cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metabolic regulation for cell fate decision of hematopoietic stem cells

Stem cells are self-renewing, either multipotent or unipotent, and they offer opportunities for stem cell-based therapies in the clinical setting. The mechanism underlying the division patterns of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is one of the most fundamental biological questions. However, to date, analyses of individual HSC cell fate decisions have been restricted by the heterogeneity of available HSC-enriched fractions and the technical challenges of imaging HSC fate. Comprehensive research accompanied with genetic models, metabolomics analyses, and single-cell approaches have highlighted the critical contributions of metabolic control to HSC homeostasis. Consequently, the roles of mitochondrial metabolism in the HSC division symmetry have become a central focus of the current research. Nevertheless, we are only beginning to comprehend the metabolic requirements of stemness. This review summarizes the recent advances in our understanding of the intriguing relationship between mitochondrial metabolism and HSC fate decisions. In addition, this study highlights our recent findings regarding the contributions of the mitochondrial quality control by autophagy to HSC division balance. Elucidation of the metabolic cues governing HSC fate decisions should lead to new techniques of metabolic manipulation, which can shift the division balance of HSCs and offer effective targets in strategies against leukemia and will, thus, be of high clinical importance.
Formation and Structure of Sclerotia and the Occurenceof Microconidia of Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum (Lib.) De Bary

Abstract. The development of sclerotia, structure and microconidia of Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum are described. Sclerotial initials are formed by hyphal strands which branched dichotomously to give a small knot and bound the hyphae together and then became solid masses which were spherical to irregular in shape. The mature sclerotium are blackand consists of three distinct regions, the outermost layer is a rind, within the rind is a cortex and the centre of the sclerotium is a medulla. Microconidia are readily produced in cultures of the fungus but no evidence was found of microconidial clusters forming within the sclerotium. Ringkasan. Pertumbuhan sklerotia, struktur serta pembentukan mikrokonidia pada Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, suatu jamur penyebab penyakit tumbuhan, telah dipelajari. Bakal sklerotia dibentuk di ujung-ujung hifae yang bercabang secara “dichotam”, kemudian membentuk suatu bulatan kecil dan akhirnya menjadi massa yang padat, berbentuk bular atau tidak beraturan. Sklerotia yang sudah tua berwarna hitam dan terdiri dari tiga bagian yaitu bagian luar sekali disebut “rind”, kemudian diikuti bagian “cortex” dan bagian tengah sekali adalah “medulla”. Dalam perbenihan, jamur tersebut dapat membentuk mikrokonidia, tetapi pembentukan ini dalam sklerotia tidak terdapat.
Enhancing Healthy Behaviors Through Virtual Self: A Systematic Review of Health Interventions Using Avatars.

Objective: A systematic review of health interventions using avatars (N = 18) was conducted to provide comprehensive knowledge of the effectiveness of using avatars to promote healthy behaviors, sp...
Managing edge resources for fully autonomous aerial systems

Fully autonomous aerial systems (FAAS) fly complex missions guided wholly by software. If users choose software, compute hardware and aircraft well, FAAS can complete missions faster and safer than unmanned aerial systems piloted by humans. On the other hand, poorly managed edge resources slow down missions, waste energy and inflate costs. This paper presents a model-driven approach to manage FAAS. We fly real FAAS missions, profile compute and aircraft resource usage and model expected demands. Naive profiling approaches use traces from previous flights to infer resource usage. However, edge resources can affect where FAAS fly and which data they sense. Usage profiles can diverge greatly across edge management policies. Instead of using traces, we characterize whole flight areas to accurately model resource usage for any flight path. We combine expected resource demands to model mission throughput, i.e., missions completed per fully charged battery. We validated our model by creating FAAS, measuring mission throughput across many system settings. Our FAAS benchmarks, released through our open source FAAS suite SoftwarePilot, execute realistic missions: autonomous photography, search and rescue, and agricultural scouting using well-known software. Our model predicted throughput with 4% error across mission, software and hardware settings. Competing approaches yielded 10--24% error. We used our SoftwarePilot benchmarks to study (1) GPU acceleration, scale up, and scale out, (2) onboard, edge and cloud computing, (3) energy and monetary budgets, and (4) software driven GPU management. We found that model-driven management can boost mission throughput by 10X and reduce costs by 87%.
Physiological Significance of Discrimination on Stress Markers, Obesity, and LDL Oxidation among a European American and African American Cohort of Females.

Factors underlying physiological reactions from perceived discrimination and its relation to adverse health outcomes are not completely understood. The main purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that experiences of discrimination (recent and lifetime) correlate with biomarkers of stress, oxidative stress, and obesity among adult females. Data on 62 females who self-identify as African American (AA; n = 31) or European American (EA; n = 31) aged 21–45 years were included. Discrimination experiences (recent and lifetime) were evaluated based on a validated instrument. Stress was assessed based on hair cortisol (HC) and salivary cortisol (SC), hsC-reactive protein (hsCRP), cardiovascular markers, and LDL-cholesterol oxidation. Obesity was measured based on BMI, waist circumference, and body fat percent. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate the influence of experiences of discrimination. Significant differences in experiences of discrimination were observed by race (p < 0.05) and were higher in AA females. Results for the multiple regression models assessing the contribution of discrimination indicate that hsCRP and pulse were significantly associated with recent experiences of discrimination, and SC, HC, hsCRP, diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and pulse were significantly associated with lifetime experiences of discrimination when adjusted for BMI and race (p < 0.05). Finally, oxidation of LDL-cholesterol was significantly associated with salivary cortisol (p = 0.0420) when adjusted by lifetime experiences of discrimination (p = 0.0366) but not for BMI (p = 0.6252). In this cross-sectional study, AA females experienced more discrimination compared to EA females. Levels of recent and lifetime experiences of discrimination were associated with some stress biomarkers. Salivary cortisol was associated with oxidation of LDL-cholesterol with shorter lag times and increased risk for cardiovascular disease.
Formation of heated whey protein isolate-pectin complexes at pH greater than the isoelectric point with improved emulsification properties

ABSTRACT In this study, heated whey protein isolate and pectin complexes (HCPX) formed at pH > isoelectric point (pI) were used to stabilize oil-in-water emulsions containing 5% oil and 1.5% (wt%) protein at pH 5.5. The effects of pectin concentration and heating temperature on emulsification and emulsion stabilization properties were determined. The HCPX were produced by heating mixed 3% (wt) whey protein isolate and pectin (0.1 or 0.3 wt%) at pH 6.2 and 75 or 85°C for 15 min. Aggregate sizes significantly increased with increasing heating temperature but decreased with the addition of pectin. The HCPX became more negatively charged with increasing pectin concentration; however, the effect of heating temperature was significant only at 0.1% pectin. Unheated complexes and HCPX successfully adsorbed at the oil-in-water interface and improved the emulsification properties as shown by higher negative charge and smaller droplet sizes. Despite the presence of pectin, rheological properties of the emulsions were not significantly different. All complexes showed increased emulsion stability; however, HCPX made at 85°C formed emulsions that were the most stable against creaming and heating.
An Empirical Study to Assist Owners in Selecting the Right Procurement Method for Design-Build Projects

In design-build (DB), owners use procurement methods such as best value, qualification-based and sole source to offer a more objective approach when selecting design-builders. The aim of this study...
Analysis of Self-Cooling method of a Rotor using Buoyancy Driven Convection

Lately, hybrid aircraft has gained a lot of attention because of its efficiency. This type of aircraft relies on a mix of gas turbines engines and the electric propulsion system. The gas turbine engine can be used to charge the battery and provide auxiliary power to the electric system or may operate continuously and use the electric system to decrease fuel consumption. The main challenge in the design of hybrid aircraft is to provide a thermal management scheme which works perfectly at all phases of the flight. The goal of this present paper is to use the principle of buoyancy-driven flows to provide cooling for the rotor. Buoyancy driven flows are caused by the variation of the density with body forces (gravity field, Coriolis force, and centrifugal force). At high rotational speeds, Coriolis and centrifugal forces become dominant in rotating systems. The novelty of this current paper lies in using rotation induced buoyancy to cool the rotor of electric machines.
Adaptive Tracking Control for Pure-feedback Nonlinear Systems with Semi-bounded Non-affine Functions and Dead-zone

An adaptive tracking control approach is presented for pure-feedback systems with semi-bounded non-affine functions and dead-zone. The strictive bounded conditions are relaxed by the semi-bounded for continuous non-affine function, and then an adaptive filter is investigated by employing the dynamic surface control technique and invariant set theory. Furthermore, the actual control scheme with dead-zone is considered based on backstepping structure to eventually guarantee the controllability, and then the robust compensator is designed to reduce the influence caused by uncertainties and disturbances. Moreover, the result shows that all the closed-loop signals are bounded and the tracking error can asymptotically converge to a residual set. Finally, a numerical simulation example is stated to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed scheme.
Acute Effect of Electronic Cigarette-Generated Aerosol From Flavored CBD-Containing Refill Solutions on Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells

Introduction: Although electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) were originally developed to deliver aerosolized nicotine to lungs, recent data have shown that consumers also use them for inhalation of other drugs, including cannabidiol (CBD). The aim of this study was to test the acute inhalation toxicity of flavored CBD-containing aerosols emitted from e-cigarettes. Methods: Bronchial epithelial cells (H292) cells were exposed to aerosol generated from e-cigarettes refilled either with (1) propylene glycol solvent only (PG, control), (2) commercially purchased unflavored solution with CBD, or (3) commercially purchased solutions with and without CBD and with different flavors. The in vitro toxicological effects were assessed using the following methods: (1) trypan blue exclusion assay (cell viability), (2) neutral red uptake assay (metabolic activity), and (3) ELISA (concentrations of inflammatory mediators). Results: Most flavored products with or without CBD were cytotoxic as compared to the air control. Overall, aerosols with CBD were more cytotoxic than aerosols without CBD irrelevant of the flavoring used in the product. Although, unflavored aerosols containing CBD in PG were significantly more cytotoxic than aerosols containing only PG, not all flavored products containing CBD were significantly more toxic than the same flavored products without CBD. Most CBD containing products significantly increase the concentration of cytokines released as compared to the same flavored products without CBD. Conclusion: Different flavors show different cytotoxic effects in CBD-containing e-cigarettes. Aerosols emitted from CBD containing e-cigarettes were more cytotoxic than those emitted from CBD-free e-cigarettes.
Accuracy of Psychiatrists' Assessment of Medication Adherence in an Outpatient Setting.

Background Many patients have uncontrolled psychiatric symptoms because they are not taking their medication as prescribed. Psychiatrists may have difficulty accurately assessing medication adherence, which is important because it helps guide them in how they prescribe. If nonadherence is the cause of uncontrolled symptoms, then strategies to improve adherence are advised. However, if nonadherence is not the cause, then the usual course of action would be to intensify or modify the medication regimen. Knowing whether nonadherence is a factor at the time of an appointment could help guide clinical decision making in real-time. Methods A cohort of established patients in an outpatient mental health treatment clinic at a large health network was studied from November 2018 to August 2019. Blood drug levels of several oral antipsychotic medications were obtained and placed in the following three categories: below, within, or above the therapeutic range of published cutoff points. Treating physicians answered Likert-scale questions regarding their assessment of patient adherence. Subsequently, blood drug levels were compared to the psychiatrists' assessment of adherence using a Kappa coefficient. Results: Sixty-four patients being prescribed antipsychotic medications were analyzed. A total of 87.5% of treating psychiatrists thought their patients were always adherent or adherent greater than 50% of the time. However, based on blood levels, 14% of the 42 patients at target FDA dosing for their medication and diagnosis were below the therapeutic range. The Kappa coefficient was used to find the level of agreement between the treating psychiatrist's perception of patient adherence and the blood drug level. It was determined to be 0.14 which is consistent with no agreement between the two measurements. Conclusions: Treating psychiatrists inaccurately estimated oral antipsychotic medication adherence based on clinical impression alone. Making an objective measure of adherence available at the time of an appointment could help psychiatrists recognize nonadherence in real-time and inform prescribing decisions.
Broadband Plasmonic Photocurrent Enhancement from Photosystem I Assembled with Tailored Arrays of Au and Ag Nanodisks

Plasmonic interactions between metal nanostructures and fluorophores have been increasingly employed to alter photoexcitation pathways in multichromophore photosynthetic proteins like photosystem I...
CROI 2021: Advances in Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV and Antiviral Therapy for COVID-19

The 2021 Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections included advances in therapy for HIV as well as for SARS-CoV-2. Data presented on COVID-19 therapies included trials showcasing the use of monoclonal antibodies for prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Promising new data were presented on lenacapavir, an investigational HIV capsid inhibitor given as a subcutaneous injection every 6 months. Although encouraging data from settings across the globe reported achievement of 90-90-90 HIV care cascade targets, disparities exist in care engagement and viral suppression, particularly for people of color and young people with HIV. Several interventions were associated with improved care cascade outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted HIV care engagement, but mitigation strategies can allow programs to continue to serve people with HIV during the pandemic. Studies examining the resistance patterns of existing antiretroviral therapy (ART) agents were presented, as were resistance mechanisms of novel agents such as lenacapavir and resistance patterns among individuals who seroconverted while on preexposure prophylaxis. Data from large observational cohorts were presented on patterns of ART uptake and trends in mortality and in virologic failure. Pertinent findings relating to pediatric and maternal health issues included data on dolutegravir-based ART in children and adolescents with HIV; safety and tolerability of dolutegravir-based ART in children and pregnant women; similarly high maternal viral suppression at 50 weeks postpartum in women receiving certain ART regimens; weight gain in pregnant women receiving dolutegravir plus tenofovir alafenamide/emtricitabine; and viral suppression with dolutegravir-based ART when started during the third trimester of pregnancy.
Smart City Design with IOT

Smart implementation of the Internet of Things is observed in smart city projects. Nowadays this process is implemented worldwide. Various electronic equipment and internet protocols are used to maintain implementation of IoT in smart city projects. The emission of CO2 is reduced due to this smart city project, as well as autonomous driving process is increased by this process. To maintain smart parking RFID is used by this process. This paper can evaluate the interconnection between these protocols. Safety and security related issues are improvised by the Internet of Things and increase the smartness of the city. High-quality architecture is important to maintain implementation of IoT. However, implementation of IoT consists of various challenges such as DoS and other security issues.
The Division and Combination of Labor

Within PA IV, two principles, which have been present in various ways in the entire unfolding of the argument, become more fully illuminated: the division of labor principle and the principle of multiple functions. These two principles appear to be connected with the two standards at work throughout the investigation, the good and the necessary.
Strategies for Communicating to Consumers

This chapter summarizes the primary characteristics of biomedical communications to consumers, and outlines a general model of that communication process. Biomedical communications directed to consumers may be described in terms of scope, level, intermediaries, and goals. The scope of biomedical communications to consumers is inherently broad, inclusive, and non-partisan. Biomedical communications to consumers should be delivered at all levels of language and understanding. Numerous theories of communications have recognized that information does not always, or even normally, flow directly from the communicator to the recipient without interpretation, explanation, or reformulation by various intermediaries. The ultimate objective of biomedical communications to consumers is to promote awareness of health information and good health practices. Toward this end, the immediate objective is to provide clear and accurate information in a format and at a level that the consumer can understand. The chapter concludes with a set of questions that communicators should ask about both individual communications and communication campaigns.
The Laplace Transform

In this chapter we introduce the Laplace1 transform and show how to use it to solve differential equations of the kind discussed in Chapters 5 and 6—linear differential equations with constant coefficients. The Laplace transform really shines when a nonhomogeneous constant coefficients initial value problem must be solved. The Laplace transform package LaplaceTransform.m provided in Mathematica is full-featured and easy to use. If you have a nonhomogeneous constant coefficients initial value problem to solve, the LaplaceTransform.m package should do it very effectively.
Importance of designated thoracic trauma surgeons in the management of traumatic aortic transection.

ABSTRACT:The medical literature is replete with reports on traumatic aortic transection. These reports have delineated many factors regarding the morbidity and high mortality of this ominous injury. Most reports are reviews of the collective experience of a single institution over a period of years.
Landscape controls on total and methyl Hg in the upper Hudson River basin, New York, USA

[1] Approaches are needed to better predict spatial variation in riverine Hg concentrations across heterogeneous landscapes that include mountains, wetlands, and open waters. We applied multivariate linear regression to determine the landscape factors and chemical variables that best account for the spatial variation of total Hg (THg) and methyl Hg (MeHg) concentrations in 27 sub-basins across the 493 km2upper Hudson River basin in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. THg concentrations varied by sixfold, and those of MeHg by 40-fold in synoptic samples collected at low-to-moderate flow, during spring and summer of 2006 and 2008. Bivariate linear regression relations of THg and MeHg concentrations with either percent wetland area or DOC concentrations were significant but could account for only about 1/3 of the variation in these Hg forms in summer. In contrast, multivariate linear regression relations that included metrics of (1) hydrogeomorphology, (2) riparian/wetland area, and (3) open water, explained about 66% to >90% of spatial variation in each Hg form in spring and summer samples. These metrics reflect the influence of basin morphometry and riparian soils on Hg source and transport, and the role of open water as a Hg sink. Multivariate models based solely on these landscape metrics generally accounted for as much or more of the variation in Hg concentrations than models based on chemical and physical metrics, and show great promise for identifying waters with expected high Hg concentrations in the Adirondack region and similar glaciated riverine ecosystems.
Digital Interactivity: Human-Centered Robotics, Haptics, and Simulation

A new field of robotics is emerging. Robots are today moving towards applications beyond the structured environment of a manufacturing plant. They are making their way into the everyday world that people inhabit. The successful introduction of robotics into human environments will rely on the development of competent and practical systems that are dependable, safe, and easy to use. The discussion focuses on models, strategies, and algorithms associated with the autonomous behaviors needed for robots to work, assist, and cooperate with humans. In addition to the new capabilities they bring to the physical robot, these models and algorithms and more generally the body of developments in robotics is having a significant impact on the virtual world. Haptic interaction with an accurate dynamic simulation provides unique insights into the real-world behaviors of physical systems. The potential applications of this emerging technology include virtual prototyping, animation, surgery, robotics, cooperative design, and education among many others. Haptics is one area where the computational requirement associated with the resolution in real-time of the dynamics and contact forces of the virtual environment is particularly challenging. The presentation describes various methodologies and algorithms that address the computational challenges associated with interactive simulations involving multiple contacts and impacts with complex human-like structures.
Crime Scene Investigation

The crime scene is the center of the forensic world. The importance of a carefully processed crime scene cannot be overstated. The processing of a crime scene is a one-way street; there is no going back. Standard operating procedures and protocols guide the crime scene investigator, but training, experience, and education all play a role in adapting to each unique crime scene.
Adaptive MPEG-4 Video Streaming with Bandwidth Estimation

The increasing popularity of streaming video is a cause for concern for the stability of the Internet because most streaming video content is currently delivered via UDP, without any end-to-end congestion control. Since the Internet relies on end systems implementing transmit rate regulation, there has recently been significant interest in congestion control mechanisms that are both fair to TCP and effective in delivering real-time streams. In this paper we design and implement a protocol that attempts to maximize the quality of real-time MPEG-4 video streams while simultaneously providing basic end-to-end congestion control. While several adaptive protocols have been proposed in the literature [20,27], the unique feature of our protocol, the Video Transport Protocol (VTP), is the use of receiver side bandwidth estimation. We deploy our protocol in a real network testbed and extensively study its behavior under varying link speeds and background traffic profiles using the FreeBSD Dummynet link emulator [23]. Our results show that VTP delivers consistent quality video in moderately congested networks and fairly shares bandwidth with TCP in all but a few extreme cases. We also describe some of the challenges in implementing an adaptive video streaming protocol.
Avoiding variable-scaling problems using the Gibbs-Helmholtz equation

Application aux contraintes thermodynamiques dans les problemes de separation multietagee. Developpement d'une strategie numerique qui exploite simultanement les equations de Gibbs-Duhem et de Gibbs-Helmholtz
Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) switch feeding modalities in response to sensory deprivation.

a b s t r a c t Animals use a suite of sensory modalities to precisely locate and capture prey. While numerous studies have examined the effects of sensory deprivation on the behaviors leading to prey capture and while it is generally believed that information in the pre-strike period determines the way fish capture prey, this study is the first to examine the contribution of sensory information to jaw kinematics during capture. Largemouth bass were filmed using high-speed videography while capturing live mosquitofish. Bass were examined intact, with visual deprivation under infrared light, and with lateral line deprivation following treatment with cobalt chloride. Deprived of visual cues, this visual ram-feeding predator switches towards suction-based feeding to successfully capture prey. They approach prey slowly but open their mouths more rapidly, which has been shown to result in greater buccal pressure, causing their prey to move a greater distance at a more rapid velocity as they are being drawn into the predators’ mouths. Deprived of lateral line cues, bass have higher forward velocities during capture and capture prey earlier in the gape cycle. This study demonstrates that sensory pre-strike information directly affects the capture modality employed by fishes and that fish can modulate between ram and suction not only by adjusting the amount of ram by increasing or decreasing their movements, but also by actively increasing the amount of suction used. These results suggest that the ability to modulate feeding behavior may allow animals to not only exploit a broader breadth of prey items, but also to be capable of doing so in a wider variety of environments.
Relationship between scene complexity and perceptual performance for computer graphics simulations

Abstract An important goal for the design of visual displays is to determine how much realism or scene complexity to include in a computer simulation to reach a given level of performance. This is an important task since the present trend in computer graphics is to include the highest level of realism or scene complexity possible in a simulation. However, it may not be necessary to always include the highest level of realism or complexity to reach an acceptable level of performance. In fact, needless degrees of realism, and thus computational resources, may be wasted in the quest for ‘photographic’ realism. To study the relationship between scene complexity and human performance, three different simulations of scene complexity were modeled for a final approach task. The subject's task were to estimate two aspects of situation awareness, perceived altitude and aimpoint, during a simulated final approach at nine unique distances to threshold. The three levels of scene complexity included a homogeneous Lambertian shaded flat surface, farmlands, and farmlands with hills. The results indicated that increasing the level of scene complexity lead to better performance in judging both altitude and aimpoint during the simulated final approach. The relationship between scene complexity and perceptual performance for computer graphics simulations are discussed.
Raman Spectra of Sulphuric Acid

Concentrated ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$S${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ gives a series of Raman lines which, with the exception of the 4566A line, decrease in number and intensity with a decrease in concentration and finally disappear. At the point at which the above lines vanish, a broad line (4817A) appears and persists in dilute solutions. At low concentrations the water bands are present. The 4566A line is present at all concentations of acid and increases in intensity with a decrease in concentration, but is missing in pure water. A line with the same wave-length (within experimental error) and intensity variation is found in HN${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, and it is suggested that the two lines have the same origin.
Hypothalamic β-Adrenergic ``Satiety'' System antagonizes an α-Adrenergic ``Hunger'' System in the Rat

THIS communication proposes and tests the hypothesis that in the central nervous system, specifically in the hypothalamus, α and β-receptors function antagonistically in an adrenergic system, to regulate hunger in the rat. More specifically, this antagonistic relationship takes place between a hypothalamic α-adrenergic “hunger” system, which elicits eating behaviour, and a hypothalamic β-adrenergic “satiety” system, which suppresses eating behaviour. Before this research, there has been no evidence for a central β-adrenergic system functioning antagonistically with respect to a central α-adrenergic system.
Root absorption of fission products by Bromus rubens L. From the aec nevada test site soil contaminated by an underground nuclear explosion

Abstract By the Neubauer type of culture, Bromus rubens L. plants were grown to maturity in soil from a crater formed by an underground nuclear detonation (Bianca event) at the Nevada Test Site. Plants and soil were analysed to determine the extent of root absorption of fission products. Of total plant radioactivity, ruthenium-rhodium-106 comprised 42·3 per cent; strontium-yttrium-90, 46·6 per cent, Lanthanide Rare Earths (cerium-praseodymium-144), 10·2 per cent and zirconium-niobium-95, 0·9 per cent. Of the total soil radioactivity, the combined leaf-stem-inflorescence-grain portions of the total crop were found to contain 0·34 per cent of the strontium-yttrium; 0·065 per cent of the soil ruthenium-rhodium-106; 0·0625 per cent of the zirconium-niobium-95; and 0·01125 per cent of the soil Lanthanide Rare Earths. Activity ratios of plant/soil showed absorption coefficients of 36 for strontiumyttrium; 3·3 for ruthenium-rhodium-106; 0·3 for Lanthanide Rare Earths; and 0·3 fof zirconium-niobium-95. Absorption coefficients for leaf-stem fractions were 29·1 for strontiumyttrium; 6·5 for ruthenium-rhodium; 1·75 for Lanthanide Rare Earths; and 0·61 for zirconiumniobium. Absorption coefficients for grain-inflorescence fractions were 13·04 for strontiumyttrium; 2·1 for ruthenium-rhodium; 0·2 for zirconium-niobium; and 0·175 for the Lanthanide Rare Earths. On a comparative dry weight basis, the leaves-stems portion accumulated a higher percentage of soil radioactive contaminants than the inflorescence-grain portion. While comprising only 29 per cent of total plant dry weight, the leaves-stems tissues accumulated 80·35 per cent of the Lanthanide Rare Earths, 55·8 per cent of the ruthenium-rhodium-106, 55·1 per cent of the zirconium-niobium-95, and 47·6 per cent of the strontium-yttrium-90. The grain-inflorescence tissues, while comprising 71 per cent of the total plant dry weight, accumulated 52·4 per cent of the strontium-yttrium-90, 44·9 per cent of the zirconium-niobium-95, 44·2 per cent of the ruthenium-rhodium-106, and 19·65 per cent of the Lanthanide Rare Earths. Leaf-stem accumulation shows ratios of 2·77 for Lanthanide Rare Earths, 1·97 for ruthenium-rhodium-106, 1·94 for zirconium-niobium-95, and 1·63 for strontium-yttrium-90. Grain-inflorescence accumulation shows ratios of 0·277 for the Lanthanide Rare Earths, 0·635 for ruthenium-rhodium-106, 0·649 for zirconium-niobium-95, and 0·728 for strontiumyttrium-90.
Synthesis and stability of hetaerolite, ZnMn2O4, at 25°C

Abstract A precipitate of nearly pure hetaerolite, ZnMn 2 O 4 , a spinel-structured analog of hausmannite, Mn 3 O 4 , was prepared by an irreversible wprecipitation of zinc with manganese at 25°C. The synthesis technique entailed constant slow addition of a dilute solution of Mn 2+ and Zn 2+ chlorides having a Mn/Zn ratio of 2:1 to a reaction vessel that initially contained distilled deionized water, maintained at a pH of 8.50 by addition of dilute NaOH by an automated pH stat, with continuous bubbling of CO 2 -free air. The solid was identified by means of X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy and consisted of bipyramidal crystals generally less than 0.10 μm in diameter. Zn 2+ ions are able to substitute extensively for Mn 2+ ions that occupy tetrahedral sites in the hausmannite structure. Hetaerolite appears to be more stable than hausmannite with respect to spontaneous conversion to γMnOOH. The value of the standard free energy of formation of hetaerolite was estimated from the experimental data to be −289.4 ± 0.8 kcal per mole. Solids intermediate in composition between hetaerolite and hausmannite can be prepared by altering the Mn/Zn ratio in the feed solution.
David Malament and the Conventionality of Simultaneity: A Reply

In 1977, David Malament proved the valuable technical result that the simultaneity relation of standard synchrony \(\epsilon=\frac{1}{2}\) with respect to an inertial observer O is uniquely definable in terms of the relation κ of causal connectibility. And he claimed that this definability undermines my own version of the conventionality of metrical simultaneity within an inertial frame.
Thermal properties of 4-alkyl-4′-cyanotolanes: a new series of liquid crystals☆☆☆

Abstract The thermal properties of a new series of liquid crystals, the 4-alkyl-4′-cyanotolanes, were measured. The DuPont 990 thermal analyser was used to measure the temperatures and heats of the transitions. The entropy changes in both the crystal to mesophase and mesophase to isotropic liquid transitions are found to be a function of the length of the alkyl chain on the molecules.
Interactions between zinc and manganese EDTA applied to corn plants at mdderately high levels

Abstract Corn (Zea mays L.) plants were grown in Hacienda loam soil with different levels of zinc and manganese EDTA applied singly and in combination. The highest levels of both together resulted in additive and synergistic effects. Caution, therefore, should be exercised when both zinc and manganese EDTA are supplied to crops simultaneously to correct deficiencies.
Effect of hydrophobic interactions on the rates of ionic diffusion in nafion films at electrode surfaces

Abstract Results of studies of diffusional charge transport in films of 1100 and 1200 equivalent weight Nafion on glassy carbon electrode surfaces are reported. A comparison of apparent diffusion coefficients for the oxidized and reduced forms of various ionically diffusing redox couples shows that the ratio of these diffusion coefficients is critically dependent on the nature of the diffusing ion. For hydrophobic redox couples, the diffusion coefficient for the more highly charged form was always greater than the diffusion coefficient for the lower charge form (opposite of what is generally observed in aqueous solution). These results are interpreted in terms of the effect of hydrophobic interactions, with the polymer chain material, on the rate of ionic diffusion.
Interaction of RU 486, A Glucocorticoid and Progestin Antagonist with Human Circulating Mononuclear Leukocytes

The glucocorticoid and progestin antagonist, RU 486 (17 β-hydroxy-11β-[4-di- methylaminophenyl]-17α-[1-propynyl]-estra-4, 9-dien-3-one), antagonizes the suppressive effect of dexamethasone on [14C]2-deoxyglucose uptake by intact human mononuclear leukocytes in a concentration-dependent fashion. The authors found at least two types of specificbinding sites for this compound in the mononuclear leukocytes. The first type of sites (receptor content [Ro], 10.8 ± 1.6 fmoles/106 cells [mean ± SD of 4 experiments]; equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd), 0.3 ± 0.1 nM) have a capacity similar to that of the dexamethasone binding site (Ro, 11.2 fmoles/106 cells; Kd, 1.2 nM). The second type of sites (Ro, 56 ± 27 fmoles/106 cells: Kd, 19 ± 5 nM) have a higher capacity and lower affinity for RU 486 than the first type of sites and do not interact with dexamethasone. The authors were unable to demonstrate the presence of the second type of binding sites in subcellular fractions. This finding suggests that this site is unstable and lost in the fractionation process. The role of the second type of low-affinity, high-capacity RU 486 specific-binding site in intact human mononuclear leukocytes, as well as its possible occurrence in other tissue, requires further investigation
Boundary integral equations for screen problems in IR3

Here we present a new solution procedure for Helmholtz and Laplacian Neumann screen or Dirichlet screen problems in IR3 via boundary integral equations of the first kind having as unknown the jump of the field or of its normal derivative, respectively, across the screen S. Under the assumption of local finite energy we show the equivalence of the integral equations and the original boundary value problems. Via the Wiener-Hopf method in the halfspace, localization and the calculus of pseudodifferential operators we derive existence, uniqueness and regularity results for the solution of our boundary integral equations together with its explicit behavior near the edge of the screen. We give Galerkin schemes based on our integral equations on S and obtain high convergence rates by using special singular elements besides regular splines as test and trial functions.
Constraints on neutralization and rule-ordering

Abstract In his paper “Abstractness, Opacity and Global Rules”, Kiparsky (1973) proposes the following universal principle of rule application, which can be called the “Neutralization Constraint”.
Efficient Guided-Mode-Resonant Tunable Color Filters

A new angle-tuned guided-mode resonance color filter is experimentally demonstrated. The device is designed using numerical methods and patterned using laser interferometric lithography. It consists of a 55-nm-deep silicon nitride and air diffraction grating with a 270-nm grating period along with a 110-nm-thick silicon nitride waveguide layer deposited on a glass substrate. The fabricated filter exhibits blue, green, and red color responses at incident angles of 8 $^{\circ}$ , 20 $^{\circ}$ , and 35 $^{\circ}$ , respectively. It has a bandwidth of 10 nm with efficiency near 90%.
Conventional and piecewise growth modeling techniques: Applications and implications for investigating head start children's early literacy learning

This article reviews the mechanics of conventional and piecewise growth models to demonstrate the unique affordances of each technique for examining the nature and predictors of children’s early literacy learning during the transition from preschool through first grade. Using the nationally representative Family and Child Experiences Survey (FACES) data set, 1997 cohort, the authors show how piecewise models revealed discrete contributions of child, family, and classroom experiences to children’s literacy skills within particular years, whereas conventional models, which considered the whole 3-year trajectory of change as a single outcome, revealed fewer of these nuanced contributions.
Erosion control at construction sites on red clay soils

Five single-treatment methods used to stabilize seeded areas at urban and highway construction sites (asphalt-tacked straw, jute netting, mulch blanket, wood chips, excelsior blanket) were tested for their ability to control erosion of red clay soils by comparisons with exposed sites and multiple treatments. Sediment in runoff from experimental plots was characterized during low and high intensity precipitation from natural rainfall episodes during April, May, and June. Reductions in the total sediment concentration of runoff ranged from 28 percent (asphalt-tacked straw, 50 percent slope) to 90 percent (multiple treatments, 40 percent slope), with ≥85 percent of the eroded material composed of particles <0.04 mm in diameter. Larger size fractions were effectively reduced by all treatments tested regardless of slope (≥70 percent decrease). Established grass cover exceeded 90 percent on all plots after 60 days, but sediment release remained similar, attributable to high intensity rainfall, poor establishment of root systems, and piping on plots treated with tacked straw or jute netting. Results indicate that current stabilization methods shift sediment compostion toward a smaller particle size, causing single treatments to be minimally effective for controlling erosion of the major component of red clay soils. Because small particles have the greatest direct effect on aquatic biota, certain impacts of sedimentation may not be measurably lessened by single treatments in regions where red clays predominate even though the total sediment load is reduced by as much as 75 percent. Clearly, a multiple-treatment approach offers significantly greater control of erosion on red clay soils, however, current economic and construction policy represents a substantial deterrent to implementation.
Quasiparticle calculations of band offsets at AlN–GaN interfaces

Abstract A first-principle quasiparticle theory in the GW approximation is used to compute valence and conduction band offsets, VBO and CBO, respectively, for hexagonal and cubic AlN–GaN interfaces. We find type I band offsets that depend on the in-plane lattice constant of the heterostructure, ranging from VBO =1.3 eV and CBO =1.5 eV for the in-plane lattice constant of a 6H–SiC (0001) substrate to VBO =0.8 eV and CBO =1.8 eV for the in-plane lattice constant of a GaN (0001) substrate. This sensitivity may explain the range of experimental results for systems whose in-plane lattice constants could not be directly measured.
Genomic potential of erythroid and leukocytic cells of Rana pipiens analyzed by nuclear transfer into diplotene and maturing oocytes

Abstract In order to determine whether differentiated somatic cells maintain genetic totipotency, nuclear transplantations from several differentiated somatic cell types into eggs and oocytes were performed previously in Rana pipiens and Xenopus laevis. The formation of postneurula embryos and tadpoles under the direction of the test nuclei demonstrated their genetic multipotency. In addition, Rana erythrocyte nuclei transplanted to oocytes directed more extensive tadpole development than those injected into eggs. We have extended our studies of the genomic potential of differentiated somatic nuclei from the peripheral blood of Rana pipiens. First, we show that the developmental potential of erythrocyte nuclei injected into oocytes at first meiotic metaphase was greater than those injected into diplotene oocytes. Second, we demonstrate that erythroblast and leukocyte nuclei transplanted to oocytes at first meiotic metaphase promoted more advanced tadpole development than those previously injected into Xenopus eggs. Third, erythrocyte nuclei were more successful in promoting advanced tadpole development compared with erythroblast and leukocyte nuclei. The results show that differentiated somatic nuclei transferred to the cytoplasm of oocytes at first meiotic metaphase display enhanced genomic and developmental potential over those transplanted to diplotene oocytes and eggs, at least for the three nuclear cell types tested from the peripheral blood.
The genetics of open-angle glaucoma: the story of GLC1A and myocilin.

A linkage analysis study was performed on a single large family with juvenile-onset primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). This led to the recognition that there was a region of chromosome lq that harboured a gene for juvenile-onset POAG. This chromosomal site was called GLC1A. It was discovered that a gene that produces the protein myocilin resides within this interval and that mutations in myocilin caused most cases of autosomal dominant juvenile-onset POAG. More importantly myocilin mutations also cause up to 4.6% of cases of adult-onset POAG. The prevalence of myocilin mutations is similar regardless of race or geographic location. There are widely variable glaucoma phenotypes depending on the specific mutation in myocilin. Myocilin is expressed in multiple tissues throughout the eye and in many other organs. In the trabecular meshwork the production of myocilin can be induced by the application of topical corticosteroids. The exact function of myocilin in health and disease remains a mystery.
n-Hexane proton dipolar couplings and the rotational isomeric state approximation

The three-state rotational isomeric state (RIS) model of conformer statistics is used to analyse the 16 independent dipole coupling constants measured in a recent proton NMR study of n-hexane in a nematic liquid crystal solvent by Gochin et al. The orientational ordering of the hexane molecule is treated in the context of the modular formulation of the potential of mean torque developed recently by Photinos et al. This formulation gives a very accurate description of alkane solute orientational order and conformer probabilities in the nematic solvent. Consequently, substantially more accurate calculated dipolar couplings are obtained than in previous calculations and, moreover, this is achieved without the need to resort to unconventionally high values of the trans-gauche energy difference E g in the RIS model; an optimized fit to the data wherein the location of the gauche dihedral angle RIS state φg and E g are varied yields the values φg = 112° and E g = 0·67 kcal mol-1. The sensitivity of the dipolar ...
Effect of nickel deficiency in soybeans on the phytotoxicity of foliar-applied urea

The leaf-tip necrosis commonly observed after foliar fertilization of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] plants with urea is usually attributed to ammonia formed through hydrolysis of urea by plant urease. We recently found, however, that although addition of a urease inhibitor (phenylphosphorodiamidate) to foliar-applied urea increased the urea content and decreased the ammonia content and urease activity of soybean leaves, it increased the leaf-tip necrosis observed after foliar fertilization. We concluded that this necrosis was due to accumulation of toxic amounts of urea rather than formation of toxic amounts of ammonia. To confirm this conclusion, we measured the urea content, urease activity, and leaf-tep necrosis of leaves of soybean plants treated with urea after growth of the plants in nutrient solutions containing different amounts of nickel (Ni), which is an essential component of urease. We found that the urease activity of these leaves decreased, and that their urea content and leaf-tip necrosis increased, with decrease in the Ni content of the nutrient solution. Besides supporting the conclusion that the leaf-tip necrosis observed after foliar fertilization of soybean with urea is due to accumulation of toxic amounts of urea in the soybean leaves, these observations indicate that Ni-deficient plants may have a lower urease activity than plants that are not deficient in Ni and may therefore be more susceptible to leaf burn when foliar-fertilized with urea.