cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Establishment of Bone Marrow Stromal Cell Cultures and Permanent Clonal Stromal Cell Lines from Osteopetrotic (mi/mi) and Steel Mutant (Sl/Sld) Mice: Studies of Bone Resorption by Engrafted Hemopoietic Stem Cells In Vitro

The cellular defect in osteopetrosis is unknown. The disorder has been cured by total body irradiation and marrow transplantation in the mi/mi mouse mutant. The etiology has been presumed due to a defect in the ability the marrow stem cells to differentiate into normally functioning osteoclasts. Data are not available to prove that replacing only the osteoclast precursor (an unidentified cell) will cure the disorder. To test whether marrow stromal cells may be responsible for the cure and transmission of this disorder, we found that C57BL/6J marrow cultures contain elements capable of degrading or resorbing 45Ca radiolabelled bone particles (60±5.2% of bone added to the culture). Uncloned and cloned marrow stromal cell lines can be engrafted with stem cells from continuous C57BL/6J mouse spleen cultures and bone is degraded or resorbed by these cultures at a level equal to whole long-term marrow cultures (59 ± 6.2%). Uncloned stromal cells from 6–8 week old osteopetrotic mi/mi mutants were engrafted with nonadherent cells (containing stem cells) from continuous spleen cell cultures of C57BL/6J, mi/+ heterozygote and mi/mi mice. The release of 45Ca from bone particles added was 2.2 ± .08% with each stem cell source. In contrast, cultures of C57BL/6J stromal cells engrafted with mi/mi non-adherent spleen cells showed 45Ca release 96% of normal. In cultures of C57BL/6 stromal cells alone, 45Ca release from bone was not higher than background 45Ca release in the absence of cells. Permanent clonal marrow stromal cell lines were substituted for primary uncloned stromal cell cultures. Clones derived from mi/mi mice blocked stem cell mediated 45Ca resorption compared to clonal lines from mi/+, steel mutation Sl/Sld, or control WCB6F1 (+/+) mice. These data suggest that marrow cells from mi/mi mice may be involved in the reduction of osteoclast function seen in this mutant and provide a focus for studying the role of marrow stroma in the genesis of osteopetrosis.
Convergent Reliability and Validity of the Questions About Behavioral Function and the Motivation Assessment Scale: A Replication Study

This study compared key psychometric properties of the Motivation Assessment Scale (MAS) and the Questions About Behavioral Function (QABF) and explored their convergent validity. Twenty adults with mental retardation and problem behaviors (aggression, self-injury, or property destruction) and 31 respondents participated. Test–retest reliability of the subscales in both scales was good to excellent (Cicchetti, D. V., 1994, Psychol. Assess. 6: 284–290), and—except for 1 QABF subscale—internal consistency was good considering the small number of items and the purpose of the scale. Consistent with some earlier studies, interrater reliability was less satisfactory with both scales falling only into the fair to good range.Correlations between functionally equivalent subscales were statistically significant and were generally higher than correlations between nonequivalent subscales. The QABF and the MAS were found to be comparable in terms of the assessed reliabilities, and both instruments appear to be measuring very similar constructs.
Management of a point-of-care program. Organization, quality assurance, and data management.

The key to successful management of a point-of-care testing program is to establish an interdisciplinary point-of-care committee. Each discipline shares the common goal of providing quality patient care, which promotes communication and cooperation, producing a sense of ownership to the point-of-care testing program. A comprehensive quality assurance program and the availability of data management ensure the accuracy and reliability of patient test results, and regulatory compliance.
Arts-based Research and Drama Education

The concept of arts-based research (ABR) as a methodology was generated in the early 90s, grew and expanded rapidly, spawning distinct genres, approaches, and communities. This entry examines various approaches and genres under the umbrella of ABR, discusses the concept of embodied inquiry, and its realization through performance and the contributions made by drama-based researchers (DBR), and concludes with reflections on challenges to ABR.
Nutrient release to oceans from buoyancy-driven upwelling at Greenland tidewater glaciers

The discharge of nutrient-rich meltwater from the Greenland Ice Sheet has emerged as a potentially important contributor to regional marine primary production and nutrient cycling. While significant, this direct nutrient input by the ice sheet may be secondary to the upwelling of deep-ocean-sourced nutrients driven by the release of meltwater at depth in glacial fjords. Here, we present a comprehensive suite of micro- and macronutrient observations collected in Sermilik Fjord at the margin of Helheim, one of Greenland’s largest glaciers, and quantitatively decompose glacial and ocean contributions to fjord dissolved nutrient inventories. We show that the substantial enrichment in nitrate, phosphate and silicate observed in the upper 250 m of the glacial fjord is the result of upwelling of warm subtropical waters present at depth throughout the fjord. These nutrient-enriched fjord waters are subsequently exported subsurface to the continental shelf. The upwelled nutrient transport within Sermilik rivals exports by the largest Arctic rivers and the ice sheet as a whole, suggesting that glacier-induced pumping of deep nutrients may constitute a major source of macronutrients to the surrounding coastal ocean. The importance of this mechanism is likely to grow given projected increases in surface melt of the ice sheet. Glacial meltwater from the Greenland Ice Sheet causes buoyancy-driven upwelling of nutrient-rich, subtropical waters from depth to the continental shelf. This nutrient transport may exceed the direct ice sheet inputs, according to geochemical analyses of transect samples from Sermilik Fjord.
Abundance, distribution, and diversity of buried seed populations in the Delta Marsh, Manitoba, Canada

58 INTRODUCTION 59 METHODS 52 Study Area 62 Description of Study Sites 62 Phragmites communis site 63 Scolochloa festucacea site 53 Typha glauca site 64 Scirpus acutus site 64 Seed Bank Survey Spatial Variation 64 Seed Bank Survey Temporal Variation 55 Seed Production Per Unit Area 55 Seed Rain 65 Data Analysis 57 RESULTS 68 Seed Bank Survey Spatial Variation 68 Seed Bank Survey (1980 versus 1981) 69 Seed Bank Survey Monthly Differences in 1981 .... 71 Seed Production and Seed Rain 79 DISCUSSION 81 Seed Bank Spatial Variation . 81 Seed Bank Temporal Variation 82 Seed Banks and Annual Seed Production 84 LITERATURE CITED 89
A Case Study of Horizon Window in Receding Horizon Control for Renewable Energy Integration

Integrating renewable energy sources (RESs) into power grid increases complexity and non-linearity in power system input profiles. Receding horizon control (RHC) approach has the potential to mitigate the complexity of power system optimization problems by reducing the future prediction effects. However, designing the horizon window size is being a classical issue of RHC optimization. In this paper, we study the effect of horizon size on an energy scheduling optimization problem with the integration of RESs. We conduct two different experiments and consider both single (only photovoltaic) and multiple (photovoltaic and wind) RESs, and show the performance of the RHC approach with different horizon windows. We validate the performance of the RHC approach with tuned horizon size comparing with our reference mixed integer programming approach. With increasing penetration of renewable energy resources, a longer horizon window may be needed to improve the optimization performance.
Resolvins resolve to heal mucosal wounds.

Surfaces lined by single or multiple layers of epithelial cells, termed mucosal surfaces, function as selectively permeable barriers that partition the host from the outside world. Given their proximity to microbes and microbial antigens, intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) have evolved mechanisms to maintain barrier function and to aid in promoting rapid and full resolution from inflammatory insult. In recent years, a role for IECs has been ascribed to the generation of specialized proresolving mediators (SPMs), such a resolvins, in the promotion of inflammatory resolution (1). In PNAS, Quiros et al. (2) provide compelling evidence that resolvin E1 (RvE1) coordinates the resolution of inflammation by actively promoting wound healing. Acute inflammation provides a productive and well-coordinated response to injury. Active inflammation involves the local generation of cytokines, chemokines, and proinflammatory lipids (prostaglandins and leukotrienes) that recruit inflammatory cells and increase vascular permeability. While inflammation provides an essential function, resolution processes are central to the avoidance of chronic inflammation that has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a wide range of diseases including metabolic disorders, mucosal diseases, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer. Indeed, resolution is a critical aspect of a productive inflammatory response (1), and it is now appreciated that this resolution response is an equally active process that is biochemically triggered in a controlled and coordinated fashion. Resolution is a biosynthetically active process that is initiated by SPMs, including resolvins, maresins, … [↵][1]1Email: sean.colgan{at}ucdenver.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1
A pilot study on the design and validation of a hybrid exoskeleton robotic device for hand rehabilitation.

Abstract Study Design An iterative design process was used to obtain design parameters that satisfy both kinematic and dynamic requirements for the hand exoskeleton. This design was validated through experimental studies. Introduction The success of hand rehabilitation after impairments depends on the timing, intensity, repetition, and frequency, as well as task-specific training. Considering the continuing constraints placed on therapist-led rehabilitation and need for better outcomes, robot-assisted rehabilitation has been explored. Soft robotic approaches have been implemented for a hand rehabilitation exoskeleton as they have more tolerance for alignment with biological joints than those of hard exoskeletons. Purpose of the Study The purpose of the study was to design, develop, and validate a soft robotic exoskeleton for hand rehabilitation. Methods A motion capture system validated the kinematics of the soft robotic digit attached on top of a human index finger. A pneumatic control system and algorithms were developed to operate the exoskeleton based on three therapeutic modes: continuous passive, active assistive, and active resistive motion. Pilot studies were carried out on one healthy and one poststroke participant using continuous passive motion and bilateral/bimanual therapy modes. Results The soft robotic digits were able to produce required range of motion and accommodate for dorsal lengthening, with trajectories of the center of rotation of the soft robotic joints in close agreement with the center of rotation of the human finger joints. Discussion The exoskeleton showed the robust performance of the robot in applying continuous passive motion and bilateral/bimanual therapy. Conclusions This soft robotic exoskeleton is promising for assisting in the rehabilitation of the hand.
Youth’s Expectations for Their Teacher’s Handling of Peer Victimization and Their Socioemotional Development

Evidence suggests that children’s expectations for how their teacher responds to students’ aggression moderate concurrent links between peer victimization and adjustment. This study extends this wo...
Potential damage in pulmonary arterial hypertension: An experimental study of pressure-induced damage of pulmonary artery.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is associated with elevated pulmonary arterial pressure. PAH prognosis remains poor with 15% mortality rate within 1 year, even with modern clinical management. Previous clinical studies proposed wall shear stress (WSS) to be an important hemodynamic factor affecting cell mechanotransduction, growth and remodeling, and disease progress in PAH. However, WSS in vivo is typically at most 2.5 Pa and a doubt has been cast whether WSS alone can drive disease progress. Furthermore, our current understanding of PAH pathology largely comes from small animals' studies in which caliber enlargement, a hallmark of PAH in humans, is rarely reported. Therefore, a large-animal experiment on pulmonary arteries (PAs) is needed to validate whether increased pressure can induce enlargement of PAs caliber. In this study, we use an inflation testing device to characterize the mechanical behavior, both nonlinear elastic behavior and irreversible damage of porcine arteries. The parameters of elastic behavior are estimated from the inflation test at a low-pressure range before and after over-pressurization. Then, histological images are qualitatively examined for medial and adventitial layers. This study sheds light on the relevance of pressure-induced damage mechanism in human PAH. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Preliminary Report: Localized Cerebral Blood Flow Mediates the Relationship between Progesterone and Perceived Stress Symptoms among Female Collegiate Club Athletes after Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Female athletes are under-studied in the field of concussion research, despite evidence of higher injury prevalence and longer recovery time. Hormonal fluctuations caused by the natural menstrual c...
Nuclear Level Densities: From Empirical Models to Microscopic Methods

The level density is among the most important statistical nuclear properties. It appears in Fermi’s golden rule for transition rates and is an important input to the Hauser–Feshbach theory of compound nucleus reactions. We discuss empirical models of level densities and summarize the main experimental methods used to determine them. The microscopic calculation of level densities in the presence of correlations is a challenging many-body problem. We review recent microscopic approaches to calculate level densities. Mean-field and combinatorial methods have been applied across the nuclear chart, but often need to be augmented with empirical collective enhancement factors. The moment method and the auxiliary-field quantum Monte Carlo (AFMC) method are formulated in the context of the configuration-interaction shell model approach, and include correlations beyond the mean-field approximation.
Acute Pain Predictors of Remote Postoperative Pain Resolution After Hand Surgery.

Chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) is a global issue with high prevalence. This study compared acute pain descriptors among patients undergoing carpal tunnel release (CTR) or trigger finger release (TFR). We hypothesized worst pain intensity on postoperative day (POD) 10 would be best to predict the time to pain resolution. In this secondary analysis of a negative, randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial, adult veterans undergoing CTR or TFR were enrolled January 2012–January 2014, with data analysis February 2020–October 2020. Participants were randomized to receive minocycline 200 mg or placebo 2 h prior to the operation, then minocycline 100 mg or placebo twice daily for 5 days. The Brief Pain Inventory, assessed daily, captured three pain scores: average and worst pain over the past 24 h, and current pain intensity. Fifteen acute pain descriptors based on the pain scores (clusters, mean, median, pain scores on POD 10, and linear slopes) were compared as predictors of time to pain resolution. Of 131 randomized participants, 114 (83 CTR, 31 TFR) were included. Average pain over the last 24 h reported on POD 10 best predicted time to pain cessation. Every one-point increase in the average pain score was associated with a 36.0% reduced rate of pain cessation (HR, 0.64, 95% CI 0.55–0.74, p < 0.001). Average pain on POD 10 was significantly associated with the development of CPSP at 90 days (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.30–2.33, p value < 0.001). The optimal cutoff score for the high-risk group was determined as average pain on POD 10 ≥ 3. This study validates prior work and demonstrates the importance of assessing pain severity on POD 10 to identify patients at high risk for CPSP who are most likely to benefit from early pain intervention. Future research in diverse surgical cohorts is needed to further validate pain assessment on POD 10 as a significant predictor of CPSP.
Image-guided cancer immunotherapy

Abstract Recent advances in cancer immunotherapies show promise for revolutionizing the oncologic treatment of both solid and hematologic malignancies. While progress has been made in understanding immunotherapy mechanisms of action in laboratory investigations and preclinical models, there remain significant gaps in knowledge of how therapies in this class operate in patients. A better understanding of the distribution and dynamic action of cancer immunotherapies in patients aims to support patient stratification, earlier evaluation of treatment response and toxicities, and integration with other cancer treatment modalities. Noninvasive imaging tools offer influential contributions to guide the evaluation of cancer immunotherapy for these purposes. In this chapter, we review clinically relevant imaging modalities that are being developed and used to evaluate cancer immunotherapy. Image-guided approaches to assess the innate and adaptive immune system, as well as adoptive cell therapies, will be described. Finally, image-guided interventional approaches to guide the directed delivery of immunotherapies will also be outlined.
Before and after suicide: a preventive outreach program for colleges

Based on a literature review and a survey of existing programs, this preventive outreach program emphasizes staff training in order to prepare college staff to implement a variety of outreach efforts following the suicide attempt or death of a student on campus. Specific guidelines are offered for the management of the suicide crisis, with special attention focused on the friends of the suicide victim.
Enthalpic factors override the polyelectrolyte effect in the binding of EGR1 transcription factor to DNA

Protein-DNA interactions are highly dependent upon salt such that the binding affinity precipitously decreases with increasing salt concentration in a phenomenon termed the polyelectrolyte effect. In this study, we provide evidence that the binding of EGR1 transcription factor to DNA displays virtually zero dependence on ionic strength under physiological salt concentrations and that such feat is accomplished via favorable enthalpic contributions. Importantly, we unearth the molecular origin of such favorable enthalpy and attribute it to the ability of H382 residue to stabilize the EGR1-DNA interaction via both intermolecular hydrogen bonding and van der Waals contacts against the backdrop of salt. Consistent with this notion, the substitution of H382 residue with other amino acids faithfully restores salt-dependent binding of EGR1 to DNA in a canonical fashion. Remarkably, H382 is highly conserved across other members of EGR family, implying that changes in bulk salt concentration are unlikely to play a significant role in modulating protein-DNA interactions central to this family of transcription factors. Taken together, our study reports the first example of a eukaryotic protein-DNA interaction capable of overriding the polyelectrolye effect.
Lessons from the Space Velocities of the Satellite Galaxies of the Milky Way

Proper motions have been measured using images from the Hubble Space Telescope for at least eight of the dwarf galaxy satellites of the Milky Way, and this sample is large enough to search for correlations between their kinematics and spatial distribution. We take proper motions from the literature for Carina, Fornax, Sculptor, and Ursa Minor ([5] and references therein). We use values for the LMC and SMC from [6] (a reanalysis of the data in [1] and [2]). Finally, proper motions for Draco and Sagittarius are from the contribution to this conference by Piatek, Pryor, & Olszewski. These two values are preliminary and may change. We convert proper motions to space velocities in a frame at rest with respect to the Galactic center using the methods of [5]. Figure 1 plots Galactic-
Effects of Harman and Norharman on Spontaneous and Ultraviolet Light-induced Mutagenesis in Cultured Chinese Hamster Cells

Abstract Nontoxic concentrations of harman and norharman were tested in cultured Chinese hamster cells for their effects on DNA repair and mutagenesis. The following effects of harman were observed: (a) the survival of ultraviolet light- or X-ray-damaged cells was reduced; (b) the ultraviolet light-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis was slightly inhibited; and (c) the frequency of spontaneous or ultraviolet light-induced ouabain-resistant (ouar) or 6-thioguanine-resistant (6-TGr) mutations was reduced. Furthermore, the effect of harman on survival and mutagenesis was greater than that of norharman and was detected primarily in treatments in which cells were exposed to harman immediately following ultraviolet light irradiation. Our data clearly indicate that harman decreases the capacity to repair DNA damage and fix mutations in Chinese hamster cells, possibly because of the intercalation properties of this compound.
The Naval Research Laboratory Ocean Surface Flux (NFLUX) System: Satellite-Based Turbulent Heat Flux Products

AbstractThe Naval Research Laboratory ocean surface flux (NFLUX) system provides satellite-based surface state parameter and surface turbulent heat flux fields operationally over the global ocean. These products are presented as an alternative to using numerical weather prediction models—namely, the U.S. Navy Global Environmental Model (NAVGEM)—to provide the surface forcing to operational ocean models. NFLUX utilizes satellite sensor data records from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder (SSMIS), the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU-A), the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS), and the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer-2 (AMSR-2) sensors as well as satellite environmental data records from WindSat, the Advanced Scatterometers (ASCAT), and the Oceansat scatterometer (OSCAT). The satellite data are processed and translated into estimates of surface specific humidity, surface air temperature, and 10-m scalar wind speed. Two-dimensional variational analyses of quality-controlled s...
An integrated manufacturing approach to chip packaging

This paper examines the considerations of an integrated manufacturing approach to substrate finishing and chip packaging. By performing critical substrate related processes such as plating, pin attach and test, the carriers are in a sense being prepared for assembly at the assembly house. Such close synergy between substrate processing and assembly translates into a real life understanding of carrier product specifications as it pertains to assembly sensitivity. In this paper, key characteristics of such an integrated approach are presented. Cost of manufacturability and quality aspects are discussed. Specifications for ceramic and plastic substrates are compared for both flip chip (C4) and wirebond assembly applications. Some examples of optimization case studies used to determine specification values are reviewed. Functional testing methods and capabilities for flip chip (C4) and wire bond products are described. Where applicable, aspects of substrate-assembly interactions within such optimisations and functional testing are addressed with respect to problem solving, analytical/engineering support and quality feedback.
Digital neural processing unit for electronic nose

In a biological nose, the environment usually suggests a number of common odors. The classification process checks sensed information against existing knowledge. This similarity with Reinforcement Learning neural networks suggests challenging implementation problems. A VLSIC digital design and implementation of a Reinforcement Artificial Neural Network (RANN) for chemical classification, in an electronic nose is presented. The chip is designed to classify chemical gases among four possible volatile organic compounds. The system consists of four neurons and twelve synapses. A neuron has been implemented on a tiny chip, using 2.0 /spl mu/m n-well CMOS technology, at Orbit Semiconductors, through the MOSIS facilities. Simulation results demonstrated proper operation. Standalone experiments are satisfactory, with off-chip weight storage and weight update. Electronic nose system testing is under way.
An analysis of the dialogic complexities in designing a question/answering based conversational agent for preschoolers

Parents are well aware that pre-school children are incessantly inquisitive, and the high ratio of questions to statements suggests that questions are a primary method utilized by children for language acquisition, cognitive development, and formulating knowledge structures. Question-asking is furthermore a comfortable medium for a child to stay engaged in natural discourse and the activity at hand. To take advantage of the naturalness and learning benefits of question-answer exchanges, there could be intelligent agents that can engage a child in activities while setting children in the mood to ask meaningful, information-seeking questions. There are currently multiple intelligent agents that can interact with older children and adults to promote literacy or teach topics in specific domains. This paper thus focuses on the complexities of designing an intelligent agent for younger children, by collecting and analyzing data and categorizing children's questions, which are often ill-formed.
Factors that influence patient preferences for prostate cancer management options: A systematic review.

Purpose We performed a systematic review to evaluate evidence regarding factors that influence patient preferences for management options for localized prostate cancer. Methods We followed a prespecified search protocol (PROSPERO identifier CRD42014009173) to identify studies that evaluated patient preferences for prostate cancer management options for localized prostate cancer. We queried PubMed, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) Plus, and Econ-Lit databases. Two separate reviewers completed the article selection process and review, including coding of study characteristics. Study quality was scored according to the PREFS checklist, which consists of five criteria: Purpose, Respondents, Explanation, Findings, and Significance. Reviewers summarized the primary findings of each article included in the analysis. Results Of the 606 citations identified in the literature search, there were a total of 21 articles that met all selection criteria, reporting results for a total of 4,131 subjects. Themes identified in the studies included: the importance of patient perceptions of treatment efficacy and side effects; the influence of physician recommendations on patient decision-making; and the prioritization of concerns regarding treatment side effects among those men who prefer radiation therapy or active surveillance. The articles had an average PREFS score of 3.4 (standard deviation [SD] 1.0), which is similar to a recent study for breast cancer treatment preferences. Conclusion This systematic review of factors that influence patient preferences for prostate cancer management options identified a small, but high quality, group of articles that satisfied the selection criteria. The available evidence suggests that interventions aimed at informing patients regarding the comparative effectiveness of prostate cancer management alternatives should include the influence of physician recommendations and family members' desires on patient decision-making.
The effects of response interruption, DRO and positive reinforcement on the reduction of hand‐mouth behavior

The present study was designed to determine the effects of response interruption and differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) on the reduction of hand-mouthing behavior in a quadriparesic adult male client who functions at the profound level of mental retardation. In order to determine the effectiveness of the treatment package, a withdrawal design was used in which baseline (A) and treatment (B) conditions were alternated in an ABAB sequence. The treatment phase consisted of two 10 min treatment periods per day for four consecutive days. Two treatment/withdrawal rotations were followed by nine follow-up observation periods. A preliminary fading process was started following the follow-up periods, which included removal of the reinforcer. Hand-mouthing was reduced by 80% through the use of response interruption and DRO. Hand-mouthing continued to decrease during the nine follow-up observation periods and formal fading procedure. Implications for the extended use of such nonaversive procedures to decrease hand-mouthing behavior in persons with developmental disabilities are discussed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antimicrobial activities of extracts from tropical atlantic marine plants against marine pathogens and saprophytes

Studies investigating disease resistance in marine plants have indicated that secondary metabolites may have important defensive functions against harmful marine microorganisms. The goal of this study was to systematically screen extracts from marine plants for antimicrobial effects against marine pathogens and saprophytes. Lipophilic and hydrophilic extracts from species of 49 marine algae and 3 seagrasses collected in the tropical Atlantic were screened for antimicrobial activity against five ecologically relevant marine microorganisms from three separate kingdoms. These assay microbes consisted of the pathogenic fungus Lindra thalassiae, the saprophytic fungus Dendryphiella salina, the saprophytic stramenopiles, Halophytophthora spinosa and Schizochytrium aggregatum, and the pathogenic bacterium Pseudoaltermonas bacteriolytica. Overall, 90% of all species surveyed yielded extracts that were active against one or more, and 77% yielded extracts that were active against two or more assay microorganisms. Broad-spectrum activity against three or four assay microorganisms was observed in the extracts from 48 and 27% of all species, respectively. The green algae Halimeda copiosa and Penicillus capitatus (Chlorophyta) were the only species to yield extracts active against all assay microorganisms. Among all assay microorganisms, both fungi were the most resistant to the extracts tested, with less than 21% of all extracts inhibiting the growth of either L. thalassiae or D. salina. In contrast, over half of all lipophylic extracts were active against the stramenopiles H. spinosa and S. aggregatum, and the bacterium P. bacteriolytica. Growth sensitivity to hydrophilic extracts varied considerably between individual assay microorganisms. While 48% of all hydrophilic extracts were active against H. spinosa, 27% were active against P. bacteriolytica, and only 14% were active against S. aggregatum. Overall, more lipophilic extracts inhibited microbial growth than hydrophilic extracts. The variability observed in the antimicrobial effects of individual extracts against each assay microorganism reflects the importance of choosing appropriate test microbes in assays from which ecologically relevant information is sought. Results from this survey demonstrate that antimicrobial activities are prevalent among extracts from marine algae and seagrasses, suggesting that antimicrobial chemical defenses are widespread among marine plants.
Triaxial Burke-Schumann Flames with Applications to Flame Synthesis

The problem of a flame generated by three coaxial flows is solved by extending the Burke-Schumann methodology to include a third stream. The solution is particularly relevant to flame synthesis wherein multiple tubes are often employed either to introduce inert as a diffusion barrier or to introduce more than two reactants. The general problem is solved where the inner and outer tubes contain reactants and the middle tube contains either an inert or a third reactant. Relevant examples are considered and the results show that the triaxial Burke-Schumann flame can be substantially more complicated than the traditional Burke-Schumann flame. When the middle flow is inert the flame temperature is no longer constant but increases axially, reaching a maximum at the flame centerline. At the exit the flame does not sit on the tube exit but instead resides between the inner and outer tubes, resulting in an effective barrier for particle build-up on the burner rim. For the case of a third reactant in the middle flow, synthesis chemistry where the inner reaction is endothermic and the outer reaction is exothermic is considered. In addition to showing the flame temperature and flame shape, the results identify conditions wherein reaction is not possible due to insufficient heat transfer from the outer flame to support the inner flame reaction.
Right-turn-on-red laws and motor vehicle crashes: A review of the literature

Alternative analyses of data previously published by Zador et al. confirm that adoption of right-turn-on-red laws increased by about 18% the frequency of all right-turning crashes at all signalized intersections in the jurisdictions that adopted such laws. From a review of the available literature it is estimated that at the approximately 80% of all signalized intersections where motorists are allowed to turn right on red all right-turning crashes increase by about 23%, pedestrian crashes by about 60%, and bicyclist crashes by about 100%.
ARL’s Collection Analysis Project: continuing feasibility for a medium‐sized academic library

Mabee Library at Washburn University, Topeka, USA, has just completed year two of a three‐year strategic plan. One area of emphasis in 2002 was collection development. The library wanted to assess its current collection development strategy and review best practices to ensure it was keeping up with the needs of users and adequately addressing the impacts of digital information. The Association of Research Libraries’ (ARL) Collection Analysis Project (CAP) was the chosen assessment tool, in part because of its solid reputation, and also to help ARL test CAP’s continued viability. CAP’s broad emphasis on historical and environmental factors has proven both timeless enough, and inclusive enough, to be used by this non‐ARL library and to facilitate a discussion of the impact of technology. The research, data collection, and report writing, however, combine to make CAP a labour‐intensive ten‐month process not to be entered into lightly. Reports on one library’s recent experience with CAP, its value in examining staffing, budgeting, and assessment for collection development, and implications for other similar‐sized institutions.
Privacy, Customization, and Cross-Selling of Information

An unavoidable aspect of electronic commerce is the collection of personal information. Although personal information is paramount to improving services and designing personalized offerings, its collection and use also generates privacy concerns. This study analytically examines the optimal information collection and usage practices in the presence of privacy costs. We use an analytical model in which a firm makes decisions on pricing, level of information collection and customization, and the extent of cross-selling. We find that cross-selling opportunities create value for consumers and sellers since consumer surplus and total profits may both increase with cross-selling. Advances in information technology motivate cross-selling and provide more incentives for the firms to engage in cross-selling. Consequently, firms are better off when cross-selling while offering customized products even in the presence of privacy costs. We find that serving a niche market and limiting the demand is a winning strategy...
Reduced vertical stratification of soil bacterial community structure and composition is associated with Bromus tectorum invasion of sagebrush steppe

Sagebrush steppe (Artemisia tridentata and congenerics), one of the most extensive ecotypes in the Western United States, is being decimated by the invasion of a nonnative annual, Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass). Sagebrush loss negatively impacts the distribution of macrofauna, but the impact on soil microbial community structure and composition remains unresolved. High-throughput amplicon sequencing (16S rDNA) was conducted on two soil depth intervals (0–4 cm (T) and 4–8 cm (B)) in 12 spatially separated soil cores collected from cheatgrass (C)- or sagebrush (S)-dominated soils to determine how soil microbial communities associated with cheatgrass and sagebrush may differ. Average normalized bacterial richness was significantly lower in SB libraries than in the ST, CT or CB libraries. Soil depth impacted diversity indices only in S soils with Chao1 and Shannon diversity indices being significantly lower in SB than in ST libraries. Non-metric multidimensional scaling plots indicated that the community composition of SB soils was distinct from the others examined; shifts along axes were most highly correlated with Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Armatimonadetes, unclassified Archaea, Crenarcheota and Firmicutes. These findings demonstrate that the vertical stratification of soil bacterial community structure and composition is reduced in association with cheatgrass relative to that in association with sagebrush.
Closure to “Hydraulic Design and Analysis of Labyrinth Weirs. I: Discharge Relationships” by B. M. Crookston and B. P. Tullis

The discusser would like to thank the authors for presenting discharge coefficient data for nonvented trapezoidal labyrinth weirs with quarter-round and half-round crest shapes for sidewall angles of 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, and 35°. Different sets of weir models having weir height P 1⁄4 15.24 cm and P 1⁄4 30.48 cm are studied by the authors. The work by the authors in accomplishing the regression equations applicable to discharge coefficients is really appreciated. These accurate equations are applicable to the trapezoidal labyrinth weirs that have sidewall angles of 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, and 35° with head to weir height ratio of 0.05 ≤ Ht=P ≤ ∼0.8 − 0.9. The regression equations presented by the authors are selected over polynomial relationships because of their improved data representation (R ≥ 0.99) and extrapolation performance (they remain well behaved up to Ht=P ≤ 2.0). It worth noting that for other wall angles between 6 and 35°, the interpolation procedure should be employed to obtain the discharge coefficients. The application of the linear interpolation technique for determining the values of the discharge coefficients for intermediate values of the sidewall angle seems to be inappropriate because of the nonlinearity of the discharge coefficient curves. However, in practice it is very suitable to have a single equation applicable to any sidewall angle between 6 and 35°. Thus, the discusser would like to introduce unified regressionbased equations for discharge coefficients (based on experimental data presented in original paper), which are valid for any sidewall angles between 6 and 35°. For this, the head to weir height ratio (Ht=P) and sidewall angle (α) are considered as independent variables in the proposed equations for discharge coefficients. It should be noted that the thickness and the crest curvature of the weirs may influence the flow pattern and cause different values of the discharge coefficient (Azimi 2013). This investigation attempts to find a generalized and unified equation for the discharge coefficient of the labyrinth weir. The proposed equation renders the authors’ study more valuable and will be accurate and easy to use in practical situations.
Precise X‐ray determination of small homogeneous strains applied to the direct measurement of piezoelectric constants

A double-crystal X-ray spectrometer has been used to measure the small homogeneous strain generated in a piezoelectric crystal under dc field. As a test of the method, d11 has been measured for x-cut crystals of α-quartz and yields the value 6.94×10−12m/V in good agreement with earlier indirect determinations. The principal advantage of the method is that it may be applied to very small samples, so that a characterization of the piezoelectric behavior of a new material may be achieved before larger, more perfectly developed crystals required for conventional methods have been grown. Ein Doppelkristall-Rontgenspektrograph diente zur Messung der kleinen homogenen Verformungen, die in einem piezoelektrischen Kristall durch ein elektrisches Gleichfeld erzeugt werden. Um diese Methode zu erproben, wurde d11 in α-Quartz (Schnitt senkrecht zur x-Achse) gemessen. Der Wert von 6,94×10−12 m/V stimmt gut mit fruheren indirekten Messungen uberein. Der Vorteil dieser Methode liegt darin, das sie fur sehr kleine Proben geeignet ist. Die Charakterisierung des piezoelektrischen Verhaltens kann daher an einer kleinen Probe vorgenommen werden, noch ehe ein guter, groser Kristall, der fur die konventionellen Methoden notwendig ist, gezuchtet wurde.
Feasibility of using satellites for detection of kinetics of small phytoplankton blooms in estuaries: Tidal and migrational effects

Abstract Coincident shipboard and satellite detection of species specific phytoplankton blooms in the Chesapeake Bay during the spring 1982 season has documented the spatial and temporal variability of these red tides. AVHRR and CZCS imagery processed with newly developed algorithms for turbid systems confirm the kinetics of a 100 sq km bloom of the dinoflagellate Heterocapsa triquetra including abundance changes due to diurnal migration, and axial and cross stream spatial reconfiguration due to tidal excursion. Turbidity and thermal information gleaned from both satellite and ships emphasize the association of blooms with physical features of the system such as fronts. Thus, remote detection and rapid monitoring of bloom kinetics in turbid estuaries is feasible.
Phosphorylation and anti-leishmanial activity of formycin B

The inosine analog formycin B (1–10 μM) inhibited the in vitro growth of Leishmania promastigotes and amastigotes. When administered to Syrian hamsters infected with Leishmaniadonovani, formycin B (10 mg qd × 5) decreased by greater than 90% the number of liver amastigotes, with a concomitant reduction in hepatosplenomegaly. Both extracts and intact cells of Leishmania, unlike mammalian cells, effectively phosphorylated formycin B. The resulting formycin B monophosphate inhibited dose dependently the conversion of IMP to adenylosuccinate in parasite extracts. This effect may be related to the potent anti-leishmanial activity of formycin B.
Revenue maximization when bidders have budgets

We study the problem of maximizing revenue for auctions with multiple units of a good where bidders have hard budget constraints, first considered in [2]. The revenue obtained by an auction is compared with the optimal omniscient auction had the auctioneer known the private information of all the bidders, as in competitive analysis [7]. We show that the revenue of the optimal omniscient auction that sells items at many different prices is within a factor of 2 of the optimal omniscient auction that sells all the items at a single price, implying that our results will carry over to multiple price auctions. We give the first auction for this problem, to the best of our knowledge, that is known to obtain a constant fraction of the optimal revenue when the bidder dominance (the ratio between the maximum contribution of a single bidder in the optimal solution and the revenue of that optimal solution) is large (as high as 1/2). Our auction is also shown to remain truthful if canceled upon not meeting certain criteria. On the negative side, we show that no auction can achieve a guarantee of 1/2-e the revenue of the optimal omniscient multi-price auction. Finally, if the bidder dominance is known in advance and is less than 1/5.828, we give an auction mechanism that raises a large constant fraction of the optimal revenue when the bidder dominance is large and is asymptotically close to the optimal omniscient auction as the bidder dominance decreases. We discuss the relevance of these results for related applications.
Methotrexate therapy in rheumatoid arthritis: 15 years experience

An increasing amount of clinical data indicates that low-dose methotrexate therapy for rheumatoid arthritis is both effective and free of serious side effects. Since 1967 we treated 78 patients with definite or classic rheumatoid arthritis who showed inadequate response to conventional therapy. Up to 15 mg of methotrexate was given weekly by the intramuscular route. Morning stiffness, severity of pain at rest and with activity, extent of active synovitis, functional capacity, change in steroid dosage, complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase were monitored. Overall assessment indicated that 45 of the 78 (58 percent) patients showed marked improvement or complete remission, usually within four weeks. When maximum improvement was obtained, most patients were switched to oral therapy with a variable degree of success, and dosage was decreased as tolerated. No serious toxicity was noted. In 34 patients a total of 67 liver biopsy specimens were obtained, some after as long as 15 years of therapy. Minor changes observed are the same as in patients with rheumatoid arthritis not treated with methotrexate. Because the risks did not appear justified, routine annual biopsies were discontinued. In contrast to other cytotoxic drugs, no carcinogenesis has been demonstrated with methotrexate. It appears that methotrexate is approximately as effective as intramuscular gold and D-penicillamine but that it has a quicker onset of response and less serious toxicity.
Knowledge of Counterfactual Interventions through Cognitive Models of Mechanisms

Here I consider the relative merits of two recent models of explanation, James Woodward’s interventionist‐counterfactual model and the model model. According to the former, explanations are largely constituted by information about the consequences of counterfactual interventions. Problems arise for this approach because countless relevant interventions are possible in most cases and because it overlooks other kinds of equally relevant information. According the model model, explanations are largely constituted by cognitive models of actual mechanisms. On this approach, explanations tend not to represent any of the aforementioned information explicitly but can instead be used to produce it on demand. The model model thus offers the more plausible account of the information of which we are aware when we have an explanation and of the ratiocinative process through which we derive many kinds of information that are relevant to the evaluation of explanations.
Free dendritic growth

Free dendritic growth refers to the unconstrained development of crystals within a supercooled melt, which is the classical 'dendrite problem'. Great strides have been taken in recent years in both the theoretical understanding of dendritic growth and its experimental status. The development of this field will be sketched, showing that transport theory and interfacial thermodynamics (capillarity theory) were sufficient ingredients to develop a truly predictive model of dendrite formation. The convenient, but incorrect, notion of 'maximum velocity' was used for many years to estimate the behavior of dendritic transformations until supplanted by modern dynamic stability theory. The proper combinations of transport theory and morphological stability seem to able to predict the salient aspects of dendritic growth, especially in the neighborhood of the tip. The overall development of cast microstructures, such as equiaxed zone formation, rapidly solidified microstructures, etc., also seems to contain additional non-deterministic features which lie outside the current theories discussed here.