cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do Growth Kinetics of Snow-mold Fungi Explain Exponential CO2 Fluxes Through the Snow?

Plant pathogenic snow-mold fungi have received much attention for many years due to their economic importance, but the identity and activity of nonpathogenic fungi of the under-snow environment have received much less study. In polar and alpine areas of the world, mats of saprophytic snow molds are commonly observed as snow melts in both forested and tundra biomes. Recent biogeochemical studies in high-elevation and high-latitude environments have shown conclusively that microbial activity under the snow pack contributes significantly to gas fluxes and to carbon and nitrogen cycling. In addition, Schmidt et al. have demonstrated that nonpathogenic snow-mold fungi are among the dominant organisms of the sub-nivean environment and carry out important ecosystem functions in tundra and forested ecosystems.
Minimum 5-Year Follow-up of Mehta Casting to Treat Idiopathic Early-Onset Scoliosis.

Background With the exception of Mehta's 2005 report on her experience treating early-onset scoliosis with serial casting, all subsequent studies have had limited follow-up. This current study sought to assess the results of serial casting at a minimum 5-year follow-up and to identify the predictors of the sustained resolution of scoliosis. Methods This study is a retrospective review of children treated for idiopathic early-onset scoliosis with serial casting at a children's hospital between 2001 and 2013 with a minimum 5-year follow-up. A Cobb angle of ≤15° and a decrease in the Cobb angle of >20° at the most recent follow-up were separately assessed. The differences between groups based on these criteria were tested with Student t tests with alpha = 0.05. Results Fifty-four children were treated during the study period; of these, 38 had at least 5 years of follow-up and comprised the study sample. The mean follow-up (and standard deviation) was 8 ± 2 years (range, 5 to 13 years). The mean patient age at the time of the first cast was 24 ± 15.1 months (range, 9 to 63 months), with a mean Cobb angle of 56.2° ± 20.1° (range, 22° to 109°). Forty-nine percent of children had scoliosis of ≤15° at the time of the most recent follow-up, and 73% of children were improved by at least 20°. Children with ≤15° scoliosis, compared with children with >15° scoliosis, had significantly lower initial Cobb angle (48.2° compared with 63.7°; p = 0.016), supine traction Cobb angle (22.5° compared with 33.2°; p = 0.048), first-in-cast Cobb angle (24.1° compared with 37.6°; p = 0.01), and first-in-cast rib-vertebral angle difference (12.8° compared with 26.2°; p 0.05) between the groups. Three children who initially achieved scoliosis of ≤15° after casting substantially relapsed. Conclusions At a minimum follow-up of 5 years, the initial Cobb angle, first-cast Cobb angle, rib-vertebral angle difference, and traction Cobb angle were all predictive of sustained scoliosis of ≤15°. However, with continued growth, relapse of scoliosis was seen in 3 patients. Level of evidence Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Serum Bicarbonate as a Surrogate for pH in Hemodialysis: A Pilot Study

Rationale & Objective Excess morbidity and mortality are associated with both high and low serum bicarbonate levels in epidemiologic studies of patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) receiving hemodialysis. The Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) recommends modifying dialysate bicarbonate concentration to achieve a predialysis serum bicarbonate level≥22mmol/L, measured as total carbon dioxide (CO2). This practice assumes that total CO2 is an adequate surrogate for acid-base status, yet its surrogacy performance is unknown in ESKD. We determined acid-base status at the beginning and end of hemodialysis using total CO2 and pH and tested whether total CO2 is an appropriate surrogate for acid-base status. Study Design Pilot study. Setting & Participants 25 veterans with ESKD receiving outpatient hemodialysis. Tests Compared pH, calculated bicarbonate level, and total CO2. Outcomes The proportion of paired samples for which total CO2 misclassified acid-base status according to pH was determined. Bias of total CO2 was evaluated using Bland-Altman plots, comparing it to calculated bicarbonate. Results Among 71 samples, mean pH was 7.41±0.03 predialysis and 7.48±0.05 postdialysis. Compared with interpretation of full blood gas profiles, 9 of 25 (36%) participants were misclassified as acidemic using predialysis total CO2 measures alone (total CO2 26mmol/L but pH≤7.42). Among paired samples in which predialysis total CO2 was Limitations Small, single-center, entirely male cohort. Conclusions A majority of participants became alkalemic during routine hemodialysis despite arriving with normal pH. 10 of 25 (40%) participants' acid-base status was misclassified using total CO2 measurements alone; the majority of predialysis total CO2 values that would trigger therapeutic modification according to practice guidelines did not have acidemia when assessed using pH. Efforts to improve dialysis prescription require recognition that total CO2 may not be reliable for interpreting acid-base status in hemodialysis patients.
Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology of Invasive Haemophilus influenzae Serotype a Infections in Utah Children

BACKGROUND Following widespread use of the Haemophilus influenzae serotype b (Hib) vaccine, H. influenzae serotype a (Hia) has emerged as an important pathogen in children in some regions. We describe the clinical features and molecular epidemiology of invasive Hia disease in children in Utah over an 11-year period. METHODS We identified cases of invasive Hia disease, defined as detection of Hia from a normally sterile site, in children aged <18 years from Utah between 2007 and 2017. Medical records were reviewed to determine demographic characteristics and clinical outcomes. Available Hia isolates were genotyped using multilocus sequence typing, and phylogenetic division was determined using sodC polymerase chain reaction. Presence of the putative virulence-associated IS1016-bexA duplication-deletion was evaluated. RESULTS We identified 51 children with invasive Hia. The average annual incidence was 1.7 cases per 100 000 children aged <5 years; 4.8 cases per 100 000 children aged <1 year. The median age was 11.3 months. The most common clinical presentation was meningitis (53%), followed by pneumonia (14%) and septic arthritis (14%). Twenty-two children (43%) required admission to an intensive care unit; 1 died. Sequence type (ST) 62, phylogenetic division II isolates caused 75% (21/28) of disease. No isolates contained the virulence-associated IS1016-bexA duplication-deletion. CONCLUSIONS Hia is a significant cause of severe invasive bacterial infection in Utah. The majority of infections were caused by ST62 isolates, a phylogenetic division II Hia type that lacks the IS1016-bexA duplication-deletion. Hia ST62 has not been commonly reported elsewhere, suggesting a unique molecular epidemiology in our population.
Clinicians' Perspectives on the Duty to Inform Patients About Medical Aid-in-Dying.

Background: As of 2019, ten jurisdictions in the United States have authorized physicians to prescribe a lethal dose of medication to a terminally ill patient for the purpose of hastening death. Re...
Prohibitin 1 in liver injury and cancer.

Prohibitin 1 is an evolutionary conserved and ubiquitously expressed protein that exerts different biological functions depending on its subcellular localization. The role of prohibitin 1 in liver ...
Nail Salon a Potential Source of a Rare Mycobacterium Fortuitum Infection In Proximal Tibia Megaprosthesis? A Case Report

Mycobacterium Fortuitum (M. Fortuitum) is a type of opportunistic pathogen commonly found in water/soil and belongs to the nontuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) family. Prosthetic joint infection due to M. Fortuitum is extremely rare. We present a case of a 21-year-old female with an infection following a radical resection of the proximal tibia due to a parosteal osteosarcoma.
Credit union loan rate determinants in the United States

Credit union participation in the consumer lending market continues to grow as an increasing number of consumers and small businesses become members and open accounts. This study investigates the d...
Peripheral endothelial function changes during HER2-directed therapy differ based on whether or not a patient receives anthracycline.

1044Background: Trastuzumab is well-demonstrated to be associated with cardiotoxicity (typically reduced ejection fraction), most commonly in patients who also receive anthracycline. The vascular e...
Effects of bird feeder density on the foraging behaviors of a backyard songbird (the House Finch, Haemorhous mexicanus) subject to seasonal disease outbreaks

Provisioning of wildlife, such as backyard bird feeding, can alter animal behavior and ecology in diverse ways. For species that are highly dependent on supplemental resources, it is critical to un...
Low-Level Rifampin Resistance and rpoB Mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis: an Analysis of Whole-Genome Sequencing and Drug Susceptibility Test Data in New York.

Rapid and reliable detection of rifampin (RIF) resistance is critical for the diagnosis and treatment of drug-resistant and multi-drug resistant (MDR) tuberculosis. Discordant RIF phenotype/genotype susceptibility results remain a challenge due to the presence of rpoB mutations which do not confer high levels of RIF resistance as have been exhibited in strains with mutations such as Ser450Leu. These strains, termed low-level RIF resistant, exhibit elevated RIF minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) compared to fully susceptible strains, however remain phenotypically susceptible by mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) testing and have been associated with poor patient outcomes. Here we assess RIF resistance prediction by whole-genome sequencing (WGS) among a set of 1779 prospectively tested strains by both prevalence of rpoB gene mutation and phenotype as part of routine clinical testing during a 21/2-year period. During this time, 139 strains were found to have nonsynonymous rpoB mutations, 53 of which were associated with RIF resistance, including both low-level and high-level resistance. Resistance to RIF (1.0 μg/mL in MGIT) was identified in 43 (81.1%) isolates. The remaining 10 (18.9%) strains were susceptible by MGIT, however were confirmed to be low-level RIF resistant by MIC testing. Full rpoB gene sequencing overcame the limitations of critical concentration phenotyping, probe-based genotyping, and partial-gene sequencing methods. Universal clinical WGS with concurrent phenotypic testing provided a more complete understanding of the prevalence and type of rpoB mutations and their association with RIF resistance in New York.
COMPUTERS IN THE TEACHING OF STATISTICS: WHERE ARE THE MAIN EFFECTS?

Publisher Summary The main effects of computers in the theory and practice of statistics are widespread and profound. In most ways, the teaching of statistics has lagged behind practice by a good number of years. Computers in teaching must be considered in relation to computers in statistical practice. At best, perhaps illustrated by Rothamsted Experimental Station, computers are well integrated in the routine analyses of experiments and surveys. Least squares is a topic central to all of statistical theory and practice; it is the heart of every statistical computer package and is of great current interest to numerical analysts. This chapter discusses the statistician's isolation from computer development and some of the costs of that isolation to both groups. Function minimization is another topic where the statistical tradition of nonlinear estimation and maximum-likelihood estimation might have been expected to have been influential, yet where until recently, the physicists, crystallographers, and biophysicists have played the dominant role.
A phytophotonic approach to enhanced photosynthesis

Photosynthesis is the dominant biotic carbon sink on earth and hence presents an opportunity for enhanced sequestration of CO2. If the average net carbon fixation efficiency of terrestrial plants could be increased by 3.3%, all anthropogenic CO2 accumulating in the atmosphere could instead be reduced and incorporated into terrestrial biomass. Plants make inefficient use of the overly abundant sunlight available to them, a result of having evolved to be competitive and survive highly dynamic environmental conditions rather than maximize photosynthetic productivity. We explore herein a phytophotonic approach to enhanced photosynthesis, whereby sunlight is redistributed by means of luminescent or persistent luminescent (PersL) materials. Phytophotonics has potential at varied scales, ranging from photobioreactors to greenhouses all the way to crops in the field, the latter having the potential to impact planetary CO2 levels. The approach is three-fold: a spectral redistribution to relieve high-light-stress at the top surface of leaves and increasingly drive photosynthesis deeper in leaves and canopies; a minute-scale temporal redistribution to bridge periods of intermittent shade and reduce shock associated with variable light conditions; and a multiple-hour temporal redistribution to shift a fraction of high-intensity midday lighting to evening hours. Based on simulations of photoluminescent materials and light quality experiments with a model algal system, it is shown that while lengthening daylight hours will require significant improvements in PersL materials, the other two approaches show more immediate promise. We demonstrate a means of concentrating PersL light from SrAl2O4:Eu,Dy, approaching levels needed to effectively bridge periods of natural shade, and outline the scientific questions and technical hurdles remaining to realize the benefits of the proposed spectral shift.
THE ABUNDANCES OF NEUTRON-CAPTURE SPECIES IN THE VERY METAL-POOR GLOBULAR CLUSTER M15: A UNIFORM ANALYSIS OF RED GIANT BRANCH AND RED HORIZONTAL BRANCH STARS

The globular cluster M15 is unique in its display of star-to-star variations in the neutron-capture elements. Comprehensive abundance surveys have been previously conducted for handfuls of M15 red giant branch (RGB) and red horizontal branch (RHB) stars. No attempt has been made to perform a single, self-consistent analysis of these stars, which exhibit a wide range in atmospheric parameters. In the current effort, a new comparative abundance derivation is presented for three RGB and six RHB members of the cluster. The analysis employs an updated version of the line transfer code MOOG, which now appropriately treats coherent, isotropic scattering. The apparent discrepancy in the previously reported values for the metallicity of M15 RGB and RHB stars is addressed and a resolute disparity of Δ(RHB – RGB) ≈ 0.1 dex in the iron abundance was found. The anti-correlative behavior of the light neutron-capture elements (Sr, Y, Zr) is clearly demonstrated with both Ba and Eu, standard markers of the s- and r-process, respectively. No conclusive detection of Pb was made in the RGB targets. Consequently for the M15 cluster, this suggests that the main component of the s-process has made a negligible contribution to those elements normally dominated by this process in solar system material. Additionally for the M15 sample, a large Eu abundance spread is confirmed, which is comparable to that of the halo field at the same metallicity. These abundance results are considered in the discussion of the chemical inhomogeneity and nucleosynthetic history of M15.
Anti-Science Politics

Political attacks against scientists and scientific research are nothing new, though the Trump Administration appears to have increased both the breadth and the depth of such attacks. What is new, it seems, are attacks on science that are not in service of protecting any regulated industry that can provide political benefits. Under the Trump Administration, the attacks on science are more systemic, and aimed more at reducing scientific capacity in the federal government, rather than mere one-off policy interventions. The essay suggests that the Trump Administration, more than previous administrations, has sought to use science as part of a political culture war, reviving a populist suspicion of intellectuals that has a long and cyclical history in American culture. This current episode of anti-intellectualism, while targeting the social sciences as past episodes have, has also uniquely targeted the biological and physical sciences, the difference being that findings in these fields are more firmly grounded in empirical fact than in the social sciences. The Trump Administration's attacks on science, writ larger, are non-epistemic in nature, seeking to build an ideology of hostility to science. This strategy builds upon a decades-long and continuing misinformation campaign to discredit climate scientists, but goes further, seeking to portray scientists as part of the "deep state" that is conspiring to victimize Americans. To be sure, federal funding for most research unrelated to industry regulation remains robust, even higher in some programs. But a manufactured suspicion of "regulatory science" (relating to industry regulation) has begun to bleed ominously over into policy arenas completely outside of regulation. The Trump Administration's policy meanderings to deal with the covid-19 crisis are emblematic of a growing and systemic subjugation of science to political objectives, ones that can be bizarrely unscientific. A number of cultural, political, and economic factors contribute to this latest resurgence of anti-intellectualism, one with a unique animus towards the hard sciences. A restoration of endangered and broken societal norms governing the advancement of science will require vigorous enforcement of federal administrative laws, but will also require the development of government policies that address the cultural, political, and economic roots of this latest crisis of science.
Validation of an IFN-gamma ELISpot assay to measure cellular immune responses against viral antigens in non-human primates

Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV)-based gene therapy vectors are in development for many inherited human disorders. In nonclinical studies, cellular immune responses mediated by cytotoxic T cells may target vector-transduced cells, which could impact safety and efficacy. Here, we describe the bioanalytical validation of an interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)-based Enzyme-Linked Immunospot (ELISpot) assay for measuring T cell responses against viral antigens in cynomolgus monkeys. Since ELISpots performed with antigen-derived peptides offer a universal assay format, method performance characteristics were validated using widely available peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) responsive to cytomegalovirus peptides. The limit of detection and confirmatory cut point were established using statistical methods; precision, specificity, and linearity were confirmed. Monkey PBMCs from an AAV5 gene therapy study were then analyzed, using peptide pools spanning the vector capsid and transgene product. AAV5-specific T cell responses were detected only in 2 of 18 monkeys at Day 28, but not at Day 13 and 56 after vector administration, with no correlation to liver enzyme elevations or transgene expression levels. No transgene product-specific T cell responses occurred. In conclusion, while viral peptide-specific IFN-γ ELISpots can be successfully validated for monkey PBMCs, monitoring peripheral T cell responses in non-clinical AAV5 gene therapy studies was of limited value to interpret safety or efficacy.
Utility and Diversity: Challenges for Genomic Medicine.

Genomic information is poised to play an increasing role in clinical care, extending beyond highly penetrant genetic conditions to less penetrant genotypes and common disorders. But with this shift...
Improving the Human Condition Is A Life’s Journey

Improving the human condition requires us first to understand and to address the issues that impact each of us. Because of our perceived differences, conflicts are inevitable, they are a part of our lives, but it is incumbent on all of us to do our part to ameliorate them. Whether they know it or not, the above students are developing the knowledge and skills to ameliorate problems that could cause conflicts by finding their voice, making contributions to society, and learning to effectively communicate through the fast-moving technology platforms. Using the United States as an example of how unresolved conflicts can mushroom and pose existential threats to the advancement of the human condition is intended to suggest that if it is happening here in the US, it can and is happening all over the world where there are conflicts between races, genders, religious persuasions, individuals, groups, communities, and countries –China, Russia, Syria, etc. When given opportunities, each person will encounter issues affecting them, challenges they want to overcome, problems they want to solve and education through the arts can provide students these opportunities. Improving the human condition gives us hope for a better future and hope for a better future is dependent on how well educators do their jobs preparing students to be good citizens of the global community.
High-Frequency, Mid-range Wireless Power Transfer System using Critical Coupling Coefficient Adjustment

This paper presents a 200 W 13.56 MHz wireless power transfer (WPT) system for mid-range distance applications using the adjustment of the critical coupling coefficient (k crit ) of the two-coil resonators. The critical coupling coefficient is a coupling coefficient where the scattering parameter (S 21 ) has a maximum value or induces a maximum voltage gain between resonators. If the coupling coefficient is higher or lower than the critical coupling coefficient (k 6= k crit ), the S 21 parameter decreases and reduces the efficiency of the WPT system at the resonant frequency. Also, the critical coupling coefficient is inversely proportional to the inductance value of the coupling coils and the resonant frequency. In this paper, we propose a design method of a high-frequency WPT system to achieve longer transmission distance by controlling the critical coupling coefficient in the same size of the coils. We demonstrate three types of spiral coupling coils to adjust the critical coupling coefficient: Type-A with 2.3 µH, Type-B with 4.6 µH, and Type-C with 7.6 µH. A 200 W DC-to-DC converter, consisting of a class E inverter and a synchronized class E rectifier with the matching circuits, was implemented and connected to the coupling coils. The measured optimum transmitting distances of Type-A, Type-B, and Type-C coils were 5 cm, 7 cm, and 12 cm, respectively, which corresponds to the maximum S 21 parameter of each resonator. Each coil provides maximum efficiency at the designed transmission distance by controlling the critical coupling coefficient. The critical coupling adjustment by changing the inductance value with the same size coil shows allows us to increase the transmission distance while maintaining high efficiency in the high-frequency WPT system
Techniques of Regulatory Implementation: The Case of Reg BI and Form CRS

This chapter argues that the implementation of Regulation Best Interest (“Reg BI”) and its accompanying Form Client Relationship Summary (“Form CRS”) is a good case study of optimal interaction between securities regulators and compliance officers in the implementation stage of the regulations. It contends that a well-established account of regulation, which is known as “new governance” and which views regulators as working closely with regulated firms to have a more tailored implementation of regulations, explains well the interaction between securities regulators and compliance officers in the rollout of Reg BI and Form CRS. It summarizes the background to, and provides an account of the substance of, Reg BI and the related Form CRS, emphasizing that these reforms impose compliance obligations on broker-dealers, which make them ideal for a case study looking at the collaboration between the regulators and compliance officers in that implementation. It looks in detail at the interaction between the regulators and compliance officers once Reg BI and Form CRS were finalized and the implementation process began. It concludes by offering lessons that may be drawn from this study as to useful methods of interaction between securities regulators and compliance officers in the implementation stage of a regulation.
Linear Goal Programming

Suppose that a manager has identified a problem that can be formulated as a traditional linear programming problem with one added complication — the decision being modeled must be judged on the basis of more than one criterion. Now let Z1(x), Z2(x), ..., Zh(x), ..., Zk(x) model the criteria as linear objective functions, g(x) be a set of linear constraints and restrict all x to be nonnegative. For ease of explanation let’s further suppose that the manager can reduce the set of criteria down to three, k = 3, and that the objective functions can be specified with certainty.
TU-F-CAMPUS-T-03: Commissioning of a Custom Fetal Lead Shield for Radiotherapy

Purpose: To evaluate the peripheral dose (PD) to a fetus during radiation therapy of pregnant patients when using a newly designed fetal lead shield (FLS). Methods: A custom FLS has been designed and fabricated for our department. The FLS (1.1 TVLs for 6 MV) is mounted on a mobile frame and can be adjusted vertically with a motor actuator. PD measurements were acquired for multiple simple square fields and for a variety of potential treatment sites a pregnant patient may be treated for including brain, head and neck (H&N) and thorax. For measurements of the brain, H&N, and thorax, an ionization chamber and OSLDs were positioned on average at a distance of 48, 29 and 26 cm, respectively, from the edge of treatment fields to mimic the approximate position of the fundus. Results: Based on our measurements, applying a 90° collimator rotation and using tertiary MLCs to define the field aperture in combination with jaws resulted in an average dose reduction of 60%. When using these planning strategies in combination with the FLS, on average, the PD was reduced by additional 25% for simple square fields and 20% for clinical plans. Conclusion: The custom FLS is a safe, effective, and relatively easy system to position. Commissioning measurements have demonstrated that the PD to the fetus can be significantly reduced when using the FLS. The comprehensive dataset obviates the need for individual patient pre-treatment dose measurements as long as the geometry falls within the commissioning limits.
Link analysis-based detection of anomalous communication patterns

Detecting anomalous communication patterns is an important security informatics application. Take the example of monitoring email communications. An efficient method that can identify emails that are unusual relative to the common behavior among a network of email originators and recipients can serve many useful functions, one of which is to filter out anomalous email exchanges for further investigation.
Site-directed mutagenesis of cysteine residues in biliverdin reductase. Roles in substrate and cofactor binding.

Biliverdin reductase is unique among all enzymes described to date in having two pH optima, 6.75 and 8.7, at which NADH or NADPH, respectively, are required for activity. The enzyme converts biliverdin to bilirubin in mammals. The mature enzyme, which is 293 amino acids long, has 3 cysteine residues, and is sulfhydryl dependent. To understand the role of the cysteine residues in enzyme activity, we examined the effects of the neutral substitution with alanine of each of three residues, individually and in combination, by site-directed mutagenesis. These residues in the predicted amino acid sequence of rat biliverdin reductase correspond to amino acids 73, 280 and 291. The modification of the amino-proximal cysteine (Cys73), which is flanked by a tyrosine residue, completely inactivated the enzyme with NADH at pH 6.75 and NADPH at pH 8.7. The loss of reductase activity was not due to changes in three-dimensional characteristics of the protein as suggested by its mobility in a non-denaturing gel. Although modification of either of the two cysteines located near the C-terminus (Cys280 and Cys291) significantly reduced activity with both cofactors, these mutations did not inactivate the enzyme. Comparison of Km values for the Cys280Ala and Cys291Ala mutants with the wild type protein, at pH 8.7, suggests that Cys280 principally functions in substrate binding while Cys291 is predominantly involved in cofactor binding. This assignment probably also applies at pH 6.75. Comparison of kcat of the mutants with wild type shows that mutation of Cys280 decreases Vmax of the enzyme. Mutation of both C-terminal cysteines caused inactivation of the enzyme, comparable to that produced by mutation of Cys73. Analysis by circular dichroism at far-ultraviolet wavelengths suggests that the alterations in activity are not the result of changes in the secondary structure of these mutants. These results are consistent with Cys73 having a central role in substrate/cofactor binding while biliverdin reductase can function, albeit at a reduced rate, with only one of the near C-terminus cysteines. The results are further consistent with the suggestion that although the two C-terminal cysteines have preferential affinities, they can serve similar functions in the interaction with substrate/cofactor.
A high-resolution numerical technique for inviscid gas-dynamic problems with weak solutions

The application of Harten's method to quasi-one-dimensional nozzle problems and to a two-dimensional shock-reflection problem resulted in high shock resolution steady-state numerical solutions. Applications of the postprocessor method and the modified implicit method for steady-state calculations show encouraging results for one-dimensional problems; however, testing in two dimensions is not complete and further investigation is needed for efficient implementation of the implicit method.
Aging and heat tolerance at rest or during work.

Abstract Collectively, the literature on heat tolerance suggests that middle-aged (45-64 year old) men and women are more work-heat intolerant, and suffer more physiological strain during heat acclimation, than do younger individuals. However, it is unclear whether the age differences in work-heal intolerance and physiologies strain during heat acclimation are related to age per se or associated with other factors such as certain disease states, decreased physical activity, and/or lowered aerobic fitness. In contrast, the work-heat tolerance and physiological responses during heat acclimation of habitually active or aerobically trained middle-aged men are the same or better than younger individuals. The reviewed studies emphasize the importance of aerobic fitness and pertinent morphological factors, such as body fat, body weight, and surface area in maintaining work-heat tolerance with aging. Recent studies suggest that middle-aged and older men and women may be more susceptible to greater heat strain at ...
The Isolation and Characterization of nrc-1 and nrc-2, Two Genes Encoding Protein Kinases That Control Growth and Development in Neurospora crassa

Using an insertional mutagenesis approach, a series of Neurospora crassa mutants affected in the ability to control entry into the conidiation developmental program were isolated. One such mutant, GTH16-T4, was found to lack normal vegetative hyphae and to undergo constitutive conidiation. The affected gene has been named nrc-1, for nonrepressible conidiation gene #1. The nrc-1 gene was cloned from the mutant genomic DNA by plasmid rescue, and was found to encode a protein closely related to the protein products of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae STE11 and Schizosaccharomyces pombe byr2 genes. Both of these genes encode MAPKK kinases that are necessary for sexual development in these organisms. We conclude the nrc-1 gene encodes a MAPKK kinase that functions to repress the onset of conidiation in N. crassa. A second mutant, GTH16-T17, was found to lack normal vegetative hyphae and to constitutively enter, but not complete, the conidiation program. The affected locus is referred to as nrc-2 (nonrepressible conidiation gene #2). The nrc-2 gene was cloned and found to encode a serine-threonine protein kinase. The kinase is closely related to the predicted protein products of the S. pombe kad5, and the S. cerevisiae YNRO47w and KIN82 genes, three genes that have been identified in genome sequencing projects. The N. crassa nrc-2 gene is the first member of this group of kinases for which a phenotype has been defined. We conclude a functional nrc-2-encoded serine/threonine kinase is required to repress entry into the conidiation program.
Quantized Superfluid Vortex Rings in the Unitary Fermi Gas

In a recent article, Yefsah et al. [Nature (London) 499, 426 (2013)] report the observation of an unusual excitation in an elongated harmonically trapped unitary Fermi gas. After phase imprinting a domain wall, they observe oscillations almost an order of magnitude slower than predicted by any theory of domain walls which they interpret as a ``heavy soliton'' of inertial mass some 200 times larger than the free fermion mass or 50 times larger than expected for a domain wall. We present compelling evidence that this ``soliton'' is instead a quantized vortex ring, by showing that the main aspects of the experiment can be naturally explained within the framework of time-dependent superfluid density functional theories.
NEAR SURFACE TURBULENCE OCCURRING OVER HETEROGENEOUS TERRAIN AND STABLE CONDITIONS

Fluxos medios de um conjunto de estacoes localizadas em uma regiao de superficie heterogenea, sao dispostos em funcao de um numero de Richardson regional ( Ri br ). O procedimento de se manter turbulencia, mesmo quando Ri br se encontra acima de seu valor critico ( Ri cr ), usado em modelos numericos de previsao do tempo, e justificado experimentalmente. Os resultados experimentais mostram que a turbulencia nao cessa mesmo quando Ri br >> Ri cr . A rede de estacoes mostra que existem locais preferencias para as transferencias de momentum e calor para uma regiao com superficie heterogenea sob mesmas condicoes de estabilidade regional.
Identification of multiscale model for image processing

Uses wavelet representation to provide a new linear scale autoregressive (LSA) model for images. This modeling approach takes advantage of the information contained in the lower resolutions as well as of the information contained in the detailed images. Detailed images are available from information provided by the wavelet decomposition. It is expected that the proposed model will lead to an improved LSA model, which in turn further enhances the quality of multiscale-based image processing applications. Test images are used to illustrate the benefits of the new modeling approach.
On the construction of hybrid potential energy functions for the treatment of local anharmonicity in molecular vibrations

This paper reports a process by which a local, accurate, and intrinsically anharmonic potential function may be joined with a larger harmonic oscillator representation of the remainder of a molecule to build a hybrid potential energy function. Such functions find use in chemical dynamics in which there is local anharmonic bond breaking and forming, but the remainder of the molecular system behaves essentially as a set of harmonic oscillators. In constructing such a potential, for malonaldehyde as an example, it is assumed that the harmonic-limit potential can be found for the system using a given data set of the Cartesian forces and force constants derived with the use of a computational quantum chemistry program. The Pulay transformation is used to establish a set of internal coordinate forces and force constants consistent with the local model potential function. The success (i.e. faithfulness) of the construction of the hybrid potential strongly depends on the choice of internal coordinates. The Pulay ...
Equating Alternate Test Forms with a Microcomputer

A FORTRAN program is described which applies linear procedures within four test equating designs. The program is flexible relative to data type and format. The program is usable on many microcomputers and larger systems.
Metabolic alterations in liver and testes of adult and newborn rats following cadmium administration.

Cadmium is a well known toxic heavy metal responsible for many toxic manifestations. A large number of studies have been conducted to understand the effect of cadmium on cellular intermediary metabolism. Although, most of the metal is stored in liver and kidney, the organ affected most in acute toxicity is testis. Cadmium has been shown to have high affinity to sulfhydryl groups. Reducing equivalents such as NADH or NADPH are important for keeping the sulfhydryl groups at a reduced state and maintaining the cellular integrity. The present experiment was designed to study the effect of acute cadmium administration on the activities of some of the tissue enzyme systems that provide the reducing equivalent NADPH. The levels of NADH and NADPH were measured. The effect of simultaneous administration of zinc on cadmium-induced changes was also determined. Because newborn animals have been found to be resistant to many effects of cadmium, the studies were also conducted to compare the effects of cadmium on adult and newborn rats.
A practical approach for implementing e-commerce programs in business schools

Ignoring the `e' component in business education does a great disservice to students preparing for a career in business.
The effect of moonlight on observation of cloud cover at night, and application to cloud climatology

Ten years of nighttime weather observations from the Northern Hemisphere in December were classified according to the illuminance of moonlight or twilight on the cloud tops, and a threshold level of illuminance was determined, above which the clouds are apparently detected adequately. This threshold corresponds to light from a full moon at an elevation angle of 6 deg, light from a partial moon at higher elevation, or twilight from the sun less than 9 deg bvelow the horizon. It permits the use of about 38% of the observations made with the sun below the horizon. The computed diurnal cycles of total cloud cover are altered considerably when this moonlight criterion is imposed. Maximum cloud cover over much of the ocean is now found to be at night or in the morning, whereas computations obtained without benefit of the moonlight criterion, as in our published atlases, showed the time of maximum to be noon or early afternoon in many regions. The diurnal cycles of total cloud cover we obtain are compared with those of the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP) for a few regions; they are generally in better agreement if the moonlight criterion is imposed on the surface observations. Using the moonlight criterion, we have analyzed 10 years (1982-91) of surface weather observations over land and ocean, worldwide, for total cloud cover and for the frequency of occurrence of clear sky, fog, and precipitation. The global average cloud cover (average of day and night) is about 2% higher if the moonlight criterion is imposed than if all observations are used. The difference is greater in winter than in summer, because of the fewer hours of darkness in summer. The amplitude of the annual cycle of total cloud cover over the Arctic Ocean and at the South Pole is diminished by a few percent when the moonlight criterion is imposed. The average cloud cover for 1982-91 is found to be 55% for Northern Hemisphere land, 53% for Southern Hemisphere land, 66% for Northern Hemisphere ocean, and 70% for Southern Hemisphere ocean, giving a global average of 64%. The global average for daytime is 64.6%; for nighttime 63.3%.
Toddlers' Understanding of Iconic Models: Cross-Task Comparison of Selection and Preferential Looking Responses

Toddlers' symbolic understanding of iconic models was assessed through 2 comprehension-based tasks: 1 based on looking and 1 requiring manual selection of the target object. Toddlers received either iconic models or photographs of models as the symbolic referent. Overall, 18-month-olds performed poorly, and both 22- and 26-month-olds performed relatively well across tasks. Contrary to expectations that the 2 tasks would impose different levels of attentional demands, performance was relatively consistent across tasks. Vocabulary size was significantly related to performance, even when the effects of age were controlled. Relations between model comprehension and more sophisticated manifestations of symbolic comprehension are considered.
Respiratory Center Output and Ventilatory Timing in Patients with Acute Airway (Asthma) and Alveolar (Pneumonia) Disease

To investigate the mechanism for hyperventilation in two common but dissimilar conditions, asthma (A) and lobar pneumonia (P), we examined the ventilatory pattern in 17 A and six P subjects. When acutely ill, hyperventilation (PaCO2) was similar in the two groups. Minute ventilation (VE) however, was slightly greater in group A than in P. In A patients, measurements of occlusion pressure (dP/dT) and inspiratory flow rate (VT/ti) during quiet breathing showed enhancement of respiratory center output. By contrast, in P patients, dP/dT and VT/ti were not elevated. Tidal volume (VT) was 0.59 +/- 0.19 L in A; 0.45 +/- 0.09 in P. Respiratory rate was increased in both groups. With supplementary oxygen therapy, neither VE nor PaCO2 changed in either group. The mechanism for the increased ventilatory drive in group A is unclear. Most likely, reflexes initiated by either bronchospasm or by the sudden increase of end-expiratory lung volume (EELV), not operative in P, account for the increased respiratory center output seen in A. To examine the latter possibility, we studied the ventilatory pattern at both normal and increased EELV in six nonasthmatic subjects. Both dP/dT and VT/ti were increased in all subjects after elevation of EELV. Thus, changes in EELV may be important for the regulation of ventilation during bronchospasm.
Plastic analysis of thick circular plates

Abstract The von Mises yield criterion is used to study circular plates including the effect of transverse shear. The deformation rate caused by the shear force is assumed to be uniform through the thickness. The appropriate relations among the generalized strain-rate variables and the normal velocity are developed. A piecewise linear approximation inscribing the von Mises yield surface is chosen for the limit load analysis of plates. The problem of a simply supported circular plate loaded by a rigid boss is solved. Below a critical radius of the loaded boss, shear through failure is predicted for non-hardening materials.
Volumetric-intravascular imaging by high-frequency ultrasound

It has been a long sought goal to visualize the morphology and structures of internal organs nonmvasively. Two dimensional imaging of body regions has proven to very successful in clinical and diagnostic medicine. Since the early work on three-dimensional (3D) display' of biomedical images by Greenleaf et. aL2 there is a growing realization that visualizing the actual shape and function of an organ in three-dimensional space and in time will enhance the diagnosis and possibly aid the management of patient therapy. The increasing speed of computations at decreasing costs, and the fact that many of the modem imaging methods generate images in digital form has made volumetric imaging feasible. Although the production of 3D images in the least time, with a greater accuracy, and at a reduced cost continues to be a desirable goal, significant progress has been made in this area in the past several years. The majority of studies in the discipline of 3D images has concentrated on the use of data from computed tomography or from magnetic resonance. The construction of three dimensional imaging from ultrasound data is not as common. This is partly due fact that the resthcted acoustic access of organs does not pmvide sufficient views to generate complete volume of imaged organs. As a consequence, the surfaces of the organs have been displayed as wire-frame models3' 'ISuch displays of medical images have although proven to be helpful in estimating volumes of the organ, they do not provide realistic organ visualization to which physicians can easily relate to for diagnosis. With the improvement in image technology, some of the problems have now been overcome by either rotating transducer through 180 degrees through apical acoustic window for heart5, or by scanning small peripheral limbs in transmission mode through water path6. Such scanning procedures provide data with sufficient integrity to synthesize realistic 3D images of organs. Also, the advent of catheter based ultrasonic technology provides a potential for three-dimensional imaging of blood vessels and is the topic of discussion in this paper. With the introduction of mechanical atherectomy and laser angioplasty there is an increasing risk of vessel perforation. This, along with other factors, has stimulated interest in developing methods for imaging surfaces underlying endothelial cell of arteries. High frequency ultrasonic imaging systems capable of providing 360 degree views of vessel cross-sections are now available commercially and are in clinical use amongst many researchers. Although, there are some initial encouraging results7 on 3D imaging, it is not yet fully established if it is feasible to (a) use a clinical scanner to obtain contiguous cross-sectional images of arteries; and (b) to use such serial cross-sections for volumetric imaging. This paper aims at providing perspectives on these issues of this rapidly evolving technology.
Consumer Concerns About Food and Nutrition

Abstract Until recently, there was no comprehensive determination of consumers’ beliefs and attitudes toward food and nutrition. Most information that had been obtained was marketing information gathered by special interests, primarily unpublished data for in-house use. In the 1970s, federal government agencies began to take a lead in conducting such studies as part of the national effort to provide better information about food and nutrition to consumers, especially in food labeling. While it generally is accepted that consumers have heightened concerns about nutrition and safety of the food supply, the extent and cause of that concern is not yet fully known. To clarify some of the relevant issues, information has been distilled from dairy industry marketing reports and from reports of hearings and surveys by the Food and Drug Administration, United States Department of Agriculture, and the Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Consumer Protection. In the final analysis, we do not have full understanding of the many interacting factors which help mold beliefs and attitudes of consumers; this lack is especially evident in the sensitive issues associated with food, nutrition, and health.
Characterizations of Continuous Distributions Based on Conditional Expectation of Generalized Order Statistics

Characterizations of probability distributions by different regression conditions on generalized order statistics have attracted the attention of many researchers, in particular Bieniek and Szynal (2003), Cramer et al. (2004), and Bieniek (2007, 2009). We present here certain characterizations of univariate continuous distributions based on the conditional expectation of adjacent generalized order statistics.