cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Generalized rank annihilation method : II. Analysis of bimodal chromatographic data

Abstract When confronted with the problem of overlapped peaks, the chromatographer's approach is to change the chromatographic process. However, this may entail considerable time in methods development, with no guarantee of achieving adequate resolution. The “generalized rank annihilation method” (GRAM) utilizes multivariate statistical methods to process a matrix of calibration data with a matrix containing the test data, and can be applied to the problem of completely overlapped peaks in chromatography. Chromatographic analyses (both calibration and test) are carried out on either two (or more) columns of different stationary phases or on columns of similar stationary phase, but with different mobile phases. The results of each set of analyses are combined to create single, bilinear matrices (again, calibration and test). Rank annihilation is then performed on the combined matrices, and both the resolved elution profiles and spectra are generated, as well as quantitative information. The presence of components in the test mixture which are not in the calibration mixture does not interfere with the analysis for the desired analytes. Application of GRAM to bimodal liquid chromatography—ultraviolet detection data is demonstrated with simulated and real analyses of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons.
Preference by sheep and goats among hay of eight tall fescue cultivars.

Grazing ruminants use both visual cues and taste in selecting their diet. Preference during graz- ing may not be the same when forage is dried for hay and cut into lengths prior to feeding in confinement. Eight cultivars of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), previously evaluated for preference while grazed, were harvested three times over a period of 2 yr. The hays were air-dried, baled, and passed through a hydraulic bale processor prior to feeding. Five experi- ments were conducted. All three harvests were evalu- ated with sheep and the last two also with goats, using six animals each time. During an adaptation phase, hays were offered alone as meals. In the experimental phase, every possible pair of hays (28 pairs) was pre- sented for a meal. Data were analyzed by multidimen-
Doppler Assessment of Fetoplacental Circulation

The Doppler principle elucidates the phenomenon of changes in the wave length or the frequency of energy which propogate in waves. This phenomenon is due to the relative motion between the energy source and the receiver. If the source and the receiver are moving toward each other, the frequency will increase. If they are moving apart, the frequency will decrease. Moreover, the magnitude of the frequency change or shift will be proportionate to the velocity of this relative motion. The principle has been utilized to study immensely diverse phenomena, and its biomedical application has led to the development of Doppler ultrasound technology (Satumora, 1957; Franklin et al., 1967; Peronneau et al., 1969; Light and Cross, 1972; Fronek, 1973) which has been used successfully and extensively for assessing blood flow dynamics in humans in a non-invasive manner. More recently, the Doppler ultrasound technique has been extended to investigation of fetal and feto-placental hemodynamics (Fitzgerald and Drumm, 1977; McCallum et al., 1978; Stuart et al., 1980; Gill et al., 1980; Eik-Nes et al., 1980; Maulik et al., 1982; Trudinger et al., 1985).
Short-term energy conservation in endotherms in relation to body mass, habits, and environment

Abstract (1) The lower limit of thermoneutrality in some tropical, arboreal mammals that weigh over 2 kg is defined by a thermal conductance greater than the minimum. (2) The reduction in thermal conductance at low ambient temperatures is accomplished by peripheral vasoconstriction. (3) A similar reduction in thermal conductance is found in some birds, often at smaller masses than in mammals. (4) The combination of low conductances with low basal rates of metabolism facilitates energy conservation in species that have limited supplies of available energy. (5) The reduction of conductance at low ambient temperatures is one of the few physiological responses limited to intermediate body masses.
Pulsatility of parafoveal capillary leukocytes

Abstract The use of adaptive optics (AO) in a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (AOSLO) allows for long-term imaging of parafoveal capillary leukocyte movement and measurement of leukocyte velocity without contrast dyes. We applied the AOSLO to investigate the possible role of the cardiac cycle on capillary leukocyte velocity by directly measuring capillary leukocyte pulsatility. The parafoveal regions of 8 eight normal healthy subjects with clear ocular media were imaged with an AOSLO. All subjects were dilated and cyclopleged. The AOSLO field of view was either 1.4 × 1.5 degrees or 2.35 × 2.5 degrees, the imaging wavelength was 532 nm and the frame rate was 30 fps. A photoplethysmograph was used to record the subject's pulse synchronously with each AOSLO video. Parafoveal capillary leukocyte velocities and pulsatility were determined for two or three capillaries per subject. Leukocyte velocity and pulsatility were determined for all eight subjects. The mean parafoveal capillary leukocyte velocity for all subjects was Vmean = 1.30 mm/s (SD = ±0.40 mm/s). There was a statistically significant difference between leukocyte velocities, Vmax and Vmin, over the pulse cycle for each subject (p
The perception of rate in spoken and sign languages

The methods of magnitude production and estimation were used to scale the perception of signing rate by signers and observers. As in the case of voice level and speech rate, the autophonic scale of signing rate has a slope greater than unity and is steeper than the corresponding extraphonic scale; the obtained exponents of the two power functions for signing are, respectively, 2.66 and 1.56. When English-speaking subjects estimated their own rate of reading of the translated version of the signed passage, they produced an autophonic reading scale quite similar to that for signing (exponent of 2.51), but when they made magnitude estimations of English rates covering the same range of rates as the signed passage, the exponent of the extraphonic reading scale was significantly larger (1.89). This was also the case when French subjects estimated French reading rates. The difference between extraphonic signing and reading scales was confirmed by subjects who knew no Sign Language or French; their results appear to indicate, in addition, that the processes involved in extraphonic perception of rate are purely acoustic (speech) or visual (sign) and do not require, as one could have thought, deeper linguistic operations.
Evaluation of the lipid-rich layer of reamer aspirate.

The fatty layer of aspirate obtained by reaming the femoral shaft using a reamer/irrigator/aspirator (RIA) device was characterized for fatty acid content and the presence of adult stem cells. Gas chromatography analysis was performed on samples taken from multiple patients to determine and compare the fatty acid contents of aspirate lipid samples. All four patients had the same four fatty acids present in the highest percentages: oleic, palmitic, linoleic and stearic. After successful isolation from bulk material, cells isolated from this lipid-rich layer were studied to determine their osteogenic and growth potential on a clinically available ceramic bone graft substitute. The results of metabolic activity and intracellular protein assays indicated that the ceramics supported growth of the cells isolated from the aspirate fat layer, although levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) expression were low for cells grown on the ceramics. Cells will not transition along the osteogenic pathway when they are actively dividing, and active growth may have contributed to the lack of ALP expression in this study. Isolated cells grown on tissue culture plastic expressed significant levels of the bone marker ALP. The results of this study suggest that cells isolated from the fat layer of RIA aspirate proliferate on ceramic bone void filler and have the potential to differentiate along an osteogenic pathway. Previously considered waste, the lipid-rich fat layer of aspirate may be a source of mesenchymal stem cells that, either alone or in conjunction with currently available synthetic bone graft material, could be used to stimulate new bone growth. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The effects of chronic estradiol treatment on working memory deficits induced by combined infusion of β-amyloid (1–42) and ibotenic acid

Estrogen limits in vitro neuron death induced by application of beta-amyloid, the cytotoxic peptide linked to Alzheimer's disease. However, the ability of estrogen to protect neurons and preserve cognitive function in vivo following exposure to beta-amyloid has not been demonstrated. Our objective was to evaluate the potential of estrogen to reduce spatial working memory deficits in female rats induced by administration of a neurotoxic form of beta-amyloid in combination with the excitotoxin, ibotenic acid. The interaction of beta-amyloid with excitotoxic factors may underlie cognitive deficits associated with Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, to create an experimental model typical of early Alzheimer's disease a low dose of ibotenic acid was administered with beta-amyloid into the dorsal hippocampus. Ovariectomized rats were implanted subcutaneously with Silastic capsules that produce physiological levels of 17beta-estradiol 10 days before bilateral intrahippocampal injections of aggregated beta-amyloid (1-42) and ibotenic acid. Capsules remained in situ throughout behavioral testing. When tested 3-10 weeks after neurotoxin treatment, females without estrogen capsules exhibited delay-dependent impairments in working memory performance on a water maze and a radial arm maze. Females treated with estrogen and combined neurotoxins displayed working memory performance comparable to unlesioned females on both tasks. Neurotoxin treatment increased immunoreactivity for glial fibrillary acidic protein but this measure was unaffected by estradiol treatment indicating that estrogen did not limit glial proliferation. Results indicate that estrogen prevented deficits in spatial working memory induced by neurotoxin treatments intended to mimic the pathology of early Alzheimer's disease.
Structural brain magnetic resonance imaging of pediatric twins

To explore the relative impact of genetic and nongenetics factors on human brain anatomy during childhood and adolescence development, a collaborative team from the Child Psychiatry Branch of the National Institute of Mental Health and Virginia Commonwealth University is applying structural equation modeling to brain morphometric data acquired via magnetic resonance imaging from a large sample of monozygotic and dizygotic pediatric subjects. In this report, we discuss methodologic issues related to pediatric neuroimaging twin studies and synthesize results to date from the project. Current sample size from the ongoing longitudinal study is approximately 150 twin pairs. Consistent themes are: (1) heritability is high and shared environmental effects low for most brain morphometric measures; (2) the cerebellum has a distinct heritability profile; (3) genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of the cortex in a regional and age specific manner; and (4) shared genetic effects account for more of the variance than structure specific effects. Understanding of influences on trajectories of brain development may shed light on the emergence of psychopathology during childhood and adolescence and ultimately may guide therapeutic interventions.
Heterozygous Embryonic Stem Cell Lines Derived from Nonhuman Primate Parthenotes

Monoparental parthenotes represent a potential source of histocompatible stem cells that should be isogenic with the oocyte donor and therefore suitable for use in cell or tissue replacement therapy. We generated five rhesus monkey parthenogenetic embryonic stem cell (PESC) lines with stable, diploid female karyotypes that were morphologically indistinguishable from biparental controls, expressed key pluripotent markers, and generated cell derivatives representative of all three germ layers following in vivo and in vitro differentiation. Interestingly, high levels of heterozygosity were observed at the majority of loci that were polymorphic in the oocyte donors. Some PESC lines were also heterozygous in the major histocompatibility complex region, carrying haplotypes identical to those of the egg donor females. Expression analysis revealed transcripts from some imprinted genes that are normally expressed from only the paternal allele. These results indicate that limitations accompanying the potential use of PESC-derived phenotypes in regenerative medicine, including aberrant genomic imprinting and high levels of homozygosity, are cell line-dependent and not always present. PESC lines were derived in high enough yields to be practicable, and their derivatives are suitable for autologous transplantation into oocyte donors or could be used to establish a bank of histocompatible cell lines for a broad spectrum of patients.
Proton nuclear magnetic resonance study of crystal field levels in praseodymium hydrides

We report proton (1H) T1, measurements in the temperature range 8 K ⩽ T ⩽ 300 K for PrH2.0 and PrH2.5, as well as for praseodymium-doped YH≈2. The measured temperature dependence of T1 in PrH2.0 and PrH2.5 is entirely accounted for by the proton spin interaction with fluctuating Pr3+ electronic moments, and its behavior in PrH2.0 differs markedly from that in PrH2.5. The non-zero magnetic moment of the crystalline electric field (CEF) ground state Γ5 triplet in PrH2.0 causes the rate R1 = T1−1 to increase with decreasing temperature, yielding very short T1 values ranging from 100 μs at 300 K to only 30 μs at 8 K. In PrH2.5 the orthorhombic CEF results in nine singlet levels, with the result that the 1H T1, is roughly 1000 times longer than in PrH2.0, and its temperature dependence behaves in the opposite fashion, decreasing with increasing temperature from 250 ms at 8 K to 1 ms at 280 K to 1 ms at 280 K. In praseodymium-doped YH≈2 the magnitude and temperature dependence of R1p show the ground state CEF level to be a non-magnetic singlet.
Civil Wrongs: Personal Injury Law in the Late 19th Century

This is a report of data drawn from a study of personal injury actions in the Superior Court of Alameda County, California, and in the federal district court for Northern California, for the period 1880–1900. Tort actions, in this period, were relatively uncommon compared to the number of accidents. The most frequent type of action was against common carriers—railroads and street railways. Malpractice actions were rare. Most fired cases were settled or dropped out before full trial and jury verdict. Though plaintiffs won damages in most jury cases, the overall finding is that the system provided little compensation for most victims of accidents. Tort law and practice disfavored passengers less than employees or “trespassers.” Three types of barrier blocked the path to compensation: legal doctrines which made recovery difficult; an accident-compensation system which, especially for workers, discouraged enforcement of claims; and the legal culture, which was a culture of low expectations.
A High-Resolution GE Spectrometer for Gamma-Ray Burst Astronomy

The Transient Gamma-Ray Spectrometer (TGRS) to be flown aboard the WIND spacecraft is primarily designed to perform high resolution spectroscopy of transient γ-ray events, such as cosmic γ-ray bursts and solar flares over the energy range 25 keV to 8.2 MeV with an expected spectroscopic resolution of ∼ 3 keV at 1 MeV. The detector itself consists of a 215 cm3 high purityn-type Ge crystal kept at cryogenic temperatures by a passive radiative cooler. The geometric field of view defined by the cooler is ∼ 1.8 π steradian. To avoid continuous triggers by soft solar events, a thin BeCu Sun-shield around the sides of the cooler has been provided. A passive Mo/Pb occulter, which modulates signals from within ±5° of the ecliptic plane at the spacecraft spin frequency, is used to identify and study solar flares, as well as emission from the galactic plane and center. Thus, in addition to transient event measurements, the instrument will allow the search for possible diffuse background lines and monitor the 511 keV positron annihilation radiation from the galactic center. In order to handle the typically large burst count rates, which can be in excess of 100 kHz, burst data are stored directly in an onboard 2.75 Mbit burst memory with an absolute timing accuracy of ±1.5 ms after ground processing. The memory is capable of storing the entire spectral data set of all but the largest bursts. WIND is scheduled to be launched on a Delta II launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral on November 1, 1994. After injection into a phasing orbit, the spacecraft will execute a double lunar swing-by before being moved into a controlled ‘halo’ orbit about theL1 Lagrangian point (∼250R e towards the Sun). This will provide a 5 light-second light travel time with which to triangulate gamma-ray burst sources with Earth-orbiting systems, such as those on-board the Gamma-Ray Observatory (GRO). The response of instrument to transient γ-ray events such as GRB's and solar flares will be presented as well as the expected response to steady state point sources and galactic center line emission.
SiC avalanche photodiodes

Ultraviolet detectors are becoming increasingly important in medical, military, and environmental applications, including biological agent detection and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) communications. SiC avalanche photodiodes (APDs) are an attractive candidate for those applications that place a premium on detectors that are compact, rugged, and inexpensive. This paper presents an overview of 4H-SiC APDs.
Strategies for Increasing Academic Achievement in Higher Education.

Higher education today faces unique challenges. Decreasing student engagement, increasing diversity, and limited resources all contribute to the issues being faced by students, educators, and administrators alike. The unique characteristics and expectations that students bring to their professional programs require new methods of addressing classroom activities and student learning. Because both intrinsic and extrinsic factors play a role in academic success, educators need to be better equipped to promote student engagement both inside and outside of the classroom through purposeful learning opportunities. The purpose of this article is to discuss practical strategies for increasing students' academic achievement, as well as to provide educators with applicable means for informing instructional methodologies.
FLIR range performance predictions using synthetic imagery

Traditional FLIR performance analysis uses analytic models to predict sensor performance characteristics such as modulation transfer function (MTF) and minimum resolvable temperature (MRT). These characteristics are then used in conjunction with empirical criterion such as the Johnson cycle criteria to predict the performance of observers using the modeled sensor. In general, such an analysis suffers from inadequate descriptions of the effects of the background and incomplete descriptions of the observer detection mechanism. Accurate predictions of field performance in a particular setting require the expensive collection of imagery for metric analysis or perception tests. In this paper, an image-based approach is investigated. Using an advanced FLIR simulation, synthetic image sets are generated under controlled conditions. Using these image sets, image metrics are calculated and predictions of target detectability are made using a contrast-to-clutter model and a computational vision model. These predictions are compared to results obtained using a traditional range performance analysis from the MRT based ACQUIRE model. An assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of the image-based approach is given.
Comparison of wavelet transforms and fractal coding in texture-based image retrieval

Image compression techniques based on wavelet and fractal coding have been recognized significantly useful in image texture classification and discrimination. In fractal coding approach, each image is represented by a set of self-transformations through which an approximation of the original image can be reconstructed. These transformations of images can be utilized to distinguish images. The fractal coding technique can be extended to effectively determine the similarity between images. We introduce a joint fractal coding technique, applicable to pairs of images, which can be used to determine the degree of their similarity. Our experimental results demonstrate that fractal code approach is effective for content-based image retrieval. In wavelet transform approach, the wavelet transform decorrelates the image data into frequency domain. Feature vectors of images can be constructed from wavelet transformations, which can also be utilized to distinguish images through measuring distances between feature vectors. Our experiments indicate that this approach is also effective on content-based similarity comparison between images. More specifically, we observe that wavelets transform approach performs more effective on content- based similarity comparison on those images which contain strong texture features, where fractal coding approach performs relatively more uniformly well for various type of images.
Full Coulomb calculation of Stark broadening in laser-produced plasmas

The full Coulomb interaction between radiating ions and perturbing electrons is included in the calculation of Lyman-series spectral line profiles emitted by highly ionized hydrogenic radiators in a dense, hot plasma. Profiles from this calculation and from a similar calculation based on the dipole approximation for the radiator-perturber interaction are compared over a range of plasma densities. The significance of inelastic collisions between the radiator and perturbing electrons is also examined.
The 14C radiolabelled synthesis of the cholesterol absorption inhibitor CP-148,623. A novel method for the incorporation of a 14C label in enones

Abstract Isotopically labelled compounds play important roles in pharmaceutical research. New strategies for the synthesis of these compounds, carbon isotopes in particular, are needed due to the limited availability of labelled reagents. We have developed a novel method for the 14 C labelling of enones and have applied it to the synthesis of a 14 C radiolabelled version of the cholesterol absorption inhibitor CP-148,623. The key steps involve the 1,2 addition of [ 14 C]methyl Grignard to a cyclic enone followed by the “anomalous” ozonolysis of the resulting allylic alcohol utilizing a non-traditional basic work-up. In this two step procedure, the original enone was regenerated with a 14 C carbon atom at the alpha position. After several standard chemical steps, the synthesis of [ 14 C]CP-148,623 was completed. The method has also been applied to a series of other enones demonstrating the generality of the procedure for the introduction of carbon isotopes in enone systems.
Plant tissue-based fiber-optic pyruvate sensor

We describe a novel pyruvate selective sensor in which corn tissue, as the biocatalytic layer, is coupled to a fluorescent indicator-based fiber-optic CO2 optrode. This sensor showed shorter response times and a lower detection limit without loss of enzymatic stability as compared to a corn tissue-based pyruvate selective membrane electrode previously studied.
Selling vs. Profiling: Optimizing the Offer Set in Web-Based Personalization

We study the problem of optimally choosing the composition of the offer set for firms engaging in web-based personalization. A firm can offer items or links that are targeted for immediate sales based on what is already known about a customer's profile. Alternatively, the firm can offer items directed at learning a customer's preferences. This, in turn, can help the firm make improved recommendations for the remainder of the engagement period with the customer. An important decision problem faced by a profit maximizing firm is what proportion of the offer set should be targeted toward immediate sales and what proportion toward learning the customer's profile. We study the problem as an optimal control model, and characterize the solution. Our findings can help firms decide how to vary the size and composition of the offer set during the course of a customer's engagement period with the firm. The benefits of the proposed approach are illustrated for different patterns of engagement, including the length of the engagement period, uncertainty in the length of the period, and the frequency of the customer's visits to the firm. We also study the scenario where the firm optimizes the size of the offer set during the planning horizon. One of the most important insights of this study is that frequent visits to the firm's website are extremely important for an e-tailing firm even though the customer may not always buy products during these visits.
Assessing Expertise Awareness in Resolution Networks

Problem resolution is a key issue in the IT service industry. A large service provider handles, on daily basis, thousands of tickets that report various types of problems from its customers. The efficiency of this process highly depends on the effective interactions among various expert groups, in search of the resolver to the reported problem. In fact, ticket transfer decisions reflect the expertise awareness between groups, thus encoding a sophisticated resolution social network. In this paper, we propose a computational framework to quantitatively assess expertise awareness, i.e., how well a group knows the expertise of others. An accurate assessment of expertise awareness could identify the weakest components in a resolution system. The framework, built on our previously developed resolution engine, is able to calculate the performance difference caused by excluding a node from the network. The difference exposes the awareness of this node to other nodes in the network. To our best knowledge, this is the first study on this problem from a computational perspective. We tested the proposed framework on a large set of real-world problem tickets and validated our discovery by carefully analyzing the tickets that are incorrectly transferred. Experimental results show that our framework can successfully capture groups that do not know others' expertise very well.
The Written Word in Carolingian-Style Fiscal Administration under King Henry I, 919–936

Traditionally, scholars have depicted the early Ottonian kingdom, ruled by Henry I (919–936) as being deficient in royal administrative structures, particularly those that depended on the use of documents. Instead, Henry is supposed to have ruled his kingdom through a wide range of rituals associated with sacral kingship. However, it long has been recognized that both ecclesiastical and royal estates in the eastern portions of the Carolingian empire, which developed into the early German kingdom, were organized in a manner consistent with the dictates of the famous capitulary de villis. Recent scholarship has made it clear that this capitulary required the production of large numbers of documents, which were crucial both for the administration of individual estates and for the use of these estates by the king. This essay draws out the numerous ways in which Henry I and his officials used the ‘written word’ to administer the king's estates, and shows an important element of royal administration that demonstrates enormous continuities with the adminstrative structures that were in place in the Carolingian Empire.
Improving Process Control in Electron Beam Welding Using the Enhanced Modified Faraday Cup

Process control in electron beam welding is typically based on control of machine settings, such as accelerating voltage, beam current, focus coil current, and vacuum level. These settings, though important, provide little insight into the characteristics of the beam used to make the weld. With the enhanced modified Faraday cup (EMFC) diagnostic tool, these beam characteristics, including the peak power density, full width at half maximum, and full width at 1/e 2 values, can be quantified. The use of this diagnostic tool in an extended production run at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is described. Results show that machine performance, in terms of these measured beam characteristics, varies over time when the EMFC is not used to adjust the machine settings. Testing has shown that the variability of the beam characteristics can be measurably decreased with the use of the EMFC diagnostic tool. With the implementation of this diagnostic tool in the process control procedures, every electron beam weld, which encompassed approximately 90 welds over an 18 month time frame, met all of the requirements defined in the weld process specification and passed all of the postweld quality control checks. The results also show that variations in each of the measured beam parameters can be controlled at levels below ±2.2%, which is smaller than the 5% tolerance band suggested by ASME for other welding parameters. Such an enhanced level of control allows product throughput to be increased by decreasing the number of rejected parts through the elimination of unexpected variations in beam characteristics. The benefits of integrating this diagnostic tool into future process control regimes are also discussed.
Asymptotics of the solution of the main problem of the integral fire theory

We obtain asymptotic representations at zero and infinity for the solution of the main problem of the integral theory of fire in a room with a single opening, compute the initial height of the equal pressure plane, and derive conditions under which the one-sided operation mode of the opening can be implemented.
Endogenous Retroviruses and Human Cancer: Is There Anything to the Rumors?

Xenotropic murine leukemia virus-related virus (XMRV) infection was incorrectly associated with prostate cancer and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in recent years. In this forum, we discuss the story of XMRV and how we can apply lessons learned here to inform the debate surrounding cancers associated with human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs).
Plant tissue testing for micronutrient deficiencies and toxicities

The relationship between nutrient concentration and yield, when properly used, is a powerful tool for diagnosing the nutritional status of annual crops for B, Cu, Mn, Mo, Zn and occasionally Fe. Imbalance between P and Zn may affect interpretation of plant Zn data at high levels of P. Also, lack of adequate field calibration, especially that involving recently matured leaves, within geographical regions at various yield levels makes the interpretation of data for some crop-element situations difficult. Mobility of elements in plants during growth should be considered when selecting tissues for analysis. Although there undoubtedly will be exceptions, fertilization of most annual crops in the year of diagnosis is unlikely to be based on plant analysis. Successful use of plant analysis for diagnosing the micronutrient status of plants demands careful attention to plant sampling, processing of samples, and laboratory techniques. These aspects and problems with calibration and interpretation of data are discussed in detail. Sap tests would appear to have only a small role to play in diagnosis of field micronutrient problems, but they may be of assistance in studying Mn toxicity and deficiency.
Photodetector Arrays For Acousto-Optical Channelizers

Future electromagnetic environments will have much higher signal densities than current system processors are capable of detecting, sorting, and classifying. New channelizer system processors utilizing acousto-optical Bragg cells followed by advanced detector arrays and microelectronic signal preprocessing circuits to minimize the input signal rate to the digital processor have the potential to meet future system processing needs. Detector considerations for the required, new channelizer system processors are discussed.
EVALUATING DREDGING AND OFFSHORE LOADING LOCATIONS FOR U.S. COAL EXPORTS USING THE LOCAL LOGISTICS SYSTEM

The formulation and use of a mixed integer mathematical programming location-allocation model, the Coal Logistics System (COLS), is presented in this study. COLS is used to evaluate the potential for reducing water-borne coal transportation costs, and concomitantly the costs of delivering coal to European markets. This cost reduction is accomplished through the use of supercolliers which would require the dredging of channels at selected ports or the use of offshore loading sites at East and Gulf Coast ports or both. The model developed and the analysis presented in this paper are intended to aid in the determination of the location and extent of these activities, and to indicate the size of the potential reduction in the costs of U.S. export coal. In order to be able to accommodate these deeper draft vessels at East and Gulf Coast ports, expensive improvements would need to be undertaken which may include the deepening of harbor channels to the depths required for 120 000 dead weight ton (dwt) or larger supercolliers. Since dredging requires large initial investments and has significant long-term maintenance costs, excess capacity could represent an inefficient use of both U.S. revenues and the ports' own funds. The use of offshore loading moorings to permit the “topping off” of supercolliers by self-unloading colliers at the deepwater sections of harbor channels has been proposed as a way of reducing trans-ocean transportation costs and avoiding the large investments and time delays associated with dredging activities. The Coal Logistics System was modified and extended to enable the evaluation of these two port improvement options to be undertaken in a consistent and realistic manner.
The illite-phosphate association

Abstract The insoluble (HCl) residues of phosphate grains from the Atlantic Coastal Plain, the Pacific Ocean and other areas, in addition to quartz, organic matter, and iron compounds, consist largely of K-feldspar and K-mica. Though the matrix of the phosphate sands contains a wide variety of clay minerals, only illite is present in the phosphate grains. Apparent K—Ar ages indicate most of the K-silicates are detrital in origin, though thin section studies show a minor amount of authigenic illite and glauconite are present in some phosphate grains. Chemical analyses and electron microscope studies indicate considerable amorphous material is present in the phosphate grains. The observed relations indicate that clay minerals may act as a phosphate reservoir during the formation of phosphorites and that the phosphate eventually destroys the non-K-clay minerals. The environment in which phosphate grains form is apparently similar to that in which glauconite forms.
A Comparison of Some Monte Carlo and Quasi Monte Carlo Techniques for Option Pricing

This article compares the performance of ordinary Monte Carlo and quasi Monte Carlo methods in valuing moderate-and high-dimensional options. The dimensionality of the problems arises either from the number of time steps along a single path or from the number of underlying assets. We compare ordinary Monte Carlo with and without antithetic variates against Sobol’, Faure, and Generalized Faure sequences and three constructions of a discretely sampled Brownian path. We test the standard random walk construction with all methods, a Brownian bridge construction proposed by Caflisch and Morokoff with Sobol’ points and an alternative construction based on principal components analysis also with Sobol’ points. We find that the quasi Monte Carlo methods outperform ordinary Monte Carlo; the Brownian bridge construction generally outperforms the standard construction; and the principal components construction generally outperforms the Brownian bridge construction and is more widely applicable. We interpret both the Brownian bridge and principal components constructions in terms of orthogonal expansions of Brownian motion and note an optimality property of the principal components construction.
Antiproliferative Effects of Retinoids Related to the Cell Cycle-Specific Inhibition of Ornithine Decarboxylase

The induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) during G1 phase of the cell cycle appears to be universal and essential for cell cycle progression. This induction has been demonstrated in at least 23 cell types in response to various growth stimuli. Further, specific inhibitors of ODC added to several of these cell lines resulted in inhibition of cell proliferation. The studies of the effects of retinoids to inhibit Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell growth indicate that the cells are blocked in G1 of cell cycle, and that there is a concentration-dependent inhibition of ODC induction. Retinoids only inhibit the induction of ODC activity when added in the first 2-3 hr of G1 progression. It is postulated that ODC induction is a requirement for G1 progression and that the antiproliferative properties of retinoids are related to the specific ability to inhibit this expression. Since retinoids do not dramatically alter the rate of protein synthesis, their ability to inhibit ODC may be related to their ability to inhibit messenger RNa synthesis for ODC.
Characterization of genetic differences between Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium strains of diverse virulence with a focus on the glycopeptidolipid biosynthesis cluster.

Abstract The Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) encompasses important pathogens in both animals and humans, yet little information is available on the factors required for MAC virulence. An animal isolate, M. avium strain 724 was found to be considerably more virulent in Balb/c mice than a human isolate, M. avium strain A5. To identify the genetic basis of this difference subtractive hybridization was applied, which resulted in the isolation of six DNA fragments unique to strain 724. BLAST searches showed that three sequences belonged to a large gene cluster responsible for biosynthesis of M. avium glycopeptidolipids (GPLs). To reveal the nature of variation between strains in the GPL cluster 27.5 kb of a clone containing the A5 serotype-specific GPL (ssGPL) cluster was isolated, sequenced and compared to the corresponding region in other M. avium strains. The ssGPL cluster was highly conserved in the 5′ region between all strains and serotypes tested; the 3′ region reflects extensive divergence among serotypes including whole gene deletions and insertions of sequences containing open reading frames but lacking identity to any known genes.
Treatment Fidelity in Social Work Intervention Research: A Review of Published Studies.

Objectives: This study investigated treatment fidelity in social work research. Method: The authors systematically reviewed all articles published in five prominent social work journals over a 5- y...
A Simple Method for Encapsulating Single Cells in Alginate Microspheres Allows for Direct PCR and Whole Genome Amplification

Microdroplets are an effective platform for segregating individual cells and amplifying DNA. However, a key challenge is to recover the contents of individual droplets for downstream analysis. This paper offers a method for embedding cells in alginate microspheres and performing multiple serial operations on the isolated cells. Rhodobacter sphaeroides cells were diluted in alginate polymer and sprayed into microdroplets using a fingertip aerosol sprayer. The encapsulated cells were lysed and subjected either to conventional PCR, or whole genome amplification using either multiple displacement amplification (MDA) or a two-step PCR protocol. Microscopic examination after PCR showed that the lumen of the occupied microspheres contained fluorescently stained DNA product, but multiple displacement amplification with phi29 produced only a small number of polymerase colonies. The 2-step WGA protocol was successful in generating fluorescent material, and quantitative PCR from DNA extracted from aliquots of microspheres suggested that the copy number inside the microspheres was amplified up to 3 orders of magnitude. Microspheres containing fluorescent material were sorted by a dilution series and screened with a fluorescent plate reader to identify single microspheres. The DNA was extracted from individual isolates, re-amplified with full-length sequencing adapters, and then a single isolate was sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform. After filtering the reads, the only sequences that collectively matched a genome in the NCBI nucleotide database belonged to R. sphaeroides. This demonstrated that sequencing-ready DNA could be generated from the contents of a single microsphere without culturing. However, the 2-step WGA strategy showed limitations in terms of low genome coverage and an uneven frequency distribution of reads across the genome. This paper offers a simple method for embedding cells in alginate microspheres and performing PCR on isolated cells in common bulk reactions, although further work must be done to improve the amplification coverage of single genomes.
Retrospective Parental Ratings and Free Associative Sexual Responsivity in Male and Female College Students

The purpose of this study was that of examining the verbal sexuality of males and females in relation co their perception of the child-rearing attitudes and behavior of their parents. Subjects rated both their mothers and fathers on the Parent-child Relations Questionnaire and the Traditional Family Ideology Scale. All subjects also gave free associations to homophones and double-entendre words loaded for sexual meaning. For both sexes, but especially females, free associative sexual responses were significantly correlated with maternal ratings, while paternal ratings were unrelated to sexual responses. There was some evidence that mothers have opposite effects upon the verbal sexuality of sons and daughters. All subjects gave their free associations to a female experimenter.
The effects of HIP processing on microstructure and phase relations in α2-base titanium aluminides

Abstract Cast α 2 -base alloy (Ti25Al10Nb3V1Mo, at.%) underwent hot isostatic pressing (HIP) at temperatures ranging from 925 to 1125°C and pressures of 100–270 MPa. Effects of temperature and pressure during HIP, on microstructure and volume fraction of the phases present, were investigated. Microstructural characterization was carried out using optical microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The phases present were identified using selected area and convergent beam electron diffraction. Volume fraction of the phases was determined using X-ray diffraction. Optimum refinement in the microstructure was obtained following HIP at 1020°C/262 MPa/6h. The volume fraction of the B2 phase increased from 12% in the as-cast condition to 45% following HIP at 982°C/262 MPa/6 h. Experiments on forged Ti25Al10Nb3V1Mo alloy demonstrated that changes in volume fraction of the phases owing to HIP was applicable for cast as well as forged material. Sharp decrease in the volume fraction of the B2 phase was observed when as-HIP materials were aged at elevated temperature. Possible mechanisms of these changes in the phase stability and microstructure are discussed.
Dynamic Flux Balance Analysis of Diauxic Growth in Escherichia coli

Flux Balance Analysis (FBA) has been used in the past to analyze microbial metabolic networks. Typically, FBA is used to study the metabolic flux at a particular steady state of the system. However, there are many situations where the reprogramming of the metabolic network is important. Therefore, the dynamics of these metabolic networks have to be studied. In this paper, we have extended FBA to account for dynamics and present two different formulations for dynamic FBA. These two approaches were used in the analysis of diauxic growth in Escherichia coli. Dynamic FBA was used to simulate the batch growth of E. coli on glucose, and the predictions were found to qualitatively match experimental data. The dynamic FBA formalism was also used to study the sensitivity to the objective function. It was found that an instantaneous objective function resulted in better predictions than a terminal-type objective function. The constraints that govern the growth at different phases in the batch culture were also identified. Therefore, dynamic FBA provides a framework for analyzing the transience of metabolism due to metabolic reprogramming and for obtaining insights for the design of metabolic networks.
Shewanella secretes flavins that mediate extracellular electron transfer

Bacteria able to transfer electrons to metals are key agents in biogeochemical metal cycling, subsurface bioremediation, and corrosion processes. More recently, these bacteria have gained attention as the transfer of electrons from the cell surface to conductive materials can be used in multiple applications. In this work, we adapted electrochemical techniques to probe intact biofilms of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 and Shewanella sp. MR-4 grown by using a poised electrode as an electron acceptor. This approach detected redox-active molecules within biofilms, which were involved in electron transfer to the electrode. A combination of methods identified a mixture of riboflavin and riboflavin-5′-phosphate in supernatants from biofilm reactors, with riboflavin representing the dominant component during sustained incubations (>72 h). Removal of riboflavin from biofilms reduced the rate of electron transfer to electrodes by >70%, consistent with a role as a soluble redox shuttle carrying electrons from the cell surface to external acceptors. Differential pulse voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry revealed a layer of flavins adsorbed to electrodes, even after soluble components were removed, especially in older biofilms. Riboflavin adsorbed quickly to other surfaces of geochemical interest, such as Fe(III) and Mn(IV) oxy(hydr)oxides. This in situ demonstration of flavin production, and sequestration at surfaces, requires the paradigm of soluble redox shuttles in geochemistry to be adjusted to include binding and modification of surfaces. Moreover, the known ability of isoalloxazine rings to act as metal chelators, along with their electron shuttling capacity, suggests that extracellular respiration of minerals by Shewanella is more complex than originally conceived.
Structure-property relationships in layered tin-titanium cuprates

Abstract The synthesis of layered cuprates with single and double octahedral SnO and TiO layers has been achieved.