cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analytic Models of Planetary Atmospheres: Power-of-Radius and Other Functions for Structure and Content

Abstract For spherical atmospheres of ideal gases in hydrostatic equilibrium, the barometric equation has two kinds of functional solutions when gravity and temperature are assumed to be proportional to arbitrary powers of radius. Normalized pressure is given either by a restricted solution, which is a power of normalized radius, or more broadly by the exponential of a function of radius. Atmospheric models have been based on several special cases of the exponential type. In some applications, however, the power-of-radius model may be more versatile and useful since all of the functions that describe atmospheric structure (temperature, pressure, density, pressure scale height, and density scale height) and content (density integrated along semi-infinite vertical and infinite tangential straight paths) are simple powers of radius. Starting from the exponential solution for pressure, the general result for vertical content involves more esoteric functions or is infinite while the tangential content, when finite, is not expressible as a standard function. For particular cases where the tangential content or its derivatives are finite and tractable, a mix of modified Bessel and modified Struve functions can come into play. There is a special interest here in the simpler power-law models as building blocks for a superposition-of-models technique that is under development. Preliminary results involving the superposition of two model densities have demonstrated that it is feasible to illustrate, study, and elucidate connections between distinctive atmospheric structure and the resulting features of remote sensing measurements as obtained in stellar and spacecraft occultation experiments. This paper is the first of several planned on this subject. It is limited to a consideration of the properties of the power-of-radius and exponential types of models for representing atmospheric structure and content.
Induction Bortezomib in AL Amyloidosis Followed By High Dose Melphalan and Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation: A Single Institution Retrospective Study

Abstract Introduction/Background High-dose melphalan (HDM) followed by autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) for light chain amyloidosis (AL) was performed in 31 patients at Oregon Health and Science University between 2005 and 2012. Fifteen patients had cardiac involvement. Patients and Methods Patients received melphalan 200 mg/m 2 or dose-adjusted HDM (100-140 mg/m 2 ) depending on high risk features. Thirteen patients proceeded directly to ASCT after diagnosis, 12 patients received a bortezomib-containing regimen, and 6 received a variety of other induction regimens. Results The day 100 treatment-related mortality was 9.6%. Overall hematologic (ORR) and organ response rates (OR) in the whole cohort after ASCT were 77% and 58%. ORR and OR in the bortezomib pretreated group were 92% and 75% vs. 69% and 54% in the group that received no pretreatment. The median time to maximum hematologic response after ASCT was reduced in the group that received bortezomib induction (3 vs. 14 months). Overall cardiac response rate was 60%; 100% in patients pretreated with bortezomib and 43% in those without induction treatment. With a median follow-up of 2.9 years, the 3-year progression-free and overall survival rates in the entire cohort were 66% and 73% and in those with cardiac involvement, 73% and 80%. Conclusion We observed that bortezomib-based induction is well tolerated in patients with and without cardiac involvement and suggest that this approach be studied in prospective multi-institutional trials.
Methane cycling dynamics in sediments of Alaskan Arctic Foothill lakes

We measured aspects of sediment methane (CH 4 ) cycling dynamics in 3 shallow (mean depth, z = 2.1 m) and 3 deep (z = 6.5 m) Alaskan Arctic Foothill lakes to establish reference data to evaluate future climate-mediated changes in these systems and to identify lake-size-dependent differences in rates and controls on CH 4 production and consumption or sensitivity to changing climate. The mean sedimentation rate and sediment oxygen (O 2 ) penetration depth were significantly higher and lower, respectively, in shallow versus deep lakes. The molar carbon to nitrogen (C:N) ratio of 12 for sedimenting material across lakes indicated a dominance by phytodetritus. Pore water dissolved organic C and CH 4 concentrations were higher in shallow than in deep lakes at comparable depths below the sediment surface. The average area-based rate of methanogenesis was significantly higher in shallow lakes, exceeding the mean of deep lakes by a factor of 4; however, the mean potential area-based rate of CH 4 oxidation was comparable between lake classes due to the reduced sediment O 2 penetration depth in shallow lakes. All lake sediments responded similarly to chemical amendments. Hydrogen addition significantly stimulated rates of methanogenesis relative to unamended controls, while rates were unchanged by alternate electron acceptors (SO 4 2− , Fe 3+ , NO 3 − , Mn 4+ ), suggesting that other microbial groups did not compete with methanogens for common substrates or produce toxic intermediates. Across all lakes, 30% of assimilated CH 4 was converted to methanotophic biomass, and methanotrophic C production could be as much as 23% of epipelic primary production, pointing to the potential importance of CH 4 -derived C in Arctic lacustrine food webs.
Five New Species of Acordulecera Say (Hymenoptera: Pergidae) from Arizona and California, the First Records of the Family from Southwestern United States

Five new species of Acordulecera Say are described from the southwestern United States: Acordulecera sonoita, A. grisselli, and A. whittelli from southern Arizona, and A. algodones and A. kimseyi from southern California. These are the first records for the family Pergidae from Arizona and California. A key is given for the currently recognized North American and Mexican species.
Reduction of magnetic field inhomogeneity artifacts in echo planar imaging with SENSE and GESEPI at high field

Geometric distortion, signal-loss, and image-blurring artifacts in echo planar imaging (EPI) are caused by frequency shifts and T * 2 relaxation distortion of the MR signal along the k-space trajectory due to magnetic field inhomogeneities. The EPI geometric-distortion artifact associated with frequency shift can be reduced with parallel imaging techniques such as SENSE, while the signal-loss and blurring artifacts remain. The gradient-echo slice excitation profile imaging (GESEPI) method has been shown to be successful in restoring tissue T * relaxation characteristics and is therefore effective in reducing signal-loss and image-blurring artifacts at a cost of increased acquisition time. The SENSE and GESEPI methods are complementary in artifact reduction. Combining these two techniques produces a method capable of reducing all three types of EPI artifacts while maintaining rapid acquisition time. Magn Reson Med 52:1418 –1423, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Blood Glucose Control in Type 1 Diabetes With a Bihormonal Bionic Endocrine Pancreas

OBJECTIVE To test whether safe and effective glycemic control could be achieved in type 1 diabetes using a bihormonal bionic endocrine pancreas driven by a continuous glucose monitor in experiments lasting more than two days and including six high-carbohydrate meals and exercise as challenges to glycemic control. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Six subjects with type 1 diabetes and no endogenous insulin secretion participated in two 51-h experiments. Blood glucose was managed with a bionic endocrine pancreas controlling subcutaneous delivery of insulin and glucagon with insulin pumps. A partial meal-priming bolus of insulin (0.035 units/kg/meal, then 0.05 units/kg/meal in repeat experiments) was administered at the beginning of each meal (on average 78 ± 12 g of carbohydrates per meal were consumed). Plasma glucose (PG) control was evaluated with a reference quality measurement on venous blood every 15 min. RESULTS The overall mean PG was 158 mg/dL, with 68% of PG values in the range of 70–180 mg/dL. There were no significant differences in mean PG between larger and smaller meal-priming bolus experiments. Hypoglycemia (PG <70 mg/dL) was rare, with eight incidents during 576 h of closed-loop control (0.7% of total time). During 192 h of nighttime control, mean PG was 123 mg/dL, with 93% of PG values in the range of 70–180 mg/dL and only one episode of mild hypoglycemia (minimum PG 62 mg/dL). CONCLUSIONS A bihormonal bionic endocrine pancreas achieved excellent glycemic control with minimal hypoglycemia over the course of two days of continuous use despite high-carbohydrate meals and exercise. A trial testing a wearable version of the system under free-living conditions is justified.
Arbitrage and universal pricing

This paper considers two methods for pricing assets and examines the relations between them. The +rst method is based on the principle of no-arbitrage, which asserts that introduction of the new asset should not create an arbitrage in a market that was before arbitrage free. This condition is satis+ed by prices for the new asset between speci+c lower and upper limits, determined as the values of certain linear programming problems. The duals of these problems determine a pricing random variable. In the second method of pricing, a new asset is priced so that a given utility maximizing investor will include this asset in his or her portfolio at a zero level. The corresponding price is called the zero-level price. A zero-level price is universal for a class of utility functions if it is a zero-level price for every utility function within that class. This paper shows that universal zero-level prices exist in several important situations. ? 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Analysis of fault locating signals for high-impedance grounded systems

High-resistance grounding and ungrounded power systems have many advantages, including continuous operation after a ground fault. However, locating ground faults is inherently difficult and is a major disadvantage with these systems. The problem stems from the lack of a good signal, such as a large fault current, that points to the fault. Classical search methods use injected locating signals, but they have shortcomings with intermittent faults, multiple 'same-phase' faults, and closed loop/mesh power networks. New location methods attempt to overcome these previous problems by providing signals that can be used during system operation and with microprocessor-based detectors. This paper explores some of the key technical issues surrounding locating signals. Of concern are the signal flows through the power network including the uniqueness of the signal path. Other issues that are addressed, are signal levels and power requirement, network impedances, and the impact of grounding capacitances and grounding resistances that divert the locating signal.
SIPMaP: A Tool for Modeling Irregular Parallel Computations in the Super Instruction Architecture

Performance modeling is becoming an increasingly important part of the parallel application development process, particularly for expensive computations that will be run on very high-end systems where resources are scarce. We describe a performance modeling tool SIPMaP (Super Instruction Processor Modeling and Prediction) developed for the Super-Instruction Architecture (SIA). The SIA is designed for applications where the dominant data structures are large multi-dimensional arrays and it comprises a DSL, the Super-Instruction Assembly Language (SIAL) that supports expressing algorithms in terms of blocks (tiles), and its runtime system Super Instruction Processor (SIP) that manages distribution and disk storage of the arrays. SIPMaP generates performance models from the SIAL source code. In comparison with many applications where useful performance models have been developed and reported, these programs are irregular and have other difficult to model characteristics such as extensive overlapping of communication and computation.
Accurate recognition of cis-regulatory motifs with the correct lengths in prokaryotic genomes

We present a new computational method for solving a classical problem, the identification problem of cis-regulatory motifs in a given set of promoter sequences, based on one key new idea. Instead of scoring candidate motifs individually like in all the existing motif-finding programs, our method scores groups of candidate motifs with similar sequences, called motif closures, using a P-value, which has substantially improved the prediction reliability over the existing methods. Our new P-value scoring scheme is sequence length independent, hence allowing direct comparisons among predicted motifs with different lengths on the same footing. We have implemented this method as a Motif Recognition Computer (MREC) program, and have extensively tested MREC on both simulated and biological data from prokaryotic genomes. Our test results indicate that MREC can accurately pick out the actual motif with the correct length as the best scoring candidate for the vast majority of the cases in our test set. We compared our prediction results with two motif-finding programs Cosmo and MEME, and found that MREC outperforms both programs across all the test cases by a large margin. The MREC program is available at http://csbl.bmb.uga.edu/~bingqiang/MREC1/.
Repeatability of Received Signal Level Measurements in GSM Cellular Networks

Received signal level (RSL) measurements are frequently used to verify coverage and ensure quality of service in cellular communication networks. To accomplish these tasks, it is of the utmost importance that these measurements are reliable and repeatable. This paper presents a repeatability study conducted on a series of RSL measurements in the GSM 1900MHz frequency band. The measurements were collected with three different drive-test systems used in common engineering practice. Data obtained from the tests are analyzed using statistical tools and the extent of the RSL measurement repeatability is determined. The analysis provides a quantitative assessment of the RSL dependence on random changes in the propagation environment. Data analysis demonstrates a significant repeatability difference between the measurement systems
RAPID EQUILIBRATION OF OXYGEN IN FLUORESCENCE QUENCHING REACTIONS

— A simple means is described for the rapid equilibration of oxygen in fluorescence quenching reactions. This involves bubbling the gas through experimental solutions. With this procedure, data for Stern-Volmer plots can be obtained in 1–2 h, without bubbling it takes approximately ten times as long to collect such data.
Improving EMI filter design with in circuit impedance mismatching

This paper discussed improving EMI design based on propagation path impedance. The way conventionally used in EMI filter design barely includes information on propagation path impedances, although this information is well known as important to filter topology selection and its in-circuit attenuation; besides, filters attenuation is usually measured by small signal insertion gain, which is different from real in-circuit attenuation. This paper starts from the propagation path impedance characterization, and then it investigates into the impacts of the propagation path impedance on the in-circuit filter attenuation. Parasitic effects of the filter are included in the analysis. Parasitics creates multiply resonances and anti-resonances in the propagation path, which can be reflected in filter in-circuit attenuation. By accurate control and design of these parasitic, we can take the advantage of parasitics to improve the filter performance. Furthermore, knowing the relationship between filter impedances and propagation path gives better understanding of how to design an effective filter for noise reduction.
Candidate mechanisms underlying effects of contractile activity on muscle morphology and energetics in cancer cachexia.

KHAMOUI A.V. & KIM J.S. (2011) European Journal of Cancer Care21, 143–157 Candidate mechanisms underlying effects of contractile activity on muscle morphology and energetics in cancer cachexia Skeletal muscle wasting is a prominent pathophysiological feature of cancer cachexia. Recent evidence suggests the manifestation of mitochondrial dysfunction along with a diminished oxidative capacity. These abnormalities have been concurrently observed with impaired muscle force production and the accelerated onset of fatigue in both tumour-bearing animals and cancer patients exhibiting wasting. To address the burden imposed by cachexia, nutritional and pharmacological interventions have been investigated extensively; in contrast, contractile activity-based countermeasures (i.e. exercise training) have been less frequently explored. Although limited, several preclinical studies that implemented contractile activity have reported favourable outcomes such as the retention of muscle mass and the restoration of energetic homeostasis. Even fewer investigations have examined the mechanisms accounting for these protective effects. An experimental approach addressing contractile activity-dependent expression of muscle mass and energy metabolism regulators may yield information that provides mechanistic support for exercise countermeasures. In this review, we present several candidate mechanisms underlying the protective effects of contractile activity as support for exercise countermeasure strategies. Given the limited quantity of data in this area, insights will be derived from studies on contractile activity-dependent modulation of common cellular and molecular events regulating muscle morphology and energetics during other muscle wasting conditions (e.g. sarcopenia).
Evidence for High-Capacity Bidirectional Glucose Transport across the Endoplasmic Reticulum Membrane by Genetically Encoded Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer Nanosensors

Glucose release from hepatocytes is important for maintenance of blood glucose levels. Glucose-6-phosphate phosphatase, catalyzing the final metabolic step of gluconeogenesis, faces the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lumen. Thus, glucose produced in the ER has to be either exported from the ER into the cytosol before release into circulation or exported directly by a vesicular pathway. To measure ER transport of glucose, fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based nanosensors were targeted to the cytosol or the ER lumen of HepG2 cells. During perfusion with 5 mM glucose, cytosolic levels were maintained at approximately 80% of the external supply, indicating that plasma membrane transport exceeded the rate of glucose phosphorylation. Glucose levels and kinetics inside the ER were indistinguishable from cytosolic levels, suggesting rapid bidirectional glucose transport across the ER membrane. A dynamic model incorporating rapid bidirectional ER transport yields a very good fit with the observed kinetics. Plasma membrane and ER membrane glucose transport differed regarding sensitivity to cytochalasin B and showed different relative kinetics for galactose uptake and release, suggesting catalysis by distinct activities at the two membranes. The presence of a high-capacity glucose transport system on the ER membrane is consistent with the hypothesis that glucose export from hepatocytes occurs via the cytosol by a yet-to-be-identified set of proteins.
Manipulation and Bribery in Preference Reasoning under Pareto Principle

Manipulation and bribery have received much attention from the social choice community. We consider these concepts in the setting of preference formalisms, where the Pareto principle is used to assign to preference theories collections of optimal outcomes, rather than a single winning outcome as is common in social choice. We adapt the concepts of manipulation and bribery to this setting. We provide characterizations of situations when manipulation and bribery are possible. Assuming a particular logical formalism for expressing preferences, we establish the complexity of determining a possibility for manipulation or bribery. In all cases that do not in principle preclude a possibility of manipulation or bribery, our complexity results show that deciding whether manipulation or bribery are actually possible is computationally hard.
Dimensionless Coefficients Applied to the Solution of Column Problems

Plotted, the parabola passes through a = 1, fi = 0 and a = 0, j8 = 1, becoming tangent to the Euler hyperbola 4a/3 = l a t a = 0.5. (C) Practically, paragraphs (A) and (B) mean that the information given in Table 10:4, page 297 ,Vol. 1, of reference 1, can be represented by Eqs. (1) and (2) with transition taking place at a = 0.5, ft = 0.707. (D) For the column loaded as shown in Fig. 1, the relation between maximum compressive stress and load,
Effect of the Proximal Abducting Ulnar Osteotomy on Intra‐Articular Pressure Distribution and Contact Mechanics of Congruent and Incongruent Canine Elbows Ex Vivo

Objective To determine the effects of the Proximal Abducting Ulnar Osteotomy (PAUL) on contact pressures of congruent and incongruent (short radius) canine elbows. Study Design Ex vivo biomechanical study. Sample Population Unpaired normal cadaveric canine forelimbs (n=16). Methods A servohydraulic testing frame and thin-film sensors were utilized to measure intra-articular contact area (CA), mean contact pressure (mCP), and peak contact pressure (pCP) for medial and lateral elbow compartments. Percent contribution of the medial compartment relative to the whole (%Med) was also examined. Baseline data were collected in 9 congruent elbows and 7 incongruent elbows where the radius was shortened. Both sets of elbows were tested following ulnar osteotomy and sequential placement of 2 and 3 mm PAUL plates and paw repositioning (to account for any medial to lateral shift of transarticular forces). Paired t-tests compared sequential procedural steps. P<.05 was significant. Results For congruent elbows, the 2 mm PAUL plate decreased CA in both compartments compared to baseline; lateral pCP increased with subsequent paw repositioning. Induction of radio-ulnar incongruity decreased CA and increased mCP medially, decreased pCP laterally, and increased %MedCA and %MedmCP compared to baseline. Both PAUL plates decreased mCP and pCP medially, with no effect laterally. Paw repositioning had no effect. Conclusion The PAUL procedure had no effect on medial compartment pressure in the congruent elbow. It may ameliorate increased medial compartment pressure in the incongruent elbow. This change does not result from a medial to lateral compartmental shift and deserves further investigation.
A time-varying analogue of Jensen's formula

A generalization of Jensen's formula to operators associated with time-varying systems is presented. Poles and zeros of the transfer function are replaced by elements of the spectrum of two weighted shifts, one associated with the system, the other with its inverse. Exponential dichotomies, together with two operator factorizations play a key role.
Amelioration with vessel dilator of acute tubular necrosis and renal failure established for 2 days

Seventeen Sprague-Dawley rats had ischemic nonoliguric acute renal failure (ARF) induced by vascular clamping resulting in their preischemic blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine levels of 16 ± 1 and 0.56 ± 0.05 mg/dl to increase to 162 ± 4 and 8.17 ± 0.5 mg/dl, P 75% in the placebo-treated ARF animals. We conclude that vessel dilator improves acute tubular necrosis and renal function in established ARF.
A key to the North American species of Bolitophila (Diptera: Mycetophilidae), with some observations on those described by C. B. D. Garrett

Bolitophilella Landrock, 1925, is reduced to a subgenus of Bolitophila Meigen, 1818. Consideration is given to tlie affinities of Bolitophila species described by Garrett with the species of other investigators. A key is presented to the 20 North American species of Bolitophila , 8 of which are in subgenus Bolitophilella . No new species are described.
Effect of Renal Vessel Ligation and Insulin on Sugar Tolerance of Phloridzinized Dog.

Dogs were phloridzinized according to the Coolen method and the D :N ration in the urine determined on the day of experiment. In one or 2 instances when the D:N was not determined, the blood sugar was 40 mgm. % or lower. The dogs were then placed under amytal anesthesia and the tolerance curves run. One cc. of 50% pure glucose solution per kg. of body weight was used and was injected intravenously at a uniform rate. When insulin was used it was incorporated in the glucose solution in amount equal to one clinical unit per kg. of body weight.After ligation of the renal vessels the tolerance curves naturally reached a much higher level than before. The rate of fall of the sugar level for the first hour following the peak of the curve, also, was much greater after ligation than before. Thus, in one experiment, before ligation the rate of fall was 150 mgm. % the first hour, and after ligation it was 270 mgm. % in the same length of time. When insulin was injected with the sugar the same result was obtained, i....
The Effect of Ventilation Rate, Sex and Modified vs. Conventional Litter Floors on Performance of Two Varieties of Turkeys

Abstract The study presented was designed to determine the effect of ventilation rates of 37.4 and 56.1 liters of air/min./kg. of body weight, sex and conventional litter floors vs. modified elevated floors on growth, feed efficiency, live market quality and mortality of Large and Medium White turkeys. Results obtained showed that the higher ventilation rate caused a slight depression in growth when the birds were between 18 and 24 weeks of age but this effect was compensated for by improved feed efficiency. Live market quality was unaffected within the range of ventilation rates studied. Large White turkeys grew more rapidly, showed better feed efficiency but graded slightly lower than the Medium White turkeys. Likewise, the males in both varieties grew more rapidly, converted feed more efficiently but graded lower than the females. Growth of birds reared on modified elevated floors was higher and feed efficiency, feathering and live market quality lower than those observed in birds reared on conventional litter floors. Live market grade of females was unaffected by floor treatment. On the other hand, males reared on modified elevated floors graded lower than those on conventional litter floors. Mortality was higher on modified elevated floors during the first 14 weeks but was unaffected by the factors under study from the 14th through the 24th week of the experiment.
Analysis on Grey Slope-Correlation of Industrial Carbon Emission Perspective of Environmental Regulation in China

Basing on calculation of the amount of industrial carbon emission in China,industrial carbon emission and its' factors by using the grey slope-correlation model on the perspective of environmental regulation are analyzed,and the degrees of grey slope-correlation are calculated.The study shows that technological innovation,recycle economy and environmental regulation have greater impact on carbon emission.The degrees of grey slope-correlation are all more than 80%.So the paper proposes as follows: strengthening technological innovation,promoting optimization and upgrading of industrial structure,developing recycle economy and improving environmental regulation polices,and so on.
The detection of blood on nonporous environmental surfaces: an approach for assessing factors contributing to the risk of occupational exposure to blood in the autopsy suite.

A simple and inexpensive method to assess the contamination of environmental surfaces and the associated potential risk of exposure of autopsy room personnel to potentially hazardous materials is described. Blood was selected as a marker of contamination and HEMASTIX+ reagent strips were used to determine its presence on selected surfaces. The surfaces selected for examination typically do not come into direct contact with cadavers or tissues during a routine postmortem examination and thus are not included in routine cleanup. We documented the presence of blood on a variety of environmental surfaces in the autopsy suite and suggest that the contamination resulted from a breakdown in good work practices, most probably the indiscriminate handling or touching of materials and equipment with contaminated gloves. The risk of exposure to blood by the indirect route was deemed significant. The results of this study underscore the importance of establishing and consistently following good work practices and cleanup procedures to minimize the risk of exposure to blood before, during, and after postmortem examinations. [Infect Control 1987; 8(10):424-426.]
Role of lung biopsy in patients undergoing a modified Fontan procedure.

Fifty-six patients undergoing a modified Fontan procedure from 1977 to 1985 had lung tissue available from the perioperative period (n = 51) or recent palliative procedure (n = 5) (37 biopsy, 12 autopsy, 7 biopsy and autopsy). Twenty-six patients had tricuspid atresia, and 30 had other causes of functional univentricular heart. Pulmonary arterial structure was classified by both the Heath-Edwards and morphometric scales. Biopsy and autopsy grades were identical except for a minor difference in Heath-Edwards scale in one case. Elevated preoperative mean pulmonary artery pressure (>15 mm Hg) was associated with medial hypertrophy (p = 0.04), although six patients with normal pulmonary artery pressure had medial hypertrophy and six patients with mean pulmonary artery pressure greater than 15 mm Hg did not have medial hypertrophy. Medial hypertrophy was a possible risk factor in patients with univentricular heart: Patients with medial hypertrophy had a ninefold greater risk of death (p = 0.08). Controlling for confounding variables did not alter this result (0.06
T cell lymphokine mRNA expression, lymphokine utilization, and regulatory function in the intestinal mucosal immune system

The capacity of mucosal lymphocytes to produce and use lymphokines and their effects on regulation of immunoglobulin production were determined in normal nonhuman primates. In comparison to lymphocytes from peripheral sites, there was high expression of IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA in both mesenteric lymph node and lamina propria T cells. Northern blots of UNA from mitogen-activated lamina propria T cells contained more mRNA for IL-2 and IFN-γ than mesenteric lymph node T cells. T cells from lamina propria had high IL-2 induced but no IL-4 induced proliferative responses. In contrast, mesenteric lymph node T cells had high IL-4 induced and lower IL-2 induced proliferative responses compared to lamina propria T cells. Both IL-2 and IFN-γ enhanced immunoglobulin production, whereas IL-4 inhibited immunoglobulin production. IFN-γ reversed the inhibitory effect of IL-4. Lamina propria T cells had higher helper activity in pokeweed mitogen stimulated cultures and exhibited less inhibition by IL-4 than mesenteric lymph node T cells. These data and previous studies suggest that T cells in an inductive site such as the mesenteric lymph node are primarily “naive” cells whereas T cells in the effector compartment of the lamina propria are comprised primarily of differentiated “memory” cells.
Three Centuries of Synchronous Forest Defoliator Outbreaks in Western North America.

Insect outbreaks often occur synchronously across large spatial scales, but the long-term temporal stability of the phenomenon and the mechanisms behind it are not well understood. In this study, I use a widespread lepidopteran defoliator native to western North America—the western spruce budworm—as a case study to explore patterns of and potential causes for synchronous population fluctuations. Analyses of synchrony are typically severely limited by the short historical records available for many species. To overcome this limitation, I compiled multi-century dendrochronological reconstructions of western spruce budworm outbreaks from across much of the species’ range. This allowed me to analyze synchrony at a sub-continental spatial scale over the last three centuries. I found statistically significant synchrony among regional outbreak records up to 2,000 km apart and identified numerous outbreak periods that occurred synchronously across much of the species’ range. I quantified spatial and temporal associations between climate and synchronous outbreak periods using paleoclimate reconstructions. The spatial patterns of outbreak histories and climate records were remarkably similar, with higher similarity in outbreak histories apparent between regions with more similar climate conditions. Synchronous outbreaks typically occurred during periods of average or above average moisture availability preceded by periods of low moisture availability. My results suggest that climatic variability has played a key role in synchronizing western spruce budworm population fluctuations in disjunct forests across western North America for at least the last three centuries. Widespread synchrony appears to be a natural part of this species’ population dynamics, though synchronous outbreaks have occurred more frequently during the 20th century than during prior centuries. This study uses a novel combination of statistical methods and dendrochronological data to provide analyses of this species’ population dynamics with an unprecedented combination of spatial extent and temporal depth.
On Fast Computation of Electromagnetic Wave Propagation through FFT

The Taylor interpolation through FFT (TI-FFT) algorithm for the computation of the electromagnetic wave propagation in the quasi-planar geometry within the half-space is proposed in this article. The optimized computational complexity of the planar TI-FFT algorithm is NT opt NT opt O(N log2 N) for an N = Nx times Ny computational grid, where NT opt is the optimized number of slicing reference planes and NO opt is the optimized order of Taylor series. Detailed analysis shows that NO opt is closely related to the algorithm's computational accuracy gammaTI, which is given as NO opt ~ In gammaTI and the optimized spatial slicing spacing between two adjacent spatial reference planes only depends on the characteristic wavelength lambdac of the electromagnetic wave, which is given as deltaap opt ~ 1/17lambdac. The planar TI-FFT algorithm allows a large sampling spacing required by the sampling theorem. What's more, the algorithm is free of singularities and it works particularly well for the narrow-band beam and the quasi-planar geometry.
Effect of Cimetidine on the Pharmacokinetics of Alcohol in Social and Chronic Drinkers

Several investigators have studied the drug-drug interaction that may exist when alcohol and H2-receptor antagonists (i.e. cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine) are administered concomitantly. Results from these studies have been mixed. However, no systematic investigation of the change in blood alcohol concentrations in the social drinker versus the chronic drinker challenged by concurrent intake of alcohol and H2-receptor antagonist has been conducted. Eleven volunteers participated in this 14-day study. On day 0, study participants were administered an oral alcohol dose of 0.15 g/kg. On days 1 to 9, no medication was given. All volunteers then received cimetidine 400mg twice daily on days 10 to 13. On day 14, study participants received an oral alcohol dose of 0.15 g/kg after their morning dose of cimetidine. Blood sampling was performed on days 0 and 14 after alcohol administration. The comparative alcohol availabilities, pre- and post-cimetidine, were determined by comparing the time to peak plasma concentration (tmax), peak plasma concentration (Cmax), and the total area under the concentration-time curve (AUC). In the chronic drinkers, tmax was significantly shorter than in the social drinkers following cimetidine administration (p=0.008). Chronic drinkers who drink after cimetidine administration will have higher concentrations of alcohol faster than social drinkers. Medicolegal consequences resulting from this drug-drug interaction may occur; clinicians should therefore counsel patients about the possibility of enhanced impairment resulting from concurrent administration of these 2 drugs.
Memoirs: The Biological Relationship between Septobasidium retiforme (B. & C.) Pat. and Aspidiotus Osborni New. and Ckll

S. retiforme (B. and C.) Pat. is associated with A. Osborni New. and Ckll. The fungus insect relationship is perennial, depending only upon the life of the tree. The fungus furnishes a home and protection for the scale insects. The scale insects suck the juices of the host plant, grow, and finally reproduce their young in vast numbers. These young may pursue one of three courses: (1) they may settle down beneath the same fungus under which they were born and repeat the cycle; or (2) they may crawl out to other fungus-insect colonies; or (3) they may craAvl out and settle down on the clean bark. The latter insects are entirely responsible for the dissemination of the fungus. Certain young become infected soon after they are born. The manner of infection; the development of the fungus within the bodies of the young; and the final growth and establishment of new fungus-insect colonies are described. Parasitized insects are proportionately much more abundant during the late spring and summer months than during the fall and winter months. The type of parasitism is of a highly specialized nature. The fungus enters the circulatory system of the living insects and there develops numerous coils which absorb food from the insect. A number of the insects are finally killed and used up by the fungus; others, though infected, may digest the fungal haustoria and survive to reproduce, and some are free from any infection. Such a conjoint relationship beneficial both to the fungus and to the scale insects is obviously symbiotic.
Evaluating Computer-Based Test Accommodations for English Learners

ABSTRACTTest accommodations for English learners (ELs) are intended to reduce the language barrier and level the playing field, allowing ELs to better demonstrate their true proficiencies. Computer-based accommodations for ELs show promising results for leveling that field while also providing us with additional data to more closely investigate the validity and effectiveness of those accommodations. In this study, we evaluate differences across non-ELs and two EL groups in their decision to use either of two computer-based accommodations on high school history and math assessments. We also evaluate differences in response times across these groups. Results showed that ELs used accommodations more than non-ELs; however, many students did not use any accommodations, and use decreased as the assessment progressed. In addition, students had longer response time for items with accommodations in history but not mathematics. Recommendations for future research in accommodations for ELs are discussed.
Degree of target utilization influences the location of movement endpoint distributions.

Abstract According to dominant theories of motor control, speed and accuracy are optimized when, on the average, movement endpoints are located at the target center and when the variability of the movement endpoint distributions is matched to the width of the target (viz., Meyer, Abrams, Kornblum, Wright, & Smith, 1988). The current study tested those predictions. According to the speed-accuracy trade-off, expanding the range of variability to the amount permitted by the limits of the target boundaries allows for maximization of movement speed while centering the distribution on the target center prevents movement errors that would have occurred had the distribution been off center. Here, participants (N = 20) were required to generate 100 consecutive targeted hand movements under each of 15 unique conditions: There were three movement amplitude requirements (80, 160, 320 mm) and within each there were five target widths (5, 10, 20, 40, 80 mm). According to the results, it was only at the smaller target widths (5, 10 mm) that movement endpoint distributions were centered on the target center and the range of movement endpoint variability matched the range specified by the target boundaries. As target width increased (20, 40, 80 mm), participants increasingly undershot the target center and the range of movement endpoint variability increasingly underestimated the variability permitted by the target region. The degree of target center undershooting was strongly predicted by the difference between the size of the target and the amount of movement endpoint variability, i.e., the amount of unused space in the target. The results suggest that participants have precise knowledge of their variability relative to that permitted by the target, and they use that knowledge to systematically reduce the travel distance to targets. The reduction in travel distance across the larger target widths might have resulted in greater cost savings than those associated with increases in speed.
The effects of music therapy on transition outcomes in adolescents and young adults with sickle cell disease

Background The Build, Educate, Advance, Transition, in Sickle cell disease (BEATS) music therapy program was developed to address health challenges faced by adolescents/young adults (AYA) with sickle cell disease (SCD) during the transition to adult medical care. Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of BEATS on self-efficacy, trust, knowledge about SCD, and adherence in adolescents/young adults (AYA) with SCD. Subjects Thirty AYA with SCD, 18-23 years old, recruited from an adult SCD clinic agreed to participate in four BEATS sessions over 1 year. Methods Self-efficacy, trust and SCD knowledge were measured prospectively at baseline and months 3, 6, 9, and 12. Adherence to clinic appointments and healthcare utilization were measured retrospectively from medical records. A repeated measures linear mixed-effect model with compound symmetry covariance structure was used to fit the data. Results BEATS participants demonstrated a significant improvement in SCD knowledge (p = 0.0002) compared to baseline, an increase in acute care clinic, but not emergency department, utilization (p = 0.0056), and a non-significant improvement in clinic attendance (p = 0.1933). Participants' subjective evaluations revealed a positive response to BEATS. There were no significant changes in self-efficacy, trust, hospital admissions, or blood transfusion adherence. Conclusion Culturally tailored, developmentally appropriate music therapy transition interventions can concretely improve SCD knowledge and may improve transition for AYA with SCD.
Steroidal Glycoalkaloids in Andean Potatoes

The Andes is the native soil of the “potato.” There are more than one hundred species of wild starchy tubers in the Andes, although only about ten are commonly sold in the local marketplace. They appear different in many respects, and some of them are taxonomically very different. Besides the potato, there are four other starchy tubers that are of local importance. They are “oca”, “arracacha”, “ullucu”, and “anu”, each of which belongs to a different family (Popenoe et al., 1989).
Contribution of topographically-generated submesoscale turbulence to Southern Ocean overturning

The ocean’s global overturning circulation regulates the transport and storage of heat, carbon and nutrients. Upwelling across the Southern Ocean’s Antarctic Circumpolar Current and into the mixed layer, coupled to water mass modification by surface buoyancy forcing, has been highlighted as a key process in the closure of the overturning circulation. Here, using twelve high-resolution hydrographic sections in southern Drake Passage, collected with autonomous ocean gliders, we show that Circumpolar Deep Water originating from the North Atlantic, known as Lower Circumpolar Deep Water, intersects sloping topography in narrow and strong boundary currents. Observations of strong lateral buoyancy gradients, enhanced bottom turbulence, thick bottom mixed layers and modified water masses are consistent with growing evidence that topographically generated submesoscale flows over continental slopes enhance near-bottom mixing, and that cross-density upwelling occurs preferentially over sloping topography. Interactions between narrow frontal currents and topography occur elsewhere along the path of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which leads us to propose that such interactions contribute significantly to the closure of the overturning in the Southern Ocean.
Association of postoperative nausea/vomiting and pain with breastfeeding success.

Successful breastfeeding is a goal set forth by the World Health Organization to improve neonatal care. Increasingly, patients express the desire to breastfeed, and clinicians should facilitate successful breastfeeding. The primary aim of this study is to determine if postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) or postoperative pain are associated with decreased breastfeeding success after cesarean delivery. This is a historical cohort study using the Stony Brook Elective Cesarean Delivery Database. Self-reported breastfeeding success at 4 weeks postoperative was analyzed for associations with postoperative antiemetic use and postoperative pain scores. Breastfeeding success was also analyzed for associations with patient factors and anesthetic medications. Overall, 86% of patients (n = 81) who intended on breastfeeding reported breastfeeding success. Breastfeeding success was not associated with postoperative nausea or vomiting as measured by post anesthesia care unit antiemetic use (15% use in successful vs. 18% use in unsuccessful, p = 0.67) or 48-h antiemetic use (28% use in successful group vs 36% use in unsuccessful group, p = 0.732). Pain visual analog scale scores at 6, 12 and 24 h postoperatively were not significantly different between patients with or without breastfeeding success. Breastfeeding success was associated with having had at least 1 previous child (86% vs 36%, p < 0.001). Patients with asthma were less likely to have breastfeeding success (45% vs 4%, p = 0.002). Efforts to improve PONV and pain after cesarean delivery may not be effective in improving breastfeeding success. To possibly improve breastfeeding rates, resources should be directed toward patients with no previous children and patients with asthma.
Resource partitioning between kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis) and coyotes (Canis latrans): a comparison of historical and contemporary dietary overlap

Range expansions by generalists can alter communities and introduce competitive pressures on native species. In the Great Basin Desert, USA, coyotes (Canis latrans Say, 1823) have colonized and are...
Thermal energy storage with supercritical carbon dioxide in a packed bed: Modeling charge-discharge cycles

Abstract Thermal energy storage in concentrated solar power systems extends the duration of power production. Packed bed thermal energy storage is studied in this work with supercritical carbon dioxide as the working fluid and α-alumina as the storage material. The operating conditions are appropriate for use in a supercritical Brayton cycle. An axisymmetric model produces temperature profiles in the bed, insulation, and pressure vessel in the axial and radial directions over time. The packed bed system has a mass flow rate of 8.17 kg s−1 at 275 bar. The inlet temperature is 750 °C for storage. In discharge, gas at 500 °C enters the bed to recover the stored energy. Discharge continues until the outlet temperature drops below 700 °C, the minimum temperature required for the turbine inlet. Ten charge-discharge cycles are considered and thermal exergetic efficiency is calculated. Due to thermal dispersion and heat losses, the exergetic efficiency varies from 0.795 to 0.844.
Third World Joint Venturing: A Strategic Option for the Smaller Firm:

This paper identified critical factors that affect the success of joint ventures in Third World countries. It suggests a framework for assessing the fit between smaller firms from developed countri...
Dosing challenges with direct oral anticoagulants in the elderly: a retrospective analysis.

Background:Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) provide patients with attractive options for anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation (AF). However, dosing these agents in the elderly can be challengin...