cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
INTRODUCING NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND MARKETING STRATEGIES FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH MALNUTRITION: AN ETHIOPIAN CASE STUDY

Many developing regions have excellent potential agricultural resources. However, historically population has become so concentrated on such small holdings that acute poverty and malnutrition now predominate. The food scientists’ response to the chronic nutritional problem has often been subsidized bio-fortification with nutritional supplements or more recently cultivars with higher nutrient levels. Where much of the population is in this inadequate nutrition category as in highland Ethiopia, the supplements are neither financially feasible nor sustainable. The cultivars can provide a few critical nutrients but are not a comprehensive solution. To improve nutrition, it is necessary to increase income so that an increased quality and quantitative diet can be obtained. Here we evaluate a strategy to introduce new agricultural technologies where a central aspect of evaluation is combining the nutritional and income goals. This analysis is undertaken in the Qobo valley, Amhara state, Ethiopia. Using behavioralist criteria for decision making defined by the farmers, the effects of different potential combinations of technologies and supporting agricultural policies on the household nutritional gaps and farmers’ incomes are analyzed. An integrated approach involving the combined technologies of water harvesting, fertilization and Striga resistance combined with improved credit programs has the potential to increase income by 31% and to eliminate malnutrition except in the most adverse state of nature (10% probability). Both the treatment of the nutritional deficits and the decision making criteria defined by farmers are expected to be useful techniques in other developing country technology and policy analysis as well.
Ceruloplasmin deficiency results in an anxiety phenotype involving deficits in hippocampal iron, serotonin, and BDNF.

J. Neurochem. (2012) 120, 125–134. Abstract Ceruloplasmin (Cp) is a ferroxidase involved in iron metabolism by converting Fe2+ to Fe3+, and by regulating cellular iron efflux. In the ceruloplasmin knockout (CpKO) mouse, the deregulation of iron metabolism results in moderate liver and spleen hemosiderosis, but the impact of Cp deficiency on brain neurochemistry and behavior in this animal model is unknown. We found that in contrast to peripheral tissues, iron levels in the hippocampus are significantly reduced in CpKO mice. Although it does not cause any discernable deficits in motor function or learning and memory, Cp deficiency results in heightened anxiety-like behavior in the open field and elevated plus maze tests. This anxiety phenotype is associated with elevated levels of plasma corticosterone. Previous studies provided evidence that anxiety disorders and long-standing stress are associated with reductions in levels of serotonin (5HT) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus. We found that levels of 5HT and norepinephrine (NE), and the expression of BDNF and its receptor trkB, are significantly reduced in the hippocampus of CpKO mice. Thus, Cp deficiency causes an anxiety phenotype by a mechanism that involves decreased levels of iron, 5HT, NE, and BDNF in the hippocampus.
Scientific Method for Ecological Research: Development of a research plan

Summary This chapter is a case study of the application of the five processes of research planning and the development of a conceptual and propositional analysis. A research plan does not spring from the mind complete and perfectly formed at the first attempt. Research planning involves refinement and reorganization of ideas. Ashley Steel started her planning with ideas that piles of coarse woody debris (CWD) washed up on a riverbank by a Xood would provide shelter and habitat for birds and small mammals. Not all wildlife biologists agreed with her. The process of developing a research investigation meant that she had to specify and organize her initial ideas into a theoretical framework and make exploratory investigations of uncodified knowledge. Steel constructed hypotheses and tested whether animal use of different types of CWD piles was different. As typical of field investigation, the results led to further research and, particularly, the need to refine concepts that can be measured more effectively. After completing her Masters research, Steel reflected that two things in particular would have aided this planning process: (1) a pilot study, which would have improved field measurements; and (2) more extensive criticism from scientists with areas of specialist knowledge, which would have helped the conceptual analysis. Introduction This chapter describes the evolution of a research plan. It starts with the imprecise, incomplete first ideas of an investigator and shows how these evolve into a plan with defined objectives. The aim of planning – a set of axioms, postulates, and data statements – was kept continuously in mind although it was not achieved at the first attempt.
Microbial cytochromes P-450 and xenobiotic metabolism.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the microbial cytochromes P-450 and xenobiotic metabolism. Cytochromes P-450 that are a special class of heme-containing multicomponent enzymes, are widely distributed in mammalian, plant, and microbial systems. The fact that these enzymes are involved in the degradation of various natural and synthetic chemicals is indicative of their significance in such reactions. Information about most of these enzymes is very scant; however, with new powerful spectroscopic and molecular techniques at our disposal, unraveling the mechanism of action of at least some of these enzymes in the near future is inevitable. Potential application for cytochromes P-450 is employment of some of the microbial enzymes, which can mimic mammalian cytochromes P-450, such as the procaryotic P-450 soy from S.griseus and the eucaryotic P-4501 4DM from S.cerevisiae , in the development of convenient test systems for the detection of mutagenic chemicals. The advantages of employing such test systems include, but are not limited to, the ease of preparative scale production of the microbial cytochromes P-450, the reduced dependence on animals for such studies, and the relative low cost of these preparations compared to those from mammalian sources.
The Role of Male Closeness on Black Adolescent Male Weight Status in Father-Present Versus Male-Kinship Households

Black males from the ages of 12-19 years olds are the only adolescent group in the United States to experience a significant increase in obesity rates from 1999-2010. This rise translates into an increase in the odds of obesity prevalence of 1.05 annually. This study used the National Survey of American Life-Adolescent, a nationally representative sample of African American and Caribbean Black adolescents (n=434), to examine the relationship between male closeness and BMI in father-present and male-kinship households among Black adolescents. Obesity levels were similar between father-present (19%) and kinship households (20%). However, a greater percentage of adolescent males in male-kinship homes (68%) were normal weight than in father-present homes (60%). Male-kinship homes reported higher percentages of male closeness (49%) in comparison to father-present homes (46%). Ethnic differences were not present between households. In the initial bivariate analysis, Paternal Closeness Scores were negatively cor...
Seasonal change in the abundance of Synechococcus and multiple distinct phylotypes in Monterey Bay determined by rbcL and narB quantitative PCR.

Summary Synechococcus is a cosmopolitan marine cyanobacterial genus, and is often the most abundant picocyanobacterial genus in coastal waters. Little is known about Synechococcus seasonal dynamics in coastal zones highly impacted by upwelling. This was investigated by collecting seasonal samples from an upwelling-impacted Monterey Bay (MB) monitoring station M0, in parallel with measurements of oceanographic conditions during 2006–2008. Synechococcus abundances were determined using quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays and flow cytometry (FCM). A new qPCR assay was designed to target dominant Synechococcus in MB using the rbcL gene, while previously designed assays targeted distinct phylotypes (called narB subgroups) with the narB gene. The rbcL qPCR assay successfully tracked abundant Synechococcus in MB, accounting for on average 89% (± 57%) of FCM-based counts. Annual spring upwelling caused decreases in Synechococcus and narB subgroup abundances. Differences in narB subgroup abundance maxima and abundance patterns support the view that subgroups differ in their ecologies, including subgroup D_C1, which seems to specifically thrive in coastal waters. Correlations between narB subgroup abundances and measured environmental variables were similar among the subgroups. Therefore, non-measured environmental factors (e.g. metals, mortality) likely had different influences on subgroups, which led to their distinct abundance patterns at M0.
Labor history archives in the United States : a guide for researching and teaching

This book makes available in one source descriptions of most of the major archival collections in the field of labor history at U.S. libraries. Of considerable value to the many scholars and students of the labor history movement in the United States, it includes descriptions of both large and small collections, and covers libraries whose holdings deal primarily with workers and unions as well as those with broader collections that include material on immigration, social welfare, and radicalism. In view of the fact that labor history has become, over the past generation, one of the more active and seminal fields of American historical studies, with major institutions and many smaller ones throughout the country now represented, this volume will serve as a basic but detailed guide to the major record holdings.
Atrophy of Adrenal Gland Following Thiouracil and Vit. B12.

ConclusionsVit. B12 prevented the growth inhibiting action of thiouracil but failed to prevent adrenal atrophy. Atrophy of the adrenal cortex was due to a specific action of the goitrogen and not a reflection of generalized inhibition of body growth.
Variations in pre-operative management of adolescents undergoing elective surgery

Abstract Objective To understand whether preoperative care of adolescent patients differs according to two different pediatric subspecialties with respect to patient pregnancy status, drug use, and patient assent. To understand how preoperative care of adolescent patients varies with length of practice and practice setting. Methods A cross-sectional study surveyed 51 American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology (ASPO) members and 108 American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) members. Outcomes included how often (‘always’, ‘sometimes’, ‘never’) participants ask adolescents (ages 12–18 years) about substance use, pregnancy, and assent for surgery. Differences according to physicians’ practice duration and setting were also examined. Fisher's exact tests and Cochran–Armitage tests were applied for statistical analysis. Results Although ASPO and APSA members did not differ significantly in how often they ask adolescent patients about pregnancy, ASPO members were more likely to ‘always’ cancel elective surgery in a pregnant patient ( p p p p Conclusion ASPO and APSA members differ in their preoperative management of adolescent patients. Newer physicians and those with fewer adolescent patients also differ from physicians with more extensive experience with adolescents.
Photoemission spectroscopy using synchrotron radiation. II. The electronic structure of germanium

We analyze photoemission spectra for Ge obtained for photon energies $6.5\ensuremath{\le}h\ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\le}25$ eV and determine the position of energy bands at symmetry points for both filled and empty bands within 1 Ry of the gap. This experimental band structure is obtained using a recently developed anisotropic direct-transition model of photoemission applicable to cleaved single-crystal semiconductors. For the band-structure determination we also employ a direct transition analysis of optical spectra obtained by others. We fit nonlocal-pseudopotential calculations to the experimentally-determined band positions, and thereby determine the importance of both energy and $l=2$, angular momentum nonlocality in the pseudopotential. Our results for the position of highlying conduction-band states suggest 0 to + 10% self-energy (exchange-correlation) corrections to the energy of electrons excited into the conduction bands. Energy bands which provide a good fit to the experimental band positions are used, along with pseudo-wave-function matrix elements, to calculate various physical properties (photoemission spectra, optical-response functions, and one-electron state densities), and the results of these calculations are compared with experiment. The quality of the fits obtained indicates that the electronic excited-state (and ground-state) properties of Ge for excitations far from the gap are described well by a one-electron model.
Transition to escape in a system of coupled oscillators

Abstract We study a Hamiltonian system of coupled oscillators derived from two forced pendulums, connected with a torsional spring. The uncoupled limit is described by two identical oscillators, each possessing a homoclinic orbit separating bounded from unbounded motion. We focus on intermediate energy levels which lead to detained motions, defined as trajectories that, though unbounded as t → ∞, oscillate within the region defined by the homoclinic orbit of the unperturbed system for a long but finite time. We analyze the existence and behavior of these motions in terms of equipotential surfaces. These curves provide bounds on the motion of the system and are shown to be closed for low energies. However, above some critical energy level the equipotential curves become open. The detained trajectories are shown to arise from the region of phase space that was, for appropriate energies, stochastic. These motions remain within this region for long times before finally “leaking out” of the opening in the equipotential curves and proceeding to infinity.
A Simple Two-Step Electrodeposition of Cu2O/ZnO Nanopillar Solar Cells

Nanopillar heterojunctions composed of n-type ZnO nanowire arrays embedded in p-type Cu2O thin films were fabricated by using a simple two-step electrodeposition method. Structural, optical, and electrical properties of the nanopillar junctions were investigated. Nanopillar radial junction arrays have the potential for improved performance in solar cells due to increased junction area and improved charge carrier collection. Improved efficiency in the Cu2O/ZnO nanopillar junctions was experimentally observed compared to planar thin film junctions prepared under similar conditions. This study demonstrates that electrodeposition, which is easily adapted to other chemical systems, is a promising technique for large-scale fabrication of low-cost nanopillar solar cells.
Potential for Simultaneous Improvement of Corn Grain Yield and Stover Quality for Cellulosic Ethanol

Corn (Zea mays L.) stover, the residue left after harvest, is an abundant biomass source for pro- ducing cellulosic ethanol in the United States. Corn has been bred for increased grain yield but not for stover quality for cellulosic ethanol production. Our objective in this study was to assess the feasibility of breeding corn for grain yield and agronomic traits as well as stover quality traits for cellulosic ethanol production. Testcrosses of 223 B73 × Mo17 recombinant inbreds were evaluated at four Minnesota loca- tions in 2007. Three stover quality traits were measured: concentration of cell wall glucose in dry stover ("Glucose"); cell wall glucose released from the stover by thermochemical pretreatment and enzymatic saccharifi cation ("Glucose Release"); and concentration of lig- nin on a cell wall basis ("Lignin"). Genetic vari- ances were signifi cant for grain yield, moisture, stalk and root lodging, plant height, and all three stover quality traits. Heritabilities of the stover quality traits were 0.57 for Glucose, 0.63 for Glucose Release, and 0.68 for Lignin. Pheno- typic and genetic correlations were favorable or neutral among grain yield, agronomic traits, Glucose, Glucose Release, and Lignin. Lines selected with a multiple-trait index for grain yield, agronomic traits, and stover quality traits had improved means for each trait in the index. Current corn breeding programs should be able to incorporate stover quality for cellulosic etha- nol as a breeding objective, without having to use unadapted or exotic germplasm and with- out adversely affecting genetic gains for grain yield and agronomic traits.
High fluence neutron irradiation damage in copper-10 wt % aluminum and copper†

Abstract Annealed specimens of Cu-10 wt per cent A1 and high-purity copper were irradiated to a fast (> 0.1 MeV) fluence of about 1.3 × 1022 neutrons/cm2 at an estimated irradiation temperature of 175±25 °C. Transmission electron microscopy was used to examine the structural damage after irradiation. In the alloy, equiaxed and elongated voids were seen whose distribution was nonuniform. The voids, often associated with particles and dislocation tangles, were present in number densities of about 1011/cm3 and had sizes up to about 3500 A, (equiaxed) or about 4500 A (elongated). Arrays of tangled dislocations and small dislocation loops were also observed in the irradiated alloy. The only radiation damage seen in the high purity copper was a multitude of small dislocation loops. Explanations of these observations near the lower limit (∼0.3 Tm ) of the temperature range for void formation in face-centered cubic metals are offered in terms of differences in the starting microstructures of the specimens.
Ability of preoperative endorectal magnetic resonance imaging to identify extracapsular extension and seminal vesicle invasion in a prostate-specific antigen screened population

Materials/Methods: Seventy-three patients with clinical tumor category T1c or T2 adenocarcinoma of the prostate underwent pre-operative erMRI followed by radical prostatectomy at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital between 1998 and 2004. Patient characteristics are shown in table 1. A single expert genitourinary radiologist read the endorectal MRI. Patients were classified into two categories: low risk (PSA 10 ng/ml and biopsy Gleason score 6 or less and clinical tumor category T1c or T2a) versus all others. A correct prediction required that the erMRI identify both the presence and location (e.g. left or right side) of extracapsular extension (ECE) or seminal vesicle invasion (SVI) in the pathologic specimen.
Tendon ruptures in the rheumatoid hand: Analysis of treatment and functional results in 60 patients

Seventy-six reconstructive procedures were performed to treat tendon rupture in 60 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Tendon rupture commonly occurred in the extensors to the ring and small fingers. However, ruptures of extensors and several flexor tendons were also encountered. Single or double tendon ruptures responded successfully to a variety of tendon transfers. Reconstruction for multiple tendon ruptures is a salvage procedure that is often associated with extensor lag and impairment of overall function. Early aggressive treatment of distal radioulnar joint derangements in the rheumatoid wrist is recommended to forestall many cases of tendon rupture.
A comparison of passive coherent beam combining architectures: Experimental results

Modal properties of two architectures for coherent beam combining are theoretically analyzed and experimentally verified. The supermodes of a two-laser spatially filtered cavity exhibit two distinctly different types of behavior depending on the path length error. When the error is small, the two modes present different cavity loss values and can be differentiated by gain. However, cavities containing path length errors greater than a critical value produce modes with identical losses and different resonant frequencies. A diode-bar side-pumped plano-concave Nd:YAG laser cavity is built for experimental verification of the theory. Experiments have shown two distinct regions as predicted by theory. In the small path length error region, the cavity runs in one single mode; however, when the path length error goes beyond a critical value, the cavity lases in two modes simultaneously or alternates between two modal states. Detailed loss versus phase error curves are presented and compared to theory. The modal behavior in this spatial filtering architecture is quite different from that found in a superposition architecture for coherent beam combining where the fundamental mode always has smaller loss per round trip than the second mode. The modal curves for a superposition architecture are provided for comparison with those from spatial filtering.
Making sense of strangers' expertise from signals in digital artifacts

Contemporary work increasingly involves interacting with strangers in technology-mediated environments. In this context, we come to rely on digital artifacts to infer characteristics of other people. This paper reports the results of a study conducted in a global company that used expertise search as a vehicle for exploring how people interpret a range of information available in online profiles in evaluating whom to interact with for expertise. Using signaling theory as a conceptual framework, we describe how certain 'signals' in various social software are hard to fake, and are thus more reliable indicators of expertise. Multi-level regression analysis revealed that participation in social software, social connection information, and self-described expertise in the corporate directory were significantly helpful in the decision to contact someone for expertise. Qualitative analysis provided further insights regarding the interpretations people form of others' expertise from digital artifacts. We conclude with suggestions on differentiating various types of information available within online profiles and implications for the design of expertise locator/recommender systems.
Knockdown or inhibition of aldo-keto reductase 1B10 inhibits pancreatic carcinoma growth via modulating Kras-E-cadherin pathway.

Aldo-keto reductase 1B10 (AKR1B10) has relatively specific lipid substrates including carbonyls, retinal and farnesal/geranylgeranial. Metabolizing these lipid substrates appears crucial to carcinogenesis, particularly for farnesal/geranylgeranial that involves in protein prenylation. Mutant Kras is a most common active oncogene in pancreatic cancer, and its activation requires protein prenylation. To directly determine the role of AKR1B10 in pancreatic carcinogenesis, we knocked down AKR1B10 in CD18 human pancreatic carcinoma cells using shRNA approach. Silencing AKR1B10 resulted in a significant inhibition of anchor-dependent growth (knockdown cells vs vector-control cells: 67 ± 9.5 colonies/HPF vs 170 ± 3.7 colonies/HPF, P < 0.01), invasion index (0.27 vs. 1.00, p<0.05), and cell migration (at 16 hours 9.2 ± 1.2% vs 14.0 ± 1.8%, at 24 hours 21.0 ± 1.1% vs 30.5 ± 3.5%, and at 48 hours 51.9 ± 5.7% vs 88.9 ± 3.0%, P < 0.01). Inhibition of AKR1B10 by oleanolic acid (OA) showed a dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth with IC50 at 30µM. Kras pull-down and Western blot analysis revealed a significant down-regulation of active form Kras and phosphorylated C-Raf, and Erk, as well as an up-regulation of E-cadherin. A significant reduction of in vivo tumor growth was observed in nude mice implanted the CD18 pancreatic carcinoma cells with AKR1B10 knockdown (tumor weight: 0.25 ± 0.06g vs. 0.52 ± 0.07g, P = 0.01), and with OA treatment (tumor weight: 0.35 ± 0.05g vs. 0.52 ± 0.07g, P = 0.05). Our findings indicate AKR1B10 is a unique enzyme involved in pancreatic carcinogenesis via modulation of Kras-E-Cadherin pathway.
The effects of polarizer ellipticity on ellipsometry measurements

Abstract Small errors in the relative amplitude attenuation tan Ψ of a reflecting surface can cause appreciable error in the calculated thickness of a thin film on a substrate, especially if no prior knowledge of the refractive index of the film is available. Such errors can arise if either a perfect polarizer or an ideal compensator is assumed in the analysis of data. The exact ellipsometry equations including polarizer ellipticity are derived with numerical examples. A procedure for instrument calibration is described, and experimental results using this procedure are presented.
Research in virtual home roaming system based on virtools

This system uses three dimensional scene roaming technology into home design, breaks the current rendering home design mode. It constructs 3d indoor scene and indoor furniture models through 3d modeling, and realizes the roaming interaction of 3d home roaming scene by scene roaming technology, at the same time the system adopts collision detection technology to ensure the real roaming effect. The effect of roaming system can satisfy the clients need of knowing home pattern furthest, enhance the clients satisfaction degree of home pattern and reduce the burden and pressure of home designers amending effect picture once and again.
COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTS OF DISCRETE ANCHOR ITEMS AND PASSAGE‐BASED ANCHOR ITEMS ON OBSERVED‐SCORE EQUATING RESULTS

Equating of tests composed of both discrete and passage-based items using the nonequivalent groups with anchor test (NEAT) design is popular in practice. This study investigated the impact of discrete anchor items and passage-based anchor items on observed score equating via simulation. Results suggested that an anchor with a larger proportion of passage-based items and/or a larger degree of local dependence among passage-based items produces larger equating errors, especially when group ability differences are not minimal. Our findings challenge the common belief that an anchor should be a miniature version of the tests to be equated.
Continuing Education in Later Adulthood: Implications for Program Development for Elderly Guest Students

While more and more institutions of higher education are offering cost-free continuing education programs to older men and women, the enrollment of this target population is quite low. This study was conducted to identify factors that would positively influence the decisions of individuals over sixty years of age to participate in such programs. Sixty-five white predominately upper middle-class, highly educated (X = 16.92 years of schooling) women aged sixty years and over (X = 68.80) were given a questionnaire concerning attitudes toward continuing education. The majority (86%) indicated a high level of interest in taking geology, political science, world and art history, music, literature, and language courses. In addition, 85 percent preferred to participate in learning situations that included younger and older individuals; 58 percent reported interest in having a companion enroll with them; 48 percent preferred no specific learning environments (i.e., lecture, discussion, or workshop); and 75 perce...
A New Low Power High Performance Flip-Flop

Low power flip-flops are crucial for the design of low-power digital systems. In this paper we delve into the details of flip-flop design and optimization for low power. We compare the lowest power flip-flops reported in the literature and introduce a new flip-flop that competes with them.
New azido-substituted tantalum compounds: syntheses and DFT examination of nitrogen-rich mono-, di-, and trinuclear tantalum(V) compounds

The syntheses of new tantalum compounds containing an ancillary azido ligand(s) are described. The tantalum compound with the composition Ta(NMe2)4(N3) has been synthesized in high yield from the reaction of TaCl(NMe2)4 with NaN3 in THF. The solid-state structure reveals a dimeric architecture based on Ta2(NMe2)8(μ-N3)2 (1), where the eight-membered dimetallocyclic ring possesses a chair-like conformation with bridging azido ligands binding the two Ta(NMe2)4 moieties. Solution molecular weight measurements and electronic structure calculations predict 1 to exist as a monomer at room temperature. 1 reacts with the formamidine iPrNC(H)NHiPr to furnish fac-Ta(NMe2)3(η1-N3)[iPrNC(H)NiPr] (2) and Me2NH; compound 2 has been characterized by IR and 1H NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Treatment of 1 with p-toluidine affords the trinuclear compound Ta3(NMe2)5(μ-NMe2)(μ-NC6H4Me-4)2(NC6H4Me-4)(μ-N3)2(η1-N3) (3). Compound 3 contains three non-bonded tantalum atoms that are ligated by edge-bridging imido, amido, and azido ligands. The molecular structure of 3 has been determined by X-ray crystallography, and the unprecedented presence of terminal and bridging imido, amido, and azido ligands in a single tantalum compound confirmed. The bonding in 3 has been examined by DFT, and these data are discussed relative to the crystallographic structure. Compounds 1–3 represent the first structurally characterized examples of heteroleptic tantalum compounds that possess an all-nitrogen coordination sphere with at least one azido ligand.
Asymmetric Information, Externalities and Incentives in Animal Disease Prevention and Control

Incentives influence behaviour while an understanding of farmer behaviour facilitates the control and prevention of infectious livestock disease. This paper lays out several perspectives on how information problems and other externalities affect biosecurity incentives. We use the principal–agent framework to examine livestock disease management in the presence of potential moral hazard and adverse selection. Moral hazard may apply to biosecurity decisions while adverse selection may apply to disease reporting. The example of compensation policies illustrates the importance of creating appropriate incentives: compensation must be sufficient to ensure early reporting but not so large as to discourage appropriate levels of biosecurity effort. Other cases of externalities are more diffuse than those modelled using principal–agent analysis, placing emphasis on third-party effects and coordination problems. Three examples are provided. One concerns free-riding when facing an endemic disease pool that can be managed by limiting sources and flows. Another regards coordination failure when securing against an exotic disease where farmer efforts complement and communicating actions are important. The last arises from absence of a risk market where an adverse infrastructural support externality could be managed by disease outbreak insurance.
Saturation mutagenesis of the haloarchaeal bop gene promoter: identification of DNA supercoiling sensitivity sites and absence of TFB recognition element and UAS enhancer activity

Transcription from the bop promoter in the haloarchaeon Halobacterium NRC-1, is highly induced under oxygen-limiting conditions. A DNA gyrase inhibitor, novobiocin, was previously shown to block bop gene induction and suggested that DNA supercoiling mediates transcriptional induction. A region of non-B structure was found 3′ to the TATA box within an 11 bp alternating purine–pyrimidine sequence (RY box), which correlated to both increased DNA supercoiling and transcriptional induction. Here, saturation mutagenesis of the RY box region has been used to show that single-base substitutions of A(r)G either 23 or 19 bp 5′ to the transcription start site temper the effect of DNA supercoiling based on novobiocin insensitivity of transcription. Mutagenesis of the region 5′ to the TATA box showed its involvement in DNA supercoiling modulation of transcription, defined the 3′ end of the upstream activator sequence (UAS) regulatory element, and ruled out the requirement for a TFB (TFIIB) Recognition Element. Spacing between the TATA box and UAS was found to be critical for promoter activity because insertion of partial or whole helical turns between the two elements completely inhibited transcription indicating that the UAS element does not function as a transcriptional enhancer. The results are discussed in the context of DNA melting and flexibility around the TATA box region and the involvement of multiple regulatory and transcription factors in bop promoter activity.
Segmental dynamics in polymers: from cold melts to ageing and stressed glasses

Recent progress in developing statistical mechanical theories of supercooled polymer melts and glasses is reviewed. The focus is on those approaches that are either explicitly formulated for polymers, or are applications of more generic theories to interpret polymeric phenomena. These include two configurational entropy theories, a percolated free volume distribution model, and the activated barrier hopping nonlinear Langevin theory. Both chemically-specific and universal aspects are discussed. After a brief summary of classic phenomenological approaches, a discussion of the relevant length scales and key experimental phenomena in both the supercooled liquid and glassy solid state is presented including ageing and nonlinear mechanical response. The central concepts that underlie the theories in the molten state are then summarized and key predictions discussed, including the glass transition in oriented polymer liquids and deformed rubber networks. Physical ageing occurs in the nonequilibrium glass, and theories for its consequences on the alpha relaxation are discussed. Very recent progress in developing a segment scale theory for the dramatic effects of external stress on polymer glasses, including acceleration of relaxation, yielding, plastic flow and strain hardening, is summarized. The article concludes with a discussion of outstanding theoretical challenges.
Invited comment to the letter by K. Bielecki "Recurrent ileostomy prolapse: is it a solved problem?".

Regarding the difficult clinical problem that Dr. Bielecki has proposed, this is a complicated situation [1]. The first thought that came to mind is the fact that the only thing we can do to prevent stomal prolapse is to do an extraperitoneal ileostomy. This was proposed by Professor Goligher many years ago [2], and I think that it is the only thing a surgeon can do to prevent a prolapse. It is not a very difficult procedure; it is just a matter of making an extra peritoneal tunnel and bringing the ileostomy up through the tunnel and then bringing it out through the abdominal wall. I think this may have solved the problem for this patient; however, we have not been in the habit of making an extraperitoneal colostomy or ileostomy. You cannot build an extraperitoneal stoma routinely on every patient, and this patient had Crohn’s disease and may have had a much thickened bowel to deal with, which may have not been appropriate to place in an extraperitoneal tunnel. The other question has to do with the fact that if you do get recurrence of the terminal ileum, and it is in an extraperitoneal tunnel, it may be even more difficult to deal with if recurrent Crohn’s disease does occur. Regarding the Nobel’s plication, this is an operation we rarely do any longer; however, I think the way Dr. Bielecki managed it was the best thing to do in this situation.
Drug insight: New immunomodulatory therapies in type 1 diabetes.

Strategies that preserve or perhaps increase the β-cell mass in the pancreas could prevent diabetes. There are promising immunomodulatory approaches that include giving at-risk subjects insulin across mucosal barriers, and treating affected patients with monoclonal antibodies that alter immune regulation. Animal models and human studies have provided strong evidence that the immune response that causes type 1A diabetes is initiated against a limited array of antigens but acquires breadth and depth until β-cell mass has been critically compromised. Two recent trials confirmed the ability to identify relatives at risk for development of diabetes, but were unsuccessful in preventing disease. Treatment of at-risk individuals with oral insulin, which is postulated to be an antigen in the disease, did however show efficacy in a subgroup of these subjects, suggesting that antigen-specific prevention approaches might be successful in the right group of subjects at the right time. Earlier trials showed that the natural progression of disease can be altered with conventional immune suppression but these approaches have been supplanted by tolerance-induction strategies. Anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies have shown efficacy in preventing the loss of insulin production over the first 2 years of disease without chronic immune suppression. The mechanisms are novel, and appear to involve induction of immune regulation by the monoclonal antibody. Ultimately, preservation and even improvement in β-cell mass is the goal of therapy. The means needed to achieve this will depend on the timing and mechanisms of the immune intervention and might require combinations of agents.
A note on the continuous mixing set

The continuous mixing set is S={(s,r,z)@?@?x@?"+^nxZ^n:s+r"j+w"jz"j>=f"j,j=1,...,n}, where w"1,...,w"n>0 and f"1,...,f"n@?@?. Let m=|{w"1,...,w"n}|. We show that when w"1|...|w"n, optimization over S can be performed in time O(n^m^+^1), and in time O(nlogn) when w"1=...=w"n=1.
Underwater mass spectrometers for in situ chemical analysis of the hydrosphere

Underwater mass spectrometry systems can be used for direct in situ detection of volatile organic compounds and dissolved gases in oceans, lakes, rivers and waste-water streams. In this work we describe the design and operation of (1) a linear quadrupole mass filter and (2) a quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometer interfaced, in each case, with a membrane introduction/fluid control system and packaged for underwater operation. These mass spectrometry systems can operate autonomously, or under user control via a wireless rf link. Detection limits for each system were determined in the laboratory using pure solutions. The quadrupole mass filter system provides detection limits in the 1–5 ppb range with an upper mass limit of 100 amu. Its power requirement is approximately 95 Watts. The ion trap system has detection limits well below 1 ppb, an upper mass limit of 650 amu and MS/MS capability. Its power consumption is on the order of 150 Watts. The present membrane limits analysis to non-polar compounds (<300 amu) with analysis cycles of 5–15 minutes. Deployments of both types of instruments are described, along with a discussion of the challenges associated with in-water mass spectrometry and descriptions of alternative in-water mass spectrometer configurations.
Φp-optimal second order designs for symmetric regions

Abstract Designs for quadratic regression on a cube, on a cube with truncated vertices and on a ball are studied in terms of a family of criteria, introduced by Kiefer (1974, 1975), that includes A-, D- and E-optimality. Both theoretical and numerical results on structure and performance are presented. In particular, D- and E-optimal designs are described and a procedure of construction of nearly robust (under variation of criterion) integer designs is suggested. Some examples are given for dimensions 4, 5 and 6.
The active phase in sodium-doped calcium oxide catalysts for oxidative coupling of methane

Abstract The reactivity of pure and sodium-promoted calcium oxide catalysts toward the oxidative coupling of methane at 640°C has been investigated. While the pure calcium oxide was essentially a combustion catalyst, sodium-promoted calcium oxide exhibited significant C 2 productivity. Study of the deactivation of both pure and promoted catalysts demonstrated that the presence of calcium oxide was necessary for both catalysts to be active. This observation, combined with the effects of sodium doping on C 2 selectivity, suggests that the active phase on Na/CaO catalysts toward C 2 formation consists of sodium species associated with calcium oxide. This active phase was destroyed when calcium oxide was converted into calcium carbonate under reaction conditions.
A method for filling complex polymeric microfluidic devices and arrays.

This paper describes an improved method for filling microfluidic structures with aqueous solutions. The method, channel outgas technique (COT), is based on a filling procedure carried out at reduced pressures. This procedure is compared with previously reported methods in which microfluidic channels are filled either by using capillary forces or by applying a pressure gradient at one or more empty reservoirs. The technique has proven to be >90% effective in eliminating the formation of bubbles within microfluidic networks. It can be applied to many devices, including those containing PDMS-terminated channel features, a single channel inlet, and three-dimensional arrays.
Detection of 2-aminofluorene at femtogram levels via high resolution gas chromatography combined with negative ion atmospheric pressure ionization mass spectrometry

In this report, we describe an electrophore labeling HRGC/NIAPIMS procedure for the detection of a model aromatic amine, 2-aminofluorene, at femtogram levels. We also demonstrate that this method is suitable for the analysis of 2-aminofluorene bound to hemoglobin
Investigations into soil optical properties and their impact on landmine detection

Recent investigations into the use of new electro-optical sensing modalities for the detection of landmines and other objects in complex backgrounds have led to the need to understand the optical properties of background materials (e.g., soils) in more detail. In particular, the use of spectral and polarimetric signatures in the optical and infrared domains has been the subject of much study; an understanding of soil, foliage, and other background optical properties and their variations is critical to evaluating the utility of these signatures. Our research examined soil emissive and polarimetric signature characteristics in the context of a real world environment; specifically, we examined the spectral properties of landmines and soils within a complex radiative environment. A modified Hapke radiative transfer model was employed to compute these properties. This paper will present a brief overview of those modifications and results of the optical property computations for several scenarios.
Bottom-up and top-down effects on algal community dynamics in an aridland river: the Middle Rio Grande, New Mexico

In this study, we examined interactive effects of nutrient availability, river flow and food web structure on algal growth and species composition in the Middle Rio Grande, New Mexico. Algal community dynamics can be affected by both bottom-up and top-down factors. Algal production may be limited by low levels of nutrients or low light availability. Conversely, production is expected to increase when nutrient levels are high and light availability is not limited. Top-down factors such as grazing by invertebrates can also alter periphyton growth and community composition. Generally, a reduction in grazers results in periphyton biomass increases and shifts in growth forms (to more upright taxa).Nutrient diffusing substrates (NDS) were used in combination with grazer exclusion to investigate bottom-up and top-down effects on periphyton growth and species composition. Previously, NDS has been used in small, headwater streams and not in large sandy rivers like the Middle Rio Grande. NDS were made from inverted terracotta saucers, with four nutrient treatments – control, N, P and N+P. Large invertebrates were excluded from a subset of the saucers using an electrical field. The saucers were placed in a slow-flowing area of the Middle Rio Grande, and samples were collected weekly for a month. River conditions made it challenging to conduct the NDS experiment. Water levels were variable and turbidity levels were extremely high (>4000NTU). Algal growth was extremely low on all treatments, largely due to light limitation caused by consistently high turbidity levels and a series of flooding and drying events which also decimated organismal growth on the substrates. Initial surveys of the diatom communities indicate extremely low densities and chlorophyll biomass was very low (mean ± se = 0.31 ± 0.09mg/m2). While dense periphyton communities did not develop on the NDS saucers, there was evidence of colonization by invertebrate populations. Blackfly larvae (Simuliidae) were most abundant in earlier samples whereas chironomid larvae (Chironomidae) were more abundant later in the experiment. Also, blackfly larvae were significantly more abundant on control saucers than on N+P saucers in the grazer/non-grazer experiment (P = 0.044). However, it was difficult to detect differences in the abundance of invertebrate grazers among nutrient treatments. Relationships among invertebrate population densities and the availability and diversity of periphyton for grazing will be described. These results are not definitive, but there are indications that nutrients, flow and grazers do influence algal community dynamics.
Do the saccadic system and the vestibulo-ocular reflex of monkeys share a common neural integrator?

Abstract A common ‘neural integrator’ has been hypothesized to perform mathematical integration of velocity-coded inputs for all oculomotor subsystems. Studies in cats suggested that the integrators for some subsystems may be differentially affected by drugs. Our tests in macaques show that the fixation is unaffected and saccadic and vestibulo-ocular systems are affected in parallel. Thus, the common integrator hypothesis cannot be ruled out on the basis of these results.
The effect of cotton bract extract on respiratory glycoconjugate secretion from human airways in vitro

In vivo and in vitro studies with a water-soluble extract of cotton bracts (CBE) suggest that CBE may be responsible for some of the clinical manifestations of byssinosis. Since chronic bronchitis has been repeatedly documented as a major feature of byssinosis, we studied the effect of CBE on respiratory glycoconjugate (RGC) release from human airways (HAs) in vitro. HAs were incubated with [3H]glucosamine to label RGC molecules. CBE in increasing concentrations was added to radiolabeled HAs, and the release of 3H-RGC, histamine, and other mediators was measured. CBE in concentrations of 1 to 7 mg/ml caused a dose-related increase in RGC, as well as histamine release (RGC, 14% to 45% increase above control; histamine, 12 to 70 ng/ml released concurrently). Additionally, CBE in a dose of 5 mg/ml caused a more than threefold increase in peptidoleukotriene production above baseline. The effect of histamine H1 and H2 (pyrilamine and cimetidine), cyclooxygenase pathway inhibitor (indomethacin), leukotriene (LY 171883 and FPL 55712), and lipoxygenase pathway (BW nordihydroguaiarectic acid) blocking agents on CBE-induced RCG secretion was studied. In addition to histamine-H1 blockers, lipoxygenase inhibitors (nordihydroguaiarectic acid and BW 755C) and leukotriene blockers (FPL 55712 and LY 171883) are also potent inhibitors of CBE-induced RGC secretion. This suggests that CBE may act via the release of several mediators (histamine and leukotrienes), possibly from airway cells, such as mast cells, macrophages, or epithelial cells, to stimulate RGC secretion.