cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Elderly Asset Management

In this paper we present a model of elderly asset management and results based on simulation analysis of the model. In our model elderly decide both how much to consume out of current income and wealth each period and the allocation of their remaining income and wealth between a risky asset and a riskless asset. In our model an elderly person can be either in good health or poor health, and we specify a transition matrix for transitions from good to poor health, as well as for the probability of death next period; in addition, we include out-of-pocket health expenditures for those in poor health. By incorporating health we are able to study the relationship between health and health expenditure on the one hand and asset allocation decisions on the other; as far as we are aware this relationship has not previously been studied in a structural life-cycle model. A specific novel aspect of our model is that we explore different possible shapes for the bequest function and the impact of the shape of this function on elderly asset management. Surprisingly, most previous models of bequests assume that the bequest function has the same shape as the utility function. Thus, it is tacitly assumed that the preferences elderly have regarding the wealth they will leave to their heirs are the same as their preferences over their own utility. As we discuss in the next section, there is no reason why this must be the case. Indeed we discuss why it is likely not to be the case, and discuss different shapes and their possible psychological basis. In our simulations we show that the shape of the bequest function impacts elderly asset management, especially at the very end of life, thus that this shape should be more prominent in discussions about the elderly and their management of their assets than it has been. Several interesting qualitative features of elderly asset management emerge from our analysis. We find that when the bequest function is risk-neutral whereas the utility function exhibits risk aversion, individuals place a higher proportion of their assets in stock in middle and later periods of our model, thus in later old age. We call this result the risky shift. Although the elderly are often thought of as more risk averse, in late old age their investing behavior will be driven to a great extent by their bequest function, and if this function is in fact less concave than their utility function they may more invest heavily in risky investments like equity towards the end of life. We also find an interesting relationship between health status, bequest function, and asset management. In our model individuals in poor health place a slightly lower proportion of their assets in stock than individuals in good health. Individuals in poor health face a greater risk of substantial future medical expenditures, which may lead towards more risk-averse investment behavior, as these expenditures tend to highlight the chances of a very low consumption state in the future, and since elderly are risk-averse regarding their own utility they wish to protect against this outcome.
The Fountain Effect in Aerospace Cryogenics

A growing number of NASA scientific payloads are using stored liquid helium. Four have flown to date and more are scheduled for flight in 1989 and throughout the next decade. In all cases these payloads have flown or are planning to fly superfluid helium to take advantage of its greater cooling capacity per unit volume. The fountain effect, unique to superfluid helium, provides another important advantage since it can be used for fluid management in 0-g. To date the fountain effect, also called the thermomechanical effect, has been used to perform liquid-vapor phase separation, as in IRAS, IRT and COBE. Future users of superfluid in space will use the fountain effect for liquid-vapor phase separation; for pumping superfluid helium from a storage vessel to a payload, as in the Superfluid Helium On Orbit Transfer Flight Demonstration and the Superfluid Helium Tanker; for actuating a low temperature refrigerator called a vortex cooler; and for circulating liquid helium within a cryostat, as in the Astromag dewar. An introduction to the thermomechanical effect will be given and each particular application in aerospace cryogenics will be discussed.
CHIRON: Planning in an open-textured domain

Planning problems arise in law when an individual (or corporation)wants to perform a sequence of actions that raises legal issues. Manylawyers make their living planning transactions, and a system thathelped them to solve these problems would be in demand.The designer of such a system in a common-law domain must addressseveral difficult issues, including the open-textured nature of legal rules,the relationship between legal rules and cases, the adversarial nature ofthe domain, and the role of argument. In addition, the system's design isconstrained by the fact that the intended users are lawyers, and its operation and output must be convenient for lawyers to use.In this article, I describe a system called CHIRON that I have developed to explore solutions to these issues. This system develops simple plans from representations of statutes and cases in the domain of United States personal income tax planning.
Understanding and predicting the impact of location and load on microgrid design

Abstract This paper examines the impact of location and load shape selection on microgrid optimal design. 96 unique combinations of location and load shape are considered to provide a broader scope than any previous work in microgrid design sensitivity analysis. In addition, the level of autonomy from the macrogrid is considered as a tunable parameter in the optimization. A generic system is considered consisting of photovoltaics, wind turbine, microturbines, electric and natural gas boilers, thermal storage, and a battery bank. The microgrid is grid-connected and designed to supply both heat and power. A mixed integer linear program is used to minimize the expected cost of energy supply over a 20 year horizon. Trends in the design results are discussed and important input parameters that depend on the location and load shape are identified. Finally, a procedure to quantify these trends and predict optimal design results in new locations is proposed.
Phenotypic plasticity in adult sympathetic ganglia in vivo: effects of deafferentation and axotomy on the expression of vasoactive intestinal peptide

The expression of neurotransmitters/neuromodulators in sympathetic neurons is regulated by anterograde and retrograde mechanisms. We have examined the role of such mechanisms in the regulation of the neuropeptide vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). The adult rat superior cervical ganglion (SCG) contains low levels of peptide-like immunoreactivity (IR) and mRNA for VIP. Some VIP-IR nerve processes, but only a few VIP-IR cell bodies, are detectable. Previous evidence demonstrates, however, that after the SCG is placed in organ culture for 48 hr, the level of VIP-IR and VIP mRNA and the number of VIP-IR cell bodies and fibers increase considerably. Two of the possible causes for these changes in peptide expression in sympathetic neurons are deafferentation and axotomy, both of which occur when the SCG is placed in culture. To determine the importance of deafferentation, the preganglionic cervical sympathetic trunk was cut and the ganglion left in situ. Forty-eight hours later, VIP-IR increased twofold. A corresponding increase in the number of VIP-IR nerve processes was seen, but there was no detectable change in the number of VIP-IR cell bodies. The content of VIP/PHI mRNA also increased by 1.8-fold. The effect of axotomy on VIP-IR was examined by cutting the postganglionic internal and external carotid nerves and leaving the ganglion in situ. Forty-eight hours later, the level of VIP-IR increased 22-fold, many immunostained neurons were found, and the content of VIP mRNA increased over fivefold. After either deafferentation or axotomy, changes in VIP- IR were accompanied by comparable changes in the related molecule peptide histidine isoleucine amide (PHI)-IR. Neuropeptide Y-IR, on the other hand, decreased after deafferentation and increased only twofold after axotomy. The results indicate plasticity in the expression of VIP- and PHI-IR in adult sympathetic neurons in vivo, and suggest that the changes previously seen in organ culture were primarily a response to axotomy.
Purification and properties of formylglutamate amidohydrolase from Pseudomonas putida.

Abstract Formylglutamate amidohydrolase (FGase) catalyzes the terminal reaction in the five-step pathway for histidine utilization in Pseudomonas putida. By this action, N-formyl-L-glutamate (FG) is hydrolyzed to produce L-glutamate plus formate. Urocanate, the first product in the pathway, induced all five enzymes, but FG was able to induce FGase alone, although less efficiently than urocanate did. This induction by FG resulted in the formation of an FGase with electrophoretic mobility identical to that of the FGase induced by urocanate. A 9.6-kilobase-pair HindIII DNA fragment containing the P. putida FGase gene was cloned into the corresponding site on plasmid pBEU1 maintained in Escherichia coli. Insertion of the fragment in either orientation on the vector resulted in expression, but a higher level was noted in one direction, suggesting that the FGase gene can be expressed from either of two vector promoters with different efficiencies or from a single vector promoter in addition to a less efficient Pseudomonas promoter. FGase was purified 1,110-fold from the higher-expression clone in a yield of 10% through six steps. Divalent metal ions stimulated activity, and among those tested (Co, Fe, Zn, Ca, Ni, Cd, Mn, and Mg), Co(II) was the best activator, followed by Fe(II). FGase exhibited a Km of 14 mM for FG and a specific activity of 100 mumol/min per mg of protein in the presence of 5 mM substrate and 0.8 mM CoCl2 at 30 degrees C. The enzyme was maximally active in the range of pH 7 to 8. FGase was found to be a monomer of molecular weight 50,000. N-Acetyl-L-glutamate was not a substrate for the enzyme, but both it and N-formyl-L-aspartate were competitive inhibitors of formylglutamate hydrolysis, exhibiting Ki values of 6 and 9 mM, respectively. The absence of FGase activity as an integral part of histidine breakdown in most other organisms and the somewhat uncoordinated regulation of FGase synthesis with that of the other hut enzymes in Pseudomonas suggest that the gene encoding its synthesis may have evolved separately from the remaining hut genes.
Nanocarbon hybrids of graphene-based materials and ultradispersed diamond: investigating structure and hierarchical defects evolution with electron-beam irradiation

We report the influence of electron-beam (E-beam) irradiation on the structural and physical properties modification of monolayer graphene (Gr), reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and graphene oxide (GO) with ultradispersed diamond (UDD) forming novel hybrid composite ensembles. The films were subjected to a constant energy of 200 keV (40 nA over 100 nm region or electron flux of 3.9 × 1019 cm−2s−1) from a transmission electron microscope gun for 0 (pristine) to 20 min with an interval of 2.5 min continuously – such conditions resemble increased temperature and/or pressure regime, enabling a degree of structural fluidity. To assess the modifications induced by E-beam, the films were analyzed prior to and post-irradiation. We focus on the characterization of hierarchical defects evolution using in situ transmission electron microscopy combined with selected area electron diffraction, Raman spectroscopy (RS) and Raman mapping techniques. The experiments showed that the E-beam irradiation generates microscopic defects (most likely, interstitials and vacancies) in a hierarchical manner much below the amorphization threshold and hybrids stabilized with UDD becomes radiation resilient, elucidated through the intensity, bandwidth, and position variation in prominent RS signatures and mapping, revealing the defects density distribution. The graphene sheet edges start bending, shrinking, and generating gaps (holes) at ~10–12.5 min owing to E-beam surface sputtering and primary knock-on damage mechanisms that suffer catastrophic destruction at ~20 min. The microscopic point defects are stabilized by UDD for hybrids in the order of GO > rGO ≥ Gr besides geometric influence, i.e. the int erplay of curvature-induced (planar vs curved) energy dispersion/absorption effects. Furthermore, an attempt was made to identify the nature of defects (charged vs residual) through inter-defect distance (i.e. LD). The trends of LD for graphene-based hybrids with E-beam irradiation implies charged defects described in terms of dangling bonds in contrast to passivated residual or neutral defects. More importantly, they provided a contrasting comparison among variants of graphene and their hybrids with UDD. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An Unbreakable Game: Baseball and Its Inability to Bring About Equality during Reconstruction

On 3 September 1869, the all‐black Pythian Base Ball Club of Philadelphia played the all‐white Philadelphia Olympics, marking the first recorded interracial game in organized baseball history. Thou...
The Growth of Palliative Care in U.S. Hospitals: A Status Report

Abstract Background: Palliative care is expanding rapidly in the United States. Objective: To examine variation in access to hospital palliative care. Methods: Data were obtained from the American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Surveys™ for Fiscal Years 2012 and 2013, the National Palliative Care Registry™, the Dartmouth Atlas of Healthcare, the American Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), web searches, and telephone interviews of hospital administrators and program directors. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine predictors of hospital palliative care programs. Results: Sixty-seven percent of hospitals with 50 or more total facility beds reported a palliative care program. Institutional characteristics were strongly associated with the presence of a hospital palliative care program. Ninety percent of hospitals with 300 beds or more were found to have palliative care programs as compared to 56% of hospitals with fewer than 300 beds. Tax status was also a significant predict...
Cardiac sensitization testing of the halon replacement candidates trifluoroiodomethane (CF3I) and 1,1,2,2,3,3,3-heptafluoro-1-iodopropane (C3F7I).

ABSTRACTTrifluoroiodomethane (CF3I) and 1,1,2,2,3,3,3-heptafluoro-1-iodopropane (C3F7I) have been considered as replacement candidates for halon fire suppressants due to their excellent fire extinguishant capabilities and low ozone depletion potential compared to halon fire extinguishants in use currently. As part of the process to develop environmental and health effects criteria for halon substitutes, a cardiac sensitization test was conducted in beagle dogs. Cardiac sensitization to adrenaline is a phenomenon associated with the inhalation of a number of unsubstituted and halogenated hydrocarbons. Adrenaline was administered by intravenous injection before and during inhalation of the test substance. CF3I was administered to dogs at concentrations in air of 0.1, 0.2, 0.4 or 1% v/v. At each of 0.4 and 1.0% CF3I, the first dog exposed developed fatal ventricular fibrillation, and no further dogs were exposed at these concentrations. There was no cardiac sensitization at 0.1 or 0.2% CF3I. For the C3F7I ex...
Planning a serial dilution test with multiple dilutions

The dilutions used in a serial dilution test determine which concentrations it can estimate well. Two criteria help to select how many and which dilutions to use. The first criterion is a low probability of outcomes with either all growth or all non-growth tubes at the concentrations of interest. The second criterion considers how far the estimated concentration (MPN) is likely to be from the actual concentration.
Comparative pathology of marine invertebrates and the study of human disease.

Summary Studies on an infection with gram-negative bacteria in Limulus led to the discovery of the extreme sensitivity of the amebocytes to gram-negative endotoxin. This led to the development of a method for measuring very small amounts of endotoxin in biologic fluids and in human blood. Yet, had the original observation of Cantacuzene on the large common edible spider crab ( Maia ) been followed, this remarkable sensitivity of marine arthropod blood to endotoxin would have been recognized much earlier. The original work of Metchnikoff on sea star larvae stimulated him to develop the major theory of phagocytosis but, until the adult animal of the same genus was reexamined half a century later, the presence of a powerful substance which selectively inhibits growth of lymphocytes following primary immunization remained unknown. Though mucus secretion is a fundamental characteristic of most invertebrate phyla and all vertebrates, little is known about the regulatory mechanism of the secretory process; studies of the responses of specialized invertebrate secretory cells to infection, first recognized by Cantacuzene, have now led to a new means of studying macromolecular control of mucus secretion in man. These three stories emphasize the continuing need to study disease as a biologic phenomenon, with curiosity alone as the main stimulus.
Insertion loss of electronically variable magnetostatic wave delay lines

An investigation is presented of insertion loss and constant variable delays in electronically variable magnetostatic-volume-wave delay lines. The delay line has a conductor-dielectric-YIG-dielectric-conductor structure. Variable delays up to 300 MHz bandwidth have been obtained in a single volume-wave delay line by adjusting the direction and magnitude of the biasing DC magnetic field in a plane containing the normal to the YIG film and the direction of wave propagation. Insertion loss as a function of frequency has been obtained for different biasing field angles and also for the angles corresponding to variable constant delays. Good agreement between theoretically obtained insertion loss and experimental results is found. Electronically variable magnetostatic-wave delay lines have promising applications in broadband phased-array antennas at 1-20 GHz. >
Spatiotemporal Distribution of Airborne Particulate Metals and Metalloids in a Populated Arid Region.

A statistical analysis of data from the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) network of aerosol samplers has been used to study the spatial and temporal concentration trends in airborne particulate metals and metalloids for southern Arizona. The study region is a rapidly growing area in southwestern North America characterized by high fine soil concentrations (among the highest in the United States), anthropogenic emissions from an area within the fastest growing region in the United States, and a high density of active and abandoned mining sites. Crustal tracers in the region are most abundant in the summer (April–June) followed by fall (October–November) as a result of dry meteorological conditions which favor dust emissions from natural and anthropogenic activity. A distinct day-of-week cycle is evident for crustal tracer mass concentrations, with the greatest amplitude evident in urban areas. There have been significant reductions since 1988 in the concentrations of toxic species that are typically associated with smelting and mining. Periods with high fine soil concentrations coincide with higher concentrations of metals and metalloids in the atmosphere, with the enhancement being higher at urban sites.
Changes in the concentrations of extracellular Mg++ and Ca++ down-regulate E-cadherin and up-regulate alpha 2 beta 1 integrin function, activating keratinocyte migration on type I collagen.

We have demonstrated recently that shifts in the concentrations of extracellular Mg++ and Ca++ occur during cutaneous injury in viva . These shifts correlate well with the timing of migration of various cell types involved in wound healing, including keratinocytes, In the present study, we examined the potential of such cation shifts to activate the keratinocyte migratory phenotype. In modified Boyden chamber migration assays, α2β1 integrin-mediated migration of human keratinocytes (HaCaT) on type I collagen was supported by Mg++ but not by Ca++ alone. Migration could be increased up to twofold, however, by using both cations in combination, as long as the Mg++ concentration was in the optimal range for migration in Mg++ only (1–3 mM) and Ca++ was present at concentrations of approximately 0.1–1 mM, Further examination of this divalent-cation-induced migratory keratinocyte phenotype demonstrated that, as Mg++ is elevated and Ca++ is reduced, mature E-cadherin and cell-cell contacts are reduced and the α2β1 integrin is redistributed from cell-cell contacts to the periphery. These in vitro observations corroborate what occurs in vivo at the keratinocyte migrating front during wound healing. Together these data suggest that changes in the concentrations of extracellular Mg++ and Ca++ can regulate the competitive interplay between Ca++-dependent E-cadherin-mediated and Mg++-dependent α2β1-integrin-mediated adhesion, promoting the development of an activated keratinocyte phenotype.
The axisymmetric micropolar boundary layer on a long thin cylinder

Abstract The laminar micropolar boundary layer in axial flow along a long, thin cylinder is investigated using the theory of micropolar fluids due to Eringen. The governing equations are solved numerically by expanding the velocity and angular velocity functions in the form of power series. Wall values of the momentum and angular momentum functions are tabulated for a wide range of values of the material parameters and the transverse curvature parameter.
Parallel complexity of domain decomposition methods and optimal coarse grid size

Abstract In this paper, we analyze the parallel complexity of domain decomposition method through estimating the arithmetic time as well as the communication time. In most domain decomposition (DD) methods, a coarse grid solve is employed to provide global coupling and obtain an optimal convergence rate. Generally, a small coarse grid size H improves the convergence rate at the cost of a larger coarse grid problem and a large number P of processors results in more costly global communication, whereas a large H and a small P have the opposite effect. Therefore, there often exists an optimal H such that the execution time on the parallel machine reaches a minimum. Our main goal here is to find this optimal coarse grid size H in the parallel environment. We assume the same solver is used for the subdomains as well as the coarse problem. By expressing the parallel complexity as a function of H and h, we can derive the analytic optimal coarse grid size Hopt. When the number of processors is equal to the number of subdomains, we can prove that the choice of Hopt = √h asymptotically minimises the execution time as h tends to zero. This optimal coarse grid size is independent of the choice of subproblem solvers and the spatial dimension. However, when the number of processors is much less than the number of subdomains, the optimal coarse grid size depends on the number of processors, the subdomain solver and dimension.
Abstract 4723: HO-3867, a STAT3 inhibitor induces G2/M arrest and apoptosis in BRCA1-mutated ovarian cancer cells

Background: BRCA1 plays an important role in DNA damage and repair, homologous recombination, cell-cycle regulation, and apoptosis. BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer often presents at an advanced stage, however, patients have shown improved responses with platinum-based chemotherapy versus sporadic cases. In spite of this, most patients will develop a recurrence and eventually succumb to the disease. Preclinical studies are currently investigating natural compounds and their analogs for tumor-directed targets in ovarian cancer cell models. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the STAT3 inhibitor HO-3867, a novel curcumin analog, has a therapeutic effect on BRCA1-mutated ovarian cancer. Methods: Expression of STAT family proteins, cell cycle, apoptotic and DNA repair proteins were evaluated via western blot on BRCA- mutated and non-mutated ovarian cancer cell lines. Cell viability and proliferation were analyzed with MTT and clonogenic assays. Cell cycle analysis and apoptosis assays were performed using flow cytometry and Annexin V staining. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) staining was performed using immunofluoresence. Finally, STAT3 overexpression or suppression experiments were performed using transfected wild-type STAT3 cDNA and STAT3 siRNA, respectively. Results: Our novel agent, HO-3867, and a commercial STAT3 inhibitor, STATIC, significantly inhibited BRCA-mutated cancer cells in vitro, in a dose-dependent manner. HO-3867 induced G2/M arrest with increased expression of p53 and p21 and with decreased cdk5 and cyclin D1 expression. BRCA-mutated cells treated with HO-3867 exhibited an increased induction of apoptosis with elevated levels of cleaved caspase-3, caspase-7, and PARP. Tyrosine-phosphorylated STAT3 (pTyr705) exhibited higher expression levels in BRCA-mutated cancer cells compared with other STAT proteins. Furthermore, treatment of these cells with HO-3867 resulted in decreased expression of pTyr705 and other DNA repair proteins. In addition, HO-3867 treatment induced more ROS in BRCA-mutated cells compared with wild-type cells, with no increased induction in benign ovarian surface epithelial cells. Furthermore, we confirmed that the over-expression of STAT3 cDNA provides resistance to HO-3867 induction of apoptosis. Conclusion: Our results show that HO-3867, a potential STAT3 inhibitor, may be effective in the treatment of BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer, although continued studies are needed to elucidate the exact mechanism of action. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4723. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4723
Mechanical properties of tape cast nickel-based anode materials for solid oxide fuel cells before and after reduction in hydrogen

Abstract The processing of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) often involves co-sintering of multi-layered stacks. In the case of SOFCs incorporating Ni-based anodes, hydrogen reduction of the anode usually takes place during the first service cycle of operation or conditioning. Initial reduction causes changes in the chemistry, microstructure and properties of the Ni-based anode material, which in turn induce mechanical stresses in the cell. In this study the elastic moduli, biaxial strength and fracture toughness of unreduced (NiO-YSZ) and reduced (Ni-YSZ) anode were determined as functions of porosity. Elastic properties were determined by impulse excitation at ambient temperature. Biaxial strength and fracture toughness were determined at ambient temperature by the ring-on-ring and double torsion test methods, respectively. It was found that the mechanical properties of unreduced and reduced Ni-based anode materials depend strongly on porosity. Property–porosity trends were found to be in good agreement with prediction of the minimum solid area model. Results presented in this study show that the elastic moduli and biaxial strength of the Ni-based anode material decreases after reduction in hydrogen while fracture toughness increases after reduction due to formation of ductile Ni-metal phase.
On dispersion modeling of inversion breakup fumigation of power plant plumes

Abstract The conventional Gaussian plume dispersion formulas with multiple eddy reflections are generalized to account for the non-stationary conditions of the inversion breakup at large power plants. Predicted maximum ground-level concentrations and associated distances downwind are compared with field data collected during an extensive survey by the Tennessee Valley Authority.
Structural Content: A Naturalistic Approach to Implicit Belief *

Various systems that learn are examined to show how content is carried in connections installed by a learning history. Agents do not explicitly use the content of such states in practical reasoning, yet the content plays an important role in explaining behavior, and the physical state carrying that content plays a role in causing behavior, given other occurrent beliefs and desires. This leads to an understanding of the environmental reasons which are the determinate content of these states, and leads to a better grasp of how representational content can be carried by systems without an explicit representation.
Geometric Accuracy of Intravascular Ultrasound Imaging

In spite of the current interest in and clinical application of intravascular ultrasound imaging, there is very little published information on the limitations of this modality. In vitro studies on nine phantom vessels (diameter 4.76 to 12.7 mm) and 11 human arteries (diameter 3.7 to 6.2 mm) were performed to assess the potential sources of error of diagnostic intravascular ultrasound imaging. The effects of (1) blood flow velocity, (2) temperature, (3) eccentric, noncentral catheter placement, (4) alteration of the angle of incidence by 30 degrees, and (5) the effect of imaging in different mediums-saline solution, blood, and electrode gel-were studied. Variations in blood flow velocity (from 10 to 300 ml/min) and temperature (from 22° C to 37° C) resulted in a P P P r = 0.93) when a central catheter position was used. The wall thickness measured during adjacent (
MAIZE RESPONSE TO PHOSPHATE ROCK AND ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI IN ACIDIC SOIL

Plants grown in acidic soils often have reduced productivity because of limited mineral nutrients. For plants to obtain adequate nutrients under these conditions, some source of fertilizer is commonly added or a method to make nutrients more available to plants, such as mycorrhiza, is needed. Maize (Zea mays L.) was grown in acidic soil (pHW 4.7, soilwater, 1:1) with added phosphate rock (PR) and the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) Glomus clarum to determine the effectiveness of AMF and PR for supplying nutrients, especially P. Plants were grown in a growth chamber and harvested when plants had grown in treated soil 15, 22, 29, and 36 d. Plant dry matter (DM) was greatly enhanced by PR, and even more at each harvest when roots were colonized with AMF (AMF+PR). Shoot DM increased more than root DM with PR (PR and AMF+PR) treatments. Total root length (RL) was greater for plants grown with PR and AMF+PR compared to the Control (no added P or AMF) and AMF plants. Colonization of roots by AMF was higher f...
The generalized eigenproblem: pole-zero computation

A modification-decomposition (MD) method is used to compute linear system transfer function poles and zeros by transforming an N-dimensional generalized eigenvalue problem to an M-dimensional standard eigenvalue problem with M>or=r, where r is the lesser of the ranks of the dynamic or nondynamic component matrix of the system. Hence, network eigenvalue problems normally solved by applying the QZ algorithm directly, or after deflation preprocessing, are solvable with the more efficient QR algorithm. It is shown that the flop (floating-point operations) count for MD-QR algorithms is always less than the flop count for the most efficient deflation-QZ algorithms. For r >
Pyocyanin-Enhanced Neutrophil Extracellular Trap Formation Requires the NADPH Oxidase

Beyond intracellular killing, a novel neutrophil-based antimicrobial mechanism has been recently discovered: entrapment and killing by neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). NETs consist of extruded nuclear DNA webs decorated with granule proteins. Although NET formation is an important innate immune mechanism, uncontrolled NET release damages host tissues and has been linked to several diseases including cystic fibrosis (CF). The major CF airway pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa establishes chronic infection. Pseudomonas imbedded within biofilms is protected against the immune system, but maintains chronic inflammation that worsens disease symptoms. Aberrant NET release from recruited neutrophils was found in CF, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. One of the most important Pseudomonas virulence factors is pyocyanin, a redox-active pigment that has been associated with diminished lung function in CF. Here we show that pyocyanin promotes NET formation in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Most CF Pseudomonas clinical isolates tested produce pyocyanin in vitro. Pyocyanin-derived reactive oxygen species are required for its NET release. Inhibitor experiments demonstrated involvement of Jun N-terminal Kinase (JNK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase (PI3K) in pyocyanin-induced NET formation. Pyocyanin-induced NETs also require the NADPH oxidase because NET release in chronic granulomatous disease neutrophils was greatly reduced. Comparison of neutrophils from gp91phox- and p47phox-deficient patients revealed that pyocyanin-triggered NET formation is proportional to their residual superoxide production. Our studies identify pyocyanin as the first secreted bacterial toxin that enhances NET formation. The involvement of NADPH oxidase in pyocyanin-induced NET formation represents a novel mechanism of pyocyanin toxicity.
Sequential Processing Machines (S.P.M) Analyzed With a Queuing Theory Model

Results are obtained for a model of many processors operating in series. The results are obtained directly by recognizing that a sequential processing may be viewed as a cyclic queue. Exact results are given for two sequential processing stages with a buffer storage of arbitrary size between the stages, and approximate results for the case of 2M (M an integer) stages. The analysis is good only for exponentially distributed computation times.
Abdominal sacral suspensions: analysis of complications using permanent mesh.

Objective This study was undertaken to determine the complication rates of abdominal sacral suspensions (ASC) using polypropylene mesh and to compare the erosion rates in women who underwent ASC at the time of supracervical hysterectomy (SCH) versus total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) versus ASC in women who had previously undergone TAH. Study design A retrospective analysis of patients from the urogynecology practice at North Shore University Hospital, who underwent ASC with polypropylene mesh between March 1997 and July 2004. Office and hospital charts were reviewed for patient demographics, preoperative history and physical examinations, intraoperative and postoperative findings, and complications. Women were stratified into 3 groups: group I: SCH with ASC; group II: TAH with ASC; and group III: ASC alone in women with a history of prior TAH. Results A total of 121 patients were analyzed and comprised group I, 30.6% (n = 37); group II, 40.5% (n = 49); and group III, 28.9% (n = 35). Four patients (3.3%) had mesh erosions develop. There were no significant differences in age, weight, parity, menopause status, estrogen therapy, previous surgery, or degree of preoperative prolapse between the patients with and without erosions. All the erosions occurred in group II (8.2%, 95% CI (2.3%-19.6%, P = .0389). The intraoperative complication rate was 2.5% and included a cystotomy (n = 2) and a small bowel laceration (n = 1). Immediate postoperative complications included partial SBO/ Ileus (3.5%), febrile morbidity (9.6%), and autologous blood transfusions (1.7%). Long-term complications included persistent vaginal discharge (4.7%), vaginal bleeding (1.6%), dysparuenia (6.3%), and recurrent prolapse (2.5%). There were no significant differences in short- or long-term complications among the 3 groups ( P > .05). Conclusion ASC with polypropylene mesh is a safe surgical procedure for vaginal vault prolapse with low complication rates. Mesh erosion occurred in 8.2% of patients who underwent TAH with concurrent ASC. Patients having ASC at the time of TAH had a 7-fold increased risk for mesh erosion compared with patients who underwent SCH with ASC.
Paleogeographic Reconstructions of Coastal Aegean Archaeological Sites

Many studies have been made of ancient Greek topography, some of the more recent ones based on modern techniques. However, most still ignore the subsurface dimension of coastal and other environments and hence fail to fully explain coastal and alluvial-colluvial processes, rates of change of geomorphology, and the effects of coastal change on humans. In this article subsurface geological analyses have been used to elucidate paleogeographic coastal settings of major archaeological sites around the Aegean Sea. Similar approaches could be applied in the Middle and Far East and elsewhere in the Mediterranean.
Novel magnetic nanomaterials inspired by magnetotactic bacteria: Topical review

Magnetotactic bacteria, known to produce magnetic nanocrystals with uniform shapes and sizes at physiological conditions, serve as an inspiration and source of a number of biological macromolecules used for the biomimetic synthesis of a variety of magnetic nanomaterials. This review discusses the current state of understanding of magnetosome biomineralization in magnetotactic bacteria, as well as the ways in which iron biomineralization processes can be utilized for tailored in vivo formation of complex magnetic nanomaterials, not occurring in magnetotactic bacteria naturally. The review assesses the current efforts on in vitro synthesis of a variety of magnetic nanoparticles using bioinspired approaches by utilizing mineralization proteins from magnetotactic bacteria, and surveys biomimetic strategies for the rational synthesis of various magnetic nanomaterials under ambient conditions. Finally, this review presents magnetic characterization of nanoparticles, highlighting differences in magnetic behavior between magnetic nanoparticles produced using bioinspired in vivo and in vitro strategies, compared to those produced using conventional methods. This in turn impacts their utility in a wide range of applications for magnetic nanoparticles, which are examined in detail, where bioinspired synthesis methods have potentially provided added advantages.
Relationship of Growth and Development to Changes in Sugars, Auxins, and Gibberellins in Fruit of Seeded and Seedless Varieties of Vitis Vinifera

1. BfiNNING, E. 1931. Untersuchungen fiber die autonomen tagesperiodischen Bewegungen der Primarblatter von Phaseolus multiflorus. Jahrb. wiss. Bot. 75: 439-480. 2. GARNER, W. W. and H. A. ALLARD 1931. Effect of abnormally long and short alterations of light and darkness on growth and development of plants. Jour. Agr. Res. 42: 629-651. 3. GRIESEL, W. 0. and J. B. BIALE 1958. Respiratory trends in perianth segments of Magnolia grandiflora. Amer. Jour. Bot. 45: 660-663. 4. HIGHKIN, H. R. and J. B. HANSON 1954. Possible interaction between light-dark cycles and endogenous daily rhythms on the growth of tomato plants. Plant Physiol. 29: 301-302. 5. HILLMAN, W. S. 1956. Injury of tomato plants by continuous light and unfavorable photoperiodic cycles. Amer. Jour. Bot. 43: 89-96. 6. NANDA, K. K. and K. C. HAMNER 1959. The effect of temperature, auxins, antiauxins, and some other chemicals on the endogenous rhythm affecting photoperiodic response of Biloxi soybean (Glycine max. L.; Merr.). Planta 53: 53-68. 7. RICHTER, G. and A. PIRSON 1957. Enzyme von Hydrodictyon und ihre Beeinflussung durch Beleuchtungsperiodik. Flora 144: 562-597. 8. VERKERK, K. 1955. Temperature, light, and the tomato. Mededel. Landbouwhogeschool Wageningen 55: 176-224. 9. WENT, F. W. 1957. The Experimental Control of Plant Growth. Chronica Botanica Co., Waltham.
Growth Hormone Attenuates the Acute-Phase Response to Thermal Injury

Objective: To determine the effects of growth hormone (GH) on the hepatic acute-phase response (APR) in a burned rat model. Setting: Laboratory. Material: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (weight, 300-350 g). Interventions: Rats underwent a 40% total body surface area burn injury and received GH or saline solution daily by subcutaneous injection. Unburned rats served as controls. Main Outcome Measures: Hepatic messenger RNA (mRNA) expression and serum levels of α 1 -acid glycoprotein and albumin were determined 2, 7, and 14 days after injury. Results: The serum α 1 -acid glycoprotein levels in GH-treated animals did not increase on days 2 and 7, whereas saline-treated animals showed a major increase. Hepatic mRNA expression increased dramatically on day 2 for burned groups; however, the mRNA pool levels of GH-treated animals showed a faster rate of decline to control levels on days 7 and 14. The albumin mRNA pool levels of GH-treated and control animals did not show significant differences, whereas the negative APR, indicated by loss of albumin mRNA, was more pronounced on day 7 in the saline-treated animals. By day 14, mRNA levels were comparable in all 3 groups. Conclusion: Growth hormone attenuated the positive APR, as indicated by a decrease in α 1 -acid glycoprotein expression and production, and prevented the negative APR, as seen by an absence of a decline of albumin mRNA pool levels and serum concentration. We conclude that the beneficial effects of GH on thermal injury may be due in part to a modification of the APR. Arch Surg. 1997;132:1171-1175
THERMAL RESISTANCE OF EGG-ASSOCIATED EPIDEMIC STRAINS OF SALMONELLA ENTERITIDIS

Seventeen strains of Salmonella enteritidis isolated from patients and various implicated products from 5 egg-associated outbreaks of salmonellosis were investigated for plasmid content, phage type and thermal resistance. D values obtained at 57.2 and 60°C in liquid whole egg for all strains were within ranges reported by previous investigators. Sublethal heat shock at 40°C for 2 hr or 48°C for 30 min increased thermotolerance 2- to 3-fold. The induced thermotolerance decayed to control levels after 2–3 cycles of cell duplication at a lower temperature. Most strains contained a 39-Mda plasmid and were phage type 8. No correlation was observed between thermotolerance and presence or absence of plasmid or phage type.
POSTNATAL THERAPY WITH MAGNESIUM TO PREVENT BRAIN INJURY IN VERY LOW BIRTHWEIGHT (VLBW) PREMATURE INFANTS: IS IT FEASIBLE? † 1108

POSTNATAL THERAPY WITH MAGNESIUM TO PREVENT BRAIN INJURY IN VERY LOW BIRTHWEIGHT (VLBW) PREMATURE INFANTS: IS IT FEASIBLE? † 1108
a Nonlinear Model of a Water Reservoir System with Multiple Uses and its Optimization by Combined Use of Dynamic Programming and Pattern Search Techniques

A fairly realistic nonlinear model of a water reservoir system with multiple uses has been developed based on available data, and the optimum of the system based on the developed model has been determined by the combined use of dynamic programming and the pattern search techniques. Both the simplex search and the Hooke and Jeeves pattern search have been used. The approach in modeling and optimization can treat complex inequality constraints. The benefits or losses resulting from four purposes or uses of water, namely, urban water supply, hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and recreation, are taken into account in the profit function. Other uses such as flood control, navigation, and fish and wildlife enhancement are considered indirectly by the use of inequality constraints. It appears that the approach developed in this work can treat a water resource allocation problem involving complex inequality constraints.
A description of an expert system for finite element modeling and analysis

Abstract Finite element analysis is an integral part of the structural analysis process in the design and development of parts and assemblies. Various levels of integration exist between design systems and finite element modeling systems. The feasibility of a knowledge-based system to tightly couple product design systems and finite element analysis systems was investigated. A framework incorporating feature-based design systems, heuristics-based planning modules and procedural pre-processing/solving/adaptive refinement schemes was developed. The pertinent modules of the framework were organized into a prototype and implemented in the VAX environment utilizing the EUCLID geometric modeling system, CLIPS expert system development tools, PATRAN 2.3 finite element pre-processing system, a finite element solver and an adaptive refinement system developed specially for the framework. The scope of the research work was limited to static stress analysis. The results of the research indicated that design systems can be successfully integrated with finite element analysis systems in a knowledge-based framework. The framework was also found to be suitable for finite element-based structural optimization and self-learning processes.
Defining “Biodiversity”; Assessing Biodiversity

This paper analyzes the concept of biodiversity in conservation biology and assesses potential methods for its measurement.
The Economic Impact of Mariculture on a Small Regional Economy

Abstract This case study of southern Honduras explores whether new exports act as staples or promote enclave development. Aquaculture exhibits low backward and strong forward linkages. However, reliance on imported inputs is likely to increase as vertical integration, disease and quality concerns grow. In addition, there are only minor fiscal linkages through municipality taxes, and the region has received a minor share of the surpluses generated. Shrimp farmers have tended to use reinvestment to deepen, rather than widen, their activities. Any moderate consumption linkages remain dependent upon the ecological health of the export sector itself.
Study of the packing behavior of axial compression columns for preparative chromatography

The behavior of the packing of axial compression columns (5 cm I.D.) has been studied using IMPAQ C18 silica (average particle size 17 μm) as the stationary phase and water-methanol solutions as the eluent. Provided the frits used at both column ends are properly cleaned, columns of the same efficiency as analytical columns are easily and reproducibly obtained. The efficiencies of several columns for acetone (poorly retained), phenol (moderately retained) and cresol (strongly retained) were found to remain unchanged over periods of 100 to 200 h. The column length was monitored during operations. It was found to decrease slowly over time, and to change when the packing solvent is replaced by the experimental eluent, and during gradient elution. It is smaller when the eluent contains more water. The total porosity and the permeability of the axial compression columns were lower than those of analytical columns.
EGFR, ErbB2 and Ras but not Src suppress RhoB expression while ectopic expression of RhoB antagonizes oncogene-mediated transformation

While some low molecular weight GTPases such as Ras and RhoA contribute to malignant transformation, a closely related family member, RhoB, has tumor-suppressive activity, but little is known about its regulation by oncogenes. In this study, we show that H-Ras, N-Ras, K-Ras, EGFR and ErbB2 but not v-Src suppress RhoB promoter transcriptional activity in NIH3T3 cells and human cancer cell lines derived from lung (A-549), pancreatic (Panc-1) and cervical (C33A) tumors. The EGFR and ErbB2 suppression of RhoB promoter activity is mediated by Ras. Furthermore, Ras suppresses basal as well as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-induced RhoB promoter activity and RhoB protein levels. Ectopic expression of RhoB, but not the closely related family member RhoA, antagonizes the ability of EGFR, ErbB2, H-Ras, N-Ras and K-Ras but not v-Src to transform NIH3T3 cells. Furthermore, RhoB, but not RhoA, inhibits colony formation and proliferation and induces anoikis in A-549 cells and Ras-transformed NIH3T3 cells. Finally, Ras-mediated resistance to 5-FU-induced apoptosis is reversed by RhoB. These results demonstrate that RhoB expression is negatively regulated by oncogenes that are prevalent in human cancers, and that ectopic expression of RhoB antagonizes the ability of these oncogenes to induce transformation. Taken together the data suggest that certain oncogenes suppress RhoB as one of the critical steps leading to malignant transformation.