cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of initial plant spacing and applied nutrients on stand development and productivity of Texas bluegrass in the Louisiana coastal plain

Abstract The native rhizomatous cool‐season perennial grass, Texas bluegrass (Poa arachnifera Torn), has recently been recognized again as a plant with considerable potential for range and pasture plantings. Throughout the first half of this century, sporadic efforts at evaluation and commercial use of Texas bluegrass were thwarted primarily by slow stand establishment and difficulties with seed processing. Subsequent advances in seed harvesting, processing, and planting equipment and selection of superior plant genotypes could reduce effects of these limitations. In much of the southern mid‐ and tall‐grass prairie regions and lower southeastern states where Texas bluegrass appears to have potential, there is no currently available sustainable cool‐season forage grass. Effects of initial plant spacing and lime, phosphorus (P), and nitrogen (N) application were evaluated in a field and a green house experiment on acid infertile Louisiana Coastal Plain soils. Stands from transplanting on 10‐ and 30‐cm spaci...
Preoperative factors predisposing to early postoperative atrial fibrillation after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting

An analysis of 183 patients in sinus rhythm who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting was conducted to determine the association of multiple preoperative factors, including an elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, with early postoperative atrial fibrillation. An association with advanced age, a history of atrial fibrillation, and preoperative digoxin use was found, but not with an elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, irrespective of left ventricular systolic function.
Enzymes of beta-oxidation and their function during development of Ascaris lumbricoides eggs.

Summary The relationship between the enzymes of β-oxidation and the pattern of lipid utilization in developing eggs ofAscaris lumbricoides was investigated. Specific activities of acyl-CoA dehydrogenase and to a lesser extent of the long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase were closely correlated with the overall rate of triglyceride utilization. 3-Hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity was scarcely detectable in the 1-celled egg, in which triglyceride oxidation does not occur, but rapidly increased by day 5 when triglyceride utilization begins. A long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase was not maximally active until 15 days, when the metabolism of long-chain acids was highest. A preferential metabolism of short-chain fatty acids between the fifth and fifteenth days was accompanied by a large increase in the activity of a short-chain acyl-CoA synthetase. Specific activities of enoyl-CoA hydratase and of acetyl-CoA acyltransferase were high throughout development. The specific activities and properties of the enzymes of β-oxidation in the egg were similar to those of rat kidney and liver. The enzymes of the tricar☐ylic acid cycle were present throughout development. Their specific activities could not be correlated with changes in the rate of triglyceride utilization. The rate of disappearance of endogenous lipids, calculated from gravimetric data, closely resembled the rate of oxidation of absorbed palmitate-U-14C throughout development. Therefore, both the presence and the function of the enzymes of β-oxidation in developing eggs ofA. lumbricoides was established. The low rate of triglyceride utilization by surviving, infective eggs was not due to a corresponding decline in the enzymes of β-oxidation.
Morphological Discordance of the New Trypanosomatid Species Phylogenetically Associated with the Genus Crithidia

Three new species of monoxenous parasites from the Neotropical Heteroptera are described on the basis of the ultrastructure of cells in culture, as well as gene sequences of Spliced Leader (SL) RNA, glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and small subunit (SSU) rRNA. The results have highlighted a striking discrepancy between the morphological (dis)similarities and the phylogenetic affinities among the insect trypanosomatids. Although each of the new species is characterized by a distinct set of morphological characters, based on the predominant promastigotes observed in culture, each of them has been provisionally assigned to the genus Leptomonas pending the future revision of this genus. Yet, instead of the phylogenetic affinity with the other members of this polyphyletic genus, the new species are most closely related to Crithidia species. Thus, the extremely long promastigotes of Leptomonas acus sp. n. and the unique morphological features found in Leptomonas bifurcata sp. n. sharply contrast with their respective relatives C. fasciculata and C. deanei both of which are typical choanomastigotes. The results clearly show that the current classification at the genus level is misleading and needs to be revised. The phylogenetic clades potentially representing the candidate new genera of monoxenous trypanosomatids have started to emerge from the presented analyses.
Short Note: The Antarctic toothfish: how common a prey for Weddell seals?

The Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni Norman) has been considered an occasional large prey item of the Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii Lesson) (Kooyman 1967, Calhaem & Christoffel 1969, Testa et al. 1985, Castellini et al. 1992, Davis et al. 1999, Fuiman et al. 2002). The seal's most common prey is the Antarctic silverfish (Pleuragramma antarcticum Boulenger) as well as benthic and sub-ice fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans (Dearborn 1965, Green & Burton 1987, Plotz 1987, Plotz et al. 1991, Castellini et al. 1992, Burns et al. 1998).
Hydrogen ion buffers for biological research

Five new zwitterionic hydrogen ion buffers are described for the first time. These buffers, all N-substituted 3-amino-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acids, with pKa's between 6.9 and 7.9 have been subjected to a number of stringent tests in mammalian tissue culture, plant pathology, and virology to detect inhibitory effects. They appear to be equivalent to or better than any other buffers heretofore available.
JANUS: a flexible approach to realtime timesharing

A third generation computer seems to cause as many problems as it solves; not because it is difficult to program or too problem directed---quite the contrary. The problems arise because such a computer lends itself so willingly to all applications---realtime data acquisition, process control, scientific calculations, bookkeeping and conversational time-sharing. In a nuclear physics laboratory, there are enough imaginative people interested in each of these subjects that eventually all are implemented with some success. The central problem, then, is to develop an operating environment compatible with open-ended development of any or all types of computer usage. Ideally, one seeks a standard operating system providing the framework and resources to aid all such development.
Completion of Experimental Breeder Reactor-II Sodium Processing at Argonne National Laboratory

The Experimental Breeder Reactor - II (EBR-II) at Argonne National Laboratory - West (ANL-W) was shutdown in September 1994 as mandated by the United States Department of Energy. Located in eastern Idaho, this sodium-cooled reactor had been in service since 1964, and was a test facility for fuels development, materials irradiation, system and control theory tests, and hardware development. The EBR-II termination activities began in October 1994, with the reactor being maintained in an industrially and radiologically safe condition for decommissioning. With the shutdown of EBR-II, its sodium coolant became a waste necessitating its reaction to a disposal form. A Sodium Process Facility (SPF), designed to convert sodium to 50 wt% sodium hydroxide, existed at the ANL-W site, but had never been operated. The SPF was upgraded to current standards and codes, and then modified in 1998 to convert the sodium to 70 wt% sodium hydroxide, a substance that solidifies at 65°C (150°F) and is acceptable for burial as low level radioactive waste in Idaho. In December 1998, the SPF began operations. Working with sodium and highly concentrated sodium hydroxide presented some unique operating and maintenance conditions. Several lessons were learned throughout the operating period. Processing of the 330 m3 (87,000 gallons) of EBR-II primary sodium, 50 m3 (13,000 gallons) of EBR-II secondary sodium, and 290 m3 (77,000 gallons) of Fermi-1 primary sodium was successfully completed in March 2001, ahead of schedule and within budget.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
The effects of lipid-lowering and antioxidant vitamin therapies on flow-mediated vasodilation of the brachial artery in older adults with hypercholesterolemia.

Abstract OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to determine the long-term effects of statins and antioxidant vitamins on flow-mediated vasodilation of the brachial artery in older adults with hypercholesterolemia. BACKGROUND Lipid-lowering therapy and antioxidant vitamins improve endothelium-dependent vasodilation in young and middle-aged adults with hypercholesterolemia, but their effects in older adults are not known. METHODS Two double-blind, placebo-controlled studies were performed in individuals ≥70 years old with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ≥140 mg/dl. In the first study, 37 subjects were randomized to receive (group 1) pravastatin for six months then pravastatin and vitamin E for six additional months or (group 2) vitamin E for six months, then pravastatin and vitamin E for six additional months. In the second study, additional 17 subjects sequentially received simvastatin for six months, then simvastatin and vitamins C and E for six additional months. Flow-mediated vasodilation of the brachial artery was measured by high-resolution ultrasound. RESULTS At baseline, subjects in both studies were similar in age (mean ± SD, 75.8 ± 4.2 years), gender, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol (261.6 ± 37.4 mg/dl), LDL-C (180.3 ± 28.1 mg/dl), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides levels. Flow-mediated vasodilation was severely impaired (2.2 ± 3.9%). Both statins reduced total and LDL-C levels (p CONCLUSIONS Older adults with hypercholesterolemia have impaired flow-mediated vasodilation of the brachial artery that does not improve after one year of therapy with statins and antioxidant vitamins, despite significant lipid-lowering.
A New Slip Model for Gas Lubrication

In this paper, a new slip boundary condition is derived using the solution of the Boltzmann equation. The physical mechanisms of velocity slip in rarefied gas flow are discussed and emphasized. The Poiseuille flow rates predicted by the new slip model show better agreements with those calculated from the existing slip models such as 1st, 2nd, and 1.5th slip order. Based on the new slip model, a new modified Reynolds equation is also proposed to predict the pressure field in gas lubrication problem.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
The effect of temperature and strain rate on the flow stress of iron

Abstract Differential type tests were employed to study the effect of temperature and strain rate on the flow stress of vacuum-melted electrolytic iron at low temperatures. The present results along with those of Basinski and Christian on Ferrovac iron indicate that a change in the flow parameters ∂ω ∂ ln ϵ T and ∂ω ∂ T ϵ with strain is due to an increase in the number of dislocations contributing to the deformation. Also, the variation of the activation energy and activation volume with stress is independent of strain and interstitial content and distribution. These results support overcoming the Peierls-Nabarro stress as the ratecontrolling mechanism in iron at temperatures below 300°K.
A Better Ion Fraction for a Neutral Aqueous Solution

There is some minor confusion in some literature regarding the number of H+ and OH– ions in a neutral aqueous solution, presumably based on an incorrect application of [H+] = [OH–] = ∼1 × 10–7 M. Here, the method to determine the proper number of ions present in a neutral solution is demonstrated.
Planning for remote users

Technical and economic problems in accessing remote computers have virtually been eliminated. It is now feasible and economical, for a user to access remote computers through private or public data communications networks. From 1966 through the present, administrative issues in the sharing of computing resources among higher education and research institutions have been the topic of conferences, publications and experimentation. EDUCOM, the inter-university consortium of colleges, universities and research institutions, sponsors much of this activity regarding the sharing of computing resources. In 1974 EDUCOM established the Planning Council to more actively experiment with network issues. On July 1, 1979 the Planning Council's experiment in a national educational network, EDUNET, became an operational reality. EDUNET is supported by regular and sustaining membership fees. Carnegie-Mellon University has opted to become a supplier of computing services to the EDUNET network. This paper describes the issues considered in planning to service remote users. The paper uses Carnegie-Mellon as an example of a host site on EDUNET. Administrators in charge of user services organizations and/or computation centers who plan to sell their computing resources to a remote market will find this paper contains a useful checklist of items for consideration.
Synthesis of nanocomposite thin film Ti/Al multilayers and Ti-aluminides

Nanocomposite Ti/Al multilayered thin films have been deposited by magnetron sputtering. These multilayers exhibit interesting structural transitions on reducing the layer thickness of both Ti and Al. Ti transforms from its bulk stable hep structure to fee and Al transforms from fee to hep. The effect of ratio of Ti layer thickness to Al layer thickness on the structural transitions has been investigated for a constant bilayer periodicity of 10 nm by considering three different multilayers: 7.5 nm Ti / 2.5 nm Al, 5 nm Ti / 5 nm Al and 2.5 nm Ti / 7.5 nm Al. The experimental results have been qualitatively explained on the basis of a thermodynamic model. Preliminary experimental results of interfacial reactions in Ti/Al bilayers resulting in the formation of Ti-aluminides are also presented in the paper.
A technique for the determination of protein concentration by neutron activation analysis of silver binding

A method for the quantitative determination of small amounts of protein samples was developed employing neutron activation analysis. Current methods of protein concentration determination are severely limited as a result of differences in the specific characteristics of each protein. Silver binding has been used as a sensitive colorimetric method to indicate the presence of protein. However, silver-protein complexes can have a variety of absorbance spectra unique to each protein, which complicate the analysis. Various amounts of specific proteins were equilibrated in an excess of silver nitrate prior to the reduction of the silver by the addition of NaBH4, HCHO, and NaOH. The protein-silver complex was rapidly separated from the unbound silver by centrifugation chromatography and the amount of bound silver was determined by INAA. The amount of silver was proportional to the amount of protein present in each sample. When the silver was not reduced prior to removal of the unbound silver by chromatography, only negligible amounts of silver remained bound to the protein. The stoichiometry of bound silver to protein on a molar basis showed relatively small differences for the proteins that were examined. This ratio was found to depend on the conditions of the binding and reduction of the silver. The results suggest that the binding of silver is not specific to any charged or polar groups on these proteins and may, therefore, provide a means of determination of the concentration of protein that has general application for all proteins.
Relationship between scaffold channel diameter and number of regenerating axons in the transected rat spinal cord

Abstract Regeneration of endogenous axons through a Schwann cell (SC)-seeded scaffold implant has been demonstrated in the transected rat spinal cord. The formation of a cellular lining in the scaffold channel may limit the degree of axonal regeneration. Spinal cords of adult rats were transected and implanted with the SC-loaded polylactic co-glycollic acid (PLGA) scaffold implants containing seven parallel-aligned channels, either 450 μm (n = 19) or 660 μm in diameter (n = 14). Animals were sacrificed after 1, 2 and 3 months. Immunohistochemistry for neurofilament expression was performed. The cross-sectional area of fibrous tissue and regenerative core was calculated. We found that the 450 μm scaffolds had significantly greater axon fibers per channel at the 1 month (186 ± 37) and 3 month (78 ± 11) endpoints than the 660 μm scaffolds (90 ± 19 and 40 ± 6, respectively) (p = 0.0164 and 0.0149, respectively). The difference in the area of fibrous rim between the 450 and 660 μm channels was most pronounced at the 1 month endpoint, at 28,046 ± 6551 and 58,633 ± 7063 μm2, respectively (p = 0.0105). Our study suggests that fabricating scaffolds with smaller diameter channels promotes greater regeneration over larger diameter channels. Axonal regeneration was reduced in the larger channels due to the generation of a large fibrous rim. Optimization of this scaffold environment establishes a platform for future studies of the effects of cell types, trophic factors or pharmacological agents on the regenerative capacity of the injured spinal cord.
Utilizing technology to provide access to new roles

Our society is in a state of massive transition. For the first half of this century, resources were substantially unlimiting and manpower was in short supply. Now, the situation is almost reversed. Technological advances have made such claims on natural resources that they are now quickly becoming in short supply. The same technological advances have greatly reduced the need for manpower in many activities such as agriculture, mining and manufacturing. Accordingly, manpower presently is becoming very incompletely used in the traditional occupations. The deepening problems of unemployment have generated signs of uneasiness and panic. Some long-term moves to develop new potential uses for our presently unutilized human-resource pool seem clearly in order.
A numerical study on the effects of wave–current–surge interactions on the height and propagation of sea surface waves in Charleston Harbor during Hurricane Hugo 1989

Abstract The effects of wave–current interactions on ocean surface waves induced by Hurricane Hugo in and around the Charleston Harbor and its adjacent coastal waters are examined by using a three-dimensional (3D) wave–current coupled modeling system. The 3D storm surge modeling component of the coupled system is based on the Princeton Ocean Model (POM), the wave modeling component is based on the third generation wave model, Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN), and the inundation model is adopted from [Xie, L., Pietrafesa, L. J., Peng, M., 2004. Incorporation of a mass-conserving inundation scheme into a three-dimensional storm surge model. J. Coastal Res., 20, 1209–1223]. The results indicate that the change of water level associated with the storm surge is the primary cause for wave height changes due to wave–surge interaction. Meanwhile, waves propagating on top of surge cause a feedback effect on the surge height by modulating the surface wind stress and bottom stress. This effect is significant in shallow coastal waters, but relatively small in offshore deep waters. The influence of wave–current interaction on wave propagation is relatively insignificant, since waves generally propagate in the direction of the surface currents driven by winds. Wave–current interactions also affect the surface waves as a result of inundation and drying induced by the storm. Waves break as waters retreat in regions of drying, whereas waves are generated in flooded regions where no waves would have occurred without the flood water.
Performance Goals for Dispatcher-Assisted Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

An estimated 600 000 Americans are victims of sudden, unexpected out-of-hospital cardiac arrests each year.1 Emergency medical services (EMS) providers attempt resuscitation in 360 000 of these “EMS-treated” individuals. EMS crews declare another 240 000 victims dead on arrival because the cardiac arrest was unwitnessed and the victim’s body shows physical signs that death has not just occurred. Approximately 9.5% of EMS-treated cardiac arrest victims survive to hospital discharge. However, if one includes the 240 000 victims in whom EMS does not even attempt resuscitation, the likelihood of surviving an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the United States is only 5.7%. Stated differently, only 1 in every 18 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims in the United States will survive to hospital discharge. Article see p 1522 Despite these grim statistics, there are things that can be done to better the odds of survival for at least some of the victims. The likelihood of a favorable outcome increases substantially if the event is witnessed, if it occurs in a public place, if bystanders call 9-1-1 and initiate chest compressions promptly, if the initial rhythm is ventricular fibrillation, if an automated external defibrillator is applied and used, and if there is a prompt EMS response. Most of these variables are not under any one individual’s direct control but are subject to chance. A notable exception is bystander chest compressions, which, on average, are being performed in only approximately one third of EMS-worked cardiac arrests, but their frequency can be increased 2-fold when 9-1-1 dispatchers issue instructions that are carried out promptly and effectively.2–4 Omission of instructions for mouth-to-mouth ventilation, which many laypersons are unwilling to perform on strangers, does not affect survival adversely because of the presence of agonal respirations and because the …
Dye circulation times during cardiac arrest.

Abstract Dye dilution curves have been used to calculate cardiac output under conditions of normal circulation. Unfortunately, these curves cannot be integrated easily to determine cardiac output under the low flow states of CPR. The time to initial dye appearance (circulation time), may be useful in judging relative changes in flow when studying experimental resuscitation techniques. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between dye circulation times and other hemodynamic measures during CPR. Repeated measurements of coronary perfusion pressure, dye circulation times, blood gases, and end-tidal C02 (ET CO 2 ) were made in dogs undergoing CPR. Dye circulation time was significantly assocciated with the systolic, diastolic, and coronary perfusion pressures. The correlation between circulation time and ET CO 2 was −0.70 ( P O 2 gradient. There were significant correlations between the circulation time and both the AN P CO 2 and the A-V pH gradients. We conclude that dye circulation times may be used to gauge relative changes in blood flow during CPR, particularly in laboratory investigations involving repeated mesaurements.
Eleven Months of home virtual reality telerehabilitation - Lessons learned

Indiana University School of Medicine and the Rutgers Tele-rehabilitation Institute have collaborated for over a year on a clinical pilot study of in-home hand telerehabiltation. Virtual reality videogames were used to train three adolescents with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Training duration varied between 6 and 11 months. The investigators summarize medical, technological, legal, safety, social, and economic issues that arose during this lengthy study. Solutions to deal with these multitude of issues are proposed. The authors stress the importance of choosing multiple outcome measures to detect clinically meaningful change. The authors believe that in-home telerehabilitation is the future of rehabilitation.
Explaining human multiple object tracking as resource-constrained approximate inference in a dynamic probabilistic model

Multiple object tracking is a task commonly used to investigate the architecture of human visual attention. Human participants show a distinctive pattern of successes and failures in tracking experiments that is often attributed to limits on an object system, a tracking module, or other specialized cognitive structures. Here we use a computational analysis of the task of object tracking to ask which human failures arise from cognitive limitations and which are consequences of inevitable perceptual uncertainty in the tracking task. We find that many human performance phenomena, measured through novel behavioral experiments, are naturally produced by the operation of our ideal observer model (a Rao-Blackwelized particle filter). The tradeoff between the speed and number of objects being tracked, however, can only arise from the allocation of a flexible cognitive resource, which can be formalized as either memory or attention.
Perchloroimidazo[1,2-a] pyridine. Synthesis and nucleophilic substitutions

Perehloroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine has been prepared and it has been shown that nucleophilic substitution occurs preferentially at C5 possibly followed by substition at C7.
Robert Hooke’s Seminal Contribution to Orbital Dynamics

During the second half of the seventeenth century, the outstanding problem in astronomy was to understand the physical basis for Kepler’s laws describing the observed orbital motion of a planet around the Sun. In the middle 1660s,Robert Hooke (1635–1703) proposed that a planet’s motion is determined by compounding its tangential velocity with the change in radial velocity impressed by the gravitational attraction of the Sun, and he described his physical concept to Isaac Newton (1642–1726) in correspondence in 1679. Newton denied having heard of Hooke’s novel concept of orbital motion, but shortly after their correspondence he implemented it by a geometric construction from which he deduced the physical origin of Kepler’s area law,which later became Proposition I, Book I, of his Principia in 1687.Three years earlier, Newton had deposited a preliminary draft of it, his De Motu Corporum in Gyrum (On the Motion of Bodies), at the Royal Society of London, which Hooke apparently was able to examine a few months later, because shortly there-after he applied Newton’s construction in a novel way to obtain the path of a body under the action of an attractive central force that varies linearly with the distance from its center of motion (Hooke’s law). I show that Hooke’s construction corresponds to Newton’s for his proof of Kepler’s area law in his De Motu. Hooke’s understanding of planetary motion was based on his observations with mechanical analogs. I repeated two of his experiments and demonstrated the accuracy of his observations.My results thus cast new light on the significance of Hooke’s contributions to the development of orbital dynamics, which in the past have either been neglected or misunderstood.
Modal Parameter Extraction of a Turboset From High Speed Balance Data

Turbosets used in power generation industry are frequently placed on flexible foundations, which significantly influence the overall dynamics. Establishment of structural models that capture the rotor and foundation effects reliably using finite element modeling or modal analysis is difficult because of model complexity and/or costs involved. This paper presents a method to extract modal parameter information of a turboset using frequency response function data recorded during high speed balancing. The main advantage of the present method over the others is the low cost and small effort involved, so that it is of practical use in an industrial setting. A real life example dealing with parameter extraction for a large generator rotor is presented to demonstrate its implementation.
Evaluation of Urethra and Anterior Wall Vaginal Leiomyoma by Translabial/Transurethral Sonography

Recent advances in sonography have dramatically improved the evaluation of the female urethra and vaginal canal. Widespread use of sonography for the detection of vaginal masses presents a less expensive way to identify pathology. The author recently encountered a patient with a rare vaginal mass. The following case illustrates translabial and transurethral sonography defining a vaginal mass directly under the urethra with no urethra luminal abnormalities. In general, the identification of a vaginal mass would lead most physicians to consider magnetic resonance imaging for characterization. Sonography presents an opportunity to provide accurate information without increasing medical cost to the patient. To the author’s knowledge, this is the first report describing translabial and transurethral sonography using a 10-MHz linear transducer to determine extension of a tumor from the vaginal wall into the lumen of the urethra.
Mathematical Description of Biological Structures and Mechanisms

A new formalism and approach to describing cellular and molecular processes and structures is introduced, designed to support the creation of knowledge bases of molecular and cellular mechanisms, structures, and states in which all structural information about the entities, at all levels of detail, is represented formally. Structure is formalized via specification of n-ary relationships, as in mathematical logic. New mathematical formulations of complexity and structural similarity are introduced, that take into account differences in composition and structure at all levels of detail and apply equally to structures, mechanisms, and states. A recursive formula for calculation of structural similarity is derived. The formalism and the mathematical similarity definition enable several new mathematical and computational capabilities, such as searching a knowledge bank for processes or structures similar to a specified one or with specified structural or compositional deviations.
Energy in lossless and low-loss networks, and Foster's reactance theorem

Energy stored in a lossless network driven by a voltage (current) source is related to a frequency derivative of the network susceptance (reactance). This relation is proven to be valid also for low-loss networks at frequencies far from the network resonance frequencies. Close to the resonance frequency, the stored energy is expressed in terms of the network susceptance (reactance) and the bandwidth of the resonance. A proof of Foster's reactance theorem follows from this consideration. It is also proven that Foster's theorem is a direct consequence of causality. >
Stress management skill for nursing students

Assessed the effectiveness of a 10-session, 5-week, group-administered stress management program for nursing students. The stress management group included sessions on progressive relaxation, deep muscle relaxation autogenic training, visual imagery and modified systematic desensitization. Ten female nursing students participated in the stress management group. A second group of nursing students (7 female and 1 male) served as a control group. State and trait anxiety measures were taken before the group began and immediately prior to both mid-term and final examinations. The stress management group effectively reduced trait anxiety (p < 0.05), while the control group's trait anxiety levels remained relatively unchanged. The experimental group showed a reduction in state (test-taking) anxiety from mid-semester to final examinations, while the control group showed a slight increase from mid semester to final examination.
Low-Floor Detection/Decoding of LDPC-Coded Partial Response Channels

The error-rate floor phenomenon associated with iterative LDPC decoders has delayed the use of LDPC codes in certain communication and storage systems. Error floors are known to generally be caused by so-called trapping sets which have the effect of confounding the decoder. In this paper, we introduce two techniques that lower the error-rate floors for LDPC-coded partial response (PR) channels which are applicable to magnetic and optical storage. The techniques involve, via external measures, "pinning" one of the bits in each problematic trapping set and then letting the iterative decoder proceed to correct the rest of the bits. We also extend our earlier work on generalized-LDPC (G-LDPC) decoders for error-floor mitigation on the AWGN channel to partial response channels. Our simulations on PR1 and EPR4 channels demonstrate that the floor for the code chosen for this study, a 0.78(2048,1600) quasicyclic LDPC code, is lowered by orders of magnitude, beyond the reach of simulations. Because simulation in the floor region is so time-consuming, a method for accelerating such simulations is essential for research in this area. In this paper, we present an extension of Richardson's importance sampling technique for estimating the level of error floors.
Event-related potential studies of post-traumatic stress disorder: a critical review and synthesis

Despite the sparseness of the currently available data, there is accumulating evidence of information processing impairment in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Studies of event-related potentials (ERPs) are the main tool in real time examination of information processing. In this paper, we sought to critically review the ERP evidence of information processing abnormalities in patients with PTSD. We also examined the evidence supporting the existence of a relationship between ERP abnormalities and symptom profiles or severity in PTSD patients. An extensive Medline search was performed. Keywords included PTSD or post-traumatic stress disorder, electrophysiology or EEG, electrophysiology, P50, P100, N100, P2, P200, P3, P300, sensory gating, CNV (contingent negative variation) and MMN (mismatch negativity). We limited the review to ERP adult human studies with control groups which were reported in the English language. After applying our inclusion-exclusion review criteria, 36 studies were included. Subjects exposed to wide ranges of military and civilian traumas were studied in these reports. Presented stimuli were both auditory and visual. The most widely studied components included P300, P50 gating, N100 and P200. Most of the studies reported increased P300 response to trauma-related stimuli in PTSD patients. A smaller group of studies reported dampening of responses or no change in responses to trauma-related and/or unrelated stimuli. P50 studies were strongly suggestive of impaired gating in patients with PTSD. In conclusion, the majority of reports support evidence of information processing abnormalities in patients with PTSD diagnosis. The predominance of evidence suggests presence of mid-latency and late ERP components differences in PTSD patients in comparison to healthy controls. Heterogeneity of assessment methods used contributes to difficulties in reaching firm conclusions regarding the nature of these differences. We suggest that future ERP-PTSD studies utilize standardized assessment scales that provide detailed information regarding the symptom clusters and the degree of symptom severity. This would allow assessment of electrophysiological indices-clinical symptoms relationships. Based on the available data, we suggest that ERP abnormalities in PTSD are possibly affected by the level of illness severity. If supported by future research, ERP studies may be used for both initial assessment and treatment follow-up.
Sex-Specific Variation in the Interaction Between Distichlis Spicata (Poaceae) and Mycorrhizal Fungi

Associations between mycorrhizal fungi and plants can infl uence intraspecifi c competition and shape plant population structure. While variation in plant genotypes is known to affect mycorrhizal colonization in crop systems, little is known about how genotypes affect colonization in natural plant populations or how plant sex might infl uence colonization with mycorrhizal fungi in plant species with dimorphic sexual systems. In this study, we analyzed mycorrhizal colonization in males and females of the wetland dioecious grass Distichlis spicata , which has spatially segregated sexes. Our results suggest that D. spicata males and females interact with mycorrhizal fungi differently. We discuss the implications for the role of this sex-specifi c symbiotic interaction in the maintenance of the within-population sex ratio bias of D. spicata .
POLITICAL KNOWLEDGE OVER TIME AND ACROSS GENERATIONS

L'A. se demande si les competences, les connaisssances en matiere politique influencent les comportements en ce domaine. Il presente un certain nombre de donnees collectees aux Etats-Unis en 1965, 1973 et 1982. Il se demande si l'on peut observer des differences entre les generations ainsi qu'au cours des diverses periodes de l'existence. Il examine l'influence d'un certain nombre de facteurs comme la pratique religieuse, l'appartenance politique
TDF-TRACT: Probabilistic tractography using the tensor distribution function

Fractional anisotropy (FA), a widely used measure of fiber integrity based on diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), is theoretically confounded by several other quantities including the degree of fiber orientation incoherence within each voxel, and partial volume effects from neighboring gray matter or CSF. High angular resolution diffusion imaging (HARDI) can potentially resolve more complex diffusion geometries and thus disentangle confounds from fiber incoherence and partial voluming when assessing fiber integrity. Yet, to date, no study has systematically investigated the clinical implications of this potential advantage. Here, we describe our recent efforts in developing TDF (tensor distribution function) based probabilistic tractography for HARDI. Comparing TDF- and DTI-based tractography results in the genu of corpus callosum, we demonstrated the variable effect of these confounds in images acquired at different spatial resolutions, suggesting possible relevance of adjusting for fiber incoherence when assessing white matter integrity.
Performance Enhancement and Mechanistic Studies of Room-Temperature Sodium–Sulfur Batteries with a Carbon-Coated Functional Nafion Separator and a Na2S/Activated Carbon Nanofiber Cathode

Operation of sodium–sulfur batteries at room temperature has been proposed and studied for about a decade, but polysulfide-shuttle through the traditional battery separator and low-utilization of the sulfur cathode commonly have been the major challenges. Also, because of the highly active nature of the sodium metal, the conventional room temperature sodium–sulfur (RT Na–S) battery concept with the sodium–metal anode and elemental sulfur cathode imposes serious safety concerns. To overcome the above difficulties, we present here a RT Na–S system with an advanced membrane-electrode-assembly (MEA) comprising a carbon-coated, presodiated Nafion membrane (Na-Nafion) and a sodium sulfide (Na2S) cathode. The Na-Nafion membrane provides a facile Na+-ion conductive path and serves as a cation-selective shield to prevent the migration of the polysulfides to the anode. The carbon coating on the Na-Nafion plays an upper-current-collector role and thereby improves the electrochemical utilization of the active Na2S. E...
Smart instrumented training ranges: bringing automated system solutions to support critical domain needs

The training objective for urban warfare includes acquisition and perfection of a set of diverse skills in support of kinetic and non-kinetic operations. The US Marines (USMC) employ long-duration acted scenarios with verbal training feedback provided sporadically throughout the training session and at the end in a form of an after-action review (AAR). The inherent characteristic of training ranges for urban warfare is that they are the environments with a high level of physical occlusion, which causes many performances not to be seen by a group of instructors who oversee the training. We describe BASE-IT (Behavioral Analysis and Synthesis for Intelligent Training), a system in development that aims to automate capture of training data and their analysis, performance evaluation, and AAR report generation. The goal of this effort is to greatly increase the amount of observed behavior and improve the quality of the AAR. The system observes training with stationary cameras and personal tracking devices. It t...
Gentamicin: Clinical and Laboratory Studies in Infants and Children

More than 150 patients have been treated with gentamicin sulfate either orally or parenterally. The results in 112 who were treated with gentamicin alone are included in this report. The patients ranged in age from 1 day to 16 years and had a wide variety of infections. All were studied in the Infectious Disease Unit at Children's Memorial Hospital by the staff of the Pediatric Pharmacology Unit. The age of patients, diagnosis, and method of administration of gentamicin are summarized in table 1. Those receiving the oral syrup ranged in age from 2 weeks to 11 years (mean, 3 years), and 529b were males. Of those receiving the parenteral form, 627o were males; they ranged in age from 3 days to 16 years. Gentamicin was administered orally to 60 patients with bacterial enteritis. Table 2 lists the or-
Crime and Regret

Recent developments in neuroscience and social science are illuminating the critical importance of regret in human choices, including criminal decision making. After differentiating regret from rel...
Compound Fault Diagnosis Technique Based on Artificial Neural Network and Support Vector Machine

According to different advantages of Artificial Neural Network and Support Vector Machine,a compound fault diagnosis technique based on Artificial Neural Network and Support Vector Machine is introduced for different stages of application. This technique can not only amalgamate new fault information,but also keep the fault diagnosis model on the optimized identification state.Take the fault diagnosis of reciprocating compressor cylinder system as an example,effectiveness of the technique is validated.
Separation and culture of Staphylococccus aureus from sampls of food and hospital infection patients

Objective: To separate the Staphylococccus aureus isolates from samples of food and patients and compare the distribution of isolates.Methods:The Staphylococccus aureus isolates were separated and identified from samples by Chinese standard.Results:Bulk cooked meat,raw milk,vegetable salad and deepfreezed raw noodle were contaminated easily by Staphylococccus aureus.More than 20% foodborn disease were due to Staphylococccus aureus.The 79.6% isolates were separated from respiratory infection patients.Conclusion:Staphylococccus aureus does a lot harm to food,food poisoning and hospital infection patients.
Independent blockade of cerebral vasodilation from acetylcholine and nitric oxide

We investigated the mechanisms of cerebral arteriolar dilation from topical acetylcholine and the nitrovasodilators, sodium nitroprusside, nitroglycerin, and nitric oxide, in anesthetized cats equipped with cranial windows for the observation of the cerebral microcirculation. Acetylcholine-mediated dilation was eliminated by topical methylene blue. This blockade was reversed by either topical superoxide dismutase, catalase, or deferoxamine. Nitroprusside- and nitric oxide-induced dilation were not affected by methylene blue. Vasodilation from the nitrovasodilators was significantly diminished by topical nitro blue tetrazolium, but acetylcholine-mediated dilation was unaffected by nitro blue tetrazolium. Neither methylene blue nor nitro blue tetrazolium affected dilation from topical 8-bromoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate. These data show that methylene blue selectively blocks acetylcholine-mediated endothelium-dependent dilation by generating oxygen radicals. The mechanism involved is hydroxyl radica...
Estimating the probability of underdosing microscopic brain metastases with hippocampal-sparing whole-brain radiation.

Abstract Purpose/objectives Whole-brain radiation for brain metastases can result in cognitive side effects. Hippocampal-sparing techniques have been developed to decrease morbidity, but they carry the risk of underdosing lesions near the hippocampus due to the unavoidable dose gradient from the hippocampal surface to the prescription isodose surface. This study examines the impact of variable levels of hippocampal sparing on the underdosing of potential brain metastases. Materials/methods Helical intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans were developed for hippocampal-sparing whole-brain treatment. For all plans, 30Gy was prescribed in 10 fractions to result in mean hippocampal doses of 6–12Gy. From a series of expanded shells, we determined the distance from the hippocampus at which the parenchyma would receive less than specified doses. Then, using published data, a mathematical model was constructed to predict the incident probability of potential brain metastases receiving different doses for different levels of hippocampal sparing. Results Whole-brain radiation plans were able to spare the hippocampi to mean doses of 7–12Gy under our planning constraints; more stringent constraints compromised brain coverage. The dose gradients were ∼4% per mm, regardless of the hippocampal constraint, and they decreased sharply by a factor of almost 4 at approximately 15mm from the hippocampi. A mathematical model was constructed and combined the plan information with published data on the distribution of brain metastases, to determine the percentage of potential brain metastases receiving specified doses, as a function of technique and level of hippocampal sparing. Conclusions Our results describe the characteristics of an array of hippocampal-sparing whole-brain radiation dose distributions. These can be used as a decision-making guideline for weighing the benefit of decreased dose to the hippocampi against the cost of decreased dose to potential brain metastases when deciding on a hippocampal-sparing whole-brain irradiation treatment approach.
Simulations of a Thermal Conductivity Cell Filled with Normal 4He and Dilute Mixtures of 3He in Superfluid 4He

We have simulated the thermal response of a cylindrical thermal conductivity cell filled with liquid helium to AC and DC heat fluxes. The conductivity cell in these simulations is realistic in that it includes sidewalls and gaps, which cannot be treated analytically or in a one-dimensional simulation. Our simulations are to able to account quantitatively for the apparent departure of the effective thermal conductivity, κ eff , of dilute mixtures of 3 He in superfluid 4 He from theoretical predictions. We have recently demonstrated experimentally that this departure is due to the presence of gaps in previous thermal conductivity cells. These simulations also show that the additional phase lag in the response of normal 4 He to an AC heat flux, measured by Olafsen and Behringer, is due to gaps in the heated plate.
Granular Iron Oxide as A Catalyst in Chemical Oxidation of Organic Contaminants

Oxidation of organic contaminants, such as chlorobenzene and n-chlorobutane, by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and ozone (O3) in water has improved significantly in the presence of granular iron oxide mineral, goethite. It is believed that the hydroxyl radical produced by the catalytic decomposition of H2O2 or 0, over the goethite surface was responsible of oxidation of the surface-bound organic compounds. The oxidation rate of the organics was directly proportional to the dosage of the catalyst and the dosage of the oxidant, H2O2 or O3. The apparent rate of the oxidation reactions was determined by the intrinsic reaction rates on the catalyst surface rather than the mass-transfer rates of the oxidant and the organic compound. The catalytic process was also effective in removing the total organic carbon (TOC) of the solutions indicating that it is capable of achieving complete mineralization.