cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Net primary productivity and nutrient cycling across a mesic to wet precipitation gradient in Hawaiian montane forest

Variation in rainfall in humid tropical forests has the potential to alter patterns of primary productivity andnutrient cycling. Net primary productivity (NPP) and nutrient cycling were measured at six sites similar in temperature regime, parent material, ecosystem age, vegetation and topographical relief, while mean annual precipitation (MAP) varied from 2,200 toover 5,000 mm/year. Aboveground NPP declined by a factor of 2.2 with increased MAP across the precipitation gradient. Increased water availability in excess of plant demand is likely to have decreased the other resources for plant growth. Patterns of nutrient cycling and other factors that affect plant growth suggest that increased nutrient limitation in wetter sites could be the direct cause of the decline in NPP. Foliar nitrogen (N) and soil N availability decreased with increased precipitation, corresponding with the decrease in forest growth. In contrast, patterns of foliar and soil phosphorus (P) did not correspond with the decrease in growth; P availability was highest at either end of the precipitation gradient and lowest across the middle. Natural abundance of δ15N in foliage and soils decreased with increased precipitation, further supporting the idea that N availability declined. Decreased N availability was associated with a decrease in soil reduction-oxidation potentials. Oxygen limitation in soil microsites was a factor at all sites, but became increasingly widespread at higher MAP regimes. There was no strong evidence that soil oxygen availability, expressed in foliar δ13C values, directly limited plant growth. In addition foliar micronutrients either showed no change (Ca, Mg) or declined (Al, Fe) with increased MAP while soil pH was low but constant, suggesting that toxic elements in the soil solution were also not direct factors in decreased plant growth across the gradient. Thus, the decline in NPP with associated MAP appeared to be most directly associated with decreased N availability in these humid forests. Fluctuating anaerobic conditions that increased in intensity and duration with increased rainfall could be a mechanism that slows decomposition and N mineralization while concurrently increasing P solubility from soil mineral-bound pools.
Valve Disease: Asymptomatic mitral regurgitation: does surgery save lives?

Management of asymptomatic patients with severe mitral valve regurgitation is controversial—conservative surveillance and early mitral valve repair have both been advocated as reasonable approaches on the basis of divergent data. A new study by Kang et al. fuels this debate. However, careful assessment of the existing literature can provide insight into the optimal care of this population of patients.
Introduction: Human Ecology in the Himalaya

Knowledge of human adaptation in the Himalayas has developed more slowly than that for other world mountain systems. At the same time, the opening of the region to research has focused attention toward description in a "natural history" mode until quite recently. Where these studies have addressed issues of adaptation they have tended to do so more as a heuristic tool rather than in terms of contributing to the development of adaptive perspectives from a uniquely Himalayan vantage point. The contributions to this special issue suggest some of Himalayan cultural ecology's new themes as it more directly assumes a truly processual approach that incorporates the individual and domestic dimensions of adaptation within historical and social contexts.
The Binghamton state office building PCB, dioxin and dibenzofuran electrical transformer incident: 1981–1986

Abstract The Binghamton State Office Building (BSOB) polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and chlorinated benzene containing electrical transformer arcing and fire incident of February 5, 1981, was the first recognized incident of its kind. A surge of excess electricity led to an electrical panel malfunction at 5:30 AM. For about 30 minutes intense heat was generated as electrical arcing occurred. Dense smoke containing polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) as well as biphenylenes billowed up through air shafts and contaminated all areas of the building later tested for these chemicals. This incident was the first outside a laboratory setting to demonstrate the conversion of PCBs, in the presence of oxygen and heat, to PCDFs, and of the chlorinated benzenes to PCDDs. It demonstrated a hitherto unsuspected potential health hazard of PCB and chlorinated benzene containing electrical transformers, and by implication, capacitors, when not properly separated from areas of buildings used by workers and public. The building has been shut since then and an estimated $40,000,000 may be spent on direct cleanup and rehabilitative costs prior to reopening of the building, if it is to be reopened. Elevated levels of serum PCBs were detected in workers, eg., firefighters initially involved in the fire, which stabilized at lower levels later in the year. Elevated penta- and hexa- chlorinated furan isomers corresponding to isomers found in the soot (and identical to some Yusho isomers) were found in some cleanup workers. Electron microscopy of percutaneous liver biopsies of three patients chemically exposed from the incident showed lesions similar to those seen in guinea pigs fed the soot, which was biologically quite active. This incident, and others occurring afterward, has led the US Environmental Protection Agency to ban PCB containing transformers from similar buildings.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Veterans with Spinal Cord Injury: Trauma-related Risk Factors

Trauma-related risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were examined in a sample of 125 veterans with spinal cord injury. Category of injury was found to be the most consistent predictor of PTSD diagnosis and symptom severity with paraplegia predicting more PTSD symptoms than quadriplegia. The occurrence of a head injury at the time of the trauma was found to predict PTSD symptom severity measures, but not PTSD diagnosis. Trauma recency consistently predicted Impact of Event score (IES) and was found to be related to current PTSD severity and lifetime PTSD diagnosis in multiple but not simple regression models. Trauma severity was found to be significantly related to self-reported PTSD symptoms and lifetime PTSD diagnosis in simple but not in multiple regression analyses. Type of trauma, alcohol or other drug (AOD) use during the trauma and loss of consciousness (LOC) during the trauma were not consistently associated with PTSD symptom severity or diagnosis.
Global Forebrain Ischemia Results in Decreased Immunoreactivity of Calcium/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase II

Previous studies utilizing crude brain homogenates have shown that forebrain ischemia results in inhibition of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II) activity without large-scale proteolysis of the enzyme. In this report, a monoclonal antibody (1C3-3D6) directed against the β- (60-kDa) subunit of CaM kinase II that does not recognize ischemically altered enzyme was utilized to further investigate the ischemia-induced inhibition of CaM kinase II. Immunohistochemical investigations showed that the ischemia-induced decreased immunoreactivity of CaM kinase II occurred immediately following ischemic insult in ischemia-sensitive cells such as pyramidal cells of the hippocampus. No decrease in CaM kinase II immunoreactivity was observed in ischemia-resistant cells such as granule cells of the dentate gyrus. The decreased immunoreactivity was observed for CaM kinase II balanced for protein staining and calmodulin binding in vitro. In addition, autophosphorylation of CaM kinase II in the pr...
Histoire naturelle de l'asthme chez l'enfant. Une revue de Tucson children's respiratory study

Resume L'etude de Tucson a montre que des alterations de la fonction respiratoire des la naissance, liees particulierement au tabagisme maternel antenatal, favorisent les episodes de wheezing jusqu'a trois ans. Les sifflements persistants sont favorises par l'atopie personnelle et l'asthme maternel. Les infections virales, les freres et sœurs a domicile, la creche precoce sont associes a une diminution du risque d'asthme a six et 13 ans.
THE EFFECT OF TURBULENT MIXINGON PHYSICOCHEMICAL ABSORPTION NEAR INTERFACES

A novel approach to physicochemical absorption is developed which yields a priori estimates of enhancement factors. The theory is applied to solid-fluid/fluid-fluid interfaces for irreversible first-order kinetics. The results of these theoretical calculations are compared to other models and existing experimental data.
Premenopausal bone loss and depot medroxyprogesterone acetate administration

A 39-year-old woman on depot medroxyprogesterone acetate for 17 years developed multiple fractures after falling from a stationary horse. Densitometry revealed significant osteopenia. Although the reported patient was a thin, Caucasian woman, she did not have any other significant risk factors for osteoporosis except for a possible state of partial estrogen deficiency induced by the use of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate. Studies have shown that the estradiol levels of premenopausal women who have received this hormonal contraceptive for more than 1 year never reach those seen in the mid-cycle or luteal phase of the normal menstrual cycle. The estradiol levels are comparable only with those found in the early follicular phase. Therefore, women who use depot medroxyprogesterone acetate are in a state of partial estrogen deficiency, which may be associated with increased bone loss.
Synthesis of a C44H26 Hydrocarbon Having a Carbon Framework Represented on the Surface of C60 via Benzoenyne-Allenes

The C44H26 hydrocarbon 20 was synthesized in 13% overall yield in eight steps from acenaphthenequinone (6) and 2 equiv of 1-(2-ethynylphenyl)-2-phenylethyne. Condensation of the monoketal 7 with the lithium acetylide 8 afforded the benzoenediynyl propargylic alcohol 9. On exposure to thionyl chloride, 9 underwent a cascade of reactions with the formation of the chloro-substituted benzoenyne-allene 11 in situ followed by a C2−C6 cyclization to produce the biradical 12, leading to the formal Diels−Alder adduct 13 and subsequently, after tautomerization, the chloride 14. Reduction with sodium borohydride then gave 15. Deprotection of the ketal group produced 16 to allow a repeat of condensation with the acetylide 17 followed by the cascade transformation to afford the chloride 19. Subsequent reduction then furnished the C44H26 hydrocarbon 20 having a carbon framework represented on the surface of C60.
Etching and narrowing of graphene from the edges

Large-scale graphene electronics requires lithographic patterning of narrow graphene nanoribbons for device integration. However, conventional lithography can only reliably pattern approximately 20-nm-wide GNR arrays limited by lithography resolution, while sub-5-nm GNRs are desirable for high on/off ratio field-effect transistors at room temperature. Here, we devised a gas phase chemical approach to etch graphene from the edges without damaging its basal plane. The reaction involved high temperature oxidation of graphene in a slightly reducing environment in the presence of ammonia to afford controlled etch rate (less than or approximately 1 nm min(-1)). We fabricated approximately 20-30-nm-wide graphene nanoribbon arrays lithographically, and used the gas phase etching chemistry to narrow the ribbons down to <10 nm. For the first time, a high on/off ratio up to approximately 10(4) was achieved at room temperature for field-effect transistors built with sub-5-nm-wide graphene nanoribbon semiconductors derived from lithographic patterning and narrowing. Our controlled etching method opens up a chemical way to control the size of various graphene nano-structures beyond the capability of top-down lithography.
Ambient temperature compaction of polycarbonate powder

Solid-state processing of polymer powders through compaction and sintering has potential advantages over conventional polymer processing methods; however, pressureless sintering of compacted polymer powders has often been unsuccessful. Room temperature compaction of polycarbonate (PC) powder was studied in an effort to better understand the fundamental mechanisms that control polymer compaction and sintering. It was found that differences in the degree of physical aging affect the compaction behavior of PC powder. The results presented in this paper show that the degree of physical aging of thermoplastic polymer powders, which can be influenced by commonly used powder handling operations such as drying and long term storage, can ultimately affect the ability of the powder to be successfully compacted at room temperature.
Infectivity and Inoculum Production of Phytophthora ramorum on Roots of Eastern United States Oak Species

Little is known about colonization of roots of trees by Phytophthora ramorum. We examined zoospore concentration and exposure time needed to infect six Quercus (oak) species and the inoculum produced from their roots. Sprouted acorns, exposed to zoospores (3,000/ml) for different times and transplanted to potting soil, were susceptible to infection within 1 h of exposure but root weights were not impacted after 4 weeks (P = 0.952). Roots of Quercus prinus seedlings, inoculated with sporangia, had 0.6 to 3.2% colonization of the total root mass after 5 months. Neither root lesions nor obvious root sloughing were observed. Inoculum threshold levels were tested by exposing radicles to varying zoospore concentrations for 24 h. Results showed that radicle infection occurred even at 1 zoospore/ml. To test inoculum production, roots were inoculated with sporangia and transplanted into pots. Periodically, samples of runoff were collected and plated on selective medium. Afterward, root segments were plated to calculate percent colonization. After 16 and 35 days, root colonization and inoculum production from oak was lower than that of Viburnum tinus, a positive control. This study shows that P. ramorum is able to infect sprouted oak acorns and produce secondary inoculum, which may be important epidemiologically.
Recognition Failure: Another Case of Retrieval Failure.

A theoretical explanation of the phenomenon of recognition failure (failure to recognize items that can be recalled) is presented in terms of the dual access theory of recognition, which distinguishes between presentation codes and conceptual (retrieval) codes. In the paired-associate paradigm, retrieval involves access to the pair as a unit, which is holistically coded. As predicted by the theory, recognition failure is reduced when a more stringent recognition criterion is used, specific item pairs are more subject to recognition failure than others, and recognition failure is essentially eliminated when the proper access test (backward retrieval) is used and significantly reduced when variability in recognition performance is taken into account. These results were extended to an experimental paradigm that investigated performance at steady state.
An update on DOE's Phase II and Phase III mercury control technology R&D program

The U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory, under the Office of Fossil Energy's Innovations for Existing Plants Program, carried out a comprehensive Hg research and development program for coal-fired power generation facilities since the mid-1990s. Working collaboratively with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Electric Power Research Institute, power plant operators, state and local agencies, and a host of research organizations and academic institutions, the Program identified the major factors that affect mercury speciation and capture in coal combustion flue gas and funneled this knowledge into the development of a suite of mercury control technologies for the diverse fleet of U.S. coal-fired power plants. The high performance observed during full-scale field testing has given coal-fired power plant operators the confidence to begin deploying technology. As of March 2009, more than 130 full-scale activated carbon injection systems have been ordered by the U.S. coal-fired power generators. These contracts include both new and retrofit installations and represent over 55 GW of coal-based electric generating capacity.
Observation of a New Resonance at ATLAS

Abstract With the LHC increasing collision energies to s = 8 TeV and delivering luminosity more rapidly than ever, searches for Higgs-like particles at the ATLAS experiment have reached the sensitivities required to detect the Standard Model Higgs boson across a broad range of possible masses. I discuss signals found in searches for Higgs boson decays to both two photons and to Z Z ⁎ to four leptons, announced earlier in July, and present a new search for Higgs boson decays to W W ⁎ with the 2012 data.
Swern oxidation of a hindered β-hydroxyester

The highly hindered β-hydroxyester 3 fails to oxidize under the usual Swern reaction conditions, whereas closely related compounds react successfully. Swern oxidation of 3 occurs if the work-up conditions are modified or if diazabicycloundecane (DBU) rather than triethylamine (TEA) is used as the base in the reation. A mechanistic rationale is proposed in which the kinetic acidity of a dimethylsulfoxonium salt derived from 3 is postulated to be suppressed by intramolecular complexation.
Collaborative Task Performance for Learning Using a Virtual Environment

This paper describes a study on the sense of presence and task performance in a virtual environment as affected by copresence (one subject working alone versus two subjects working as partners), level of control (control of movement and control of navigation through the virtual environment), and head tracking. Twenty subjects navigated through six versions of a virtual environment and were asked to identify changes in locations of objects within the environment. After each trial, subjects completed a questionnaire designed to assess their level of presence within the virtual environment. Results indicated that collaboration did not increase the sense of presence in the virtual environment, but did improve the quality of the experience in the virtual environment. Level of control did not affect the sense of presence, but subjects did prefer to control both movement and navigation. Head tracking did not affect the sense of presence, but did contribute to the spatial realism of the virtual environment. Task performance was affected by the presence of another individual, by head tracking, and by level of control, with subjects performing significantly more poorly when they were both alone and without control and head tracking. In addition, a factor analysis indicated that questions designed to assess the subjects' experience in the virtual environment could be grouped into three factors: (1) presence in the virtual environment, (2) quality of the virtual environment, and (3) task difficulty.
Two Perpendicularly Oriented Pigment Systems involved in Phototaxis of Euglena

MORE than 50 years ago, Mast suggested that positive phototaxis of Euglena is mediated by the shading action of the eyespot with respect to a “photoreceptor” situated near the base of the flagellum1. With the availability of a quantitative and reproducible method for measuring the rate of phototaxis2, this hypothesis has recently been given support by Tollin and myself3,4. We concluded that negative phototaxis occurs when the photoreceptor is not shaded from intense stimulating light. Bound and Tollin, using polarized actinic light, have shown that the pigment molecules in the eyespot are aligned with their long axes parallel to the long axis of the organism5.
Regulation of Interleukin (IL)-12 Receptor β2 Subunit Expression by Endogenous IL-12: A Critical Step in the Differentiation of Pathogenic Autoreactive T Cells

The interleukin (IL)-12 receptor (R)β2 subunit is the critical molecule involved in maintaining IL-12 responsiveness and controlling T helper cell type 1 lineage commitment. We demonstrate that IL-12 and interferon (IFN)-γ play separate, but complementary, roles in regulating IL-12Rβ2 expression on antigen-specific CD4+ T cells. These results are consistent with our previous observation that IL-12 can promote autoimmune disease through IFN-γ–independent as well as –dependent pathways. Therefore, we compared the induction of IL-12 by, and the expression of the IL-12Rβ2 subunit on, myelin basic protein (MBP)-specific T cells from experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE)-susceptible SJL (H-2s) mice and from EAE- resistant B10.S mice (H-2s). B10.S mice had an antigen-specific defect in their capacity to upregulate the IL-12Rβ2 subunit. Defective expression was not secondary to the production of suppressive cytokines, but to a failure of B10.S MBP-specific T cells to upregulate CD40 ligand expression and to induce the production of IL-12. IL-12Rβ2 expression as well as encephalitogenicity of these cells could be restored by the addition of IL-12. These results suggest that the development of immunotherapies that target the IL-12Rβ2 subunit may be useful for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
The distinction between coherence and constancy in Hume's Treatise I.iv.2

In the Treatise, Book I, Part iv, Section 2, Hume seeks to explain what causes us to believe that objects continue to exist even when they are not perceived. He argues that we won‟t be able to provide this explanation in terms either of sense or of reason, and that we must instead rely on principles associated with the faculty of imagination. These principles, he claims, work in conjunction with perceptions (or with certain features thereof) in generating our belief in the continued existence of objects. But what is it about perceptions that helps to generate such a belief? Hume claims that it is the coherence and constancy of perceptions that do so. He goes on to provide a coherence-based explanation of the causes of our belief in the continued existence of objects, and then to provide, in a separate treatment, a constancy-based explanation.
Thought suppression and smoking relapse: a secondary analysis of Haaga (1989)

Previous research indicates that use of cognitive coping strategies in high risk situations is positively correlated with smoking cessation maintenance. Basic research on self-control of unwanted thoughts, however, suggests that mental coping efforts involving thought suppression should be ineffective. We evaluated this possibility by rescoring the articulated thoughts transcripts of 95 subjects from a one-year prospective study of smoking relapse (Haaga, 1989). Frequent use of cognitive coping tactics for reframing high risk situations (e.g. reminding oneself of negative consequences of smoking) predicted greater likelihood of continuous abstinence in the following three months (49 per cent success for those above the sample median, 20 per cent for those below the median). This effect was marginally significant at a 12-month follow-up. By contrast, thought suppression showed no association with maintenance of non-smoking. Discussion focused on complications in applying laboratory research on thought suppression and on reanalysis of cognitive assessment protocols.
Correcting misconceptions: What to say when the user is mistaken

Because people's knowledge is often partial and/or faulty, it is inevitable that misconceptions will be revealed in the course of a conversation. If recognized, the other person may say something to correct the misconception, and the conversation continues. Just as this is the case when people interact with each other, so must it be when users interact with a computer system. For example, in interacting with an expert system, a user may reveal misconceptions about objects modelled by the system. By failing to correct such misconceptions, the system may not only confirm the original misconception, but may cause the user to develop further misconceptions. It must therefore be up to the system to recognize and respond to misconceptions in an effective way. In this paper the space of possible object misconceptions is characterized according to the kind of incorrect information involved. It has been found that this characterization is often useful in determining how the user arrived at the misconception, and therefore the kind of information to include in the response. Using such a characterization, a system will be able to effectively correct object misconceptions in a domain independent way. Factors which affect the amount of information included in a correction (such as discourse and situational context) are also examined.
Transitioning from elementary to secondary school: American pupils’ scary stories and physical education folklore

The purpose of this study was to examine scary stories that young American adults recalled being told about physical education as they transferred from elementary school to secondary school. Participants were 70 undergraduate students. They were required to write about any scary stories concerning (a) secondary schooling in general, and (b) physical education in particular, that they could recall being told when they were about to move from elementary to secondary school. Standard interpretive techniques were used to analyze the data. A number of different scary story themes were identified. These themes were similar to those unearthed by British researchers, in that they were often concerned with the body, indicated that the transition to secondary school paralleled the transition to adulthood, and illustrated differences and similarities in expectations for boys and girls.
Biological Flow and Process Tracing Using Nuclear and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance

A general discussion of the application of nuclear and electron paramagnetic resonance to determination of blood flow velocities in intact humans is discussed. The feasibility has been proven using mice. The system of measurement essentially utilizes paramagnetic (nonradioactive) tracers. One simple tracing scheme which has been employed experimentally is to saturate the protons in the blood stream and detect the density of these protons as variations occur due to flow. By this means the flow velocity is readily measured. A discussion of paramagnetic resonance theory precedes the discussion of the biological applications.
Promoting nurses' self-efficacy: a leadership strategy to improve practice.

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate the interaction between structural empowerment, nursing leadership, and self-efficacy for nursing practice, to determine if self-efficacy could contribute to more professional nursing behaviors.BackgroundIncreasing self-efficacy for nursing pract
Lethal pulmonary hypoplasia after in-utero myelomeningocele repair.

Abstract BACKGROUND: In-utero surgical repair of fetal myelomeningocele has been performed as a means to improve the postnatal condition of affected infants. CASE: A nulliparous woman underwent in-utero surgical repair of a fetal lumbosacral myelomeningocele at 24 weeks’ gestation. Her postoperative convalescence was complicated by pulmonary edema, abdominal pain, chronic oligohydramnios, and preterm labor. The infant was delivered by cesarean at 33 weeks’ gestation, but expired from respiratory distress caused by pulmonary hypoplasia at 9 hours of age. CONCLUSION: Until the benefits of in-utero repair of fetal myelomeningoceles are determined by well-controlled clinical trials, this technique remains investigational. Physicians and their patients who are considering this procedure must be fully aware of the potential risks that can occur.
Stimulation of C32 and G361 melanoma cells using oleoyl acetyl glycerol and its effect on sulphur mustard cytotoxicity

Epidermal melanocytes have a higher sensitivity to sulphur mustard (HD) compared with other skin cell types. 1 This may be due to the enzymatic production of melanin precursors exerting an additional cytotoxic effect following HD depletion of the cellular protectant, GSH. 2,3 Stimulation of the protein kinase C pathway in melanocytes is known to increase melanin production in melanocytes and melanoma cell lines. 4,5 In order to investigate the role of pigment synthesis in HD toxicology, cultures of an unpigmented melanoma cell line (C32) and of a pigmented melanoma line (G361) were treated with the potent diacyl glycerol analogue, oleoyl acetyl glycerol (OAG), in order to determine if protein kinase C-mediated increases in pigment production could increase sensitivity to subsequent HD exposure. Stimulation of C32 cells with OAG exerted a significant protective effect against the cytotoxic effects of HD. However, this was not due to increased melanin synthesis because this cell line cannot synthesize melanin pigments. The protective action observed is postulated to be due to modulation of protein kinase C activity. In contrast, stimulation of G361 melanoma cells with OAG resulted in an increased level of cytotoxicity upon subsequent exposure to HD. Protein kinase C controls several cellular pathways including checkpoints in the cell cycle, stalling the cell in G 1 and promoting transition through the G 2 /M boundary. Given the genotoxic properties of HD, these two points in the cell cycle are important in determining the overall cytotoxic effect of HD. Control of the cell cycle by protein kinase C modulation and manipulation of melanin synthetic pathways may have therapeutic benefits.
Evaluation of the Alter-Rater model for spray timing for control of Alternaria brown spot on Murcott tangor in Brazil

Abstract Alternaria brown spot, caused by Alternaria alternata, recently appeared in Brazil and is now causing serious damage to Murcott tangors in Sao Paulo State. The Alter-Rater model and other systems for timing fungicide applications as well as different fungicide programs were evaluated in two seasons in different citrus-growing areas of Sao Paulo State. Alternaria brown spot severely reduced yields of Murcotts in the unsprayed controls in both years. Fungicide applications reduced fruit drop and increased yields in many cases. Regression analyses showed that yield declined as disease severity increased. A copper fungicide applied according to the Alter-Rater model with a trigger value of 50 required one to two more applications than a calendar program in both locations in 2002–03. Use of the Alter-Rater 50 increased the number of fruit harvested in both locations, but did not improve fruit quality when compared to the calendar program. Use of the Alter-Rater with trigger values of 100 or 150, or the Copper model forecast fewer sprays and resulted in poor disease control and low yields. In a test in 2003–04, fungicide applications timed with the Alter-Rater 50 were no more effective than calendar sprays. Copper fungicides throughout the season or programs with copper applied early followed by dithiocarbamates or QoI fungicides later provided better disease control than a full-season mancozeb program. Murcott product in some citrus growing areas in Brazil will be possible only if the value of the crop is sufficient to justify 10 or more fungicide applications per year.
A dynamic model of the curvature of the Mariana Trench

Oceanic trenches are prominent features of the Earth's surface. They represent the convergent plate boundaries and generally possess convex curvatures towards the subducting plates. Based on this observation, many static geometric models have been proposed for the origin of trench curvatures1–6. Unfortunately, many of these models have limited applicability7. Alternatively, a dynamic model has been proposed which suggests that trench curvatures are evolved from collisions between aseismic ridges and the trench axis8. We have developed a flow model to quantitatively evaluate this dynamic process for the Mariana Trench system. The model is able to yield an excellent fit to the present trench curvature and determine past rotations for back-arc volcanic islands such as Saipan and Guam with surprising accuracy when compared with palaeomagnetic observations.
Stereochemistry of the thermal isomerizations of (2S,3R-methoxymethyl-2,3-dideuterio-1-(dideuteriomethylene)cyclopropane

Abstract The (2 S ,3 R ) isomer of 2-methoxymethyl-2,3-dideuterio-1-(dideuteriomethylene)cyclopropane has been synthesized and heated at 198.8°: from the experimentally observed mol fractions of the eight isomers of 2,3,α,α,- and 2,3,3,α - tetradeuterio - 2 - methoxymethyl - 1 - methylenecyclopropane in the pyrolysis product mixture have been derived rate constants for seven distinct modes of isomerization. One-center thermal epimerizations at C(2) and C(3) and the C(2)C(3) two-center epimerization are of kinetic importance. Only two of four observable stereochemical modes for carbon [1,3] shifts are seen: there is inversion of stereochemistry at the migrating C atom, while the C(3)H trans to C(2)-CH 2 OCH 3 in starting material becomes syn 4 : 1 C(α)-H in the [1,3] shift product. Stereomutation at C(2) does not occur along the reaction coordinate for [1,3] carbon shifts.
Support for Chronic Wasting Disease Management Among Residents of the Infected Area in Illinois

Controlling diseases such as chronic wasting disease (CWD) requires sustained stakeholder support for management, over long time horizons, despite the use of potentially objectionable methods (Deck...
Developmental corneal innervation: interactions between nerves and specialized apical corneal epithelial cells.

METHODS. DiI was used to determine the source of the neurons responsible for innervating the cornea. Immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy, and immunoelectron microscopy were used to examine corneal innervation and the relationships that develop between nerves and corneal epithelial cells. RESULTS. Corneal nerves in the embryonic chicken originate entirely from the ophthalmic lobe of the trigeminal ganglion. Within the cornea the nerves interact with apical corneal epithelial (ACE) cells to form specialized structures that are synapse-like because they contain accumulations of vesicles and have the SV2 synaptic vesicle protein. These ACE cells themselves have unique characteristics, including transient expression of the neuronal isoform of class III -tubulin and formation of extensive intercellular channels and clefts that contain these specialized synapse-like structures and nerves; in addition, they are mitotically active. Given that these ACE cells react with a monoclonal antibody against this neuronal isoform of -tubulin (the TuJ-1 antibody), we have termed them TuJ-1ACE cells. CONCLUSIONS. During avian corneal development the nerves make close associations with a specialized type of ACE cell. There they form synapse-like structures, suggesting that not all nerves within the CE terminate as free nerve endings. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2010;51:782–789) DOI:10.1167/iovs.093942
Muscarinic receptor subtype determines vulnerability to oxidative stress in COS-7 cells.

Abstract Research has suggested that there may be increased brain-region selective vulnerability to oxidative stress in aging and that Vulnerability to oxidative stress may be important in determining regional differences in neuronal aging. We assessed whether one factor determining vulnerability to oxidative stress might involve qualitative/quantitative differences in receptor subtypes in various neuronal populations. COS-7 cells were transfected with one of five muscarinic receptor subtypes (M1-M5 AChR) to DA (1 mM for 4 h) and intracellular Ca2+ levels were examined via fluorescent imaging analysis prior to and following 750 μM oxotremorine (oxo). Results indicated that the ability of the cells to clear excess Ca2+ (i.e., Ca2+ Recovery) following oxo stimulation varied as a function of transfected mAChR subtype, with DA-treated M1, M2, or M4 cells showing greater decrements in Recovery than those transfected with M3 or M5 AChR. A similar pattern of results in M1- or M3-transfected DA-exposed cells was seen with respect to Viability. Viability of the untransfected cells was unaffected by DA. Pretreatment with Trolox (a Vitamin E analog) or PBN (a nitrone trapping agent) did not alter the DA effects on cell Recovery in the M1-transfected cells, but were effective in preventing the decrements in Viability. The calcium channel antagonists (L and N, respectively), Nifedipine and Conotoxin prevented both the DA-induced deficits in Recovery and Viability. Results are discussed in terms of receptor involvement in the regional differences in Vulnerability to oxidative stress with age, and that loss of neuronal function may not inevitably lead to cell death.
Non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge plasma induces angiogenesis through reactive oxygen species.

Vascularization plays a key role in processes such as wound healing and tissue engineering. Non-thermal plasma, which primarily produces reactive oxygen species (ROS), has recently emerged as an efficient tool in medical applications including blood coagulation, sterilization and malignant cell apoptosis. Liquids and porcine aortic endothelial cells were treated with a non-thermal dielectric barrier discharge plasma in vitro . Plasma treatment of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and serum-free medium increased ROS concentration in a dose-dependent manner, with a higher concentration observed in serum-free medium compared with PBS. Species concentration inside cells peaked 1 h after treatment, followed by a decrease 3 h post treatment. Endothelial cells treated with a plasma dose of 4.2 J cm–2 had 1.7 times more cells than untreated samples 5 days after plasma treatment. The 4.2 J cm–2 plasma dose increased two-dimensional migration distance by 40 per cent compared with untreated control, while the number of cells that migrated through a three-dimensional collagen gel increased by 15 per cent. Tube formation was also enhanced by plasma treatment, with tube lengths in plasma-treated samples measuring 2.6 times longer than control samples. A fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) neutralizing antibody and ROS scavengers abrogated these angiogenic effects. These data indicate that plasma enhanced proliferation, migration and tube formation is due to FGF-2 release induced by plasma-produced ROS. Non-thermal plasma may be used as a potential tool for applying ROS in precise doses to enhance vascularization.
Sources of Cholinergic Input to the Inferior Colliculus

We combined retrograde tracing with immunohistochemistry for choline acetyltransferase to identify the source of cholinergic input to the inferior colliculus (IC) in guinea pigs. Injection of a retrograde tracer into one IC labeled cells in many brainstem nuclei. Retrogradely-labeled cells that were also immunoreactive for choline acetyltransferase were identified in two nuclei in the midbrain tegmentum: the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPT) and the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (LDT). More PPT and LDT cells project ipsilaterally than contralaterally to the IC and, on both sides, there are more projecting cells in the PPT than in the LDT. Double-labeled cells were not found in any other brainstem nucleus. A common feature of cholinergic cells in PPT and LDT is collateral projections to multiple targets. We placed different retrograde tracers into each IC to identify cells in PPT and LDT that project to both ICs. In both PPT and LDT, a substantial proportion (up to 57%) of the immunoreactive cells that contained tracer from the contralateral IC also contained tracer from the ipsilateral IC. We conclude that acetylcholine in the IC originates from the midbrain tegmental cholinergic nuclei: PPT and LDT. These nuclei are known to participate in arousal, the sleep/wake cycle and prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle. It is likely that the cholinergic input to the IC is directly associated with these functions.
Kinetics of the OH + ClOOCl and OH + Cl2O Reactions: Experiment and Theory †

The rate coefficients for the reactions OH + ClOOCl → HOCl + ClOO (eq 5) and OH + Cl2O → HOCl + ClO (eq 6) were measured using a fast flow reactor coupled with molecular beam quadrupole mass spectrometry. OH was detected using resonance fluorescence at 309 nm. The measured Arrhenius expressions for these reactions are k5 = (6.0 ± 3.5) × 10−13 exp((670 ± 230)/T) cm3 molecule−1 s−1 and k6 = (5.1 ± 1.5) × 10−12 exp((100 ± 92)/T) cm3 molecule−1 s−1, respectively, where the uncertainties are reported at the 2σ level. Investigation of the OH + ClOOCl potential energy surface using high level ab initio calculations indicates that the reaction occurs via a chlorine abstraction from ClOOCl by the OH radical. The lowest energy pathway is calculated to proceed through a weak ClOOCl−OH prereactive complex that is bound by 2.6 kcal mol−1 and leads to ClOO and HOCl products. The transition state to product formation is calculated to be 0.59 kcal mol−1 above the reactant energy level. Inclusion of the OH + ClOOCl rate d...
Biochemical studies on the relationships of the Gastric-brooding Frogs, genus Rheobatrachus

Two species of gastric-brooding frogs, Rheobatrachus silus and R. vitellinus, currently constitute the subfamily Rheobatrachinae of the Australian leptodactyloid family Myobatrachidae. The relationships of Rheobatrachus to other myobatrachids have remained obscure due to the specializations for aquatic life and unique gastric-brooding behavior of Rheobatrachus and to the rare and endangered status of R. silus, until recently the only known species. An antiserum to the serum albumin of R. vitellinus was used in micro-complement fixation analyses comparing R. vitellinus to R. silus, and to representatives of most of the myobatrachid genera as well as to select representatives of the South American and South African leptodactyloid fauna. The two species of Rheobatrachus are each others closest relative and no other lineage is distinctly associated with these two species. Albumin comparisons involving other leptodactyloids show that Rheobatrachus is part of the Australian fauna, but as all of the major lineages appear to have arisen in the late Cretaceous, no single sister lineage to Rheobatrachus can be unambiguously identified.
Aging in Africa: A Critical Review

My goal in this article is to analyze gerontological discourses in Africa using articles in this collection as a spring board. The broad intention is to explore the possible areas of intersection between research in African aging and other social science disciplines such as history, politics and linguistics as a way of demonstrating how gerontology may contribute to scholarship in other disciplines.
Game availability and hunter participation: A study of Washington elk hunting

A major issue in natural resources management is the effect of game availability on hunter participation. In this study, “gravity potential” measures of availability of elk hunting opportunities, as well as socio-economic data, are used as independent variables in estimation of probability and days of participation equations for elk hunting in Washington State. Days of participation equations are estimated with OLS regression. Probability equations are estimated with logit analysis. Game availability variables are statistically significant in all equations. Applications and extensions of the methodology are discussed.
Spectrum of exercise intolerance in 45 patients with Ebstein's anomaly and observations on exercise tolerance in 11 patients after surgical repair.

Abstract To determine the effects of definitive operation for Ebstein's anomaly on rest and exercise cardiorespiratory function, cycle exercise studies were performed on 38 patients with Ebstein's anomaly before definitive operation and on 11 patients after operation. An atrial septal defect was present in 29 of the 38 preoperative patients and in none of the postoperative patients. Seven of the postoperative patients had tricuspid valvuloplasty and four had valve replacement. Exercise tolerance, as defined by maximal oxygen uptake, was significantly greater in patients after operation for Ebstein's anomaly than in the preoperative patients. However, exercise tolerance for preoperative patients without an atrial septal defect was similar to that for posloperative patients. Tricuspid valve repair or replacement appeared to affect favorably cardiac output response to exercise. Rest systemic arterial oxygen saturation increased from 88 to 95% and exercise saturation from 77 to 93% after operation. Rest ventilatory equivalent for oxygen decreased from 48 ± 13 preoperatively to 37 ± 6 postoperatively, and exercise ventilatory equivalent for oxygen decreased from 53 ± 23 preoperatively to 38 ± 6 postoperatively. Definitive operation (tricuspid valvutoplasty or replacement and atrial septal defect closure) for Ebstein's anomaly results in significant improvement of exercise tolerance, normalization of systemic arterial oxygen saturation and reduction of excess ventilation at rest and during exercise.
Hume and Kant on the social contract

Hume and Kant were both political philosophers of remarkable originality, subtlety and profundity; and yet their contributions in this area are largely unrecognized. Both are generally relegated to footnotes in comprehensive texts on political theory - e.g. Hume gets only eight of the 948 pages in Sabine and Kant gets even less (only a few references in passing). This is perhaps particularly unfair to Hume who claimed that the ultimate goal of all of his philosophy was to introduce into morals and politics the kind of scientific inquiry that Newton had brought to external nature; but it is also unfair to Kant, who wrote at great length on these matters as well. Probably the chief explanation for the relative obscurity in political philosophy of both men is the same — namely, that the overwhelming genius exhibited in their writings on epistemology and metaphysics simply eclipsed the importance of their writings in other, less ‘primary’ areas of philosophical inquiry (thereby illustrating the maxim that no good deed ever goes unpunished).1
“Is All Our Company Here?”: Shakespeare Festivals as Fields of Cultural Production

I have traveled to and enjoyed the productions at seven Shakespeare festivals in the following states: Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. And over these years I have concluded that we miss something valuable in our understanding of the drama of Shakespeare and his contemporaries by investing our academic, scholarly interest in performances by the elite theater groups rather than considering the totality of Shakespeare’s material influence and cache. Whether culturally inculcated or universally absolute or a multifaceted mixture of both of these factors, Shakespeare as a material good enjoys the remarkable status of high art while also circulating within both large-scale and restricted cultural investment. Simply, as a marketing tool, Shakespeare is entrepreneurially ubiquitous. And as I traveled to these Shakespeare festivals, I found myself wrestling with this question about these productions: Is this “small-time” Shakespeare less than the “big-time” Shakespeare of London, Toronto and New York? In general, we have good reason to maintain a hierarchy of power for dramatic performances. How do we justify our critical approaches to theatrical performance, and how do we justify “star quality,” the establishment of elite theater status, and economic investment if we include “small-time” Shakespeare as fodder for critical engagement and academic interest? Durant, Oklahoma or London, England? Predictably, if one were to plan a trip to see Shakespeare anywhere in the world, that person would probably NOT look to Nebraska or Oklahoma as the vacationing hub of Shakespearean live drama. I intend, though, to have readers rethink such decisions.