cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Response of mycorrhizal switchgrass to phosphorus fractions in acidic soil

In acidic soils, acquisition of phosphorus (P) by plants is limited because of low P availability and slight solubility. Arbuscular mycorrhial fungi (AMF) have the ability to access much of soil P and make it more available to plants. Therefore, pools of available P to mycorrhizal (AM) plants grown in acidic soil are usually higher than in nonmycorrhizal (nonAM) plants. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) was grown in five acidic soils (Lily, Porters, Tatum, Rayne, and Pacolet) containing various amounts of original P with four different isolates of AMF in a glasshouse. The different fractions of P in each soil were determined to assess their importance to plant acquisition by AM and non-AM plants. Total and organic P fractions in soil were relatively high compared with other extractable P fractions that are considered available to plants (extractable fractions), but differences among soils in total and organic P were relatively narrow compared with extractable fractions. With the exception of G. intraradices, each of the AMF isolates used (Glomus clarum, Glomus etunicatum, Glomus intraradices, and Acaulospora mellea) enhanced growth to some extent when grown in each of the soils. However, the highest dry matter (DM) for each of the AM plants was soil dependent. Shoot concentrations of mineral nutrients generally increased in AM plants that enhanced growth. None of the AMF isolates was best for these acidic soils, nor for each P fraction or other soil characteristic measured. Extractable P fractions appeared to be more readily available to AM plants than nonextractable fractions.
Accurate and efficient in vitro splicing of purified precursor RNAs specified by early region 2 of the adenovirus 2 genome

Polyadenylated and deproteinized nuclear RNA precursors encoded by early region 2 of the adenovirus 2 genome are spliced in vitro by nuclear extracts prepared from MOPC-315 mouse myeloma cells. The in vitro reaction excises sequences from two introns and attaches 5' sequences to the mRNA body. The nucleotide sequence across the splice junctions in the E2 RNAs processed in vitro was investigated by performing primer extensions in the presence of dideoxynucleotides and direct sequencing on polyacrylamide gels. We conclude that the in vitro splicing reaction is accurate and has the same precision as that of in vivo E2 cytoplasmic mRNA prepared from Ad2 infected cells. The efficiency of in vitro splicing by the nuclear extracts is very high. Approximately 80% of E2 RNA precursor, on a molar basis, are spliced in vitro to a mature RNA. These findings provide evidence that a nuclear extract prepared from MOPC-315 mouse myeloma cells is capable of accurate and efficient splicing of E2 RNA precursors.
Improving the Satisfaction of C-Store Customers: Preferences for Potential Product Offerings

ABSTRACT For convenience store (c-store) management to be truly customer-focused, they must listen to their customers and provide the products that meet customers' needs. This study investigates one aspect of c-store customer satisfaction, the product mix. The purpose of this paper is to investigate c-store customers' perceptions of product offerings to expand the c-store's product mix and in turn increase customer satisfaction. Fourteen products were examined. Of the fourteen, three were rated very likely to be purchased: postal services, home style meals, and a salad bar. Differences in preference were found between gender and marital status. Men and single customers had higher purchase intentions for the home style meals than women and married customers. Suggestions for future research are provided.
Multiple scattering — A different approach for any cross section and any scatterer thickness

Abstract A new and simple method is shown for obtaining the small-angle multiple (or plural) scattering distribution of an incident beam of charged particles. The same method works for any physically reasonable shape of single-scattering cross section and for any thickness of scatterer (i.e., average number of scatterings anywhere from ⪡1 to ⪢1). Results are given for two forms of single scattering. One is σ a ∼ (η 2 + η a 2 ) −3 2 , used by Snyder and Scott. The resulting scattering distribution agrees with theirs within 1% for 100 collisions. The other (hypothetical) is σ b ∼exp(− η 2 / η b 2 ). For σ a the tails of the multiple scattering distribution asymptotically approach the single-scattering distribution, as is known. For σ b that does not happen. Graphs and tables show quantitatively how the multiple-scattering distributions depart from a Gaussian in the central region and from single scattering in the tails. The application to atom-atom scattering is considered, and the strong forward peaking in σ is shown not to be an important problem. The method starts with an infinitesimal thickness of scatterer and produces, by successive foldings, the projected scattering distributions for thickness of 2 m times the original thickness, m = 1,2,3,…. The inversion of the projected distribution is considered.
Reducing the Variability of Wind Power Generation for Participation in Day Ahead Electricity Markets

Uncertainty and variability in the wind resource create obstacles for the participation of wind power in forward markets, such as regional day ahead electricity markets. Studies performed in various states have developed methods to improve wind forecasting and so reduce the inherent uncertainty in a day ahead schedule for wind power generation. This paper addresses the issue of the variability in wind power generation by estimating the next ten-minute production level for a hypothetical wind farm, and then dispatching additional dedicated resources, such as responsive load or a gas turbine, in order to reduce the net variability of the generation in the next ten- minutes. Historical wind data from ISO-ne are used with an auto-regressive moving average model to develop the next ten-minute forecast. Preliminary results estimate the capacity required for the dedicated resources to maintain the wind output within a specified percentage of the submitted day ahead schedule.
Lossless image compression using modular differential pulse code modulation

This paper presents a new lossless image compression technique called modular differential pulse code modulation. The proposed technique consists of a VQ classifier and several neural network class predictors. The classifier uses the four previously encoded pixels to identify the class of the current pixel (the pixel to be predicted). The current pixel is then predicted by the corresponding class predictor. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed technique reduces the bit rate by as much as 10 percent when compared to the lossless JPEG.
Thoracic outlet syndrome on the top consumer health/medical websites: A case for continuing healthy people 2020 quality of health-related website objectives

More and more people are turning to the Internet for health information. From a uses and gratifications perspective, people actively choose the Internet for information about disease in order to empower and exchange information with physicians. The top 10 consumer health/medical websites were assessed for information presented about the definition, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis for a rare neurovascular disease called thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS). Results showed inconsistencies, incompleteness, and jargon within all categories pertinent to TOS information seekers. It illustrates the ongoing need for the 2020 Healthy People ‘quality of health-related websites’ objective and other standards that address the development, implementation, and evaluation of consumer health and medical websites.
EFFECTS OF INCREASED USE OF LOW-DOSE PROPHYLACTIC INDOMETHACIN AND ANTENATAL STEROIDS ON NEONATAL OUTCOMES AMONG VLBW INFANTS. † 1305

EFFECTS OF INCREASED USE OF LOW-DOSE PROPHYLACTIC INDOMETHACIN AND ANTENATAL STEROIDS ON NEONATAL OUTCOMES AMONG VLBW INFANTS. † 1305
Spin-Wave Relaxation in EuS

As part of a study of spin-wave relaxation, spin-wave linewidths have been measured in EuS. EuS is a good candidate for this study because of its high saturation magnetization, $4\ensuremath{\pi}M=14000\mathrm{G}$ at $T=0$ \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K and small exchange energy which is reflected in its Curie temperature, ${T}_{C}=16$ \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The linewidths due to three-spin-wave dipole-dipole interactions are large ranging up to 100 Oe. The theory of three-spin-wave relaxation processes explains the linewidths observed both in relation to different spin waves at a fixed temperature and temperature dependence for a given spin wave over the range measured, i.e., 2-6 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K.
Porous GaN as a template to produce surface-enhanced Raman scattering-active surfaces.

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates have been prepared by depositing Au or Ag on porous GaN (PGaN). The PGaN used as the template for the metal deposition in these studies was gen...
A comparative evaluation of the Mississippi soil test method for determining available manganese, magnesium, and calcium1/

Abstract Soil Samples (72) were collected from the Delta, Hill, and Northeast Blackland areas of Mississippi. Chemical analyses for manganese, magnesium, and calcium were made using the Mississippi Soil Test Solution (MSTS) and several other extracting solutions chosen for comparison. For the determination of available soil manganese, the MSTS proved to be as effective as either the Double Acid (0.025 N HCl in 0.05 N H2SO4) or 0.1 N H3PO4. The acid extractants removed more manganese than 1 N NH4OAc (pH 7.0) and therefore included forms that are not exchangeable. The methods studied for magnesium determinations were equilibrium extraction with 1 N NH4OAc, MSTS, Double Acid, 0.25 N CaCl2, and leaching with 1 N NH4OAc. All methods were highly correlated and therefore would be equally effective in determining available soil magnesium. Since MSTS and equilibrium extraction with 1 N NH4OAc removed similar amounts of magnesium from the soil, the same calibration can be used. Calcium determinations were made usin...
Quantum Optics of Dielectric Media

Because quantum fluctuations impose fundamental limits on the accuracy of measurements, much attention is now being devoted to the problem of moderating or supressing their effect. If a quantity to be measured can be regarded as one of a pair of conjugate variables, for example, then its variance can usually be made arbitrarily small, but only at the expense of increasing the variance of the unmeasured variable. This technique requires putting the system being observed in a special sort of quantum state, referred to as “squeezed” 1.
Nanoelectrospray MS and MS-MS investigation of two polydendate Lewis acids, (C6F4Hg)3 and o-C6F4(HgCl)2, characterization and halide binding selectivity

Abstract The coordination of halide anions by two polyfunctional Lewis acids, namely trimeric perfluoro- ortho -phenylene mercury ( 1 ) and 1,2-bis(chloromercurio)tetrafluorobenzene ( 2 ) has been monitored by negative ion nanoelectrospray mass spectrometry using a hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight instrument. Experiments carried out on compound 1 in the presence of halide anions show the formation of the anionic complexes, [ 1 ·X] − and [( 1 ) 2 ·X] − . The latter are likely to exhibit a bridged structure in which the halide anion is sandwiched by two molecules of 1 . In order to determine the anion binding selectivity of 1 , relative affinity measurements were carried out and reveal the following order: I − >Br − >Cl − >F − . After normalization of the halide binding affinities to that of iodide, the following values could be obtained: I − 100%, Br − 9.5±1.6%, Cl − 2.4±1.5%, and F − 0.3±0.1% indicating that 1 is ∼10× less likely to bind bromide, ∼40× less likely to bind chloride, and ∼400× less likely to bind fluoride than iodide. Two fragmentation methods, namely nozzle-skimmer fragmentation and CID MS–MS, were used to further characterize the anionic complexes of 1 . Experiments carried out on 2 in the presence of different halides gave widely varied results. With excess chloride, the anionic complex [ 2 ·Cl] − is formed. In the presence of excess bromide, 2 is converted into 1,2-bis(bromomercurio)tetrafluorobenzene ( 3 ) and detected as the bromide complex [ 3 ·Br] − . With excess iodide, 2 undergoes a condensation reaction to form 1 , which is detected as the iodide complex [ 1 ·I] − .
Transformer-flux-balancing control in isolated bidirectional DC-DC converters

The paper presents novel transformer-flux-balancing control methods for the isolated bidirectional full-bridge (FB) converter with active clamp and the bidirectional dual-active bridge (DAB) converter. Both approaches are based on the sensing and control of the transformer magnetizing current. For the isolated bidirectional FB converter the magnetizing current is obtained by sensing a single current, whereas for the DAB converter, both primary and secondary currents of the transformer need to be sensed to obtain the magnetizing current. Since in the DAB converter the magnetizing-current control can lead to excessive dc values of the winding currents, an additional control loop that eliminates the dc value of the primary and secondary currents is introduced. Performance of the proposed flux-balancing control for the isolated bidirectional FB converter was experimentally evaluated on a 2-kW prototype.
Quality of Accounting, Earnings Opacity and Corruption

The paper explores the impact of the quality of accounting in a given country, as measured by an index of earnings opacity, on the country's level of corruption. The results of a regression of corruption on earnings opacity for a sample of 34 countries show significant relationships between the level of corruption and the level of earnings opacity after controlling for economic development, human development, size of government and economic freedom.
In situ RHEED and AFM investigation of growth front morphology evolution of Si(001) grown by UHV-CVD

We have successfully demonstrated the applicability of in-situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED) to investigate the atomic-scale growth mechanisms in chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Measurements of surface structure and morphology of Si(100) films have been made in-situ by differentially pumped RHEED and compared ex-situ with atomic force microscopy (AFM). We use RHEED to examine the film morphology and structure, such as to distinguish two-dimensional growth (2D) from three-dimensional growth, and for the latter the formation of facets, twins, and polycrystalline morphology, all of which have been observed during CVD grown Si from SiH 4 . In the temperature range of 550 to 650°C, the silicon epitaxial growth was found to be initiated either by the formation of three-dimensional (3D) islands, which coalesce and result in two-dimensional (2D) growth, or by the formation of 2D islands that continue to grow in a 2D mode. The 2D phase consists of a disordered 2 x 1 reconstruction and a c(4 x 4) reconstruction. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements performed ex-situ on the epitaxial films confirm the RHEED observations and give the morphology evolution at various growth conditions.
Failure Time Analysis of Office System Use.

Given a choice, individuals may experiment with certain types of office automation and accept them wholeheartedly, while others may reject them. This article develops models to characterize the probability of continued use of an office information system. It then tests these models with usage patterns of 210 study participants of the IBM PROFS Professional Office System during a twoyear period at the University of California at Berkeley. Two types of longevity analyses were performed, one using survival functions and the other using proportional hazard models. The survival function analysis showed that users did not try PROFS out and then immediately quit. Nevertheless, over a two-year period, 50% stopped using the system. Subjective analysis of the data suggests a considerable number of these users moved to other systems rather than completely stopping use of any office automation software product. Proportional hazard models were employed to determine how the probability of terminating use related to user characteristics. It was found that the longer individuals had access to the system, the lower was the dropout rate. No relation was found between dropout rate and gender, age, or years working for the university. There was a direct relation between the probability of discontinuance and the individual’s departmental affiliation, and that a participant was a faculty member. The data did not support conclusions about the relation between other job classifications and discontinuance of use.
Study of the Quadrupolar-Glass Region in Solid D 2 via Proton Magnetic Resonance

Cusplike behavior in the spin-lattice relaxation time of a probe molecule ($o$-${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$) is used to locate the transition temperature (${T}_{c}$) to the quadrupolar glass phase of a host $o\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{D}}_{2}\ensuremath{-}p\ensuremath{-}{\mathrm{D}}_{2}$ alloy for $p$-${\mathrm{D}}_{2}$ concentrations above 0.29. The values of ${T}_{c}$ obtained here are higher than those obtained from line-shape measurements. The spin-echo height is also strongly affected by the collapse of the correlation frequency spectrum near ${T}_{c}$.
Medical romanticism and the sources of medical practice

Dan Moerman, University of Michigan Dearborn, Dearborn, Michigan 48198 USA In November, 1997, I participated in an interesting exercise as a member of the US National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Panel on acupuncture. Our task was to attempt to reach a consensus on a series of questions regarding the efficacy of this oriental medical technique. Through long deliberations, there was one refrain which came up again and again: several panelists regularly asked if there was clear and convincing evidence from well controlled randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of the efficacy of acupuncture. If there was not, they asserted, then we could not recommend acupuncture. Their argument was clear and convincing. However, several other panelists, myself included, demurred. We thought RCTs to be an unrealistic standard against which to measure this medical treatment. Were that to be your standard, we attempted to argue, you would have to eliminate a substantial portion of contemporary medicine. Our argument, I thought, was fitful and incomplete, not well developed at all. In this essay, I want to develop that argument, and to consider the role of science, and scientific proof, in clinical medicine. My argument will be that while a scientific approach characterizes a good deal of medical research, a large portion, a preponderance, of medical practice is not scientific in origin and has no significant scientific basis or justification, or, even if it does have such a justification, that is not why it is done. Moreover, I will argue that in a number of cases, treatments with scientific justification are ignored in favor of less effective treatments. I do not conclude from this that these practices are inappropriate, ineffective, wrong, or dangerous, only that they aren't 'scientific.' And I will conclude, as I did Fig. I Lorris A. Betz, dean of the University of Michigan Medical School, helps Helen Kong of Montclair, California, into a white laboratory coat during ceremonies for students beginning their first year of medical school. Medical students look like scientists. Published with kind permission of U M Biomedical Media Center.
Review and analysis of existing mobile phone applications for health care–associated infection prevention

Background The expanding number of mobile health applications (apps) holds potential to reduce and eliminate health care–associated infections (HAIs) in clinical practice. The purpose of this review was to identify and provide an overview of the apps available to support prevention of HAIs and to assess their functionality and potential uses in clinical care. Methods We searched 3 online mobile app stores using the following terms: infection prevention , prevention , hand hygiene , hand washing , and specific HAI terms ( catheter-associated urinary tract infection [CAUTI], central line–associated bloodstream infections , surgical site infection , and ventilator associated pneumonia [VAP]). Results Search queries yielded a total of 2,646 potentially relevant apps, of which 17 met our final inclusion criteria. The areas of focus were CAUTI (n = 1, 5.9%), VAP (n = 1, 5.9%), environmental monitoring (n = 2, 11.8%), and hand hygiene (n = 2, 11.8%); the remainder (n = 11, 64.7%) were focused on >1 area (eg, multiple infection prevention bundles, infection prevention guidelines). Almost all of the apps (70.6%) had a maximum of two functions. Conclusion Mobile apps may help reduce HAI by providing easy access to guidelines, hand hygiene monitoring support, or step-by-step procedures aimed at reducing infections at the point of clinical care. Given the dearth of available apps and the lack of functionality with those that are available, there is a need for further development of mobile apps for HAI prevention at the point of care.
The human immunodeficiency virus reduces network capacity: acoustic noise effect.

Objective Increased acoustic noise (AN) during working memory leads to increased brain activation in healthy individuals and may have greater impact in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients. Results Compared with control subjects, HIV patients showed reduced AN activation and lower neuronal marker N-acetylaspartate in prefrontal and parietal cortices. Competing use of the working memory network between AN and cognitive load showed lower dynamic range of the hemodynamic responses in prefrontal and parietal cortices in HIV patients. Interpretation These findings suggest that reduced reserve capacity of the working memory network in HIV patients and additional stress (eg, AN) might exhaust the impaired network for more demanding tasks. Ann Neurol 2006;59:419–423
Double Bonds in Fused Hexacyclic Systems

If a hexacyclic graph, G, represents a benzenoid, a perfect matching corresponds to the location of double bonds (pi-bonds). We present an algorithm for counting the number of configurations of double bonds for various benzenoids.
Diffuse Large-Cell Lymphomas: A Review of Therapy

In this review, the historical and modern classification schemes of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) will be briefly summarized, with a critical review of the evolution and current state of treatment strategies for diffuse large-cell lymphoma (DLCL). We provide current treatment recommendations for newly diagnosed disease and indicate the areas of active clinical investigation. In the past, many of the promising phase II studies in DLCL have appeared beneficial based on patient selection criteria and not the therapeutic result. Lessons learned in clinical trials in NHL may serve as a paradigm for other cancer investigations.
Radon-222 and its parent radionuclides in groundwater from two study areas in New Jersey and Maryland, U.S.A.

Abstract A study of groundwater chemistry and radionuclide mobility in New Jersey and Maryland was conducted to investigate natural processes that control the mobility of radionuclides in the water-rock system. Groundwater was sampled from two geological units in New Jersey and from six in Maryland. The water sampled was from aquifiers in fractured metamorphic rocks of varying composition and metamorphic grade. In both areas, groundwater chemistry was affected most by aquifier mineralogy and lithology; concentrations of total dissolved U, 226Ra and 222Rn were similarly affected. In evey sample for which measurements were made, dissolved Utotal and 226Ra were present in much lower concentrations than 222Rn when expressed in terms of their radioactivity. On the other hand, the total amount of 222Rn that could be produced in these rocks, given their U contents, is much higher than the concentrations observed in groundwater. Thus, the emanating efficiencies of the aquifer rocks studied must be near 10% or less. Such low emanating efficiencies require that a fraction of the 226Ra in the rock be located close to the water-rock interface so that 222Rn, when produced, can be rapidly and efficiently transferred to the aqueous phase. This condition is established when a similar fraction of the U is in a readily leachable position. No known U or Ra solids were supersaturated in any of the samples. Thus, adsorption processes probably play a role in limiting mobilities of Utotal and 226Ra. Concentrations of Utotal and 226Ra found in the water samples are comparable to those found in experimental studies of adsorption onto mineral surfaces.
An analog VLSI system for computing depth from motion parallax

In this work, we develop an approach for an analog VLSI system that computes visual depth from motion parallax. As the objects move across the observer's visual field, their retinal images also drift at different rates proportional to their distance from the observer. Their relative velocity gives perception of relative depth. The ultimate goal is to implement the visual task of determining the depth of moving objects from their retinal velocities (motion parallax) in analog VLSI.
Fertilization and development of mouse oocytes cryopreserved using a theoretically optimized protocol

Rational design of a cryopreservation protocol was demonstrated by using theoretical models of the cryopreservation process to develop an optimal freezing protocol for mouse oocytes. A coupled mechanistic model of the processes of freeze-induced cell dehydration and intracellular ice formation was developed, and cryomicroscopical measurements of intracellular ice formation kinetics were used to determine biophysical parameters required by the model, and to test model predictions of the freezing behaviour of mouse oocytes. A simple phenomenological model for oocyte damage resulting from exposure to concentrated electrolyte and cryoprotectant solutions during cryopreservation was obtained by defining a cost function equal to the duration of the freezing protocol. A two-step freezing protocol was theoretically optimized by using a sequential simplex algorithm to minimize the cost function, subject to the constraint that the predicted probability of intracellular ice formation remain below 5%, yielding a putative optimum at the cooling rate B = 0.59 degrees C/min, and plunge temperature Tp = -67 degrees C. By systematically varying B and Tp about these values in experiments with mouse oocytes cryopreserved in 1.5 M dimethyl sulphoxide, the maximal recovery of intact oocytes with a normal morphology (82%) was obtained for B = 0.5 degrees C/min and Tp = -80 degrees C. Further evaluation of the fertilizability and developmental capacity of oocytes cryopreserved using the optimized protocol yielded cleavage to the 2-cell stage in 65% of oocytes inseminated, and blastocyst formation in 50% of these 2-cell embryos.
A budget-impact and cost-effectiveness model for second-line treatment of major depression.

BACKGROUND: Depressed patients who initially fail to achieve remission when placed on a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) may require a second treatment. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness, cost, cost-effectiveness, and budget impact of second-line pharmacologic treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD). METHODS: A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted to evaluate second line therapies (citalopram, escitalopram, fluoxetine, paroxetine, paroxetine controlled release [CR], sertraline, and venlafaxine extended release [XR]) for the treatment of depression. Effectiveness data were obtained from published clinical studies. The primary outcome was remission defined as a score of 7 or less on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D) or a score of 10 or less on the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) depression rating scales. The wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) for medications and medical treatment costs for depression were included. T...
Parameter invariant observers

Abstract The problem of designing Luenberger observers for estimating a set of linear functions of the state of a linear time-invariant system under the requirement that the observer function perfectly despite the presence of perturbations of the system parameters from a known class, is constructively solved using notions from the geometric theory of linear systems. The close connection between tins problem and the problem of observer design for linear systems with unknown inputs is pointed out.
Efficient reconstruction of band-limited sequences from nonuniformly decimated versions by use of polyphase filter banks

An efficient polyphase structure for the reconstruction of a band-limited sequence from a nonuniformly decimated version is developed. Theoretically, the reconstruction involves the implementation of a bank of multilevel filters, and it is shown that how all these reconstruction filters can be obtained at the cost of one Mth band low-pass filter and a constant matrix multiplier. The resulting structure is therefore more general than previous schemes. In addition, the method offers a direct means of controlling the overall reconstruction distortion T(z) by appropriate design of a low-pass prototype filter P(z). Extension of these results to multiband band-limited signals and to the case of nonconsecutive nonuniform subsampling are also summarized, along with generalizations to the multidimensional case. Design examples are included to demonstrate the theory, and the complexity of the new method is seen to be much lower than earlier ones. >
Site preparation and competing vegetation control affect loblolly pine long-term productivity in the southern Piedmont/Upper Coastal Plain of the United States

• A site preparation study was established in 1986 to evaluate the effect of different site preparation treatments on growth and yield of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations on the Piedmont and Upper Coastal Plain regions of the southern United States. Site preparation treatments included: (1) burn only, (2) chop-burn, (3) shear-pile-disk, (4) chop-herbicide-burn, (5) herbicide-burn, and (6) herbicide-burn-herbicide. • The data from the available 19 installations at age 21 were analyzed with separate analysis of variance and a multilevel nonlinear mixed-effects modeling approach. • The herbicide-burn-herbicide treatment significantly increased average Dbh, height, basal area and volume per hectare compared to all other treatments. The burn only treatment consistently ranked worst and was followed by the chop-burn treatment. The shear-pile-disk and chop-herbicide-burn treatments had similar overall growth pattern, and will approach the same level of pine volume as the herbicide-burn treatment. • Loblolly pine mean annual increment in volume (m 3 ha −1 y −1 ) at age 21 by treatment were: herbicide-burn-herbicide (17.9), shear-pile-disk (16.1), herbicide-burn (15.9), chop-herbicide-burn (15.4), chop-burn (14.3), and burn (11.2). • An additional chop or herbicide treatment to the burn treatment significantly increased loblolly pine yield. Complete control of both herbaceous and woody completion enhanced long-term pine productivity. Mots-cles : gestion intensive des forets / fertilization / herbicide / croissance et productivite
Multiple switching behaviour in multiple price lists

A common mechanism to elicit risk preferences requires a respondent to make a series of dichotomous choices. A recurring problem with this mechanism is a frequently observed tendency to switch from the less to the more risky choice multiple times, multiple switching behaviour. We introduce an instructional variation which our evidence suggests practically eliminates such behaviour. We read a script emphasizing only one decision will determine earnings before providing written instructions. Emphasizing the incentive compatibility of the payment rule reduces observed multiple switching behaviour from 13.3% to 2.3% in one format and from 25.8% to 6.7% in another.
Temporal and spectral studies of a synchronously pumped dye laser: Detailed interpretation of autocorrelation measurements

With the combination of precise autocorrelation and spectral measurements we have established the influence of pulse substructure on the determination of pulse envelope duration of a synchronously pumped dye laser within the noise burst model of Pike and Hersher. Our results make a single sided exponential pulse shape unlikely and we present evidence supporting pulses having Gaussian or skewed Gaussian temporal profiles.
Explaining the Epigraphic Habit in the Roman Empire: The Evidence of Epitaphs

It is now notorious that the production of inscriptions in the Roman Empire was not constant over time, but rose over the first and second centuries A.D. and fell in the third. Ramsay MacMullen pointed this out more than five years ago, with conclusions more cautionary than explanatory: ‘history is not being written in the right way’, he said, for historians have deduced Rome's decline from evidence that–since it appears only epigraphically–has merely disappeared for its own reasons, or have sought general explanations of decline in theories political, economic, or even demographic in nature, none of which can, in turn, explain the disappearance of epigraphy itself. Why this epigraphic habit rose and fell MacMullen left open to question, although he did postulate control by a ‘sense of audience’. The purpose of this paper is to propose that this ‘sense of audience’ was not generalized or generic, but depended on a belief in the value of romanization, of which (as noted but not explained by MacMullen's article) the epigraphic habit is also a rough indicator. Epitaphs constitute the bulk of all provincial inscriptions and in form and number are (generally speaking) the consequence of a provincial imitation of characteristically Roman practices, an imitation that depended on the belief that Roman legal status and style were important, and that may indeed have ultimately depended, at least in North Africa, on the acquisition or prior possession of that status. Such status-based motivations for erecting an epitaph help to explain not only the chronological distribution of epitaphs but also the differences in the type and distribution of epitaphs in the western and eastern halves of the empire. They will be used here moreover to suggest an explanation for the epigraphic habit as a whole.
A continuous-time, jitter insensitive ΣΔ modulator using a digitally linearized G m -C integrator with embedded SC feedback DAC

This paper explores the use of a digitally linearized, low-power G m -C integrator in the first stage of a 5th order continuous time sigma-delta modulator. The proposed architecture features a jitter insensitive SC feedback and a noisy-but-linear auxiliary modulator that is employed to estimate the nonlinearities of the first integrator in the main signal path. A 65-nm CMOS experimental prototype achieves 79 dB dynamic range, 74.3 dB peak SNR and 73.3 dB peak SNDR for a signal bandwidth of 1.95 MHz and 124.8 MHz sampling rate. The IC dissipates 8.55 mW from a 2.5 V supply.
Improved sensitivity for insulin in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry by premixing α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid matrix with transferrin

This report describes an enhancement of the signal intensities of proteins and peptides in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS). When α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA) premixed with human transferrin (Tf) was used as a matrix, the signal intensity of insulin was amplified to more than ten times that of the respective control in CHCA without Tf. The detection limit of insulin was 0.39 fmol on-probe in the presence of Tf, while it was 6.3 fmol in the absence of Tf. The signal intensity of insulin was also enhanced when the CHCA matrix was premixed with proteins other than Tf (80 kDa), such as horse ferritin (20 kDa), bovine serum albumin (BSA, 66 kDa), or human immunoglobulin G (150 kDa). The optimum spectrum of insulin was obtained when the added amount of protein was in the range 0.26–0.62 pmol, regardless of the molecular weight of the added protein. Tf and BSA outperformed the other tested proteins, as determined by improvements in the resulting spectra. When the mass spectra of several peptides and proteins were recorded in the presence of Tf or BSA, the signal intensities of large peptides such as glucagon were enhanced, though those of smaller peptides were not enhanced. In addition, the signal enhancement achieved with Tf and BSA was more pronounced for the proteins, including cytochrome C, than for the large peptides. This enhancement effect could be applied to improve the sensitivity of MALDI-TOFMS to large peptides and proteins. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The AGS booster beam loss monitor system

A beam loss monitor system has been developed for the Brookhaven National Laboratory booster accelerator, and was designed for use with intensities of up to 1.5*10/sup 13/ protons and carbon to gold ions at 50-3*10/sup 9/ ions per pulse. The authors discuss the design, construction, and operation of the system. This system achieves a significant advance over the present AGS (Alternating Gradient Synchrotron) system by improving the sensitivity, dynamic range, and data acquisition. In addition to the large dynamic range achievable, it is adaptively shifted when high losses are detected. The system uses up to 80 argon-filled ion chambers as detectors, as well as newly designed electronics for processing and digitizing detector outputs. The hardware simultaneously integrates each detector output, interfaces to the beam interrupt systems, and digitizes all 80 channels to 12 b at 170 kHz. >
Implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005) Through Cooperative Bioengagement

Cooperative bioengagement efforts, as practiced by U.S. government-funded entities such as the Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Cooperative Biological Engagement Program (CBEP), the State Department’s Biosecurity Engagement Program (US BEP), and parallel programs in other countries, exist at the nexus between public health and security. These programs have an explicit emphasis on developing projects that address the priorities of the partner country as well as the donor. While the objectives of cooperative bioengagement programs focus on reducing the potential for accidental or intentional misuse and/or release of dangerous biological agents, many partner countries are interested in bioengagement as a means to improve basic public health capacities. This article examines the extent to which cooperative bioengagement projects address public health capacity building under the revised International Health Regulations (IHR), and alignment with the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) action packages.
PUB1: a major yeast poly(A)+ RNA-binding protein.

The expression of RNA polymerase II transcripts can be regulated at the posttranscriptional level by RNA-binding proteins. Although extensively characterized in metazoans, relatively few RNA-binding proteins have been characterized in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Three major proteins are cross-linked by UV light to poly(A)+ RNA in living S. cerevisiae cells. These are the 72-kDa poly(A)-binding protein and proteins of 60 and 50 kDa (S.A. Adam, T.Y. Nakagawa, M.S. Swanson, T. Woodruff, and G. Dreyfuss, Mol. Cell. Biol. 6:2932-2943, 1986). Here, we describe the 60-kDa protein, one of the major poly(A)+ RNA-binding proteins in S. cerevisiae. This protein, PUB1 [for poly(U)-binding protein 1], was purified by affinity chromatography on immobilized poly(rU), and specific monoclonal antibodies to it were produced. UV cross-linking demonstrated that PUB1 is bound to poly(A)+ RNA (mRNA or pre-mRNA) in living cells, and it was detected primarily in the cytoplasm by indirect immunofluorescence. The gene for PUB1 was cloned and sequenced, and the sequence was found to predict a 51-kDa protein with three ribonucleoprotein consensus RNA-binding domains and three glutamine- and asparagine-rich auxiliary domains. This overall structure is remarkably similar to the structures of the Drosophila melanogaster elav gene product, the human neuronal antigen HuD, and the cytolytic lymphocyte protein TIA-1. Each of these proteins has an important role in development and differentiation, potentially by affecting RNA processing. PUB1 was found to be nonessential in S. cerevisiae by gene replacement; however, further genetic analysis should reveal important features of this class of RNA-binding proteins.
Publication Patterns of Papers Presented at the Annual Meeting of The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Publication in a peer-reviewed journal is the ultimate lasting acknowledgment of an author's research results. Numerous clinical and basic-science papers are presented at the Annual Meeting of The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, but not all of these presentations culminate in publication in a peer-reviewed journal. In an effort to determine the percentages and patterns of publication, every presentation from the 1990, 1991, and 1992 meetings (a total of 1465 presentations) was reviewed with use of a Melvyl Medline Plus computer search during the summer of 1996. The presentations were classified on the basis of subspecialty. The over-all rate of publication by August 1996 was 46 per cent (668 of 1465), and the rates were similar for the 1990, 1991, and 1992 meetings. The average time to publication was twenty months, and most publications appeared within three years after presentation, with a plateau thereafter. Basic-science presentations had the highest rate of publication: 64 per cent (eighteen of twenty-eight presentations). The rates of publication by clinical subspecialty ranged from 39 per cent (twenty-eight of seventy-two presentations in the hand subspecialty and eighty-two of 210 presentations in the trauma subspecialty) to 53 per cent (110 of 206 presentations in the spine subspecialty). There was no significant difference among these groups (p = 0.611, chi-square test). The American volume of The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery published the most papers (24 per cent; 161 of the 668 publications), followed by Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research (16 per cent; 106 of 668). The over-all rate of publication of presentations at the Annual Meeting of The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is comparable with reported rates in other medical specialties.
Array-based architecture for FET-based, nanoscale electronics

Advances in our basic scientific understanding at the molecular and atomic level place us on the verge of engineering designer structures with key features at the single nanometer scale. This offers us the opportunity to design computing systems at what may be the ultimate limits on device size. At this scale, we are faced with new challenges and a new cost structure which motivates different computing architectures than we found efficient and appropriate in conventional very large scale integration (VLSI). We sketch a basic architecture for nanoscale electronics based on carbon nanotubes, silicon nanowires, and nano-scale FETs. This architecture can provide universal logic functionality with all logic and signal restoration operating at the nanoscale. The key properties of this architecture are its minimalism, defect tolerance, and compatibility with emerging bottom-up nanoscale fabrication techniques. The architecture further supports micro-to-nanoscale interfacing for communication with conventional integrated circuits and bootstrap loading.
Jumping into the Fray: Alliances, Power, Institutions, and the Timing of Conflict Expansion

Our paper examines the question of when conflicts expand and what leads particular states to join more quickly than others. Using factors highlighted in the conflict expansion and joining literatur...
Fusarium sporodochia on cutaneous wounds

A histopathological review of 24 cases of Fusarium-spp. culture-positive human specimens reveal sporodochia in eight cases, all of which were cutaneous injuries. These included three patients with burn wounds, three patients with ischemic necrosis, one patient who suffered trauma with extensive contamination of the injury with vegetation, and one patient with an ischemic skin graft placed for treatment of a non-healing traumatic leg injury sustained in a motor vehicle-pedestrian accident. Sporodochia consisted of swollen cells giving rise to parallel-oriented hyphae that extended upward above the surface, giving rise to a carpet of conidia on its uppermost aspect. Sporodochia have not been previously reported in humans. The presence of Fusarium sporodochia has implications with respect to infection control, as clinical care practices must be tailored to minimize potential aerolization of conidia, chlamydospores and rare budding cells, with resultant spread of the fungus during surgical manipulation, bandage change or cleaning of cutaneous wounds.
Lentiviral and Murine Retroviral Transduction of T Cells for Expression of Human CD40 Ligand

Efficient transduction of primary human T cells is an important goal toward treating a number of genetic defects. Patient T cells could be harvested by leukapheresis, transduced, and returned to the donor. A wide range of secreted or cell surface therapeutic proteins may be delivered in this way. The ability to produce antibodies is the consequence of interactions between T cells and B cells and lack of expression of CD40 ligand (CD40L) on T cells causes X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome (XHIM). We are investigating delivery of a normal CD40 ligand to treat this disorder. We tested promoters driving the expression of either reporter genes such as enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) or human CDC40L. Using murine retroviruses, the best able to drive gene expression in T cells was the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter enhancer element; however, transduction efficiency was low. To achieve efficient, high-level gene expression we tested lentiviral gene delivery vectors. At a low multiplicity of infection (MOI) (0.5-2) a large fraction of target cells was transduced by lentiviral vectors (40-93%), and the strength of gene expression was high, as determined by flow cytometric analysis. We monitored the expression of eGFP or human CD40L on T cell lines and untransformed primary human T cells from normal and CD40L-deficient patients. We achieved efficient gene expression without an extended exposure to virus, and without the need for selection. These results are encouraging for efficient lentivirus-mediated transduction of refractory human cells to achieve therapeutic gene delivery.