cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of pesticide exposure from consumption of domestic and imported fruits and vegetables

Estimates of daily dietary human exposure to 18 common pesticides found in fruits and vegetables were developed from residue data obtained from the 2003 US Food and Drug Administration's Regulatory Monitoring Program using probabilistic dietary exposure modeling. The differences between the exposures from domestic versus imported fruit and vegetable residues were compared. Of the 15 pesticides for which quantifiable residues were detected from both domestic and imported fruit and vegetable samples, domestic exposures were significantly higher for 11 pesticides while imported exposures were higher for the remaining four. The five pesticides showing the highest exposures all demonstrated greater domestic exposures than imported exposures. The mean daily exposure estimate for one pesticide, methamidophos, was above the reference dose for domestic fruits and vegetables while slightly below the reference dose for imported fruits and vegetables. Exposures to the other 17 pesticides were well below the established reference doses for domestic and imported fruits and vegetables. Exposure from pesticides in domestic foods exceeds exposure from imported foods and demonstrates that probabilistic modeling of dietary exposure provides more useful information concerning the relative risks of domestic and imported foods than that obtained from the traditional comparisons of residue detection frequency and violation rates.
Restraint stress-induced elevations in plasma corticosterone and β-endorphin are not accompanied by alterations in immune function

Abstract A variety of stressors active the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, thereby resulting in elevated levels of circulating ACTH, β-endorphin and corticosterone. Since these hormones have been shown previously to alter measures of immune function, we determined whether presentation of a stressor which activates the HPA axis produces alteration in immune function. Restraint stress resulted in significantly elevated levels of corticosterone and β-endorphin without affecting either proliferative or cytolytic activities of lymphocytes. At concentrations similar to those achieved during stress, in vivo, corticosterone exhibited a dose- and time-dependent reduction in both lymphocyte proliferation as well as natural killer cytotoxicity, in vitro. β-Endorphin, on the other hand, was without direct or modulatory effects. These results indicate that restraint stress-induced activation of the HPA axis occurs witho-ut accompanying in immune function.
Additional Sidebands in Time Dependent Spectra for a Spacially Distributed Collection of Two-Level Atoms Driven by a Resonant Coherent Field

Abstract We derive the time-dependent spectra of a laser-driven, interacting, collection of spacially distributed two-level atoms. We assume a system with dimensions large relative to a wavelength which is initially in the atomic and electromagnetic field ground state and at the initial time begins to interact with the coherent, externally applied radiation field. The explicit spacial distribution of the two-level atoms affects the time-dependent spectra of the transmitted radiation and the many-body interaction leads to the appearance of additional sidebands.
C1q/TNF-related Protein-3 (CTRP3), a novel adipokine that regulates hepatic glucose output.

Adipose tissue-derived adipokines play important roles in controlling systemic insulin sensitivity and energy balance. Our recent efforts to identify novel metabolic mediators produced by adipose tissue have led to the discovery of a highly conserved family of secreted proteins, designated as C1q/TNF-related proteins 1–10 (CTRP1 to -10). However, physiological functions regulated by CTRPs are largely unknown. Here we provide the first in vivo functional characterization of CTRP3. We show that circulating levels of CTRP3 are inversely correlated with leptin levels; CTRP3 increases with fasting, decreases in diet-induced obese mice with high leptin levels, and increases in leptin-deficient ob/ob mice. A modest 3-fold elevation of plasma CTRP3 levels by recombinant protein administration is sufficient to lower glucose levels in normal and insulin-resistant ob/ob mice, without altering insulin or adiponectin levels. The glucose-lowering effect in mice is linked to activation of the Akt signaling pathway in liver and a marked suppression of hepatic gluconeogenic gene expression. Consistent with its effects in mice, CTRP3 acts directly and independently of insulin to regulate gluconeogenesis in cultured hepatocytes. In humans, alternative splicing generates two circulating CTRP3 isoforms differing in size and glycosylation pattern. The two human proteins form hetero-oligomers, an association that does not require interdisulfide bond formation and appears to protect the longer isoform from proteolytic cleavage. Recombinant human CTRP3 also reduces glucose output in hepatocytes by suppressing gluconeogenic enzyme expression. This study provides the first functional evidence linking CTRP3 to hepatic glucose metabolism and establishes CTRP3 as a novel adipokine.
Establishment and characterization of a novel Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia cell line, MWCL-1.

Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare, lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma characterized by hypersecretion of immunoglobulin M (IgM) protein and tumor infiltration into the bone marrow and lymphatic tissue. Our understanding of the mechanisms driving the development and progression of WM is currently by the shortage of representative cell models available for study. We describe here the establishment of a new WM cell line, MWCL-1. Comprehensive genetic analyses have unequivocally confirmed a clonal relationship between this novel cell line and the founding tumor. MWCL-1 cells exhibit an immunophenotype consistent with a diverse, tumor clone composed of both small B lymphocytes and larger lymphoplasmacytic cells and plasma cells: CD3⁻, CD19⁺, CD20⁺, CD27⁺, CD38⁺, CD49D⁺, CD138⁺, cIgM⁺, and κ⁺. Cytogenetic studies identified a monoallelic deletion of 17p13 (TP53) in both the cell line and the primary tumor. Direct DNA resequencing of the remaining copy of TP53 revealed a missense mutation at exon 5 (V143A, GTG>GCG). In accordance with primary WM tumors, MWCL-1 cells retain the ability to secrete high amounts of IgM protein in the absence of an external stimulus. The genetic, immunophenotypic, and biologic data presented here confirm the validity of the MWCL-1 cell line as a representative model of WM.
Godunov-Based Model for Nonhydrostatic Wave Dynamics

A new numerical model based on the incompressible, nonhydrostatic Navier-Stokes equations for free surface flow is developed. The equations are transformed vertically to the σ coordinate system and laterally to an orthogonal curvilinear system and solved in a fractional step manner in which the pressure is split into hydrostatic and nonhydrostatic components. The model treats the nonhydrostatic term implicitly and uses a collocated grid and pressure interpolation to prevent checkerboard solutions that occur when the velocity and pressure become decoupled. Advection and hydrostatic pressure terms are integrated explicitly with a second-order accurate predictor-corrector scheme. The corrector utilizes fluxes that are computed in a Godunov-based manner by solving a Riemann problem at each cell face. Flow variables are reconstructed at each cell face to obtain second-order spatial accuracy. Numerical simulations of Stokes, cnoidal, and solitary waves with the proposed method and a reference method in which th...
Association between novel oxidative stress markers and C-reactive protein among adults without clinical coronary heart disease

Abstract Objective: Increases in the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) have been associated with a higher risk of incident coronary heart disease (CHD). The causes of increased CRP, however, are not completely understood. Studies suggest that oxidative stress may have pro-inflammatory effects, but data on the relationship between oxidative stress and CRP in healthy persons is sparse. Methods and Results: We conducted a cross-sectional study of oxidative stress markers and high sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) among 126 adults without CHD. Markers of oxidative stress included the free oxygen radical test (FORT), which reflects levels of organic hydroperoxides, and the redox potential of the reduced glutathione/glutathione disulfide couple, ( E h ) GSH/GSSG. In a linear regression model that adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, and other potential hsCRP determinants, the FORT was positively associated with log-transformed hsCRP and explained 14% of log-transformed hsCRP variance ( P E h ) GSH/GSSG showed little association with hsCRP. Conclusions: Among adults free of CHD, oxidative stress, as measured by the FORT, is significantly associated with higher hsCRP levels, independent of BMI and other CRP determinants. This result suggests that oxidative stress may be a determinant of CRP levels and promote pro-atherosclerotic inflammatory processes at the earliest stages of CHD development.
Generating functions for certain types of permutations

Generating functions are obtained for certain types of permutations analogous to up-down and down-up permutations. In each case the generating function is a quotient of entire functions; the denominator in each case is φ02(x) − φ1(x)φ3(x), where φj(x)=∑n=o∞x4n+j(4n+j)!.
Rethinking the Relationship Between Reputation and Legitimacy: A Social Actor Conceptualization

Legitimacy and reputation are both perceptions of approval of an organization's actions. Legitimacy is a perception that organizations conform with taken-for-granted standards. Reputation is a perception that organizations are positively distinctive within their peer group. While the need for inclusion and distinction may seem somewhat contradictory on its face, we maintain that both functional demands are grounded in an organization's adopted social identities, or social identity referents, characterized herein as social category memberships. Social identities constitute an organization's reference group and provide stakeholders with standards by which assessments of the organization are made. Organizations are seen as having legitimacy when they comply with the minimum standards of a particular social identity prototype – a prototypical X-type organization. Organizations have good reputations when they are viewed favorably relative to the ideal standard for a particular social identity – an ideal, or esteemed, X-type organization. Conventional thinking holds that legitimacy is a requirement of all organizations, whereas reputation is a desirable, but not essential property. This paper argues that, from the perspective of identity theory, reputation and legitimacy are complementary, reciprocal concepts, linked to the dual identification requirements: who is this actor similar to and how is this actor different from all similar others. The implications of this ‘fresh perspective’ for organizational reputation scholarship are discussed.
The Role of the Campus Professional as a Moral Mentor

How can we help students and mentees aspire to be their best? Doing so does not require perfection, but it does call on us to help students engage with their imperfections while owning our own.
The impact of index options on the underlying stocks: The evidence from the listing of Nikkei Stock Average options☆

Abstract This paper investigates the impact of the listing of options on the Nikkei Stock Average (NSA) on the volatility, bid-ask spread and trading volume for stocks listed in the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Our results indicate that trading volume, volatility, and bid-ask spreads decline for the stocks contained in the Nikkei 225 Index after the listing of the index options. Cross-sectional regressions that control for changes in spread, volume, and price indicate that the options listing is associated with decreases in volatility for the index stocks. We conjecture that the observed results are consistent with the hypothesis that the advent of options trading causes a migration of speculative and market-wide information-oriented trading activity from the underlying market to the options market.
QUARKONIUM PRODUCTION VIA THE ONE GLUON MECHANISM

Abstract It is determined that quarkonium production from a single virtual gluon is suppressed due to the lack of colored resonances. The branching ratio to charmonium in υ (9.4) decay is estimated to be between 10 −2 and 10 −3 times smaller than previous estimates.
An integrated approach to managing sleep disordered breathing and cardiovascular disease

Despite its prevalence, most cases of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) go unrecognized by the medical community, creating a mismatch between disease pervasiveness and medical appreciation of its impact. Of particular importance is that 30% of those with cardiovascular disease (CVD) have some type of sleep disorder. One explanation for this lack of recognition and under-appreciation is that common symptoms seen with SDB are non-specific and are present in many acute and chronic conditions. This article will present a brief review of current processes used to diagnose and treat SDB, followed by a discussion of the overlap that exists between CVD and SDB, and present an argument that these chronic conditions should not be considered and managed as separate entities.
Noise-coupled low-power incremental ADCs

The noise-coupling technique is introduced into the design of incremental ΣΔ ADCs using extended counting. A reduced number of integrators and hence lower power dissipation can thus be achieved. To demonstrate the proposed idea, a second-order noise-coupled incremental ΣΔ modulator with extended counting structure was designed and simulated.
The peroxidative coupling of hemigossypol to (+)- and (−)-gossypol in cottonseed extracts

Abstract Peroxidase(s) present in embryo extracts of Gossypium hirsutum cv. Texas Marker 1 catalyzed a bimolecular coupling of [4-3H]-hemigossypol to [4,4′-3H2]-gossypol. The reaction was dependent on the addition of H2O2 and was inhibited 71–94% by 1 and 10 mM sodium azide. The phenolic coupling produced 53% (+)-gossypol and 47% (−)-gossypol in close agreement to the 49% (+)-gossypol and 51% (−)-gossypol found in the intact seed. The nearly racemic mixture of (+)-and (−)-gossypol produced in these embryo extracts can be accounted for by non-enzymatic random coupling of the free radicals of hemigossypol produced by the peroxidase. In contrast, peroxidase reaction mixtures containing crude embryo extracts of G. hirsutum var. marie-galante produced 73% (+)-gossypol and 27% (−)-gossypol. These data from the marie-galante extracts and the fact that these intact seed contain 95% (+)-gossypol suggest a regio-stereoselective bimolecular coupling of hemigossypol to gossypol. The development of the peroxidative coupling of hemigossypol to gossypol in maturing seed of G. hirsutum cv. Texas Marker 1 was correlated to the formation of gossypol and suggests that peroxidative coupling of hemigossypol contributes to gossypol biosynthesis.
Aristophanes’ Fusion and Longing for Love: A Philosophical Hermeneutic of the Shared Dementia Phenomenon in Spousal Dyads

There is new and alarming evidence emerging in dementia research literature apropos of family system psychodynamics. This evidence indicates that spousal caregivers of dementia patients are at an increased risk for developing dementia themselves. By way of a philosophical hermeneutic rooted in Aristophanes' notion of love, as explicated in Plato's Symposium, depth psychological perspectives on this newly identified “shared dementia” phenomenon are explored. The author proposes deep psychodynamic forces that may be at work in the etiology of spousal dyadic shared dementia.
Cardiac ischemia and endothelial function in the isolated rabbit heart

Abstract Truly effective prevention of reperfusion myocardial damage is precluded in part by a lack of understanding of the earliest events which accompany ischemia. The purpose of this study was to assess the coronary endothelial response to two forms of ischemic injury in an isolated crystalloid perfused rabbit heart. Global cardiac ischemia, confirmed by NADH fluorescence photography, was induced either by mechanically reducing coronary flow by 90% (MRCF, N = 11) or by an infusion of N -formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP, N = 11), a known stimulus for leukotriene synthesis and coronary vasospasm. Compared with control, MRCF resulted in an increase in effluent concentrations of both prostacyclin (152 ± 22 pg/ml vs 951 ± 214 pg/ml, P P 2 or leukotriene C 4 concentrations. fMLP infusion resulted in an immediate reduction in coronary flow coincident with diffuse myocardial ischemia. In contrast to MRCF, however, fMLP-induced ischemia resulted in a significant but smaller increase in effluent prostacyclin concentration (210 ± 47 pg/ml vs 606 ± .55 pg/ml, P = 0.05) and a marked increase in both thromboxane B 2 (⩽33 ± 4 pg/ml vs 1141 ± 375 pg/ml, P 4 ( P N = 4). We conclude that endothelial response to ischemia varies not only with the magnitude of but also the nature of the initiating stimulus. Thus a truly specific intervention to prevent postischemic reperfusion injury is likely to require therapy tailored to the initiating ischemic stimulus.
Crystal structure of an ephrin ectodomain.

Abstract Eph receptor tyrosine kinases and their membrane-associated ligands, the ephrins, are essential regulators of axon guidance, cell migration, segmentation, and angiogenesis. There are two classes of vertebrate ephrin ligands which have distinct binding specificities for their cognate receptors. Multimerization of the ligands is required for receptor activation, and ephrin ligands themselves signal intracellularly upon binding Eph receptors. We have determined the structure of the extracellular domain of mouse ephrin-B2. The ephrin ectodomain is an eight-stranded β barrel with topological similarity to plant nodulins and phytocyanins. Based on the structure, we have identified potential surface determinants of Eph/ephrin binding specificity and a ligand dimerization region. The high sequence similarity among ephrin ectodomains indicates that all ephrins may be modeled upon the ephrin-B2 structure presented here.
Beyond Rights and Virtues as Foundation for Women's Agency: Emma Goldman's Rhetoric of Free Love

Early U.S. women legitimated their public presence through two topoi or commonplaces for rhetorical invention: rights and virtue. They appealed to woman's unique moral qualities, such as her ability to nurture, while advocating that men and women were fundamentally equal in the eyes of the state. These topoi created a paradox that women still face today. We revisit Emma Goldman's free love rhetoric to recover a third possibility. Arguing that marriage be rejected, Goldman challenged audiences to ignite their inner desires, living life in balance with humanity. We argue that Goldman's third topos, passion, is a productive lens through which to read discourses that may not fit the virtuous or civic ideal, such as those articulated by third wave feminists.
Characterization of orthogonal subspaces for alias-free reconstruction of damped complex exponential modes in sparse arrays

We consider the problem of estimating p damped complex exponentials from spatial samples of their weighted sum, taken by a sparse sensor array. Our focus is on a particular sparse array geometry, where the array can be thought of as a subsampled version of a dense (with half-wavelength spacings) uniform line array, plus an extra sensor that is posited at a location on the array that allows us to resolve aliasing ambiguities. This array geometry is a special, but canonical, example of a co-prime sensor array. Our main result is a 2p-parameter characterization of the so-called orthogonal subspace. This is the subspace that is orthogonal to the subspace spanned by the columns of the generalized Vandermonde matrix of modes in the sparse array. This characterization allows us to extend methods of linear prediction and approximate least squares, such as iterative quadratic maximum likelihood (IQML), for estimating mode parameters.
An Assessment of the Psychometric Properties of the Style-of-Processing (Sop) Scale: How do We Measure Individuals' Verbal/Visual Information-Processing Preferences?

Companies invest critical resources to get information to the marketplace. Certainly, knowing the most effective means of providing messages can have a significant effect on the bottom line. Individuals may be more verbal or visual in their information-processing capacities such that messages may need to be tailored toward their preferences. Two samples are utilized to conduct a rigorous psychometric assessment of the style-of-processing (SOP) scale. The aggregate scale and the verbal and visual dimensions are assessed. Problems are indicated in the reliability and validity of the measure. Although a reduced version of the scale has the best fit, the authors suggest that the scale be used with caution and that additional research is required to continue the assessment of the scale.
IGF-I Does Not Mediate T-Lymphoblast Colony Formation in Response to Estradiol, Testosterone, 1,25(OH)2Vitamin D3, and Triiodothyronine: Studies in Control and Pygmy T-Cell Lines

Abstract The mechanism by which estradiol, testosterone, 1,25(OH)2vitamin D3, and triiodothyronine promote tissue growth is unknown, although, in some tissues, a role for local IGF-I has been suggested. We previously showed that HTLV-II-transformed T-cell lines from healthy adults augmented basal colony formation in response to peptide (growth hormone, parathormone, and adrenocorticotrophin) and glycoprotein (thyroid-stimulating hormone) hormones through stimulation of local IGF-I. T-cell lines from African Efe Pygmies, however, were resistant to the direct growth-promoting action of IGF-I, as well as to the growth-promoting action of growth hormone, parathormone, adrenocorticotrophin, and thyroid-stimulating hormone. We, therefore, used these cell lines to determine the mechanism of T-cell growth in response to steroid and thyroid hormones. We quantified colony formation of American control T-cell lines in the presence and absence of αIR-3 antibody against the type 1 IGF receptor and Pygmy T-cell lines in response to estradiol (36.7–1835 pmol/ liter), testosterone (34.7–17,350 pmol/liter), 1,25(OH)2vitamin D3(2.4–24,000 pmol/liter), and triiodothyronine (1536–192,000 pmol/liter). There were no statistically significant differences by ANOVA in overall response curves for any of the four hormones comparing control clonal responses in the presence or absence of αIR-3 and no statistically significant difference in overall responsiveness between control and Pygmy T-cell lines. From these data, we conclude that (i) normal T-cell lines grow in response to estradiol, testosterone, 1,25(OH)2vitamin D3, and triiodothyronine; (ii) these responses are not mediated through local IGF-I since they are not blocked by pretreatment with antibody to the type 1 IGF receptor; and (iii) Pygmy T-cell lines, which are genetically resistant to IGF-I, grow equivalently to control T-cell lines in response to estradiol, testosterone, 1,25(OH)2vitamin D3, and triiodothyronine, further underscoring the IGF-I independence of this stimulation in our system.
Simultaneous Determination of Thermal Conductivity and Diffusivity of Foods using a Point Heat Source Probe: A Theoretical Analysis

Abstract A computerized mathematical model was developed to examine theoretically the applicability of a continuous point heat source method for simultaneous determination of thermal conductivity (κ) and thermal diffusivity (α) of foods by developing proper data reduction methods. A probe of composite structure as well as an overall finite contact conductance coefficient between the probe and the food was assumed. Glycerol and agar gel were used as reference materials to obtain a mean effective distance 'r' from the point heat source to the temperature sensor location that is needed in the determination. Estimated κ for 15 different foods was in good agreement with values obtained from the literature (2.5% maximum deviation), whereas the agreement for α was reasonably good only for foods with large α values. A small overall thermal contact conductance coefficient introduced an error of 46% in κ and 35% in α determination. The minimum food size for accurate determination of thermal transport properties was 22 mm height × 8 mm radius, but was further reduced to 17 mm × 5 mm when the heater dimensions were decreased by a factor of four.
Energy Equipartition Control for Geospatial Cyber-Physical Network Systems

This paper develops three novel hybrid control techniques addressing fast energy equipartition for cyber-physical network systems, and discusses the future application of the proposed approaches to power network systems. The proposed hybrid distributed controller architectures are designed to mimick the dynamic behavior of thermodynamic systems to achieve the robust performance of cyber-physical network systems. The proposed controller architectures are constructed in such a way that each controller has a one-directional energy transfer from a plant to itself, and exchanges energy with its neighboring controllers. Energy-based resetting laws and power-based resetting laws are utilized in the hybrid controllers. Then, the hybrid control techniques are applied to power network systems, and simulation studies are carried out to show the efficacy of the proposed approaches.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Kinesin-5 Acts as a Microtubule Stabilizer, Polymerase and Plus-Tip Tracker

Kinesin-5 slides antiparallel microtubules apart during mitosis and is necessary for bipolar spindle formation. Besides its unique homotetrameric configuration, determined by the coiled-coil domain, kinesin-5 motor domains also possess specific properties optimal for their spindle organizing function. To study properties intrinsic to the kinesin-5 motor domain, we generated functional kinesin-5 dimers by fusing the kinesin-5 head and 18-residue neck linker to the coiled-coil rod of kinesin-1. In ATP this kinesin-5 dimer decorated plus-ends of taxol-stabilized microtubules and slowed depolymerization of GMPCPP microtubules. On dynamic microtubules, kinesin-5 dimer increased the microtubule growth rate by more than a factor of two and reduced the catastrophe frequency three-fold. These findings are consistent with kinesin-5 acting as a microtubule polymerase. To understand this polymerase mechanism, TIRF microscopy was used to visualize individual GFP-labeled kinesin-5 dimers on immobilized microtubules. Motors walked to the ends of microtubules and remained bound there for 7 seconds, much longer than the 0.1 s motor step time. We hypothesize that kinesin-5 promotes microtubule polymerization by stabilizing longitudinal interactions between tubulin subunits on a single protofilament. Consistent with this protofilament stabilization hypothesis, fluorescence analysis suggests that microtubule plus-ends are more tapered in the presence of kinesin-5. Furthermore, curved and looped ends were observed, which occasionally resolved into straight microtubules, consistent with kinesin-5 stabilizing long protofilament bundles. In cells, these end-binding and polymerase activities should enhance the ability of kinesin-5 to establish and maintain spindle pole separation during mitosis.
Inventory modelling for complex emergencies in humanitarian relief operations

The increasing complexity and magnitude of global emergency relief operations create a critical need for effective and efficient humanitarian supply chain management processes. The irregular demand patterns and unusual constraints inherent in large-scale emergencies present unique challenges to physical supply systems. Indeed, the logistical needs of non-governmental organisations frequently surpass the capabilities of current emergency response approaches. There is only a limited body of research in humanitarian supply chain management, particularly in the area of inventory control. In this research, this limitation is addressed by developing a stochastic inventory control model that determines optimal order quantities and reorder points for a long-term emergency relief response.
Detoxification rates of wild herbivorous woodrats (Neotoma)

Abstract The detoxification systems of mammalian herbivores are thought to have evolved in response to the ingestion of plant secondary compounds. Specialist herbivores consume high quantities of secondary compounds and are predicted to have faster rates of Phase 1 detoxification compared to generalist herbivores. We tested this hypothesis by comparing the performances of a specialist ( Neotoma fuscipes ) and generalist ( Neotoma lepida ) herbivore using hypnotic state assays. Herbivores foraging in nature were live trapped and injected with hexobarbital (100 mg/kg). We measured the length of time in the hypnotic state as the time in which the animal was unable to right itself twice in 30 s. The specialist metabolized hexobarbital 1.7 times faster than the generalist ( F 1, 19 = 9.31, P = 0.007) as revealed by its significantly shorter time spent in the hypnotic state (56 ± 9 min vs. 87 ± 8 min, respectively). The results are consistent with the hypothesis that specialists have faster rates of Phase 1 detoxification. This is the first evaluation of the detoxification capability of mammalian herbivores foraging under natural conditions. Hypnotic state assays have broad potential applications to the study of vertebrate-plant interactions.
Import Demand for Malt in Selected Countries: A Linear Approximation of AIDS

Canada has emerged to be one of the major world exporters of malt. However, the European Union (EU) dominates the world malt trade due in part to quality advantages andor export restitutions. A Linear Approximation of the Almost Ideal Demand System (MAIDS) was estimated for four major malt importing countries: Japan, Brazil, Philippines and Venezueta. Elasticities of substitution for malt among different sources were computed. Results show that malt imported from the EU is least substi-tutable with malt from other sources, and demand for EU malt is less responsive to changes in price. Expenditure elasticities suggest a preference for malt imports from the EU compared to malt from other sources. For these reasons, the study concludes that price-based export expansion measures for non-EU malt may not be very effective. Le Canada est sorti comme un exportateur majeur du malt au monde. Mais, la communaute Europeen (EU) domine le commerce mondiale due aux avantages des qualites et des restrictions d'exporte. Une approximation lineaire de systeme de demande presque ideale «LA/AIDS» a ete estimee pour quatre pays importateurs du malt: le Japon, le Bresil, la Philippines et la Venezuela. Les elasticites du malt de different sources ont etaient calcule. Les resultats demontrent que le malt importe d'EU est le moins remplacable avec le malt d'autre sources, et la demande du malt venant d'EU est le moins elastique par rapport au changement du prix. L'elasticite du depense suggere une preference pour le malt importe d'EU par rapport a d'autres sources. Pour ces raisons, l'etude a conch qu'une expansion et l'expor-tation du malt en utilisant le prix ne sera pas effectif en dehors du malt d'EU.
R1 and R2 retrotransposition and deletion in the rDNA loci on the X and Y chromosomes of Drosophila melanogaster.

The non-LTR retrotransposons R1 and R2 insert into the 28S rRNA genes of arthropods. Comparisons among Drosophila lineages have shown that these elements are vertically inherited, while studies within species have indicated a rapid turnover of individual copies (elimination of old copies and the insertion of new copies). To better understand the turnover of R1 and R2, 200 retrotranspositions and nearly 100 eliminations have been scored in the Harwich mutation-accumulation lines of Drosophila melanogaster. Because the rDNA arrays in D. melanogaster are present on the X and Y chromosomes and no exchanges were detected in these lines, it was possible to show that R1 retrotranspositions occur predominantly in the male germ line, while R2 retrotranspositions were more evenly divided between the germ lines of both sexes. The rate of elimination of elements from the Y rDNA array was twice that of the X rDNA array with both chromosomal loci containing regions where the rate of elimination was on average eight times higher. Most R1 and R2 eliminations appear to occur by large intrachromosomal events (i.e., loop-out events) that involve multiple rDNA units. These findings are interpreted in light of the known abundance of R1 and R2 elements in the X and Y rDNA loci of D. melanogaster.
Design of Wide-Area Damping Controllers for Interarea Oscillations

This paper develops a systematic procedure of designing a centralized damping control system for power grid interarea oscillations putting emphasis on the signal selection and control system structure assignment. Geometric measures of controllability/observability are used to select the most effective stabilizing signals and control locations. Line power flows and currents are found to be the most effective input signals. The synthesis of the controller is defined as a problem of mixed H 2/H infin output-feedback control with regional pole placement and is resolved by the linear matrix inequality (LMI) approach. A tuning process and nonlinear simulations are then used to modify the controller parameters to ensure the performance and robustness of the controller designed with linear techniques. The design process is tested on the New England 39-bus ten-machine system.
Endovascular Therapy for Mesenteric Disease

In 1966, Dr. Trygve Aakhus touted the role of angiography in the evaluation of mesenteric ischemia. Eleven years later in 1977, Boley described the intra-arterial administration of papaverine to treat mesenteric ischemia. The 1st report of mesenteric angioplasty was published in 1980 by Gruntzig et al. During the past 31 years, percutaneous management of mesenteric vascular disease has expanded considerably. Though endovascular therapy in mesenteric disease is performed for aneurysmal, oncologic, traumatic, and hemorrhagic indications, the most common indication is the treatment of ischemic diseases. It has been estimated that 1 of 1,000 hospital admissions is due to intestinal ischemic disorders, which can be classified as chronic and acute mesenteric ischemia. In the general population, the incidence of chronic mesenteric ischemia is 1/100,000; however, in populations with known atherosclerotic disease, the prevalence is much higher. Chronic mesenteric ischemia is most frequently due to multivessel atherosclerotic arterial disease in the abdomen. In contrast, acute mesenteric ischemia can result from arterial embolism, arterial or venous thrombosis, or low cardiac output states complicated by profound mesenteric vasoconstriction.
Propafenone—Clinical Electrophysiology and Efficacy in Patients with Documented or Potentially Life‐threatening Arrhythmias

Propafenone is a new antiarrhythmic agent that inhibits the fast sodium channel and decreases phase 0 of the cardiac action potential. Since it has relatively little effect on the action potential duration, it has been classified as a type IC agent. Propafenone prolongs electrocardiographic intervals including PR and QRS. In addition, atrial and ventricular refractory periods generally are lengthened. Initial reports suggest a favorable effect on suppressing conduction over accessory pathways. Propafenone has been shown to have effectiveness in suppressing life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias as well. Electrophysiological testing is useful, but data such as mode of induction and rate of induced tachycardia should be considered in addition to inducibility status.
Wearable Obstacle Avoidance Electronic Travel Aids for Blind: A Survey

The last decades a variety of portable or wearable navigation systems have been developed to assist visually impaired people during navigation in known or unknown, indoor or outdoor environments. There are three main categories of these systems: electronic travel aids (ETAs), electronic orientation aids (EOAs), and position locator devices (PLDs). This paper presents a comparative survey among portable/wearable obstacle detection/avoidance systems (a subcategory of ETAs) in an effort to inform the research community and users about the capabilities of these systems and about the progress in assistive technology for visually impaired people. The survey is based on various features and performance parameters of the systems that classify them in categories, giving qualitative-quantitative measures. Finally, it offers a ranking, which will serve only as a reference point and not as a critique on these systems.
Block processing observers

This paper considers the development of discrete-time observers for discrete-time linear systems. The observers developed utilize a block of past output measurements as their inputs and are block processing digital filters with desirable properties. An illustrative example is given.
Enabling high-fidelity neutron transport simulations on petascale architectures

The UNIC code is being developed as part of the DOE's Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) program. UNIC is an unstructured, deterministic neutron transport code that allows a highly detailed description of a nuclear reactor. The primary goal of our simulation efforts is to reduce the uncertainties and biases in reactor design calculations by progressively replacing existing multilevel averaging (homogenization) techniques with more direct solution methods based on first principles. Since the neutron transport equation is seven dimensional (three in space, two in angle, one in energy, and one in time), these simulations are among the most memory and computationally intensive in all of computational science. In order to model the complex physics of a reactor core, billions of spatial elements, hundreds of angles, and thousands of energy groups are necessary, leading to problem sizes with petascale degrees of freedom. Therefore, these calculations exhaust memory resources on current and even next-generation architectures. In this paper, we present UNIC simulation results for two important representative problems in reactor design and analysis---PHENIX and ZPR-6. In each case, UNIC shows good weak scalability on up to 163,840 cores of Blue Gene/P (Argonne) and 122,800 cores of XT5 (Oak Ridge). While our current per processor performance is less than ideal, we demonstrate a clear ability to effectively utilize the leadership computing platforms. Over the coming months, we aim to improve the per processor performance while maintaining the high parallel efficiency by employing better algorithms such as spatial p- and h-multigrid preconditioners, optimized matrix-tensor operations, and weighted partitioning for better load balancing. Combining these additional algorithmic improvements with the availability of larger parallel machines should allow us to realize our long-term goal of explicit geometry coupled multiphysics reactor simulations. In the long run, these high-fidelity simulations will be able to replace expensive mockup experiments and reduce the uncertainty in crucial reactor design and operational parameters.
N-Terminal Mutants of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 gH Are Transported without gL but Require gL for Function

Glycoprotein H (gH) is conserved among all herpesviruses and is essential for virus entry and cell fusion along with gL, gB, and, in most alphaherpesviruses, gD. Within the gH/gL heterodimer, it is thought that gH accounts for the fusion function and gL acts as a chaperone for the folding and transport of gH. Here, we found that the N terminus of gH2 contains important elements involved in both its folding and its transport. Our conclusions are based on the phenotypes of a series of gH deletion mutants in which the signal sequence (residues 1 to 18) was retained and N-terminal residues were removed up to the number indicated. The first mutant, gH2Δ29 (deletion of residues 19 to 28), like wild-type (WT) gH, required gL for both transport and function. To our surprise, two other mutants (gH2Δ64 and gH2Δ72) were transported to the cell surface independent of gL but were nonfunctional, even when complexed with gL. Importantly, a fourth mutant (gH2Δ48) was transported independent of gL but was functional only when complexed with gL. Using a panel of monoclonal antibodies against gH2, we found that when gH2Δ48 was expressed alone, its antigenic structure differed from that of gH2Δ48/gL or gH2-WT/gL. Mutation of gH2 residue R39, Y41, W42, or D44 allowed gL-independent transport of gH. Our results also show that gL is not merely required for gH transport but is also necessary for the folding and function of the complex. Since gH2Δ64/gL and gH2Δ72/gL were nonfunctional, we hypothesized that residues critical for gH/gL function lie within this deleted region. Additional mutagenesis identified L66 and L72 as important for function. Together, our results highlight several key gH residues: R39, Y41, W42, and D44 for gH transport and L66 and L72 for gH/gL structure and function.
Enhancing Marital Sexuality

This article outlines a sexual enrichment process for couples desiring to improve their sex lives or as a precursor for couples seeking sex therapy. The first part of the article focuses on assessing couple relationships to determine if sex therapy or sexual enrichment is appropriate. The second part describes a program based on Masters and Johnson’s Sensate Focus exercises and is designed to enhance sensuality and enrich sexual behavior. The final section explores common sexual myths that affect couples’sexual experiences.
The Case of the Disappearing E-Book: Academic Libraries and Subscription Packages.

One of the standard models for e-book licensing in academic libraries is the subscription package. This study is a one-year analysis of “disappeared” titles from ebrary’s Academic Complete™ collection. During 2013, 3462 titles were deleted. Deleted titles were mainly recent publications (published within the last ten years), with a high number of deletions within the broad subject areas of the social sciences (H), language and literature (P), and history (C, D, E, F). Deleted titles were evenly divided between monographs published by popular presses, and monographs published by scholarly or university presses. It is recommended that deleted titles be closely monitored by subject librarians. Efficient library processes for handling deleted titles must also be implemented. Implications for libraries of changing e-book content are also discussed.
Spatial-mode analysis of micromachined optical cavities using electrothermal mirror actuation

The performance of optical microcavities is limited by spectral degradation resulting from thermal deformation and fabrication imperfections. In this paper, we study the spatial-mode properties of micromirror optical cavities with respect to commonly seen aberrations. Electrothermal actuation is used to slightly adjust the shape and position of micromirrors and study the effects this has on the spatial-mode structure of the cavity spectrum. The shapes of the micromirrors are changed using Joule heating with thermal expansion deformation. Significant differences in mirror tilt, curvature, and astigmatism are measured, but the tilt has by far the biggest impact on cavity finesse and resolution. We demonstrate that unwanted higher order spatial modes can be suppressed electrically and an amplitude reduction for the higher order modes of over 60% has been obtained with a tuning current of 5.5 mA. A fundamental mode finesse of approximately 60 is maintained throughout tuning. These tunable cavities have great potential in applications using cavity arrays or requiring dynamic mode control
Laser photoelectron spectrometry of Sc− and Y−: A determination of the order of electron filling in transition-metal anions

Abstract The photoelectron spectra of Sc − and Y − have been obtained in a crossed ion- and laser-beam experiment. Analysis of the Sc − spectrum yields two bound terms of 3 d 4 s 2 4 p configuration ( 1 D 0 and 3 D 0 ), with EA(Sc) = 0.189 ± 0.020 eV and an excited-state binding energy of 0.042 ± 0.020 eV. Similarly, the (4 d 5 s 2 5 p ) 1 D 0 ground state of Y − is bound by 0.308±0.012eV and a (4 d 5 s 2 5 P ) 3 D 0 excited term is bound by 0.165± 0.025 eV. With the determination of the bound electronic configuration of Sc − as 3 d 4 s 2 4 p , the order of filling of electron shells of the first transition series negative ions is found to be 4 s 2 4 p , 3 d 4 s 2 4 p , followed by 3 d k 4 s 2 ( k = 3,4,…, 10).
Effect of insulin on plasma vascular endothelial growth factor in children with new-onset diabetes.

Context: Considerable experimental evidence inculpates vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as one of the candidate factors providing a mechanistic link between hyperglycemia and diabetic complications. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the effect of insulin treatment and glycemic control on plasma VEGF levels in children with new-onset diabetes. Methods: This prospective study assessed the changes in plasma VEGF levels after treatment of diabetes with insulin. We also aimed to ascertain whether there was any correlation between plasma VEGF levels and simultaneous random plasma glucose. The study comprised 19 children with new-onset diabetes mellitus between the ages of 3 and 18 yr. The control group comprised 55 healthy nondiabetic children with idiopathic short stature. Results: Plasma VEGF concentrations were significantly elevated in children at diagnosis of diabetes, compared with healthy controls (P < 0.0002). Plasma VEGF levels (P < 0.01) and hemoglobin A1C (P < 0.0001) declined in diabe...
Grundlegende Konzepte von Betriebssystemen

Wie wir in Abschnitt 1.4 gesehen haben, bleiben wahrend der Ubertragung von Ein/Ausgabedaten zum/vom Arbeitsspeicher viele Speicherzyklen ungenutzt. Der Prozessor ist an der Durchfuhrung von Ein/Ausgabeoperationen so geringfugig beteiligt, das er, wahrend die Gerate E/A-Daten ubertragen, andere nutzliche Arbeit leisten kann. In Abschnitt 1.5 wurde ein System skizziert, bei welchem Verarbeitungsphasen und Ein/Ausgabephasen abwechseln; entweder ist der Prozessor aktiv, oder Leser und Drucker sind gleichzeitig tatig. Es ist naheliegend, noch mehr Parallelarbeit anzustreben; Prozessor, Leser und Drucker sollten simultan arbeiten.
The Use of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Men with Urethral Stricture Disease

The use of patient-reported outcome measures represents a noninvasive, cost-effective method to assess voiding symptoms, sexual function, quality of life, and treatment outcomes in men with urethral stricture disease. The American Urological Association Symptom Index (AUASI) was originally designed to assess lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men with BPH. The use of this patient-reported questionnaire has also proven useful as a noninvasive method to assess men with LUTS related to urethral stricture. However, the inability of this instrument to capture the full range of voiding symptoms in men with urethral stricture limits its usefulness.