cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessing farmer interest in participatory plant breeding: Who wants to work with scientists?

Participatory research, particularly participatory plant breeding (PPB), can increase the relevance of public-sector research to the agricultural community. PPB has mostly been used in developing countries with resource-poor farmers, but there is increasing interest among farmers in developed countries who are dissatisfied with the performance of available varieties. In 2006, scientists associated with the winter and spring wheat breeding programs in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences and the Department of Community and Rural Sociology at Washington State University (WSU) conducted a survey of members of the Washington Association of Wheat Growers. Through analysis of the survey results, we sought to understand (1) whether or not farmers want to work with scientists in PPB programs and (2) the determinants of PPB interest. Results indicated that 52% of Washington wheat growers were interested in working with WSU scientists in a participatory breeding program. Interested farmers tended to be younger and college educated with fewer years of farming experience. Moreover, PPB interest appeared to be related positively to farm size, the number of wheat varieties planted, use of and interest in alternative production and marketing practices (e.g., seed saving, organic agriculture), and prior experience with WSU. Based on this analysis and ongoing discussions with farmers, we hope to develop a participatory wheat breeding program where farmers are able to choose their level of involvement with the breeding process based on their interest and needs. This new program will increase the relevance of WSU's wheat breeding programs to farmers in the state and could serve as a model for other public agricultural research programs seeking to increase farmer involvement and, thereby, democratize agricultural research.
A Lagrangean-relaxation method for the constrained assignment problem

Abstract This paper addresses the problem of finding a minimal weight assignment subject to a knapsack-type contraint. It develops a two-stage algorithm based on the Lagrangean-relaxation formulation of this problem. The first stage obtains the optimal Lagrange multiplier in a polynominal effort by generating the efficient frontier in a bicriteria framework. The second stage uses this information very effectively to zero in on the optimal solution in a relatively lower depth of search in the ordered-generation-of-assignments framework. The algorithm is supported by a numerical example and its advantages over other schemes are shown.
Expansion of CD133-Expressing Liver Cancer Stem Cells in Liver-Specific Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog Deleted on Chromosome 10-Deleted Mice†‡§

PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10) is a lipid phosphatase that regulates mitogenic signaling pathways, and deficiency of PTEN results in cell proliferation, survival, and malignancy. Murine liver-specific Pten deletion models develop liver malignancy by 12 months of age. Using this model, we describe a population of CD133+ liver cancer stem cells isolated during the chronic injury phase of disease progression and before primary carcinoma formation. We performed immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry isolation using livers from 3- and 6-month-old Pten(loxP/loxP); Alb-Cre+ mice (mutants) and controls. CD133+CD45- nonparenchymal (NP) cells were analyzed for gene expression profile and protein levels. Single CD133+CD45- oval cells were isolated for clonal expansion and tumor analysis. Cultured and freshly isolated liver CD133+CD45- and CD133-CD45- NP cells were injected into immune-deficient and immune-competent mice. In mutant mice, the NP fraction increased in CD133+CD45- cells in 3- and 6-month-old Pten-deleted animals compared with controls. Clone lines expanded from single CD133+CD45- cells demonstrated consistent liver progenitor cell phenotype, with bilineage gene expression of hepatocyte and cholangiocyte markers. CD133+ cells from expanded clone lines formed robust tumors in immune-deficient and immune-competent mice. Furthermore, freshly isolated CD133+CD45- NP liver cells from 6-month-old mutants formed tumors in vivo, and CD133-CD45- NP cells did not. Consistent with a cancer stem cell phenotype, CD133+ cells demonstrate resistance to chemotherapy agents compared with CD133- cells. CD133+CD45- nonparenchymal cells from chronic injury Pten(loxP/loxP); Alb-Cre+ mice represent a bipotent liver progenitor cell population with cancer stem cell phenotype.
Scattering cross sections of the photino and the goldstino (gravitino) on matter

Abstract The photino and the goldstino (which is absorbed into the massive gravitino if supersymmetry is realized locally) can scatter on matter. We give the corresponding lagrangian density and compute the cross sections. Those of the photino may be much larger than ordinary weak interaction cross sections. Those of the goldstino (gravitino), proportional to G Newton /m 3 2 2 , may be negligible or on the contrary relatively large, depending on the value of the gravitino mass m 3 2 .
Visualization of putative ion-transporting epithelia in Amphibalanus amphitrite using correlative microscopy: Potential function in osmoregulation and biomineralization

Abstract Thoracican barnacles are a unique suborder of crustaceans typified by their calcified exterior, which provides protection to the sessile juvenile and adult. Biomineralization is mediated by a mantle epithelium that appears to be involved in calcium uptake and the secretion of calcium laden matrix. Larval and adult intertidal Balanomorph barnacles tolerate a wide range of salinities and it is hypothesized that active ion transport is the primary mechanism for osmoregulation. We observed adult Amphibalanus amphitrite producing an electrolyte-rich secretion emanating from the junction of the basis and parietal plates. Further study of this region using silver staining microscopic techniques, verified by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy, revealed a chloride ion rich mantle epithelium. A distinctive pattern of silver chloride stained epithelia was revealed in all A. amphitrite life stages. These epithelia were observed to contain mitochondria rich cells in nauplius and cyprid larvae (as shown by DASPMI staining visualized with confocal laser scanning microscopy) and therefore exhibit potential for active ion transport. Rhod-5 N (a low affinity cellular Ca 2+ indicator) labeling was also observed in all barnacle life stages, in tissues shown to be chloride positive. We suspect that the observed chloride ion rich epithelia facilitate ionic regulation via active transport, and biomineralization via cellular Ca 2+ uptake, storage and mobilization.
Public Sources of the Personal Mind: Social Constructionism in Context

Social constructionism emphasizes the social and interactive aspects of the development of higher-order cognitive functions, in the manner of Vygotsky. Nevertheless, the general character of the human organism sets limits to the kind and level of functions which can be appropriated. On the question of the nature of psychological and especially cognitive phenomena, social constructionism points to the many cases in which a type of psychological phenomenon, such as remembering, is at least as much an attribute of a discursive interaction as it is an attribute of an individual mind. If this reflects etiological priority, then we must also exchange explanations in terms of laws for explanations in terms of social and especially semantic conventions. Positioning theory, as a development of the general social constructionist viewpoint, puts considerable stress on the way assumed and ascribed rights and duties to think and act in certain ways work as constraints on human thought and action. Postmodernism and cri...
Mechanical properties of polymer impregnated cement systems and the effect of moisture on their dimensional stability

Abstract Cement matrices were prepared by autoclaving portland cement-silica mixtures having various percentages by weight of silica, with water-to-cement ratios of from 0.22 to 0.45. Normal cement paste samples were also made for comparison. Samples were heated to 100°C in vacuum for 24 h before impregnation with methyl methacrylate monomer (MMA), which was then polymerized; impregnation was repeated for complete impregnation. Young's modulus and microhardness were measured as a function of volume fraction of PMMA and results compared with those obtained from similar samples conditioned to 11% RH. Autoclaved impregnated and unimpregnated specimens and room-temperature-cured cement paste specimens at both conditions were exposed to 100% RH and their length changes measured for up to four years. Permeation to water vapour in the impregnated specimens, although decreased, still occurs and impregnation increased long-term expansion on exposure. Expansion on exposure to 100% RH is much larger for D-dried than for 11% RH-conditioned matrices; the latter produced stronger bodies on impregnation.
Exploratory Learning Environments: What are They and Do Students Explore?

Computer-based learning environments have been defined as settings where students use software to facilitate active, exploratory learning. We distinguish between illocutionary and non-illocutionary...
Injectable Microsphere Gel Progressively Improves Global Ventricular Function, Regional Contractile Strain, and Mitral Regurgitation after Myocardial Infarction

Background There is continued need for therapies which reverse or abate the remodeling process after myocardial infarction (MI). In this study, we evaluate the longitudinal effects of calcium hydroxyapatite microsphere gel on regional strain, global ventricular function, and mitral regurgitation (MR) in a porcine MI model. Methods Twenty-five Yorkshire swine were enrolled. Five were dedicated weight-matched controls. Twenty underwent posterolateral infarction by direct ligation of the circumflex artery and its branches. Infarcted animals were randomly divided into the following 4 groups: 1-week treatment; 1-week control; 4-week treatment; and 4-week control. After infarction, animals received either twenty 150 μL calcium hydroxyapatite gel or saline injections within the infarct. At their respective time points, echocardiograms, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and tissue were collected for evaluation of MR, regional and global left ventricular function, wall thickness, and collagen content. Results Global and regional left ventricular functions were depressed in all infarcted subjects at 1 week compared with healthy controls. By 4-weeks post-infarction, global function had significantly improved in the calcium hydroxyapatite group compared with infarcted controls (ejection fraction 0.485 ± 0.019 vs 0.38 ± 0.017, p p = 0.04), MR grade (0.4 ± 0.2 vs 1.2 ± 0.2, p = 0.04), and infarct thickness (7.8 ± 0.5 mm vs 4.5 ± 0.2 mm, p Conclusions Calcium hydroxyapatite injection after MI progressively improves global left ventricular function, borderzone function, and mitral regurgitation. Using novel biomaterials to augment infarct material properties is a viable alternative in the current management of heart failure.
The influence of fibre properties of the performance of glass-fibre-reinforced polyamide 6,6

Abstract We discuss the effect of fibre strength and diameter on the balance of mechanical properties of glass-reinforced polyamide 6,6. The results show that the elastic properties of injection-moulded short-glass-fibre-reinforced polyamide 6,6 are not strongly influenced by fibre diameter in the 10–17 micron range. The ultimate properties of these composites (strength and Izod impact behaviour) showed a clear dependence on fibre diameter and were increased by the presence of high-strength S-2 glass fibres. The relationship between the observed mechanical properties and the length, diameter and orientation of the fibres is explored. We have measured fibre length as a function of diameter in composites containing a single glass-reinforcement product and blends of two glass products. The reduction in glass-fibre length from glass-fibre production to final composite moulding has been followed step by step. The final composite mechanical properties, the fibre length, strength, diameter and orientation are all inter-related.
Saturation of stimulated Raman scattering by the excitation of strong Langmuir turbulence.

Numerical studies of a model of stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) coupled to Langmuir turbulence show that once the collisional threshold is exceeded for parametric decay of the SRS daughter Langmuir wave the noncollisional dissipation resulting from Langmuir collapse can strongly saturate the Langmuir wave and the resulting SRS reflectivity. The model provides information on the total rate of hot electron generation. Scaling laws for the reflectivity as a function of laser and plasma parameters are found.
Singing as therapy for apraxia of speech and aphasia: report of a case.

A 48-year-old woman suffered a stroke, with sudden onset of apraxia of speech, aphasia, right hemiplegia, and right hemianopsia. Conventional speech and language therapy was undertaken for 1 mo, but progress was limited. Then a form of singing therapy was introduced, and the patient found herself able to sing words and phrases that she was unable to say. The patient can function in her home environment with her limited speech ability, but the pitch, melody, and quality of her voice are different from that prior to her cerebral vascular accident.
Endocannabinoids block status epilepticus in cultured hippocampal neurons

Status epilepticus is a serious neurological disorder associated with a significant morbidity and mortality. Antiepileptic drugs such as diazepam, phenobarbital and phenytoin are the mainstay of status epilepticus treatment. However, over 20% of status epilepticus cases are refractory to the initial treatment with two or more antiepileptic drugs. Endocannabinoids have been implicated as playing an important role in regulating seizure activity and seizure termination. This study evaluated the effects of the major endocannabinoids methanandamide and 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG) on status epilepticus in the low-Mg(2+) hippocampal neuronal culture model. Status epilepticus in this model was resistant to treatment with phenobarbital and phenytoin. Methanandamide and 2-AG inhibited status epilepticus in a dose-dependent manner with an EC(50) of 145+/-4.15 nM and 1.68+/-0.19 microM, respectively. In addition, the anti-status epilepticus effects of methanandamide and 2-AG were mediated by activation of the cannabinoid CB(1) receptor since they were blocked by the cannabinoid CB(1) receptor antagonist AM251. These results provide the first evidence that the endocannabinoids, methanandamide and 2-AG, are effective inhibitors of refractory status epilepticus in the hippocampal neuronal culture model and indicate that regulating the endocannabinoid system may provide a novel therapeutic approach for treating refractory status epilepticus.
A flocking-based dynamical systems paradigm for smart power system analysis

We propose a paradigm to model the cyber-physical interactions related to transient stability in a smart grid. In our multi-agent framework each node, representing both electrical and information system components, is modeled as having dynamics that synergistically describe physical and information couplings with neighboring agents. Physical behaviors are described through the application of swing equations to a reduced model of the electrical grid. Cyber-physical integrated action is formulated as a flocking control problem to achieve transient stability. Analysis and simulation demonstrate the potential of the paradigm to model cyber-physical smart grid dynamics as well as highlight strategies for effective distributed control.
The case for the three-year residency

d o k t s m a l t c t t f e b n d o p f w o c s r e s fi a t A he suggestion to shorten the radiolgy residency is at first glance highly mpractical at best and simply untenble at worst. How can anyone even egin to conceive of shortening the rogram of a field that continues to ecome ever more complex? New odalities are only a clinical trial way in many instances. These new echnologies will inevitably outdate he technology we currently use, reuiring the continual reeducation of racticing radiologists. Because the nowledge base required to practice n this field continues to rise expoentially, a 4-year training pathway plus a clinical internship year) must e the minimal time necessary, and erhaps adding an additional year ay be required soon. To even proose shortening the residency trainng period under these circumstances s simply preposterous. Or is it? Although seemingly counterintuiive, I address the rationale and motiation for initiating such a change rom both an educational standpoint nd a practical perspective. This is ollowed by a discussion concerning he reasons a shortened diagnostic raiology residency can in fact be imlemented. Finally, I provide an exmple of a framework for a 3-year iagnostic radiology residency. But rst, I briefly consider the historical asis of how the diagnostic radiology esidency has evolved into its current ormat.
The immunochemistry of (L-Ala-D-Glu-L-Lys-D-Ala-Gly)n: antibodies of restricted specificity.

Abstract The specificity of the antibody elicited by the sequential polypeptide, ( l - Ala - d - Glu - l - Lys - d - Ala-Gly ) n , which may exist in the pleated sheet conformation at physiological pH, was studied by a radioimmunoassay, using related haptens as inhibitors. The immunodominant region was X-Gly- l -Ala- d -Glu- l -Lys, where X was Boc or Boc- d -Ala. The presence of d -Glu in the haptens was essential for any inhibitory activity. Haptens with other amino acids substituted for d and l -Ala, l -Lys, and Gly were able to inhibit significantly the binding of the polymer to its antibody. In addition, amino acids of the opposite optical isomer could be substituted for l -lysine and d -alanine. Either d or l amino acids could be substituted for glycine. The results indicated that the biological recognition of the immunogen is highly selective of the amino acid sequence, recognizing only one out of the five possible sequences, and that the determinant recognized was located internally in the amino acid sequence of the polypeptide.
L 1 adaptive control with proportional adaptation law

This paper presents an L 1 adaptive state feedback controller with proportional adaptation law for a class of linear systems with input-gain uncertainties and unmatched nonlinear disturbances. The proportional adaptation law provides an adaptive estimate that is directly proportional to the error between the output of the system and the state predictor. One of the advantages of this new adaptation law is the additional phase margin in the estimation loop, which allows for modification of the state predictor towards accommodating first order sensor dynamics. An additional benefit is the reduction of the required computational resources, since the error bounds reduce at a rate directly proportional to the adaptation gain as compared to the square root of the adaptation gain achieved by the L 1 adaptive controllers using gradient descent adaptation laws. Simulations verify the theoretical findings.
Turbidity sensing as a building block for smart appliances

The US Department of Energy standards for laundry and dishwashers are expected to be announced soon for appliances built after Jan. 1, 1999. To meet these high-efficiency targets, the OEM designers are searching for practical solutions to improve the efficiency of these appliances. The availability of turbidity sensing on appliances will provide design engineers with a way to determine how soiled a particular load of clothes or dishes may be so engineers can then create a control system that adapts the operation of the machine to save water, time, and energy, while providing superior cleaning performance. Because of this capability, the turbidity sensor is emerging as a key building block developing the next generation of energy-efficient "smart" appliances. This article is intended to provide some insight to the origin of turbidity sensing, improvements to the technology since its introduction, and its relative importance to the appliance industry today. Different turbidity sensor configurations are discussed, along with practical design issues the engineer will need to address.
Approximation Algorithms: Good Solutions to Hard Problems

1. INTRODUCTION. Consider a computer network represented by an undirected graph where the vertices represent computer nodes and the edges represent links between the nodes. Since some of the links in the network may become faulty, link testing devices are placed at some of the nodes. A tester at a particular node can test all links incident to that node. Since the testers are expensive, however, we wish to deploy the minimum number of these devices such that every link is incident to at least one node containing a tester. In graph theoretic terms, a vertex cover is a subset of the vertices such that every edge is incident to at least one vertex in this set. Our objective then is to find a minimum vertex cover. This is
Time-dependent magnetic reconnection: Two- and three-dimensional MHD simulations

Abstract Observations of flux transfer events (FTEs) at the earth magnetospause and plasmoids in the magnetotail indicate that magnetic reconnections in the earth magnetosphere are time-dependent. Motivated by the observed flux transfer events, Lee and Fu proposed a multiple X-line reconnection (MXR) model for the dayside magnetopause. The multiple X-line reconnection is intrinsically a time-dependent process and is different from the classical single X-line reconnection (SXR) process. As a consequence of MXR, plasmoids or magnetic flux ropes are intermittently formed and convected out of the reconnection region. Two- and three-dimensional MHD simulations have been carried out to study the time-dependent magnetic reconnection process. The 2-D simulation results show that the time-dependent multiple X-line process tends to occur when the system length is long and the resistivity is small. Otherwise, the quasi-steady single X-line process takes place. It is found that the occurrence of multiple reconnection sites in the current sheet may be due to either (1) the development of tearing mode instability in the local slab model, or (2) the nonuniformity of the current sheet in the global model. In the three-dimensional case, the multiple X-line reconnection process leads to the formation of magnetic flux tubes or magnetic ropes. In the three-dimensional case, the field line topology at the ends of the magnetic rope is very complicated. The simulation shows that magnetic ropes formed through the MXR process usually have “frayed” ends. In addition, a strong tube-aligned plasma flow is observed during the formation of magnetic flux tubes in the 3-D simulation.
Effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on myofascial pain and trigger point sensitivity

The effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on myofascial pain and trigger point sensitivity were assessed. Four modes of TENS and a no-stimulation control were compared in a double-blind design. Stimulation, carried out for 10 min on 60 subjects (12/group), showed significant pain reductions with 100 Hz, 250 msec stimulation followed by 100 Hz, 50 msec and then pain suppressor TENS. No pain reductions were found in the 2 Hz, 250 msec TENS or the control. No significant alteration in myofascial trigger point sensitivity, assessed with the pressure algometer, was found between the groups. The results suggest that high frequency, high intensity TENS is effective in reducing myofascial pain, and that these pain reductions do not reflect changes in local trigger point sensitivity.
Evaluation of a soil greenhouse gas emission model based on Bayesian inference and MCMC: Model uncertainty

Abstract We combined the Bayesian inference and the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) technique to quantify uncertainties in the process-based soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emission models. The Metropolis–Hastings sampling was examined by comparing four univariate proposal distributions (UPDs: symmetric/asymmetric uniform and symmetric/asymmetric normal) and one multinormal proposal distribution (MPD). Almost all the posterior parameter ranges from the MPD could be reduced to 1 order of magnitude. The simulation errors in CO2 fluxes were much greater than those in N2O fluxes, which resulted in a greater importance in model structure than in model parameters for CO2 simulations. We suggested deriving the covariance matrix of parameters for MPD from the sampling results of a UPD; and generating a Markov chain by updating a single parameter rather than updating all parameters at each time. The method addressed in this paper can be used to evaluate uncertainties in other GHG emission models.
Conflict and stress in times of change

In recent years, staff members in many libraries have struggled to adjust to an accelerating rate of change. Researchers and observers have noted increasing levels of stress and conflict in the workplace, probably related to the rapid pace of change. In view of the transformation that is taking place in libraries and library services, it has become essential that library managers assist staff in coping with the resultant stress and conflict. To manage change effectively, it is important to understand the difference between change and transition, and to be aware of the process staff members are experiencing. Developing an inclusive decision‐making style, fostering positive employee attitudes towards change, and utilizing effective communication skills can help make change a more positive experience.
Recent progress in satellite radio beacon studies with particular emphasis on the ATS-6 radio beacon experiment

In May 1974 a new era in satellite radio beacon studies of the ionosphere opened with the ATS-6 Radio Beacon Experiment. The history of radio beacon studies up to that time is reviewed briefly and the particular features of the ATS-6 beacon are discussed together with the basic theory required to interpret the measurements. The main emphasis is on the ATS-6 beacon experiment but other beacon data are discussed which provide the necessary background. The diurnal and seasonal variations of the total electron content and the plasmaspheric content are presented for the U.S.A. and Europe. In winter the plasmaspheric content over the Western Hemisphere maximizes at night while in Europe and the Pacific it appears to peak near noon. This is thought to be caused by flow of plasma from the local and conjugate ionospheres. Night maxima of total electron content are found showing that they do not arise from depletions of the plasmaspheric content. The plasmaspheric content is highly sensitive to solarterrestrial disturbance, it reaches a minimum on the third day of a storm and may take between 10 and 20 days of partial filling and emptying to recover. Traveling disturbances in U.S.A., Europe, and India show similarities of speeds but not of direction. Beacon observations of micropulsations in total content, tropospheric fluctuations and Fresnel diffraction by intense ionospheric irregularities are discussed together with radio wave scintillations and some applications of beacon radio data to communications and navigation.
Market efficiency, long-term returns, and behavioral finance1The comments of Brad Barber, David Hirshleifer, S.P. Kothari, Owen Lamont, Mark Mitchell, Hersh Shefrin, Robert Shiller, Rex Sinquefield, Richard Thaler, Theo Vermaelen, Robert Vishny, Ivo Welch, and a referee have been helpful. Kenneth French and Jay Ritter get special thanks.1

Market eƒciency survives the challenge from the literature on long-term return anomalies. Consistent with the market eƒciency hypothesis that the anomalies are chance results, apparent overreaction to information is about as common as underreaction, and post-event continuation of pre-event abnormal returns is about as frequent as post-event reversal. Most important, consistent with the market eƒciency prediction that apparent anomalies can be due to methodology, most long-term return anomalies tend to disappear with reasonable changes in technique. ( 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.
A WIYN Lithium Survey for Young Stars in the λ Orionis Star-forming Region

We have found 72 premain-sequence (PMS) stars near the center of the j Orionis star-forming region by spectroscopically testing a magnitude-limited sample for the presence of lithium j6708 absorption, a diagnostic of youth. All of these stars show large lithium equivalent widths and radial velocities consis- tent with Orion membership, but only two were discovered previously via Ha or X-ray surveys. Com- parison with PMS evolutionary tracks show that the low-mass star formation did not begin prior to the initiation of high-mass star formation 5¨7 Myr ago. However, the subsequent detailed star formation history is model dependent. BaraUe et al. isochrones imply that high- and low-mass stars began to form together 5¨7 Myr ago, with the low-mass stellar formation ceasing abruptly 1 Myr ago. On the other hand, DAntona & Mazzitelli isochrones indicate a narrow spread of PMS ages, which suggests a burst of low-mass star formation 1¨2 Myr ago. Furthermore, kinematic arguments require that the parent molecular cloud gravitationally bound the stars together until recently, but at present the requisite gas mass is not visible. This leads us to conjecture that both the high- and low-mass stars were in a tightly bound cluster until a supernova blast about 1 Myr ago disrupted the parent cloud. This supernova also impacted on the PMS formation process by either (1) ceasing formation through removal of the gas supply or (2) triggering star births via cloud compression, depending on choice of stellar evolution models. Finally, we —nd that despite their youth, only four of the 72 PMS stars have T Taurilike Ha emission, suggesting the absence of accretion disks. We conjecture that this may be the result of photo- evaporation of the disks while the low-mass stars were in much closer proximity to the OB stars prior to becoming gravitationally unbound.
Observation of plasmonic field-enhancement of the nonlinear response of gold thin films

We investigate the nonlinear optical response of gold thin films of different thicknesses. Field enhancement effects lead to counterintuitive results which we interpret in terms of the excitation of plasmonic resonances at the metal-dielectric interfaces.
BTB Access Filtering: A Low Energy and High Performance Design

Powerful branch predictors along with a large branch target buffer (BTB) are employed in superscalar processors for instruction-level parallelism exploitation. However, the large BTB not only dominates the predictor energy consumption, but also becomes a major roadblock in achieving faster clock frequencies at deep sub-micron technologies. In this paper, we propose a filtering scheme to reduce the accesses to the BTB to achieve a significant dynamic energy reduction in the BTB while maintaining the performance. Our experimental evaluation using the SPEC2000 benchmark suite shows that our BTB Access Filtering (BAF) design achieves a 88.5% dynamic energy reduction over a default 2K-entry 2-way BTB at the cost of a negligible 0.1% performance loss, on the average across all benchmarks. We also studied the leakage behavior and its control in our BAF design. The results show that by applying a drowsy strategy, we can achieve a very effective leakage control in the BTB, a 83% leakage reduction at a marginal 0.3% performance overhead. For high performance design, our BAF can also improve BTB's performance scalability at new technologies. In deeply-pipelined designs, BAF design yields a 2.7% (and 8.1%) performance improvement over a conventional 2-cycle (and 3-cycle) BTB, with its energy efficiency fully exploited.
Phage cocktails and the future of phage therapy

Viruses of bacteria, known as bacteriophages or phages, were discovered nearly 100 years ago. Their potential as antibacterial agents was appreciated almost immediately, with the first ‘phage therapy’ trials predating Fleming’s discovery of penicillin by approximately a decade. In this review, we consider phage therapy that can be used for treating bacterial infections in humans, domestic animals and even biocontrol in foods. Following an overview of the topic, we explore the common practice – both experimental and, in certain regions of the world, clinical – of mixing therapeutic phages into cocktails consisting of multiple virus types. We conclude with a discussion of the commercial and medical context of phage cocktails as therapeutic agents. In comparing off-the-shelf versus custom approaches, we consider the merits of a middle ground, which we deem ‘modifiable’. Finally, we explore a regulatory framework for such an approach based on an influenza vaccine model.
Surface-plasmon coupled X-apertures for optical field enhancement and localization

We design, fabricate and characterize periodic arrays of X-shaped nano-aperture antennas in Ag films. By matching the plasmonic resonance of individual antennas to that of the array, we demonstrate high field enhancement and localization.
The effect of buspirone on prolactin and growth hormone secretion in man.

• Buspirone hydrochloride, a compound with novel chemical structure, has been reported to be anxiolytic in man. Its mechanism of action as an anxiolytic is unknown, but preclinical studies have shown that it produces effects consistent with both a dopamine agonist and antagonist. In man, buspirone hydrochloride at doses of 30,60, and 90 mg orally significantly elevated plasma prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) concentrations. The apparent increase in PRL secretion was dose dependent, but that of GH was not. The increase in PRL secretion could be due to a dopamine antagonist effect at the pituitary gland. A dopamine agonist action at hypothalamic dopamine receptors could account for the increase in GH secretion. Benzodiazepine anxiolytic drugs also increase serum GH levels in man, by a mechanism that has not been clearly established. It may be that buspirone and benzodiazepine drugs stimulate GH secretion by a common mechanism that is related to their anxiolytic actions.
Nonequilibrium gating and voltage dependence of the ClC-0 Cl- channel

The gating of ClC-0, the voltage-dependent Cl- channel from Torpedo electric organ, is strongly influenced by Cl- ions in the external solution. Raising external Cl- over the range 1-600 mM favors the fast-gating open state and disfavors the slow-gating inactivated state. Analysis of purified single ClC-0 channels reconstituted into planar lipid bilayers was used to identify the role of Cl- ions in the channel's fast voltage-dependent gating process. External, but not internal, Cl- had a major effect on the channel's opening rate constant. The closing rate was more sensitive to internal Cl- than to external Cl-. Both opening and closing rates varied with voltage. A model was derived that postulates (a) that in the channel's closed state, Cl- is accessible to a site located at the outer end of the conduction pore, where it binds in a voltage-independent fashion, (b) that this closed conformation can open, whether liganded by Cl- or not, in a weakly voltage-dependent fashion, (c) that the Cl(-)-liganded closed channel undergoes a conformational change to a different closed state, such that concomitant with this change, Cl- ion moves inward, conferring voltage-dependence to this step, and (d) that this new Cl(-)-liganded closed state opens with a very high rate. According to this picture, Cl- movement within the pre-open channel is the major source of voltage dependence, and charge movement intrinsic to the channel protein contributes very little to voltage-dependent gating of ClC-0. Moreover, since the Cl- activation site is probably located in the ion conduction pathway, the fast gating of ClC-0 is necessarily coupled to ion conduction, a nonequilibrium process.
Long-term Changes in Forest Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling Caused by an Introduced Pest/Pathogen Complex

Invasion of exotic forest pests and pathogens is a serious environmental problem for many forests throughout the world, and has been especially damaging to forests of eastern North America. We studied the impacts of an exotic pest/pathogen complex, the beech bark disease (BBD), in the Catskill Mountains of New York State, USA. In this region, BBD has caused a decline in the basal area of American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) over the last 60 years and this decline has been accompanied by an increase in the basal area of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.). We studied the impacts of the BBD on carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling using a series of stands that represented a sequence of disease impact and beech replacement by sugar maple. Our study showed that these long-term changes in tree species composition can lead to important changes in C and N cycling in the ecosystem, including an increase in litter decomposition, a decrease in soil C:N ratio, and an increase in extractable nitrate in the soil and nitrate in soil solution. Rates of potential net N mineralization and nitrification did not change across the BBD sequence, but the fraction of mineralized N that was nitrified increased significantly. Many of the observed changes in ecosystem function are larger in magnitude than those attributed to climate change or air pollution, suggesting that the impacts of invasive pests and pathogens on tree species composition could be one of the most important factors driving changes in C and N cycling in these forests in the coming decades.
When a day makes a difference. Interpreting data from endoplasmic reticulum-targeted green fluorescent protein fusions in cells grown in suspension culture.

The stability of the self-contained structure of green fluorescent protein (GFP) has made it the most widely utilized fluorescent marker for gene expression and subcellular localization studies ([Chalfie et al., 1994][1]; [Tsien, 1998][2]; [De Giorgi et al., 1999][3]; [Haseloff et al., 1999][4]).
Lipid and Sterol Content of Some Protozoa

Total lipids of several protozoa were determined and found higher than in most other microorganisms. The lipid content in a phytoflagellate, Ochromonas malhamensis, could be increased by excess nicotinic acid or deficiency in nitrogen supply. Cell multiplication and lipid synthesis were unaffected by inhibitors of vitamin synthesis such as penicillamine, pan-toyltaurine, or pyridine-3-sulfonic acid, up to 100 mg%. The phytoflagellates, O. danica, O. malhamensis, Euglena gracilis, and the photosynthetic bacterium Chlorobium limkola contained large quantities of non-saponifiable lipids: ergesterol was identified as a major component of this lipid fraction. Sterols were not found in the bacteria, Streptococcus faecalis, Rhodopseudomonas palustris; the algae. Cyanidium calidarnm. Anacystis nidulans, and Porphyridium cruentum; and the protozoan Tetrahymena pyriformis.
Age and brightness discrimination learning by C57BL/6J mice

Groups of 20–34 C577BL/6J mice, aged 75, 225, 375, and 525 days, learned a brightness discrimination for water. The error scores of the 75- and 525-day groups were almost identical, and both made significantly more errors than the 225-day-old mice. Both immature and older mice appear to be deficient in learning ability compared to young adults.
Thermal Properties of Spin Torque Oscillators: Singularity in Effective Energy

It is important to be able to calculate steady-state probability distributions in spin torque systems, for such applications as spin-torque oscillators and thermal switching of MRAM. It has been shown using a Fokker-Planck formulation of this problem that the steady state probability can be expressed in terms of an effective energy, which can be calculated analytically for uniaxial systems (including perpendicular-anisotropy thin film elements). For elements with in-plane anisotropy or in-plane fields, the effective energy has been calculated numerically and fit to a polynomial in the energy. The fit was not very good, and in the present paper we show that this is because the effective energy has a logarithmic singularity at the saddle point. Fitting to a form with the singularity built in gives a much better fit, using the same number of parameters. This makes computation of oscillator linewidths and switching rates in spin-torque systems much easier.
Correlation of ellipsonometric modeling results to observed grain structure for OPO film stacks

One significant, but potentially variable, parameter in the deposition and subsequent processing of polysilicon is its microstructure. The purpose of this work was to correlate the model parameters, in this case, percentage volume fraction of polysilicon phase components, generated by regression of model dispersion using the Bruggerman effective media approximation to data acquired by the spectroscopic ellipsometry technique. Several samples are prepared, consisting of SiO/sub 2//undoped poly-Si/SiO/sub 2/ film stacks in order to measure their as-deposited average grain sizes. Ellipsonometric data is obtained for the center site of each sample, which are then compared to AFM results from similar samples. Various grain geometry approximations are applied, along with the assumption that the polysilicon structure may be modeled to consist of three components; crystalline Si in a continuous amorphous Si matrix, and voids. A mathematical relationship is established between the percentage concentration of crystalline silicon and the mean grain size for the two cases of equiaxed and columnar microstructures. Results indicate good correlation with AFM measured grain sizes. Additional work is required to further demonstrate the correlation, and develop software applications to enable in-line product monitoring.
Effects of Anonymity and Social Comparison of Rewards on Computer-Mediated Group Brainstorming:

Anonymity in computer-mediated communication (CMC) is valued in organizations because it can facilitate participation in discussions, especially of sensitive issues. Concerns over maintaining the m...
A differentiation account of recognition memory: Evidence from fmri

Differentiation models of recognition memory predict a strength-based mirror effect in the distributions of subjective memory strength. Subjective memory strength should increase for targets and simultaneously decrease for foils following a strongly encoded list compared with a weakly encoded list. An alternative explanation for the strength-based mirror effect is that participants adopt a stricter criterion following a strong list than a weak list. Behavioral experiments support the differentiation account. The purpose of this study was to identify the neural bases for these differences. Encoding strength was manipulated strong, weak in a rapid event-related fMRI paradigm. To investigate the effect of retrieval context on foils, foils were presented in test blocks containing strong or weak targets. Imaging analyses identified regions in which activity increased faster for foils tested after a strong list than a weak list. The results are interpreted in support of a differentiation account of memory and are suggestive that the angular gyrus plays a role in evaluating evidence related to the memory decision, even for new items.
Radiation Damage in Thin Sheet Fibreglass Insulators

The term “radiation damage”, as applied to structural behaviour, can be defined as the reduction in load-carrying ability resulting from exposure to radiation. It has been observed that the radiation induced loss in strength of a material could depend upon the type of load to be resisted.1–4 The data in this paper indicate that the structural configuration could be of major importance.
L1-Induced Facilitation in Biliteracy Development in Chinese and English

In an attempt to clarify the multi-layered complexities inherent in biliteracy development, this chapter addresses two overarching questions: How are previously acquired sub-skills assimilated in learning to read in later acquired, or additional, literacy; and how assimilated skills enhance reading sub-skills development in later acquired literacy? By comparing the requisite facets of phonological and morphological awareness for reading acquisition in Chinese and English, we made specific predictions regarding cross-linguistic contributions of previously acquired metalinguistic awareness to reading sub-skills development in later acquired literacy. We report two empirical studies conducted to test those predictions. The first study focused on the intra- and inter-lingual relationships in oral vocabulary knowledge, phonological awareness, and decoding skills in Chinese heritage language learners in the US. The second study examined cross-linguistic relationships in morphological awareness and lexical inference in Chinese children learning English as a Foreign Language in China. Findings from the studies are discussed in light of systematic variations in L1-induced facilitation that are attributable to task demands, linguistic distance between two languages, and L2 grapheme-language mapping experience.
The influence of commensal bacteria on infection with enteric viruses

The intestinal microbiota exerts a marked influence in the mammalian host, both during homeostasis and disease. However, until very recently, there has been relatively little focus on the potential effect of commensal microorganisms on viral infection of the intestinal tract. In this Progress article, I review the recent advances that elucidate the mechanisms by which enteric viruses use commensal bacteria to enhance viral infectivity. These mechanisms segregate into two general categories: the direct facilitation of viral infection, including bacterial stabilization of viral particles and the facilitation of viral attachment to host target cells; and the indirect skewing of the antiviral immune response in a manner that promotes viral infection. Finally, I discuss the implications of these interactions for the development of vaccines and novel therapeutic approaches.
The human computer

The Human Computer is a novel, fun, interactive classroom activity for introductory computer science courses (that focus on programming) that uses a metaphor of teamwork, in which a group of students are given a problem to solve and each student acts as a single function in the solution. When a student wishes to declare a variable, s/he fills out a note card with the name and any data assigned to the variable. This data can be passed between students by value, in which the data is verbally conveyed, or by reference, in which the note card itself changes hands. Initial trials of the activity have shown a better understanding of function interaction and parameter passing, which improves more upon repeated trials.