cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biological control in the management of pests

Abstract In this paper the author reviews the broad general picture of developments in biological control in relation to the increasing opportunities presented for its employment in developing programmes of integrated pest control worldwide. Included are not only the classical examples of biological control of insects and mites and of weeds but such other areas as biological control of vertebrates, of plant diseases, and of dung accumulations, and as well the development of crop plant varieties resistant to plant disease. The review is developed as a means of illustrating that biological control offers real potential as a major manipulatable tactic for central use and maximization in a strategy of integrated control of pests in a great variety of situations — on land and in water, from the tropics to cold, temperate and sub-arctic regions, in forests and range and in cultivated crops and ornamental plantings. It is noted that the employment of these biological control tactics are often self-sufficient but they are not expected to broadly replace the use of chemical pesticides, for chemicals remain necessary in most crop situations and are still our most reliable immediate solution to such a problem. The two types of tactics are to be used together where necessary, with the chemicals being used only where really required and in ways to supplement the use of biological controls in the broad sense.
Modeling containerized shipping for developing countries

Abstract Containerized transportation which is well established in industrialized countries is now being extended to trade with developing countries. Port authorities in these areas must make decisions regarding the location of container terminals, the size of terminal facilities, and the water depth required. This paper examines the economics of alternative route structure, a factor which affects design vessel size and other design parameters of the terminals. A five destination port system, with the trans-shipment terminal centrally located, and retaining 50% of the cargo, is compared to direct service with nine ports of call on a round trip of about 12,000 nm. Trans-shipment is the optimal scenario with costs 21–28% lower than direct service costs. Other trans-shipment and direct service scenarios are compared indicating conditions that are less favorable to trans-shipment. The results of this study can be utilized to make an initial assessment of the viability of trans-shipment in a specific case. The methodology can be extended to an in-depth study which should be based on data specifically tailored for the models.
Gas Bubble Studies and Impulse Tests on Distribution Transformers During Loading Above Nameplate Rating

The paper describes the results of studies on gas bubble evolution in model coils, and impulse breakdown tests on full-size distribution transformers during loading above nameplate rating. Radio noise measurements and visual observation were used to determine thermally-induced gas bubble formation in model coils during two different one-hour load cycles which resulted in final hot spot temperatures of 145 and 2250C, respectively. Impulse tests were performed on full-size transformers, rated 25 kVA, 95 kV BIL, of core-form and shell-form design as well as of a modified shell-form construction. The full-wave impulse surges were applied while maintaining a severe overload of 260 to 285% of rated current for one hour. This resulted in a hot spot temperature excursion from 45°C to 225°C which, according to model tests, resulted in heavy gas bubble activity. Tests were made on unaged and aged model coils and transformers to determine the effect of insulation degradation on bubble evolution and on the impulse strength during loading. The results are discussed in comparison with the results of breakdown tests under no-load conditions. The work described was sponsored by the Electric Power Research Institute.
Model-Less Feedback Control of Continuum Manipulators in Constrained Environments

Continuum manipulators offer a means for robot manipulation in a constrained environment, where the manipulator body can safely interact with, comply with, and navigate around obstacles. However, obstacle interactions impose constraints that conform the robot body into arbitrary shapes regardless of actuator positions. Generally, these effects cannot be wholly sensed on a continuum manipulator and, therefore, render model-based controllers incorrect, leading to artificial singularities and unstable behavior. We present a task-space closed-loop controller for continuum manipulators that does not rely on a model and can be used in constrained environments. Using an optimal control strategy on a tendon-driven robot, we demonstrate this method, which we term model-less control, which allows the manipulator to interact with several constrained environments in a stable manner. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work in controlling continuum manipulators without using a model.
Detrital mineral chronology of the Uinta Mountain Group: Implications for the Grenville flood in southwestern Laurentia

Numerous studies have shown that large quantities of Grenville-age detritus dominate Neoproterozoic to Cambrian arenites in southwest Laurentia (southwestern United States). U-Pb ages and Hf isotopic compositions of zircons and 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ages of white mica from clastic sedimentary rocks of the Neoproterozoic Uinta Mountain Group also indicate significant Mesoproterozoic detritus mixed with a variably abundant Archean component. Zircons with ages representative of the Paleoproterozoic basement in the eastern Uinta Mountains or the younger Paleoproterozoic rocks of the adjacent Yavapai-Mazatzal terranes were not observed. A limited range of initial ϵ Hf (∼90% between –3 and +3) for Mesoproterozoic zircons suggests derivation from a source region (or regions) characterized by mixing between juvenile and reworked older crust during Grenville orogenesis. The enriched Grenville-age basement proposed to underlie much of southeastern North America may be this source based on similarities of Hf isotopic data from Mesoproterozoic zircons in Mississippi River sand and available paleocurrent data. If so, then disruption of this supply in the Cambrian may be related to Iapetan rifting and, perhaps, the separation of the Precordillera terrane from Laurentia.
Comparison of arthroscopic and open techniques in carbon fibre reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament: long-term follow-up after 5 years.

Abstract Two groups of patients with chronic, symptomatic anterior cruciate ligament deficiency were reconstructed with carbon fibre. In 15 patients, the prosthesis was inserted through an anterolateral arthrotomy; in 14, it was inserted arthroscopically. Both groups also received a MacIntosh extraarticular lateral substitution. Assessment included subjective functional rating and objective clinical examination for instability. No significant difference in subjective functional rating was present after a minimum of 5 years; however, a reduced complication rate and diminished return of clinical instability was evident in the arthroscopic group during this period. Reconstruction was satisfactory in 47% of the arthrotomy group and 64% of the arthroscopy group when subjective and objective criteria were combined to assess the final outcome. This study supports the proposition that, in combination with extraarticular lateral substitution, arthroscopic insertion of cruciate prostheses compares favourably with conventional "open" techniques.
A unique population of effector memory lymphocytes identified by CD146 having a distinct immunophenotypic and genomic profile

CD146 is a well described homotypic adhesion molecule found on endothelial cells and a limited number of other cell types. In cells from the peripheral circulation, CD146 has also been reported to be on activated lymphocytes in vitro and in vivo. The function associated with CD146 expression on lymphoid cells is unknown and very little information is available concerning the nature of CD146+ lymphocytes. In the current study, lymphocytes from healthy donors were characterized based upon the presence or absence of CD146 expression. CD146 was expressed on a low percentage of circulating T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and NK cells in healthy individuals. CD146 expression can be induced and upregulated in vitro on both B cells and T cells, but does not correlate with the expression of other markers of T cell activation. CD146 positive T cells do not represent clonal expansions as determined with the use of anti Vβ reagents. Data suggest that CD146 positive cells have enhanced adherence to endothelial monolayers in vitro. Gene profiling and immunophenotyping studies between CD146+ and CD146- T cells revealed several striking genotypic distinctions such as the upregulation of IL-8 and phenotypic differences including the paucity of CCR7 and CD45RA among CD146 positive T cells, consistent with effector memory function. A number of genes involved in cell adhesion, signal transduction, and cell communication are dramatically upregulated in CD146+ T cells compared to CD146- T cells. CD146 appears to identify small, unique populations of T as well as B lymphocytes in the circulation. The T cells have immunophenotypic characteristics of effector memory lymphocytes. The characteristics of these CD146+ lymphocytes in the circulation, together with the known functions in cell adhesion of CD146 on endothelial cells, suggests that these lymphocytes may represent a small subpopulation of cells primed to adhere to the endothelium and possibly extravasate to sites of inflammation.
Genetic association of murine susceptibility to Brugia malayi microfilaraemia

The influence of host genetics on susceptibility of mice to Brugia malayi microfilariae and its possible mechanism were studied. There was a strain-association for duration and peak level of microfilaraemia: CBA/CaJ, C3H/HeJ, DBA/1J, AuSs/J and A.S.w/Sn had a short duration (3-5 days) and low parasitemia (19-26 parasites/100 microliters blood) compared to C57Br/cdJ, AKR/J, C57BL/6J, 129/J, BALB/cJ, DBA/2J, B10.D2/NSn, B10.D2/OSn and SJL/J (duration of 58-73 days, peak parasitaemia of 58-74 parasites/100 microliters blood). Relative resistance to microfilariae was not related to the H-2 complex as determined in studies of congenic C3H.B10 (H-2b) and B10.H-2k mice and their background strains. This trait was inherited in a dominant fashion and involved a single or small number of genes. Serum anti-microfilarial antibodies reached highest levels in strains with a long duration compared to those with a short duration of parasitaemia (geometric mean titres of 1:13450 vs 1:284). The distribution of 51Cr-labelled microfilariae among the livers, spleens, lungs and kidneys of a resistant (CBA/CaJ) and a susceptible (C57BL/6J) strain was similar. Transfer of immune lymphoid cells or sera between histocompatible (H-2k) resistant CBA/CaJ mice and susceptible C57Br/cdJ animals did not alter the duration of microfilaraemia.
Turbulent flow and energy dissipation in plunge pool of high arch dam

The 3-D flow fields in the plunge pools of'the Xiaowan high arch dam and Laxiwa high arch dam in China are simulated by the turbulence mathematical model and measured by the live-hole Pitot sphere combined with the pressure sensors and automatic data sampling and processing system. The typical 3-D flow pattern and energy dissipation characteristics in plunge pool are obtained. The simulated results of energy dissipation show that the water body in plunge pool can be divided into three regions: shear, impact and mixing dissipation regions of energy.
HEALING OR HURTFUL: SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS' INTERPRETATIONS OF SOCIAL REACTIONS FROM SUPPORT PROVIDERS

Sexual assault survivors often receive both positive and negative reactions to the disclosure of their assault. Although positive reactions are typically more common from informal support providers and negative reactions are typically more common from formal support providers, not all formal and informal support providers react the same way. To help clarify the nature of social reactions received from specific support providers, 103 female sexual assault survivors participated in interviews about their disclosure experiences. These interviews resulted in detailed descriptions of 250 disclosure interactions. Results indicated that counselors and friends engaged in the most emotional support, fairly high levels of tangible aid, and fairly low levels of most types of negative reactions. Romantic partners provided only moderate support, the lowest amount of tangible aid, and the highest amount of blame, control, and egocentric behaviors. Romantic partners also treated survivors differently more often than other support providers. Qualitative analysis of survivors' descriptions of these reactions are used to help interpret survivors' ratings of reactions as healing or hurtful.
EFFECT OF CIMETIDINE AND ENDOTOXIN ON LUNG MICROSOMAL P450 ACTIVITY IN OXYGEN-TOXIC LAMBS

One enzymatic source of free oxygen radical production in lung cells is the cytochromc P450 system. We have reported that a single dose of either endotoxin (E) or cimetidine (C), both inhibitors of hepatic P450 activity, significantly reduces pulmonary oxygen toxicity in lambs. To determine if the in vivo reduction of lung injury could be linked to lung P450 activity, microsomes were isolated from whole blood-free lung, and P450 activity was measured in vitro in 13 oxygen-toxic lambs and in 3 similarly instrumented lambs who breathed air for 3 - 5 days. P450 activity was estimated as the dcmethylation of d-benzphetaminc with subsequent generation of formaldehyde. The results indicate that in lamb lung 1) hyperoxia increases P450 activity, and 2) both cimetidine and endotoxin block the increase in P450 activity due to oxygen exposure. These studies lend further support to the hypothesis that P450-mediatcd oxygen metabolism may be important in the pathogenesis of pulmonary oxygen toxicity in lambs.
Species differences in animal deoxyribonucleic acid as revealed by equilibrium sedimentation in density gradients.

Species Differences in Animal Deoxyribonucleic Acids as revealed by Equilibrium Sedimentation in Density Gradients
Chemical solution derived planarization layers for highly aligned IBAD-MgO templates

The main goal of this research is to develop a chemical solution derived planarization layer to fabricate highly aligned IBAD-MgO templates for the development of high temperature superconductor (HTS) based coated conductors. The standard IBAD-MgO template needs an additional electrochemical polishing step of the mechanically polished 50 μm-thick Hastelloy C-276 substrates to ensure a flat and smooth surface for subsequent growth of multi-layer buffer architectures, which include: sputtered 80 nm Al2O3; sputtered 7 nm Y2O3; IBAD 10 nm MgO; sputtered 30 nm homo-epi MgO; and sputtered 30 nm LaMnO3 (LMO) layers. We have successfully developed a solution planarization layer that removes the electrochemical polishing step and also acts as a barrier layer. Crack-free, smooth Al2O3 layers were prepared on mechanically polished Hastelloy substrates using a chemical solution process. The average surface roughness value, Ra, for a starting substrate was 9–10 nm. After eight coatings of Al2O3 layer, the Ra was reduced to 2 nm. Highly aligned IBAD-MgO layers with out-of-plane and in-plane textures comparable to the standard IBAD-MgO layers were successfully deposited on top of the solution planarization Al2O3 layers with an Y2O3 nucleation layer using a reel-to-reel ion-beam sputtering system. Both homo-epi MgO and LMO layers were subsequently deposited on the IBAD-MgO layers using RF sputtering to complete the buffer stack required for the growth of HTS films. YBa2Cu3O7−δ (YBCO) films with a thickness of 0.8 μm deposited on these IBAD-MgO templates by pulsed laser deposition showed a high self-field critical current density, Jc, of 3.04 MA cm−2 at 77 K and 6.05 MA cm−2 at 65 K. These results demonstrate that a low-cost chemical-solution-based, high-throughput Al2O3 planarization layer can remove the electro-polishing step and replace sputtered Al2O3 layers for the production of high Jc YBCO-coated conductors.
Mastering the mess

We frequently find ourselves immersed in intransigent situations whose resolution demands a disruptive innovation. There are useful strategies for these situations.
Testing a social cognitive theory-based model of indoor tanning: implications for skin cancer prevention messages.

The lack of a theory-based understanding of indoor tanning is a major impediment to the development of effective messages to prevent or reduce this behavior. This study applied the Comprehensive In...
Solubility control of technetium release from Saltstone by TcO2·xH2O

Abstract Saltstone leaching experiments were conducted using a modified single-pass flow-through method under anoxic conditions. The analytical results of leachates collected from these experiments were evaluated using thermodynamic modeling to determine if the data were consistent with potential solubility controlling phases. The results demonstrate that technetium release from Saltstone under anoxic conditions is controlled by the solubility of TcO2·xH2O (likely TcO2·1.6H2O). In our system the solubility of TcO2·1.6H2O appears to have been reached equilibrium within 2 weeks, with a Tc concentration of approximately 1.5 × 10−6 M. Because Saltstone is a cementitious material, it is a continuously reacting solid with component phases that continue to change over very long time periods (up to hundreds of years). As a result of this process, the concentrations of technetium in equilibrium with TcO2·1.6H2O are likely to vary as the composition of Saltstone pore fluid evolves over time. In a disposal scenario where the initially high pH values (∼12.5–13) decrease (due to carbonation over very long time periods), the solubility of TcO2·xH2O would decrease significantly. The thermodynamic data used to determine the solubility of TcO2·1.6H2O were taken from the tabulation of critically selected thermodynamic data determined by the Nuclear Energy Agency. Solid phase characterization to demonstrate the presence of TcO2·xH2O was not possible due to the low concentrations of technetium in our samples. Previous solid phase characterization studies with cementitious waste forms that were very similar to our Saltstone samples as well as reaction products derived from reductive immobilization of TcO 4 - by amorphous FeS clearly indicate the presence of TcO2 with varying degrees of hydration. Although, the presence of TcSx or other reduced technetium sulfide phases are likely present in our samples, release of technetium from Saltstone will be controlled by TcO2·1.6H2O because of its higher solubility. Our results clearly demonstrate that the release mechanism of technetium from Saltstone under reducing conditions controlled by the solubility of TcO2·xH2O (likely TcO2·1.6H2O); however, empirical distribution coefficients (Kds), that describe sorption and not solubility, were calculated for comparison with past literature values. After 84 days of reaction under anoxic conditions, the average Kd value for technetium was determined to be 610 mL/g. This value is similar to a value determined previously for a similar Saltstone sample under reducing conditions at 56 days (712 ± 81 mL/g).
Thermal stability of nanocrystalline Fe–Cr alloys with Zr additions

Abstract The primary objective of this work was to determine the influence of 1–4 at% Zr additions on the thermal stability of mechanically alloyed nanocrystalline Fe–Cr alloys containing 10 and 18 at% Cr. Grain sizes based on XRD, along with microhardness changes, are reported for isochronal annealing treatments up to 1000 °C. Microstructure investigations were done using optical microscopy, channeling contrast FIB imaging, and TEM. Grain size stabilization in the nanaoscale range was maintained up to 900 °C by adding 2 at% Zr. Kinetic pinning by nanoscale intermetallic particles was identified as one source of high temperature grain size stabilization. Intermetallic particles also contribute to strengthening in addition to the Hall–Petch effect. The analysis of microhardness, XRD data, and measured values from the TEM image for Fe-10 at% Cr with 2 at% Zr suggested that both thermodynamic and kinetic mechanisms would contribute to grain size stabilization. There was no significant difference in the results for the 10 and 18 at% Cr alloys, which indicates that the α→γ transformation does not influence the grain size stabilization.
JOB SATISFACTION AMONG COMMUNITY COLLEGE OCCUPATIONAL‐TECHNICAL FACULTY

Job satisfaction and its related phenomena have been of considerable interest for many years. A review of the job satisfaction literature, however, revealed few studies that have examined the job satisfaction of both full‐time and part‐time community college faculty. The study was designed to determine (a) the level of job satisfaction among occupational‐technical faculty in relation to 10 factors based on F. Herzberg, B. Mausner, and B. Snyderman's (1959) Motivation‐Hygiene Theory and (b) the relative difference of job satisfaction between full‐time and part‐time occupational‐technical faculty. Results of the study indicated that both the full‐time and part‐time occupational‐technical faculty were satisfied with their jobs.
Design studies for the next generation electron ion colliders

The next generation Electron Ion Collider (EIC) at Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (JLAB) utilizes a figure-8 shaped ion and electron rings. EIC has the ability to preserve the ion polarization during acceleration, where the electron ring matches in footprint with a figure-8 ion ring. The electron ring is designed to deliver a highly polarized high luminous electron beam at interaction point (IP). The main challenges of the electron ring design are the chromaticity compensation and maintaining high beam polarization of 70% at all energies 3–11 GeV without introducing transverse orbital coupling before the IP. The very demanding detector design limits the minimum distance between the final focus quadrupole and the interaction point to 3.5 m which results in a large β function inside the final focus quadrupoles leading to increased beam chromaticity. In this paper, we present a novel chromaticity compensation scheme that mitigates IP chromaticity by a compact chromaticity compensation section with multipole magnet components. In addition, a set of spin rotators are utilized to manipulate the polarization vector of the electron beam in order to preserve the beam polarization. The spin rotator solenoids introduce undesired coupling between the horizontal and vertical betatron motion of the beam. We introduce a compact and modular orbit decoupling insert that can fit in the limited space of the straight section in the figure-8 ring. We show a numerical study of the figure-8 ring design with the compact straight section, which includes the interaction region, chromaticity compensation section, and the spin rotators, the figure-8 design performance is evaluated with particle tracking.
Divergent long-term trajectories of human access to the Arctic

Subzero temperatures at high latitudes typically restrict shipping but facilitate ground transportation. A study quantifies the impacts of climate change on Arctic transportation by mid-century and finds that all eight Arctic states will probably suffer steep declines in inland transport, but will reap the benefits of faster sea travel.
Bioaccumulation of perfluorochemicals in sediments by the aquatic oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus.

Bioaccumulation of perfluoroalkyl sulfonates, perfluorocarboxylates, and 2-(N-ethylperfluorooctane sulfonamido) acetic acid (N-EtFOSAA) from laboratory-spiked and contaminated field sediments was assessed using the freshwater oligochaete, Lumbriculus variegatus. Semi-static batch experiments were conducted to monitor the biological uptake of these perfluorochemicals (PFCs) over 56 days. The elimination of PFCs was measured as the loss of PFCs in L. variegatus exposed to PFC-spiked sediment for 28 days and then transferred to clean sediment. The resultant data suggest that PFCs in sediments are readily bioavailable and that bioaccumulation from sediments does not continually increase with increasing perfluorocarbon chain length. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorononanoate were the most bioaccumulative PFCs, as measured by laboratory-based estimated steady-state biota sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) and BSAFs measured using contaminated field sediments. Elimination rate constants for perfl...
Solid solutions in sputter-deposits of iron with 0 to 5 Wt Pct C

Supersaturated iron-carbon solid solutions containing 0.06, 0.18, 0.66, 2, 3, and 5 wt pct C were produced by sputter-deposition at 6° to 21°C. Homogeneous deposits of the same carbon composition as the multiphase source materials were produced by high rate (up to 0.0004 in. per hr) sputtering techniques and were 0.005 to 0.027 in. thick. The microhardnesses of the deposits were higher than the hardnesses of martensite with the same carbon content. The hardness increased rapidly from 680 Dph for 0.06 wt pct C content to an unusually high maximum of 1240 Dph at 2 wt pct C and then decreased slowly to 920 Dph at 5 wt pct C. The 0.06, 0.18, and 0.66 wt pct C deposits were bcc, and the 2 and 3 wt pct C deposits were bct. The tetragonality of the 5 wt pct C deposit was detected only after tempering at 150°C. Lattice parameterc/a ratios for the tetragonal deposits were lower than expected from extrapolated martensite data, and they corresponded to the equationc/a=1.06+0.019 (wt pct C). Nevertheless, thec/a ratio of 1.10 for 5 wt pct C deposit was higher than previously observed for martensite. No evidence of a martensitic transformation was found in the microstructures, which typically consisted of 0.5 to 1.0 μ diam columnar grains. Hardness data from tempered eposit samples and the lack of tetragonality of the low carbon deposits indicated that autotempering occurred during sputter-deposition.
Smoothing methods for convex inequalities and linear complementarity problems

A smooth approximationp (x, α) to the plus function max{x, 0} is obtained by integrating the sigmoid function 1/(1 + e−αx ), commonly used in neural networks. By means of this approximation, linear and convex inequalities are converted into smooth, convex unconstrained minimization problems, the solution of which approximates the solution of the original problem to a high degree of accuracy forα sufficiently large. In the special case when a Slater constraint qualification is satisfied, an exact solution can be obtained for finiteα. Speedup over MINOS 5.4 was as high as 1142 times for linear inequalities of size 2000 × 1000, and 580 times for convex inequalities with 400 variables. Linear complementarity problems are converted into a system of smooth nonlinear equations and are solved by a quadratically convergent Newton method. For monotone LCPs with as many as 10 000 variables, the proposed approach was as much as 63 times faster than Lemke's method.
Ultrathin endoscopy without sedation: is this the future of esophagology?

The use of endoscopy in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is constantly evolving. Current guidelines emphasize empiric treatment of patients with symptoms consistent with GERD and reserve endoscopy for those with symptoms suggestive of complications (warning symptoms) and those who have sufficient duration of symptoms to warrant screening for Barrett's esophagus (BE) (1). Although relatively cost-effective, this approach has its limitations. For example, the symptoms of GERD are not nearly as specific as many believe. When GERD symptoms and response to a short course of high dose proton pump inhibitor (PPI) were compared with a gold standard of ambulatory pH testing, the false negative rate was actually quite high (2). In addition, most of the studies used to validate empiric therapy use a full or even increased dose of PPI twice a day for the therapeutic trial (3), whereas clinical practice seems to favor a longer trial of single dose PPI. GERD symptoms do not distinguish between erosive esophagitis and nonerosive disease. It is clear that more severe grades of esophagitis require more complete acid suppression for healing (4), although some experts contend that this information is not necessary to guide therapy (5). It is possible that empiric therapy results in many patients with mild GERD or perhaps without GERD at all being given a course of overly expensive medications. Even more importantly, patients who fail an empiric trial are occasionally subjected to more invasive surgical or endoscopic therapy for GERD without a confirmed diagnosis. Delaying endoscopy until after a course of reflux therapy has been suggested (but not demonstrated in any fully published study) to improve the ability to diagnose BE (6). On the other hand, endoscoping after a course of therapy might actually represent a lost opportunity to confirm the GERD diagnosis (assuming that many patients would have esophagitis on an initial endoscopy that heals when the endoscopy is delayed until after a therapeutic trial). A few patients with typical GERD symptoms might also have other problems, including infectious esophagitis, cardiac disease, and rarely, esophageal malignancies, the diagnosis of which might be delayed if the initial approach is an empiric trial. Finally, there are data from the dyspepsia literature which suggest that many patients with upper GI symptoms have significant anxiety about their diagnosis, including fear of cancer, and that some of that anxiety and anxiety-related impairment of quality of life could be improved with the knowledge of a normal upper endoscopy (7).
Is human chorionic gonadotropin useful for identifying and treating nonpalpable testis

Purpose: We evaluated the efficacy of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) for identifying and treating nonpalpable testis. We then compared the cost-effectiveness of this approach to that of laparoscopy.Materials and Methods: We reviewed patient charts during a 15-month period and identified 51 boys (64 testes) who underwent surgery to correct cryptorchidism. There were nonpalpable testes in 17 cases and bilateral cryptorchidism in 2 for a total of 19 impalpable testes. All patients were offered a full course of HCG. Those electing hormonal treatment received intramuscu-lar injection of 2,000 IU/m.2 HCG (maximum 1,500 IU/injection) 3 times weekly for 3 weeks.Results: A full course of HCG was given in 8 patients (10 testes). Of the 10 testes 8 became palpable after HCG treatment, including 1 atrophic nubbin located in the inguinal canal. Of the 2 testes that remained impalpable 1 discovered at the level of the renal vessels had complete epididymal nonunion and 1 was located closer to the inguinal ring. All ...
A revision of the babbler genus Trichastoma and its allies (Aves: Timaliinae)

By means of a comparative analysis of 12 morphological and behavioural characters, the timaliine genus Trichastoma and its relatives in the tribe Pellorneini are revised to reflect new understanding of inter- and intrageneric relationships (cf. Mann et al. 1978). Trichastoma as constituted by Deignan (1964) is here subdivided into three unambiguously monophyletic genera, the Malayan Trichastoma and Malacocincla, and the African Illadopsis. Evidence is presented indicating that the reconstituted Trichastoma should be considered the stem genus for the tribe. Reviewing the distribution of morphological and behavioural characters, the general implication is that the African forms share a recent common ancestor with those from Asia. Distributional data support the contention that the group originated in the Malayan region and colonized westward through southern Asia and Arabia to Africa (probably in early Quaternary) when humid and warm conditions fostered a continuous Afro-Asian corridor of tropical wooded habitats. The postulated greater age of the pellorneine assemblage in Malaysia, along with the region's insular geography, has fostered a larger species radiation than that in continental Africa. Recent desiccation of Arabia and central and northwestern India probably caused widespread regional extinction of linking forms and has isolated the Pellorneini into two humid forest refuges in equatorial Africa and eastern Asia.
Pharmacogenetic factor in the convulsive responses of mice to flurothyl.

La sensibilite convulsive a ete determinee dans 6 groupes de souris par les reactions de l'ether hexafluorodiethyle, convulsivant chimique. La lignee DBA/2 fut tres sensible, tandis que les lignees C57BL/6 et BALB/c se montrerent les moins sensibles. La sensibilite convulsive ne presenta pas de correlation positive avec l'activite locomotrice.
Bullying Victimization and Extracurricular Activity

ABSTRACT This study investigated the relationships between bullying victimization and students' extracurricular activity and misbehavior. This research examined whether students' engagement in particular school activities increased or decreased the likelihood of being bullied while at school. Data for this research were drawn from the Educational Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS:2002) and utilized the base year's nationally represented stratified sample (N = 7,990). Associations were examined between various activities of 10th grade public school students—including classroom-related activities, club, interscholastic sports, intramural sports, and misbehavior—and their likelihood of being bullied while at school.
Identification of Biological Relationships from Text Documents Using Efficient Computational Methods

The biological literature databases continue to grow rapidly with vital information that is important for conducting sound biomedical research and development. The current practices of manually searching for information and extracting pertinent knowledge are tedious, time-consuming tasks even for motivated biological researchers. Accurate and computationally efficient approaches in discovering relationships between biological objects from text documents are important for biologists to develop biological models. The term "object" refers to any biological entity such as a protein, gene, cell cycle, etc. and relationship refers to any dynamic action one object has on another, e.g. protein inhibiting another protein or one object belonging to another object such as, the cells composing an organ. This paper presents a novel approach to extract relationships between multiple biological objects that are present in a text document. The approach involves object identification, reference resolution, ontology and synonym discovery, and extracting object-object relationships. Hidden Markov Models (HMMs), dictionaries, and N-Gram models are used to set the framework to tackle the complex task of extracting object-object relationships. Experiments were carried out using a corpus of one thousand Medline abstracts. Intermediate results were obtained for the object identification process, synonym discovery, and finally the relationship extraction. For the thousand abstracts, 53 relationships were extracted of which 43 were correct, giving a specificity of 81 percent. These results are promising for multi-object identification and relationship finding from biological documents.
The four spikes

Abstract The unintended impacts of human appropriation of the planet's resources have become so numerous, voluminous, and entangled in feedback loops that they often overwhelm the capacities of decisionmakers to cope with current crises, much less prepare for a sustainable future. The difficulty may be alleviated by viewing global change from a broader perspective than is normally offered either by specialists (whose views are necessarily narrow) or by mainstream media (whose interests are usually fragmentary and parochial). From this broader perspective, it can be seen that four “megaphenomena” began sweeping the planet in the past century. Graphed on a time-line of millennia rather than years or days, they appear as four enormous “spikes” — of human population, materials/energy consumption, carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere, and extinctions of species. These megaphenomena account for the proliferation of afflictions swamping humanity at the outset of the 21st century. Understanding the nature of the spikes may offer the most viable means of managing — by attacking the roots — of what could otherwise escalate into an increasingly disastrous cascade of impacts.
Nanosphere Near-Field Radiative Heat-Exchange Analysis

A theoretical method for sphere-to-sphere radiative heat exchange is implemented for silica, lithium fluoride, and arsenic selenide nanospheres of equal and unequal radii. The method is extended to approximate a sphere-to-plane geometric configuration via an asymptotic method. The asymptotic method calls for an iterative process by which the radiative exchange is continuously calculated up to convergence while increasing one microsphere radius. These results are compared with previously published theoretical approximations and experimental data.
Fatty acid synthesis is inhibited by inefficient utilization of unusual fatty acids for glycerolipid assembly

Degradation of unusual fatty acids through β-oxidation within transgenic plants has long been hypothesized as a major factor limiting the production of industrially useful unusual fatty acids in seed oils. Arabidopsis seeds expressing the castor fatty acid hydroxylase accumulate hydroxylated fatty acids up to 17% of total fatty acids in seed triacylglycerols; however, total seed oil is also reduced up to 50%. Investigations into the cause of the reduced oil phenotype through in vivo [14C]acetate and [3H]2O metabolic labeling of developing seeds surprisingly revealed that the rate of de novo fatty acid synthesis within the transgenic seeds was approximately half that of control seeds. RNAseq analysis indicated no changes in expression of fatty acid synthesis genes in hydroxylase-expressing plants. However, differential [14C]acetate and [14C]malonate metabolic labeling of hydroxylase-expressing seeds indicated the in vivo acetyl–CoA carboxylase activity was reduced to approximately half that of control seeds. Therefore, the reduction of oil content in the transgenic seeds is consistent with reduced de novo fatty acid synthesis in the plastid rather than fatty acid degradation. Intriguingly, the coexpression of triacylglycerol synthesis isozymes from castor along with the fatty acid hydroxylase alleviated the reduced acetyl–CoA carboxylase activity, restored the rate of fatty acid synthesis, and the accumulation of seed oil was substantially recovered. Together these results suggest a previously unidentified mechanism that detects inefficient utilization of unusual fatty acids within the endoplasmic reticulum and activates an endogenous pathway for posttranslational reduction of fatty acid synthesis within the plastid.
Variation in L-arginine intake follow demographics and lifestyle factors that may impact cardiovascular disease risk

Little is known regarding the patterns of dietary intake of the amino acid L-arginine in the general population, and particularly whether intake varies according to race or the presence of cardiovascular risk factors. This study is an analysis of adults 18 years and older who participated in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), a national public-use nutrition survey of non-institutionalized persons. Mean arginine intake for the US adult population was 4.40 g/day, with 25% of people consuming <2.6 g/day. Minorities, obese individuals, and people with diabetes consumed more arginine per 1000 calories than people without those characteristics. Whites had consistently lower intake than African Americans and Hispanics. Smokers had lower intake than non-smokers. After adjustment for demographic factors and caloric intake, women and smokers remained more likely to be in the lowest quartile of arginine consumption. Hypertension status was not significantly related to arginine consumption. In conclusion, L-arginine intake varies according to demographic and cardiovascular risk factors in the population. These results may have implications for cardiovascular risk.
Teacher candidates, discourse and diversity

This paper reviews a classroom practice designed to help teacher candidates become more critically reflective practitioners in regard to multiculturalism, language, and practice. The literature on teacher education and multicultural discourse theory serves as theoretical background. A questionnaire was used to collect data about student attitudes and beliefs regarding issues of language and diversity. In light of the more extensive and open discussions that ensued (not only in the class reviewed, but in other classes that followed), the author suggests this action research project may be of value to educators and researchers who struggle, as so many do, in the teaching of multicultural issues.
Perspectives on the Evolutionary Origin of Tetrapod Limbs

The study of the origin and evolution of the tetrapod limb has benefited enor- mously from the confluence of molecular and paleontological data. In the last two decades, our knowledge of the basic molecular mechanisms that control limb development has grown exponen- tially, and developmental biologists now have the possibility of combining molecular data with many available descriptions of the fossil record of vertebrate fins and limbs. This synthesis of developmental and evolutionary biology has the potential to unveil the sequence of molecular changes that culminated in the adoption of the basic tetrapod limb plan. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 288:287-303, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Polymorphism for disease resistance in the annual legume Amphicarpaea bracteata

Amphicarpaea bracteata plants from a single population varied greatly in disease resistance when inoculated with six different strains of the specialist pathogen Synchytrium decipiens collected from the same site. Selfed progenies of two plants exhibited heterogeneity in disease resistance. Inoculation experiments indicated that variation in disease resistance in these plant families was controlled by a single locus, with resistance exhibiting nearly complete dominance. This resistance factor was effective against only a limited number of the pathogen genotypes present in this area. Thus, its selective value will depend on the genetic structure of the pathogen population, which may result in frequency-dependent fitness variation for this trait.
X-ray photoemission spectroscopy

WE wish to report the first X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) experiments performed at Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Project, using synchrotron radiation from the Stanford Positron Electron Accelerator Ring (SPEAR) facility. The photoemission technique has been used extensively in the study of the electron properties of materials1,2.
Disordered Biopyriboles, Amphibole, and Talc in the Allende Meteorite: Products of Nebular or Parent Body Aqueous Alteration?

Transmission electron microscope observations of the Allende carbonaceous chondrite provided evidence of widespread hydrous phases replacing enstatite in chondrules. Calcic amphibole and talc occur in thin (less than 0.3 micrometer) crosscutting veins and as alteration products of primary chondrule glass in contraction cracks within the enstatite. In addition, talc and disordered biopyriboles were found replacing enstatite grains along cracks and fractures. Although rare hydrous phases have been reported in calcium- and aluminum-rich inclusions in the Allende meteorite, these observations suggest that aqueous fluids played a much more significant role in the mineralogical and geochemical evolution of Allende than has previously been thought.
Controlled Epidemic Routing for Multicasting in Delay Tolerant Networks

Delay tolerant networks (DTNs) are a class of networks that experience frequent and long-duration partitions due to sparse distribution of nodes. DTN multicasting is a desirable feature for applications where some form of group communication is needed. In this paper, we examine multicasting in DTNs using controlled flooding schemes. Specifically, we analyze basic multicast routing schemes for fundamental performance metrics such as message delivery ratio, message delay, and buffer occupancy. Further, we study the effects of different controlled Epidemic routing schemes using TTL and message expiration times. Our experiments show that our analytical results are accurate and that with careful protocol parameter selection it is possible to achieve high delivery rates for various system scenarios.
Scanning electron microscopy of the mammalian cerebral-ventricular system

Abstract This investigation deals with correlative scanning-transmission electron microscopic analysis of the mammalian circumventricular organ system CVO. This specilized system of ancient midline regions throughout the third and fourth cerebral ventricle of the brain share many common structural similarities with respect to their vascular, neuronal and glial organization. Areas of analysis of this investigation have included the median eminence, the neural lobe, the organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis, the subfornical organ and the area postrema. Ample evidence now suggests that these regions of the brain may play an integrative role between blood, brain and cerebrospinal fluid and because they share so many common features, circumventricular organs have been analogized as ‘windows of the brain’. Regions of the cerebral ventricular wall that do not possess neuroendocrine (either real or suspected), possess a dense nap of cilia throughout their mural walls. However, lining ependymal cells of CVO, the so-called ‘tanycyte’, does not exhibit a major population of cilia and instead exhibits a felt work of microvilli organized in a mosaic pattern. These microvilli appear most prominent along the interface of apically oriented cells that constitute the lining of the family of structures collectively referred to as circumventricular organs. Unlike surrounding brain tissue, circumventricular organs do not exhibit the classical blood-brain barrier but possess instead fenestrated capillaries and specialized epennymal cells (tanycytes) that possess tight junctions at their apical (ventricular) sites. Hence in these specialized regions the blood-brain barrier has been shifted from the vascular to the ventricular side and becomes instead a blood-CSF barrier. Coupled with the fundamental differences in the anatomical appearance of the ventricular lumen of circumventricular organs, numerous individual clusters of cells can be seen to reside upon the ventricular surfaces of circumventricular organs. These cells are identified as either populations of quiescent histiocytes or large dense populations of neurons with extensive neuritic arborizations which extend over the ventricular lumen and appear to represent a system of interconnecting axonal processes that may serve to integrate the various circumventricular organs of the third and fourth cerebral ventricle. This investigation deals with the possible role that supraependymal CSF-contacting neurons may play in the synthesis and secretion of neuropeptides into the brain and into the adjacent cerebrospinal fluid.