cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Control of Liriomyza langei on chrysanthemum by Diglyphus isaea produced with a standard or modified parasitoid rearing technique

Abstract: Overproduction of male parasitoids during mass rearing will increase costs for biological control because wasp shipments contain fewer females and only females kill hosts directly. We have developed a rearing technique capable of significantly reducing male-biased sex ratios in Diglyphus isaea (Walker) (Hym., Eulophidae), a commercially reared parasitoid of agromyzid leafminers. In this study, we examined the effect of rearing technique on the efficacy of D. isaea for biological control of Liriomyza langei Frick (Dip., Agromyzidae) on chrysanthemum, Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev var. ‘Miramar’. We produced D. isaea on mixtures of small and large hosts (our modified technique) or on only large hosts (simulating commercial mass-rearing) and compared: (1) control of L. langei with D. isaea produced by the two rearing techniques, and (2) damage and yield of unprotected and protected plants. The two rearing techniques produced similar numbers of waSPS per rearing cohort, but the ‘modified’ technique reduced the proportion of males by approximately 13%. The two techniques also produced females of similar size, but the ‘modified’ technique produced smaller males. In greenhouse trials simulating leafminer infestations of potted chrysanthemums during commercial production, we found no significant differences between the levels of control obtained by releasing identical numbers and sex ratios of adult waSPS produced by either rearing technique. Mine counts on plants protected by waSPS of either rearing history were similar and around 30–70% less than unprotected plants during most of the 11-week crop cycle. At crop harvest, more than half of the foliage on protected plants was undamaged compared with <10% on unprotected crops. Damage to the flower stems of protected plants was relatively light in the top half of the canopy compared with the bottom half. Protected plants were around 10–15% taller and produced twice as many flower buds compared with unprotected plants. Our ‘modified’ rearing technique can reduce overproduction of males in D. isaea with no compromise in biological control efficacy. Adoption of our rearing technique by commercial insectaries could reduce implementation costs for not only D. isaea but also other parasitoids that show host-size-dependent sex allocation.
Bulk Conductivity in Organic Crystals

ONE of the basic problems in the study of bulk conductivity phenomena (dark- and photo-conductivity) in organic crystals is the apparent energy deficit in the difference between the ionization energy of the molecule in the crystal and the energy supplied by the exciting radiation. An excellent review of this problem is given by Garrett1. All current efforts to resolve this difficulty have been concerned with the energy balances within the crystal, excluding the electrodes, with the goal of explaining how a charge separation is produced inside the crystal.
The accuracy of noninvasive and continuous total hemoglobin measurement by pulse CO-Oximetry in human subjects undergoing hemodilution.

BACKGROUND:Total hemoglobin (tHb) is one the most frequently ordered laboratory measurements. Pulse CO-Oximetry™ (Masimo Corp., Irvine, CA) is a multi-wavelength spectrophotometric method for noninvasive and continuous hemoglobin monitoring (SpHb). In this study, we evaluated the accuracy of SpHb co
A Knowledge-based Expert System for Design of Roof Trusses

Aknowledge-based expert system has been developed for design of roof trusses, called RTEXPERT. RTEXPERT can advise the user on the appropriate type of the roof truss, selection of the layout of the truss (such as the pitch of the truss and number of panels), and the loading. The basis of design is the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) specification. The truss is designed for dead, live, snow, and wind loads in accordance with the American National Standard Institute (ANSI) specification. A novel part of RTEXPERT is the automatic computation of nodal forces due to various loads. The user needs to indicate only the types of the materials used as roof covering and the location of the structure in the United States. RTEXPERT automatically generates all the nodal forces. The knowledge base and explanation facility of RTEXPERT have been developed using INSIGHT 2 + expert system shell. The mathematical computations, graphic algorithms, and data file manipulation routines have been developed in Turbo Pascal. RTEXPERT has a comprehensive graphic interface for displaying the truss configuration, cross sections, loading, and deformed shape. Information about individual members is presented through multi-window graphicstext displays. RTEXPERT can be used as an “intelligent assistant” for design of roof trusses.
Coal-Fueled Diesel Engine Development Update at GE Transportation Systems

This paper reports that the U.S. Department of Energy is sponsoring a General Electric Company development program for using coal-water slurry (CWS) to power a diesel engine and to test it in a locomotive. The first locomotive system test was successfully completed in 1991 on GE/TS test track. The first-phase coal-fueled 12-cylinder diesel engine used in the locomotive test employed a modified positive displacement fuel injection system and developed 2500 hp in the engine laboratory. The final phase all electric controlled fuel injection equipment (FIE) diesel engine has completed individual component development phases. Combustion research evaluated a broad range of CWS fuels with different source coals, particle sizes, and ash contents. The electronic controlled FIE single cylinder test engine yielded 99.5 percent combustion efficiency. Envelop filters and copper oxide sorbent have been chosen to clean up the engine emissions after extensive evaluation of various hot gas cleaning methods. The projected removal rate of particulate is 99.5 percent and that of SO[sub 2] is 90 percent. Over ten diamond insert injector nozzles performed well on the test engines. A bench test of one nozzle has been run for over 500 engines equivalent hours without significant wear.
Changes in the Salmonine Community of Lake Michigan and Their Implications for Predator–Prey Balance

AbstractWe combined statistical stock assessment methods with bioenergetic calculations to assess historical changes in abundance and consumptive demand of the hatchery-supported salmonine community in Lake Michigan, with the goal of providing information needed to examine the lake's predator–prey balance. Especially for Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, the most dominant salmonine predator in the lake, our analysis revealed density-dependent changes in growth, survival, production levels, consumptive demand, and fishery characteristics, suggesting that increased salmonine abundance possibly had substantial impacts on prey abundance that led to predators being food limited. Indeed, the estimated changes in the salmonine community were consistent with historical changes in prey abundances that were previously documented for Lake Michigan. Specifically, higher salmonine abundance and consumption were estimated for the early 1980s, during which time Alewife Alosa pseudoharengus abundance experienced a...
Activation of renal adenylate cyclase by forskolin: Assessment of enzymatic activity in animal models of the secondary hyperparathyroid state

Abstract The effects of forskolin on kidney slice cyclic AMP content and membrane adenylate cyclase activity were studied in order to determine whether or not activation of the enzyme by forskolin was affected in experimental animal models of the secondary hyperparathyroid state. Forskolin was found to be a potent activator of renal adenylate cyclase in rats and chicks, and the diterpene produced a marked potentiation of the cyclic AMP response to parathyroid hormone (PTH). The diterpene had no effect on the binding of PTH to renal receptors. Activity of adenylate cyclase in the presence of forskolin was similar in renal membranes from either vitamin D-deficient rats or chicks compared to control. Forskolin did not restore full responsiveness to PTH in renal slices from chicks raised on diets that were deficient in either vitamin D or calcium although the diterpene was capable of potentiating the cyclic AMP response to PTH in these tissues. Forskolin also augmented the activation of membrane adenylate cyclase by PTH although this effect of the diterpene was much less prominent in membrane preparations than that observed in renal slices. This study provided additional evidence that the downregulation of renal PTH-dependent adenylate cyclase in experimental models of secondary hyperparathyroidism is due to a specific reduction in receptormediated regulation of cyclic AMP formation. Adenylate cyclase activity as assessed by forskolin-stimulated enzyme activity was fully maintained in kidney membranes from these animal models. Thus, forskolin appears to be a useful drug for measuring total enzymatic activity in situations where altered responsiveness of adenylate cyclase to hormones has been demonstrated to be mediated by changes in hormone receptors.
Rectifiable sets and the Traveling Salesman Problem

Let K c C be a bounded set. In this paper we shall give a simple necessary and sufficient condit ion for K to lie in a rectifiable curve. We say that a set is a rectifiable curve if it is the image of a finite interval under a Lipschitz mapping. Recall that for a connected set F c C, F is a rectifiable curve (not necessarily simple) if and only if l(F) < ~ , where l(-) denotes one dimensional Hausdorff measure. This classical result follows from the fact that on any finite graph there is a tour which covers the entire graph and which crosses each edge (but not necessarily each vertex!) at most twice. If K is a finite set then we are essentially reduced to the classical Traveling Salesman Problem (TSP): Compute the length of the shortest Hami l ton ian cycle which hits all points of K. This is the same, up to a constant multiple, as asking for the inf imum of l(F) where F is a curve, K c F. (Such a F is called a spanning tree in TSP theory.) For infinite sets K, we cannot hope in general to have K be a subset of a Jordan curve. What we should therefore look at is connected sets which conta in K. Let Fmi n be the shortest (minimal) spanning tree. Then we cannot possibly solve our problem for sets K of infinite cardinality if we cannot find F, I(F) < C O/(Fmin) , for any finite set K. (Here and throughout the paper C, Co, C1, c o , etc. denote various universal constants.) While there are several algorithms for computing l(Fml.), these algorithms work for finite graphs satisfying the triangle inequality, and do not use the Euclidean properties of K. (See [13] for an excellent discussion of some of these algorithms.) Therefore these methods cannot solve our problem for general infinite K. We present a method which is a minor modification of a well-known algorithm ("Farthest Insert ion" see [13]) which yields a F with I(F) < C O l(Fmi,). The Farthest Insert ion algorithm has been extensively studied with large numerical calculations on computers, and is experimentally good in the sense that the F produced satisfy I(F) < C O l(F,,,i,) for all examples which have
Comparative in vitro and in vivo genotoxicities of 7H-benzo[c]fluorene, manufactured gas plant residue (MGP), and MGP fractions

Manufactured gas plant residue (MGP) is a complex mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) that is tumorigenic in the lungs of mice. This study compared the relative genotoxicity of 7H-benzo[c]fluorene (BC), a PAH component of MGP, with MGP and MGP fractions in order to assess the contribution of BC to the genotoxicity of MGP. An MGP sample was separated into seven fractions (F1–F7) using silica gel column chromatography with petroleum ether (PE) followed by PE:acetone (99:1 v/v, then 98:2). PAHs were quantified using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. An aliquot of F2, the fraction with the highest BC concentration and highest weighted mutagenic activity in Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98, was further separated using silica gel thin-layer chromatography with hexane. The first F2 subfraction, sF2-a, was enriched in BC and coeluting compounds and contained 35,000 ppm BC and 216,109 ppm carcinogenic PAHs (cPAHs, the sum of seven PAHs categorized by the U.S. EPA as class B2 carcinogens). The second F2 subfraction, sF2-b, contained a ninefold lower concentration of BC, with 3,900 ppm BC and 45,216 ppm cPAHs. Female ICR mice received topical application of crude MGP, crude MGP spiked with analytical-grade BC, F2, sF2-a, sF2-b, or analytical-grade BC. DNA adduct levels were analyzed by nuclease P1-enhanced 32P-postlabeling. In lung DNA of mice receiving 0.48 or 3.0 mg/mouse, net total RAL × 109 values were F2, 30.8 and 87.2; sF2-a, 24.8 and 106.7; and sF2-b, 19.6 and 151.0, respectively. Mice dosed with 0.10 mg analytical-grade BC (the mass of BC in 3.0 mg sF2-a) exhibited a net total RAL × 109 value of 7.03 in lung DNA. This was equal to approximately 7% of the total RAL × 109 value produced by 3.0 mg sF2-a. Thus, although BC appears to make an appreciable contribution to pulmonary adduct formation, the results suggest that MGP components other than BC play an important role in lung DNA adduct formation following topical MGP administration. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 43:159–168, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The function of the middle ear in lizards: Gekko gecko and Eublepharis macularius (Gekkonoidea)

The structure and function of the middle ear is considered in Gekko gecko (Gekkonidae) and Eublepharis macularius (Eublepharidae). Middle ear anatomy is described in detail for Gekko, and minor points of difference in Eublepharis are indicated. By use of the alternating potentials of the cochlea the peripheral sensitivity function was determined, and then the contribution of the middle ear to this function was assessed by cutting the columellar shaft and removing the more peripheral structures. The sensitivity was then determined by presenting the sounds through a tube sealed over the oval window. This method provides known sound pressures at the columellar footplate and avoids simultaneous stimulation of the cochlea by way of the round window, which other forms of aerial stimulation would produce. This procedure reveals the performance of the middle ear as a mechanical transformer without complicating side effects. The transformer action was indicated as improving peak sensitivity by about 35 db in Gekko gecko and by about 53 db in Eublepharis macularius. The operation of the middle ear was further analyzed by the use of mechanical vibrations first applied to the surface of the tympanic membrane just over the pars inferior with the ear intact, and then to the stump of the columella after this ossicle was separated. The basic form of the sensitivity function persists in these vibratory types of stimulation, which is taken to mean that this form depends in large measure on the cochlea itself. Two processes are considered as achieving the force amplification required for impedance transformation, which is the principal function of a middle ear. One is a lever action of the columellar system, and the other is the hydraulic action arising from the difference in areas between the surfaces of the tympanic membrane and the columellar footplate. No specific evidence for lever action was obtained in this study. Measurements of areas of the tympanic membrane and columellar footplate indicated fairly large hydraulic ratios in these gekkonoid species. The evidence shows that the efficient transmission of sounds by the middle ear contributes in a significant way to the high degree of auditory sensitivity of these lizards.
LOW-DIMENSIONAL DESCRIPTION OF OSCILLATORY THERMAL CONVECTION : THE SMALL PRANDTL NUMBER LIMIT

Low-dimensional models are derived for transitional, buoyancy-driven flow in a vertical channel with prescribed spatially periodic heating. Stationary characteristic structures (empirical eigenfunctions) are identified by applying proper orthogonal decomposition to numerical solutions of the governing partial differential equations. A Galerkin procedure is then employed to obtain suitable low-order dynamical models. Stability analysis of the fixed points of the low-order systems predicts conditions at the primary flow instability that are in very good agreement with direct numerical solutions of the full model. This agreement is found to hold as long as the low-order system possesses a possible Hopf bifurcation (minimum two-equation) mechanism. The effect of the number of retained eigenmodes on amplitude predictions is examined.
Origin of modern quartzarenite beach sands in a temperate climate, Florida and Alabama, USA

Abstract Quartzarenite coastal sands extending from eastern Louisiana eastward to Apalachee Bay, Florida, are anomalous: their position 7° north of the Tropic of Cancer contrasts with most other known modern quartzarenites, most of which are in a tropical setting. To determine the origin of these quartzarenite beach sands, we compared the mineralogy of samples taken from Alabama and Florida beaches, rivers that supply sand to the coast, and well cuttings representative of sandstone bedrock exposed in the Alabama coastal plain. To help assess the abundance of recycled quartz, and accepting the conventional wisdom that rounded sand-size quartz grains are recycled, we quantified the roundness of quartz grains in thin sections of river, beach, and well samples. We also determined the abundance of recycled grains with authigenic quartz using cathodoluminescence. River sands on Precambrian and Paleozoic bedrock in the study area have subarkose and sublitharenite compositions. However, as far as 200 km inland from the coast, river sands have attained quartzarenite composition and all rivers are presently delivering sand with at least 97% quartz to the coast. Rivers develop quartzarenite sand composition where they traverse poorly consolidated Tertiary sandstones, all of which we sampled are composed of > 95% quartz. Published experimental work indicates that abrasional rounding of sand-size quartz by rivers is insignificant and rounding in beaches is extremely slow. Hence, the abundance of quartz grains with some degree of rounding (96% for beaches; > 75% for rivers) further attests to the abundance of recycled quartz.
VENUS AND MARS OR DOWN TO EARTH: STEREOTYPES AND REALITIES OF GENDER DIFFERENCES

Psychological scientists, like lay people, often think in categorical dichotomies that contrast men and women and exaggerate the differences between groups. These value-laden divides tend to privilege one side over the other, often to the advantage of the scientists' own identity group. Besides balancing perspectives in the academic marketplace of ideas, scientists can recognize the complexity of stigma. Gender, like many categories, entails two fundamental dimensions that characterize intergroup stigma (and all interpersonal perception): perceived warmth and competence. These dimensions identify groups viewed with ambivalence (e.g., traditional women are stereotypically warm but incompetent, whereas professional women are allegedly competent but cold). In gender and in other areas, psychological scientists can go beyond value-laden dichotomies and consider the fundamental, continuous dimensions along which we think about stigma.
Comparing ecological restoration alternatives: Grand Canyon, Arizona

Three treatments designed to initiate the process of restoring the surface fire regime and open forest structure of a southwestern ponderosa pine forest were compared on the Kaibab National Forest along the Grand Canyon’s South Rim. The treatments were: (1) full restoration (FULL)—thinning trees to emulate stand structure prior to fire regime disruption ca. 1887, forest floor fuel treatment, and prescribed burning, (2) minimal thinning (MIN)—removing young trees only around living oldgrowth (pre-1887) trees, fuel treatment, and prescribed burning, (3) burn-only (BURN)—representing the current management policy in Grand Canyon National Park (GCNP), and (4) CONTROL. Each treatment was applied to a 12 ha unit. Compared to reconstructed 1887 conditions, all study sites were much more dense prior to treatment (94–176 trees/ha in 1887, compared to 783–3693 trees/ha in 1997). However, basal area increases were less striking (12.6–20.3 in 1887, 17.5–27.0 m 2 /ha in 1997), reflecting past harvest and dwarf mistletoe reduction treatments that removed many large pines. In 2000, 1 year after treatment, tree densities were reduced to 11, 23, and 37 of pre-treatment levels in the FULL, MIN, and BURN treatments, respectively. Understory plant communities showed significant declines in richness and plant frequency across years, probably due to a severe drought in 2000 (60% of average precipitation). No differences in plant communities were observed across treatments, despite the mechanized disturbance associated with tree removal in the FULL treatment. Prescribed fire behavior (flame length, flaming zone depth) and effects (bole char, crown scorch) were similar across all three burned treatments. Simulated fire behavior under dry, windy conditions was reduced in all three treatments compared to the control. The FULL treatment was much less susceptible to crownfire due to reduced crown bulk density and crown fuel load and increased crown base height. Crownfire susceptibility of the BURN treatment was only slightly reduced, while the MIN treatment was intermediate. Compared to the reference conditions of forest structure, the FULL treatment represented the most rapid and comprehensive restoration treatment, although the residual stand was at the low end of historical density. The BURN treatment thinned many small trees but had minor effects on crownfire susceptibility. Effects of the MIN treatment fell between FULL and BURN. The experimental treatments may be useful for the creation of defensible firebreaks near developments, roads, and boundaries with the FULL treatment, supplemented by MIN and BURN treatments over larger areas. # 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
A two-level negotiation framework for complex negotiations

In this paper, we present a negotiation framework in which the negotiation process is performed at two levels. The upper level deals with the formation of high-level goals and objectives for the agent, and the decision about whether or not to negotiate with other agents to achieve particular goals or bring about particular objectives. Negotiation at this upper level determines the rough scope of the commitment. The lower level deals with feasibility and implementation operations; negotiation at this level involves refinement of the rough commitments proposed at the upper level. The experimental work shows this two-level negotiation framework enables the agent to handle complicated negotiation issues and uncertainties in a more efficient way.
A Rigorous, simple method of measuring and recording particle‐size distribution in dispersed material

In all conventional methods for particle-size distribution analysis, measuring gear i s introduced or permitted to be present in a suspension of settling particles. This inevitably causes inhomogeneity and gravitational instability in the suspension with the result that the most interesting and relevant features of the particle-size distribution curve are wiped out. Here an apparatus is described where only external measurements (buoyancy) have to be taken on a column of settling particles, and stability is rigorously maintained by the employment of an additional liquid. The design is simple enough to make this method not only suitable for reference purposes but also equipment- and effort-saving in routine determinations. It was combined with a bead-recorder, necessitating no photographic work and almost no mechanical parts.
Nonnormality Increases Variance

Abstract Recently, a new theoretical and conceptual model of quasigeostrophic turbulence has been advanced in which eddy variance is regarded as being maintained by transient growth of perturbations arising from sources including the nonlinear interactions among the eddies, but crucially without a direct contribution of unstable modal growth to the maintenance of variance. This theory is based on the finding that stochastic forcing of the subcritical atmospheric flow supports variance arising from induced transfer of energy from the background flow to the disturbance field that substantially exceeds the variance expected from the decay rate of the associated normal modes in an equivalent normal system. Herein the authors prove that such amplification of variance is a general property of the stochastic dynamics of systems governed by nonnormal evolution operators and that consequently the response of the atmosphere to unbiased forcing is always underestimated when consideration is limited to the response o...
Evaluation of quantitative image analysis criteria for the high-resolution microendoscopic detection of neoplasia in Barrett’s esophagus

Early detection of neoplasia in patients with Barrett's esophagus is essential to improve outcomes. The aim of this ex vivo study was to evaluate the ability of high-resolution microendoscopic imaging and quantitative image analysis to identify neoplastic lesions in patients with Barrett's esophagus. Nine patients with pathologically confirmed Barrett's esophagus underwent endoscopic examination with biopsies or endoscopic mucosal resection. Resected fresh tissue was imaged with fiber bundle microendoscopy; images were ana- lyzed by visual interpretation or by quantitative image analysis to pre- dict whether the imaged sites were non-neoplastic or neoplastic. The best performing pair of quantitative features were chosen based on their ability to correctly classify the data into the two groups. Predic- tions were compared to the gold standard of histopathology. Subjec- tive analysis of the images by expert clinicians achieved average sen- sitivity and specificity of 87% and 61%, respectively. The best performing quantitative classification algorithm relied on two image textural features and achieved a sensitivity and specificity of 87% and 85%, respectively. This ex vivo pilot trial demonstrates that quantita- tive analysis of images obtained with a simple microendoscope sys- tem can distinguish neoplasia in Barrett's esophagus with good sensi- tivity and specificity when compared to histopathology and to subjective image interpretation. © 2010 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation
Is Federalism Still the “Dark Continent” of Political Science Teaching? Yes and No

Federalism is a core principle of American government; yet, how much attention is given to federalism beyond introductory courses? A 1969 study described American federalism as the “dark continent” of political science teaching. Based on surveys of chairs of US departments of political science and members of the APSA’s section on federalism and intergovernmental relations in 2013, the authors found that these course offerings have increased markedly since 1969, that the courses cover a range of topics, and that many department chairs are interested in offering these courses in the future. However, the teaching of comparative federalism lags far behind American federalism. Thus, comparative federalism remains a “dark continent” of federalism teaching.
Electrophysiologic findings in patients with idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis

Abstract Thirteen patients with catheterization-proved idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis underwent intracardiac electrophysiologic study. There was a large incidence of arrhythmias and a strikingly large incidence of conduction system abnormalities among these patients. The P-A and A-H intervals were normal in all patients. Atrial pacing resulted in Mobitz type I block proximal to the His bundle at an abnormal rate (less than 140/min) in 2 of 12 patients (17 percent). H-V intervals were prolonged (greater than 50 msec) In 10 of 12 patients (83 percent) and were greater than 60 msec in 7 patients (58 percent). The atrial effective refractory period was prolonged in 3 of 12 patients and was markedly prolonged in 1 of them. Effective refractory period of the atrioventricular (A-V) node, determined in five patients, was prolonged in three. Dual responses of the A-V node to atrial extrastimuli were found in seven patients. Dual A-V nodal responses were evoked with propranolol in three patients and persisted in the other four patients with dual responses despite propranolol administration.
…And a time to die: the medicine of old age

Most deaths in Britain occur in old age, and old people dying have as many symptoms as do the young. Management is complicated by diagnostic difficulty, by the frequency of mental disorder (sometimes treatable) and of severe disability, and by the difficulty in ascertaining patients' feelings. Decisions about the management of dying are inevitable, and multifactorial, and views of others may be helpful.Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is not indicated if futile, and may or may not be wanted by the patient.Withholding or withdrawing lifeprolonging treatment may be justified if the totality of life gained (length and quality) is not justified by the burden of treatment Decisions are most difficult when the prognosis is poor but not definitely fatal. Palliative care is important, not only in cancer. Euthanasia is seldom requested at present and inThe Netherlands is carried out less in old people than young. It would do little for the most serious problems of old age. Death and dying are inevitably an important aspect of the medicine of old age. In 1991, 59% of all deaths in England and Wales occurred in people aged 75 or over1. Even an active geriatric service may have a hospital mortality of 15-20%, and a more long-stay unit may well have a higher mortality than this. Especially in more acute settings, many deaths will be sudden, or occur despite appropriate active treatment, but many others will be the end of chronic illness, the management of which may raise other issues. The majority of symptoms are just as common in old people dying as in younger ones, even though outsiders rate them as less severe2. There are several features of illness in old age that affect the management of patients with a poor prognosis, and which are much less prominent at younger ages.
A New Technique for Making Bright Proton Bunches Using Barrier RF Systems

I describe here a very promising scheme for producing bright proton bunches for proton-antiproton and proton-proton colliders. The method is based on the use of wide-band barrier rf systems. First, I explain the principle of the method. The beam dynamics simulations applied to the Fermilab Main Injector (MI) suggest that the scheme allows a wide range of bunch intensities and emittances for ppbar collider. This method has the potential to increase the instantaneous luminosity by ≥ 30% at the Tevatron.
Mating type-dependent constraints on the mobility of the left arm of yeast chromosome III.

Mating-type gene (MAT) switching in budding yeast exhibits donor preference. MATa preferentially recombines with HML near the left telomere of chromosome III, whereas MATα prefers HMR near the right telomere. Donor preference is controlled by the recombination enhancer (RE) located proximal to HML. To test if HML is constrained in pairing with MATα, we examined live-cell mobility of LacI-GFP–bound lactose operator (lacO) arrays inserted at different chromosomal sites. Without induction of recombination, lacO sequences adjacent to HML are strongly constrained in both MATα and RE-deleted MATa strains, compared with MATa. In contrast, chromosome movement at HMR or near a telomere of chromosome V is mating-type independent. HML is more constrained in MATa Δre and less constrained in MATa RE+ compared with other sites. Although HML and MATa are not prealigned before inducing recombination, the three-dimensional configuration of MAT, HML, and HMR is mating-type dependent. These data suggest there is constitutive tethering of HML, which is relieved in MATa cells through the action of RE.
MR_CHIROD v.2: Magnetic Resonance Compatible Smart Hand Rehabilitation Device for Brain Imaging

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and testing of a novel, one degree-of-freedom, magnetic resonance compatible smart hand interfaced rehabilitation device (MR_CHIROD v.2), which may be used in brain magnetic resonance (MR) imaging during handgrip rehabilitation. A key feature of the device is the use of electrorheological fluids (ERFs) to achieve computer controlled, variable, and tunable resistive force generation. The device consists of three major subsystems: 1) an ERF based resistive element, 2) handles, and c) two sensors, one optical encoder and one force sensor, to measure the patient induced motion and force. MR_CHIROD v.2 is designed to resist up to 50% of the maximum level of gripping force of a human hand and be controlled in real time. Our results demonstrate that the MR environment does not interfere with the performance of the MR_CHIROD v.2, and, reciprocally, its use does not cause fMR image artifacts. The results are encouraging in jointly using MR_CHIROD v.2 and brain MR imaging to study motor performance and assess rehabilitation after neurological injuries such as stroke.
Importance of Doppler Analysis of Transmitted Atrial Waveforms prior to Placement of Central Venous Access Catheters

Purpose To assess the sensitivity of Doppler flow analysis of the axillary and internal jugular veins to screen for clinically occult thoracic central veno-occlusive disease and predict successful placement of central access catheters. Materials and Methods Sixty-seven patients underwent both duplex sonographic evaluation of the axillary and internal jugular veins and contrast venography prior to placement of a central venous catheter. Duplex evaluation included visual evidence of veno-occlusive disease as well as the presence or absence of normal transmitted polyphasic atrial waves and respiratory variation of flow. Diagnostically adequate venograms were available for com-parision with the duplex sonograms in 168 access routes (access site plus downstream conduit veins). The contrast venograms and sonograms were compared by using retrospective blinded interpretation. Outcome of attempted catheter placement was tabulated. Results Directed sonographic imaging of the axillary and internal jugular vein allowed detection of access route veno-occlusive disease with a sensitivity of only 33.3%. Alternatively, when Doppler flow analysis found atrial waveforms that were not polyphasic, central conduit occlusive disease was detected with a sensitivity of 79.6%. Monophasic atrial waveforms were associated with a 25% failure rate of catheterization due to central vein occlusive disease, whereas polyphasic atrial waveforms were correlated with a 100% success rate for catheter placement. Conclusion In asymptomatic patients, sonographic imaging alone misses most instances of central veno-occlusive disease. However, Doppler flow analysis of transmitted atrial waveforms substantially improved the sensitivity. A normal polyphasic atrial waveform virtually excludes the possibility of a more central venous occlusion or stenosis greater than 80% and ensures an adequate route for central venous catheterization.
The use of TurSOM for color image segmentation

This work presents an application of TurSOM for high-dimensional segmentation and cluster identification. TurSOM is a variation algorithm of the SOM algorithm, which introduces a new mechanism of self-organization: connection reorganization. We have theoretically presented TurSOM in very recent previous work, however, the applicability of the novel architecture is expanding as we explore it numerous advantages and possibilities. The intent of these experiments, and TurSOM itself, is to be able to segment and identify various distinct objects in color data (red, green, blue).
Cutaneous Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma Associated With a Proliferation of B Cells

Although the new World Health Organization-European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer classification focuses on providing uniformity in the diagnosis of cutaneous lymphomas, cutaneous peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTL) remains a poorly defined subgroup. As follow-up to a study of systemic PTL complicated by a proliferation of B cells, we studied 16 cases of cutaneous PTL that contained morphologically atypical T cells associated with a significant infiltrate of B cells (about 20%-50%). A clonal T-cell receptor gamma chain gene rearrangement was present in all cases. In contrast, a clonal immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangement was present in only 1 case. Clinical staging in 14 cases identified systemic involvement in 2. At last follow-up, both patients with systemic involvement had died of disease, and the majority of patients with primary cutaneous disease were alive (11/12). The presence of numerous atypical B cells and T cells caused diagnostic confusion in these cases. Comprehensive pathologic studies, coupled with clinical staging, are necessary for the accurate diagnosis of this unusual manifestation of cutaneous PTL.
Multiscale Processes and Nonlinear Dynamics of the Circulation and Upwelling Events off Monterey Bay

The nonlinear multiscale dynamics of the Monterey Bay circulation during the Second Autonomous Ocean Sampling Network (AOSN-II) Experiment (August 2003) is investigated in an attempt to understand the complex processes underlying the highly variable ocean environment of the California coastal region. Using a recently developed methodology, the localized multiscale energy and vorticity analysis (MS-EVA) and the MS-EVA-based finite-amplitude hydrodynamic instability theory, the processes are reconstructed on three mutually exclusive time subspaces: a large-scale window, a mesoscale window, and a submesoscale window. The ocean is found tobe most energetic in the upper layers, and the temporal mesoscale structures are mainly trappedabove 200 m.Through exploringthenonlinear window‐window interactions, itisfound that the dynamics underlying the complex surface circulation is characterized by a well-organized, self-sustained bimodal instability structure: a Bay mode and a Point Sur mode, which are located near Monterey Bay and west of Point Sur, respectively. Both modes are of mixed types, but they are distinctly different in dynamics. The former is established when the wind relaxes, while the latter is directly driven by the wind. Either way, the wind instills energy into the ocean, which is stored within the large-scale window and then released to fuel temporal mesoscale processes. Upon wind relaxation, the generated mesoscale structurespropagate northward along the coastline, in a form with dispersion properties similar to that of a free thermocline-trapped coastal-trapped wave. Between these two modes, a secondary instability is identified in the surface layer during 15‐21 August, transferring energy to the temporal submesoscale window. Also studied is the deep-layer flow, which is unstable all the time throughout the experiment within the Bay and north of the deep canyon. It is observed that the deep temporal mesoscale flow within the Bay may derive its energy from the submesoscale window as well as from the large-scale window. This study provides a real ocean example of how secondary upwelling can be driven by winds through nonlinear instability and how winds may excite the ocean via an avenue distinctly different from the classical paradigms.
Insect pests and management technologies in dryland wheat in Washington

Six species of ophids (Homoptera: Aphididae) are the most economically significant insect pests of wheat in Washington. Management technologies under development or in use in Washington emphasize biorational approaches, including development and use of resistance germplasm, manipulation of pest populations through cropping systems, and development of biological controls. We review wheat yield losses caused by aphids, their biological control, and the effects of conservation tillage and systemic seed treatment.
Ontogeny of vocal signals in the little brown bat,Myotis lucifugus

This study reports developmental changes in the vocal signals produced by wild-caught pre-volant and volant Myotis lucifugus. Audio recordings were made from young animals (1-33 days old) and adults (over 1 year of age). The animals were removed from an attic maternity roost and studied individually in a room below. To stimulateflight-related behaviours, animals were released from a launching platform via a hingedfloor, and their vocalizations were recorded as they approached a soft foam pad below. When the hinged floor opened, the youngest animals (1-4 days old) typically dropped onto the pad, but older animals either flapped their wings to achieve some horizontal displacement (>4 days) or sustained horizontal flight (>17 days). Vocalizations recorded under these conditions showed frequency modulation characteristic of adult echolocation sounds, even in animals as young as 4 days. Ontogenetic trends showed an increase in sound frequency, an increase in sound repetition rate and a decrease in sound duration as the animals matured. These data are discussed in the context of the development of echolocation behaviour in bats. ? 1997 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour Insectivorous bats use echolocation to orient in the environment and capture prey. The bat's vocal apparatus functions as a sonar transmitter of ultrasonic signals that reflect well oV small objects, and the bat's auditory system functions as a sonar receiver that determines the angular position and distance of targets (GriYn 1958; Schnitzler & Henson 1980; Moss & Schnitzler 1995). Before young animals begin to hunt insects successfully during their first flights, they must be capable of producing high frequency sonar cries and of processing the spatial information con- tained in the sonar echoes. Thus, the vocal pro- duction system and the auditory system must develop and operate in concert for the bat to use its biological sonar. Data on the vocalizations of young bats exist for several families, including Vespertilionidae
Intervening sequences in an Archaea DNA polymerase gene.

Abstract The DNA polymerase gene from the Archaea Thermococcus litoralis has been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. It is split by two intervening sequences (IVSs) that form one continuous open reading frame with the three polymerase exons. To our knowledge, neither IVS is similar to previously described introns. However, the deduced amino acid sequences of both IVSs are similar to open reading frames present in mobile group I introns. The second IVS (IVS2) encodes an endonuclease, I-Tli I, that cleaves at the exon 2-exon 3 junction after IVS2 has been deleted. IVS2 self-splices in E. coli to yield active polymerase, but processing is abolished if the IVS2 reading frame is disrupted. Silent changes in the DNA sequence at the exon 2-IVS2 junction that maintain the original protein sequence do not inhibit splicing. These data suggest that protein rather than mRNA splicing may be responsible for production of the mature polymerase.
Four derivations of an interesting bilateral series generalizing the series for zeta of 2

We present four derivations of the closed form of the partial fractions expansion This interesting series is a generalization of the series made famous by Euler.
When politics trumps evidence: legislative or regulatory exclusion of abortion from advanced practice clinician scope of practice.

The topic of abortion elicits strong opinions among the general public as well as individual clinicians. The professionally relevant question addressed in this commentary, however, is not whether abortion should be legal or not but whether appropriately trained certified nurse-midwives (CNMs), nurse practitioners (NPs), and physician assistants (PAs), who are collectively referred to as advanced practice clinicians in this commentary, are professionally capable of performing abortion procedures. As health professionals, we should expect that professional scope of practice determinations are based upon whether the ‘‘profession can provide this proposed service in a safe and effective manner.’’ CNMs and NPs have a long history of providing reproductive health services. Abortion laws, many of which were enacted prior to both the expansion of advanced practice nursing roles and the development of newer and simpler abortion technologies, have created a confusing situation for those clinicians who want to offer abortion care. In the years directly following the Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion, many states enacted physician-only laws to protect women from unsafe, unlicensed abortion providers. These laws were not meant to prohibit the future evolving scope of practice by advanced practice clinicians. However, this exclusion has de facto become a restrictive legacy, in part because of hesitation on the part of health professional organizations to address the issue of women’s access to abortion services. Most recently, newer ‘‘physician-only laws’’ have been used explicitly (and covertly) to limit access to abortion, sacrificing fully competent professionals’ scope of practice in the name of a political agenda against legal abortion. For example, in Arizona (one of six states without a physician-only abortion provision statute), legislation was passed in 2007 to prohibit PAs from performing abortions, and a new bill, introduced in the 2008 Arizona legislature that would prohibit nurses from performing
A Statistical-Topographic Model for Mapping Climatological Precipitation over Mountainous Terrain

Abstract The demand for climatological precipitation fields on a regular grid is growing dramatically as ecological and hydrological models become increasingly linked to geographic information systems that spatially represent and manipulate model output. This paper presents an analytical model that distributes point measurements of monthly and annual precipitation to regularly spaced grid cells in midlatitude regions. PRISM (Precipitation-elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model) brings a combination of climatological and statistical concepts to the analysis of orographic precipitation. Specifically, PRISM 1) uses a digital elevation model (DEM) to estimate the “orographic” elevations of precipitation stations; 2) uses the DEM and a windowing technique to group stations onto individual topographic facets; 3) estimates precipitation at a DEM grid cell through a regression of precipitation versus DEM elevation developed from stations on the cell's topographic facet; and 4) when possible, calculates...
Abstract 173: A Comparison of Administrative Claims Discharge Diagnosis with Electronic Medical Record Problem List in the Diagnosis of Acute Myocardial Infarction

Background: Administrative claims data are commonly used for measurement of mortality and readmissions in Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI). With advent of the Electronic Medical Record (EMR), the electronic problem list offers new ways to capture diagnosis data. However, no data comparing the accuracy of administrative claims data and the EMR problem list exists. Methods: Two years of admissions at a single, quaternary medical center were analyzed to compare the presence of AMI diagnosis in administrative claims and EMR problem list data using a 2x2 matrix. To gain insights into this novel method, 25 patient admissions were randomly selected from each group to undergo physician chart review to adjudicate a clinical diagnosis of myocardial infarction based on the universal definition. Results: A total of 105,929 admissions from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2011 were included. Where EMR problem list and administrative claims data were in agreement for or against AMI diagnosis they were highly accurate. ...
Development of Clean Snowmobile Technology for the 2006 SAE Clean Snowmobile Challenge

Kettering University’s entry for the 2006 Clean Snowmobile challenge utilizes a Polaris FST Switchback. This snowmobile having a two cylinder, four-stroke engine has been modified to run on ethanol (E-85). The student team has designed and built a new exhaust system which features customized catalytic converters to minimize engine out emissions. A number of improvements have been made to the track to reduce friction and diminish noise.