cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Horizontal Scales of Variability over the Middle Atlantic Bight Shelf Break and Continental Rise from Finescale Observations

AbstractObservations with fine horizontal resolution are used to identify the horizontal scales of variability over the Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB) shelf break and continental rise. Spray gliders collected observations along two alongshelf transects over the continental rise in March–April 2006 and along 16 cross-shelf transects over the shelf break and continental rise during July–October 2007. Horizontal resolution varied from 1 km or finer over the shelf to 6 km in deep water. These observations allow horizontal thermohaline variability offshore of the MAB shelf break to be examined for the first time. Structure functions of temperature and salinity, the mean square difference between observations separated by specified distances, reveal the horizontal spatial scales in the region. Exponential (e-folding) scales of temperature and salinity increase from 8–13 km near the shelf break to about 30 km over the continental rise. Just offshore of the shelf break, alongshelf structure functions exhibit periodi...
Decreased constitutive nitric oxide synthase, but increased inducible nitric oxide synthase and endothelin-1 immunoreactivity in aortic endothelial cells of donryu rats on a cholesterol-enriched diet.

The Donryu rat is resistant to a high cholesterol diet in that typical atheromatous lesions do not develop. Using electron microscopic immunocytochemical techniques, the effects of a CCT diet (4% cholesterol with 1% cholic acid and 0.5% thiouracil) on the distributions of neuronal, macrophage, and endothelial specific nitric oxide synthase (NOS I, NOS II, and NOS III) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) immunoreactivity were examined in the thoracic aortic intima. Atheromatous lesions were absent, but immunocytochemistry showed 1.4±0.52% and 4.0±0.9% endothelial cells (EC) with positive staining for NOS I and NOS III, respectively, compared with 16.3±2.5% and 88.6±2.48% in control Donryu rats. The CCT-supplemented diet induced expression of NOS II immunoreactivity in thoracic aortic intimal cells. EC, subendothelial macrophages, and smooth muscle cells (SMC) also showed high NOS II-positive staining. The percentage of NOS II-immunoreactive EC was 43±1.8%. In control groups, no NOS II immunoreactive cells were observed. The percentage of ET-1 immunopositive cells was also significantly increased by 9.2±0.66% and 64.2±1.4% in control and CCT-fed groups, respectively. It is concluded that the administration of a high cholesterol diet in Donryu rats produces endothelial dysfunction associated with changes in the balance of the different isoforms of NOS and ET-1. Therefore, the increase in inducible NOS and ET-1 immunoreactivity seen during the cholesterol-enriched diet appears to be a compensatory reaction of aortic wall cells to the high cholesterol supplementation. Anat Rec 260:16–25, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
What is the origin of the common bean

Systematists concerned with the origin of the common bean have disagreed or have been inconsistent in what name should be applied to the closest wild relatives of the domesticated Phaseolus vulgaris L. Phaseolus aborigineus Burk. (Berglund-Briicher and Briicher, 1976); P. aborigineus var. hondurensis Burk., P. vulgaris forma aborigineus Burk. (Burkart and Briicher, 1953); P. vulgaris ssp. aborigineus Burk. (Kloz et al., 1966); P. vulgaris L. (Gentry, 1969) are names which have been applied. With the present inadequate state of our knowledge concerning the biological relationships between the North and South American wild beans and between these wild types and the cultivars, P. vulgaris L. is the least ambiguous name for the wild species, escapes, cultivars and land races. The wild-growing South American populations may be distinguished informally by using "aborigineus" in conjunction with them. The wild types grow in isolated stands in a long and disjunct range from west central Mexico through Central America, along the eastern slopes of the Andes to northwestern Argentina (Gentry, 1969; Berglund-Briicher and Briicher, 1976) (Fig. 1). Miranda Colin (1967) and Gentry (1969) both suggested that at least one group of Phaseolus vulgaris domesticates evolved in the Mexico-Guatemala region, Mesoamerica. Berglund-Briicher and Briicher (1976) presented evidence for the domestication of P. vulgaris in South America. Neither group of authors explicitly ruled out the possibility of independent domestication in Mesoamerica and Andean America. A keen interest in the systematic and archaeological evidence bearing on single versus multiple regions of common bean domestication has been expressed by several writers on the origins of agriculture, among them DeCandolle in 1886 (1964), Mangelsdorf et al. (1964) and Heiser (1973). This paper presents further evidence to indicate that there remain substantial questions regarding the geographic origin of the common bean. The question of "origin" relevant to common bean domestication is examined with respect to how certain specific characters developed to distinguish domesticates from wild ancestors. Two of the traits that are characteristic of the common bean are extensive regional diversity and relatively large seed size. Extensive regional diversity is manifested by the presence of a large number of common bean land races, typically the vining rather than the dwarf types, grown in a region and recognizable by differences in seed color and pattern and in morphology. Large seed size as compared with Old World pulses was attributed to direct human selection by Carl 0. Sauer (1969) in lectures delivered in 1952. He viewed the distinctive New World system of planting single seeds contrasted with Old World broadcast sowing as permitting human selection for large seeds. Experimental and archaeological evidence are presented here to
Hypermethylated SUPERMAN Epigenetic Alleles in Arabidopsis

Mutations in the SUPERMAN gene affect flower development in Arabidopsis. Seven heritable but unstable supepi-alleles (the clark kent alleles) are associated with nearly identical patterns of excess cytosine methylation within theSUP gene and a decreased level of SUP RNA. Revertants of these alleles are largely demethylated at theSUP locus and have restored levels of SUP RNA. A transgenic Arabidopsis line carrying an antisense methyltransferase gene, which shows an overall decrease in genomic cytosine methylation, also contains a hypermethylated supallele. Thus, disruption of methylation systems may yield more complex outcomes than expected and can result in methylation defects at known genes. The clark kent alleles differ from the antisense line because they do not show a general decrease in genomic methylation.
Nonmodal chromosome gain and loss in human fibroblast cultures.

Chromosome loss in cultured human lymphocytes has been found to be inversely correlated to chromosome size (Bloom et al., 1967; Neurath et al., 1970; Martin et al., 1980; Stallard et al., 1981; Wenger et al., 1984) while chromosome gain has been random (Brown et al., 1983; Wenger et al., 1984). It has been suggested that chromosome loss may be a technical artifact of slide preparation (Brown et al., 1983). To determine if nonmodal chromosome gain or loss is tissue-specific or related to culture conditions, long-term fibroblast cultures were evaluated in a manner similar to the studies indicated above
Paget’s disease of the breast: a 33-year experience

Abstract Background: Paget's disease (PD) of the breast is an uncommon condition traditionally treated with mastectomy. To assess the natural history and treatment options in PD we have reviewed the experience at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI). Study Design: The medical records of patients treated for PD at RPCI between 1963 and 1996 were reviewed. Results: Eighty patients were treated in the period reviewed. The median follow up was 61 months. Sixty- eight of 80 patients had nipple changes consistent with PD including 30 who had an associated breast mass (group 1), and 38 who had no associated mass (group 2). Of the 68 patients with clinical PD, 58 (85%) were treated with mastectomy while the remainder were treated with some form of breast conserving therapy. Breast cancer (BC) was found in 56 of 68 patients (82%) with clinical PD, including 28 of 30 patients (93%) in group 1 and 28 of 38 patients (74%) in group 2. Breast cancer was centrally located (within 2 cm of the areolar margin) in 61% of patients, including 71% in group 1 and 50% in group 2. Of the 28 patients with an associated BC in group 1, 21 (75%) had invasive cancer, 6 (21%) had ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and 16 (57%) had pathologic axillary nodes. Of the 28 patients with an associated BC in group 2, 10 (36%) had invasive cancer, 18 (64%) had DCIS, and 6 (21%) had positive axillary nodes. The median survival was significantly shorter for group 1 (42 months) than for group 2 (126 months; p=0.007). Conclusion: Most patients with PD have an associated BC (82%) that was centrally located (61%). In those patients without an associated mass, a significant number (26% in this series) may not have an underlying BC and may be overtreated with mastectomy. On the other hand, a significant number of patients with PD and no associated breast mass will be found to have a peripherally located tumor (29% in this series). These non-central BC masses could potentially be missed by a wide local excision that includes the areolar complex.
Molecular analysis of the hydrogenosomal ferredoxin of the anaerobic protist Trichomonas vaginalis.

Abstract We have determined the primary structure of the [2Fe-2S]ferredoxin of the anaerobic protist Trichomonas vaginalis. This protein, situated in the hydrogenosome, is composed of 93 amino acids. A comparison of T. vaginalis ferredoxin with greater than 80 other ferredoxins shows the closest similarity to [2Fe-2S]putidaredoxin of the aerobic bacterium Pseudomonas putida and a lesser one to mitochondrial [2Fe-2S]ferredoxins of vertebrates. This similarity is reflected in the overall primary structure and in the spacing of cysteine residues coordinating the iron-sulfur center. The primary structure, but not the environment of the iron-sulfur center, also shows similarity with [2Fe-2S]ferredoxins of photosynthetic organisms and halobacteria. We have cloned and analyzed the T. vaginalis ferredoxin gene. The gene is present in a single copy and devoid of introns. It gives rise to a transcript with unusually short 5' and 3' untranslated regions of 16 and 18 nucleotides, respectively. DNA sequence analysis of the gene predicts an additional 8 amino acids at the amino terminus which are absent from the purified protein. This amino-terminal region of the protein is characterized by properties typical of mitochondrial presequences.
Role of sympathetic nervous system in the entrainment of circadian natural killer cell function

Previous research in our laboratory has demonstrated robust circadian variations of cytokines and cytolytic factors in enriched NK cells from rat spleen, strongly suggesting these functions may be subject to circadian regulation. The SCN mediates timing information to peripheral tissues by both humoral and neural inputs. In particular, noradrenergic (NE) sympathetic nervous system (SNS) terminals innervate the spleen tissue communicating information between central and peripheral systems. However, whether these immune factors are subject to timing information conveyed through neural NE innervation to the spleen remained unknown. Indeed, we were able to characterize a circadian rhythm of NE content in the spleen, supporting the role of the SNS as a conveyor of timing information to splenocytes. By chemically producing a local splenic sympathectomy through guanethidine treatment, the splenic NE rhythm was abolished or shifted as indicated by a blunting of the expected peak at ZT7. Consequently, the daily variations of cytokine, TNF-α, and cytolytic factors, granzyme-B and perforin, in NK cells and splenocytes were altered. Only time-dependent mRNA expression of IFN-γ was altered in splenocytes, but not protein levels in NK cells, suggesting non-neural entrainment cues may be necessary to regulate specific immune factors. In addition, the rhythms of clock genes and proteins, Bmal1 and Per2, in these tissues also displayed significantly altered daily variations. Collectively, these results demonstrate rhythmic NE input to the spleen acts as an entrainment cue to modulate the molecular clock in NK cells and other spleen cells possibly playing a role in regulating the cytokine and cytolytic function of these cells.
The molecular and clinical epidemiology of enterobacteriaceae-producing extended-spectrum β-lactamase in a tertiary care hospital*

To describe the epidemiology of Enterobacteriaceae-producing extended-spectrum β -lactamase (EP-ESBL) in a non-outbreak setting, and to define the risk factors associated with colonization, a 5-month surveillance study was initiated. Ten of 333 patients were colonized with EP-ESBL, as defined by isoelectric focusing. Klebsiella sp. and Escherichia coli were the species most commonly harbouring these plasmid-mediated enzymes. Of the 16 SHV-producing isolates, 10 were SHV-3-like (pI 7.0) and six were SHV-5-like (pI 8.2). All isolates were resistant to ceftriaxone. Ceftazidime resistance was detected in 50% and 100% of SHV-3-like and SHV-5-like producing isolates, respectively. One patient was colonized with four different SHV-5-like producing Enterobacteriaceae. These isolates carried plasmids that were indistinguishable by restriction endonuclease analysis, indicating broad plasmid transfer within the patient. By logistic regression, haemodialysis was a strong risk factor for colonization with EP-ESBL, suggesting that, in our hospital, horizontal transmission is an important mechanism of dissemination of these resistant pathogens.
Measurement of Ca channel activity of isolated adult rat heart cells using 54Mn

Abstract Isolated adult rat heart cells incubated with 5 μ m Mn in a medium with 1 m m Ca showed a rapid phase of Mn binding plus a slow phase of Mn uptake. The rapid phase was extracellular binding, as judged by its temperature-insensitive removal by ethylene glycol bis(β-aminoethyl ether) N,N′ -tetraacetic acid. The slow linear phase represented cellular uptake, as judged by its release with digitonin plus the ionophore A23187. Isoproterenol increased the linear rate of Mn uptake and induced spontaneous beating activity in some cells. Both effects were inhibited by nitrendipine. Electrical stimulation of the cells in suspension increased the linear rate of cellular Mn uptake. The increase was potentiated by isoproterenol, and inhibited by nitrendipine or verapamil. Stimulation-dependent Mn uptake (per milligram protein) was greater for cells from 5- to 6-week-old rats than for 8- to 9-month-old female retired breeder rats, in the presence of isoproterenol. Ryanodine increased the stimulation-dependent Mn uptake in the presence of isoproterenol, but not in its absence. We conclude: (i) that cellular uptake of 54 Mn is a good probe of Ca channel function; (ii) that isoproterenol promotes Mn influx by the channel in isolated heart cells; (iii) that cells from young rats (5–6 weeks) have a higher β-adrenergically induced Ca channel activity than cells from mature rats (8–9 months); and (iv) that ryanodine promotes Ca channel activity (perhaps indirectly) in the presence of isoproterenol.
Age Verification of Walleyes from Lake of the Woods, Minnesota

Abstract Walleyes are the major resource of commercial and recreational fisheries in Lake of the Woods, as well as in other large, relatively shallow lakes in northern latitudes. Verified age assignments are necessary for assessment of mortality and year class strength. In this study, ages were assigned by an experienced reader independently of fish length and knowledge of previous age assignments. Scale ages were compared with dorsal spine ages for 850 walleyes by determining the percent agreement, average percent error, coefficient of variation, and index of precision. Likewise, scale age assignments were compared among three readers of widely varying experience. Results were consistent with other studies in that walleye scales are relatively easy to age from Lake of the Woods, Minnesota, and other high latitude, nutrient-rich lakes containing exploited populations. Variation among readers increased for walleyes over 430 mm, but bias toward under-ageing (as compared with spines) did not occur until age 12 and older (600 mm). Chi-square tests revealed no significant differences among age distributions formulated from spines, scales, and different readers. Lack of serious trends in deviation of scale readings from spine readings allows the less expensive scale method to be employed with little danger of underestimating ages of most sizes of walleye caught by angling and experimental gill net.
Consumer concern, knowledge, belief, and attitude toward renewable energy: An application of the reasoned action theory

As conventional energy resources dry up and pollution increases, utility companies and policy makers seek to develop new energy programs that are more environmentally sound and replenishable. Renewable energy has emerged as an alternative energy resource, but its marketing has not been successful despite widespread consumer concern about the environment. Using the theory of reasoned action as a theoretical framework, the current research investigates the relationship of three variables (concern with the environment, knowledge about renewable energy, and beliefs about salient consequences of using renewable energy) with consumer attitude toward paying a premium for renewable energy. As predicted by the theory of reasoned action, a positive relationship between beliefs about salient consequences and attitudes toward paying more for renewable energy was found. Overall concern levels were quite high for consumers in the sample, whereas knowledge levels were relatively low. Interestingly, it was found that consumer concern failed to translate into heightened knowledge about renewable energy. The study suggests that the consumer's environmental concern and beliefs about renewable energy to date are more emotionally charged than fact- or knowledge-based. Implications for marketing strategies and consumer education are provided. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Mayhem in the Magic City: Rebuilding legitimacy in a communication train wreck

Abstract This study explores the relationship between corrective action and rebuilding legitimacy. Specifically, the corrective actions taken by the City of Minot and Ward County officials in response to the emergency communication breakdowns during the 2002 Canadian Pacific train derailment and anhydrous ammonia spill are analyzed. The study concludes that corrective action when employed as organizational learning can expedite image restoration, rebuild legitimacy, and better prepare organizations for future crises.
Chord-Tangent transformation for object recognition

The problem of recognizing planar images in two-dimensional (2D) space has remained a problem of significant interest in computer vision for the last three decades. The Generalized Hough Transform has emerged as one of the more promising techniques because of its robustness to incomplete data and additive noise. However, the Generalized Hough transform is not well suited for similarity transformation because the parameters of scale and rotation cannot be solved using unary tangent information. In this paper, a new technique is introduced which uses a simple transformation of pairwise tangent information to allow for the direct computation of the parameters of scale and rotation and thus a more precise estimate of the translation parameters. This method shares many of the same advantages of the Generalized Hough Transform, while performing with greater efficiency and accuracy. This technique is applied to a database of objects, where the test object is a composite of model instances, having undergone similarity transformation, and in the presence of both noise and occlusion. The results are compared with that of the Generalized Hough Transform, and a critical analysis of the two methods is presented.
Flexible composite transducers

Abstract Flexible PZT/polymer composite transducers have been fabricated with a novel microstructural configuration. The concept of connectivity has been applied in the evaluation of the type of structure needed to optimize the properties of the composite. Properties of several kinds of piezoelectric transducers are compared.
Retroperitoneal Fibrosis Presenting as Spontaneously Reversible Renal Failure

Three patients are reported who presented with severe oliguric renal failure due to retroperitoneal fibrosis and obstructive uropathy in whom spontaneous diuresis and recovery of renal function took place, a course resembling acute tubular necrosis. There were, however, several clinical and laboratory findings that provided clues to the presence of obstructive uropathy. Two of the three patients had low back or abdominal pain. All three patients presented with anemia and significant hyper-kalemic, hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis with only a small increase in anion gap and two of the patients had an inappropriately high urine pH. Neither tubular cell casts nor pigmented granular casts were identified in the urine in any of the patients. In all three patients the urine output increased from oliguric levels to 1400-2000 ml/day within 1 day associated with rapidly improving renal function. This report demonstrates and reinforces the need to rule out obstruction in all patients with renal failure of unknown etiology and adds retroperitoneal fibrosis to the list of diseases associated with renal failure and spontaneous recovery.
Nucleation, growth, and hysteresis of surface creases on swelled polymer gels

The formation and disappearance of surface creases on gel layers subjected to compressive swelling stresses due to attachment to a rigid substrate are investigated using thin (4–126 μm thick) temperature-responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) copolymer hydrogels. For shallow quenches beyond the critical level of compression to trigger the elastic instability, creases form by nucleation and growth, and we show that the observed onset, morphology and cycle-to-cycle memory are therefore typically dominated by heterogeneous defects. Observations of isothermal crease growth velocities at different quench depths provide precise measurements of the level of effective compressive strain at which the surface first becomes unstable, and this critical strain is found to be slightly elevated as film thickness is reduced. These observations are consistent with a simple model for the energy change upon forming a fold, with the inclusion of a gel/water surface-energy term that provides a nucleation barrier. While significant hysteresis between the onset and disappearance temperatures is often observed in experiments, this is found to reflect predominantly the finite quench depths necessary to yield nucleation and growth of creases on experimental time-scales.
Exact theory of the electrostatic interaction in electrorheological fluids and the effects of particle structure

We present an exact theory of the electrostatic interaction energy and forces in electrorheological (ER) fluids containing particles of arbitrary structure and placed between two parallel electrode plates at a (constant) potential difference. All multipole moments and all multipole images are included. Our theory also applies to ER fluids with a conducting medium. We demonstrate the effectiveness and practicality of the theory with some basic calculations of (A) the exact attraction force between an electrode plate and chains of coated spheres, and (B) the dependence of the binding force on the structure of the particles in a chain.
Scattering of molecular hydrogen at fixed orientation

Abstract Ionization of one-electron heavy ion projectiles in collisions with molecular hydrogen is usually treated as collisions with two free hydrogen atoms. An approach is proposed here to solve this six-body problem within the framework of Born theory taking full consideration of the molecular properties of H2, such as wave function and orientation of molecular axis. For C5+ collisions on H2, the obtained cross sections as a function of molecular orientation show interference patterns typical of two-center scattering. Orientation-averaged total cross sections for H2 are found to be essentially the same as for 2H, in agreement with recent experiment.
Investigating the probability of a voting cycle when the electorate is large

Abstract For the framework customarily employed to compute the probability of a voting cycle, in the limit as the number of voters approaches infinity the probability of a cycle is either 0 or 1, except in a subset of cases of measure 0.
Biologically-inspired technologies in NASA's Morphing project

For centuries, biology has provided fertile ground for hypothesis, discovery, and inspiration. Time-tested methods used in nature are being used as a basis for several research studies conducted at the NASA Langley Research Center as a part of Morphing Project, which develops and assesses breakthrough vehicle technologies. These studies range from low drag airfoil design guided by marine and avian morphologies to soaring techniques inspired by birds and the study of small flexible wing vehicles. Biology often suggests unconventional yet effective approaches such as non-planar wings, dynamic soaring, exploiting aeroelastic effects, collaborative control, flapping, and fibrous active materials. These approaches and other novel technologies for future flight vehicles are being studied in NASA's Morphing Project. This paper will discuss recent findings in the aeronautics-based, biologically-inspired research in the project.
Proliferation and differentiation of normal and neoplastic cells in the colon of man.

Investigation of proliferate characteristics and of enzymes involved in the metabolism of nucleic acid precursors in colonic cells of man reveal abnormalities in both the replication of the cells and in their differentiation. During migration of normal colonic epithelial cells through the middle third of the colonic crypts, DNA synthesis and mitosis cease as the cells undergo differentiation. However, an early deviation from normal occurs in well-differentiated colonic epithelial cells of man that continue DNA synthesis and proliferate activity throughout their entire life span. These cells, found in the mucosa of patients who develop neoplastic lesions of the colon, develop an enhanced capacity to proliferate. In neoplastic lesions of increasing size and malignant potential, despite morphological evidence of differentiation, additional abnormalities in nucleic acid enzyme activity develop, and patterns of activity of immature proliferate cells persist. Neoplastic cells of the colon have variable replication rates, with many cells proliferating at near normal, or slower than normal rates. The G2 periodic phase of the proliferate cell cycle was found to be prolonged in villous adenoma and carcinoma cells.
Some Recent Restorations of Dinosaurs

UNDER the above title, an illustrated article, by Mr. R. Lydekker, appears in NATURE, July 27, 1893, p. 302. This purports to give a summary of what has recently been done in restoring certain remarkable forms of extinct reptiles. Most of the statements made are correct, but with them are a number of serious errors that may mislead readers not familiar with the subject. As the restorations given are, with one exception, my own, and represent indirectly several years' work in the field and museum, I trust you will allow me to call attention to some mistakes in this article, which were perhaps made by Mr. Lydekker through inadvertence, or from his not having seen the specimens described.
Civil Service Reform as National Security: The Homeland Security Act of 2002

The events of 9/11 have influenced policy making in public administration. The Homeland Security Act of 2002, which created the Department of Homeland Security, contained language that empowered the secretary of homeland security and the director of the Office of Personnel Management to establish a personnel management system outside the normal provisions of the federal civil service. Why did civil service reform succeed as part of this legislation when previous attempts at large-scale reform had failed? A case analysis of the enactment of civil service reform in the Homeland Security Act points to theories of policy emergence and certain models of presidential and congressional policy making. In this case, civil service reform became associated with national security instead of management reform. An assessment of the rhetorical arguments used to frame this policy image offers a powerful explanation for the adoption of the personnel management reforms in the Homeland Security Act. This case has implications for understanding how policy makers might approach future management reform agendas.
Dislocations in amorphous metals

The question of whether microscopic line defects such as dislocations can exist in amorphous metals is discussed. The discussion is divided into three parts. The first part is a general consideration of the existence, detection, identification, stability, and motion of dislocations. The second part summarizes the experimental indications including the shear band characteristics, shear step distribution, and reverse shear behavior. The third part reports the computer simulations on the stability and the motion of dislocations in a Lennard-Jones amorphous solid. The conclusion is that such dislocations may exist in amorphous solids but their characteristics remain to be identified.
Preliminary trends in reflectance and maceral analysis of Upper Cretaceous Menefee and Crevasse Canyon coals in the San Juan Basin of New Mexico

Abstract Mean-maximum reflectances and maceral analyses were obtained for 45 samples of Cretaceous coal from the southeastern portion of the San Juan Basin of New Mexico. Samples represented Menefee and Crevasse Canyon formations. In general, the range of reflectance at any one site was found to be greater than the range between sites. Reflectance variations appeared to be more closely related to original depositional environments and source vegetation (maceral types and contents) than to degree of coalification (rank).
Thermal Conductivities of a Cracked Solid

Formulas are presented which describe the effect of flat elliptical cracks on the effec tive thermal conductivity of an otherwise homogeneous body. The cracks are assumed randomly and isotropically...
Coppicing affects growth, root:shoot relations and ecophysiology of potted Quercus rubra seedlings

Two experiments were conducted to examine the response of Quercus rubra L. seedlings to coppicing. In a greenhouse experiment, growth, biomass distribution, leaf gas exchange, and water and carbohydrate relations were measured for 1-year-old seedlings that were either coppiced when dormant at the time of planting or left intact as controls. Coppicing induced sprouting from the base of the stem, and, in general, the physiology of sprouts and controls was similar. However, the relative growth rate (RGR) of sprouts was 9% higher than that of controls, allowing sprouts to compensate fully for the initial mass lost to coppicing. In a second experiment, in an outdoor cold frame, growth, biomass distribution, leaf gas exchange and plant water relations were measured on 1-year-old seedlings that were either coppiced at the time of planting (dormant-coppiced), coppiced soon after bud break (active-coppiced) or left intact (controls). Dormant coppicing again had little impact on seedling physiology, and dormant-coppiced plants again compensated for initial mass loss with a higher RGR. In contrast, active-coppiced seedlings did not compensate for initial mass loss, as their RGR did not differ from that of controls. By the tenth week of the study, leaf gas exchange rates of active-coppiced sprouts were higher than those of dormant-coppiced and control seedlings. Active-coppiced sprouts also had a greater soil-to-leaf hydraulic conductivity (expressed on a leaf area basis) and a lower ratio of leaf area to root surface area than did controls. Across treatments, photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance were positively correlated with soil-to-leaf hydraulic conductivity, and gas exchange rates and hydraulic conductivity were negatively related to leaf:root area ratio. Thus, the removal of actively growing shoots may have altered subsequent leaf gas exchange largely through coppice-induced changes in leaf-root balance.
Control of metamorphic events in a neotenous urodele Ambystoma mexicanum

External metamorphosis in the normally neotenous urodele, Ambystoma mexicanum, can be induced by continuous immersion in thyroxine solutions of 5 × 10−8 M or more. The natural larval-to-adult hemoglobin change occurs in untreated animals at 100–150 days of age, unaccompanied by external metamorphosis. The hemoglobin change is inducible prematurely by continuous immersion of larvae in a thyroxine solution of at least 3 × 10−8 M-a concentration insufficient to induce external metamorphosis.
Decentralized QoS-Aware Checkpointing Arrangement in Mobile Grid Computing

This paper deals with decentralized, QoS-aware middleware for checkpointing arrangement in Mobile Grid (MoG) computing systems. Checkpointing is more crucial in MoG systems than in their conventional wired counterparts due to host mobility, dynamicity, less reliable wireless links, frequent disconnections, and variations in mobile systems. We've determined the globally optimal checkpoint arrangement to be NP-complete and so consider Reliability Driven (ReD) middleware, employing decentralized QoS-aware heuristics, to construct superior checkpointing arrangements efficiently. With ReD, an MH (mobile host) simply sends its checkpointed data to one selected neighboring MH, and also serves as a stable point of storage for checkpointed data received from a single approved neighboring MH. ReD works to maximize the probability of checkpointed data recovery during job execution, increasing the likelihood that a distributed application, executed on the MoG, completes without sustaining an unrecoverable failure. It allows collaborative services to be offered practically and autonomously by the MoG. Simulations and actual testbed implementation show ReD's favorable recovery probabilities with respect to Random Checkpointing Arrangement (RCA) middleware, a QoS-blind comparison protocol producing random arbitrary checkpointing arrangements.
Quality and rigor of the concept mapping methodology: A pooled study analysis

The use of concept mapping in research and evaluation has expanded dramatically over the past 20 years. Researchers in academic, organizational, and community-based settings have applied concept mapping successfully without the benefit of systematic analyses across studies to identify the features of a methodologically sound study. Quantitative characteristics and estimates of quality and rigor that may guide for future studies are lacking. To address this gap, we conducted a pooled analysis of 69 concept mapping studies to describe characteristics across study phases, generate specific indicators of validity and reliability, and examine the relationship between select study characteristics and quality indicators. Individual study characteristics and estimates were pooled and quantitatively summarized, describing the distribution, variation and parameters for each. In addition, variation in the concept mapping data collection in relation to characteristics and estimates was examined. Overall, results suggest concept mapping yields strong internal representational validity and very strong sorting and rating reliability estimates. Validity and reliability were consistently high despite variation in participation and task completion percentages across data collection modes. The implications of these findings as a practical reference to assess the quality and rigor for future concept mapping studies are discussed.
Friendstore: cooperative online backup using trusted nodes

Today, it is common for users to own more than tens of gigabytes of digital pictures, videos, experimental traces, etc. Although many users already back up such data on a cheap second disk, it is desirable to also seek off-site redundancies so that important data can survive threats such as natural disasters and operator mistakes. Commercial online backup service is expensive [1, 11]. An alternative solution is to use a peer-to-peer storage system. However, existing cooperative backup systems are plagued by two long-standing problems [3, 4, 9, 19, 27]: enforcing minimal availability from participating nodes, and ensuring that nodes storing others' backup data will not deny restore service in times of need.
Polymer Solar Cells Processed Using Anisole as a Relatively Nontoxic Solvent

In this study, a relatively nontoxic single solvent, anisole, was successfully used to process polymer solar cells. Blends cast with anisole showed higher polymer aggregation due to lower solubility. Polymer aggregation led to isolated regions that can trap charges in the polymer phase in anisole-based cells, supported by photo-charge extraction by the linearly increasing voltage (photo-CELIV) technique. However, polymer aggregation resulted in lower bimolecular recombination due to a decreased amount of polymer–PCBM interface as seen in transient photocurrent/photovoltage measurements. The higher charge trapping was compensated by the lower bimolecular recombination and therefore cells fabricated with anisole solvent delivered comparable photovoltaic performance to reference to cells processed with chlorobenzene (CB). Overall anisole was proved to be a friendly solvent to process organic photovoltaics thereby decreasing the risk to human health for large scale production.
Children's Social Desirability Ratings of Ingratiation Tactics

Fifty-eight children drawn from schools in Pennsylvania and Illinois were administered a questionnaire made up of scenarios depicting ingratiation tactics directed toward three types of targets (parents, teachers, or peers). The children, 22 of whom were diagnosed as learning disabled, were asked to rate the social desirability of each tactic. Learning disabled and nondisabled children judged the social desirability of the items similarly. The children's judgments were then compared with adult judgments of the social desirability of the same items obtained in a previous study. It was found that children and adults both judged tactics in the context of target or setting, and that they appeared to agree about the desirability of particular tactics directed toward particular targets.
Satellite image retrieval application using Locality Sensitive Hashing in l 2 -space

This paper demonstrates the use of the Locality Sensitive Hashing technique operating in Euclidean metric space to build a data structure for Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellite imagery database. Due to the high dimensionality of these images, their texture feature vectors are used. These features are extracted using pyramidal wavelet decomposition coupled with Gaussian central moments. Families of hash functions are drawn randomly and independently from a Gaussian distribution to create hash tables for these texture feature vectors of the images. The hash tables and the families of hash functions are then used to find similar satellite image matches to any query image in sublinear search time. When tested, our algorithm has proven to be about thirty three times faster than the linear search algorithm. In addition, our algorithm searches less than two percent of the entire database on the average to find the possible similar image matches to any given query without loss of accuracy. 1 2
Conjugated Linoleic Acid Attenuates Cyclooxygenase-2 Transcriptional Activity via an Anti-AP-1 Mechanism in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells

Overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is regarded as a causative factor in the onset of tumorigenesis of the breast. In this study, we investigated the effects of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on COX-2 transcription in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Results of transient transfection studies revealed that treatment with a CLA mix or selected isomers (c9, t11-CLA; t10, c12-CLA) at concentrations ranging from 20 to 80 micromol/L, attenuated COX-2 transcription induced by the proinflammatory agent 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). In addition, the CLA mix inhibited TPA-induced activity of the collagenase-1 promoter. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays, we found that the CLA mix reduced TPA-induced recruitment of nuclear proteins to a cAMP response element (CRE) in the COX-2 promoter and a consensus TPA-responsive element (TRE) in the collagenase-1 promoter. Both CRE and TRE are binding sites for activator protein-1 (AP-1). Binding studies revealed that the t10, c12-CLA isomer was more effective than the CLA mix or c9, t11-CLA in reducing binding of cJun to either the COX-2 CRE or collagenase-1 TRE, whereas linoleic acid increased binding to both elements. Overexpression of the AP-1 member, c-Jun, reversed the inhibitory effects of the CLA mix on COX-2 transcription, and restored binding of nuclear proteins to the CRE and TRE. Collectively, these results suggest that CLA represses AP-1-mediated activation of COX-2 transcription.
Isolated adrenocorticotropin deficiency and flexion contractures syndrome.

We present a 73-year-old man with isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency and “flexion contractures” syndrome along with a review of the relevant literature. The patient initially presented anorexia, vomiting, arthralgias, malaise, and weight loss, which progressively deteriorated during the subsequent 6 months. He was admitted to the hospital with fever, confusion, severe cachexia, sinus tachycardia, low blood pressure, hyponatremia, and inability to stand or walk due to severe flexion contractures of the lower extremities (from hips to knees). The flexion contractures were not resolved by physiotherapy or diazepam administration. Due to his life-threatening condition the patient was empirically submitted to glucocorticoid replacement therapy and a remarkable relief from all the above symptoms was observed. A subsequent thorough endocrine investigation suggested the diagnosis of isolated ACTH deficiency (IAD) of unknown pathogenetic mechanism. Hence, in patients with “flexion contractures” syndrome, the pituitary adrenal axis should be evaluated.
Clinical Features of Moyamoya Disease in the United States

Background and Purpose—We report the clinical features and longitudinal outcome of the largest cohort of patients with moyamoya disease described from a single institution in the western hemisphere...
2‐[Di­chloro­(phenoxy)­methyl]­phenyl di­chloro­phospho­nate

The reaction of phosphorus pentachloride with phenyl salicyl­ate yielded a compound of chemical formula C13H9Cl4O3P, which was originally thought to contain a P—O—C heterocycle. The true molecular structure has now been established by the determination of its crystal structure. There are two molecules in the asymmetric unit.
Investigation into Techniques for Packaging Cosite Microstrip Patch Antennas into Handheld Devices

In many situations, it is advantageous to have multiple wireless systems located in very close proximity to one another. Placing the antennas of separate systems near each other, however, creates numerous problems. In order to limit the severity of the issues associated with cosite antenna configurations, the antennas should be very well isolated. The following work investigates a few possible approaches to help isolate two nearby linearly polarized microstrip patch antennas on a common ground plane.
A Model for Syntactic Control of Interference

Two imperative programming language phrases interfere when one writes to a storage variable that the other reads from or writes to. Reynolds has described an elegant linguistic approach to controlling interference in which a refinement of typed λ-calculus is used to limit sharing of storage variables; in particular, different identifiers are required never to interfere. This paper examines semantic foundations of the approach.We describe a category that has (an abstraction of) interference information built into all objects and maps. This information is used to define a ‘tensor’ product whose components are required never to interfere. Environments are defined using the tensor, and procedure types are obtained via a suitable adjunction. The category is a model of intuitionistic linear logic. Reynolds' concept of passive type - i.e. types for phrases that do not write to any storage variables - is shown to be closely related, in this model, to Girard's ‘of course’ modality.
Impaired Iron Status in Aging Research

Aging is associated with disturbances in iron metabolism and storage. During the last decade, remarkable progress has been made toward understanding their cellular and molecular mechanisms in aging and age-associated diseases using both cultured cells and animal models. The field has moved beyond descriptive studies to potential intervention studies focusing on iron chelation and removal. However, some findings remain controversial and inconsistent. This review summarizes important features of iron dyshomeostasis in aging research with a particular emphasis on current knowledge of the mechanisms underlying age-associated disorders in rodent models.
Risk of high spinal anesthesia following failed epidural block for cesarean delivery

Recent case reports suggest there may be an increased risk of abnormally high blockade ("high spinal") from subarachnoid anesthesia if it is performed immediately after epidural anesthesia. We describe two cases of high spinal anesthesia following failed epidural block in obstetric patients scheduled for cesarean delivery. Using a retrospective chart review, we estimate the incidence of high spinal anesthesia to be 11% in patients after prior failed epidural blockade versus fewer than 1% in patients undergoing spinal anesthesia alone.
The (Failed) Case of the Winston Society Wikispace: Challenges and Opportunities of Web 2.0 and Teacher Education

This article examines the case of the Winston Society, a short-lived wikispace created by a high school English teacher to foster collaborative knowledge-making and social activism among educators. Through an examination of the wiki, questionnaires, and a focal group interview, this paper describes an examination of reasons the Winston Society garnered limited uptake among classroom teachers. Scholarship in new literacy studies is then drawn upon to theorize key issues in the study, including teachers’ discomfort with digital epistemologies and the potential of online affinity spaces and social media to mediate teachers’ professional development, networking, and political activism. The purpose of this paper is to highlight key issues and tensions in this case that may help educators approach Web 2.0 technologies more strategically in other contexts of teacher education.
An improved SF6 system for the FXR induction linac blumlein switches

The now-mature FXR (flash X-ray) radiographic facility at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory will be briefly described with emphasis on its pulsed power system. The heart of each accelerating cell's pulse-forming Blumlein is its sulfur hexafluoride-based triggered closing switch. FXR's recent upgrade to a recirculating SF6 gas reclamation system will be described and the resulting accelerator performance and reliability improvements documented. This was accompanied by a detailed switch breakdown study on FXR's test stand and the recent analysis of the resulting statistics will be shown.