cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A comparison of fungicide seed treatments to improve sugar beet seedling establishment

In a series of field trials from 1977 to 1979, steeping sugar beet seed in thiram gave slightly better plant establishment than the ethyl mercury phosphate (EMP) steep currently applied to all sugar beet seed used in England. Steeping in a phenyl mercury acetate solution gave establishment close enough to EMP steep to show that it could be used as a replacement for EMP if the latter were unavailable for agricultural use. TCMTB steep and maneb slurry were clearly inferior to EMP steep, particularly when the incidence of seed-borne Phoma betae was high.
A propósito del ms. Fuentelsol

Labrador y DiFranco, ahora con la ajoida de Lori Bemard, nos ofrecen en este nuevo libro la edicion (parcial en esta ocasion) de un cancionero mas que sumar a aquellas con que han venido completando recientemente el panorama de la lirica aurea (Biblioteca Real de Madrid codice 961, Cartapacio de Pedro de Rojas, Cartapacio de Francisco Moran de la Estrella, Romances manuscritos (MP 996), Biblioteca Real de Madrid ms. 1597, Biblioteca Real de Madrid ms. 2803 y Cancionero sevillano de Nueva York). La edicion cuenta con un preambulo en que se da breve cuenta del contenido e intencion de la publicacion. Sigue un inventario exhaustivo de los primeros versos de los poemas contenidos en el ms., con las indicaciones y referencias bibliograficas oportunas (y que apareciera por vez primera en Analecta Malacitana, XX, 1, 1997, 189-265). En el se nos da cuenta de la historia del ms., su descripcion codicologica, asi como de la importancia del mismo por contener, en especial, poesias de fray Luis de Leon, Diego Hurtado de Mendoza, Linan de Riaza y fray Melchor de la Serna. Junto a ellos otros 43 autores, entre quienes podemos citar a Lupercio de Argensola, Cairasco de Figueroa, Jeronimo de los Cobos, Francisco de la Cueva, Figueroa, Luis de Gongora, Sebastian de Horozco, Jorge Montemayor, Francisco Sanchez de las Brozas, etc. En la parte descriptiva del libro (pags. 1-85) se recogen el primer verso(s), la autoria y tipo de estrofa (en la mayoria de las ocasiones) y se remata con la filiacion bibliografica de la composicion, dandose referencias casi exhaustivas a otras fuentes y documentaciones de la poesia en cuestion.
Molecular Switching in Human Adenovirus

Human Adenovirus (Ad) is an icosahedral, double stranded DNA virus. Activating the assembly of viral particles requires at least three viral components: the IVa2 and L4-22K proteins, as well as a section of DNA within the viral genome, called the packaging sequence (PS). Previous studies have shown that the IVa2 and L4-22K proteins specifically bind to conserved elements within the PS, and that these interactions are absolutely required to turn on the virus assembly pathway. The IVa2 and L4-22K proteins, along with an alternatively spliced product of the L4-22K gene, called L4-33K, also function as transcriptional activators of the major late promoter (MLP). The MLP primarily controls production of viral structural proteins for eventual construction of viral particles. IVa2, L4-22K and L4-33K activate transcription of the MLP by binding to DNA sequences downstream of the MLP (called DE), which are composed of the identical sequences found within the PS. The timing of the onset of the virus assembly pathway is critical to ensure optimal viral production; if virus assembly is initiated prematurely, production of viral components will be suppressed leading to poor viral production. Thus, a critical question is how is it possible to simultaneously activate transcription from the MLP while ensuring viral assembly is not initiated prematurely, using an identical set of control proteins and conserved DNA sequences? A fundamental difference between the PS and the DE is that the DE resembles a single functional DNA binding sequence, while the PS possesses multiple binding sequences. Thus, we propose cooperative interactions between the viral control proteins serve to switch on virus assembly. We are testing this hypothesis by constructing a physical-chemical model to describe quantitatively this switching behavior.
Augmentation of French grunt diet description using combined visual and DNA-based analyses

Trophic linkages within a coral-reef ecosystem may be difficult to discern in fish species that reside on, but do not forage on, coral reefs. Furthermore, dietary analysis of fish can be difficult in situations where prey is thoroughly macerated, resulting in many visually unrecognisable food items. The present study examined whether the inclusion of a DNA-based method could improve the identification of prey consumed by French grunt, Haemulon flavolineatum, a reef fish that possesses pharyngeal teeth and forages on soft-bodied prey items. Visual analysis indicated that crustaceans were most abundant numerically (38.9%), followed by sipunculans (31.0%) and polychaete worms (5.2%), with a substantial number of unidentified prey (12.7%). For the subset of prey with both visual and molecular data, there was a marked reduction in the number of unidentified sipunculans (visual – 31.1%, combined – 4.4%), unidentified crustaceans (visual – 15.6%, combined – 6.7%), and unidentified taxa (visual – 11.1%, combined – 0.0%). Utilising results from both methodologies resulted in an increased number of prey placed at the family level (visual – 6, combined – 33) and species level (visual – 0, combined – 4). Although more costly than visual analysis alone, our study demonstrated the feasibility of DNA-based identification of visually unidentifiable prey in the stomach contents of fish.
Two 9/11s in a lifetime: Chilean art, terror and displacement

This article analyzes “Two 9/11s in a Lifetime,” a San Francisco project and art exhibit on the politics of memory, that addressed the simultaneous experience of living through the Chilean military coup on September 11, 1973, and, the New York attack on the Twin Towers on September 11, 2001. The project and art exhibit are a way to illuminate the complex relationship of US-based Chilean exiles, and the Latina/o sons and daughters of exiles to historical memory, displacement, and political engagement. Rather than center the psychological mechanism of repetitive and compulsive ‘acting out’ as a primary mode of interpreting exiles' aesthetic expressions, I look at the political and social meanings, and social location of their cultural productions. Using ethnography, textual analysis, and interviews, I explore the project by a group of second-generation San Francisco-based Chilean exiles/artists, and their ability to make social and political connections with other national experiences of trauma, specifically the US national disaster on September 11, 2001.
Aptitude as Grammatical Sensitivity and the Initial Stages of Learning Japanese as a L2: Parametric Variation and Case Marking.

In this article, we challenge the notion that aptitude—operationalized as grammatical sensitivity as measured by the Words in Sentences section of the Modern Language Aptitude Test—is central to adult second language (L2) acquisition. We present the findings of a study on the acquisition of two properties of Japanese, head-final word order and case marking, by naive learners of Japanese as a L2 who had no prior knowledge of this language or any other head-final, case-marking language. Participants underwent an input treatment in which they heard and saw basic subject-object-verb sentences in Japanese and were subsequently tested on these basic sentences and also on sentences to which they were not exposed during the treatment (i.e., polar questions and embedded clauses). Reading times on grammatical and ungrammatical sentences served as measures of underlying sensitivity to violations of grammatical word order for both the basic sentences and the novel sentences. Our results yielded three groups of learners: those who showed sensitivity to violations of basic word order, polar questions, and embedded clauses (parameter reset); those who showed sensitivity to violations of basic word order and polar questions only (partial parameter reset); and those who showed sensitivity to violations of basic word order only (no parameter reset). Because our measure of aptitude as grammatical sensitivity did not emerge as a factor distinguishing the three groups from one another, we argue that this component of aptitude is not a factor in whether learners are able to reset parameters. We also found that all participants, regardless of group, demonstrated sensitivity to case-marking violations, suggesting that aptitude as grammatical sensitivity plays no role in the acquisition of underlying features related to case or to the surface-level markings of case in Japanese.
How adolescents with substance use disorder spend research payments

Abstract There is concern that research reimbursements to adolescents may increase substance use. However, these concerns have not been examined empirically. Participants were 70 adolescents (13–19 years) with at least one non-nicotine substance use disorder (SUD) enrolled in a 12-week clinical trial of atomoxetine/placebo for attention/deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Adolescent participants received cash reimbursement after each study visit (maximum possible = $425 over 12 weeks). Participants reported each week how they spent the previous reimbursement. Results were tallied, and correlates of spending a payment on substances were examined. Results showed that 26 of 70 subjects reported spending at least one research payment on alcohol or drugs, and 25 of 70 subjects reported spending at least one payment on tobacco. Comparing those who did and did not spend a research payment on alcohol/drugs, those who did had more frequent baseline alcohol/drug use but did not differ in demographics (age, gender) or other clinical characteristics (ADHD severity, diagnosis of conduct disorder, number of SUD diagnoses, number of treatment sessions attended, or pre/post-change in number of days used substances in the past 28 days). Comparing those who did and did not spend a payment on tobacco, those who did were slightly older and had more frequent baseline tobacco use. In conclusion, a significant proportion of subjects used at least a portion of one research payment to buy alcohol, drugs or tobacco. However, there was little indication that research payments increased substance use.
Sensitivity of the population growth rate to demographic variability within and between phases of the disturbance cycle

For species in disturbance-prone ecosystems, vital rates (survival, growth and reproduction) often vary both between and within phases of the cycle of disturbance and recovery; some of this variation is imposed by the environment, but some may represent adaptation of the life history to disturbance. Anthropogenic changes may amplify or impede these patterns of variation, and may have positive or negative effects on population growth. Using stochastic population projection matrix models, we develop stochastic elasticities (proportional derivatives of the long-run population growth rate) to gauge the population effects of three types of change in demographic variability (changes in within- and between-disturbance-phase variability and phase-specific changes). Computing these elasticities for five species of disturbance-influenced perennial plants, we pinpoint demographic rates that may reveal adaptation to disturbance, and we demonstrate that species may differ in their responses to different types of changes in demographic variability driven by climate change.
The high-quality spectral fingerprint of glucose captured by Raman spectroscopy in non-invasive glucose measurement

Optical spectroscopy has the inherent advantage of directly measuring glucose levels by means of the unique nature of a spectral fingerprint for the target analyte, glucose, which is determined in the form of a calibration spectrum (a product of multivariate analysis method). The literature is replete with claims of successful in-vivo glucose measurements in terms of Clark error grid analysis. However, all of them fail to demonstrate an in vivo glucose-specific calibration spectrum. In this study we use Raman spectroscopy to capture a high quality spectral fingerprint of the glucose molecule noninvasively and demonstrate calculated correlation coefficients between a pure glucose spectrum and calibration spectra at over 0.8.
Specific integration of recombinant proviral sequences in ecotropic Gross virus-accelerated AKR thymomas.

Abstract Integration and amplification of ecotropic and recombinant proviral sequences in high-molecular-weight cellular DNAs from ecotropic Gross virus-accelerated AKR thymomas were analyzed using an ecotropic-specific probe, p400, and an envelope-specific probe, pAKV-5. New ecotropic proviral sequences were detected at three sites in the DNAs from eight Gross virus-accelerated thymomas following Eco RI restriction endonuclease digestion and at six sites following Pvu II restriction endonuclease digestion. The integration of these new ecotropic proviral sequences appeared to be random. Recombinant 3′ proviral-cellular DNA junction fragments were detected at 30 sites following digestion with Eco RI. These new recombinant fragments ranged in size from 9.0 to 2.5 kb with 6 8 thymoma DNAs containing a fragment of 2.7 kb. Pru II generated new recombinant 3′ proviral-cellular DNA junctoin fragments that ranged in size from 9.0 to 2.5 kb with 5 8 thymoma DNAs containing a fragment of 2.5 kb. It appears that the leukemia-accelerating ecotropic Gross virus is responsible for the generation of a unique 3′ recombinant proviral-cellular junction fragment. This fragment can be detected against a background of randomly integrated ecotropic and recombinant proviruses.
Social bonds in female baboons: the interaction between personality, kinship and rank

Previous analyses indicate that female baboons that form strong and stable social bonds reproduce more successfully than others, and that some elements of females’ personalities are associated with the tendency to form close social bonds. Here we use a new method to confirm that females’ personalities were stable over time, although not fixed, and that matrilineal kin had personalities that were no more alike than those of other individuals. Our results indicate that personality similarities enhance the strength of social bonds among some pairs of females but not others. Strong bonds between matrilineal sisters were correlated with similarity in their personalities and ages, but mothers and daughters formed uniformly strong bonds regardless of the similarities in their personalities or ages. Among nonkin, strong bonds were correlated with similarity in age and dominance rank, but not personality. Females adjusted the behaviours that contributed to their personality scores in response to unpredictable demographic events, like the death of a close relative. Results suggest that the personality traits of female baboons do not exist in isolation but are embedded in a network of rank and kin relations. Although a female baboon has little control over her dominance rank or the presence of kin, by varying the tenor of her social interactions she can take advantage of the opportunities, or overcome the constraints, imposed by demographic circumstances. For this reason, selection may have favoured particular personality traits that are relatively independent of rank and the presence of kin.
UV-IRRADIATION AND THERMAL-ANNEALING STUDIES IN AMORPHOUS HYDROGENATED BORON NITRIDE THIN FILMS

Both photoproduction and photobleaching of dangling bonds by uv irradiation and thermal annealing were observed by electron spin resonance (ESR) in amorphous hydrogenated boron nitride. A model involving long-range hydrogen diffusion and hydrogen evolution is proposed to account for the ESR spectral line shapes observed after uv irradiation and thermal annealing. A Gaussian distribution of activation energies for the long-range hydrogen diffusion was used to explain the observed decrease in spin susceptibility after thermal annealing. A best fit to the spin susceptibility data gave an average activation energy of 0.0475 eV and a half-width of this Gaussian distribution of 0.027 eV. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Suppression of a pleiotropic mutant affecting glycerol dissimilation

Abstract A mutant of Escherichia coli which lacks Enzyme I of the phosphoenolpyruvate phosphotransferase system and can not grow on glycerol was studied. The inability to utilize glycerol can be suppressed in two ways: 1) conversion of the L-α-glycerophosphate system from inducibility to constitutivity, and 2) addition of cyclic AMP to the growth medium. The growth defect of such a mutant on glycerol is therefore attributable to failure of induction of the glycerol enzymes.
Stress and Notch-Stress Concentration Induced by Slight Depressions and Protrusions

The presence of a smooth depression on the surface of a stretched half-plane magnifies the surface stress at the trough of the depression. Similarly, the stress at the foot of a smooth protrusion is also magnified. The associated stress concentration factors are determined, via a regular perturbation procedure, in terms of a small aspect ratio that measures the slight unevenness of the surf ace. When the depression/protrusion profile has corners, the method of matched asymptotic expansions is used to obtain the desired analytic solution. The case of a shallow notch, as well as that of a triangular protrusion, is solved explicitly.
Seasonal persistence and propagation of intraseasonal patterns over the Indian monsoon region

The space-time evolution of convection over the monsoon region containing the Indian subcontinent, the Indian Ocean and the West Pacific has been studied. A multi-channel singular spectrum analysis of the daily outgoing longwave radiation has yielded two intraseasonal oscillatory patterns and two large-scale standing patterns as the most dominant modes of intraseasonal variability. The oscillatory modes vary on time scales of about 45 and 28 days and their average cycles of variability are shown to correspond to the life cycles of active and break periods of monsoon rainfall over India. During an active (break) cycle, a convection (dry) anomaly zone first appears in the equatorial Indian Ocean, subsequently expands to cover the Indian subcontinent and finally contracts to disappear in the northern part of India. Some eastward and northward movements are found to be associated with both oscillatory modes, while westward movement may also be associated with the 28-day mode. The oscillatory modes are shown to have a large spatial scale extending to the West Pacific. One of the standing modes has anomalies of uniform sign covering the entire region and is related to El Nino and southern oscillation (ENSO) pattern. The other standing mode has a dipole structure in the equatorial Indian Ocean associated with large-scale anomalies over India with the same sign as those over the western part of the dipole. These two standing modes persist throughout the monsoon season, each maintaining its respective pattern. The seasonal mean monsoon is mainly determined by the two standing patterns, without much contribution from the oscillatory modes. The relative role of the standing patterns (ENSO mode and dipole mode) seems to be important in determining the seasonal mean during certain years.
Can computer programming improve problem-solving ability?

This paper reports the results of a study of the relationship between computer programming skills and problem-solving abilities. Students in two introductory programming courses (FORTRAN and PASCAL) of a large university served as the subjects for this study. Students' problem-solving abilities were assessed during the first month that each computer programming course commenced and again during the final month of the course. Analysis of pretest and posttest results indicated that students who had successfully completed all computer programming course requirements experienced significant improvement in their overall problem skills. Results also suggested that students who had successfully completed computer programming course requirements experienced significant improvement on the logical reasoning section of the problem-solving assessment.
Special Invited Lecture: Improving the Performance of MEMS Actuators Using Feedback Control

As MEMS actuators are used for increasingly challenging applications, greater reliability, speed, and performance accuracy are needed. Increasing demands are reaching a point where mechanical design improvements alone cannot provide further improvements in performance. Alternative approaches, such as open-loop or closed-loop control driving strategies, must be used instead. The presence of system vibratory modes has introduced additional challenges for controller design. This talk will explore applications where closed-loop feedback control strategies can be successfully used to improve MEMS actuator performance. The talk focuses on electrostatic MEMS actuators. Experimental results are provided to show the effectiveness of the feedback control design methods. We design a light intensity control system for a MEMS variable optical attenuator (VOA) that speeds up the response. We design a controller for lateral instability in electrostatic actuators that allows the use of the full range of actuator motion. We design a controller that stabilizes electrostatic microactuators and avoids pull-in, allowing the effective utilization of the entire capacitive gap. We compare the performance of open-loop and closed-loop control strategies, and present experimental results to address the comparative issues involved.
Optimal extrusion die design to achieve flow balance

The design of a plane strain two-hole extrusion die is presented. This design example can be considered as a test case to judge the usefulness of the present method in the design of extrusion dies for uniform exit flow. Bearings for this die are to be designed so that the material exits both holes with parallel balanced flow. The finite-element method combined with techniques of mathematical programming is adopted. Derivatives of the objective function used during the optimization phase are efficiently computed using analytical sensitivity analysis and an optimal bearing length is reached after few iterations of the optimization procedure. Available experimental data for a two-out extrusion die with bearings have been used to validate the numerical results.
IgG from acutely infected cats blocks mucosal feline immunodeficiency virus infection.

Abstract We have previously shown an absence of detectable systemic or local infection in cats exposed to an infectious (100 TCID 50 ) feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) plasma inoculum via either the rectal or vaginal mucosa (Burkhard, M.J., Obert, L.A., O’Neil, L.L., Diehl, L.J., Hoover, E.A., 1997. Mucosal transmission of cell-associated and cell-free feline immunodeficiency virus. AIDS Res. Hum. Retroviruses 13, 347–355). In contrast, this same plasma inoculum was infectious via parenteral inoculation. Moreover an equivalent dose of cell-free tissue culture-origin virus inoculum infected 100% of cats by either the rectal or vaginal exposure route. To evaluate this phenomena, we used a tissue culture system to identify a heat-stable factor in the plasma of cats acutely (3 weeks) infected with FIV that blocked infection of naive peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by either cell-free or cell-associated FIV in vitro. A single application of as little as a 1:200 dilution of either heparinized or Alsevier's anticoagulated plasma effectively inhibited production of FIV p26 in culture over a 21-day co-culture period. Depletion of antibody using a protein A column abrogated the inhibitory effect of FIV plasma against in vitro FIV infection. Co-inoculation of heat-inactivated plasma with 400 TCID 50 FIV-B-2542 cell-free supernatant virus onto the vaginal mucosa of two cats resulted in complete inhibition of infection in one cat and increased time to infection in the second. Thus, antibody found in the plasma of cats acutely infected with FIV blocks cell-associated and cell-free infection, inhibits virus production in previously infected cells, and reduces mucosal transmission efficiency in vivo. Extrapolation may help explain the relatively inefficient mucosal transmission of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV) and other lentiviruses.
Czochralski crystal growth in an axial magnetic field: effects of Joule heating

Abstract The feasibility of using magnetohydrodynamic effects to improve the quality of silicon crystals obtained by Czochralski growth from the melt has been demonstrated by several experimenters. An earlier publication pointed out that certain approximations widely used in liquid metal MHD make it relatively easy to incorporate magnetomotive effects into numerical models for Czochralski flow. Specifically, the low value of the magnetic Reynolds number gives rise to two useful simplifications: the induced magnetic field is negligible, and the electric field is irrotational. These lead to the result that the magnetic part of the calculation is diagnostic rather than prognostic. The earlier paper simulated the effect of a strong axial field applied to the melt, under the assumption that Joule heating is negligible. The validity of that assumption is confirmed here: except under extremely high fields, Joule heating represents only a miniscule part of the energy budget in magnetic Czochralski growth. Its effect upon the melt circulation can be ignored.
Free electronic books and weeding

Purpose – The purpose is to explore using databases of freely available electronic books as part of a library's collection.Design/methodology/approach – The paper considered whether expensive discovery services, an OCLC product, or an open source product would be practical alternatives to the current labor‐intensive system used.Findings – An open source product introduced in 2010 called GIST Gift and Deselection Manager (GDM) appears to fit the author's needs nearly exactly.Research limitations/implications – Since earlier Getting It System Toolkit (GIST) workflow products have a proven track record, the author would expect library students and practitioners to also experiment with the Gift and Deselection Manager.Practical implications – All can start using GDM anytime when they are ready, without spending any money.Social implications – The paper highlights an open source workflow option.Originality/value – The paper notes that the Gift and Deselection Manager was released on August 16, 2010, an event o...
A novel approach to identify optimal metabotypes of elongase and desaturase activities in prevention of acute coronary syndrome

Both metabolomic and genomic approaches are valuable for risk analysis, however typical approaches evaluating differences in means do not model the changes well. Gene polymorphisms that alter function would appear as distinct populations, or metabotypes, from the predominant one, in which case risk is revealed as changed mixing proportions between control and case samples. Here we validate a model accounting for mixed populations using biomarkers of fatty acid metabolism derived from a case/control study of acute coronary syndrome subjects in which both metabolomic and genomic approaches have been used previously. We first used simulated data to show improved power and sensitivity in the approach compared to classic approaches. We then used the metabolic biomarkers to test for evidence of distinct metabotypes and different proportions among cases and controls. In simulation, our model outperformed all other approaches including Mann–Whitney, t tests, and χ2. Using real data, we found distinct metabotypes of six of the seven activities tested, and different mixing proportions in five of the six activity biomarkers: D9D, ELOVL6, ELOVL5, FADS1, and Sprecher pathway chain shortening (SCS). High activity metabotypes of non-essential fatty acids and SCS decreased odds for acute coronary syndrome, however high activity metabotypes of 20-carbon fatty acid synthesis increased odds. Our study validates an approach that accounts for both metabolomic and genomic theory by demonstrating improved sensitivity and specificity, better performance in real world data, and more straightforward interpretability.
Safety performance evaluation of left-side off-ramps at freeway diverge areas

The safety performance of left-side off-ramps was evaluated by comparing that of right-side off-ramps at freeway diverge areas. Crash records at a total of 11 left-side and 63 similar right-side diverge areas in Florida were collected. Based on the data collected, the traffic conflict study and the cross-sectional comparison of crashes were conducted in this study. Four types of traffic conflicts were identified and counted. The average conflict rates near the ramp area were found to be approximately 10 per 1000 conflicting vehicles. Crash data were compared for the left-side off-ramps with right-side off-ramps by two exit ramp types: one-lane exit and two-lane exit with an optional lane, respectively. The comparisons indicate that the left-side off-ramp did have higher average crash counts, crash rate and percentage of severe crashes, but the difference is only statistically significant for the severe crashes at a 10% level. A crash prediction model for one-lane exit was developed to identify the factors that contribute to the crashes that have been reported for selected freeway segments. The conclusion is consistent with cross-sectional comparison. It is expected that this study could help engineers have a better understanding of left-side off-ramps at freeway diverge area and select the appropriate countermeasures and practical designs.
Emerging subspecialties in neurology: fellowship in experimental therapeutics of neurologic disease.

Fellowships in experimental therapeutics are one solution to the challenge of developing the next generation of clinical researchers in the neurologic sciences. Through didactic teaching, mentoring, clinical research experience, hands-on training in trial design and execution, and preparation in
Minimally Invasive Lumbar Decompression

With the increasing elderly population, the number of patients presenting with symptoms secondary to lumbar stenosis can be expected to increase accordingly. Therefore, treatment of this disease process should become more prevalent, and the minimally invasive techniques offer another treatment option. As surgeons become more experienced in minimally invasive techniques, the reported advantages of the minimal access surgery, including reduction in soft tissue injury, less blood loss, shorter hospitalization, and faster recovery, should make this an attractive alternative to traditional open surgery. Continuing efforts in the minimally invasive field can be expected to yield new and potentially less invasive as well as possibly more efficacious treatment options in the future.
Nonspecific Effects of the Selective κ-Opioid Receptor Agonist U-50, 488H on Dopamine Uptake and Release in PC12 Cells

ABSTRACT κ-Opioid receptor agonists decrease the levels of extracellular dopamine in vivo and in vitro. However, the mechanism(s) underlying these actions are unclear. The objective of this study was to distinguish between an effect of the selective κ-opioid receptor agonist U-50,488H ((trans-(±)-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-[1-pyrrolidinyl]cyclohexyl)benzeneacetamide methanesulfonate) on secretion and reuptake of dopamine by PC12 cells. The data show that U-50,488H has both a modest effect to increase dopamine release and a more pronounced effect to inhibit dopamine uptake. Neither effect was sensitive to nor-binaltorphimine or naloxone, suggesting that they are not mediated through an opioid receptor.
Neutron activation analysis of pottery samples from Abila of the Decapolis

of Missouri for preliminary statistical analysis of the data. The goal of the statistical analysis is to recognize compositionally homogeneous groups within the analytical database. Whether a group is discriminated easily from other groups can be evaluated visually in two dimensions or statistically in multiple dimensions. Based on the “provenance postulate,” such distinguishable groups are assumed to consist of the manufactured products using clays from geographically restricted sources or source zones. The location of sources or source zones may be inferred by comparing the composition of unknown groups to that of known sources of raw materials. The results of the analyses are given in Table 1.
Occupational exposures in relation to symptomatology and lung function in a community population.

Abstract In a general community population study, it was found that over 50% of the working males had some form of exposure to a potentially harmful substance or worked in a potentially harmful industry. Amongst these individuals, it was found that many had multiple exposures for varying lengths of time (6 months or more). It was found that those with exposures to such substances as silica, asbestos, smoke, auto exhaust, and other compounds, did indeed have higher rates of symptomatology and lung function impairment, and that these were often dose related. Childhood onset of “chronic” respiratory disease played a major role in the relations of exposures to symptoms. Smoking also had a major effect on the relation of exposures to symptomatology. It was concluded that there is benefit to studying those in the general population who have such occupational exposure beyond that achieved by studying a working occupational group in a plant setting.
Keratin 14 protein in cultured nonparenchymal rat hepatic epithelial cells: Characterization of keratin 14 and keratin 19 as antigens for the commonly used mouse monoclonal antibody OV‐6

We have recently reported that cell lines of nonparenchymal origin isolated from rat liver and pancreas, which have been suggested to be the progeny of a facultative stem cell compartment in vivo, express an unusual combination of keratins (K). These cell lines express K8 and K14 but not K18 and K5, their normal partners in filament formation (Bisgaard HC, Thorgeirsson SS, J Cell Physiol 147:333–343, 1991). However, upon spontaneous transformation and differentiation toward a hepatoblastlike progeny, K14 expression is abrogated and replaced by expression of K18 (Wirth et al., Electrophoresis 13:305–332, 1992). In the study presented here, we confirmed by protein sequence analysis that K14 was a major component of the intermediate filaments in a nonparenchymal cell line of hepatic origin. Immunocytochemical analysis of the cells in monolayer demonstrated that K8 as well as K14 were incorporated in the cellular cytoskeleton. Further analysis by immunoprecipitation showed that filament complexes were formed between K8 and K14 as atypical partners. Thus, we concluded that in some nonparenchymal cell lines isolated from rat liver, K8 and K14 form a major intermediate filament network. Finally, we showed that an antibody widely used in studies of the cell lineages of hepatic and pancreatic tissues and their neoplasms, the mouse monoclonal antibody OV-6, recognizes a common epitope in K14 and K19.
Designing a Middleware API for Building Private IaaS Cloud Architectures

One of the core components in building a cloud infrastructure is the development of a middleware solution, which allows for ease in resource management. Middleware solutions for IaaS cloud architectures are responsible for managing the instantiation of virtual machine images, constructing persistent storage volumes, providing node-to-node message passing for metadata retrieval, and more. Our reasoning for developing a new cloud middleware API is to address issues that we have encountered in current cloud middleware solutions, which are centered upon ease of deployment and ease interfacing with the system. In this paper we present a cloud middleware API that we have developed to be used in building a private IaaS cloud architecture, and we compare our implementation with that of open source general purpose IaaS cloud architectures currently available.
Two Senses of Justice: Confucianism, Rawls, and Comparative Political Philosophy

This paper argues that a comparative study of the idea of a sense of justice in the work of John Rawls and the early Chinese philosopher Kongzi is mutually beneficial to our understanding of the thought of both figures. It also aims to provide an example of the relevance of moral psychology for basic questions in political philosophy. The paper offers an analysis of Rawls’s account of a sense of justice and its place within his theory of justice, focusing on the features of this capacity and how it develops. It then provides an account of the sense of justice in Kongzi’s thought as it is seen in the Analects. Finally, it shows how examining the similarities and differences between the two accounts can deepen our understanding of both views, as well as our appreciation for the importance of understanding how a sense of justice develops.
IssueLab: the social sector's digital library

In this paper, we describe IssueLab, a digital library and distribution network for social sector publications and resources.
QUALIFICATIONS-BASED SELECTION OF PROFESSIONAL A/E SERVICES

Recognizing the need for improvements in the way professional architectural and design services are procured, the U.S. Congress in 1972 established as federal law the requirement that architects and engineers be selected on the basis of their professional qualifications, subject to negotiation of a fair and reasonable compensation for such services. The law (commonly referred to as the Brooks Act) was adopted by many states (a total of 41 as of the end of 2001) and local jurisdictions. One of the states that adopted qualifications-based selection (QBS) of architectural/engineering (A/E) services is New York state. The New York state law, however, does not cover local jurisdictions, and New York City continues to use competitive pricing as its primary method of selecting A/E consultants. This report outlines the findings of a recent study performed on QBS in an attempt to evaluate some of the claims put forward by proponents and opponents of QBS. The study was based on past literature as well as recently procured projects in New York City and relevant project data from these projects. The study is based primarily on information provided by the New York City mayor’s Office of Contracts during a public hearing on QBS (December 1999) and additional information on A/E firms from a representative data sample from the original data. Among the findings of the study was that presumed cost savings in design services for existing price-dominant practices were actually insignificant and most definitely offset by escalating costs in the construction phase.
Group Threat and Regional Change in Attitudes Toward African-Americans

Using survey data from the GSS 1972-91, the author assesses several possible causes of regional differences and temporal change in white racial attitudes. The study concludes that (1) support for racetargeted policies has not changed over birth cohorts, (2) changes in individual characteristics explain only a small portion of the decline in traditional prejudice over birth cohorts, (3) the influence of education on racial attitudes has been increasing over birth cohorts, and (4) percentage black and average per capita income are good predictors of racial attitudes and explain a portion of the North/South gap and the change over time in prejudice.
Aldosterone-Renin Ratio in the Assessment of Primary Aldosteronism

A middle-aged patient with diabetes and hypertension presented to his primary care physician for regular health assessment. His blood pressure was 183/116 mm Hg despite taking lisinopril (40 mg/d) and verapamil (180 mg/d). He had previously taken hydrochlorothiazide, which was discontinued due to hypokalemia approximately 1 month ago, as well as atenolol, which was stopped 2 months earlier. As part of the workup for secondary hypertension, plasma aldosterone concentration and plasma renin activity were measured (Table 1).
Comparison of flood hazard assessments on desert piedmonts and playas: A case study in Ivanpah Valley, Nevada

Abstract Accurate and realistic characterizations of flood hazards on desert piedmonts and playas are increasingly important given the rapid urbanization of arid regions. Flood behavior in arid fluvial systems differs greatly from that of the perennial rivers upon which most conventional flood hazard assessment methods are based. Additionally, hazard assessments may vary widely between studies or even contradict other maps. This study's chief objective was to compare and evaluate landscape interpretation and hazard assessment between types of maps depicting assessments of flood risk in Ivanpah Valley, NV, as a case study. As a secondary goal, we explain likely causes of discrepancy between data sets to ameliorate confusion for map users. Four maps, including three different flood hazard assessments of Ivanpah Valley, NV, were compared: (i) a regulatory map prepared by FEMA, (ii) a soil survey map prepared by NRCS, (iii) a surficial geologic map, and (iv) a flood hazard map derived from the surficial geologic map, both of which were prepared by NBMG. GIS comparisons revealed that only 3.4% (33.9 km 2 ) of Ivanpah Valley was found to lie within a FEMA floodplain, while the geologic flood hazard map indicated that ~ 44% of Ivanpah Valley runs some risk of flooding (Fig. 2D). Due to differences in mapping methodology and scale, NRCS data could not be quantitatively compared, and other comparisons were complicated by differences in flood hazard class criteria and terminology between maps. Owing to its scale and scope of attribute data, the surficial geologic map provides the most useful information on flood hazards for land-use planning. This research has implications for future soil geomorphic mapping and flood risk mitigation on desert piedmonts and playas. The Ivanpah Valley study area also includes the location of a planned new international airport, thus this study has immediate implications for urban development and land-use planning near Las Vegas, NV.
Endocrine-Disrupting Compounds in Reclaimed Water and Residential Ponds and Exposure Potential for Dislodgeable Residues in Turf Irrigated With Reclaimed Water

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) occur in reclaimed water (RW), which may serve as an exposure source for humans. The presence of EDCs in RW used to irrigate turf and in nearby water-retention ponds was determined. In addition, the total dislodgeable mass of each EDC was determined after irrigation (using RW) to simulate exposure of a 3-year-child playing in turf grass recently irrigated with RW. Five EDCs (estrone, 17β-estradiol, 17α-ethynylestradiol, bisphenol A, and 4-n-nonylphenol) were quantified in 28 samples of RWs (wastewater-treatment plant effluents) and 88 samples from residential surface water-retention ponds. St. Augustine variety of turf grass was irrigated with spiked RW to study dislodgement of the five EDCs overtime using a drag-sled method. Grass clippings were analyzed to relate masses of EDC on grass with masses dislodged. EDCs were detected in both RW and ponds at ng/L concentrations. Maximum EDC masses were dislodged immediately after irrigation. Dislodged masses of estrone and 17β-estradiol are two separate EDCs, 17β-estradiol and 17α-ethynylestradiol decreased rapidly and were lower than detection limits 4 h after application. Dislodged bisphenol-A and nonylphenol decreased more slowly but were not detected 6 h after application. Avoiding contact with recently irrigated turf grass should decrease the risks of exposure to these EDCs.
Dissociation of H2 at silicon dangling orbitals in a-SiO2: a quantum mechanical treatment of nuclear motion☆

Abstract The current experimental understanding of the interactions between hydrogen and defects in the MOS system, plus the theoretical progress to date toward explaining these observations are reviewed. One of the outstanding theoretical problems is the dissociation of hydrogen molecules in SiO 2 . A simple but fully quantum mechanical treatment of the dissociation of hydrogen molecules at silicon dangling orbitals in SiO 2 is presented. It is found that inclusion of quantum mechanical effects in the treatment of nuclear motion is fundamentally important to understanding the dissociation process. In the model calculations, it is estimated that the activation energy is 0.16 eV, in very good agreement with the experimental results of Li et al.
CFD Modeling of Bayonet Type High Temperature Heat Exchanger and Chemical Decomposer With Different Packed Bed Designs

The present work is concerned with use of bayonet type high temperature heat exchanger as silicon carbide integrated decomposer (SID) which produces sulfuric acid decomposition product - sulfur dioxide. The product can be used within the sulfur iodine thermo-chemical cycle portion of the hydrogen production process. The chemical decomposition occurs in packed bed area of the decomposer. The engineering design of the packed bed is very much influenced by the structure of the packing matrix, which is governed by the shape, dimensions and the loading of the constituent particles. Optimum design of catalyst pellet in terms of shape configuration, packing method and available surface area can promote catalytic activity and the prevailing transport properties of the system. Knowledge of the underlying factors should enable designers to engineer the optimum design for a given system with prescribed conditions. The investigations of fluid flow and the arrangement of cylindrical and spherical pellets in packed bed are presented in the paper.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Effects of arginine vasopressin and angiotensin II on area postrema neurons in rabbit brain slice preparation.

Abstract Previous in vivo studies have indicated that both arginine vasopressin (AVP) and angiotensin II (ANG II) can modulate the baroreflex by acting on the area postrema (AP). In the present study, effects of AVP and ANG II on AP neuronal activity were investigated by recording extracellular activity in a rabbit brainstem slice preparation. AVP (1 nM-1 μM) inhibited 14.5% and excited 53.2% of the neurons while ANG II (1 nM-5 μM) inhibited 32.3% and excited 29% of the neurons. Application of AVP and ANG II to the same AP neurons at the same concentration indicated that more AP neurons responded to AVP than to ANG II. ANG II induced more inhibitory responses than AVP The results suggest that AVP and ANG II may produce different effects on the baroreflex by acting on different pools of AP neurons and by exerting different effects on the same AP neuron.
GPS signal acquisition using the repeatability of successive code phase measurements

This paper introduces a new method for GPS signal acquisition, which is based on the repeatability of successive code phase measurements and the M-of-N search algorithm. The performance of the proposed method in terms of probability of signal detection is similar to that of traditional methods, except that the calculation of the probability of detection does not rely on the noise distribution or the Carrier-to-Noise ratio (C/N0). The code phase repeatability-based method is presented along with equations for probability of detection and probability of false detection. If the distribution of the noise is known, it also provides an estimate of the C/N0. The proposed method is illustrated for coherent and non-coherent acquisition and C/N0 estimation.
A Numerical Experiment on Relaxation Times in Stellar Dynamics

The deflection of the velocity vector of a massless test star in the field of 100 stars was determined by numerical integration. The deflection due to each field star independently (with the other field stars removed) was also determined. The square of the deflection caused by the combined action of the field stars agreed quantitatively with the sum of the squares of the individual deflections and also with the theoretical estimate of Williamson and Chandrasekhar.