cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Kinetics of Deoxyribonucleic Acid Destruction and Synthesis During Growth of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus Strain 109D on Pseudomonas putida and Escherichia coli

During the growth of Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus on Pseudomonas putida or Escherichia coli in either 10−3m tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane or in dilute nutrient broth, the host deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was rapidly degraded, and by 30 to 60 min after the initiation of the bdellovibrio development cycle essentially all host DNA became nonbandable in CsCl gradients. At this stage the host DNA degradation products were nondiffusable, and there was no appreciable pool of low-molecular-weight (cold acid soluble) DNA fragments in the cells or in the suspending medium. Bdellovibrio DNA synthesis occurred only after degradation of host DNA to a nonbandable form was complete. The synthesis occurred in a continuous fashion with P. putida as the host and in two separate periods with E. coli as host. By using E. coli containing a 3H-thymidine label, it was shown that 73%, on the average, of the thymine residues of host DNA were incorporated into bdellovibrio DNA when E. coli was the only source of nutrient. In the presence of dilute nutrient broth, the host cells still served as the major source of precursors for bdellovibrio DNA synthesis, with only 20% of the precursors arising from the exogenous nutrients. The data indicate an efficient and controlled utilization of host DNA by the bdellovibrio. The host DNA is apparently degraded early in the developmental cycle to oligonucleotides of intermediate molecular weight from which the biosynthetic monomers are generated only as they become needed for bdellovibrio DNA synthesis.
Evidence for Association of Earthquakes with the Chandler Wobble, Using Long Term Polar Data of the ILS-IPMS

A means for comparing yearly earthquake counts with the ILS-IPMS polar data is devised. Using it, one finds strong support for the theory of Mansinha and Smylie (1967, 1968) that earthquakes are associated with the free (Chandler) wobble of the earth’s pole. There is some indication, however, that earthquakes, themselves, are not the source of wobble excitation but are, instead, a parallel effect.
On the inapproximability of vertex cover on k-partite k-uniform hypergraphs

Computing a minimum vertex cover in graphs and hypergraphs is a well-studied optimizaton problem. While intractable in general, it is well known that on bipartite graphs, vertex cover is polynomial time solvable. In this work, we study the natural extension of bipartite vertex cover to hypergraphs, namely finding a small vertex cover in k- uniform k-partite hypergraphs, when the k-partition is given as input. For this problem Lovasz [16] gave a k/2 factor LP rounding based approximation, and a matching (k/2 - o(1)) integrality gap instance was constructed by Aharoni et al. [1]. We prove the following results, which are the first strong hardness results for this problem (heree > 0 is an arbitrary constant): - NP-hardness of approximating within a factor of (k/4 -e), and - Unique Games-hardness of approximating within a factor of (k/2 -e), showing optimality of Lovasz's algorithm under the Unique Games conjecture. The NP-hardness result is based on a reduction from minimum vertex cover in r-uniform hypergraphs for which NP-hardness of approximating within r-1-e was shown by Dinur et al. [5]. The Unique Games-hardness result is obtained by applying the recent results of Kumar et al. [15], with a slight modification, to the LP integrality gap due to Aharoni et al. [1]. The modification is to ensure that the reduction preserves the desired structural properties of the hypergraph.
Failure of glucagon in the treatment of alcoholic pancreatitis

Abstract Glucagon has been claimed to be an effective treatment for pancreatitis, but the studies reporting this were either uncontrolled or did not use concurrent controls, and none were double blind. To evaluate the efficacy of glucagon for alcohol-related pancreatitis, we performed a controlled, randomized, double blind study. Twenty-six patients with pancreatitis associated with alcohol ingestion received either glucagon or placebo in addition to intravenous fluids, nasogastric suction, and meperidine as needed. There were no statistically significant differences between the group which received glucagon and the group which did not in any of 12 parameters which included symptoms, signs, laboratory tests, and requests for analgesia. We conclude that glucagon in addition to conventional therapy is no better for the treatment of alcoholic pancreatitis than conventional therapy alone.
Hubungan Pola Konsumsi dan Aktivitas Fisik dengan Kekuatan dan Daya Tahan Taruna Akademi Imigrasi Depok, Jawa Barat

This study was aimed to observe association between consumption pattern and physical activity with strength and endurance of taruna in Immigration Academy, Depok, West Java. A cross sectional study using 63 taruna as study participant was conducted. The results of study showed that there was significant correlation between nutritional status and strength of taruna (p 0.05). There was no significant correlation between nutritional status with endurance of taruna (p>0.05).
Changing Conceptions of the Socialist Enterprise in China, 1979-1988

China's industrial reforms, the second and most difficult part of its post-1979 economic reforms, were introduced to rationalize and reinvigorate its industry. The central focus of the reforms has been the "socialist enterprise," the basic production unit of industry that is state-owned and has been rigidly controlled by state bureaucrats who know little about production and economics. Thus, all measures of industrial reform -the profit-retention system, the profit-contract system, the tax-for-profit system, the guidance-planning system, the director-responsibility system, the Patent Law of 1984, the Bankruptcy Law of 1986, the shareownership system, management contracting and enterprise leasing, and so on are aimed at changing one aspect or another of the enterprise, whether it is enterprise finance, enterprise management, or its planning relationship with the state. In parallel with these reforms there have been important changes in Chinese economists' conceptions of the socialist enterprise. Old doctrinaire beliefs that were the foundation of the past industrial planning and management system have come under scrutiny and criticism. New interpretations of the nature and the role of the enterprise under socialism have emerged. Western
Growth and characterization of AlxGa1−xN via NH3-based metal-organic molecular beam epitaxy

Abstract Growth and characterization of ammonia-based metal-organic molecular beam epitaxy (NH 3 -MOMBE) Al x Ga 1− x N epitaxial films has been conducted. Al x Ga 1− x N films spanning the entire range of aluminum compositions were grown on GaN templates. This is the first reported successful growth of Al x Ga 1− x N via NH 3 -MOMBE, using triethylgallium (TEGa), triethylaluminum (TEAl) and ammonia (NH 3 ) as the precursors. These films were characterized via optical interferometry (OI), atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). High-quality Al x Ga 1− x N films, as inferred by XRD, are achievable in films without cracking. The catalytic effect of Al on NH 3 is found to play a major part in the growth rate of the Al x Ga 1− x N films. The excessive nitrogen produced through this catalytic effect hinders the growth rate at lower Al composition while increasing the growth rate of Al x Ga 1− x N ( x >0.4) films. Stress in the deposited films is found to be partially relieved through surface cracking along the 〈1 1 2¯ 0〉 direction in the film. These cracks provide dislocation gettering centers, with the dislocation pit density decreasing with increasing Al composition. A basic understanding on the factors affecting the growth of Al x Ga 1− x N is determined and will become the basis for further investigations into the optimization of Al x Ga 1− x N growth.
The effect of structural density on Marmot skeletal part representation in archaeological sites

Abstract Volume bone mineral densities for two species of Marmota are more similar to each other than their average is to previously published volume densities for small cervids and large bovids. Marmot bone density values do not correlate with frequencies of marmot bones reported by Grayson ( Journal of Archaeological Science , 1989 ; 16, 643–652) for the White Mountains of California, suggesting that bone assemblage has not undergone density-mediated attrition. Marmot bone density values are correlated with frequencies of marmot bones recovered from the Salishan Mesa Site in Washington, and those specimens appear to be relatively larger and less fragmented than those from the White Mountains. These multiple lines of evidence suggest frequencies of Salishan Mesa marmot remains are the result of density-mediated attrition and frequencies of White Mountains marmot remains may be either the result of differential recovery or the influence of differential fragmentation on identifiability.
Hypotonicity stimulates translocation of ICln in neonatal rat cardiac myocytes

Cell volume expansion stimulates the efflux of solutes, including the amino acid taurine, to accomplish a regulatory volume decrease (RVD). One protein that may play a role in taurine efflux is the cytosolic protein ICln. In rat neonatal cardiac myocytes under isotonic conditions, ICln is found predominantly (greater than 90%) in the cytosol. However, after cell volume expansion by exposure to hypotonic medium, ICln rapidly translocates to the particulate fraction (the Triton X-114-insoluble fraction). After 2 min in hypotonic medium the percentage of ICln in the particulate fraction increases to 30%, 46% at 5 min, 40% at 10 min, and 25% at 30 min. The time course of this response is similar to that of hypotonicity-stimulated taurine efflux. Hypotonicity-stimulated taurine efflux as well as ICln translocation parallel the reduction in medium osmolarity. As osmolarity decreases, taurine efflux and ICln movement increase. The movement of ICln from the particulate back to the cytosolic fraction is accelerated when volume-expanded cells are returned to isotonic medium. When ICln is analyzed under non-denaturing conditions, a dimer is detected in the particulate fraction of volume-expanded cells, along with the monomer. This dimer is not detected in the cytosol. Treatment of the particulate fraction from volume-expanded cells with the lyotropic agent KSCN caused release of ICln but not Na-K-ATPase into the soluble fraction, indicating that translocated ICln associates with membranes in the particulate fraction rather than inserting into them.
Was the millisecond pulsar in SN1987A spun up or born spinning fast

It is argued here that the millisecond pulsar in SN1987A has been spun up by accretion. The accreted angular momentum in this case comes from the mixed mantle and helium core of the ejecta, of which roughly 0.1 solar mass fell back during the first day after the explosion. This sizable mass, and hence angular momentum, of the reimploded material is at least partly a consequence of the blue supergiant nature of the progenitor star.
Validation of the Job Desirability Exercise: A Decision-Modeling Experiment for Measuring the Need for Socialized Power

A new behavioral measure of the need for socialized power was developed and tested. No previous attempt has been made to measure this construct. Participants were 267 graduate and undergraduate business majors. The new instrument was found to possess adequate internal consistency and test-retest reliability, and to avoid social desirability response bias. Correlations with other variables and confirmation of six hypotheses supported construct validity. These results are discussed in light of further validation of the instrument.
Failure Analysis and Welding Repair for Water Wall Connection Tube Burst of SA210C Steel

Through methods, such as microscope analysis, mechanical analysis, chemical analysis, metallography examination etc, the causes resulting in water wall tube bursting of 300MW station boiler have been analyzed. The raw material defects is the primarily inducement of bursting failure. In welding tube, the measures of reducing residual stress, such as lower welding heat input, reducing thickness of welding layer and so on, were taken. The welding repair succeeded greatly.
The Effect of Short Term Vitamin D Supplementation on the Inflammatory and Oxidative Mediators of Arterial Stiffness.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency has been implicated as a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The high rate of vitamin D deficiency ( 25) African Americans with elevated blood pressure (130 - 150/85 - 100 mmHg) and low serum vitamin D level (10 - 25 ng/ml). Results: There was a significant increase in the serum 25(OH)D levels to a mean level of 34.5 ng/ml (SD = 7.1) with the intervention (p < 0.001). The increase in 25(OH)D levels was associated with a significant decrease in the serum level of intact PTH (p = 0.02), mean urinary isoprostane (p = 0.02) and adipocyte cytokine expression. Although the increase in the 25(OH)D levels was not associated with any significant change in the Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) in the overall study sample, it was associated with a significant decrease in the augmentation index among the participants with the highest tertile of urinary isoprostane (p = 0.007). Conclusion: We concluded that vitamin D supplementation increased serum 25(OH)D levels, decreased intact PTH level and the levels of select inflammatory and oxidative stress mediators of arterial stiffness. Longer term prospective studies are warranted to evaluate the effect of high dose vitamin D supplementation on arterial stiffness.
Coupled Thermal Model for Nonlinear Panel Flutter

A nonlinear formulation is developed that accounts for high-Mach-number, viscous flow over the external surface of an isotropic elastic panel. The formulation is unique in that the panel compressive stress is calculated as a result of fluid/structure thermal coupling. Two distinct heat transfer mechanisms are investigated. One is due to fluid viscosity, and the second is due to local flow over the panel. Here, in contrast with classical panel flutter studies, the in-plane load and dynamic pressure parameters are not wholly independent parameters. The equation of motion is based on von Karman large deflection plate theory and includes a geometric nonlinearity. Using Galerkin's s method, the resulting system of equations is solved by direct numerical integration. However, the parameter space representing the in-plane load is extensive, and therefore, numerical integration alone is not a feasible analysis method. As a supplement, the system of equations is analysed with a pseudoarclength continuation method. In this way, a new periodic regime is uncovered. However, the attractor becomes unstable as a result of additional heating. The results indicate that aerodynamic heating is the dominant heat transfer mechanism. For the conditions studied, the dynamic system is dominated by a stable fixed-point attractor. The aerothermoelastic panel flutter model formulated here is qualitatively similar to the classical model when the in-plane load is due to aerodynamic heating effects only.
Elastic wave propagation through a material with voids

Abstract An exact mathematical analogy exists between plane wave propagation through a material with voids and axial wave propagation along a circular cylindrical rod with radial shear and inertia. In both cases the internal energy can be regarded as a function of a displacement gradient, an internal variable, and the gradient of the internal variable. In the rod the internal variable represents radial strain, and in the material with voids it is related to changes in void volume fraction. In both cases kinetic energy is associated not only with particle translation, but also with the internal variable. In the rod this microkinetic energy represents radial inertia ; in the material with voids it represents dilitational inertia around the voids. Thus, the basis for the analogy is that in both cases there are two kinematic degrees of freedom, the Lagrangians are identical in form, and therefore, the Euler–Lagrange equations are also identical in form. Of course, the constitutive details and the internal length scales for the two cases are very different, but insight into the behavior of rods can be transferred directly to interpreting the effects of wave propagation in a material with voids. The main result is that just as impact on the end of a rod produces a pulse that first travels with the longitudinal wave speed and then transfers the bulk of its energy into a dispersive wave that travels with the bar speed (calculated using Youngs modulus), so impact on the material with voids produces a pulse that also begins with the longitudinal speed but then transfers to a slower dispersive wave whose speed is determined by an effective longitudinal modulus. The rate of transfer and the strength of the dispersive effect depend on the details in the two cases.
Light and aging effects on vitamin E in the retina and retinal pigment epithelium

Abstract Experiments were performed to determine the effects of senescence and light adaptation on vitamin E levels in the neural retina and RPE-choroid-sclera of pigmented rats. Aging resulted in significant increases in α-tocopherol levels in both tissues, the effect being most pronounced in the RPE-choroid-sclera. The state of light adaptation had no influence on α-tocopherol levels in the neural retina at any of the ages examined, whereas in the RPE-choroid-sclera, α-tocopherol levels were substantially higher in light-adapted than in dark-adapted animals at all three ages (12, 22, and 32 months) at which they were measured. The effect of light adaptation on RPE-choroid-scleral α-tocopherol levels was most pronounced in the oldest age group.
Congenital syphilis after maternal treatment for syphilis during pregnancy

Abstract OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to characterize pregnancies that were complicated by maternal syphilis that had been treated before delivery in which the newborn infant was diagnosed with congenital syphilis. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective surveillance from January 1, 1982, to December 31, 1998, involved women who received antenatal treatment for syphilis. Infants who were born with congenital syphilis were identified by clinical or laboratory criteria. Antepartum factors such as gestational age, time to delivery and VDRL titers were then analyzed and compared with those of women who had been treated and who were delivered of an uninfected infant. The 1:1 match was based on the stage of syphilis and the gestational age at treatment. RESULTS: Forty-three women who received antepartum therapy for syphilis were delivered of an infant with congenital syphilis. Most of the women had been treated for early syphilis; the mean gestational age at treatment was 30.3 weeks. Thirty-five percent of the women were treated >30 days before delivery. Fifty-six percent of the infants were preterm. The 1:1 match revealed that treatment and delivery high VDRL titers, prematurity, and a short interval from treatment to delivery were significantly different in those infants who were diagnosed with congenital syphilis. CONCLUSION: High VDRL titers at treatment and delivery, earlier maternal stage of syphilis, the interval from treatment to delivery, and delivery of an infant at ≤36 weeks' gestation are associated with the delivery of a congenitally infected neonate after adequate treatment for maternal syphilis. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002;186:569-73.)
Hydrothermal conversion of commercial lignin to carbonaceous materials

Commercial lignin is a by-product of pulping and the emerging bio-refinery industries. Herein, we report the hydrothermal treatment (HTT) or conversion (HTC) of three commercial types of lignin to carbonaceous materials. HTC of lignin was carried out in an autoclave in the presence of water at temperature and pressure of approximately 300 °C and 1000 psi respectively. Morphological, physical and chemical properties of parent lignin and their hydrothermally derived carbonaceous materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis, elemental composition, Fourier-transform infrared and Raman spectroscopies (FTIR). This study demonstrated differences in the morphology of carbons from the three lignin types. SEM analysis showed that hydrothermally derived carbonaceous materials from Mascoma lignin contained spherical particles with diameters ranging from 50 to 250 nm whereas that from ammonium and sodium lignosulfonate lignins contained similar particles but were highly agglomerated. The better characteristics of the post-HTT Mascoma carbon vis-a-vis post-HTT ammonium and sodium carbons are also evident in the results obtained from X-ray diffraction, thermo-gravimetric analysis, and FTIR spectroscopy. Thus, carbonaceous materials can be obtained from low-value commercial lignins via HTT and their properties are influenced by the type of lignin.
Perceptions of Determinants of Successful Aging Among Older U.S. Veterans: Results from the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study.

Objective To conduct a qualitative study of older American veterans' subjective perceptions of factors that contribute to successful physical, emotional, and cognitive aging. Methods A nationally representative sample of 2,025 veterans aged 60 or older (range: 60–96; 96.9% male, 39.4% combat veterans) participated in the National Health and Resilience in Veterans Study. Using qualitative analysis software, the authors coded responses to three open-ended questions, inductively developed categories, aggregated similar categories into factors, and grouped factors into broader themes. Results A total of 53, 56, and 61 categories of responses was identified in response to questions about successful physical, cognitive, and emotional aging, respectively, with 10 aggregate factors linking these categories. The most prominent theme overall was "What you do," which received 2,295, 2,210, and 1,247 mentions for each of these domains of successful aging, with health behaviors the most common factor for both successful physical and cognitive aging and social engagement the most common for successful emotional aging. The theme "Who you are" was the second-most common factor (discerned from 376, 247, and 943 total mentions, respectively), with the factors that comprise this theme— personality and explanatory style, moral compass , and emotional dispositions —more commonly endorsed for successful emotional aging. External factors such as healthcare were least commonly endorsed across all domains. Conclusion Older U.S. Veterans emphasize health behaviors, social engagement, and dispositional characteristics as key determinants of successful aging. Prevention and treatment initiatives that target these potentially modifiable factors may help promote successful aging in this growing segment of the population.
Comparing Child Outcomes of Physical Punishment and Alternative Disciplinary Tactics: A Meta-Analysis.

This meta-analysis investigates differences between the effect sizes of physical punishment and alternative disciplinary tactics for child outcomes in 26 qualifying studies. Analyzing differences in effect sizes reduces systematic biases and emphasizes direct comparisons between the disciplinary tactics that parents have to select among. The results indicated that effect sizes significantly favored conditional spanking over 10 of 13 alternative disciplinary tactics for reducing child noncompliance or antisocial behavior. Customary physical punishment yielded effect sizes equal to alternative tactics, except for one large study favoring physical punishment. Only overly severe or predominant use of physical punishment compared unfavorably with alternative disciplinary tactics. The discussion highlights the need for better discriminations between effective and counterproductive use of disciplinary punishment in general.
Have the Poor Gotten Poorer?: The American Experience from 1987 to 2007

From 1987 to 2007 the rich got richer. This study documents this trend and then examines whether the poor have gotten poorer. It finds that the per capita income of the poor has remained virtually constant. One reason for this outcome is the growing proportion of the poor who are unrelated individuals. Also, the relative income share of the poor decreased, and their per capita income deficit increased. Thus in relative terms the average poor person has gotten poorer. In the late 1990s incomes of poor families remained fairly constant because wage gains were offset by declines in welfare.
The drosophila CPEB protein orb2 has a novel expression pattern and is important for asymmetric cell division and nervous system function

Cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding (CPEB) proteins bind mRNAs to regulate their localization and translation. While the first CPEBs discovered were germline specific, subsequent studies indicate that CPEBs also function in many somatic tissues including the nervous system. Drosophila has two CPEB family members. One of these, orb, plays a key role in the establishment of polarity axes in the developing egg and early embryo, but has no known somatic functions or expression outside of the germline. Here we characterize the other Drosophila CPEB, orb2. Unlike orb, orb2 mRNA and protein are found throughout development in many different somatic tissues. While orb2 mRNA and protein of maternal origin are distributed uniformly in early embryos, this pattern changes as development proceeds and by midembryogenesis the highest levels are found in the CNS and PNS. In the embryonic CNS, Orb2 appears to be concentrated in cell bodies and mostly absent from the longitudinal and commissural axon tracts. In contrast, in the adult brain, the protein is seen in axonal and dendritic terminals. Lethal effects are observed for both RNAi knockdowns and orb2 mutant alleles while surviving adults display locomotion and behavioral defects. We also show that orb2 funtions in asymmetric division of stem cells and precursor cells during the development of the embryonic nervous system and mesoderm.
Atmospheric circulation over the Bolivian Altiplano during dry and wet periods and extreme phases of the southern oscillation

The atmospheric circulation over the Bolivian Altiplano during composite WET and DRY periods and during HIGH and LOW index phases of the Southern Oscillation was investigated using daily radiosonde data from Antofagasta (Chile), Salta (Argentina), Lima (Peru) and La Paz (Bolivia), daily precipitation data from the Bolivian/Chilean border between 18° and 19°S and monthly NCEP (National Centers for Environmental Prediction) reanalysis data between 1960 and 1998. In austral summer (DJF) the atmosphere during WET periods is characterized by easterly wind anomalies in the middle and upper troposphere over the Altiplano, resulting in increased moisture influx from the interior of the continent near the Altiplano surface. The Bolivian High is intensified and displaced southward. On the other hand, westerly winds usually prevail during DRY summer periods, preventing the moisture transport from the east from reaching the western Altiplano. Precipitation tends to be deficient over the western Bolivian Altiplano during LOW index summers and above average during HIGH and LOW+1 summers, but the relation is weak and statistically insignificant. LOW summers feature broadly similar atmospheric circulation anomalies as DRY periods and can be regarded as an extended DRY period or as a summer with increased occurrence of DRY episodes. HIGH summers, and to a lesser degree LOW+1 summers, are characterized by broadly opposite atmospheric characteristics, featuring a more pronounced Bolivian High located significantly further south, and easterly wind anomalies over the Altiplano. In winter (JJA) precipitation events are rare; these are associated with increased northerly and westerly wind components, reduced pressure and temperature, and increased specific humidity over the entire Altiplano. Atmospheric circulation anomalies during LOW periods are less pronounced in austral winter (JJA) than in summer, but generally feature similar changes (increased temperatures and a vertically expanded troposphere). However, the significance of these anomalies, especially with regard to the wind pattern, varies depending on station and pressure level. Accordingly, precipitation during austral winter shows no relationship with the extremes of the Southern Oscillation. Copyright © 1999 Royal Meteorological Society
Two conserved domains of yeast U2 snRNA are separated by 945 nonessential nucleotides

Yeast U2 snRNA (1175 nucleotides) is six times larger than its mammalian counterpart (188 nucleotides). Using deletion analysis, we show that the molecule can be divided into three phenotypically distinct domains. As expected, the highly conserved 5' domain (approximately 120 nucleotides) is absolutely essential for viability. Surprisingly, however, deletion of the central 945 nucleotides has no effect on growth rate. In contrast, removal of sequences in the 3' terminal 110 nucleotides results in low numbers of slow-growing colonies; these cells contain U2 with altered 3' ends. This domain can be folded into a secondary structure that strongly resembles the 3' terminal stem-loop IV of human U2. We conclude that yeast U2 contains two functionally important elements. While the 5' domain is known to be directly involved in the splicing reaction, the 3' domain may function primarily in the generation of stable small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particles.
On the performance evaluation of hybrid and mono-class sensor arrays in selective detection of VOCs: A comparative study

Detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using non-selective sensor requires an array of multiplexed sensors followed by pattern recognition approach. Based on this concept, we compare three different approaches for selective detection of ethanol, ammonia, toluene, acetone and chloroform at different concentrations using non-selective sensors which are: (a) an array of sensors operated at a fixed temperature (hybrid class sensors), (b) operating one sensor at different temperatures (mono-class sensors), and (c) operating all sensors in an array at different temperatures (hybrid and mono-class sensors). Contrary to common practice of using sensors with partially overlapping response patterns (hybrid class sensors) in an array, we demonstrate that even one type of sensors (mono-class sensors) operated at different temperatures can be used for the selective detection of VOCs. It is further shown that an array consisting of hybrid and mono-class sensors each operated at different temperatures not only results in approaching 100% classification but also the quantified samples fall within 10% of error, which is an encouraging result.
Tailoring the properties of piezoelectric ceramics: analytical

Abstract Piezoelectric ceramics contain anomalies which give rise to localized stress concentrations when electric fields are applied. These stress concentrations cause microcracking which leads to electro-mechanical degradation and eventually to material failure. In this paper, a unit cell approach is presented to understand the relationship between material properties and electric field induced stress concentrations around a specific anomaly, i.e., circular void. An exact electro-elastic analysis verified with a finite element model is used to study the stress and electric field concentrations as a function of material properties. Parametric studies indicate that the electric field induced stress concentrations in the material are effectively eliminated for certain values of the piezoelectric coefficients. While a trivial solution to this problem is that the piezoelectric coefficients are zero, other “optimum” coefficients exist. These coefficients do not limit the deformation profile of the piezoelectric and are thermodynamically admissible. Results presented for PZT-4 and PZT-5H support the contention that optimal piezoelectric materials can be manufactured.
Infrared spectroscopy and photodesorption of condensed phase ammonia

Abstract We have characterized the adsorption and thermal desorption of thick films of NH 3 and ND 3 condensed on Ag(111) with Fourier transform reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy and temperature programmed desorption. Over the coverage range of 1–50 monolayers, the asymmetric stretch (2513 cm −1 for ND 3 and 3380 cm −1 for NH 3 ) and symmetric deformation (832 cm −1 for ND 3 and 1078 cm −1 for NH 3 ) modes of ammonia are the most intense features in the vibrational spectra. Temperature programmed desorption yields an activation energy for thermal desorption of NH 3 and ND 3 multilayers of 23.8 kJ mol −1 and 24.7 kJ mol −1 , respectively. At a coverage of 50 ML we used 193 nm light to stimulate molecular desorption from the multilayers and measured time-of-flight spectra. All time-of-flight spectra were bimodal; the average translational energies of the two components were 3150±100 K and 550±50 K. The fast channel is ascribed to ammonia molecules ejected from the vacuum–film interface while the slower channel is ascribed to ammonia molecules desorbing from deeper layers of the film. At 50 ML the angular distribution of photodesorbed ammonia peaks between 20° and 40° off the surface normal.
Metabolites of the “Smoke Tree”, Dalea spinosa, Potentiate Antibiotic Activity against Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Two new 2-arylbenzofuran aldehydes (1 and 2) and three known phenolic compounds (3-5) were isolated from organic extracts of Dalea spinosa. These compounds were evaluated for their intrinsic antimicrobial activity and their ability to perform as multidrug-resistance inhibitors by potentiating the activity of known antimicrobials against a variety of pathogenic microorganisms. Compound 1 and its acetate derivative 6 exhibited no direct antimicrobial activity but enhanced the effect of the weak plant antimicrobial berberine when tested against Staphylococcus aureus. Additional potentiation assays with S. aureus overexpression and knockout isogenic efflux mutants for the NorA pump were done in order to assess whether the potentiating effects were associated with inhibition of this known pump mechanism.
Secretion of Cell Wall Polymers into the Growth Medium of Lysis-Defective Pneumococci During Treatment with Penicillin and Other Inhibitors of Cell Wall Synthesis

Autolysin-defective pneumococci secrete into the growth medium choline-containing macromolecules during treatment with any one of a large number of inhibitors of cell wall biosynthesis, including beta-lactams, beta-halogeno-d-alanines, cephalosporins, and d-cycloserine. Secretion is closely related to the dose response of the bacteria to the various drugs: (i) secretion can already be detected at the minimum inhibitory concentration; (ii) the rate and extent of secretion is dependent upon the drug concentration; and (iii) secretion commences within minutes after the addition of the antibiotics to the cultures. Reversal of the growth-inhibitory effect of benzylpenicillin (by penicillinase addition) is accompanied by a halt in secretion just at the time when the bacteria resume normal growth. Secretion of the choline-containing macromolecules seems to be a specific consequence of the inhibition of peptidoglycan biosynthesis, since inhibition of growth by drugs affecting protein, ribonucleic acid, or deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis does not cause secretion. The choline-containing macromolecules include both the pneumococcal lipid-containing teichoic acid (Forssman antigen) and wall teichoic acids made after the addition of antibiotics. The appearance of these macromolecules in the growth medium is not due to the hydrolytic activity of an autolysin, since penicillin-induced secretion could be demonstrated in autolysin-defective mutants, in pneumococci grown on ethanolamine-containing medium (such cells are known to have defective autolytic systems), and in wildtype pneumococci grown under conditions nonpermissive for lysis. Images
Reversal transition widths and fast-spreading centers

It is generally assumed by geomagnetists that spreading centers with the fastest separation rates should ultimately yield the most information concerning short-period behavior of the paleomagnetic field. We present results here that may indicate otherwise. Marine anomalies over the Reykjanes Ridge, Juan de Fuca Ridge, Gorda Rise, and East Pacific Rise are analyzed to determine apparent transition width of the Brunhes-Matuyama reversal boundary and Jaramillo event. Spreading rates vary by a factor of 10 between these areas and we find a nearly linear increase in transition width with increase in spreading rate, except for the slow-spreading Reykjanes Ridge. We interpret this trend with an earlier-proposed, depth-dependent time of magnetization for newly created ocean crust.
Effects of alternative silviculture on stump sprouting in the southern Appalachians

Stump sprouts are an important form of regeneration for a number of species in the southern Appalachians, especially the oaks (Quercus spp.). Alternative regeneration systems to clearcutting such as shelterwood and leave-tree systems are being implemented in many hardwood stands in the Appalachians. However, the effects of these alternative silvicultural systems on stump sprouts are not known. Therefore, we evaluated the impact of three silvicultural systems: a clearcut, leave-tree, and shelterwood on stump sprouting. These treatments were implemented in seven stands in Virginia and West Virginia in the Appalachian Plateau (AP) and Ridge and Valley (RV) physiographic provinces. The stands were even-aged oak dominated Appalachian hardwood stands with ages ranging from 62 to 100 years. Species were placed into six groups: (1) red oak (Quercus spp.), (2) chestnut oak (Q. prinus L.), (3) white oak (Q. alba L.) and hickory (Carya spp.), (4) red maple (Acer rubrum L.), (5) mixed mesic, and (6) midstory groups. Partial harvesting also reduced the number of sprouts per stump for the red oak group and red maple. Sprouting probabilities were generally less in the Appalachian Plateau than the Ridge and Valley, particularly for the oaks (Quercus spp.). Partial harvesting systems decreased sprouting in both physiographic provinces. However, the sprouting in specific species groups varied between the two physiographic provinces. In the Ridge and Valley, the highest sprouting rates were in the clearcut for the red oak (60%), chestnut oak (77%), white oak-hickory (26%), and midstory (33%) species groups. Red maple sprouting was highest in the leave-tree (67%) in the Ridge and Valley. The mixed mesic and midstory groups were only reduced in the Ridge and Valley. Sprouting was negatively correlated with residual basal area for the red oak group, chestnut oak, and red maple. For the all oak species except white oak, sprouting was reduced by about 2% for every 1m 2 /ha increase in residual basal area.
New class of Lagrangian-relaxation-based algorithms for fast data association in multiple hypothesis tracking applications

Large classes of data association problems in multiple hypothesis tracking applications, including sensorfusion, can be formulated as multidimensional assignment problems. Lagrangian relaxation methods have beenshown to solve these problems to the noise level in the problem in real-time, especially for dense scenarios andfor multiple scans of data from multiple sensors. This work presents a new class of algorithms that circumventthe difficulties of similar previous algorithms. The computational complexity of the new algorithms is shownvia some numerical examples to be linear in the number of arcs.
Drawing inferences from Fano factor calculations

An important characterization of neural spiking is the ratio of the variance to the mean of the spike counts in a set of intervals—the Fano factor. For a Poisson process, the theoretical Fano factor is exactly one. For simulated or experimental neural data, the sample Fano factor is never exactly one, but often appears close to one. In this short communication, we characterize the distribution of the Fano factor for a Poisson process, allowing us to compute probability bounds and perform hypothesis tests on the distribution of recorded neural spike counts. We show that for a Poisson process the Fano factor asymptotically follows a gamma distribution with dependence on the number of observations of spike counts, and that convergence to this asymptotic distribution is fast. The analysis provides a simple method to determine how close to 1 the computed Fano factor should be and to formally test whether the observed variability in the spiking is likely to arise in data generated by a Poisson process.
Spatial and temporal domains of scale of grazing cattle

Spatio-temporal patterns of cattle grazing were studied in four annual grassland pastures in California, differing mainly in tree canopy cover. Cows were equipped with global positioning collars that recorded position, temperature and head movements at 5-min intervals during 6 days in each of four seasons repeated during 2 years. The time animals took to traverse areas of varying diameter revealed patches of 6–9-m diameter in the pastures with low, and 18–21-m diameter in the pastures with high tree canopy cover. In agreement with the current model, crookedness of cow paths had two distinct domains. Within distances of 0–40 m, paths were relatively straight and similar, but from 40 to 200 m, they became increasingly tortuous. Correlation of sequential turning angles identified patches of movement with diameters between 40 and 100 m, which correspond to the ‘patch’ level of grazing within grazing sites. Seasonal changes in meal patterns were consistent with changes in temperature and forage quality and interacted with the distribution of shade. Thus, spatial distribution of grazing and temporal distribution of meals were inextricably linked. Low forage quality and high temperatures in summer resulted in highly concentrated grazing around trees. Conversely, winter and early spring forages of very high quality and low availability motivated more widely distributed grazing, with low proportion of areas being re-grazed. Resting sites acted as beginning and end of grazing bouts. We conclude that shade distribution can modulate meal start and duration.
Quantum and classical dynamics simulations of ATP hydrolysis in solution

ATP hydrolysis is a key reaction in living cells that drives many cellular processes. The reaction, which involves gamma phosphate cleavage from ATP, converting it to ADP, has been suggested to occur via an associative or dissociative mechanism dependent upon the surrounding environment. Prior quantum chemical studies suffered from short simulation time scales failing to capture free energy contributions due to relaxation of the surrounding aqueous environment. We have developed a highly parallelized QM/MM implementation in the NAMD and OpenAtom simulation packages, using the dual grid, dual length scale method for combined plane-wave and Euler exponential spline-based QM/MM simulations. This approach, using message-driven parallel quantum and classical dynamics, permits sufficient time scale simulations for quantum chemical events such as ATP hydrolysis and is found to accurately and reliably include the free energy contributions of solvent relaxation to hydrolysis. In this paper, we describe the applica...
Prediction of anxiety disorders using the state-trait anxiety inventory for multiethnic adolescents.

The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) in predicting DSM-III-R anxiety disorders based on the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children (DISC, Version 2.3) and using Asian/Pacific Islander adolescents. An overall prevalence rate of 9.19% for generalized anxiety disorder, overanxious disorder, or social phobia was consistent with past studies. As hypothesized, STAI negatively worded (i.e., Factor 2) items were better predictors than positively stated (i.e., Factor 1) items. The STAI State mean was a better predictor of concurrent DISC anxiety disorders as compared to STAI State Factors I or 2. In contrast, the STAI Trait Factor 2 (negatively worded) composite was the best predictor for nonconcurrent DISC anxiety disorders as compared to STAI Trait Factor 1 or the overall STAI Trait subscale. Satisfactory predictive-validity values were obtained when using the STAI State mean and Trait Factor 2 composite. Implications of these findings are discussed, including using the STAI as a screening measure for ethnically diverse adolescents.
Effects of Crystallinity on Dilute Acid Hydrolysis of Cellulose by Cellulose Ball-Milling Study

The dilute acid (0.05 M H2SO4) hydrolysis at 175 °C of samples comprised of varying fractions of crystalline (α-form) and amorphous cellulose was studied. The amorphous content, based on XRD and CP/MAS NMR, and the product (glucose) yield, based on HPLC, increased by as much as a factor of 3 upon ball milling. These results are interpreted in terms of a model involving mechanical disruption of crystallinity by breaking hydrogen bonds in α-cellulose, opening up the structure, and making more β-1,4 glycosidic bonds readily accessible to the dilute acid. However, in parallel with hydrolysis to form liquid-phase products, there are reactions of amorphous cellulose that form solid degradation products.
Parts, wholes, and part-whole relations: the prospects of mereotopology

Abstract We can see mereology as a theory of parthood and topology as a theory of wholeness. How can the two be combined to obtain a unified theory of parts and wholes'? This paper examines three main ways of answering this question. On the first account, mereology and topology form two independent (though mutually related) domains. The second account grants priority to topology and characterizes mereology derivatively, by defining parthood in terms of wholeness (more specifically: connectedness). The third approach reverses the order, exploiting the idea that wholeness (connectedness) can be explained in terms of parthood along with other predicates or relations. The analysis and comparison of these strategies is mostly formal (and within the confines of standard first-order theories), but their relevance to spatio-temporal reasoning and representation is emphasized. Some more speculative strategies and directions for further research, such as the development of a unified framework based on a single mereotopological primitive of connected parthood, are also briefly considered.