cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Calibration of Granular Matrix Sensors for Irrigation Management

Granular matrix sensors (GMS) represent an alternative technology for measuring soil water to schedule irrigation. When GMS were tested by drying them to measure changes in electrical resistance with decreasing water content, their resistance response to drying in air in an oven was similar (t = −0.87, 134 df) to that for drying in a field soil, with a response curve that suggested GMS could be used to measure soil water potential (ψ). Granular matrix sensor meter readings were compared with tensiometer, neutron probe, and gravimetric measurements of soil water in the root zone of potato (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Russet Burbank) grown in silt loam. Measurements with GMS were closely related to soil water potential measurements and to soil water measured gravimetrically or by neutron probe [...]
Rapid delivery of nicotine promotes behavioral sensitization and alters its neurobiological impact.

Background: Nicotine is highly addictive when it is inhaled from tobacco smoke, whereas nicotine replacement products, which usually deliver nicotine orally or transdermally, rarely lead to addiction. It has been proposed that this is due in part to differences in the rate of nicotine delivery to the brain under the two conditions. However, the mechanism by which rapid nicotine delivery facilitates the transition to addiction is not known. The ability of drugs to alter gene regulation and to produce sensitization has been implicated in addiction. We hypothesized, therefore, that varying the rate of nicotine administration may modulate its ability to elicit this form of plasticity. Methods: Animals were treated with repeated intravenous infusions of nicotine over 5, 25, or 100 sec, and their locomotor responses were monitored over treatment days. Results: We found that increasing the rate of intravenous nicotine infusion potentiated its ability to produce locomotor sensitization, and to induce c-fos and arc mRNA expression in mesocorticolimbic structures. Conclusions: We suggest that rapid administration may increase vulnerability to addiction by altering the neurobiological impact of nicotine and promoting a form of neurobehavioral plasticity (i.e., sensitization) that can lead to pathological incentive motivation for drugs.
Testing of Thermocline Filler Materials and Molten-Salt Heat Transfer Fluids for Thermal Energy Storage Systems in Parabolic Trough Power Plants

Parabolic trough power systems that utilize concentrated solar energy to generate electricity are a proven technology. Industry and laboratory research efforts are now focusing on integration of thermal energy storage as a viable means to enhance dispatchability of concentrated solar energy. One option to significantly reduce costs is to use thermocline storage systems, low-cost filler materials as the primary thermal storage medium, and molten nitrate salts as the direct heat transfer fluid. Prior thermocline evaluations and thermal cycling tests at the Sandia National Laboratories' National Solar Thermal Test Facility identified quartzite rock and silica sand as potential filler materials. An expanded series of isothermal and thermal cycling experiments were planned and implemented to extend those studies in order to demonstrate the durability of these filler materials in molten nitrate salts over a range of operating temperatures for extended time frames. Upon test completion, careful analyses of filler material samples, as well as the molten salt, were conducted to assess long-term durability and degradation mechanisms in these test conditions. Analysis results demonstrate that the quartzite rock and silica sand appear able to withstand the molten salt environment quite well. No significant deterioration that would impact the performance or operability of a thermocline thermal energy storage system was evident. Therefore, additional studies of the thermocline concept can continue armed with confidence that appropriate filler materials have been identified for the intended application.
Patients should participate in designing diabetes educational content

Patients with diabetes are ultimately responsible for their disease management, but many patients with diabetes do not have the necessary knowledge or skill. Recently developed National Standards for diabetes care include patient education. A nonprobability, convenience sample of 50 patients and 50 staff nurses was selected to judge the relative importance (on a 1 to 6-point Likert-type scale) of 108 content items developed under the 15 areas designated for patient education in the National Standards. Questionnaire return rates were 88% for nurses and 82% for patients. Internal consistency for questionnaire subscales ranged from 0.81 to 0.97. Findings indicated a high degree of congruence between patient and nurse content rankings, r = 0.71 to 0.81 (excluding the Medication subscale). Seven of the 15 content areas were ranked almost equally. Areas ranked low in importance were general facts, psychosocial aspects and health care benefits. This study supports the notion that patients should be included when planning diabetes patient education activities.
CX3CR1 delineates temporally and functionally distinct subsets of myeloid‐derived suppressor cells in a mouse model of ovarian cancer

Expression of the chemokine receptor CX3CR1 has been used to identify distinct populations within the monocyte, macrophage and dendritic cell lineages. Recent evidence indicates that CX3CR1-positive subsets of myeloid cells play distinct and important roles in a wide range of immunological maladies, and thus the use of CX3CR1 expression has leveraged our understanding of the myeloid contribution to a multitude of diseases. Here we use CX3CR1 expression as a means to identify a novel nongranulocytic CX3CR1-negative myeloid population that is functionally distinct from the previously described CX3CR1-positive cellular subsets within the CD11b-positive cellular compartment of ascites from ovarian tumor-bearing mice. We functionally identify CX3CR1-negative cells as myeloid suppressor cells and as a cellular subset with pathological specificity. Importantly, the CX3CR1-negative cells exhibit early IL-10 production in the ovarian tumor microenvironment, which we have shown to be critically tied to suppression and additional myeloid-derived suppressor cell accumulation, and we now show that this cellular population actively contributes to tumor progression. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the CX3CR1-negative population is derived from the recently described CX3CR1-positive macrophage/dendritic cell precursor cell. These studies provide a greater understanding of the generation and maintenance of regulatory myeloid subsets and have broad implications for the elucidation of myeloid function and contributions within the tumor microenvironment.
Subtle left ventricular asynergy with completely obstructed coronary arteries

Abstract The phenomenon of apparently normal angiographic left ventricular wall motion in the presence of ≥ 1 completely obstructed coronary artery was investigated in 16 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) by quantitative phasic biplane cineangiography. Angiographic contours were digitized at quarterly intervals throughout ejection and 9 areas of motion were measured in both right and left anterior oblique planes. Normal values were derived from 18 other patients who had normal coronary arteries and normal left ventricular function. Areas of asynergy undetected when quantitative analysis was applied only at end-systole in the right anterior oblique plane were found in 12 of the 16 patients with CAD: in 2 patients by end-systolic analysis in the left anterior oblique plane and in 10 patients by phasic analysis of both planes. Of 19 asynergic areas 18 corresponded to sites of high-grade CAD. All patients had angina pectoris, but only 5 had clinical or electrocardiographic evidence of prior infarction.
THE QUANTITATIVE DETERMINATION OF GALACTOSE--AN ENZYMIC METHOD USING GALACTOSE OXIDASE, WITH APPLICATIONS TO BLOOD AND OTHER BIOLOGICAL FLUIDS.

Abstract Techniques are described for the quantitative analysis of biological solutions for galactose content, involving incubation of unknown samples with the enzyme galactose oxidase in the presence of peroxidase and benzidine. Some characteristics of the reaction are discussed and conditions are defined for two procedural variations, depending upon the sensitivity and range desired. Directions are stated for the application of the method to blood, urine, and other biological fluids, and illustrations of a number of these applications are presented.
Understanding circadian rhythmicity in Neurospora crassa: from behavior to genes and back again.

Circadian clocks have been described in organisms ranging in complexity from unicells to mammals, in which they function to control daily rhythms in cellular activities and behavior. The significance of a detailed understanding of the clock can be appreciated by its ubiquity and its established involvement in human physiology, including endocrine function, sleep/wake cycles, psychiatric illness, and drug tolerances and effectiveness. Because the clock in all organisms is assembled within the cell and clock mechanisms are evolutionarily conserved, simple eukaryotes provide appropriate experimental systems for dissecting the clock. Significant progress has been made in deciphering the circadian system in Neurospora crassa using both genetic and molecular approaches, and Neurospora has contributed greatly to our understanding of (1) the feedback cycle that comprises a circadian oscillator, (2) the mechanisms by which the clock is kept in synchrony with the environment, and (3) the genes that reside in rhythmic output pathways. Importantly, the lessons learned in Neurospora are relevant to our understanding of clocks in higher eukaryotes.
Does attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder impact the developmental course of drug and alcohol abuse and dependence?

Abstract Background: The co-occurrence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and psychoactive substance use disorder (PSUD) in adults has been the focus of much clinical and scientific inquiry. In this study we examine the effects of ADHD on the transitions from substance abuse to dependence and between different classes of agents of abuse. Methods: An ADHD sample of 239 consecutively referred adults of both genders with a clinical diagnosis of childhood-onset and persistent DSM-III-R ADHD confirmed by structured interview were compared with 268 non-ADHD healthy adults. Results: ADHD was associated with a twofold increased risk for PSUD. ADHD subjects were significantly more likely than comparisons to make the transition from an alcohol use disorder to a drug use disorder (hazard ratio = 3.8) and were significantly more likely to continue to abuse substances following a period of dependence (hazard ratio = 4.9). Conclusions: ADHD is associated with a sequence of PSUD in which early alcohol use disorder increases the risk for subsequent drug use disorder, and early substance dependence increases the risk for subsequent substance abuse. If confirmed such developmental pathways might lead to preventive and early intervention strategies aimed at reducing the risk for PSUD in ADHD subjects.
Specific pathogen free culture of the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) in a breeding research program: Effect of water treatment on growth and survival

Abstract A specific pathogen free (SPF) filtration system was built to exclude Haplosporidium costale, Seaside Organism (SSO) from the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) hatchery and nursery of the Molluscan Broodstock Program at Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon. Since its inception in 1999, all groups of Pacific oyster seed produced have tested negative for SSO or any other certifiable infectious agent under histological examination. Microparticle filtration to 1 μm, further filtered to 0.35 μm for larvae, or in combination with ultraviolet sterilization, for juveniles was used in the system to exclude SSO from seawater drawn from Yaquina Bay, where it is a resident. The SPF water had negative effects on larval and juvenile oyster growth, and juvenile survival. A series of experiments assaying different water treatments was conducted in order to remedy these effects. The addition of calcium bentonite and calcium montmorillonite significantly improved larval growth over filtered water alone in multiple experiments, increasing the growth of larval cultures by as much as 33% at a dose of 5 ppm day− 1. These two clays' adsorptive qualities are likely responsible for their beneficial effects. Effects of clay additions to SPF water on juvenile oyster growth were less pronounced and less temporally consistent than in larvae. Clay additions that benefited larvae did not always result in a significant increase in seed growth. Our short-duration seed experiments with clay additions showed that calcium bentonite at a dose of 2 ppm day− 1 inconsistently resulted in significant improvement in seed growth compared with SPF water with no clay addition.
Fungal and animal associates of Toxicodendron spp. (Anacardiaceae) in North America

Abstract Toxicodendron spp. (Anacardiaceae; the poison ivies, oaks, and sumacs) are regarded by some as noxious, tenacious weeds in forests, grasslands, and waste places across the United States, despite playing numerous important ecological roles. Biological control of Toxicodendron spp. is a virtually unexplored option for ecosystem managers. The purpose of this review is twofold: (1) to synthesize and consider what is known about the biological relationships of Toxicodendron spp. from an ecological standpoint; and subsequently (2) to consider these associations from a managerial standpoint. Fungal, arthropodal, mammalian, and avian relationships are detailed, and their potential utility as biological control agents for Toxicodendron spp. are evaluated based on effectiveness, selectivity, practicality, and indirect or side effects. Fungi, and to a lesser extent arthropods, represent the most feasible agents for Toxicodendron spp. biological control.
Genetics and genomics of primary biliary cirrhosis.

The etiologic and pathogenic factors contributing to primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) development, progression, response to treatment, and outcome remain a mystery. Recognition of the genomic regions harboring risk factors is hindered by the rarity and late onset of PBC. Recent advancements in genomics hold promise for understanding, prevention, and therapy of PBC. Large registries and biospecimen repositories of patients who have PBC, their family members, and controls are needed. Haplotype mapping–based association studies are necessary for defining genetic predisposition. Experimental data will provide the means for fine mapping studies, resequencing efforts, functional experimentation, and elucidation of gene-environment and gene-gene interaction.
Re-incentivizing discovery: mechanisms for partial-progress sharing in research

An essential primitive for an efficient research ecosystem is partial-progress sharing (PPS) -- whereby a researcher shares information immediately upon making a breakthrough. This helps prevent duplication of work; however there is evidence that existing reward structures in research discourage partial-progress sharing. Ensuring PPS is especially important for new online collaborative-research platforms, which involve many researchers working on large, multi-stage problems. We study the problem of incentivizing information-sharing in research, under a stylized model: non-identical agents work independently on subtasks of a large project, with dependencies between subtasks captured via an acyclic subtask-network. Each subtask carries a reward, given to the first agent who publicly shares its solution. Agents can choose which subtasks to work on, and more importantly, when to reveal solutions to completed subtasks. Under this model, we uncover the strategic rationale behind certain anecdotal phenomena. Moreover, for any acyclic subtask-network, and under a general model of agent-subtask completion times, we give sufficient conditions that ensure PPS is incentive-compatible for all agents. One surprising finding is that rewards which are approximately proportional to perceived task-difficulties, are sufficient to ensure PPS in all acyclic subtask-networks. The fact that there is no tension between local fairness and global information-sharing in multi-stage projects is encouraging, as it suggests practical mechanisms for real-world settings. Finally, we also characterize the efficiency of PPS -- we show that PPS is necessary, and in many cases, sufficient, to ensure a high rate of progress in research.
A note on acoustic measurements of turbulence, suspended sediment, and bed forms in mobile-bed experiments

Mobile-bed laboratory measurements allow observation of interactions between turbulent sediment-laden flows and irregular, non-stationary bed topography. Water in mobile-bed experiments is typically clouded by suspended particles, complicating the use of optical and laser based measurement techniques. In such conditions, acoustic techniques can be used to measure turbulence, suspended sediment transport, and bed topography; however, these procedures also have unique challenges. Here, the effect of suspended particles on acoustic Doppler turbulence measurement, the effect of particle size on acoustic measurement of suspended-sediments, and a method for statistically describing bed topography (measured acoustically or otherwise) are addressed. It is found that suspended particles have a small effect on Reynolds stresses measured with an acoustic Doppler velocimeter and that those effects could be minimized by excluding data collected with the highest and lowest acoustic amplitudes. The effect of particle size on acoustic backscatter amplitude is most strongly pronounced for particles smaller than 0.3 mm. Semivariogram analysis is shown to be a viable method for analyzing complex bed topography produced by mobile-bed experiments.
Medium hydrated collagen gel as an explant support in organ culture

This report describes the preparation of medium hydrated collagen gels for use as the physical support material for explant culture. Collagen gels are simple to prepare from rat tail tendon-derived stock collagen. These gels provide a firm, fluid-permeable substrate for submersion or interface culture of organ explants. Collagen gels can be conveniently applied to serum-free medium conditions.
ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: A CASE STUDY OF FARM WORKERS IN SOUTH FLORIDA

ABSTRACT One purpose of this study is to examine the complex government infrastructure that implements and enforces laws that were created to protect farm workers from environmental hazards. The second purpose is to present a case study on farm workers in South Florida to determine whether the federal and state laws are protecting this occupational group from environmental hazards related to pesticide exposure. A survey based on questions that pertain to various laws was used to gather data on farm workers in two South Florida counties. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with farm workers at several migrant farm worker day care centers in Palm Beach and Indian River County, Florida. The findings of the study reveal that federal and state laws which are currently in place to protect the workers from pesticide exposure do not adequately protect the workers from exposure to harmful pesticides and farm workers are uninformed of the laws which exist to protect them from possible pesticide exposure. The stu...
Improved electrolytes for thinning of vanadium and its alloys for TEM

Abstract When fairly large amounts of some constituents are added to vanadium, large precipitates are formed; these tend to be preferentially attacked during thinning with most common electrolytes, with resultant poor foil quality. Use of 100 ml sulfuric acid/500 ml methanol/90 ml butyl cellosolve at −20°C/40 V or 50 ml sulfuric acid/100 ml acetic acid/450 ml methanol/20 ml butyl cellosolve at −40°C/100 V alleviated this problem in a variety of vanadium-base alloys.
In vivo Optical Coherence Tomography of Light-Driven Melanosome Translocation in Retinal Pigment Epithelium

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) may revolutionize fundamental investigation and clinical management of age-related macular degeneration and other eye diseases. However, quantitative OCT interpretation is hampered due to uncertain sub-cellular correlates of reflectivity in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptor. The purpose of this study was twofold: 1) to test OCT correlates in the RPE, and 2) to demonstrate the feasibility of longitudinal OCT monitoring of sub-cellular RPE dynamics. A high resolution OCT was constructed to achieve dynamic imaging of frog eyes, in which light-driven translocation of RPE melanosomes occurred within the RPE cell body and apical processes. Comparative histological examination of dark- and light-adapted eyes indicated that the RPE melanin granule, i.e., melanosome, was a primary OCT correlate. In vivo OCT imaging of RPE melanosomes opens the opportunity for quantitative assessment of RPE abnormalities associated with disease, and enables longitudinal investigation of RPE kinetics correlated with visual function.
Serial cultivation of epidermal keratinocytes from psoriatic plaques.

Using the combined techniques of Rheinwald and Green, and Liu and Karasek, large quantities of proliferative keratinocytes from involved (PP) or uninvolved (PN) skin of psoriatic patients and from normal skin of non-psoriatic donors (NN) can be obtained. Primary cultures, initiated from a 6-mm punch biopsy, are grown on a 3T3 feeder layer seeded on a collagen surface and fed with Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium containing 20% fetal calf serum, hydrocortisone, epidermal growth factor, and cholera toxin. To test the hypothesis that the mechanism(s) responsible for the abnormal proliferation of psoriatic keratinocytes maybe located within the cells themselves, primary cultures are passaged onto collagen surfaces without a feeder layer and maintained with medium plus serum, but no additional supplements, and the growth profiles of the 3 cell populations compared. No difference in morphology among these cells is observed in either primary or passaged cultures. In primary cultures, PP keratinocytes, especially those isolated from active lesions, seem to initiate growth at a slower rate than do PN and NN keratinocytes. The difference in the growth rate, as determined by cell number, DNA content, and mitotic activity, is insignificant among passaged PP, PN, and NN cells. Waves observed in the mitotic index and the metabolic activity of the passaged keratinocytes from all 3 sources suggest that the cells are synchronized during subculturing. The cells have high metabolic and mitotic activities during the first week after subculturing, indicative of an initial population of actively dividing cells. We have not found the characteristic feature of hyperproliferation seen in psoriatic keratinocytes in situ, in the cultured cells; however, it is too early to reach the definite conclusion that the mechanism(s) responsible for psoriasis does not exist in the keratinocyte itself. These 3 cell types may respond differently to agents that either enhance or inhibit cell growth and, by using the culture system outlined in this report, we may study these factors and their potential role in psoriasis.
Role of thermal expansion matching in CdTe heteroepitaxy on highly lattice-mismatched substrates

Abstract We report on the significance of thermal expansion mismatch in the heteroepitaxial growth of CdTe on highly lattice-mismatched substrates. Such substrates including Si, Ge, or GaAs are desirable for CdTe buffer layer growth and subsequent deposition of HgCdTe infrared absorber layers. Besides lattice misfit, the thermal mismatch associated with these systems can produce additional strain and defects at low or elevated temperatures. However, little work has been done towards documenting and understanding these effects. Experimental evidence of thermal-expansion-dependent residual stress is presented for CdTe/Si(2 1 1), CdTe/Ge(2 1 1), and CdTe/GaAs(2 1 1) films based on X-ray diffraction studies. The experimental results are also compared with residual stress calculations based on known material properties. These results may play a vital role in the design and development of HgCdTe detectors for large-format, infrared focal plane arrays (FPA).
Japan’s Political Economy and Koizumi’s Structural Reform: A Rise and Fall of Neoclassical Economic Reform in Japan

For five years of his premiership, Jun’ichiro Koizumi bravely fought against politicians, bureaucrats, and interest groups to promote his structural economic reform. Fortunately, by the time he retired, Japanese economy got out of the depression. But the tide changed. In the July 2007 Upper House elections, the public was opposed to structural reform that Koizumi and Abe had advocated. Now it is not clear where Japanese political economy is likely to go. This paper will take a long-term view on the evolution of Japan’s political economy, and try to understand Jun’ichiro Koizumi’s structural reform in that long-term context.
Soil and water characteristics of a young surface mine wetland

Coal companies are reluctant to include wetland development in reclamation plans partly due to a lack of information on the resulting characteristics of such sites. It is easier for coal companies to recreate terrestrial habitats than to attempt experimental methods and possibly face significant regulatory disapproval. Therefore, we studied a young (10 years) wetland on a reclaimed surface coal mine in southern Illinois so as to ascertain soil and water characteristics such that the site might serve as a model for wetland development on surface mines. Water pH was not measured because of equipment problems, but evidence (plant life, fish, herpetofauna) suggests suitable pH levels. Other water parameters (conductivity, salinity, alkalinity, chloride, copper, total hardness, iron, manganese, nitrate, nitrite, phosphate, and sulfate) were measured, and only copper was seen in potentially high concentrations (but with no obvious toxic effects). Soil variables measured included pH, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, potassium, calcium, magnesium, manganese, aluminum, iron, sulfate, chloride, and percent organic matter. Soils were slightly alkaline and most parameters fell within levels reported for other studies on both natural and manmade wetlands. Aluminum was high, but this might be indicative more of large amounts complexed with soils and therefore unavailable, than amounts actually accessible to plants. Organic matter was moderate, somewhat surprising given the age of the system.
Detecting Approximal Dental Caries with Transillumination: A Clinical Evaluation

Independent examinations of 300 patients were conducted to evaluate fiber optic transillumination's performance in caries detection. FOTI was used as an adjunct to clinical and radiographic examinations for caries, restoration or secondary caries of approximal surfaces in maxillary anterior permanent teeth. Clinical and radiographic examinations were significantly more effective.
Effects of growth regulators on growth and fruiting of own-rooted ‘Golden Delicious’ apple trees

Abstract Established tissue-culture propagated own-rooted cultivar ‘Golden Delicious’ apple ( Malus domestica Borkh.) trees were treated with paclobutrazol at a dosage of 40 mg cm −2 of trunk cross-sectional area (average of 1.48 g per tree) via trunk drench at the end of the fifth growing season. They responded the second season after application. Treatment with the triazole GA biosynthesis inhibitor had more effect on vegetative growth than on flower cluster or fruit number. It reduced terminal shoot length and tended to reduce fruit yield and seasonal net photosynthesis on a leaf area basis. Weight per fruit was not changed but fruit length tended to be slightly reduced whereas russeting index was increased. Promalin (GA 4 + 7 + BA) applications to paclobutrazol-treated trees did not alter growth or fruiting. Despite the fact that paclobutrazol inhibited terminal shoot growth, treated trees went into biennial bearing as readily as untreated trees after a heavy fruit load season. Vegetative growth was vigorous the “off year” and terminal shoot growth was no longer inhibited by paclobutrazol. Applications of GA 4 + 7 to trees during the “off-year” did not affect vegetative growth that season or fruiting the following season. “On year” yield tended to be reduced from trees that had been treated with paclobutrazol 5 years earlier.
Causal ordering, comparative statics, and near decomposability

Abstract The notion of causal ordering has been explicated for systems in the form of sets of linear algebraic equations and also for dynamic models consisting of linear differential equations. Since we often wish to aggregate or disaggregate models of systems or to consider the static equilibrium of a dynamic model, the question arises as to how these transformations from one model of a system to another affect the causal ordering of variables. The present paper provides some answers to this question.
Maximum flow-life curve for a wireless ad hoc network

This paper proposes a new power aware routing objective for an ad hoc network of battery-limited wireless nodes---the maximum flow-life curve --- that maximizes the traffic flow utility over time. The objective improves upon related objectives such as minimizing the total power or maximizing the time to network partition. To find a routing that maximizes the flow-life curve, we prove an equivalence with a simpler problem and present an algorithm based on linear programming. The efficiency and fairness of the objective are demonstrated on several examples
An unusual presentation of necrotizing enterocolitis on an echocardiogram

This report describes the spontaneous intracardiac air contrast found on the echocardiogram of a 5 day-old term neonate with Down syndrome and a complete atrioventricular septal defect who had experienced sudden-onset tachypnea and systemic desaturation. The stream of air contrast was tracked coming from the hepatic veins, and a diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis was suspected. An abdominal radiograph and ultrasound confirmed the diagnosis.
Systemic and Contact Insecticidal Effectiveness of Selected Chemicals Administered Orally or Dermally to Rabbits

Butonate, Monsanto CP 10502(1-(dimethoxyphosphinyl) vinyl dimethyl phosphate), phosphamidon, and Sevin® (1-naphthyl N -methylcarbamate) administered as a single oral dose to rabbits were quite effective against the bed bug (Cimex lectularis L.) taking a blood meal, but were less effective against the Gulf Coast tick (Amblyomma maculatum Koch). Dimethoate and Shell SD 3562 (2-dimethykarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl dimethyl phosphate) applied dermally to rabbits at 100 mg. per kg. were highly effective as systemics against the bed bug for 5 and 48 hours posttreatment, respectively; Bayer 29493 ( O,O -dimethyl O -[4-(methylthio)- m -tolyl] phosphorothioate) was slightly less effective. As a contact insecticide, the residual effectiveness of Sevin was considerably longer than several other compounds tested.
Modeling accelerated pick-up ion distributions at an interplanetary shock

Abstract The acceleration of interstellar pick-up ions as well as solar wind species has been observed at a multitude of interplanetary (IP) shocks by different spacecraft. The efficiency of injection of the pick-up ion component differs from that of the solar wind, and is expected to be strongly enhanced at highly oblique and quasi-perpendicular shock events, in accord with inferences from in situ observations. This paper explores theoretical modeling of the phase space distributions of accelerated ions obtained by the Ulysses mission for the Day 292, 1991 shock associated with a corotating interaction region, encountered before Ulysses’ fly-by of Jupiter. A Monte Carlo simulation is used to model the acceleration process, adapting a technique that has been successfully tested on earlier IP shocks possessing minimal pick-up ion presence. Phase space distributions from the simulation technique for various low mass ions are compared with SWICS and HI-SCALE data to deduce values of a “turbulence parameter” that controls the efficiency of injection, and the degree of cross-field diffusion. Acceptable fits are obtained for the H + and He + populations using standard prescriptions for the pick-up ion distribution; He ++ spectral data was only fit well for scenarios very close to the Bohm diffusion limit. It is also found that the simulation successfully accounts for the observation of energetic protons farther upstream of the forward shock than lower energy pick-up protons, using the same turbulence parameter that is required to achieve reasonable spectral fits.
Maintenance dialysis for diabetic nephropathy with uremia.

Abstract Fourteen patients, aged 28–61 yr, with diabetic nephropathy and uremia were observed on maintenance dialysis for a total of 156.5 dialysis patient months (range: 1.5–30 months per patient). Clinical course on dialysis was eventful in most cases, though nitrogen retention and acidosis were readily controlled. Bouts of circulatory congestion and severe fluid retention were frequent in nine patients, six of whom died of acute myocardial infarction or intractable heart failure. Septic complications and hepatitis caused or contributed to the demise of four patients, and thromboembolic complications to that of one patient. Rehabilitation on dialysis was limited in nine cases, and five remained disabled. Retinopathy was not improved. Emotional problems were common in nine patients, five of whom required psychiatric care. Ten patients died between 1.5 and 21 months after the start of dialysis, and only one survived over 30 months. Three patients underwent renal transplantation 6 to 18 months after inception of dialysis. They all died 10 days to 3 months after surgery of overwhelming septic complications. Survival rate on maintenance dialysis for the whole group was 54.8 per cent at 1 yr, and 16.4 per cent at 2 yr.
Functionalized cyclodextrins as holoenzyme mimics of thiamine-dependent enzymes

Abstract Mimics of vitamin B 1 -dependent enzymes have been prepared by covalently linking thiazolium salts to the primary side of β-cyclodextrin. Although these compounds were found to catalyze the benzoin condensation, they were generally less effective turnover catalysts than the analogous simple thiazolium salts lacking the artificial binding site. An improvement in the design of the sugar derivative which prevented competitive binding of the thiazolium moiety to the cyclodextrin cavity did, however, lead to a superior catalyst of this transformation. In catalytic processes which required only one molecule of substrate to react with the thiazolium salt, rate accelerations, saturation kinetics, and substrate selectivity were observed. Thus, all the cyclodextrin thiazolium salts speeded the rate of tritium exchange from suitably labeled aromatic aldehydes more than did simple thiazolium salts. In addition, rate enhancements of up to ca 40-fold were observed for the thiazolium-catalyzed oxidation of tert -butylbenzaldehyde by ferricyanide compared with a thiazolium salt lacking the cyclodextrin binding group.
Results of a parametric aeroelastic stability analysis of a generic X-wing aircraft

This paper discusses the trends in longitudinal dynamic aeroelastic stability of a generic x-wing aircraft model with design parameter variations. X-wing rotor blade sweep angle, ratio of blade mass to total vehicle mass, blade structural stiffness cross-coupling and vehicle center-of-gravity location were parameters considered. The typical instability encountered is body-freedom flutter involving a low frequency interaction of the first elastic mode and the aircraft short period mode. Parametric cases with the lowest static margin consistently demonstrated the highest flutter dynamic pressures. As mass ratio was increased, the flutter boundary decreased. The decrease was emphasized as center-of-gravity location was moved forward. As sweep angle varied, it was observed that the resulting increase in forward-swept blade bending amplitude relative to aft blade bending amplitude in the first elastic mode had a stabilizing effect on the flutter boundary. Finally, small amounts of stiffness cross-coupling in the aft blades increased flutter dynamic pressure.
New Evidence on the Impact of Index Funds in U.S. Grain Futures Markets

Commodity index trader position data are examined for the years prior to the 2007–08 commodity price increase. New data from 2004 to 2005 show that a large increase in commodity index positions occurred in select grain futures markets. However, the increased index participation took place well in advance of the 2007–08 boom in prices. Granger causality tests fail to find any causal link between commodity index activity and grain futures prices. Furthermore, there is little evidence of an index-induced price bubble using long-horizon regressions. Nous avons analyse les donnees sur les positions des operateurs de marche au cours des annees qui ont precede la hausse des prix des denrees en 2007–08. Selon de nouvelles donnees pour la periode 2004–05, une hausse substantielle des positions liees a l’indice des denrees est survenue sur des marches de grain a terme selectionnes. Toutefois, cette hausse des positions est survenue bien avant la montree en fleche des cours en 2007–08. Le test de causalite de Granger n’a pas permis d’etablir l’existence d’un lien de causalite entre l’activite liee a l’indice des denrees et les cours a terme des grains. De plus, les regressions pour processus a memoire longue ne permettent pas de conclure a l’existence d’une bulle des prix induite par l’indice.
A Human-Machine Interaction Model: Information Throughput and Weighting with A pplication to Multiple-Attribute-Task-Battery

The Multiple-Attribute-Task-Battery (MATB) displays five independent and concurrent tasks to which a human operator (HO) responds. MATB records the task-specific responses and so provides data on human performance. A general strategy function based on five task-specific strategy cases is described to characterise the human–MATB interaction. A prior report evaluated an implicit strategy group of 32 HOs for whom no strategy-important information was provided (i.e. all tasks are equally important). However, a specified strategy function did not characterise the group. This report evaluates an explicit strategy group of 35 HOs for whom the actual weighting of the five tasks was provided. The general strategy function is applied to both groups and characterises two different strategies. With respect to ergonomic theory and practice, a generalised strategy function is defined and applied to the human–MATB interaction that characterises two different strategy types and also provides a metric for MATB system comp...
Anatomical and Neuromuscular Maturation of the Speech Mechanism: Evidence from Acoustic Studies

This paper surveys acoustic studies of speech development and discusses the data with respect to the anatomical and neuromuscular maturation of the speech mechanism. The acoustic data on various as...
Preaching to the choir: Profiling TV advisory ratings users

This investigation examines parents’ use of the MPAA television advisory ratings in their decision‐making and the manner by which ratings information is incorporated into rules and regulations about television in the home. The parents most likely to utilize TV ratings information, an expected small proportion of the sample, tended to employ a highly inductive (communication‐oriented) style of child rearing and a highly evaluative (discussion‐based) method of TV mediation. They believed that television can have significant positive and/or negative effects on children, and were more concerned with cognitive‐ and affective‐level effects. Interestingly, these parents had children who tended to need mediation the least: average‐to‐high academic achievers who were low‐to‐moderate consumers of television. The possible ramifications of these findings with regard to the new content‐driven ratings campaign and forthcoming V‐chip technology are discussed.
Gender and ethnic differences in prevalence of self-reported insomnia among patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are the two most common sleep disorders. Studies have shown that complaints of insomnia are prevalent among sleep clinic patients evaluated for OSA. Less is known about the gender and ethnic variations in this association. This paper aims to study the influence of gender and ethnicity in the prevalence of insomnia in patients with OSA and explore the association between these two disorders with an emphasis on psychophysiologic insomnia. We reviewed case files, including self-reported questionnaires and polysomnography studies of 300 OSA patients [apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) of >10] from three ethnic groups—Caucasian, Hispanic, and African American, 50 patients each, male and female, seen at a tertiary care county hospital adult sleep center. Self-reported insomnia was classified as sleep onset insomnia, sleep maintenance insomnia, or insomnia with early morning awakening. Psychophysiologic insomnia was documented if the patient reported two of the following five symptoms: racing thoughts when trying to sleep, increased muscle tension when trying to sleep, fear of being unable to sleep, fear of being unable to fall back to sleep after waking up, and lying in bed worrying. Fischer exact tests for each contingency table were run using SPSS. Among OSA patients, women were older, had higher body mass index, and lower AHI at the time of diagnosis, compared to men. Insomnia was more prevalent among patients with OSA (84%) than the reported 30% among general adult population. Sleep onset insomnia was reported more frequently by women (62%) than men (53%) (p = 0.03). Similarly self-reported psychophysiologic insomnia also showed a female preponderance (53% vs. 45%, p = 0.03). Caucasian women had the highest rate of self-reported sleep maintenance insomnia (80%). Hispanic women are more likely to complain of symptoms suggestive of psychophysiologic insomnia (58%). There is a higher prevalence of insomnia in OSA patients. Ethnicity and gender possibly exhibit a complex and significant influence on the reported subtype of insomnia. Further larger studies may help confirm, as well as clarify, mechanisms that underlie the ethnic and gender differences that we have noted.
Analysis of the genomic l rna segment from lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus

The arenavirus genomic L RNA segment represents approximately 70% of the viral genetic material but current understanding of the organization, regulation, and functioning of the viral L products remains limited. Biological studies with reassortant viruses have implicated the L RNA segment in the lethal infection of adult guinea pigs produced by LCMV-WE but no further explanation of the pathogenic process is presently available. We have initiated a detailed molecular analysis of LCMV L products based on construction and characterization of L-specific cDNA clones and synthesis of L-specific hybridization probes. Nucleotide sequencing studies have allowed the derivation of a partial amino acid sequence for a predicted L protein and antisera raised against synthetic peptides have demonstrated an L protein in Western blotting experiments. Using this approach we have identified a single high molecular weight protein (approximately 200,000 Da) in purified virions and in viral ribonucleoprotein complexes extracted from acutely infected tissue culture cells. This L protein is translated from a nonpolyadenylated, genomic complementary L mRNA and potentially represents part or all of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.
Ceramic-modified elastomers

Abstract The sol–gel technique for synthesizing ceramic-like phases is used in the in-situ generation of reinforcing particles in an elastomeric matrix. Methods for characterizing the resulting organic-inorganic composites include microscopy and small-angle neutron and x-ray scattering, and the properties of greatest importance are elastic moduli and ultimate properties, typically evaluated in a variety of deformations.
Patient-reported Quality of Life Following Treatment of Prostate Cancer With Proton Therapy

Purpose/Objective(s): To evaluate patient-reported quality of life (QOL) after treatment with proton therapy for prostate cancer using the Expanded Prostate Index Composite questionnaire (EPIC). Materials/Methods: From 2006 to 2007, 366 men were treated for prostate cancer with proton therapy to doses of 78-82 Gy (RBE) at 2 Gy per fraction and enrolled on an outcomes-tracking protocol. Patients routinely responded to the 50-question EPIC at baseline and every 6-12 months after treatment. Patients were excluded from the analysis if they received androgen deprivation therapy or weekly docetaxel or died within 3 months of treatment, leaving 268 men for analysis, including 50% low-risk, 47% intermediate-risk, and 3% high-risk patients. The mean age at the start of treatment was 67 years old and 91% were white. Baseline patient-related medical characteristics included diabetes (14%), hypertension (51%), high cholesterol (54%), and blood thinners (50%). Results: EPIC data was available for 94%, 96%, 90%, and 78% at 6 months, 1, 2, and 3 years after completion of treatment. The baseline, 6 month, 1-, 2-, and 3year QOL subscale data are shown in the Table. For the group as a whole, urinary and bowel subscales were at their lowest (worse QOL) at 1 year and subsequently improved over the following 2 years. Sexual subscales had their sharpest decline over the first year. Univariate analysis demonstrated a significantly worse sexual bother score associated with high cholesterol (p Z 0.03) and a trend in men with diabetes (p Z 0.07). Worse sexual function score was associated with blood thinner use (p Z 0.05). No other factors were significant for any other sub scale. Responses to specific questions at baseline and 2 years included: 3% and 3% requiring 1 pad for urinary incontinence daily, 2% and 3% reporting dripping of urine being a moderate or big problem, 2% and 3% experienced rectal incontinence > weekly, 4% and 4% experienced bloody stools > half the time, 1% and 2% reported that losing control of stool was a moderate or big problem. At baseline, 64% reported erections firm enough for intercourse, 67% had sexual intercourse monthly, and 41% had sexual intercourse weekly. At 2 years, 46% reported erections firm enough for intercourse, 52% had sexual intercourse monthly, and 29% had sexual intercourse weekly. Conclusions: In the first 3 years after treatment with proton therapy, QOL data as reported by EPIC demonstrated promising results with the largest decline at 1 year after treatment. Longer follow-up is needed to confirm these findings. Author Disclosure: B.S. Hoppe: None. R.C. Nichols: None. R. Henderson: None. W.M. Mendenhall: None. C. Williams: None. J. Costa: None. C.G. Morris: None. Z. Su: None. Z. Li: None. N.P. Mendenhall: None.
CHILD HOMICIDE CAUSED BY COMMOTIO CORDIS

Cardiac concussion, previously known as commotio cordis, occurs in structurally normal hearts without gross or microscopic injury to the myocardium, cardiac valves, or coronary arteries, as opposed to other sports-related deaths known to occur more frequently in structural or congenital heart disease. We describe the sudden cardiac death of a 2-year-old child, who died as a result of a blunt force impact to the chest. A thorough medicolegal investigation was necessary to determine that the child died as a result of foul play.