cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Red brome (Bromus rubens subsp. madritensis) in North America: possible modes for early introductions, subsequent spread.

Although invasions by exotic plants have increased dramatically as human travel and commerce have increased, few have been comprehensively described. Understanding the patterns of invasive species’ spread over space and time will help guide management activities and policy. Tracing the earliest appearances of an exotic plant reveals likely sites of introduction, paving the way for genetic studies to quantify founder events and identify potential source populations. Red brome (Bromus madritensis subsp. rubens) is a Mediterranean winter annual grass that has invaded even relatively undisturbed areas of western North America, where it threatens native plant communities. This study used herbarium records and contemporary published accounts to trace the early introductions and subsequent spread of red brome in western North America. The results challenge the most frequently cited sources describing the early history of this grass and suggest three possible modes for early introductions: the California Gold Rush and Central Valley wheat, southern California shipping, and northern California sheep. Subsequent periods of most rapid spread into new areas, from 1930 to 1942, and of greatest spread into new regions, during the past 50 years, coincide with ‘warm’ Pacific Decadal Oscillation regimes, which are linked to increased winter precipitation in the southwestern USA and northern Mexico. Global environmental change, including increased atmospheric CO2 levels and N deposition, may be contributing to the success of red brome, relative to native species.
Repetitive DNA sequences within and around the rat prolactin gene

Repetitive DNA sequences in and around the rat prolactin gene were identified and mapped by hybridizing labeled total rat DNA to cloned prolactin DNA and by hybridizing labeled prolactin DNA fragments to total restricted rat DNA. Repeated sequences were found 12-8 and 2.5-0.5 kb upstream of the first exon, within the fourth intron and throughout almost the entire 15.5 kb of cloned DNA downstream from the last exon. By cross-hybridization of the major repeated sequences, it was found that these repeats could be grouped into three families, one of which is novel. Human alu and mouse alu-like probes did not hybridize to the rat prolactin DNA. Several of the repeats from the rat prolactin gene hybridized to the intron and downstream flanking regions of the rat growth hormone gene.
Adaptive loop caching using lightweight runtime control flow analysis

Loop caches provide an effective method for decreasing memory hierarchy energy consumption by storing frequently executed code (critical regions) in a more energy efficient structure than the level one cache. However, due to code structure restrictions or costly design time pre-analysis efforts, previous loop cache designs are not suitable for all applications and system scenarios. We present an adaptive loop cache that is amenable to a wider range of system scenarios, which can provide an additional 20p average instruction cache energy savings (with individual benchmark energy savings as high as 69p) compared to the next best loop cache, the preloaded loop cache.
Line shifts in cooperative spontaneous emission

Abstract Cooperative spontaneous emission, such as observed in photon echo experiments, is proved to be frequency shifted by a measurable amount with respect to the atomic transition frequency. The theory presented here is based on a renormalization procedure which rules out unobservable contributions.
In vivo Formation of Normorphine in the Rat as a Metabolite of Tritium Nuclear-labelled Morphine

EVIDENCE for the N-demethylation of morphine has been provided by the demonstration in vivo of the pulmonary excretion1,2 of carbon-14 labelled carbon dioxide from morphine-N-methyl-14C and in vitro 3,4 by the enzymatic liberation of formaldehyde. The formation of normorphine in vivo has not been demonstrated directly, principally because of the low sensitivity and poor specificity of procedures used. The recent preparation of tritium nuclear-labelled morphine5 has provided the means by which the in vivo formation of normorphine from morphine could be observed in a sensitive and specific manner using selective paper chromatography.
Bedraggled, a putative transporter, influences the tissue polarity complex during the R3/R4 fate decision in the Drosophila eye.

The tissue polarity pathway is required for the establishment of epithelial polarity in a variety of vertebrate and invertebrate organs. Core tissue polarity proteins act in a dynamically regulated complex to direct the polarization of the Drosophila eye. We report the identification and characterization of bedraggled (bdg), a novel gene that regulates one output of the tissue polarity pathway—the establishment of the R3/R4 photoreceptor fates. bdg encodes a novel, putative transporter protein and interacts genetically with all of the core polarity genes to influence the specification of the R3 and R4 cell fates. Finally, bdg is required for both viability and the initial stages of imaginal disc development.
Identification of three genes nonessential for growth in cell culture near the right terminus of the unique sequences of long component of herpes simplex virus 1

Abstract We report the construction of herpes simplex virus 1 recombinants from which all or part of the coding sequences of four open reading frames have been deleted. In recombinants R7101 and R7108, the BamHI D′ fragment containing the coding sequences of the dUTPase gene and the promoter-regulatory domain of a late gene was either replaced with a fragment containing a thymidine kinase gene or deleted, respectively. The recombinant R7107 lacks, in addition to BamHI D′, 202 of a total of 244 predicted amino acids from the 3′ end of the adjacent open reading frame UL51. The deletion in recombinant R7105 encompasses two genes, i.e., the entire open reading frame of UL47 and the amino terminus of UL46. These genes map next to that specifying the α trans-inducing factor. R7105, R7101, and R7108 do not exhibit demonstrable defects in viral replication. The recombinant R7107 forms minute plaques and replicates best in multiplying cells in subconfluent cultures. The results indicate that the multiplying cells supply at least some of the functions expressed by the protein encoded in UL51.
Heuristics for selecting robust database structures with dynamic query patterns

Abstract The success of a company increasingly depends on timely information (internal or external) being available to the right person at the right time for crucial managerial decision-making. Achieving such a “right time/right place” duet depends directly on database performance. A database system has been a core component that supports modern business system such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that integrates and supports all enterprise processes including product designing and engineering, manufacturing, and other business functions to achieve highest efficiency and effectiveness of operations. We develop and demonstrate through a proof-of-concept case study, a new “query-driven” heuristics for database design that seeks to identify database structures that perform robustly in dynamic settings with dynamic queries. Our focus is the design of efficient structures to process read-only queries in complex environments. Our heuristics begins with detailed analysis of relationships between diverse queries and the performance of different database structures. These relationships are then used in a series of steps that identify “robust” database structures that maintain high performance levels for a wide range of query patterns. We conjecture that our heuristics can facilitate efficient operations and effective decision-making of companies in today’s dynamic environment.
No association between Alzheimer plaques and decreased levels of cytochrome oxidase subunit mRNA, a marker of neuronal energy metabolism

It has been proposed that neuritic plaques or toxic substances diffusing from them contribute to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer disease. We examined this hypothesis by looking for evidence of decreased neuronal energy metabolism in the proximity of neuritic plaques. Levels of mitochondrial DNA-encoded mRNA for subunit III of cytochrome oxidase, a marker of neuronal energy metabolism, were determined in post mortem brain samples. Consistent with earlier results, overall cytochrome oxidase subunit III mRNA levels were decreased in Alzheimer midtemporal cortex compared with controls. However, this reduction did not correlate with plaque density. In Alzheimer brains, cytochrome oxidase subunit III mRNA levels in neurons bearing neurofibrillary tangles were lower than in tangle-free neurons. However, neuronal cell bodies in close proximity of neuritic plaques showed no decrease in cytochrome oxidase subunit III mRNA or total polyadenylated mRNA compared with more distant neurons. Cytochrome oxidase enzyme activity in neuronal processes also showed no local reduction around neuritic plaques. These results suggest that neuritic plaques do not contribute to reduced neuronal energy metabolism in Alzheimer disease.
Overlapping, but Not Identical, Sites Are Involved in the Recognition of C3bi, Neutrophil Inhibitory Factor, and Adhesive Ligands by the αMβ2 Integrin

The alphaMbeta2 (CD11b/CD18, Mac-1) integrin receptor binds numerous ligands, including neutrophil inhibitory factor (NIF), C3bi, and certain immobilized protein substrates, represented by denatured ovalbumin. These ligands share no obvious structural similarities, yet their interactions with receptor are inhibited by NIF and involve the I domain, a stretch of approximately 200 amino acids in the alphaM subunit. Recombinant wild-type and mutant forms of alphaMbeta2 have been used to compare the recognition requirements of these ligands. The various constructs were expressed efficiently on the surface of human embryonic kidney 293 cells and formed alpha.beta heterodimeric complexes. The wild-type transfectants bound the three ligands in a similar fashion to naturally occurring alphaMbeta2. NIF inhibited these interactions, and deletion of the D248PLGY from within the I domain abolished binding of all three ligands, suggesting an overlapping recognition specificity. A single point mutation of Ser138 to Ala in the beta2 subunit abolished C3bi binding and cell adhesion but did not affect NIF binding. A switch of the R281QELNTI sequence in helix 6 of the alphaM I domain to the corresponding sequence in the I domain of the alphaL (QETLHKF) subunit completely abrogated adhesion while not affecting C3bi and NIF binding. The two mutant receptors also did not support activation-dependent adhesion to fibrinogen. Thus, the contact sites for NIF, C3bi, and adhesive proteins, represented by denatured ovalbumin and fibrinogen, in alphaMbeta2 are overlapping but not identical.
Biosynthesis of Deuterated Benzylpenicillins I: Solvent Deuterium Oxide Participation

The 53-414 strain of Penicillium chrysogenum was cultured in a defined medium containing glucose, acetate, lactate, and phenylacetic acid as carbon sources and 99.8% deuterium oxide as solvent. Partially deuterated benzylpenicillin was isolated from the culture. The extent of solvent participation in the biosynthesis of the penicillin molecule was determined by analysis of the proton magnetic resonance spectra. Incorporation of deuterium appears almost complete at two positions: the C-3 position of the thiazol-idine ring and the C-6 position of the β-lactam ring. A partial incorporation of deuterium at the C-5 position is also observed. The deuterium atoms in the C-5 and C-6 positions apparently arise during biosynthesis of the amino acid cysteine. The deuterium atom at the C-3 position apparently arises either in the biosynthesis of the amino acid valine or in the closing of the thiazolidine ring.
The Experiential Discounting Task is sensitive to cigarette-smoking status and correlates with a measure of delay discounting.

This research compared three different measures of discounting in adult cigarette smokers (n=15; consumed ≥20 cigarettes per day) and nonsmokers (n=15; self-reported never smokers). Participants completed the Experiential Discounting Task (EDT) and question-based measures of delay and probability di
Mass flow measurement of granular materials in aerial application - Part 2: Experimental model validation

A system was developed to measure the mass flow of granular fertilizer material in aerial spreader ducts. The flow process was regarded as the sequential passage of clusters containing multiple particles with varying diameters. An optical sensor was used to measure the cluster lengths on the fly. In a low-density flow regime, the diameter of each particle could be measured individually (this is called the "single-particle approach"). After conversion to a volume of a sphere and multiplication by the true material density, the mass flow could be computed. In a high-density mass flow regime (called the "mass flow approach"), particles form clusters, and cluster lengths would be measured instead of particle diameters. The first step in performing mass flow measurement was to develop a reconstruction algorithm that estimates the number of particles in a cluster from the measured cluster length. This algorithm, called the Exponential Estimator, was developed using simulation and is reported in Part 1. This article, Part 2, describes the use of the mass flow sensor as well as the reconstruction algorithm to assess the accuracy of the complete system. Tests were carried out under laboratory conditions, using mass flows of spherical particles as well as urea fertilizer under varying flow velocities and densities. The mass flow of identical spher ical particles of 4.45 mm diameter was measured with an accuracy of 3%, even under high-density flow conditions. For granular fertilizer, the flow was measured with an accuracy of 2% for high-density flows and 4% for low-density flows.
Airborne synthetic aperture radar observations of “spiral eddy” slick patterns in the Southern California Bight

[1] Repeat sampling on hourly time scales using an airborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is used to investigate the occurrence and evolving characteristics of spiral-shaped slick patterns, commonly presumed to be indicators of submesoscale ocean eddies, in the area around Santa Catalina Island, California (∼33.4°N, 118.4°W). Simultaneous SAR imagery and boat survey data are examined over two ∼5 h long periods spaced 3 days apart in April 2003. The SAR imagery reveals several spiral-like patterns, roughly 5 km in diameter, occurring downstream of the western end of Catalina. We believe that the most likely formation mechanism for these patterns is current-wake instability related to the flow of the Southern California Countercurrent along the north shore of Catalina. In one case, there is an observed cold-core eddy and vortex sheet attached to the tip of the island, similar to island-wake simulations done by Dong and McWilliams (2007). In another case, the SAR imagery shows a series of slick patterns that, at least initially, resemble spiral eddies, but the data show no clear evidence of actual ocean eddies being present either at depth or through a rotating surface expression. A speculation is that such features signify island-wake eddies that are relatively weak and dissipate quickly. An unexpected finding was how quickly a spiral slick pattern could deteriorate, suggesting a time scale for the surface feature of the order of only several hours. An implication of this result is that care is needed when interpreting a single satellite SAR imagery for evidence of active submesoscale eddies. Recommendations are made for future field studies.
Ancestral War and the Evolutionary Origins of “Heroism”

Primatological and archeological evidence along with anthropological accounts of hunter-gatherer societies indicate that lethal between-group violence may have been sufficiently frequent during our ancestral past to have shaped our evolved behavioral repertoire. Two simulations explore the possibility that heroism (risking one's life fighting for the group) evolved as a specialized form of altruism in response to war. We show that war selects strongly for heroism but only weakly for a domain-general altruistic propensity that promotes both heroism and other privately costly, group-benefiting behaviors. A complementary analytical model shows that domain-specific heroism should evolve more readily when groups are small and mortality in defeated groups is high, features that are plausibly characteristic of our collective ancestral past.
1424 THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TOTAL FLUID ADMINISTRATION AND INDOMETHACIN (I) DOSE NEEDED TO CLOSE THE DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS (DA)

The effect of fluid administration upon pharmacological closure of the DA by intravenous I, was evaluated in a prospective randomized study of 23 preterm infants, less than age 7 days, whose birth weight varied between 600 and 1800 grams (average = 1255). All infants required assisted ventilation and had signs of significant left to right DA shunting with cardiomegaly, precordial hyperactivity, bounding peripheral pulses, and increased echo LA/Ao ratio. Total fluid administration to 14 infants in Group 1 was 90 ml/kg in this time period. One infant in each group required surgical ligation of the DA after two I doses (0.2 mg/kg/dose) failed. Twenty-one infants (91.3%) closed their DA with I. The number of doses of I required was related directly to the prior 24 hour fluid history. These results indicate that fluid restriction is a key component to successful pharmacological closure of the DA with I.
Mechanisms of pore formation in high-temperature carbides: Case study of TaC prepared by spark plasma sintering

Abstract A detailed analysis of the microstructure and pore evolution of TaC is presented and three pore-forming mechanisms have been discovered: (i) evolution of oxygen impurity; (ii) evolution of excess carbon, and (iii) incongruent sublimation of TaC. The evolution of oxygen impurities is the predominant mechanism and is thought to be the consequence of the high level of oxygen impurity typical of nanopowders; however, all mechanisms must be considered in order to completely eliminate porosity. We propose that the latter two mechanisms can be facilitated by local hot spots and discuss a possible source. The sphere-like morphology and distribution of isolated pores at grain interfaces, edges, and corners indicate a high surface energy of the pores with respect to the grain boundary energy so that the pores become trapped in the microstructure. The root cause of the three mechanisms indicates that a limiting sintering temperature (∼2173 K) and carefully controlled chemistry are essential for producing TaC without trapped porosity. We propose that these three mechanisms define the sintering behavior of bulk TaC and that similar mechanisms need to be considered for the sintering of other carbide ceramics.
Further studies of the middleness concept with the chimpanzee

Summary In a previous experiment a chimpanzee was trained to select the middle of 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 objects when the objects were 1·25 in. diameter pipe plugs and were placed adjacent to one another on a WGTA. In the present study, retention for the previous task was tested and then the subject was trained to select the middle object of 5, 7, 9 and 11 stimulus objects when they were asymmetrically arranged and were separated by from 1 to 6 stimulus positions. The results showed a 50 per cent saving score in retention and that with an increase in the number of stimulus objects and an increase in the distance between the groups of stimulus objects, there was a corresponding increase in the difficulty to discriminate the middle objects. However, as the stimulus difference increased (a 9-object problem with a 4–5 arrangement would have a stimulus difference of one and with an 8–1 arrangement we would have a stimulus difference, of 7) the discrimination became easier.
UNUSUAL SOLUBILIZATION BEHAVIOR OF A MALEIC ACID-HEXYL VINYL ETHER COPOLYMER

An intriguing previous observation concerning some unusual solubilization effects in a polysoap system was explored further. The polysoap system consisted of a maleic acid−hexyl vinyl ether copolym...
High temperature Knudsen cell mass spectrometric determination of the heats of atomization of AlAu2 and Al2Au

Abstract The atomization energies, Δ H 0 at,0 of the molecules, AlAu 2 and Al 2 and Al 2 Au have been determined as 121 ± 6 and 110 ± 5 kcal mole −1 or 506.3 ± 25.1 and 460.2 ± 20.9 kJ mole −1 , respectively. Theses atomization energies are discussed in terms of bond strengths and the Pauling model of a polar bond. Available information suggests that AlAu 2 has the structure AuAlAu, but that Al 2 Au has the structure AlAlAu. For both molecules divalent gold is shown to be unlikely.
Histologic and clinical evaluation of combined eyelid erbium:YAG and CO2 laser resurfacing

Abstract PURPOSE: To report the histopathologic and clinical effects of eyelid resurfacing that combines two different lasers. METHODS: A case series of 23 patients who underwent eyelid resurfacing with two passes of the Erbium:YAG laser followed by one pass of the CO 2 laser. With the Student t test, we compared skin re-epithelialization time and duration of erythema with those of a previous group of 25 patients who had undergone eyelid resurfacing with only the CO 2 laser (two passes). A pathologist evaluated all skin biopsy specimens. RESULTS: Combining both lasers shortened re-epithelialization time (7 vs 12 days, P = .04) and the duration of erythema (2.5 vs 7.0 weeks, P = .02). Histopathologic examination disclosed less coagulative dermal damage with the combined laser protocol. CONCLUSION: The different biophysical properties of these two lasers can be combined in a periorbital resurfacing protocol to minimize both clinical and histopathologic morbidity.
Total synthesis of (+)-fendleridine (aspidoalbidine) and (+)-1-acetylaspidoalbidine.

A total synthesis of the Aspidosperma alkaloids (+)-fendleridine and (+)-1-acetylaspidoalbidine is detailed, providing access to both enantiomers of the natural products and establishing their absolute configuration. Central to the synthetic approach is a powerful intramolecular [4+2]/[3+2] cycloaddition cascade of a 1,3,4-oxadiazole in which the pentacyclic skeleton and all the stereochemistry of the natural products are assembled in a reaction that forms three rings, four C−C bonds, and five stereogenic centers including three contiguous quaternary centers, and introduces the correct oxidation state at C19 in a single synthetic operation. The final tetrahydrofuran bridge is subsequently installed in one step, enlisting an intramolecular alcohol addition to an iminium ion generated by nitrogen-assisted opening of the cycloadduct oxido bridge, with a modification that permits release of useful functionality (a ketone) at the cleavage termini.
Heat transfer and thermal lensing in large-mode high-power laser diodes

In semiconductor lasers, key parameters such as threshold current, efficiency, wavelength, and lifetime are closely related to temperature. These dependencies are especially important for high-power lasers, in which device heating is the main cause of decreased performance and failure. Heat sources such as non-radiative recombination in the active region typically cause the temperature to be highly peaked within the device, potentially leading to large refractive index variation with bias. Here we apply high-resolution charge-coupled device (CCD) thermoreflectance to generate two dimensional (2D) maps of the facet temperatures of a high power laser with 500 nm spatial resolution. The device under test is a slab-coupled optical waveguide laser (SCOWL) which has a large single mode and high power output. These characteristics favor direct butt-coupling the light generated from the laser diode into a single mode optical fiber. From the high spatial resolution temperature map, we can calculate the non-radiative recombination power and the optical mode size by thermal circuit and finite-element model (FEM) respectively. Due to the thermal lensing effect at high bias, the size of the optical mode will decrease and hence the coupling efficiency between the laser diode and the single mode fiber increases. At I=10I th , we found that the optical mode size has 20% decrease and the coupling efficiency has 10% increase when comparing to I=2I th . This suggests SCOWL is very suitable fr optical communication system.
Demarcating new boundaries: mapping virtual polycentric communities through social media content

The proliferation of social media has led to the emergence of a new type of geospatial information that defies the conventions of authoritative or volunteered geographic information, yet can be harvested to reveal unique and dynamic information about people and their activities. In this paper we address the identification and mapping of global virtual communities formed around issues of specific national interest. We refer to these connected virtual communities formed around issues related to a specific state as the polycentric virtual equivalent of that state. Identifying, mapping, and analyzing these virtual communities is a novel challenge for our community, and this is the subject we pursue in this paper. We present these communities relative to established conventions of statehood, address the harvesting of relevant geographical information from social media feeds, and discuss the challenge of visualizing such information. In order to do so we use the current geopolitical situation in Syria as a demo...
Air-bubble-triggered drop formation in microfluidics

In microfluidic devices, droplets are normally formed using T-junction or flow focus mechanisms. While both afford a high degree of control over drop formation, they are limited in maximum production rate by the jetting transition. Here, we introduce a new drop formation mechanism that is not limited by jetting, allowing much faster drop production.
Segmentation and tracking of mitral valve leaflets in echocardiographic sequences: active contours guided by optical flow estimates

In this paper we present a technique for detecting and tracking the mitral leaflet boundaries in echocardiographic sequences of images covering a complete cardiac cycle. The developed method is based on the active contour framework. This approach requires initial placement of the contour in vicinity of a feature of interest (a leaflet boundary in this case). Contour shape and position are then modified by the energy minimization process. Active contour can be used for tracking by selecting the optimal solution from the previous frame as an initial position in the present one. Such approach fails when displacements of the feature between two consecutive frames are too large as is the case with mitral valve leaflets. We propose a technique for tracking leaflets and other fast moving objects that takes advantage of the velocity information obtained by optical flow estimation. Singh's multiresolution optical flow estimation technique is used since it can estimate large velocities. The algorithm has been tested on several sequences from transesophageal echocardiography. The advantage of utilizing velocity information proves to be important in frames where leaflet motion is large. The contour inertia and stiffness suppress sporadic inaccuracies in velocity estimates which results in a well-behaved contour.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Nonlinear Phonon Interaction in Piezoelectric Semiconductors and Effect on Current Saturation

The nonlinear transport problem for the unstable phonon in piezoelectric semiconductors is described in a picture of electron-phonon interaction; the hydrodynamical approach is followed for the purpose of discussing the collision-frequent regime of electrons ($\mathrm{ql}l1$). With the aid of an iteration method for the nonlinear terms which describe the coupling between the electrons and the phonons, the kinetic equation for phonon distribution function ${N}_{\mathrm{q}}$ is derived; the equation includes a nonlinear collision term due to the three-phonon processes coming from the third order in electron-phonon interaction. The steady-state solution of this equation is discussed. It is found that for phonons of extremely low wave vector the three-phonon process can not effectively limit their growth; but in a restricted wave-vector region, the steady-state solution due to this process is obtained under a certain assumption. The acoustoelectric current is estimated with use of the phonon distribution function determined in this region.
Inviting the user into the virtual archives

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to discuss ways that Web 2.0 features are being used in archival access systems and how more might be incorporated in the future.Design/methodology/approach – This article uses a modified content analysis to highlight archives and special collections using features and functionalities associated with Web 2.0 and social navigation.Findings – A limited number of archives and manuscript collections have made forays into the world of the Web 2.0 and included interactive features on their web sites as well as tried to foster social navigation. The examples in the article do not represent all repositories employing these features, but demonstrate how they can be used to build different relationships with researchers and even among the researchers themselves.Practical implications – This article discusses ways that Web 2.0 features are being used in archival access systems and how these might be incorporated into other sites the future.Originality/value – This article ident...
Genomic tools for gene and protein discovery in malaria: toward new vaccines

Advances in malaria vaccine and drug development have been hindered in part by the complex multistage life cycle of the parasite, much of which is inaccessible to study, and by a large genome encoding over 5000 genes. Two human models of immunity to malaria, however, suggest that the development of an effective vaccine is within reach. We have outlined a strategy to identify the expression of hundreds to thousands of potential vaccine targets employing recently developed technologies for gene and protein expression. Combined with the exciting developments of malaria DNA vaccine technologies, these approaches form the basis for malaria subunit vaccines that may mimic the protective efficacy of our human model systems and provide the foundation for novel approaches to vaccine development for a range of pathogens.
Prevalence of Non-Cardiac Pathology on Clinical Transthoracic Echocardiography

Background Non-cardiac findings (NCFs) are seen in more than a third of cardiac computed tomographic and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging studies. The prevalence and importance of NCFs in transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) imaging is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of NCFs on TTE imaging. Methods The subcostal images of all comprehensive adult TTE studies performed at one institution in December 2008 were retrospectively reviewed for NCFs by a radiologist with fellowship training in cardiovascular and abdominal radiology and blinded to the TTE report findings and clinical histories. Additional TTE image orientations were assessed in a subset of 300 studies. NCFs were categorized as benign (e.g., simple hepatic cyst), indeterminate (e.g., ascites), or worrisome (e.g., liver metastases). If an indeterminate or worrisome NCF was identified, the patient's electronic medical record was reviewed to determine if the NCF was previously known. Results Of 1,008 TTE studies (443 inpatient, 565 outpatient) in 922 patients, 77 NCFs were identified in 69 patients (7.5%). These included 20 benign (26%), 52 indeterminate (67%), and five worrisome (7%) NCFs. Intermediate and worrisome NCFs were more common in inpatient TTE studies (9% vs 3% outpatient, P = .002). The additional views demonstrated 2% more NCFs. Record review demonstrated that 60% of worrisome and 67% of indeterminate NCFs were previously known. No unknown NCF ultimately led to a change in patient management. Conclusions Clinical TTE studies demonstrate NCFs in 7.5% of all patients, with an increased prevalence on inpatient studies. Although 75% of NCFs were potentially management changing, the majority of these were previously known and very unlikely to lead to management changes. Further study is needed to validate these findings in other populations and to assess their clinical impact.
An experimental investigation of exhaust emissions of a 1999 Cummins ISM370 diesel engine supplemented with H2

This paper investigates the effect of hydrogen (H2) addition on the exhaust emissions of a 1999 Cummins ISM370 heavy-duty diesel engine with H2 continuously supplemented to intake air. Using the 13-mode European Stationary Cycle (ESC), the addition of 2 per cent H2 by volume increased the emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), but reduced nitric oxide (NO) emissions. The addition of 4 per cent H2 increased the emissions of NO, NO2, and NOx. When examined under constant load, the addition of H2 reduced the emissions of particulate matter (PM) and carbon monoxide (CO), but had very mild effects on hydrocarbon (HC) emissions. It was also shown that the reduction in PM emissions was due to the reduced diesel fuel flowrate rather than the improvement to the combustion efficiency of diesel fuel. However, the addition of a relatively large amount of H2 at medium to high (30–70 per cent) load substantially increased the emissions of NOx. This was due to an increase in maximum local comb...
Organizational learning vs the learning organization: a conversation with a practitioner

Purpose – Through a conversation with a practitioner, aims to understand the definitions given to the learning organization and how they relate to a model of organizational learning.Design/methodology/approach – Provides a brief overview of a conversation concerning organizational learning vs the learning organization.Findings – Organizational learning and the learning organization can and should co‐exist. To be effective as a learning organization there is a need for a deep learning cycle and recognition that it will take time.Originality/value – Offers advice on how to be an effective learning organization.
Static and Dynamic Indicators of Minority Threat in Sentencing Outcomes: A Multi-Level Analysis

Designation as a “Habitual Offender” is an enhanced form of punishment which unlike, “Three Strikes” or “10-20-Life,” is entirely discretionary. We use Hierarchical Generalized Linear Modeling to assess the direct effects of race and Latino ethnicity on the designation of Habitual Offenders as well as the effect of both static and dynamic indicators of racial and ethnic threat on those outcomes. Our data include 26,740 adults sentenced to prison in Florida between 2002 and 2004 who were statutorily eligible to be sentenced as Habitual. The odds of receiving this designation are significantly increased for black and Latino defendants as compared to whites, though race and ethnicity effects vary substantially by crime type, being strongest for drug offenses and negligible for violent crimes. Static measures of group level threat (% black and % Latino) have no cross-level effect on sentencing by race or Latino ethnicity. However, increasing black population over time increases the odds of being sentenced as Habitual for both black and Latino defendants. Increasing Latino population increases the odds of Habitual Offender sentencing for Latinos, but decreases it for blacks. The prospect of engaging dynamic as opposed to static measures of threat in future criminal justice and other social control research is discussed.
American Foulbrood: The Spread and Control of an Important Disease of the Honey Bee

(1992). American Foulbrood: The Spread and Control of an Important Disease of the Honey Bee. Bee World: Vol. 73, No. 4, pp. 177-191.
Say it in threes

The number three has a strong psychological appeal. Grouping thoughts or saying things in a series of three — three points, three qualities, three reasons — attracts attention, creates rhythm, and facilitates memory. The triple recurrence strengthens the ideas expressed and compels listeners to understand and remember. Historic and modern examples illustrate this effect.
Studies on ribosomal RNA from Tetrahymena by zone velocity sedimentation in sucrose gradients and base ratio analysis.

Abstract A method for the isolation of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) from Tetrahymena is described. Purified rRNA, when analyzed on sucrose density gradients zonal centrifugation, showed two main peaks sedimenting at about 25.4 S and 17 S. Base ratio analysis showed low (36 %) G+C mole %. On the basis of the sedimentation rate, as well as the low G+C content, it is suggested that Tetrahymena rRNA is unlike the known forms of either prokaryotes or higher eukaryotes and possibly represents an intermediate form.
Aire-Dependent Thymic Development of Tumor-Associated Regulatory T Cells

Despite considerable interest in the modulation of tumor-associated Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) for therapeutic benefit, little is known about the developmental origins of these cells and the nature of the antigens that they recognize. We identified an endogenous population of antigen-specific Tregs (termed MJ23 Tregs) found recurrently enriched in the tumors of mice with oncogene-driven prostate cancer. MJ23 Tregs were not reactive to a tumor-specific antigen but instead recognized a prostate-associated antigen that was present in tumor-free mice. MJ23 Tregs underwent autoimmune regulator (Aire)–dependent thymic development in both male and female mice. Thus, Aire-mediated expression of peripheral tissue antigens drives the thymic development of a subset of organ-specific Tregs, which are likely coopted by tumors developing within the associated organ.
Determination of atrazine in runoff water by high performance liquid chromatography.

Abstract A procedure is described for the determination of atrazine in runoff water from agricultural areas. Extraction and preconcentra‐tion are accomplished with a column of macroreticular resin. Separation and quantification are performed with high performance liquid chromatography with a microparticle reverse phase column. No interference is observed from either organics already present in the runoff water or from some 34 selected organic compounds. Excellent linearity is obtained for concentrations of atrazine from 0–120 PPB. Relative standard deviations of the overall procedure are 1–5%.
Termination of transcription and its regulation in the tryptophan operon of E. coli

Termination of transcription is emerging as an important and powerful mechanism for controlling gene expression as the result of converging evidence from studies in four very different areas. First, genetic approaches to understanding regulatory mechanisms have led to the discovery of and characterization of specific protein factors that effect termination and antitermination. Second, studies suggest that the phenomenon of translational polarity is due to premature termination of transcription. Third, the identification and analysis of attenuator sites preceding gene clusters has demonstrated that the extent of gene expression can be modulated by termination, independent of promoter/operator regulation. Finally, recent results concerning termination at the end of genes or operons indicate that the structure and function of termination regions may be more complex than previously envisioned. The tryptophan (trp) gene cluster in E. coli is one of the best characterized biosynthetic operons in bacteria, consisting of five contiguous structural genes (encoding enzymes of the biosynthetic pathway from chorismate to tryptophan) and associated control elements, transcribed as a single polycistronic mRNA about 6720 nucleotides long (Figure 1). The final level of expression is subject to control by integrative feedback mechanisms at many different levels; hence the system is extremely well suited for detailed studies of mechanisms regulating operon expression in procaryotes. Since my previous review (Platt, 19781, an enormous amount of new data has been accumulated that relates to trp operon regulation, and much of this is discussed in detail by Crawford and Stauffer (1980). General analyses of termination as a mechanism for genetic control are available in reviews by Adhya and Gottesman (1978), Pribnow (1979) and Rosenberg and Court (1979). Detailed insights into the particular intricacies of attenuation as a regulatory phenomenon are given in the comprehensive summary by Yanofsky (1981). To complement these discussions, I will focus on recent developments bearing on termination of transcription in E. coli, in the context of regulation of tryptophan operon mRNA synthesis. These developments begin to answer several important questions about termination, including: What features control termination in the simplest systems in vitro? What is the role of rho factor (Roberts, 1969) and how do rhoindependent termination sites differ from rho-dependent ones? In what ways can the cell modulate the extent of termination to regulate gene expression? From a discussion of these questions some general ideas also emerge, which help clarify our understanding of the mechanisms involved in termination and raise important questions for future work.
Effect of Polymer Coated Urea, Irrigation, and Drainage on Nitrogen Utilization and Yield of Corn in a Claypan Soil

Slow-release N fertilizers, such as polymer-coated urea (PCU), may increase crop N use and reduce NO 3 -N leaching. Research was conducted to evaluate NO 3 ―N concentrations of soil water samples in noncoated urea (NCU) and PCU treated plots under different water management systems, and to determine differences in crop yields and N utilization among water and urea management systems. Water management treatments included: no irrigation or drainage (NIN), no irrigation and drainage with subsurface drain tiles 6.1 m apart (NID), subirrigation and drainage with tiles 6.1 m apart (SUB), and overhead irrigation with no drainage (OND), which were split into preplant-applied NCU or PCU at 0, 140, and 280 kg N ha ―1 . Water samples from suction lysimeters at a 45-cm depth in soil treated with PCU had 51 to 63% lower NO 3 ―N concentration than NCU 59 d after application (DAA), while NCU had 85 to 92% lower N concentration than PCU 153 DAA. In 2005, N uptake was ranked OND > SUB ≥ NID = NIN for PCU and NCU treatments. Grain yield for water management systems was ranked NID = SUB ≥ OND ≥ NIN in 2004 and OND > SUB > NID ≥ NIN in 2005. No grain or silage yield differences between PCU and NCU treatments when applied at similar rates were observed in either year. This study showed no increase in N uptake by the crop with PCU compared with NCU; however, PCU reduced subsoil NO 3 ―N concentration early in the season, which may reduce NO 3 ―N leaching.
Mapping the risk of establishment and spread of sudden oak death in California

Sudden oak death, caused by the recently described pathogen Phytophthora ramorum, is an emerging forest disease that has reached epidemic levels in coastal forests of central California. We present a rule-based model of P. ramorum establishment and spread risk in California plant communities. The model, which is being used as a management tool to target threatened forests for early-detection monitoring and protection, incorporates the effects of spatial and temporal variability of multiple variables on pathogen persistence. Model predictions are based on current knowledge of host susceptibility, pathogen reproduction, and pathogen transmission with particular regard to host species distribution and climate suitability. Maps of host species distributions and monthly weather conditions were spatially analyzed in a GIS and parameterized to encode the magnitude and direction of each variable's effect on disease establishment and spread. Spread risk predictions were computed for each month of the pathogen's general reproductive season and averaged to generate a cumulative risk map (Fig. 6a and b). The model identifies an alarming number of uninfected forest ecosystems in California at considerable risk of infection by Phytophthora ramorum. This includes, in particular, a broad band of high risk north of Sonoma County to the Oregon border, a narrow band of high risk south of central Monterey County south to central San Luis Obispo County, and scattered areas of moderate and high risk in the Sierra Nevada foothills in Butte and Yuba counties. Model performance was evaluated by comparing spread risk predictions to field observations of disease presence and absence. Model predictions of spread risk were consistent with disease severity observed in the field, with modeled risk significantly higher at currently infested locations than at uninfested locations (P < 0.01, n = 323). Based on what is known about the ecology and epidemiology of sudden oak death, this model provides a simple and effective management tool for identifying emergent infections before they become established.
Transient Pretreatment With Glucocorticoid Ablates Innate Toxicity of Systemically Delivered Adenoviral Vectors Without Reducing Efficacy

More than 300 human clinical trials utilize recombinant adenoviruses (rAds) as a gene transfer vector, confirming that rAds continue to be of high clinical interest. A primary weakness of rAds is their known propensity to trigger an innate, proinflammatory immune response rapidly after high-dose, systemic administration. In this study, we investigated what affects that pre-emptive treatment with anti-inflammatory glucocorticoids might have upon Ad vector-triggered inflammatory immune responses. We found that a simple pretreatment regimen with Dexamethasone (DEX) can significantly reduce most Ad-induced innate immune responses. DEX prevented rAd induction of systemic cytokine/chemokine releases in a dose-dependent fashion, with higher dosages preventing rAd induction of acute thrombocytopenia, endothelial cell activation, proinflammatory gene induction, and leukocyte infiltration into transduced organs. Transient glucocorticoid pretreatment also significantly reduced rAd-induced adaptive immune responses, including a decreased induction of Ad-neutralizing antibodies (NAbs). Importantly, use of DEX did not reduce the efficacy of rAd-mediated gene transduction nor rAd-derived transgene expression. Our results demonstrate that a simple, pre-emptive and transient glucocorticoid pretreatment is a viable approach to reduce rAd-associated acute toxicities that currently limit the use of Ad vectors in systemic clinical applications.
Evaluation of Treatment Integrity on a Child Psychiatric Unit: An Illustration

The authors present a systematic evaluation of the implementation of a token economy protocol on a child psychiatric inpatient unit. Unobtrusive observations and staff responses to vignettes that depicted child behavior indicated that staff members did not always distribute tokens as scheduled and were inconsistent in their judgments about which behaviors should be rewarded. The results highlight the need for child psychiatric nurses to monitor systematically the implementation of care for which they are responsible.
Economic Well-Being and Black Adult Feelings toward Immigrants and Whites, 1984.

Duringthe1980s,about10millionlegalimmigrantscametotheUnitedStates,afiguresecondonlytotheprevioushighrecordedinthe first decade of this century. These newcomers were notable fortheirplaceoforigin,because80%camefromAsiaandLatinAmer-ica (Thornton, 1995). More than three quarters of them settled injust six states; more than one half settled in eight metropolitanareas, including New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, andHouston (Frey & Tilove, 1995). Furthermore, for every 10 immi-grants who settled in urban America, 9 residents left for areas withfewer foreign nationals; most who fled were White. Along with anatural population increase, immigrants concentrating in increas-inglynon-Whiteurbanareashaveescalatedinteractionamongeth-nic minorities and have begun to transform the racial balance inAmerica’s cities and in the nation.