cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Using lower trophic level factors to predict outcomes in classical biological control of insect pests

Summary Importation of exotic natural enemies for biological control of insect pests entails risks to the environment. Pre-release estimates of the likelihood of achieving successful control would be helpful in avoiding ineffective importations. Based on strong evidence of multi-trophic level interactions in terrestrial ecosystems, we tested whether variation in ecological and biological factors found at the plant and herbivore trophic levels (levels one and two) could be used to create a simple, empirically based formula, capable of estimating the probability of successful biological control against holometabolous insect pests. We constructed a database consisting of 828 records of biological control attempts against 91 pest insect species and used stepwise logistic regression to test whether five basic features of the ecosystem, crop, and pest (habitat type, crop use, pest order, pest feeding niche, and damage severity) were correlated with rates of successful control. Natural enemy characteristics were not included in the model. The final model included 10 significant independent variables, nine of which were two-way interactions; all five basic ecosystem features appeared in significant interactions. The model provided good estimates of historical success rates against pest species in the data set. In a further test, the model was able to correctly rank amenability to biological control for 10 pest species not included in the original data set. These results provide evidence that lower trophic level factors can be useful in the search for a predictive formula for biological control.
Connections in chronic kidney disease: connexin 43 and connexin 37 interaction.

the prevalence of chronic kidney disease is rising sharply worldwide and affects 13.1% of the population in the US ([3][1]). Patients with chronic kidney disease represent a population not only at risk of progression to end-organ failure but also at higher risk for cardiovascular diseases ([22][2
The international cognitive ability resource: Development and initial validation of a public-domain measure

Abstract For all of its versatility and sophistication, the extant toolkit of cognitive ability measures lacks a public-domain method for large-scale, remote data collection. While the lack of copyright protection for such a measure poses a theoretical threat to test validity, the effective magnitude of this threat is unknown and can be offset by the use of modern test-development techniques. To the extent that validity can be maintained, the benefits of a public-domain resource are considerable for researchers, including: cost savings; greater control over test content; and the potential for more nuanced understanding of the correlational structure between constructs. The International Cognitive Ability Resource was developed to evaluate the prospects for such a public-domain measure and the psychometric properties of the first four item types were evaluated based on administrations to both an offline university sample and a large online sample. Concurrent and discriminative validity analyses suggest that the public-domain status of these item types did not compromise their validity despite administration to 97,000 participants. Further development and validation of extant and additional item types are recommended.
Electromagnetic materials of artificially controlled properties for 3D printing applications

In this paper, a polymer matrix composite method by mixing printable polymer with a number of possible nanoparticles is investigated to achieve artificially controlled effective electromagnetic properties for 3D additive manufacturing applications. The material properties are evaluated using effective medium theory. The results show that this method can achieve robust electromagnetic property control with various nanoparticle fillings.
Robust nonlinear fault detection applied to chemical processes

This paper proposes a robust fault detection system that can be applied to nonlinear chemical processes. A nonlinear state estimator which is able to handle both parameter estimation and parameters with uncertainties is designed. The detection process is created by examining changes in the controlled outputs with respect to set point, followed by probing variations in the parameters that are estimated. A steam generator system is used to validate this approach where a process fault is considered.
Environmental Constraints and Organizational Outcomes: Modeling Communities of Municipal Police Departments:

Strategic management argues that administrators can significantly affect agency performance. This article examines the role of the organizational environment in determining agency effectiveness, arguing that performance is in part constrained by external conditions that cannot be altered by managers. Factor analysis is used to identify relevant community characteristics and create a multidimensional model of the public sector environment that is parsimonious and theoretically grounded. This model is used to examine the performance of 170 Texas municipal police departments over an extended time period. As expected, environmental characteristics produced significant negative effects on performance and demonstrates the value of modeling the agency environment in this way.
Endozoochory by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) across a suburban/woodland interface

Abstract We examined the role of white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) in the dispersal of viable seeds in an intact forest bordered by medium-density housing in southern Connecticut. Estimated deer density on site was 23 deer/km 2 with higher local densities along the suburban/woodland interface. A total of 566 pellet groups were gathered in summers through early winters of 2002–2005. After vernalization at 5 °C for 60 days, pellet groups were placed in a growing medium in a temperature controlled greenhouse for 6 months. A total of 11,512 seedlings germinated from 61% of pellet groups, which included 86 taxa. Seeds of 40 species confirmed not native to the United States germinated from pellet groups. Given mean germination data of more than 20 germinants/pellet group and deer population estimate, each deer on site during the sampling interval had the potential to disperse over 500 viable seeds/day, which included approximately 350 seeds of exotic species. Median maximum travel distance of does for a 24-h period was 568 m with a maximum distance of 5932 m. Deer were likely consuming seeds in disturbed and/or edge habitats, which are often adjacent to residential housing, and transporting them into forested areas where exotic plants are not as prevalent. Birds, small mammals, and abiotic factors are known dispersal agents for plants. These results indicate that white-tailed deer are another important dispersal agent of seeds, particularly exotics. Thus, white-tailed deer may not only alter vegetation structure through direct browse damage of established plants, but also indirectly by lowering reproductive output of native plants and simultaneously distributing seeds of exotic species.
Surface Sites for Engineering Allosteric Control in Proteins

Statistical analyses of protein families reveal networks of coevolving amino acids that functionally link distantly positioned functional surfaces. Such linkages suggest a concept for engineering allosteric control into proteins: The intramolecular networks of two proteins could be joined across their surface sites such that the activity of one protein might control the activity of the other. We tested this idea by creating PAS-DHFR, a designed chimeric protein that connects a light-sensing signaling domain from a plant member of the Per/Arnt/Sim (PAS) family of proteins with Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR). With no optimization, PAS-DHFR exhibited light-dependent catalytic activity that depended on the site of connection and on known signaling mechanisms in both proteins. PAS-DHFR serves as a proof of concept for engineering regulatory activities into proteins through interface design at conserved allosteric sites.
Inflammatory profiles in the BTBR mouse: How relevant are they to autism spectrum disorders?

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of disorders characterized by core behavioral features including stereotyped interests, repetitive behaviors and impairments in communication and social interaction. In addition, widespread changes in the immune systems of individuals with ASD have been identified, in particular increased evidence of inflammation in the periphery and central nervous system. While the etiology of these disorders remains unclear, it appears that multiple gene and environmental factors are involved. The need for animal models paralleling the behavioral and immunological features of ASD is paramount to better understand the link between immune system dysregulation and behavioral deficits observed in these disorders. As such, the asocial BTBR mouse strain displays both ASD relevant behaviors and persistent immune dysregulation, providing a model system that has and continues to be instructive in understanding the complex nature of ASD.
Identification of a Juvenile Hormone of a Primitive Insect, the Firebrat, Thermobia domestica (Thysanura)

SYNOPSIS. Juvenile hormone, JH-I was identified as the major juvenile hormone of a primitive insect, the firebrat, Thermobia domestica (Thysanura, Lepismatoidea). Since the same molecule is also present in Orthoptera, Lepidoptera and Diptera, its presence in Thysanura indicates that the juvenile hormones are ancient molecules and have undergone little variation during the evolution of the class Insecta.
Computer applications in biomedical electronics pattern recognition studies

The University of Texas is fortunate in having excellent computational facilities available for utilization in research. This paper is an applications survey dealing with how these facilities are used by the biomedical electronics group in the Electrical Engineering Department of the University.
Software engineering in an uncertain world

In this paper, we argue that the reality of today's software systems requires us to consider uncertainty as a first-class concern in the design, implementation, and deployment of those systems. We further argue that this induces a paradigm shift, and a number of research challenges that must be addressed.
Fluorescence intensity and lifetime-based cyanide sensitive probes for physiological safeguard

We characterize six new fluorescent probes that show both intensity and lifetime changes in the presence of free uncomplexed aqueous cyanide, allowing for fluorescence based cyanide sensing up to physiological safeguard levels, i.e. <30 μM. One of the probes, m-BMQBA, shows a ≈15-fold reduction in intensity and a ≈10% change in mean lifetime at this level. The response of the new probes is based on their ability to bind the cyanide anion through a boronic acid functional group, changing from the neutral form of the boronic acid group R–B(OH)2 to the anionic R–B−(CN)3 form, a new cyanide binding mechanism which we have recently reported. The presence of an electron deficient quaternary heterocyclic nitrogen nucleus, and the electron rich cyanide bound form, provides for the intensity changes observed. We have determined the disassociation constants of the probes to be in the range ≈15–84 μM3. In addition we have synthesized control compounds which do not contain the boronic acid moiety, allowing for a rationale of the cyanide responses between the probe isomers to be made. The lifetime of the cyanide bound probes are significantly shorter than the free R–B(OH)2 probe forms, providing for the opportunity of lifetime based cyanide sensing up to physiologically lethal levels. Finally, while fluorescent probes containing the boronic acid moiety have earned a well-deserved reputation for monosaccharide sensing, we show that strong bases such as CN− and OH− preferentially bind as compared to glucose, enabling the potential use of these probes for cyanide safeguard and determination in physiological fluids, especially given that physiologies do not experience any notable changes in pH.
Natural dust and acid rain

Atmospheric dust originates from three sources: terrestrial airborne matter, volcanic, and cosmic. Terrestrial natural dust makes up the main bulk reflecting the soil composition to 150 mi away. Soil erosion from flood plains, plowed fields and construction sites is the main source. Quartz, feldspar, the carbonates calcite and dolomite, and clay minerals are the components in decreasing order of frequency. Natural dust in the atmosphere interacts with rainwater converting the carbonates to benign gypsum (CaSO4.2H20). Naturally leached soils produce less calcite than unweathered sediments on flood plains and construction sites, and in granitic and crystalline rocks less than in limestone areas.
P-004 Endovascular management of acute ischemic stroke based on perfusion studies: a single center experience

Background CT Perfusion or MR perfusion studies are often used to evaluate patients who presents with Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS). Little published data are available regarding the real-time use of perfusion imaging to guide endovascular management. Objective To evaluate the role of perfusion imaging in selection and decisions for endovascular management in AIS patients. Methods Retrospective chart review was performed from prospectively collected database of patients with AIS who were treated with endovascular therapy from April 2010 to December 2010. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1: included 23 patients who had initial perfusion study performed to decide endovascular management by exclusion of candidates with large matched defects, 10 males and 13 females with mean age of 68.13 (range 39–86), mean NIHSS 16.4 (range 6–26) and Group 2: included 21 patients who were treated with endovascular management without perfusion imaging screening, 10 males and 11 females with mean age 64.86 (range 34–89), mean NIHSS 15.7 (range 0–42). The primary outcome measures following the intervention were intracranial hemorrhage rate and mortality rate. Results Group 1: All patients had lesions in the anterior circulation. Four patients received a combination of IV and IA tPA. Two received intravenous tPA, two received intra-arterial tPA. MERCI was used in seven patients and Penumbra device was used in seven patients. Post procedure hemorrhage was 13% (n=3). The mortality rate was 4.3% (n=1). Group 2: 15 patients had lesions in the anterior circulation and six patients in posterior circulation. Four patients received a combination of IV and IA tPA. Three received intravenous tPA, six received intra-arterial tPA. MERCI was used in eight patients and Penumbra device was used in 14 patients. Post procedure hemorrhage was 30% (n=6). The mortality rate was 24% (n=5). Conclusions Although not a matched population, we note a trend toward a lower rate of symptomatic hemorrhage and mortality in patients who were selected based on perfusion study for endovascular therapy. Further prospective trials are warranted to evaluate role of perfusion based studies in selecting patients for endovascular management.
Carotenoid Pigments and the Treatment of Erythropoietic Protoporphyria

Carotenoid pigments protect photosynthetic organisms against photosensitization by their own chlorophyll. This photoprotective function of carotenoids was utilized in the treatment of a human photosensitivity disease, erythropoietic protoporphyria.
Automated Cosegmentation of Tumor Volume and Metabolic Activity Using PET-CT in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Purpose/Objective(s): This study presents a novel computer-aided, automatic contouring (co-segmentation) gross target volume (GTV) that integrates tumor boundaries on both PET and CT through a globally optimal graph-based algorithm. Metabolic TV (MTV) was developed by integration of co-segmented tumor boundaries and metabolic activities as a tumor response metric. Materials/Methods: Records of 649 lung cancer patients were reviewed. Patients with stage III/IV NSCLC who received chemotherapy and lung radiation and had PET-CT imaging for simulation and PET-CT/CT at 2-4 months follow-up post-radiation were included. A total of 19 patients fulfilled the criteria. Post-treatment residual GTV (post-GTV) was retrospectively contoured by physician. A co-segmented GTV was generated on pretreatment PET-CT. MTV was defined as co-segmented GTV times mean SUV. As tumor response metrics, co-segmented GTV, co-segmented MTV, and mean SUV were generated on pretreatment dataset and tested for correlation with a pre-treatment, physician contoured GTV (pre-GTV) that was used as a ground truth for comparison. Their correlations with physician’s contour were measured using spearman’s correlation coefficient. Linear regression was used to evaluate if the different metric was predictive of post-GTV. Tumor response after chemoradiation therapy was measured using preand post-GTV. Results: Co-segmented GTV and MTV significantly correlated with pre-GTV (p < 0.001). Co-segmented GTV (p < 0.0001), co-segmented MTV (p Z 0.0009), pre-GTV (p < 0.0001) significantly correlated with post-GTV. No significant correlation was found in mean SUV (p Z 0.74). The overall averaged tumor response rate after chemoradiation therapy in 2-4 months is 69.5% +/-19.2%. Squamous cell histology responded better by 20% compared to adenocarcinoma. Tumor response pattern was modeled as post-GTV Z 10.0 + 0.4*pre-GTV (R Z 0.68). Conclusions: Co-segmented GTV and MTV present significant correlations with physician’s manual contouring, showing potential as a tumor response evaluation tool for large scale clinical trials and daily clinical practice. Average local tumor response in 2-4 months for advanced stage NSCLC after chemoradiation therapy was 69.5%. Author Disclosure: H. Li: None. J. Bai: None. T. Abu Hejle: None. X. Wu: None. S. Bhatia: None. Y. Kim: None.
The mobility of hot holes in polycrystalline selenium

The mobility of hot holes in polycrystalline selenium rectifiers has been measured at 77 and 300 °K by the modulation of avalanche breakdown characteristics by a transverse magnetic field. The magnitude of the mobility is comparable with that in single crystals (230 cm2/Vs at 300 °K; 80 cm2/Vs at 77 °K) implying that the transport and multiplication occurs primarily within crystallites rather than in grain boundaries. Es wurde die Beweglichkeit heiser Locher in polykristallinen Selengleichrichtern bei 77 und 300 °K durch die Modulation der Lawinendurchbruchscharakteristiken durch ein transversales Magnetfeld gemessen. Die Grose der Beweglichkeit ist mit der von Einkristallen vergleichbar (230 cm2/Vs bei 300 °K; 80 cm2/Vs bei 77 °K) und zeigt, das der Transport und die Multiplikation hauptsachlich innerhalb der Kristallite und nicht in den Korngrenzen auftritt.
The Ministry of Civil Society

Putin created a new institution, the "public chamber," whose role would be to mediate state and society in Russia. The public chamber model has since been replicated across the country. The functioning and development of these public chambers will reveal whether the state can successfully fashion a civil society form appropriate to Russia's historical and cultural heritage.
Neurological Defect: Manganese in Phenocopy and Prevention of a Genetic Abnormality of Inner Ear

A specific congenital ataxia may be caused by presence of mutant genes and by manganese deficiency during prenatal development in normal mice. Supplementation of the diet of mutant mice with manganese during prenatal development rectifies the aberrant development, resulting in normal behavior. The congential ataxa results from defective development of the the otoliths.
Intrinsic quantum conductances and capacitances of nanowires and nanocables

Abstract Here we calculate the intrinsic quantum capacitance of RuO 2 nanowires and RuO 2 /SiO 2 nanocables (filled interiors, or nanotubes, which are empty), based upon available ab initio density of states values, and their conductances allowing determination of transmission coefficients. Comparisons are made to the intrinsic quantum capacitance of carbon nanotubes, and to RuO 2 and RuO 2 /SiO 2 Schottky and p – n junction capacitances. We find that the intrinsic quantum capacitance of RuO 2 based nanostructures dominates over its junction capacitances by an order of magnitude or more, having important implications for energy and charge storage.
Rates of hydration of fatty acids bound to unilamellar vesicles of phosphatidylcholine or to albumin

The rates of hydration of naturally occurring fatty acids bound to unilamellar vesicles of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine were measured by following the rate of quenching of the inherent fluorescence of albumin. Rates of hydration of fatty acids bound to albumin could be estimated from the same data. The data show that these rates depend on the chain length and unsaturation of the fatty acid. Increasing chain length diminishes the rate of hydration whereas increasing unsaturation increases this rate. Rates of hydration of fatty acids bound to lipid vesicles appear to be rapid enough to account for intracellular movement between compartments in the absence of carrier proteins. It is uncertain whether this is true for hydration of fatty acids bound to albumin. Rates for this process are about 100-300 times slower vs. rates of hydration of fatty acids bound to lipid vesicles.
PENN neurodegenerative disease research - in the spirit of Benjamin Franklin.

Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790) was entrepreneur, statesman, supporter of the public good as well as inventor, and his most significant invention was the University of Pennsylvania (PENN). Franklin outl
Malingering and malingering-like behavior: some clinical and conceptual issues.

Malingering phenomena are reconceptualized along a continuum of other-deceptive, and “malingering-like” mixed-deceptive and self-deceptive categories, depending upon the degree of the subject's conscious self-awareness. This schema heuristically expands the malingering concept to include its multivaried range of clinical presentations which are ubiquitously encountered but underdiscussed in the literature.
Field-emission cathode gating for rf electron guns

We present a novel method of combining the most desirable characteristics of thermionic-cathode and photocathode rf guns, using a field-emission cathode and multiple rf frequencies. Simulations indicate that extremely low-emittance beams (on the order of 2 nm normalized emittance) at moderate beam currents (1 mA) and beam energies of $\ensuremath{\sim}2\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{MeV}$ can be obtained using this technique. The resulting gun design promises to be useful as a driver source for a number of applications, including high-voltage electron microscopy, precision electron-beam welding, and long-wavelength (THz) radiation generation; we include performance calculations for the electron microscopy and precision welding applications.
Patterns of deviance in crime news

Existing research has failed to develop a satisfactory theoretical explanation for journalists' decisions about which crimes to highlight and which to ignore. We proposed that four forms of deviance (normative deviance, statistical deviance, status deviance, and cultural deviance) account for much of the variation in decisions about crime news. To test deviance-based explanations for crime news, we conducted a comprehensive investigation of Milwaukee, WI, homicides and how two newspapers covered them. We used content analysis and interviews with journalists. The results showed that the newsworthiness of a homicide is enhanced when Whites are suspects or victims, males are suspects, and victims are females, children, or senior citizens. We concluded that status deviance and cultural deviance are important components of newsworthiness and that statistical deviance (unusualness) may be much less important than commonly assumed.
Heat increment of feeding in adult white-crowned sparrows

To evaluate how diet and feeding schedule influence the heat increment of feeding (HIF), we measured diurnal patterns of O2 consumption, CO2 production and oxidation of dietary amino acids by sparrows acclimated to different nutritional regimes but to a similar environment (23 ± 1°C; 9L:15D). Mixtures of 14C-amino acids injected intraperitoneally were oxidized by birds at similar rates during the normal daily feeding (light) period (22–23% injected dose within 1 hr) and during the normal fasting (dark) period (21–26% of dose). But, oxidation of amino acids derived from force-fed meals containing 14C-algal protein was slower during the dark period (4–7% of fed dose within 1 hr) than during the light period (16–19% of dose), indicating that digestion and transport proceeded more slowly at night. Respiratory quotients (RQ) reflected diet composition and the absorptive state of the bird. But, birds force-fed during the dark period had lower RQ values than those fed similar meals during the light period, indicating lower usage of dietary carbohydrate at night, consistent with the pattern for usage of ingested protein. Diurnal patterns of rates of O2 consumption were similar among birds regardless of diet composition (12–26% protein, 21–62% carbohydrate, 8–26% fat). Neither force feeding a meal immediately before measurement of O2 consumption nor a 30-hr fast had any significant effects on diurnal pattern or rates of O2 consumption of sparrows when compared with birds fed ad libitum. In these sparrows, HIF reflected mainly a metabolic pace characteristic of the animal's chronic nutrition (i.e., reserve state) rather than its acute nutrition (i.e., a meal).
Carrier freezeout in silicon

Abstract Carrier freezeout calculations must take into account the occupancy of all bound (ground and excited) impurity states. The calculations can be simplified if a single effective state energy which is a function of impurity concentration and temperature is used. Effective donor and acceptor states at energies E D ∗ and E A ∗ , respectively, are determined for the common shallow impurities (P, As, Sb and B) in Si. These effective states are assumed twofold and fourfold degenerate, respectively, so that the common formulae for partial ionization, which account for only the ground state, can still be used. A simple hydrogenic model is used to predict the dependence of the overlapping of the impurity state wave functions on doping concentration. For low temperatures E D ∗ and E A ∗ converge to their respective ground state energies and are only weakly dependent on doping concentration. With increasing temperature and with decreasing impurity concentration, the separation between the effective impurity states and the respective band edges increases. An empirical analytical expression is developed for the dependence of E D ∗ and E A ∗ on temperature and impurity concentration.
Ethics Instruction and the Perceived Acceptability of Cheating

This study examined whether undergraduate students’ perceptions regarding the acceptability of cheating were influenced by the amount of ethics instruction the students had received and/or by their personality. The results, from a sample of 230 upper-level undergraduate students, indicated that simply taking a business ethics course did not have a significant influence on students’ views regarding cheating. On the other hand, Machiavellianism was positively related to perceiving that two forms of cheating were acceptable. Moreover, in testing for moderating relationships, the results indicated that the extent to which taking a business ethics course influenced attitudes varied substantially across individuals. Specifically, taking a course in business ethics did result in students who scored lower on Machiavellianism holding even more negative views regarding certain forms of cheating. In addition, individuals with higher grade point averages (GPAs) who had taken a course in business ethics were also less accepting of certain forms of cheating than individuals with similar GPAs who had not taken the business ethics course. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Forest quality, government revenue constraints, and the second-best efficiency of regressive forest taxes

Les auteurs identifient les conditions dans lesquelles il est preferable de taxer la productivite de la foret de facon regressive plutot que progressive. Ils utilisent un modele de taxation optimale ou un gouvernement doit compenser son manque de revenus par des choix au niveau de la taxation. On assume egalement qu'il y a une variation dans la qualite des terres forestieres. Dans certaines conditions, le gouvernement devrait diminuer le taux de la taxe pour les terres ou la productivite est elevee relativement a celles ou la productivite est faible. Cela est particulierement vrai lorsque les terres les plus productives appartiennent aux proprietaires les plus pauvres. Dans cette situation, un gouvernement a court de revenus subventionne les terres les plus productives pour augmenter la perception de revenus.
Candidate inhibitor of the volume-sensitive kinase regulating K-Cl cotransport: the myosin light chain kinase inhibitor ML-7.

K-Cl cotransport, KCC, is activated by swelling in many cells types, and promotes volume regulation by a KCl efflux osmotically coupled to water efflux. KCC is probably activated by swelling-inhibition of a kinase, permitting dephosphorylation, and activation of the cotransporter by a phosphatase. The myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) inhibitor ML-7 inhibits transporters activated by shrinkage. In red blood cells from three mammalian species, ML-7 stimulated KCC in a volume-dependent manner. Relative stimulation was greatest in more shrunken cells. Stimulation was reduced by moderate cell swelling and abolished by further swelling. The half-maximal stimulation is at ∼20 μm ML-7, 50-fold greater than the IC50 for inhibition of MLCK in vitro. Stimulation of KCC by ML-7 did not require cell Ca, while MLCK does. Therefore the target of ML-7 in stimulating KCC in red cells is probably not MLCK. The evidence favors stimulation of KCC by ML-7 by inhibiting the volume-sensitive kinase. Qualitatively similar effects of ML-7 on KCC in red cells from three mammalian species suggest a general mechanism.
Figures of merit for complete Stokes polarimeter optimization

Figures of merit for optimization of a complete Stokes polarimeter based on its measurement matrix are described which are not limited in their application to cases in which four measurements are used in the determination of a single Stokes vector. Singular value decomposition and probability theory are used to investigate the behavior and significance of these figures of merit. Their use to optimize a system consisting of a rotatable retarder and fixed polarizer indicates that a retardance of 132° (approximately three-eighths wave) and retarder orientation angles of ±51.7° and ±15.1° are favorable when four measurements are used. The performance of this system is demonstrated with experimental data.
Continuous flow microfluidic device for rapid erythrocyte lysis.

Leukocyte isolation from whole blood to study inflammation requires the removal of contaminating erythrocytes. Leukocytes, however, are sensitive to prolonged exposure to hyper/hypoosmotic solutions, temperature changes, mechanical manipulation, and gradient centrifugation. Even though care is taken to minimize leukocyte activation and cell loss during erythrocyte lysis, it is often not possible to completely avoid it. Most procedures for removal of contaminating erythrocytes from leukocyte preparations are designed for bulk processing of blood, where the sample is manipulated for longer periods of time than necessary at the single-cell level. Ammonium chloride-mediated lysis is the most commonly used method to obtain enriched leukocyte populations but has been shown to cause some activation and selective loss of certain cell types. The leukocyte yield and subsequent activation status of residual leukocytes after NH4Cl-mediated lysis have been shown to depend on the time of exposure to the lysis buffer. W...
Synthesis Techniques for a Class of Phase-Modulated Signals

This tutorial paper develops equations and techniques useful for designing narrow deviation phase modulated signals containing information-bearing subcarriers and a binary ranging code. Sufficient information is presented to allow a reader, who has access to a digital computer, to design these types of signals. A sample signal design is presented for clarification.
Female Bobolink molts into male-like plumage and loses fertility

Among wild birds, females expressing a male-like phenotype have rarely been documented. During a study of Bobolinks (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) in Vermont, I observed a female that changed secondary sexually selected plumage forms between breeding seasons. During the 2006 breeding season, I monitored an individually marked female Bobolink in typical alternate plumage, with a light brown back and yellow undersides. This female produced a clutch of four eggs, and two young eventually fledged. In 2007, this female returned to the same area with predominately male alternate plumage, including black wing and body feathers, buff nuchal collar, and white scapulars and rump. She laid and incubated five eggs for 21 d before abandoning the nest; none of the eggs were fertile. I banded 324 additional female Bobolinks from 2002 to 2007 in the same study area and none exhibited similar between-year changes in plumage. In addition, a review of the literature revealed no previous reports of such changes. The male-like plumage and loss of fertility by the female Bobolink may have been due to an infection that damaged the left ovary, increasing androgen production and reducing estrogen production in the right ovotestis.
Characterization of bond between fiber concrete and reinforcing bars using nonlinear finite element analysis

Abstract Fiber reinforced concrete usage has steadily increased over the past 20 years. The objective is to evaluate the bond characteristics of a bar embedded in plain and fiber reinforced concrete. Nonlinear finite element analysis is used to analyze the pullout mechanism for reinforcing bars embedded in concrete. Cracking behavior, bond strength, and type of failure are obtained analytically, and compared with experimental results, and concrete stresses around the bar are estimated. The results show that finite element method can be used to predict accurately the bond mechanism for both plain and fiber reinforced concrete.
STUDIES ON ENDOTHELIAL REACTIONS : VII. CHANGES IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF COLLOIDAL CARBON NOTED IN THE LUNGS OF RABBITS FOLLOWING SPLENECTOMY.

The changes in the distribution of intravenously administered colloidal ink in splenectomized rabbits may be interpreted somewhat as follows: The removal of the spleen throws an increased amount of ink into the other hematopoietic organs and the lung and liver. While we should expect the liver or the bone marrow to compensate for the loss of the spleen and to take up this ink and remove it from the circulation, that is not the case. The lungs appear to play the chief part in the process, slowly passing on the removed material, contained in macrophages, to the liver, or retaining these ink-laden cells in their tissues and capillaries. By an increase in the capillary endothelium and by a process of engorgement of the capillaries with cells presumably derived therefrom, the lungs remove by far the greater part of the foreign material that has been introduced into the circulation. At the same time there is an increase in the number of ink-bearing macrophages in the lymphatics and capillaries of the lung, indicating that these cells are entering the circulation and the lymph stream (Fig. 8). The only organ where they lodge in any quantities, outside of the peribronchial lymph nodes, is the liver, the sinusoids of which contain an increasing number of macrophages as time goes on. It is possible that these cells are destroyed in the sinusoids and the carbon transferred to the liver epithelium; there is evidence to support this assumption. After the lungs, the liver comes next in degree of intensity of pigmentation; the bone marrow contains far less than either of these organs.
Comparison of transcriptional synergy of estrogen receptors α and β from multiple tandem estrogen response elements

Estrogen receptors alpha and beta (ERalpha and ERbeta) act as ligand-dependent transcriptional enhancers. We reported that ERalpha induces synergistic activation of luciferase reporter gene activity in response to E(2) from three or four tandem copies of a consensus estrogen response element (ERE) in transiently transfected MCF-7 cells. Here we addressed three questions: (1) is the synergistic activation of reporter gene activity from multiple tandem EREs by ERalpha restricted to MCF-7 cells?; (2) does ERbeta induce synergistic activation of reporter activity from multiple tandem EREs?; and (3) does ERbeta bind cooperatively to multiple tandem EREs? To address the first two questions, ER-negative CHO-K1 cells were co-transfected with ERalpha or ERbeta and ERE-driven reporter plasmids. Both ERalpha and ERbeta activated ERE-driven luciferase gene activity in an estradiol-dependent manner. Induction by ERbeta was lower than ERalpha from each ERE. We demonstrate that both ERalpha and ERbeta induce transcriptional synergy with three or four, but not two, tandem copies of an ERE. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) indicated an increase in ER-ERE binding affinity associated with cooperative binding of ERalpha and ERbeta to multiple EREs that may be responsible for transcriptional synergy in transiently transfected cells. We also postulate that interaction of ERalpha and ERbeta with coactivators may also play a role in transcriptional synergy.
Effect of different levels of NADH availability on metabolic fluxes of Escherichia coli chemostat cultures in defined medium

Escherichia coli overexpressing a NAD(+)-dependent formate dehydrogenase (FDH) from Candida boidinii was grown in chemostat culture on various carbon sources at 0.05 h(-1) dilution rate, under anaerobic conditions using defined medium and compared to a control without the heterologous FDH pathway. Metabolic fluxes, NADH/NAD(+) ratios and NAD(H/(+)) levels were determined under a range of intracellular NADH availability. The effect of NADH manipulation on the distribution of metabolic fluxes in E. coli was assessed under steady-state conditions. The heterologous FDH pathway converts 1 mol of formate into 1 mol of NADH and carbon dioxide, in contrast with the native FDH where no cofactor involvement is present. Previously, we found that this NADH regeneration system doubled the maximum yield of NADH from 2 to 4 mol NADH/mol glucose consumed and reached 4.6 mol NADH/mol of substrate when sorbitol was used as a carbon source in a complex medium. In the current study, it was found that higher NADH yields and NADH/NAD(+) ratios were achieved with our in vivo NADH regeneration system compared to a control lacking the new FDH pathway in the three carbon sources (glucose, gluconate and sorbitol) examined suggesting a more reduced intracellular environment. The total NAD(H/(+)) amounts were very similar for all the combinations studied. It was also found that the ethanol to acetate ratio increased with increased NADH availability. This ratio increased from 1.05 for the control strain in glucose to 9.45 for the strain expressing the heterologous NAD(+)-dependent FDH in sorbitol.
Nest Success and Cause-Specific Nest Failure of Grassland Passerines Breeding in Prairie Grazed by Livestock

Livestock grazing is a widespread source of habitat modification, and may affect populations of ground-nesting grassland birds by influencing rates of nest failure. Nesting attempts can fail for various reasons, and determining risk of failure from specific causes associated with livestock grazing would enhance development of range management practices in areas managed for threatened grassland bird populations. Domestic livestock may influence nest failure by affecting vegetation structure, numerical or functional responses of predators, or directly by trampling nests. We hypothesized stocking rate may influence nest fate because it affects the amount and distribution of remaining vegetation, and the number of large herbivores to which nests are exposed. In 2007 and 2008, we evaluated nest fates for savannah sparrows and horned larks under 4 stocking rates experimentally applied in 40-ha paddocks in northeastern Oregon, USA. In addition to stocking rate, we evaluated variables such as vegetation structure and predator abundance and activity to help clarify mechanisms responsible for nest failure. We used a discrete competing risks framework to estimate daily probability of nest survival and failure from specific causes. These algorithms, implemented in a stand-alone graphical user interface-driven model, allow incorporation of covariates within an information theoretic approach to model inference. Although stocking rate influenced vegetation structure, the only nest failures related to stocking rate were from trampling. Trampling events were too infrequent to test for treatment effects (only 1 nest of each species), but occurred in the moderate and high stocking treatments. Additional variables were related to variation in nest failure from predation, but we found no support for the hypothesis that these causes of failure were affected by stocking rate. For savannah sparrows, daily probability of nest success (95% CI) ¼ 0.97 (0.96-0.98); predation ¼ 0.018 (0.008-0.028); and trampling ¼ 0.001 (0.000-0.004). For horned larks, daily probability of nest success ¼ 0.96 (0.95-0.98); predation ¼ 0.029 (0.012-0.045); and trampling ¼ 0.003 (0.000-0.007). Our results suggest grasslands managed for livestock may generally be compatible with grassland songbird conservation, at least for the species and stocking rates examined here. The most effective conservation strategies for improving nest success will involve decreasing risk of nest predation. However, we found no evidence that management of stocking rate is an effective method for doing so. 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Observation of Solar Particle Fluxes over Extended Solar Longitudes

Detailed particle observations from various Pioneer spacecraft located at different heliolongitudes during the complex solar flare events of Mar. 30 to Apr. 10, 1969, have been utilized to investigate the energy dependence of azimuthal gradients of cosmic ray particles and its effect on the decay of the flare intensity. For an observer located to the east of the centroid of the population, the azimuthal corotation term and the convection term will be additive, resulting in a short decay time constant. An observer located to the west of the centroid of the population will experience a much longer decay time constant, the corotation term partially or completely compensating the loss of particles due to convection. At very low energies, the azimuthal corotation term may even be more than the convection term, thus resulting in a rise in intensity instead of decay during the later part of the event.
The role of the oral and maxillofacial surgeon in wartime, emergencies, and terrorist attacks.

It is ironic that during periods of armed conflict, there are not only devastation and destruction but also rapid advances and improvements in medicine and surgery. This observation seems to be consistent throughout the ages. The Napoleonic Wars contributed aggressive wound debridement (and amputation) to the surgical armamentarium. The Crimean War refined this concept of aggressive debridement, especially in the maxillofacial region, to preservation of tissues. The American Civil War brought camp and hospital sanitation into focus. World War I contributed early resuscitation and early treatment at base hospitals to the principals of casualty management. World War II provided a focus on the administrative preparation for managing wounded personnel. Blood transfusions, hydration, and antibiotic therapy were foci of World War II medical and surgical management that made a great impact on the survival of injured persons. The Korean War contributed external fixation and mobile hospital units. The Vietnam War contributed medical and surgical evacuation, especially via helicopters, to our improved understanding of the management and increased survival of injured patients. The improvements in biomedical and scientific
STREPTOMYCIN RETARDS THE PHENOTYPIC MATURATION OF CHICK MYOGENIC CELLS

As part of an effort to optimize conditions required for the complete maturation of muscle cells in vitro, we have investigated the effects of the antibiotics penicillin, streptomycin, and Fungizone (amphotericin B) on the development of cultured chick embryo skeletal muscle. It is shown that even low dosages of streptomycin, but not penicillin or Fungizone, retard protein synthesis and accumulation in these cultures. Myosin accumulation was also reduced and the appearance of striations in fused cells was delayed in myotubes formed in medium containing streptomycin. Additional data suggest that this overall retardation of myogenesis is due to the influence of streptomycin on maturing myotubes rather than early proliferation and cell fusion. These results are discussed with regard to recent efforts to promote the full maturation of muscle cells grown in culture.
Analog VLSI circuits for stimulus localization and centroid computation

An analog aggregation network that extracts the position of a stimulus in a sensory field is presented. This network is integrated with photodiodes in a VLSI circuit that performs stimulus localization through the computation of the centroid of a visual image. In this implementation, bipolar transistors and global subtraction are used to produce a high-precision centroid implementation. Theory for the localization of a bright visual stimulus is developed, and the theoretical predictions are compared to experimental data taken from the 160×160-pixel centroid circuit. Finally, the applications of these circuits to more complex feature extraction and to sensorimotor feedback systems are discussed.
PARALLEL COMPUTING AND THE SOLUTION OF Ax = b

Classical numerical techniques are used to incorporate parallel processing in a fast method for solving simultaneous linear equations, Ax = b. The results show a tradeoff of computation time for processors. In the limiting case, general sets of n linear simultaneous equations can be solved in time proportional to a function of n log n.
Response of female California quail (Callipepla californica) to methyl parathion treatment of their home ranges during the nesting period

Fifty-eight female California quail (Callipepla californica) were trapped and fitted with transmitters at the E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area, Oregon, from April to July in 1988 and in 1989. Radiotelemetry was used to monitor hen movements daily throughout two breeding seasons (May to mid-August). Home ranges for the first half of incubation for 15 of 22 nesting hens were treated with methyl parathion 4E (n = 7) or water (n = 8) at a rate of 0.56 kg active ingredient per hectare. No measurable effects were found for nest attentiveness from pre- to post-treatment period within the methyl parathion (p = 0.47) and water (p = 0.57) groups and use of treated areas between groups (p = 1.00). Also, no measurable effects were found for rates of nest success (p = 0.61), nest abandonment (p = 0.20), and recruitment to 15 d post-hatch (p = 0.40) between the methyl parathion and water groups. However, a lower hatching rate (p = 0.02) was found in eggs from hens in the methyl parathion group.