cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fabrication of “Roll-off” and “Sticky” Superhydrophobic Cellulose Surfaces via Plasma Processing

Most of the artificial superhydrophobic surfaces that have been fabricated to date are not biodegradable, renewable, or mechanically flexible and are often expensive, which limits their potential applications. In contrast, cellulose, a biodegradable, renewable, flexible, inexpensive, biopolymer which is abundantly present in nature, satisfies all the above requirements, but it is not superhydrophobic. Superhydrophobicity on cellulose paper was obtained by domain-selective etching of amorphous portions of the cellulose in an oxygen plasma and subsequently coating the etched surface with a thin fluorocarbon film deposited via plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition using pentafluoroethane as a precursor. Variation of plasma treatment yielded two types of superhydrophobicity : "roll-off" (contact angle (CA), 166.7 degrees +/- 0.9 degrees ; CA hysteresis, 3.4 degrees +/- 0.1 degrees ) and "sticky" (CA, 144.8 degrees +/- 5.7 degrees ; CA hysteresis, 79.1 degrees +/- 15.8 degrees ) near superhydrophobicity. The nanometer scale roughness obtained by delineating the internal roughness of each fiber and the micrometer scale roughness which is inherent to a cellulose paper surface are robust when compared to roughened structures created by traditional polymer grafting, nanoparticle deposition, or other artificial means.
Persistence and change in behavioral/emotional problems reported by parents of children aged 4-14: an epidemiological study.

Crucial to our understanding of psychopathology in children is information on the stability and change of behavioral/emotional problems and competencies across time. Existing studies, reviewed in this article, provide only limited answers due to one or more of the following factors: restriction of the sample to a single locality, the use of selected samples, large sample attrition, the use of different assessment instruments at different times, the small number of specific behavioral/emotional problems or the use of very broad categories of functioning. The present study was designed to test the persistence and change of behavioral/emotional problems and competencies as reported by parents of 1,412 children aged 4-14 over a two-year period in a representative sample of the general population. At both points, standardized parents' reports were obtained using the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). A recovery rate of 80.2% was obtained. Our study is the only one, as far as we known, to present follow-up data separately for ages covering the preschool period to adolescence, making it possible to compare stabilities in the occurence of behavioral/emotional problems across various developmental levels. Over the two-year follow-up period, there was a significant decrease in problem scores. Although possible, it is unlikely that the mental health of children in our sample increased very much. A decrease in problem scores over time has been demonstrated for clinical as well as general population samples in other studies as well. No satisfactory explanations are available for this phenomenon. It is important, however, that studies employing a retest design take account of this phenomenon. Irrespective of changes in the magnitude of group scores over time, stability coefficients can tell us whether individual children tend to preserve their rank orders. The stability coefficients between Time 1 and Time 2 total problem scores ranged from .62 (girls, aged 4-5) to .71 (boys, aged 6-11). No significant differences between stability coefficients for different age-groups and for both sexes could be demonstrated. The changes in scores across time for individual items were consistent with the cross-sectional data of our earlier study (Verhulst et al. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 1985, 72, suppl. 323). Stability coefficients for social competence scores at both times of assessment were generally somewhat weaker than those found for problem scores.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Distortion product otoacoustic emission (2f1-f2) amplitude growth in human adults and neonates

Distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) are thought to be by-products of an active amplification process in the cochlea and thus serve as a metric for evaluating the integrity of this process. Because the cochlear amplifier functions in a level-dependent fashion, DPOAEs recorded as a function of stimulus level (i.e., a DPOAE growth function) may provide important information about the range and operational characteristics of the cochlear amplifier. The DPOAE growth functions recorded in human adults and neonates may provide information about the maturation of these active cochlear processes. Two experiments were conducted. Experiment I included normal-hearing adults and term-born neonates. The 2f1-f2 DPOAE growth functions were recorded for both age groups at three f2 frequencies. Experiment II was an extension of the first experiment but added a subject group of premature neonates. The results of these studies indicate that DPOAE growth functions most often show amplitude saturation and nonmonotonic growth for all age groups. However, premature neonates show monotonic growth and the absence of amplitude saturation more often than adults. Those premature neonates who do show saturation also show an elevated threshold for amplitude saturation relative to adults. In contrast, term neonates are adultlike for most measures except that they show a larger percentage of nonsaturating growth functions than adults. These results may indicate immaturity in cochlear amplifier function prior to term birth in humans. Outer hair cell function and/or efferent regulation of outer hair cell function are hypothesized sources of this immaturity, although some contribution from the immature middle ear cannot be ruled out.
Epidemiology of PCP abuse: the Midwest perspective.

(1980). Epidemiology of PCP Abuse: The Midwest Perspective. Journal of Psychedelic Drugs: Vol. 12, PCP: Problems and Prevention. Selected Proceedings of the National PCP Conference 1979+K2, pp. 217-222.
Dynamics of an assembly of finite-size Lennard-Jones spheres.

The time-averaged Fourier spectra of the number density, velocity, and force fields are obtained numerically for an assembly of spherical particles interacting via the Lennard-Jones potential. The magnitude spectra determine the dominant wave numbers, and the phase difference between the Lennard-Jones force and number density spectra determines the nature of the particle dynamics. The latter is used to show that for every wave number k there is a critical frequency ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{\mathit{c}}$(k), such that when \ensuremath{\omega}${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{\mathit{c}}$(k) the phase difference is \ensuremath{\pi}/2 and when \ensuremath{\omega}\ensuremath{\gtrsim}${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{\mathit{c}}$(k) the phase difference is -\ensuremath{\pi}/2. The ratio of the frequency and the wave number at which the phase difference changes sign is used to define an effective sound speed for the particle system. The effective sound speed is shown to be a function of the dimensionless wave number, and is locally minimum at the same dimensionless wave numbers for which the static structure factor is minimum. It is also shown that the dynamical response of the particle system for waves with speeds greater than the effective sound speed is similar to the response of the hyperbolic systems of equations, and for waves with speeds smaller than the effective sound speed the response is similar to the response of the elliptic systems. The convection effects are shown to be of the same order of magnitude as the Lennard-Jones forces, and the change of type of the equations from hyperbolic to elliptic occurs when the magnitude of the convection term is comparable to the magnitude of the Lennard-Jones force term. It is also shown that the change of type cannot occur in a theory where the convection term is neglected. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Two-point T1 measurement: wide-coverage optimizations by stochastic simulations

Stochastic reliability of T1 measurement from image signal ratios is examined in the ideal case by stochastic simulations in the context of wide-coverage optimizations. Precise measurements prove to be accurate, and accurate ones precise. Sign-preserved inversion-recovery (IR)/non-IR techniques are the best ratio method, reciprocal non-IR/IR ones being equivalent, but inconvenient. Wide-coverage optima are relatively unsharp. Suggested guidelines for covering the 150- to 1500-ms T1 band are minimal relevant TE; TI about 400 ms; effective repetition times about in the ratio, TR2(IR)/TR1 (non-IR) = 2.5-3.0, and in a sum as long as possible up to about TR1 + TR2 = 3.5-4.0 s; signal-averaging after and only after TR1 + TR2 has been lengthened to the said region. Also suggested are different guidelines for covering T1 bands, 120-1200 and 200-1800 ms. Typically, precisions and accuracies improve linearly or faster with increasing S/N and (S/N)2, respectively. Unnecessarily high pixel resolutions or thin slicings exact great penalties in accuracies. Progressively shortening TR1 eventually transforms a wide coverage into a sharp targeting with small potential gains in a narrow T1 locality and large compromises almost everywhere else. The simulations yield an insight into applicabilities of standard error propagation analyses in two-point T1 measurement.
The Implementation of High-Leverage Teaching Practices: From the University Classroom to the Field Site.

In response to the ACTFL's Research Priorities Initiative, the present study used a multiple case study design to examine teacher candidates' ability to implement two high-leverage teaching practices: increasing interaction and target language comprehensibility and questioning to build and assess student understanding. Candidates implemented these practices in K–12 foreign language classrooms following a practice-based methodology course. Findings revealed that candidates could more easily translate some aspects of practice to the field site than others. Generally, teacher candidates scored better on aspects of practice for which they were able to plan and practice than on those that required them to vary from their lesson plans or make in-the-moment decisions. Teacher candidates struggled the most with aspects of practice that involved sustaining meaningful interaction with students.
Human progesterone receptor binding to mouse mammary tumor virus deoxyribonucleic acid: dependence on hormone and nonreceptor nuclear factor(s).

Using crude progesterone receptor preparations from T47D human breast cancer cells, we show by immunoprecipitation assay that receptor specifically and with high affinity recognizes the hormone response element (HRE) of the mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV). The use of crude preparations minimizes alterations of receptors or loss of associated factors that may occur during purification. Specific binding was obtained at 1:1 molar ratios of receptor to DNA, and HRE sequences are recognized with an affinity at least 3 orders of magnitude greater than nonspecific DNA. We have compared the DNA-binding activities of different forms of progesterone receptors. The unliganded 8S cytosol receptor had low but detectable binding activity for MMTV DNA. Addition of hormone to cytosol produced a small but consistent 2.5-fold increase. In vitro methods of transforming cytosol receptors from an 8S to a 4S species failed to increase DNA-binding further. By contrast, 4S receptors bound by R5020 in whole cells and extracted f...
The role of male harassment on female fitness for the dengue vector mosquito Aedes aegypti

Sexual harassment studies in insects suggest that females can incur several kinds of costs from male harassment and mating. Here, we examined direct and indirect costs of male harassment on components of female fitness in the predominantly monandrous mosquito Aedes aegypti. To disentangle the costs of harassment versus the costs of mating, we held females at a low or high density with males whose claspers were modified to prevent insemination, and compared these to females held with normal males and to those held with females or alone. A reduced longevity was observed when females were held under high density conditions with males or females, regardless if male claspers had been modified. There was no consistent effect of harassment on female fecundity. Net reproductive rate (R0) was higher in females held at low density with normal males compared to females held with males in the other treatments, even though only a small number of females showed direct evidence of remating. Indirect costs and benefits that were not due to harassment alone were observed. Daughters of females held with normal males at high density had reduced longevity compared to daughters from females held without conspecifics. However, their fitness (R0) was higher compared to females in all other treatments. Overall, our results indicate that A. aegypti females do not suffer a fitness cost from harassment of males when kept at moderate densities, and they suggest the potential for benefits obtained from ejaculate components.
Referents for making sense of science teaching

The paper reports an interpretive investigation of teacher learning and change within the context of the science curriculum. Marsha, a beginning science teacher, was experiencing considerable difficulties in managing her class. Through her involvement in this study, Marsha learned about constructivism and began to use it, initially to analyse the language she used to describe knowledge and learning, and eventually to analyse what happened in her classroom and construct a vision of what her science classroom might be like. However, change was difficult. The metaphors Marsha used to make sense of her three salient teaching roles were inconsistent with constructivism and the associated vision for the curriculum. Accordingly, Marsha constructed new metaphors to make sense of her teaching roles such that the associated actions of the teacher and students were acceptable from a constructivist point of view. The use of constructivism and newly formulated metaphors to plan and implement the science curriculum led...
The Effects of Fasting on Serum and Urinary Gonadotropins in Obese Postmenopausal Women

Ten postmenopausal women, 12–27% over their ideal weight, fasted for 10 days for weight reduction. All lost at least 4.4% of their weight and demonstrated ketonemia, hyperuricemia (if not treated with Allopurinol), ketonuria, and natriuresis. Serum gonadotropin concentrations measured by RIA for 2 control, 10 fasting, and 2 refeeding days did not differ significantly [(LH, 12.1 ± 2.0 (mean ± SE) mlU/ml (LER 907); FSH, 47.6 ± 5.2 mlU/ml (LER 907)]. The mean urinary excretion of LH (measured by acetone precipitation and RIA) on the control days was 109.3 ± 14.5 (±SE) IU/24 h [Second International Reference Preparation of human menopausal gonadotropin (2nd IRP-hMG)], on fasting day 1 it was significantly higher (139.0 ± 30.3), and by day 8 it had reached 427.7 ± 88.5 (P < 0.0025). On refeeding day 2, a significant decrease in LH excretion occurred (LH, 188.1 ± 23.6 IU/24 h). Similar elevations in LH excretion during fasting were demonstrable when the urine was extracted with kaolin and the LH concentration w...
Adaptive mutations, mutator DNA polymerases and genetic change strategies of pathogens.

‘Adaptive’ or ‘stationary-phase’ mutation is a collection of stress responses promoting mutations, some of which are advantageous. In 2000 and 2001, in Escherichia coli, adaptive gene amplification was documented, and a parallel adaptive point-mutation mechanism was linked to the error-prone DNA polymerase, DinB (pol IV). We suggest that DinB homologues may contribute to adaptive strategies of pathogens, including antigenic variation.
Yields of excited singlet states of some saturated hydrocarbon liquids when excited by fast electrons

Abstract G values have been measured for the production of the lowest excited singlet states of cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane, 2, 3-dimethylbutane, dodecane, hexadecane, cis -decalin and bicyclohexyl. The technique is based on comparison of the fluorescence intensities of these liquids with that of neat benzene. Comparison of the results obtained in this manner with those obtained via a solute sensitization technique indicate, at least for cyclohexane, that the solute technique may strongly underestimate the true G value.
Wireless Sensor based Dynamic Channel Selection in Cellular Communication by Cognitive Radio Approach

In a cellular communication scenario, wireless sensors can be deployed to sense the interference power of the frequency band. In an ideal channel, interference temperature (IT) which is directly proportional to the interference power can be assumed to vary spatially with the frequency of the sub channel. We propose a scheme for approximating ITs over an extended C-band (licensed and unused television band) by fitting sub channel frequencies and corresponding ITs to a regression model. Using this model, IT of a random sub channel can be calculated by the base station (BS) for further analysis of the channel interference. Our proposed model based on readings reported by Sensors helps in Dynamic Channel Selection (S-DCS) in extended C-band for assignment to unlicensed secondary users. S-DCS maximizes channel utilization and proves to be economic from energy consumption point of view. It also exhibits substantial amount of accuracy with error bound within 6.8%. Again, users are assigned empty sub channels without actually probing them, incurring minimum delay in the process. Overall channel allocation efficiency is also maximized along with fairness to individual users.
Impact of insurance status on migraine care in the United States: a population-based study

Objective: To determine whether insurance status is associated with differential outpatient treatment of migraine in the United States. Methods: We analyzed 11 years of data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey and National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (1997–2007), which survey patient visits to doctors9 offices, hospital outpatient departments, and emergency departments (EDs) in the United States. We used logistic regression to determine whether insurance status was associated with the prescription of standard migraine therapy, defined as 1) a triptan or dihydroergotamine and 2) a prophylactic agent. Results: We identified 6,814 individual patient visits for migraine, representing 68.6 million visits nationally. After controlling for age, gender, race/ethnicity, geographic location, and year, migraineurs with no insurance or Medicaid were less likely than the privately insured to receive abortive therapy (odds ratio [OR] for failure to receive medication 2.0 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3, 3.0] and 1.6 [95% CI 1.1, 2.3]) and prophylactic therapy (OR 2.0 [95% CI 1.3, 2.9] and 1.5 [95% CI 1.0, 2.1]). Adding site of care to the regression model suggested that one mechanism for this discrepancy was the reliance of the uninsured on EDs for migraine care, a site where standard migraine care is often omitted (OR for failure to receive abortive and prophylactic medication in the ED relative to physicians9 offices 4.8 [95% CI 3.6, 6.3] and 8.7 [95% CI 6.4, 11.7]). Conclusions: The uninsured, and those with Medicaid, receive substandard therapy for migraine, at least in part because they receive more care in emergency departments and less in physicians9 offices.
Tuned-aperture computed tomography versus parallax analog and digital radiographic images in detecting second mesiobuccal canals in maxillary first molars.

Abstract Objective We sought to evaluate the detectability of second mesiobuccal (MB2) canals in the MB root of maxillary first molar teeth by comparing (1) parallax with pairs of conventional direct-exposure film intraoral radiographs (both D-speed and F-speed), (2) parallax with pairs of charge-coupled device–based digital images acquired through the use of Trophy RVG-ui, and (3) charge-coupled device–based images acquired through the use of a Trophy RVG-ui sensor and tomosynthetically reconstructed by TACT (tuned-aperture computed tomography) Workbench Software. Study design Maxillary first molars were mounted in simulated bone. Pairs of images were generated by conventional D-speed and F-speed radiography and digital radiography with a charge-coupled device–based sensor, the RVG-ui. Sequences of images were also acquired for TACT reconstruction by using the digital sensor. Observers viewed sets of images to determine the number of canals present within the MB root of each tooth. Roots were horizontally cross-sectioned and viewed under an operating microscope to determine the actual number of canals present. Results The frequency of detection of MB2 canals was remarkably similar across techniques: 39,2% to 39.6% with parallax for both types of film and for RVG-ui images, and 37.9% with TACT. No statistically significant difference was found in the detectability of MB2 canals between the modalities tested. TACT had higher correlation coefficients than the other 3 modalities with respect to intrarater and interrater reliabilities. Conclusions (1) There was a less than 40% chance of locating MB2 canals in the MB root of maxillary first molar teeth by using parallax with pairs of digital or analog radiographs. (2) TACT did not significantly affect the rate of detection of MB2 canals.
SU‐E‐T‐687: Experimental Assessment of the Accuracy of a Semi‐Empirical Model and a Monte Carlo System for Proton Dose Calculations for Highly Inhomogeneous Media

Purpose: To experimentally assess the accuracy of proton dose distributions, computed with a semi‐empirical algorithm and a Monte Carlo(MC) system, for inhomogeneous media. Methods: A complex range compensator for a lung patient, being treated with passively‐scattered proton therapy (PSPT) was used to represent the inhomogeneity. Planar dose distributions for a PSPT beam of exactly the same characteristics as the one used to treat the patient, incident normally on a water equivalent phantom, were measured at a series of depths using a calibrated chamber array detector. Semi‐empirical algorithm and MC(MCNPX) calculations were performed with exactly the same geometry. Absolute depth doses and lateral profiles at multiple depths were compared. Results: Agreement between MC and measured depth dose data was found to be within 2% or 2 mm except at the distal edge where the dose gradient was the highest. The corresponding differences between measurements and the semi‐empirical model were up to 5% in the regions of low gradients and distance to agreement in the distal edge region exceeded 1 cm. Comparison of measured vs. MC vs. se‐empirical profiles showed that, in some regions measured data agreed better with MC, whereas in other regions the agreement was better with semi‐empirical model. Generally, the agreement within the beam boundary was superior for measured vs. MC. The gamma analysis (points within 3% and 3 mm) indicated that the percentage of points passing was comparable for both modes of calculations. Conclusions: The differences between measured and semi‐empirical model dose distributions might be explainable based on the approximations in the latter. However, differences between measurements and MC require further examination of numerous sources of uncertainties, e.g., in modeling of beams and compensators, and the measurements (e.g., the depth of sensitive region of the chamber). NCI P01CA021239
Heterosis, the catapult effect and establishment success of a colonizing bird

The genetic basis of population colonization is poorly understood, particularly in animals. Here, I introduce the idea of a ‘catapult effect’ to explain how the effects of transient increases in fitness can be retained in population demography diminishing the chance of extinction. I tested this idea using information on historical introductions of hybrid and non-hybrid pheasants in the United States. I found that hybrid pheasants were 2.2 times more likely to establish than non-hybrid strains. Analysis of fitness components failed to support the alternative that the increased odds of establishment resulted from increased genetic variation conferring permanent fitness benefits through directional selection or by purging deleterious alleles. These results show that even ephemeral increases in fitness can affect the persistence of small populations.
The Impact of Directionality in Predications on Text Mining

The number of publications in biomedicine is increasing enormously each year. To help researchers digest the information in these documents, text mining tools are being developed that present co-occurrence relations between concepts. Statistical measures are used to mine interesting subsets of relations. We demonstrate how directionality of these relations affects interestingness. Support and confidence, simple data mining statistics, are used as proxies for interestingness metrics. We first built a test bed of 126,404 directional relations extracted from biomedical abstracts, which we represent as graphs containing a central starting concept and 2 rings of associated relations. We manipulated directionality in four ways and randomly selected 100 starting concepts as a test sample for each graph type. Finally, we calculated the number of relations and their support and confidence. Variation in directionality significantly affected the number of relations as well as the support and confidence of the four graph types.
When random sampling preserves privacy

Many organizations such as the U.S. Census publicly release samples of data that they collect about private citizens. These datasets are first anonymized using various techniques and then a small sample is released so as to enable “do-it-yourself” calculations. This paper investigates the privacy of the second step of this process: sampling. We observe that rare values – values that occur with low frequency in the table – can be problematic from a privacy perspective. To our knowledge, this is the first work that quantitatively examines the relationship between the number of rare values in a table and the privacy in a released random sample. If we require e-privacy (where the larger e is, the worse the privacy guarantee) with probability at least 1 – δ, we say that a value is rare if it occurs in at most $\tilde{O}(\frac{1}{\epsilon})$ rows of the table (ignoring log factors). If there are no rare values, then we establish a direct connection between sample size that is safe to release and privacy. Specifically, if we select each row of the table with probability at most e then the sample is O(e)-private with high probability. In the case that there are t rare values, then the sample is $\tilde{O}(\epsilon \delta /t)$-private with probability at least 1–δ.
The Cellular and Molecular Mechanism of Coat Protein Mediated Resistance in Transgenic Plants

It is not necessary to describe here the techniques that have been used to isolate coat protein coding sequences, to create chimeric genes for expression in plant cells, to produce transgenic plants, to test the resultant plants for expression of the CP gene and accumulation of the CP, or for evaluating resistance to virus infection. Several recent review articles will provide the interested reader with the necessary details to grasp the substance of the approach in order to repeat the technical aspects of this work with other viruses and other plant species (Beachy et al, 1990; Hemenway et al, 1989). Other technical details will be found in the articles cited in the following sections.
NetSTAT: a network-based intrusion detection approach

Network-based attacks have become common and sophisticated. For this reason, intrusion detection systems are now shifting their focus from the hosts and their operating systems to the network itself. Network-based intrusion detection is challenging because network auditing produces large amounts of data, and different events related to a single intrusion may be visible in different places on the network. This paper presents NetSTAT, a new approach to network intrusion detection. By using a formal model of both the network and the attacks, NetSTAT is able to determine which network events have to be monitored and where they can be monitored.
The Host-Mediated Assay, a Practical Procedure for Evaluating Potential Mutagenic Agents in Mammals

The host-mediated assay is a simple technique that attempts to bridge the gap between in vitro microbial studies and definitive tests in mammals. The numerous advantages of microorganisms as determinants of hereditary change are utilized in an experimental mammal after it has had an opportunity to metabolize the compound under investigation. This assay was developed to determine the ability of laboratory animals to either potentiate or detoxify compounds in regard to their mutagenic activity. In addition to the studies in mammals, it is essential to conduct the in vitro assay as a control for the host-mediated assay.
Role of physical activity in the development of skeletal mass in children

A group of 118 children, aged 5.3-14 years, were enrolled in a prospective study of calcium supplementation and bone mass. At entry to the study, questionnaires regarding the child's usual physical activity were administered to the children and their mothers. Repeated activity assessments at 6 month intervals indicated good within-person agreement for total activity and for most individual activities. Consistent positive associations were observed between bone mineral densities (BMD) in the radius, spine, and hip and most activities. A summary measure (total hours of weight-bearing activity) was significantly related to BMD in the radius and hip, independently of age or gender effects. Self-reported sports and play activities were associated with BMD, but neither time spent watching television nor hours of physical education classes were associated either positively or negatively with skeletal mass. These data suggest that important increments in skeletal mass may result from physical activity during childhood.
Total alloplastic temporomandibular joint reconstruction using Biomet stock prostheses: the University of Florida experience

Abstract The purpose of this study was to report the subjective and objective outcomes of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) replacement with Biomet stock prostheses at a single institution in Florida. In this retrospective study, patients who underwent TMJ replacement using a Biomet stock prosthesis from 2005 to 2012 were analyzed. Subjective (pain, diet) and objective (maximal incisal opening) information was obtained. In addition, a quality of life measure was obtained pre- and postoperatively. Significance was set at
Molecular evolution of herbicide resistance to phytoene desaturase inhibitors in Hydrilla verticillata and its potential use to generate herbicide‐resistant crops

Hydrilla [Hydrilla verticillata (Lf) Royle] is one of the most serious invasive aquatic weed problems in the USA. This plant possesses numerous mechanisms of vegetative reproduction that enable it to spread very rapidly. Management of this weed has been achieved by the systemic treatment of water bodies with the herbicide fluridone. At least three dioecious fluridone-resistant biotypes of hydrilla with two- to fivefold higher resistance to the herbicide than the wild-type have been identified. Resistance is the result of one of three independent somatic mutations at the arginine 304 codon of the gene encoding phytoene desaturase, the molecular target site of fluridone. The specific activities of the three purified phytoene desaturase variants are similar to the wild-type enzyme. The appearance of these herbicide-resistant biotypes may jeopardize the ability to control the spread of this non-indigenous species to other water bodies in the southern USA. The objective of this paper is to provide general information about the biology and physiology of this aquatic weed in relation to its recent development of resistance to the herbicide fluridone, and to discuss how this discovery might lead to a new generation of herbicide-resistant crops.
The Wear and Tear of Daily Stressors on Mental Health

Researchers assert that affective responses to seemingly minor daily events have long-term implications for mental health, yet this phenomenon has rarely been investigated. In the current study, we examined how levels of daily negative affect and affective reactivity in response to daily stressors predicted general affective distress and self-reported anxiety and depressive disorders 10 years after they were first assessed. Across eight consecutive evenings, participants (N = 711; age = 25 to 74 years) reported their daily stressors and their daily negative affect. Increased levels of negative affect on nonstressor days were related to general affective distress and symptoms of an affective disorder 10 years later. Heightened affective reactivity to daily stressors predicted greater general affective distress and an increased likelihood of reporting an affective disorder. These findings suggest that the average levels of negative affect that people experience and how they respond to seemingly minor events...
Lennart Hansson, MD

On November 8, 2002, at 62 years of age, Lennart Hansson lost a long battle with cancer. He died in the quiet dignity of his Stockholm home surrounded and supported by loved ones—his wife Gerd, his daughters, and stepdaughters. Len suffered his predicament with discipline and determination. He kept a full traveling schedule up to 3 weeks before his demise. Nobody listening to his recent lectures could have suspected that he had any personal cares or that he was coping with pain. And in the last week before his final hospitalization, Len took a cruise through the Mediterranean, willing himself to spend some quality time with his beloved wife.⇓ His behavior in the last few weeks was typical of Lennart Hansson’s entire life. He always could decide what was important, set his priorities, and focus his incredible energy on achieving specific goals. Luckily for all of us, the study of hypertension was the love of his scientific life. He left behind him an impressive opus that will continue to …
Adult Male Circumcision: Will It Reduce Disease Caused by Human Papillomavirus?

Two articles in this issue of the Journal document the results of controlled intervention trials in Uganda, in which human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in circumcised and uncircumcised adult men were monitored for 24 months. One trial involved men who were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) negative [1]; the other trial involved men who were HIV positive [2]. These HPV investigations were a secondary aim of the efforts whose main objective was to determine whether adult male circumcision reduced the incidence of HIV infections. The results of these HIV investigations in Uganda [3], as well as of similar studies in Kenya [4] and South Africa [5], clearly showed a decrease of 53%–60% in the incidence of
Differential regulation of muscarinic M1 receptors by orthosteric and allosteric ligands

Background Activation of muscarinic M1 receptors is mediated via interaction of orthosteric agonists with the acetylcholine binding site or via interaction of allosteric agonists with different site(s) on the receptor. The focus of the present study was to determine if M1 receptors activated by allosteric agonists undergo the same regulatory fate as M1 receptors activated by orthosteric agonists.
Computing with Almost Optimal Size Neural Networks

Artificial neural networks are comprised of an interconnected collection of certain nonlinear devices; examples of commonly used devices include linear threshold elements, sigmoidal elements and radial-basis elements. We employ results from harmonic analysis and the theory of rational approximation to obtain almost tight lower bounds on the size (i.e. number of elements) of neural networks. The class of neural networks to which our techniques can be applied is quite general; it includes any feedforward network in which each element can be piecewise approximated by a low degree rational function. For example, we prove that any depth-(d + 1) network of sigmoidal units or linear threshold elements computing the parity function of n variables must have Ω(dn1/d-≈) size, for any fixed ≈ > 0. In addition, we prove that this lower bound is almost tight by showing that the parity function can be computed with O(dn1/d) sigmoidal units or linear threshold elements in a depth-(d + 1) network. These almost tight bounds are the first known complexity results on the size of neural networks with depth more than two. Our lower bound techniques yield a unified approach to the complexity analysis of various models of neural networks with feedforward structures. Moreover, our results indicate that in the context of computing highly oscillating symmetric Boolean functions, networks of continuous-output units such as sigmoidal elements do not offer significant reduction in size compared with networks of linear threshold elements of binary outputs.
A four-parameter quadratic distribution

Quadratic distributions such as time-frequency distributions and ambiguity functions have many useful applications. In some cases it is desirable to have a quadratic distribution of more than two variables. Using the technique of applying operators to variables, general quadratic distributions of more than two variables can be developed. We use this technique to develop a four-parameter quadratic distribution that includes variables of time, frequency, lag, and Doppler effect. A general distribution is first developed and some of the mathematical properties are discussed. The distribution is then applied to the improvement of an adaptive time-frequency distribution. An example signal is shown to evaluate the performance of the technique.
The Allergic March: Can We Prevent Allergies and Asthma?

The allergic march is a progression of atopic disease from eczema to asthma, and then to allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. It appears to be caused by a regional allergic response with breakdown of the local epithelial barrier that initiates systemic allergic inflammation. Genetic and environmental factors predispose to developing the allergic march. There are data to support 4 possible interventions to prevent the allergic march from progressing to asthma: (1) supplements of dietary probiotics, (2) exclusive breast feeding during the first few months of life, or, alternatively (3) use of extensively hydrolyzed infant formulas, (4) treatment with inhalant allergen immunotherapy by either subcutaneous or sublingual methods.
A Systematic Methodology for Optimal Design of Two-Phase Micro-Channel Heat Sinks

This study provides a comprehensive methodology for optimizing the design of a twophase micro-channel heat sink. The heat sink parameters are grouped into geometrical parameters, operating parameters, and thermal/fluid parameters. The objective of the proposed methodology is to optimize micro-channel dimensions in pursuit of acceptable values for the thermal/fluid parameters corresponding to a given heat flux, coolant, and overall dimensions of the heat generating device to which the heat sink is attached. The proposed optimization methodology yields an acceptable design region encompassing all possible micro-channel dimensions corresponding to a prescribed coolant flow rate or pressure drop. The designer is left with the decision to select optimum channel dimensions that yield acceptable values of important thermal/fluid parameters that are easily predicted by the optimization procedure. DOI: 10.1115/1.2056571
Carcinogenic Potential of Incinerated Low-Level Radioactive Waste: Cytopathologic Evaluation

Fundulus sp., a ubiquitous estuarine fish, was used in cytopathologic evaluations of the carcinogenic potential of incinerated ash from low-level radioactive waste, currently, disposed in the marine environment. We correlated the increased biosynthesis of Epoxide Hydrolase of liver microsomes with ultrastructural changes in livers of Fundulus sp., following exposure to non-radioactive and radioactive ash (7 ppm, radioisotope = S35, specific activity: 1410 Ci/mmol/kg ash). Fish were exposed to incinerated ash suspended in filtered artificial sea water in closed aerated/temperaturecontrolled marine tank systems. Macroscopic observation of animals exposed to radioactive ash revealed enlargement of the belly at the level of or just behind the pectoral fins. Livers from these animals had a yellowish brown appearance and were enlarged. Microscopic examination of some liver specimens revealed diffuse hyperplasia, hypertrophy, and fatty degeneration of hepatocytes. Ultrastructurally, there was an increased number of residual bodies containing undigested lipid, a proliferation of both rough and smooth endoplasmic reticula, and dilation of endoplasmic reticulum vesicles. The endomembrane changes correlated with observed epoxide hydrolase induction above control levels. The data obtained in these studies will be used to ascertain the safety and efficiency of incinerated low-level radioactive waste disposal in the marine environment.
Knowledge Market Design: A Field Experiment at Google Answers ⁄

We investigate the effects of various design features of online knowledge markets by conducting a field experiment at Google Answers. Specifically, we study the effects of price, tips and reputation systems on answer quality and answerers’ effort, by posting real reference questions from the Internet Public Library to Google Answers under different pricing schemes. We find that posting a higher price leads to a significantly longer, but not better, answer, while an answerer with higher reputation provides significantly better answers. Our results highlight the importance of reputation systems for knowledge markets.
Examining soil parent material influence over Douglas-fir stem growth response to fertilization: Taking advantage of information from spatiotemporally distributed experiments

Abstract Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco) in the Inland Northwest region of the USA are nitrogen (N) deficient; however stem growth responses to N fertilizers are unpredictable, which may be due to poor accounting of other limiting nutrients. Screening trial experiments, including potassium (K), sulfur (S), and boron (B) multiple nutrient treatments, have been conducted to learn about Douglas-fir nutritional status and fertilizer growth response. The data from the screening trial experiments were compiled to test whether the soil parent materials of the region could be used to predict nutritional status. Estimating effects of fertilizers and soil parent materials on Douglas-fir growth from compilations of such experiments, however, poses challenges and opportunity; experiments clustered in time and space introduce latent variables that drive between-site variation. We used a two-stage modeling approach to efficiently take advantage of the information in these data. First, we employed a mixed model approach to test the primary hypothesis of soil parent material influence upon stem growth response to fertilizer. As the second-stage to the analysis, the predicted random effects estimated from the mixed model were used as a response variable to test how strongly precipitation drives between-site variation. As expected, including the random site effect significantly improved the model fit of the growth model ( Λ = 436.5, P R 2 = 0.85) and revealed an interaction between fertilizer treatment and soil parent material class ( P = 0.0179). Post hoc analysis suggested that Douglas-fir growing on loessal soils are not constrained by K, S, or B, but no general consistency was apparent with tephra or underlying geology. The second stage modeling suggested that winter precipitation explains variation in predicted random site effects ( r 2 = 0.23), and hence the growth difference, better than total precipitation. Also, the annual lag precipitation explains variation in predicted random effects comparably well ( r 2 = 0.22).
ESD packaging requirements for an opto-electronic receiver module

Sensitive circuits contained in an optoelectronic receiver module must meet worldwide standards for electrostatic discharge (ESD). Enclosing these circuits in a package becomes an extremely important consideration in achieving acceptable module performance. The authors describe the packaging requirements for an optoelectronic module that will meet the objective. Experimental tests were conducted on various packaging designs to determine the significant features affecting ESD susceptibility. Areas investigated included metallurgical vs. metal-filled epoxy assembly of the package elements (housing, lid, substrate), and low resistance vs. full closure between the packaging elements. The packaging features required to achieve acceptable ESD voltage levels were determined and implemented in the design. >
Samuel Frederick Edwards: Founder of modern polymer and soft matter theory.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the seminal paper by Sam Edwards on the statistical mechanics of a single polymer chain in dilute solution, a paper that in one stroke founded the modern quantitative understanding of polymer matter, and vaulted soft condensed matter on to the stage of theoretical physics (1). Sir Samuel Frederick Edwards, universally known as “Sam,” was a giant of theoretical physics; he passed away in Cambridge, England on May 7, 2015. The problem solved in his 1965 paper (1) addresses the simplest question that one can ask at a fundamental level about polymeric matter: given the number of monomers in a chain, how big is the polymer itself in 3D space? It is also an extraordinarily difficult problem: a polymer chain is almost a random configuration in space, yet it has to respect the constraint that atoms cannot overlap, restricting the positions of the monomers in a nonlocal way and generally resulting in a polymer chain that is somewhat expanded compared with a random walk. Paul Flory, the great polymer chemist, had provided an ingenious heuristic solution to the problem of one chain, but a detailed and systematic understanding remained out of reach. Edwards formulated the problem in terms of path integrals, and solved it in an excellent approximation using self-consistent field theory. Edwards’ method would, in time, become the basis for a complete attack on all phases of polymeric matter, not only single chains but dilute and concentrated solutions, disordered phases such as rubber and gels, charged phases such as polyelectrolytes, and even dynamical properties. A decade after Edwards’ work, Pierre-Gilles de Gennes would show that Edwards’ ideas could be extended to take into account critical fluctuations using renormalization group ideas (2). This approach would be refined in great detail by subsequent studies, allowing accurate computation of universal scaling functions governing the physical chemistry of all polymers in solution and providing excellent agreement with experiment. de Gennes would be awarded the 1991 Nobel Prize in physics for his many contributions to soft matter, but many believed that Edwards’ contributions, so frequently linked with de Gennes’, deserved similar recognition.
INLAND OCCURRENCE OF THE STRAND PLANT IPOMOEA PESCAPRAE (CONVOLVULACEAE) AROUND LAKE NICARAGUA

Abstract Ipomoea pescaprae (L.) Roth (railroad vine, Convolvulaceae) is a pantropical, perennial beach plant that forms large patches just above the high tide line on coastal beaches and dunes throughout tropical and subtropical areas of the world. In spite of its wide distribution, only rare occurrences of I. pescaprae have been documented in inland habitats. Here we report on an extensive population of I. pescaprae growing on the shores of Lake Nicaragua in the interior of Nicaragua.