cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of Aldicarb and Neonicotinoid Seed Treatments on Twospotted Spider Mite on Cotton

Twelve field experiments and one laboratory experiment were conducted to determine the effects of furrow applied aldicarb and seed treatments of thiamethoxam, imidacloprid, Avicta (thiamethoxam + abamectin), Aeris (imidacloprid + thiodicarb), and acephate on twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch, on cotton, Cossypium hirsutum L. For the field experiments, data were pooled across all experiments for analysis. Aeris, thiamethoxam, and imidacloprid treatments resulted in twospotted spider mite densities greater than those in the untreated check, aldicarb, and acephate treatments. However, cotton treated with Avicta (thiamethoxam + abamectin) had 34% fewer mites than other neonicotinoid seed treatments when infestations occurred near cotyledon stage. Untreated check and aldicarb treatments had the lowest mite densities. Only aldicarb reduced mite densities below that in the untreated check. In a laboratory trial, the fecundity of twospotted spider mite was measured. While neonicotinoid seed treatments increased mite densities in the field, they did not increase fecundity in the laboratory experiment. Foliar applied thiamethoxam slightly elevated average fecundity in the laboratory experiment. Increased use of neonicotinoid seed treatments instead of furrow applied aldicarb is likely at least partly responsible for recent increased twospotted spider mite infestations in seedling cotton across the mid-south.
Energy transfer in quasibinary and collective scattering events at a Ag(001) surface

We have measured the in-plane scattered distributions of ${\text{K}}^{+}$ ions incident on a Ag(001) surface with energies from 9 to 100 eV. Energy- and angle-resolved spectra of the scattered flux show multiple peaks distinctly separated in energy corresponding to specific ion trajectories at the surface. Using a calculated interaction potential combined with the classical scattering simulation SAFARI we are able to model these trajectories and detail their energy-loss characteristics. At energies below approximately $24\text{ }\text{eV}$ we find that the ions scatter with a larger energy than one would expect from quasibinary collisions. Our trajectory analysis reveals this is a transition from the quasibinary behavior to a collective surface response more commonly associated with thermal energy atom scattering.
Response: Against manned space flight programs

Abstract Richard Rovetto has done a good job of assembling various arguments that are commonly advanced for a program of manned space flight. I will take them up one by one, and explain why I find them all unconvincing.
Children's Self-Esteem, Level of Esteem Certainty, and Responsibility for Success and Failure

Summary Relationships between children's self-esteem, certainty of self-esteem appraisal, and intellectual achievement responsibility were examined in boys and girls at the sixth-grade (N = 146) and tenth-grade (N = 151) levels with use of the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Scale and the Intellectual Achievement Responsibility Questionnaire. Differences between assumption of responsibility for success and responsibility for failure were found for all variables except grade level, supporting the notion that locus of control is not a unidimensional construct. Results suggest that a model involving a modification of attribution theory is necessary to account for the effects of varying levels of self-esteem.
Conséquences des lésions fonctionnelles aiguës après revascularisation rénale percutanée

La revascularisation percutanee de l'artere renale pour hypertension et insuffisance renale est maintenant frequente, et il est de plus en plus considere que le geste renal peut etre associe a des lesions parenchymateuses. La frequence, la cause, et les resultats des lesions fonctionnelles aigues liees au geste renal sont mal identifies. Notre but etait de determiner la frequence des perturbations renales fonctionnelles aigues 30 jours apres le geste sur l'artere renale, d'identifier les facteurs lies aux troubles renaux fonctionnels et de determiner si des troubles fonctionnels lies au geste renal sont associes a des evenements cliniques defavorables tardifs. Une analyse retrospective des patients ayant des interventions sur l'artere renale pour lesions atheromateuses entre 1990 et 2007 a ete faite. Aucun dispositif de protection embolique distale n'a ete utilise. Les troubles renaux parenchymateux fonctionnels aigus ont ete definis comme l'augmentation persistante de la creatinine serique ≥ 0,5 mg/dL 1 mois apres la procedure. L'absence de morbidite renale (augmentation de la creatinine persistante >20%, evolution vers l'hemodialyse, deces de cause renale) et la survie des malades ont ete mesurees. Il y avait 418 patients qui ont eu 581 interventions sur l'artere renale : 57% pour hypertension, 23% pour hypertension associee a une insuffisance renale chronique, et 12% pour insuffisance renale. Des troubles renaux fonctionnels aigus se sont produits chez 20% des patients. L'occurrence des troubles fonctionnels etait associee a une diminution significative de l'absence de morbidite liee au rein (moyenne ± ESM 80 ± 2% contre 55 ± 10%, absence de trouble vs. troubles, p
Pseudogene-derived lncRNAs: emerging regulators of gene expression

In the more than one decade since the completion of the Human Genome Project, the prevalence of non-protein-coding functional elements in the human genome has emerged as a key revelation in post-genomic biology. Highlighted by the ENCODE (Encyclopedia of DNA Elements) and FANTOM (Functional Annotation of Mammals) consortia, these elements include tens of thousands of pseudogenes, as well as comparably numerous long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) genes. Pseudogene transcription and function remain insufficiently understood. However, the field is of great importance for human disease due to the high sequence similarity between pseudogenes and their parental protein-coding genes, which generates the potential for sequence-specific regulation. Recent case studies have established essential and coordinated roles of both pseudogenes and lncRNAs in development and disease in metazoan systems, including functional impacts of lncRNA transcription at pseudogene loci on the regulation of the pseudogenes’ parental genes. This review synthesizes the nascent evidence for regulatory modalities jointly exerted by lncRNAs and pseudogenes in human disease, and for recent evolutionary origins of these systems.
GEOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF CLIMATIC AND CLIMATO-GENETIC GEOMORPHOLOGY

ABSTRACT The relationship of climate to land-surface morphology and genesis has been investigated by numerous writers for well over half a century. Such studies have focused in part upon interpreting erosional cycles, but more importantly they have to an increasing degree been oriented toward understanding the areal variation of specific surface forms and geomorphic processes. Especially pertinent to the geographer are recent attempts in the United States, and particularly by Julius Budel in Germany, to use climatic influence as a basis for establishing morphogenetic and climato-genetic regions.
Postmortem stability of brain GABAergic and glutamatergic receptors and enzymes under ecological conditions

Neurochemical biomarkers have emerged as useful tools for assessing the subclinical neurological impacts of environmental toxicants in birds and other wildlife. Careful consideration of biomarker stability is necessary before implementing their use on tissues from ecological studies, as receptors and enzymes in the brain may be affected by postmortem conditions. The goal of this study was to evaluate the postmortem stability of key GABAergic and glutamatergic receptors (N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAA-benzodiazepine)) and enzymes (glutamine synthetase (GS), glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD)) under environmentally relevant field and storage conditions to determine their suitability as biomarkers. We exposed chicken embryo brains to postmortem environmental and storage conditions typical for ecological studies (12, 24, and 48 h at 7 °C or 25 °C; 1, 4, and 8 weeks at -80 °C or -20 °C; 1 or 2 freeze thaw cycles), and measured [3H] MK-801 binding to the NMDA receptor, [3H] flunitrazipam binding to the GABAA-benzodiazepine receptor, GS activity, and GAD activity. We found that [3H] MK-801 binding is stable under all conditions studied. GAD activity was fairly stable under each storage and environmental temperatures for all durations, but was significantly less stable when stored at -20 °C than at -80 °C. [3H] flunitrazipam binding and GS activity were both impacted by environmental and storage temperature and duration, and might best be utilized in studies of samples with similar histories. Our findings here demonstrate that caution is warranted when comparing samples with different collection and storage histories, but that some biomarkers are fairly stable under various conditions.
Lophate sculpturing of Vernonieae (Compositae) pollen

Abstract Vernonieae (Compositae) taxa Vernonia and Elephantopus were examined by scanning (SEM) and by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). All pollen grains of Vernonia have a subechinolophate sculpturing consisting of a wrinkled net-like ektexine delineating a system of thickened and randomly meandering ridges and corresponding valleys. Ektexine on the ridges radiates from near mid-regions of massive, individual columellae that terminate in sharp spines approximately 4.5 μm above the ektexine surface. Less massive secondary columellae without apical protrusions support the ektexine net in the spine areas. In the valleys, the ektexine is markedly depressed. Removal of the net by freeze-fracture exposes an exine surface that is clearly imprinted with distinctive lophate features. Elephantopus pollen is echinolophate and extends the morphological range for this little studied genus. Lophae are the thickened equivalents of ektexine tecta and represent the highly anastomosing and intertwined rod-like elements of forked distal parts of densely clumped, massive columellae. Lophae surfaces contain rare punctations that are randomly scattered among blunt spinules ranging from approximately 0.3 to 1.5 μm in height. It is clear that only one sculpture pattern, lophate, characterizes Vernonieae pollen and that it embraces two forms, subechinolophate and lophate. Of the two structural patterns in the Compositae, caveate and noncaveate, subechinolophate sculptured Vernonia pollen is noncaveate. Elephantopus pollen is also noncaveate but more generalized than Vernonia .
The Moisture Buffering Capability of Museum Cases

Hygrometric half-lives and air exchange rates of four commonly used types of museum cases: Solander boxes, portfolio boxes, music boxes, and document boxes were measured. This paper will present the experimental results and illustrate the effect of the construction materials and closure characteristics on the moisture buffering capability of museum cases.
Purification of labeled N-ethyl maleimide

Abstract Commercially available preparations of radioactive N -ethyl maleimide can be purified after extraction at low temperature with ethyl chloride and removal of ethanol with calcium chloride. The residue from evaporation of this low boiling solvent can be readily obtained free of impurities by sublimation.
Segmental Testicular Infarction in the Neonate: A Case Report

A case of neonatal segmental testicular infarction in 1 testicle with complete infarction in the contralateral testicle is reported. Postoperative testicular function was documented by serum testosterone assay. To our knowledge this is the first case of neonatal testicular salvage in this setting documented by serum testosterone level. We hypothesize that vascular injury secondary to birth trauma was the likely cause in our case. The similarities and differences between this entity and neonatal extravaginal torsion of the spermatic cord are discussed.
Coronin 1C harbours a second actin-binding site that confers co-operative binding to F-actin

Dynamic rearrangement of actin filament networks is critical for cell motility, phagocytosis and endocytosis. Coronins facilitate these processes, in part, by their ability to bind F-actin (filamentous actin). We previously identified a conserved surface-exposed arginine (Arg30) in the β-propeller of Coronin 1B required for F-actin binding in vitro and in vivo. However, whether this finding translates to other coronins has not been well defined. Using quantitative actin-binding assays, we show that mutating the equivalent residue abolishes F-actin binding in Coronin 1A, but not Coronin 1C. By mutagenesis and biochemical competition, we have identified a second actin-binding site in the unique region of Coronin 1C. Interestingly, leading-edge localization of Coronin 1C in fibroblasts requires the conserved site in the β-propeller, but not the site in the unique region. Furthermore, in contrast with Coronin 1A and Coronin 1B, Coronin 1C displays highly co-operative binding to actin filaments. In the present study, we highlight a novel mode of coronin regulation, which has implications for how coronins orchestrate cytoskeletal dynamics.
An empirical evaluation of the MBTI typology

Abstract The popular Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) applies a classification schema that allocates all respondents to one of 16 types on the basis of four preference scores. The study's aim was to evaluate the empirical validity of the MBTI classification scheme. The approach taken was to apply two cluster analytic procedures to the four standardized scale scores. One method applied was Ward's hierarchical grouping procedure and the other a non-hierarchical average linkage. Five clusters in the first sample of 100 men could be matched across the two procedures, and four clusters in the second sample of 100 were also matched. On the whole, agreement between the MBTI 16 categories and the empirically derived clusters was weak or negligible. Some reasons why the MBTI typology is defective as a classification scheme are carefully delineated.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Cif Protein Enhances the Ubiquitination and Proteasomal Degradation of the Transporter Associated with Antigen Processing (TAP) and Reduces Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Class I Antigen Presentation

Cif (PA2934), a bacterial virulence factor secreted in outer membrane vesicles by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, increases the ubiquitination and lysosomal degradation of some, but not all, plasma membrane ATP-binding cassette transporters (ABC), including the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator and P-glycoprotein. The goal of this study was to determine whether Cif enhances the ubiquitination and degradation of the transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP1 and TAP2), members of the ABC transporter family that play an essential role in antigen presentation and intracellular pathogen clearance. Cif selectively increased the amount of ubiquitinated TAP1 and increased its degradation in the proteasome of human airway epithelial cells. This effect of Cif was mediated by reducing USP10 deubiquitinating activity, resulting in increased polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of TAP1. The reduction in TAP1 abundance decreased peptide antigen translocation into the endoplasmic reticulum, an effect that resulted in reduced antigen available to MHC class I molecules for presentation at the plasma membrane of airway epithelial cells and recognition by CD8+ T cells. Cif is the first bacterial factor identified that inhibits TAP function and MHC class I antigen presentation.
A mechanistic kinetic model for the initiated anionic polymerization ofϵ‐caprolactam

The preparation of Nylon-6 via the initiated anionic polymerization of EE-caprolactam is characterized by rapid reaction rates displaying marked auto-acceleration. A mechanistic approach has been taken to analyze the kinetics of this system and has resulted in the postulation that the auto-acceleration is directly linked to a polymer chain degradation reaction. This reaction is significant even in the early stages of the polymerization and in many cases becomes the dominant mechanism for the production of reactive end groups, thereby controlling the overall reaction rate. A kinetic model is presented which is capable of differentiating between polymerizations carried out with different levels and ratios of catalyst and initiator, and contains but two rate constants—one for the propagation reaction and one for the degradation reaction. Predictions of the model are compared to experimental rate data derived from using both mono-and difunctional initiators and close agreement is found.
Reliability-based optimum design of reinforced concrete girders

A practical optimization approach to the design of reinforced concrete girders for highway bridges is presented. The approach is entirely based on the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) standard specifications for highway bridges. All behavior and side constraints specified in the AASHTO bridge code are considered in the optimum design process. Two optimization formulations are presented. The first uses load and resistance design factors (LRFD) and the second one is entirely based on a reliability approach. In these formulations, the independent and dependent variables are identified, and the constraints are formulated in both the AASHTO-LRFD format and the AASHTO-reliability-based format. The solutions for both formulations are obtained by using a nonlinear optimization software. Numerical examples illustrate the application of the proposed approach to the design of reinforced concrete T-girders. Sensitivity analyses are also performed for finding the effects of various parameters including steel to concrete cost ratio and allowable reliability level on the optimum solution.
Effect of mixed transition-metal ions in glasses. I. The P2O5-V2O5-Fe2O3 system

Abstract Non-linear variation of certain physical properties with composition, similar to the mixed alkali effect (MAE), has been observed in phosphate glasses containing iron and vanadium ions in the xV2O5 · (50 − x)Fe2O3 · 50P2O5 series. With the total concentration of transition ions (TIs) constant, gradual substitution of one TI (e.g. Fe in the binary composition Fe2O3–P2O5) by the other (viz., V) increases dc resistivity (ρ), activation energy for dc conduction (W) and glass transition temperature (Tg) until these properties reach their maxima. Beyond the maxima, ρ, W and Tg are observed to decrease with increasing TI-ratio, V/(V + Fe), until the binary P2O5–V2O5 composition is reached. The non-linear variation of the physical properties with TI-ratio has been termed the ‘mixed transition-ion effect’ or MTE. The similarities between MTE and MAE are remarkable because the former is electronic in nature while the latter has its origin in ionic motion. In the absence of a comprehensive theory, tentative arguments suggestive of the origin of MTE have been presented.
Expression of cell-cycle regulator CDK2-associating protein 1 (p12CDK2AP1) in transgenic mice induces testicular and ovarian atrophy in vivo.

The novel cell-cycle regulator p12CDK2AP1 (p12) gene encodes a cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) partner that participates in cell-cycle regulation, apoptosis, and proliferation. CDK2 has been implicated in maintenance of gonadal homeostasis, as knockout mice display reproductive abnormalities. To investigate the role of p12 in homeostasis of gonadal tissues in vivo, we generated a transgenic mouse model driven by the human keratin 14 promoter, reported to target transgene expression to gonadal tissues and also stratified epithelia. Overexpression of the transgene was associated with a gonadal atrophy phenotype in mice of both sexes, yet fertility was not impaired. Histological evaluation of testes showed seminiferous tubule degeneration and decreased tubule diameter. Female transgenic mice had small ovaries, with a higher number of atretic follicles/mm2 as compared to control nontransgenic mice. Also observed was increased germ cell apoptosis in both sexes (TUNEL). These results suggest that overexpression of p12 leads to testicular and ovarian abnormalities, a phenotype closely related to that of cdk2−/− mice. In combination, these observations suggest that the p12/CDK2 signaling pathways are carefully orchestrated to maintain proper gonadal tissue homeostasis. We suggest that the mechanisms of this regulation may be through p12-mediated altered expression of gonadal-specific genes and apoptotic pathways. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 987–997, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Internet Mailing Lists Facilitate Nutrition Networks

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: Describe the role of internet mailing lists in facilitating information exchange between health care professionals. Rapid changes in the health care environment dictate that the dietetic professional continue to strive to practice in the most cost beneficial and time-effective manner. Budgeting of financial resources and time require that dietitians utilize efficient techniques to seek information as well as network with other dietetic practitioners. Recent advances in electronic and computer technology have facilitated an expansion of the largest computer network known as the Internet. The Internet is an extensive network of computers providing various tools and resources to world wide users for information retrieval. These tools include the World Wide Web, bulletin board systems, news groups. File Transfer Protocol (FTP) sites, Gopher sites as well as electronic mail or E-mail. A mailing list, one of the oldest and most popular resources the Internet has to offer, is a means of distributing information via E-Mail. These lists allow a mechanism for groups of people with similar interests to establish and maintain contact, as well as share information. The Pedi-RD and NS-Net mailing lists were established with the objective to facilitate the dissemination of information and networking of dietitians and other health care professionals involved in adult and pediatric nutrition. Topics of discussion on the mailing lists include, but are not limited to 1) General concerns in pediatric and adult nutrition 2) Dilemmas in nutritional assessment, management, and ethics 3) Enteral and parenteral nutrition support 4) Discussion of current nutrition research/publications, and 5) Informal surveys of nutrition practice. The computer mailing list allows messages to be sent by E-Mail to all subscribers of the list. Members can then respond either personally to the author of the message or to the nutrition networks. Recently conducted surveys have identified participants from the continental United States as well as numerous international locations. Current membership continues to grow and includes dietitians, pharmacists, nurses and physicians.
Management of warfarin in children with heart disease.

Warfarin is an important therapy for children with heart disease. We assessed the impact of a computerized warfarin-dosing software program on measured INR values using a historical case–control design. Children (infant to 20 years of age) with cardiac disease managed with warfarin between September 1, 2006, and August 31, 2009 were included in the analysis. Warfarin therapy was tailored to specific underlying conditions based on consensus guidelines. Before the use of dosing software, medication adjustments were made by physicians using published guidelines. After software implementation, dosing adjustments were based on the software algorithm. There were 86 subjects in this analysis, and the most common indication for warfarin was prosthetic valve. Overall, the incidence of adverse bleeding events was 1.3% per patient-year. An analysis of patient-related factors associated with a low percentage of time within goal range demonstrated that both female sex (P = 0.048) and nonwhite race (P = 0.037) were significantly associated with less time in the target range. Use of the software program was associated with an increase in the percentage of time during which the INR was within the target range from 41.4 to 53.1% (P < 0.001). Incorporation of a computerized software program to assist dosing can improve the percentage of time that children with cardiac disease requiring warfarin remain within the target therapeutic range. Strategies to improve management and decrease sex and racial disparities in this population are needed.
The response of high-strength low alloy steel to cyclic plastic deformation

Abstract The low cycle fatigue behavior of a niobium-bearing HSLA steel has been investigated at room temperature at an applied total strain rate of dot ϵ = 10 −2 s −1 . Specimens are examined in the as-hot-rolled condition, the cold-rolled 50% condition, and the annealed condition. It has been shown that cyclic saturation is not always obtained in HSLA steels and further, that this transient portion of the stress response to constant strain amplitude cycling may be represented by a power law. The cyclic hardening rate thus defined is independent of cyclic and shows a smooth variation with strain amplitude. The behavior is substantially different for the three specimen treatments with the exception that each treatment suggests cyclic softening at sufficiently low strain amplitudes. The cyclic stress-strain curves obtained by the incremental step method are presented along with companion specimen cyclic stress-strain curves obtained at 1, 10, and 50 percent of crack initiation life. It is found that the number of cycles to crack initiation does not depend strongly on the specimen condition. The energy associated with crack initiation is examined experimentally for this HSLA steel. The results agree quite well with an empirical derivation of this quantity based on the Coffin-Manson relation and the power law cyclic stress-strain relation. It appears that for broad classes of engineering materials, the hysteretic energy associated with crack initiation rises sharply with decreasing strain amplitude.
Cyclic Mechanical Reinforcement of Actin Depolymerization and Polarity of Interaction

Biomolecular bonds in focal adhesion and the actin cytoskeleton experience dynamic forces over time and the history of force loading could serve as mechanical preconditioning. Force-dependence of mean lifetime was observed in G-actin/G-actin (GG) and G-actin/F-actin (GF) dissociation, which was a biphasic transition from a catch bond to a slip bond. In the interaction of integrin/fibronectin, application of cyclic forces significantly prolonged bond lifetime. Therefore, we investigated actin depolymerization under a range of dynamic force environments.A custom-made atomic force microscopy and force-clamping procedures were used. To mimic dynamic force, cyclic forces were applied with peak forces of 10-30 pN, and minimum forces of 5-8 pN. 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5-cycles with a 10-12 pN peak force were also applied. To investigate polarity of interactions, barbed and pointed ends were distinguished by adding capping proteins, CapZ to block the barbed end and Tmod3 for the pointed end.After applying cyclic forces, the post-conditioning average lifetimes of GG interaction were significantly prolonged (3-18 fold) at low force range (5-10 pN), instead of reverting instantly to a low affinity state. The lifetime distributions switched from a one-state to a two-state dissociation. In the GF interactions, at the pointed end, the bond lifetimes were significantly prolonged (6-30 fold) and exhibited two-state dissociation kinetics similar to the GG interactions. On the other hand, the effect of cyclic mechanical reinforcement (CMR) was significantly suppressed at the barbed end.Our study demonstrated that actin depolymerization kinetics are force-history dependent and that mechanical preconditioning by cyclic force loading significantly enhances bond strength in actin/actin interactions. We hypothesize that this CMR is an important regulatory mechanism underlying cytoskeletal dynamics by affecting the actin depolymerization kinetics and more effective than the traditional catch bond.
Visual transduction in vertebrate rods and cones: a tale of two transmitters, calcium and cyclic GMP.

La transduction visuelle englobe la succession des evenements declenches par l'absorption des photons entrainant la modulation locale du current de la membrane du segment externe. Le phenomene est ici etudie dans le cas des bâtonnets et cones des vertebres
Multiwinding ideal transformers as multiport components

It is known that a multiterminal or multiport component is fully characterised if its terminal graph and its terminal equations are given. In this letter the terminal representation of multiport ideal transformers is given.
Dynamic decentralized cache schemes for mimd parallel processors

This paper presents two cache schemes for a shared-memory shared bus multiprocessor. Both schemes feature decentralized consistency control and dynamic type classification of the datum cached (i.e. read-only, local, or shared). It is shown how to exploit these features to minimize the shared bus traffic. The broadcasting ability of the shared bus is used not only to signal an event but also to distribute data. In addition, by introducing a new synchronization construct, i.e. the Test-and-Test-and-Set instruction, many of the traditional. parallell processing “hot spots” or bottlenecks are eliminated. Sketches of formal correctness proofs for the proposed schemes are also presented. It appears that moderately large parallel processors can be designed by employing the principles presented in this paper.
The effect of GSR confirmed perception of bisensory input on immediate verbal memory.

Following adaptation, Ss learned visually presented paired associate (PA) word lists, while “distracting” verbal material was read aloud to them. Skin resistance was recorded. Ss who received auditory “interference” containing words present in the PA task made fewer errors than controls. An objective scoring method showed that GSR peaks following the onset of relevant words in the “interference” were more frequent than those following control words, confirming Ss' verbal reports of perception of and attention to relevant stimuli. The improved learning could not be accounted for by changes in the tonic level of skin resistance, but seemed to be a direct result of the bimodal input.
Misoprostol Versus antacid titration for preventing stress ulcers in postoperative surgical ICU patients

Bleeding from gastroduodenal lesions is a potentially life-threatening complication in patients subjected to overwhelming physiologic stress. Titration of gastric contents with antacid was the first prophylactic treatment regimen proved to decrease the incidence of bleeding and remains the standard by which other methods are compared. We designed a prospective double-blind, double-placebo study comparing the effectiveness of antacid titration with fixed doses of a synthetic prostaglandin E1 analog (misoprostol) for preventing stress gastritis and bleeding. To assess the success of each treatment regimen, we did endoscopic examinations before operation, 72 hours after operation, and after the patient had completed the study. A total of 281 patients entered the study (140 misoprostol, 141 antacid). The two groups were comparable with respect to preoperative parameters and type of operation. We found no statistically significant differences between the two treatment groups concerning upper gastrointestinal tract lesions or serious adverse effects. No clinically evident upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage occurred in either group. Mean gastric pH, measured at two-hour intervals during the initial 72 hours, was maintained at 4.0 or higher in both groups. We conclude that fixed-dose misoprostol is as effective as intensive antacid titration in preventing stress ulcers and bleeding in surgical ICU patients.
Catalytic selectivity of human cytochrome P450 enzymes: relevance to drug metabolism and toxicity

About 30 different human cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes have now been characterized in considerable detail. It is possible to elucidate their catalytic specificities towards drugs, steroids, carcinogens, and other potential substrates with in vitro assays. It is also possible to ascertain the levels of individual P450 enzymes in humans with the use of drugs, after appropriate assay validation. The ability to discern catalytic selectivity and levels of P450 enzymes within individuals offers considerable potential in drug development, prevention of undesirable drug-drug interactions, and understanding the etiology of diseases resulting from exposure to potentially toxic and carcinogenic chemicals.
Converging lens simulation design and image predictions

While computer technology continues to enhance the teaching and learning of all science disciplines, computer simulations, in particular, have become exceptionally beneficial in physics education. In addition to the manner in which physics instructors integrate computer simulations into their instructional practices, the design of a simulation may also determine its potential for influencing a student's conceptual development and understanding. This paper examines the effects of four differently designed simulations on students' predictions and subsequent understanding of how images are formed by converging lenses, specifically in relation to outcomes when portions of the lens or object are covered. Results indicated that differing numbers of rays depicted in the lens simulations had little effect on student predictions, but the origination point(s) of the rays did influence student predictions. Also reported is how minimal instructor scaffolding substantially influenced student use and value perceptions of the simulation.
Attenuation of giant laser pulses by absorbing filters.

Three types of absorbing filters were tested for suitability as reproducible attenuators for a Q-switched ruby laser beam. None of the filters tested were irreversibly damaged when irradiated with pulses having peak powers up to 40 MW (beam cross section ∼10−4 m2). However, Tiffen Photar neutral density filters and Corning filters showed reversible photobleaching (optical saturation) at large pulse energies, while Kodak Wratten neutral density filters did not saturate.
The first variation of the scattering matrix

In this paper we establish some facts about the dependence of scattering data for a perturbed wave equation on the perturbation. The results we derive hold for both acoustic and SchrBdinger wave equations, but we begin by describing them in the acoustic case. Hence we consider a perturbation of the acoustic wave equation in R”,
Reduction of photoresist standing-wave effects by post-exposure bake

A process is described for reducing the residual effects of standing waves upon exposed and developed lines in positive photoresist films.
CT Evaluation of Renovascular Disease

Computed tomography (CT) plays an important role in evaluation and management of primary renovascular disease. Nonenhanced CT is useful for demonstrating renal hemorrhage, renal parenchymal or vascular calcifications, and masses. Contrast material-enhanced CT is essential to identify global or regional nephrographic abnormalities resulting from the vascular process (eg, renal infarcts, ischemia secondary to renal artery stenosis, arteriovenous communications). In addition, renal manifestations of a systemic disease (eg, vasculitis, thromboembolic disease) can be seen at CT. In trauma, occlusion of the main renal artery can be accurately diagnosed with contrast-enhanced CT. In cases of spontaneous renal hemorrhage without an apparent cause (eg, vasculitis, coagulopathy), a careful CT study should be performed to exclude renal cell carcinoma. The presence of fat in a hemorrhagic renal mass larger than 4 cm in diameter is characteristic of angiomyolipoma complicated by hemorrhage. Acute renal vein thrombosis appears as a clot in a distended renal vein, whereas renal vein retraction with collateral vessels is highly indicative of chronic thrombosis. Helical CT, especially with multiplanar two-dimensional and three-dimensional reconstruction following an intravenous injection of iodinated contrast material, has greatly improved our ability to directly image the proximal renal arteries and detect vascular lesions.
Ultrafast nonlinear optical response of Fano resonances in GaAs under high magnetic field

The coherent dynamics of Fano resonances in GaAs are studied under magnetic field using femtosecond four-wave mixing (FWM). In this system Coulomb coupling between magnetoexciton and continuum states gives rise to Fano interference. By time-resolving the FWM signal it is shown that dephasing or the coherent emission from a Fano resonance is dominated by the coupling to the continuum. Unlike Lorentzian resonances, the decay of the time-integrated FWM signal is not related to dephasing. This surprising behavior is due to the interplay between Fano interference and Coulomb correlation in a semiconductor
Kazuo Sato as a macroeconomist: A quiet man who could see into the future

Abstract Kazuo Sato (1927–2004) contributed a great deal to index number theory, theory of production structure and the contemporary state of the Japanese economy. He discovered an ideal formula for a log change index number, based on his deep understanding in the production structure. He anticipated many contemporary issues in Japan's macroeconomy: the Paasche bias in the GDP deflator, index number problems when industrial structures are under drastic changes, the potential output level or the output gap, and the role of culture on saving behavior. Moreover, in his quiet manner, he devoted himself to serve the academic community by editing the Japanese Economic Studies (now the Japanese Economy) by introducing and translating many important articles that had been published in English – a deed of thankless effort.
The Effect of Sports Franchises on Property Values: The Role of Owners versus Renters

This paper estimates the public benefits to homeowners in cities with NFL franchises by examining housing prices rather than housing rents. In contrast to Carlino and Coulson (2004) we find that the presence of an NFL franchise has no effect on housing prices in a city. Furthermore, we also test whether the presence and size of the subsidy to the team affects values and find that higher subsidies for NFL stadium construction lead to lower house prices. This suggests that the benefits that homeowners receive from the presence of a team are negated by the increased tax burden due to the subsidies paid to the franchises.
Traditional Jewish Sexual Practices and Their Possible Impact on Jewish Fertility and Demography

Many religious traditions attempt to regulate the sexual practices of their members. Generally, their main tool for doing so is prescribing with whom one may or may not have intimate relations. Forbidden partners might include, for example, members of the same sex, relatives, or people of other religious and ethnic groups. Additional methods for defining how and when intimate relations are permissible are also not unheard of. For example, sexual relations using certain positions or occurring on certain days or hours or in certain places might be declared sinful. The three main Bible-related religious traditions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, all have in their toolboxes these various regulatory instruments; many other religious groups use them as well.
Iterative mesh transformation for 3D segmentation of livers with cancers in CT images

Segmentation of diseased liver remains a challenging task in clinical applications due to the high inter-patient variability in liver shapes, sizes and pathologies caused by cancers or other liver diseases. In this paper, we present a multi-resolution mesh segmentation algorithm for 3D segmentation of livers, called iterative mesh transformation that deforms the mesh of a region-of-interest (ROI) in a progressive manner by iterations between mesh transformation and contour optimization. Mesh transformation deforms the 3D mesh based on the deformation transfer model that searches the optimal mesh based on the affine transformation subjected to a set of constraints of targeting vertices. Besides, contour optimization searches the optimal transversal contours of the ROI by applying the dynamic-programming algorithm to the intersection polylines of the 3D mesh on 2D transversal image planes. The initial constraint set for mesh transformation can be defined by a very small number of targeting vertices, namely landmarks, and progressively updated by adding the targeting vertices selected from the optimal transversal contours calculated in contour optimization. This iterative 3D mesh transformation constrained by 2D optimal transversal contours provides an efficient solution to a progressive approximation of the mesh of the targeting ROI. Based on this iterative mesh transformation algorithm, we developed a semi-automated scheme for segmentation of diseased livers with cancers using as little as five user-identified landmarks. The evaluation study demonstrates that this semi-automated liver segmentation scheme can achieve accurate and reliable segmentation results with significant reduction of interaction time and efforts when dealing with diseased liver cases.
A natural classification of Lasiosphaeria based on nuclear LSU rDNA sequences

The current circumscription of Lasiosphaeria includes taxa with a wide variety of ascomatal walls, ascomatal wall vestitures, and ascospore morphologies and a broad range of putative anamorphs. Despite the complexity of morphological characters in the genus, species within Lasiosphaeria can be arranged into four groups based on ascospore morphology. Taxa which possessed ascospores in each of the four groups were used in phylogenetic analyses of partial nuclear large subunit (LSU) rDNA sequences to test the monophyly of the genus and determine relationships among its species. Lasiosphaeria was found to be highly polyphyletic in that species segregated into seven well-supported monophyletic clades dispersed among several orders. Three new genera, Echinosphaeria, Hilberina, and Immersiella, are erected for three of these clades while the genus Lasiosphaeris is reintroduced for a fourth clade. These data support Ruzenia as a previously established genus and the transfer of Lasiosphaeria raciborskii to Chaetosphaeria. The circumscription of Lasiosphaeria has been considerably narrowed to better reflect a natural classification. These taxonomic changes are additionally supported by a combination of morphological characters which are discussed in relation to the phylogenetic trees.
Comparison of PV inverter controller configurations for CERTS microgrid applications

Microgrids are highly compatible with photovoltaic (PV) sources because of their ability to internally aggregate and balance multiple PV sources without imposing restrictions on the penetration of such intermittent power sources. There are two major types of inverter control configurations that are used in photovoltaic inverters to provide an interface to a CERTS microgrid. These control configurations exhibit important duality characteristics, and both are capable of tracking maximum input power while abiding by the CERTS droop algorithms. This paper investigates and demonstrates the comparative performance characteristics of these two major controller types: 1) a grid-forming droop-style controller similar to those used for controlling distributed generators; and 2) a current-regulated grid-follower controller. It is shown that only the grid-forming controller allows a PV source to operate alone in an islanded CERTS microgrid, but the grid-follower controller enjoys some inherent advantages with regard to faster dynamic response.
A mirror-tilt-insensitive Fourier transform spectrometer based on a large vertical displacement micromirror with dual reflective surface

We report a miniature mirror-tilt-insensitive (MTI) Fourier transform spectrometer. A large-vertical-displacement (LVD) MEMS mirror is used to generate large scan range for high spectral resolution. The LVD MEMS mirror is also reflective on both surfaces. The maximum tilting angle of the MEMS mirror is 1.7° for its entire 1-mm scan range. The combination of a corner-cube retroreflector and dual-reflective MEMS mirror has been used to compensate the mirror tilting successfully and resulted in high spectral resolution of 8.1 cm−1.
A Portable Pneumatically-Actuated Refreshable Braille Cell

This paper reports a portable pneumatically-actuated refreshable Braille cell. The cell is based on a micromachined, kinematically-stabilized endoskeletal 2 times 3 microbubble actuator array with 1 mm pitch and 1.5 mm diameter. The fabrication process involves SU-8 inclined rotational UV lithography, micromolding, and stereolithography (SLA). The displacement is 0.56 mm and the generated force is 66 mN at 100 kPa applied pressure, respectively. The device has a maximum operating frequency of 200 Hz, suggesting potential uses not only as a Braille display but also for vibratory tactile applications, shape exploration, texture recognition, and other contact sensation-driven applications. The presented fabrication approach is scalable to a full page Braille display.
A deficient binding mechanism for norepinephrine in hearts of scorbutic guinea pigs.

SummaryThere is a reduced ability to take up and bind H3-norepinephrine in the hearts of scorbutic guinea pigs. There is also a reduction in the level of endogenous norepinephrine in these hearts. These observations indicate that the supersensitivity to catecholamines found in scurvy may be due in part to the reduced ability to inactivate catecholamines by uptake and binding.
An event-related examination of neural activity during social interactions

Social exclusion is known to cause alterations in neural activity and perceptions of social distress. However, previous research is largely limited to examining social interactions as a unitary phenomenon without investigating adjustments in neural and attentional processes that occur during social interactions. To address this limitation, we examined neural activity on a trial-by-trial basis during different social interactions. Our results show conflict monitoring neural alarm activation, indexed by the N2, in response to specific exclusionary events; even during interactions that are inclusionary overall and in the absence of self-reported feelings of social pain. Furthermore, we show enhanced attentional activation to exclusionary events, indexed by the P3b, during exclusionary, compared with inclusionary, interactions, and this P3b activation was associated with self-reported social distress following prolonged social exclusion. Finally, both the N2 and P3b showed larger amplitudes in the earlier stages of exclusion compared with later stages, suggesting heightened early sensitivity for both components. Together, these findings provide novel insights into the dynamic neural and perceptual processes of exclusion that exist during social interactions and the relationship between discrete events within interactions and the more general contexts of the social interactions.