cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heteroptera as vectors of plant pathogens

The ability of piercing-sucking insects to transmit plant disease is closely linked to feeding mode and target tissue. The true bugs (Heteroptera) are generally considered to be of minimal importance as vectors of plant pathogens, although they share similar feeding behaviors with homopterans. Modes of feeding in Heteroptera include "lacerate-and-flush", intracellular penetration to vascular tissue, and an osmotic pump mechanism to acquire cell contents without penetrating the cell membrane. The relationship between heteropteran taxonomy, feeding mode, and the type of pathogens transmitted is explored through a literature survey of feeding behavior and vectoring capability. Transmission by true bugs of fungal pathogens, bacteria, viruses, phytoplasmas, and trypanosomatid flagellatesis summarized; no records exist of bugs transmitting spiroplasmas. Trypanosomatid flagellates of plants appear to be harbored or transmitted exclusively by Pentatomomorpha (Lygaeioidea, Coreoidea, Pentatomoidea, and Pyrrhocoroidea). Bacterial and fungal transmission occurs among families representing both infraorders of phytophagous Heteroptera, but Miridae (Cimicomorpha) are most closely associated with bacteria, whereas Pentatomidae and Coreidae (Pentatomomorpha) predominate in transmission of fungi. Few cases of transmission of phytoplasmas and viruses are documented, but Cimicomorpha (traditionally categorized as destructive lacerate-and-flush feeders) are represented more frequently than expected, considering the tissue specificity of these pathogens. Literature emphasis on the exclusive or predominant role of homopterans as disease vectors may discourage initial investigations of true bugs; based on the results presented here, the necessity of including heteropterans in any survey of potential plant disease vectors is clear.
The role of the c‐statistic in variable selection for propensity score models

The applied literature on propensity scores has often cited the c-statistic as a measure of the ability of the propensity score to control confounding. However, a high c-statistic in the propensity model is neither necessary nor sufficient for control of confounding. Moreover, use of the c-statistic as a guide in constructing propensity scores may result in less overlap in propensity scores between treated and untreated subjects; this may require the analyst to restrict populations for inference. Such restrictions may reduce precision of estimates and change the population to which the estimate applies. Variable selection based on prior subject matter knowledge, empirical observation, and sensitivity analysis is preferable and avoids many of these problems.
Innocent until proven innocent: in defense of Duke Lacrosse and white power (and against menacing black student-athletes, a black stripper, activists, and the Jewish media).

As the national media descended on Durham, North Carolina, in wake of public accusations of rape against three Duke Lacrosse student athletes, much of the discourse remained mired in its own shock ...
Shocked forbidden O I 63 micron line emission from the supernova remnant IC 443

Observations of the fine-structure emission from the forbidden O I 63 micron line in the SNR IC 443 are presented. It is shown that the emission correlates well with the distribution of line emission from shock-excited molecular hydrogen, which leads to the conclusion that the line is shock-excited. X-ray heating as well as UV-heating from a photodissociation region is ruled out as a possible excitation mechanism for the emission. It is shown that the forbidden O I 63 micron line is an important contributor to the total emission in the IRAS 60 micron band, estimated as approximately 40-75 percent of the total band flux. An attempt to shock model the line emission from IC 443 is made; however, to match the observational evidence, it has to be assumed that the shock is J-type, and that the oxygen chemistry is suppressed so that oxygen remains in atomic form and does not get converted into H2O. However, no theoretical rationale for these assumptions can be provided.
Effects of prenatal cocaine exposure and maternal separation on heart rate, orienting response habituation, and retention.

Effects of the presence or absence of the dam during testing and the retention interval on pretone heart rate (HR) and habituation and retention of an HR orienting response to tone were examined in prenatally cocaine-exposed and nontreated Sprague Dawley rat pups in two experiments. On postnatal day 16, each pup received two test sessions, separated by a 4-hr retention interval during which pups were either isolated or placed with their dam and siblings. For testing, each pup was placed in the test apparatus in the presence or absence of an anesthetized dam where, after a 15-min adaptation period, 10 tone presentations were given, each separated by a 65-s intertrial interval, with HR measured during a 5-s pretone period and throughout the 10-s tone for each trial. Experiment 1 used offspring from the regular breeding colony and observed the typical HR lowering effect of maternal presence during testing, an effect that was surprisingly potentiated, however, following the retention interval in animals that were isolated during this interval. This apparent potentiation by prior isolation of the HR lowering effect of the dam was confirmed in Experiment 2 in nontreated offspring, but did not emerge convincingly in offspring of either dams subcutaneously injected with 40 mg/kg of cocaine HCl daily from gestational days 8 to 20 (C40) or dams injected with saline and pair-fed 4 days (PF4) to mimic the acute anorexic effects of cocaine administration. Consistent with prior work, C40 offspring also were found to exhibit better retention of the habituated orienting response than offspring of NT dams and to some extent PF4 dams as well, a retention effect that was not significantly influenced, however, by social context during the retention interval. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 42: 160–170, 2003
SU-GG-T-333: Neutron Yield and Angular Distribution From the 250 MeV Proton Interactions in Water: A Geant4 Monte Carlo Study

Objective: To simulate using GEANT4 the interaction of 250 MeV protons in water to determine the neutron yield and angular distribution using various hadronic interaction processes. Method and Materials: A cylindrical water phantom (length=40 cm, diameter= 40 cm, density = 1 g/cm3, mean excitation energy = 75 eV) is surrounded by a spherical shell, that consists of 18 detectors, each of which covers 10 degree in theta. In Geant4, electromagnetic energy loss for hadrons and leptons are categorized as either “standard” or “low energy” processes. The low energy process is used to extend down particle interactions with energies below the standard process (for example: Protons 1 keV, electrons and photons 250 eV). The range cut for both low energy and standard process is lowered from the default value of 10−3 m to 1.5×10−5 m to improve the accuracy of simulation. In the case of HI, elastic processes for protons are calculated by G4LEpp and GHEISHA‐style G4LElastic; whereas the inelastic processes for proton and neutron are calculated by G4PreCompoundModel below 170 MeV, and G4CascadeInterface above 150 MeV; and for neutron also by G4NeutronHPorLEInelasticModel. The neutronelastic process is calculated using G4NeutronHPorLEModel for energy greater than 4 eV. When the neutron energy is lower than 4 eV, G4NeutronHPThermalScatteringData is used. The simulations are carried out using 1 million incident pencil beam proton.Results:Neutron fluences per incident proton as a function of theta are determined. Based on hadronic process being used in the calculation, the total number of neutrons per incident proton that reach all eighteen theta detectors ranges from 0.124 to 0.243. Conclusion: Our results show that the hadronic processes indeed play a critical role for GEANT4 simulations. We recommend that careful selection of physics processes for particle interaction is essential in order to interpret realistically simulated results.
The effect of nurses' background on performance of nursing home resident oral health assessments pre‐ and post‐training

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of nurses' background on their accuracy in determining oral health status and treatment need of newly admitted nursing home residents before and after tutoring. Eighteen nurses examined SO nursing home residents before and after an in-service training lecture. Examinations performed by a dentist served as reference. Background items evaluated were: regularity of each nurse's own dental visits; years since graduation from nursing school; length of experience in an LTC facility; and training received in oral health care. At the second evaluation, nurses greatly improved the % agreement on ail items. The results of this study indicate that, regardless of background characteristics, the combination of training, the presence of the dentist, and knowledge that they were in a study appeared to improve nurses' performance on the assessment. Before training, more experienced nurses were better able to determine hard tissue abnormalities than their less experienced counterparts; before training, neither group performed well in assessing soft tissue lesions. Therefore, improvements in basic nursing training in this area appear to be necessary.
Compression and reconstruction of spatially invariant linearly additive image sequences with suppression of noise and undesired features

New results are presented for an important class of image sequences characterized as being spatially invariant and linearly additive based on their image-formation processes. In these kinds of sequences, all features are positionally invariant in each image of a given sequence but have varying gray-scale properties. Examples of appropriate image sequences include multispectral image sequences and certain temporal image sequences. Features associated with different image-formation processes generally will have unique signatures describing the manner in which they vary over the sequence that can be used to generate linear filters for isolating selected image-formation processes or for performing data compression. Starting with an explicit mathematical model, techniques are presented for generating optimal filters using simultaneous diagonalization to suppress noise and undesired image-formation processes and to provide data compression.
The effects of hydrogen on deformation and fracture of a Zr-Ti-Ni-Cu-Be bulk metallic glass

Abstract Effects of pre-charged hydrogen on the deformation and fracture behavior of a Zr–Ti–Ni–Cu–Be bulk metallic glass were investigated. Flow stress was increased, and fracture toughness was degraded after hydrogen charging. The glass transition and crystallization temperatures were shifted to higher values, suggesting retarded atomic relaxation processes. The atomic rearrangement process that underlies all physical properties, including deformation and fracture, is shown to be significantly affected by hydrogen.
Understanding the lung allocation score for the non-transplant pulmonologist

In order to better allocate scarce donor lung organs, the lung allocation score (LAS) was implemented in May 2005. The goals of the LAS were to reduce waiting list mortality of lung transplant candidates, to prioritize candidates based on medical urgency, and to maximize overall lung transplant benefit. Pre-transplant candidate variables are used to calculate waiting list survival, post-transplant survival, and transplant benefit measures. These measures produce a numerical lung allocation score between 0 and 100 with a higher score recipient receiving a greater priority ranking for donor lungs. LAS implementation improved candidate waiting list time and prioritized patients with the greatest medical urgency. However, waiting list mortality has not improved and further revisions to predicting variables have been implemented to better reflect the current transplant candidate population. One-year post-transplant survival in the post-LAS era has not changed compared to that in the pre-LAS era.
Elliptic curves with large Shafarevich–Tate group

Abstract We show that there exist infinitely many elliptic curves with Shafarevich–Tate group of order essentially as large as the square root of the minimal discriminant assuming certain conjectures. This improves on a result of de Weger.
Simultaneous localization of intracellular myosin and surface concanavalin A receptor clusters using immuno-electron microscopy

Abstract Serial sectioning and immuno-ferritin plus peroxidase labeling of ultrathin frozen sections have been used for the simultaneous localization at the electron microscopic level of surface concanavalin A (Con A) receptors and the intracellular contractile protein, myosin, in mouse splenic lymphocytes. An accumulation of intracellular myosin directly underneath the Con A-induced receptor clusters has been observed. This myosin accumulation seems to be restricted to within approximately 1,000–1,500 A from the surface of the cell. This result provides additional support for the possible occurrence of transmembrane interactions between surface receptors and intracellular contractile elements.
Chemically-mediated roostmate recognition and roost selection by Brazilian free-tailed bats (Tadarida brasiliensis).

Background The Brazilian free-tailed bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) is an exceptionally social and gregarious species of chiropteran known to roost in assemblages that can number in the millions. Chemical recognition of roostmates within these assemblages has not been extensively studied despite the fact that an ability to chemically recognize individuals could play an important role in forming and stabilizing complex suites of social interactions. Methodology/Principal Findings Individual bats were given a choice between three roosting pouches: one permeated with the scent of a group of roostmates, one permeated with the scent of non-roostmates, and a clean control. Subjects rejected non-roostmate pouches with greater frequency than roostmate pouches or blank control pouches. Also, bats chose to roost in the roostmate scented pouches more often than the non-roostmate or control pouches. Conclusions/Significance We demonstrated that T. brasiliensis has the ability to chemically recognize roostmates from non-roostmates and a preference for roosting in areas occupied by roostmates. It is important to investigate these behaviors because of their potential importance in colony dynamics and roost choice.
Thermally stimulated luminescence applied to high-temperature superconductivity research

Abstract It was recognized shortly after the discovery of high-temperature superconductors (HTS) that these materials would exhibit thermally stimulated luminescence (TSL) as a manifestation of their granularity and consequent inclusion of insulating material at grain boundaries. The large optical absorption coefficients of these opaque materials implies that TSL emanates from within ∼1 μm of the surface. Therefore, TSL can be used to assess the quality of HTS by detecting the presence of insulating surface impurities, which are, in general, deleterious to technological performance. For example, surface resistance R s is determined by HTS properties within the London penetration depth, which is the region probed by TSL. The presence of insulating surface impurities contributes to the high-frequency losses as manifested by an enhanced R s and is directly correlated with TSL. Therefore, in addition to radiation dosimetry and archaeological dating, TSL can also be applied to HTS research.
Conductance oscillations in scanning tunneling microscopy as a probe of the surface potential

A free-electron model of the device is used to study oscillations in the differential conductance as a function of applied voltage, observed when the microscope is operated in constant current mode. These oscillations are found to be sensitive to the shape of the potential at the sample surface, giving a new method to study surfaces with the tunneling microscope. The rapid damping of the oscillations seen experimentally is suggested to result, from roughness of the probe tip.
Conformational stability and barriers to internal rotation of methacrolein (CHO and CDO) from far infrared spectral data, ab initio calculations and the microwave spectrum of methacrolein-d1

Abstract The far i.r. spectra of gaseous methacrolein (2-methylpropenal), CH 2 C(CH 3 )CHO and methacrolein- d 1 (2-methylpropenal-1- d 1 ) have been recorded in the region 350-50 cm −1 at a resolution of 0.10 cm −1 . The fundamental asymmetric torsions of the d 0 and d 1 compounds for the more stable s-trans conformer have been observed at 169.82 and 158.83 cm −1 , respectively, with each band having at least three additional “hot bands” associated with it. The corresponding fundamentals for the s-cis conformers have been observed at 163.74 and 151.26 cm −1 for the d 0 and d 1 compounds, respectively, with one well defined “hot band” in each case. From these data the asymmetric torsional potential coefficients have been determined to be: V 1 = 1148 ± 27; V 2 = 3421 ± 232; V 3 = −89 ± 15; and V 4 = −127 ± 36 cm −1 . The s-trans to s-cis barrier was calculated to be 3950 ± 42 cm −1 with the s-trans being more stable than the s-cis conformer by 1057 ± 42 cm −1 (3.02 ± 0.12 kcal/mol). The barrier to internal rotation of the methyl group for the s-trans conformer is 444 ± 3 cm −1 (1.27 ± 0.01 kcal/mol) whereas the corresponding barrier for the s-cis conformer is 441 ± 2 cm −1 (1.26 ± 0.01 kcal/mol). The fact that both the methyl and asymmetric torsion shift with the 1- d 1 substitution indicates that these two tops are kinetically coupled. The presence of the second conformer was confirmed by a study of the i.r. (3500-50 cm −1 ) and Raman (3200-10 cm −1 ) spectra of gaseous and solid methacrolein. From these data, a reassignment of some of the fundamentals was necessary. The microwave spectrum of methacrolein- d 1 was recorded from 19.0 to 39.0 GHz and the a -type R -branches assigned. Utilizing the rotational constants for the d 0 and d 1 molecules, some structural information has been obtained for the heavy atom parameters. These data are compared to the corresponding quantities from ab initio calculations at the 6-31G* level. All of these results for methacrolein are compared to the corresponding quantities of acrolein.
On the construction of BGK-type schemes for compressible flow simulations

Following van Leer's MUSCL idea, a numerical scheme can be regarded as consisting of two key steps: a reconstruction step followed by a gas evolution step. We present a gas-kinetic method based on the collisional BGK model which provides an alternative to Riemann solvers for the gas evolution step. An advanced BGKscheme is derived under quite general assumptions on the initial conditions. The new formulation uses interpolation of the characteristic variables in the reconstruction step and a BGK-type flow solver in the gas evolution step. The scheme satisfies both an entropy condition and a positivity condition, which guarantees a positive density and temperature at the cell interface during a complete time step. Numerical results for one-dimensional and two-dimensional test cases are presented to show the accuracy and robustness of the proposed approach.
Structural Variations and Solvent Structure of r(UGGGGU) Quadruplexes Stabilized by Sr(2+) Ions.

Guanine-rich sequences can, under appropriate conditions, adopt a distinctive, four-stranded, helical fold known as a G-quadruplex. Interest in quadruplex folds has grown in recent years as evidence of their biological relevance has accumulated from both sequence analysis and function-specific assays. The folds are unusually stable and their formation appears to require close management to maintain cell health; regulatory failure correlates with genomic instability and a number of cancer phenotypes. Biologically relevant quadruplex folds are anticipated to form transiently in mRNA and in single-stranded, unwound DNA. To elucidate factors, including bound solvent, that contribute to the stability of RNA quadruplexes, we examine, by X-ray crystallography and small-angle X-ray scattering, the structure of a previously reported tetramolecular quadruplex, UGGGGU stabilized by Sr(2+) ions. Crystal forms of the octameric assembly formed by this sequence exhibit unusually strong diffraction and anomalous signal enabling the construction of reliable models to a resolution of 0.88A. The solvent structure confirms hydration patterns reported for other nucleic acid helical conformations and provides support for the greater stability of RNA quadruplexes relative to DNA. Novel features detected in the octameric RNA assembly include a new crystal form, evidence of multiple conformations and structural variations in the 3' U tetrad, including one that leads to the formation of a hydrated internal cavity.
Glucocorticoid and estrogen regulation of a rat T-kininogen gene

We have examined the regulation of a rat T-kininogen gene by glucocorticoid and estrogen. Expression of the endogenous gene in a rat hepatoma cell line is increased 5-fold and 2-fold in response to dexamethasone and 17 beta-estradiol-3-benzoate, respectively. Various deletion constructs of the 5' region of an isolated T-kininogen gene were fused to a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) gene and introduced into the hepatoma cells by electroporation. Analysis of the CAT activity in cell extracts after treatment with glucocorticoid or estrogen revealed that a fragment from -167 to +52 is sufficient to confer full induction. An additional deletion in this region was unresponsive, while a larger fragment (-612 to -100) linked to a heterologous promoter did result in regulated expression. These results suggested that the sequence responsible for the hormonal response was located at -167 to -100 from the transcription start site. This 67 bp region contains a consensus for the core sequence of the glucocorticoid responsive element (GRE) and the estrogen responsive element (ERE). Interestingly these elements are located within 7 bp of each other and both sequences overlap a 16 bp palindrome that may be important in hormone receptor-DNA recognition.
Atypical histologic and immunohistochemical findings in melanocytic nevi after liquid nitrogen cryotherapy

Two patients with atypical histologic and immunohistochemical findings in nevi after cryotherapy are reported. Patient 1, a 32-year-old white woman, presented to our cancer center with two changing moles that had been treated with liquid nitrogen therapy by her primary care provider. After cryotherapy, these two lesions showed paradoxical loss of maturation, with aberrant expression of HMB-45 in the dermal component, thereby mimicking melanoma. Although the overall Ki-67 labeling was low, focally there was no diminution in Ki-67 immunoreactivity with descent into the dermis. Patient 2, a 39-year-old white man, had a nevus treated with liquid nitrogen by his primary care physician and presented to us with a changing mole. Histologically, there was loss of maturation and aberrant HMB-45 expression. These features may pose a diagnostic dilemma, and highlight the importance of clinicopathologic correlation in arriving at the correct diagnosis.
Calcium pyrophosphate and pseudogout

Calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease (CPDD) is a condition in which calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals are deposited in joint articular cartilage, menisci, and synovium. The main clinical presentations of CPDD are chondrocalcinosis--calcification of cartilage, pseudogout--acute joint inflammation due to crystal-induced synovitis, and pyrophosphate arthropathy--degenerative joint disease similar to osteoarthritis associated with calcium pyrophosphate crystal deposition. The clinical importance of CPDD for the arthroscopist is the ability to recognize the condition so that appropriate treatment can be instituted. Arthroscopy is valuable for diagnosis as well as lavage and intraarticular debridement or meniscectomy. Tissue removed for microscopic examination should be sent to the laboratory in saline, since formalin dissolves the crystals. Postarthroscopy treatment of CPDD should include oral antiinflammatory medication. Asymptomatic chondrocalcinosis does not require treatment.
An Ophthalmologist's Tool for Predicting Deterioration in Patients with Accommodative Esotropia

The work described in this paper applies machine learning techniques, to a database of accommodative esotropic patients. Accommodative esotropia is an eye disease that when left untreated leads to blindness. Patients whose muscles deteriorate most often need corrective surgery in order to prevent this, since less invasive methods of treatment tend to fail in these patients. It is often difficult for physicians to determine apriori which patients will deteriorate enough to require surgery. Using a learn and prune methodology, decision tree analysis of accommodative esotropic patients led to the discovery of two conjunctive variables that predicted deterioration. The use of these variables produced better predictions, and gave insight to domain experts.
Postmortem perinatal brain removal: the value of the posterior approach method.

A simple posterior approach method for postmortem perinatal brain removal and for in situ documentation of posterior fossa abnormalities, including birth trauma, is detailed.
Fluorescent cDNA microarray hybridization reveals complexity and heterogeneity of cellular genotoxic stress responses

The fate of cells exposed to ionizing radiation (IR) may depend greatly on changes in gene expression, so that an improved view of gene induction profiles is important for understanding mechanisms of checkpoint control, repair and cell death following such exposures. We have used a quantitative fluorescent cDNA microarray hybridization approach to identify genes regulated in response to 7-irradiation in the p53 wild-type ML-1 human myeloid cell line. Hybridization of the array to fluorescently-labeled RNA from treated and untreated cells was followed by computer analysis to derive relative changes in expression levels of the genes present in the array, which agreed well with actual quantitative changes in expression. Forty-eight sequences, 30 not previously identified as IR-responsive, were significantly regulated by IR. Induction by IR and other stresses of a subset of these genes, including the previously characterized CIP1/ WAF1, MDM2 and BAX genes, as well as nine genes not previously reported to be IR-responsive, was examined in a panel of 12 human cell lines. Responses varied widely in cell lines with different tissues of origin and different genetic backgrounds, highlighting the importance of cellular context to genotoxic stress responses. Two of the newly identified IR-responsive genes, FRA-1 and ATF3, showed a p53-associated component to their IR-induction, and this was confirmed both in isogenic human cell lines and in mouse thymus. The majority of the IR-responsive genes, however, showed no indication of p53-dependent regulation, representing a potentially important class of stress-responsive genes in leukemic cells.
Mixerless 40 GHz wireless link using a photonic upconverting transmitter and a photonic downsampling receiver

We demonstrate a mixerless architecture for 40 GHz wireless communication that allows for fiber-remoting of both the transmitter and receiver. The architecture allows for carrier frequencies into the W-band and minimizes the hardware required at the antennas. The system uses photonic upconversion to data modulate the carrier frequency for transmission and photonic downsampling to downconvert the received signal to baseband. A total data rate of 3 Gb/s is demonstrated using multiple subcarrier 16-QAM.
Fiberoptic monitoring of central venous oxygen saturation (PediaSat) in small children undergoing cardiac surgery: continuous is not continuous

Background: Monitoring of superior vena cava saturation (ScvO 2) has become routine in the management of pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The objective of our study was to evaluate the correlation between continuous ScvO 2 by the application of a fiber-optic oximetry catheter (PediaSat) and intermittent ScvO 2 by using standard blood gas measurements. These results were compared to those obtained by cerebral near infrared spectroscopy (cNIRS). Setting: Tertiary pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (PCICU). Methods and main results: A retrospective study was conducted in consecutive patients who were monitored with a 4.5 or 5.5 F PediaSat catheter into the right internal jugular vein. An in vivo calibration was performed once the patient was transferred to the PCICU and re-calibration took place every 24 hours thereafter. Each patient had a NIRS placed on the forehead. Saturations were collected every 4 hours until extubation. Ten patients with a median age of 2.2 (0.13-8.5) years and a weight of 12.4 (3.9-24) kg were enrolled. Median sampling time was 32 (19-44) hours: 64 pairs of PediaSat and ScVO2 saturations showed a poor correlation (r=0.62, 95% CI 44-75; p<0.0001) and Bland Altman analysis for repeated measures showed an average difference of 0.34 with a standard deviation of 7,9 and 95% limits of agreement from -15 to 16. Thirty-six pairs of cNIRS and ScVO2 saturations showed a fair correlation (r=0.79, 95% CI 0.60-0.89; p<0.0001) an average difference of -1.4 with a standard deviation of 6 and 95% limits of agreement from -13 to 10. Analysis of median percentage differences between PediaSat and ScvO2 saturation over time revealed that, although not statistically significant, the change in percentage saturation differences was clinically relevant after the 8th hour from calibration (from -100 to +100%). Conclusion: PediaSat catheters showed unreliable performance in our cohort. It should be further investigated whether repeating calibrations every 8 hours may improve the accuracy of this system. CNIRS may provide similar results with a lower invasiveness.
Pentacene organic thin-film transistors-molecular ordering and mobility

Pentacene-based organic thin-film transistors (TFT's) with field-effect mobility as large as 0.7 cm/sup 2//V/spl middot/s and on/off current ratio larger than 10/sup 8/ have been fabricated. Pentacene films deposited by evaporation at elevated temperature at low-to-moderate deposition rates have a high degree of molecular ordering with micrometer-sized and larger dendritic grains. Such films yield TFT's with large mobility. Films deposited at low temperature or by flash evaporation have small grains and poor molecular ordering and yield TFT's with low mobility.
Frederick II and the Church in the Kingdom of Sicily 1220–1224

The policy of Frederick II toward the Church in the kingdom of Sicily during the period 1220 to 1224 follows logically from that of his Norman predecessors. Its aim was the restoration of the ecclesiastical privileges which had been held by the Norman kings to the death of William II (1189) and the recovery of dues, rents, services and prerogatives usurped from the crown by the ecclesiastical magnates of the kingdom during the “Time of Troubles” (1189–1209). Practical considerations were of fundamental importance in the formation of this policy. Within the kingdom, the Church was a potential rival to the establishment of a strong monarchy. The Norman kings of Sicily, like the Norman kings of England, had exercised considerable control over the appointment of bishops and, in Sicily and Calabria, over the holding of church councils and the attendance of the bishops at them. Though generous in their grants to the Church, the Norman kings of Sicily both expected and obtained the cooperation of churchmen in imposing strong rule over the kingdom. In desiring to restore the Norman pattern of relations between the church and kingdom, Frederick was faced with the fact that important changes had taken place since the death of William II. Not only had the personnel of the Church changed, but the authority of the papacy within the kingdom had been greatly increased while Innocent III acted as regent during Frederick's minority (1198–1209).
Sensors, Monitoring, and Health Assessment in the Undergraduate Curriculum

Currently, the use of advanced sensing technologies is rapidly increasing in research and practice, but the implementation of sensors and health monitoring of earth structures in the undergraduate curriculum has not kept pace with advances in the state of practice. This paper introduces the development of educational modules based upon the installation of a remotely-monitored sensor network. The modules will expose students in geotechnical engineering to advanced sensor technologies and opportunities to observe and analyze data that are collected in real time. Initial assessments indicate that introduction of even basic concepts on sensors increases student comprehension and confidence on the subject.
A direct matrix approach to 3-D antenna radiation-pattern estimation from partially-scanned spherical near-field data

Far-field radiation-pattern estimation is explored for the case of partially-scanned spherical near-field data resulting from physical limitations of an antenna under test or associated measurement systems. A direct matrix approach, based on spherical-wave expansions, is found to be simple and effective for constructing the 3-D radiation pattern from partially-scanned near-field data. Criteria to determine the minimum near-field data for full 3-D pattern reconstruction is explained. The concept of the direct matrix approach is demonstrated for a mobile antenna and a horn antenna. An additional benefit of this approach is the reduction of the scan time for antenna measurements.
FACTORS INFLUENCING FLUXING ACTION OF VARIOUS OXIDES IN LOW-TEMPERATURE BOROSILICATE GLASSES*

Strontium, barium, and lead oxides were studied as fluxes in low-temperature borosilicate glasses by using the button-flow method. It was found that strontia may be superior to lead oxide as a flux in glasses high in fluorides and low in alumina. This result was explained by the greater solubility of fluorides in strontia glasses, in which case the two fluxes, strontia and fluorspar, are acting together.
Training Self-Administered Acupressure Exercise among Postmenopausal Women with Osteoarthritic Knee Pain: A Feasibility Study and Lessons Learned.

Background. Osteoarthritis (OA) is more prevalent in women, particularly after menopausal age. Women are more likely to seek complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches. We examined the feasibility of training self-administered acupressure exercise and assessed its impact on OA symptoms among women with knee OA. Methods. Thirty-six eligible postmenopausal women were randomly assigned in the acupressure exercise group () or the control group () for 12 weeks. Feasibility outcomes (e.g., compliance and adverse effects) and clinical outcomes (e.g., pain, stiffness, and physical function) were assessed. Data were collected at baseline, 6 weeks and 12 weeks. Both per-protocol and intention-to-treat analysis were employed. Results. The training materials were well received. The feedback from participants suggests that self-administered acupressure exercise is easy to learn and safe to perform at home, although no statistically significant results of the clinical outcome were observed. Our findings didn&#x2019;t reveal superiority or inferiority of acupressure compared with usual care. Conclusion. Acupressure exercise is feasible to be trained among postmenopausal women with knee osteoarthritis. Due to the limitations of this study such as small sample size and high attrition rate, acupressure&#x2019;s efficacy needs to be further explored in larger scale studies with more rigorous design.
Origin of storm footprints on the sea seen by SAR

This work provides (1) strong evidence that wave damping is due to rainfall; and (2) explains the origin of storm-induced footprints on the sea. The authors find some heretofore unobserved storm mechanisms. Explanations of storm induced patterns on the sea (called "footprints") first seen by SEASAT SAR in 1978 (Fu and Holt, 1982), have been unsupported by any corroborative data. Based upon previously unrecognized features of the SEASAT SAR echoes Atlas (1994) presented a more convincing explanation, but this too lacked independent data. The present paper deals with recent observations from the ERS-1 SAR (5.6 cm wavelength) which were made with simultaneous WSR-57 radar observations at Cape Hatteras. The key features of the footprints are: (1) an echo-free hole (EFH) where the sea radar cross-section (RCS) is greatly reduced; and (2) a region of increased RCS. In some cases, the EFH contains a bright spot of increased RCS. Both Fu and Holt (1982) and Atlas attributed the EFH to wave damping by rain. But backscatter experiments in the lab showed increases in RCS in the presence of rain, thus evidently contradicting the rain damping thesis. Atlas explains why these experiments do not necessarily preclude wave damping. DA shows that the turbulent eddy viscosity produced by heavy rain in salt water would rapidly damp short gravity waves. But this still does not prove that this occurs in nature. >
Cold atmospheric plasma for the ablative treatment of neuroblastoma

Abstract Background Recent breakthroughs have allowed for production of plasma at room temperature. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) may offer the capability of delivering reactive oxygen species directly into tissues, representing a novel modality for targeted cancer therapy. We studied helium-based CAP's effect on neuroblastoma, both in-vitro and in an in-vivo murine model. Methods Mouse neuroblastoma cultures were treated with CAP for 0, 30, 60, and 120s and assayed for apoptotic and metabolic activity immediately and at 24 and 48h post-treatment. Five-millimeter tumors were ablated with a single transdermal CAP treatment, and tumor volume and mouse survival were measured. Results CAP decreased metabolic activity, induced apoptosis, and reduced viability of cancer cells in proportion to both duration of exposure and time post-treatment. In-vivo , a single treatment ablated tumors and eventual tumor growth was decelerated. Furthermore, survival nearly doubled, with median survival of 15 vs. 28days (p Conclusions Our findings demonstrate the sensitivity of neuroblastoma to CAP treatment, both in-vitro and in an in-vivo mouse model of established tumor. While further investigation is necessary to establish the mechanism and optimize the treatment protocol, these initial observations establish cold atmospheric plasma as a potentially useful ablative therapy in neuroblastoma.
Airway surface liquid pH in well-differentiated airway epithelial cell cultures and mouse trachea

Airway surface liquid (ASL) pH has been proposed to be important in the pathophysiology of cystic fibrosis, asthma, and cough. Ratio image analysis was used to measure pH in the ASL after staining with the fluorescent pH indicator 2',7'-bis(2-carboxyethyl)-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF)-dextran. ASL pH in bovine airway cell cultures grown at an air-liquid interface was 6.98 +/- 0.06 in the absence and 6.81 +/- 0.04 in the presence of HCO/CO(2). Steady-state ASL pH changed in parallel to changes in bath pH and was acidified by Na(+) or Cl(-) replacement but was not affected by the inhibitors amiloride, glibenclamide, or 4,4'-dinitrostilbene-2,2'-disulfonic acid. In response to sudden acidification or alkalization of the ASL by approximately 0.4 pH units by HCl/NaOH, ASL pH recovered to its initial value at a rate of 0.035 pH units/min (-HCO) and 0.060 pH units/min (+HCO); the pH recovery rate was reduced by amiloride and H(2)DIDS. In anesthetized mice in which the trachea was surgically exposed for measurement of BCECF-dextran fluorescence through the translucent tracheal wall, ASL pH was 7.14 +/- 0.01. ASL pH was sensitive to changes in blood pH created by metabolic (HCl or NaHCO(3) infusion) or respiratory (hyperventilation, hypoventilation) mechanisms. ASL pH is thus primarily determined by basolateral fluid pH, and H(+)/OH(-) transport between the ASL and basolateral fluid involves amiloride-sensitive Na(+)/H(+) exchange and stilbene-sensitive Cl(-)/HCO exchange. The rapid response of ASL pH to changes in systemic acid-base status may contribute to airway hypersensitivity in asthma and other airway diseases.
Mapping thin resistors and hydrocarbons with marine EM methods, Part II -Modeling and analysis in 3D

The electromagnetic fields surrounding a thin, subseabed resistive disk in response to a deep-towed, time-harmonic electric dipole antenna are investigated using a newly developed 3D Cartesian, staggered-grid modeling algorithm. We demonstrate that finite-difference and finite-volume methods for solving the governing curl-curl equation yield identical, complex-symmetric coefficient matrices for the resulting N×N linear system of equations. However, the finite-volume approach has an advantage in that it naturally admits quadrature integration methods for accurate representation of highly compact or exponentially varying source terms constituting the right side of the resulting linear system of equations. This linear system is solved using a coupled two-term recurrence, quasi-minimal residual algorithm that doesnot require explicit storage of the coefficient matrix, thus reducing storage costs from 22N to 10N complex, double-precision words with no decrease in computational performance. The disk model serve...
Effects of tunicamycin on growth hormone binding in rat adipocytes.

Digestion of covalently linked [125I]human (h) GH-receptor complexes with neuraminidase or endoglycosidase F reduced the mass of the principal hormone receptor complex from about 130 kilodaltons (kDa) to 120 and 110 kDa, respectively, suggesting that about 20% of the mass of the GH receptor of rat adipocytes consists of N-linked sialocarbohydrates. Incubation of adipocytes with tunicamycin, an inhibitor of N-linked glycosylation, decreased the incorporation of [35S]methionine into membrane glycoproteins by more than 50% in 4 h and decreased specific binding of [125I]hGH by about 70% after 8 h. Decreased binding and incorporation of [35S]methionine were seen only after a lag time of about 2 h. Cross-linking of [125I] hGH to cells that had been treated with tunicamycin resulted in the appearance of a new labeled species of hormone-receptor complex with an apparent mass of about 110 kDa. This band appeared after a delay of about 3 h and reached approximately equal prominence with the 130 kDa band at 5 h. By ...
Changes in plasma leptin and insulin action with resistive training in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of 16 weeks of resistive training alone (RT) and with weight loss (RT+WL) on insulin action, plasma leptin concentrations and leptin's relationship to β-cell sensitivity to glucose, resting metabolic rate (RMR), and plasma catecholamines in older women. SUBJECTS: Fifteen obese postmenopausal women aged 50–69 y. MEASUREMENTS: Body composition (by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), RMR (by indirect calorimetry), insulin action (by 2 h hyperglycemic clamps; 7.9 mmol/l above basal plasma glucose levels), plasma leptin and insulin (by RIA), and plasma catecholamines (by enzymatic methods). RESULTS: RT and RT+WL resulted in significant improvements in muscular strength (P<0.01) with no changes in maximal oxygen consumption. Body weight, fat mass and percent body fat did not change with RT, but decreased with RT+WL (P<0.001). Fat-free mass and RMR increased after training when both groups were combined (P<0.05). The insulin response during the last 20 min of the 2 h hyperglycemic clamps decreased 16% after RT (P=0.05), 43% after RT+WL (P<0.05), and 29% in the entire group (P<0.01) without any changes in glucose utilization. Plasma leptin levels did not change after RT, but decreased by 36% after RT+WL (P<0.05). Baseline leptin levels correlated with body weight (r=0.68, P<0.01), body fat mass (r=0.77, P<0.001), and RMR (kcal/d; (r=0.69, P<0.005), but not with baseline norepinephrine or epinephrine levels. Plasma leptin levels correlated with basal insulin (r=0.73, P<0.005), and approached significance with the 0–10 min and 100–120 min insulin response to hyperglycemia before training (both r=0.51, P=0.07). In the entire group, the change in insulin response from 100‐120 min during the clamp correlated with the change in leptin levels (r=0.60, P<0.05), but this was not independent of changes in fat mass. CONCLUSIONS: Although changes in leptin levels were not related to changes in RMR or plasma catecholamines after RT with and without weight loss, the increase in insulin action after training and weight loss may be related to the decrease in leptin levels that were mediated by the loss of body fat in the obese, postmenopausal women.
Performance of the ramping power supplies for the APS booster synchrotron

The Advanced Photon Source (APS) booster ramp cycle is completed within 250 ms and repeated at 2 Hz. Separate phase controlled power supplies deliver current to each of the dipole, quadrupole, and sextupole magnet families. Tracking requirements are particularly challenging because of the fast (non-resonant) ramp. In order to meet the requirements, both conventional regulation and cycle-to-cycle adaptation are used. The power supply system and its performance are described.
Polarimetric SAR image classification employing subaperture polarimetric analysis

Polarimetric SAR image classification remains an important research area. Various methods continue to be developed for specific applications. High-resolution polarimetric SAR systems and advances in computational and data storage capabilities have revived interest in novel polarimetric analysis techniques. Accordingly, subaperture analysis of polarimetric SAR data has received renewed attention. A central assumption of SAR image formation is that individual radar scatterers are stationary; they have no structure and provide a constant reflectivity during the imaging process. However, with increased resolution, and hence fewer scatterers per pixel, the nonstationary response from any given scatterer is more likely to influence total radar backscatter of a pixel. We present a method to assess the polarimetric variability across the full aperture.
Kyphosis and pulmonary function in cystic fibrosis

Spine deformity and chronic pulmonary disease are commonly seen in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). In order to assess the prevalence of kyphosis, a retrospective evaluation of all initial standing chest radiographs of our CF patients matched with our "reference" population was undertaken. We also studied the possible correlation between the degree of kyphosis and the pulmonary function tests (PFTs), consisting of thoracic gas volume and maximal expiratory flows. In our population, the study canfirmed an increased prevalence of kyphosis in CF patients (p < .01), which occurred mostly in girls after 12 years of age (p < .018). The kyphosis appeared to be, in most instances, of mild degree and was not related to any of the PFTs. No measurable increase of kyphosis was observed over a 3-year period in the group. Longer prospective study and the relationship of kyphosis to endocrine function in CF at puberty should be undertaken.
Relationship of environmental tobacco smoke to otitis media (OM) in children.

Introduction Many, but not all, studies have found a correlation between environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and acute otitis media (AOM) and other adverse otologic outcomes. Given its high personal and societal costs and the divergent findings of the effect of ETS on middle ear disease, the aim of the current study was to assess the impact and possible determinant factors of ETS on recurrent (two or more) episodes of AOM.