cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tissue specific regulation of peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor density after chemical sympathectomy

Abstract The characteristics of [ 3 H]Ro 5-4864 binding to “peripheral” benzodiazepine receptors (PBR) in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues were examined after chemical sympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). One week after the intracisternal administration of 6-OHDA, the number of [ 3 H]Ro 5-4864 binding sites (Bmax) in the hypothalamus and striatum increased 41 and 50%, respectively, concurrent with significant reductions in catecholamine content. An increase (34%) in the Bmax of [ 3 H]Ro 5-4864 to cardiac ventricle was observed one week after parenteral 6-OHDA administration. In contrast, the B m a x of [ 3 H]Ro 5-4864 to pineal gland decreased 48% after 6-OHDA induced reduction in norepinephrine content. The Bmax values for [ 3 H]Ro 5-4864 binding to other tissues (including lung, kidney, spleen, cerebral cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus and olfactory bulbs) were unaffected by 6-OHDA administration. The density of pineal, but not cardiac PBR was also reduced after reserpine treatment, an effect reversed by isoproterenol administration. These findings demonstrate that alterations in sympathetic input may regulate the density of PBR in both the central nervous system and periphery in a tissue specific fashion.
Combinatorial synthesis of oligosaccharide library of 2,6-dideoxysugars

Abstract Two combinatorial libraries composed of linear trisaccharides of 2,6-dideoxy- l -sugars have been constructed: All possible regioisomeric trisaccharides with 2-iodo and with 2-deoxy moieties were synthesized by an iodonium ion-catalyzed “stereoselective-yet-nonregioselective” glycosylation reaction.
Sensitivity and specificity of antiproliferative factor, heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor, and epidermal growth factor as urine markers for interstitial cystitis.

Abstract We previously determined that the urine of interstitial cystitis (IC) patients specifically contains a factor (antiproliferative factor [APF]) that inhibits primary bladder epithelial cell proliferation, and that it has significantly decreased levels of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor–like growth factor (HB-EGF) and increased levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF) compared with urine from asymptomatic controls and patients with bacterial cystitis. We sought to confirm the specificity of these findings for IC using a larger patient population, including control patients with a variety of urogenital disorders. Clean catch urine specimens were collected from 219 symptomatic IC patients, 113 asymptomatic controls without bladder disease, and 211 patients with various urogenital diseases including acute bacterial cystitis, vulvovaginitis, chronic nonbacterial prostatitis, overactive bladder, hematuria, stress incontinence, neurogenic bladder, benign prostatic hyperplasia, bladder or pelvic pain without voiding symptoms, bladder cancer, prostate cancer, or miscellaneous diagnoses including anatomic disorders. APF activity was determined by 3 H-thymidine incorporation into primary normal adult human bladder epithelial cells. HB-EGF and EGF levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. APF activity was present significantly more often in IC than control urine specimens ( P P −82 for IC vs all controls). HB-EGF levels were also significantly lower and EGF levels significantly higher in IC urine than in specimens from controls ( P −84 and P −36 , respectively). These findings confirm the utility of APF, HB-EGF, and EGF as markers for IC. Understanding the reasons for altered levels of these markers may lead to understanding the pathogenesis of this disorder.
Existence and description of housing market equilibrium

Abstract A rental housing market with finite numbers of non-identical consumers and indivisible housing units, each composed of a vector of attributes, is studied. A partial equilibrium, open city analysis is presented in which all other commodities are perfectly divisible and elastically supplied on national markets. Sufficient conditions for the existence of an equilibrium are rigorously established using a fixed point argument that is based on a bidding arrangement between agents. It is then shown that, although the set of equilibria is not a singleton, all equilibria are similar enough to ensure a strong resemblance between open and closed cities.
Continuous communicating esophageal and gastric duplication

Duplications of the esophagus or stomach alone are infrequent, and complete foregut duplication has only rarely been described. Most combined esophagogastric duplications present within the first year of life, and if communication with the normal alimentary tract does occur, it does so only either above or below the diaphragm. This report illustrates a case of continuous duplication of the esophagus and stomach with communication to the normal alimentary tract at both proximal and distal ends. Operative management and a review of the literature and embryology are described.
On the lumber industry: Ethical concerns as the other side of profits

The collusive relationship between the U.S. Forest Service and the lumber industry substantially harms the public interest, and inspires Congressional clearcutting and stumping policies. An anthropocentric1 (or homocentric) culture milieu fosters destruction of America's old growth forests which results in ethically-relevant questions. It is proposed that corporate moral responsibility be extended to indirect stakeholders and that a transcendent environmental ethic, biocentrism2 (or deep ecology), oblige management to expand the sphere of external stakeholders to include environment objects such as animals, trees, and biotic communities.
Optically detected coherent picosecond lattice oscillations in two dimensional arrays of gold nanocrystals of different sizes and shapes induced by femtosecond laser pulses

The nanosphere lithography (NSL) technique is used to make periodic gold array of prismatic nanoparticles. We use the femtosecond time resolved double beam transient optical detection to determine the coherent lattice oscillation in gold nanoparticles. Coherent lattice oscillation is compared on gold nanoparticles of different sizes and shapes. The effect of changing shape on the oscillation period was studied. Different environmental effects on the coherent lattice oscillation are eliminated by measuring the oscillation of the prismatic shape before and after we anneal it to spherical shape of the same number of atoms. A large change in the oscillation period is observed which agrees with the calculated period using different equations for the corresponding shapes.
Benoxaprofen photosensitization of phospholipase activation in mammalian cells in culture

Abstract Benoxaprofen (BPF) induces a clinical photosensitivity which resembles idiopathic solar urticaria. This response is mediated by degranulation of mast cells. Since mast-cell degranulation is known to be modulated by phospholipid alteration, we examined the effect of BPF and ultraviolet radiation (UV) on phospholipid metabolism of C3H 10 T 1 2 cells in culture. BPF + UVB (280–320 nm) induced release of [3H]arachidonic acid (AA) but did not alter the release of [3H]choline from prelabelled cells. This suggests that BPF photosensitizes phospholipase a2 activation. Such activation probably represents an integral step in the mechanism of BPF photosensitization of mast-cell degranulation.
The scintillation index for reverberation noise

We have calculated the raw and central moments of a noise model where the noise is the sum of elementary signals which are time and space dependent. We show that the scintillation index is a constant plus a correction term that goes as 1/N where N is the number of elementary signals. We study the correction term for a specific elementary signal.
Neurological status of language-impaired and normal children

The performance on a neurological test battery of 33 language-impaired children who had no gross neurological findings and 37 normal children controlled for age, performance IQ, and socioeconomic status was compared. The language-impaired group was distinguished by less efficient performance in a number of areas, particularly in tasks involving involving rate of movement, perception of dichhaptic stimuli, and left-right identification. Discriminant function analysis identified six variables that correctly classified 87% of the population into their respective normal and language-impaired groups.
Comparing VHF coherent scatter from the radar aurora with incoherent scatter and all‐sky auroral imagery

[1] VHF coherent scatter radar observations of an auroral substorm over Alaska are analyzed in the context of multibeam incoherent scatter plasma density and drifts data and green-line all-sky optical imagery. Coherent scatter arises from Farley Buneman waves which are excited in theEregion whenever the convection electric field is greater than about 20 mV/m. Aperture synthesis radar imaging and other aspects of the methodology facilitate the precise spatial registration of the coherent scatter with coincident optical and incoherent scatter radar measurements. Discrete auroral arcs were found to separate diffuse regions of coherent backscatter and, sometimes, to align with the boundaries of those regions. At other times, auroral arcs and torches lined up adjacent to discrete, structured regions or radar backscatter. Drastic variations in the Doppler shifts of the coherent scatter from one side of the auroral forms to the other suggest the presence of field-aligned currents. An empirical formula based on previous studies but adapted to account approximately for the effects of wave turning was used to estimate the convection electric field from the moments of the coherent scatter Doppler spectra. Line-of-sightF region plasma drift measurements from the Poker Flat Incoherent Scatter Radar (PFISR) were found to be in reasonable agreement with these convection field estimates. Reasons why the empirical formulas may be expected to hold are discussed.
Generalized stable shape and the Whitehead theorem

Abstract In this paper we define a stable shape category based on the category of CW-spectra. Then we formulate and prove a Whitehead-type theorem in this category.
Rab5 Proteins Regulate Activation and Localization of Target of Rapamycin Complex 1

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 is regulated by small GTPase activators and localization signals. We examine here the role of the small GTPase Rab5 in the localization and activation of TORC1 in yeast and mammalian cells. Rab5 mutants disrupt mTORC1 activation and localization in mammalian cells, whereas disruption of the Rab5 homolog in yeast, Vps21, leads to decreased TORC1 function. Additionally, regulation of PI(3)P synthesis by Rab5 and Vps21 is essential for TORC1 function in both contexts.
Modelling the quark propagator

Abstract We are interested in developing covariant, confining, and asymptotically free models of hadrons. With this goal in mind we have carried out a study of dynamical chiral symmetry breaking without imposing the frequently used approximation α s (−(p−k) 2 ) ⋍ α 5 (−p > 2 ) , where p>2 ≡ max(p2, k2) for the running coupling constant in the quark Schwinger-Dyson equation. We present numerical results in Landau gauge and compare these with earlier results obtained when using this approximation. We see in this context that a gluon propagator which has the form 1 q 4 in the infrared is too singular and must be regulated. We derive a suitably generalized expression for the pion decay constant fπ. With essentially one free parameter we are able to reproduce reasonable results for various physical quantities of interest including f π , 〈 q q〉 , and ΛQCD.
Moral development examined through hypnotic and task motivated age regression.

Abstract Thirty volunteers who had scored above eight on the SHSS, Form C (Weitzenhoffer & Hilgard, 1962) were randomly assigned to three groups (Hypnosis, Task Motivation, and Control). The two treatment groups were age regressed to the first grade. They were then examined through five moral dilemma stories to ascertain their level of functioning on Kohlberg's (1968) Stage Theory of Moral Development. The Control Group experienced the same examination without age regression. It was found that both treatment groups were at a significantly lower moral stage than the Control Group but that there was no significant difference between the two groups of age-regressed subjects. In addition, it was found that a group of actual first graders gave answers that were at a much lower level than those of the age-regressed subjects. These results demonstrate cognitive age regression on Kohlberg's stages of moral development. They also suggest that task motivation situations are as efficient as hypnosis in producing thi...
Asutural maxillary vestibuloplasty

Abstract On the basis of our experience with twelve patients, a technique for maxillary vestibuloplasty without the use of sutures is presented. This technique saves considerable operating time, and the result is more natural in contour in comparison to previously reported techniques. Postoperative injections of corticosteroids inhibits regression and keeps the fold soft and supple.
The NCI Digital Divide Pilot Projects: Implications for Cancer Education

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) supported four innovative demonstration research projects, “The Digital Divide Pilot Projects”, to test new strategies for disseminating health information via computer to vulnerable consumers. These projects involved active research collaborations between the NCI’s Cancer Information Service (CIS) and regional cancer control researchers to field test new approaches for enhancing cancer communication in vulnerable communities. The projects were able to use computers to successfully disseminate relevant cancer information to vulnerable populations. These demonstration research projects suggested effective new strategies for using communication technologies to educate underserved populations about cancer prevention, control, and care.
Performance of materials in fluidized-bed combustors

The major materials issue in the commercialization of fluidized-bed combustion (FBC) systems for utility cogeneration applications is the corrosion/erosion degradation of in-bed components. To examine this issue, pertinent materials information was collected from 13 sources that included different experimental fluidized-bed combustors (four pressurized, the others atmospheric), and a detailed analysis of the data was performed. The data analysis confirmed that austenitic stainless steels (notably Types 304 and 310) and cobaltbase alloys (notably Haynes 188) are superior to nickel-base alloys. Type 347 stainless steel and Incoloy 800H are questionable from the point of view of metal wastage. Very limited data are available for claddings and coatings. The correlations of the corrosion rate data presented in this paper for several of the more promising alloy candidates for air heater applications provide guidelines for the selection of materials with reasonably assured performance in a corrosive environment.
An overview of DB2 parallel edition

In this paper, we describe the architecture and features of DB2 Parallel Edition (PE). DB2 PE belongs to the IBM family of open DB2 client/server database products including DB2/6000, DB2/2, DB2 for HP-UX, and DB2 for the Solaris Operating Environment. DB2 PE employs a shared nothing architecture in which the database system consists of a set of independent logical database nodes. Each logical node represents a collection of system resources including, processes, main memory, disk storage, and communications, managed by an independent database manager. The logical nodes use message passing to exchange data with each other. Tables are partitioned across nodes using a hash partitioning strategy. The cost-based parallel query optimizer takes table partitioning information into account when generating parallel plans for execution by the runtime system. A DB2 PE system can be configured to contain one or more logical nodes per physical processor. For example, the system can be configured to implement one node per processor in a shared-nothing, MPP system or multiple nodes in a symmetric multiprocessor (SMP) system. This paper provides an overview of the storage model, query optimization, runtime system, utilities, and performance of DB2 Parallel Edition.
Failure of Cirrhotic Sera to Inhibit Renal Tubule Hippurate Transport in Vitro

SummaryIn order to evaluate possible depression of renal hippurate transport by cirrhotic sera, hippurate transport into rat kidney slices incubated in sera from cirrhotic and normal patients was investigated. Unlike studies with uremic sera, there was no significant difference in hippurate uptake in rat renal slices incubated with cirrhotic sera when compared to normal sera. It is suggested by this in vitro technique that a metabolic inhibitor of hippurate transport is not present in cirrhotic sera and that other factors, such as renal tubule function per se or changes in renal hemodynamics, may contribute to the decreased PAH uptake observed in vivo in the cirrhotic patient.
Toxoplasma gondii Strains Defective in Oral Transmission Are Also Defective in Developmental Stage Differentiation

Toxoplasma gondii undergoes differentiation from rapidly growing tachyzoites to slowly growing bradyzoites during its life cycle in the intermediate host, and conversion can be induced in vitro by stress. Representative strains of the three clonal lineages showed equal capacity to differentiate into bradyzoites in vitro, as evidenced by induction of bradyzoite antigen 1, staining with Dolichos biflorus lectin (DBL), pepsin resistance, and oral infectivity in mice. We also examined several recently described exotic strains of T. gondii, which are genetically diverse and have a different ancestry from the clonal lineages. The exotic strain COUG was essentially like the clonal lineages and showed a high capacity to induce bradyzoites in vitro and in vivo, consistent with its ability to be efficiently transmitted by the oral route. In contrast, exotic strains MAS and FOU, which are defective in oral transmission, showed a decreased potential to develop into bradyzoites in vitro. This defect was evident from reduced staining with DBL and the cyst antigen CST1, failure to down-regulate tachyzoite antigens, such as tachyzoite surface antigens 1 and 2A, and decreased resistance to pepsin treatment. Despite normal in vitro differentiation, the exotic strains CAST and GPHT also showed decreased oral transmission, due to formation of smaller cysts and a lower tissue burden during chronic infection, traits also shared by MAS and FOU. Collectively, these findings reveal that the limited oral transmission in some strains of T. gondii is due to inefficient differentiation to the bradyzoite form, leading to defects in the formation of tissue cysts.
Ecological Foundations for Subsistence Strategies among the Mbuti Pygmies

To date, no wholly satisfactory explanation has been proposed for the division of the Mbuti Pygmies into two types of hunting economies: net hunters to the southwest and archers to the northeast. Examination of the literature suggests that this economic subdivision may rest on differences in seasonality and overall patterns of wild food availability between the southwestern and northeastern sectors of the Ituri Forest. The southwestern sector is described as consisting of almost pure stands of the leguminous tree species, Gilbertiodendron dewevrei, growing on white sand soils. This area appears to be floristically (and probably faunistically) less diverse than the northeastern area. Perhaps in response to relatively low availability of human food, Pygmy bands in the southwest have turned to net hunting and a subsistence economy resting on the meat trade in order to secure a dependable, highquality source of dietary energy on a year-round basis. Conversely, in the less seasonal and apparently more diverse and dietarily productive northeast, Pygmy bands may face less variation in food availability and therefore be under less pressure to alter their traditional hunting and gathering lifestyle.
Communications and the Supersonic Transport

This paper discusses some aspects of high altitude, supersonic flight which should be considered in the design of the SST communications system. Emphasis is placed on the need for a high degree of coordination between the flight crew, air traffic controller, meteorologist and dispatcher-performance specialist. A brief description of pertinent B-58 aircraft operational experience is offered in support of the suggestions made regarding the nature of the information which should be communicated.
The effect of age on the β‐adrenergic lipolytic response in healthy humans

We evaluated the effect of age on the lipolytic response to intravenous infusion of isoproterenol in 12 elderly (age, >60 years) and 12 young (age, 21 to 34 years) volunteers to examine if there is alteration in innervated β-adrenergic responsiveness in tissues other than the heart. Lipolysis was evaluated by measuring the plasma concentrations of free fatty acids and glycerol. We also measured the plasma concentration of isoproterenol during infusion so that we could calculate comparable plasma isoproterenol concentrations to lipolytic responses in the two age groups. Our data show that, at equivalent infusion rates of isoproterenol, the two age groups achieved equivalent isoproterenol concentrations. The elderly had a higher concentration of free fatty acids but equivalent concentrations of glycerol as compared with the young subjects at equivalent isoproterenol plasma concentrations. However, our data were complicated by the fact that at the higher infusion rates of isoproterenol, the elderly showed a greater sympathetic stimulation than the young subjects as measured by plasma norepinephrine concentrations. Nonetheless, our data could not show that the elderly subjects were more resistant to β-adrenergic receptor–mediated stimulated lipolysis. Thus innervated β-adrenergic receptor hyporesponsiveness caused by aging may not necessarily extend to all organ systems. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1994) 56, 210–216; doi:10.1038/clpt.1994.125
SOME CULTURAL CHARACTERS OF BACILLUS ABORTUS (BANG) WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO CO2 REQUIREMENTS

The relative absence of saprophytism in freshly isolated strains of Bacillus abortus is conveniently measured by inoculating a series of agar tubes with. successive dilutions of culture and sealing the tubes. The appearance of films of growth is delayed from 3 to 17 days and suppressed with the increase in the dilutions. As many as 100,000 bacteria per sq. cm. of agar surface are suppressed. When the confined air contains CO2 in a concentration as low as ¼ per cent and up to 10 per cent, the inhibition and suppression do not occur. Concentrations down to 0.1 per cent are still capable, even though in a slightly retarded manner, of bringing high dilutions into growth. In all cases the resulting growth was remarkably vigorous when compared with that in sealed tubes.
Simple approaches to assess the possible impact of missing outcome information on estimates of risk ratios, odds ratios, and risk differences.

Abstract Often in clinical trials, the primary outcome is binary and the impact of an intervention is summarized using risk ratios (RRs), odds ratios (ORs), or risk differences (RDs). It is typical that in such studies, the binary outcome variable is not observed for some study participants. When there is missing data, it is well known that analyses based on those participants with complete data can be biased unless it can be assumed that the probability of a missing outcome is unrelated to the value of the missing binary outcome (i.e., missing at random). Unfortunately, this assumption cannot be assessed with the data since the missing outcomes, by definition, are not observed. One approach to this problem is to perform a sensitivity analysis to see the degree to which conclusions based only on the complete data would be affected given various degrees of departure from the missing at random assumption. In this paper we provide researchers formulae for doing such a sensitivity analysis. We quantify the departure from the missing at random assumption with a parameter we call the “response probability ratio” (RPR). This is the ratio between the probability of a nonmissing outcome among those with one value of the binary outcome and the probability of a nonmissing outcome among those with the other value of the outcome. Then we provide simple formulae for the estimation of the RRs, ORs, and RDs given any specific values of the RPRs. In addition to being useful for sensitivity analyses, these formulae provide some insight into the conditions that are necessary for bias to occur. In particular, it can be seen that, under certain plausible assumptions, OR estimates based on participants with complete data will be asymptotically unbiased, even if the probability of missing outcome depends on both the treatment and the outcome.
hp Adaptive finite elements based on derivative recovery and superconvergence

In this paper, we present a new approach to hp-adaptive finite element methods. Our a posteriori error estimates and hp-refinement indicator are inspired by the work on gradient/derivative recovery of Bank and Xu (SIAM J Numer Anal 41:2294–2312, 2003; SIAM J Numer Anal 41:2313–2332, 2003). For element τ of degree p, R(∂puhp), the (piece-wise linear) recovered function of ∂pu is used to approximate \({|\varepsilon|_{1,\tau} = |\hat{u}_{p+1} - u_{p}|_{1,\tau}}\) , which serves as our local error indicator. Under sufficient conditions on the smoothness of u, it can be shown that \({\|{\partial^{p}(\hat{u}_{p+1} - u_{p})\|_{0,\Omega}}}\) is a superconvergent approximation of \({\|(I - R){\partial}^p u_{hp}\|_{0,\Omega}}\) . Based on this, we develop a heuristic hp-refinement indicator based on the ratio between the two quantities on each element. Also in this work, we introduce nodal basis functions for special elements where the polynomial degree along edges is allowed to be different from the overall element degree. Several numerical examples are provided to show the effectiveness of our approach.
An integrated inventory system for perishable goods with backordering

We present an integrated inventory model for perishable goods in which backorder is allowed. The model considers the impact of marketing strategies such as pricing and advertising as well as backorder decisions on the profitability of the system. We assume that for certain perishable products, it is feasible for managers to plan for periods of shortage during an inventory cycle. A computer program is developed to determine the optimal production quantity (EPQ) and backorder level that maximize the net profit of the system. A numerical example is used to study the behavior of the model.
Transgene regulation in plants by alternative splicing of a suicide exon

Compared to transcriptional activation, other mechanisms of gene regulation have not been widely exploited for the control of transgenes. One barrier to the general use and application of alternative splicing is that splicing-regulated transgenes have not been shown to be reliably and simply designed. Here, we demonstrate that a cassette bearing a suicide exon can be inserted into a variety of open reading frames (ORFs), generating transgenes whose expression is activated by exon skipping in response to a specific protein inducer. The surprisingly minimal sequence requirements for the maintenance of splicing fidelity and regulation indicate that this splicing cassette can be used to regulate any ORF containing one of the amino acids Glu, Gln or Lys. Furthermore, a single copy of the splicing cassette was optimized by rational design to confer robust gene activation with no background expression in plants. Thus, conditional splicing has the potential to be generally useful for transgene regulation.
Development and Validation of a High Fidelity 3-D Computational Spine Model That Incorporates Spatial Material Density Variations

Anatomically accurate high fidelity computational model of human spine is developed from Computed Tomography scans of a healthy subject and validated against experimental and other computational results. Procedures developed in this work will serve useful in noninvasive evaluation of patients with back problems. The advantage of this approach is that the model can be tailored to specific individual or specimen.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
The NOAA satellites: A largely neglected tool in the land sciences

Abstract The NOAA satellite system comprises the polar-orbiting satellites which provide image data twice a day, and the geostationary satellites, which provide image data every 30 minutes. Data is provided in the visible, near infrared, and middle and far thermal infrared at 1 km resolution from the polar-orbiting satellites and in the visible at 1-km resolution and in the far thermal infrared at 8 km resolution from the geostationary satellites. Applications described include monitoring tectonic lineaments in Alaska, monitoring the Greenland Ice Sheet, mapping geomorphology in the Dakotas and monitoring volcano eruptions. Applications of the Heat Capacity Mapping Mission described include discriminating rock types and indications of mineral deposits. Current research into Land Sciences Applications are discussed and recommendations made for further areas of research.
Foundations for the design of visualizations that support trust in distributed teams

We seek to provide design principles for software tools intended to support the development of trust in distributed teams. As such, we present a "design space" for such tools that consists of three elements: trust factors, collaborative traces, and visual representations. Trust factors are aspects of work shown in the research literature to influence one's perceived trustworthiness of their team members. Collaborative traces are representations of past and current work done by team members manipulating project artifacts. Collaborative traces provide information about a trust factor. Visual representations consist of a set of visual abstractions of the collaborative traces arranged in a layout that provides users with the ability to formulate accurate perceptions of their team members' trustworthiness with respect to a particular trust factor. Because the eventual goal of this research is to produce visual interfaces that support the development of trust, we apply elements from the design space to the design of three example visualizations. We conclude by assessing the value of the model and outlining future work.
Uniform and subuniform posterior robustness: The sample size problem

Abstract The following general question is addressed: given i.i.d. realizations X1,X2,…,Xn from a distribution Pθ with parameter θ, where θ has a prior distribution π belonging to some family Γ, is it possible to prescribe a sample size n0 such that, for n⩾n0, obtaining posterior robustness is guaranteed for any actual data we are likely to see or even for all possible data. Formally, we identify a ‘natural’ set C such that P (the observation vector X∉C)⩽e, for all possible marginal distributions implied by Γ, and protect ourselves for all X in the set C. Typically, such a set C exists if Γ is tight. There are two aspects in these results: one of them is establishing the plausibility itself; this is done by showing uniform convergence to zero of ranges of posterior quantities. This part forms the mathematical foundation of the program. The second aspect is providing actual sample size prescriptions for a specific goal to be attained. This forms the application part of the program. In this article, we only consider testing and set estimation problems relating to the normal distribution with conjugate priors.
Influence of Soybean Planting Date and Leaf Age on Resistance to Corn Earworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., resistance to insects has been shown to vary with planting date and leaf age. This study determined effects soybean genotype, planting date, and leaf age had on feeding behavior of corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie). Soybean genotypes ‘Cobb’ (susceptible) and ‘GatIR81-296’ (resistant) were planted early (29 May) and late (28 June) in 1989 in the field. Trifoliolate leaf samples from the top, middle, and bottom one-third of the plant were sampled four times throughout the season. Leaves were arranged in a free-choice fashion and presented to third-instar H. zea in the laboratory. Leaf area removed was calculated with a computer-based leaf area analysis system. Larvae preferred ‘Cobb’ over ‘GatIR81-296’ in each sampling date. Leaves from the late planting had greater leaf area removed on the first two sampling dates compared with leaves from the early planting (15.8 versus 11.7 and 34.5 versus 22.9 cm2), but leaves from the early planting had more leaf area removed compared with leaves from the late planting on the last two sampling dates (30.9 versus 22.7 and 21.3 versus 16.2cm2). Thus, H. zea exhibited a bimodal feeding preference for early- and late-planted soybean. Older leaves (middle or bottom one-third) of all plants were typically preferred over younger ones (top one-third) throughout the season. Because resistance may vary during plant development, an accurate identification of soybean resistance should be done only with genotypes at a similar stage of development.
The willgerodt-kindler reactions. 6. Isomerization of the carbonyl group in alkanones and cycloalkanones

The most unusual feature of the Willgerodt-Kindler Reactions is the facile isomerization of the carbonyl function along a chain of unbranched methylene groups, or around a cycloaliphatic ring containing several connected methylene groups. We have demonstrated that the first step in the Kindler process is the formation of enamines by reaction of the carbonyl function with secondary aliphatic amines, followed by reaction of the enamine with certain sulfur-amine catalysts to form reactive heterocyclic sulfur intermediates that facilitate the elimination-readdition of the amines reversibly along the chain. It was shown that compounds of the type R 2 N-S-S-NR 2 are effective catalysts but not compounds of the type R 2 N-S-NR 2 . Some cyclohexanone derivatives undergo aromatization, with anomalous results in certain cases
Compactification of Groups and Rings and Nonstandard Analysis

Let G be a separated (Hausdorff) topological group and let *G be an enlargement of G (see [8]). Thus, *G (i) possesses the same formal properties as G in the sense explained in [8], and (ii) every set of subsets {Aν} of G with the finite intersection property—i.e. such that every nonempty finite subset of {Aν} has a nonempty intersection—satisfies ∩*Aν ≠ o, where the *Aν are the extensions of the Aν in *G, respectively.
Pre-breakdown Arcing and Electrostatic Discharge in Dielectrics under High DC Electric Field Stress

Highly disordered insulating materials exposed to high electric fields will, over time, degrade and fail, potentially causing catastrophic damage to devices. Step-up to electrostatic discharge (ESD) tests were performed for two common polymer dielectrics, low density polyethylene and polyimide. Pre- breakdown transient current spikes or arcs were observed, using both slow and high speed detection. These pre-ESD discharge phenomena are explained in terms of breakdown modes and defect generation on a microscopic scale. The field at which pre- breakdown arcing begins was compared to the onset field for electrostatic discharge at which complete breakdown occurs for each material studied. We present evidence that these two threshold fields are the same. Thus, the important parameter to consider in design may not be the maximum field for breakdown, as much as the defect structure in the materials and the field where pre-breakdown arcing begins in a material.
Flocks and Formations

Given a large number (the “flock”) of moving physical objects, we investigate physically reasonable mechanisms of influencing their orbits in such a way that they move along a prescribed course and in a prescribed and fixed configuration (or “in formation”). Each agent is programmed to see the position and velocity of a certain number of others. This flow of information from one agent to another defines a fixed directed (loopless) graph in which the agents are represented by the vertices. This graph is called the communication graph. To be able to fly in formation, an agent tries to match the mean position and velocity of his neighbors (his direct antecedents on the communication graph) to his own. This operation defines a (directed) Laplacian on the communication graph. A linear feedback is used to ensure stability of the coherent flight patterns. We analyze in detail how the connectedness of the communication graph affects the coherence of the stable flight patterns and give a characterization of these stable flight patterns. We do the same if in addition the flight of the flock is guided by one or more leaders. Finally we use this theory to develop some applications. Examples of these are: flight guided by external controls, flocks of flocks, and some results about flocks whose formation is always oriented along the line of flight (such as geese).
The H i content of elliptical and lenticular galaxies withrecent star formation

As a first step towards constraining the efficiency of the star formation episodes that lead to elliptical (E) and lenticular (S0) K+A galaxies, a survey for H i within a sample of E and S0 K+A galaxies and their likely progenitors (i.e. actively star-forming E and S0 galaxies) has been conducted with the NRAO Green Bank Telescope (GBT). The sample was taken from a larger parent sample drawn from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Here, the GBT data and initial results are discussed. Over half (19 out of 30) of all observed galaxies have detectable 21-cm emission. It was found that both the K+A and star-forming early-type (SFE) galaxies were on average more gas poor than disc galaxies at the same luminosity while being more gas rich than more typical E and S0 galaxies with detected 21-cm emission. The gas richness of K+A galaxies appears to be similar to that of SFE galaxies. The star formation rates and estimated star formation time-scales of the SFE galaxies imply that they are capable of only marginally changing their atomic hydrogen content. Follow-up observations are required to explore these same issues in terms of molecular gas, which is more likely to actively participate in the star formation process. Kinematic data for the H i gas, the warm ionized gas, and the stars within the galaxies combined with the SDSS g- and i-band surface brightness profiles imply that the atomic hydrogen is most likely spatially coincident with the star-forming regions within ∼1 kpc of the galaxies' centres.
'Hycrest II', a New Crested Wheatgrass Cultivar with Improved Seedling Establishment

‘Hycrest II’ crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum L.) (Reg. No. CV-31, PI 653685) was released by the USDA-ARS and the Utah State Agricultural Experiment Station and was developed for reseeding disturbed rangelands dominated by annual weeds as a result of severe disturbance, frequent wild fi res, and soil erosion. Hycrest II is one of the original parents to the cultivar Hycrest and originated by intercrossing 10 induced tetraploid plants of ‘Fairway’ crested wheatgrass. Selection emphasis in Hycrest II was on seedling establishment on disturbed rangelands. When planted at a rate of 1 pure live seed cm –1 , Hycrest II had more seedlings per unit area during the establishment year than Hycrest at Blue Creek, UT, Green Canyon, UT, Mandan, ND, Miles City, MT, Dugway, UT, and Stone, ID. At Dugway, UT, Hycrest II had more seedlings per unit area than ‘CD II’ crested wheatgrass. Foundation seed of Hycrest II is available through the Utah Crop Improvement Association.
A theory of vacuum tunneling microscopy

Abstract A theory of scanning electron microscope, recently developed by Binning et al., is presented. The theory follows Tersoff and Hamann in applying the transfer hamiltonian formalism to vacuum tunneling between a sample consisting of an infinitely extended single crystal plane and a field emission tip. A general expression for the tunneling current for any two electrodes of arbitrary shape is derived and discussed. Reasoning by analogy with field ion microscopy it is argued that the operation of the device depends on the strong enhancement of local electric fields due to microscopic imperfections of the topmost atomic layers of the central facet, such as small atomic clusters and kink sites. These local fields and the equally important multiple image potential lead to a strong dependence of the tunneling barrier on the polar angle. Accounting for this effect, which was not considered by Tersoff and Hamann, complicates the analysis significantly. The tunneling current is expressed as a convolution type integral involving the spectral densities of the samples and of the tip. It is argued that this integral can be interpreted in terms of an instrument function depending only on the tip or probe parameters, which is convoluted with a function depending only on characteristics of the sample. Simple limiting cases of the theory are considered. A discussion of the resolution predicted by the theory is presented.
Salinity tolerance and ecological aspects of some microfungi from saline and non-saline soils in Wyoming.

The salt tolerance ofActinomucor harzii andPenicillium lilacinum both garden soil dominants and twoCephalosporium species from saline soils in Wyoming was investigated. BothCephalosporium species exhibited growth maxima, in culture, at salt concentrations approximating those of the habitat from which they were obtained.P. lilacinum exhibited an ability to adjust, with time, to high MgSO4 concentrations and is considered salt-tolerant.A. harzii was consistently salt-sensitive. The ecological significance of the investigation is discussed.
Vascular pathology in three cases of progressive cognitive deterioration

Abstract The clinical condition known as vascular dementia remains poorly defined. Few studies have attempted a correlative link between the clinical syndrome and the structural abnormalities of the brain. Classically the clinical progression of the vascular dementing process is thought to be a multi-step process punctated by repeated episodes of ischemia, that are clinically expressed as strokes. In most instances it has been assumed that the substrate of vascular dementias consists of atherothrombotic infarcts. The objective of this report is to illustrate 3 cases of progressive (rather than stepwise) cognitive deterioration without clinical evidence of stroke, evolving over a period of several years, in which there were prominent vascular lesions. A complete autopsy and detailed neuropathologic examination demonstrated cerebral vascular lesions involving small arterial vessels (
Does Reduced Lung Diffusing Capacity for Carbon Monoxide Predict the Presence of Pulmonary Hypertension

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to determine whether reduced lung diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) predicts the presence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in heterogeneous group of patients. Methods Consecutive patients who underwent pulmonary function and transthoracic echocardiographic testing within a 6-month period were retrospectively identified by chart review. Right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) was measured using Doppler echocardiography. PH was defined as a RVSP >30 mm Hg. Patients were divided into 2 major groups: those whose RVSP was ≤30 mm Hg and those whose RVSP was >30 mm Hg. PH was classified as mild (RVSP = 31–40 mm Hg), moderate (RSVP = 41–60 mm Hg) and severe (RVSP >60 mm Hg). Results A total of 398 patients were entered into the study: 264 (66.3%) with PH and 134 (33.7%) without PH. Patients with PH were older, had a lower mean percentage of predicted values for forced vital capacity (%FVC), for DLCO (%DLCO) and for DLCO corrected for alveolar volume (%DLCO/VA) than those without PH. Multivariate analysis identified age and %FVC as independent predictors of PH [odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of 1.038 (1.020–1.056) and 0.972 (0.955–0.988), respectively]. There was a weak, but significant negative correlation between RVSP and %DLCO ( r = −0.205, P = 0.001), but there was no correlation between RVSP and %DLCO/VA. Neither %DLCO nor %DLCO/VA was found to be independent predictors of PH. Conclusion In a heterogeneous group of patients, %DLCO and %DLCO/VA do not independently predict the presence of PH.
Competition and enhancement of VOC sorption at low sorbent moisture contents

Abstract Alumina coated with humic acid was used to evaluate the sorption of mixtures of organic vapors under partially saturated conditions. Vapor interactions resulted in both enhanced and suppressed sorption relative to the uptake of single vapors. The interactions observed for VOCs may result from interaction between adjacent molecules at the surface, solvophobic effects, or nonlinear sorption isotherms.
Globally-Collaborative "Homeland" Security System Design

This paper describes the rationale for a new course at UNH: "Microelectronics for the Global World/ Collaborative Engineering". The course is a key component in a curriculum designed to prepare graduates to capitalize on the opportunities and to meet the challenges of a global market for security- technology-based products and services. The course addresses the issues of globalization from technical, economical, as well as professional perspectives.
A novel power-efficient scheme asymmetrically and symmetrically clipping optical (ASCO)-OFDM for IM/DD optical systems

In this paper, we propose a novel scheme of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) for intensity modulation direct detection (IM/DD) optical systems. By using this novel scheme of an OFDM optical system, not only odd subcarriers but also even subcarriers can be modulated to transmit a clipping optical signal. A conventional asymmetrically clipping optical (ACO)-OFDM is applied to modulate odd subcarriers while even subcarriers are modulated by a novel technique called a symmetrically clipping optical (SCO)-OFDM. Although both the asymmetrically clipping noise caused by ACO-OFDM and the symmetrically clipping noise caused by SCO-OFDM fall onto the even subcarriers, the former interference can be estimated and removed at the receiver. Thus, SCO-OFDM symbols carried on the even subcarriers can be recovered by subtracting the estimated ACO-OFDM clipping noise from the received signal. Then the SCO-OFDM clipping noise can be removed by subtraction due to its special transmission format. Note that no DC bias added on all subcarriers makes this novel scheme achieve better performance in terms of both power efficiency and symbol error rate (SER).