cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
‘TifEagle’ Bermudagrass Response to Plant Growth Regulators and Mowing Height

Ultradwarf bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. x C. transvaalensis Burtt-Davy] cultivars require considerable field research to determine best management practices for successful long-term culture. A field study was conducted in 2004 and 2005 on an experimental 'TifEagle' bermudagrass putting green in Clemson, SC, to examine effects of plant growth regulators (PGRs) applied bimonthly and three mowing heights on turf performance. The PGRs included ethephon [(2-chloroethyl)phosphonic acid] at 1.91 kg a.i. ha ―1 , flurprimidol [α-(1-methylethyl)-α-[4-(trifluoro-methoxy)phenyl]-5-pyrimidine-methonol] at 0.07 kg a.i. ha ―1 , trinexapac-ethyl [4-(cyclopropyl-α-hydroxymethylene)-3,5-dioxo-cyclohexane carboxylic acid ethyl ester] at 0.0175 kg a.i. ha ―1 , all pairwise PGR combinations at half the individual rates, and a nontreated control. Turf was mowed five times weekly at 2.50, 3.25, or 4.00 mm. Lateral regrowth with ethephon and trinexapac-ethyl was comparable to nontreated turf, while flurprimidol impeded lateral regrowth ∼25%. All three PGRs reduced dry clipping weights, with flurprimidol most effective (>50% each harvest) and ethephon least effective (maximum 17%). Turf quality for trinexapac-ethyl, ethephon, and flurprimidol was excellent (8.0-8.4), acceptable (6.8-7.1) and unacceptable (3.6-5.2), respectively. Compared to the control, root length density increased 33% with trinexapac-ethyl, unaffected by ethephon, and reduced 25% with flurprimidol. Flurprimidol increased ball roll distances in morning (AM) and (PM) by 21 and 26 cm, respectively, trinexapac-ethyl provided increases of 5 and 10 cm, respectively, while ethephon had no effect, compared to the control. No evidence of synergistic effects was observed for PGR combinations. Raising mowing heights increased lateral regrowth, turf quality, and root length density but decreased ball roll distances. Best overall performance of TifEagle bermudagrass was achieved with trinexapac-ethyl, as it increased root length density, provided excellent turf quality, reduced vertical growth, did not impede lateral regrowth, and increased ball roll distances, compared to the control.
Comparison of the propagation of single and double /4π pulses in two-level and three-level systems

We report on the spatial and temporal dynamics of a pair of optical pulses propagating through a three-level, non-absorbing lambda system, Where one pulse is tuned to the pump transition and the other to the Stokes transition. Assuming a sech profile for the pump pulse, and an area of 4π, we compare two different situations, one where the pump pulse is a single pulse and the other where it is a double pulse. The results of our computer experiments focus on certain transient dynamics, which reveal how the pulse pairs evolve before reaching a steady state behavior. The results are compared to the well-known results that arise when a 4π pulse propagates in a two-level medium.
The Sepulveda VA Geriatric Evaluation Unit: Data on Four-year Outcomes and Predictors of Improved Patient Outcomes

Data from its first four operating years indicate that the Sepulveda VA Geriatric Evaluation Unit is having consistent beneficial effects on patient care. These benefits include improved diagnostic accuracy, reduced use of drugs, improved functional status, and improved placement location. However, not all patients benefit equally, and differences between patient responses highlight the need to select those who will benefit most from relatively costly Geriatric Evaluation Unit services. Discriminant and regression analyses were performed on 98 consecutive patients to determine which patients admitted to the Geriatric Evaluation Unit would show greatest improvement in terms of placement, functional status, one-year survival, and living location, and which patients would be treated most efficiently in terms of length of stay. Patient characteristics on admission significantly associated with discharge home included a relatively high functional and cognitive status, the absence of an unstable medical problem, and not being expected to need nursing home placement by the referring physician. The latter two factors alone predicted actual placement location on the next 101 patients admitted to the Geriatric Evaluation Unit with high predictive accuracy (88.5 per cent). Factors predictive of patients whose functional status would improve on the Geriatric Evaluation Unit included absence of an unstable medical problem and being over 75 years old (predictive accuracy was 82.5 per cent). Two major factors associated with long patient stays on the Geriatric Evaluation Unit were low functional status scores and not living in own home or with family. These analyses indicate criteria that may be useful in selecting patients for inpatient geriatric evaluation and rehabilitation programs.
Regulation of Thyroid Hormone Receptors and Responses by Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone in GH4C1 Cells*

The present study was undertaken to test the effects of TRH on thyroid hormone receptors and responses in GH4C1 rat pituitary tumor cells. TRH caused a loss of up to 32% of specific nuclear thyroid hormone binding sites with an ED50 of approximately 1 nM, and this loss was additive to the receptor down-regulation caused by T3 itself. Scatchard analysis of nuclear T3 binding revealed that 10 nM TRH decreased the concentration of T3 receptors from Bmax (femtomoles per mg protein) of 110 to 50 while receptor affinity in serum-free medium changed from dissociation constant (Kd) 110 to 50 pM with TRH. TRH lowered the GH response to 0.5 nM T3 from 215% to 127% of control. The concentrations of TRH required to decrease T3 receptors and T3 responses were similar and indicated that these TRH effects are mediated by the TRH receptor. In the absence of added thyroid hormone TRH had little effect on the rate of GH synthesis. TRH did not affect the binding of 0.5 nM [125I]T3 to receptors during the first 8 h but reduced T3 receptor occupancy up to 25-50% in different experiments after 24 h. TRH blocked the induction of GH by T3 only after 48 h or longer. When cells were incubated for 2 weeks with or without 2 nM T3 and 10 nM TRH, the stimulation of cell growth by T3 was decreased by TRH (2- vs. 5-fold increase in cell number) as was stimulation of GH by T3 (5- vs. 13-fold). As expected, T3 blunted the PRL response to TRH from 19- to 3-fold. The effects of TRH on the density of thyroid hormone receptors could be mimicked by the calcium channel agonist BAY K8644 plus a protein kinase C-activating phorbol ester which together caused a 53% reduction in thyroid hormone binding. The dose-response and temporal relationships suggest a causal relationship between the TRH-mediated decrease in thyroid hormone receptors and the decrease in thyroid hormone responses in GH4C1 cells. It has previously been shown that thyroid hormones decrease the concentration of TRH receptors and TRH responsivity in pituitary cells. The results shown here for GH4C1 cells suggest that TRH regulation of T3 responses may also be important in feedback control at the pituitary level.
Oncologic emergencies in the patient with lymphoma

Objectives To provide a brief overview of the oncologic emergencies most commonly occurring in lymphoma patients. Data Sources Published articles, research studies, and reference books. Conclusions As a result of their malignancy and the treatments they receive, lymphoma patients are at an increased risk for the development of the following oncologic emergencies: superior vena cava syndrome, cardiac tamponade, sepsis, acute tumor lysis syndrome, and increased intracranial pressure. If not recognized and treated quickly, these complications can be deadly. With appropriate medical and nursing management, these emergencies either can be prevented or their complications minimized. Implications for Nursing Practice An awareness of which patients are at risk for these complications and the pathophysiology of each emergency will assist nurses in the implementation of treatment measures.
Plastic zone formation and stable crack growth in high-strength alloy sheets

Abstract Plastic zones generated at notches have been studied in detail for six different high-strength sheet alloys (0·03–0·14 in. thick) using a replication technique. The size and shape of the zone is related to the material, the sheet thickness, and, in particular, the progress of stable crack growth. In these sheets there are two components of stable growth: (a) a triangular flat normal to the tensile axis and coplanar with the original notch, (b) shear cracks on oblique planes joining the shank of the flat with the sheet surface. The length of the flat depends only on sheet thickness and not on the material. Since the plastic zone represents shear deformation extending from the flank of the crack to the surface, the length of the internal flat fracture can be deduced from the shape of the plastic zone. The shear fracture begins at a higher stress level than the flat, but grows more rapidly. Accordingly, unstable fracture occurs on shear planes. Because of these complexities, it is difficult to predict values of stable crack growth in terms of available models.
Market based sensor mobility management for target localization

In this paper, we propose a framework for the mobile sensor scheduling problem in target location estimation by designing an equilibrium based two-sided market model where the fusion center (FC) is modeled as the consumer and the mobile sensors are modeled as the producers. To accomplish the task, the FC provides incentives to the sensors to motivate them to optimally relocate themselves in a manner that maximizes the information gain for estimating the location of the target. On the other hand, the sensors calculate their own best moving distances that maximize their profits. Price adjustment rules are designed to compute the equilibrium prices and moving distances, so that a stable solution is reached. Simulation experiments show the effectiveness of our model.
Effects of a Gun Dealer's Change in Sales Practices on the Supply of Guns to Criminals

Licensed gun dealers are a major conduit for gun trafficking. Prior to May 1999, a single gun store sold more than half of the guns recovered from criminals in Milwaukee, WI, shortly following retail sale. On May 10, 1999, the store stopped selling small, inexpensive handguns popular with criminals, often called “Saturday night specials.” The purpose of this study was to estimate the effect of this gun store's changed sales practices on criminals' acquisition of new guns. We used an interrupted time-series design with comparisons to test for changes in the number of guns that police recovered from criminals within a year of retail sale following the gun dealer's new sales policy. The dealer's changed sales policy was associated with a 96% decrease in recently sold, small, inexpensive handguns use in crime in Milwaukee, a 73% decrease in crime guns recently sold by this dealer, and a 44% decrease in the flow of all new, trafficked guns to criminals in Milwaukee. The findings demonstrate the substantial impact that a single gun store's sales practices can have on the supply of new guns to criminals. Proposed anti-gun-trafficking efforts in other cities could benefit from targeting problem retail outlets.
Oxidative stress and dysregulation of superoxide dismutase and NADPH oxidase in renal insufficiency

Oxidative stress and dysregulation of superoxide dismutase and NADPH oxidase in renal insufficiency. Background Chronic renal failure (CRF) is associated with oxidative stress, the mechanism of which remains uncertain. Superoxide is the primary oxygen free radical produced in the body, NAD(P)H oxidase is the major source of superoxide production and superoxide dismutase (SOD) is responsible for removal of superoxide. We hypothesized that CRF-induced oxidative stress may be due to increased production and/or decreased dismutation of superoxide. Methods Immunodetectable superoxide dismutase isoforms (Cu Zn SOD and Mn SOD), as well as, NAD(P)H oxidase (gp91 phox subunit) proteins and xanthine oxidase (XO) activity were determined in the kidney and liver of CRF (5/6 nephrectomized) and sham-operated control rats. Subgroups of animals were treated with SOD-mimetic drug, tempol and blood pressure and urinary nitric oxide metabolites (NO x ) were monitored. Results The CRF group showed marked down-regulations of CuZn SOD and Mn SOD and significant up-regulation of gp91 phox in the liver and kidney, which are among the metabolically most active tissues. In contrast, XO activity was depressed in both tissues. Arterial pressure and nitrotyrosine abundance were elevated while urinary NO x excretion was depressed, pointing to increased NO inactivation by superoxide and decreased NO availability in CRF animals. Administration of SOD-mimetic agent, tempol, for one week, ameliorated hypertension, reduced nitrotyrosine abundance and increased urinary NO x excretion in the CRF animals. Conclusions CRF is associated with depressed SOD and elevated NAD(P)H oxidase expression, which can contribute to oxidative stress by increasing superoxide. This is evidenced by favorable response to administration of SOD-mimetic drug, tempol, and increased nitrotyrosine that is the footprint of NO interaction with superoxide.
Debulking surgery and intraperitoneal chemotherapy are associated with decreased morbidity in women receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy for ovarian cancer.

Objective The aims of this study were to compare the rate of completion of optimal debulking and/or 6 cycles of intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy in women with International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians stage III/IV ovarian cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) versus primary surgery (PS) and to compare morbidity between these 2 groups. Methods Ninety-six subjects with stage III/IV ovarian cancer who underwent either NACT or PS were identified. Data comparisons include rate of optimal debulking and completion rate of 6 cycles of IP chemotherapy. Other data collected included surgical times, length of stay, intensive care unit admissions, blood transfusions, bowel resections, major complications, and dose reductions. SigmaStat version 2.0 was used for statistical analysis. Results Of the 96 subjects, 38 received NACT and 58 had PS. All 14 subjects with stage IV disease received NACT, and all experienced resolution of pleural effusion, based on computed tomographic imaging. Thirty-five (92%) of 38 NACT subjects versus 47 (81%) of 58 PS subjects were optimally debulked (P = 0.08). Thirty-six (95%) of 38 NACT subjects versus 37 (64%) of 58 PS subjects completed IP chemotherapy (P Conclusions The NACT subjects were more likely to complete IP chemotherapy and had decreased length of stay, intensive care unit admissions, bowel resections, and duration of surgery. Both optimal debulking and dose reductions were numerically but not statistically associated with NACT versus PS. This likely reflects a relatively high overall rate of optimal debulking and low rate of dose reductions in these subjects and would require a larger group to determine significance.
ICIMACS: the Ohio State Instrument Control and Image Acquisition System

The Ohio State Instrument Control and IMage ACquisition System, ICIMACS, is the computer hardware and software used by all instruments developed by the Imaging Science Laboratory (ISL) to control the detector, pre-process data, record image data on a separate computer system for data reduction and analysis, generate real time data display, control the mechanisms within an instrument, interface with the telescope controller, connect to a user interface, and perform engineering functions such as temperature or pressure logging. ICIMACS has now been used on 12 different instruments and is herein described as applied to 'MOSAIC' the near IR imager/spectrometer in use on the Kitt Peak 2.1 and 4 meter telescopes and on the MDM 2.4 and 1.3 meter telescopes.
Image Fusion with Local Spectral Consistency and Dynamic Gradient Sparsity

In this paper, we propose a novel method for image fusion from a high resolution panchromatic image and a low resolution multispectral image at the same geographical location. Different from previous methods, we do not make any assumption about the upsampled multispectral image, but only assume that the fused image after downsampling should be close to the original multispectral image. This is a severely ill-posed problem and a dynamic gradient sparsity penalty is thus proposed for regularization. Incorporating the intra- correlations of different bands, this penalty can effectively exploit the prior information (e.g. sharp boundaries) from the panchromatic image. A new convex optimization algorithm is proposed to efficiently solve this problem. Extensive experiments on four multispectral datasets demonstrate that the proposed method significantly outperforms the state-of-the-arts in terms of both spatial and spectral qualities.
A sweet target for innate immunity.

Galectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins with diverse activities, but there is no unifying picture of their primary physiological role. Galectins now emerge as autonomous bacteria-killing agents (pages 295–301), unexpected findings that may point to a principal role of these proteins in innate immunity.
Superior mirage effect in supercritical CO2: Experiment and model

Abstract At temperatures near Tc, supercritical CO2 is highly compressible and it follows that a small temperature gradient will create a large density gradient. We established stable density gradients by maintaining the bottom of a sc-CO2-cell cooler than its other sides. That created a large refractive index gradient that bent a laser beam through an angle that is roughly proportional to the density gradient. Such light bending causes, for example, the mirage of water on a hot road. A He–Ne laser beam traversed a 7.62 cm long cell and was deflected downward as much as 5.9°. The magnitude of the beam deflections agreed within 3% with a model that used only fundamental geometrical optics and known PVT data, but that employed no adjustable parameters.
Forecasting Pre-World War I Inflation: The Fisher Effect and the Gold Standard

We examine interest and inflation rates from 1879 to 1913. Deflation prior to 1896 was followed by inflation. Average U. S. inflation was 3.1 percentage points higher in the years after 1896, yet nominal interest rates were no higher after 1896. This nonadjustment of nominal rates would be consistent with rational expectations if inflation was not forecastable, and indeed univariate tests show little sign of serial correlation. But gold production does forecast inflation. The relationship between mining and inflation was such that expected inflation should have risen 300 basis points between 1890 and 1910. We consider explanations of this failure to foresee the shift in inflation after 1896 and conclude that it is not persuasive evidence that investors ignored relevant information, but does suggest great uncertainty about the appropriate model for analyzing the economy.
Species shift drives decomposition rates following invasion by hemlock woolly adelgid

Insect and disease outbreak is an important cause of selective species removal and accompanying functional change in North American forests. Outbreak of hemlock woolly adelgid, Adelgies tsugae – HWA, is causing selective removal of eastern hemlock Tsuga canadensis at a regional scale. Impacts of outbreak-caused canopy mortality and shifts in dominant species on litter decay were compared across sites that range in HWA-caused canopy damage and subsequent canopy dominance by black birch Betula lenta. Senescent litter from eastern hemlock, black birch, and equal litter mixes were decomposed in the field for 36 months within nine sites in Connecticut and Massachusetts USA. Mass loss and % N accumulation of black birch was 65% and 52% greater compared to eastern hemlock. In contrast, outbreak related canopy damage increased litter mass loss by 11.5% in high mortality stands relative to uninfested stands but canopy damage had no impact on % N dynamics. Non-additive effects of litter mixing influenced chemical dynamics of decaying litter; black birch accumulated less N and eastern hemlock accumulated more N compared to each species decaying alone. However, these changes offset and mixed litter bags overall showed no differences in N dynamics compared to values from each spe cies decaying alone. In eastern hemlock stands invaded by hemlock woolly adelgid, canopy damage influences the rates and dynamics of decay but species differences between hemlock and black birch leaf litter are the dominant mechanisms of decomposition changes and a long-lasting driver of increased N cycling rates. Species shifts may be the dominant driver of altered ecosystem processes for other insect outbreaks, particularly when replacement species have very different character istics regulating decomposition and N cycling.
X-ray holography for sequencing DNA

In this paper we discuss the potential for application of x-ray holographic imaging techniques to the sequencing of DNA. We formulate an approximate model for the scattering of partially coherent x-rays from an oriented DNA fiber and show the feasibility of reconstruction of heavy atom label positions from the x-ray scattering data. A series of simulations has been done to demonstrate the required reconstruction algorithms. An x-ray experiment is currently in progress to demonstrate the real feasibility of the technique. The potential of x-ray imaging techniques for the sequencing of DNA is attractive because of their inherently parallel nature. Hundreds or thousands of base pairs could be sequenced in a single set of x-ray images. The fundamental idea is to attach heavy atom labels to a selected base type on the DNA fragment to be sequenced. A large number (> 1012) of identical fragments can be constructed as an oriented fiber and illuminated with partially coherent x-rays. The heavy label positions can then be determined from the recorded pattern of scattered x-rays. If this operation is repeated for each of the four bases, the sequence can be reconstructed. The phase determination problem is solved by attaching to each DNA fragment a reference label in a known position. The scattered field then forms a Fourier transform hologram of the averaged DNA fragment. Because of the high photoelectric absorption of DNA relative to its coherent scattering cross-section, a single molecule would be damaged before an image could be formed. We solve this problem by distributing the damage over a large number of identical copies of the DNA fragment. In this paper we model a relatively simple experiment whose objective is to form a Fourier transform hologram of a labelled DNA fiber using 1 .54 A x-rays. We will first describe the hologram formation process and then the method for reconstructing the label positions.
Heterologous protein expression in Hypocrea jecorina: A historical perspective and new developments

Hypocrea jecorina, the sexual teleomorph of Trichoderma reesei, has long been favored as an industrial cellulase producer, first utilizing its native cellulase system and later augmented by the introduction of heterologous enzymatic activities or improved variants of native enzymes. Expression of heterologous proteins in H. jecorina was once considered difficult when the target was an improved variant of a native cellulase. Developments over the past nearly 30 years have produced strains, vectors, and selection mechanisms that have continued to simplify and streamline heterologous protein expression in this fungus. More recent developments in fungal molecular biology have pointed the way toward a fundamental transformation in the ease and efficiency of heterologous protein expression in this important industrial host. Here, 1) we provide a historical perspective on advances in H. jecorina molecular biology, 2) outline host strain engineering, transformation, selection, and expression strategies, 3) detail potential pitfalls when working with this organism, and 4) provide consolidated examples of successful cellulase expression outcomes from our laboratory.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome in Acid Maltase Deficiency

A patient with adult acid maltase deficiency (AMD) developed severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and respiratory insufficiency. Weaning failure was followed by diffuse pneumonia and death. At autopsy, profound muscle replacement by fibrofatty tissue was noted in the tongue and diaphragm, while the accessory and non respiratory muscles were variably preserved. To our knowledge, this case represents the first detailed clinical description of OSA associated with adult AMD. In addition, we suggest that severe tongue weakness due to fatty metamorphosis, in concert with macroglossia, provides a unique pathophy siologic mechanism for OSA.
Thyroid resection improves perception of swallowing function in patients with thyroid disease.

Background Patients with thyroid disease frequently complain of dysphagia. To date, there have been no prospective studies evaluating swallowing function before and after thyroid surgery. We used the swallowing quality of life (SWAL-QOL) validated outcomes assessment tool to measure changes in swallowing-related QOL in patients undergoing thyroid surgery.
Dangerous Work: Women in Traffic

A young man from a prominent Lijiang family fell in love with a beautiful taxi driver. They courted and planned to marry. His mother, however, suspected the young woman of huchou (fuchou in Lijiang pronunciation)-"body odor" or "bad hygiene" (lit., "fox stench"). She refused to allow the marriage without an investigation. The man therefore enlisted a young woman, a friend of the family, to get to know his girlfriend well enough to stay overnight at her house. When they shared a bed, a practice common among close friends, the family friend would be able to discover whether the taxi driver suffered from any "abnormalities." The friend spent the night with the driver, verified the "odor," and reported back to the man's family. The man broke off the relationship, and gossip about the taxi driver began spreading around Lijiang town.
948-50 Dissociation Between Changes of Plasma Volume and its Neurohumoral Determinants Post-HeartMate Implantation in Heart Failure Patients

Congestive heart failure is associated with blood volume expansion which by itself increases the burden on the heart. High PV with congestive heart failure has been attributed to stimulation of the renin-aldersterone system and AVP. The use of left ventricular assist devices as bridges to heart transplantation has increased the survival of these patients during this critical period. We hypothesized that improvement of cardiac mechanical function by HeartMate (left ventricular assist device) is associated with a normalization of volume load secondary to normalization of neurohumoral determinants of plasma volume. To assess this hypothesis, we studied 15 patients (13 M: 2 F; age 50 ± 9 yrs) with end stage heart failure who were cardiac transplant candidates, before and after HeartMate 1000 (HM) implantation. We measured plasma volume (pV, RISA). and plasma levels of atrial natiuretic hormone (ANFI. aldosterone (PA), renin (PRA), and arginine vasopressin (AVP). sequentially at pre HM, and post HM (weeks 2, 4 and 8). Results Pre HM W2 W4 W8 PV 117 ± 22 123 ± 17 119 ± 19 111 ± 12 ANF 276 ± 199 199 ± 62 180 ± 110 141 ± 66 PA 53 ± 52 16 ± 9 17 ± 18 14 ± 9 * PRA 46 ± 25 7 ± 3 * 8 ± 7 * 11 ± 18 * AVP 5.2 ± 5 0.8 ± 1 0.6 ± 0.7 * 1.1 ± 1 * x ± SD, P(paired t) * l 005 vs pre HM Conclusions The reduction of PV, PRA, PA and AVP occurs earlier than the reduction of plasma volume and ANF after HeartMate, possibly due to decreased pulmonary congestion and improved renal perfusion. The reduction of ANF cannot be responsible for lack of adequate decrease of plasma volume; its reduction can be taken as a marker of improved cardiac pump function and decreased atrial stretch.
Fundamentals of soot formation in flames with application to diesel engine particulate emissions

Experimental evidence obtained on a wide variety of different combustion systems (premixed and diffusion flames, perfectly stirred reactors, etc.) and with a wide variety of different fuels indicates that chemical kinetics is the dominant rate process governing the emission of soot from the system. 56 refs.
Tarnishing and Cu Ion release in Selected Copper-Base Alloys: Implications towards Antimicrobial Functionality

Abstract Copper corrosion, tarnishing, release and color stability were investigated in a series of candidate antimicrobial copper alloys Cu, Cu–5Sn, Cu–5Zn–5Al–1Sn, Cu–10Ni–1.5Fe–1Zn, Cu–18Ni–17Zn–1Mn, Cu–20Zn–3Si, and Cu–30Zn ( wt% indicated ). High Cu content, often utilized as an indicator of antimicrobial efficacy brought about by copper release, is shown to be insufficient alone to forecast Cu ion release tendencies during exposure. Alloys were exposed under full immersion in a standardized artificial perspiration solution. Copper release, relative film thickness, the molecular identity of the tarnish, and optical wavelength reflectivity were assessed to determine the fate of copper during oxidation. Copper release did not generally correlate with bulk Cu alloy content, tarnish thickness, or overall corrosion rate due to the unique effects of both major and minor alloying elements. Mechanisms for high or low corrosion rates, tarnishing and Cu release as a function of alloying content are discussed.
Finite element modelling and vibration control of a tetrahedral space frame applied to micromachining

This paper presents the modelling and vibration control of the tetrahedral space frame. The tetrahedral frame is a structure that is used in precision machining applications. When machining at a high precision requirement, structural vibration is of the utmost concern. This research develops finite element models using ANSYS and Matlab that can be used to implement a positive position feedback controller. In order to control and reduce the vibration magnitude, collocated piezoelectric actuators and sensors are placed at the optimal positions on the tetrahedral space frame. ANSYS is used to conduct a modal analysis on the structure to obtain the mode shapes, which determines the weakest positions and critical vibration modes under certain machining conditions. In Matlab, a finite element model is created which uses Timoshenko's beam elements and it is further converted to state-space allowing the model to be controlled using programme simulations. A positive position feedback controller is chosen due to its non-sensitivity to spillover effects.
What your visual system sees where you are not looking

What is the representation in early vision? Considerable research has demonstrated that the representation is not equally faithful throughout the visual field; representation appears to be coarser in peripheral and unattended vision, perhaps as a strategy for dealing with an information bottleneck in visual processing. In the last few years, a convergence of evidence has suggested that in peripheral and unattended regions, the information available consists of local summary statistics. Given a rich set of these statistics, many attributes of a pattern may be perceived, yet precise location and configuration information is lost in favor of the statistical summary. This representation impacts a wide range of visual tasks, including peripheral identification, visual search, and visual cognition of complex displays. This paper discusses the implications for understanding visual perception, as well as for imaging applications such as information visualization.
lactam synthesis by intramolecular ene insertion of acylazocarboxylates

Abstract Acylazocarboxylates having γ,δ or δ,e unsaturation are generated by MnO 2 oxidation of the corresponding hydrazines. Internal ene reaction occurs at room temperature to give 5- or 6-membered lactam derivatives.
No one loves a realist explanation

Responding to the special issue editors request, I conduct a retrospective evaluation of my own scholarship on realism and the end of the Cold War. I reprise the main arguments in light of what appears to be the most probative new evidence. I find that ,even though almost all scholars who write about the Cold War's end either dismiss or denounce explanations informed by realist theory, these explanations actually have stood the test of time and new evidence.
Conditional-mean estimation via jump-diffusion processes in multiple target tracking/recognition

A new algorithm is presented for generating the conditional mean estimates of functions of target positions, orientations and type in recognition, and tracking of an unknown number of targets and target types. Taking a Bayesian approach, a posterior measure is defined on the tracking/target parameter space by combining a narrowband sensor array manifold model with a high resolution imaging model, and a prior based on airplane dynamics. The Newtonian force equations governing rigid body dynamics are utilized to form the prior density on airplane motion. The conditional mean estimates are generated using a random sampling algorithm based on jump-diffusion processes for empirically generating MMSE estimates of functions of these random target positions, orientations, and type under the posterior measure. Results are presented on target tracking and identification from an implementation of the algorithm on a networked Silicon Graphics workstation and DECmpp/MasPar parallel machine.
A comparison of Arab and American conceptions of “effective”; persuasion

This study examines different cultural orientations toward the role of political debate in society by comparing the rhetorical tactics in a Saudi Government advocacy advertisement, or paid editorial, with those in a Mobil Oil Corporation advocacy advertisement The two advocacy ads employ radically different rhetorical tactics to accomplish similar objectives. The analysis identifies the contrasting assumptions about the nature of persuasion implicit in each artifact and explains the differences between American and Arab “rules”; for political debate.
Baroreflex failure following radiotherapy for head and neck cancer: A case study

The baroreflex functions via carotid stretch receptors to maintain optimal perfusion pressures. Disruption of this reflex, in the chronic phase, presents insidiously and is characterized by severe labile blood pressure (BP). This condition is commonly referred to as the syndrome of baroreflex failure (BRF). BRF is an important clinical problem that may develop following radiation therapy (RT) or other treatments for head and neck cancer. It is important for radiation oncologists to be aware of this diagnosis as they are often in the best position to diagnose BRF early in its development. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the presenting signs and symptoms, diagnostic work-up, treatment, and possible causes of BRF to aid in the diagnosis of this rare condition. Herein we report a case of BRF following RT for head and neck (H-N) cancer and provide a critical review of the currently published literature discussing this association.
Oxidative degradation of the ascorbate anion in the presence of platinum and palladium. Formation and structures of platinum and palladium oxalate complexes

Abstract The reactions of [Pt(NO3)2(dppm)] (dppm=bis(diphenylphosphino)methane) and cis-[Pt(NO3)2(PEt3)2] with sodium ascorbate are described. Complexes containing O,O-coordinated ascorbate ligands are formed initially, but on standing further oxidation and cleavage of the ligand occur to produce the corresponding oxalate complexes. The reactions were monitored by NMR spectroscopy, and reactions of [Pt(NO3)2(dppm)] with oxalic acid or calcium threonate also produced [Pt(C2O4)(dppm)]. Reactions of [PtMe(Me2CO)(dppe)]+ or [PdMe(Me2CO)(P∩P)]+ (P∩P=dppe, dppp) with sodium ascorbate result in cleavage of the MC bond and oxidation of ascorbate to again produce metal oxalate derivatives. The solid state structures of [Pt(C2O4)(dppm)]·Me2CO, [Pd(C2O4)(dppe)]·H2O and [Pd2(μ-C2O4)(dppp)2][BF4]2·2Me2CO, determined by X-ray crystallography, are described.
Contact Lenses: Explaining U.S.-Russian Military-to-Military Ties

Despite uncertainties in U.S.-Russian diplomatic relationships, military-to-military contact programs between the two states continued to flourish and were supported by senior military officers on both sides until the Spring 1999 bombing of Serbia put them on hold. This article argues that these programs in fact serve clear mission-related goals for both military organizations. Both sides value the training and military education the programs provide; the Russian side values the opportunity for expressing "voice," or influence, in international security arrangements despite a decline in state power; and, perhaps most important in an era of uncertainty, both sides value the "transparency," or information-sharing, opportunities provided, especially since stability is enhanced when each side's capabilities and intentions are showcased. After describing the current programs in depth and exploring senior officers' opinions about their benefits, the article concludes by showing that surprisingly similar benefit...
Anomalous Yield Enhancement for Highly Collimated 180° Scattering of He + in Amorphous and Polycrystalline Materials

A new and unusual yield enhancement [(20-30)% above Rutherford] has been observed in the energy spectra for ${\mathrm{He}}^{+}$ backscattering to 180\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.25\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} in the energy range $0.2 \mathrm{MeV}l~El~2.5 \mathrm{MeV}$ for a variety of amorphous and polycrystalline targets. The depth and angular dependence of the yield enhancement has been established for a variety of materials and experimental conditions. Several possible explanations are discussed.
Neurologic Variant Laryngomalacia Associated with Chiari Malformation and Cervicomedullary Compression: Case Reports:

Two infants presented with intermittent stridor and evidence of laryngomalacia on flexible laryngoscopy. The first was a 10-month-old girl who had undergone 3 supraglottoplasty surgeries at an outside institution, without long-term resolution of symptoms. She was found during our evaluation to have a Chiari malformation. Laryngomalacia symptoms resolved after suboccipital decompression and C1 laminectomy, and the patient remained symptom-free at 6-month follow-up. The second infant was a 24-day-old boy with velocardiofacial syndrome who was found to have posterior cervicomedullary junction compression at the level of C1. He underwent C1 laminectomy for decompression of the brain stem, which resulted in immediate resolution of symptoms, and he remained symptom-free at 12-month follow-up. Neurologic abnormalities have been reported in up to 50% of infants with laryngomalacia. As such, brain stem dysfunction should be considered among the causes of laryngomalacia during evaluation, especially in patients with failure of supraglottoplasty. Both of these infants had resolution of symptoms after their neurosurgical procedures.
Strontium isotopic characterization of soils and coal ashes.

Abstract The 87 Sr/ 86 Sr isotopic ratios and Rb and Sr concentrations were measured for a number of soils and samples of coal-derived fly and bottom ashes. Fly and bottom ashes from a given coal rank are similar in their concentrations of Rb and Sr and their 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios. Values of 87 Sr/ 86 Sr isotopic ratios of ashes decrease in the order bituminous > subbituminous > lignitic, reflecting the decreasing rank of parent coals. The 87 Sr/ 86 Sr isotopic ratios of soils vary widely, differing significantly only from the ratios observed for lignitic ashes. The results indicate that the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr values may be used as a tracer for detecting dispersion of lignitic ashes on soils. In these coal ashes, the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios of the biogeologically available fraction of Sr are linearly correlated with the logarithm of the Sr concentrations, the logarithm of the Rb/Sr ratios, and the Rb concentrations.
Short duration, intensive tango dancing for Parkinson disease: an uncontrolled pilot study.

Summary Objective The goal of this pilot study was to determine the effects of short duration, intensive tango lessons on functional mobility in people with Parkinson disease. Design This study employed a within-subject, prospective, repeated measures design. Subjects/patients Fourteen people with idiopathic Parkinson disease participated. Setting All balance and gait assessments were performed in a laboratory, but dance classes took place in a large, open classroom. Interventions Participants completed ten 1.5-h long Argentine tango dance lessons within 2 weeks. Their balance, gait and mobility were assessed before and after the training sessions. Main outcome measures Measures included the Berg Balance Scale, the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale, gait velocity, functional ambulation profile, step length, stance and single support percent of gait, Timed Up and Go, and the 6min walk. Results Participants significantly improved on the Berg Balance Scale (effect size (ES)=0.83, p =0.021), Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale Motor Subscale III (ES=−0.64, p =0.029), and percent of time spent in stance during forward walking (ES=0.97, p =0.015). Non-significant improvements were noted on the Timed Up and Go (ES=−0.38, p =0.220) and 6min walk (ES=0.35, p =0.170). Conclusions Frequent social dance lessons completed within a short time period appear to be appropriate and effective for these individuals with mild-moderately severe Parkinson disease.
SIMPLE ESTIMATE OF ELECTRON-PHONON COUPLING IN SMALL FULLERENES

Simple scaling arguments show how contributions to the electron-phonon coupling strength vary with the number of atoms in a carbon fullerene. Smaller fullerenes have higher curvature, which yields larger electron-phonon coupling. The enhancement in coupling is inversely proportional to the number of atoms in the fullerene molecule. Recent ab initio theoretical results on ${\mathrm{C}}_{36}$ fit well within this simple model.
Anaphylaxis to Intravenous Cyclosporine and Tolerance to Oral Cyclosporine: Case Report and Review

Background Hypersensitivity reactions to cyclosporine are rare. The mechanism of the reaction and guidelines for subsequent use of cyclosporine are not well defined. Objective To investigate the mechanisms involved in hypersensitivity reactions to cyclosporine and determine the feasibility of future cyclosporine use. Methods We report a patient who had an anaphylactic reaction during the intravenous infusion of cyclosporine. Skin-prick tests were performed for the antibiotics he received earlier in the day and the cyclosporine. A MEDLINE search identified all the reported cases of hypersensitivity reactions to cyclosporine. Each was analyzed to determine a mechanism of the hypersensitivity reaction and subsequent management outcomes. Results Intradermal tests to intravenous cyclosporine formulation (1 mg/mL) were positive in the patient and negative in two controls. There was no reaction to the antibiotics. The literature search revealed 22 cases of hypersensitivity reaction to cyclosporine. The clinical setting and diagnostic evaluation suggest multiple mechanisms for the hypersensitivity response. All seven patients who were given an oral formulation of cyclosporine tolerated it well after a reaction to the intravenous infusion. Two patients who initially reacted to an oral solution formulation subsequently tolerated the corn oil-based soft gelatin capsule. Conclusions Hypersensitivity reactions to cyclosporine are due to Cremophor EL. There is direct and indirect evidence for various immunologic and nonimmunologic pathways precipitating the reaction. This case suggests a role for IgE in the hypersensitivity reaction. Fortunately, a hypersensitivity reaction to one formulation of cyclosporine does not preclude use of a different formulation. The corn oil-based soft gelatin capsule appears to be the safest formulation
Association of Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) feeding and gold fleck damage on tomato fruit

Abstract The twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch has been established as an indirect pest of tomatoes ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) by reducing yields through plant feeding. Field observations suggested that T. urticae feeding on fruit may have resulted in discoloration known as gold fleck. A series of experiments were undertaken in the field and laboratory to evaluate T. urticae feeding as a cause of gold fleck on the fruit. Field experiments showed that, as cumulative mite days increased, so did the percentage of fruit affected by gold fleck. Results from laboratory experiments showed that T. urticae feeding on tomato fruit did cause gold fleck. This study clearly demonstrated that T. urticae can damage tomato fruit directly in the form of gold fleck, which may impact marketability of that fruit.
Timing of Implantation and Closure of the Palatal Shelf in New Zealand White and Japanese White Rabbits

Two specific developmental events, namely implantation and palatal shelf closure, are of specific interest because they define, respectively, the beginning and the end of the treatment period in embryo-fetal developmental toxicity studies for pharmaceutical products. Thus, a detailed evaluation of the timing of implantation and closure of the hard palate is necessary to assure use of the proper exposure window in developmental toxicity studies in rabbits, the nonrodent species most commonly evaluated in regulatory developmental toxicology studies. The purpose of this study was to determine the timeline for implantation and closure of the hard palate in the New Zealand White rabbit, and to determine if this timeline differed in the Japanese White rabbit. To describe the timing of implantation, the uteri from does of the New Zealand White rabbit and the Japanese White rabbit were examined on gestation days (GDs) 5 through 8 for macroscopic evidence of implantation. To assess palatal shelf closure, fetuses were removed on GDs 17, 18, and 19 and fixed in Bouin's solution. The fetuses were then categorized into five stages of palatal shelf closure: open (Stage I); approach of the palatal shelves (Stage II); partial closure of the hard palate (Stage III); full closure of the hard palate (Stage IV); and full closure of the soft palate (Stage V). In both the New Zealand White and Japanese White rabbit strains, implantation was initiated on GD 6.5 and was completed on GD 7. Partial closure of the palate began on GD 17.5, and by GD 19, closure of the hard palate was completed in all fetuses, and closure of the soft palate was completed in 75-96% of the fetuses. The timing of implantation and palatal shelf closure were comparable between the New Zealand White rabbit and the Japanese White rabbit. Therefore, treatment beginning on GD 7 and continuing until GD 19 encompasses the period of major organogenesis and is considered appropriate for use in developmental toxicity studies using either of these two strains of rabbits.
Nuclear transparency to large-angle pp elastic scattering

Large-angle $\mathrm{pp}$ elastic and quasielastic ($p,2p$) scattering have been simultaneously observed in hydrogen and each of several nuclear targets (Li, C, Al, Cu, Pb) at incident proton momenta of 6, 10, and 12 GeV/c. The nuclear transparency is the ratio of such a cross section in a nucleus to the free $\mathrm{pp}$ cross section. The transparency of aluminum increases with incident momentum by more than a factor of 2 from 6 to 9.5 GeV/c and falls significantly between 9.5 and 12 GeV/c. This occurs in a region where the free-proton nucleon-absorption cross section exhibits little energy dependence. QCD predicts an increase in transparency with energy.
Investigation of double bubble tubular film extrusion of polyamide 6 and film structural characteristics

Biaxially oriented polyamide 6 films were made by double bubble tubular film extrusion. The crystalline character and biaxial orientation of the films were investigated by measuring (in plane and out of plane) birefringences, IR (infrared) spec' troscopy, and wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXS) flat film patterns and pole figures. The samples were also examined by tensile stretching tests in different sampling directions.