cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Changes of crop failure risks in the United States associated with large-scale climate oscillations in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans

Regions that produce a large supply of agriculture commodities can be susceptible to crop failure, thus causing concern for global food security. The contiguous United States, as one of the major agricultural producers in the world, is influenced by several large-scale climate oscillations that contribute to climate variability: Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), El-Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and Pacific-North American (PNA). Since local weather conditions are associated with these climate oscillations through teleconnections, they are potentially causing changes of crop failure risks. The objective of this study is to assess climate-induced changes of annual crop failure risks for maize and winter wheat from 1960 to 2016, by analyzing the associations of large-scale climate oscillations with the frequency of crop failure in the rainfed regions of the United States using a Bayesian approach. The analysis revealed that crop failure frequencies showed contrast spatial patterns and different extent under different climate oscillation phases. Among individual oscillations, the positive PNA and negative AMO resulted in the most substantial increase in maize and winter wheat crop failures over a high percentage of climate divisions, respectively. Among oscillation combinations, the positive AMO and negative PDO and the positive AMO and positive PDO resulted in the highest percentage of climate divisions experiencing significant increase of maize and winter wheat crop failures, respectively. Random forest models with climate oscillations accurately predicted probabilities of crop failure, with the inclusion of local surface climate variables decreased or increased the predictive accuracy, depending on regions. These results revealed the plausible drivers of long-term changes of U.S. crop failure risks and underscore the importance for improving climate oscillation forecasting for early warning of food insecurity.
A Hierarchical Approach to Multienergy Demand Response: From Electricity to Multienergy Applications

Due to proliferation of energy efficiency measures and availability of the renewable energy resources, traditional energy infrastructure systems (electricity, heat, gas) can no longer be operated in a centralized manner under the assumption that consumer behavior is inflexible, i.e., cannot be adjusted in return for an adequate incentive. To allow for a less centralized operating paradigm, consumer-end perspective and abilities should be integrated in current dispatch practices and accounted for in switching between different energy sources not only at the system but also at the individual consumer level. Since consumers are confined within different built environments, this article looks into an opportunity to control energy consumption of an aggregation of many residential, commercial, and industrial consumers, into an ensemble. This ensemble control becomes a modern demand response (DR) contributor to the set of modeling tools for multienergy infrastructure systems.
Counting Zeros Using Observability and Block Toeplitz Matrices

Transmission zeros can be counted by using the Smith–McMillan form, pole/zero modules, or the dimension of the largest output-nulling invariant subspace. This article provides an alternative approach by showing that the number of transmission zeros of a multiple-input–multiple-output (MIMO) transfer function is given in terms of the defect of a block Toeplitz matrix and the defect of an augmented matrix consisting of an observability matrix and the block Toeplitz matrix. It is also shown that the number of infinite zeros is related to the defect of a block Toeplitz matrix. These results are illustrated with a numerical example.
Chapter 189 – Oviposition Behavior

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the oviposition behavior. Oviposition behavior comprises one of the final steps in insect reproduction. It involves the deposition of the mature egg outside the body of the female and includes a series of behavioral and physiological events that begin with the movement of the egg through the oviduct and end with the placement of the egg on a substrate that will support the development of the larva. Specialized behaviors and structures on the female allow her to place the eggs within a protected environment during oviposition. In most species, ovulation and oviposition may be part of a continuum, but in others, they may be separate events in which the eggs are retained for a variable period between ovulation and oviposition. Some species of ovoviviparous cockroaches retain within a brood sac eggs that have been ovulated, until the female finds a suitable place to lay them. The nymphs hatch inside the female. The viviparous tsetse that retain and nourish their larvae after they have hatched from the egg, larviposit late instar larvae that pupate after they burrow into the soil.
Knowledge is Power: An Analysis of Counseling Professionals’ Medicare Policy Proficiency

This study examines counseling professionals’ knowledge concerning the Medicare program and related advocacy efforts. American Counseling Association members (N = 5,097) answered a series of true-false questions that were intended to measure proficiency in two areas: Medicare policy and the counseling profession’s advocacy for provider eligibility. Statistical analyses indicated that members have a wide range of Medicare knowledge. A significant difference in advocacy history knowledge was found when comparing counselor educators, practicing counselors, doctoral students, and master’s students. However, no differences in policy knowledge were present among these groups. Implications for the counseling profession and counselor training are discussed.
Correlational Characteristics of Hoof Conformation and Midstance Kinetics at Walk.

Variations in hoof conformation may alter stress distribution, thus predisposing horses to pathologies and lameness; however, experimental studies are scarce. Our objective was to investigate the correlation between midstance hoof kinetics at the walk and hoof conformation in horses. Nine clinically sound, unshod horses were walked over a pressure plate, and force (F), contact area (CA), contact pressure (CP), and peak contact pressure (PCP) were recorded at the dorsal, palmar, medial, and lateral regions, as well as for the whole hoof. By using digital radiography and digital pictures, 55 variables of internal and external hoof shape and dimensions of the hoof were measured. Correlations between kinetic and anatomical measurements were investigated using Pearson correlation coefficient. P-values ≤ 0.05 and r values ≥ 0.5 were considered. Several anatomical variables showed correlations with biomechanical variables. Toe angle was negatively correlated with CA (r = -0.72). Several heel height measurements were negatively correlated with dorsal F (-0.59 ≤ r ≤ -0.50), suggesting a trend. Measurements of the dorsal hoof wall thickness and length/width of the distal phalanx showed correlations with F and CP (0.5 ≤ r ≤ 0.71). Our study was focused on midstance biomechanics and at the walk; further investigation on other gaits and parts of the stance phases is warranted. Patterns of correlations between internal structural arrangement and hoof kinetic parameters encourage more research and should be considered by veterinarian and farriers for routine and therapeutic trimming/shoeing.
Organizational Cultural Competence

Worldwide, an emerging consensus is that culturally competent and congruent care are essential components of social and ethical responsive quality health care. Key components include not only direct health-care providers, but also leadership support from the organization. This chapter provides an overview of the requisite organizational infrastructure designed to create and sustain cultural competency. Major resources include (a) The National CLAS Standards from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health (2019); (b) The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2019), (c) The National Library of Medicine (2003), (d) Intercultural Competence for All: Preparation for Living in a Heterogeneous World (2012), (e) the Cultural Competence Assessment Profile (Health Resources Service Administration, 2002), and (f) the Purnell Model for Cultural Competence. Culminating this chapter is a crosswalk using these resources.
The Variable Insertional Anatomy of the Abductor Pollicis Longus: Functional Relevance and Relationship to Adjacent Thumb Extensors.

BackgroundThe abductor pollicis longus (APL) is classically described as inserting on the base of the first metacarpal. This study analyzed APL insertional anatomy and quantified the size of variou...
Achieving High Pseudocapacitance Anode by An In Situ Nanocrystallization Strategy for Ultrastable Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Conversion/alloying type anodes have shown great promise for sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) because of their high theoretical capacity. However, the poor structural stability derived from the large volume expansion and short lifetime impedes their further practical applications. Herein, we report a novel anode with a pomegranate-like nanostructure of SnP₂O₇ particles homogeneously dispersed in the robust N-doped carbon matrix. For the first time, we make use of in situ self-nanocrystallization to generate ultrafine SnP₂O₇ particles with a short pathway of ions and electrons to promote the reaction kinetics. Ex situ transmission electron microscope (TEM) shows that the average particle size of SnP₂O₇ decreases from 66 to 20 nm successfully based on this unique nanoscale-engineering method. Therefore, the nanoparticles together with the N-doped carbon contribute a high pseudocapacitance contribution. Moreover, the N-doped carbon matrix forms strong interaction with the self-nanocrystallization ultrafine SnP₂O₇ particles, leading to a stable nanostructure without any particle aggregation under a long-cycle operation. Benefiting from these synergistic merits, the SnP₂O₇@C anode shows a high specific capacity of 403 mAh g–¹ at 200 mA g–¹ and excellent cycling stability (185 mAh g–¹ after 4000 cycles at 1000 mA g–¹). This work presents a new route for the effective fabrication of advanced conversion/alloying anodes materials for SIBs.
Note, Equitable Mortgages and the Homestead Exemption: Tahoe National Bank v. Phillips

This article reviews the California Supreme Court’s decision in Tahoe National Bank v. Phillips, 4 Cal. 3d 11(1971). The court held that a standardized form providing for an assignment of rents and a covenant against conveyances of a person's residence, signed as security for a loan benefiting property distinct from that described in the form agreement, does not operate as an equitable mortgage having priority over a homestead declaration filed after the signing and recording of the form. This narrow holding, however, sharply contrasts with the court's circuitous reasoning, which threatens the continued viability of the doctrine of Coast Bank v. Minderhout imposing an equitable mortgage on the property after a similar covenant against conveyances was breached.If the crucial difference between Tahoe Bank and Coast Bank is whether the loan was made for the improvement of property described in the agreement, Tahoe Bank will have some important ramifications. Where the loan was made for the improvement of distinct property, borrowers who hold outstanding loans under such agreements would be able to further encumber or sell with the new interest in the property having priority over the loan. However, the Tahoe Bank majority stated that the borrower's having actually breached the agreement in Coast Bank was the factor of greater significance. Although the court did not satisfactorily support its claim that there was no breach under the Tahoe Bank facts, this statement emphasizes the importance that the homestead declaration played in the decision. Therefore, the best interpretation of Tahoe Bank is that it reaffirms a strict construction of the homestead statutes in favor of the exemption and implies that a quiet title action by the lender to establish his mortgage does not lie until there is a breach of the agreement by the borrower.
Modeling and control of a monopropellant-based pneumatic actuation system

This work describes the modeling and control of a proposed actuation system that is capable of pressurizing a chamber volume via the catalytic decomposition of a liquid monopropellant controlled by a binary on/off propellant valve. Two design configurations of the actuation system are presented and common portions of both are energetically modeled. The parameters of the resulting dynamic model are meaningful physical properties of either the propellant or the system. A model-based switching controller is then applied to the task of pressure tracking. Model validation and controller performance are shown experimentally.
Memristor based neuromorphic circuit for ex-situ training of multi-layer neural network algorithms

This paper describes a novel memristor-based neuromorphic circuit that can be used for ex-situ training of multi-layer neural network algorithms. The presented ex-situ programming technique can be used to map many key neural algorithms directly onto the grid of resistances in a memristor crossbar. This is possible because the proposed circuit is capable of calculating a true dot product. Existing circuits provide an approximated dot product based on a summation of conductance values, which is inaccurate due to the parallel structure of the crossbar. To show the effectiveness and versatility of this circuit, three different powerful neural networks were simulated. These include a Restricted Boltzmann Machine (RBM) for character recognition, a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) also for character recognition, and a Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) trained to perform Sobel edge detection. Finally, an architecture analysis was performed showing that neuromorphic processors based on these memristor crossbar circuits can be up to 5 orders of magnitude more power efficient than a RISC processor.
‘We Do Not Know from Where’: Transcendence and Openness in Burke and Voegelin

Eric Voegelin and Edmund Burke both were thinkers as original as enigmatic. Each has devoted followers from varied academic backgrounds. Neither fits neatly into any category or camp. Voegelin said that, “We all experience our own existence as not existing out of itself but as coming from somewhere, even if we do not know from where.” Transcendent intimations would gain little from believing we can account for them with certainty. The experience of transcendence requires an openness that will not measure the divine by any standard we can devise. Edmund Burke also expressed doubt at human competence in the face of “that great chain of causes, which linking one to another even to the throne of God himself, can never be unravelled [sic] by any industry of ours.” Such sentiments have tempted many readers to see Burke in sympathy with skepticism. Those efforts are complicated by Burke’s overt theism and several defenses of church establishment, which have tempted other readers to see Burke as an exponent of natural law. Instead, Burke’s appreciation of Providence and human finitude could embrace many revelatory traditions, presuming no hypostatic formulations that would exclude how transcendence manifested itself in various places and times.These two quite different characters meet in their appreciation of a spiritual reality at work in politics and human existence. Comparing them has important limitations, their writings being quite different in purpose and context. Yet their willingness to engage religious mystery sets them apart among philosophers and political writers. To consider them together is to identify how the appreciation of mystery sets them apart, how it contributes to our understanding of political reality.
Reductions in visceral fat during weight loss and walking are associated with improvements in VO(2 max).

The accumulation of visceral fat is independently associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to determine whether the loss of visceral adipose tissue ar...
Design of a modular E-Core flux concentrating axial flux machine

In this paper a novel E-Core axial flux machine is proposed. The machine has a double stator-single rotor configuration with flux concentrating ferrite magnets, and pole windings across each leg of an E-Core stator. E-Core stators with the proposed flux-concentrating rotor arrangement result in better magnet utilization and higher torque density. The machine also has a modular structure facilitating simpler construction. This paper presents a single phase and a three-phase version of the E-Core machine. Case study for a 1.1 kW, 400 rpm machine for both the single phase and three-phase axial flux machine is presented. The results are verified through 3D finite element analysis.
Time-Zero Dielectric Reliability Test by a Ramp Method

Using a long-established feature of time dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) it is demonstrated that a ramped voltage breakdown histogram of a sample population can be used to accurately forecast the rate of breakdown failures in the field. It is shown that such a histogram can be interpreted as the field dependence of failure at constant time. The tamp-TDDB relationship involves no fitting parameters and only a single material-related parameter. The temperature dependence of this parameter is established for SiO2 Extensive ramp-life test measurements have verified the relationship experimentally. It is argued that the usual models used to relate laboratory life tests to reliability failures are inherently faulty. The faults stem from the temperature dependence and the distributions of failure times, both of which must be assumed in order to extrapolate accelerated life tests to use conditions. On the other hand the actual distribution is measured in a ramp test and the temperature acceleration is not needed. This finding has far-reaching implications for reliability assessment. Dielectric life tests can be replaced by the relatively simple and rapid ramp test with increased confidence in projection. From the analysis it is shown that the effect on reliability of a high field screen can be quantitatively determined in an absolute manner.
The relationship of management level to effort level, direction of effort, and managerial performance

Abstract Using a sample of 100 managers at different levels, within a government agency, this study examined the relationship of management level to effort level, direction of effort, and managerial performance. Management level was found to be significantly related to effort level and several direction of effort scales. Management level was also found to moderate the relationship between direction of effort and managerial performance. Results and limitations of the study are discussed.
A chemical timing method for absolute vibrational relaxation rate constants in the vibrational quasi-continuum region of S1 p-difluorobenzene

A new method has been developed to measure absolute rate constants for gas-phase collisional vibrational relaxation in high S 1 p-difluorobenzene (pDFB) vibrational energy regions where the levels overlap to form a quasi-continuum. The heavily mixed vibrational character of these levels produces S 1 → S 0 fluorescence without the vibrational structure that is needed to measure rate constants. Following well-studied chemical timing procedures, the addition of large pressures (in the kTorr range) of O 2 to a low pressure pDFB sample yields a structured fluorescence spectrum that proves to be suitable for measurement of absolute rate constants for vibrational relaxation induced by argon added to the pDFB + O 2 mixture. The first application concerns S 1 pDFB with ∈ v i b = 3700 cm - 1 and a high vibrational state density (ρ v i b > 4000 per cm - 1 ) that creates a quasi-continuum. The absolute rate constant for vibrational energy transfer in Ar collisions from the initially pumped region into the surrounding vibrational field is k Α r v = (9.4 ′ 1.5) x 10 6 Torr - 1 s - 1 = 2.9 × 10 - 1 0 cm 3 molecule - 1 s - 1 . This rate constant is within the experimental error of rate constants determined previously for three lower levels with ∈ v i b ≥ 2887 cm - 1 . The value is roughly 50% of the Lennard-Jones rate constant usually assumed for the vibrational activation/deactivation step of thermal unimolecular reactions. A rate constant analogous to k A r v but for O 2 collisions is determined to have approximately the same value as k A r v. An approximate intramolecular vibrational redistribution (IVR) rate constant for S 1 pDFB with ∈ v i b = 3700 cm - 1 corresponds to an IVR lifetime in the range of 45-75 ps.
Cell anchorage and the cytoskeleton as partners in growth factor dependent cell cycle progression

Several studies in the past year have shown that the cell cycle events typically attributed to a response to growth factors actually require signals provided by both growth factors and the extracellular matrix. Moreover, at least some of these matrix-based effects seem to involve matrix-dependent organization of the cytoskeleton rather than cell adhesion per se. Overall, these studies are providing new insights into the long-appreciated concepts of anchorage- and shape-dependent growth.
Uncovering Systematic Bias in Ratings across Categories: a Bayesian Approach

Recommender systems are routinely equipped with standardized taxonomy that associates each item with one or more categories or genres. Although such information does not directly imply the quality of an item, the distribution of ratings vary greatly across categories, e.g. animation movies may generally receive higher ratings than action movies. While it is a natural outcome given the diversity and heterogeneity of both users and items, it makes directly aggregated ratings, which are commonly used to guide users' choice by reflecting the overall quality of an item, incomparable across categories and hence prone to fairness and diversity issues. This paper aims to uncover and calibrate systematic category-wise biases for discrete-valued ratings. We propose a novel Bayesian multiplicative probit model that treats the inflation or deflation of mean rating for a combination of categories as multiplicatively contributed from category-specific parameters. The posterior distribution of those parameters, as inferred from data, can capture the bias for all possible combinations of categories, thus enabling statistically efficient estimation and principled rating calibration.
An erythroid-specific, developmental-stage-independent enhancer far upstream of the human "beta-like globin" genes.

Abstract We have identified an erythroid-specific enhancer element far upstream of the human "beta-like globin" genes, at 10.2-11.0 kilobases 5' of the embryonic epsilon-globin gene, and thus at 53-54 kilobases 5' of the adult beta-globin gene. It is capable of enhancing the expression of a cis-linked test gene by up to 300-fold. This enhancer element is apparently developmental-stage-independent, as it is functional at the embryonic and the adult developmental stages in erythroid cells that are expressing the respective beta-like globin genes. The enhancer and globin promoter sequences work in synergy and are capable of conferring on a cis-linked gene the high transcriptional efficiency (enhancer function), erythroid specificity (enhancer and promoter functions), and developmental-stage specificity (promoter function) that are characteristic of the in vivo transcription of the beta-like globin genes in erythroid cells.
Accurate Modeling and Analysis of Currents in Trapezoidal FinFET Devices

A framework for accurately determining the device currents in trapezoidal FinFET devices is presented. The analytical formulation also computes the equivalent threshold voltage of an ideal rectangular fin with iso-current characteristics. The approach easily lends itself to the sensitivity analysis of device currents to variations in the geometric parameters.
Covert and overt rehearsal and elaboration during treatment in the development of assertive behavior.

Abstract The present investigation examined the effects of covert and overt rehearsal and client elaboration of situations designed to train assertive behavior. Nonassertive clients ( n = 61) received one of four treatments resulting from the 2 × 2 factorial combination of Modality of Rehearsal (covert vs overt) and Elaboration (elaboration vs no elaboration of training situations). A delayed-treatment group was included in the design to serve as a no-treatment control condition before subjects were assigned randomly to one of the above treatments. Treatment led to significant improvements on self-report and behavioral measures of assertiveness and self-efficacy. Covert and overt rehearsal were equally effective. However, elaboration of training situations significantly enhanced the effects of covert and overt rehearsal. Treatment effects were maintained up to a 6-month follow-up, transferred to novel role-playing situations, and brought clients within the range of other subjects ( n = 45) who regarded themselves as adept in social situations requiring assertive behavior and who had not sought treatment.
Measurements of carbon to amide-proton distances by C-H dipolar recoupling with 15N NMR detection.

A new magic-angle spinning NMR method for measuring internuclear distances between a 13C-labeled site and amide protons is described. The magnetization of the protons evolves under homonuclear decoupling and the recoupled 13C−1H dipolar interaction, which provides simple spin-pair REDOR curves if only one 13C-labeled site is present. The modulation of the amide proton HN is detected via short 1H−15N cross polarization followed by 15N detection. The method is demonstrated on two specifically 13C- and 15N-labeled peptides, with 13C−HN distances from 2.2 to ca. 6 A. This technique promises to be particularly useful for measuring distances between 13CO and H−15N groups, to identify hydrogen bonds in peptides and proteins.
Alpha lipoic acid changes iron uptake and storage in lens epithelial cells

Alpha lipoic acid (LA) is a cofactor in mitochondrial dehydrogenase complexes. Previous studies have shown that when administered exogenously LA has antioxidant properties, which include free radical scavenging, metal chelation and regeneration of other antioxidants. The cells convert LA into dihydroplipoic acid (DHLA), which in the presence of iron can act as a prooxidant. In vitro DHLA reduces Fe(+3) to Fe(+2) and removes iron from ferritin, increasing the risk of Fe catalyzed free radical formation. In the present study we examined the in vivo effects of lipoic acid treatment on Fe metabolism in cultured lens epithelial cells, and found that LA decreases Fe uptake from transferrin, increases Fe deposition into ferritin and increases the concentration of this protein. When administered together with ascorbic acid, lipoic acid changes the characteristic heavy to light chain ratio of ferritin makeup. The decreased Fe uptake and increased storage diminishes the size of the cytosolic highly reactive Fe pool (LIP). These changes are associated with increased cell resistance to H(2)O(2) challenge. Therefore, LA may reduce the risk of Fe induced oxidative damage and also might be useful as a treatment of Fe overload.
A distributed reactivity model for sorption by soils and sediments. 13. simulated diagenesis of natural sediment organic matter and its impact on sorption/desorption equilibria

Subcritical water treatment was used to effect rapid compositional and functional changes to peat organic matter that mimic those of the natural diagenesis process. Elemental, solid state 13C NMR, FTIR, and calorimetry analyses all indicated that the organic matter of the artificially aged peat was chemically similar to that of geologically mature coal kerogens. This paper extends the work of the previous paper in this series, which investigated the effects of subcritical water treatment of humic topsoil on subsequent phenanthrene sorption and desorption equilibria. As opposed to the previous study, however, changes in sorptive reactivity herein were unequivocally related to changes in organic matter rather than other soil constituents, and organic matter functional changes due to the simulated diagenesis were more accurately characterized. Phenanthrene sorption capacity and isotherm nonlinearity both increased with increasing degrees of artificial aging, supporting the viewpoint that hydrophobic organic ...
What Makes or Breaks Provider–Researcher Collaborations in HIV Research? A Mixed Method Analysis of Providers’ Willingness to Partner:

Research is lacking about what makes or breaks collaboration between researchers and HIV services providers. This study identified factors that influence providers’ levels of willingness to collaborate in HIV prevention scientific research. Survey measures were grounded in in-depth interview data and included providers’ “willingness to collaborate,” and providers’ attitudes toward researchers’ availability, benefits of research, and agency preparedness. This survey was administered to 141 providers in New York City. A hierarchical regression model showed that providers’ perceptions of researchers’ availability (p < .05), research benefits (p < .001), and agency preparedness (p < .05) were associated with providers’ willingness to engage with researchers to purse HIV prevention research. Findings indicate that researchers need to be socially and professionally available, future HIV research should benefit providers and consumers, and policy makers should help agency settings develop human and financial res...
Prenatal exposure to androgen influences morphology and aggressive behavior of male and female mice

Abstract To assess the effects of prenatal exposure to androgen on adult aggressiveness in mice, pregnant mice were given injections of 1.5 mg testosterone propionate (TP) or oil from Days 12 to 16 of pregnancy. All offspring were gonadectomized on the day of birth. Neonatal treatment occurred on the day following birth and consisted of one-half of the animals from each prenatal treatment group being injected with 100 μg TP while the other half were injected with oil, yielding four Prenatal/Neonatal treatment groups for each sex. On postnatal Day 60, all offspring were given subcutaneous implants of encapsulated testosterone (T) and tested for 10 min every other day against a male opponent until aggression was observed. Female offspring of TP-treated mothers were indistinguishable from males on external examination at birth. The duration of exposure to T required to induce aggression provides an index of the sensitivity of the neural substrate to T. When arranged from the most sensitive to the least sensitive to the aggression inducing action of T, the four Prenatal/Neonatal treatment groups of females were significantly different from each other: Group TP/TP > Group OIL/TP > Group TP/OIL > Group OIL/OIL. A similar pattern was observed for the male offspring. There were no differences in the proportion of animals per group that exhibited aggression (virtually all animals fought) or the intensity of aggression once exhibited. The results demonstrate that morphological and behavioral masculinization can occur in response to exposure to androgen during prenatal as well as neonatal life in mice.
Cloacal anomalies: role of vesicostomy.

Abstract The purpose of this report is to discuss the use of vesicostomy in the treatment of cloacal anomalies. In 4 years, the authors have performed primary reconstruction in four children who had cloacal anomalies. Three children had tube vaginostomy or clean intermittent catheterization. In hydrocolpos, which in two cases failed to decompress with both cases, cutaneous vesicostomy effectively prevented urinary sepsis, which allowed the children to thrive before definitive reconstruction was performed. Vesicostomy is technically simple to perform and is easily reversed without loss of bladder volume. Further, it lends itself well to definitive reconstruction of cloacal anomalies.
Rapid automated analysis of biogenic amines and their metabolites using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

Abstract A method is described for the rapid automated analysis of: dopamine and norepinephrine; the major dopamine metabolites 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid; and the indoles tryptophan, serotonin, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in less than 0.5 mg of brain tissue. Samples are deproteinized, injected directly onto a reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography column, and quantitated using an electrochemical detector with a glassy carbon electrode. High sample stability permits the use of an automatic sample injector at ambient temperatures. Depending upon the column particle size, sample run times are less than 7–12 min. Thus, over 50 duplicate samples can readily be measured in a single day with very little operator attention. The chromatographic system used also resolves epinephrine, and the catecholamine metabolites: 3-methoxytyramine, normetanephrine, and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol; and with very little modification this assay also could be used to measure these compounds.
Human papilloma virus E6/E7 genes can expand the lifespan of human corneal fibroblasts.

Human corneal fibroblasts were infected with a retroviral delivery vector containing the E6 and E7 genes from human Papilloma virus type 16 in order to produce cell lines that have an expanded lifespan in culture. Morphologically, some of the trasfected corneal fibroblast lines appeared to have the normal spindle-shape morphology of diploid fibroblasts, whereas other lines appeared to have a more elongated morphology. All the cell lines were anchorage-dependent. Cells that had a normal morphology grew at a rate similar to normal diploid human corneal fibroblasts and had a population doubling time of 48 h. All E6/E7 expressing cell lines, regardless of morphology, produce types I, III, and V collagen, at levels similar to those observed in the parent corneal diploid fibroblast. These corneal fibroblast lines will be a usefulin vitro system to study collagen expression and fibril formation, as well as normal stroma development. These results also demonstrate that the use of E6/E7 genes to expand a cell’s lifespan can be a powerful tool because it does not appear to alter either the growth rate of the cell or collagen expression.
Spin currents in thermodynamic equilibrium: The challenge of discerning transport currents

The standard definition of a spin current, applied to the conductors lacking inversion symmetry, results in nonzero spin currents. I demonstrate that the spin currents do not vanish even in thermodynamic equilibrium, in the absence of external fields. These currents are dissipationless and are not associated with real spin transport. The result should be taken as a warning indicating problems inherent in the theory of transport spin currents driven by external fields.
Possible role of phase segregation in the disagreement between the metal-insulator and ferromagnetic transition temperatures in some colossal magnetoresistance compounds

The isovalent substitution of Gd for La in ${\mathrm{La}}_{0.7}{\mathrm{Ca}}_{0.3}{\mathrm{MnO}}_{3}$ lowers the paramagnetic-ferromagnetic transition temperature ${T}_{c}$ and metal-insulator transition temperature ${T}_{\mathrm{MI}}$ with a substantial increase in the electrical resistivity \ensuremath{\rho}. Reduction of the ferromagnetic saturation moment M (5 K) below that expected for complete ferromagnetic alignment of the Mn magnetic moments occurs and ${T}_{\mathrm{MI}}$ is significantly lower than ${T}_{c}$ for $xg0.2.$ The observations are consistent with the existence of a granular mixture of ferromagnetic/conducting La-Ca-Mn-O and ferrimagnetic/insulating Gd-Ca-Mn-O. The ionic radius of the substituted rare-earth ion is found to be an important factor in determining whether or not granular behavior occurs. The results provide insight into why ${T}_{c}\ensuremath{\ne}{T}_{\mathrm{MI}}$ in some colossal magnetoresistance oxides.
Theoretical investigation on the possibility of preparing left-handed materials in metallic magnetic granular composites

We investigate the possibility of preparing left-handed materials in metallic magnetic granular composites. Based on the effective medium approximation, we show that by incorporating metallic magnetic nanoparticles into an appropriate insulating matrix and controlling the directions of magnetization of metallic magnetic components and their volume fraction, it may be possible to prepare a composite medium of low eddy current loss that is left-handed for electromagnetic waves propagating in some special direction and polarization in a frequency region near the ferromagnetic resonance frequency. This composite may be easier to make on an industrial scale. In addition, its physical properties may be easily tuned by rotating the magnetization locally.
Silver complexation in river waters of central New York

Abstract The dissolved component of the apparent silver complexation capacity was determined for Susquehanna and Chenango River water samples collected over a 3-month period in the vicinity of Binghamton, New York. Silver ion activities detected by the Ag + /S 2− ion selective electrode during potentiometric titration of the river water with AgNO 3 were lower than Ag + activities calculated with an inorganic equilibrium speciation model. The maximum difference in Ag + activity, which ranged from 1.5 × 10 −8 to 8.4 × 10 −8 , was attributed to the presence of a constituent or constituents in the river water which strongly bind Ag, perhaps dissolved organic matter and/or colloidal material. Variation in apparent complexation capacity between river water samples was explained by different concentrations of the ligands complexing Ag. A tentative extrapolation of the dissolved Ag speciation to Ag concentrations in natural river water suggested that most of the Ag would be complexed by Cl − and an unidentified constituent or constituents.
Modelling and design of nonlinear feedback control law for a large space hoop-column antenna

The problem of modelling and design of a nonlinear control law for the hoop-column antenna in orbit is presented. A 100-meter diameter reflector antenna is studied as a flexible body in a near-earth equatorial circular orbit. The dynamics of the body involve nonlinear coupled equations of rotational and generic modes. The generic modes involve the eigenfrequencies of the body. The main disturbances considered on the body are those due to the earth's gravity gradient and vibration modes. A nonlinear control law (the receding horizon concept) is used to stabilize the antenna using linearised version of the equations of motion by retaining a finite number of truncated modes. The nonlinear control law design is compared with linear quadratic regulator controller implementation.
Effects of dorsal or ventral medial prefrontal cortical lesions on five-choice serial reaction time performance in rats

Lesions of the rat medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) produce behavioral impairments in the 5-choice serial reaction time (5CSRT) task, a widely used measure of sustained and selective visual attention. This experiment compared the effects of "dorsal" (centered on prelimbic and infralimbic cortices) and "ventral" (centered on dorsal peduncular cortex and tenia tecta) mPFC lesions on performance in a variant of the 5CSRT task. Because in some associative learning theories, the predictive validity of events determines the allocation of attention to them, we also examined the effects of cue validity in this task. Operant nosepoke responses to some briefly illuminated ports were consistently (100%) reinforced (CRF) with food, whereas for other ports, responding was reinforced on only 50% of the trials (partial reinforcement, PRF). Different patterns of impairment emerged depending on lesion location within the mPFC. Dorsal- and sham-lesioned rats responded more to CRF than to PRF cues, but ventral-lesioned rats responded similarly to CRF and PRF cues. Additionally, under some conditions of increased attentional demands, dorsal-lesioned rats failed to respond on many trials, whereas the impairment in ventral-lesioned rats was manifested as an increase in response errors. These results demonstrate separable roles for dorsal and ventral mPFC subregions in controlling attention.
35 Gbit/s error-free operation of 980nm DBR laser with integrated electroabsorption modulator

High-speed, single-frequency transmitters at 980 nm are reported, with open eye diagrams up to 40 Gbit/s and error-free operation up to 35 Gbit/s. The transmitters consist of a short-cavity, distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser with an integrated electro absorption modulator fabricated using a quantum well intermixing processing platform. This represents the fastest bit-rate operation to date from a single transmitter in the 830-1100 nm datacom wavelength range.
On the role and use of “theory” in science education research: A response to Johnston, Southerland, and Sowell

We were pleased to see the discussion and criticism by Johnston, Southerland, andSowell (2006) of our construct of “learning ecologies” (Abd-El-Khalick & Akerson, 2004)because there is an increasing need for more reﬂective discussions about the role and use of“theory” in science education research. We approach the ﬁrst section of the present com-ments from this broad perspective. The second section of our comments will addressJohnston et al.’s criticisms of “learning ecologies” in the context of discussing conceptualchange theory (CCT). Learning ecologies, it should be noted, was introduced in the contextof our continuing efforts to understand the development of elementary teachers’ concep-tions of nature of science (NOS) (Abd-El-Khalick & Akerson, 2004, 2006; Akerson A Akerson, Abd-El-Khalick, & Lederman, 2000). In particular, theconstruct came out of our attempt to undertake explicit-reﬂective NOS instruction (Abd-El-Khalick, Bell, & Lederman, 1998; Abd-El-Khalick & Lederman, 2000) in elementary
Early feeding factors associated with exclusive versus partial human milk feeding in neonates receiving intensive care

Early feeding factors associated with exclusive versus partial human milk feeding in neonates receiving intensive care
The Bloch equations in high-gradient magnetic resonance force microscopy: theory and experiment.

Abstract We report theory and observations of paramagnetic resonance in a measured field gradient of 44,000 T per meter by the technique of magnetic resonance force microscopy (MRFM). Resonance was induced in a dilute solid solution of diphenylpicrylhydrazyl in polystyrene at 77 and 10 K by an amplitude-modulated microwave field. This modulated the force between resonant sample spins and a micrometer-scale SmCo magnetic tip on a force microscope cantilever. The force signals were typically of order 10 fN, and were detected above a thermal noise floor of 80 aN per root hertz at 10 K, equivalent to a magnetic moment noise of 200 μ B per root hertz of bandwidth. Resonance saturation was readily observed. Starting with the Bloch equations, we derived simple analytic expressions for the predicted cantilever signal amplitudes and T 1 -dependent phase lags, valid at low microwave power levels. For power levels below saturation, the data were in good agreement with the Bloch equation predictions, while above saturation the measured force increased more slowly with power than predicted. Several ESR mechanisms which might lead to non-Bloch dynamics in the MRFM environment are reviewed. Spin-relaxation mechanisms are also reviewed. A detailed description of the experimental apparatus is offered.
Hot topics-eye-gaze computer interfaces: what you look at is what you get

As computers are becoming more powerful, the critical bottleneck in their use is often in the user interface, not in the computer processing. Research in human-computer interaction that seeks to increase the communication bandwidth between the user and the machine by using input from the user's eye movement is discussed. The speed potential, processing stages, interaction techniques, and problems associated with these eye-gaze interfaces are described. >
GABA responses and their partial occlusion by glycine in cultured rat medullary neurons

Abstract Whole-cell current responses to bath application of GABA and glycine were studied in medullary neurons cultured from embryonic rats. Two current components were seen in the responses to bath application of GABA, one component which desensitized and another which did not. These two current components have different dose-response characteristics for GABA, with the nondesensitizing component being activated more effectively and reaching its peak amplitude at lower agonist concentrations than the desensitizing one. The agonist concentrations producing half of the maximum responses are 2.8 ± 0.3 (±S.E.M., n = 9) and 14.7 ± 2.7 ( n = 5) μM for the nondesensitizing and desensitizing components, respectively. The two current components for GABA are differentially affected by the antagonists, picrotoxin and bicuculline. The antagonist concentrations which block 50% of the control desensitizing and nondesensitizing responses to GABA are 33 and 320 μM for picrotoxin, and 3 and 50 μM for bicuculline, respectively. Thus, the characteristics of the GABA responses are analagous to those described previously for glycine in that there are two components which are differentially sensitive to agonist concentration [Lewis et al . (1991) J. Neurophysiol. 40 , 1178–1187]. We now find there is occlusion between the responses to GABA and glycine, indicating that they share a population of receptors or channels. The occlusion was incomplete ( Consequently, these results suggest that these cultured cells have at least three types of inhibitory receptors: glycine receptors, GABA receptors and GABA/glycine receptors, with all three receptors sensitive to block by strychnine, bicuculline and picrotoxin. The GABA/glycine receptor may be an immature form of the inhibitory receptor. Alternatively, some GABA and glycine receptors may have common ionophores.
Theoretical study of the absorption spectra of the lithium dimer

For the lithium dimer we calculate cross sections for absorption of radiation from the vibrational-rotational levels of the ground X [singlet Sigma g +] electronic state to the vibrational levels and continua of the excited A [singlet Sigma u +] and B [singlet Pi u] electronic states. Theoretical and experimental data are used to characterize the molecular properties taking advantage of knowledge recently obtained from photoassociation spectroscopy and ultra-cold atom collision studies. The quantum-mechanical calculations are carried out for temperatures in the range from 1000 to 2000 K and are compared with previous calculations and measurements.
Angler Catch Rates and Catchability of Walleyes in Oneida Lake, New York

Abstract Understanding the relationship between anglers and fish is important to the management of angling fisheries. We compared angler catch rates estimated from creel surveys with (1) population density estimates of age-3 and older walleyes Sander vitreus based on mark–recapture and (2) mean growth of walleyes aged 4–6 in Oneida Lake during 1957–1959, 1997, and 2002– 2003. We also compared walleye catchability to walleye population density. Angler catch rates were not related to walleye population density; however, by combining population density and walleye growth, we were able to explain 97% of the variability in angler catch rates, perhaps because growth rates were related to prey abundance. Catchability of walleyes decreased as population density increased. Consideration of these effects should improve our understanding of angler–fish dynamics and allow fishery managers to better predict the effects of management actions.