cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relationship between genetic polymorphism of methylenetetrahydrfolate reductase and the risk of childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia

Objective To investigate the relationship between genetic polymorphism of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and the risk of childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL).Methods 45 patients with ALL and a cohort of 45 matched healthy children were included,and DNA was extracted from their peripheral blood.PCR-RFLP was used to determine the genotypes of MTHFR C677T and A1298C.The adjusted odds tatio (OR) and 95 ％ confidence interwal (CI) were calculated using unconditional logistic regression model.Results The frequency of MTHFR 677 CC,CT and TT genetypes were 31.1％ (14/45),51.1％ (23/45) and 17.7 ％ (8/45) in controls and 51.1％ (23/45),40.0 ％ (18/45) and 8.9 ％ (4/45)in ALL,respectively (x2 =7.48,P =0.04).The frequency of MTHFR 677 T allele were 69.9 ％ (31/45) in controls and 48.8 ％ (22/45) in ALL.The MTHFR 677 T allele had an decreased risk in ALL compared with CC genetype (OR =0.4,95 ％ CI 0.21-0.83).The frequency of MTHFR 1298 AA,AC and CC genetypes were 57.8 ％,40.0 ％ and 2.2 ％ in controls and 18.8 ％,44.4 ％ and 6.8 ％ in ALL,respectively (x2 =11.23,P=0.23).The frequency of MTHFR 1298 C allele were 51.1％ (23/45) in controls and 42.2 ％ (19/45) in ALL.No significant association between the MTHFR 1298 polymorphism and the risk of ALL (OR =1.3,95 ％ CI 0.21-0.83).Conclusion MTHFR 677 polymorphism could significantly decrease the risk of developing childhood ALL,whereas MTHFR 1298 don' t significantly affect the risk of ALL. Key words: Leukemia, lymphocytic, acute; Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase; Polymorphisms,single nucleotide
Do New Neighbors Pay More for Groceries

Using the Kilts-Nielsen consumer panel data, I estimate the response of the household price index to moving to a new location. Households pay 1.5% higher prices at retail stores after moving, and the effect decays over a 15 month period. Their distribution over retailers also reacts to the move, and they adjust this distribution at a higher pace afterwards. I argue that this primarily reflects their lack of knowledge about the new area and their learning process over time. Historically good shoppers and better educated people are impacted more by moving.
Bundling for Flexibility and Variety: An Economic Model for Multiproducer Value Aggregation

Many markets feature an economic structure in which value is cocreated by multiple producers and aggregated into a common bundle by a producer-consortium or independent firm. Examples include in-ho...
Towards Agent Validation of a Military Cyber Team Performance Simulation.

This paper discusses the design consideration for an agent-based model empirical validation. Agent behaviors are designed in order to create outcome measures clearly aligned with performance. A simulation of a military cyber team engaged in a conflict with an adversarial force is run in order to analyze output data and determine considerations for future validations.
Estimated GFR Variability and Risk of Cardiovascular Events and Mortality in SPRINT (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial)

Rationale and Objective Although low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) events and mortality, the clinical significance of variability in eGFR over time is uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between variability in eGFR and the risk of CVD events and all-cause mortality. Study Design Longitudinal analysis of clinical trial participants. Settings and Participants 7,520 Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT) participants ≥50 year of age with 1 or more CVD risk factors. Predictors eGFR variability, estimated by the coefficient of variation of eGFR assessments at the 6th, 12th, and 18-month study visits. Outcomes The SPRINT primary CVD composite outcome (myocardial infarction, acute coronary syndrome, stroke, heart failure, or CVD death) and all-cause mortality from month 18 to the end of follow-up. Analytical Approach Cox models were used to evaluate associations between eGFR variability and CVD outcomes and all-cause mortality. Models were adjusted for demographics, randomization arm, CVD risk factors, albuminuria, and eGFR at month 18. Results Mean age was 68 ± 9 years; 65% were men; and 58% were White. The mean eGFR was 73 ± 21 (SD) mL/min/1.73 m2 at 6 months. There were 370 CVD events and 154 deaths during a median follow-up of 2.4 years. Greater eGFR variability was associated with higher risk for all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] per 1 SD greater variability, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.14-1.45) but not CVD events (HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.95-1.16) after adjusting for albuminuria, eGFR, and other CVD risk factors. Associations were similar when stratified by treatment arm and by baseline CKD status, when accounting for concurrent systolic blood pressure changes, use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers, and diuretic medications during follow up. Limitations Persons with diabetes and proteinuria > 1 g/d were excluded. Conclusions In trial participants at high risk for CVD, greater eGFR variability was independently associated with all-cause mortality but not CVD events.
Work/shopping: “Disruptive mentorship” and the festival formation of documentary filmmakers

This contribution is about the role of laboratories and workshops in the development of independent films (especially documentaries) in North American film festivals. These small, invited gathering...
Optimizing Exoskeleton Assistance for Faster Self-Selected Walking

Self-selected walking speed is an important aspect of mobility. Exoskeletons can increase walking speed, but the mechanisms behind these changes and the upper limits on performance are unknown. Human-in-the-loop optimization is a technique for identifying exoskeleton characteristics that maximize the benefits of assistance, which has been critical to achieving large improvements in energy economy. In this study, we used human-in-the-loop optimization to test whether large improvements in self-selected walking speed are possible through ankle exoskeleton assistance. Healthy participants (N =10) were instructed to walk at a comfortable speed on a self-paced treadmill while wearing tethered ankle exoskeletons. An algorithm sequentially applied different patterns of exoskeleton torque and estimated the speed-optimal pattern, which was then evaluated in separate trials. With torque optimized for speed, participants walked 42% faster than in normal shoes (1.83 ms−1 vs. 1.31 ms−1; Tukey HSD, $p = 4 \times 10^{-8}$ ), with speed increases ranging from 6% to 91%. Participants walked faster with speed-optimized torque than with torque optimized for energy consumption (1.55 ms−1) or torque chosen to induce slow walking (1.18 ms−1). Gait characteristics with speed-optimized torque were highly variable across participants, and changes in metabolic cost of transport ranged from a 31% decrease to a 78% increase, with a decrease of 2% on average. These results demonstrate that ankle exoskeletons can facilitate large increases in self-selected walking speed, which could benefit older adults and others with reduced walking speed.
Hamilton's quaternions

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the Hamilton's Quaternions. Hamilton's original motivation was to find an algebraic formalism for the points (x1, x2, x3) in 3-space, in generalization of the formalism of the complex numbers C as pairs of real numbers. A matrix model of the quaternion algebra H is discussed. In modern algebra, a division ring is a ring K with identity 1 ≠ 0 in which every nonzero element is an inverse. These rings are the most “perfect” algebraic systems: as one can add, subtract, multiply, and divide. Most of the applications of quaternions to physics are applications of biquaternions. Several other important mathematical developments––namely, Cayley Algebra, Frobenius' Theorem, and Vector Analysis are also described. The fundamental theorem of algebra says that C is an algebraically closed field; that is, any non-constant polynomial in C[x] has a zero in C. The main point of passing from R to C is exactly to get an “algebraic closure” of the reals. The features of the quaternions are the role they play in the understanding and representation of the rotations of the low-dimensional Euclidean spaces.
Contact and Artificial Soil Tests Using Earthworms to Evaluate the Impact of Wastes in Soil

The study was designed to evaluate two methods using earthworms that can be used to estimate the biological impact of organic and inorganic compounds that may be in wastes applied to land for treatment and disposal. The two methods were the contact test and the artificial soil test. The contact test is 48-h test using an adult worm, a small glass vial, and filter paper to which the test chemical or waste is applied. The test is designed to provide close contact between the worm and a chemical, similar to the situation in soils. The method provides a rapid estimate of the relative toxicity of chemicals and industrial wastes.
Behavior-Based Network Access Control: A Proof-of-Concept

Current NAC technologies implement a pre-connect phase where the status of a device is checked against a set of policies before being granted access to a network, and a post-connect phase that examines whether the device complies with the policies that correspond to its role in the network. In order to enhance current NAC technologies, we propose a new architecture based on behaviorsrather than rolesor identity, where the policies are automatically learned and updated over time by the members of the network in order to adapt to behavioral changes of the devices. Behavior profiles may be presented as identity cards that can change over time. By incorporating an Anomaly Detector (AD) to the NAC server or to each of the hosts, their behavior profile is modeled and used to determine the type of behaviors that should be accepted within the network. These models constitute behavior-based policies. In our enhanced NAC architecture, global decisions are made using a group voting process. Each host's behavior profile is used to compute a partial decision for or against the acceptance of a new profile or traffic. The aggregation of these partial votes amounts to the model-group decision. This voting process makes the architecture more resilient to attacks. Even after accepting a certain percentage of malicious devices, the enhanced NAC is able to compute an adequate decision. We provide proof-of-concept experiments of our architecture using web traffic from our department network. Our results show that the model-group decision approach based on behavior profiles has a 99% detection rate of anomalous traffic with a false positive rate of only 0.005%. Furthermore, the architecture achieves short latencies for both the pre- and post-connect phases.
Correlation of Preoperative Depression and Somatic Perception Scales with Postoperative Disability and Quality of Life after Lumbar Discectomy

Object Lumbar discectomy is the most common surgical procedure performed in the US for patients experiencing back and leg pain from herniated lumbar discs. However, not all patients will benefit from lumbar discectomy. Patients with certain psychological predispositions may be especially vulnerable to poor clinical outcomes. The goal of this study was therefore to determine the role that preoperative depression and somatic anxiety have on long-term back and leg pain, disability, and quality of life (QOL) for patients undergoing single-level lumbar discectomy. Methods In 67 adults undergoing discectomy for a single-level herniated lumbar disc, the authors determined quantitative measurements of leg and back pain (visual analog scale [VAS]), quality of life (36-Item Short Form Health Survey [SF-36]), and disease-specific disability (Oswestry Disability Index) preoperatively and at 6 weeks, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. The degree of preoperative depression and somatization was assessed using the Zung S...
Fundamentals of coding for broadcast OFDM

The same information is often broadcast to many receivers over different frequency selective channels. Digital audio signals and digital video signals are commonly distributed by such broadcasts. A coded modulation technique for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is presented that provides consistent performance over a variety of frequency selective channels. The range of performance for an example of the new scheme over three different frequency selective channels is 0.75 dB at P/sub e/=3/spl times/10/sup -6/ as compared to 4 dB for a currently used scheme. The new technique employs relatively dense constellations combined with low rate codes designed to allow the receiver to take advantage of reliable symbols to compensate for unreliable symbols. Frequency hopped systems and flat fading systems with interleaving can also benefit from the new technique.
Fighting Heroes: The Core Values of the Xia Tradition in Early China

The core values of China’s famed wuxia (heroic fiction) literature and cinema developed in response to the chaos and warfare of the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.E.). In English, probably the best commercial source of information on this topic is Professor James J.Y. Liu’s book, The Chinese Knight-Errant (1967), which unfortunately is out of print. This article is based on that book, along with the author’s academic and literary work on the East Asian hero. These heroic values appear to be rooted in individualism, which would seem to contradict the region’s vaunted sense of group cohesiveness.
C-banded karyotypes and meiotic abnormalities in germplasm derived from interploidy crosses in Avena

C-banded karyotypes of somatic chromosomes and meiotic abnormalities were investigated in four crown rust resistant lines derived from interploidy crosses in Avena.C-banding revealed that line N770-165-2-1 contained a 6C/21translocation while line DCS1789 contained a pair of A. strigosa chromosomes substituted for A. sativachromosome 12. Line JR2-3-3-B contained both the 6C/21 translocation and the pair of substituted A. strigosachromosomes, but line MAM17-4 contained neither. Although meiotic irregularities, including mispositioned bivalents, occurred in all four lines and in their F1 hybrids with A. sativa, the percentages of normal meiosis ranged from 75.4 to 88.6%. This allowed for stability of line performance and for their use as breeding stocks.
Comparison of six risk scores in patients with triple vessel coronary artery disease undergoing PCI: competing factors influence mortality, myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization.

Objectives To compare the discriminatory value of differing risk scores for predicting clinical outcomes following PCI in routine practice. Background Various risk scores predict outcomes after PCI. However, these scores consider markedly different factors, from purely anatomical (SYNTAX risk score [SRS]) to purely clinical (ACEF, modified ACEF [ACEFmod], NCDR), while other scores combine both elements (Clinical SYNTAX score [CSS], NY State Risk Score [NYSRS]). Methods Patients with triple vessel and/or LM disease with 12 month follow-up were studied from a single center PCI registry. Exclusion criteria included STEMI presentation, prior revascularization and shock. Clinical events at 12 months were compared to baseline risk scores, according to score tertiles and area under receiver-operating-characteristic curves (AUC). Results We identified 584 eligible patients (69.8±12.3yrs, 405 males). All scores were predictive of mortality, with the SRS being least predictive (AUC=0.66). The most accurate scores for mortality were the CSS and ACEF (AUC=0.76 for both: P = 0.019 and 0.08 vs. SRS, respectively). For TLR, while the SRS trended toward being positively predictive (P = 0.075), several scores trended towards a negative association, which reached significance for the NCDR (P = 0.045). The SRS and CSS were the only scores predictive of MI (both P < 0.05). No score was particularly accurate for predicting MACE (death+MI+TLR), with AUCs ranging from 0.53 (NCDR) to 0.63 (SRS). Conclusions Competing factors influence mortality, MI and TLR after PCI. An increasing burden of comorbidities is associated with mortality, whereas anatomical complexity predicts MI. By combining these outcomes to predict MACE, all scores show reduced utility. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Making Ends Meet: Options for Property Tax Reform in Detroit

Current property tax policies in Michigan severely constrain the ability of the City of Detroit to raise sufficient revenues, particularly in a weak economy. Almost half of the land area of the city does not contribute to the property tax effort and the valuation of the taxable properties has fallen substantially since the Great Recession. This article considers alternative definitions of the city's tax base, including taxes based on land value or land area, as well as special assessments for specific services. These reform options are found to have considerably different impacts on different classes of real property.
Structural organization of male-specific visual neurons in calliphorid optic lobes

The superiority of male flies over female flies in locating and intercepting small rapidly moving targets has been ascribed to differences in their visual systems. In males, this sexual dimorphism is externally expressed by an area of high visual acuity called the acute zone. Selective cobalt uptake reveals 12 types of male-specific visual interneurons in the male lobula, the axons of which terminate in neuropil supplying premotor descending neurons to neck and flight motor circuits. The dendritic fields of the individual male-specific neurons can be extrapolated out into visual space to demonstrate that each is assigned a discrete area of the visual panorama. The dendritic fields of 10 of the 12 male-specific neurons subtend areas of the retina associated with the male acute zone. The functional significance of male-specific neurons is discussed with respect to their putative receptive field and a model circuit for target location by male flies.
Radiation field mapping using a mechanical-electronic detector

Abstract A method of radiation field mapping of a scanned electron beam using a Faraday-type detector and an electromechanical linear translator is presented. Utilizing this arrangement, fluence and fluence rate measurements can be made at different locations within the radiation field. The Faraday-type detector used in these experiments differs from most as it consists of a hollow stainless steel sphere. Results are presented in two- and three-dimensional views of the radiation field.
Point A revisited.

Point A cannot be accurately identified in all cephalometric radiographs. In instances where this landmark is not clearly discernible, an alternative means of estimating the anterior extremity of the maxillary base is shown. A point plotted 3.0 mm. labial to a point between the upper third and lower two thirds of the long axis of the root of the maxillary central incisor was found to be a suitable point (estimated point A) through which to draw the NAE line and one which most closely approximates the true NA plane.
Malaria—the mime revisited: Fifteen more years of experience at a New York City teaching hospital

Abstract purpose and patients: A previous review of The New York Hospital experience with malaria during 1968 to 1975 summarized clinical and parasitologic features in 24 travelers and highlighted deficiencies in both chemoprophylaxis and diagnosis. To extend this original study, we describe 86 patients with malaria seen at the same hospital during the subsequent 15 years. results: Eighty patients were infected with a single Plasmodium species, and 60% had Plasmodium falciparum infection primarily acquired in Africa. Eighty percent were symptomatic while in or within 1 month of departing the malarious region. All patients described a history of fever, however, 25% were afebrile at the initial hospital visit. A normal white blood cell count, thrombocytopenia, and an increased lactate dehydrogenase level were common laboratory results. Seventy-five percent of non-native travelers took either no or inadequate chemoprophylaxis. Malaria was not suspected in 16 of the 20 (80%) patients seen initially by local New York City physicians but was initially suspected and confirmed in 49 of 54 (91%) patients first seen at The New York Hospital. conclusion: In comparison to our 1968 to 1975 experience, these updated results indicate no improvement in either the use of appropriate chemoprophylaxis or the capacity to properly diagnose malaria in the community. Improvement is still clearly needed in both areas.
Effect of partially or totally replacing fish meal with soybean meal on growth of blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus)

A 12-week feeding trial was conducted in aquaria with juvenile (6 g) blue catfish to examine effects of substituting soybean meal for fish meal in a prepared diet. Four isonitrogenous (34% protein) and isocaloric (2.4 kcal digestible energy/g) diets were formulated to contain 13, 9, 4, and 0% menhaden fish meal (67% crude protein). Soybean meal (44% crude protein) was added in increasing percentages (48, 55, 62, and 69%) to the respective diets. A fifth diet, otherwise identical to the diet containing 0% fish meal and 69% soybean meal, was prepared with soybean meal that had been heated at 105 ° C for 60 min prior to diet preparation. After 12 weeks, fish fed a diet with 13% fish meal had a significantly (P 0.05) in body weights of fish fed the other four diets. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were found in percentage survival, food conversion ratio, and protein efficiency ratio among diets. Growth of blue catfish was similar to that reported for channel catfish juveniles. However, these data suggest that blue catfish juveniles require at least 13% fish meal in a diet containing 34% crude protein for optimal growth.
Modeling intrauterine growth retardation in rodents: Impact on pancreas development and glucose homeostasis

Fetal adverse environment, such as insufficient maternal nutrition, placental insufficiency and stress, alters organ development and leads to poor fetal growth, also called intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). IUGR is associated with an increased risk of perinatal mortality and morbidity as well as late-onset metabolic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes and hypertension in adulthood. In the rodent model, IUGR can be induced by fetal caloric restriction, fetal protein restriction, by exposure to high levels of glucocorticoids or by restricted placental blood supply. Such experimental IUGR models show a decreased beta cell mass and lower pancreatic insulin content. Recent research has provided an insight into the mechanisms responsible for the loss of beta cells. Here we review models that give further details about the molecular determinants of fetal and postnatal pancreatic islet development that are required to understand the consequences of fetal insults.
The synergistic effect of alcohol mixtures on transesterification of soybean oil using homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts

Abstract In an effort to enhance the transesterification reaction of soybean oil and thereby the lubricity properties of the resulting biodiesel as well, the alcohol component of the reaction blend was altered to include several different combinations of methanol, ethanol, and propanol, rather than a single alcohol. For this work, various concentrations of a homogeneous catalyst, such as CH 3 ONa or C 2 H 5 ONa, or a heterogeneous catalyst, CaO–La 2 O 3 or an anion exchanged resin, were used in the reaction. Ethanolysis was found to be faster than methanolysis with highly basic homogeneous catalysts due to the higher nucleophilicity of ethoxide relative to methoxide. The ethyl-ester yield approached a maximum earlier than the methyl-ester yield, even though the methyl-ester yield continuously increased with reaction. Also, methanolysis became linked with ethanolysis when a methanol–ethanol equimolar mixture was used as an alcohol source. In addition, significant improvement in the transesterification activity was observed at very earlier reaction times when a methanol–ethanol mixture was used and a high basicity condition existed where ethoxide can be formed. To explain this effect, a combined structure of methoxide–ethanol or ethoxide–methanol has been proposed and tentatively supported by reaction measurements and FTIR. In this model, the formed alkoxide generates two reactive sites resulting in an accelerated transesterification rate.
Analysis of cavity nucleation in solids subjected to external and internal stresses

Abstract The thermodynamics of cavity nucleation in solids subjected to external and internal stresses are analyzed. We show that the critical nucleus for cavity nucleation can be formed by alternative reversible work paths; either by condensation of pre-existing vacancies or by removal of atoms from the site of nucleation to sinks within the solid or at the surface. These two nucleation paths are shown to be equivalent, Strain energy terms which are quadratic in stress are found to arise in the free energy of the nucleus when relaxation of the void surface is taken into account. Two different cases of internally stressed solids are treated: one in which vacancy sources and sinks at the site of nucleation are locked and another in which vacancy sources and sinks are unlocked. In the former case the internal stress appears only quadratically or as crossterms in the formation free energy of the critical sized nucleus, while in the latter case, it appears in a linear term, additive to the applied stress, and has a strong effect on cavity nucleation. Problems involving complex nucleus shapes and the effects of plastic relaxation in cavity nucleation are also discussed.
From fate to function: the Drosophila trachea and salivary gland as models for tubulogenesis

Tube formation is a ubiquitous process required to sustain life in multicellular organisms. The tubular organs of adult mammals include the lungs, vasculature, digestive and excretory systems, as well as secretory organs such as the pancreas, salivary, prostate, and mammary glands. Other tissues, including the embryonic heart and neural tube, have requisite stages of tubular organization early in development. To learn the molecular and cellular basis of how epithelial cells are organized into tubular organs of various shapes and sizes, investigators have focused on the Drosophila trachea and salivary gland as model genetic systems for branched and unbranched tubes, respectively. Both organs begin as polarized epithelial placodes, which through coordinated cell shape changes, cell rearrangement, and cell migration form elongated tubes. Here, we discuss what has been discovered regarding the details of cell fate specification and tube formation in the two organs; these discoveries reveal significant conservation in the cellular and molecular events of tubulogenesis.
Genetics of darwinian fitness. II. Pleiotropic selection on fertility and survival

A non-overlapping generation model is proposed which links Wright's adaptive topography concept to the rather inexact notion of Darwinian fitness as survival and reproduction. in general, evolution is seen to weight proportionate increases in survival twice as greatly as proportionate increases in fertility. Certain special cases are also delineated in which measurements of survival and fertility receive equal weight in the fitness equations. In addition, some implications of the present study for Wright's shifting balance theory and models based on Fisher's reproductive value are discussed.
Twenty-one novel microsatellite loci for the endangered Florida salt marsh vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus dukecampbelli)

We present 21 microsatellite loci developed for Florida salt marsh voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus dukecampbelli). Microsatellites were identified from single molecule real time sequencing (Pacific Biosciences). We screened 30 loci and identified 21 loci as suitable for genotyping. We screened 17 individuals from Long Cabbage Key, and 3 individuals from an unnamed island. There was no significant departure from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium or linkage equilibrium. Fifteen of the 21 loci were variable, with overall observed heterozygosity averaging 0.39, and a mean number of alleles of 3.14. Linkage disequilibrium estimate of N e was 10.7 (95 % CI 6.1–20.1). These markers will be useful for conservation genetics studies of this endangered species.
Heat Transfer and Frictional Pressure Drop Characteristics of White Fuming Nitric Acid

An e x p e r i m e n t a l i nves t iga t ion was c o n d u c t e d t o d e t e r m i n e t h e h e a t t r ans f e r a n d fluid f r ic t ion cha rac t e r i s t i c s of w h i t e f u m i n g n i t r i c ac id (WFNA) u n d e r cond i t i ons s i m u l a t i n g regenera t ive cool ing of a rocke t m o t o r w i t h WFNA. U n d e r c o n d i t i o n s w h e r e n o local boi l ing occur red i n t h e t e s t sec t ion t h e r e c o m m e n d e d h e a t t r ans f e r e q u a t i o n (modified C o l b u r n e q u a t i o n ) is j = 0.023 NRe -0 .2
Internally 4-Connected Binary Matroids Without a Prism+e Minor

We give a complete characterization of the internally 4-connected binary matroids with no minor that is isomorphic to the cycle matroid of the prism+e graph. This characterization generalizes a result first proved by Mayhew and Royle [6] for binary matroids, and generalizes results of Dirac [2] and Lovasz [5] for graphs. Then we use the main result to show that a 3-connected binary matroid with no minor that is isomorphic to the cycle matroid of the prism+e graph is either one of a list of 132 matroids or can be constructed from six specific matroids using the matroid operations of parallel extension and 3-sum. Both MACEK and SAGE Matroid Package are used to assist our computations.
Classical and quantum theory of synergic synchrotron-Čerenkov radiation

Abstract The power spectra of Cerenkov, synchrotron, and synchrotron-Cerenkov radiation are calculated both classically (by source methods) and quantum mechanically (by mass operator methods). The synergic features of the synchrotron-Cerenkov radiation are pointed out. The existence of a transition region near nβ = 1 [n(ω, H) = index of refraction of the medium; β = v c , v - velocity of the charged particle] coupled with the intrinsic dispersion of the medium is then applied to the discussion of the suppression of X-ray radiation, the construction of X-ray counters, the detection of the quantum corrections, and the modification of the synchrotron radiation from pulsars.
Regulation of bovine adipose tissue metabolism during lactation. 5. Relationships of lipid synthesis and lipolysis with energy intake and utilization.

Abstract The effects of energy utilization during lactation on adipose tissue metabolism were determined in 51 first lactation Holstein heifers producing between 5950 and 10,246 kg milk in 305 d. Net energy intake ranged from 18.3 to 40.6 Mcal/d during 28 to 140 d of lactation. Milk yield ranged from 13.5 to 47.4 kg/d and fat percent from 1.49 to 4.60 during 28 to 140 d, providing a range of 8.2 to 32.6 Mcal/d milk energy secretion. Calculated energy balance ranged from −16.4 to 11.5 Mcal/d. Weight change ranged from −70 to 143 kg during that 112-d period. Subcutaneous adipose tissue was biopsied nine times from 30 d prepartum to 15 d after lactation ceased. Adipose lipid synthesis measured prepartum was negatively related to subsequent milk energy secretion. Net energy intake, body weight, and body weight change were related positively to adipose lipid synthesis rates from 28 to 56 d, but those rates were related negatively to milk energy secretion. Lipolysis was positively related to milk energy secretion and body weight and negatively related to NE intake. At d 60 of lactation, adipose tissue lipid synthesis rates were a function of body weight, weight gain, and net energy intake. However, catecholamine-stimulated lipolysis rates were a function of body weight and milk energy secretion. After 140 d, lipid synthesis and lipolysis were elevated and more closely related to the previous peak rather than to concomitant milk energy secretion. These relationships demonstrate the effects of dietary energy content and genetic selection for milk production on adipose tissue metabolism.
Transfection of cloned Heliothis zea cell lines with the DNA genome of the Heliothis zea nuclear polyhedrosis virus.

Abstract Transfection conditions were optimized for the cloned UND-K derivative of the IPLB-HZ 1075 cell line using the calcium-phosphate co-precipitation technique and the DNA genome of the Heliothis zea S-type nuclear polyhedrosis virus. Optimal efficiencies were obtained using supercoiled viral DNA, and by extending the adsorption period for the diluted precipitate to 12 h. Transfection efficiencies ranging from 0.5 to 1.3 × 103 plaque forming units per μg of supercoiled viral DNA were routinely obtained for UND-K cells and HzS-15 viral DNA. Transfection efficiencies were compared for 10 other cloned Heliothis cell strains and the uncloned parental IPLB-HZ 1075 cell line. The cloned cell strains UND-F, L, and U were incapable of transfection, while UND-I and G were 3 and 131 fold (respectively) less efficient than UND-K. The UND-K cells and the calcium phosphate transfection procedure permit relatively efficient in vitro manipulation of the Heliothis zea NPV virus genome.
Comparison of GaN, InN and AlN powders for susceptor-based rapid annealing of group III nitride materials

We have compared the use of GaN, InN and AlN powders for providing a nitrogen partial pressure within a graphite susceptor during high-temperature rapid thermal annealing of GaN, AlN, InN and InAlN. At temperatures above vapour transport of In from InN powder produces In droplet condensation on the surface of all nitride samples being annealed. GaN powder provides better surface protection than AlN powders for temperatures up to when annealing GaN and AlN samples. Dissociation of nitrides from the surface is found to occur with approximate activation energies of 3.8 eV, 4.4 eV and 3.4 eV, respectively, for GaN, AlN and InN.
Characterization of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) germplasm regenerated in Georgia, USA

Sesame, Sesamum indicum L. is used worldwide for cooking oil and food. The United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Plant Genetic Resources Conservation Unit (USDA, ARS, PGRCU) conserves 1,226 accessions originating from Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, and South America. Sesame accessions were directly seeded to the field in Griffin, GA between 15 May and 01 June 2003–2007. At 50% maturity, 192 accessions were characterized for morphological, phenological, and reproductive traits during the regeneration cycles. High quality plants regenerated from all accessions produced 131 to more than 80,000 seeds per accession. Sesame can be successfully grown and regenerated in Griffin, GA. Coefficients of variation and principal component analysis revealed considerable variability among accessions for phenological, morphological and reproductive traits. Assuming appropriate levels of heritability, sufficient variation among sesame accessions exists for days to maturity, plant height, and reproductive traits among these sesame accessions to warrant breeding programs for new sesame cultivar development.
The Process of Infection with Bacteriophage ΦX174: VII. Ultracentrifugal Analysis of the Replicative Form

A procedure is described for the preparation of a purified ΦX174 replicative form DNA. Ultracentrifugal analyses, zone sedimentation and density gradient of this DNA, both when native and when denatured, are described. At neutral pH, two major sedimentation components in the purified replicative form of 21·2 s (I) and 16·2 s (II) (as the sodium salts) are observed. At alkaline pH, in high ionic strength medium, or at neutral pH in formamide, (I) gives rise primarily to a rapidly sedimenting component, the denatured double-stranded DNA ring. Under the same conditions, (II) gives rise to infective single-stranded DNA rings. It is concluded that (I) is the closed double-strand DNA ring, whereas (II) is composed of double-stranded DNA rings in which one strand is open.
Life and Death in New Guinea

Using a combination of comparative/historical and ethnographic approaches, the concepts of the “life-death continuum” and the cosmic “life force” are examined for the Asmat tribe of New Guinea. Primary attention is paid to data gathered in Irian Jaya (Indonesian New Guinea) in 1973–74 and 1979. The roles of magic and sorcery are examined in the context of death causation, as is the notion of societal equilibrium/disequilibrium. The symbolism of the skull is covered briefly, being tied to tribal beliefs concerning attributes of humanness. Of importance are the concepts of probabilism and determinism, introduced to aid the understanding of life-death processes in Melanesian and Western societies, respectively. In conclusion, positive adjustments associated with the free expression of grief are examined cross-culturally.
Effects of chronic dietary administration of the cholinergic false precursor N-amino-N, N-dimethylaminoethanol on behavior and cholinergic parameters in rats

Abstract The choline analog, N-amino-N,N-dimethylaminoethanol (NADe), was fed ad libitum (chloride salt; 0.5%) to weanling rats in a low choline, low methionine synthetic diet. Control rats were fed choline chloride (0.5%) in place of NADe. Initial observation and behavioral screen tests of grasp strength, startle reflex, righting reflex, analgesia (hot plate test) and body temperature did not reveal any toxic effects caused by NADe, although both experimental and control groups gained weight more slowly than rats fed standard lab chow. After 25 days on the diet, the performance of rats fed NADe in a one-trial passive avoidance test was significantly impaired compared to control rats. There was no difference between experimental and control rats in sensitivity to foot shock or in activity monitored in a closed field. A subjective, 6-component behavioral rating scale indicated rats fed NADe were resistant to handling but not aggressive. These behavioral results were similar in two separate feeding experiments using deuterium-labeled and unlabeled NADe. The twitch response of isolated rat phrenic nerve-diaphragms during stimulation did not show any impairment of neuromuscular function in rats fed NADe. Receptor binding experiments indicated there were no differences between experimental and control rats in tritiated quinuclidinyl benzilate ([ 3 H]QNB) binding capacity in cortex, heart and ileum. Competitive [ 3 H]QNB binding with carbachol indicated there was no difference in the IC 50 's measured in cortex homogenates. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activities in cortex were similar in experimental and control groups. These results suggest that dietary NADe is not cytotoxic but may be useful in producing an animal model of central cholinergic hypofunction.
Manoeuvring performance of podded propulsors behind a ship

This study investigates the performance of podded propulsors in various operating conditions: open water and different ice conditions. The model used in this study is an icebreaker driven by twin-podded propulsors. Preliminary results from ice tank tests are presented. These include steering moment generated by the propulsors, thrust and torque of the propellers and the forces exerted on the hull at the location of the connection of the propulsors for different levels of ice and pack ice conditions, as well as in open water.
Ensemble Variance Calibration for Representing Meteorological Uncertainty for Atmospheric Transport and Dispersion Modeling

Abstract In the event of the release of a dangerous atmospheric contaminant, an atmospheric transport and dispersion (ATD) model is often used to provide forecasts of the resulting contaminant dispersion affecting the population. These forecasts should also be accompanied by accurate estimates of the forecast uncertainty to allow for more informed decisions about the potential hazardous area. This study examines the calculation of uncertainty in the meteorological data as derived from an ensemble, and its effects when used as additional input to drive an ATD model. The first part of the study examines the capability of a linear function to relate ensemble spread to error variance of the ensemble mean given ensemble spread from 24 days of forecasts from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) Short-Range Ensemble Forecast (SREF). This linear function can then be used to calibrate the ensemble spread to produce a more accurate estimate of the meteorological uncertainty. Results for the line...
THE CHEMISTRY OF THE PHOSPHOINOSITIDES

The name of inositol phosphatides or phosphoinositides is given to a rather heterogeneous group of substances having in common the presence of inositol, phosphoric acid, and fatty acid(s) among the...
Intellectual Property Protection in Additive Layer Manufacturing: Requirements for Secure Outsourcing

Additive Layer Manufacturing (ALM) is a new technology to produce 3D objects adding layer by layer. Agencies and companies like NASA, ESA, and SpaceX are exploring a broad range of application areas of ALM, which includes printing of device components, replacement parts, houses, and even food. They expect that this technology will greatly reduce production costs, manufacturing time, and necessary storage space. The broad variety of application areas and the high grade of computerization of this manufacturing process will inevitably make ALM an attractive target of various attacks.This research examines the problem of Intellectual Property (IP) protection in the case of outsourcing the ALM manufacturing process. We discuss the existing process and introduce a new model for the outsourcing of ALM-based production. For the proposed outsourcing model, focusing on IP protection, we present a risk assessment, specify requirements addressing mitigation of the identified risks, and outline approaches to implement the specified requirements. The fulfillment of the specified requirements will enable secure outsourcing of ALM production.
PLASMA HOMOCYSTEINE CONCENTRATIONS CHANGE WITH VITAMIN B-6 DEPLETION AND REPLETION IN YOUNG WOMEN

Plasma total homocysteine concentrations were measured in 8 healthy premenopausal women who, after a 9-d adjustment period with a vitamin B-6 intake of 1.60 mg/d, were marginally depleted of vitamin B-6 (0.45 mg/d) for 27 d, and then repleted with three levels of vitamin B-6 (1.26, 1.66 and 2.06 mg/d) for periods of 21, 21 and 14 days, respectively. Significant increases in plasma homocysteine concentrations were seen at the end of repletion periods 1 and 2, with a return to the adjustment concentration by the end of repletion period 3. Plasma homocysteine concentrations were negatively correlated with two measures of vitamin B-6 status, urinary 4-pyridoxic acid and plasma pyridoxal phosphate. Additional research is needed to determine whether plasma homocysteine concentration may be used as a functional, or indirect, measure of vitamin B-6 status.
Virulence, adsorbability, and antigenicity of foot-and-mouth disease virus selected by adsorption with homogenized mouse kidney.

A small percentage of a stock foot-and-mouth disease virus population was found to be relatively resistant to adsorption with homogenized adult mouse kidney. To select this portion of the population, a series of 10 passages was performed, each passage consisting of adsorption with homogenized kidney and propagation of the unadsorbed virus in bovine kidney cell cultures. The selected virus was relatively resistant to adsorption with mouse kidney and relatively avirulent for adult mice. It was immunogenic in adult mice and seemed to be antigenically the same as the parent virus. This information might possibly be used in selecting viruses for live virus vaccines.
Algorithms for preemptive scheduling of different classes of processors to do jobs with fixed times

Abstract We consider scheduling problems that involve processors of different classes and jobs with fixed start and finish times. We allow preemption of jobs, but impose restrictions on the assignment of processors to jobs. We present polynomial-time algorithms for finding the minimal-cost preemptive solutions for two special cases in which the number of job classes is at most one more than the number of processor classes. We then discuss a generalized version in which a processor can be assigned only to a subset of the jobs and a job can be done only by a subset of the processors. We prove that for this case the problem of finding a preemptive feasible schedule with a given combination of processors can be solved in polynomial time, by transforming it into a transportation-network problem. Next, we extend these results to cyclic scheduling problems. Further, we discuss some transformations among these class scheduling problems and provide simpler proofs of NP-completeness for the nonpreemptive versions of the first two cases.
Competition between ponderomotive and thermal forces in short-scale-length laser plasmas.

Interactions of intense 400-fs laser pulses with a solid target are studied with time-integrated and time-resolved measurements. The latter are accomplished by means of a pump and probe experiment, in which the motion of the critical surface is measured with 250-fs resolution. It is found that when the average electron quiver energy (${\mathit{mv}}_{\mathrm{os}}^{2}$/2) becomes comparable to the electron thermal energy (${\mathit{kT}}_{\mathit{e}}$), the ponderomotive force of the high-intensity laser significantly reduces the thermal expansion of a laser plasma. This study is performed in an interesting regime not easily accessible with longer pulse lasers, in which the electron density scale length during the laser pulse was much less than the laser wavelength.
Hardware Technology in the Year 2001

Twenty-five years ago computers were a collection of boxes in a room, with input, output, memory, and central processor. Programs could be stored and manipulated just like data. Although computers in those days were used mostly for numerical calculations, it was clear that the sorting functions could be used for non-numerical applications. The notion of higher-level languages was around. Some of the hardware utilized transistors (although perhaps point contact germanium); and punched cards and drums were common. Magnetic core memeory and magnetic tape were being developed. The boxes in the computer room had lots of switches and lights, and the people manipulating these were clearly of an elite (if not yet quite professional) class.
Computer-aided design of robotic manipulators

Abstract A technique which enables the observation of the time constants for joint velocity changes and effects of nonlinear forces in a robot has been developed. This method will now be utilized to create a software package for the design of robotic manipulators. An interactive procedure is derived to help a designer to choose proper actuators, their locations and optimal dimensions on each component in a robot so that the robot has the same time constant for any direction of motion and less nonlinear effects. An integrated solution of the following problems will be sought from which to derive the procedure. A data structure to represent a robot including the drive mechanisms in a database will be created. A proper objective function, which represents the dynamic characteristics of robots (ie time constants and nonlinear effects) must be defined. A method of computing the objective function from a set of optimization variables should be derived. A case study using the Rhino robot exemplifies the integration of the aforementioned developments.
TOPOLOGICAL ANOMALIES: EXPLICIT EXAMPLES

We discuss the mathematical picture of anomalies. By solving the Dirac equation in the background of non-trivial families of gauge connections, we show explicitly the interplay between spectral flows, zero modes of the Dirac operator and projective representations of the gauge group, and the existence of both perturbative and non-perturbative anomalies. We give an explicit expression for the fermion determinant for chiral QCD in two dimensions when an anomaly is present.