cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thomas rotation and the parametrization of the Lorentz transformation group

Two successive pure Lorentz transformations are equivalent to a pure Lorentz transformation preceded by a 3×3 space rotation, called a Thomas rotation. When applied to the gyration of the rotation axis of a spinning mass, Thomas rotation gives rise to the well-knownThomas precession. A 3×3 parametric, unimodular, orthogonal matrix that represents the Thomas rotation is presented and studied. This matrix representation enables the Lorentz transformation group to be parametrized by two physical observables: the (3-dimensional) relative velocity and orientation between inertial frames. The resulting parametrization of the Lorentz group, in turn, enables the composition of successive Lorentz transformations to be given by parameter composition. This composition is continuously deformed into a corresponding, well-known Galilean transformation composition by letting the speed of light approach infinity. Finally, as an application the Lorentz transformation with given orientation parameter is uniquely expressed in terms of an initial and a final time-like 4-vector.
Power-system progress for commercial buildings

ELECTRICAL LOADS in commercial buildings have grown in intensity so they now are equivalent to the load density of a metal-working industrial plant. With the advent of air conditioning in the commercial building, the type of equipment supplied by the power system is also similar to that found in an industrial plant. The logical question then is why should the same engineering principles not apply in both cases—that is, small load-center substations should be located throughout the commercial building, and should supply the load at the higher voltage.
Immunologically relevant peptide antigen exists on the presenting cell in a manner accessible to macromolecules in solution.

Although studies of the association of antigen with APC have been complicated by antigen-processing requirements, recent studies have suggested that immunologically relevant antigen should be present on the APC surface. Nevertheless, blocking of antigen presentation with antibody to the antigen has not been demonstrable in most systems. To study this problem we developed a system using avidin to block presentation of amino-terminal biotinylated synthetic peptide 132-146 of sperm whale myoglobin (B132) to a murine T cell clone specific for this site in association with I-Ed. greater than 95% specific inhibition was observed with doses of B132 equipotent to unmodified peptide. Specific blocking could be observed: (a) after pulsing APC with antigen, washing, and incubating for a chase period of 8-16 h before addition of avidin and T cells to assure adequate time for intracellular trafficking and maximal display of antigen on the cell surface, or (b) when monensin is present during the antigen pulse to inhibit such traffic. Therefore, the inhibition appeared to be occurring at the cell surface unless dissociation and reassociation were constantly occurring. To distinguish these, B10.GD APC (I-Ed-negative) were pulsed with antigen and cocultured with B10.D2 APC (I-Ed-positive). No detectable antigen presentation resulted. Thus, minimal dissociation and reassociation between antigen and APC occurs and, consequently, blocking by extracellular solution-phase binding of avidin to antigen is unlikely. Taken together, these data suggest that the blocking is occurring at the cell surface. Thus, under physiologic conditions, immunologically relevant antigen necessary for T cell activation appears to be present on the APC surface and is freely accessible to macromolecules the size of avidin. These findings hold specific implications for models of antigen presentation for T cell recognition.
Martensitic transformation and stress-strain relations of shape-memory alloys

Abstract A micromechanical theory is developed to predict the stress-strain relations of shape-memory alloys (SMAs) at various temperatures above the martensitic-start temperatureMs. The theory is based upon the irreversible thermodynamic principle associated with the stress-induced martensitic transformation where the reduction in Gibbs' free energy is evaluated by considering the morphology of the product phase. The volume concentration, inclusion shape, and the normal and shear components of the transformation strain have all been incorporated. The influence of applied stress through the mechanical potential energy and the influence of temperature through the chemical free energy have also been established. Departing from the traditional constant-entropy assumption, a linear entropy-temperature relation is introduced to calculate the chemical free energy. The resulting chemical energy is non-linear, and is found to have strong influence on several basic properties of SMAs, including a non-linear stress-dependence for Ms and the austenitic-start temperature As. Despite the complexity of the microgeometry, the outcome is a set of explicit constitutive equations which provide a direct link between the applied stress and the evolution of the product phase, and between the stress and overall strain of the transforming system. Finally, the theory is applied to study the stress-strain relations of a Ti-49.8 at% Ni single crystal during the forward austenite-to-martensite transformation and the reversed martensite-to-austenite transformation. Apart from several noble qualitative features of the theory, the quantitative predictions are found to be in accord with experimental observations over a wide range of temperature.
On the determination of very early-time viscoelastic properties

Abstract The analytical bases are given for the design of some experiments for the direct determination of the short-time portion of creep and relaxation functions of linear viscoelastic materials. These procedures, which emanate from a study of the manner in which waves propagate in viscoelastic media, should yield accurate results for very early times—the range in which it is usually difficult to assess the mechanical properties of viscoelastic materials. Some of the proposed methods utilize expansions valid for short times, while others are based primarily on convolutional operations. They require the measurement of the same response quantity at two different locations in the medium, or measurements of two different response quantities at the same location.
lineage, class, and power in the Aztec state

A processual analysis of state formation in the Aztec city Tenochtitlan shows that rigid class stratification developed as a strategy for coopting the traditional leaders of the lineage segments of the prestate polity and for integrating these leaders into a centralized state power system. The dynasty that ruled this increasingly centralized structure used control over tribute revenues from the city's empire to separate the traditional leaders from their old constituencies, and, with a variety of legal and symbolic measures, to foster their self-identification as an elite ruling class.
Rigidity in non-negative curvature

Abstract In this paper we will show that any complete manifold of non-negative curvature has a flat soul provided it has curvature going to zero at infinity. We also show some similar results about manifolds with bounded curvature at infinity. To establish these theorems we will prove some rigidity results for Riemannian submersions, eg., any Riemannian submersion with complete flat total space and compact base in fact must have a flat base space.
QRP06-5: A Large-Scale Distributed Traffic Matrix Estimation Algorithm

As today's communication networks (e.g., the Internet) grow in size and diversity, accurate, large-scale, and distributed traffic matrix estimation techniques will become increasingly important for many network control and management tasks. In this paper, we study the gravity model with entropy penalization approach for estimating traffic matrices based on link traffic measurements, which is known to have remarkable accuracy for real networks [7], [12]. We propose a dual approach to convert the constrained primal optimization problem under the gravity model into an unconstrained dual optimization problem. For most practical networks in which the number of links is much smaller than the number of origin-destination pairs, the dual problem has a much smaller dimension and hence scales for large networks. In addition, the solution algorithm for the dual problem can be implemented in a distributed manner.
An efficient synthesis of rufinamide, an antiepileptic drug

Abstract A two-step, one-pot synthesis of rufinamide, an antiepileptic drug, has been developed. 2,6-Difluorobenzyl azide reacts with methyl 3-methoxyacrylate followed by methanolic ammonia to afford rufinamide in 89% yield. The new method generates less waste and uses reagents that are both less expensive and less toxic than other reported syntheses.
Stability limits for ternary regular system

Abstract In ternary regular systems, the stability limit surfaces are functions of three binary-interaction parameters. These parameters are used to classify the surface shape and to identify the characteristic lines which exist in a ternary system. When considering the effect of small alloy additions on regular systems, one finds that their effect on stability is related to their effect on structure.
From the bench to modeling – R0 at the interface between empirical and theoretical approaches in epidemiology of environmentally transmitted infectious diseases

Abstract For environmentally transmitted infectious diseases (ETIDs), which spread through the contaminated environment (such as foods, surfaces and fomites), there is a lack of consensus about the mathematical approach to derive R0, leading to inconsistent predictions about the spread and control of these infections in their host populations. The objective of this study was to explain three current, though conflicting, approaches to derive a theoretical expression for R0 for ETIDs and assess their validity through comparison with available empirical data. Salmonella Typhimurium in laboratory mice was used as a theoretical and empirical model system. The three conflicting theoretical expressions for R0 were derived using the next generation matrix approach according to three unverified hypotheses about the role of the environmental phase in the transmission of ETIDs. The hypotheses assume that the environment contaminated with a pathogen is: (H 1 ) an extension of the host's infectious period, (H 2 ) a reservoir for the infectious agent, or (H 3 ) has both of these characteristics. For the parameter values describing the empirical model system, the theoretical values of R0 corresponding to the hypotheses H 2 and H 3 were very similar (1.38 and1.62, respectively) and their values were approximately half of the value of R0 for hypothesis H 1 (2.94). The theoretical R0 values were compared with an empirical R0 (1.58, 95% confidence interval: 1.14, 2.02) estimated using a Martingale method from published experimental data on Salmonella Typhimurium transmission in mice. The results of the comparison suggested that hypothesis H 1 is unlikely to hold true but it could not be rejected with confidence because of uncertainty in the value of the pathogen growth rate in the environment. The hypotheses H 2 and H 3 were both equally strongly supported with the empirical data suggesting that either of them could be valid. A sensitivity analysis identified critical information gaps about the indirect transmission rate of infection and the pathogen growth rate in the environment. Moreover, we identified experimental conditions for which the theoretical R0 predictions based on the hypotheses H 2 and H 3 differ greatly, which would assist their discrimination and conclusive validation against future empirical studies. Once a valid theoretical R0 is identified for Salmonella Typhimurium in mice, its generalizability to other host–pathogen–environment systems should be tested. The present study may serve as a template for integrated empirical and theoretical research of R0 in the epidemiology of ETIDs.
p85 subunit of PI3 kinase does not bind to human Flt3 receptor, but associates with SHP2, SHIP, and a tyrosine-phosphorylated 100-kDa protein in Flt3 ligand-stimulated hematopoietic cells.

Flt3/Flk2 belongs to class III receptor tyrosine kinases. Like other members of type III receptor tyrosine kinases, murine Flt3 induces tyrosine phosphorylation of p85 and subsequently activation of PI3 kinase upon FL binding. While p85 binds murine Flt3 at Y958 in the carboxyl terminus of the receptor, human Flt3 does not have a potential p85-binding site in the carboxyl terminus. In this study, we examined whether p85 binds to human Flt3 in Baf3/Flt3 and THP-1 cells. In contrast to murine Flt3, p85 is not tyrosine phosphorylated after FL stimulation, nor does it bind Flt3 in both cell lines. Instead p85 associates inducibly with tyrosine phosphorylated SHP-2 and constitutively with SHIP and two tyrosine phosphorylated proteins with molecular weights about 100-kDa (p100) and 120-kDa (p120) in Baf3/Flt3 cells. The p100 associates with both p85 and SHP-2. In THP-1 cells, p85 associates inducibly with tyrosine phosphorylated SHIP, p100 and p120. These results indicate that p85 does not bind human Flt3, but forms a complex with SHP-2, SHIP, p100 and p120 in hematopoietic cells.
The Foundations of Statistics at Stanford

Abstract In 1998 the Stanford University Department of Statistics celebrated its 50th anniversary and dedicated its new home, the new Sequoia Hall. The occasion was marked by a two-day reunion conference during which a number of Stanford graduates reminisced about their years as students and reported on their careers since their degrees. The remarks that follow (by a non-Stanford graduate) were delivered at the conference banquet January 17, 1998, presided over by Stanford President Gerhard Casper. The history of statistics at Stanford up until 1948 is examined, including the little-known roles played in this history by Harold Hotelling, Ronald A. Fisher, and W. Allen Wallis, and a traditional Bay Area toast is offered.
Simulation of RHEED intensity oscillations during MBE growth

Abstract We develop a quantitative model for computation of the RHEED signal intensity during epitaxial growth. The growth surface is described in a way that naturally allows for tilted substrates. Oscillations in the computed RHEED signal during MBE growth exhibit a very fast decay. We are able to identify the fast initial rise of the signal after stopping growth with disappearing single atoms, and the slower subsequent recovery with growing terrace sizes.
Neonatal chronic hind paw inflammation alters sensitization to intradermal capsaicin in adult rats: a behavioral and immunocytochemical study.

Abstract The present studies were conducted to examine functional consequences of postnatal chronic inflammation, initiated during a critical developmental period, on capsaicin-evoked hyperalgesia and neuronal activation in adulthood. Rats received a unilateral intraplantar injection of complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA; diluted 2:1 in saline) on postnatal day 0 (P0-CFA) or 14 (P14-CFA). Separate groups received an equivalent volume of saline on P0 (P0-vehicle) or were untreated (P0-untreated). Increases in capsaicin-evoked thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia and allodynia were observed in adult P0-CFA–treated rats relative to control conditions. By contrast, this enhancement was absent in P14-CFA–treated rats, suggesting that the developmental period differentially affects the appearance of the observed behavioral phenotype. Capsaicin-evoked nocifensive behavior was also lower in P14-CFA–treated rats relative to P0-CFA–treated rats. Capsaicin-evoked Fos protein expression was increased in the superficial and neck regions of the dorsal horn of adult P0-CFA–treated rats relative to P0-vehicle–treated rats. These changes were absent in the nucleus proprius and ventral horn. The present data are consistent with the hypothesis that neonatal chronic inflammation permanently alters sensitivity to pain in adulthood, consistent with modulation of primary afferent activation and central sensitization in response to a subsequent nociceptive challenge in adulthood. Perspective Chronic inflammation during development can induce profound alterations in sensory processing later in life. Here we show that long-term inflammation initiated at critical developmental stages sensitizes both behavioral and neuronal responses to nociceptor stimulation in adulthood. An ongoing sensitization of the spinal cord is induced by the postnatal inflammatory insult.
Clinical Experience with Tests for Pulmonary Function: Review of 100 Consecutive Cases

The records of 100 consecutive patients referred for tests of pulmonary function have been reviewed. The most frequent reason for referral was to obtain a quantitative assessment of pulmonary function. Diagnostic aid was sought in only 23 instances. Obstructive ventilatory insufficiency was the commonest abnormality encountered and was observed in 61 patients having emphysema, asthmatic bronchitis, or episodic asthma alone or in varying combinations. Improvement indicated by ventilatory tests after the use of a nebulized bronchodilator drug had a definite influence on use of the drug as a therapeutic agent. Restrictive ventilatory insufficiency due to pulmonary fibrosis was more difficult to identify clinically. Arterial hypoxemia of significant degree was frequently observed in patients in whom cyanosis had not been noted. Preoperative evaluation of pulmonary function by laboratory methods was of value in patients with greatly reduced respiratory reserve, especially when pulmonary resection was contemplated.
Pharmacologic Therapy for Prostatism

Although the general approach to management of a sufficient degree of benign prostatic hyperplasia in the past was surgical intervention (transurethral resection of the prostate), the current availability of effective pharmacologic therapy has changed the initial management strategy. At present, two types of drugs are available for treatment of prostatism: (1) selective alpha-adrenergic blocking agents (terazosin, doxazosin, and tamsulosin) and (2) an inhibitor of the 5 alpha-reductase enzyme (finasteride). Pharmacologic blockade of the alpha(1)-adrenoceptors is thought to result in relaxation of the smooth muscle in the prostate and bladder neck, which reduces urethral resistance, improves voiding function, and minimizes the symptoms of prostatism. These effects may be noted by the patient within several weeks after initiation of treatment. The mechanism of action of finasteride is a blocking of the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone and an associated volume shrinkage of the prostate. On the average, a 25% reduction in prostate volume can be achieved, but a period of 12 months or longer of finasteride therapy is needed for maximal shrinkage and maximal decrease in symptoms of prostatism. The expanding population of middle-aged and elderly men with prostatism of moderate severity will undoubtedly prompt the development of additional pharmacologic options for treatment of prostatism and benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Modeling the influence of ethanol on the adsorption and desorption of selected BTEX compounds on bentonite and kaolin.

The influence of ethanol on the adsorption capacity and desorption kinetics of benzene and toluene on bentonite and kaolin through modeling and experimental study was investigated. The results showed that the adsorption capacity of both soils for the target compounds decreased as ethanol content increased. As ethanol content increased from 0 to 50%, the adsorption capacity for benzene and toluene on bentonite decreased from 3.6 to 0.54 μgn+1/(Ln·g) (by 85%) and 1.91 to 0.01 μgn+1/(Ln·g) (by 99.5%), respectively. For benzene and toluene adsorption on kaolin, the adsorption capacity decreased by 86.5% (from 0.26 to 0.04 μgn+1/(Ln·g) and 98.2% (from 0.13 to 0.002 μgn+1/(Ln·g)), respectively, as ethanol content increased from 0 to 50%. In addition, the desorption rate of benzene and toluene from bentonite decreased by about one order of magnitude as the ethanol increased from 0 to 25% and 0 to 50%, respectively. It can be inferred that ethanol could affect the effectiveness of natural attenuation processes that rely on adsorption to soils as a containment technique for benzene and toluene by retarding the adsorption to soils and remobilizing compounds that had already been adsorbed to soils.
Hydrogen generation from weak acids: electrochemical and computational studies of a diiron hydrogenase mimic.

Extended investigation of electrocatalytic generation of dihydrogen using [(μ-1,2-benzenedithiolato)][Fe(CO)3]2 has revealed that weak acids, such as acetic acid, can be used. The catalytic reduction producing dihydrogen occurs at approximately −2 V for several carboxylic acids and phenols resulting in overpotentials of only −0.44 to −0.71 V depending on the weak acid used. This unusual catalytic reduction occurs at a potential at which the starting material, in the absence of a proton source, does not show a reduction peak. The mechanism for this process and structures for the intermediates have been discerned by electrochemical and computational analysis. These studies reveal that the catalyst is the monoanion of the starting material and an ECEC mechanism occurs.
Estrogen-induced and TAFII30-mediated gene repression by direct recruitment of the estrogen receptor and co-repressors to the core promoter and its reversal by tamoxifen

Estrogen-induced and TAFII30-mediated gene repression by direct recruitment of the estrogen receptor and co-repressors to the core promoter and its reversal by tamoxifen
Physical limitations on the frequency response of a semiconductor surface inversion layer

Abstract The physical phenomena associated with the frequency response of the surface inversion layer of an MOS capacitor are examined. It is shown that the equivalent circuit presented by Lehovec and Slobodskoy for an MOS capacitor in the depletion-inversion mode of operation may be simplified when the capacitor is biased in the heavy inversion layer mode. Further it is shown that an additional resistance, to account for generation-recombination in the depletion region, must be included. This new resistance dominates the response for silicon units, which is shown to be as low as I–5o cps at room temperature. Experimentally, there are at least two observations which cannot be explained by the first order one dimensional model on which these equivalent circuits are based. The frequency responses of complementary units, fabricated on almost identical p- and n-type silicon differ by orders of magnitude, it is typically in the range 1–100 cps for n-type units, but may be as high as 10 Mc/s for equivalent p-type units. In addition, pronounced hysteresis in the bias dependence of the capacitance of some p-type units has been observed. A second-order two dimensional model is proposed to explain these anomalies. This model includes an “external” inversion layer, surrounding the gate electrode, produced during the formation of the oxide. The gate inversion layer, in this model, is coupled to the bulk through an additional RC network, representing the external inversion layer, which is in parallel with the equivalent network of the first order model. An approximate analysis of this second order model predicts a frequency response which is in agreement with experiment. The possibility of charge migration on the surface of the oxide, which serves to decouple the gate inversion layer from the external inversion layer, can account for the hysteresis in the capacitance vs. bias characteristics observed in these units.
Feeding tubes and health costs postinsertion in nursing home residents with advanced dementia.

Abstract Context The best evidence suggests that feeding tubes are ineffective in persons with advanced dementia. Little is known about their health care costs. Objectives To estimate Medicare costs attributable to inpatient care among nursing home (NH) residents with advanced dementia during the year following the placement of a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube during an index hospitalization. Methods Medicare claims (1999–2009) and Minimum Data Set data (1999–2009) were used to estimate Medicare costs attributable to inpatient care among NH residents with advanced dementia during the year following the placement of a PEG tube and compared with those who did not get a PEG tube. The study used a 3:1 propensity-matched cohort design. Results Matched residents with (n = 1924, 68.9% female, 28.8% African American, average age 83.1 years) and without (weighted n = 1924, unique n = 4337) PEG insertion showed comparable sociodemographic characteristics, similar rates of feeding tube risk factors, and similar mortality (51.9% 180 day mortality among those with a feeding tube vs. 49.8% among those without a feeding tube, P = 0.11). One year hospital costs were $2224 higher in NH residents with a feeding tube ($10,191 vs. $7967, 95% CI of difference = $1514, $2933), with those with a feeding tube likely to spend more time in an intensive care unit (1.92 vs. 1.29 days, 95% CI of difference = 0.34, 0.92 days). Conclusion In an analysis controlling for selection bias, PEG tube insertion is associated with a small but significant increase in annual inpatient health care costs, as well as in hospital and intensive care unit days, postinsertion.
Landau levels and the partonic interpretation of the axial anomaly

Abstract The flow of levels in the Dirac sea is studied as a plane electromagnetic wave is adiabatically turned on in massive QED. The wave is turned on in such a way that the flow of chirality along the n =0 Landau levels can be followed. (Qdot 5 ) m the rate of change of chirality due to the electron mass and (Qdot 5 ) anomaly due to the calculated from the flow of states along the n =0 Landau levels. (Qdot 5 ) anomaly corresponds to a flow of chirality from (or no) to infinite momentum regions of the Dirac sea, in agreement with the general picture of Gribov. By integrating (Qdot 5 ) anomaly in time the contribution of the anomaly of the forward matrix element of the axial current between polarized photons is calculated and identified as a point-like contribution.
Insights Into Glucocorticoid-Associated Hypertension.

The association between excess glucocorticoids and hypertension has been much discussed but poorly understood. From both clinical observations and laboratory studies, it is clear that glucocorticoids exert their effects at many different sites responsible for blood pressure regulation. Isoforms of the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11β-HSD), located in steroid-responsive tissues, metabolize endogenously produced glucocorticoids. These enzymes limit steroid access to mineralocorticoid and/or glucocorticoid receptors. In the kidney, synthetic and endogenous glucocorticoids are capable of enhancing transepithelial sodium transport in the presence of 11β-HSD inhibition. Proximal tubule reabsorption of sodium can be indirectly augmented after chronic exposure to glucocorticoids. In this segment, steroids have a permissive effect, increasing the expression of both Na + , K + adenosine triphosphatase along the basolateral membrane and Na + -H + exchanger along the apical membrane of epithelial cells. Although glucocorticoids themselves produce no increase in sodium reabsorption in this segment, angiotensin II-stimulated sodium transport is significantly greater in proximal tubular cells pretreated with glucocorticoids. The increased transport in distal renal segments is more direct and stems in part from glucocorticoid cross-over binding to mineralocorticoid receptors. In vascular tissue, synthetic and endogenous glucocorticoids, after inhibition of the dehydrogenase reaction, magnify the response to circulating vasoconstrictors. The effects of glucocorticoids in vascular tissue is indirect, upregulating the expression of receptors to many vasoconstrictors and downregulating the effects of potential vasodilators. Thus, glucocorticoids have the potential to alter both circulating volume and vascular resistance.
Wiring the Health System — Origins and Provisions of a New Federal Program

In 2009, the U.S. government passed the HITECH Act, which allocated up to $29 billion to support the adoption and meaningful use of electronic health records and other forms of health information technology. This article discusses the origins and provisions of the act.
Generalized Omori law for aftershocks and foreshocks from a simple dynamics

A theory of the time dependence of earthquake foreshocks and aftershocks is presented. The theory involves the response to sudden forcing of a dynamics of self-driven acceleration to failure. The empirically observed Omori law, which says that the rate of aftershocks as a function of time falls as a power law in time, is derived theoretically. The exponent of the falloff in time is shown to generically give a value close to one, for rapidly accelerating dynamics. To see if the theory is consistent with other features of real data, foreshocks and aftershocks of small magnitude mainshocks are analyzed in a catalogue of real earthquakes. Results show that the spatial and temporal distribution of aftershocks is separable into a dependence on space and a dependence on time, that the spatial distribution of aftershocks is consistent with the hypothesis that stress changes from the mainshock cause aftershocks, and that the number of foreshocks approaches the number of aftershocks as the magnitude of the mainshock becomes smaller.
The short-term effects of wood-ash amendment on forest soils.

In the heavily forested regions of the northeastern U.S. the potential for producing electricity from wood-fired boilers is also creating a growing supply of wood-ash requiring disposal. Landfill space is expensive and limited, which has resulted in an interest in spreading wood-ash on forest sites. This greenhouse study was designed to provide information on soil and seedling response to wood-ash applications. Red maple (Acer rubrum) seedlings were grown in either O or B horizon forest soil material and amended with six levels of ash (0, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 Mg ha−1) and two levels of N fertilizer (0 and 224 kg ha−1). Ash amendments increased pH and exchangeable base cations, and decreased extractable Al and Fe concentrations, in both soil materials. Ash treatments increased seedling foliar K and Na concentrations in O horizon soils, but had little effect on growth. No significant effects on seedling properties from ash in B horizon soils were found. Fertilizer N treatments did not improve seedling growth in either soil material. Soil and seedling response to N were notably different for the different soils used. Based on this short-term study it appears that (a) land applications of wood-ash at the rates used may be a viable approach to recycling this solid waste, and (b) long-term studies are required to evaluate this practice under field conditions.
Beam cooling at the low-energy-beam and ion-trap facility at NSCL/MSU

The goal of the low-energy-beam and ion-trap (LEBIT) project is to convert the high-energy exotic beams produced at NSCL/MSU into low-energy low-emittance beams. This beam manipulation will be done by a combination of a high-pressure gas stopping cell and a radio-frequency quadrupole (RFQ) ion accumulator and buncher. The first experimental program to profit from the low-energy beams produced will be high-accuracy mass measurements on very short-lived isotopes with a 9:4 T Penningtrap system. The status of the project is presented with an emphasis on beam coolingand bunching . r 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Association of glycaemia with lipids in adults with type 1 diabetes: modification by dyslipidaemia medication

Aims/hypothesis Hyperglycaemia and dyslipidaemia are common metabolic abnormalities in adults with type 1 diabetes and both increase cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The hypothesis of this study was that change in HbA1c over 6 years would be associated with change in fasting lipids in adults with type 1 diabetes.
A Sampled Data Delay-Lock Loop Implemented as a Kalman Predictor

Performance data is presented for a sampled data delay-lock-loop incorporating a Kalman predictor. The jitter response due to noise and the deterministic response to aircraft maneuvers are investigated as a function of the Kalman model parameters. The predictor's transient response to step, ramp, and parabolic inputs and the number of iterations required for convergence for typical initialization errors are determined. It is shown how values for the model parameters may be chosen to obtain satisfactory noise, maneuver, and lock-up performance.
Rhizobial purine and pyrimidine auxotrophs: nutrient supplementation, genetic analysis, and the symbiotic requirement for the novo purine biosynthesis

Previously described Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. phaseoli mutants elicit nodules on bean without infection thread formation. These mutants were shown to be purine or, in one case, pyrimidine auxotrophs. Each of the seven purine auxotrophs grew normally when supplied the penultimate precursor of inosine, 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide riboside. Four seemed blocked early in the purine pathway, because they were also thiamine auxotrophs. Reversion analysis and genetic complementation using cloned wild-type DNA showed that in each mutant a single mutation was responsible for both the symbiotic defect and purine or pyrimidine auxotrophy. The mutations were mapped to five dispersed chromosomal locations. The previously reported weak Calcofluor staining of these mutants on minimal agar appeared to be caused by partial growth on contaminating nutrients in the agar, rather than deficient exopolysaccharide production. Nodulation by the mutants was not enhanced by supplying purine or pyrimidine compounds exogenously. Furthermore, with or without added purine, the purine auxotrophs grew in the root environment as well as the wild type. However, nodulation by the purine auxotrophs was enhanced greatly in the presence of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide riboside. The results suggest that undiminished metabolic flow through de novo purine biosynthesis, or a particular intermediate in the pathway, is essential in early symbiotic interactions.
Solitons in polyacetylene and relativistic-field-theory models

Using recent results on a model relativistic field theory, we find explicitly a new solitonlike solution, essentially the conventional strong polaron, in the continuum interacting electron-phonon model of a Peierls-dimerized chain such as polyacetylene [${(\mathrm{CH})}_{x}$]. This solution is in good agreement with recent numerical simulations in a discrete model of ${(\mathrm{CH})}_{x}$. We discuss further areas in which known field-theory results may apply to ${(\mathrm{CH})}_{x}$.
Attack strategies of a spider kleptoparasite: effects of prey availability and host colony size

Abstract Argyrodes ululans, a kleptoparasitic spider that specializes in stealing prey from the social spider, Anelosimus eximius, faces a variety of foraging situations depending upon the number of host spiders involved in prey capture and defence, and prey availability. The ability of A. ululans to modify its mode of attack may therefore be essential to ensure its success in obtaining food. Kleptoparasite hunger level, host colony size and prey size were manipulated and detailed observations of behaviour were made to determine whether A. ululans modifies its stealing strategy in response to these changing conditions. Argyrodes ululans initiated an attack based on its hunger state and the size of the prey tackled, and altered the relative frequencies of its component stealing behaviour patterns according to the number of host spiders that responded to capture the prey. These adjustments in stealing tactics allow A. ululans to maximize its success in acquiring prey and to conserve energy used for foraging.
The production of congenital malformations using tissue antisera. X. Effectiveness of kidney antigens treated with neuraminidase or trypsin.

The Production of Congenital Malformations Using Tissue Antisera. X. Effectiveness of Kidney Antigens Treated with Neuraminidase or Trypsin
Diffusion mechanisms and superlattice disordering in GaAs

Abstract This paper reports recent progress in our understanding of mechanisms of gallium self-diffusion, of impurity diffusion, and of doping-enhanced superlattice disordering in GaAs. An analysis of the available results of Ga-Al interdiffusion in GaAs/AlAs superlattices allows us to conclude that gallium self-diffusion in GaAs is carried by triply negatively charged gallium vacancies under intrinsic and n-doping conditions. The mechanism of the enhanced superlattice disordering due to silicon doping is the Fermi-level effect which increases the concentrations of the charged point-defect species. For the effect of the p dopants beryllium and zinc, the Fermi-level effect has to be considered together with dopant diffusion-induced gallium self-interstitial supersaturation or undersaturation. The self-diffusion of gallium in GaAs under heavy p-doping conditions is governed by positively charged gallium self-interstitials. Consistent with their effect on superlattice disordering, zinc and beryllium diffusion appears to be governed by the kick-out mechanism. The diffusion of silicon appears to be governed by gallium vacancies and the existing silicon pair diffusion model seems satisfactory. In agreement with the gallium self-diffusion mechanism, however, an alternative model has been proposed. Dislocations in GaAs and in other III–V compounds are found to be point-defect sinks and/or sources with only a limited efficiency. Clean experiments are proposed allowing the relation of each result with the effect of only one pre-selected experimental parameter. It is expected that these experiments will yield results which will serve to confirm some of the present findings, to indicate necessary modifications for others, and to unravel phenomena and understanding in previously unexplored areas.
Screening for Maternal Depression in the Neonatal ICU

Postpartum depression is common in women with infants in the neonatal ICU. Maternal depression can affect infant health and development adversely. A screening program for depression in the neonatal ICU could identify women who have depressive symptoms and facilitate their referral for follow-up services.
Cracks and topological defects in lyotropic nematic gels.

We report on the effects of the coupling of nematic order and elasticity in anisotropic lyotropic gels consisting of large nematic domains of surfactant coated single wall carbon nanotubes embedded in a cross-linked $N$-isopropyl acrylamide polymer matrix. We observe the following striking features: (i) undulations and then cusping of the gel sidewalls, (ii) a nematic director field that evolves as the gel sidewalls deform, (iii) networks of surface cracks that are orthogonal to the nematic director field, and (iv) fissures at the sidewall cusps and associated topological defects that would not form in liquid nematics.
Inhibition of ascorbate autoxidation by a rat brain cortical factor

The soluble fraction of rat brain cortex yielded an antioxidant factor that inhibits the autoxidation of ascorbic acid at physiological pH. The measurements were based on spectrophotometric detection of ascorbic acid at 265 nm in a physiological salt solution of the Krebs-Ringer type, pH 7.4, or in sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.4. In these systems the autoxidation of ascorbate was linear with respect to time for at least 60 min. The potency of the antioxidant factor is indicated by the fact that half maximal inhibitory activity was obtained with an extract representing approximately 10,000-fold dilution of cell components. The inhibitory activity of the cortical tissue was solubilized during heat treatment. A considerable portion of the activity was released by brain slices into the medium during incubation in normal Krebs-Ringer phosphate medium.
Time-evolving modeling of social networks

A statistical framework for modeling and prediction of binary matrices is presented. The method is applied to social network analysis, specifically the database of US Supreme Court rulings. It is shown that the ruling behavior of Supreme Court judges can be accurately modeled by using a small number of latent features whose values evolve with time. The learned model facilitates the discovery of inter-relationships between judges and of the gradual evolution of their stances over time. In addition, the analysis in this paper extends previous results by considering automatic estimation of the number of latent features and other model parameters, based on a nonparametric-Bayesian approach. Inference is efficiently performed using Gibbs sampling.
Chromatography on Lipophilic Dextran Gels for Fractionation of Low Molecular Weight Compounds II: Separation of Cardiac Glycosides from Cardiac Aglycones

A simple method is presented for the separation of cardiac glycosides from cardiac aglycones using highly cross-linked lipophilic dextran gel chromatography with 95% ethanol as the solvent.
Lip-Read Me Now, Hear Me Better Later Cross-Modal Transfer of Talker-Familiarity Effects

There is evidence that for both auditory and visual speech perception, familiarity with the talker facilitates speech recognition. Explanations of these effects have concentrated on the retention of talker information specific to each of these modalities. It could be, however, that some amodal, talker-specific articulatory-style information facilitates speech perception in both modalities. If this is true, then experience with a talker in one modality should facilitate perception of speech from that talker in the other modality. In a test of this prediction, subjects were given about 1 hr of experience lipreading a talker and were then asked to recover speech in noise from either this same talker or a different talker. Results revealed that subjects who lip-read and heard speech from the same talker performed better on the speech-in-noise task than did subjects who lip-read from one talker and then heard speech from a different talker.
A Double-Blind Study of Reserpine in Angina Pectoris

1. A double-blind study of reserpine (0.4 mg. per day) and placebo for angina pectoris in 18 city hospital out-patients is presented. Thirteen patients received both drugs in sequence. 2. The two groups of patients were similar in clinical and laboratory findings. 3. No significant difference in improvement of exercise tolerance, nitroglycerine requirement or both was observed between the two groups. 4. The failure of reserpine to be beneficial in angina pectoris in our series may be attributed to the low incidence of hypertension, the long duration of therapy, and the apparent inefficacy of this agent. 5. The difference in side effects was negligible, except for dizziness which was significantly more frequent in the reserpine group.
Prolonged PR interval predicts clinical recurrence of atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation.

Background A prolonged PR interval is known to be a poor prognostic factor in cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between PR interval and clinical outcome in patients undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) of atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods and Results We prospectively included 576 patients with AF (75.5% male, 57.8±11.6 years old, 68.8% paroxysmal AF) who underwent RFCA. We analyzed preprocedural sinus rhythm ECGs obtained in the absence of antiarrhythmic drug, and all enrolled patients were categorized into 4 groups based on the quartile values of the PR interval (166, 182, and 202 ms), and were analyzed according to the left atrium (LA) volume (CT; Computed tomography), LA voltage (NavX), and clinical outcome of AF ablation. Based on quartile value of PR interval, the highest quartile of PR interval (Q4; PR ≥202 ms) was oldest ( P <0.001), and most likely to have persistent AF ( P <0.001) and hypertension ( P =0.013) compared with the other groups. However, there was no significant difference in LA conduction velocity and atrial effective refractory period. Q4 had the greatest LA dimension ( P <0.001) and volume index ( P <0.001), and lowest LA appendage-emptying velocity ( P <0.032) and LA voltage ( P <0.001) compared with the others. For 13.1±7.5 months, the classification based on the PR interval was a significant predictor of AF recurrence after RFCA of AF (HR=1.969, 95% CI 1.343 to 2.886, P =0.001). Conclusions The PR interval was closely associated with advanced LA remodeling due to AF, and had a noninvasive significant predictive value of clinical recurrence of AF after RFCA.
An antigen based on molecular modeling resulted in the development of a monoclonal antibody-based immunoassay for the coccidiostat nicarbazin

Abstract Based on insights obtained from computer-assisted molecular modeling, p-nitrosuccinanilic acid was selected as a viable candidate to use as a hapten to produce antibodies to 4,4′-dinitrocarbanilide, the active component of the coccidiostat nicarbazin. These antibodies would be used to quantify nicarbazin in feeds and tissues. The synthesis of p-nitrosuccinanilic acid is presented here. Due to the lack of water solubility of nicarbazin, a discussion is presented concerning the solubility of nicarbazin as it pertains to the immunoassay. DMF and ACN were both added to the assay buffer to make standard solutions of nicarbazin, and facilitate the use of the competition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). Monoclonal antibodies were isolated that compete with nicarbazin, and they were isotyped as IgM. However, this study has been complicated due to problems that developed during the study associated with the competition ELISA.
Walking robot with a circulating gait

The Ambler walking robot has been developed specifically for autonomous exploration of planetary and lunar surfaces. The Ambler, which maintains its body on a level trajectory while walking, has unique orthogonal legs that are stacked under the body instead of the traditional animal-like arrangement of legs around the body. The resulting stacked configuration leads to a novel circulating gait that promises to improve mobility in terrains of extreme roughness. The Ambler's level body motion, orthogonal legs, and circulating gait greatly simplify physical control, terrain model construction, and motion planning-all of which are traditional impediments to autonomous travel across rough terrain. >
Fighting Terrorism through the Rule of Law

The question of whether democratic institutions facilitate terrorist activities is a controversial one in current scientific studies of terrorism. Although the ‘‘rule of law’’ is an essential institutional pillar of any mature democracy, its direct effect on domestic and international terrorism remains unexplored. Conceiving democratic rule of law as the coexistence of effective and impartial judicial systems and citizens’ recognition of the law as legitimate, the author presents a causal explanation in which a high-quality rule of law is considered to dampen ordinary citizens’ opportunity and willingness to engage in political violence, protecting democracies from becoming victims of terrorism. Built on a cross-sectional, time-series data analysis of 131 countries during the period from 1984 to 2004, the author finds that, ceteris paribus, maintaining a sound rule of law notably reduces the likelihood of any type of terrorist events. In short, the rule of law instantiated in democratic institutions provides a formidable bulwark against terrorism.