cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Limits of Trade Policy Reform in Developing Countries

Trade reform is now raising some new issues. This paper deals with three sets of questions: First, how can trade reform be sustained? Can governments convince business, labor, or consumers that trade reform will be lasting, so as to forestall possible adverse reactions that would jeopardize the sustainability of the reform? Second, what role should trade reform play when it is implemented in the context of macroeconomic instability? Are there potential conflicts between the standard desiderata for trade reform and the requirements of macro stability? Finally, should we be worried about the consequences of trade reform in the imperfectly competitive market environments that characterize the developing economies?
Toxicity of abate® 4E (temephos) in mallard ducklings and the influence of cold

Diets mixed to contain 0, 0.1, 1.0, 10 and 100 ppm temephos (determined chemically to contain less than 0.5, less than 0.5, 0.89, 6.0 and 59 ppm temephos, respectively) in an Abate® 4E formulation, were fed to mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) ducklings for 7 d. During this period, half of the ducklings in each dietary treatment group were housed in a heated brooder (39 to 41 °C) and half were housed in an unheated brooder (10 to 18°C). Mortality in all dietary groups in the unheated brooder was higher than in the heated brooder. High temephos-related mortality occurred in the 100 ppm group in the unheated brooder but not in any other diet-temperature groups. Ingestion of the 100 ppm temephos diet inhibited plasma Cholinesterase (ChE) activity and elevated plasma corticosterone concentration and creatine phosphokinase activity, but other selected plasma chemistries were not affected in a dose-related manner. Brain ChE activity was depressed only in the 100 ppm dietary groups; maximum inhibition of brain ChE activity was 48%. These findings suggest that diets containing up to 10 ppm temephos do not directly affect duckling survival during the first week of life and that the toxicity of 100 ppm temephos is markedly enhanced by cold.
Microstructural stability at elevated temperatures

Abstract The factors affecting the diffusion-controlled coarsening of microstructures at elevated temperatures are reviewed in this paper. Coarsening can occur in a variety of different ways. Perhaps the most familiar of these is Ostwald ripening of a dispersed phase, e.g. precipitates in a 2-phase alloy. However, there are other related Ostwald-ripening-types of processes, including coarsening of dispersed phases in 2-dimensions (e.g. precipitates in thin films, ‘fibers’ in directionally solidified eutectics) and coarsening of particles that grow in three dimensions in a 2-dimensional diffusion field (e.g. grain-boundary precipitates, particles on a substrate). Coarsening by fault migration, which is an important issue in the microstructural stability of directionally solidified rod and lamellar eutectics, and discontinuous coarsening, which affects the stability of cellular microstructures produced by discontinuous precipitation, eutectoid decomposition and eutectic solidification, are also discussed. The principal predictions of theories of these various types of coarsening mechanisms are described, and exemplified where possible by reference to published data. Emphasis is placed on ability of current theory to explain existing data obtained from real as well as computer simulation experiments. Possible reasons for the shortcomings of theory are discussed.
Structure, differentiation, and multiplication of Golgi apparatus in fungal hyphae

Golgi apparatus in subapical regions of hyphae consist of paranuclear dictyosomes with 4–5 cisternae each. Transverse and tangential sections provide ultrastructural evidence for a three-dimensional architectural model of the Golgi apparatus and a stepwise mechanism for dictyosome multiplication. The dictyosomes are polarized, with progressive morphological and developmental differentiation of cisternae from the cis to the trans pole. Small membrane blebs and transition vesicles provide developmental continuity between the nuclear envelope and the adjacent dictyosome cisterna at the cis face. Cisternae are formed as fenestrated plates with extended tubular peripheries. The morphology of each cisterna depends on its position in the stack, consistent with a developmental gradient of progressive maturation and turnover of cisternae. Mature cisternae at the trans face are dissociated to produce spheroid and tubular vesicles. Evidence in support of a schematic sequence for increasing the numbers of dictyosomes comes from images of distinctive and unusual forms of Golgi apparatus in hyphal regions where nuclei and dictyosomes multiply, as follows: (a) The area of the nuclear envelope exhibiting “forming-face” activity next to a dictyosome expands, which in turn increases the size of cisternae subsequently assembled at the cis face of the dictyosome. (b) As subsequent large cisternae are formed and mature as they pass through the dictyosome, an entire dictyosome about twice normal size is built up. The number of cisternae per stack remains the same because of continuing turnover and loss of cisternae at the trans face, (c) This enlarged dictyosome becomes separated into two by a small region of the nuclear envelope next to the cis face that acquires polyribosomes and no longer generates transition vesicles, (d) As a consequence, assembly of new dictyosomes is physically separated into two adjacent regions, (e) As.the enlarged cisternae are lost to vesiculation at the trans pole, they are replaced by two separate stacks of cisternae with typical “normal” diameters, (f) The net result is two adjacent dictyosomes where one existed previously. Dictyosome multiplication is thus accomplished as part of the normal developmental turnover of cisternae, without interrupting the functioning of the Golgi apparatus as it continues to produce new secretory vesicles from mature cisternae at the trans face. Coordination of Golgi apparatus multiplication with nuclear division ensures that each daughter nucleus receives a complement of paranuclear dictyosomes.
Evangelicalism and the Politics of Reform in Northern Black Thought, 1776–1863

Evangelicalism and the Politics of Reform in Northern Black Thought, 1776–1863, Rita Roberts, Baton Rouge, Louisiana State University Press, 2011, 261 + 10 pp., Cloth $39.95, ISBN 978-0-8071-3708-6...
Capsule commentary on Piller et al., Characteristics and long-term follow-up of participants with peripheral vascular disease during ALLHAT.

More than a decade ago, the ALLHAT trial1 influenced the Joint National Committee (JNC) 7 to recommend diuretics for initial anti-hypertensive therapy in patients without “compelling indications.”2 JNC 8 does not comment on specific high-risk conditions considered compelling indications, other than chronic kidney disease (CKD).3 However, there are other conditions generally considered compelling indications to start a specific anti-hypertensive class, including: heart failure, postmyocardial infarction status, high coronary heart disease risk, diabetes and prior stroke.2 In this issue, a sub-study of the ALLHAT trial asks the question of whether peripheral artery disease (PAD) could be another compelling indication for choosing a specific anti-hypertensive class; namely, calcium channel blockers.4 In the original ALLHAT publication,1 analysis of the individual components of the secondary outcome revealed an intriguing trend for a lesser incidence of PAD among participants started on amlodipine, in comparison to chlorthalidone (Table 5). In the current follow-up paper, using a stricter definition for PAD, an almost identical trend for a lower incidence of PAD was found for amlodipine, though the finding remained not quite statistically significant. Based on the results of this analysis, PAD continues to stand alone as a major high-risk cardiovascular condition without compelling evidence to use a specific antihypertensive agent in order to improve outcomes. The authors conclude that there is a compelling need for comparative outcome trials examining treatment of PAD in high-risk patients. Unfortunately, this is no easy proposal, since monotherapy is rarely sufficient to adequately control hypertension in this complicated population. For example, most ALLHAT participants ended up needing a second line anti-hypertensive agent to achieve goal blood pressure levels. Therefore, we still need to figure out how to adequately account for the confounding that occurs in these multiple agent trials. In the interim, it should be appreciated that patients with PAD generally would be noted to have other comorbidities that are considered compelling indications for use of certain anti-hypertensive classes. We should use these comorbidities to guide our therapy of these high-risk patients.
Lesion Location and Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status Performance in Acute Ischemic Stroke

The validity of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) was evaluated in a sample of acute ischemic stroke patients. A total of 164 ischemic stroke patients with anterior fossa lesions were divided into groups according to lesion laterality (left, right, or bilateral) and location (cortical versus subcortical) as determined by CT and/or MRI findings. The hypotheses for this study were: (1) that left hemispheric stroke patients would perform better than their counterparts on the Visuospatial/Constructional and Attention Indexes; (2) that right hemisphere stroke patients would outperform their counterparts on the Immediate Memory, Delayed Memory, and Language Indexes; (3) that patients with subcortical lesions would outperform those with cortical lesions on the Language, Immediate Memory, and Delayed Memory indexes; and (4) that patients with cortical lesions would outperform those with subcortical lesions on the Attention and Visuospatial/Constructional Indexes. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) disclosed significant main effects for both lesion side and location, with no location by side interaction. Group comparisons of the five RBANS index scores disclosed modest effects for side of lesion, with right hemisphere patients outperforming those with left sided and bilateral lesions on the Immediate and Delayed Memory, and Language Index Scores. Right hemisphere stroke patients also outperformed left and bilateral lesion patients on the Attention Index. The left hemisphere patients outperformed the right hemisphere and bilateral patients on the Visuospatial/Constructional Index. The effect for location was significant only for the Visuospatial/Constructional Index where the subcortical patients outperformed the cortical patients.
Small Intestinal Submucosa: A Tissue-Derived Extracellular Matrix That Promotes Tissue-Specific Growth and Differentiation of Cells in Vitro

The importance of understanding cell–extracellular matrix (ECM) interaction is now evident as scientists, engineers, and physicians search for novel scaffolds that support and maintain tissue-specific cellular growth and function both in vivo and in vitro. Small intestinal submucosa (SIS) represents an ECM that has been derived from porcine intestine while preserving its natural composition and architecture. More recently, an extract of this physiologic ECM, which forms a three-dimensional gel in vitro, has been developed. When compared to routinely used culture substrata (e.g., plastic, Vitrogen, and Matrigel), intact SIS and SIS-derived gel possess unique compositional and architectural features. Simple squamous epithelial (pulmonary artery), fibroblastic (Swiss 3T3), glandular epithelial (adenocarcinoma), and smooth muscle-like (urinary bladder) cells were seeded upon intact SIS and SIS-derived gel and their morphologic response evaluated. For each of the four cell types studied, intact SIS and SIS-der...
Early eye removal produces excessive bilateral branching in the rat: application of cobalt filling method

When one eye of a rat is removed at birth, axons from the remaining eye form an excess of branches which are directed to both sides of the brain. This finding, which is based on a novel application of cobalt tracing methods, provides an explanation for previous reports of expanded uncrossed projections after early eye removal.
An approximate analysis of the performance of extendible hashing with elastic buckets

Abstract This paper extends the analysis of extendible hashing to cover partial expansions with elastic buckets. Although previous studies of elastic buckets can be adapted to extendible hashing, the approach taken here provides another view to the problem. We provide a correspondence between fixed bucket capacities and elastic buckets. Furthermore, the results are based on easy and straightforward approximations.
Case-based modeling and the SACS Toolkit: a mathematical outline

Researchers in the social sciences currently employ a variety of mathematical/computational models for studying complex systems. Despite the diversity of these models, the majority can be grouped into one of three types: agent (rule-based) modeling, dynamical (equation-based) modeling and statistical (aggregate-based) modeling. The purpose of the current paper is to offer a fourth type: case-based modeling. To do so, we review the SACS Toolkit: a new method for quantitatively modeling complex social systems, based on a case-based, computational approach to data analysis. The SACS Toolkit is comprised of three main components: a theoretical blueprint of the major components of a complex system (social complexity theory); a set of case-based instructions for modeling complex systems from the ground up (assemblage); and a recommended list of case-friendly computational modeling techniques (case-based toolset). Developed as a variation on Byrne (in Sage Handbook of Case-Based Methods, pp. 260---268, 2009), the SACS Toolkit models a complex system as a set of k-dimensional vectors (cases), which it compares and contrasts, and then condenses and clusters to create a low-dimensional model (map) of a complex system's structure and dynamics over time/space. The assembled nature of the SACS Toolkit is its primary strength. While grounded in a defined mathematical framework, the SACS Toolkit is methodologically open-ended and therefore adaptable and amenable, allowing researchers to employ and bring together a wide variety of modeling techniques. Researchers can even develop and modify the SACS Toolkit for their own purposes. The other strength of the SACS Toolkit, which makes it a very effective technique for modeling large databases, is its ability to compress data matrices while preserving the most important aspects of a complex system's structure and dynamics across time/space. To date, while the SACS Toolkit has been used to study several topics, a mathematical outline of its case-based approach to quantitative analysis (along with a case study) has yet to be written---hence the purpose of the current paper.
Multiple lymphomatous polyposis of the gastrointestinal tract.

This report describes the clinical course, the diagnosis and management, the apparent long-term ineffectiveness of chemotherapy, and the radiological and morphological course of a case of multiple lymphomatous polyposis of the gastrointestinal tract studied over an 18-month period. No evidence of a mal-absorption state was found either early or late in the clinical course, but an apparent protein-losing enteropathy without immunoelectrophoretic evidence of serum immunoglobulin change was disclosed. Lymphoepithelial relationships of the gastrointestinal tract are discussed. It is speculated that multiple lymphomatous polyposis of the gastrointestinal tract, a primary malignancy originating from and involving the lymphoid tissue of the gut, may represent the malignant counterpart in the humoral immune system of the malignant thymoma in the cellular immune system. Further inquiry into the role of the lymphoid system in the growth, maturation, function, and morphology of mucosal epithelia may be feasible through the study of patients with this form of lymphomatous disease.
Reliability and thermal impedance studies in soft soldered power transistors

This paper discusses the reliability of soft soldered silicon power transistors under various thermal cycling conditions. A thermal cycling system is described which provides electrical testing and thermal impedance measurements of the devices until they fail. The thermal impedance measurement technique and the cycling parameters of the devices tested are discussed. Differences between computed and measured steady-state thermal resistance indicate interface problems associated with the fabrication of soft soldered devices. The study is focused on 2N3055 power transistors from a variety of manufacturers. It is shown that the thermal impedance is sensitive to changes in the Si-header joint and will increase upon cycling due to the thermal fatigue process. Information on mechanical failure of joints is obtained from scanning electron microscopy studies on the failed devices. The important parameters that affect the lifetime of the devices are indicated, and their effects are shown quantitatively. It is concluded that thermal impedance measurements can provide a reliable probing technique for imperfections in the soft soldered contacts found in many power devices.
Dynamic Updating for $\ell_{1}$ Minimization

The theory of compressive sensing (CS) has shown us that under certain conditions, a sparse signal can be recovered from a small number of linear incoherent measurements. An effective class of reconstruction algorithms involve solving a convex optimization program that balances the l1 norm of the solution against a data fidelity term. Tremendous progress has been made in recent years on algorithms for solving these l1 minimization programs. These algorithms, however, are for the most part static: they focus on finding the solution for a fixed set of measurements. In this paper, we present a suite of dynamic algorithms for solving l1 minimization programs for streaming sets of measurements. We consider cases where the underlying signal changes slightly between measurements, and where new measurements of a fixed signal are sequentially added to the system. We develop algorithms to quickly update the solution of several different types of l1 optimization problems whenever these changes occur, thus avoiding having to solve a new optimization problem from scratch. Our proposed schemes are based on homotopy continuation, which breaks down the solution update in a systematic and efficient way into a small number of linear steps. Each step consists of a low-rank update and a small number of matrix-vector multiplications - very much like recursive least squares. Our investigation also includes dynamic updating schemes for l1 decoding problems, where an arbitrary signal is to be recovered from redundant coded measurements which have been corrupted by sparse errors.
Smoothed Particles Hydrodynamics Method for Interaction Between Multi-Droplets and Substrate

The smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method, one of meshfree methods, is developed to simulate the interaction between multi-droplets and substrate with solidification. However, the SPH method for this complicated problem needs a large amount of computing time, since it has to use a large number of the SPH particles to represent multidrops and substrate. All-pair search and linked list algorithms are popular in the neighbor search, which is the most time consuming part of the SPH calculation. Both algorithms are tested in this paper. For the solidification process, since the volume of the melt is decreased continuously, a new method is proposed to speed up the SPH calculation. The new treatment is used to handle the particles near the free surface and near the solidification interface Multi-droplets impinging on a smooth substrate in 2D and 3D are simulated to demonstrate the capability of current numerical method on simulating the spreading and solidification of multi-droplets.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Critically Redefining and Repositioning Media Texts in Early Childhood Teacher Education: What If? And Why?

Given the prevalence of popular media in the lives of young children today, early childhood teacher education stands to benefit from fostering critical media literacy practices. Through the use of critical media literary practices, early childhood teacher educators can facilitate a process whereby preservice teachers learn how to critically reposition cartoons and other media texts, transforming them into tools for more equitable teaching. Offering a situated representation of this phenomenon, this article features a semester-long qualitative study in which a teacher educator engaged preservice teacher educators in critically reading the texts and contexts of media, while simultaneously discussing inequities in education and society. Findings indicate that such media texts can serve as codifications of generative themes whereby preservice teachers can start acknowledging and addressing issues of inequity. Implications point toward the power and possibilities of early childhood teacher educators engaging p...
Excess enthalpies between 293 and 323 K for constituent binaries of ternary mixtures exhibiting partial miscibility

Abstract Excess molar enthalpies have been measured with an isothermal flow calorimeter for 10 binary mixtures and 4 ternary mixtures at p = 101.325 kPa between 293.15 and 323.15 K. The measured binary values, with the addition of readily available literature values for (benzene + cyclohexane), form a complete set of the consolute or miscible binaries comprising 5 ternary systems that exhibit type 1 (only one non-consolute binary) liquid-liquid equilibrium over this temperature range. Ternary excess enthalpies were also measured in the one-phase region for 4 of these 5 mixtures from which effective excess enthalpies for the non-consolute binary were obtained. Excess enthalpies for one partially miscible binary were measured directly. The results form a complete set of constituent binary excess enthalpies for the 5 partially miscible ternary mixtures. They have been fitted with a rational-function equation at each measured temperature. In view of the Gibbs-Helmholtz identity relating excess enthalpies and Gibbs free energies, these results, in conjunction with liquid-liquid equilibrium data, will be useful in testing liquid-mixture models and their capabilities for describing both phase behavior and excess enthalpies with one set of parameters.
Coherent Electronic Coupling in Atomically Thin MoSe 2

Two-dimensional spectroscopy is applied to transition metal dichalcogenides for the first time, showing coherent electronic coupling between excitons and trions.
Estimating crop residue cover by blue fluorescence imaging

Abstract Crop residues, the portion of the crop left in the field after harvest, can be an important management factor in controlling soil erosion. Current methods for quantifying crop residue cover use tedious manual sampling methods or visual comparisons with photographs. There is a need for new methods to quantify residue cover that are rapid, accurate, and objective. Scenes with known amounts of crop residue were illuminated in the lab with long-wave ultraviolet (UV) radiation and fluorescence images were measured and recorded with a video camera equipped with a mieo-channel-plate image intensifier and fitted with a 453–488 nm bandpass filter. Six agricultural soils were used as backgrounds for the weathered soybean residue. Residue cover was determined from the proportion of the pixels in the image with fluorescence values greater than a threshold. Soil pixels gave the lowest fluorescence or brightness responses in the images and the residues the highest, so that brightness values of the scene spanned nearly the full range of the 8-bit video data. The images were classified in brightness categories that related to within 2% (absolute units) of measured residue cover regardless of the soil type or moisture condition (dry vs. wet). Therefore, fluorescence images can be used to provide percent residue cover in the lab, but portable equipment and procedures for use in. the field still need to be developed.
Studies on histamine release and degradation in rhesus and squirrel monkeys.

Abstract Studies of histamine release in male rhesus and squirrel monkeys receiving compound 48/80 intravenously have shown that both species exhibit the physiologic signs of histamine release (erythema, hypopnea, reduced blood pressure) but only in squirrel monkeys are plasma levels of histamine elevated significantly 5 minutes after administration. Administering histamine intravenously to both species resulted in similar observations, i.e. , elevations of plasma histamine in squirrel monkeys but not in rhesus monkeys. This difference has been tentatively explained by the finding that rhesus monkeys possess tenfold greater activities of plasma histaminase than squirrel monkeys.
Oral effects of steroid therapy in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus: report of case

A case of a child with systemic lupus erythematosus is reported, illustrating the effects of long-term corticosteroid therapy, including delayedprimary andpermanent tooth eruption and twisted root formation.
Pathogenicity of Fusarium oxysporum on Different Vitis Rootstocks

The susceptibility of eight Vitis rootstocks to an isolate of Fusarium oxysporum, originally obtained from vineyard-rotted grape roots, was tested with excised roots in the laboratory and with roots attached to living vines in the field. Excised root assays indicated that the Vitis vinifera rootstock Carignane was most susceptible followed by the V. vinifera-hybrid rootstock AXR#1, and the non-V. vinifera rootstocks 110R and St. George, which were the least susceptible of those infected. Inoculations with this isolate of F. oxysporum failed to cause rot on excised roots of the non-V. vinifera rootstocks 3309C, 420 A, 5C, and Freedom. Only rootstocks Carignane and AXR#1 became infected when non-excised roots were inoculated. Rootstocks that are most susceptible to grape phylloxera appeared to be highly susceptible to this isolate of F. oxysporum. Additional assays on the infectivity, growth, and sporulation of this isolate at different temperatures indicated that fungal activity increased with temperature within the range of 18-26°C. Zusammenfassung Pathogenitat von Fusarium oxysporum fur verschiedene Vitis-Unterlagen Die Anfalligkeit von acht Vitis-Unterlagen fur ein aus verrotteten Rebenwurzeln in einem Weinberg stammen- des Isolat von Fusarium oxysporum wurde im Labor an abgetrennten Wurzeln und im Freiland an Wurzeln lebender Reben untersucht. In den Versuchen mit abgetrennten Wurzeln reagierte die V. vinifera-Unterlage Carignane am anfalligsten, gefolgt von der V. vinifera- Hybridunterlagen AXR#1. Am wenigsten anfallig waren die beiden Unterlagen 110R und St. George, bei denen es sich nicht um V. vinifera handelte. Inokulationen mit dem F. oxysporum-Isolat riefen keine Faule bei abgetrennten Wurzeln der Unterlagen 3309C, 420A, 5C und Freedom hervor, bei denen es sich nicht um V. vinifera handelte. Nur die Unterlagen Carignane und AXR#1 wurden befallen, wenn nicht abgetrennte Wurzeln inokuliert wurden. Besonders reblausanfallige Unterlagen erwiesen sich als hochanfallig gegen das F. oxysporum-Isolat. Ergazende Untersuchungen hinsichtlich Infektiositat, Wachstum und Sporulation dieses Isolats bei verschiedenen Temperaturen zeigten, das die Aktivitat des Pilzes im Bereich von 18 bis 26°C mit steigender Temperatur zunahm.
Ectomographic Filtering Applied To Tomographic Digital Subtraction Angiography

A filtered backprojection reconstruction method suggested by Knutsson et al (1,2) has been applied to circular tomographic DSA (digital subtraction angiography). We have applied this reconstruction technique, termed "ectomography," to phantom data as well as preliminary in vivo studies employing a dog model. The properties of this technique are illustrated using limited angle (20 degree) circular tomography. Both eight and 16 projections were studied with and without subtraction. The infocus depth of field is markedly increased with this technique. This increased depth of field appears to be extremely useful for displaying dilute objects, such as opacified vasculature. However, both noise and reconstruction artefact are increased. The present status of this work and the future directions for reducing these artefacts are discussed.
Terahertz radiation triggers a signature gene expression profile in human cells

The effects of Terahertz (THz) radiation on biological materials are not well characterized. In this study, we show that 2.52 THz radiation triggers human cells to dramatically up-regulate the expression of genes that encode for proteins involved in the cellular stress response and inflammation.
Nonlinear dynamics of an added carrier in trans-polyacetylene in the presence of an electric field

Abstract In the absence of electric field, an electron or hole added to a trans-polyacetylene chain without a neutral soliton distorts the chain to form a large polaron. When an electric field is applied after polaron formation, we find that, depending on the magnitude of the electric field, two qualitatively different pictures of polaron evolution are realized. In fields E ≤10 6 V/cm, the polaron exhibits an instability with respect to decay into a pair of solitons, although completion of the transformation process may require much longer conjugation length than is available in typical samples. In higher fields, however, the polaron dissolves into a free electron and a phonon-type lattice deformation. We discuss and compare the energetics of these two processes.
Air and internal damping of thin cantilever beams

Abstract Both internal and external damping forces are introduced into equations for free transverse vibration of beams in air, and solutions to these equations are obtained by energy methods and digital computer. Predicted decrements of free vibration decay are then compared with experiments on cantilevers run in normal atmosphere and at reduced pressures, and with similar experiments by previous investigators. In this manner, the analytical techniques are verified, and considerable physical insight into the damping process is gained.
Commitments and causality for multiagent design

This paper unifies two recent strands of research in multiagent system design. One, commitments are widely recognized as capturing important aspects of interactions among agents, but current approaches tend to emphasize individual commitments and typically restrict themselves to interactions between pairs of agents. Two, methodologies for multiagent system design consider protocols and coordination requirements, but do not seriously accommodate commitments. This paper proposes a methodology to infer commitments from an example conversation among several parties. Based on the conversation, we build a commitment causality diagram indicating the causal relations among the commitments. Using this diagram, we generate behavior models for each role. We show that the models produced successfully capture commitment-level protocols and allow flexible implementation of non-commitment communications provided the causal relations are preserved.
Morphological and reproductive characterization of guar ( Cyamopsis tetragonoloba ) genetic resources regenerated in Georgia, USA

Guar, Cyamopsis tetragonoloba is used worldwide for food stabilization, fiber source, food, and industry. The United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit (USDA, ARS, PGRCU) conserves 1,298 accessions originating from India, Pakistan, and breeding lines from the USA. My objectives were to determine: (1) if these guar accessions can successfully be regenerated in Georgia, USA, (2) which traits contribute the most variation, and (3) to provide estimates for genetic relatedness among these accessions. Guar accessions were directly seeded to the field in Griffin, GA between early May and mid June 2006-2008. At 50% maturity, 73 accessions were characterized for morphological, phenological, and reproductive traits during the regeneration cycles. High quality plants regenerated from most of the accessions and produced 80 to more than 9,300 seeds per accession. Guar can be successfully grown and regenerated in Griffin, GA. Coefficients of variation and principal component analysis revealed variability among accessions for these traits evaluated. Cluster analysis separated guar accessions into three groups (clusters) based on low, intermediate or high seed numbers. Guar accessions clustered in groups 2 and 3 appear to be more genetically related than those in group 1.
Hemorrhagic studies with severe hemodilution in profound hypothermia and cardiac arrest.

DURING THE EARLY 1960% profound hypothermia with cardiac arrest gained popularity in neurosurgery as an adjunct to the surgical treatment of intracranial aneurysms. The surgeon had the advantage of a wide operative exposure in a bloodless operative field. The techniques, physiology, and metabolic changes of profound hypothermia were described by several authorities [ 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11-141. During the late 1960’s, aneurysm surgery became more refined and these improvements along with the technical, metabolic and hemorrhagic problems encountered with profound hypothermia and cardiac arrest led to the general disuse of this procedure in neurosurgery. Our interests in profound hypothermia with cardiac arrest as an adjunct to the surgical treatment of certain intracranial vascular lesions has continued, and we agree wit’h Sundt and coworkers who recently stated “. . . there are aneurysms presently considered inoperable that might be approached utilizing profound hypothermia . . . [and] . . . it is suggested that the approach, virtually abandoned a
Oceanography: Forecasting the rain ratio.

Marine algae known as coccolithophores produce much of the ocean's calcium carbonate. A large survey reveals how these organisms' calcification processes and species distribution change in response to carbon dioxide levels. See Letter p.80 The nature of the response of calcifying organisms, such as coccolithophores, to ocean acidification as a result of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide is key to predictions of the future carbon cycle and its feedback on anthropogenic change. Laboratory experiments shed little light on the matter as they usually follow the response of a selected strain to just a few changed parameters. By analysing both contemporary surface water samples and fossil sediment cores, Beaufort et al. show that an increase in dissolved CO2 causes a decrease in calcification rates, and that the abundance of heavily calcified coccolithophore morphotypes is dependent on carbonate chemistry. The surprising discovery of heavily calcified Emiliania huxleyi in modern waters with low pH, however, indicates the complexity of the marine response to increasing CO2.
Evaluating Learning Management Systems: Leveraging Learned Experiences from Interactive Multimedia

This paper maintains that the use of multimedia content in Web-based instruction â€” facilitated by the proliferation and standardization of learning management systems (LMS) â€” calls for the extension of traditional multimedia design and evaluation guidelines to the Web. The compliance with these guidelines needs to be thoroughly evaluated by any institution using (or planning to use) Web-based learning management systems. In addition to providing criteria and examples for the evaluation of these systems, the paper includes a survey instrument that can be used for university-wide assessments of the design effectiveness of technologies that support learning. As an example, the proposed evaluation instrument is applied to a learning management system developed at a large university in the United States. While the assessment refers to one system, the model, the instructional and design evaluation criteria, and the questionnaire are built for use in any organization conducting a formative and summative evaluation or a selection of learning technologies.
Zeros in Reduced Order Models

This paper discusses the relationship between the zeros of a full order model and the zeros obtained by reducing that model using the Dual Generalized Hessenberg Representation. The methodology allows the designer to determine which zeros are retained in the reduced order model. Thus, a reduced order model can be selected which is appropriate for closed loop design.
Histone gene expression during sea urchin embryogenesis: Isolation and characterization of early and late messenger RNAs ofStrongylocentrotus purpuratus by gene-specific hybridization and template activity

Abstract We have examined the molecular mechanisms responsible for the shifts in histone protein phenotype during embryogenesis in the sea urchinStrongylocentrotus purpuratus. The H1, H2A, and H2B classes of histone synthesized at the earliest stages of cleavage are heterogeneous: These proteins are replaced at late embryogenesis by a different set of histone-like polypeptides, some of which are also heterogeneous. The H3 and H4 histones appear to be homogeneous classes and remain constant. We have isolated from both early and late embryos the individual messenger RNAs coding for each of the multiple protein subtypes. The RNAs were isolated by hybridization to cloned DNA segments coding for a single histone protein or by elution from polyacrylamide gels. Each RNA was then analyzed and identified by its mobility on polyacrylamide gels and by its template activity in the wheat germ cell-free protein synthesizing system. The mRNAs for each of the five early histone protein classes are heterogeneous in size and differ from the late stage templates. The late mRNAs consist of at least 11 separable types coding for the 5 classes of histones. Each of the 11 has been separated and identified. The late stage proteins were shown to be authentic histones since many of their templates hybridize with histone coding DNA. The early and late stage mRNAs are transcribed from different sets of histone genes since (1) late stage H1 and H2A mRNAs fail to hybridize to cloned early stage histone genes under ideal conditions for detecting homologous early stage hybrids, (2) late stage H2B, H3, and H4 RNA/DNA hybrids melt at 14, 11, and 11°C lower, respectively, than do homologous RNA/DNA hybrids, and (3) purified late stage mRNAs direct the synthesis of the variant histone proteins which are synthesized only during later stages. The time course of synthesis of the late stage mRNAs suggests that they appear many hours before the late histone proteins can be detected, possibly as early as fertilization. In addition, early mRNAs are synthesized in small quantities as late as 40 hr after fertilization, during gastrulation. Thus, the major modulations of histone gene expression are neither abrupt nor an absolute on-off switch, and may represent only a gradual and relative repression of early gene expression. Two histones are detected only transiently during early cleavage. The mRNA for one of them, a subtype of H2A, can be detected in the cytoplasm for as long as 40 hr after fertilization. However, template activity for the other, a subtype of H2B, can be detected only at the blastula stage. Thus, the histone genes represent a complex multigene family that is developmentally modulated.
The FTIR study of uranium oxides by the method of light pipe reflection spectroscopy

Light pipe infrared reflection spectra of UO2, UO3, U3O8 have been studied by using an FTIR spectrometer. The uranium oxide powders were ground to ensure fine particle size and distributed on the inner surface of a straight glass pipe with gold coating. The infrared beam from the interferometer was focused into one end of the pipe at 45° incidence and then the transmitted beam was refocused by a pair of Cassegrainian type mirrors. The resultant spectra show the infrared characteristics of the ⋯-U-O-U-O-⋯, uranyl ion UO22+ bond vibration and the active lattice vibrations predicted by group theory calculations. In comparison to the transmission spectra measured by authors or reported in literature, this 45° incident light pipe method as well as the previous light pipe method offer advantages of sensitivity, ease of acquisition and interpretation, and require a very small sample. It confirms the power of the light pipe method for studying powders and its special utility for the infrared studies of hazardous materials.
Antiviral therapy of acute herpes zoster in older patients.

Although herpes zoster (shingles) can occur in anyone with a history of chickenpox, it is more prevalent and usually more severe in older patients (i.e. persons over 50 years of age). While the cutaneous manifestations of shingles usually resolve in approximately 4 weeks, the pain can persist for several months, or even years in the untreated patient. This pain following healing of the skin, termed post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN), can be very severe. Three well tolerated and effective antiviral drugs are available for the therapy of acute herpes zoster. The nucleoside analogues, aciclovir, famciclovir and valaciclovir, appear to shorten the duration of PHN to a similar degree, but none affects the incidence of PHN. Aciclovir is taken 5 times daily for 7 days, while famciclovir is taken 3 times daily for 7 days. Valaciclovir, the L-valyl ester of aciclovir, when taken orally, produces plasma levels of aciclovir equivalent to those seen following intravenous administration of aciclovir. Valaciclovir has not only been proved to be more efficient than aciclovir (i.e. 3 times daily administration) but also more effective than aciclovir in shortening the duration of PHN. Current studies are determining the relative efficacy of valaciclovir versus famciclovir. Presently, a fourth drug, sorivudine, is being compared with aciclovir for the therapy of acute herpes zoster in older patients, but data from these trials are not yet available. Corticosteroids have been used to treat herpes zoster for much longer than the antiviral drugs, but the effect of corticosteroids on PHN does not appear to be consistent. Corticosteroids plus aciclovir did not provide an added benefit over aciclovir alone in one study but this combination did appear to improve the quality of life of older patients in another investigation. The recent availability of the varicella zoster vaccine may cause shingles to be an uncommon and/or mild disease by the mid twenty-first century. Meanwhile, the search continues for more effective and efficient therapies for acute herpes zoster with the primary goal in older patients to affect the most important sequela of zoster in this population, PHN.
Testosterone concentrations in young pubertal and post-pubertal obese males

Objective Obesity in adult males is associated with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. We evaluated the effect of obesity on plasma testosterone concentrations in pubertal and post-pubertal young males. Design and methods Morning fasting blood samples were obtained from 25 obese [body mass index (BMI) ≥95th percentile] and 25 lean (BMI <85th percentile) males between the ages 14–20 years with Tanner staging ≥4. Total (TT) and free testosterone (FT) and estradiol concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry and equilibrium dialysis. Free testosterone was also calculated using SHBG and albumin. C-reactive protein (CRP), insulin and glucose concentrations were measured and homoeostasis model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. Results After controlling for age and Tanner staging, obese males had a significantly lower total testosterone (10·5 vs 21·44 nmol/l), free testosterone (0·22 vs 0·39 nmol/l) and calculated free testosterone (0·26 vs 0·44 nmol/l) concentrations as compared to lean males (P < 0·001 for all). Obese males had higher CRP concentrations (2·8 vs 0·8 mg/l; P < 0·001), and HOMA-IR (3·8 vs 1·1; P < 0·001) than lean males. Free testosterone concentrations were positively related to age and negatively to BMI, HOMA-IR and CRP concentrations. Total and free estradiol concentrations were significantly lower in males with subnormal testosterone concentrations. Conclusion Testosterone concentrations of young obese pubertal and post-pubertal males are 40–50% lower than those with normal BMI. Obesity in young males is associated with low testosterone concentrations, which are not secondary to an increase in estradiol concentrations. Our results need to be confirmed in a larger number of subjects.
New species of tyrosine tRNA in nonsense suppressor strains of yeast

A number of mutations in Saccharomyces cerevisiae are subject to suppression in so-called supersuppressor strains. The tyrosyl-tRNAs from two Class I, Set I ochre-specific suppressor strains, in which UAA is read as tyrosine, have been examined by reversed-phase column chromatography. In each ochre-specific strain there is an extra early-chromatographing tyrosyl-tRNA species present that is not present in wild type. Strains carrying an amber suppressor gene that is allelic to one of these ochre-specific suppressors possess a new late-chromatographing tyrosyl-tRNA not present in the wild type. In addition, strains with either the amber suppressor or its allelic ochre-specific suppressor lack a late-chromatographing portion of the wild-type tyrosyl-tRNA. This may indicate that the new tyrosyl-tRNAs are derived from but one of several presumed components of the main peak of this tRNA.
The 2002 Farm Bill commodity programs: a tool for improving rotation crop profitability and reducing risk in potato cropping systems1

The Farm Security and Rural Investment Act (‘Farm Bill’) of 2002 has modified the provisions under Title 1 (Commodity Programs) regarding commodity eligibility. Concurrently, potato producers in Maine have expanded their use of program crops as rotations in potato cropping systems. These changes could affect the economic viability of the potato cropping system. An economic simulation model using budgeting techniques that incorporate stochastic elements to measure risk was developed to evaluate profitability and income risk of four cropping systems with and without participation in the 2002 Farm Bill. The four systems modeled were barley-potato, canola-potato, corn-potato, and soybean-potato. Participation in the 2002 Farm Act's commodity support programs increases the profitability of each cropping system, ranging from $26.00/acre for canola-potato to $122.00/acre for corn-potato. The use of stochastic dominance criteria shows that participation is more risk-efficient than non-participation. Furthermore, ...
Murine model for pertussis vaccine encephalopathy: linkage to H-2.

Local, systemic and neurological complications have been observed following pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination in children1,2. These often occur soon after primary or secondary immunization3–6. The neurological syndrome ranges from minor irritability to convulsions, coma, and on rare occasions death. Children who recover show varying degrees of permanent neurological sequelae. The pathogenesis of this encephalopathy is unknown, and the lack of an animal model has retarded our understanding of this disease. We describe here an animal model for pertussis immunization encephalopathy. A clinical syndrome with pathological features closely resembling post-immunization encephalopathy can be reproduced in the mouse after immunization with heat-killed Bordetella pertussis vaccine and exposure to a foreign antigen, if the inoculated animal has a susceptible H-2 genotype.