cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
‘Race’: What Biology Can Tell Us about a Social Construct

Although there exist human populations that differ in the proportions of particular alleles present, this fact does not support claims that ‘race’, as it is usually understood, is a biological rather than a social concept. Although there are differences in proportions of alleles in those races usually recognised in contemporary western social discourse (folk-racial categories), these differences are no more biologically significant than are the genetic differences that exist between populations that are not socially recognised as races (populations that do not correspond to folk-racial categories). This implies that whatever average genetic differences exist between the populations called ‘races’ in ordinary social discourse, those genetic differences are not what account for the folk-racial categories in use today. Despite recent research sometimes taken to imply otherwise, folk-racial categories – which remain of fundamental importance to people's life-prospects – remain social categories and not biological categories. Key Concepts: Many human populations differ from each other in the frequencies of particular alleles. Many of these genetic variations between human populations can be explained by population structure. Contemporary socially identified racial categories (folk-racial categories) can be mapped (albeit only roughly) onto human populations identified on the basis of the continental location of recent ancestors. Since physical location is associated with population structure, it is no surprise that populations whose ancestors came from different locations will differ in the frequencies of some alleles. Although human populations identified on the basis of folk-racial categories differ in the proportion of particular alleles, so too do many human populations that are not generally socially recognised as forming races (such as the country of origin within Europe). Biologically, the populations that form folk-racial categories (e.g. Asians) are no more important or significant than many other populations that are not usually identified as races (e.g. the Spanish and Portuguese). Although human populations identified on the basis of folk-racial categories differ in the proportion of particular alleles, this does not make the folk-racial categories biological categories. Keywords: biological race; allele frequencies; folk racial categories; human populations; human genetic variation
Chapter 1 Integrated Science in the Central Yellowstone Ecosystem

Publisher Summary Yellowstone National Park is one of the most well-known natural areas in the world, visited annually by approximately three million people from around the globe to experience the natural wonders and famous wildlife populations. The park is relatively large at slightly over 8990 km2 and represents the heart of a much larger 56,000 km2 landscape known as “the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.” This diverse landscape represents the largest intact temperate ecosystem remaining on the planet. The region has high scenic values with its expanses of forested mountains and plateaus, high-elevation grassland valleys and meadows, and pristine rivers, and contains one of the world's highest concentrations of unaltered geothermal features. The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem also contains the largest concentration of wild ungulates and large carnivores in the lower 48 states and has a complete compliment of the organisms believed to have been present during the European settlement. Thus, there is an abundance of large mammal species with strong ecological influences. The attributes of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem make it an area of high conservation value as well as an outstanding natural laboratory where ecological processes are still allowed to operate at large scales. This chapter talks about a research program in central Yellowstone that began in 1991. It grew incrementally as it gained insights, formulated additional hypotheses, tested new data collection techniques, and accrued additional resources and collaborators. Throughout this effort, the project maintained a common vision of building an integrated and multidisciplinary research program dedicated to (1) producing objective science with the goal of advancing the knowledge of basic ecological processes within Yellowstone's central range, (2) supporting sound natural resource management, and (3) communicating the knowledge and discoveries to the public to enhance their experience, appreciation, and enjoyment of the park and the process of ecological research.
"Airborne networking - approaches and challenges"

The initiation of several major acquisition programs related to airborne communications and the Department of Defense's emphasis on network-centric operations has sparked significant efforts in establishing the concept of an airborne network. This paper outlines the major activities underway to establish an airborne network within the Department. These major activities are addressed in the context of the emerging airborne network architecture. In addition, significant technical challenges in supporting the overall architecture is discussed.
The Effects of Country of Design and Country of Assembly on Evaluative Beliefs About Automobiles and Attitudes Toward Buying Them

Abstract Data were collected from 393 automobile owners through a mail survey. A between-subjects research design was used to measure respondents' evaluations of and attitudes toward buying cars carrying country-of-design and country-of-assembly cues. When combining high and low ethnocentric consumers, country effects appeared insignificant. However, splitting the sample into high, moderate and low ethnocentric groups revealed systematic country-based biases in product evaluation and attitudes toward purchase. High ethnocentric consumers favored cars both designed and assembled in the United States as expected. Among low ethnocentric respondents, these biases were reversed in favor of cars designed and assembled in Japan. The findings suggest that country-of-origin effects can only be understood with respect to consumer ethnocentrism. The findings also suggest that low ethnocentric consumers are more likely to use country cues as objective information about product quality. In contrast, highly ethnocentri...
Treatment Strategies that Enhance the Efficacy and Selectivity of Mitochondria-Targeted Anticancer Agents

Nearly a century has passed since Otto Warburg first observed high rates of aerobic glycolysis in a variety of tumor cell types and suggested that this phenomenon might be due to an impaired mitochondrial respiratory capacity in these cells. Subsequently, much has been written about the role of mitochondria in the initiation and/or progression of various forms of cancer, and the possibility of exploiting differences in mitochondrial structure and function between normal and malignant cells as targets for cancer chemotherapy. A number of mitochondria-targeted compounds have shown efficacy in selective cancer cell killing in pre-clinical and early clinical testing, including those that induce mitochondria permeability transition and apoptosis, metabolic inhibitors, and ROS regulators. To date, however, none has exhibited the standards for high selectivity and efficacy and low toxicity necessary to progress beyond phase III clinical trials and be used as a viable, single modality treatment option for human cancers. This review explores alternative treatment strategies that have been shown to enhance the efficacy and selectivity of mitochondria-targeted anticancer agents in vitro and in vivo, and may yet fulfill the clinical promise of exploiting the mitochondrion as a target for cancer chemotherapy.
Strategies for Assessing Commuter Students.

This chapter provides pragmatic suggestions for designing assessment projects focused on commuter students.
Accuracy of diffusing-wave spectroscopy theories.

Random walk computer simulations are reported for the electric field autocorrelation of photons transmitted through multiple-scattering slabs. The results are used as a benchmark for judging the accuracy of competing theories of diffusing-wave spectroscopy (DWS), and also for distinguishing between errors introduced from the approximation of diffusive photon transport and from the continuum approximation that the total square wave-vector transfer of a transmitted photon is proportional to its path length in the material. An important conclusion is that these errors partially cancel, giving accuracies on the order of a few percent for typical experimental situations. Detailed comparisons are made as a function of optical thickness, boundary reflectivity, as well as scattering anisotropy; guidelines are generated for optimizing the analysis of actual DWS data in terms of the dynamics of individual scattering sites.
Sexuality, pre-conception counseling and urological management of pregnancy for young women with spina bifida

A great number of newborns with spina bifida now survive with a growing life expectancy. Support with regard to sexual issues is essential in the management of adolescents with spina bifida, who require specific knowledge of sexual problems related to their disability. Women with spina bifida are usually fertile and need pre-conception counseling. Furthermore, compared to healthy women they have a higher chance of conceiving a child with spina bifida, so they are treated with periconceptional folic acid supplements. In addition pregnancies in women with spina bifida require adequate management of secondary conditions, mainly urological issues, which are exacerbated during pregnancy. This article gives an overview of sexual education, sex functioning and sexual activity among adolescents with spina bifida. Moreover, we aim to support young women with spina bifida, providing pre-conception counseling and practical guidelines essential for the urological management of their pregnancy.
Remarks on quasilinearization applied in boundary-layer calculations.

Quasi-linearization applied in boundary layer calculations, noting simple flow over solid surface
Analysis of smartphone adoption and usage in a rural community cellular network

The smartphone has been touted as the technology of the 21st century. Global smartphone adoption rates are growing rapidly, up to over 24% in 2014, with usage increasing 25% in the last year. However, rural areas are often the last places to benefit from these technological trends. Utilizing cellular network registration logs, we explore the adoption and usage of smartphones in an extremely remote community in Indonesia. We found that 16% of the phones in the area were smartphones (compared to between 14--24% in Indonesia). This shows that smartphone adoption in rural Indonesia is similar to the rest of the country. We also explored usage in the network, and found that smartphone users were more likely to text, especially to other smartphone users.
Are chest radiographs and electrocardiograms still valuable in evaluating new pediatric patients with heart murmurs or chest pain

Objectives. To determine the usefulness of electrocardiography (ECG) and chest radiography (CXR) in evaluation of patients referred to the pediatric cardiologist for the evaluation of heart murmur or chest pain. Design. In this prospective study, 106 consecutive outpatients were categorized with no heart disease, possible heart disease, or definite heart disease based on history and physical examination; they then underwent ECG and CXR. Studies were reviewed and the examining cardiologist could change the diagnosis and order an echocardiogram. Setting. Academic pediatric cardiology practice. Results. In patients thought to have no heart disease, the diagnosis was changed to definite heart disease in four solely on the basis of abnormal CXR or ECG. In 25 patients thought to have possible heart disease, the diagnosis was changed to no heart disease (7) or definite heart disease (5) after review of the CXR and ECG. All 25 patients diagnosed with definite heart disease had this confirmed by abnormal CXR (2), ECG (3), both abnormal CXR and ECG, or echocardiogram (18). Conclusions. ECG and CXR helped diagnose heart disease in four patients thought to have no heart disease, helped to rule out lesions in seven patients with possible heart disease, helped diagnose heart disease in five patients thought to have possible heart disease, and helped confirm heart disease in nine patients. In these days of cost containment, routine ECG and CXR continue to be valuable tools for the pediatric cardiologist in evaluation of patients with heart murmurs or chest pain.
Understanding Simulated Extreme Precipitation Events in Madison, Wisconsin, and the Role of Moisture Flux Convergence during the Late Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries*

AbstractUnderstanding extreme precipitation events in the current and future climate system is an important aspect of climate change for adaptation and mitigation purposes. The current study investigates extreme precipitation events over Madison, Wisconsin, during the late twentieth and late twenty-first centuries using 18 coupled ocean–atmosphere general circulation models that participated in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP3). An increase of ~10% is found in the multimodel average of annual precipitation received in Madison by the end of the twenty-first century, with the largest increases projected to occur during winter [December–February (DJF)] and spring [March–May (MAM)]. It is also found that the observed seasonal cycle of precipitation in Madison is not accurately captured by the models. The multimodel average shows a strong seasonal peak in May, whereas observations peak during midsummer. Model simulations also do not accurately capture the annual cycle of extreme precipitation e...
Critical elevation zones of snowmelt during peak discharges in a mountain river basin

Summary In mountain ranges, elevation correlates with snowmelt through its association with temperature, snow cover, hypsometry and vegetation. A critical elevation zone, where temperatures, snow cover, and the fraction of basin area are high is hypothesized to dominate melt volumes during peak discharge events. The distribution of snowmelt by elevation zone was documented during five peak discharge events in the Merced River Basin, California, using daily MODIS snow covered area (SCA) and a temperature-based melt model. The model successfully reproduced the spatial pattern in runoff measured at two stream gauges. SCA changed rapidly during several events, so daily SCA was essential for accurate estimation of melt, even for periods as short as 6 days. For all events, between 60% and 80% of melt volume occurred in an elevation zone that covered between 22% and 38% of total basin relief. The elevation of the critical zone increased through the melt season, and the center of mass of melt increased from 2425 m in March events to 3093 m in May events. For several events in March and April, the critical zone coincided with a large, flat upland area that covers a significant fraction of the watershed area. Early in the season, the critical zone occurred at a higher elevation than the intermittent area of rapidly changing snow cover, while later in the season the critical zone coincided with an area of rapidly changing snow cover. Forest cover impacted the total volume of melt, but had small effects on the relative distribution of melt among the zones. The critical-zone concept could be used to interpret and predict regional patterns in snowmelt flood peaks based on catchment hypsometry and climate.
Heat diffusion vs. wave propagation in solids subjected to exponentially-decaying heat source: Analytical solution

Abstract The classical parabolic heat conduction equation based on Fourier’s law of heat conduction and the hyperbolic heat conduction equation based on the Cattaneo–Vernotte (C–V) constitutive relation are compared in this study. The present investigation considers the effect of thermal diffusion and wave propagation in solids subjected to a time-varying and spatially-decaying laser irradiation. The incoming energy is simulated as internal heat generation inside the medium. Temperature profiles are presented as closed-form series solutions for both models by using the method of superposition and the solution structure theorem. Results demonstrate that temperatures, based on the classical diffusion theory, are under-predicted at small and moderate times as compared to the wave model under high heat flux and rapid change in temperature situations. The C–V model predicts a higher peak temperature inside the medium and forms a small wave beneath the incident surface due to the lagging behavior in energy transport when compared to the diffusion model at extremely short time periods. The diffusion model may show an overall smaller temperature in the beginning; however, it over-predicts the peak temperature as compared to the results with the wave model at large times.
Infrared multiphoton dissociation in an external ion reservoir.

In this work we present a novel scheme for performing infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) external to the mass analyzer in an external ion reservoir consisting of an rf-only multipole and a pair of electrostatic lens elements. Ions generated by electrospray ionization (ESI) are accumulated in an rf-only hexapole and dissociated by irradiation at 10.6 μm from a CW CO2 laser in the source region of the mass spectrometer. This scheme is unique from other IRMPD schemes as dissociation occurs in a spatially distinct region of the spectrometer and is independent of the mass spectrometry platform used to analyze the fragment ions. The effectiveness of the technique is demonstrated with ESI IRMPD FTICR mass spectrometry of a 20-mer phosphorothioate oligonucleotide. A comparison of the external IRMPD scheme with nozzle−skimmer dissociation and conventional in-cell IRMPD reveals a significant improvement in signal-to-noise ratio and fragment yield, particularly for larger, more highly charged fragment ions.
Effects of acrylamide on locomotion and central monoamine function in the rat

Male rats receiving acrylamide (ACR) in their drinking water (100 ppm) for a six-week period displayed increased psychomotor stimulation to d-amphetamine (d-A; 1.0 mg/kg SC) under several conditions of handling and drug administration. Following behavioral tests a subset of the animals was sacrificed at 15, 50, 80 and 120 minutes following d-A and the brains removed and dissected for determinations of regional brain levels of several monoamine neurotransmitters and metabolites. ACR rats had elevated levels of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) in the striatum, septal area, and thalamus. The effect was most pronounced at 15 minutes post-drug with ACR rats not demonstrating a depression in 5-HIAA levels present in controls. Increases in accumben's dopamine and norepinephrine levels, evident after d-A, were of lesser magnitude in ACR-exposed rats. Decreases in dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid, also evident after d-A, persisted for a longer duration in ACR-exposed rats. Light and electron microscopy of spinal cord, striatum, nucleus accumbens and thalamus did not reveal morphologic abnormalities. Sciatic nerves showed histopathological changes characteristic of multi-focal dying-back peripheral nerve degeneration. It was concluded that acrylamide's effect on the psychomotor stimulant properties of d-A may be related to changes in a serotonergic inhibitory system.
Hemodynamic Assessment to Evaluate Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients with Aortic Stenosis

Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is highly prevalent in patients with Aortic Stenosis (AS) and significantly increases mortality. Correlation between echocardiogram derived right ventricular pressure and measured pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) by right heart catheterization (RHC) have been reported to be poor. Retrospective data of 56 patients with AS who underwent coronary angiography and RHC from June 1999 to 2008 were reviewed. 20 patients (35.1%) had severe PHT with PASP > 55 mmHg on RHC. PASP did correlate with the body weight (r = 0.473, p<0.01). There was a significant correlation between PASP on RHC and RVSP on echo (r = 0.344 p<0.01) but a Bland-Altman plot showed poor association. In patients with PVR < 3, there was correlation between the PASP and LVEDP on RHC (r = 0.655, p<0.001). 34 patients had an estimated RVSP <40 mm Hg on echo and 9 (25.7%) of these patients had severe PHT on RHC. Using a RVSP cutoff of 40 mmHg, echo had 46.8% sensitivity. There was higher mortality at 3 years in patients with severe PHT (44% vs. 10.7%, p <0.01) Conclusions: Severe PHT was found in up to 35% of patients with AS and had higher mortality. Obese patients with AS had a higher likelihood of severe PHT. Echocardiography underestimates PHT in patients with AS. PHT is related to diastolic dysfunction in these patients. RHC should be considered in select patients with aortic stenosis in order to risk stratify and assess for early aortic valve replacement, in patients in whom a reliable TR jet velocity is unobtainable by echo Doppler. (PHT) in severe AS remains unclear however left ventricular (LV) dysfunction may be of one important etiology (2). Prior to AVR all patients undergo coronary angiography but hemodynamic cardiac catheterization is performed in minority of patients, consistent with current practices (3). Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is relied upon to measure the pulmonary artery systolic pressure using the modified Bernoulli equation. However, this may not accurately assess the right ventricular systolic pressure in some cases due to suboptimal tracing of the regurgitation jet, decreased tricuspid jet velocity due to high right atrial pressure or poor estimation of right atrial pressures, and generally poor technique for several reasons (4). Correlations between echo-derived right ventricular pressure and measured pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) by right heart catheterization (RHC) have been reported to be poor when assessed in patients with pulmonary disease (5, 6). No studies have compared echocardiographic assessment of PHT in AS with invasively obtained pulmonary artery pressure using RHC. The reliability of echocardiographic detection and degree of PHT in patients with AS is unknown. The gold standard for diagnosing PHT has been RHC. At our center, we perform hemodynamic measurements on all patients with aortic stenosis planning to undergo valve replacement. We report the unreliability of echocardiographic measurements when assessing for degree of stenosis and PHT.
Theoretical investigation of the gas phase tautomerization of sarcosine

Abstract The proton transfer reaction involving the neutral intramolecular hydrogen bonded conformer of sarcosine (N-methylglycine), Iu , to form the zwitterionic tautomer, Iz , was analyzed by theoretical chemistry. Ab initio calculations show that the zwitterionic conformer Iz , is a minimum at all RHF levels of theory examined. The formation of Iz involves a proton transfer from Iu to form Iz , via a transition state, which is zwitterionic like. Form the RHF/6-311++G** calculations, the activation barrier for the tautomerization is 91.7 kJ/mol, and the energy difference between Iz and the transition state, Its , is 1.9 kJ/mol. Zwitterion Iz reverts to the unionized tautomer at levels of theory which include electron correlation.
Enzyme, adenosine triphosphate, and blood cellular changes in magnesium deficient and control rats.

SummaryThe magnesium deficient rats developed red ears and were unable to gain weight at a normal rate after 5 days on the magnesium deficient diet. The plasma magnesium concentration in animals on a magnesium deficient diet for 1 week was approximately 20% of control values and dropped further, although insignificantly, during the following 3 weeks.The plasma alkaline phosphatase activity in magnesium deficient animals was depressed to approximately 50% of control values by 1 week and remained at this level over the next 3 weeks. A significant decline in the erythrocyte pyrophosphatase activity in magnesium deficient rats did not occur until the second week and remained constant during the following 2 weeks. The slower change in erythrocyte pyrophosphatase activity, when compared with plasma alkaline phosphatase activity, was related to a slower decrease in erythrocyte magnesium content. The whole blood ATP content was significantly lower in the magnesium deficient animals after 2 weeks.The number of ery...
Maintenance Therapy in Young Adults With Severe Generalized Periodontitis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate one year of maintenance therapy in young adults with severe periodontitis (SP) who had previously received periodontal therapy consisting of root planing and scaling followed by open flap debridement. Subjects were evaluated with clinical and microbiological measurements at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months following the completion of active therapy. Subjects were included in the study if they completed a minimum of two evaluation appointments. Monitoring of these subjects during the maintenance phase was analyzed by three methods. First, changes in mean attachment level and mean probing depth were calculated at 3-month intervals to determine if the subjects continued to lose or gain attachment and/or had periodontal pockets of increasing or decreasing depth. Second, the frequency of periodontal breakdown was determined and compared to breakdown rates of subjects in other patient populations. Third, future changes in attachment level were related to the presence or absence o...
Wilderness first aid: is there an "industry standard"?

Objective To determine if an "industry standard" exists for wilderness first aid training and certification of outdoor adventure/education leaders. Methods Regulatory authorities, national organizations, and school/college groups were queried with regard to their requirements for first aid training of their wilderness trek leaders. Results Only 10 of the 22 states with guide licensure programs required any first aid training as a condition of licensure, and none specified a specific course. Of those programs requiring such training, the requirements ranged from a 6-hour standard first aid course to more structured "wilderness first responder" certification. Conclusions There exists no uniform industry standard for first aid training and certification of wilderness leaders. The epidemiology of backcountry injuries as well as what is currently known about clinical skills retention indicate that there may be little evidence basis for much of current practice.
A review of some topics concerning mutagenesis by ultraviolet light

This paper is not a systematic review of the entire field of mutagenesis by ultraviolet light, but coverage of certain areas in which there have been significant developments in the past few years, and which are of particular interest to the author. Some general reviews still widely referred to are those by Witkin (1976), Harm (1980), and Hall and Mount (1981). In this paper, UV means 254 nm light, unless otherwise stated.
Patterns of cell–cell coupling in embryonic spinal cord studied via ballistic delivery of gap-junction-permeable dyes

Intercellular communication mediated by gap junctions is developmentally regulated in many tissues, including the nervous system. In rodent lumbar spinal cord, extensive gap junctional coupling among motor neurons innervating the same muscle is present at birth but is no longer present 1 week later. Little is known about how this motor-pool-specific coupling arises during embryonic development. To address this question, we developed a novel method of visualizing patterns of cell–cell coupling that can be applied to a wide range of tissues. Gap-junction-permeable dyes adsorbed to metal beads were delivered into individual cells in embryonic cerebral cortex or spinal cord using pressure. Dye diffused off of the bead surface into the cytoplasm, crossed gap junctions, and labeled clusters of coupled cells. For embryonic cerebral cortex, this method revealed patterns of cell–cell coupling similar to those reported with other techniques. In embryonic lumbar spinal cord, cell–cell coupling is widespread in the ventricular zone at E11, and the extent of coupling decreases until birth. In the ventral horn, motor neurons are coupled into clusters at E14, with little change in the extent of coupling at E16, and a similar extent of coupling is present at birth. The cell types within clusters, identified by using antibodies against homeodomain transcription factors, were surprisingly heterogeneous in both the ventricular zone and the motor columns. Taken together, these data suggest that the spatial and temporal patterns of cell–cell coupling are dynamic and that cell-type-specific gap junctional coupling arises gradually during spinal cord development. J. Comp. Neurol. 480:273–285, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Immunological relatedness of Escherichia coli 30 S and Saccharomyces cerevisiae ribosomal proteins

Ribosomal proteins of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Hansen) have been compared for immunological relatedness to Escherichia coli 30 S ribosomal proteins (EC30TP). Proteins from the 80 S monomer as well as from the 60 and 40 S subunits react to antibodies formed against E. coli 30 S ribosomal proteins (AEC30TP). The 40 S subunit can be fractionated into soluble and core particles. The proteins from these fractions also react with AEC30TP. Immunological similarities exist despite large differences in the electrophoretic mobilities of these ribosomal proteins. AEC30TP inhibit the enzymatic binding of Phe-tRNA to yeast as well as E. coli ribosomes. Homologous proteins may or may not play a direct role in this binding. Immunological similarities would indicate evolutionary conservation among ribosomal proteins.
Aflatoxin detection in whole corn kernels using hyperspectral methods

Abstract Hyperspectral (HS) data for the inspection of whole corn kernels for aflatoxin is considered. The high-dimensionality of HS data requires feature extraction or selection for good classifier generalization. For fast and                 selection from the full HS response. A new high dimensionality branch and bound (HDBB) feature selection algorithm is used; it is found to be optimum, fast and very efficient. Initial results indicate that HS data is very promising for aflatoxin detection in whole kernel corn. Key words: aflatoxin, agricultural inspection, feature re duction, feature selection, hyperspectral data, product inspection 1. INTRODUCTION Hyperspectral (HS) data is very powerful and provides excellent detailed information useful for many USDA product inspection applications. Initial HS results have been achieved in determining wheat grain quality [1,2], in analyzing the quality of rice [3], in determining moistu re in soybean seeds [4], sugar content in potatoes [5], sausage quality [6], raisin quality [7], fat content in salmon [8], almond nut quality [9-11] etc. This paper considers the use of HS data on a whole corn kernel data base [12] for aflatoxin inspection. New feature selection results [13] are presented.. Use of HS data introduces new problems due to the high dimensionality N
Nitrogen Uptake by Trees and Mycorrhizal Fungi in a Successional Northern Temperate Forest: Insights from Multiple Isotopic Methods

Forest succession may cause changes in nitrogen (N) availability, vegetation and fungal community composition that affect N uptake by trees and their mycorrhizal symbionts. Understanding how these changes affect the functioning of the mycorrhizal symbiosis is of interest to ecosystem ecology because of the fundamental roles mycorrhizae play in providing nutrition to trees and structuring forest ecosystems. We investigated changes in tree and mycorrhizal fungal community composition, the availability and uptake of N by trees and mycorrhizal fungi in a forest undergoing a successional transition (age-related loss of early successional tree taxa). In this system, 82–96% of mycorrhizal hyphae were ectomycorrhizal (EM). As biomass production of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) trees increased, AM hyphae comprised a significantly greater proportion of total fungal hyphae, and the EM contribution to the N requirement of EM-associated tree taxa declined from greater than 75% to less than 60%. Increasing N availability was associated with lower EM hyphal foraging and 15N tracer uptake, yet the EM-associated later-successional species Quercus rubra was nonetheless a stronger competitor for 15N than AM-associated Acer rubrum, likely due to the more extensive nature of the persistent EM hyphal network. These results indicate that successional increases in N availability and co-dominance by AM-associated trees have increased the importance of AM fungi in the mycorrhizal community, while down-regulating EM N acquisition and transfer processes. This work advances understanding of linkages between tree and fungal community composition, and indicates that successional changes in N availability may affect competition between tree taxa with divergent resource acquisition strategies.
Comparisons of Characteristics of Magnetic Clouds and Cloud-Like Structures During 1995 – 2012

Using eighteen years (1995 – 2012) of solar wind plasma and magnetic field data (observed by the Wind spacecraft), solar activity (e.g. sunspot number: SSN), and the geomagnetic-activity index (Dst), we have identified 168 magnetic clouds (MCs) and 197 magnetic-cloud-like structures (MCLs), and we have made relevant comparisons. The following features are found during seven different periods (TP: total period during 1995 – 2012, P1 and P2: first and second half-period during 1995 – 2003 and 2004 – 2012, Q1 and Q2: quiet periods during 1995 – 1997 and 2007 – 2009, A1 and A2: active periods during 1998 – 2006 and 2010 – 2012). (1) During the total period, the yearly occurrence frequency is 9.3 for MCs and 10.9 for MCLs. (2) In the quiet periods 〈N MCs〉Q1 > 〈N MCLs〉Q1 and 〈N MCs〉Q2 > 〈N MCLs〉Q2, but in the active periods 〈N MCs〉A1 < 〈N MCLs〉A1 and 〈N MCs〉A2 < 〈N MCLs〉A2. (3) The minimum Bz (Bz min) inside of an MC is well correlated with the intensity of geomagnetic activity, Dstmin (minimum Dst found within a storm event) for MCs (with a Pearson correlation coefficient, $\mathrm{c.c.} =0.75$ , and the fitting function is Dstmin=0.90+7.78Bz min), but Bz min for MCLs is not well correlated with the Dst index ( $\mathrm{c.c.} =0.56$ , and the fitting function is Dstmin=−9.40+4.58Bz min). (4) MCs play a major role in producing geomagnetic storms: the absolute value of the average Dstmin (〈Dstmin〉MC=−70 nT) for MCs associated geomagnetic storms is twice as strong as that for MCLs (〈Dstmin〉MCL=−35 nT) because of the difference in the IMF (interplanetary magnetic field) strength. (5) The SSN is uncorrelated with MCs (〈N MCs〉TP, $\mathrm{c.c.} = 0.27$ ), but is well associated with MCLs (〈N MCLs〉TP, $\mathrm{c.c.} = 0.85$ ). Note that the c.c. for SSN vs. 〈N MCs〉P2 is higher than that for SSN vs. 〈N MCLs〉P2. (6) Averages of IMF, solar wind speed, and density inside of the MCs are higher than those inside of the MCLs. (7) The average of MC duration (≈ 18.82 hours) is ≈ 20 % longer than the average of MCL duration (≈ 15.69 hours). (8) There are more MCs than MCLs in the quiet solar period and more MCLs than MCs in the active solar period, probably as a result of the interaction between an MC and another significant interplanetary disturbance (including another MC), which could obviously change the character of an MC, but we speculate that some MCLs are no doubt due to other factors such as complex birth conditions at the Sun.
Cognitive mapping as a knowledge engineering tool

Cognitive mapping is introduced as a tool for expert systems development having a role potentially equal to that of the data flow diagrams widely used in information systems development. The cognitive map is used to provide feedback to the domain expert, merge the knowledge of multiple experts, and provide a graphic representation from which the final rule- base is formed. The development of an expert system for loan evaluation is presented to illustrate these uses.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Analysis of Known Fiber Arrays by the Peyer Texlab System

The Peyer Texlab system (Peyer) measures fiber length distribution. Cotton arrays are taken before and after each processing operation, and the change in length distri bution indicates fiber damage during processing. However, the Fibroliner used in the system also loses or breaks fibers. To measure the differences in fiber length distribution caused by the Fibroliner, three varieties of cotton were sent to USDA, AMS, Clemson, where they were sorted into known length groups using the Suter-Webb method. These three sorted varieties of known length distributions were re-sorted with the Fibroliner and analyzed with the Almeter. The results show a discrepancy in the short fiber content and the presence of fibers that were not in the original array.
A smart place in the sun: future‐proofing the Queensland Government Libraries Consortium

The Queensland Government Libraries Consortium can claim to be one of Australia's more successful special library consortia in recent years, with a stable core membership of 14 library services, and combined savings to the Queensland Government of over A$1M in the 2002‐2003 financial year. This paper identifies critical success factors for the consortium to date, and looks to present and future challenges at a time when no organisation can afford to take continued existence, let alone success, for granted. In 2002, consortium members began looking strategically at how their organisation should be working to future‐proof services, and expertise. This process of internal review is still very much a work in progress, and continues to pose as many questions as it answers. It has, however, focused the attention on four issues of critical concern to the consortium: corporate governance, size, scope of functions, and recognition. Solutions implemented to date may serve as useful case studies for other consortia.
Muscle degeneration following remote nerve injury

omy. By 10 days, significant muscle degeneration was ABSTRACT: Muscle depends upon innervation evident and electrophysiological changes were found and contraction to maintain a differentiated state. De- in all animals tested. Muscle anatomical degeneration nervation can therefore induce muscle atrophy. In grasshoppers, muscle degeneration can also be trig- was not induced by synaptic transmission failure, be- gered by the severing of a leg during autotomy. In cause neuromuscular transmission was maintained in this case, the muscles that degenerate are neither dam- most fibers. The rate of muscle degeneration was not aged nor denervated. This phenomenon suggests the constant. Between 1 and 10 days, mean fiber cross- existence of transneuronal mechanisms that influence sectional area did not change on the autotomized side, muscle survival. To characterize this autotomy-in- although this is normally a time of muscle growth. duced process, we studied the degeneration of a tho- However after 10 days, cross-sectional area became racic tergotrochanteral depressor muscle (M#133b,c) drastically reduced and the number of muscle fibers subsequent to the shedding of a hindlimb in the grass- within M#133b,c was decreased. The variability in hoppers Barytettix psolus and Barytettix humphreysii. rate of fiber degeneration was not dependent upon Both histochemical and electrophysiological methods fiber type, since M#133b,c only contains fast-type were used to follow muscle degeneration 1, 3, 5, 10, fibers. ! 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Neurobiol 36: 497-508, and 15 days postautotomy. Muscle fibers began to 1998 show denervation-like electrophysiological changes Keywords: grasshopper; transneuronal; muscle atro- (i.e., depolarized resting membrane potentials and phy; denervation; neuromuscular junction postinhibitory rebound) as soon as 3 days postautot-
On the relationship between evolutionary and psychological definitions of altruism and selfishness

I examine the relationship between evolutionary definitions of altruism that are based on fitness effects and psychological definitions that are based on the motives of the actor. I show that evolutionary altruism can be motivated by proximate mechanisms that are psychologically either altruistic or selfish. I also show that evolutionary definitions do rely upon motives as a metaphor in which the outcome of natural selection is compared to the decisions of a psychologically selfish (or altruistic) individual. Ignoring the precise nature of both psychological and evolutionary definitions has obscured many important issues, including the biological roots of psychological altruism.
The structure of A201A, a novel nucleoside antibiotic.

The structure of the novel nucleoside antibiotic A201A has been determined by a combination of chemical and spectroscopic methods. It is composed of 6-dimethylaminopurine, 3-amino-3-deoxyribose, p-hydroxy-α-methylcinnamic acid, a novel unsaturated hexofuranose and 3, 4-di-O-methylrhamnose. Structures have also been assigned to several related minor factors simultaneously isolated from the fermentation broth. These unique nucleosides have very interesting similarities and differences in structure with the known antibiotics puromycin and hygromycin A.
Genetic responses of oat genotypes to environmental factors

Abstract Results are summarized for a number of cultivar evaluations and selection studies for oat ( Avena sativa L.). Modern cultivars were found to be more tolerant of drought stress than older cultivars, and this tolerance has led to greater yield stability in stress environments. In a separate study, we observed large cultivar differences for heat tolerance. The importance of genetic differences in abiotic stress tolerance is supported by the results of empirical selection studies. The relationship between grain yield and grain protein content was negative in crosses between some oat lines, while in other crosses there was no relationship between the traits. These relationships persisted over several cycles of selection. Other selection studies revealed that greater yield gains were achieved in low yield environments when selection was performed under stress. These results have implications for cultivar improvement strategies for nutrient-poor environments.
Giving up: shelter experiences of battered women.

Within the last decade intrafamilial violence has been identified as a major health and social problem. Women in particular are at high risk for battering and often seek refuge in shelters. Empirical evidence is required regarding the experiences of battered women who use these shelters. Therefore, we collected qualitative data from interviews with seven battered women and by observation in ten group counseling sessions at a shelter in the Southeast. Using grounded theory methodology, the core concept that emerged was "giving up." Supporting concepts were helplessness and fear of the unknown. The participants found it easier to give up and return to the abusive relationship than to seek alternatives. Language: en
Cone photoreceptors respond to their own glutamate release in the tiger salamander.

Abstract Pulse-like currents resembling miniature postsynaptic currents were recorded in patch-clamped isolated cones from the tiger salamander retina. The events were absent in isolated cones without synaptic terminals. The frequency of events was increased by either raising the osmotic pressure or depolarizing the cell. It was decreased by the application of either glutamate or the glutamate-transport blockers dihydrokainate and D,L-threo-3-hydroxyaspartate. The events required external Na+ for which Li+ could not substitute. The reversal potential of these currents followed the equilibrium potential for Cl- when internal Cl- concentration was changed. Thus, these miniature currents appear to represent the presynaptic activation of the glutamate receptor with glutamate transporter-like pharmacology, caused by the photoreceptor's own vesicular glutamate release. Using a noninvasive method to preserve the intracellular Cl- concentration, we showed that glutamate elicits an outward current in isolated cones. Fluorescence of the membrane-permeable form of fura-2 was used to monitor Ca2+ entry at the cone terminal as a measure of membrane depolarization. The increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration, elicited by puff application of 30 mM KCl, was completely suppressed in the presence of 100 microM glutamate. Puff application of glutamate alone had no measurable depolarizing effect. These results suggest that the equilibrium potential for Cl-, ECl, was more negative than the activation range for Ca2+ channels and that glutamate elicited an outward current, hyperpolarizing the cones.
Intragenic regulation of the synthesis of ΦX174 gene A proteins

ONLY one phage gene, A, has been shown to be necessary for the replication of ΦX174 double-stranded replicative form (RF) DNA1–3. The host genes required have yet to be fully determined although one host mutation, rep−3, prevents progeny RF synthesis4. Dissection of the characteristics of gene A has shown that it is (a) cis acting5; (b) necessary for the detection of a cis-related viral strand specific discontinuity in the parental RF6,7; (c) the region of the genome which contains the origin of DNA replication8, and (d) a gene from which two proteins, A and A′ (molecular weights 35,000 and 60-65,000, respectively) are synthesised9,10.
Simple technique to reveal a slow nonlinear mechanism in a z-scanlike n 2 measurement

We report a simple technique to determine whether the nonlinear mechanism that dominates the results of a z-scan n2 measurement is slower than the duration of the exciting pulse. In this technique, the temporal waveform of the beam transmitted through an aperture is observed, instead of total energy per pulse as in a normal z-scan measurement. Using a doubled Nd:YAG laser, we observed a slow response in index change in the absorptive material methyl nitroaniline, whereas CS2 showed fast response compared with the laser pulse width of 65 ns.
A Comparison of Four Input Devices for the Macintosh Interface

Numerous computer input devices have been designed and evaluated in the last decade. In most evaluations, simple pointing and tracking tasks were used that do not adequately represent todays' computer tasks. The following research evaluated four input devices with respect to usability and preference issues. The UnMouse©, the Turbo© mouse, and the Felix© mouse were compared with the Apple Macintosh® Mouse on four different types of task: tracking (point-and-click), desktop manipulation (e.g., point, click, and drag), word processing, and graphics generation. Users expressed preferences for the devices in terms of lower-arm fatigue, precision of control, and comfort of movement. Results indicate that the Macintosh Mouse and the Felix device were quicker and preferred over the other devices.
A discrete mathematical model for solving a handshaking problem and proving its correctness

The following handshaking problem and its solution are known: At a party of four couples, some handshaking took place. One of the group members asked each of the others how many times he/she had shaken hands, and received a different answer from each. No one shook hands with himself/herself nor with his/her partner. How many times did the questioner's partner shake hands? If one approaches the solution via a graph as a discrete model, an approach that this author had not seen in any previously published discussion, it is possible to state the problem and derive its solution more generally for any N couples (Spresser, 1987a, 1987b). We add to previous work by proving the following theorem: Theorem. At a party of N couples, some handshaking took place. Suppose that (1) one member of the group asked each of the others how many times he/she had shaken hands, and received a different answer from each, and (2) no person shook hands with himself/herself nor with his/her partner. Then the questioner and his/her partner each shook exactly N - 1 hands.