cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coronary angioplasty for acute coronary syndromes

Seventeen patients presenting with unstable angina pectoris underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Despite vigorous medical therapy, all patients were disabled with 10 experiencing refractory in-hospital angina. PTCA was judged successful in 13 patients and resulted in decreased coronary diameter narrowing from 80 16% to 34 13% and reduced transstenotic pressure gradient from 69 13 to 23 12 mmHg. Regional coronary blood flow (CBF) and myocardial metabolism were assessed at rest and during pacing tachycardia in six patients with left anterior descending coronary stenosis. Prior to PTCA, neither regional CBF increased nor coronary vascular resistance declined during pacing; myocardial lactate extraction fell, indicating a shift from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism. Following PTCA, however, rapid pacing resulted in increased regional CBF, decreased coronary vascular resistance, and preservation of aerobic metabolism. Following PTCA, successfully dilated patients demonstrated marked relief of angina symptoms, increase in functional capacity, and objective exercise EKG and thallium scintigraphic evidence of relief of previously ischemic myocardium. This investigation demonstrates that PTCA, when combined with medical therapy, can be performed safely and successfully in selected patients who present with otherwise refractory unstable angina, and indicates the procedure deserves further study as a therapeutic alternative in this condition.
The BIMbot: A Cognitive Assistant in the BIM Room

Today, collaborative environment method is of with widespread use among project stakeholders. They benefit project planning in a variety of ways, including by enabling team members to build stronger relationships, enhance communication, and perform efficient planning, to name several. The collaboration occurs in sessions that immerse stakeholders in an environment commonly referred to as a BIM room—a shared space that enables project stakeholders, such as architects, general contractors, structural and MEP trades, and other specialized knowledge actors, to physically or virtually meet and to establish constant presence. The BIM room is a medium for stakeholders (BIM-room participants) to more accurately and efficiently make informed decisions on end to end construction problems. This project is aimed at investigating the use of information technology as a mediating mechanism to facilitate sharing meanings of expressions and to assist stakeholders in effectively finding relevant information that connects to their intent in the BIM-room. This research proposes the creation and implementation of a cognitive assistant to project stakeholders: BIMbot. The BIMbot is an agent that will have the ability to simulate a conversation or a messaging exchange with a present actor. From the actor-BIM-bot exchange and having an order, command, or request, BIMbot will carry common functions for the actors within the BIM room like retrieve the current version of family-objects of the BIM; load, filter, and view section(s) of interest; automate object placement; etc. BIMbot is designed to produce significantly more efficient interaction of collaborative meetings in the BIM room.
Imaging Mass Spectrometry: A New Tool to Assess Molecular Underpinnings of Neurodegeneration.

Neurodegenerative diseases are prevalent and devastating. While extensive research has been done over the past decades, we are still far from comprehensively understanding what causes neurodegeneration and how we can prevent it or reverse it. Recently, systems biology approaches have led to a holistic examination of the interactions between genome, metabolome, and the environment, in order to shed new light on neurodegenerative pathogenesis. One of the new technologies that has emerged to facilitate such studies is imaging mass spectrometry (IMS). With its ability to map a wide range of small molecules with high spatial resolution, coupled with the ability to quantify them at once, without the need for a priori labeling, IMS has taken center stage in current research efforts in elucidating the role of the metabolome in driving neurodegeneration. IMS has already proven to be effective in investigating the lipidome and the proteome of various neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s, multiple sclerosis, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Here, we review the IMS platform for capturing biological snapshots of the metabolic state to shed more light on the molecular mechanisms of the diseased brain.
Access-Site Complications in Transfemoral Neuroendovascular Procedures: A Systematic Review of Incidence Rates and Management Strategies.

Background The femoral artery is the most common access route for cerebral angiography and neurointerventional procedures. Complications of the transfemoral approach include groin hemorrhages and hematomas, retroperitoneal hematomas, pseudoaneurysms, arteriovenous fistulas, peripheral artery occlusions, femoral nerve injuries, and access-site infections. Incidence rates vary among different randomized and nonrandomized trials, and the literature lacks a comprehensive review of this subject. Objective To gather data from 16 randomized clinical trials (RCT) and 17 nonrandomized cohort studies regarding femoral access-site complications for a review paper. We also briefly discuss management strategies for these complications based on the most recent literature. Methods A PubMed indexed search for all neuroendovascular clinical trials, retrospective studies, and prospective studies that reported femoral artery access-site complications in neurointerventional procedures. Results The overall access-site complication rate in RCTs is 5.13%, while in in non-RCTs, the rate is 2.78%. The most common complication in both groups is groin hematoma followed by access-site hemorrhage and femoral pseudoaneurysm. On the other hand, wound infection was the least common complication. Conclusion The transfemoral approach in neuroendovascular procedures holds risk for several complications. This review will allow further studies to compare access-site complications between the transfemoral approach and other alternative access sites, mainly the transradial approach, which is gaining a lot of interest nowadays.
Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World, by Adam Grant

Our world has been upended bytheCOVID-19 pandemic Racial tensions continue to spill onto the streets and into our newsfeeds while our pre-pandemic concerns over global warming are fanned by news of record temperatures Within this grim new reality, conventional wisdom appears woefully inadequate as we struggle to make sense of things and seek solutions Adam Grant's (2016) book Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World may just be the lightning rod we need Though written in 2015, it makes the case that a paradigm shift calls for the creative will to challenge the default position Since the status quo is a luxury we can no longer afford, we have to consider alternative ways to look at the world and its ever-growing problems Grant is not only an organizational psychologist at Wharton, but also a best-selling author and an award-winning educator
Impact of cyclic loading on longitudinally-reinforced UHPC flexural members with different fiber volumes and reinforcing ratios

Abstract Ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) is a promising material for many structural applications given its high compressive strength, its tensile ductility, and its potential durability through low permeability. Most research on steel reinforced UHPC (R/UHPC) flexural components has focused on monotonic performance and less is known about R/UHPC cyclic performance. Additionally, the steel fibers, which typically comprise 2% of the volume of a UHPC mix and account for 30% of the material cost, could potentially be reduced to improve both cost efficiency and performance of R/UHPC components. This study explores the impact of high-amplitude cyclic loading on R/UHPC beams with different fiber volumes (1% and 2%) and reinforcing ratios (0.96% and 2.10%). A total of eight simply-supported beam experiments are compared in this study. Results show that for both monotonic and cyclically-loaded specimens, a higher reinforcing ratio and a lower fiber volume introduce more localized cracks, delay steel fracture, and increase R/UHPC deformation capacity. Compared to monotonically-loaded beams, cyclic loading reduces UHPC fiber-bridging capacity, resulting in lower component yield and peak strength as well as more localized cracks. The deformation capacity of cyclically-loaded beams is also lower than that of monotonically-loaded beams due to low cycle fatigue of the reinforcing steel. Differing fiber distributions due to material flow during casting were also found to impact the structural performance under different loading directions. A flexural failure path prediction method for R/UHPC is validated by both the monotonic and cyclic results.
Incorporating Research into Disaster Medicine Training

Summary Disaster medicine training programs produce future leaders in the field. As such, it is of vital importance that these programs teach their trainees how to perform research to advance the practice of disaster medicine. To do so, educators must be thoughtful in the methods they use to develop a research curriculum for their students. The curriculum must take into account prior knowledge, while still focusing on the creation of a baseline set of knowledge and skills useful for future research after graduation. It must also focus on setting clearly defined, attainable goals so that trainees are given the positive feedback of a completed and published project and are thus encouraged to continue their research careers after graduation. Attention must be paid to the development of the research question, as well as study design and project management skills. All of these features must be present in a disaster medicine research curriculum, so that we can ensure the future development of this field of vital importance.
Cancer of unknown primary in a mare: case report and comparative pathology review.

A 25-y-old Percheron mare was admitted to the teaching hospital because of lethargy and intractable dyspnea. Thoracoabdominal ultrasound examination identified severe peritoneal effusion, mild bila...
Investigating Race-related Stress, Burnout, and Secondary Traumatic Stress for Black Mental Health Therapists:

The present study examines the relationships among burnout, secondary traumatic stress (STS), and race-related stress among a national sample of 250 Black mental health therapists (counselors, soci...
Risk-averse multi-stage stochastic optimization for surveillance and operations planning of a forest insect infestation

Abstract We derive a nested risk measure for a maximization problem and implement it in a scenario-based formulation of a multi-stage stochastic mixed-integer programming problem. We apply the risk-averse formulation to the surveillance and control of a non-native forest insect, the emerald ash borer (EAB), a wood-boring beetle native to Asia and recently discovered in North America. Spreading across the eastern United States and Canada, EAB has killed millions of ash trees and cost homeowners and local governments billions of dollars. We present a mean-Conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR), multi-stage, stochastic mixed-integer programming model to optimize a manager’s decisions about surveillance and control of EAB. The objective is to maximize the benefits of healthy ash trees in forests and urban environments under a fixed budget. Combining the risk-neutral objective with a risk measure allows for a trade-off between the weighted expected benefits from ash trees and the expected risks associated with experiencing extremely damaging scenarios. We define scenario dominance cuts (sdc) for the maximization problem and under the decision-dependent uncertainty. We then solve the model using the sdc cutting plane algorithm for varying risk parameters. Computational results demonstrate that scenario dominance cuts significantly improve the solution performance relative to that of CPLEX. Our CVaR risk-averse approach also raises the objective value of the least-benefit scenarios compared to the risk-neutral model. Results show a shift in the optimal strategy from applying less expensive insecticide treatment to more costly tree removal as the manager becomes more risk-averse. We also find that risk-averse managers survey more often to reduce the risk of experiencing adverse outcomes.
The Secret Agent: Terrorists and Counterterrorists

The resemblance between the bombing plot in The Secret Agent and recent terrorist attacks has attracted widespread interest in Conrad’s novel, yet literary critics have been reluctant to recognize its political significance. Although the bombing is based on a historical event, critics have minimized the useful information in the novel, partly to protect its literary value. Postcritique challenges this dichotomy between politics and literature, and research in Terrorism Studies corroborates Conrad’s portrayal of anarchists and police. The novel draws parallels between domestic and political agency and between anarchists and authorities. The main characters desire autonomy and community in varying degrees, whether they are members of a family, an anarchist cell, or a government institution.
Erratum to: Duration of US Residence and Obesity Risk in NYC Chinese Immigrants

The footnote to address the correspondence in the original copy of the article is an error. The contact information and affiliation only correspond to the first author, Aimee Afable. The correct affiliations for the other coauthors are mentioned below.
The effect of high humidity on body temperature and oxygen consumption of newborn premature infants.

Relative humidity between 80 and 90% increased the body temperatures of both healthy and sick premature infants, the increase being greatest in the least mature infants. No significant, consistent increase in oxygen consumption was observed to accompany the increase in body temperature produced by high relative humidity. Low relative humidity between 20 and 60% did not prevent the return of body temperature to normal values after the initial decrease immediately following birth. The return to normal was slower in the less mature infants. Low relative humidity was not incompatible with the survival of very small premature infants maintained in an ambient temperature betwen 88 and 90°F (31.1 to 32.2°C).
Evidence for a 12 kDa "Carrier Protein" for Natriuretic Hormone.

The search for the elusive natriuretic hormone continues. In this review evidence is presented that isolating the carrier protein for natriuretic hormone is a necessary first step before splitting off the final hormone. The carrier protein has a molecular weight of 12 kDa while the final hormone has a molecular weight of 408 daltons. Both compounds inhibit Na-K-ATPase but the compound containing the carrier protein predominates. The question has been raised as to whether the carrier protein is in actuality proANF, a 17 kDa protein that can be split between a 14 kDa protein (the presumptive proANF) and the 3 kDa ANF.
Poly(A) RNA-binding proteins and polyadenosine RNA: new members and novel functions

Poly(A) RNA-binding proteins (Pabs) bind with high affinity and specificity to polyadenosine RNA. Textbook models show a nuclear Pab, PABPN1, and a cytoplasmic Pab, PABPC, where the nuclear PABPN1 modulates poly(A) tail length and the cytoplasmic PABPC stabilizes poly(A) RNA in the cytoplasm and also enhances translation. While these conventional roles are critically important, the Pab family has expanded recently both in number and in function. A number of novel roles have emerged for both PAPBPN1 and PABPC that contribute to the fine-tuning of gene expression. Furthermore, as the characterization of the nucleic acid binding properties of RNA-binding proteins advances, additional proteins that show high affinity and specificity for polyadenosine RNA are being discovered. With this expansion of the Pab family comes a concomitant increase in the potential for Pabs to modulate gene expression. Further complication comes from an expansion of the potential binding sites for Pab proteins as revealed by an analysis of templated polyadenosine stretches present within the transcriptome. Thus, Pabs could influence mRNA fate and function not only by binding to the nontemplated poly(A) tail but also to internal stretches of adenosine. Understanding the diverse functions of Pab proteins is not only critical to understand how gene expression is regulated but also to understand the molecular basis for tissue-specific diseases that occur when Pab proteins are altered. Here we describe both conventional and recently emerged functions for PABPN1 and PABPC and then introduce and discuss three new Pab family members, ZC3H14, hnRNP-Q1, and LARP4.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (Act) vs. Systematic Desensitization in Treatment of Mathematics Anxiety

College students (N = 24) experiencing math anxiety were treated individually for 6 weeks with either acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) or systematic desensitization. Statistical analyses indicated significant, but equivalent, reductions in self-report measures of math and test anxiety that were maintained at 2-month follow-up. Both statistically and clinically significant decrements in trait anxiety were limited to participants treated with systematic desensitization. No improvement in mathematical skills was noted for either treatment. As expected, pretreatment levels of experiential avoidance were more strongly related to therapeutic change among participants receiving ACT, suggesting that the two interventions, although generally comparable in reducing math anxiety, may do so through different processes. Implications of the findings for further research on ACT more generally and treatment of math anxiety, in particular, are discussed.
A low cost HPM receiver

A simple HPM (high power microwave) receiver was developed to monitor the incident power density where sensitive electronics are present and to provide a record of the occurrence of potentially damaging RF exposure. This receiver measures the peak value of the incident field strength over a broad instantaneous bandwidth (1 to 6 GHz), identifies time periods during which threshold field strengths (2, 10, and 50 V/m) are exceeded, provides coverage over a +or-45 degrees field of view, and will detect a single pulse whose duration exceeds 250 ns. The receiver uses a simple design to permit low-cost fabrication. A unique microstrip antenna was developed to fulfil design objectives. >
How I learned to stop worrying and love calcineurin.

Many kinases have been implicated in memory formation, but a new study suggests that a phosphatase, calcineurin, is important for the long-lasting nature of emotional memories by making them resistant to extinction.
Predicting IC Defect Level Using Diagnosis

Predicting defect level (DL) using fault coverage is an extremely difficult task but if can be accomplished ensures high quality while controlling test cost. Because IC testing now involves generating and combining tests from multiple fault models, it is important to understand how the coverage from each fault model relates to the overall DL. In this work, a new model is proposed which learns the effectiveness of fault models from the diagnostic results of defective chips, and predicts defect level using the derived measures of effectiveness and fault cover ages of multiple fault models. The model is verified using fail data from an IBM ASIC and virtual fail data created through simulation. Experiment results demonstrate that this new model can predict DL more reliably than conventional approaches.
In vitro metabolism of [14C]rubratoxin B by rat hepatic subcellular fractions.

Abstract The metabolism of rubratoxin B was studied in vitro using rat hepatic subcellular fractions. Primarily, metabolism of rubratoxin B involved a non-enzymatic process in the microsomal supernatant fluid. The transformation products were mainly water-soluble, although at least four unidentified organosoluble derivatives of rubratoxin B were detected. Three of these organosoluble derivatives were produced in the microsomal supernatant fluid by an enzymatic process.
Larval spatial patterns and sequential sampling plan for pickleworm, Diaphania nitidalis (Stoll) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), on summer squash.

The pickleworm, Diaphania nitidalis (Stoll), was studied to determine the spatial pattern of its five larval stages within reproductive structures of summer squash and to characterize the spatial pattern of larvae between plants to develop a sampling method for assessing pickleworm populations. Sampling green staminate flower buds >5 cm in length was more reliable for detecting infestations than sampling smaller green staminate flower buds, blooming flowers, and fruit. Flower buds provided a more efficient (large reservoir of larvae), reliable (smaller sampling variance than other sample units), and acceptable (non-marketable plant structure) method of sampling pickleworm populations. Fruit damage was positively correlated with flower bud damage and larval counts. The between-plant spatial pattern was variable between samples but suggested a slightly contagious (overdispersed) larval dispersion. Based on this information, a sequential sampling plan was developed in which the required number of plant samples at a given level of sampling precision for specific larval densities can be calculated.
Mediaeval empiricism: the case of Grosseteste's optics.

THE appearance of an experimental methodology of science in Robert Grosseteste's writings is often remarked upon by historians of science and forms a convenient focal point for demonstration of the creative interplay between science and philosophy in the Middle Ages.' Grosseteste's optics has been cited as a concrete and important example of this new, experimental method.2 Despite some apparent inconsistency in application3 Grosseteste's method in optical research should in general reflect his logic of science. However, the lack of close correlation between his theory and his practice necessitates reconsideration of Grosseteste's concept of experiment. Because his optical works have borne the burden of proof to a large degree in earlier discussion, a closer examination of the optics is in order as a basis for reassessment. Robert Grosseteste's approach to the study of optics was in the tradition established by Aristotle and given a clear metaphysico-mathematical statement by Alfarabi. In the Hellenistic world a geometrical approach to optics became standard. After Euclid's Optics the tradition was confirmed by such men as Heron, Ptolemy, Heliodoros, Damianos, and Theon. But the geometrical treatment of light could be more than just a method; its metaphysical significance stemmed from the place of mathematics itself in the Neoplatonic outlook.4 When one recalls the high place accorded to mathematics in Plato's ontology and epistemology, the metaphysical suggestiveness of applying geometry to any science is clear. Following the Pythagorean rather than the Archimedean view of mathematics, Neoplatonists tended to see an ultimate reality in everything falling under the heading of this discipline. So it was that many mediaeval adherents of the emission theory of vision found support for their view in the geometrical description of the field of vision. If one could treat sight geometrically as if rays were emitted from the eye, then some reality must pertain to this notion. Of course, emission theories predate Neoplatonism and geometrical optics; Aristotle discussed their origins in Presocratic thinkers like Pythagoras and Empedocles. But strength was given to the emission theory by the success of geometry as an analytical tool in optics and by Neoplatonic emphasis on the reality of "geometricals." Alkindi's De aspectibus, 7 (9th century) gave reality to a power sent out from the
The Linguistic Turn of Social Contract Theory: Ernst Cassirer and the Conditions for the Possibility of a Promise

In this paper, we explore Cassirer’s view of social contract theory. We maintain that Cassirer has established a linguistic turn of social contract theory, by exploring the conditions for the possibility of a promise. For that purpose Cassirer’s theory of the linguistic sign, as inspired by the linguistic theory of Wilhelm von Humboldt, becomes decisive, because of its specific nature and direction into the future. First, in Section 1, we explore previous social contract theorists, from Nicholas von Cusa to Immanuel Kant. In Section 1, as a result, we establish the concept of the promise as the core concept of social contract theory, and as the fundamental philosophical problem conveyed by the natural lawyers. Moreover, in Section 2, we investigate the conditions for the possibility of a promise, and relate it to the symbolic nature of the human being. The promise, hence the capacity to enter into a contract, becomes a characteristically human activity, hence an expression of human dignity.
Macromolecular Structure Modeling and Electron Microscopy Fitting using 3D Zernike Descriptors

A novel computational method for fitting high-resolution structures of multiple proteins into a cryoelectron microscopy (EM) map is presented. The method named EMLZerD generates a pool of candidate complex conformations of component proteins using a novel multiple protein docking method, Multi-LZerD, which are later compared with a provided EM map to select the ones that fit well into the EM map (Esquivel-Rodriguez & Kihara, J. Phys Chem B, 2012). Multi-LZerD (Esquivel-Rodriguez & Kihara, Proteins, 2012) builds models of multimeric protein complexes by effectively reusing pairwise docking predictions of component proteins. The comparison of docking conformations and the EM map is performed using the 3D Zernike descriptor (3DZD), a mathematical series expansion of three-dimensional functions. The 3DZD provides a unified representation of the surface shape of multimeric protein complex models and EM maps, which allows a convenient, fast quantitative comparison of the three-dimensional structural data. Out of 19 multimeric complexes tested, near native complex structures with a RMSD of less than 2.5 A were obtained for 14 cases while medium range resolution structures with correct topology were computed for the additional 5 cases.View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
Diagnosis and treatment of aspergillosis in captive cormorants.

Aspergillosis was diagnosed in 8 of 50 wild nestling double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus). Typical granulomatous nodules were observed in the lungs and on the air sacs. Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated from the infected tissues of the birds and their nesting material. Amphotericin B was administered as inhalant therapy, in addition to the removal of nesting material and disinfection of holding cages.It was concluded that aspergillosis is an endemic disease among wild cormorants in South Dakota and that during the course of this study, stress did not appear to be an important factor in the development of this disease.
Design and implementation of a multicast audio conferencing tool for a collaborative computing framework

Abstract CCFAudio is an Internet based audio conferencing tool with additional features tailored for use in a collaborative session. Considerable effort was spent to achieve audio quality comparable to telephone (conference) calls. CCFAudio supports several audio encoding schemes, and smooth playback even under adverse network conditions. It supports multiple simultaneous speakers, mixing their voices in real-time. CCFAudio sends audio packets to other participants via a non-Mbone multicast. It takes full advantage of multithreading in providing smooth playback as well as simplified code. CCFAudio consists of three subsystems. The “send-audio” subsystem packetizes voice samples from a source transmits them to other tools. The “receive-audio” subsystem receives packetized voice samples from multiple sources, mixes the samples and plays the result. The graphic user interface (GUI) subsystem provides a point and click interface for controlling audio parameters as well as graphical feedback showing who is in the conference and who is speaking at any time. After initial setup of these parameters, operation of CCFAudio is completely hands-free.
Probing site-specific 13C/15N-isotope enrichment of spider silk with liquid-state NMR spectroscopy

Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has been extensively used to elucidate spider silk protein structure and dynamics. In many of these studies, site-specific isotope enrichment is critical for designing particular NMR methods for silk structure determination. The commonly used isotope analysis techniques, isotope-ratio mass spectroscopy and liquid/gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy, are typically not capable of providing the site-specific isotope information for many systems because an appropriate sample derivatization method is not available. In contrast, NMR does not require any sample derivatization or separation prior to analysis. In this article, conventional liquid-state 1H NMR was implemented to evaluate incorporation of 13C/15N-labeled amino acids in hydrolyzed spider dragline silk. To determine site-specific 13C and 15N isotope enrichments, an analysis method was developed to fit the 1H–13C and 1H–15N J-splitting (J CH and J NH) 1H NMR peak patterns of hydrolyzed silk fiber. This is demonstrated for Nephila clavipes spiders, where [U–13C3,15N]-Ala and [1-13C,15N]-Gly were dissolved in their water supplies. Overall, contents for Ala and Gly isotopomers are extracted for these silk samples. The current methodology can be applied to many fields where site-specific tracking of isotopes is of interest.
Operational experience with the Argonne National Laboratory Californium Rare Ion Breeder Upgrade facility and electron cyclotron resonance charge breeder.

The Californium Rare Ion Breeder Upgrade (CARIBU) of the Argonne National Laboratory Argonne Tandem Linac Accelerator System (ATLAS) facility provides low-energy and accelerated neutron-rich radioactive beams to address key nuclear physics and astrophysics questions. A 350 mCi 252Cf source produces fission fragments which are thermalized and collected by a helium gas catcher into a low-energy particle beam with a charge of 1+ or 2+. An electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source functions as a charge breeder in order to raise the ion charge sufficiently for acceleration in the ATLAS linac. The ECR charge breeder has achieved stable beam charge breeding efficiencies of 10.1% for 23Na7+, 17.9% for 39K10+, 15.6% for 84Kr17+, and 12.4% for 133Cs27+. For the radioactive beams, a charge breeding efficiency of 11.7% has been achieved for 143Cs27+ and 14.7% for 143Ba27+. The typical breeding times are 10 ms/charge state, but the source can be tuned such that this value increases to 100 ms/charge state with the best breeding efficiency corresponding to the longest breeding times—the variation of efficiencies with breeding time will be discussed. Efforts have been made to characterize and reduce the background contaminants present in the ion beam through judicious choice of q/m combinations. Methods of background reduction are being investigated based upon plasma chamber cleaning and vacuum practices.
The American Chemical Society's Summer Schools in Nuclear and Radiochemistry

Uses of radioisotopes and radiation in medicine, industry, agriculture are amongst the most beneficial applications of atomic energy for peaceful purposes. The International Atomic Energy Agency aims - in accordance with its statute - to accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy to peace, health and prosperity throughout the world. The various Technical Divisions of the Agency carry out this mandate and enhance, particularly through 'manpower development activities' the nuclear applications of radiation and isotopes. Staff members of the 'Industrial Applications and Chemistry Section' in the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications of the IAEA have supported more than 600 trainees per year for education in nuclear and radiochemistry through fellowships, training courses and workshops. Provision of printed material in various disciplines is supporting our educational efforts.
Comparison of load relaxation data of type 316 austenitic stainless steel with Hart's deformation model

Load relaxation experiments have been performed on Type 316 stainless steel at temperatures up to 650°C. The resulting stress-plastic strain rate relationships below 500°C show the behavior of a plastic equation of state. The experimental results suggest that at lower temperatures the deformation is controlled by dislocation glide and at higher temperatures dislocation glide becomes less important. Hart's phenomenological model based on a plastic equation of state is used to account for the experimental data.
Breakdown of Conformal Invariance at Strongly Random Critical Points

We consider the breakdown of conformal and scale invariance in random systems with strongly random critical points. Extending previous results on one-dimensional systems, we provide an example of a three-dimensional system which has a strongly random critical point. The average correlation functions of this system demonstrate a breakdown of conformal invariance, while the typical correlation functions demonstrate a breakdown of scale invariance. The breakdown of conformal invariance is due to the vanishing of the correlation functions at the infinite disorder fixed point, causing the critical correlation functions to be controlled by a dangerously irrelevant operator describing the approach to the fixed point. We relate the computation of average correlation functions to a problem of persistence in the RG flow.
Effects of UWB and chaotic signals on selected oscillators

Engineers who work on survivability of complex infrastructure targets to high-power microwave illumination are careful to understand possible instabilities that can be forced by the threat illumination. Transition to chaos is one indicator of such instability. Engineers who design infrastructure systems are careful to consider the stability of the systems under normal operation, but do not normally consider external threats or stimulants that may contribute to the instability. Stoudt, Gardner, and Kohlberg [1–3] show examples of simple electronic systems that go unstable through a combination of pulsed field illumination and misdirected energy from a system power supply. In this paper, we will examine the effects on simple selected oscillators of multi-frequency (chaotic in that the center frequency jumps abruptly from frequency to frequency) and ultra wideband signals. The first case study is based on the Chua Circuit, which is very simple, but known to easily exhibit chaotic behavior. The Chua circuit can be described using only three nonlinear differential equations, so is near the minimum requirements for chaos. This study will use Mathematica© scripts to compare the Chua circuit results to that of a simple oscillator then add complexity to the target circuit so that it is clear where instabilities can be found and exploited.
A new form of reproductive parasitism in cliff swallows

A common reproductive strategy among some egg-laying animals, especially birds, is to lay an egg in another individual's nest and thereby parasitize the reproductive effort of others of either the same species or a different species. Intraspecific parasitism is now known to occur regularly in some species 1–4 and sporadically in many others5,6, and may represent a strategy by which individuals augment their reproductive performance2 or succeed in reproducing when it would otherwise be impossible or too costly5. We have discovered that colonial cliff swallows (Hirundo pyrrhonota) not only lay eggs in other individuals' nests, but also physically transfer eggs between nests after the eggs are laid. Egg transfers can occur at any time after an egg is laid and before it hatches, and may represent a strategy by which an individual distributes its eggs in several nests to ensure some surviving offspring in the event of nesting failures. Sneaky transfer of eggs between nests represents a previously unknown form of reproductive parasitism in birds.
Influence of lipid content and lipoxygenase on flavor volatiles in the tomato peel and flesh.

Abstract: Ten different varieties of tomatoes were separated into peel and flesh and each portion was measured separately. Headspace volatiles were measured in real time using selected ion flow tube mass spectrometry. Lipoxygenase activity was measured using the adsorption of conjugated dienes formed by lipoxygenase. Lipid was extracted and fatty acids were quantified using a gas chromatograph. Volatiles were significantly greater in the peel than flesh when there was a significant difference. The lipoxygenase activity of flesh and peel correlated with the volatiles produced by the lipoxygenase pathway. There was no correlation with other volatiles, which are not dependent on lipid oxidation by lipoxygenase. The lipoxygenase activity, total fatty acid content, and linolenic acid of the peel were greater than the flesh, which is directly related to an increase in fresh, green volatiles. Addition of exogenous lipoxygenase had no effect on lipoxygenase-derived volatiles formed. The addition of linoleic acid caused an increase in hexanal, 1-hexanol, and (E)-2-heptenal in the flesh and (E)-2-heptenal in the peel. Stored unrefrigerated peel had higher volatile concentrations, whereas refrigerated peel had significantly lower concentration than day 0. Storage decreased lipoxygenase activity in the unrefrigerated and refrigerated peel, but had no effect on the fatty acid content. Overall, linolenic acid was the most important to the formation of headspace volatiles, but lipoxygenase activity and unknown factors are also important. Practical Application: The peel of a tomato is most beneficial to the production of volatiles associated with the fresh aroma of tomatoes; therefore, it should be used in the processing of tomato products to produce a fresh, green aroma rather than being removed. Knowledge of the effects of lipoxygenase activity, total fatty acid content, and fatty acid profile on flavor volatiles will allow for better selection of a variety for raw consumption.
High-beta stability of a toroidal plasma

Abstract The high toroidal mode number ideal MHD ballooning mode is shown to stabilize again at large beta, in several sequences of numerical toroidal equilibria. Raising the q profile improves high-beta stability for equilibria with the same poloidal beta and flux surface geometry. A smaller aspect ratio enhances the stabilizing effect of raising the q profile and allows second stability to occur at smaller poloidal beta, though larger total beta.
Is quinolinic acid an endogenous excitotoxin in alcohol withdrawal

Levels of tryptophan in brain are increased by the action of chronic ethanol, particularly in the event of compromised hepatic function. This is likely to result in elevated brain levels of the potent excitotoxin quinolinic acid (quinolinate) since levels of this tryptophan metabolite can be elevated considerably by tryptophan loading. Ethanol may also selectively increase the activity of enzymes important in the synthesis of quinolinic acid such as tryptophan oxygenase. It is concluded that ethanol may generate significant levels of the NMDA receptor agonist, quinolinic acid, possibly even toxic levels in localized brain areas, especially during ethanol withdrawal and when associated with acute or chronic hepatotoxicity.
Unrecognized “strokes” and the gastro-enterologist

“Acute indigestion” in an elderly person may well be due to an unrecognized stroke. Especially when the patient goes on complaining, the physician should take note, first, of the sudden onset, and second, of changes in character with loss of memory and interests, and often of the ability to work. Small strokes may go unrecognized because they take place during sleep or because they are not accompanied by symptoms of shock. Typical cases are described. After a “stroke,” the digestive tract may perhaps become spastic, much as an injured arm or leg is spastic, or “storms” may go down the vagus nerve, much as they do in migraine.
Realigning Top Management's Strategic Change Actions for ERP Implementation: How Specializing on Just Cultural and Environmental Contextual Factors Could Improve Success

Abstarct An enterprise resource planning (ERP) system and its implementation represents a substantial organizational change. Top management involvement has been cited as a critical factor in the success, as well as, failure of ERP implementation. To increase ERP implementation success, we propose that top management redesign its ERP implementation work to strategically concentrate on managing employee behavioural change to increase employee acceptance and commitment to the ERP project by specializing its involvement on just two factors – cultural and environmental contextual factors. Three case studies are used to validate this proposition. Eight strategic task, responsibility, and relationship changes to be used by top management to increase ERP implementation success are highlighted in the paper.
Support of linkage of Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome to the prion protein gene on chromosome 20p12-pter

Abstract Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker syndrome (GSS) is a human transmissible spongiform encephalopathy recently linked to the human analog of the prion protein gene (PRNP) on chromosome 20p. We have studied a large German GSS family for linkage to PRNP and have obtained a peak lod score of 1.15 at a recombination fraction (θ) of 0.00. This result provides additional evidence that GSS is linked to a mutation in codon 102 of the PRNP gene. Combining our data with linkage data previously reported yields a peak lod score of 4.52 at θ = 0.0. No evidence for linkage heterogeneity was found in the combined data set.
Baseline survey of the anatomical microbial ecology of an important food plant: Solanum lycopersicum (tomato)

Research to understand and control microbiological risks associated with the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables has examined many environments in the farm to fork continuum. An important data gap however, that remains poorly studied is the baseline description of microflora that may be associated with plant anatomy either endemically or in response to environmental pressures. Specific anatomical niches of plants may contribute to persistence of human pathogens in agricultural environments in ways we have yet to describe. Tomatoes have been implicated in outbreaks of Salmonella at least 17 times during the years spanning 1990 to 2010. Our research seeks to provide a baseline description of the tomato microbiome and possibly identify whether or not there is something distinctive about tomatoes or their growing ecology that contributes to persistence of Salmonella in this important food crop. DNA was recovered from washes of epiphytic surfaces of tomato anatomical organs; leaves, stems, roots, flowers and fruits of Solanum lycopersicum (BHN602), grown at a site in close proximity to commercial farms previously implicated in tomato-Salmonella outbreaks. DNA was amplified for targeted 16S and 18S rRNA genes and sheared for shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Amplicons and metagenomes were used to describe “native” bacterial microflora for diverse anatomical parts of Virginia-grown tomatoes. Distinct groupings of microbial communities were associated with different tomato plant organs and a gradient of compositional similarity could be correlated to the distance of a given plant part from the soil. Unique bacterial phylotypes (at 95% identity) were associated with fruits and flowers of tomato plants. These include Microvirga, Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, Brachybacterium, Rhizobiales, Paracocccus, Chryseomonas and Microbacterium. The most frequently observed bacterial taxa across aerial plant regions were Pseudomonas and Xanthomonas. Dominant fungal taxa that could be identified to genus with 18S amplicons included Hypocrea, Aureobasidium and Cryptococcus. No definitive presence of Salmonella could be confirmed in any of the plant samples, although 16S sequences suggested that closely related genera were present on leaves, fruits and roots.
Metarhodopsin III formation and decay kinetics: Comparison of bovine and human rhodopsin

Absorbance spectra were recorded at various times after photolysis of hypotonically washed membrane suspensions of human and bovine rhodopsin (pH 7 or 8, T = 20 or 37 degrees C). Global data analysis showed that at 20 degrees C, metarhodopsin III formation was the only process occurring from 1 to 30 min following photolysis. At pH 8, a significant amount of human metarhodopsin I was present before metarhodopsin III formed. At 37 degrees C, two decay processes were seen, formation of metarhodopsin III (lifetime 113 +/- 3 sec bovine, 93 +/- 2 sec human) and formation of a species with the properties of n-retinylidine opsin (lifetime 900 +/- 150 sec bovine, 2000 +/- 350 sec human). A larger fraction of human rhodopsin (approximately 50%) is converted to metarhodopsin III than is the case for bovine rhodopsin (approximately 35%).
Case Studies of Tropical Cyclones and Phytoplankton Blooms over Atlantic and Pacific Regions

AbstractThis study investigates phytoplankton blooms following the passage of tropical cyclones in the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean basins. The variables of sea surface temperature (SST), chlorophyll (Chl-a), precipitation, and storm surface winds were monitored for two case studies, Typhoon Xangsane (2006) and Hurricane Earl (2010). Strong near-surface wind from tropical cyclones creates internal friction, which causes deep nutrient enriched waters to displace from the bottom of the ocean floor up toward the surface. In return, the abundance of upwelled nutrients near the surface provides an ideal environment for the growth of biological substances such as chlorophyll and phytoplankton. The inverse correlation coefficients of SST and Chl-a for this study are −0.67 and −0.26 for Xangsane and Earl, respectively. This suggests that, regardless of ocean basin, changing sea surface temperature and chlorophyll concentrations can be correlated to various characteristics of tropical cyclones including precipitatio...
Spatial Assessment of Attitudes Toward Tigers in Nepal

In many regions around the world, wildlife impacts on people (e.g., crop raiding, attacks on people) engender negative attitudes toward wildlife. Negative attitudes predict behaviors that undermine wildlife management and conservation efforts (e.g., by exacerbating retaliatory killing of wildlife). Our study (1) evaluated attitudes of local people toward the globally endangered tiger (Panthera tigris) in Nepal’s Chitwan National Park; and (2) modeled and mapped spatial clusters of attitudes toward tigers. Factors characterizing a person’s position in society (i.e., socioeconomic and cultural factors) influenced attitudes toward tigers more than past experiences with tigers (e.g., livestock attacks). A spatial cluster of negative attitudes toward tigers was associated with concentrations of people with less formal education, people from marginalized ethnic groups, and tiger attacks on people. Our study provides insights and descriptions of techniques to improve attitudes toward wildlife in Chitwan and many regions around the world with similar conservation challenges.
Colors and the color-blind.

(1957). Colors and the Color-Blind. The Journal of General Psychology: Vol. 57, No. 2, pp. 229-240.