cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What an andrologist/urologist should know about free radicals and why.

f t f ree radicals are a group of highly reactive chemical molecules that have one or more unaired electrons and can oxidatively modify bimolecules that they encounter.1 Reactive oxygen pecies (ROS) are free radicals that are derived rom the metabolism of oxygen. They are present n all aerobic organisms. ROS play an important ole in many physiologic functions such as phagoytosis, which is mediated by neutrophils and macophages. They also act as a cell messenger, taking art in many signaling processes, mainly by oxidaively modifying the compounds.2 However, ROS re highly reactive, and when their levels are high, hey can react with any nearby molecules and cause efects in the functioning of these molecules. Oxdative stress is a condition that occurs as a result of xcessive generation of ROS and diminished capacty of free radical scavenging by antioxidants.3 Many iseases, including cancer, are thought to be the onsequence of reactions between free radicals and NA, resulting in germ line mutations that are ransmitted to offspring.4 Some pathologic proesses such as aging, ischemic heart disease, sickle ell anemia, and rheumatoid arthritis are also atributed to free radical-induced oxidation of varius biologic components.5 ROS include the various radicals such as superxide, hydroxyl, peroxyl, and hydrogen peroxide. n addition, another class of free radicals that are itrogen derived is called reactive nitrogen species. hey are considered a subclass of ROS.6 Nitrous xide, peroxynitrite, nitroxyl anion, and peroxynirous acid are some of the most common reactive itrogen species.
What is in a name? On the misuse of information theoretic dispersion measures as design complexity metrics

Many metrics of design complexity have been proposed in the literature. Of these, the most popular are information theoretic metrics, such as information content based on Suh's axiomatic theory and differential entropy based on Shannon's information theory. In this paper, we show that these metrics do not provide common sense measures of complexity, and they also do not possess proper mathematical properties. At best, they are geared towards measuring a designs goodness-of-fit rather than its complexity. At least in part, the inappropriate use of these metrics can be attributed to misuse of terms such as ‘entropy’ and ‘minimise information content’.
Extinction under a Behavioral Microscope: Isolating the Sources of Decline in Operant Response Rate

Extinction performance is often used to assess underlying psychological processes without the interference of reinforcement. For example, in the extinction/reinstatement paradigm, motivation to seek drug is assessed by measuring responding elicited by drug-associated cues without drug reinforcement. However, extinction performance is governed by several psychological processes that involve motivation, memory, learning, and motoric functions. These processes are confounded when overall response rate is used to measure performance. Based on evidence that operant responding occurs in bouts, this paper proposes an analytic procedure that separates extinction performance into several behavioral components: (1–3) the baseline bout initiation rate, within-bout response rate, and bout length at the onset of extinction; (4–6) their rates of decay during extinction; (7) the time between extinction onset and the decline of responding; (8) the asymptotic response rate at the end of extinction; (9) the refractory period after each response. Data that illustrate the goodness of fit of this analytic model are presented. This paper also describes procedures to isolate behavioral components contributing to extinction performance and make inferences about experimental effects on these components. This microscopic behavioral analysis allows the mapping of different psychological processes to distinct behavioral components implicated in extinction performance, which may further our understanding of the psychological effects of neurobiological treatments.
FETAL BREATHING MOVEMENTS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH CHANGES IN COMPLIANCE OF THE LEFT VENTRICLE. † 183

FETAL BREATHING MOVEMENTS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH CHANGES IN COMPLIANCE OF THE LEFT VENTRICLE. † 183
Polarization of the Lowest‐Energy Allowed Transition of β‐Ionylidene Crotonic Acid and the Electronic Structure of the Polyenes

Polarized specular reflection spectra have been obtained for two faces of the all‐trans β‐ionylidene crotonic acid single crystal in the 700‐to‐220‐mμ region. Visual inspection of these results leads to the assignment of the absolute polarization of the lowest allowed transition, which is believed to be the first accurate absolute assignment for a polyene‐related compound. The polarization is confirmed by the integrated intensities of the absorption bands derived through a Kramers—Kronig analysis of the reflection data. The relationship between the experimental polarization and that predicted by various zero‐order theories that have been applied to the polyenes is examined and the effect of refinements in these theories on the direction and magnitude of the transition moment explored.
Racial identity and sport: The case of a bi-racial athlete

The main objective of the current study was to examine racial identity development in a bi-racial athlete. The variant approach of identity development suggests that individuals of more than one racial background are confronted with a unique set of developmental tasks in order to achieve racial identity. The sport environment may offer a unique context through which racial identity may be developed. A qualitative case study analysis was used to assess the relevance of the variant approach in explaining identity development in a bi-racial athlete. Results revealed partial support for the stages associated with the variant model. Moreover, racial identity is also discussed in relation to sport performance. Some practical recommendations are made for sport psychology practitioners that may encounter bi-racial athletes in their work. Furthermore, suggestions for future research are provided.
Forage Legume Regeneration from the Soil Seed Bank in Western North Dakota

Rotating wheat (Triticum spp.) with fallow cannot be sustained in the Great Plains. Replacing fallow with legume pasture enhanced wheat production in Australian ley farming. The legume species used in ley farming regenerated from seed produced during previous pasture periods. Our objective was to identify legumes that regenerated from the seed bank in western North Dakota. Ten legume species were established in one experiment, 30 species in a second experiment, and 29 species in a third experiment. Seedlings were counted in the spring following the year of establishment. Over 200 seedlings m - 2 germinated in balansa clover (Trifolium michelianum Savi), berseem clover (T. alexandrinum L.), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.), black medic (Medicago lupulina L.), burr medic (M. polymorpha L.), crimson clover (T. incarnatum L.), Persian clover (T. resupinatum L.), and red clover (T. pratense L.) plots in at least one experiment. Forage dry matter yield ranged from 2 to 5 Mg ha - 1 for hirdsfoot trefoil and red clover depending on the experiment and was similar to forage yield by alfalfa (M. sativa L.) that persisted in the second year following establishment (P > 0.05). Crude protein, acid detergent fiber, and neutral detergent fiber concentrations suggested that forage quality was equal or superior for birdsfoot trefoil compared with alfalfa and red clover. Birdsfoot trefoil has potential as a self-seeding pasture species in the Great Plains.
Orifice and Impingement Flow Fields in Confined Jet Impingement

The flow fields in the orifice and the confinement region of a normally impinging, axisymmetric, confined and submerged liquid jet were computationally investigated. Numerical predictions were made for orifice diameters of 3.18 and 6.35 mm at several orifice-to-target plate spacings, with turbulent jet Reynolds number ranging from 8,500 to 23,000. The commercial finite-volume code FLUENT was used to solve the flow fields using a modified {kappa}-{epsilon} model based on renormalization group theory. The predicted characteristics of the separation region at the entrance of the orifice agree with experiments in the literature. The pressure drop across the orifice was predicted to within 5% of proposed empirical correlations based on published experimental data. The computed flow patterns in the confinement region of the impinging jet were in good qualitative agreement with flow visualizations; however, a secondary recirculation zone observed in experiments was not predicted by the models.
Metastasectomy for Limited Metastases from Soft Tissue Sarcoma

The development of metastatic soft tissue sarcoma (American Joint Committee on Cancer stage IV) is associated with a poor prognosis. Surgical resection of isolated solitary or multiple metastases is the only curative treatment; all other forms of treatment are considered palliative. As with all surgical procedures, patient selection is important to maximize the clinical benefit of metastasectomy and to minimize the risk for treatment-related morbidity. Over the past decade, nonresectional ablative approaches have been developed to manage visceral metastatic disease. These ablative procedures include cryosurgery, radiofrequency tumor ablation, and alcohol injection. All such procedures are considered investigational; outcome should be compared to that achievable with traditional surgical metastasectomy. The optimal sequence of treatments and role for perioperative (combined with metastasectomy) chemotherapy are unknown. Given the potential curative nature of metastasectomy, all patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma should be evaluated for the possibility of surgical resection. Patients with good performance status who have radiographically resectable disease should be considered for metastasectomy.
Vortex plate for enhancing particle settling.

The feasibility of enhancing suspended solids settling by using the newly proposed vortex plates in clarifiers, instead of conventional smooth lamellae, was studied using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling and laboratory experiments in which suspended particles were mimicked by crushed walnut shells and glass beads. The vortex plate was formed by attaching perpendicular ribs to the plate, forming slots of 25×25 mm ( depth×width ) and placing the plate parallel to the longitudinal clarifier axis at an angle of 60° from the horizontal. Rib walls were placed either in vertical planes, perpendicular to the clarifier longitudinal axis, or were slightly sloping in the main flow direction (20° about the vertical). Three hydraulic concepts were explored with respect to enhancing suspended particle settling: (1) the use of flow energy to generate steady vortices inside the slots and thereby entrain particles into the slots, where they would be sheltered from the fast horizontal flow and could settle witho...
Automated deflection measurement of 3-D objects by a modulated-fringe real time holographic interferometry technique

Using a modulated-fringe technique with double exposure holographic interferometry results in a monotonically ordered fringe pattern. This monotonic feature removes the ambiguity in determining the fringe values. For relatively small flat objects, the carrier fringes are straight and parallel. Using a reference area around the object and in the same plane as the object allows for easy determination of the undeformed and deformed carrier fringes with a single hologram. For 3-D objects, the carrier fringes are curved and non-uniformly spaced. In this case, a single hologram can produce only one of the two necessary fringe patterns. This paper presents a method in which the undeformed and deformed carrier fringe patterns can be obtained and processed by computer. This technique utilizes real-time holography and computer imaging to produce the two fringe patterns without having to reproduce the exact motion of the point source which creates the carrier fringes. The removal of the ambiguity in determining the fringe orders in the two digitally stored fringe patterns allows for the automation of measuring surface deflections of 3-D objects.
Regulation of development in Dictyostelium discoideum. III. Carbohydrate-specific intercellular interactions in early development.

Previous studies showed that amino acid starvation and intercellular interactions are both required for differentiation of Dictyostelium discoideum during early development. The intercellular interactions have now been characterized by analysis of their sensitivity to inhibition by monosaccharides. Glucose inhibits early development by two mechanisms: (1) sparing of amino acid starvation and (2) interfering with intercellular interactions. The nonmetabolizable glucose analog α-methylglucoside inhibits intercellular interactions, as does galactose. Galactose and α-methylglucoside inhibit synergistically, suggesting the presence of two distinct but interacting sites. Two classes of cohesive sites have been identified in D. discoideum ( Beug, Katz, and Gerisch, 1973 , J. Cell Biol. , 56, 647–658). Growth phase cells exhibit only EDTA-sensitive cohesion, mediated by contact sites B; aggregation-competent cells also display contact sites A which mediate EDTA-resistant cohesion. Monosaccharides structurally related to glucose inhibit contact site B-mediated cohesion, but galactose does not. Both glucose and galactose inhibit the developmentally regulated expression of contact sites A, but neither sugar inhibits EDTA-resistant cohesion of cells which have expressed these sites. Studies in other laboratories have implicated the galactose-specific lectin discoidin I in the development of EDTA-resistant cell cohesion. We propose a model in which the two sites which mediate the intercellular interactions required for early development are the two carbohydrate-specific ligand-receptor systems, contact sites B and discoidin plus its receptor.
HOMELESSNESS: Interdisciplinary Collection Development Challenge

Every few years a “new” social issue comes to the forefront of attention in American society, and homelessness is the most recently profiled issue. Because homeless people are encountered on a daily basis and the topic is frequently publicized in all news media, public awareness is heightened. One result is that library patron requests increase and this may indicate the need to supplement library holdings, collect relevant research, and make various viewpoints available to a wide‐based constituency.
Metribuzin metabolism in tomato: Isolation and identification of N-glucoside conjugates

Abstract Metribuzin [4-amino-6- tert -butyl-3-(methylthio)-1,2,4-triazin-5(4H)-one] metabolism was studied in tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. “Sheyenne”). Pulse-treatment studies with seedlings and excised leaves showed that [5- 14 C]metribuzin was rapidly absorbed, translocated (acropetal), and metabolized to more polar products. Foliar tissues of 19-day-old seedlings metabolized 96% of the root-absorbed [ 14 C]metribuzin in 120 hr. Excised mature leaves metabolized 85–90% of the petiole-absorbed [ 14 C]metrubuzin in 48 hr. Polar metabolites were isolated by solvent partitioning, and purified by adsorption, thin-layer, and high-performance liquid chromatography. A minor intermediate metabolite (I) was identified as the polar β- d -( N -glucoside) conjugate of metribuzin. The biosynthesis of (I) was demonstrated with a partially purified UDP-glucose: metribuzin N -glucosyltransferase from tomato leaves. A possible correlation between foliar UDP-glucose: metribuzin N -glucosyltransferase activity levels and differences in the tolerance of selected tomato seedling cultivars to metribuzin was suggested. The major polar metabolite (II) was identified as the malonyl β- d -( N -glucoside) conjugate of metribuzin.
Annual energy budget and food requirements of breeding wandering albatrosses (Diomedea exulans)

Energy budgets form an integral part of our understanding of animal energetics, particularly when presented in the context of reproduction. In this paper, I created a time-energy budget for a breeding pair of wandering albatrosses (Diomedea exulans) to estimate the annual breeding costs and food requirements of the population at Possession Island, Crozet Archipelago. For a breeding cycle that lasts 356 days on average, a pair uses 2,733 MJ to raise a single chick to fledging. This estimate is 1.21 times higher than previously calculated for wandering albatrosses breeding at Marion Island. Unlike the current analysis, the previous study assumed that foraging costs were constant across all stages of the breeding cycle. Recent evidence shows that foraging costs vary during breeding for wandering albatrosses at Crozet and this is probably true for all populations. Incubation costs have also been shown to be substantially lower than previously determined. Therefore, if a wandering albatross pair at Crozet uses a total of 2,733 MJ to breed, they would need to consume at least 1.7 kg bird−1 day−1 of fresh food, on average, to balance their own energy requirements and to provision a single chick for approximately 278 days. At this rate of food consumption, the breeding population at Crozet would consume approximately 340 tonnes of fresh food per breeding season.
Acute effects of caffeine injection on neutral amino acids and brain monoamine levels in rats.

Abstract The injection of caffeine (100 mg/kg, i.p.) into male rats acutely increased brain levels of trytophan, serotonin (5-HT) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA). Blood levels of glucose, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) and insulin also increased, while those of the aromatic and branched-chain amino acids fell. Serum tryptophan levels either did not fall, or increased. Consequently, the serum ratio of trypthopahn to the sum of other large neutral amino acids (LNAA) increased. Less consistently noted were increases in serum free tryptophan levels. Brain tyrosine levels were not appreciably altered by caffeine, nor was the serum tyrosine ratio. In dose-response studies, 25 mg/kg of caffeine was the minimal effective dose needed to raise brain tryptophan, but only the 100 mg/kg dose elevated all three indoles in brain. In no experiments did caffeine, at any time or dose, alter brain levels of dopamine or norepinephrine. Caffeine thus probably raises brain tryptophan levels by causing insulin secretion, and thereby changing plasma amino acid levels to favor increased tryptophan uptake into brain. The rises in brain 5-HT and 5-HIAA may follow from the increase in brain tryptophan, although further data are required clearly to establish such a mechanism.
The pathway of assembly of intermediate filaments from recombinant alpha-internexin

The pathway of filament assembly from the neuronal intermediate filament alpha-intermexin was investigated. Optimal assembly occurred in solutions of pH 6.5 to 7 and moderate ionic strength at 37 degrees C. Short filaments formed upon dialysis at 24 degrees C, which elongated further when incubated at 37 degrees C. Soluble forms of alpha-internexin were characterized by analytical ultracentrifugation and electron microscopy. In 10 mM Tris, pH 8, conditions that favor formation of tetramers and other small oligomers for other intermediate filament proteins, alpha-internexin formed 10.5 S particles, apparently unit-length half-filaments in the form of rods 10.6 nm in diameter and 68 nm long. Dialysis vs the same buffer with added 10 mM NaCl yielded 16 S rods, probably unit-length filaments, of the same length but 13.0 nm in diameter. At 50 mM NaCl, rods about 13 nm in diameter and heterogeneous in length were observed in electron micrographs, apparently formed from longitudinal annealing of unit-length rods. The results favor a model of assembly in which coiled coil dimers aggregate laterally to form first "unit-length half-filaments" (Herrmann, H., and Aebi, U. (1998) Curr. Opin. Struct. Biol. 8, 177-185) and then "unit-length filaments," which subsequently elongate by annealing.
THEORY AND PRACTICE IN THE CLASSROOM: A REPEATED GAME OF MULTIMARKET OLIGOPOLY

This article describes a repeated game of multimarket contact, designed to be played throughout an entire term. Besides enjoying reciprocal advantages in their home markets, firms are perfectly informed after every round about each other's decisions. For most of the game, it appears there is always a future in which to punish deviations, and (with the game's parameters) zero-cost punishments can always be implemented. Thus the game provides all the elements for an escape from the prisoner's dilemma. Theoretical foundations, predictions, and some results are also discussed.
Pulmonary manifestations of Sjögren syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, and mixed connective tissue disease.

Interstitial lung disease is a common and often life-threatening manifestation of different connective tissue disorders, often affecting its overall prognosis. Systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren syndrome, and mixed connective tissue disease, although all unique diseases, can have lung manifestations as an important part of these conditions. This article reviews the different pulmonary manifestations seen in these 3 systemic rheumatologic conditions.
Comparison of adenosine effects on atrioventricular node reentry and atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardias.

Background: Adenosine is an established first line therapy for the treatment of narrow complex tachycardias. The two most common etiologies of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) are atrioventricular node reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) and atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia (AVRT). Hypothesis: We postulated that adenosine might have different effects on the termination of AVNRT vs. AVRT, and that these differences might assist in the noninvasive differentiation between these diagnoses. Methods: Fifty-nine patients referred for the diagnosis and treatment of SVT were included in the study. All patients had SVT induced during electrophysiology testing, and each patient received adenosine during SVT. The adenosine dose, time to tachycardia termination, and site of tachycardia termination were recorded. Seventeen patients required isoproterenol administration to initiate SVT. This subset of patients was compared with those not requiring isoproterenol. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the adenosine dose or time to tachycardia termination when comparing patients with AVNRT with those with AVRT. All patients with AVNRT had termination of tachycardia in the antegrade direction with final activation in the atria. Patients requiring isoproterenol for tachycardia initiation experienced tachycardia termination significantly faster than those not requiring isoproterenol, although there was no difference in the dose of adenosine required for termination. Conclusion: These data demonstrate that patients with dual AV node physiology and AVNRT do not have altered sensitivity to adenosine compared with patients with AVRT and normal AV nodes. Further investigation will be required to determine the clinical utility of the significantly shorter time to tachycardia termination for patients receiving isoproterenol.
Land use and income diversification: comparing traditional and colonist populations in the Brazilian Amazon

This article compares and analyzes land use and income diversification among two distinct groups of farmers in the Brazilian Amazon: recent colonists in Ouro Preto do Oeste, Rondonia, and traditional long-term residents along the Tapajos River, Para. We investigate the hypothesis that farmers who diversify their cash income sources clear less forest on an annual basis, and we compare these livelihood choices across colonist and traditional populations. In particular, we develop a conceptual model based on the household production framework and use econometric models to identify determinants of diversification and forest clearing. We find that diversification of agricultural cash crops is negatively correlated with forest clearing by colonists, providing limited evidence for the hypothesis. Other significant covariates of diversification and forest clearing include cash income levels, stage in family life cycle, cattle ownership, and chemical inputs. Differences in these variables, and differences in household response to these variables, explain variation in diversification and forest clearing across the two populations.
Neuromodulation for Voiding Dysfunction and Fecal Incontinence: A Urology Perspective

Neuromodulation is an effective, minimally invasive technique for the management of urinary urgency and frequency, urgency incontinence, nonobstructive urinary retention, and fecal incontinence. This article reviews the physiology of neuromodulation, indications, implantation methods, and outcomes.
A Hybrid Incremental/Absolute Optical Encoder For Measuring The Position Of Telescope Domes

This report presents a design for an inexpensive and highly reliable dome position encoder which has few moving parts and which eliminates the need for a Hechanical engagement to the dome. This hybrid incremental/absolute optical encoder is now in use on the dome of the 1-meter Nickel Telescope at Lick Observatory, and will soon be installed on the dome of the Observatory's Shane 3-meter Telescope. This report discusses the costs and important points of the construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of the encoder. It also explores the feasibility of using this encoder on the domes of large telescopes such as the Keck Observatory 10-meter.
Preparation of metabolizable radioactive human serum albumin microspheres for studies of the circulation.

Abstract Radioactive μspheres have been prepared from human serum albumin (HSA) in sizes between 12 and 44 &μ;. These μspheres are degraded within the body after injection. The rate of degradation can be varied by changes in the method of preparation. The μspheres can be easily labeled with various radionuclides. When injected intravenously, more than 90 per cent of the μspheres are extracted by the capillary bed of the lungs. HSA μspheres have advantages over other particles that are now being used for studies of the circulation.
Reliable Assessment of Log P of Compounds of Pharmaceutical Relevance

In an earlier study Quant. Struct.-Act. Relat. 1996, 15, 403-409 comparing the performance of 14 logP predictors it was concluded that predictions of logP values were significantly better for simple organic molecules than for drugs. Since the publication of this benchmark study, a logP predictor, VLOGP, has been developed in our group. In the work presented here, VLOGP is used to assess the logP values of the same 48 drugs as included in the benchmark comparison. VLOGP returned 79.2% "acceptable", 18.6% "disputable", and only 2.2% "unacceptable" logP values. the "acceptable", "disputable", and "unacceptable" logP values from the 14 other predictors, respectively, ranged between 27.1% and 72.9%, 16.7% and 41.7%, and 2.2% and 37.5%. Further, VLOGP resulted in a much tighter fit (mean squared deviation, m.s.d., = 0.197) between experimental and calculated values of logP compared with the other 14 methods for which the m.s.d. ranged between 0.247 and 1.068. The major differentiation between VLOGP and other predictors is that its application domain, called Optimum Prediction Space (OPS), is quantitatively defined, i.e., the structures to which VLOGP model should not be applied for predicting logP can be identified. This process is automated by implementation of VLOGP in the TOPKAT package.
Reliability Generalization of the Patterns of Adaptive Learning Survey Goal Orientation Scales

A reliability generalization study was completed on the Patterns of Adaptive Learning Survey achievement goal orientation scales to assess the prediction of (a) the different orientation scales, (b) the adaptation of items to meet research needs, (c) the number of respondents completing the instrument, and (d) the publication date cited for the manual used on reliability variation in articles that reported sample specific reliability coefficients. The results of analyses suggested that the evolution of the scales has improved the consistency of the scores derived, lending more credence to inferences that are based on the scores from the more recent versions of the instrument. Nevertheless, examples of poor to marginal coefficients were observed in some cases.
A GMRES-Based Plane Smoother in Multigrid to Solve 3D Anisotropic Fluid Flow Problems

For a discretization of the 3D steady incompressible Navier?Stokes equations a solution method is presented for solving flow problems on stretched grids. The discretization is a vertex-centered finite volume discretization with a flux splitting approach for the convective terms. Second-order accuracy is obtained with the well-known defect correction technique (B. Koren, J. Comput. Phys. 87, 25, 1990). The solution method used is multigrid, for which a plane smoother is presented for obtaining good convergence in flow domains with severely stretched grids. A matrix is set up in a plane, which is solved iteratively with a preconditioned GMRES method. Here, a stop criterion for GMRES is tested, which reduces the number of inner iterations compared to an “exact” plane solver without affecting the multigrid convergence rates. The performance of the solution method is shown for a Poisson model problem and for 3D incompressible channel flow examples.
SU‐FF‐I‐39: Development of Clinical Application Platform Using Digital Tomosynthesis for Target Localization

Purpose: To develop a workstation for clinical application of digital tomosynthesis (DTS) for real‐time target localization. Specifically, to accelerate the reconstruction both digitally‐reconstructed radiograph(DRR) and DTS using ultra‐fast interpolation capability of graphics hardware. Method and Materials: The developed workstation for real‐time target localization using DTS technology includes image acquisition,image reconstruction, and image comparison. A critical step to implement this technology is its reconstruction speed, especially real‐time generation of reference DTSs which require DRRs. The new generation graphics hardware provides a fast implementation of imageinterpolation and allows the bi‐linear/tri‐linear interpolation and the other image operations to be accomplished within second. We implemented classical ray‐casting algorithm for 2D DRR and filtered back‐projection (FBP) algorithm for DTS reconstruction on graphics hardware based on OpenGL programming interface. Specifically, planning CTimages and on‐board projection images were loaded into the memory of hardware and saved as textures which were projected onto frame‐buffer according to the given geometry of imaging system. The final images were generated by blending multiple textures projected onto the frame‐buffer. Difference images and correlation coefficients between hardware and software DRRs and DTSs were calculated to assess their similarity. Results: The mean errors and their standard deviations of the differences DRR and DTS images are 1.0% ± 1.5% and 1.2% ± 2.1%. The correlation coefficients are 99.9% for DRRs and 99.5% for DTS. The reconstructed efficiency was improved by a factor of 67 for DRR and 13 for DTS. Conclusions: The hardware method provides fast reconstructions of DRR and DTS with visibility of anatomical structures comparable to those generated using software methods. This allows real‐time target localization for image registration between on‐board and reference DTSs in the application platform.
Volatility, Adsorption, and Degradation of Propargyl Bromide as a Soil Fumigant

During the 1960s, propargyl bromide (3-bromopropyne, C(3)H(3)Br, or 3BP) was used in a soil fumigant Trizone, a combination of chloropicrin, methyl bromide, and propargyl bromide. Since a great deal of attention is being placed on finding replacements for methyl bromide (CH(3)Br, MeBr) in soil fumigation, there is a revived interest in developing propargyl bromide as an alternative fumigant. However, at present, no information exists for assessing its behavior and safety in the environment. In this study, several important parameters needed to determine its environmental fate are obtained. These include basic parameters such as solubility, saturated vapor density, the Henry's law constant, adsorption, and degradation. These parameters are compared to MeBr and 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D), a methyl bromide alternative. At 25 degrees C, the Henry's law constant, K(H), for 3-bromopropyne is 0.046, which is smaller than that for MeBr and similar in magnitude to that for 1,3-D. In water at 25 degrees C, the solubility is approximately 1.5% and 3BP slowly degrades with a hydrolysis half-life of 47 days. In soil, the degradation half-life ranged from 1.2 to 5 days, depending on the soil type. Under typical agricultural conditions, 3BP will move readily in soils, a desirable characteristic for fumigants, but, due to its short soil degradation time, should not pose a serious environmental risk.
Yield and Nitrogen Uptake of Rotated Corn in a Ridge Tillage System

Information is scant on the response of corn (Zea mays L.) following legumes seeded with small grains in reduced tillage systems in the upper Midwest. Our objective was to determine yield and N uptake response of ridge-tilled corn planted after soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) alone, wheat with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), or wheat with hairy vetch ( Vicia villosa Roth), compared with continuous corn. Field studies were conducted from 1991 through 1994 at two southern Minnesota locations on a poorly drained Webster clay loam (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Typic Endoaquoll) soil. At Freeborn, corn grown in rotation with soybean yielded highest (6.8 Mg ha -1 ) in 2 of 3 yr, while continuous corn usually yielded less than corn grown after other crops. Corn grown after other crops accumulated 23 to 36 kg ha -1 more N than continuous corn in 2 of 3 yr at all fertilizer-N rates up to 135 kg N ha -1 . At Waseca, corn grain yields and N uptake were generally similar among rotations, except that yields were 1.5 to 1.9 Mg ha -1 lower and total N uptake was 16 to 18 kg ha -1 less following wheat alone in 2 of 3 yr, compared with other rotations at fertilizer-N rates up to 135 kg N ha -1 . Regression analysis indicated that significant, positive, non-N-related rotation effects were present at Freeborn, but not at Waseca, where there was a negative effect of wheat alone on subsequent corn yield. The potential fertilizer-N savings due to including annual alfalfa or hairy vetch could not be calculated because the N rates used in this study were insufficient to determine the economically optimum N rate. However, neither the alfalfa nor hairy vetch provided a consistent source of available N for the subsequent corn crop in this study.
The structure and energetics of singlet, closed-shell [B, C, F, H2]: Simplicity resulting in diversity

Abstract In the current paper, we discuss our high level quantum chemical results for the structure and energetics of singlet (closed-shell) isomers corresponding to the stoichiometry of one boron, carbon, and fluorine apiece, and two hydrogens. While the ketene- and diazomethane-like H 2 C B F plausibly emerges as the most stable isomer, a variety of novel structural features emerge for the assembled energy minima. All of these species are compared as well as transition states that connect them. Comparison is also made with corresponding forms of the aforementioned ketene and diazomethane to which our species are isoelectronic, as well as with our earlier studied [B, C, F, H 3 ] + which may be recognized as the protonated counterparts of the species of direct interest in this study.
Acoustic Behavior of a Partially-Premixed Gas Turbine Model Combustor

Combustion instabilities in gas turbine engines often give rise to acoustic resonances. These resonances occur as manifestations of different acoustic modes, of which a single or multiple modes may be present. In this work, the acoustic behavior of a model gas turbine combustor, developed at DLR Stuttgart by Meier, was investigated using both syn(thetic) gas and standard hydrocarbon fuels. Syngas displayed significantly different behavior than hydrocarbon fuels, even when the laminar flame speeds of the fuels were matched. The following operating parameters were systematically varied: equivalence ratio, air mass flow rate, burner temperature, flame speed, and fuel type. The results did not correspond to any one known instability mechanism. It is concluded that, in the current burner configuration, integrated-acoustics occur that involve a combination of mechanisms. These include organ tone resonances, Helmholtz-type instability, and convective-acoustic effects. Another possible factor is the fluid mechanical switching observed between the two swirler air passages, due to blockage caused by flame position and shape. Flame characteristics such as anchoring and liftoff height appear to play a major role in the determination of instability strength. As hydrogen content in syngas is increased, a lifted flame eventually anchors, resulting in a drastic decrease in the acoustic amplitude associated with non-resonating flames. Thus, increasing the flame speed causes two competing effects to occur. Propane acoustic data are collapsed using scaling parameters that indicate that the burner temperature and the air mass flow effects behave independently.
COMPARISON OF PREFERENCES OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND PARENTS FOR HEALTH OUTCOMES OF NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE. † 1654

COMPARISON OF PREFERENCES OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND PARENTS FOR HEALTH OUTCOMES OF NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE. † 1654
A mutation in the receiver domain of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens transcriptional regulator VirG increases its affinity for operator DNA

Summary We fused the wild-type Agrobacterium tumefaciens virG gene and the constitutive virGN54D allele to the malE gene of Escherichia coli, and studied the binding of MBP—VirG fusions to the autoregulated virG promoter. MBP—VirGN54D protein bound this promoter with 10-fold higher affinity than MBP—VirG, and bound to vir box I with eightfold higher affinity than to vir box III. Disruption of vir box III did not alter the affinity for vir box I, suggesting a lack of cooperativity between these sites. We provide evidence that protein bound at a single vir box may have a higher oligomeric state than non-bound protein, and that a DNA distortion adjacent to vir box I may occur during activation.
Upper Ball Joint Force Variations due to Riser Tensioner and Vessel Motions—Part I: Derivation of General Equations

Part one of a study of upper ball joint force variations due to riser tensioner and vessel motions. General equation for the tensioner cable forces and for the forces exerted on the riser upper ball joint by the ship joint-tensioner system are derived. An analysis of the variation of forces acting on the upper ball joint of a riser string due to drill ship motion and riser tensioner dynamic has been conducted. The analysis includes the effect of breakaway torque on the tensioner sheaves while assuming vessel and upper ball joint motion to be independent
A Method for Evaluating Library Liaison Activities in Small Academic Libraries

ABSTRACTThis article presents a practical method for formative, self-reflective assessment of the liaison activities of individual librarians and to evaluate liaison activities in general. Many libraries evaluate their liaison programs, but few evaluate the effectiveness of individual librarians’ efforts within the program. Librarians of Rollins College redefined and re-branded their liaison program as “Your Librarian.” As part of this effort, the author surveyed the faculty and assessed the program and the effectiveness of individual librarians. The author outlines the liaison responsibilities, the survey instrument, and how the results are analyzed and used in a process of continuous reflective improvement for the program and librarians.
Supercontinuum generation in tapered rib waveguide

We have designed a tapered rib waveguide and numerically studied the generation of supercontinuum using such waveguides. The Air-SF57 glass-SiO 2 waveguide is 2 cm long, with a varying etched depth to manage the total dispersion. Numerical simulations are conducted for input pulses at a wavelength of 1550 nm. The proposed waveguide geometry greatly broadens the output spectrum extending from ~1000 nm to ~ 4600 nm at -30 dB level, caused by continuous modification of the phase matching condition for dispersive wave emission. The coherence property has also been investigated, demonstrating that fully coherent supercontinuum can be obtained with proper pumping conditions.
Archaeological perspectives on prehistoric conservation in western North America

The archaeological record represents a potentially critical source of information on past relationships between human hunters and populations of game animals. Archaeological research in the last 40–50 years has produced two alternative views on these relationships: one that Native people were knowledgeable, benevolent conservators of game and an alternative that suggests that they depleted and suppressed game populations through overhunting. A brief review of the history of this research shows that neither position is well-supported by empirical facts and that researchers have demonstrated a certain overzealousness in attempting to support one or the other of these interpretations. The facts are that after more than 13,000 years of non-conservative hunting, game populations were still extremely high across North America. This suggests that populations of Native hunters were relatively low, and that the former productivity of North American ecosystems may be under-estimated by modern conservators.
The Influence of Top Management Team and External Environmental Characteristics on Market Orientation and Performance in Service Firms: A Test and Refinement of a Causal Model

ABSTRACT This paper explores the interactive relationships among top management team variables, external environmental characteristics, market orientation, and organizational performance. Using a sample of 289 senior managers from 67 service firms, a theoretical model derived from the marketing, organization theory, and strategy literature is tested and refined via a LISREL approach.
Mass eigenfunction expansions for the relativistic Kepler problem and arbitrary static magnetic field in relativistic quantum theory

We investigate the existence of orthogonality and completeness relations for the eigenvalue problem associated with the differential operator Λ=−ΠμΠμ −ieσ ⋅ (E+iB), Πμ=−i ∂μ−eAμ. The operator Λ acts on 2×1 Pauli‐type spinor fields defined over all Minkowski space, and may be interpreted as the square of the mass of a charged Dirac particle moving in an external c‐number electromagnetic field. We show that Λ is self‐adjoint with respect to the not positive‐definite inner product (φb; φa)=∫ d4x φbφa, where φb is defined as φb=φ†b(−iΠ↙4−σ⋅Π↙). A proof is provided for the Coulomb case that the mass eigenfunctions form a complete set in spite of the indefinite metric in Hilbert space. The mass eigenfunction expansion of the propagator is worked out explicitly for the Kepler case. This mass eigenfunction expansion is expected to be quite useful for bound state calculations in quantum electrodynamics, since it involves the covariant denominators (m′)2−(m)2.
Ultra low-dose chest CT using filtered back projection: comparison of 80-, 100- and 120 kVp protocols in a prospective randomized study.

Abstract Purpose To assess lesion detection and diagnostic image quality of filtered back projection (FBP) reconstruction technique in ultra low-dose chest CT examinations. Methods and materials In this IRB-approved ongoing prospective clinical study, 116 CT-image-series at four different radiation-doses were performed for 29 patients (age, 57–87 years; F:M – 15:12; BMI 16–32kg/m 2 ). All patients provided written-informed-consent for the acquisitions of additional ultra low-dose (ULD) series on a 256-slice MDCT (iCT, Philips Healthcare). In-addition to their clinical standard-dose chest CT (SD, 120kV mean CTDI vol , 6±1mGy), ULD-CT was subsequently performed at three-dose-levels (0.9mGy [120kV]; 0.5mGy [100kV] and 0.2mGy [80kV]). Images were reconstructed with FBP (2.5mm*1.25mm) resulting into four-stacks: SD-FBP (reference-standard), FBP 0.9 , FBP 0.5 , and FBP 0.2 . Four thoracic-radiologists from two-teaching-hospitals independently-evaluated data for lesion-detection and visibility-of-small-structures. Friedman's-non-parametric-test with post hoc Dunn's-test was used for data-analysis. Results Interobserver-agreement was substantial between radiologists ( k =0.6–0.8). With pooled analysis, 146-pulmonary (27-groundglass-opacities, 64-solid-lung-nodules, 7-consolidations, 27-emphysema) and 347-mediastinal/soft tissue lesions (87-mediastinal, 46-hilar, 62-axillary-lymph-nodes, and 11-mediastinal-masses) were evaluated. Compared to the SD-FBP, 100% pulmonary-lesions were seen with FBP 0.9 , up to 81% with FBP 0.5 (missed: 4), and up to 30% with FBP 0.2 images (missed:16). Compared to SD-FBP, all enlarged mediastinal-lymph-nodes were seen with FBP 0.9 images. All mediastinal-masses (>2cm, 11/11) were seen equivalent to SD-FBP images at 0.9mGy. Across all sizes of patients, FBP 0.9 images had optimal visualization for lung findings. They were optimal for mediastinal soft tissues for only non-obese patients. Conclusion Filtered-back-projection technique allows optimal lesion detection and acceptable image quality for chest-CT examinations at CDTI vol of 0.9mGy for lung and mediastinal findings in selected sizes of patients.
Separating foliar physiology from morphology reveals the relative roles of vertically structured transpiration factors within red maple crowns and limitations of larger scale models

A spatially explicit mechanistic model, MAESTRA, was used to separate key parameters affecting transpiration to provide insights into the most influential parameters for accurate predictions of within-crown and within-canopy transpiration. Once validated among Acer rubrum L. genotypes, model responses to different parameterization scenarios were scaled up to stand transpiration (expressed per unit leaf area) to assess how transpiration might be affected by the spatial distribution of foliage properties. For example, when physiological differences were accounted for, differences in leaf width among A. rubrum L. genotypes resulted in a 25% difference in transpiration. An in silico within-canopy sensitivity analysis was conducted over the range of genotype parameter variation observed and under different climate forcing conditions. The analysis revealed that seven of 16 leaf traits had a >5% impact on transpiration predictions. Under sparse foliage conditions, comparisons of the present findings with previous studies were in agreement that parameters such as the maximum Rubisco-limited rate of photosynthesis can explain ;20% of the variability in predicted transpiration. However, the spatial analysis shows how such parameters can decrease or change in importance below the uppermost canopy layer. Alternatively, model sensitivity to leaf width and minimum stomatal conductance was continuous along a vertical canopy depth profile. Foremost, transpiration sensitivity to an observed range of morphological and physiological parameters is examined and the spatial sensitivity of transpiration model predictions to vertical variations in microclimate and foliage density is identified to reduce the uncertainty of current transpiration predictions.