cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Wind Tunnel Experiments to Study Chaparral Crown Fires

The present protocol presents a laboratory technique designed to study chaparral crown fire ignition and spread. Experiments were conducted in a low velocity fire wind tunnel where two distinct layers of fuel were constructed to represent surface and crown fuels in chaparral. Chamise, a common chaparral shrub, comprised the live crown layer. The dead fuel surface layer was constructed with excelsior (shredded wood). We developed a methodology to measure mass loss, temperature, and flame height for both fuel layers. Thermocouples placed in each layer estimated temperature. A video camera captured the visible flame. Post-processing of digital imagery yielded flame characteristics including height and flame tilt. A custom crown mass loss instrument developed in-house measured the evolution of the mass of the crown layer during the burn. Mass loss and temperature trends obtained using the technique matched theory and other empirical studies. In this study, we present detailed experimental procedures and information about the instrumentation used. The representative results for the fuel mass loss rate and temperature filed within the fuel bed are also included and discussed.
Multimodel Surface Temperature Responses to Removal of U.S. Sulfur Dioxide Emissions

Three Earth System models are used to derive surface temperature responses to removal of U.S. anthropogenic SO2 emissions. Using multi-century perturbation runs with and without U.S. anthropogenic SO2 emissions, the local and remote surface temperature changes are estimated. In spite of a temperature drift in the control and large internal variability, 200-year simulations yield statistically significant regional surface temperature responses to the removal of U.S. SO2 emissions. Both local and remote surface temperature changes occur in all models, and the patterns of changes are similar between models for Northern Hemisphere land regions. We find a global average temperature sensitivity to U.S. SO2 emissions of 0.0055 K per Tg(SO2) per year with a range of [0.0036, 0.0078]. We examine global and regional responses in SO4 burdens, aerosol optical depths (AOD), and effective radiative forcing (ERF). While changes in AOD and ERF are concentrated near the source region (U.S.), the temperature response is spread over the northern hemisphere with amplification of the temperature increase towards the Arctic. In all models, we find a significant response of dust concentrations, which affects the AOD but has no obvious effect on surface temperature. Temperature sensitivity to the effective radiative forcing of U.S. SO2 emissions is found to differ from the models’ sensitivity to radiative forcing of doubled CO2.
Stop-gaps, lip service, and the perceived futility of body-worn police officer cameras in Baltimore City

Body-worn cameras (BWCs) are touted as a much-needed remedy to address police misconduct. Proponents argue that BWCs can serve not only as an accountability instrument, but that their use will lowe...
Spectrum of Tc99m-HDP SPECT/CT findings in benign and malignant bone conditions: Additional or redundant information?

1064 Learning Objectives 1. Understand the additional value of combined Tc99m-HDP SPECT/CT evaluation in benign and malignant conditions. 2. Recognize different imaging patterns of uptake and its correlation with anatomical bone findings in the corresponding CT scan images. 3. Demonstrate different clinical scenarios where Tc99m-HDP SPECT/CT is most useful. Whole body Bone Scintigraphy has been an established sensitive method for evaluation of bone pathology. However, it lacks specificity and adequate anatomical correlation, even when SPECT technique is used. Bone Scintigraphy SPECT/CT has emerged as an important modality in the diagnosis of benign and malignant osseous conditions. When SPECT/CT is used, the benefit of precise anatomic localization of the radiotracer uptake and the corresponding CT appearance may help clarify the nature of an abnormality. Despite increasing clinical usage and experience during the last few years, the SPECT/CT features of many osseous conditions have not been fully described. Many nuclear medicine physicians, radiologists and orthopedic surgeons are still becoming familiar with the Tc99m-HDP SPECT/CT imaging patterns. Our goal is to demonstrate different examples of benign and malignant conditions on Tc99m-HDP SPECT/CT, focusing on the additive value of this method and its correlation with clinical information and other imaging modalities. We will use a variety of cases collected in our institution, including, among others: osteoarthritis, undifferentiated connective tissue disease, stress fracture, temporo-mandibular joint disease, prostate cancer metastasis, heterotopic ossification, osteosarcoma, spine paraganglioma and spine hardware. The key points of this exhibit are: (1) Tc99m-HDP SPECT/CT has an additive value over Whole Body Bone Scintigraphy and SPECT. (2) SPECT/CT findings can help differentiate among bone pathologies in several clinical scenarios (3) Clinical information is key to interpret Bone SPECT/CT scintigraphic findings correctly
AKIN: a streaming graph partitioning algorithm for distributed graph storage systems

Many graph-related applications face the challenge of managing excessive and ever-growing graph data in a distributed environment. Therefore, it is necessary to consider a graph partitioning algorithm to distribute graph data onto multiple machines as the data comes in. Balancing data distribution and minimizing edge-cut ratio are two basic pursuits of the graph partitioning problem. While achieving balanced partitions for streaming graphs is easy, existing graph partitioning algorithms either fail to work on streaming workloads, or leave edge-cut ratio to be further improved. Our research aims to provide a better solution that fits the need of streaming graph partitioning in a distributed system, which further reduces the edge-cut ratio while maintaining rough balance among all partitions. We exploit the similarity measure on the degree of vertices to gather structural-related vertices in the same partition as much as possible, this reduces the edge-cut ratio even further as compared to the state-of-the-art streaming graph partitioning algorithm - FENNEL. Our evaluation shows that our streaming graph partitioning algorithm is able to achieve better partitioning quality in terms of edge-cut ratio (up to 20% reduction as compared to FENNEL) while maintaining decent balance between all partitions, and such improvement applies to various real-life graphs.
Effects of substance abuse on hallucination rates and treatment responses in chronic psychiatric patients.

BACKGROUND Few data systematically document the effects of illicit drug exposure on psychotic illness. We examined the effect of substance abuse on rates and treatment responses of hallucinations in a chronic psychiatric population. METHOD 113 cooperative patients consecutively admitted to a state psychiatric hospital were administered the Structured Clinical Diagnostic Interview for DSM-III-R, a Hallucination Interview, and an inventory of past and current substances of abuse. Demographic information was obtained on 104 of 108 patients who declined interview. Medication dosage was analyzed for one third of the interviewed sample; hospital records, nursing reports, contacts with relatives, and urine drug screens were used to confirm information from patient interviews. Hallucination rates and response were compared by diagnostic groups (chi-square). RESULTS Noninterviewed patients had more frequent hospitalizations, more patients diagnosed with psychosis not otherwise specified or schizoaffective disorder, and fewer females with comorbid substance abuse than the study population. Among interviewed subjects, those with substance abuse and psychiatric illness had first admissions at an earlier age than patients with no substance abuse (p = .005). Schizophrenics experienced higher rates of visual (p = .04) and olfactory (p = .05) hallucinations when using illicit drugs. Substance abuse was associated with decreased treatment responsiveness of auditory (p < .03) and tactile (p < .004) hallucinations in schizophrenic or manic patients. Compared with nonparanoid patients, there was a trend for paranoid schizophrenics with substance abuse to experience more frequent visual (p = .09) and tactile (p = .06) and more refractory auditory (p = .08) hallucinations. No differences in medication dosages were found between patients with treatment-responsive and treatment-refractory hallucinations. CONCLUSIONS Abused substances may interact selectively with primary psychiatric illness to increase rates and treatment resistance of specific hallucination modalities; etiologies are discussed.
Incidence and outcomes of lymphoid malignancies in adolescent and young adult patients in the United States.

Lymphoma incidence and survival in adolescent and young adult (AYA, defined as 15-39 years of age) and adult patients (>39 years) were assessed using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data. From 2000 to 2014, 431 721 lymphoma cases were reported to SEER, 9% in AYA patients. In the AYA group, the highest age-adjusted incidence rate was for classical Hodgkin lymphoma [HL; 3·4 per 100 000 person-years; 95% confidence interval (CI), 3·38-3·49] followed by diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL; 1·56, 95% CI, 1·53-1·60) and for adults, it was plasma cell neoplasms (14·17, 95% CI, 14·07-14·27), DLBCL (13·86, 95% CI, 13·76-13·96) and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL; 13·19, 95% CI, 13·09-13·29). HL comprised 42% of lymphoma cases for AYAs, but only 4% in adults. The occurrence of DLBCL among AYAs and adults was similar, 18% and 20%, respectively. Twenty-eight percent of AYAs compared with 9% of adults presented with stage II disease, and 21% of AYAs compared with 10% of adults had B-symptoms. Extranodal disease was less common (33%) in AYAs than adults (59%). Overall, AYA patients with lymphoma have better 2- and 5-year relative survival rates (RSRs) compared to adults. When restricted to HL and DLBCL, RSR of AYA patients exceeds adult RSR.
Feather growth rate increases with latitude in four species of widespread resident Neotropical birds

ABSTRACT The pace of life history events varies with latitude in many taxa. In birds, especially, life history events tend to be protracted in the tropics. This pattern is likely the result of reduced seasonality in resources and changes in trade-offs associated with risk of mortality. In general, animals invest more in reproduction per attempt and less in adult survival at higher latitudes. Feather growth is a major investment that birds make in their own survival, but geographic patterns of feather growth have received very little study. Evidence from separate studies of molt timing in individual species suggests that high-latitude species complete molt faster than tropical birds. Within species, feathers that are grown more quickly tend to show lower structural integrity than feathers grown more slowly, but seasonality of resources may place temporal constraints on the pace of feather growth. I hypothesized that increased seasonality of resources or decreased investment in adult survival in relation to...
Bandolera: Limits and Possibilities of Period Telenovelas

Lopez performs a close analysis of the television series Bandolera (Diagonal TV, 2011–2013) as a case study of the evolution of the telenovela genre within the global entertainment market of the twenty-first century. She identifies the ideological thrust—liberal social politics—driving the story as well as conspicuous parallels between the time represented onscreen (1882–1887) and that of the show’s broadcast (2011–2013) in terms of class conflict, gender issues, and gay rights. Lopez shows that while the setting provides a credible backdrop for the bandolero theme and generates certain storylines, Bandolera does not engage the past significantly. Rather, the past functions mostly as a scrim for the representation of traditional telenovela conflicts that draw large audiences in the present, securing marketability for the product.
Committed to STEM? Examining Factors that Predict Occupational Commitment among Asian and White Female Students Completing STEM U.S. Postsecondary Programs

Although it is well known that women have relatively high rates of attrition from STEM occupations in the United States, there is limited empirical research on the views and experiences of female STEM degree-earners that may underlie their commitment to their chosen fields. Utilizing survey data from 229 women completing STEM degrees at two U.S. universities, the present study examines how perceptions of occupational affordances and interactions with others in the field predict their occupational STEM commitment. Additionally, the study employs an intersectional lens to consider whether the patterns of association are different for Asian women and White women. Multivariate regression analyses reveal that although communal goal affordances do not significantly predict women’s occupational STEM commitment, agentic goal affordances are a strong predictor of such commitment. Regarding experiences with others in the field, results reveal that classmate interactions are not associated with STEM commitment, whereas positive faculty interactions do significantly predict such commitment. However, further analyses reveal racial differences in these patterns because agentic goal affordances are much weaker predictors of occupational STEM commitment for Asian women than for White women, and results indicate that faculty interactions are significant predictors of STEM commitment only for White women. Thus, our results strongly suggest that the theoretical models of motivation and support that underlie much of the discussion around women in STEM do not similarly apply to women from all racial backgrounds and that more research is needed that considers how both gender and race simultaneously shape STEM engagement and persistence.
Repetition, response mobilization, and face: Analysis of group interactions with a 19-year-old with Asperger syndrome.

Abstract This Conversation Analytic study examined the talk of an adolescent with Asperger syndrome (under previously used diagnostic criteria), Nathan, as he interacts with peers in a small group setting. We focused on Nathan's repetition aimed at pursuing response, and rely on analytical frameworks including response mobilization, face-work, and agreement preference. We found that while Nathan's repetitions resembled ‘topic perseveration’ previously described in the literature, they showed evidence of interactional awareness as they were employed when peers offered little or no response to his original utterance. However, we also found that while much of Nathan's talk was sophisticatedly structured, his repetition to pursue response eschewed interaction rituals that work to maintain social cohesion. As a result, Nathan's interactional priorities appeared mis-aligned with those of his peers, and failed to produce extended interactions in most cases. Learning outcomes: Readers will be able to describe features of conversational interaction, including response mobilization, agreement preference, and face work. They will understand the relevance of conversation analysis to the study of interaction in individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Lastly, they will be able to describe the conditions under which the subject used repetition within peer interactions, and the effects of his repetition on interaction.
An ethnographic study of 'touristic escapism' and health vulnerability among Dominican male tourism workers.

ABSTRACTHealth research on tourism has expanded over the past two decades, focusing on understanding how the social, economic, and political configuration of tourism zones might contribute to healt...
Acoustic black hole in 2 + 1 dimensions as a particle accelerator

In this paper, we have studied particle collision around a rotating acoustic black hole in 2 + 1 dimensions. This black hole is analog to a fluid flow in a draining bath tub with a sink. Center of ...
Healthcare Ethics Consultant Certification: The Big Picture

For decades, the bioethics community has debated the utility and appropriateness of creating standards for the field of healthcare ethics consultation. Indeed, when the American Society for Bioethi...
The Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis of Chronic Abdominal Wall Pain

Objective To study the clinical character , diagnosis and differential diagnosis procedures of chronic abdominal wall pain( CAWP ).Methods:Observe and analysize on 27 CAWP patients and tell its difference from the pain resulted from the abdominal internals. Results 1.The main reasons of CAWP is neurogenic( n=18,67% ) , such as the entrapment of intercoastal nerve , postherpetic pain , neuritis caused by diabetic, etal.2.Myofascial pain of abdominal wall is secondatory ( n=7, 26% ).3.the other reasons is rare ( n=2, 7% ).The characteristics of CAWP were local abdominal pain related to posture, positive Carnette,Hover, Tinel s signs, local pain point blocking is effective.Conclusion The diagnosis and differential diagnosis of CAWP depended mostly the health record, clinical expression and radiology. The doctors were required to have better medical knowledge. Key words: Chronic abdominal wall pain; Diagnosis; Differential diagnosis
Dexmedetomidine reduces the amount of benzodiazepines and opioids administered during moderate conscious sedation for dental treatment.

AIM To assess the efficacy of dexmedetomidine (DEX) on the intravenous moderate sedation (IVMS) regimen, while treating patients of the special patient care (SPC) population. This study aims to incorporate DEX into the typical IVMS drug regimen in order to reduce the amount of benzodiazepines (BZD) and opioids administered and as a result reduce the amount of unwanted side effects. METHOD AND RESULTS A retrospective study was performed in the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) SPC Clinic, where 42 patients were seen with and without DEX for dental treatment under IVMS. Medications administered, vital signs, and complications were recorded at 5 minute intervals over the first hour. All BZDs and opioids were converted to their IV midazolam and IV fentanyl equivalents, respectively. An opioid conversion equation was developed to summate the total amount of anesthetic agents administered. Data were analyzed by t-test. The amount of BZDs administered was reduced, however the decrease was not statistically significant (P = .066). There was a significant reduction in opioids (P < .05) and total anesthetic agents (P < .05) administered. CONCLUSION The addition of DEX to the anesthetic regimen results in a reduction of overall medications administered.
A snapshot review on exciton engineering in deformed 2D materials

Most optoelectronic characteristics of two-dimensional (2D) materials are associated with excitonic effects. Excitonic effects in 2D material have been intensively investigated, and various efforts to engineer exciton behavior in 2D materials have been reported for advanced nanophotonic and optoelectronic applications. Excitons in 2D semiconductors can be controlled by external stimuli, including mechanical, electrical, thermal, and magnetic stimuli. Mechanical stimuli applied to a 2D material can generate uniform or non-uniform deformation and strain gradient in the 2D lattice, which creates a strain-induced bandgap energy gradient in the 2D material. In an inhomogeneous bandgap energy gradient generated by a non-uniform strain gradient, excitons drift across the energy gradient. Exciton engineering in deformed 2D materials aims to control exciton movement by mechanical strain. In this snapshot review, we focus on exciton engineering in a mechanically deformed 2D material and their potential towards advanced optoelectronic and photonic applications.
Time-inhomogeneous Quantum Walks with Decoherence on Discrete Infinite Spaces

In quantum computation theory, quantum random walks have been utilized by many quantum search algorithms which provide improved performance over their classical counterparts. However, due to the importance of the quantum decoherence phenomenon, decoherent quantum walks and their applications have been studied on a wide variety of structures. Recently, a unified time-inhomogeneous coin-turning random walk with rescaled limiting distributions, Bernoulli, uniform, arcsine and semi-circle laws as parameter varies have been obtained. In this paper we study the quantum analogue of these models. We obtained a representation theorem for time-inhomogeneous quantum walk on discrete infinite state space. Additionally, the convergence of the distributions of the decoherent quantum walks are numerically estimated as an application of the representation theorem, and the convergence in distribution of the quantum analogues of Bernoulli, uniform, arcsine and semicircle laws are statistically analyzed.
In vitro and in vivo activity of DHES0815A, an antibody-drug conjugate targeting HER2/neu in uterine serous carcinoma

Objectives: Uterine serous carcinoma (USC) is an aggressive histologic variant of endometrial cancer which portends a poor prognosis. DHES0815A is a novel antibody-drug-conjugate (ADC) which binds specifically to HER2-amplified USC tumors at a distinct epitope from that bound by trastuzumab, pertuzumab, and T-DM1 (trastuzumab emtansine) after which it delivers the toxic payload, PBD-MA, a DNA mono-alkylating agent. The objective of this study was to evaluate the preclinical activity of DHES0815A as a single agent against primary USC cell lines and xenografts. Methods: Twelve primary USC cell lines were assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) for HER2 protein expression and for C-erbB2 gene amplification using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. Cell viability in USC primary cell lines after exposure to DHES0815A, the non-targeted ADC, the unconjugated antibody MHES0488A, and T-DM1 were evaluated using flow cytometry-based-assays. in vivo activity of these respective agents was tested against HER2/neu overexpressing USC (ARK2) xenografts. Results: High HER2/neu protein expression by IHC and C-erbB2 gene amplification by FISH was seen in 25% (3/12) of the primary USC cell lines. Primary tumor cell lines overexpressing HER2/neu were significantly more sensitive to DHES0815A when compared to the non-targeted control ADC (p Conclusions: DHES0815A as a single agent is both highly selective and toxic to USC tumors overexpressing HER2/neu both in vitro and in vivo. HER2-directed ADCs, alone or in combination with other HER2/neu targeted agents may represent a novel and less toxic treatment option for patients with tumors harboring HER2/neu overexpression refractory to trastuzumab and traditional chemotherapy.
Dual Receptor-Targeted Theranostic Nanoparticles for Localized Delivery and Activation of Photodynamic Therapy Drug in Glioblastomas

Targeting gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with two or more receptor binding peptides has been proposed to address intratumoral heterogeneity of glioblastomas that overexpress multiple cell surface receptors to ultimately improve therapeutic efficacy. AuNPs conjugated with peptides against both the epidermal growth factor and transferrin receptors and loaded with the photosensitizer phthalocyanine 4 (Pc 4) have been designed and compared with monotargeted AuNPs for in vitro and in vivo studies. The (EGFpep+Tfpep)-AuNPs-Pc 4 with a particle size of ∼41 nm improved both specificity and worked synergistically to decrease time of maximal accumulation in human glioma cells that overexpressed two cell surface receptors as compared to cells that overexpressed only one. Enhanced cellular association and increased cytotoxicity were achieved. In vivo studies show notable accumulation of these agents in the brain tumor regions.
Manipulating Matrix Inequalities Automatically

Matrix inequalities have come to be extremely important in systems engineering in the past decade. This is because many systems problems convert directly into matrix inequalities.
Isolated Lymphoid Follicle Formation Is Inducible and Dependent Upon Lymphotoxin-Sufficient B Lymphocytes, Lymphotoxin β Receptor, and TNF Receptor I Function

The gastrointestinal mucosa contains a complex network of lymphoid compartments that have evolved to efficiently protect the host from invading pathogens. Recently, an additional lymphoid structure resembling Peyer's patches (PP) in composition and architecture has been identified in the murine small intestine, the isolated lymphoid follicle (ILF). In this study we examine the nature and factors required for ILF formation. We observed a spectrum of structures fitting the previous descriptions of ILFs, ranging from clusters of B220(+) cells (which we have termed immature ILFs) to well-organized lymphoid nodules (which we have termed mature ILFs). Here we demonstrate that that similar to PP formation, ILF formation requires lymphotoxin (LT)- and LT beta receptor-dependent events. However unlike PP formation, the LT- and LT beta receptor-dependent events required for ILF formation can occur in adulthood and require LT-sufficient B lymphocytes. We demonstrate that mature ILF formation occurs in response to lumenal stimuli, including normal bacterial flora, and requires TNF receptor I function. These findings suggest that ILFs are organized intestinal lymphoid structures whose formation can be induced and whose mass can be expanded in response to mucosal challenges.
Cerebellar astrocytoma in childhood.

Thirty-four children with cerebellar astrocytoma have been treated at Children9s Medical Center in Boston during the last 7 years. There was no operative mortality. The case mortality to date is 5.8 per cent. Thirty-two of the thirty-four children are alive and free of increased intracranial pressure. Six have moderate and 2 have severe [See FIG. 8. in Source Pdf] neurological disturbance in the form of residual ataxia and cranial nerve disturbances. The other 24 patients are leading normal lives, and show no abnormality on neurological examination. The importance and desirability of early recognition and complete one-stage surgical removal of cerebellar astrocytomas, which represent 20 per cent of all intracranial tumors of childhood, is emphasized by the high rate of cure which can be achieved. It is estimated that the rate of cure for this intracranial tumor should be about 90 per cent. Significant neurological disturbance should probably not persist in more than 15 to 20 per cent of these patients.
Component customization for object-oriented distributed real-time software development

To apply the component-based approach to distributed real-time software development, it is necessary to identify components based on both functional and real-time requirements. Since a component may be acquired from external sources, it becomes necessary during integration to ensure that a component satisfies the real-time requirements of the target application software. Since these requirements vary, customizable so that during integration it can adapt itself to the specific real-time requirements of the target-distributed software. To facilitate such activities, it is preferable to have components that are capable of performing self-customization using a set of built-in services. In this paper, an object-oriented real-time component framework and two built-in customization services are presented to address the specified issues.
Proton spin-lattice relaxation in MBDBP

We have measured the proton spin-lattice relaxation rate R in 4,4′-methylenebis(2,6-di-t-butylphenol) (MBDBP) and MBDBP-OD (deuteriated hydroxyl proton) between 88 K and 380 K. The experimental results are compared with those from a previous study in the closely related but simpler molecule 4-methyl-2,6-di-t-butylphenol (MDBP). The present experiment is analysed in terms of relaxation resulting from intramolecular reorientation modulation of the proton spin-spin interaction. This intramolecular reorientation involves different combinations of superpositions of methyl, t-butyl, aromatic ring and hydroxyl group reorientation and a discussion is presented concerning the effects on the relaxation of superimposing these motions. The MBDBP-OD data is best fitted with the assumption that only methyl and aromatic ring reorientations occur. In MBDBP it is found that, in addition, an OH flip-flop motion is superimposed on the aromatic ring reorientation.
Aero -Thermodynamics for Conceptual Design

A software tool for the prediction of the aero -thermodynamic environments of conceptual aerospace configurations is presented. The vehic le geometry is defined using unstructured, triangulated surface meshes. For subsonic Mach numbers a fast, unstructured, multi -pole panel code is coupled with a streamline tracing formulation to define the viscous surface solution. For supersonic and hypers onic Mach numbers, various independent panel methods are coupled with the streamline tracing formulation, an attachment line detection method , and stagnation -attachment line heating models to define the viscous aero -thermal environment.
Seasonal differences in xanthophyll cycle characteristics and antioxidants in Mahonia repens growing in different light environments.

We investigated differences between summer and winter in photosynthesis, xanthophyll cycle-dependent energy dissipation, and antioxidant systems in populations of Mahonia repens (Lindley) Don growing in the eastern foothills of the Colorado Rocky Mountains in deep shade, full exposure, and under a single-layered canopy of Pinus ponderosa (partially shaded). In summer, increasing growth irradiance (from deep shade to partial shade to full exposure) was associated with increased xanthophyll cycle-dependent energy dissipation in PSII and an increased capacity to detoxify reactive reduced oxygen species, as measured by increases in the activities of ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide scavenging, glutathione reductase, and monodehydroascorbate reductase, as well as increases in leaf ascorbate and glutathione content. Leaves of exposed and partially shaded plants exhibited decreased capacities for photosynthetic O2 evolution in winter compared to summer, while in the deeply shaded plants this parameter did not differ seasonally. Seasonal differences in the levels of antioxidants generally exhibited an inverse response to photosynthesis, being higher in winter compared to summer in the exposed and partially shaded populations, but remaining unchanged in the deeply shaded population. In addition, total pool size and conversion state of the xanthophyll cycle were higher in winter than in summer in all populations. These trends suggest that both xanthophyll cycle-dependent energy dissipation in PSII and the capacity to detoxify reactive reduced oxygen species responded to the level of excess light absorption.
Study of the cellular solidification structure in a continuously cast high purity copper

The aim of this paper is to characterize the principal microstructural features of continuously cast high purity copper (99.999 pct Cu), particularly those which might influence high temperature creep. This material contains a cellular solidification structure resulting from impurity segregation due to constitutional supercooling of the melt during solidification. This structure could not be eliminated from the solid copper by thermomechanical treatment. The grown-in structure was studied using optical and electron metallography as well as etch-pitting techniques. In the as-cast material a loose network of dislocation tangles was observed, and in certain locations, preferential etching attack. In addition, small voids were found within the dislocation tangles. Thermomechanical treatment eliminated the dislocation tangles almost entirely, but left locations susceptible to preferential etching attack. At those locations impurities were probably concentrated into zones of a size of a few 1000A. From solubility and concentration considerations, small precipitates (less than 80A in size) or clusters of carbon are suspected.
An Online Self-Learning Algorithm for License Plate Matching

License plate recognition (LPR) technology is a mature yet imperfect technology used for automated toll collection and speed enforcement. The portion of license plates that can be correctly recognized and matched at two separate stations is typically in the range of 35% or less. Existing methods for improving the matching of plates recognized by LPR units rely on intensive manual data reduction, such that the misread plates are manually entered into the system. Recently, an advanced matching technique that combines Bayesian probability and Levenshtein text-mining techniques was proposed to increase the accuracy of automated license plate matching. The key component of this method is what we called the association matrix, which contains the conditional probabilities of observing one character at one station for a given observed character at another station. However, the estimation of the association matrix relies on the manually extracted ground truth of a large number of plates, which is a cumbersome and tedious process. To overcome this drawback, in this study, we propose an ingenious novel self-learning algorithm that eliminates the need for extracting ground truth manually. These automatically learned association matrices are found to perform well in the correctness in plate matching, in comparison with those generated from the painstaking manual method. Furthermore, these automatically learned association matrices outperform their manual counterparts in reducing false matching rates. The automatic self-learning method is also cheaper and easier to implement and continues to improve and correct itself over time.
Single versus multiple species management: native fishes in Arizona

Abstract The question of single vs. multiple species management of threatened and endangered fishes is discussed using examples from Arizona, where efforts to conserve native fishes have largely taken a single species, `real' approach. Such a strategy has been dictated by multiple factors including: (1) the interaction between climate and topography – interaction that legislates regional hydrology, (2) marked alteration of historic hydrology by dams, diversion, and groundwater mining, and (3) introduction of non-native species of fishes. However, opportunities for multiple and perhaps `ideal' species management must be continually embraced, despite the increased complexity of the task. In either case, conservation of native fish communities is inseparable from conservation of habitats and will require sustaining the few remaining un-dammed, free-flowing rivers in the State and managing rivers or drainage basins to incorporate (1) sustainable riparian-stream habitats and security of habitats, (2) an ecosystem, watershed or river basin approach, and (3) a cooperative (i.e. interagency), long-term, and vigilant approach.
Influence of compatibiliser blends on mechanical and thermal properties of polymer–clay nanocomposites

The effects of compatibiliser molecular weight, temperature of the first mixing zone of the extruder and nanoclay loading on the mechanical and thermal properties of polymer–clay nanocomposites (PCNs) were investigated. It was found that the molecular weight of the compatibiliser, the temperature of the first mixing zone of the extruder and the nanoclay content have significant effects on the mechanical and thermal properties of the polyethylene–clay nanocomposites. The blending of the high and low molecular weight compatibilisers allowed a more efficient interface between the nanoclay and the polymer matrix. Coupling a more efficient bonding with the high shear in the first mixing zone of the extruder at a low temperature produced an intercalated/exfoliated nanoclay filler resulting in enhanced mechanical properties of the PCNs.
Cloning and Characterization of a Dihydrolipoamide Acetyltransferase (E2) Subunit of the Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex from Arabidopsis thaliana

A cDNA encoding a dihydrolipoamide acetyltransferase (E2) subunit of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex has been isolated from Arabidopsis thaliana. A cell culture cDNA expression library was screened with a monoclonal antibody (JIM 63) raised against nuclear matrix proteins, and four clones were isolated. One of these was 2175 base pairs in length, and it contained an open reading frame with an amino acid sequence and domain structure with strong similarity to the E2s of other eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. The organization and number of functional domains within the Arabidopsis protein are identical to those of the human E2, although the amino acid sequences within these domains are equally similar to those of the yeast and human proteins. The predicted amino acid sequence reveals the presence of a putative amino-terminal leader sequence with characteristics similar to those of other proteins, which are targeted to the plant mitochondrial matrix. The cross-reactivities of plant mitochondrial matrix proteins with JIM 63 and antibodies raised against the E2 and protein X components of eukaryotic pyruvate dehydrogenase complexes are consistent with the clone encoding a mitochondrial form of E2 and not the smaller protein X. The E2 mRNA of 2.2 kilobases was expressed in a range of Arabidopsis and Brassica napus tissues.
Rank-modulation rewriting codes for flash memories

Current flash memory technology is focused on cost minimization of the stored capacity. However, the resulting approach supports a relatively small number of write-erase cycles. This technology is effective for consumer devices (smart-phones and cameras) where the number of write-erase cycles is small, however, it is not economical for enterprise storage systems that require a large number of lifetime writes. Our proposed approach for alleviating this problem consists of the efficient integration of two key ideas: (i) improving reliability and endurance by representing the information using relative values via the rank modulation scheme and (ii) increasing the overall (lifetime) capacity of the flash device via rewriting codes, namely, performing multiple writes per cell before erasure. We propose a new scheme that combines rank-modulation with rewriting. The key benefits of the new scheme include: (i) the ability to store close to 2 bits per cell on each write, and rewrite the memory close to q times, where q is the number of levels in each cell, and (ii) efficient encoding and decoding algorithms that use the recently proposed polar WOM codes.
In/visible bodies: lesbian sexualities and sporting spaces: introduction.

In this special issue, “In/Visible Bodies: Lesbian Sexualities and Sporting Spaces,” we take analytic aim at lesbian sporting spaces and give critical attention to the wider social and cultural con...
Anterior single-screw fixation in 24 patients with Type II odontoid fractures

Abstract Background Fractures of the odontoid process make up 9–15% of adult cervical fractures; Type II odontoid fractures are the most common type. Most patients with these fractures recover after early treatment utilizing the proper surgical approach. Purpose/Aims A retrospective study was performed to evaluate the bone union rate and to identify factors that might contribute to non-union in patients undergoing anterior single-screw fixation for Type II odontoid cervical fractures. Methods From November 2000 to December 2008, 24 patients (16 males, 8 females) underwent anterior single-screw fixation for Type II odontoid cervical fractures. Prior to surgery, all patients had cervical spine radiographs and computed tomographic (CT) scans. Surgery to correct the fractures used the technique of Abfelbaum et al, and fluoroscopy was used to confirm spinal stability. At follow-up, bone fusion was considered successful if trabeculation across the fracture site was seen on lateral radiographic studies. Non-union was confirmed when the fracture line was visible on follow-up lateral radiographic studies. After surgery, all patients were followed at approximately 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and annually thereafter. Results All 24 patients had odontoid fractures confirmed by radiographic films and CT scans. Twenty-three patients had Type II odontoid fractures that were posterior-oblique or horizontal, and one had an anterior oblique fracture. Twenty patients achieved successful fusion. The presence of a lag effect was significantly different between patients who had successful fusion and the four patients with fusion failure. All patients achieved immediate spinal stabilization after surgery and none experienced major neurologic sequelae. Conclusions Anterior single-screw fixation is an effective and safe surgical approach for patients with Type II odontoid fractures. A satisfactory long-term outcome depends upon careful selection of patients for fracture orientation and attention to the technical aspects of surgery.
High-order Nyström implementation of an augmented volume integral equation

Integral equation methods provide an effective approach for solving electromagnetic radiation and scattering problems. For linear homogeneous materials, surface integral equations are commonly applied. However, for nonlinear, high contrast and/or inhomogeneous materials, volume integral equations (VIEs) often provide a more useful alternative. The locally corrected Nystrom (LCN) method provides a scheme for discretizing the VIE formulation. The main advantages of the LCN method over other discretization methods include the ability to easily handle different mesh element types at the same time, and the ability to easily incorporate high-order representations. Moreover, by applying the LCN discretization to the VIE formulation, the material properties can be confined to the diagonal of the system matrix, which significantly reduces the computational costs in cases for which a given geometry with different material properties is of interest. Unfortunately, the regular VIE formulation has a number of limitations. These limitations include poor matrix condition numbers for problems with high contrast materials, and deteriorating performance for problems with complex, multi-scale meshes.
Mutations in the Drosophila Mitochondrial tRNA Amidotransferase, bene/gatA, Cause Growth Defects in Mitotic and Endoreplicating Tissues

Rapid larval growth is essential in the development of most metazoans. In this article, we show that bene, a gene previously identified on the basis of its oogenesis defects, is also required for larval growth and viability. We show that all bene alleles disrupt gatA, which encodes the Drosophila homolog of glutamyl-tRNA(Gln) amidotransferase subunit A (GatA). bene alleles are now referred to as gatA. GatA proteins are highly conserved throughout eukaryotes and many prokaryotes. These enzymes are required for proper translation of the proteins encoded by the mitochondrial genome and by many eubacterial genomes. Mitotic and endoreplicating tissues in Drosophila gatA loss-of-function mutants grow slowly and never achieve wild-type size, and gatA larvae die before pupariation. gatA mutant eye clones exhibit growth and differentiation defects, indicating that gatA expression is required cell autonomously for normal growth. The gatA gene is widely expressed in mitotic and endoreplicating tissues.
Modified MERI5 expression alters cell expansion in transgenic Arabidopsis plants

Abstract MERI5 is one of a series of genes that are preferentially, but not exclusively, expressed in the shoot apical meristem [1]. MERI5 shares homology to xyloglucan endo-transglycosylases that are believed to function in cell expansion. In order to investigate the role of MERI5 in cell epansion and in the shoot apex, transgenic plants designed to over-express the MERI5 cDNA were generated. Transgenic plants were obtained that had both an increase and decrease in the levels of MERI5 mRNA. The reduction in MERI5 mRNA is likely a result of co-suppression. Plants with the same or a reduced amount of MERI5 mRNA had no discernible developmental alterations. In contrast, plants with increased levels of MERI5 transcript had a number of developmental alterations in the shoot and root apices consistent with precocious elongation and/or abnormal expansion. The aberrant expansion at times produced abnormalities in cell proliferation. We suggest several ways that MERI5 expression could directly or indirectly produce these results.
LVIII. Some impedance characteristics of tapped resonant-line circuits

Summary The paper discusses some properties of tapped uniform lines relevant to their use as frequency stabilizing elements in short wave oscillators.
Cigarette smoking and the risk of incident and fatal melanoma in a large prospective cohort study

Objective Previous studies suggest that smoking may be inversely associated with risk of melanoma. We attempted to replicate this finding using data from the Cancer Prevention Study II (CPS-II) and CPS-II Nutrition cohort, two large prospective cohort studies of cancer mortality and incidence, respectively, with long-term follow-up.
Loss of excitability and tension associated with osmotic swelling in the perfused rabbit heart.

Abstract In order to study the response of ventricular muscle cells to a hyposmotic shock, isolated rabbit hearts were perfused via the aorta with a Ringer's solution containing a test solute known to enter the cells. After about 30 min perfusion was switched back to a pure Ringer's solution. During the whole experiment the heart was stimulated at a controlled rate of 90 times a minute. The electrogram, weight and perfusion pressure were simultaneously and continuously recorded. Muscle tension was simultaneously estimated from the pressure changes in a balloon inserted in the left ventricle. Using urea or glycerol as an osmotic agent a complete loss of tension and electrical activity of the ventricular muscle was obtained on the return to the control Ringer's. Perfusion flows higher than 5 ml/min were required to induce a response. A better perfusion to volume ratio in the perfused heart as compared to a bundle of cells is suggested as an explanation for the difference in response of the preparations.
Effect of a relaxation time spectrum on mechanics of polymer melt spinning

Abstract The mechanics of isothermal melt spinning are determined for a viscoelastic liquid with constant physical properties but with a spectrum of relaxation times. The relaxation time distribution leads to higher forces and more linear velocity profiles than would be obtained for a Maxwellian material of the same mean properties in shear. This result explains the observation of several earlier studies that relaxation times inferred with a Maxwell-type model from spinning experiments are larger than those measured rheogoniometrically.
A 5 Gbps low noise receiver in 0.13µm CMOS for wireless optical communications

A wideband, high gain, and low noise optical receiver targeting imaging architectures for optical wireless communications is presented. For line of sight tracking in optical wireless communications, a switching matrix is employed between the pixel/photodetctor array and the transimpedance amplifier. The optical receiver consists of a low noise wideband TIA, where noise and stability are optimized in the presence of the switch, using a series inductor at the input. The TIA is followed by a limiter with offset cancellation and 50 Ω output buffer capable of 900 mv p-p differential output swing over the 50 Ω resistance of measurement equipment. The receiver implemented in IBM 130nm CMOS technology achieves a bit error rate of 10−12 at 5 Gbps corresponding to 2.8 µA current at the input, in presence of 1 pF input capacitance representing the photodiode. The total power consumption including the on chip 50 Ω differential output buffer is 68 mW from 1.5V DC supply, while the die area including bonding pads and output buffer is 1106 × 895 µm2.