cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Open Problem—Iterative Schemes for Stochastic Optimization: Convergence Statements and Limit Theorems

Central limit theorems represent among the most celebrated of limit theorems in probability theory (Lindeberg 1922, Feller 1945). It may be recalled that the sum of n independent and identically di...
Total Neutron Cross Section of Pb 208

Measurements are reported on the total neutron cross section of isotopically enriched ${\mathrm{Pb}}^{208}$ (99.75%) for neutron energies in the range from 720 to 1890 keV with an energy spread of about 3 keV. In this region at least 85 resonances are observed, of which 24 are analyzed to give tentative spin assignments and reduced widths. The reduced-width estimates furnish evidence that the $J=\frac{5}{2}$ resonances at 723 and 821 keV have even parity. Differential cross sections of normal lead measured with 50-keV energy spread at 1.2, 2.2, and 3.2 MeV were used in estimating the in-scattering correction for the total cross-section data and are included in this paper.
Decadal heat and drought drive body size of North American bison (Bison bison) along the Great Plains.

Large grazers are visible and valuable indicators of the effects of projected changes in temperature and drought on grasslands. The grasslands of the Great Plains have supported the greatest number of bison (Bison bison; Linnaeus, 1758) since prehistoric times. We tested the hypothesis that body mass (BM, kg) and asymptotic body mass (ABM, kg) of Bison decline with rising temperature and increasing drought over both temporal and spatial scales along the Great Plains. Temporally, we modeled the relationship of annual measures of BM and height (H, m) of 5,781 Bison at Wind Cave National Park (WICA) from 1966 to 2015. We used Gompertz equations of BM against age to estimate ABM in decadal cohorts; both females and males decreased from the 1960s to the 2010s. Male ABM was variable but consistently larger (699 vs. 441 kg) than female ABM. We used local mean decadal temperature (MDT) and local mean decadal Palmer Drought Severity Index (dPDSI) to model the effects of climate on ABM. Drought decreased ABM temporally (-16 kg/local dPDSI) at WICA. Spatially, we used photogrammetry to measure body height (HE ) of 773 Bison to estimate BME in 19 herds from Saskatchewan to Texas, including WICA. Drought also decreased ABM spatially (-16 kg/local dPDSI) along the Great Plains. Temperature decreased ABM both temporally at WICA (-115 kg/°C local MDT) and spatially (-1 kg/°C local MDT) along the Great Plains. Our data indicate that temperature and drought drive Bison ABM presumably by affecting seasonal mass gain. Bison body size is likely to decline over the next five decades throughout the Great Plains due to projected increases in temperatures and both the frequency and intensity of drought.
Psychological distress in pregnancy and postpartum.

Abstract Purpose Depression, stress, and anxiety, termed ‘psychological distress,’ are common in pregnancy and postpartum periods. However, it is unclear whether prenatal psychological distress predicts postpartum psychological distress. We studied the prevalence, comorbidity and associations of maternal depression, stress, and anxiety in the prenatal period in relation to the occurrence of these same measures in the postpartum period. Methods Data originated from the MotherToBaby study of pregnant women residing in the U.S or Canada (2016–2018). Risk ratios and 95% Confidence Intervals using modified-Poisson regression models were used to investigate associations between prenatal psychological distress and postpartum psychological distress. Results Of the 288 women in the analysis, 21.2% and 26.7% of women had evidence of prenatal and postnatal psychological distress, respectively. Among those with prenatal psychological distress, 43 (70.5%) also had postpartum psychological distress. Twenty-five (41%) of those with prenatal and 46 (60%) of those with postpartum psychological distress had comorbidity of at least two of the measures. Prenatal measures independently predicted the same postnatal measures; prenatal anxiety also independently predicted postpartum stress. Participants who experienced more types of prenatal psychological distress were at higher risk for postpartum depression, stress, and anxiety. Conclusion Depression, stress, and anxiety are common in pregnant women and often occur together. Prenatal psychological distress measures are associated with postnatal psychological distress measures, with stronger associations among women with more than one type of psychological distress in pregnancy. Interventions during pregnancy may reduce the risk of postpartum psychological distress.
The Politics of Language and Trade in Québec, Canada:: Toward an Autonomous Francophone State

The rise of ethnic movements following World War Two and the explosion of ethnic national movements in recent years have raised anew questions about ethnicity and its relationships to class structures in the modern world (Olzak and Nagel 1986, Bonacich 1980). Language competition provides a conceptually insightful means of analyzing the relationships between class conflict and ethnic conflict. Quebec, a modern dual language society ethnically polarized between Francophones (native French speakers) and Anglophones (native English speakers), constitutes an instructive setting for examining the connections between ideal interests expressed in cultural terms and economic interests expressed in class terms.2 Language may be conceptualized not simply as a component of culture, but as a class-specific skill asset possessing greater or lesser value in the labor market. Classes differ in their dependence on the economic value of French and struggle to shape state policies in ways beneficial to their economic interests. In Quebec conflicts over the material value of language are a major driving force of the independence movement. I examine state language and trade policies as they influence the standing of French in Quebec. Both of these policies in turn drive nationalist statebuilding undertakings that result in a politically more autonomous Quebec.3
An Analysis of Students' Makeup-Exam Results and Performance in Undergraduate Biology Courses

A consistent challenge for undergraduate instructors is how to properly and objectively assess students who cannot attend regularly scheduled exams. Though many alternatives exist, perhaps the most common strategy is to allow students to take a makeup exam at a different time. Many instructors avoid this option for fear of the students gaining an unfair advantage in their exam preparations. I assessed student performance on makeup exams in relation to their typical performance on other exams throughout the course, to determine if there was any signal of score improvement or decline on makeup exams. I analyzed the data in regard to when students took the makeup exam, what their excuse for missing the regularly scheduled exam was, and the type of course in which they took the makeup. Students' makeup-exam scores were not significantly different from their regular-exam scores, though students who took a makeup due to a school-sponsored activity scored worse than students taking a makeup due to family emergencies or illness. While this research cannot definitively state that makeup exams do not provide some sort of advantage to student scores, it suggests that if students are trying to “game the system,” at the very least, they aren't winning.
"It's All Sort of Cool and Interesting…but What Do I Do With It?" A Qualitative Study of Stroke Survivors' Perceptions of Surface Electromyography.

Background: Stroke is one of the most common neurologic injuries worldwide. Over decades, evidence-based neurorehabilitation research and advancements in wireless, wearable sensor design have supported the deployment of technologies to facilitate recovery after stroke. Surface electromyography (sEMG) is one such technology, however, clinical application remains limited. To understand this translational practice gap and improve clinical uptake, it is essential to include stakeholder voices in an analysis of neurorehabilitation practice, the acceptability of current sEMG technologies, and facilitators and barriers to sEMG use in the clinic and the community. The purpose of this study was to foreground the perspectives of stroke survivors to gain a better understanding of their experiences in neurorehabilitation, the technologies they have used during their recovery, and their opinions of lab-designed and commercially-available sEMG systems. Methods: A qualitative, phenomenological study was completed. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight stroke survivors (age range 49-78 years, 6 months to 12 years post-stroke) and two caregivers from a large metropolitan region. A demonstration of four sEMG systems was provided to gather perceptions of sensor design, features and function, and user interface. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and coded for analysis using constant comparison until data saturation was reached. Results: Three themes emerged from the data: 1) ‘Surface EMG has potential….but…’ highlights the recognition of sEMG as a valuable tool but reveals a lack of understanding and need for clear meaning from the data; 2) ‘Tracking incremental progress over days or years is important’ highlights the persistence of hope and potential benefit of sEMG in detecting small changes that may inform neurorehabilitation practice and policy; and 3) ‘Neurorehabilitation technology is cumbersome’ highlights the tension between optimizing therapy time and trying new technologies, managing cost, logistics and set-up, and desired technology features. Conclusion: Further translation of sEMG technology for neurorehabilitation holds promise for stroke survivors, but sEMG system design and user interface needs refinement. The process of using sEMG technology and products must be simple and provide meaningful insight to recovery. Including stroke survivors directly in translational efforts is essential to improve uptake in both clinical and community environments.
Context-dependent carryover effects of hypoxia and warming in a coastal ecosystem engineer.

Organisms are increasingly likely to be exposed to multiple stressors repeatedly across ontogeny as climate change and other anthropogenic stressors intensify. Early life stages can be particularly sensitive to environmental stress, such that experiences early in life can "carry over" to have long-term effects on organism fitness. Despite the potential importance of these within-generation carryover effects, we have little understanding of how they vary across ecological contexts, particularly when organisms are re-exposed to the same stressors later in life. In coastal marine systems, anthropogenic nutrients and warming water temperatures are reducing average dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations while also increasing the severity of naturally occurring daily fluctuations in DO. Combined effects of warming and diel-cycling DO can strongly affect the fitness and survival of coastal organisms, including the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica), a critical ecosystem engineer and fishery species. However, whether early life exposure to hypoxia and warming affects oysters' subsequent response to these stressors is unknown. Using a multiphase laboratory experiment, we explored how early life exposure to diel-cycling hypoxia and warming affected oyster growth when oysters were exposed to these same stressors 8 weeks later. We found strong, interactive effects of early life exposure to diel-cycling hypoxia and warming on oyster tissue : shell growth, and these effects were context-dependent, only manifesting when oysters were exposed to these stressors again two months later. This change in energy allocation based on early life stress exposure may have important impacts on oyster fitness. Exposure to hypoxia and warming also influenced oyster tissue and shell growth, but only later in life. Our results show that organisms' responses to current stress can be strongly shaped by their previous stress exposure, and that context-dependent carryover effects may influence the fitness, production, and restoration of species of management concern, particularly for sessile species such as oysters.
The Challenge of Globalized Online Commerce for U.S. Contract and Consumer Law

Online commerce has grown but consumer law has not kept pace. In the United States, legal protections have become inadequate in light of the realities of common cross-border transacting practices as facilitated by the internet. Technologies have empowered merchants to outpace consumers, their advocates and attorneys, and regulators. This is due to an inadequate body of law and a set of regulators who are hindered by stark political, legal, and institutional limitations. Market and technological approaches to this problem hold some promise, but their promise has been overstated. Operators of technology driven market platforms have—for a price—begun to address some problems, for instance with dispute resolution services. But an overly narrow focus on contracting and payment has ignored broader deficiencies of protection with respect to, for instance, products liability, abusive contracting practices, and unlawful financing schemes. It has also failed to take account of the interests of those who lack suitable access to tech platforms and those whom the platforms do not suitably serve. This Article provides a diagnosis of the current inadequacies of the law of consumer contracting in the United States and assesses proposed technological and market solutions, which have been cast as far more promising than their reality supports. It calls for solutions—involving statutory, regulatory, and technological approaches—commensurate with the scope of the actual problems presented by our globalized, digitized world of consumer commerce.
Chief complaints of low vision patients in 2019 compared to 2020

Purpose : The COVID-19 pandemic has been disruptive to daily life, including those living with low vision (LV). We conducted a retrospective chart review to understand how chief complaints(CC) of those presenting for low vision services have changed. Methods : A random subset of 121 charts from NECO Center for Eye Care LV Clinic between 2019 (group 1, pre-COVID-19, n=61) and 2020 (group 2, during COVID-19, n=60) were reviewed. Eligible charts included: those over 18 years, English-speaking, and without cognitive impairment. Group 1 patients were 19-96 years (mean 65, SD±23) with mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of 0.95 logMAR (SD±0.73, Snellen equivalent 20/178), and mean contrast sensitivity (CS) of 1.03 logCS (SD±0.48). Group 2 patients were 18-98 years (mean 64, SD±21) with mean BCVA of 0.77 logMAR(SD±0.63, Snellen equivalent 20/117) and mean CS of 1.08 logCS (SD±0.48). CCs were categorized as: reading, driving, technology, general LV exam (i.e no specific complaint), mobility, and watching television. Employment status, onset of LV, prior technology use, and home support were also noted. Results : We found a significant difference between proportions of CCs reported in 2019 vs. 2020 (Cramer's V=0.32, p=0.028). For group 1, top three CCs were reading(52%), general LV exam(34%), technology(15%). For group 2, the top three CCs were reading(43%), technology(27%), general LV exam(12%). There was no significant difference in age, BCVA, CS between groups. The proportions of CCs were significantly different for those with prior technology use (Cramer's V=0.42, p=0.001). Patients with prior technology use reported difficulties using technology at a greater frequency. Employment status also influenced reported CCs (Cramer's V=0.29, p=0.006). Reading was the top CC amongst retirees(64%) and technology amongst the employed(30%). Logistic regression was performed to further explore predictors of technology CCs. Prior technology use was a significant predictor (OR=6.2;95% CI, 2.0-19.2). Onset of LV, BCVA, home support, and gender were not significant predictors. There was a trend, with more technology related complaints in Group 2 (Cramer's V=0.15, p=0.11). Conclusions : When exploring chief complaints in 2019 and 2020, we find that there may be a shift in LV patient needs. We note a trend of increasing technology related complaints in 2020, of which prior technology use was a significant predictor.
How mathematicians assign homework problems in abstract algebra courses

Abstract While many aspects of the teaching and learning of advanced mathematics have been explored, the role, construction, and values of homework have been virtually ignored. This report draws on task-based interviews with six mathematicians to explore the relationship between an instructor’s learning goals and factors considered when selecting homework problems. All participants viewed homework as critical to student learning, and the majority of the participants’ claims focused on either the mathematics or how the problem would help students learn; no instructor gave primacy to evaluative reasons for homework. We highlight six themes used by participants to evaluate and select items for inclusion in homework. They are (1) knowing and recalling axioms and definitions, (2) developing an arsenal of examples, (3) developing new problem approaches, (4) remediating misconceptions, (5) making connections to prior and future material, and (6) valuing reading notes or text.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Preterm Birth Among American Indian and Alaska Native Women

Preterm birth disproportionately affects American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) women. This disparity in birth outcomes may stem from higher levels of exposure to psychosocial, sociodemographic, and medical risk factors. This paper reviews relevant research related to preterm birth in American Indian and Alaska Native women. This narrative review examines disparities in preterm birth rates between AI/AN and other American women, and addresses several maternal risk factors and barriers that contribute to elevated preterm birth rates among this racial minority group. Additionally, this paper focuses on recent evidence that geographical location can significantly impact preterm birth rates among AI/AN women. In particular, access to care among AI/AN women and differences between rural and urban areas are discussed.
Endoscopic ultrasound-guided paracentesis of ascitic fluid: a morphologic study with ultrasonographic correlation.

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) has been widely used for the diagnosis of primary and metastatic gastrointestinal (GI) and non-GI malignancies. Few studies have been published to evaluate the accuracy and the cytologic features of EUS-guided paracentesis in the diagnosis and staging of malignant neoplasms. METHODS: All EUS-guided paracenteses of ascitic fluid performed at the University of California Irvine Medical Center (UCIMC) from January 2003 to February 2006 were retrospectively retrieved. Corresponding EUS findings, cytology and histology slides, and follow-up information were reviewed. RESULTS: One hundred one (101) cases were found. Two smears were submitted in 11 cases because of the scanty amount of fluid aspirated. In the remaining cases, 5 mL or less of fluid were aspirated in 56 patients, and, of 9 who had prior computed tomography (CT), ascitic fluid was not seen in 6. The cytologic diagnoses were as follows: 17 were positive for adenocarcinoma, 1 positive for metastatic small-cell carcinoma of the lung, 1 positive for diffuse large-cell lymphoma, 3 suspicious for adenocarcinoma, 1 suspicious for plasmacytoma, 4 atypical epithelial cells, and 74 negative. Cell block was available in 80 cases and immunohistochemical stains were performed in 71 cases to confirm the diagnosis. Six patients had peritoneal biopsy. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and diagnostic accuracy were 80%, 100%, 100%, 95%, and 96%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: EUS-guided paracentesis is a valuable aid in the cytologic diagnosis of malignant ascites. It is particularly useful when no abnormality is identified by CT. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2010;. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Monogamy and Polygyny in Greece, Rome, and World History

In what sense were the ancient Greeks and Romans monogamous, and why does it matter? This paper summarizes the physical and anthropological record of polygyny, briefly sketches the historical expansion of formal monogamy, considers complementary theories of mate choice, and situates Greco-Roman practice on a spectrum from traditional polygamy to more recent forms of normative monogyny.
Condition-based software testing strategies

The author defines two condition testing strategies, BRO (Boolean and relational operator) and BRE (Boolean and relational expression) testing. These two testing strategies are different from existing condition testing strategies in that they are based on the detection of both Boolean and relational expression errors in a condition. For a condition with n operands, the number of tests required by BRO or BRE testing is at most 2(n+1). Based on empirical studies of the algorithms SBEMIN and SBEMINSEN and the theoretical properties of BRO and BRE testing, it is believed that BRO and BRE testing is practical and effective for testing programs containing complicated conditions. >
Defensins and Host Defense

Defensins are antimicrobial peptides produced by cells as part of the host9s immune defense system against invading pathogens. A Perspective by Tomas Ganz highlights three papers that provide new insights into the structure and function of vertebrate defensins. In mice, a-defensins produced by the Paneth cells of the small intestine help defend the host against invasion by intestinal pathogens such as Escherichia coli and Salmonella ( Wilson et al.). Two human b-defensins have been shown to act as chemoattractants for dendritic cells and memory T cells ( Yang et al.), and a new cyclic q-defensin identified in monkeys has powerful antimicrobial activity and may be a molecular template for designing new antibiotics ( Tang et al.).
Effects of arginine starvation on macromolecular synthesis in infection with type 2 adenovirus

Abstract The effects of arginine starvation on DNA and RNA synthesis and on polyribosomes in KB cells infected with type 2 adenovirus were studied. Synthesis of viral DNA in arginine-starved (Arg−) cells was demonstrated by CsCl equilibrium density gradient centrifugation, zonal velocity sedimentation in alkaline sucrose gradients, and DNA-DNA hybridization. However, the amounts of cellular and especially viral DNA in Arg− cells were significantly lower than in cells maintained in complete medium (Arg+). No evidence was obtained to suggest that this quantitative difference was due to degradation of newly synthesized DNA in Arg− cells. Up to 12 hr after infection, no quantitative or qualitative difference was found between Arg+ and Arg− cells with regard to viral mRNA transcribed. Thereafter (to 17 hr p.i.), the rate of viral RNA synthesis decreased but the same species continued to be synthesized. At 17.5 hr p.i., the lowering of the rate of RNA synthesis was reflected both in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm of Arg− cells and affected cellular as well as viral RNA. However, the relative distribution of viral mRNA between cytoplasmic fractions (polyribosomal and nonpolyribosomal) was unaffected by arginine deprivation. Polyribosomes decreased progressively after infection in Arg− cells while they increased in Arg+ cells. The change in polyribosomal profile was not dependent on Ad2 infection, but also occurred in uninfected Arg− cells. Under both conditions, the changes induced by arginine deprivation were reversible by arginine restoration as late as 20 hr after infection and/or arginine deprivation. It is postulated that failure of virion assembly to occur in Arg− cells is not due to failure of a major structural viral constituent to be synthesized ( see also Rouse and Schlesinger, 1972 ); rather it must involve lack of an exquisitely arginine-dependent factor (or factors) needed for normal DNA synthesis and, especially, for enabling the DNA that is made to associate with the structural proteins that are also synthesized. This conclusion is supported by the earlier finding that the DNA preformed in Arg− cells does, but the preformed viral proteins do not, participate in virion assembly which occurs upon arginine restoration.
Life, death, and the critical transition: finding liveness bugs in systems code

Modern software model checkers find safety violations: breaches where the system enters some bad state. However, we argue that checking liveness properties offers both a richer and more natural way to search for errors, particularly in complex concurrent and distributed systems. Liveness properties specify desirable system behaviors which must be satisfied eventually, but are not always satisfied, perhaps as a result of failure or during system initialization. Existing software model checkers cannot verify liveness because doing so requires finding an infinite execution that does not satisfy a liveness property. We present heuristics to find a large class of liveness violations and the critical transition of the execution. The critical transition is the step in an execution that moves the system from a state that does not currently satisfy some liveness property--but where recovery is possible in the future--to a dead state that can never achieve the liveness property. Our software model checker, MACEMC, isolates complex liveness errors in our implementations of PASTRY, CHORD, a reliable transport protocol, and an overlay tree.
Sorting Genomes with Insertions, Deletions and Duplications by DCJ

We extend the DCJ paradigm to perform genome rearrangments on pairs of genomes having unequal gene content and/or multiple copies by permitting genes in one genome which are completely or partially unmatched in the other. The existence of unmatched gene ends introduces new kinds of paths in the adjacency graph, since some paths can now terminate internal to a chromosome and not on telomeres. We introduce Oghost adjacenciesO to supply the missing gene ends in the genome not containing them. Ghosts enable us to close paths that were due to incomplete matching, just as null points enable us to close even paths terminating in telomeres. We define generalalized DCJ operations on the generalized adjacency graph, and give a prescription for calculating the DCJ distance for the expanded repertoire of operations which includes insertions, deletions and duplications.
A computational model for conceptual design based on function logic

Function logic and function block diagrams have been successfully employed in preliminary and conceptual design processes for several decades. This paper describes a computational model of this process with extensions of the manual approach. It provides for a systematic identification and definition of form and function variables and identifies a three-level function/allocation/component information structure to represent the state of the design. We outline the inputs, outputs and operations on the form and function variables as a key step prior to the synthesis process. We also illustrate by example how to transfer functional designs across specialist domains.
Experiments on the excitation and coupled-cavity suppression of beam-breakup-instability in long-pulse electron beam transport

Experiments have been performed to excite and suppress the beam breakup (BBU) instability in long pulse electron beam transport through RF cavity systems. Electron beams are generated by the Michigan Electron Long Beam Accelerator (MELBA) at parameters: V = 0.7–0.8 MV, I diode = 1–10 kA, I injected = 100–400 A, and pulselength= 0.5–1 μs. The transport system consists of a solenoidal magnetic field with 10 RF cavities. The TM 110 mode BBU resonance frequency of the cavities is 2.5 GHz and the cavity Q is adjusted to about 200–300. Each cavity has a small coupling loop oriented to detect the RF field in the TMno mode. The cavities are separated by 6.5 cm-long sections of tubing which are cutoff to the RF frequency. The BBU instability is primed by a kW level microwave signal injected into the first cavity from a magnetron. Growth of the RF is measured between the second cavity and the last cavity. Strong growth (2–5 dB per cavity) is only observed when the RF priming signal is tuned to the exact TM 110 mode resonance frequency (Δf/f o ≪1%). Experiments to test techniques for suppression of the BBU instability are also being performed. The primary BBU suppression technique being investigated is cavity cross-coupling, in which 7 out of 10 internal beam-cavities are connected by cables to 7 identical cavities located externally to the e-beam. These are the first experiments which have shown a consistent reduction (about −6 dB average) in BBU microwave growth when external cavities are coupled to the internal cavity system.
Host adaptation, sex ratio, and flight activity in male black pineleaf scale.

Field studies of male black pineleaf scale, Nuculaspis californica (Coleman), revealed a biased sex ratio which varied from tree to tree. Male frequency correlated with insect density and adaptation to a single individual ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa (Lawson). Sticky-trap capture data showed a diurnal pattern of male flight activity.
A mass spectrometric method for measuring glycerol levels and enrichments in plasma using 13C and 2H stable isotopic tracers.

The stable isotope tracer [1,1,2,3,3-2H5]glycerol has been commonly used as a tracer to measure glycerol kinetics and lipolysis in vivo. The method for measuring samples using the trimethylsilyl derivative and electron impact gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry retains only three of the five deuteriums, resulting in the possibility of incorrectly identifying the whole glycerol tracer molecule. This reports preparation of glycerol as the heptafluorobutyrl derivative and measurement by negative ion chemical ionization gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to produce a derivative with an intense molecular ion that retains all five deuterium labels. Thus the heptafluorobutyrl derivative analyzed by negative ion mass spectrometry overcomes the problems associated with fragmentation and loss of the isotopic label. Glycerol concentration using a labeled internal standard can be determined in plasma with a precision of 3%. Nanomole amounts of glycerol can be analyzed for 13C or 2H enrichments with a precision of ±0.14 mol% excess isotope. This simple, sensitive method for measuring glycerol levels and stable isotopic enrichment in plasma uses a simple extraction procedure and requires a minimal volume of plasma (<300 μl).
Activation and membrane binding of retinal protein kinase Bα/Akt1 is regulated through light‐dependent generation of phosphoinositides

Akt is a phospholipid-binding protein and the downstream effector of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. Akt has three isoforms: Akt1, Akt2, and Akt3. All of these isoforms are expressed in rod photoreceptor cells, but the individual functions of each isoform are not known. In this study, we found that light induces the activation of Akt1. The membrane binding of Akt1 to rod outer segments (ROS) is insulin receptor (IR)/PI3K-dependent as demonstrated by reduced binding of Akt1 to ROS membranes of photoreceptor-specific IR knockout mice. Membrane binding of Akt1 is mediated through its Pleckstrin homology (PH) domain. To determine whether binding of the PH domain of Akt1 to photoreceptor membranes is regulated by light, various green fluorescent protein (GFP)/Akt1-PH domain fusion proteins were expressed in rod photoreceptors of transgenic Xenopus laevis under the control of the Xenopus opsin promoter. The R25C mutant PH domain of Akt1, which does not bind phosphoinositides, failed to associate with plasma membranes in a light-dependent manner. This study suggests that light-dependent generation of phosphoinositides regulates the activation and membrane binding of Akt1 in vivo. Our results also suggest that actin cytoskeletal organization may be regulated through light-dependent generation of phosphoinositides.
The analysis of covariance: a useful technique for analysing quality improvement experiments

The analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) is an often overlooked analytical and modelling tool useful for designed experiments. ANCOVA is a combination of regression analysis and the analysis of variance. It is used to increase the precision of a model fit when an uncontrollable but observable nuisance variables has an impact on the response variable. This paper provides an introductory tutorial on ANCOVA methodology. We present the ANCOVA methodology from an algebraic and graphical viewpoint as well as discuss general model-building and inference strategies. We extend the discussion to ANCOVA's usefulness in basic 2k factorial arrangements. Within the factorial framework, we focus on various assumptions that can be made to better manage the allocation of degrees of freedom during model estimation. Additionally, we provide a procedure to use ANCOVA with a single replicate of a factorial experiment. Examples and emphasis on computer implementation are used to illustrate the discussion throughout this tutorial. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nondisease‐Specific Problems and All‐Cause Mortality in the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke Study

Objectives: To evaluate the association between six nondisease-specific problems (problems that cross multiple domains of health) and mortality in middle-aged and older adults. Design: Prospective, observational cohort. Setting: U.S. population sample. Participants: Participants included 23,669 black and white U.S. adults aged 45 and older enrolled in the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study. Measurements: Nondisease-specific problems included cognitive impairment, depressive symptoms, exhaustion, falls, impaired mobility, and polypharmacy. Age-stratified (<65, 65�74, ?75) hazard ratios for all-cause mortality were calculated for each problem individually and according to number of problems. Results: One or more nondisease-specific problems occurred in 40% of participants younger than 65, 45% of those aged 65 to 74, and 55% of those aged 75 and older. Compared with participants with none of these problems, the multivariable adjusted hazard ratio for all-cause mortality associated with each additional nondisease-specific problem was 1.34 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.23�1.46) for participants younger than 65, 1.24 (95% CI = 1.15�1.35) for those aged 65 to 74, and 1.30 (95% CI = 1.21�1.39) for those aged 75 and older. Conclusion: Nondisease-specific problems were associated with mortality across a wide age spectrum. Future studies should explore whether treating these problems will improve survival and identify innovative healthcare models to address multiple nondisease-specific problems simultaneously.
A Method for Characterizing Effective Pore Sizes of Catalysts

The temperature dependent effective catalytic pore size can be determined by the comparison of 13C MAS NMR spectra of heterogeneously catalyzed, shape selective reactions and data collected from GC analysis of the product stream of reactions under similar reaction conditions. The concept of effective minimum molecular dimensions has been set forth in a previous paper. (Webster, C. E.; Drago, R. S.; Zerner, M. C. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1998, 120, 5509−5516.) In this investigation, it is concluded that the effective catalytic channel size of HZSM-5 is between 6.62 and 7.27 A at 300 °C, the MIN-2 dimensions of p-xylene and o-xylene, respectively. At 370 °C, the effective catalytic channel size is increased to a minimum of 7.64 A, the MIN-2 dimension of 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene. We discuss the apparent increase in the effective catalytic channel intersection size with increasing temperature. This novel approach presents an a priori description of relative pore sizes and can be used to investigate and describe numero...
HIGH-FIELD HALL EFFECT AND BAND STRUCTURE OF HALF-METALLIC CrO2 FILMS

The Hall effect of (100)- and (110)-oriented films of the half-metallic ferromagnetic oxide CrO2, fabricated by both chemical vapor deposition and high pressure, thermal decomposition methods, has been examined in large magnetic fields up to 60 T. In all cases the Hall effect exhibits a sign reversal from positive to negative with increasing field, which we take as evidence for multi-band behavior. (110) films fabricated by both methods exhibit this sign reversal at relatively low fields. The data may be fit with a simple two-band model, which indicates the existence of highly mobile holes of p-like parentage, along with a much larger number of heavy, d-like electrons. In the (100) film the sign reversal is at much higher field. The parameters obtained from the fits allow us (with help from band structure calculations) to infer the band structure near the Fermi level and how it depends on sample strain and other structural characteristics. These details will be important for understanding carrier transport through interfaces such as for spin injection or other "spintronics" applications.
Value of sterile forage sorghum hybrids as silages for lactating cows.

Summary Two sterile forage sorghum hybrids (RS 303F and RS 301F) have been evaluated as roughages for lactating cows. These hybrids were male sterile and produced very few seed. Two experiments were conducted. In each experiment silage was fed ad libitum as the only roughage to 12 cows in a switch-back design. In the first experiment, using Jersey cows, RS 303F was compared with corn and Axtell sorgo. Corn silage was significantly superior in FCM produced and in amount consumed; however, consumption of silage dry matter was highest for Axtell. RS 303F and Axtell were found not to differ in other respects. Body weight change and milk fat percentage did not differ significantly among treatments. In the second experiment, using Holstein and Brown Swiss cows, RS 301F was compared with Tracy silage harvested at the early-dough stage and when the grain was mature. The silage from RS 301F was significantly superior to that of Tracy harvested at early-dough in silage consumed, FCM produced, and milk fat percentage. Silages from RS 303F and mature Tracy were not different in any respect. Dry matter consumption and weight changes were not measurably different for these treatments. Sterile sorghum silages were not inferior to other sorghum silages, which suggests that the seed content of these silages should not be used as a criterion for judging their quality.
Detection of total occlusion, string sign, and preocclusive stenosis of the internal carotid artery by color-flow duplex scanning☆

Abstract Background : Stroke prevention depends on the accurate differentiation of surgically treatable preocclusive lesions from total occlusions of the internal carotid artery. This prospective study was undertaken to review the accuracy of color-flow duplex scanning for identifying carotid string signs, focal preocclusive lesions (95% to 99% stenoses), and total occlusion of the internal carotid artery. Materials and methods : Over an 18-month period, 4,362 patients underwent color-flow duplex scanning of the carotid arteries. Angiograms of 596 internal carotid arteries were available for comparison with the duplex scan findings. Total occlusion was diagnosed by the absence of flow in internal carotid arteries visualized on B-mode scanning. Preocclusive lesions were identified by a trickle of flow in the vessel lumen. Results : Of 65 color-flow duplex scans that predicted total occlusion, 64 (98%) were confirmed by angiography. The negative predictive value for total occlusion was 99%. Twenty-six (87%) of 30 string signs and focal 95% to 99% stenoses were correctly identified. Color-flow scanning prediction of preocclusive lesions was accurate in 84% of 31 cases. Low velocities in the internal carotid artery were usually associated with a string sign, and high velocities with a focal preocclusive lesion. Conclusions : Color-flow duplex scanning accurately differentiates between stenotic and totally occluded internal carotid arteries. Identification of preocclusive lesions is not as accurate but the results are promising. Arteriographic confirmation of duplex scan findings is necessary only when scans are equivocal.
Gastrointestinal involvement in lymphomatoid granulomatosis: Report of a case and review of the literature

Lymphomatoid granulomatosis is a lymphoproliferative process affecting multiple organ systems usually including the lungs. Significant gastrointestinal involvement, however, has rarely been reported. Pathologic examination reveals a vasocentric polymorphous lymphoid infiltrate. A case of lymphomatoid granulomatosis with gastrointestinal manifestations necessitating aggressive surgical intervention is reported. The clinical presentation, pathologic features, and various aspects of therapy of lymphomatoid granulomatosis involving the gastrointestinal tract are discussed.
Simulation From Wishart Distributions With Eigenvalue Constraints

Abstract This article provides an efficient algorithm for generating a random matrix according to a Wishart distribution, but with eigenvalues constrained to be less than a given vector of positive values. The procedure of Odell and Feiveson provides a guide, but the modifications here ensure that the diagonal elements of a candidate matrix are less than the corresponding elements of the constraint vector, thus greatly improving the chances that the matrix will be acceptable. The Normal hierarchical model with vector outcomes and the multivariate random effects model provide motivating applications.
Diurnal malate and citrate fluctuations as related to nitrate and potassium concentrations in tomato leaves

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to determine if malate and citrate change diurnally, if these changes are light dependent, and how these changes relate to K+ and NO3 −1 levels. Malate concentration in tomato leaves was shown to increase during the day and decrease at night. The inverse occurred with citrate. The dependency of the changes on light was demonstrated for malate, but not for citrate. A relationship with NO3 − assimilation and K+ recirculation may explain the changes in malate concentration.
S-matrix elements in the presence of shadow states, the Bjorken limit and shadow quarks

Abstract When a scattering reaction occurs, it is usually assumed that the complete set of collision states is entirely composed of travelling waves, hense any constituent, in principle, is observable. Should, however, either quarks, regulator photons or lepton satellites be standing wave states, i.e. only shadow states, we would not expect to have observed them. In this paper we discuss the new terms which modify the usual dispersion relations and the Low equation and argue that present two-body experiments do not provide strong tests for their presence. In the Bjorken limit these piecewise analytic terms vanish. Yet, in a shadow indefinite-metric theory, the logarithmic terms breaking this limit are still absent. The triangle anomalies, therefore, should only be taken seriously in low energy reactions. A stronger constraint on the presence of shadow states can be provided by verification of the Callen-Gross sum rule. By means of a simple version of the Kuti-Weisskopf model, containing valence quarks and quark-antiquark pairs, we demonstrate explicitly how quarks can be shadow states. In an appendix, in formal scattering theory with shadow states, the correct formal solutions for the exact asymptotic states, both physical and shadow, are obtained.
Managing Forests for Increased Regional Water Yield in the Southeastern U.S. Coastal Plain

With growing populations fueling increased groundwater abstraction and forecasts of greater water scarcity in the southeastern United States, identifying land management strategies that enhance water availability will be vital to maintaining hydrologic resources and protecting natural systems. Management of forested uplands for lower basal area, currently a priority for habitat improvement on public lands, may also increase water yield through decreased evapotranspiration (ET). To explore this hypothesis, we synthesized studies of precipitation and ET in coastal plain pine stands to develop a statistical model of water yield as a function of management strategy, stand structure, and ecosystem water use. This model allowed us to estimate changes in water yield in response to varying management strategies across spatial scales from the individual stand to a regional watershed. Results suggest that slash pine stands managed at lower basal areas can have up to 64% more cumulative water yield over a 25-year rotation compared to systems managed for high-density timber production, with the greatest increases in stands also managed for recurrent understory fire. Although there are important uncertainties in the magnitude of additional water yield and its final destination (i.e., surface water bodies vs. groundwater), this analysis highlights the potential for management activities on public and private timber lands to partially offset increasing demand on surface and groundwater resources.
Sec-mediated secretion by Coxiella burnetii

Background Coxiella burnetii is a Gram-negative intracellular bacterial pathogen that replicates within a phagolysosome-like parasitophorous vacuole (PV) of macrophages. PV formation requires delivery of effector proteins directly into the host cell cytoplasm by a type IVB secretion system. However, additional secretion systems are likely responsible for modification of the PV lumen microenvironment that promote pathogen replication.
The Use of Snow-Level Observations Derived from Vertically Profiling Radars to Assess Hydrometeorological Characteristics and Forecasts over Washington’s Green River Basin

AbstractTwo vertically pointing S-band radars (coastal and inland) were operated in western Washington during two winters to monitor brightband snow-level altitudes. Similar snow-level characteristics existed at both sites, although the inland site exhibited lower snow levels by ~70 m because of proximity to cold continental air, and snow-level altitude changes were delayed there by several hours owing to onshore translation of weather systems. The largest precipitation accumulations and rates occurred when the snow level was largely higher than the adjacent terrain. A comparison of these observations with long-term operational radiosonde data reveals that the radar snow levels mirrored climatological conditions. The inland radar data were used to assess the performance of nearby operational freezing-level forecasts. The forecasts possessed a lower-than-observed bias of 100–250 m because of a combination of forecast error and imperfect representativeness between the forecast and observing points. These fo...
Objective Analysis and Assimilation of Observational Data from FGGE

An objective analysis scheme is presented for the assimilation of meteorological data in which wind, geopotential height, and relative humidity are analyzed on mandatory pressure levels, and surface pressure and temperature are reduced to sea level for analysis. The present analysis/forecast system demonstrates a reasonable degree of forecast skill over the Northern Hemisphere for an ensemble of five-day integrations during the First Special Observing Period of the First GARP Global Experiment (FGGE) The vertical motion field shows outstanding agreement with the large scale synoptic pattern for the sample analysis presented, and the mean meridional circulation portrayed in the FGGE analysis is in close agreement with observational estimates.