cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Controlling coarse woody debris inventory quality: taper and relative size methods

Accurately n~easuring the dimensions of coarse woody debris (CWD) is critical for ensuring the quality of CWD estimates and, hence, for accurately estimating forest ecosystem attributes (e.g., CWD carbon stocks). To improve the quality of CWD dimensional measurements, the distribution of taper (ratio of change in diameter and length) and rela- tive size (RS; ratio of length and large-end diameter) of CWD pieces across the US were examined. Additionally, an out- lier identification technique was devcloped by preclicting the median and interquartile rangc of taper and RS as a function of large-end diameter, length. and decay class by major species group. The mcdian CWD taper and RS across the US were 1.268 cm/m and 0.280 m/cm, respectively, with notable outliers. The taper and RS outlier identification protocol rap- idly identified nearly 3% of study observations as outliers. Incorporation of CWD taper and RS outlier identification proto- cols into field data recorders may allow efficient control of measurement errors during field inventories, R6sum6 : I1 est crucial de mesurer avec prbcision les dimensions des dibris ligneux grossiers (DLG) pour s'assurer Re la qualitd des estimations des DLG et, par consequent. estimer avec prkcision les attributs des Ccosyst&mcs forestiers (p. ex. les stocks de carbone emmagasinis dans les DLG). Pour ani6liorer la mesurc des dinlensions des DLG, la distribution du d6filement (rapport du changement cntre le diam6tre et la longueur) et la dimension I-dative des DLG (rapport entre la fon- gueur et le diamZtre au gros bout) des pikes de DLG on1 it6 ktudikes travers les ~tats-~nis. De plus, une ~echnique d'identification des observations aberrantes a CtC dkveloppie en prkdisant la midiane et I'ktendue de l'inrerquartile du dt
Stellar energy transfer by keV-mass scalars.

We investigate the effects of massive pseudoscalar particles \ensuremath{\chi} on stellar evolution, focusing on the case where these new states interact only with electrons. If the effective fine-structure constant ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{x}$ is sufficiently small, they escape freely and rob stellar interiors of energy; if it is so large that they scatter or decay in the star, they contribute to the radiative energy transfer. In this case, their thermal number density must be suppressed by a Boltzmann factor ${e}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}{m}_{x}/T}$ in order to avoid excessive heat transport. We derive general expressions for the energy transport by massive bosons and calculate all relevant contributions to the opacity in the limit ${m}_{x}$\ensuremath{\gg}T. In order to avoid either excessive energy loss or excessive energy transport in the Sun, we exclude the parameter range -19+0.32${m}_{x}$-4.5 ln${m}_{x}$\ensuremath{\lesssim}ln${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{x}$\ensuremath{\lesssim}2.3 -0.32${m}_{x}$+0.5 ln${m}_{x}$, where the particle mass ${m}_{x}$ is in units of keV. More restrictive constraints are derived from the observed properties of horizontal-branch stars. This excludes a recent suggestion that the presence of a \ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\chi} channel accounts for the anomalous decay width of orthopositronium. We stress the importance of numerical studies of both horizontal-branch stars and red giants.
Oxygen debt in reptiles: Relationship between the time required for repayment and metabolic rate

Abstract 1. 1. The increase in O2 consumption in a 5 g lizard (Anolis carolinensis) after feeding and after maximal work was compared with that in a kilogram alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) treated similarly. 2. 2. The amount of extra O2 consumed/kg was the same in both. At the peak, there was a 2.6 fold increase in both animals following exhaustive work. Oxygen usage was elevated for 2 hr in the lizard and for 12 hr in the alligator, in inverse proportion to their respective metabolic rates. 3. 3. Although the extra oxygen consumed was the same. feeding increased metabolic rate at the maximum by 300% in the alligator and by only 40% in the lizard.
1-1-3 Piezocomposite for hydrophone transducer

Abstract A piezocomposite structure was prepared in a 1-1-3 configuration by casting a soft epoxy interlayer between PZT rods and a stiff polymer preform matrix to maximize the hydrostatic sensitivity of 1–3 type PZT polymer hydrophone transducers. By minimizing the adverse contribution of the lateral components of the hydrostatic pressure, a figure of merit of 7,200 (10−15 m2/N) was obtained in an ambient atmosphere. By encapsulating the composite with cover plates, a stable pressure dependence (up to 14 MPa) of the hydrostatic voltage and charge coefficients was obtained. In addition, the interface configuration between the composite and cover plate was modified to provide pressure amplification proportional to the reciprocal of the volume fraction of the PZT rods in the composite. As a result the modified interface structure in 1-1-3 composite transducer gave significantly increased piezoelectric coefficients, and the figure of merit at 2MPa hydrostatic pressure was enhanced to more than 22,000 (10−15 ...
Relaxation of vibrationally excited gas-phase Cr(CO)5−

Radiative relaxation of Cr(CO) 5 − was investigated by two techniques: a standard two-pulse photodissociation experiment and by using the branching ratio of its reaction with oxygen as an ion thermometric probe. Photoexcitation at 1064 nm was used to prepare highly vibrationally excited Cr(CO) 5 − . Although the overall oxidation rate changes only slightly upon excitation (actually decreasing by a factor of 1.2 ± 0.1), the primary product distribution shifts dramatically, from Cr(CO)3O− (the thermodynamic product) to Cr(CO)3O 2 − (the kinetic product). The two-pulse photodissociation measurement gave a radiative relaxation rate constant (k rad) of 15 ± 2 s−1, whereas the branching ratio experiments gave a k rad value of 3. 3 ± 0.7 s−1. The large difference between these two values is due to the difference in Cr(CO) 5 − internal energy ranges probed by the two techniques. In the high internal energy regime interrogated by the two-pulse measurements (about 12,000 to 6000 cm−1), the strongly emitting C-O stretching modes are populated and contribute to fast relaxation. In contrast, the branching ratio measurements remain sensitive to internal energy changes all the way down to thermal energies, where the C-O stretches are depopulated and thus unavailable for radiative relaxation.
Domesticating consumer goods in the global economy: Examples from Vietnam and Russia

Abstract In this article, I compare findings from my own research on consumerism in Ho Chi Minh City to the research of others in Moscow and St. Petersburg, and consider why shoppers in Vietnam and Russia worry about the origins of the products they encounter in their newly marketized economies. Consumer anxieties in both countries reveal a shared crisis of ‘locality’ – a common concern about the movement of goods between spaces designated as ‘domestic’ and ‘foreign;’ at the same time, however, they point to different constructions of these categories in the context of market reform. In conclusion, I argue that, through their consumption practices, shoppers in Vietnam and Russia are reframing socialist and neoliberal notions of self, society, and the market.
Effective s-Wave Interaction in Finite Nuclei

It is shown that a simple $s$-wave separable interaction whose parameters are determined by a fit to the binding energy and density of nuclear matter, when modified by making the strength a smooth function of the mass number $A$ (such that the strength approaches that for nuclear matter as $A\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$), gives the binding energy and radii of spherical nuclei throughout the Periodic Table in excellent agreement with experimental values. This behavior of the strength as a function of $A$ is discussed in the light of the results of calculations which use realistic interactions.
The Sodium Borohydride and Sodium Cyanoborohydride Reduction of Unsymmetrically Substituted 3-Chloro-2-propeniminium Salts

Abstract A series of 3-substituted-3-chloro-2-propeniminium salts have been reacted with sodium borohydride and/or sodium cyanoborohydride to produce 1-substituted-1-chloro-3-N, N-dimethylamino-1-propenes in good yield.
University sponsored staff education in nursing via a telephone-radio network.

Resume L'auteur s'est propose de donner un apercu de la maniere dont le telephone et la radio sont utilises comme moyens d'enseignement du nursing au Wisconsin. Il commente le contenu des programmes, les resultats et les plans envisages pour l'avenir. Le reseau de cours par telephone et par radio patronne par le departement d'extension de l'Universite du Wisconsin est un important moyen d'elargissement des efforts pedagogiques de l'Universite. Partout dans le Wisconsin et dans des domaines cliniques aussi varies que les hopitaux, la sante publique, les etablissements de soins infirmiers et les services de sante professionnelle, infirmiers et infirmieres ont maintenant l'occasion d'approfondir leur savoir. La participation active des eleves est une partie integrante des cours. Les moyens de communication mis en oeuvre offrent des possibilites de dialogues entre professeur et eleve. La distance n'importe plus depuis que la classe s'etend a l'Etat tout entier. La devise de l'Universite "Les limites du campus sont les frontieres de l'Etat" est bien pres de devenir une realite.
BCCIP Suppresses Tumor Initiation but Is Required for Tumor Progression

Dysfunctions of genome caretaker genes contribute to genomic instability and tumor initiation. Because many of the caretaker genes are also essential for cell viability, permanent loss of function of these genes would prohibit further tumor progression. How essential caretaker genes contribute to tumorigenesis is not fully understood. Here, we report a "hit-and-run" mode of action for an essential caretaker gene in tumorigenesis. Using a BRCA2-interacting protein BCCIP as the platform, we found that a conditional BCCIP knockdown and concomitant p53 deletion caused rapid development of medulloblastomas, which bear a wide spectrum of alterations involving the Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) pathway, consistent with a caretaker responsibility of BCCIP on genomic integrity. Surprisingly, the progressed tumors have spontaneously lost the transgenic BCCIP knockdown cassette and restored BCCIP expression. Thus, a transient downregulation of BCCIP, but not necessarily a permanent mutation, is sufficient to initiate tumorigenesis. After the malignant transformation has been accomplished and autonomous cancer growth has been established, BCCIP reverses its role from a tumor-initiation suppressor to become a requisite for progression. This exemplifies a new type of tumor suppressor, which is distinct from the classical tumor suppressors that are often permanently abrogated during tumorigenesis. It has major implications on how a nonmutagenic or transient regulation of essential caretaker gene contributes to tumorigenesis. We further suggest that BCCIP represents a paradoxical class of modulators for tumorigenesis as a suppressor for initiation but a requisite for progression (SIRP).
SU-GG-J-137: New Prospective Gated CBCT

Purpose: Design and feasibility of a new prospective gated CBCT for gated treatment IGRT and body SRT treatments. Method and Materials: 4D cone beam CT (4D CBCT) can be used to assess tumor motion for IGRT and body SRT treatments. However, acquisition time for 4D CBCT is normally longer than 3 minutes. For gated treatments, it is sufficient to measure the tumor motion in the range of the gate. We propose using prospective gated CBCT for assessing the tumor motion for the gated treatment to save time in CBCTdata acquisition. The same monitoring system (RPM, Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA) is used to gate the radiotherapy treatment and the CBCT acquisition. Both x‐ray and gantry rotation start when the condition of gating is met such as the breathing amplitude falls in the threshold setting for therapy. The patient can be coached with audio prompting during data acquisition and treatment. The acquisition time is between 1 to 2 min and can be accelerated with a faster gantry rotation. Only one CBCT reconstruction is needed. We applied this approach on a dynamic phantom with 30% duty cycle of beam on time. Results: The gated acquisition was feasible and the image acquired with the gated acquisition of the phantom demonstrated the gated image of the phantom with the specified duty cycle. Conclusion: We have designed a new prospective CBCT and demonstrated its feasibility with a dynamic phantom. This system uses the same thresholds for imaging and treatment demonstrating position and residual motion within the gate on each day. The prospective CBCT is shorter in acquisition time than 4D CBCT. This system can be applied for improving the quality of gated treatment IGRT and body SRT treatments.
Answering queries using materialized views with minimum size

In this paper, we study the following problem. Given a database and a set of queries, we want to find a set of views that can compute the answers to the queries, such that the amount of space, in bytes, required to store the viewset is minimum on the given database. (We also handle problem instances where the input has a set of database instances, as described by an oracle that returns the sizes of view relations for given view definitions.) This problem is important for applications such as distributed databases, data warehousing, and data integration. We explore the decidability and complexity of the problem for workloads of conjunctive queries. We show that results differ significantly depending on whether the workload queries have self-joins. Further, for queries without self-joins we describe a very compact search space of views, which contains all views in at least one optimal viewset. We present techniques for finding a minimum-size viewset for a single query without self-joins by using the shape of the query and its constraints, and validate the approach by extensive experiments.
Governmental Bureaucratization: General Processes and an Anomalous Case

If only everybody meant the same thing by ‘bureaucracy’—or ‘feudalism’, ‘Old Regime’, ‘capitalism’, and so on, ad nauseam. If we all agreed on what these terms meant a good deal of paper might be saved. Since this is not even remotely the case, I had better begin by saying something about how the term ‘bureaucracy’ is to be used in the pages that follow. A government shall be said to be bureaucratized to the extent that it has come to resemble the organizational portrait drawn by Max Weber in Economy and Society. Weber's so-called definition is a list (or lists) of characteristics whose relative importance and relation to one another have stirred much debate.
Histology and histomorphometric analysis of the normal and atrophic heel fat pad

Light and electron microscopy was used for a histologic examination of normal heel fat pads and atrophic heel fat pads from patients with peripheral neuropathies. Histomorphometric analysis revealed an average 30% smaller mean cell area and 16% smaller mean cell diameters in the atrophic pads compared with the normal heel fat pads. Septal walls in the atrophic fat pads were often fragmented and approximately 75% wider than normal. Perineural fibrosis was also found in the atrophic heel fat pads. The Verhoeff elastic staining technique was used to determine the relative percentage of collagen to elastic tissue within the septae. No significant differences were noted between the normal and atrophic heels. The ultrastructure of the adipocytes from the normal and atrophic heel pads was similar to those found in abdominal subcutaneous fat. Lipid droplets of variable size and density thin the center of the adipocyte were surrounded by a thin border of cytoplasm. The interphase between adipocytes contained fine collagen and elastic fibers.
Detection Of Multiple Views Of An Object In The Presence Of Clutter

We have previously designed correlation filters that detect multiple views of an object while remaining specific to the object. We now present a method of modifying the filters to reject clutter, which is defined as additive structured noise. The clutter is rejected by adding to the filters components that are designed to force the contribution of the clutter in the output correlation to be zero. The additional clutter-rejection components are orthogonal to the object harmonics and do not affect the detection process. In the specific example of rotation-invariant detection, the resulting filter has two salient features: it recognizes the object regardless of its rotation or intensity and rejects the clutter regardless of its rotation or intensity.
Uses of Global Models,: A New Generation FUGI Model for Projections and Policy Simulations of the World Economy

The purpose of this article is twofold: to introduce a new generation of the FUGI global model and, using this model, to make projections and policy simulations of the world economy to the year 2000. Global modeling has been aided not only by the development of high- technology computer systems but also it has benefited from recent developments in the life sciences.The FUGI model classifies the world into 140 countries and regions and provides global information about the world economy under alternative policy scenarios. This FUGI model is currently being used by the United Nations for the purpose of long-term projections and policy simulations of the world economy, and it is likely to play a significant role in envisaging the future of global interdependence and corroborating the need for global cooperation.
Prebiotic Amino Acids as Asymmetric Catalysts

The exogenous delivery of cometary and asteroidal material is observed today and undoubtedly has showered the Earth through its prior history ([ 1 ][1]). Because carbonaceous meteorites contain amino acids displaying asymmetry that, if not as extensive, has the same sign (L) as terrestrial amino
The motivation of pluperfect auxiliary tense in the Primary Chronicle

Le plus-que-parfait en vieux russe est un temps complexe constitue de l'auxiliaire du verbe etre au temps passe et du participe passe du verbe matrice. L'auxiliaire peut etre a l'imparfait ou a l'aoriste. L'A. tente de savoir s'il existe des distinctions semantiques entre ces deux formes lorsqu'elles fonctionnent comme auxiliaires dans des constructions au plus-que-parfait
Unique Continuation Principle for Spectral Projections of Schrödinger Operators and Optimal Wegner Estimates for Non-ergodic Random Schrödinger Operators

We prove a unique continuation principle for spectral projections of Schrodinger operators. We consider a Schrodinger operator H = −Δ + V on \({{\rm L}^2(\mathbb{R}^d)}\) , and let HΛ denote its restriction to a finite box Λ with either Dirichlet or periodic boundary condition. We prove unique continuation estimates of the type χI (HΛ) WχI (HΛ) ≥ κ χI (HΛ) with κ > 0 for appropriate potentials W ≥ 0 and intervals I. As an application, we obtain optimal Wegner estimates at all energies for a class of non-ergodic random Schrodinger operators with alloy-type random potentials (‘crooked’ Anderson Hamiltonians). We also prove optimal Wegner estimates at the bottom of the spectrum with the expected dependence on the disorder (the Wegner estimate improves as the disorder increases), a new result even for the usual (ergodic) Anderson Hamiltonian. These estimates are applied to prove localization at high disorder for Anderson Hamiltonians in a fixed interval at the bottom of the spectrum.
Sleep and Sleep Disturbances in Young Children Sensible Management Depends upon Understanding

A pragmatic survey of what goes on during normal sleep, as related to sleep disturbances and sleep problems.
Clinical aspiration-related practice patterns in the intensive care unit : a physician survey

Objective: To characterize physician practice patterns regarding the clinical, microbiological, and antimicrobial-related events of suspected or documented aspiration and aspiration pneumonia within the intensive care unit. Design: National mail survey. Setting: University medical center. Study Population: Critical care physician members of the Society of Critical Care Medicine. Interventions: Survey questionnaire. Measurements and Main Results: The response rate was 645 (32%) of 2,000 mailed surveys; analysis of data represents completed questionnaires from 605 respondents. Intensivists (42.3%), pulmonologists (22.6%), and surgeons (21.6%) represent the majority of respondents. Altered level of consciousness (67.9%) in the intensive care unit was identified as the predominant predisposing factor for aspiration pneumonia. Sixty-four percent of physicians used sputum specimens, rather than protected specimen brushes or bronchoalveolar lavage, as the diagnostic source of bacterial cultures in cases of suspected aspiration pneumonia. Microbiological assessment of aspiration pneumonia revealed the absence of any predominant pathogen, although Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were cited in 40.1% of combined responses, whereas anaerobes represented the fifth most prevalent cultured bacteria. In cases of suspected and confirmed aspiration, 51.9% and 77.7% of respondents, respectively, would prescribe an antimicrobial agent in the absence of a definitive infectious process, with administration of dual antimicrobial therapy increasing from 28.9% to 46.0% in suspected vs. confirmed cases of aspiration. In the treatment of aspiration pneumonia, 27.6% of physicians preferred pathogen-specific therapy, whereas the remainder (72.4%) selected an empirical antibiotic regimen based on prior clinical experience. Overall, a β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor, followed by a cephalosporin, aminoglycoside in combination, or clindamycin, was most often selected for empirical therapy of all defined aspiration-related clinical diagnoses. Conclusions: Our study revealed a divergent approach to antimicrobial treatment of cases of aspiration in the intensive care unit. Further investigation is warranted to determine why empirical antimicrobials are initiated frequently for noninfectious stages of aspiration.
The Effects of Immediate Feedback Upon Voluntary Control of Salivary Rate

Thirteen human subjects (Ss) were given immediate auditory feedback concerning their salivary rates and were asked both to increase and to decrease their rates during a series of 30-sec trials. Significant decreases, but not increases, in salivary rate were obtained relative to baseline. During the second half of the experiment, when feedback was omitted until the end of each trial, Ss maintained significant differential response rates between increase and decrease trials, but the reliability of decreases from expected baseline was reduced. Thirteen control Ss, who received feedback only at the end of each trial during both halves of the experiment, were unable to alter their rates during either half. Salivation on increase and decrease trials was not systematically correlated with changes in either heart rate or breathing rate in the immediate feedback group.
Graphene based digital microfluidics

We demonstrated a novel electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) device for digital microfluidic using a flexible, transparent, and conducting graphene electrode. We showed that a graphene electrode had a lower leakage current and a higher breakdown voltage compared to a gold electrode when they were under the same dielectric layer such as Teflon. The droplet movement was manipulated on graphene-based EWOD using a sequential switching voltage controlled by a programmable logic controller (PLC) relay array.
Preparation of grids for far infrared filters.

Capacitive grids and similar structures, to be used as reflectors in far ir interference filters, are prepared from a 1-μ thick copper layer supported by a 2.5-μ thick dielectric film. The desired pattern is obtained by simple photolithographic contact printing of a suitable negative. The essential steps of this preparation and the generation of some relevant patterns are described.
A Thermal Evolution Model of Centaur 10199 Chariklo

Centaur 10199 Chariklo appears to have a varying spectral behavior. While three different spectral studies detect the presence of water ice at the surface, two more recent studies do not detect any absorption bands. In this article, we consider the possibility that Chariklo undergoes cometary activity that could be responsible for the observed spectral variations. We simulate its thermal evolution, finding that crystalline water ice should be present in the object core, and amorphous water ice should be found at the surface. Upon entering the inner solar system, Chariklo might experience some cometary activity due to ice crystallization if the obliquity is high, due to the adjustment of the internal structure to a new thermal equilibrium. No other activity is expected from this source, unless an external source like an impact provides the heat needed. In the case of such an event, we find that dust emitted in a coma is unlikely to be responsible for the observed spectral variations. In contrast, water ice grains in the coma would reproduce this pattern, meaning that the water ice detected after Chariklo's discovery was present in these grains and not on the object surface. Nonetheless, any activity would require an external additional heat source to be triggered, through an outburst, which might favor the spatial variations hypothesis.
Differentiation of sinus tachycardia from ventricular tachycardia with 1:1 ventriculoatrial conduction in dual chamber implantable cardioverter defibrillators : Feasibility of a criterion based on the atrioventricular interval

Tachycardia discrimination in future implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) is likely to be enhanced by the addition of an atrial sensing/pacing lead. However, differentiation of sinus tachycardia (ST) from ventricular tachycardia (VT) with 1:1 VA conduction will remain problematic. We assessed the use of the AV interval as a potential criterion for correctly differentiating ST from VT. Incremental V pacing at the right ventricular (RV) apex served as a "VT" model in each of 41 patients with 1:1 VA conduction to pacing cycle lengths < or = 450 msec. High right atrial and RV apical electrograms during normal sinus rhythm (NSR) and during incremental V pacing were digitized (simulating ICD sensing). From these signals, AV interval versus pacing cycle length plots were computer generated to identify crossover cycle lengths, each defined as the cycle length at which the AV interval during V pacing equals the AV interval during NSR. At cycle lengths longer than the crossover value, the AV interval during "VT" exceeds the AV interval during NSR. In contrast, the AV interval during ST is physiologically shorter than the AV interval during NSR. Thus, ST can be readily differentiated from "VT" over a range of cycle lengths greater than the crossover value. The overall mean calculated crossover cycle length was 371 +/- 52 msec. In 11 patients paced multiple times, each crossover cycle length was reproducible (mean coefficient of variation was 1.2% +/- 0.9% per patient). AV intervals measured at the RV apex were also analyzed with incremental V pacing during catecholamine stimulation (isoproterenol, n = 5) and during alternate site "VT" (RV outflow tract [n = 8] and left ventricle [n = 2]). In all these cases, the new "VT" plots of AV interval versus pacing cycle length coincided with or fell to the left of those obtained during control RV apical pacing and recording (i.e., these AV interval values crossed the NSR baseline at cycle lengths < or = the crossover cycle length). Thus, the cycle length range for recognizable differentiation of ST from "VT" remained valid. The data suggest that the described AV interval criterion relying on the crossover cycle length: (1) is a promising approach to improve differentiation of ST from relatively slow VTs with 1:1 VA conduction, and (2) can readily be automated in future dual chamber ICDs, given its computational simplicity.
Scalable Sensing, Estimation, and Control Architecture for Large Spacecraft Formations

A decentralized estimation architecture for large formations of spacecraft is introduced that, when coupled with a local controller, parameterizes the degree to which a node is a leader or a follower, eliminating the rigid classification of nodes as strictly leaders and followers. Measurements are provided by a single range/bearing sensor similar to the autonomous formation flying sensor. A reference point calculation is introduced that automatically compensates for noise in the estimation and sensing subsystems. A scheduling algorithm is developed that maximizes the information collected across the formation. The scheduling problem is posed as an infinite horizon optimization of either the formation information or covariance matrices, or the reference point information or covariance matrices. The resulting architecture is compared via simulation to a system in which each spacecraft has full knowledge of the fleet. Results show that performance degradation (root mean square position error and fuel usage) is very small compared to the ideal, full knowledge solution, and that the system performs better than the traditional leader-follower architecture.
Natural products as a rich source of tau-targeting drugs for Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder and the most common form of dementia, affecting more than 5.4 million people in the USA. Although the cause of AD is not well understood, the cholinergic, amyloid and tau hypotheses were proposed to explain its development. Drug discovery for AD based on the cholinergic and amyloid theories have not been effective. In this article we summarize tau-based natural products as AD therapeutics from a variety of biological sources, including the anti-amyloid agent curcumin, isolated from turmeric, the microtubule stabilizer paclitaxel, from the Pacific Yew Taxus brevifolia, and the Streptomyces-derived Hsp90 inhibitor, geldanamycin. The overlooked approach of clearing tau aggregation will most likely be the next objective for AD drug discovery.
Experimental Investigation of Shock Mitigation of Electronic Boards Within Projectiles

Electronic components inside a projectile are subjected to high acceleration during launch. Failure of these components, affects the performance of the projectile. The objective of the paper is to better understand how shocks are transmitted to electronic boards and to investigate ways to mitigate these shocks. A projectile model is created to mimic an actual projectile. As projectiles are usually composed of threaded components, the effect of the tightening preload torque on accelerations and frequencies of components on boards is discussed. Experimental results show that increasing the tightening preload torque above a specific level can ensure that projectile behaves as a single body, which makes acceleration of a component on the board independent of tightening torque. Effect of mounting the board on polyurethane rubber is also considered. The paper also presents suggestions to simulate experimental test using finite element methods.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Lecithin appearance and apparent biologic half-life in term newborn rabbit lung.

Summary: The lung lecithin of term newborn rabbits was labeled by injecting the lecithin precursors palmitic acid and cholme into the pregnant doe shortly before delivery of the newborn rabbits by cesarean section. The newborn lungs were lavaged to yield an alveolar wash lecithin sample and the tissue was homogenized and fractionated into lamellar body and microsomal fractions by differential and density gradient centrifugation. Lecithin was isolated from the lung parenchyma, microsomes, lamellar bodies, and alveolar wash by two-dimensional thin layer chromatography, and the specific activity of the lecithin in each fraction was determined. Comes are presented showing the time of appearance of the radioactive lecithin in each lecithin fraction. The apparent biological half-life of lecithin in each fraction was measured. The specific activity of lecithin was high in microsomal fractions soon after palmitic acid or choline administration. The lamellar body fraction was free of radioactive lecithin for 3 hr, and maximal specific activity of lamellar body lecithin was reached only after 20 hr. The appearance of radioactive alveolar lecithin followed a curve very similar to that of the lecithin in the lamellar body fraction. The apparent half-life of lung parenchymal lecithin from newborn lung labeled with palmitic acid was 57 hr, whereas the apparent half-life of alveolar lecithin was 136 hr. The lecithin in lung and alveolar wash labeled with choline had a longer halflife than did lecithin labeled with palmitic acid. Measurements of lecithin appearance and apparent half-life are compared to similar measurements in adult rabbits. Speculation: The striking characteristics of newborn lung lecithin are the 3-hr lag before the appearance in the alveolus of de novo synthesized lecithin, the prolonged time (20 hr) before maximal specific activity of alveolar lecithin is achieved, and the very long apparent half-life of alveolar lecithin. If these measurements are applicable to other term and premature mammals, they must rely entirely on lecithin stored in anticipation of birth to maintain alveolar stability at birth. The long lag before significant lecithin synthesized de novo can reach the alveolar space precludes synthesis contributing to alveolar stability until many hours after birth. The recovery from the respiratory distress syndrome may not depend on maturation of the ability to synthesize lecithin; rather, the prolonged recovery phase may reflect the long times required for appreciable quantities of de novo synthesized lecithin to reach the alveolar space. However, once alveolar stability is achieved, short interruptions of lecithin synthesis, by reversible acidosis, for example, should not cause respiratory distress mediated by lecithin deficiency.
(320) A longitudinal functional MRI study of pain-related brain changes in a rat model of chronic neuropathic pain

The purpose of this study was to determine the long-term effects of spared nerve injury (SNI) on pain-related brain networks using fMRI and a novel evoked pain paradigm. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to either undergo SNI (n = 7) or sham (n = 6) surgery. SNI was accomplished by transecting the left tibial and peroneal branch of the sciatic nerve, while keeping the sural nerve intact. Sham animals underwent identical surgical procedures with the exception of nerve transection. All rats were scanned using a Bruker 7 TMRI scanner 1 week prior to (pre-surgery) and 1 and 5 month/s postsurgery. During scanning, rats were anesthetizedwith# 1.5% isoflurane. Functional scans (TR = 1500 ms, TE = 35.096 ms, in plane resolution = 400 mm) were acquired during application of acetone (6 trials, 50 mL per trial, scan duration 13 minutes) to the left hindpaw. Nocifensive and anxiety-like behaviors were measured 2 weeks prior to and at 2, 5, 9, 14, and 19 weeks following surgery. Behavioral analysis revealed that SNI rats had early and sustained hypersensitivity to mechanical and thermal stimuli compared to shams, but showed no difference in anxiety-like behaviors. Region of interest analysis revealed that areas related to processing the sensory components of pain (right primary and secondary somatosensory cortex, right ventroposterior lateral thalamus) showed both early and sustained increases in BOLD activity in SNI rats compared to shams. SNI rats also showed early BOLD decreases in the left posterior (sensory/motor) cingulate cortex,whereas a late increasewas observed in a more anterior (affective) cingulate region. Our results indicate that peripheral nerve injury inducedboth early and late functional changes in pain-related brain networks that were associated with sustained thermal and mechanical hypersensitivity. Supported by American Pain Society Future Leaders in Pain Research Grant.
Analytical methods in aerial photogrammetry

It is proposed to show in this paper something of what can be accomplished in the way of surveying by applying mathematical calculations to measurements on aerial photographs. Possibly a few introductory remarks will serve to show the relation of the topic in hand to the entire subject of aerial surveying and mapping. Nearly every engineer probably has his attention called to aerial mapping first by the mosaic-map, with which everyone is by now to some extent familiar and concerning which so much has already been written, the scientific assembly of the aerial photographs themselves. Then one finds that this complete and faithful representation of the terrain obtainable in no other manner, is after all subject to certain errors, namely, those caused by the unavoidable and variable tilts of the camera-axis at the Instants of the exposures and those caused by the displacements of the images in perspective due to the topographic relief of the ground, not to mention the failure of the mosaic to furnish any information regarding elevations of ground-points. Then one's attention is usually called to another distinct branch of the entire subject, namely, aerial photographic surveying, the methods of using aerial photographs as a substitute for the usual field work in ordinary surveying. In this branch of the subject there are three different methods of attack: First, graphical methods of approximately determining horizontal locations of planimetric detail, without determining elevations, such as the radial-plotting method, the Canadian Government s perspective-grid method for oblique photographs, the method of using the photographs as an aid to plane-table work, and the methods of using them for revision of existing maps, all of which are highly valuable under certain specific conditions; second, the optical-mechanical methods of determining precisely both horizontal positions and elevations of ground-points by means of the stereoscopic-panto graphic instruments of European manufacture; third, analytical methods.
Performance Assessment and Prediction of Corrosion Prevention Compounds with Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

Abstract The performance of corrosion prevention compounds (CPC) on aluminum alloy (AA)7075-T6 (UNS A97075) was assessed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The good correlation bet...
Vertical Integration of Geographic Information Sciences: A Recruitment Model for GIS Education.

Abstract An innovative vertical integration model for recruiting to GIS education was introduced and tested following four driving forces: curriculum development, GIS presentations, institutional collaboration, and faculty training. Curriculum development was a useful approach to recruitment, student credit hour generation, and retention-rate improvement. Recruitment presentations increased GIS awareness at all levels. The intensive teacher training combined with GIS class-development through institutional collaboration was effective in enhancing GIS education at high schools and community colleges. The vertical integration model is an effective means of recruitment for GIS education and could be used by programs confronted with problems in recruitment.
Electrothermal volatilization flame and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometric investigations on the determination of calcium in gallium

Abstract Electrothermal volatilization flame atomic absorption spectrometry (ETV-FAAS) was used for element-specific detection in the vapour evolved during heating of a graphite furnace (GF). The studies, combined with graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) and GF molecular absorption spectrometry (GFMAS) were intended to provide a better understanding of the volatilization mechanisms of calcium and gallium. Both elements were applied as minor and major components in nitric acid, hydrochloric acid and ammonium chloride media. Low heating rates (20–50°C/s) were used in the volatilization studies and the figures of merit were compared with those obtained from conventional pyrolysis curves. It was concluded that gallium, when introduced in nitric acid solution and at the 10 ng level, was evaporated between 900 and 1000°C in the form of Ga 2 O. When gallium was the matrix element (10 μg range) the major fraction vaporized in the 1120–2300°C range, producing Ga 2 O(g) and Ga(g) as major and minor components, respectively. A 1 ng mass of calcium vaporized rapidly above 1520°C with the evolution of atomic vapour, and this process overlapped in part with the vaporization of gallium matrix. Volatilization of gallium in the pyrolysis stage could be performed to a degree sufficient to eliminate the interference of up to 3 g l gallium in nitric acid medium on the determination of calcium using Zeeman-effect background correction. A detection limit of 0.06 μg g Ca in gallium was found if random contamination during dissolution was avoided. Microgram amounts of calcium introduced in HCl solution vaporized as CaCl 2 and CaO, the oxide being formed by a heterogeneous phase hydrolysis. The addition of excess NH 4 Cl did not retard the hydrolysis of calcium chloride, while this additive promoted the vaporization of gallium in the form of chloride.
Lean advanced equipment supplier training

In December 2008, facing a severe worldwide recession, a key strategy by senior Intel corporation management was reducing discretionary and wasteful spending by 50%. One of the largest discretionary spending categories is the cost of technical training provided by our equipment suppliers and the travel associated with sending senior equipment maintenance technicians and equipment engineers to lengthy training classes at locations around the world. A side effect of travel was that our most senior people would lose approximately 3 days of work time for travel before and after training. The challenge was meeting this aggressive cost reduction goal while maintaining high quality training and low production risk. We had two key opportunities. The first was available equipment capacity on our manufacturing floors, and second, we had motivated factory managers who challenged our training organization to create Lean and effective, affordable training. In 2009, the team deployed a pilot, transferred the key learning's to define and deploy the business process, systems, logistics, roles and collaterals to go from <10% to over 90% of advanced training onsite. The solution was deployed at all the AT sites in one year providing factories with proven capability to maintain proficient workforce, reduce supplier dependence, maintain IP and lower POR costs.
Increasing maize seed methionine by mRNA stability.

Summary The amino acid methionine is a common protein building block that is also important in other cellular processes. Plants, unlike animals, synthesize methionine de novo and are thus a dietary source of this nutrient. A new approach for using maize as a source of nutrient methionine is described. Maize seeds, a major component of animal feeds, have variable levels of protein-bound methionine. This variability is a result of post-transcriptional regulation of the Dzs10 gene, which encodes a seed-specific high-methionine storage protein. Here we eliminate methionine variability by identifying and replacing the cis-acting site for Dzs10 regulation using transgenic seeds. Interestingly, two different mechanisms affect mRNA accumulation, one dependent on and the other independent of the untranslated regions (UTRs) of Dzs10 RNA. Accumulation of chimeric Dzs10 mRNA was not reduced in hybrid crosses and was uncoupled from genomic imprinting by Dzr1, a regulator of Dzs10. Uniform high levels of Dzs10 protein were maintained over five backcross generations of the transgene. The increased level of methionine in these transgenic seeds allowed the formulation of a useful animal feed ration without the addition of synthetic methionine.
Fertility measures based on birth interval data.

Abstract In this paper a new measure of fertility is proposed which is calculated from birth interval data. The measure is a distribution function which may be defined as follows: Given that there is an (i − 1)th birth, the function Fi(x) is defined as the probability (in the absence of competing risks) that there is an ith birth within x units of time. Fi(x) is assumed to be independent of age. F i (x ¦ a) is the corresponding age dependent probability that is conditional on an (i − 1)th birth occurring at age a. The Fi are defective, in that, in general Fi(∞) or F i (∞ ¦ a) is not equal to one. The estimation of the density functions corresponding to Fi(x) and F i (x ¦ a) is considered for the following five sampling schemes for marriage cohorts of women: 1. (i) The women are followed from marriage to some time t and their reproductive experience is assessed—prospective cohort; 2. (ii) The survivors at some time t of a marriage cohort are sampled and their reproductive histories assessed—retrospective cohort; 3. (iii) The survivors at time t are sampled and asked about the date of the last closed interval (if existent)—retrospective last intervals; 4. (iv) The survivors at time t are sampled and followed until their next event occurs (i.e., birth, death, widowhood, divorce). The interval between the event prior to t and the one immediately after t is recorded—prospective next intervals or straddling intervals; 5. (v) The survivors to time t are followed to time T and the intervals falling in (t, T) are recorded—prospective interior intervals. Estimators are obtained in all cases except (iv) for the density of F i (x ¦ a) . The problem of estimation of F i (x ¦ a) ( or f i (x ¦ a )) in a general population of married women is considered and a life table approach is recommended. Some estimates are obtained from simulation results and compared with the parameters which they estimate. The problem of obtaining an average of the F i (x ¦ a) over i and a is discussed and finally a brief study of the sensitivity of the proposed measure to changing contraceptive practice is conducted via simulation.
Psychology of computer use ii. sex differences in prediction of course grades in a computer language course

This study investigated the effects of sex, computer aptitude, computer attitudes, computer experience, mathematics aptitude, and mathematics experience on the prediction of course grades in a computer language course. The sample consisted of 119 women and 73 men who completed an assembly-language programming course at a midwestern state university. While men in general had higher mathematics aptitude and computer aptitude, women received higher course grades in the computer language course. Students who failed the course were significantly lower in computer aptitude, computer experience, mathematics aptitude, mathematics experience, and high school GPA. A discriminant analysis for the total sample correctly classified passing and failing students at 81.1% accuracy rate. A short test of computer aptitude significantly added to high school grades and mathematics experience in a regression analysis of course grades. Computer attitudes were not related to course grades.