of a specified target property frequently involves severe implementation difficulties. It is thus of interest to consider approximations that are linear in the input pattern, since these are simply implementable. In this paper we examine the domain of validity of such approximations. We show that they are valid in the regions of target parameter space, where either 1. (a) the assumed target is a close match to the input pattern, or 2. (b) the assumed target is weakly correlated with the input pattern and the norm (to be defined later) of the target is weakly dependent on the target parameters.
A method for large scale laboratory inoculation of potato tubers with late blight fungus

As part of a project to investigate the possibility that teratogenic factors are formed in potato tubers infected with the late blight fungus,Phytophthora infestans, a method was devised which allowed quick, efficient inoculation of large numbers of potato tubers. Tubers were placed in specially constructed trays, wounded by puncturing the periderm with flower “pin frogs”, and sprayed with a zoospore suspensionof P. infestans prepared from cultures grown on rye agar at 20C (68F) for 10 days. Approximately 95% of Katahdin and 93% of Russet Sebago tubers inoculated by this method exhibited typical late blight lesions after two weeks incubation at 20C, 80–90% RH. Eight tons of potatoes were processed in this manner.
Do biochemical markers have a role in osteoarthritis diagnosis and treatment

It is possible to use biomarkers in cohort studies and in clinical trials to increase our understanding of disease, to elucidate disease mechanisms, and to bolster a clinical impression of the disease state of osteoarthritis. Whether it will be possible to utilize biomarkers meaningfully to characterize the disease state in an individual patient remains to be seen. Major concepts related to the use of biomarkers for research and clinical practice, and factors influencing biomarker concentrations, are described in this review in order to address the potential role of biomarkers in osteoarthritis diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
Immunization guidelines for adult patients: an annual update and a challenge.

This editorial comments further on changes found in the current version of the Adult Immunization Schedule produced by the ACIP, which appears in this issue. It also summarizes the joint statement ...
Elastic-plastic and asymptotic fields of interface cracks

In previous analyses [1, 2, 13], and full-field computational investigations, we found that the near tip plastic fields of cracks on a bimaterial interface do not have a separable form of the HRR type. Nevertheless they appear to be nearly separable in an annular region well within the plastic zone. Asymptotically, as the crack tip is approached, the material system responds like that of a plastically deforming solid bonded to a rigid substrate; in particular, the stress and strain fields in the more compliant (lower hardening) material behave like those of a material with identical plastic properties bonded to a rigid substrate. Furthermore, the asymptotic fields of the interface crack bear strong similarities to mixed mode HRR fields for the homogeneous medium characterized by the plastic properties appropriate to the more (plastically) compliant material. In this investigation, we elucidate the behaviour of the material system over two length scales which are physically relevant, namely, distances comparable to the dominant plastic zone and the crack tip opening displacement. The latter is approximately given by the plastic zone size times and the relevant yield strain. Over length scales comparable to the dominant plastic zone, the stress fields are governed by the characteristics of the weaker (lower yield strength) material. On the other hand, the near tip plastic fields are governed by the strain hardening characteristics of the more plastically compliant (lower hardening) material.
Bipolar electrode focusing: simultaneous concentration enrichment and separation in a microfluidic channel containing a bipolar electrode.

A method for simultaneously concentrating and separating analytes in a buffer-filled microfluidic channel is reported. The approach is based on modulation of the local electric field within the channel and the corresponding opposition of electrophoretic and electroosmotic flow (EOF) velocities. Dye molecules having different electrophoretic mobilities are focused at different locations within the channel where concentration takes place. At least three species, all small dye molecules, can be simultaneously concentrated and separated, with localized enrichment factors up to ∼600 achieved within 400 s. The enrichment zones affect the electric field profile, as evidenced by significant differences in focusing of single versus multiple analytes. The EOF could be modulated by modifying the channel walls with an appropriate polymer, and this had the effect of increasing both the enrichment factors and resolution of the separation. Numerical simulations provide insights into the underlying fundamental principles...
Use of a new retrieving adaptor in the cloning of a synthetic human insulin A-chain gene.

Abstract A DNA duplex encoding the A-chain of human insulin was constructed from eight chemically synthesized oligomers by enzymatic ligation to form a partial duplex followed by repair synthesis to complete the complementary strands. After sequential addition of translation start and stop signal adaptors the assembly was cloned in pBR322. To regenerate the end of the coding sequence by precise removal of extraneous nucleotides a new method using a synthetic retrieval adaptor was developed. The procedure included filling in the cohesive ends of the Eco RI site by repair synthesis, ligating a symmetrical adaptor having an Mbo II recognition sequence to the resulting blunt end, cutting with Mbo II and removing the single protruding 3′-nucleotide using the 3′ exonuclease activity of DNA polymerase I. Synthetic oligomers useful for ligation to a synthetic insulin C-chain gene were added to the retrieved end of the gene. Sequence analysis established that retrieval adaptors of this type may be used for precise excision of up to eight nucleotides from the end of a cloned DNA fragment.
High-precision, high-throughput stability determinations facilitated by robotics and a semiautomated titrating fluorometer

The use of statistical modeling to test hypotheses concerning the determinants of protein structure requires stability data (e.g., the free energy of denaturation in H(2)O, DeltaG(HOH)) from hundreds of protein mutants. Fluorescence-monitored chemical denaturation provides a convenient method for high-precision, high-throughput DeltaG(HOH) determination. For eglin c we find that a throughput of about 20 min per protein can be attained in a two-channel semiautomated titrating fluorometer. We find also that the use of robotics for protein purification and preparation of the solutions for chemical denaturation gives highly precise DeltaG(HOH) values in which the standard deviation of values from multiple preparations (+/-0.051 kcal/mol) differs very little from multiple measurements from a single preparation (+/-0.040 kcal/mol). Since the variance introduced into model fitting by DeltaG(HOH) increases as the square of measurement error, there is a premium on precision. In fact, the fraction of stability behavior explicable by otherwise perfect models goes from 98% to only 50% over the error range commonly reported for chemical denaturation measurements (0.1-0.6 kcal/mol). We have found that the precision of chemical denaturation DeltaG(HOH) measurements depends most heavily on the precision of the instrument used, followed by protein purity and the capacity to precisely prepare the solutions used for titrations.
A molecular orbital investigation of ru–oxo-catalyzed alcohol oxidations

The initial interaction between substrate and catalyst in the oxidation of alcohols by an octahedral Ru(IV)–oxo complex, cis-[Ru(HNCH—HCNH)2(NH3)(O)]2+, was researched using the INDO/1 method. Activation of the C—H bond, of the alcohol, by the oxo oxygen of the Ru(IV)–oxo complex was explored by the construction of two potential energy surfaces. First, the energetics for a triangular C—H—Oxo interaction geometry was subject to calculation and found to be repulsive at all distances. Second, the linear C—H—Oxo interaction geometry was probed and found to be more favorable than the triangular geometry. A loosely bound intermediate, corresponding to an ion(RuN5O2+)–molecule(ROH) complex and resembling a hydrogen-bonded species, was isolated on the linear potential energy surface. Several degrees of freedom for the linear ion-molecule minimum were studied in an attempt to reduce the oxo—H distance to a covalent value, all of which led to large increases in the total energy. Inner-sphere coordination shell expansion of the Ru–oxo catalyst was also considered. Three seven-coordinate structures—the pentagonal bipyramid, the capped octahedron, and the capped trigonal prism—were studied. The energetic and electronic similarity of seven-coordinate complexes, and lower calculated energy of activation (9.6 vs. 15.6 kcal mol–1), led us to only investigate the bonding of methanol to the pentagonal bipyramidal precursor in depth. The bonding of the pentagonal bipyramidal precursor with the oxygen atom of methanol leads to a decrease in the total energy as the metal–oxygen distance decreases, until a covalently bound species is formed. The subsequent conversion of the coordinated methanol to carbonyl products is considered in qualitative terms.
Curvature and Rotation Sensitive Variants of the K-Omega SST Turbulence Model

The two-equation, eddy-viscosity class of models remains the primary means of turbulence closure for most CFD applications, however these models typically are not sensitized correctly to streamline curvature or system rotation. This paper presents the development and testing of new versions of the k-omega SST turbulence model that are intended to exhibit a physically accurate response to curvature and rotation. Model development is based on a rigorous simplification of the differential Reynolds Stress Model under conditions of weak equilibrium. The new turbulence model is implemented in a commercial CFD solver and tested on several problems, including fully-developed, rotating channel flow and flow development in a U-bend. The new model performs superior to existing k-omega model forms for these cases, especially when rapid rotation or strong streamline curvature exists.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Characteristics of life stressors predictive of substance treatment outcomes.

Abstract Most research and treatment focusing on the relationship between life stress and substance use have considered stress as a unitary construct despite the fact that stressors vary in terms of temporal characteristics (short-term vs. long-term) and domains (work, health). In contrast to most stressor domains, increasing evidence suggests that health stressors may reduce the risk of initiating substance use after treatment. We separately evaluated the effect of short-term stress events (discrete date of occurrence), long-term stressors (ongoing stressors lasting 2 weeks or longer), and health stressors on posttreatment alcohol and drug use. Veterans ( N = 195) were assessed while receiving addiction treatment and quarterly for 1 year. The odds of initiating posttreatment substance use were 2.5 times greater for participants experiencing severe (nonhealth) long-term stressors. In contrast, participants experiencing short-term health events or severe (nonhealth) short-term events were less likely to initiate posttreatment substance use (odds ratio=.28 and .44, respectively).
Discrimination, tracking, and recognition of small and fast-moving objects

In military applications it is of utmost importance to detect and identify targets from Infra-Red (IR) sequences. Usually the targets of interest are of small size and moving with great velocity. In addition, the IR sequences are extremely noisy due to rampant systemic noise incurred by the sensing instrument and the noise from the environment. In this paper, we developed a method which can effectively detect and identify the targets of interest form the noisy IR sequences using the manipulation of both the temporal, spectral, and spatial bandpass filtering. With this method, first a bandpass filtering in the spectral domain is conducted in order to remove noises, especially the systemic ones. Next the candidate target locations are declared through a spectral bandpassing from the temporal pixel process, where by taking advantage of the fact that the targets of interest are fast moving the background and random noises are largely removed. The estimated targets of interest for each IR frame are further refined after a post- processing in the spatial domain. The final targets of interest are then declared after a consistency check-up across adjacent IR frames by use of an adaptive Hough transform. Experimental results based on this proposed method have suggested desirable performance.
Rateless Slepian-Wolf Coding Based on Rate Adaptive Low-Density-Parity-Check Codes

A rateless Slepian-Wolf coding (SWC) scheme based on rate adaptive low-density-parity-check (LDPC) codes is presented. We first motivate the application of punctured LDPC codes in SWC. A general rate adaptive LDPC framework is then described. The main idea is to adjust the puncturing ratio in the specified variable nodes for rate adaptivity while keeping the bipartite graph structure intact. As a complement, a repetition scheme is proposed for high rate SWC. The asymptotic performance of the proposed scheme is analyzed by density evolution (DE) with universal coding bounds and finite code length performance is verified by computer simulations.
Protein synthesis at synapse versus cell body: enhanced but transient expression of long-term facilitation at isolated synapses.

Protein synthesis at synaptic terminals contributes to LTP in hippocampus and to the formation of new synaptic connections by sensory neurons (SNs) of Aplysia. Here we report that after removal of the SN cell body, isolated SN synapses of Aplysia in culture express protein-synthesis dependent long-term facilitation (LTF) produced by 5-HT that decays rapidly. Changes in expression of a SN-specific neuropeptide sensorin in isolated SN varicosities parallel the changes in synaptic efficacy. At 24 h after 5-HT the magnitude of LTF produced at isolated SN synapses was significantly greater than that produced when SN cell bodies were present. LTF was maintained at 48 h at connections with SN cell bodies, but not at isolated SN synapses. The increase in synaptic efficacy at isolated SN synapses at 24 h was blocked by the protein synthesis inhibitor anisomycin. LTF was accompanied by changes in expression of sensorin. The increase in sensorin level at isolated SN varicosities with 5-HT was blocked by anisomycin or was reversed 48 h after 5-HT treatment alone. The results suggest that, as is the case for initial synapse formation between SNs and L7, changes in protein synthesis at synaptic terminals may contribute directly to LTF of stable synapses. Changes in expression within the cell body provide additional contributions for long-term maintenance of the new level of synaptic efficacy that was initiated directly by local changes in protein synthesis at or near synaptic terminals.
A huntingtin–HAP1–PCM1 pathway in ciliogenesis

Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by expansion of a polyglutamine repeat in the N-terminal region of huntingtin (htt), a large protein that has been found to interact with a variety of proteins. It remains to be determined how the interactions of htt with other proteins are involved in the pathogenesis of HD. A recent publication by Keryer et al. demonstrates that htt regulates ciliogenesis by interacting with PCM1 through HAP1. This recent study shows that htt and HAP1 are essential for protein trafficking to the centrosome, as well as normal ciliogenesis, and that mutant htt causes abnormal ciliogenesis, providing a novel insight into the pathogenesis of HD.
Comparison of Markov Chain and Semi-Markov Models for Crack Deterioration on Flexible Pavements

There is a growing demand to preserve transportation infrastructure utilizing limited funds, and the modeling of flexible pavement deterioration has become an integral component of any pavement preservation model. Markov chains have been used to model the performance of pavements in various pavement management systems (PMSs). The Markov property may be considered restrictive when modeling the deterioration of transportation assets, primarily because of the “memoryless” property and assumption of exponential distribution for sojourn times in the condition states. This paper outlines a semi-Markov model for modeling pavement deterioration in which the sojourn time in each condition state is assumed to follow a Weibull distribution and, thus, is more flexible than the traditional Markov chain model. The semi-Markov model does not possess the memoryless property if the sojourn time distribution is not exponential. Monte Carlo simulations are generated for the deterioration of flexible pavements over time based on both the traditional Markov chain model and the proposed semi-Markov model. The results of the work show that in some cases the semi-Markov model appears to be superior to the Markov chain model in modeling the actual deterioration patterns of the flexible pavements.
Racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare use, delayed care, and management of diabetes mellitus in older adults in California

This study examined racial and ethnic differences in healthcare use, delayed care, and management of care of older adults with a self-reported diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Drawing on the 2009 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), the sample included 3,003 adults (representative of N = 998,795) aged 60 and older from five racial and ethnic groups: non-Hispanic white (n = 2,153), African American (n = 213), Hispanic (n = 336), Asian (n = 306), and American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) (n = 59). All self-reported a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were conducted using weighted data. Results from adjusted logistic regressions indicated significant racial and ethnic differences between non-Hispanic white elderly and the other groups examined. Specifically, African Americans were significantly less likely than whites to see a doctor and to have a usual source of care, and were more likely to visit the emergency department (ED) for diabetes mellitus and to have their feet examined by a provider. Hispanics were significantly less likely to take medicine to lower cholesterol but were more likely to test their blood glucose regularly (following ADA guidelines). Asians were significantly less likely than whites to test their blood glucose regularly or have a foot examination. AI/ANs were significantly less likely than whites to see a doctor, visit an ED, and take medication to reduce heart attack risk but were more likely to use insulin, oral diabetic medication, or both. The findings suggest the need for racial- and ethnic-specific interventions for managing diabetes mellitus to help reduce existing racial and ethnic disparities among elderly adults.
Forecasting tourism demand; Some methodological issues

This paper investigates methodological issues in forecasting tourism demand. We demonstrate that the employment of extended Box-Cox autoregressive tests for functional form and ridge regression to control for substantial and changing patterns of collinearity among the explanatory variables substantially increases forecast precision relative to extensively used OLS techniques.
The effectiveness of proprioceptive training for improving motor function: a systematic review

Objective: Numerous reports advocate that training of the proprioceptive sense is a viable behavioral therapy for improving impaired motor function. However, there is little agreement of what constitutes proprioceptive training and how effective it is. We therefore conducted a comprehensive, systematic review of the available literature in order to provide clarity to the notion of training the proprioceptive system. Methods: Four major scientific databases were searched. The following criteria were subsequently applied: 1) A quantified pre and post-treatment measure of proprioceptive function. 2) An intervention or training program believed to influence or enhance proprioceptive function. 3) Contained at least one form of treatment or outcome measure that is indicative of somatosensory function. From a total of 1284 articles, 51 studies fulfilled all criteria and were selected for further review. Results: Overall, proprioceptive training resulted in an average improvement of 52% across all outcome measures. Applying muscle vibration above 30Hz for longer durations (i.e., min vs. sec) induced outcome improvements of up to 60%. Joint position and target reaching training consistently enhanced joint position sense (up to 109%) showing an average improvement of 48%. Cortical stroke was the most studied disease entity but no clear evidence indicated that proprioceptive training is differentially beneficial across the reported diseases. Conclusions: There is converging evidence that proprioceptive training can yield meaningful improvements in somatosensory and sensorimotor function. However, there is a clear need for further work. Those forms of training utilizing both passive and active movements with and without visual feedback tended to be most beneficial. There is also initial evidence suggesting that proprioceptive training induces cortical reorganization, reinforcing the notion that proprioceptive training is a viable method for improving sensorimotor function.
The σ− selection rule in electron attachment and autoionization of diatomic molecules

Abstract It is shown theoretically that Σ + ⇐ Σ − transitions in electron attachment and autionization of diatomic molecules are forbidden. For the verification of this selection rule, two experimental examples are given.
THE AMARANTH FRAMEWORK: POLICY-BASED QUALITY OF SERVICE MANAGEMENT FOR HIGH-ASSURANCE COMPUTING

System resource management for high-assurance applications such as the command and control of a battle group is a complex problem. These applications often require guaranteed computing services that must satisfy both hard and soft deadlines. Over time, their resource demands can also vary significantly with bursts of high activity amidst periods of inactivity. A traditional solution has been to dedicate resources to critical application tasks and to share resources among non-critical tasks. With the increasing complexity of high-assurance applications and the need to reduce system costs, dedicating resources is not a satisfactory solution. The Amaranth Project at Carnegie Mellon is researching and developing a framework for allocating shared resources to support multiple quality of service (QoS) dimensions and to provide probabilistic assurances of service. This paper is an overview of the Amaranth framework for policy-based QoS management, the current results from applying the framework, and the future research directions for the Amaranth project.
Pathways to adulthood and changes in health-promoting behaviors.

The transition to adulthood in the US has become increasingly diverse over the last fifty years, leaving young adults without a normative pathway to adulthood. Using Waves I and III of The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N=7,803), I draw from a cumulative advantages/ disadvantages (CAD) perspective to examine the relationships between union formation, parenthood, college attendance, full-time employment, home-leaving, and changes in health-promoting behaviors between adolescence and young adulthood. I find that men and women who marry, cohabit, or attend college during the transition from adolescence to young adulthood report fewer losses in healthy behaviors over time. When the sample is divided into mutually exclusive “pathways to adulthood”, two higher-risk groups emerge for both men and women: single parents and those transitioning into fulltime work without attending college or forming families. These groups experience greater losses in healthy behaviors over time even after adjusting for family of origin characteristics and may be at long-term risk for persistently low engagement in health-promoting behaviors.
Finding a place to stand: Negotiating the spatial configuration of the networked computer classroom

Abstract The spatial dynamics of the Internet-networked computer classroom fundamentally alter the ways instructors and students use and perceive pedagogical space. Network connectivity exposes the indeterminacy of classroom space, distracting students, disorienting instructors and challenging their authority, and displacing a classroom's apparent centrality. Theorizing the spatiality of both traditional and networked class-rooms, however, reveals that both exhibit indeterminate spatial characteristics, but that network connectivity renders this indeterminacy visible. The Internet-networked classroom can be reestablished as center by having students (a) collaboratively analyze the Internet and approximate its demographics, (b) assert a presence on the Internet by creating personal web sites, and (c) design a class web site that can function as the classroom's social center in Cyberspace. These activities encourage students to become critical analysts rather than passive consumers of technology; however, instructors must design activities carefully, taking into account individual differences between students and the material conditions of their lives.
Recombination and mutagenesis in rad6 mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Evidence for multiple functions of the RAD6 gene

The rad6-1 and rad6-3 mutants are highly UV sensitive and show an increase in spontaneous and UV induced mitotic heteroallelic recombination in diploids. Both rad6 mutants are proficient in spontaneous and UV induced unequal sister chromatid recombination in the reiterated ribosomal DNA sequence and are deficient in UV induced mutagenesis. In contrast to the above effects where both mutants appear similar, rad6-1 mutants are deficient in sporulation and meiotic recombination whereas rad6-3 mutants are proficient. The differential effects of these mutations indicate that the RAD6 gene is multifunctional. The possible role of the RAD6 gene in error prone excision repair of UV damage during the G1 phase of the cell cycle in addition to its role in postreplication repair is discussed.
New Kid on the Block: The Troubles and Triumphs of Being a New Business Librarian

In May of 2012, I graduated with my MLIS from the University of Kentucky (UK). A month later, I started my first full-time professional job as the Business and Economics Librarian for Auburn Univer...
Drug Therapy of Apparent Treatment-Resistant Hypertension: Focus on Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists

Apparent treatment-resistant hypertension (aTRH) is defined as blood pressure (BP) >140/90 mmHg despite three different antihypertensive drugs including a diuretic. aTRH is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events, including stroke, chronic renal failure, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, aortic aneurysm, atrial fibrillation, and sudden death. Preliminary studies of renal nerve ablation as a therapy to control aTRH were encouraging. However, these results were not confirmed by the Symplicity 3 trial. Therefore, attention has refocused on drug therapy. Secondary forms of hypertension and associated conditions such as obesity, sleep apnea, and primary aldosteronism are common in patients with aTRH. The pivotal role of aldosterone in the pathogenesis of aTRH in many cases is well recognized. For patients with aTRH, the Joint National Committee-8, the European Society of Hypertension, and a recent consensus conference recommend that a diuretic, ACE inhibitor, or angiotensin receptor blocker and calcium channel blocker combination be used to maximally tolerated doses before starting a ‘fourth-line’ drug such as a mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonist. Although the best fourth-line drug for aTRH has not been extensively investigated, a number of studies summarized here show that an MR antagonist is effective in reducing BP when added to the standard multi-drug regimen.
Seasonal Regulation of Reproduction in Muroid Rodents

Synopsis. This paper offers a conceptual scheme dealing with the way environmental factors influence reproduction in muroid rodents. The combination of small size, short life span, and the fact that most environments are relatively unpredictable for short-lived animals, suggests that opportunism must be a key element in the reproductive strategies of most of these animals. Flexibility is assured by the use of dynamically changing multiple reproductive strategies within populations, simultaneous multiple cueing in individuals, modification of an individual's responses to these cues by earlier experiences, and the use or lack of use of predictors of different kinds. Fundamental to understanding the reg? ulation of the size of a mammal's popula? tion is an understanding of the factors that influence its reproduction. As emphasized by Sadleir (1969), however, it is exceedingly difficult to investigate the environ? mental regulation of a mammal's repro? duction in natural habitats. Many facets of the environment can influence a mammal's reproduction, and in the wild most of these factors vary in unison, both momentarily and on a seasonal basis.
Drug–Grapefruit Juice Interactions

Grapefruit juice, a beverage consumed in large quantities by the general population, is an inhibitor of the intestinal cytochrome P-450 3A4 system, which is responsible for the first-pass metabolism of many medications. Through the inhibition of this enzyme system, grapefruit juice interacts with a variety of medications, leading to elevation of their serum concentrations. Most notable are its effects on cyclosporine, some 1,4-dihydropyridine calcium antagonists, and some 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors. In the case of some drugs, these increased drug concentrations have been associated with an increased frequency of dose-dependent adverse effects. The P-glycoprotein pump, located in the brush border of the intestinal wall, also transports many cytochrome P-450 3A4 substrates, and this transporter also may be affected by grapefruit juice. This review discusses the proposed mechanisms of action and the medications involved in drug–grapefruit juice interactions and addresses the clinical implications of these interactions.
Intraseasonal Changes in Switchgrass Nitrogen Distribution Compared with Corn

Incorporating perennial, bioenergy crops like switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) into agricultural landscapes can provide harvestable biomass while improving ecosystem functions, but clear plant N management recommendations for switchgrass remain elusive. Delaying harvest until spring can reduce plant N concentration ([N]) but also harvestable yield, creating a tradeoff between feedstock quality and quantity. This study investigated internal changes in the temporal and spatial distribution of N in switchgrass tissues. Above- and belowground switchgrass biomass was harvested at five dates annually from field plots in central Iowa for 2 yr. The [N] of aboveground tissues decreased during the growing season, with no further change over winter. The [N] of belowground biomass tissues found within the upper strata (0–45 cm) of the soil profile increased significantly from July to October (P = 0.0050), suggesting seasonal N translocation. Plots harvested at peak biomass, before senescence, yielded significantly less the following season (P < 0.0001), suggesting that this harvest strategy would not be sustainable in the long term. Although delaying harvest to after frost reduced the harvested biomass, less N was removed with the harvest, more was stored in belowground tissues, and yields were more similar between years. A postfrost switchgrass harvest would remove much less N during a 2-yr period compared with continuous corn (Zea mays L.) with 50% stover removal (57.7 vs. 432.2 kg N ha⁻¹). Results provide values of N stocks and fluxes in switchgrass tissues, showing the tradeoffs between feedstock quality and quantity.
Discovery Channel Telescope active optics system early integration and test

The Discovery Channel Telescope (DCT) is a 4.3-meter telescope with a thin meniscus primary mirror (M1) and a honeycomb secondary mirror (M2). The optical design is an f/6.1 Ritchey-Chretien (RC) with an unvignetted 0.5° Field of View (FoV) at the Cassegrain focus. We describe the design, implementation and performance of the DCT active optics system (AOS). The DCT AOS maintains collimation and controls the figure of the mirror to provide seeing-limited images across the focal plane. To minimize observing overhead, rapid settling times are achieved using a combination of feed-forward and low-bandwidth feedback control using a wavefront sensing system. In 2011, we mounted a Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor at the prime focus of M1, the Prime Focus Test Assembly (PFTA), to test the AOS with the wavefront sensor, and the feedback loop. The incoming wavefront is decomposed using Zernike polynomials, and the mirror figure is corrected with a set of bending modes. Components of the system that we tested and tuned included the Zernike to Bending Mode transformations. We also started open-loop feed-forward coefficients determination. In early 2012, the PFTA was replaced by M2, and the wavefront sensor moved to its normal location on the Cassegrain instrument assembly. We present early open loop wavefront test results with the full optical system and instrument cube, along with refinements to the overall control loop operating at RC Cassegrain focus.
The Structure of Evaporated Films of Chromium and Aluminum on Glass

The structure of evaporated films of aluminum on glass, and of aluminum on chromium deposited on glass, was investigated by electron diffraction. No evidence was found that would indicate the nature of the hardening produced in aluminum films by using a chromium base or by washing with water. The oxide film on aluminum, if present, is very thin and amorphous.
On “Toward a rehabilitation treatment taxonomy: summary of work in progress.” Dijkers MP, Ferraro MK, Hart T, et al. Phys Ther. 2014;94:319–321.

I enjoyed the March 2014 article by Dijkers and colleagues1 and the invited commentaries,2–5 which point to some of the history, challenges, and ramifications of this much needed taxonomy. Its establishment and utilization are critically necessary, not just for treatment but also for evaluation and outcomes terminology and classification.6 Our research and health policy administration communities are up against this challenge on an intimate basis. Additionally, articles such as this may help our physical therapy clinician community connect with the foundational importance of a taxonomy for our ability to participate in and adapt to a changing health care environment. I highly appreciate that both the research and health policy administration perspectives were well communicated in the article and in White's invited commentary,5 as I believe her …
Quantitative collection of urine from infants andyoung children

Summary The method for making and applying a highly efficient, durable, comfortable, and inexpensive urine collector for male infants is described.
Role of a vitelline layer-associated 350 kDa glycoprotein in controlling species-specific gamete interaction in the sea urchin.

The process of sperm–egg binding is one of the barriers to cross-fertilization between related sea urchin species. A 350 kDa glycoprotein in the egg vitelline layer of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus has been shown to be a sperm-binding protein (SBP). Sulfated O-linked oligosaccharide chains on the 350 kDa glycoprotein, as well as domains of the polypeptide chain, serve as ligands for this binding process. The hypothesis that species-specific sperm–egg binding is attributed to the interaction between the sperm and the 350 kDa glycoprotein was tested using S. purpuratus and S. franciscanus. It was found that both species had a 350 kDa glycoprotein on the egg surface that cross-reacted immunologically using antibodies prepared against a recombinant form of the SBP. Because earlier studies had implicated the carbohydrate chains of the 350 kDa glycoprotein of S purpuratus in sperm binding, differences in carbohydrate chains on the 350 kDa glycoproteins of these species were examined. It was found that among the lectins tested only wheat germ agglutinin and Sambucus nigra agglutinin showed a significant difference in reactivity to the 350 kDa glycoproteins between species. Finally, using a bead-binding assay, it was shown that the isolated 350 kDa glycoproteins exhibited species-specific sperm-binding activity.
Performance analysis of BSTs in system software

Binary search tree (BST) based data structures, such as AVL trees, red-black trees, and splay trees, are often used in system software, such as operating system kernels. Choosing the right kind of tree can impact performance significantly, but the literature oers few empirical studies for guidance. We compare 20 BST variants using three experiments in real-world scenarios with real and artificial workloads. The results indicate that when input is expected to be randomly ordered with occasional runs of sorted order, red-black trees are preferred; when insertions often occur in sorted order, AVL trees excel for later random access, whereas splay trees perform best for later sequential or clustered access. For node representations, use of parent pointers is shown to be the fastest choice, with threaded nodes a close second choice that saves memory; nodes without parent pointers or threads suer when traversal and modification are combined; maintaining a in-order doubly linked list is advantageous when traversal is very common; and right-threaded nodes perform poorly.
CLASSICAL FLUID DYNAMICS UNDER MOLECULAR SCALE CONFINEMENT

This is a review of some recent developments in the theory of classical nanoscale fluid dynamics, with tagged particle dynamics as the signature of transport properties. A heuristic analysis of the time asymptotic regime in strictly one-dimensional flow is followed by an exact treatment of the same system, with arbitrary non-interacting point particle dynamics. Stretched time and space coordinates allow us to obtain a universal form — the telegrapher's equation — for the self-dynamics after transients have died down. Attention then shifts to one-particle diffusion in a spatially modulated tubular enclosure, which is analyzed by increasingly sophisticated approximation methods. With this background, single-file fluid flow in modulated enclosures is studied, and preliminary analysis of the "passing region" carried out as well.
Prostanoid-mediated vascular contraction in normotensive and hypertensive rats.

Abstract We investigated the role of prostanoids in the constrictor effect of calcium ionophore A23187, endothelin-1 and vasopressin in rings of thoracic aorta obtained from normotensive rats and rats with aortic coarctation-induced hypertension. Isometric tension was measured in aortic rings bathed in buffer with and without indomethacin (10 μM), CGS13080 (10 μM) or SQ29548 (1 μM) to inhibit cyclooxygenase and thromboxane synthase and to block TxA2-PGH2 receptors, respectively. Increases in tension elicited by A23187 and vasopressin in aortic rings from hypertensive rats exceeded responses in rings from normotensive rats. A23187-induced contractions were virtually abolished by indomethacin and SQ29548, and slightly attenuated by CGS13080. These agents also attenuated the contractions elicited by endothelin but not by vasopressin. According to these data, a prostanoid(s) agonist for TxA2-PGH2 receptors contributes to the constrictor effect of A23187 in aortic rings of hypertensive rats, and of endothelin in aortic rings of normotensive and hypertensive rats. Moreover, the expression of prostanoid-mediated contractions as it pertains to the aortic response to A23187 is greatly increased in hypertensive rats.
Termination time of multidimensional Hegselmann-Krause opinion dynamics

We consider the Hegselmann-Krause model for opinion dynamics in higher dimensions. Our goal is to investigate the termination time of these dynamics, which has been investigated for a scalar case, but remained an open question for dimensions higher than one. We provide a polynomial upper bound for the termination time of the dynamics when the connectivity among the agents maintains a certain structure. Our approach is based on the use of an adjoint dynamics for the Hegselmann-Krause model and a Lyapunov comparison function that is defined in terms of the adjoint dynamics.
The Lyme vaccine: a cautionary tale

People living in endemic areas acquire Lyme disease from the bite of an infected tick. This infection, when diagnosed and treated early in its course, usually responds well to antibiotic therapy. A minority of patients develops more serious disease, particularly after a delay in diagnosis or therapy, and sometimes chronic neurological, cardiac, or rheumatological manifestations. In 1998, the FDA approved a new recombinant Lyme vaccine, LYMErix™, which reduced new infections in vaccinated adults by nearly 80%. Just 3 years later, the manufacturer voluntarily withdrew its product from the market amidst media coverage, fears of vaccine side-effects, and declining sales. This paper reviews these events in detail and focuses on the public communication of risks and benefits of the Lyme vaccine and important lessons learned.
Reverse water-gas shift reaction: steady state isotope switching study of the reverse water-gas shift reaction using in situ DRIFTS and a Pt/ceria catalyst

Abstract A previous investigation using steady state isotope switching in combination with DRIFTS demonstrated that surface formates exchange rapidly in a low temperature shift feed for the forward reaction. Transient decomposition of the pseudo-stable formate indicated that water autocatalyzes the forward shift reaction. In the present study, and including water in the RWGS feed (H 2 and CO 2 ), surface formates were found to exchange more rapidly during RWGS over Pt/ceria than when a dry feed was used. An earlier claim suggested that Pt CO and carbonate were intermediates, as they exchange rapidly during RWGS. However, in the present study of 12 CO 2 to 13 CO 2 switching, Pt CO and carbonate exchange rapidly even in the absence of reaction . Furthermore, the formate exchange rate during RWGS in the absence of added water proceeds at a much slower rate, indicating that conclusions on the mechanism of forward shift cannot be inferred on the basis of dry RWGS results.
Perspectives of integrated pest management

Abstract Integrated pest management (IPM) programmes require joint interdisciplinary scientific efforts to assemble sound information about: (1) the ecological basis of the pest problem; (2) factors in the agroecosystem that can be manipulated to make the crop environment unfavourable for pests; (3) pest and natural enemy population trends to determine if and when pesticide treatments are necessary; and (4) the benefits and risks of the IPM strategy for agriculture and society. The IPM technology is complex and this is partly why implementation of IPM has been slow. Projections are that if IPM is adopted by agriculture, pesticide use could be reduced by 35–50% from present use levels. Concurrently there would be a reduction in environmental and social problems caused by pesticides.
Policy issues relevant to risk assessments, balancing risks, and the National Fire Plan: Needs and opportunities

The needs and opportunities for assessing and managing risks posed by wildfire are identified through synthesis of natural resources agency and conservation group perspectives. Risk assessment is needed primarily to compare environmental effects of management alternatives, including effects on habitat for threatened and endangered species. This need for comparative risk assessment (CRA) is driven by policies requiring federal agencies to consider risks and other adverse effects, as well as benefits, when planning and implementing land and resource management projects. An active, adaptive approach to wildfire risk management is highly desirable. Clear objectives are needed, consistent with a long-term vision of what the land should look like. Effective risk communications can help organizations build trust with stakeholders. Several improvements in existing laws and policies could encourage comparisons of active management risks and risk-reduction benefits with risks of no action when fuel loads may result in uncharacteristically severe wildfire effects on resource values, including fish and wildlife habitat. Despite some weaknesses, CRA asks important questions and encourages more transparent decision-making processes.
On microstrip capacitance and impedance

The accuracy of various mathematical models for the prediction of the capacitance and characteristic impedance of a single-conductor microstrip is investigated. Comparison between experimental and modeled results indicates that purely empirical models are sometimes the most accurate over a limited range of parameters. When various mathematical models are compared to calculations done by the boundary-element method, Wheeler's formulas (1977) are found to be very accurate. Various other mathematical models are studied and the source of discrepancies between experimental results and exact mathematical models is discussed. >
Neutralization by Clostridium sordellii antitoxin of toxins implicated in clindamycin-induced cecitis in the hamster

Abstract A fecal toxin has previously been identified and implicated in the pathogenesis of clindamycin-induced cecitis in humans and hamsters. This report documents neutralization of the hamster toxin by Clostridium sordellii antitoxin and suggests its similarity to fecal toxins found in patients with antibiotic-associated colitis. Filtrates of broth cultures of C. sordellii and Clostridium difficile were also toxic for hamsters and cell cultures. The toxicity of filtrates from both organisms was neutralized by C. sordellii antitoxin.
A novel approach to the analysis and design of the class-E DC-to-DC converter

An exact analysis of the class-E DC-to-DC converter is presented by using the state-plane diagram. The state-plane representation provides better physical insight into the converter operation than the conventional time-domain approach. From a set of equations derived from the analysis, the conditions for zero voltage switching and the control characteristics of the converter are obtained. These results are expressed in the form of design curves. >
Cooperative control under communication constraints

Understanding the role of communication in networked control systems is an important and challenging problem. In this paper we determine the communication rates required to achieve a variety of cooperative control objectives. Our results depend heavily on three information theoretic ideas: the directed data processing inequality, Slepian-Wolf coding, and source coding with side-information at the receiver.
The Graying of American and Chinese Societies: Young Adults' Attitudes Toward the Care of their Elderly Parents

Abstract This article compares what younger people of different cultures think their responsibilities are concerning the care of their elderly parents. We examine American and Chinese college students' attitudes toward such issues. Research indicates that family care for the elderly is the key to the rapid growth of the elderly in both societies. (Geriatr Nurs 1999;20:45-7)