cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bekenstein's Entropy Bound-Particle Horizon Approach to Avoid the Cosmological Singularity.

The cosmological singularity of infinite density, temperature, and spacetime curvature is the classical limit of Friedmann’s general relativity solutions extrapolated to the origin of the standard model of cosmology. Jacob Bekenstein suggests that thermodynamics excludes the possibility of such a singularity in a 1989 paper. We propose a re-examination of his particle horizon approach in the early radiation-dominated universe and verify it as a feasible alternative to the classical inevitability of the singularity. We argue that this minimum-radius particle horizon determined from Bekenstein’s entropy bound, necessarily quantum in nature as a quantum particle horizon (QPH), precludes the singularity, just as quantum mechanics provided the solution for singularities in atomic transitions as radius r → 0 . An initial radius of zero can never be attained quantum mechanically. This avoids the spacetime singularity, supporting Bekenstein’s assertion that Friedmann models cannot be extrapolated to the very beginning of the universe but only to a boundary that is ‘something like a particle horizon’. The universe may have begun in a bright flash and quantum flux of radiation and particles at a minimum, irreducible quantum particle horizon rather than at the classical mathematical limit and unrealizable state of an infinite singularity.
Primary Swine Respiratory Epithelial Cell Lines for the Efficient Isolation and Propagation of Influenza A Viruses.

Influenza virus isolation from clinical samples is critical for the identification and characterization of circulating and emerging viruses. Yet efficient isolation can be difficult. In these studies, we isolated primary swine nasal and tracheal respiratory epithelial cells and immortalized swine nasal epithelial cells (siNEC) and tracheal epithelial cells (siTEC) that retained the abilities to form tight junctions and cilia and to differentiate at the air-liquid interface like primary cells. Critically, both human and swine influenza viruses replicated in the immortalized cells, which generally yielded higher-titer viral isolates from human and swine nasal swabs, supported the replication of isolates that failed to grow in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, and resulted in fewer dominating mutations during viral passaging than MDCK cells. IMPORTANCE Robust in vitro culture systems for influenza virus are critically needed. MDCK cells, the most widely used cell line for influenza isolation and propagation, do not adequately model the respiratory tract. Therefore, many clinical isolates, both animal and human, are unable to be isolated and characterized, limiting our understanding of currently circulating influenza viruses. We have developed immortalized swine respiratory epithelial cells that retain the ability to differentiate and can support influenza replication and isolation. These cell lines can be used as additional tools to enhance influenza research and vaccine development.
YY1 Promotes SCF/c-Kit Signaling and HSC Self-Renewal in Fetal Hematopoiesis

Fetal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) exhibit markedly different properties as compared to adult HSCs including cell surface marker expression, proliferation state and repopulation capacity. Changes of HSC activity in postnatal mice is defined by a process of decreasing in cell cycle and entering into quiescence. Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is a ubiquitous transcription factor and mammalian Polycomb Group (PcG) Protein with important functions to regulate embryonic development, lineage differentiation and cell proliferation. While homozygote deletion of YY1 in mice results in lethality at the peri-implantation stage, heterozygote deletion of YY1 causes severe developmental defects. By conditionally deleting YY1 in adult hematopoietic system, our previous study showed that YY1 is an essential regulator for adult hematopoiesis by promoting HSC long-term self-renewal and maintaining adult HSC quiescence. In contrast to adult HSCs, in which quiescence is a fundamental characteristic, over 95% of fetal HSCs are in an active cell cycle to rapidly generate homeostatic levels of blood cells for oxygen transport and immune system development in the growing organism. Herein, we assessed whether YY1 was also required for maintaining fetal HSC pool and regulating fetal HSC functions, and what was the underlying mechanism by which YY1 regulated fetal HSCs. To test how loss-of-function of YY1 impacted fetal hematopoiesis, Yy1f/f mice in which the Yy1 promoter region and exon 1 are flanked by loxP sites, were crossed to Vav-Cre mice to generate heterozygous Yy1f/+ Vav-cre mice. The Vav promoter drives Cre recombinase expression specifically in fetal liver hematopoietic cell starting at day E11.5. Yy1f/+ Vav-cre mice were then subsequently bred with Yy1f/f mice to generate homozygous Yy1f/f Vav-cre mice. Among 141 pups resulting from breeding Yy1f/fto Yy1f/+ Vav-Cre, only 7 were Yy1f/f Vav-Cre (n=7) and was significantly lower than the estimated number (n=35) according to the Mendelian ratio (P Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Mind the Gaps! Clustered Obstacles to Mobility in the Core/Periphery Hierarchy

The primary concern of this chapter is with global structural inequality, which we address by examining the shape and distributions of global economic and military power from 1960 to 2015. We find that despite several changes in the distributions that occurred in the first decade of the new millennium, there has been a tendency for the convergence of countries into groups or clusters with empirical gaps between the clusters. Both the economic and military distributions are trimodal, displaying a—core-semiperiphery-periphery structure. These findings are consistent with the world-system perspective, and the economic clustering confirms what economists have called “convergence clubs”. Regarding the military distribution, we also found, in addition to the trimodal distribution, a military superpower—the United States at the top of the hierarchy. This is the main difference between the economic and military distributions. Economic power is more evenly shared among core states than the military power. We seek to explain why the distributions of economic and military power are lumpy rather than continuous. What is the nature of economic development and military competition in the modern world-system that causes countries to group together in three clusters? What causes these gaps?
MCBAT: Model Counting for Constraints over Bounded Integer Arrays

Model counting procedures for data structures are crucial for advancing the field of automated quantitative program analysis. We present an algorithm and practical tool for performing Model Counting for Bounded Array Theory (MCBAT). As the satisfiability problem for the theory of arrays is undecidable in general, we focus on a fragment of array theory for which we are able to specify an exact model counting algorithm. MCBAT applies to quantified integer array constraints in which all arrays have a finite length. We employ reductions from the theory of arrays to uninterpreted functions and linear integer arithmetic (LIA), and we prove these reductions to be model-count preserving. Once reduced to LIA, we leverage Barvinok’s polynomial time integer lattice point enumeration algorithm. Finally, we present experimental validation for the correctness and scalability of our approach and apply MCBAT to a case study on automated average case analysis for array programs, demonstrating applicability to automated quantitative program analysis.
Age-Related Testosterone Deficiency Merits Treatment

The negative effects of testosterone deficiency (TD) on human health and quality of life are well demonstrated, including signs, symptoms, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and increased mortality. Rece...
Flexible thread-based electrochemical sensors for oxygen monitoring

Oxygen plays a key role in human physiology and is abnormally modulated in various disease pathologies making its in situ monitoring quite important. Most oxygen sensors are not able to measure oxygen levels deep inside the tissue or have mismatched electrode–tissue interfaces. In this study we developed a flexible thread-based oxygen sensor that combines the unique advantages of minimal invasiveness and superior flexibility offering the possibility for tissue integration. The sensor is featured by a simple and low-cost fabrication approach which allows for measuring the overall oxygen concentration either over a large surface area or locally at any spot in any three-dimensional environment with high spatial accuracy and high sensitivity. The sensor can sensitively detect dissolved oxygen levels within the physiological range of tissue oxygenation. The sensor's performance is insensitive to pH variation from 5.8 to 8.0. The sensor shows good repeatability and stability over a period of one week in phosphate buffered saline. In addition, the signal variation is less than 10% after hundreds of cycles of physical bending. Using a hydrogel-based tissue model the sensor has been shown to probe dissolved oxygen levels at different spatial locations inside a tissue-like environment.
A 6μm-Precision Pulsed-Coherent Lidar with a 40-dB Tuning Range Inverter-Based Phase-Invariant PGA

Lidars are becoming common components for remote sensing in many emerging applications such as autonomous vehicle and facial recognition. To accurately visualize the point cloud for further data processing, metrics such as precision, sampling rate, and linearity are important. The concept of a sub-sampling pulsed-coherent lidar system [1] has demonstrated high precision and fast acquisition. The segmented time-of-flight (ToF) algorithm measures the phase shift of the carrier as fine ToF and counts the arrival time of the low-frequency mask’s envelope as intermediate and coarse ToF. Fig. 1(a) shows the down-conversion architecture in [1] using a simple LO generation which only uses dividers and a mixer to minimize the clock jitter. The performance based on the coherent detection, however, is limited by several factors. (1) The crosstalk between the reference clock and the echoed signal at the same frequency lowers the sensitivity and the linearity. Specifically, the reference leaks to the incoming signal path hence introducing an in-band spur. At the same time, the received signals with different power pull the clock phase and cause input-dependent phase shifts. (2) I/Q IF channels and two high-speed ADCs are required to reconstruct the mask’s envelope leading to high power consumption. Additionally, I/Q mismatch calibration process must be done prior to the normal acquisition. In this work, a local PLL synthesizes the LO to suppress the in-band reference leakage and crosstalk. A two-step down-conversion with digital down-mixing is implemented which improves the power efficiency and immunity to PVT variation without additional calibration. We also propose an inverter-based phase-invariant programmable gain amplifier (PI-PGA) that improves the linearity with a 40-dB tuning range. This calibration-free system achieves 6-μm precision and 30-μm INL Max with a 5-MSa/s sampling rate.
Patterns and trends of organic matter processing and transport: Insights from the US long-term ecological research network

Abstract Organic matter (OM) dynamics determine how much carbon is stored in ecosystems, a service that modulates climate. We synthesized research from across the US Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) Network to assemble a conceptual model of OM dynamics that is consistent with inter-disciplinary perspectives and emphasizes vulnerability of OM pools to disturbance. Guided by this conceptual model, we identified unanticipated patterns and long-term trends in processing and transport of OM emerging from terrestrial, freshwater, wetland, and marine ecosystems. Cross-ecosystem synthesis combined with a survey of researchers revealed several themes: 1) strong effects of climate change on OM dynamics, 2) surprising patterns in OM storage and dynamics resulting from coupling with nutrients, 3) characteristic and often complex legacies of land use and disturbance, 4) a significant role of OM transport that is often overlooked in terrestrial ecosystems, and 5) prospects for reducing uncertainty in forecasting OM dynamics by incorporating the chemical composition of OM. Cross-fertilization of perspectives and approaches across LTER sites and other research networks can stimulate the comprehensive understanding required to support large-scale characterizations of OM budgets and the role of ecosystems in regulating global climate.
Private Pre-Decision Information, Performance Measure Congruity and the Value of Delegation

We use a linear contracting framework to study how the relation between performance measures used in an agent's incentive contract and the agent's private pre-decision information affects the value of delegating decision rights to the agent. The analysis relies on the idea that available performance measures are often imperfect representations of the economic consequences of managerial actions and decisions, and this, along with gaming possibilities provided to the agent by access to private pre-decision information, may overwhelm any benefits associated with delegation. Our analytical framework allows us to derive intuitive conditions under which delegation does and does not have value, and to provide new insights into the linkage between imperfections in performance measurement and agency costs. Key Words: Private pre-decision information; Performance measure congruity; Delegation
Children Who Cope: Some Implications for Intervention and Prevention

Behavioral scientists have become preoccupied with the language and concepts of disorder, deficit, illness, disability, handicap and disease as applied to the range of human behavior. They invariably see the minority of children and adults who are not coping and leading satisfactory lives. Concepts about child behavior, development and personality functioning have been strongly influenced by this biased perspective. In studying pathology at the neglect of normality, adversity has been given the highest percentage of attention. What is overlooked is that the majority of children and adults is able to lead satisfying, gratifying lives even under conditions of adversity, chronic stress and handicap.
Survey of viral populations within Lake Michigan nearshore waters at four Chicago area beaches.

In comparison to the oceans, freshwater environments represent a more diverse community of microorganisms, exhibiting comparatively high levels of variability both temporally and spatially Maranger and Bird, Microb. Ecol. 31 (1996) 141–151. This level of variability is likely to extend to the world of viruses as well, in particular bacteria-infecting viruses (bacteriophages). Phages are known to influence bacterial diversity, and therefore key processes, in environmental niches across the globe Clokie et al., Bacteriophage 1 (2011) 31–45; Jacquet et al., Adv. Ocean Limn. 1 (2010) 97–141; Wilhelm and Suttle, Bioscience 49 (1999) 781–788; Bratback et al., Microb. Ecol. 28 (1994) 209–221. Despite their prevalence and likely critical role in freshwater environments, very few viral species have been characterized. Metagenomic approaches, however, have allowed for a glimpse into phage diversity. We collected surface water samples from four Chicago area beaches – Gillson Park, Montrose Beach, 57th Street Beach, and Calumet Beach – every two weeks from May 13 through August 5, 2014. Sampling was conducted with four biological replicates for each sampling date and location, resulting in 112 samples. DNA isolated from each of the individual samples for a given collection date/location was pooled together, with one exception – Calumet Beach on August 5, 2014 – in which each biological replicate was sequenced individually. Raw sequence data is available via NCBI’s SRA database (part of BioProject PRJNA248239).
Upholding Customary Land Rights through Formalization? Evidence from Tanzania's Program of Land Reform

University of Minnesota Ph.D. dissertation January 2013. Major: Geography. Advisor: Francis Harvey. 1 computer file (PDF); viii, 235 pages.
Determination and apparent digestibility of neutral detergent fiber monosaccharides in women

The neutral monosaccharides in neutral detergent fiber (NDF) extracted from low and high cellulose diets and from feces excreted by seven women consuming the same diet were determined. In addition, apparent digestibilities of the NDF neutral monosaccharides during consumption of both diets were compared. Diets were of constant daily composition and differed only in that the high fiber diet contained 16 g/day of Solka Floc. NDF residues from food and feces were hydrolyzed by the Saeman procedure and the neutral saccharides measured by high performance liquid chromatography. More than 75% of the food NDF from both diets was glucose. Mean fecal NDF was 77% glucose during feeding of the low fiber diet, 89% glucose during the high fiber diet. Xylose was the next most common monosaccharide, accounting for 6-16% of the monosaccharides detected in food and fecal NDF. Concentrations of the other sugars, arabinose, cellobiose, mannose, galactose and rhamnose, ranged from 1 to 6%. Apparent digestibility of the sugars decreased significantly when Solka Floc was consumed: glucose from 85 to 48%; xylose from 76 to 57%; arabinose 89 to 73%; and mannose 86 to 43%. These data indicate that the monosaccharides in NDF from a representative low fiber diet are degraded extensively in the gut, and that adding Solka Floc to the diet decreases the digestibility of all fiber-derived monosaccharides.
Three Models of Air Power as an Asymmetrical Asset

Abstract Traditionally, air power has been used in accordance with two models: distance attack and ground support. However, conflicts and challenges in the post-Cold War era have put America's military forces in situations where those models are inadequate. Recent breakthroughs in communications, positioning and guidance technology have refined the accuracy of air power, leading to the emergence of a third “integrated” model of air power use. The “integrated” model combines the best elements of the distance attack and ground support models; this new model gives the American military a new asymmetrical advantage when combating adversaries around the globe.
Ideographic use of economic terms

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to challenge the claim that economics is of neutral value and unveil common value judgments underlying the standard policy positions in economics. These value judgments are communicated through the economic lexicon. Design/methodology/approach – The author uses discourse analysis and focuses on certain authoritative economic terms, most of which are metaphors, functioning like arguments. The author calls such terms as “deadweight loss” ideographs in the sense McGee (1980) used the term. Findings – Economic language is not neutral. Certain terms that are treated as common sense mask the normative commitments to which economists often are subscribed, consciously or not. Originality/value – The author treats economics as a particular welfare ideology whose normative commitments are communicated by its vocabulary. The critical approach used here is not common in economics. The author argues that implicit biases built in the discipline are reinforced by the particular eco...
Stable transfection of the NR1 subunit in Chinese hamster ovary cells fails to produce a functional N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor

The NR1 subunit of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor cDNA was stably transfected into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Northern analysis revealed 3 clonal cell lines expressing high levels of NMDAR1 mRNA (BA1, BA2 and BA3). NMDAR1 protein was readily detected by Western analysis in only one of the clonal populations, BA1. Whole-cell patch clamp analysis revealed a lack of functional NMDA receptors in all of the cell lines, including BA1. NMDA-mediated responses were obtained only after a second subunit, NMDAR2A, was transiently expressed in BA1 cells. Therefore, the NR1 subunit alone may not be sufficient to form functional NMDA receptors in CHO cells.
Oxygen‐18 in Biological NMR

The sections in this article are 1 Introduction 2 Properties of the 18O Isotope Shifts in NMR 3 Studies Utilizing 18O Isotope Shifts in 13C, 15N, and 31P NMR 4 Biographical Sketch Related Articles
Blood prothrombin levels in the newborn

Abstract A study of the clinical records combined with laboratory data concerning the clotting activity of the blood of 530 newborn infants confirms the previously reported observation that there is a physiologic decrease in prothrombin activity during the early days of the neonatal period. The prevention of this decrease by the administration of a vitamin K substance has been investigated. A simple clinically applicable test for the rapid assay of the clotting activity of the blood has been presented.
Las marcas en el Tratado de Libre Comercio de América del Norte

Numero 107 Mayo - Agosto 2003 Nueva Serie Ano XXXVI ISSN 0041 8633 LAS MARCAS EN EL TRATADO DE LIBRE COMERCIO DE AMERICA DEL NORTE * Roberto ROSAS RODRIGUEZ ** In this essay the author analyzes the regulation of trade-marks in the NAFTA, and its influence on Mexico"s legislation on that matter. In the fist part, the author explains in general terms the content of the NAFTA, and afterwards he refers to the ru-les of Chapter XVII on industrial property. Moreover, he explains the protection derived from this Agreement in connection with trade-marks and later he refers to the normative framework of trade-marks in Mexico, which is a result both of legislation and internatio-nal treaties. Finally, he makes a comparison between the Spanish Law on Trade-marks of 2001, the rules of NAFTA and Mexico"s Law on Industrial Property . Descriptors : trade-marks, industrial pro-perty, international treaties . * Con referencias a la nueva Ley de Marcas de Espana (Ley 17/2001, de 7 de diciembre) en vigor a partir del 31 de julio de 2002. ** Instructor of Law St. Mary"s University School of Law, San Antonio, Texas. El autor agradece a Hector Cavazos su valiosa ayuda en la investigacion para la realizacion de este articulo. * Nota: Debido que la traduccion es automatica podra ser inexacta o contener errores.
Automation of ventilator control for hyperbaric oxygen therapy

The following study proposes the use of an automatically controlled ventilator during hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO therapy). HBO therapy has been used clinically since the mid 1800s and is currently approved by the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS) to treat 13 different medical conditions. The theory behind this therapy is that if a patient breathes 100% oxygen at pressures greater than 1 atmosphere, the oxygen will saturate the hemoglobin and will also dissolve into the blood plasma, drastically increasing the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood and, subsequently, the body's ability to oxygenate tissue. The UHMS HBO therapy indications include, but are not limited to, carbon monoxide poisoning, refractory osteomyelitis, problem wound therapy, and necrotizing soft tissue infections. In most situations, the patient undergoing HBO therapy is conscious and breathing on his own, but there are instances where this is not the case. In these events, it is necessary for the patient to have a ventilator breath for him. Ventilation while undergoing HBO therapy can cause various complications due to the pressure changes inside the hyperbaric chamber. As chamber pressure changes, tidal volume fluctuates, requiring a respiratory therapist to constantly make manual changes to ventilator parameters. If the proper gas volume is not maintained, it could result in inadequate patient ventilation or excessive ventilation resulting in lung damage. The current study tests the use of a PIC microcontroller for automating ventilator control during HBO therapy. This will allow respiratory therapists to perform their regular functions without the added task of compensating for pressure variations.
Overview of the Poster Awards

Overview of the Poster Awards T he National Outreach Scholarship Conference has long provided a venue for the presentation of posters representing innovative research, effective practices, and impactful programs. In 2011, conference planners developed a series of measures focused on enriching the poster session as a platform for showcasing community-based scholarship and university outreach. A number of the changes were implemented to enhance the experience of the poster sessions for presenters and attendees of the conference. These changes included: • organizing two distinct poster sessions, each with a different line-up of posters;
The role of Sirt1 in renal rejuvenation and resistance to stress

This issue of the JCI includes studies demonstrating that sirtuin 1 (Sirt1), a NAD+-dependent deacetylase, slows renal senescence and safeguards cells in the renal medulla. Kume et al. demonstrated that caloric restriction protected the aging kidney by preserving renal Sirt1 expression, the latter deacetylating forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a), inducing Bnip 3, and promoting mitochondrial autophagy. Sirt1 expression, as shown by He et al., enabled interstitial cells to withstand the oxidizing medullary environment and exerted antiapoptotic and antifibrotic effects in the obstructed kidney. Sirt1 is thus an important participant in renal cytoprotective responses to aging and stress.
Herbicide effects on soil arthropod dynamics and wheat straw decomposition in a North Carolina no-tillage agroecosystem

Herbicide combinations of paraquat, glyphosate, alachlor, linuron, fluazifopbutyl, aciflurofen, and bentazon were investigated for their impact on soil arthropod population dynamics and surface wheat straw decomposition (weight loss) within a North Carolina coastal plain agroecosystem. Herbicides were applied twice (preemergence and mid-bloom) at recommended field rates to soybeans no-till planted into wheat residue. Separate measurements were made for surface crop residue and soil-dwelling (0–3 cm depth) arthropods. Decomposition of herbicide (glyphosate) and nonherbicide-treated wheat straw residue was compared using mesh bag techniques. Decay rate constants were estimated for glyphosate and nonherbicide-treated wheat straw residue by fitting a two-component model to the data. Comparison of soil microarthropod numbers from herbicide and nonherbicide treatments showed no consistent trend, suggesting that abiotic factors such as soil temperature and moisture were probably more significant than herbicide effects in regulating soil microarthropod number and activity. Herbicides had no effect on soil macroarthropod number or activity until late in the season when macroarthropods were most abundant under weedy, no-tillage conditions. Moist soil and litter, low soil temperature, floral diversity, and high weed-seed availability probably enhanced macroarthropod numbers in nonherbicide treatments. Decomposition (ash-free weight loss) of nonherbicided, surface crop residues was more rapid than herbicide (glyphosate) treated, indicating that herbicide effects occur at the decomposer as well as producer level of agroecosystems.
The control of catalytic poisoning and stress corrosion cracking

When a structural metal is stressed in a hydrogen environment, the metal may crack at stress levels much lower than its normal strength. This embrittlement is caused by hydrogen atoms or ions rather than hydrogen molecules. The catalytic dissociation of hydrogen molecules into atoms or ions takes place at dislocation sites on a metal surface. The termini of dislocations on a metal surface are sites of localized high energy. There are “poisons” which will retard or even stop catalytic processes. The toxicity of a poison depends on the binding energy of the foreign atom to a dislocation terminus. Cracked specimens made of 4340 steel were tested in hydrogen gas and its mixture with SO2, CS2, CO2, N2 and Ar. Both SO2 and CS2 are very “toxic” and can stop a running crack. The toxicity of CO2 is moderate. n2 and Ar have no noticeable effect on a running crack.
Isolation of 6-hydroxymethyllumazine (phosphodoxin?) and two other lumazine derivatives from spinach, and their synthesis.

Abstract Three lumazine derivatives have been isolated from spinach, and their structures have been determined by comparison with synthetic specimens. The compounds are lumazine-6-carboxylic acid, 2,4-dihydroxypteridine-6-methyl sulfate, and 6-hydroxymethyllumazine. A synthesis of this latter compound without possible contamination by the 7-isomer has been devised. It's relation to “phosphodoxin,” a factor which stimulates photosynthetic phosphorylation, is discussed.
Development of new crops for industrial raw materials

Commercial fats and oils are still used extensively in chemical manufacturing processes, but their fatty acid compositions are limited in variety. An extensive screening program for potential new oilseed crops has led to the discovery of many good sources of new lipid classes and fatty acids. Among them are long-chain acids (Crambe, Limnanthes, Lunaria), medium-chain acids (Cuphea, Umbelliferae, Lauraceae), hydroxy acids (Lesquerella), epoxy acids (Vernonia, Stokesia), acids with special unsaturation (conjugated; acetylenic; Δ3, Δ5, Δ6, Δ17 monoenes) and liquid wax esters (Simmondsia). Many of these plant species have received further attention in terms of germplasm collection and evaluation; breeding and agronomic studies; and processing and utilization research on oil and byproduct meal. Some have been developed sufficiently for early commercialization. Recent history has shown this last step to be the most difficult. No satisfactory mechanism has been devised as yet to simplify the process of transferring research information on a developed new crop to reach the ultimate goal of sustained, large-scale commerical production. Close cooperation between governments and private sector institutions, with some financial support, may be required for the first few years to achieve successful commercialization.
Can Teams Outperform Individuals in a Simulated Dynamic Control Task

Dynamic control tasks, such as teleoperation, are often performed by one person. Previous researchers have focused on methods for extending the capabilities of this sole operator. The present study compared the performance of individuals and two-person teams on a simulated space teleoperation task. Forty-eight undergraduate and graduate psychology students participated as part of a larger study. Participants performed a computer-based teleoperation simulation (based on Li, 1998) both individually and in two-person teams (n=24). Results indicated that teams outperformed individuals on two of three performance measures: path completion time and damage caused by collisions with the path wall. These results indicate that team-control may be a viable option in dynamic control tasks such as teleoperation. Real-world applications of these findings are discussed.
A Role for Mixed Corollary Discharge and Proprioceptive Signals in Predicting the Sensory Consequences of Movements

Animals must distinguish behaviorally relevant patterns of sensory stimulation from those that are attributable to their own movements. In principle, this distinction could be made based on internal signals related to motor commands, known as corollary discharge (CD), sensory feedback, or some combination of both. Here we use an advantageous model system—the electrosensory lobe (ELL) of weakly electric mormyrid fish—to directly examine how CD and proprioceptive feedback signals are transformed into negative images of the predictable electrosensory consequences of the fish's motor commands and/or movements. In vivo recordings from ELL neurons and theoretical modeling suggest that negative images are formed via anti-Hebbian plasticity acting on random, nonlinear mixtures of CD and proprioception. In support of this, we find that CD and proprioception are randomly mixed in spinal mossy fibers and that properties of granule cells are consistent with a nonlinear recoding of these signals. The mechanistic account provided here may be relevant to understanding how internal models of movement consequences are implemented in other systems in which similar components (e.g., mixed sensory and motor signals and synaptic plasticity) are found.
Gadolinium-DTPA-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging of musculoskeletal infectious processes.

The purpose of this study was to assess whether gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provides diagnostic information beyond that given by nonenhanced imaging in the evaluation of musculoskeletal infectious processes and whether it can be used for differentiating infectious from noninfectious inflammatory lesions. Magnetic resonance images performed with and without intravenous gadolinium-DTPA in 34 cases in which musculoskeletal infection had been clinically suspected were reviewed. Infectious lesionsincluding osteomyelitis, pyarthrosis, abscess, and cellulitis-were confirmed in a total of 22 cases: in 15 by biopsy or drainage and in 7 by clinical course. Our results show that gadolinium-DTPA-enhanced MRI is a highly sensitive technique in diagnosing musculoskeletal infectious lesions. It is especially useful in distinguishing abscesses from surrounding cellulitis/myositis. Lack of contrast enhancement rules out infection with a high degree of certainty. However, contrast enhancement cannot be used to reliably distinguish infectious from noninfectious inflammatory conditions.
Effect of Anode Temperature on Hall Thruster Performance

The effects of anode temperature on the performance of a 5-kW Hall-effect thruster are investigated. The performance characteristics of the P5 Hall-effect thruster are measured with and without active cooling of the anode. Thrust, ion current density, anode temperature, and cooling power are measured for discharge voltages between 100 and 500 V at xenon propellant flow rates of 4.97 and 10.0 mg/s. All experiments are performed in a 4 by 7 m stainless-steel vacuum chamber at pressures below 2.4 x 10 ―5 Torr corrected for xenon. At 100 V, 4.97 mg/s, cooling affects a 6.3% increase in anode efficiency and a 56% increase in thrust-to-power (T/P). At 100 V, 10.0 mg/s, cooling affects a 2.0% increase in anode efficiency and a 7.5% increase in T/P. For both propellant flow rates, the cooled anode efficiency unexpectedly decreases as the discharge voltage increases, which leads to a maximum anode efficiency loss of 5.0 and 9.1 % at 4.97 and 10.0 mg/s, respectively.
Sexuality in the baccalaureate nursing curriculum

154 baccalaureate nursing programs were polled as to the incorporation of human sexuality concepts into the nursing curricula. Only 10% of the schools responding had a separate course on human sexuality although most schools included material on human sexuality within other courses in the curriculum or through other departments in the university. The concepts taught were those related to reproduction and maternal-child health. Most curricula did not included sex-related material not concerned with family planning or obstetrics. Most respondents cited the lack of time as the main obstacle to more teaching of human sexuality. Demographic variables did not distinguish between schools teaching a great deal of human sexuality material and those teaching none or little. Schools believing that graduate nurses should be prepared to offer sexual counseling were found to have more related course work in the curricula.
Radical Sites in Mycobacterium tuberculosis KatG Identified Using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, the Three-dimensional Crystal Structure, and Electron Transfer Couplings

Catalase-peroxidase (KatG) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a Class I peroxidase, exhibits high catalase activity and peroxidase activity with various substrates and is responsible for activation of the commonly used antitubercular drug, isoniazid (INH). KatG readily forms amino acid-based radicals during turnover with alkyl peroxides, and this work focuses on extending the identification and characterization of radicals forming on the millisecond to second time scale. Rapid freeze-quench electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (RFQ-EPR) reveals a change in the structure of the initially formed radical in the presence of INH. Heme pocket binding of the drug and knowledge that KatG[Y229F] lacks this signal provides evidence for radical formation on residue Tyr229. High field RFQ-EPR spectroscopy confirmed a tryptophanyl radical signal, and new analyses of X-band RFQ-EPR spectra also established its presence. High field EPR spectroscopy also confirmed that the majority radical species is a tyrosyl radical. Site-directed mutagenesis, along with simulations of EPR spectra based on x-ray structural data for particular tyrosine and tryptophan residues, enabled assignments based on predicted hyperfine coupling parameters. KatG mutants W107F, Y229F, and the double mutant W107F/Y229F showed alteration in type and yield of radical species. Results are consistent with formation of a tyrosyl radical reasonably assigned to residue Tyr229 within the first few milliseconds of turnover. This is followed by a mixture of tyrosyl and tryptophanyl radical species and finally to only a tyrosyl radical on residue Tyr353, which lies more distant from the heme. The radical processing of enzyme lacking the Trp107-Tyr229-Met255 adduct (found as a unique structural feature of catalase-peroxidases) is suggested to be a reasonable assignment of the phenomena.
Large Differences between LINE-1 Amplification Rates in the Human and Chimpanzee Lineages

The genomic evolution and causes of phenotypic variation among humans and great apes remain largely unknown, although the phylogenetic relationships among them have been extensively explored. Previous studies that focus on differences at the amino acid and nucleotide sequence levels have revealed a high degree of similarity between humans and chimpanzees, suggesting that other types of genomic change may have contributed to the relatively large phenotypic differences between them. For example, the activity of long interspersed element 1 (LINE-1) retrotransposons may impose significant changes on genomic structure and function and, consequently, on phenotype. Here we investigate the relative rates of LINE-1 amplification in the lineages leading to humans, bonobos (Pan paniscus), and chimpanzees (P. troglodytes). Our data indicate that LINE-1 insertions have accumulated at significantly greater rates in bonobos and chimpanzees than in humans, provide insights into the timing of major LINE-1 amplification events during great ape evolution, and identify a Pan-specific LINE-1 subfamily.
Ethical Considerations in CYP2D6 Genotype Testing for Codeine-Prescribed Breastfeeding Mothers

In this issue, Madadi et al. report on interviews with codeine-prescribed breastfeeding mothers concerning preferences and attitudes toward receiving their CYP2D6 genotype and overall study findings. We address three sets of ethics questions raised by this article. Should genetic information be disclosed to research participants in genetic research? What should clinicians take into account when considering this genetic test in managing infant opioid toxicity risk? What conditions support or hinder the integration of genetic information into patient care?
Morphine antinociception: evidence for the release of endogenous substance(s).

Abstract Complete blockade of both the neural and the humoral pathways by spinal ligations at a low thoracic level (T 11 –T 13 ) abolished morphine induced antinociception in mice. However, when only the humoral pathway was maintained, i.e. spinalization at T 12 with the dura mater intact, the antinociceptive effect of morphine was not reduced. Furthermore, blocking only the humoral pathway, i.e. removal of the dura mater at T 11 –T 13 without damaging spinal neurons, or making a leakage of CSF through an opening in the cisterna magna reduced morphine antinociception. These findings indicate that morphine antinociceptive effects in mice are mainly mediated by substance(s) released from supraspinal structures and transported in the CSF.
Placement of UAN for Dryland Winter Wheat in the Central High Plains

Research was initiated in 1993 to determine the N fertilizer requirement for dryland winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grown under reduced tillage systems in western Kansas. Six sites in west-central Kansas were selected each year for 4 yr in cooperation with area farmers. The typical cropping system was wheat-fallow with reduced tillage practices. All sites were on silt loam soil that ranged in residual soil nitrate-N content from 2 to 9 mg kg -1 (0- to 60-cm sample). Crop residue cover at wheat planting averaged 28%. Fluid N (28% N as urea-ammonium nitrate solution, UAN) was injected in the fall and spring and surface broadcast during the winter and spring at five rates (22, 45, 67, 90, and 112 kg ha -1 ) along with a zero N control. Typical production practices consisted of planting winter wheat in mid-September with a hoe-type drill. Grain protein increased linearly with increased N rates with greater than 130 g kg -1 when 112 kg N ha -1 was injected. Apparent fertilizer N recovery decreased with increased N rates, but was consistently higher with fall or spring injected rather than winter or spring broadcast UAN. The straw/yield ratio was greater than 2 across all N rates, which is greater than the commonly used value of 1.7. The soil N test was an indicator of yield response to N fertilization. Grain yields increased in 10 of 13 site-years with N fertilizer. Average grain yields were 8% greater from spring injected than broadcast UAN. The time of N application had little effect on grain yield. Economic analysis indicated that injecting UAN in the fall or spring was more profitable than topdressing UAN in the winter or spring because of improved yields and/or lower total N costs. These data suggest that N rate recommendations should vary with application method.
Distribution of fluid muds on the Amazon continental shelf

Abstract A comprehensive study of suspended-sediment transport on the Amazon shelf was conducted as part of the AmasSeds project (A Multidisciplinary Amazon Shelf SEDiment Study) to understand the link between physical processes and the fate of Amazon River sediment. A small instrumented tripod was used to measure the fluid, flow, and suspended-sediment characteristics throughout the water column on varying time scales (e.g., semidiurnal, fortnightly, seasonal). Dense nearbed suspensions, or fluid muds (suspended-sediment concentration > 10 g/l), on the order of a few meters in thickness, were found on the inner and middle shelf covering an area ranging from ∼5,700 km2 during falling and low river discharge to ∼10,000 km2 during rising and high discharge. Fluid muds, generally observed in the region of bottom salinity fronts, extend across the topset beds to the foreset beds during rising and high discharge. Salinity and temperature anomalies frequently observed in fluid muds imply that often the muds do not result from erosion and resuspension from the seabed, but from trapping processes at the bottom salinity front and transport across the shelf. The vertical structure of fluid mud varies in space and tune. Variability close to the river mouth is predominantly fortnightly, related to the location and structure of the bottom salinity front; on the open shelf, the variability appears to be related to seasonal differences in river and sediment discharge and the location of the bottom salinity front. The total suspended sediment inventory on the shelf during the season of high discharge is approximately equal to the annual sediment discharge from the river (1.2 × 109 tons/yr) and > 90% of that inventory is within fluid mud. Suspended-sediment transport on the shelf is dominated by fluid mud.
Surface-induced phenomena in uncompensated collinear antiferromagnets.

The net spontaneous magnetization of antiferromagnets with modified surfaces was computed using mean-field theory. For ordinary phase transitions the net magnetization of uncompensated AFM is smaller than the surface magnetization and the Neel vector, whereas for extraordinary phase transitions the net magnetization is larger than the surface magnetization and the Neel vector at finite temperature. Moreover, the temperature dependence of these three observable internal parameters changes drastically with the surface properties, i.e. the surface exchange coupling JS. Based on these findings, contour plots showing different regions of magnetization and Neel vector behavior as functions of temperature and surface exchange strength are proposed.
The Capability-Focus Treatment Framework for Child Speech Disorders

The goals of this report are to describe a treatment framework for child speech disorders, to summarize findings on the predictive validity of the framework, and to stimulate discussion of associat...
Conformational isomerization of cis-decahydronaphthalene over zeolite catalysts

This paper presents our exploratory studies on zeolite-catalyzed conformational isomerization of cis-decahydronaphthalene (cis-DeHN, or cis-decalin) to trans-DeHN at relatively low temperatures. The catalytic reactions were mainly conducted at 473-573 K for 0.15-8 h under an initial pressure of 0.79 MPa N 2 or H 2 using six catalysts: a hydrogen Y zeolite, a lanthanum ion-exchanged Y zeolite, a hydrogen mordenite, and three noble metal loaded mordenites. Pt- and Pd-loaded mordenites displayed the highest selectivity towards trans-DeHN (nearly 100%), with a trans-DeHN/cis-DeHN ratio of about 13 under H 2 at 473 K; however, they are less effective under N 2. Pre-reduction of Pt/HM30A could improve its catalytic effectiveness in N 2 atmosphere. These results reveal a molecular H2-promoted isomerization reaction. HY, LaHY, and HM30A are not as effective as Pt- and Pd-loaded mordenites, and the catalyst with the lowest acidity (HM30A) displayed the lowest activity as well as selectivity to trans-DeHN. The activity for cis-DeHN conversion decreases in the following order: Pt/HM30A = Pd/HM30A = Pt/HM20A > HY > LaHY > HM30A. An overall kinetic model for the catalytic reaction was proposed and empirical equations capable of predicting reaction conversion and product yield were presented. The theoretical equilibrium compositions of trans-DeHN and cis-DeHN at several temperatures were calculated and corroborated well with the experimental results over effective catalysts such as Pt- and Pd-loaded mordenites. In addition, a lower reaction temperature is found to be thermodynamically favorable.
Soft radiopaque loop percutaneous suprapubic cystostomy catheter.

Catheter a anse circulaire, souple, 14-F en polyurethane, concu initialement pour l'enfant, mais utilisable aussi chez l'adulte