cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simple Sequence Repeat Markers for Detecting Sources of Tolerance to PTSL Syndrome in Prunus Persica Rootstocks

Peach tree short life (PTSL) is a severe and complex disease syndrome in the Southeast of the United States that causes significant damage to peach orchards and affects more than 70% of the peach acreage in the region. The ring nematode is known to be one of the major factors strongly associated with the PTSL syndrome. A peach rootstock (Guardian® Brand BY520-9, also referred to as Guardian® or BY520-9), which is tolerant to ring nematode and PTSL, was released in 1994. To investigate the genetic relatedness of PTSL tolerant genotypes and identify possible parents of Guardian® selections as sources of the PTSL tolerance trait, 98 genotypes derived from the BY520-9 pedigree, and others showing different degrees of field resistance or susceptibility to PTSL, were selected for simple sequence repeat analysis. Nineteen of 32 microsatellite loci were polymorphic. Allele number averaged 2.7 per locus with heterozygosity levels ranging from 0.07 to 0.60. Cluster analysis of these genotypes produced a dendrogram in agreement with their putative pedigrees. Thirty-eight F4 genotypes from Guardian pedigree were used for the parental identification analyses. Of those, nine most likely parental genotypes were identified for 10 field tested F5 genotypes produced from open-pollinated selections of BY520-9.
Applications of Assessment Centres Multinationally: The State of the Art, Obstacles and Cross‐Cultural Implications

Despite objections to, and frustrations of, cross‐cultural research, there are commonalities, these being that assessment centre methodology is seen as a better tool for decision making, resulting in lower staff turnover rates, involving management to a greater degree, and demonstrating to individual employees the organisation's interest in upgrading their personal skills. Assessment centre cost remains a large obstacle, but attempts to justify this cost by means of documenting gains might be helpful. In addition to the different forms of feedback from assessees the assessment centre concept needs to be more widely marketed; and supporting technologies and personnel need to be developed to sustain the concept. Cultural stereotypes (regarding managers) need to be allowed for at a regional level. Assessment centres have been found to generalise across levels, organisations and industries; they can also, from this evidence, be extended across cultures.
Outcome probabilities and life history after surgical mitral commissurotomy: implications for balloon commissurotomy.

AbstractFrom 1967 to 1988, 339 patients with mitral stenosis underwent surgical Commissurotomy, 103 with a closed and 236 with an open technique. The 1 month and 1,5,10 and 20 year overall survival...
SU‐FF‐T‐414: Transfer of Brain Tumor Patients From Leksell Gamma Knife to BrainLAB Novalis

Purpose: To identify and resolve issues associated with transferring braintumor patients, after placement of Leksell frame (LF) and the completion of MRI and CT scans for Gamma Knife (GK) radiosurgery, to linac‐based stereotactic radiosurgery(SRS) with BrainLAB Novalis. Method and Materials: Three patients were studied. These patients could not technically be treated with GK radiosurgery given the technical limitations posed by frame placement or tumor location. CT and MRI scans were transferred to the BrainLAB treatment planning system (TPS), BrainSCAN. Treatment plans were then generated and evaluated. Systematic and potential issues were identified. Compatibility of the LF and the BrainLab system was evaluated. Imaging issues were investigated, and time restriction considerations to have the patient treated the same day were addressed. Results: The LF is compatible with the Novalis system using a special adapter. The MRI scans presented no issues. CTimaging may constitute an issue since the Leksell localizer box is shorter than the BrainLab box. Depending on the frame placement on the patient head, part of the anatomy may not be localized by BrainSCAN and cannot be used. While the GK TPS can extrapolate parts of the anatomy, BrainSCAN cannot. As a result, planning options are limited (novertex beams/arcs). In this case, a new CT scan with the LF and the BrainLAB localizer is required. Once imaging issues are resolved, a plan, quality assurance, evaluation and treatment can be completed the same day. Conclusion: Patients scheduled for GK radiosugery can be efficiently transferred to Novalis the same day of the procedure when tumor location or frame placement does not allow GK radiosurgery. The issues associated with the transfer are manageable and allow same day treatment with the Novalis system.
Accuracy in determining the potential energy curve minimum

The symbol “re” commonly refers to two quantities: 1. (1) the location of the minumum of the actual rotationless potential energy function; 2. (2) the value calculated from spectroscopic data using the equation re = (h4πμcBe)12 Are the two quantities equivalent? To investigate this question, the exact quantum mechanical solutions of the Davidson potential, U(r) = ar2 + br2 − 2(ab)12, are analyzed analytically in order to determine the re of definition 2. Comparison is then possible with the re of definition 1. Disagreement is found between the two quantities called re for several of the spectroscopic analysis methods tested. These disagreements, generalized to diatomic potentials, indicate possible errors in the determination of the actual minimum up to 0.1% with three of the tested analysis methods and less than 10−5% with other, more appropriate methods.
LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES FROM BLADDER PERFORATION AND/OR VIOLATION IN THE PRESENCE OF TRANSITIONAL CELL CARCINOMA: RESULTS OF A SMALL SERIES AND A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

AbstractPurpose: Perforation of the bladder during transurethral resection is a worrisome complication for most urologists. Little is known about the consequences of seeding of tumor cells into the peritoneum or retroperitoneum. We reviewed several hospital patient databases as well as the literature to determine the outcome of such situations.Materials and Methods: We performed a local multi-institutional case and MEDLINE review using key words, such as bladder neoplasm, neoplasm seeding, perforation, rupture, transurethral resection, peritonitis and tumor. We also contacted several urologists and oncologists at major cancer centers in the United States and Europe regarding the incidence and followup of perforated/violated bladder cancer cases.Results: There were 16 bladder violations in the presence of transitional cell carcinoma, including 2 partial cystectomies that had negative margins and no subsequent metastatic recurrences, a bladder tumor that was detected during suprapubic prostatectomy and perf...
Synergistic and antagonistic interplay between myostatin gene expression and physical activity levels on gene expression patterns in triceps brachii muscles of C57/BL6 mice

Levels of myostatin expression and physical activity have both been associated with transcriptome dysregulation and skeletal muscle hypertrophy. The transcriptome of triceps brachii muscles from male C57/BL6 mice corresponding to two genotypes (wild-type and myostatin-reduced) under two conditions (high and low physical activity) was characterized using RNA-Seq. Synergistic and antagonistic interaction and ortholog modes of action of myostatin genotype and activity level on genes and gene pathways in this skeletal muscle were uncovered; 1,836, 238, and 399 genes exhibited significant (FDR-adjusted P-value < 0.005) activity-by-genotype interaction, genotype and activity effects, respectively. The most common differentially expressed profiles were (i) inactive myostatin-reduced relative to active and inactive wild-type, (ii) inactive myostatin-reduced and active wild-type, and (iii) inactive myostatin-reduced and inactive wild-type. Several remarkable genes and gene pathways were identified. The expression profile of nascent polypeptide-associated complex alpha subunit (Naca) supports a synergistic interaction between activity level and myostatin genotype, while Gremlin 2 (Grem2) displayed an antagonistic interaction. Comparison between activity levels revealed expression changes in genes encoding for structural proteins important for muscle function (including troponin, tropomyosin and myoglobin) and for fatty acid metabolism (some linked to diabetes and obesity, DNA-repair, stem cell renewal, and various forms of cancer). Conversely, comparison between genotype groups revealed changes in genes associated with G1-to-S-phase transition of the cell cycle of myoblasts and the expression of Grem2 proteins that modulate the cleavage of the myostatin propeptide. A number of myostatin-feedback regulated gene products that are primarily regulatory were uncovered, including microRNA impacting central functions and Piezo proteins that make cationic current-controlling mechanosensitive ion channels. These important findings extend hypotheses of myostatin and physical activity master regulation of genes and gene pathways, impacting medical practices and therapies associated with muscle atrophy in humans and companion animal species and genome-enabled selection practices applied to food-production animal species.
Sub-cycle strong-field influences in x-ray photoionization

We report the first evidence for strong field laser effects in x-ray ionization at LCLS. Experiments using a strong field optical-frequency laser and x-rays have revealed asymmetries in N 2 fragmentation patterns that indicate sub-cycle dynamics
A note on the conditional Markov property of discrete order statistics

Abstract It is known that order statistics of a random sample from a discrete distribution do not have the Markov property. In this note we examine whether these statistics form a Markov chain conditioned on certain events and give sufficient conditions for this property to hold. Examples of events fulfilling these requirements are also given.
Inhibition of leukocyte trafficking in inflammatory bowel disease.

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, collectively known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), are chronic inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal system that affect more than 1 million persons in the United States and several million worldwide. The precise cause of these diseases remains unknown, but major advances in our understanding of the mechanisms of chronic intestinal inflammation have produced an explosion of new biologic therapies available to treat IBD. This new class of drugs targets specific pathogenic mechanisms of disease, primarily in the form of monoclonal blocking antibodies, and has revolutionized how gastroenterologists treat IBD, significantly improving patients' quality of life . . .
Biocultural Diversity Conservation: A Global Sourcebook

Review of Biocultural Diversity Conservation: A Global Sourcebook. Luisa Maffi and Ellen Woodley. 2010. Earthscan, London. Pp. 304. $57.95 (paperback). ISBN 978-1-84407-921-6.
The Molecular Mechanism of Cardiac Sodium Channel Current Reduction with Metabolic Stress

Background Human cardiomyopathy is associated with decreased cardiac Na + channel current (I Na ), and Na + channel changes have been implicated in the increased risk of sudden death in heart failure. We have reported that in cardiomyopathy, elevated intracellular NADH downregulates I Na acutely to a magnitude seen in Brugada syndrome through protein kinase C (PKC) activation without changing the channel membrane expression. The decrease in I Na can be ameliorated by NAD + and protein kinase A (PKA) activators. Here, we investigate the molecular mechanism by which I Na is changed during metabolic stress. Methods HEK293 cells stably expressing human cardiac channel (Na v 1.5) were used to measure single channel currents at –40, –60, and –80 mV using the cell-attached voltage-clamp configuration. Results The single channel currents and conductance of Na v 1.5 were significantly decreased by NADH (100 µM) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 30 nM) ( P + (500 µM) or forskolin (1 µM) restored the single channel currents and conductance to the untreated level ( P >.05 vs untreated group, P Conclusions Because we have already shown no reduction in cell surface channel number with metabolic stress, the decrease of macroscopic current of cardiac Na v 1.5 induced by NADH and PKC results from a decrease of single channel conductance, whereas NAD + and PKA elevate the single channel conductance. These results are consistent with the time course of the current changes seen with NADH/NAD + .
Large-Volume Hypertonic Saline Therapy in Endurance Athlete with Exercise-Associated Hyponatremic Encephalopathy

Abstract Background Small-volume boluses of intravenous hypertonic saline are the recommended therapy for exercise-associated hyponatremic encephalopathy (EAHE). Failure to properly diagnose and treat EAHE has been associated with significant morbidity and death. To prevent this, current consensus statement guidelines recommend up to three 100-mL boluses of 3% NaCl spaced at 10-min intervals to correct symptoms. Due to lack of evidence, however, guidelines are vague regarding the maximal volume that can be safely administered in a given time period beyond these initial boluses. Objectives This case report will review the underlying pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of EAHE in a patient refractory to initial treatment. Case Report We report a case of EAHE in an experienced marathon runner requiring large-volume infusion (950 mL) of 3% NaCl therapy for resolution of symptoms without any adverse events. Conclusion Although further research is needed, this case may provide helpful information for acute care and sports medicine physicians who encounter patients with EAHE refractory to initial therapy.
Simultaneous auditory stimuli shorten saccade latencies

Eye movement responses induced by vestibular, smooth pursuit, and optokinetic stimulation are largely dependent on the velocity of the stimulus. Saccade latencies, on the other hand, are a function of the anatomic and physiologic components of the reflex. By producing an audible click simultaneously with the movement of a visual target used to stimulate a saccadic eye movement, the saccade latency is significantly shortened. This does not appear to be due to alerting. It is probably due to an auditory input to the superior colliculus which decreased threshold for initiating a saccadic eye movement. Twenty normal participants were tested with or without the click stimulus. Latencies were significantly shorter when the click stimulus was presented simultaneously with the eye movement. The anatomic pathways in this reflex are reviewed in the presentation. This study provides further information on sensory interaction in saccade reflexes and emphasizes the need to control stimulus conditions during saccade testing.
Involvement of histone deacetylase at two distinct steps in gene regulation during intestinal development in Xenopus laevis.

Amphibian metamorphosis is marked by dramatic thyroid hormone (T3)-induced changes including de novo morphogenesis, tissue remodeling and organ resorption through programmed cell death. These changes involve cascades of gene regulation initiated by thyroid hormone and its receptors. Previous studies suggest that chromatin remodeling involving changes in core histone acetylation plays a fundamental role in transcriptional regulation. A basic model has been suggested where targeted histone deacetylation is involved in transcriptional repression and histone acetylation is involved in transcriptional activation. On the other hand, the developmental roles of histone acetylation remain to be elucidated. Here we demonstrate that tadpole treatment with trichostatin A, a specific potent histone deacetylase inhibitor, blocks metamorphosis. Gene expression analyses show that trichostatin A induces the release of T3-response gene repression without affecting T3-induction of direct T3-response genes. However, the drug blocks the regulation of late T3-response genes, which may be responsible for its inhibitory effects on metamorphosis. These data support a role of deacetylases in transcriptional repression by unliganded T3 receptor during premetamorphosis and another role at a downstream step of the gene regulation cascade induced by T3 during metamorphosis. Published 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Expression of the muscle regulatory factor MRF4 during somite and skeletal myofiber development

The muscle regulatory factors MRF4, myogenin, myf-5, and MyoD constitute a family of proteins that can function as muscle-specific transcriptional activators. Although this gene family has been extensively studied, a specific role for each factor during myogenesis remains to be determined. Understanding how these factors function requires a detailed analysis of their expression patterns during development. Toward this goal, we examined the temporal pattern of expression of MRF4 and the other factors in the rat myogenic cell line L6J1-C, in newborn rat primary muscle cell cultures and in fetal and postnatal rat limb muscle. Our results demonstrate that MyoD, myogenin, and myf-5 transcripts accumulate maximally at various stages of myoblast differentiation and decline to low expression levels in adult muscle tissue. In contrast, MRF4 transcript accumulation is restricted to cell cultures containing multinucleate myofibers, and its expression in vivo increases sharply during late fetal muscle development. This level of MRF4 expression is maintained in the adult which, together with decreased expression of the other three muscle regulatory factors, makes MRF4 the predominant factor in adult muscle. In situ hybridization of mouse embryo tissue sections indicates that MRF4 transcripts accumulate in the limb beginning 13.5 days post coitum, which is 2 days later than the initial appearance of myogenin and MyoD transcripts. Hybridization to earlier stages of development reveals, however, that MRF4 mRNA initially is present in the myotomal compartment of the somites, just after myogenin but 2 days prior to MyoD expression. Unlike myogenin and MyoD, MRF4 expression declines in the myotomes at the time that multinucleate axial muscles begin to form in this region, although during later development MRF4 is expressed in the myofibers of axial muscles at levels comparable to those in the limb. Differences in the expression patterns for MRF4, myogenin, myf-5 and MyoD between myotomal and other skeletal muscle development suggest that the relative timing of expression for each muscle regulatory factor may control the distinct phenotypes associated with myotomal myocytes and multinucleate myofibers.
Validation of jugular venous flow as an index of total cerebral blood flow.

Values of total cerebral blood flow in man measured by the indicator dilution method are compared with values of total internal jugular venous flow measured by the thermal dilution method. Except in the case of an extremely labile cerebral hemodynamic state, the results agree within the accuracy of the two methods, suggesting that for the supine patient total internal jugular venous flow provides a good index of total cerebral flow. The relatively short measurement time associated with nondiffusible indicators (dye or thermal dilution) facilitates detection of transient changes in total CBF or differential jugular flow that would tend to be averaged out with diffusible indicator methods. A mathematical analysis of the potential errors in the computation of total flow using the average of bilateral jugular venous dilution curves from a unilateral internal carotid injection is presented. This error can be partially corrected if the ratio of flow in one internal jugular to total flow is known. An analysis of potential computational errors under nonsteady state flow conditions (change in flow during the period between alternate carotid injections) is presented. Such flow changes can effect substantial errors in the computation of individual hemispheric or internal jugular flow and smaller errors in the computation of total flow.
Towards a dynamic data driven system for structural and material health monitoring

This paper outlines the initial motivations and implementation scope supporting a dynamic data driven application system for material and structural health monitoring as well as critical event prediction. The dynamic data driven paradigm is exploited to promote application advances, application measurement systems and methods, mathematical and statistical algorithms and finally systems software infrastructure relevant to this effort. These advances are intended to enable behavior monitoring and prediction as well as critical event avoidance on multiple time scales.
A temperature-dependent reproductive model for spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) explaining spatio-temporal variations in reproduction and young-of-the-year recruitment in Florida estuaries

Spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) exhibit various seasonal patterns of reproduction and juvenile recruitment in estuaries across their range. To explain this variability, data on the reproductive state of 1674 individual females from the Indian River Lagoon were used to develop a generalized additive model (GAM) describing the relationship between reproduction and local environmental conditions. The model predicted that optimum spawning conditions exist at a water temperature of 29°C, indicating that if this temperature was exceeded during the spawning season, spawning activity would be temporarily curtailed, which would lead to a bimodal recruitment curve. In contrast, daily mean water temperatures below the optimum condition would result in a single recruitment peak. The reproductive model was largely consistent with historical information on spotted seatrout spawning seasonality along the gulf and Atlantic coasts of the US. Factors other than temperature (i.e., hours after sunset, lunar period and size and condition factor of females) were also found to regulate reproductive activity. Model predictions of the number of recruits based on local temperature regimes during the spawning season were compared to actual catches of juvenile spotted seatrout in three Florida estuaries. The reproductive model was able to predict the timing and modality of recruitment, but the relative amplitude of the fluctuations in abundance was dampened considerably compared to the observed variation.
Atrial flutter with 1:1 A-V conduction

Abstract Atrial flutter with 1:1 A-V conduction developed in a patient receiving digitalis and quinidine. The role of exercise in this development is demonstrated. It is concluded that sedation and rest should accompany the therapy of atrial flutter with quinidine.
Methodological Issues for Biomarkers and Intermediate Outcomes in Cohort Studies

Over the last several decades, epidemiology has incorporated into its practice a constellation of new methods that measure biologic attributes (1). The impact of these new technologies is evident in epidemiologic studies directed at the full spectrum of human disease. We can now provide information at the molecular level and have the capability of determining the biologically effective dose for some compounds, and can quantify the biologic consequences of exposure at sites of injury. These advances in biologic markers (biomarkers) have facilitated assessment of associations between environmental exposures and disease with greater precision and at more biologically relevant levels than previously (2, 3). For biomarkers linked to incidence of a particular disease, the biomarker itself becomes a useful outcome and it can be studied as a primary response variable, thereby shortening investigations. The focus of research may shift from risk factors for the ultimate disease outcome to determinants of the biomarkers of interest as an intermediate outcome. Prevention interventions can also be targeted to modify the levels of the biomarkers that mark progression of disease, thereby shortening intervention trials (4, 5). Furthermore, measures of biologic exposures provide a new level of resolution that enhances the adjustment of confounding and the assessment of effect-modifying variables. Figure 1 shows a paradigm for biomarkers proposed by a joint committee of the National Academy of Sciences and the National Research Council (6). The paradigm is demonstrated through the relation of environmental aflatoxin exposure and hepatocellular carcinoma. The first two boxes in figure 1 after "exposure" relate to the use of biomarkers as measures of
The potential role of resistin in atherogenesis

Resistin, an adipocyte-derived cytokine linked to insulin resistance and obesity, has recently been shown to activate endothelial cells (ECs). Using microarrays, we found that along with numerous other pro-atherosclerotic genes, resistin expression levels are elevated in the aortas of C57BL/6J apoE-/- mice; these findings led us to further explore the relation between resistin and atherosclerosis. Using TaqMan PCR and immunohistochemistry, we found that ApoE-/- mice had significantly higher resistin mRNA and protein levels in their aortas, and elevated serum resistin levels, compared to C57BL/6J wild-type mice. Incubation of murine aortic ECs with recombinant resistin increased monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM)-1 protein levels in the conditioned medium. Furthermore, human carotid endarterectomy samples stained positive for resistin protein, while internal mammary artery did not show strong staining. Patients diagnosed with premature coronary artery disease (PCAD) were found to have higher serum levels of resistin than normal controls. In summary, resistin protein is present in both murine and human atherosclerotic lesions, and mRNA levels progressively increase in the aortas of mice developing atherosclerosis. Resistin induces increases in MCP-1 and sVCAM-1 expression in murine vascular endothelial cells, suggesting a possible mechanism by which resistin might contribute to atherogenesis. Finally, PCAD patients exhibited increased serum levels of resistin when compared to controls. These findings suggest a possible role of resistin in cardiovascular disease.
Dynamic stabilization of the two-stream instability during longitudinal compression of intense charged particle beam propagation through background plasma

The electrostatic two-stream instability for a cold, longitudinally-compressing intense ion beam propagating through a background plasma has been investigated both analytically and numerically. The linear development of the instability and its saturation are examined from the point of view of wave dynamics, where the plasma waves are represented as quasi-particles characterized by their position x(t), wavenumber k(t) and energy (or frequency) ω(t). It is found that the longitudinal beam compression strongly modifies the space-time development of the instability. In particular, the dynamic compression leads to a significant reduction in the growth rate of the two-stream instability compared to the case without an initial velocity tilt.
On the existence of cyclic Hadamard difference sets

The main conjecture of this article is the following: if a cyclic (v=4n-1, k=2n-1, /spl lambda/=n-1) Hadamard difference set exists, the the value of v must be either a prime, or a product of "twin primes," or one less than a power of 2. Six cases, v=399, 495, 627, 651, 783, and 975, which were once listed as the possible exceptions for v >
A Field Study of Scale Economies in Software Maintenance

Software maintenance is a major concern for organizations. Productivity gains in software maintenance can enable redeployment of Information Systems resources to other activities. Thus, it is important to understand how software maintenance productivity can be improved. In this study, we investigate the relationship between project size and software maintenance productivity. We explore scale economies in software maintenance by examining a number of software enhancement projects at a large financial services organization. We use Data Envelopment Analysis DEA to estimate the functional relationship between maintenance inputs and outputs and employ DEA-based statistical tests to evaluate returns to scale for the projects. Our results indicate the presence of significant scale economies in software maintenance, and are robust to a number of sensitivity checks. For our sample of projects, there is the potential to reduce software maintenance costs 36% by batching smaller modification projects into larger planned releases. We conclude by rationalizing why the software managers at our research site do not take advantage of scale economies in software maintenance. Our analysis considers the opportunity costs of delaying projects to batch them into larger size projects as a potential explanation for the managers' behavior.
Diving behavior of female loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) during their internesting interval and an evaluation of the risk of boat strikes

New advantages in science and technology, such as time depth recorders, have allowed researchers to study the dive behavior of sea turtles in their natural habitat. Previous studies of dive behavior of internesting turtles have provided significant evidence on how to protect nesting turtles from human interactions. We examined the dive behavior of internesting loggerhead and green turtles and the risk of boat impacts at Casey Key, Florida during the 2007 nesting season. The Florida Sea Turtle Stranding Network makes it clear that new management plans need to be implemented because of the increasing trend of boat impacts. Relative boat draft, water temperature, and daily activity of nesting female loggerhead and green turtles were documented with the use of time depth recorders (TDRs). The objective of the TDR study was to assess the correlation between surface intervals and daily activities and evaluate whether there are periods of increased surface activity that might infer greater risks of boat strikes. The results show that female loggerhead turtles are most active during morning hours which overlays with boat launches and departures at local boat ramps. Protective measures, such as spatial and temporal boat restrictions, are reviewed in this report.
Graded heterojunction ion-implanted FETs: a combination of heteroepitaxy and ion implantation

FETs fabricated by ion implantation into inverted GaAs-AlGaAs heterostructures grown by MOCVD are discussed. The AlAs fraction in the AlGaAs layer is graded from 0% at the substrate to 30% at the heterointerface. 0.5- mu m gate devices fabricated with the graded heterojunction show two transconductance peaks that are both greater than 420 mS/mm. These devices also exhibit enhanced power gain, especially at low drain current, when compared with conventional ion-implanted GaAs MESFETs. The f/sub t/ of the graded heterojunction device is relatively insensitive to the gate bias. At 20% of I/sub dss/, the measured extrinsic f/sub t/ is 40 GHz, which increases slightly up to 47 and 41 GHz at 50 and 100% of I/sub dss/, respectively. Electron accumulation at the graded GaAs-AlGaAs heterointerface leads to improve device performance at low current bias. >
Photochemistry and Photophysics of Liquid Interfaces by Second Harmonic Spectroscopy

The study of photochemical and photophysical processes at various liquid interfaces using second harmonic generation methods is described. Among the topics discussed are the dynamics of photoinduced structure changes, the transport of charge across an interface, the rotational motions of interfacial molecules, intermolecular energy transfer within the interface, interfacial photopolymerization, and photoprocesses at a semiconductor/liquid interface.
Charged Membrane Ultrafiltration of Multisalt Systems: Application to Acid Mine Waters

Abstract Ultrafiltration of dissolved and precipitated inorganic salts from synthetic and actual acid mine waters is investigated experimentally in a bench-scale, continuous-flow unit, utilizing negatively charged, noncellulosic membranes. The process is evaluated in terms of the simultaneous achievement of good water flux without membrane fouling and of adequate ultrafiltrate quality at high water recovery for water reuse operation. At a transmembrane pressure of 5.6 X 105 N/m2 and a channel Reynolds number of 6,000, the flux drop is less than 30%, even with a concentrated acid mine water containing 16,000 mg/1 total solids and a high CaSO4 concentration. At 90% ultrafiltrate recovery, depending on the type of noncellulosic membrane utilized, 98% iron removal, 85% aluminum removal, and 50 to 73% calcium and manganese removals can be obtained at an average water flux from 6.4X10−4 to 13.2X10−4 cm/sec. The overall ultrafiltrate quality is considerably better than that observed with a lime precipitation pro...
SM/sup 2/ for new space station structure: autonomous locomotion and teleoperation control

The self-mobile space manipulator (SM/sup 2/) has evolved to adapt to the new pre-integrated I-beam structure of the Space Station Freedom (SSF). In this paper, we first briefly overview the update of the robot configuration and testbed. The new robot is capable of projecting cameras anywhere interior or exterior of SSF, and will be an ideal tool for inspecting connectors, structures, and other facilities on SSF. Experiments have been performed under two gravity compensation systems and a full-scale model of a segment of the SSF. This paper then presents a real-time shared control architecture that enables the robot to coordinate autonomous locomotion and teleoperation input for reliable walking on SSF. Autonomous locomotion can be executed based on a CAD model and off-line trajectory planning, or can be guided by a vision system with neural network identification. Teleoperation control can be specified by a real-time graphical interface and a free-flying hand controller. SM/sup 2/ will be a valuable assistant for astronauts in inspection and other EVA missions. >
The influence of light and maturity on fruit quality and flavonoid content of red raspberries

Abstract The effects of various fruit maturities and different light intensities on berry fruit quality, antioxidant capacity and phytonutrient levels in red raspberries ( Rubus ideaus L.) were determined. At harvest, immature berries contained significantly lower levels of sugars and acids than ripe berries. When berries were harvested at 5% or 20% maturity, they never developed the levels of soluble solids content (SSC) and titratable acid (TA) values observed in ripe berries at harvest. However, fruit harvested at 50% or more advanced maturity had the capacity of attaining comparable levels of SSC, TA and sugars as those harvested at 100% maturity. When 5% and 20% berries were stored under light, higher level of SSC and lower levels of TA values were observed than those kept in the dark. However, light condition showed little effect in 50% and 80% maturity fruit after 4 days at 24/16 °C (day/night). Ripe raspberries (100%) had stronger antioxidant activities and higher total anthocyanin content when compared with the pink stage (50% maturity). Fruit harvested at greener stages (5% and 20%) also consistently showed higher antioxidant activities and total phenolics than those harvested at 50%. Cyanindin-based anthocyanins increased during postharvest period. On the other hand, other polyphenols such as ellagic acid, quercetin 3-glucoside, quercetin derivative, and kaempferol 3-glucuronide were initially present at high levels but decreased drastically during storage. Red raspberries harvested at different developmental stages continued their development during storage even under the dark conditions. The antioxidant activity of red raspberries was directly related to the total amount of phenolics and flavonoids. Results of this study indicate that red raspberries harvested at 50% or more advanced maturity could develop comparable quality and antioxidant levels as those harvested at full maturity.
A Survey of Titan Balloon Concepts and Technology Status

This paper surveys the options for, and technology status of, balloon vehicles to explore Saturn’s moon Titan. A significant amount of Titan balloon concept thinking and technology development has been performed in recent years, particularly following the spectacular results from the descent and landing of the Huygens probe and remote sensing observations by the Cassini spacecraft. There is widespread recognition that a balloon vehicle on the next Titan mission could provide an outstanding and unmatched capability for in situ exploration on a global scale. The rich variety of revealed science targets has combined with a highly favorable Titan flight environment to yield a wide diversity of proposed balloon concepts. The paper presents a conceptual framework for thinking about balloon vehicle design choices and uses it to analyze various Titan options. The result is a list of recommended Titan balloon vehicle concepts that could perform a variety of science missions, along with their projected performance metrics. Recent technology developments for these balloon concepts are discussed to provide context for an assessment of outstanding risk areas and technological maturity. The paper concludes with suggestions for technology investments needed to achieve flight readiness.
Downgrading Computer Workers: Evidence from Occupational and Industrial Redistribution

The growth of computers has led to contradictory expectations about the downgrading of the computer labor force. This article tests three implications of the downgrading argument using data from Public Use Samples: the changing mix of computer occupations between professional/technical and clerical jobs; the changing prestige distinctions among computer workers; and the mobility among higher and lower skilled categories. The findings show that industrial diffusion has substantial implications for the downgrading argument. Overall, the patterns of change over time are far more complex than a simple upgrading-downgrading dimension would suggest.
Hierarchical attributes and a unifying model of bed forms composed of cohesionless material and produced by shearing flow

From those bed forms generated by the shearing flow of a fluid and composed of cohesionless granular material, five hierarchical attributes are recognized: bed-form size, time span of existence of individual bed forms or bed configurations, superpositions, flow regime of bed forms in open-channel flows, and the Russian theory of channel process. The first two attributes permit the definition of three fundamental groups of bed forms common to all sedimentary environments dominated by shearing flow. Each group responds to different formative processes, themselves time hierarchical. The largest bed forms (macroforms), such as point bars, respond to the geomorphological regime of the environment and are relatively insensitive to changes in fluid-dynamic regime during an individual dynamic event (for example, a flood in a river). A two-zone structural model of turbulent boundary layers provides a genetic framework for the two smaller classes of bed forms. Mesoforms, such as dunes in rivers, respond to flow conditions in the outer zone of the turbulent boundary layer as the flow varies through a dynamic event; their lives scale correspondingly with the duration of that event. The smallest bed forms (microforms), for example, current lineations, are governed by the flow structure in the inner zone; their lives are much shorter than the periodicity of dynamic events. The above considerations constitute a unifying model of the origin of bed forms. Three essential components of the model (bed-form size, time, and structure of the turbulent boundary layer) are readily measurable by present experimental techniques.
Temperature dependent magnetic properties of barium-ferrite thin-film recording media

Temperature dependencies of magnetic properties were measured in barium-ferrite thin films with grains having in-plane aligned as well as randomly oriented easy axes. The temperature dependence of H/sub c/ was shown to be similar to that of the effective anisotropy field, which is determined by the crystalline and shape anisotropies. The measured H/sub c/ values in the easy-axis aligned and randomly oriented films are significantly smaller than those predicted by the Stoner-Wohlfarth (SW) coherent rotation model. Such discrepancies are believed to be caused by incoherent rotation. Deviations from the SW model were also found within a wide temperature range in the angular dependence of coercivity and remanent coercivity, the field dependence of torque and rotational hysteresis. These led to the conclusion that temperature has only weak affects on the rotation mode of the magnetization. The discrepancies between the thermal activation volume and the grain size which were found previously at room temperature, and were believed to be yet another signature of incoherent rotation, were shown to also exist at a low temperature of 173 K.
The consortium to establish a registry for alzheimer’s disease (CERAD). Part I. Clinical and neuropsychological assessment of alzheimer’s disease

The Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD) has developed brief, comprehensive, and reliable batteries of clinical and neuropsychological tests for assessment of patients with the clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We administered these batteries in a standardized manner to more than 350 subjects with a diagnosis of AD and 275 control subjects who were enrolled in a nationwide registry by a consortium of 16 university medical centers. The tests selected for this study measured the primary cognitive manifestations of AD across a range of severity of the disorder, and discriminated between normal subjects and those with mild and moderate dementia. The batteries also detected deterioration of language, memory, praxis, and general intellectual status in subjects returning for reassessment 1 year later. Interrater and test-retest reliabilities were substantial. Long-term observations of this cohort are in progress in an effort to validate the clinical and neuropsychological assessments and to confirm the diagnosis by postmortem examinations. Although information on validation is limited thus far, the CERAD batteries appear to fill a need for a standardized, easily administered, and reliable instrument for evaluating persons with AD in multicenter research studies as well as in clinical practice.
Fast algorithms for structured robust principal component analysis

A large number of problems arising in computer vision can be reduced to the problem of minimizing the nuclear norm of a matrix, subject to additional structural and sparsity constraints on its elements. Examples of relevant applications include, among others, robust tracking in the presence of outliers, manifold embedding, event detection, in-painting and tracklet matching across occlusion. In principle, these problems can be reduced to a convex semi-definite optimization form and solved using interior point methods. However, the poor scaling properties of these methods limit the use of this approach to relatively small sized problems. The main result of this paper shows that structured nuclear norm minimization problems can be efficiently solved by using an iterative Augmented Lagrangian Type (ALM) method that only requires performing at each iteration a combination of matrix thresholding and matrix inversion steps. As we illustrate in the paper with several examples, the proposed algorithm results in a substantial reduction of computational time and memory requirements when compared against interior-point methods, opening up the possibility of solving realistic, large sized problems.
Observational and model evidence of global emergence of permanent, unprecedented heat in the 20th and 21st centuries

Given the severe impacts of extreme heat on natural and human systems, we attempt to quantify the likelihood that rising greenhouse gas concentrations will result in a new, permanent heat regime in which the coolest warm-season of the 21st century is hotter than the hottest warm-season of the late 20th century. Our analyses of global climate model experiments and observational data reveal that many areas of the globe are likely to permanently move into such a climate space over the next four decades, should greenhouse gas concentrations continue to increase. In contrast to the common perception that high-latitude areas face the most accelerated response to global warming, our results demonstrate that in fact tropical areas exhibit the most immediate and robust emergence of unprecedented heat, with many tropical areas exhibiting a 50% likelihood of permanently moving into a novel seasonal heat regime in the next two decades. We also find that global climate models are able to capture the observed intensification of seasonal hot conditions, increasing confidence in the projection of imminent, permanent emergence of unprecedented heat.
Tax investigations in twenty-six states

Dissatisfaction with the general property tax, friendly advances to the state income tax and attention to local government economies feature the official reports.
Causes and Best Manufacturing Practices to Minimize Bloom in Confections

Publisher Summary Fat bloom is directly related to the fat in chocolate products, either Cocoa Butter (CB) or vegetable oils. Its commercial impact is significant. Although records of its economic impact due to lost sales and rework are not revealed, most confectioner manufacturers and food manufacturers consider it an important quality defect with a significant impact on profits. There is definitely a commercial incentive to better control, minimize, or eliminate fat bloom in confections. This chapter discusses the current knowledge of fat bloom, its causes, and what manufacturers can do to avoid it. The understanding of the chemical and physical properties of cocoa butter and confectionery fats can be applied to understand the possible mechanisms that may provide an actionable explanation of fat bloom formation. Based upon the multiple possible factors for bloom, when trying to identify a cause, it is important to review the entire process, from formulation through distribution, to identify the causes and take appropriate corrective action. Fat bloom cannot be studied as an independent event that occurs in confections. Each ingredient and process step influences the crystal behavior.
Optimization algorithms for transmission range and actor movement in wireless sensor and actor networks

Wireless sensor and actor networks are composed of static sensors and mobile actors. We assume actors have a random initial location in the two-dimensional sensing area. The objective is to move each actor to a location such that every sensor node is within a bounded number of hops from some actor. Because sensors have limited energy, the new actor locations are chosen to minimize the transmission range of the sensors. However, actors also have a limited (although larger) power supply, and their movement depletes their resources. It follows that by carefully choosing the new actor locations, the total actor movement can be minimized. In this paper, we introduce the problem of simultaneously minimizing the required transmission range and amount of actor movement. To find a solution, we formulate the problem using an ILP framework. For the ILP solution to be feasible, we introduce a finite set of possible actor locations such that an optimal solution is guaranteed to be found within this set. We also present a heuristic for this problem. As a preliminary step, we study minimizing the transmission range necessary for multi-hop communication. Various heuristics for this smaller problem are proposed and their results are compared by simulation. The best of these heuristics is then enhanced to incorporate minimizing the movement of actors, and its performance is compared to the optimal ILP solution.