cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Field Correlation of Potassium Soil Test Methods Based on Dried and Field-Moist Soil Samples for Corn and Soybean

Soil K extraction with ammonium-acetate (NH₄OAc) from oven-dried samples is the most widely used K test method, but drying often increases extracted K compared with field-moist soil. This study assessed sample drying effects on soil K extracted by NH₄OAc and used field response data to correlate K tests based on dried (35–40°C) (DK) and field-moist (MK) samples for corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] based on 162 single- and multi-year response trials conducted during 6 yr (200 site-years for corn and 162 for soybean). Potassium (15-cm depth) extracted by DK was higher than for MK (on average 1.92 times higher). The ratio DK/MK decreased exponentially with increasing K (R² 0.77); increased linearly with soil clay, organic matter (OM), estimated cation exchange capacity (ECEC), and (Ca+Mg)/K ratio (r² 0.15–0.32); and increased with sample moisture but the relationship was poor (r² 0.03). The MK test correlated better than DK with grain yield response. The R² values for Cate–Nelson (CN), linear-plateau (LP), and quadratic-plateau (QP) models across crops were 0.24 to 0.27 for DK and 0.39 to 0.58 for MK. Critical concentration (CC) ranges for corn defined by these models were 144 to 301 mg K kg⁻¹ for DK and 51 to 82 mg K kg⁻¹ for MK; whereas for soybean were 136 to 283 for DK and 49 to 84 for MK. Potassium testing of field-moist samples predicts crop response to K fertilization better than the common test based on oven-dried samples.
Increase by vinblastine of oxidized glutathione in cultured mammalian cells

Abstract When added to monolayer cultures of H-35 rat hepatoma cells, vinblastine sulfate caused a marked increase in cellular levels of oxidized glutathione, going from a zero-time value ranging from 0–24 pmoles/mg protein to 1736 pmoles/mg protein in 4 hr. During this time, there was little measurable change in cellular levels of reduced glutathione. This effect of vinblastine, which was concentration-related, was produced by other vinca alkaloids, vincristine and vindesine, but not by other classes of anticancer drugs, such as those represented by adriamycin and methotrexate. Vinblastine inhibited [3H]leucine incorporation into protein in this system, and this effect was also concentration-related. A reciprocal relationship existed between the cellular levels of oxidized glutathione and the inhibition of protein synthesis produced by vinblastine. The vinca alkaloids may alter cellular glutathione levels and, consequently, inhibit protein synthesis, possibly through their effects on microtubule dynamics.
Undergraduate optics program for the 21st Century

We have been offering a successful BS degree in optical engineering for the past ten years. We have produced more than 100 graduates, highly trained in basic optics and electronics. Our Industrial Affiliates, while very pleased with our graduates, requested that we produce some with greater mechanical engineering skills and knowledge. Our response was the creation of a new degree program, retaining the virtues of the previous one, but allowing a high degree of flexibility through the inclusion of minors within the program. The new program allows sufficient room for a variety of minors. Engineering minors identified include aerospace, computer, electrical, materials and mechanical. Science minors include astronomy, computer science, math and physics. Non-science minors accommodated include business, pre-health and pre-law. The new BSO program features: (1) Better structure and flow, more tightly coupling related classes; (2) New laboratory classes for juniors, linked to lecture classes; (3) Expanded optical deign, fabrication and testing classes; (4) New class in electronics for optics; (5) New classes in fiber optics and optical communications; (6) New capstone/senior project class for ABET compliance. This new BSO program will produce better entry-level optical scientists and engineers, and better candidates for graduate school. Our interactions with the external community will provide inputs concerning industrial needs, leading towards improved student counseling and program development. We will better serve national needs for skilled personnel in optics, and contribute even more to the optics workforce pipeline.
NASA IMAGESEER: NASA IMAGEs for Science, Education, Experimentation, and Research

A number of web-accessible databases, including medical, military or other image data, offer universities and other users the ability to teach or research new Image Processing techniques on relevant and well-documented data. However, NASA images have traditionally been difficult for researchers to find, are often only available in hard-to-use formats, and do not always provide sufficient context and background for a non-NASA Scientist user to understand their content. The new IMAGESEER (IMAGEs for Science, Education, Experimentation and Research) database seeks to address these issues. Through a graphically-rich web site for browsing and downloading all of the selected datasets, benchmarks, and tutorials, IMAGESEER provides a widely accessible database of NASA-centric, easy to read, image data for teaching or validating new Image Processing algorithms. As such, IMAGESEER fosters collaboration between NASA and research organizations while simultaneously encouraging development of new and enhanced Image Processing algorithms. The first prototype includes a representative sampling of NASA multispectral and hyperspectral images from several Earth Science instruments, along with a few small tutorials. Image processing techniques are currently represented with cloud detection, image registration, and map cover/classification. For each technique, corresponding data are selected from four different geographic regions, i.e., mountains, urban, water coastal, and agriculture areas. Satellite images have been collected from several instruments - Landsat-5 and -7 Thematic Mappers, Earth Observing -1 (EO-1) Advanced Land Imager (ALI) and Hyperion, and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). After geo-registration, these images are available in simple common formats such as GeoTIFF and raw formats, along with associated benchmark data.
THE PEOLONGED ADMINISTRATION OF THEELIN AND THEELOL TO MALE AND FEMALE RATS AND ITS BEARING ON REPRODUCTION

The results obtained by subjecting male and female animals to the influence of the female sex hormone have been reported from a number of laboratories. In the case of the male, Herrmann and Stein (1916) injected young rats and rabbits with ovarian preparations and found that puberty was retarded; using larger doses degenerative changes were produced in the testes. Similar results have been obtained by Fellner (1921), Gould and Doisy (1924), Steinach and Kun (1926), Laqueur and deJongh. (1928);, Laqueur (1929) and others. More recent experiments by Wade and Doisy (1931), Spencer, Gustavson and D'Amour (1931, 1932), Moore and Price (1932) and others have shown that the injection of the female sex hormone caused inferior body growth and genital development. In adult male mice Allanson (1931) found that the injection of crystalline estrin for two or three weeks did not interfere with normal spermatogenesis and did not destroy fertility. On the other hand, Reiprich (1931) and others reported partial sterility ...
Physical aging and evolving mechanical behavior of underfill encapsulants

Microelectronic encapsulants exhibit evolving properties that change significantly with environmental exposures such as isothermal aging and thermal cycling. Such aging effects are exacerbated at higher temperatures typical of thermal cycling qualification tests for harsh environment electronic packaging. In this work, the material behavior changes occurring in flip chip underfill encapsulants (silica filled epoxies) have been characterized for isothermal aging at four different temperatures that are below, near, and above the Tg of the material. A microscale tension-torsion testing machine has been used to evaluate the uniaxial tensile stress-strain and creep behaviors of the underfill material at several temperatures, after various durations of environmental exposure. A novel method has been developed to fabricate underfill uniaxial test specimens so that they accurately reflect the encapsulant layer present in flip chip assemblies. Using the developed specimen preparation procedure, samples were prepared and isothermal aged for up to 6 months at 80, 100, 125, and 150degC. Stress-strain and creep tests were then performed on both non-aged and aged samples at several different temperatures (25, 50, 75, 100, 125, and 150degC). The changes in mechanical behavior were recorded for the various aging temperatures and durations of isothermal exposure.
The Grand Misapprehension a Response to Aneel Karnani's “‘Doing Well by Doing Good’: The Grand Illusion”:

Karnani's article makes a number of misleading assumptions. First, it assumes that the only purpose of the firm is maximizing profits for investors. It is not. Firms also need to manage their relationships with stakeholders who contribute to them. Second, it assumes that markets are efficient, but there is considerable evidence that even financial markets, never mind the oligopolistic, marketing-driven “real” goods markets, are not efficient. Third, the “business case” is not the only reason for CR, though CR can provide a firm with business benefits. Fourth, there is a great deal of evidence that falsifies the claim that managers who manage their firms responsibly will penalize their shareholders. Finally, while regulation is clearly needed, it is often difficult to achieve.
THE ROLE OF URICOLYSIS IN THE PRODUCTION OF UREA BY FISHES AND OTHER AQUATIC VERTEBRATES.

Abstract 1. 1. The activity of the uricolytic pathway (uric acid → urea) was assayed in slices prepared from livers of teleost fishes. The rate of conversion of uric acid to urea ranged from 5 μmoles urea/g hr in the goosefish (Lophius americanus) to 23 μmoles urea/g hr in the winter flounder (Pseydopleuronectes americanus). Allantoin and allantoic acid were also converted to urea at approximately the same rate as uric acid. 2. 2. Allantoicase was found to be present in the livers of eighteen species of teleosts indicating the widespread occurrence of this enzyme in these fishes. The range of enzyme activity was 20–225 μmoles urea/g hr. 3. 3. Liver slices from other aquatic vertebrates such as bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) tadpoles, small adult but not large adult bullfrogs and Necturi (Necturus maculosus) also catalyzed the conversion of urate to urea.
Regarding the unitary theory of agonist and antagonist action at presynaptic adrenoceptors.

1 The linkage between potentiation of field stimulation-induced noradrenaline release and blockade of the presynaptic inhibitory effect of exogenous noradrenaline by a presynaptic antagonist was examined in superfused rabbit aorta preparations. 2 Rauwolscine clearly potentiated the release of noradrenaline in response to 100 pulses at 2 Hz but reduced the capacity of noradrenaline to inhibit transmitter release to a questionable extent, and then only when comparisons were made with untreated, rather then to rauwolscine-treated, controls. 3 Aortic preparations exposed for 60 min to rauwolscine followed by superfusion with antagonist-free Krebs for 60 min retained the potentiation of stimulation-induced transmitter release but no antagonism of the noradrenaline-induced inhibition could be detected at either of two noradrenaline concentrations when comparisons were made with rauwolscine treated controls. 4 Comparisons of the inhibitory effect of exogenous noradrenaline (1.8 × 10–6 M) on transmitter efflux in the presence and absence of rauwolscine pretreatment revealed that the antagonist enhanced rather than antagonized the presynaptic inhibition by noradrenaline. 5 It is concluded that the unitary hypothesis that asserts that antagonist enhancement of transmitter release and its blockade of noradrenaline induced inhibition are manifestations of a unitary event are not supportable.
Neighborhood poverty and American Indian infant death: are the effects identifiable?

Purpose Poor living conditions are posited as an underlying cause of American Indian (AI) infant mortality, which is unusually high in the postneonatal period. We explore whether the effects of neighborhood poverty on AI infant death are identifiable by using observational data. Methods Vital records for infants born between 1990 and 1999 to AI women in a metropolitan area (n = 4751) are linked with tract-level poverty data. A counterfactual framework, an explicit causal contrast study design, and propensity score matching methods were used. For each comparison, we created exchangeable groups by matching infants with the same probability of exposure to poverty when one was exposed and the other was not. Results Our results suggest that neighborhood poverty has little effect on AI infant death outcomes. Importantly, the study design makes transparent the challenge of identifying appropriate analytic comparison groups in studies of neighborhood poverty and health. Conclusions Collecting additional data will likely not overcome the fact that AIs with a high probability of living in poverty rarely reside in low-poverty neighborhoods. Yet, some of them must if a meaningful counterfactual comparison is to be made and the effects of neighborhood poverty on AI infant death are to be identified.
A technique for investigating decapod ventilatory fluctuations

Abstract 1. 1. A method for monitoring low pressure (0.03–0.07 mm Hg) ventilation fluctuation in the branchial chamber of decapods is described. 2. 2. Representative data collected during an oxygen depletion experiment are presented.
Multigait soft robot

This manuscript describes a unique class of locomotive robot: A soft robot, composed exclusively of soft materials (elastomeric polymers), which is inspired by animals (e.g., squid, starfish, worms) that do not have hard internal skeletons. Soft lithography was used to fabricate a pneumatically actuated robot capable of sophisticated locomotion (e.g., fluid movement of limbs and multiple gaits). This robot is quadrupedal; it uses no sensors, only five actuators, and a simple pneumatic valving system that operates at low pressures (< 10 psi). A combination of crawling and undulation gaits allowed this robot to navigate a difficult obstacle. This demonstration illustrates an advantage of soft robotics: They are systems in which simple types of actuation produce complex motion.
A logical flaw in an index to suppress response-bias in perceptual defence measures and the application of a proposed improvement

Abstract In some recent perceptual defence studies demonstrating positive effects, the Mathews-Wertheimer “pure” index served as the paradigm response measure assumed to control for the effects of response bias. This index contains some expository ambiguities and logical inconsistencies. An improved alternative is proposed. The application of the improved index to new data yielded no evidence for perceptual defence effects. These findings support the argument that the positive results obtained through the use of this index in its original form could be artifactual.
Convergence of a residual based artificial viscosity finite element method

We present a residual based artificial viscosity finite element method to solve conservation laws. The Galerkin approximation is stabilized by only residual based artificial viscosity, without any least-squares, SUPG, or streamline diffusion terms. We prove convergence of the method, applied to a scalar conservation law in two space dimensions, toward an unique entropy solution for implicit time stepping schemes.
Estimating rapidly varying frequencies in the presence of noise

A variable window length least-squares fitting and the interpolated fast Fourier transform methods are used to estimate the rapidly changing frequency of a signal with measurement noise. The least-squares method is computationally more expensive, but provides more accurate frequency estimates.
Inheritance of a pre-inactivated paternal X chromosome in early mouse embryos

In mammals, dosage compensation ensures equal X-chromosome expression between males (XY) and females (XX) by transcriptionally silencing one X chromosome in XX embryos. In the prevailing view, the XX zygote inherits two active X chromosomes, one each from the mother and father, and X inactivation does not occur until after implantation. Here, we report evidence to the contrary in mice. We find that one X chromosome is already silent at zygotic gene activation (2-cell stage). This X chromosome is paternal in origin and exhibits a gradient of silencing. Genes close to the X-inactivation centre show the greatest degree of inactivation, whereas more distal genes show variable inactivation and can partially escape silencing. After implantation, imprinted silencing in extraembryonic tissues becomes globalized and more complete on a gene-by-gene basis. These results argue that the XX embryo is in fact dosage compensated at conception along much of the X chromosome. We propose that imprinted X inactivation results from inheritance of a pre-inactivated X chromosome from the paternal germ line.
Determination of Plasma Renin Concentration by Angiotensin I Immunoassay Diagnostic Import of Precise Measurement of Subnormal Renin in Hyperaldosteronism

Radioimmunoassay of angiotensin I was applied to the estimation of renin concentration after incubation of human plasma with an excess of renin substrate from plasma of anephric sheep. With this method markedly subnormal plasma renin levels were accurately measured. The technique was used in the study of 18 patients with proven aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA), 5 with hyperaldosteronism associated with bilateral adrenal hyperplasia, and 23 with essential hypertension. Plasma renin concentration (PRC) was extremely low in APA, and a significantly higher mean basal level of PRC was seen in hyperplastic aldosteronism ( P It is suggested that the prediction of a distinct APA can best be made in patients with hyperaldosteronism when the exact extent of renin suppression is taken into account and when DOCA is used to assess suppressibility of aldosterone. While such evaluation may defer surgery in some patients with correctable hypertension, it may reduce the number with persistent hypertension after bilateral adrenalectomy.
Spanish American Literary Bibliography—1969*

L ATIN AMERICA is a complex and extensive area which offers a real challenge in the collection of bibliographic information that accumulates in the course of a year. If we can properly speak of the "population explosion" or the "social revolution" in Latin America, we can just as appropriately refer to the "publishing explosion." Arthur E. Gropp's A Bibliography of Latin American Bibliographies (Metuchen, N.J., The Scarecrow Press, 1968) adds nearly 5,000 entries -115 in Spanish American literature alone-to monographs in updating the second edition-the first was published in 1922-which was compiled by C. K. Jones in 1942. The revised compilation demonstrates conclusively the extraordinary growth in publishing in Latin America in the short span of 3 years while it gives at the same time an idea of the difficulties encountered in keeping abreast with bibliographical data. Gropp has collected 300 additional imprints since the cut-off date of January 1, 1965; fortunately for us, he intends to include them along with others in a future supplement ("Bibliographical Activities of Special Libraries in Latin America," International Library Review, 1969, I, 376). "It is estimated that more than 20,000 publications in monographic form and an equal volume of periodical titles are published annually throughout the entire area" (Ibid., 375-378). The publications of Libros en venta en Hispanoamerica y Espaiia, prepared under Mary C. Turner's direction (New York, R. R. Bowker, 1964), which contains 87,750 entries in Spanish, and the Suplemento (Buenos Aires: Bowker Editores Argentina, 1967), which covers the years 1964-1965-1966 and lists 30,000 new titles from 1,000 publishers, pinpoint new information about books currently available; it makes one wonder if Spanish American authors are not in danger of being overwhelmed by the sheer number of volumes that they produce. The University of London's Institute of Latin American Studies founded in 1961 (31 Tavistock Square, London WCI) brings out annually a list,
Fructose-1,6-diphosphatase and glucose-6-phosphatase in newborn rats with intrauterine growth retardation.

Abstract The activities of two gluconeogenic enzymes, glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-diphosphatase were examined in the normal and intrauterine growth retarded (IUGR) rat during the first 5 days of life. The fructose-1,6-diphosphatase activity, 1.54 ± 0.10 μmol/min/g liver (means ± SEM) in control and 1.47 ± 0.20 in the IUGR rats, increased in both groups on days 2–4 but remained significantly lower in the IUGR rats through day 4 (4.53 ± 0.6 μmol/min/g liver in control and 3.09 ± 0.22 μmol/min/g liver in the IUGR rats, P
The perils of empire: nationhood and citizenship in Portugal

After the demise of the Portuguese empire and even more after joining the European Union, the Portuguese state redefined the borders of national belonging. The shift was one from a multi-continental nation, which included parts of Africa, to a more restricted definition of nationhood, one that stressed Portugal's connection to Europe and thus defined belonging by descent. This article, based on research conducted in Lisbon, Portugal in 2003, discusses the impact of this shift on Portuguese citizens of ethnically diverse backgrounds. The Portuguese state, media, academia, and civil society are all involved in constructing, disseminating, and hence consolidating a notion of nationhood that treats ethnically diverse minorities as foreigners, placing them outside the national community. Not producing or disseminating information on ethnic minorities, the Portuguese academia, media, and the state are all actively involved in reproducing a process that perpetuates exclusion and obstructs the construction of pol...
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy : Diagnostic controversies

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy, (RSD) is a complex physiologic response of the body to an external stimulus resulting in sympathetically mediated, usually nonanatomic pain, which is out of proportion to the inciting event or expected healing response. This complex entity has been the focus of much investigation, leading however to somewhat confusing and conflicting results and theories about the etiology and pathophysiology. There is even significant conflict about what characteristics define the clinical entity called RSD, and if these characteristics vary with the specific site of involvement. We have examined the current literature regarding these fundamental conflicts, and in addition we have evaluated the current controversies surrouding the role of Three Phase Radionuclide Bone Imaging (TPBI) for diagnosis, prognosis, and patient management. These controversies include the role of scintigraphy, the various criteria for scintigraphic diagnosis, and the reported variaties in sensitivity and specificity of TPBI in RSD. We ve examined several factors that may have affected results, and potentially underestimated the val scintigraphy in the diagnosis of RSD. In addition to heterogeneous patient populations used to establish the diagnosis by different subspecialty physicians these factors include duration of patient's symptom age of the patient population evaluated, location of the disease, and the varying scintigraphic scan inter pretation criteria used.
Design, characterization, and control of a monolithic three-axis high-bandwidth nanopositioning stage

A new three-axis serial-kinematic nanopositioning stage developed for high-bandwidth applications such as video-rate scanning probe microscopy (SPM) is presented. The stage employs uniquely designed compliant flexures for guiding the motion of the sample platform and to minimize parasitic motion (runout) and off-axis effects compared to previous designs. Finite element analysis (FEA) predicts the dominant resonances along the fast (x-axis) and slow (y-axis) scanning axes at 25.9 and 5.96 kHz, respectively. The performance of the nanopositioning stage is evaluated and the measured dominant resonances in the fast and slow scanning directions are 24.2 and 6.0 kHz, respectively, which are in good agreement with the FEA predictions. The lateral and vertical positioning range of the prototype stage is approximately 9×9 µm2 and 1 µm, respectively. Experimental atomic force microscope imaging and tracking results for closed- and open-loop feedforward control are presented to demonstrate the performance of the stage.
Specifying The Optical System With An Optical Design Data Sheet

The use of a comprehensive data sheet to tabulate optical design data, specify tolerances and summarize system assembly, alignment and test requirements is explained.
The two-modes-of-binding model for partial agonism and the design of partial agonists

A model of drug action is developed for a drug which can bind in two modes to a given receptor: an agonist mode which elicits a response and an antagonist mode which does not. It is shown that this combination of agonist and antagonist binding, which is tantamount to self-antagonism, can lead to agonist, partial agonist or antagonist behavior. The proposed two-modes-of-binding model has applications to the design of partial agonists. Finally, partial agonism arising from two modes of binding is indistinguishable from partial agonism occurring by two-state model mechanisms using experimental equilibrium studies.
Normal-eye Zernike coefficients and root-mean-square wavefront errors

Purpose To compare aberrometry measurements from multiple sites and compute mean Zernike coefficients and root-mean-square (RMS) values for the entire data pool to serve as a reference set for normal, healthy adult eyes. Setting Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, Oklahoma, USA. Methods Data were collected from 10 laboratories that measured higher-order aberrations (HOAs) in normal, healthy adult eyes using Shack-Hartmann aberrometry (2560 eyes of 1433 subjects). Signed Zernike coefficients were scaled to pupil diameters of 6.0 mm, 5.0 mm, 4.0 mm, and 3.0 mm and corrected to a common wavelength of 550 nm. The mean signed and absolute Zernike coefficients across data sets were compared. Then, the following were computed: overall mean values for signed and absolute Zernike coefficients; polar Zernike magnitudes and RMS values for coma-like aberrations (Z 3 ±1 and Z 5 ±1 combined); spherical-like aberrations (Z 4 0 and Z 6 0 combined); and 3rd-, 4th-, 5th-, and 6th-order, and higher-order aberrations (orders 3 to 6). Results The different data sets showed good agreement for Zernike coefficients values across most higher-order modes, with greater variability for Z 4 0 and Z 3 −1 . The most prominent modes and their mean absolute values (6.0-mm pupil) were, respectively, Z 3 −1 and 0.14 μm, Z 4 0 and 0.13 μm, and Z 3 −3 and 0.11 μm. The mean total higher-order RMS was 0.33 μm. Conclusions There was a general consensus for the magnitude of HOAs expected in normal adult human eyes. At least 90% of the sample had aberrations less than double the mean values reported here. These values can serve as a set of reference norms.
Traveltime inversion of both direct and reflected arrivals in vertical seismic profile data

Traveltimes from both direct and reflected arrivals in a VSP data set (Bridenstein no. 1 well in Oklahoma) are inverted in a least‐squares sense for velocity structure. By comparing the structure from inversion to the sonic log, we conclude that the accuracy of the reconstructed velocities is greater than that found when only the direct arrivals are used. Extensive tests on synthetic VSP data confirm this observation. Apparently, the additional reflection traveltime equations aid in averaging out the traveltime errors, as well as reducing the slowness variance in reflecting layers. These results are consistent with theory, which predicts a decrease in a layer’s slowness variance with an increase in the number and length of terminating reflected rays. For the Bridenstein data set, 130 direct traveltimes and 399 primary reflection traveltimes were used in the inversion.
Isolation and purification of a calcium-binding protein from electroplax of Electrophorus electricus

Abstract An acidic calcium-binding phosphoprotein has been isolated from a cholinergic tissue, electroplax from Electrophorus electricus . The purification procedures included (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 fractionation, boiling treatment, ECTEOLA-cellulose chromatography, and gel filtration on Sephadex G-100. Experiments were performed to compare this protein and a calcium-binding protein isolated from mammalian brain, adrenal medulla, and testis. These experiments showed that the two proteins were identical in terms of molecular weight (14 000), calcium-binding dissociation constant ( k d = 2.1 · 10 −5 M), electrophoretic mobility at pH 8.7 in 15% polyacrylamide gels, and phosphorus content (1 mol phosphorus per mol protein). In addition, the two proteins had similar amino acid compositions and peptide maps. Although the electroplax protein was not present in eel skeletal muscle, preliminary experiments indicated that small amounts of the protein were present in other eel tissues, namely brain, liver and spleen. These results suggest an identity between the electroplax and mammalian calcium-binding proteins and extend the finding of comparatively large amounts of the protein from mammalian nervous tissue to a cholinergic nervous tissue, electroplax. The close similarity of the proteins suggests a conservation of structure during evolution which may be required to fulfill a role in neuronal function.
Continued fractions, best measurements, and musical scales and intervals

Abstract Classical algorithms for principal and intermediate continued fraction convergents provide convenient ways of obtaining information about musical scales. It is shown that the principal convergents of the generators of generated scales provide a way of identifying scales with best Pythagorean type commas. Both principal and intermediate convergents are needed to identify well-formed scales, and a number of equivalent definitions for well-formed scales with irrational generators are explored. Continued fraction convergents are also important in determining equal-tempered scales (ETSs) with good fits for just intervals. Best ETSs of the first, second, and third kind are all dependent on continued fractions. Best ETSs of the second kind are determined by principal convergents, while principal, last-half, and sometimes middle convergents are needed to determine best ETSs of the first and of the third kinds. Hall's Remarkability Function and Krantz and Douthett's Desirability Functions for multiple tar...
Allergen immunotherapy in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus: effect on T-cell activation and viral replication.

Background Allergen immunotherapy is a major therapeutic modality in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. However, with T-cell activation potential, its role in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was theoretically limited. Objective To report the results of allergen immunotherapy in a patient with HIV treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Methods A 44-year-old man with a history of HIV did not respond to medical therapy for allergic rhinitis. His HIV status was well controlled with HAART. Owing to the severity of his allergic rhinitis symptoms, he accepted the risk of allergy immunotherapy despite the unknown effect of immunotherapy in patients with HIV. Results After 6 weeks of weekly immunotherapy injections, his viral load remained undetectable and his CD4 cell count changed from 540 to 570 cells/μL. After 16 weeks of weekly immunotherapy, his viral load increased to 10,900 copies/mL, and his CD4 cell count increased to 665 cells/μL. After 24 weeks of weekly immunotherapy, his viral load returned to an undetectable level, and his CD4 cell count stabilized at 356 cells/μL. Despite his notable change in HIV status, he continues to receive the same HAART. He currently continues en route to maintenance immunotherapy. Conclusions The effect of allergen immunotherapy on HIV infection has not been previously reported. A concern remains that any form of immunotherapy may negatively affect HIV disease progression. This case illustrates that weekly allergen immunotherapy may have induced limited T-cell proliferation and a modest increase in RNA viral load, which resolved with continuation of HAART.
Turbulent transports over tundra

An extensive period of eddy correlation surface flux measurements was conducted at a site distant from the coast on the western Alaskan tundra. The surface exchange of heat and moisture over tundra during the summer was limited by a strong resistance to transfer from the upper soil layer through the ground cover, with canopy resistances to evaporation observed to be approximately 200 s/m. Though July 1988 was anomalously warm and dry in the region and August was close to normal temperature and rainfall, there was no appreciable difference in the canopy resistance between the periods. During the dry sunny period at the end of July, the observed evaporation rate was 2 mm/d. High canopy resistance led to an approximate equipartition of net radiation between latent and sensible heat, each accounting for 40 percent of the available energy, with heat balance apparently going into soil heat flux.
Rock magnetism linked to human brain magnetite

Magnetite has a long and distinguished career as one of the most important minerals in geophysics, as it is responsible for most of the remanent magnetization in marine sediments and the oceanic crust. It may come as a surprise to discover that it also ranks as the third or fourth most diverse mineral product formed biochemically by living organisms, and forms naturally in a variety of human tissues [Kirschvink et al., 1992]. Magnetite was discovered in teeth of the Polyplacophora mollusks over 30 years ago, in magnetotactic bacteria nearly 20 years ago, in honey bees and homing pigeons nearly 15 years ago, but only recently in human tissue.
Supplementary education for African American children at risk

African-American preadolescent children attended Saturday programs on African heritage and history offered at an African-American heritage center located in their neighborhood. Assessments of participants and control groups of nonparticipants at the end of years one and two indicated that attending the program increased knowledge of Africa, positive attitudes about Africa, and preferences for African and African-American materials in the school curriculum. Attendance was unrelated to the children's self-evaluations of their performance of the student role identity after year one and only weakly related to their school achievement test scores after year two. These results provide mixed support for three hypotheses about how supplementary education programs can raise the educational outcomes for at-risk youth—developing ethnic identity, student role identity, and academic interest.
Visual Field Defects After Macular Hole Surgery

Purpose To describe a group of patients with dense visual field defects following macular hole surgery. Methods Nine (7%) of 125 patients reviewed noted onset of dense visual field defects following uncomplicated vitrectomy with gas-fluid exchange for the treatment of macular hole. Patient records were reviewed to investigate the etiology of these defects. Results Eight (89%) of nine eyes that had surgery for macular hole developed dense, wedgeshaped visual field defects in the temporal periphery. One eye had an inferonasal wedge-shaped defect extending to fixation. Seven (78%) of nine eyes had generalized or focal narrowing of the retinal arteriole extending into the area of retina corresponding to the visual field defect, and five (56%) of nine eyes developed mild to moderate segmental nasal optic disk pallor. Postoperative fluorescein angiography disclosed one eye with delayed filling of the retinal arteriole extending into the area of retina corresponding to the visual field defect. Vitrectomy specimens showed no evidence of nerve fiber layer or internal limiting membrane in eight (89%) of nine eyes. Conclusions Visual field defects can occur following vitrectomy and gas-fluid exchange for macular hole. The most common visual field defect is dense and wedge-shaped and involves the temporal visual field. Although unclear, the etiology may involve trauma to the peripapillary retinal vasculature or nerve fiber layer during elevation of the posterior hyaloid or during aspiration at the time of air-fluid exchange, followed by compression and occlusion of the retinal peripapillary vessels during gas tamponade.
Preconditioning and its Potential Role in Myocardial Protection During Cardiac Surgery

Myocardial preconditioning is the phenomenon whereby a brief stress to the heart (e.g., ischemia, hypoxia, etc.) prior to a prolonged period of ischemia renders the heart more resistant to ischemic injury. The cardioprotective effects of preconditioning include reduced infarct size and reduced ventricular arrhythmias. Preconditioning also is associated with beneficial metabolic effects during the prolonged ischemia, effects that also are observed during intermittent cardioplegia. However, there are conflicting reports about the effects of preconditioning on postischemic ventricular function. Although adenosine is thought to be the endogenous mediator of ischemic preconditioning, there are some important differences between adenosine and ischemic preconditioning mediated cardioprotection.
Starting Early on a New Educational Agenda for the United States

A headline in the July 23, 2010, New York Times read ‘‘Once a Leader, U.S. Lags in College Degrees’’ (Lewin, 2010). The article goes on to describe the contents of a report issued on the previous day by the College Board warning that ‘‘the growing gap between the United States and other countries threatens to undermine American economic competitiveness’’ (p. A11). In the following days, the media was abuzz with the statistic that the United States ranks 12th among 36 developed nations in the proportion of 25to 34-year-olds with college degrees. Commentators discussed the long-term economic implications, and many expressed grave concerns about the state of higher education in the United States. Amid this rising tide of concern about the standing of the United States in education, the present article on preschool education could not be more timely. Four leading investigators in the field, Robert Pianta, W. Steven Barnett, Margaret Burchinal, and Kathy Thornberg, carefully delineate the effects, including the effects on college attendance rates, of preschool education. The authors document scientific progress on the ingredients for effective preschool education, and the findings provide a template for the development of new programs. The authors also highlight the gaps in our knowledge and the critical areas for further investigation. While the research provides strong evidence for the long-term benefits, both to children and communities, of quality preschool education, the authors argue persuasively that the benefits could be further enhanced. What follows is a superb and scholarly overview of what we know, what we need to know, and what, based on the evidence, we can do. It behooves parents, educators, community leaders, and policy makers to carefully consider the recommendations offered by Dr. Pianta and his coauthors.
Reimagining Community Scripting Power and Changing the Subject through Jana Sanskriti’s Political Theatre in Rural North India

The A. offers an ethnographic exploration of a grassroots cultural organization called Jana Sanskriti (People's Culture) working in rural Bengal, India. This political theatre and activist work offstage is oppositional practice that presents participants with a significant space for self-organization. Jana Sanskriti's work enables the A. to engage and push the boundaries of symbolic interactionism because their performances, role-playing, and rehearsals are more than metaphors for social construction, identity formation, and subjective transformation. For eighteen years, Jana Sanskriti's theatre has offered a significant opportunity for people to script power relations onstage and live new commitments offstage. The A. shows how people learn from, make sense of and live the consequences of immediate, onstage interactions and experiences in their offstage lives. This story traces people's experience with and commitment to particular practices of interactions unique to the Jana Sanskriti community as evidence that representations can be an engine of transformation.
Identification of Key Functional Amino Acids of the Mouse Fertilin β (ADAM2) Disintegrin Loop for Cell-Cell Adhesion during Fertilization

Abstract Fertilin β (also known as ADAM2) is a cell adhesion molecule on the surface of mammalian sperm that participates in sperm-egg membrane binding. Fertilin β is a member of the molecular family known as ADAMs or MDCs. These proteins have a disintegrin domain with homology to integrin ligands found in snake venoms; several of these snake proteins have an RGD tripeptide presented on an extended “disintegrin loop.” However, fertilin β lacks an RGD tripeptide and instead has the consensus sequenceX(D/E)ECD (QDECD in mouse fertilin β) in its putative disintegrin loop, and there is controversy over which amino acids comprise the active site of the fertilin β disintegrin loop. We have used point-mutated versions of the sequence AQDECDVT and two bioassays to identify the key functional amino acids of this sequence from the mouse fertilin β disintegrin domain. Amino acid substitutions for the terminal aspartic acid residue of the QDECD sequence result in dramatically reduced activities in the two assays for protein function, implicating the terminal aspartic acid residue as critical for protein function. Substitutions for the glutamic acid and the cysteine residues in the QDECD sequence result in slight reductions in activity, whereas substitution of the first aspartic acid has virtually no effect. These data suggest that the conserved ECD sequence of the mouse fertilin β disintegrin loop, especially the terminal D residue, contributes more to the protein's activity than does the QDE sequence that aligns with the RGD tripeptide in other disintegrins.
Thermal characterization of plastic and ceramic surface-mount packages

Summary form only given. The thermal performance of devices packaged with 28-, 44-, 68-, and 84-lead versions of the industry-standard plastic leaded chip carrier (PLCC) and also with 68-, 84-, 100-, and 124-lead plastic and ceramic flatpack components (PFP and CFP, respectively), are considered. Experimental data collected in both natural and forced convection conditions for individual components, surface mounted to small sections of epoxy circuit cards, are noted. The test vehicles were vertically mounted in separate rectangular channels and positioned to experience hydrodynamically developing flow. A custom thermal chip was used to both simulate device power and sense bulk chip temperature. Average air velocity and chip power dissipation were the primary independent test variables, ranging from 0 to 3 m/s and 0.2 to 2.0 W, respectively. >
Live Baiting for Service-Level DoS Attackers

Denial-of-service (DoS) attacks remain a challenging problem in the Internet. By making resources unavailable to intended legitimate clients, DoS attacks have resulted in significant loss of time and money for many organizations, thus, many DoS defense mechanisms have been proposed. In this paper we propose live baiting, a novel approach for detecting the identities of DoS attackers. Live baiting leverages group-testing theory, which aims at discovering defective members in a population using the minimum number of dasiadasiatestspsilapsila. This leverage allows live baiting to detect attackers using low state overhead without requiring models of legitimate requests nor anomalous behavior. The amount of state needed by live baiting is in the order of number of attackers not number of clients. This saving allows live baiting to scale to large services with millions of clients. We analyzed the coverage, effectiveness (detection time, false positive and false negative probabilities), and efficiency (memory, message overhead, and computational complexity) of our approach. We validated our analysis using NS-2 simulations modeled after real Web traces.
Substructure of direction-selective receptive fields in macaque V1.

We used two-dimensional (2-D) sparse noise to map simultaneous and sequential two-spot interactions in simple and complex direction-selective cells in macaque V1. Sequential-interaction maps for bo...
Expression and clinical significance of CXCR5/CXCL13 in human non‑small cell lung carcinoma

CXCR5 and/or CXCL13 expression is elevated in certain carcinomas and lymphomas. To determine if these factors are involved in progression of non-small cell lung cancer (LuCa), we evaluated their expression in patients with various forms of this disease. Lung biopsies from patients with non-neoplastic cells (n=8), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC; n=24), or adenocarcinoma (AC; n=54) were stained for CXCR5. Histopathological analysis of these samples showed significantly higher expression of CXCR5 (p<0.001) in carcinomas (i.e., SCCs and ACs) relative to non-neoplastic lung tissue. Nuclear and membrane CXCR5 intensities were highest in ACs, with median values of 185 and 130, respectively, followed by SCCs with median values of 170 and 110, respectively. The lowest nuclear and membrane expressions of CXCR5 were found in non-neoplastic tissues, having median values of 142 and 90, respectively. Sera from SCC patients (n=17), AC patients (n=14), and healthy controls (n=9) were tested for the presence of CXCL13. Serum CXCL13 levels in LuCa patients were higher than in healthy controls. CXCR5 expression in cell lines of human non-small cell lung carcinoma (NCI-H1915) and small cell lung carcinoma (SW-1271) were evaluated by flow cytometry. CXCR5 expression was higher in NCI-H1915 cells relative to SW-1271 cells. The functional significance of CXCR5 expression was tested in a migration assay. In response to CXCL13, more NCI-H1915 cells migrated than SW-1271 cells. These findings suggest that the CXCR5-CXCL13 axis influences LuCa progression. After validation in larger patient groups, CXCR5 and CXCL13 may prove useful as biomarkers for LuCa. Correspondingly, blockade of this axis could serve as an effective therapy for LuCa.
The Biology of Carpenter Ants in New Brunswick

Thirty-five colonies of three species of carpenter ant were examined: 25 of Camponotus herculeanus, 9 of C. noveboracensis, and 1 of C. pennsylvanicus. Workings were examined in about 150 trees. No major differences were noticed in the biology of the first two species.All individuals were taken from two overwintering, torpid, C. herculeanus colonies; the larger contained 6,000 workers, 550 winged forms, and 6,500 larvae. Larvae were of two sizes and it is thought that the life cycle covers two years in New Brunswick. Frequency curves of worker head widths show that there are majors and minors, the minors being more numerous, especially in small colonies.Each colony typically occupied several trees, only one of which contained the brood; the others had less extensive workings. Entrances were underground and led to tunnels connecting the trees within each colony. Surplus wood chips were buried in the ground. Ant activity in the tunnels was continuous through the day and night; few ants were seen on the forest floor.Woodpeckers are important enemies and had attacked one third of the brood trees.The workings frequently assist wind breakage and damage butt logs. From the roots they extend to a height of 4-6 ft., occasionally higher. 1% of the spruce, and 2-4% of the balsam fir examined had been attacked. This may lead to loss of 10% of merchantable volume, and possibly a higher figure for eastern white cedar.