cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nitrogen deposition across scales: hotspots and gradients in a California savanna landscape

Nitrogen (N) deposition is a key component of global change. In order to predict the consequences of those changes, the spatial and temporal patterns of N deposition need to be quantified. We investigated patterns of inorganic-N deposition across two spatial scales—regional and local—in six oak savanna sites across north-central California during the 2008–2009 wet season. We found a regional-scale deposition gradient in which sites closer to urban and agricultural sources received higher rates of deposition than more remote sites. Additionally, sites closer to urban sources received a greater proportion of N as NO3−-N. At the local, within-site scale, canopy understories received greater N inputs compared to the adjacent open grassland. Temporal heterogeneity in N deposition was also found. Deposition exhibited a strong seasonal pattern, corresponding to the distinct wet-dry cycles characteristic of this Mediterranean ecosystem. While these spatial and temporal results were expected, it was surprising that the magnitude of the hotspot effect under oaks changed across the regional gradient. At the high deposition end of the regional gradient proportionally more N was received beneath canopies than at the low end of the gradient. This nonlinearity between local and regional scales demonstrates the importance of landscape context for understanding within-site dynamics and the need for multi-scalar research approaches. Incorporating regional-scale landscape context and local-scale vegetation structure, as well as temporal variability, into our understanding of deposition patterns is crucial for monitoring efforts as well as addressing potential ecological effects of increased N deposition.
Beyond Biopolitics: Animal Studies, Factory Farms, and the Advent of Deading Life

This article seeks to do two things: articulate the function of biopolitics as a necessary correlate to human exceptionalism, and argue for the factory farm as a supplementary inverse of biopolitical logic. Human exceptionalism is based fundamentally in a desire to create protected lives, and lives that can be, or even need to be, exterminated. In other words, human exceptionalism is the very definition of biopolitics. However, biopolitical theory was mostly developed around thinking through issues of human genocides, particularly the Nazi Lager. Despite attempts to think the analogies between Auschwitz and a factory farm, such analogies ignore important historical and theoretical specificities. While the biopolitical is an important, even necessary, theoretical understanding of humans’ relations to other animals, it is not sufficient for thinking the realities of factory farming. We need a conceptual apparatus not rooted in the ability to think the horrors of human genocide, but one rooted in the ability to think the horrors of the factory farm. Thus I propose the animals in the factory farm exist in the political ontology of deading life; that is beings who should be alive, but are somehow already dead. This conceptual apparatus is not meant to oppose the thought of the biopolitical, it is meant to supplement the biopolitical—to allow us to think with and beyond the biopolitical. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE
Inhibitory effect of sodium nitroprusside on the relaxing action of isoproterenol in isolated rat urinary bladder.

Abstract 1. Isoproterenol caused relaxation of rat detrusor muscles contracted by electrical stimulations. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and methylene blue inhibited the relaxation induced by isoproterenol without affecting forskolin-induced relaxation. 2. In the presence of theophylline, zaprinast still potentiated isoproterenol-relaxation. In the presence of butoxamine, a selective β 2 -adrenoceptor inhibitor, but not metoprolol, a selective β 1 -adrenoceptor inhibitor, SNP still inhibited isoproterenol-relaxation. 3. SNP inhibited the relaxation to dobutamine, a β 1 -adrenoceptor agonist, but not that to terbutaline, a β 2 -adrenoceptor agonist. The relaxation to dobutamine was also inhibited by methylene blue. Further, in the presence of theophylline, zaprinast still potentiated dobutamine-relaxation. 4. Isoproterenol increased tissue level of cGMP, which was inhibited by propranolol. 5. These results suggest a possibility that, in rat detrusor muscles, isoproterenol causes relaxation due to increases in the level of both cAMP and cGMP.
Opioid inhibition of reflex urinary bladder contractions: dissociation of supraspinal and spinal mechanisms.

The supraspinal and spinal mechanisms of morphine induced inhibition of reflex urinary bladder contractions were studied in the urethane anesthetized rat. The inhibition of bladder contractions by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) morphine was abolished by intrathecal (i.t.) naloxone. In addition systemic reserpine (3.5-5.0 mg/kg, i.p.) abolished the inhibitory effect of both systemic morphine and i.c.v. morphine but not that of i.t. morphine. These data support the involvement of separate supraspinal and spinal mechanisms in the effects of morphine on bladder motility. The supraspinal effect appeared to be mediated indirectly via a monoaminergic system whereas the spinal action was mediated independently of monoamines. However, both the indirect supraspinal and the direct spinal mechanism involved a spinal naloxone-sensitive process possibly an endogenous enkephalinergic system.
The effect of SERMs on the endometrium.

: Tamoxifen, the first clinically available SERM, was developed in 1966 and approved by the FDA (United States Food and Drug Administration) in 1978. It is the most prescribed antineoplastic drug in the world, with approximately 10 million women-use-years of experience. Tamoxifen has proved efficacious in all settings of breast cancer. However, in the mid-to-late 1980s, a series of letters to the editor and case reports announced an association between tamoxifen therapy in women with breast cancer and the development of endometrial carcinoma. Subsequently, in 1998, the observation of a significant 49% reduction in invasive breast cancer relative to placebo in a cohort of women at increased risk for the disease resulted in the early stopping of the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project's (NSABP) P-1: Breast Cancer Prevention Trial (BCPT). Importantly, this was the first time that information became available about the effects of tamoxifen in healthy women, that is, women who did not already have breast cancer. In this healthy population, the relative risk of developing endometrial carcinoma in the tamoxifen arm was 2.54, although when stratified by age, in women over 50, the risk grew to 4.01. Thus, the risk appears to be confined to women over 50 because, in contrast, in women under 50 there was no statistically significant increase in the risk of endometrial carcinoma.
Neural crest motility and integrin regulation are distinct in cranial and trunk populations

The neural crest is a transient cell population that travels long distances through the embryo to form a wide range of derivatives. The extensive migration of the neural crest is highly unusual and incompletely understood. We examined the ability of neural crest cells (NCCs) to migrate under different conditions in vitro. Unlike most motile cell types, avian NCCs migrate efficiently on a wide range of fibronectin concentrations. Strikingly, the migration of NCCs on laminin depends on the axial level from which the crest is derived. On high concentrations of laminin, cranial NCCs migrate at approximately twice the rate of trunk NCCs and show greater persistence, a higher percentage of migratory cells, and a less organized cytoskeleton. The difference in migration between cranial and trunk neural crest is not due to transcriptional differences in integrin mRNA, but rather to differences in posttranslational regulation. Overexpression of a single integrin is sufficient to significantly slow the migration velocity of cranial neural crest cultured on high laminin densities. These results demonstrate that neural crest cells accommodate a wide range of ECM concentrations in vitro and suggest that differences in integrin regulation along the anterior-posterior axis may contribute to differences in neural crest migration and cell fate.
Using screening test data to recognize reactive chemical hazards

The evaluation of reactive hazards is necessary for safe operations in the chemical process industries. An integral aspect of reactive hazard testing is the screening of chemicals to focus experimental efforts on the more hazardous chemicals. Screening is often performed using a Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) or the Reactive System Screening Tool (RSST). The study of chemical incompatibility highlights the need for efficient screening techniques, since a large number of experiments must be performed at a reasonable cost and in a short period of time. A purpose of this paper is to present chemical incompatibility data measured using the RSST for di-tert-butyl peroxide (DTBP) in a variety of organic solvents. Analysis of the data with regard to the solvent functional groups was generalized to extend the measured data to compounds for which data are unavailable. Further, a classification for reactive chemicals is proposed that can serve as a guideline for selecting compositions for detailed testing.
New Low Light Level Underwater TV Camera

The last few years have seen significant advances in viewing technology. The solid state sensor (CCD, CID, and MOS) devices, and second generation Image Intensifiers, along with parallel advances in circuit components, have contributed to smaller, more reliable, and better performing viewing systems. Solid state sensors have no geometric distortion or lag, and require less complex drive circuits than their tube type counterparts. Furthermore, making use of the small, surface mount components available today, viewing systems can fit into the smallest of available space. Sensitivity can be increased significantly by coupling a second generation image intensifier to the input of the solid state sensor. The increased sensitivity is attained with very little consequence as far as size or power. The volume of a typical 18mm image intensifier is about 5 cu. in., the power required is less than 100 mW, but the gain in sensitivity is about 4 orders of magnitude. This means the necessary lighting requirement can be reduced significantly, and viewing range can be increased. Further increases in viewing range can be obtained with gated image intensifiers and range gating techniques. A new low light level solid state camera is described, embracing some of these advances. It uses a frame transfer CCD coupled to a second generation image intensifier in a potted assembly. Extensive use of surface mount components and carefully planned circuit partitioning allow it a greater degree of packaging flexibility than traditional designs. There is a general discussion of image intensifiers, solid state sensors and methods of coupling. Sensitivity, resolution, and underwater application performance are addressed.
A WirelessHART and IEC 61850 Gateway Proposal

Automation systems for monitoring and controlling power substations have received significant improvements through the implementation of IEC 61850 standard, which brought as the main advantage the interoperability between the different devices. However, there is still a gap in the use of wireless communication systems. The current standard does not adopt wireless communication options which allow low maintenance and installation costs. This paper proposes a solution for the integration of wireless communication technologies within the standard IEC 61850 attending the requirements of the power substations, such as reliability and security even in real-time applications.
Long-distance longitudinal transport of gravel across the Cordilleran thrust belt of Montana and Idaho

Two newly identified middle Eocene paleovalleys (≥ 100 km long) preserved on top of the southwest Montana reentrant of the Cordilleran fold-and-thrust belt indicate long-lived longitudinal flow across the thrust belt and resolve a long-standing debate about the source of the voluminous quartzite debris in the Upper Cretaceous to lower Tertiary Divide, Harebell, and Pinyon conglomerates of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. Geologic mapping, stratigraphic, provenance, and geochronologic studies revealed that Eocene volcanic and sedimentary rocks in the paleovalleys are as thick as 2 km, onlap preexisting bedrock, and interfinger with well-rounded conglomerate derived from formations exposed only to the west. The middle Eocene paleovalleys are the youngest expression of a major paleoriver system that transported sediment toward the foreland during the Sevier orogeny. An Eocene subcrop map shows that the headwaters of the Eocene paleovalleys coincided with structural culminations in the thrust belt that supplied sediment to the Divide conglomerate of the Upper Cretaceous to lower Tertiary Beaverhead Group. Ultimately, the Lemhi Pass and Hawley Creek paleovalleys provided several thousand cubic kilometers of quartzite debris to the Pinyon and Harebell conglomerates of northwest Wyoming 200–350 km away, and formed the northwest half of a giant longitudinal drainage system. Sevier contraction, not the rising Idaho batholith, first uplifted vast culminations beneath the headwaters of this river system.
Interdependence, Rules, and Rural Development

This paper explores land use conflicts between non-farm neighbors and farmers to illustrate the usefulness of the concepts of interdependence, rules, and property rights when doing rural development. Recognizing interdependence and its implications helps economic analysis focus on and understand the types of rules and institutions having the most influence on economic behavior, and thus identify policy alternatives. The resolution of land uses conflicts, for example, unavoidably changes the bundle of rights associated with land, andinfluences who can impose costs of whom; it makes a difference if a large farm has the right to produce odors, flies, or noise that reduces their neighbors' abilities to enjoy theneighbors' own land, or if instead, neighbors have the right to use their property without experiencing farm-produced odors, flies or noise the farm may be unable to use its own land for agriculture without being inconvenienced.
Limitations of the Test Reviewing Process: A Response to Clarizio and Mehrens:

This is a response to the article by Clarizio and Mehrens in this issue. The author argues that the article by Clarizio and Mehrens is too negative in tone and fails to acknowledge the strengths and values of SOI tests.
A mini-UAV VTOL Platform for Surveying Applications

In this paper we discuss implementation of a mini-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) platform for surveying activities related to highway construction. Recent advances in sensor and communication technologies have allowed scaling sizes of unmanned aerial platforms, and explore them for tasks that are economical and safe over populated or inhabited areas. In highway construction the capability of mini-UAVs to survey in hostile and/or hardly accessible areas can greatly reduce human risks. The project focused on developing a cost effective, remotely controlled, fuel powered mini-UAV VTOL (helicopter) platform with certain payload capacity and configuration and demonstrated its use in surveying and monitoring activities required for highway planning and construction. With an on-board flight recorder global positioning system (GPS) device, memory storage card, telemetry, inertial navigation sensors, and a video camera the mini-UAV can record flying coordinates and relay live video images to a remote ground receiver and surveyor. After all necessary integration and flight tests were done the mini-UAV helicopter was tested to operate and relay video from the areas where construction was underway. The mini-UAV can provide a platform for a range of sensors and instruments that directly support the operational requirements of transportation sector.
Use of pheromone mimic to cause the disintegration and collapse of colonies of tent caterpillars (Malacosoma spp.)

The disruption of the trail-based communication system of eastern tent caterpillars (ETC) (Malacosoma americanum) and forest tent caterpillars (FTC) (M. disstria) by spraying host trees with a trail pheromone mimic caused the disintegration and collapse of young colonies. A 1-ppm formulation of 5β-cholestan-3-one or a control formulation was sprayed on trees either before or after eclosion of the caterpillars in the spring. For pre-eclosion trials, an average of 92% of the FTC colonies on control trees, but only 17% of colonies on treated trees consisted of viable, cohesive aggregates when survival was assessed 5-23 days post-spray. The remaining colonies had either completely disappeared or were reduced to small, disintegrated fragments. For the ETC, 100% of colonies on control trees and an average of 12% of colonies on treated trees consisted of cohesive aggregates inhabiting tents when survival was assessed 3-41 days post-spray. The remaining colonies were completely destroyed, reduced to scattered individuals, or to small, disintegrated, shelter-less fragments. For post-eclosion trials with the FTC in which colonies were sprayed during their first or second larval stadium, an average of 63% of individuals in control groups but only 7% in treatment groups were still on the sprayed trees 5-18 days post-spray. For the ETC, colonies were largely unaffected when trees were not sprayed until after the caterpillars had eclosed and established tents. For all trials, the loss of individuals on treated trees was largely attributable to the inability of dispersed and isolated first or second instar caterpillars to maintain secure purchase, causing them to fall from trees and perish. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the potential of manipulating populations of pest species by interfering with a trail-based, chemical communication system.
Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma: Pathogenesis and Emerging Therapies

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma ranges from 1.3 to 9.8% of all thyroid cancers globally. Mutations, amplifications, activation of oncogenes and silencing of tumour suppressor genes contribute to its aggressive behaviour, and recent studies (e.g. microarrays, microRNAs) have provided further insights into its complex molecular dysregulation. Preclinical studies have identified numerous proteins over- or underexpressed that affect critical cellular processes, including transcription, signalling, mitosis, proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis and adhesion, and a variety of agents that effectively inhibit these processes and tumour growth. In clinical studies of 1771 patients, 64% were women, the median survival was 5 months, and 1-year survival was 20%. The variables associated with survival in some series included age, tumour size, extent of surgery, higher dose radiotherapy, absence of distant metastases at presentation, co-existence of differentiated thyroid cancer and multimodality therapy. However, considerable bias exists in these non-randomised studies. Although more aggressive radiotherapy has reduced locoregional recurrences, the median overall survival has not improved in over 50 years. Newer systemic therapies are being tried, and more effective combinations are needed to improve patient outcomes.
Spectral domain phase microscopy

We describe Spectral Domain Phase Microscopy (SDPM), a phase-sensitive functional derivative of spectral domain OCT that allows for the real-time measurement of cellular motions with sensitivities in the picometer regime.
The molecular structure of perfluorocarbon polymers. II. Pyrolysis of polytetrafluoroethylene

Vacuum pyrolysis of thin samples of polytetrafluoroethylene follows first-order kinetics with monomer as the only important decomposition product in the temperature range 360–510°C. The rate constant for vacuum pyrolysis is independent of both the melt viscosity and the type of polymer and is characterized by an activation enthalpy of 83.0 kcal./mole and a frequency factor of 3 × 1019 sec.−1. The molecular weight is found to decrease during pyrolysis. A plausible reaction mechanism consistent with these facts involves random chain cleavage, depropagation with short kinetic chain length, and termination by disproportionation. For thick samples the rate of vacuum pyrolysis is controlled by diffusion of monomer. The course of pyrolysis is changed by the presence of monomer or gaseous pyrolysis products. Accumulation of monomer reduces the rate of pyrolysis as measured by the weight loss and results in formation of a waxy product consisting of low molecular weight fluorocarbons.
Largest induced subgraphs of the n-cube that contain no. 4-cycles

Every induced subgraph of the n-cube, Qn, with more than ⌈2n+13⌉ vertices is shown to contain a 4-cycle; this bound is sharp. The extremal graphs are characterized as translations of a specific subgraph of Qn.
Default network activity, coupled with the frontoparietal control network, supports goal-directed cognition.

Abstract Tasks that demand externalized attention reliably suppress default network activity while activating the dorsal attention network. These networks have an intrinsic competitive relationship; activation of one suppresses activity of the other. Consequently, many assume that default network activity is suppressed during goal-directed cognition. We challenge this assumption in an fMRI study of planning. Recent studies link default network activity with internally focused cognition, such as imagining personal future events, suggesting a role in autobiographical planning. However, it is unclear how goal-directed cognition with an internal focus is mediated by these opposing networks. A third anatomically interposed ‘frontoparietal control network’ might mediate planning across domains, flexibly coupling with either the default or dorsal attention network in support of internally versus externally focused goal-directed cognition, respectively. We tested this hypothesis by analyzing brain activity during autobiographical versus visuospatial planning. Autobiographical planning engaged the default network, whereas visuospatial planning engaged the dorsal attention network, consistent with the anti-correlated domains of internalized and externalized cognition. Critically, both planning tasks engaged the frontoparietal control network. Task-related activation of these three networks was anatomically consistent with independently defined resting-state functional connectivity MRI maps. Task-related functional connectivity analyses demonstrate that the default network can be involved in goal-directed cognition when its activity is coupled with the frontoparietal control network. Additionally, the frontoparietal control network may flexibly couple with the default and dorsal attention networks according to task domain, serving as a cortical mediator linking the two networks in support of goal-directed cognitive processes.
A dynamical systems approach to understanding self-regulation in smoking cessation behavior change

Introduction Self-regulation, a key component of the addiction process, has been challenging to model precisely in smoking cessation settings, largely due to the limitations of traditional methodological approaches in measuring behavior over time. However, increased availability of intensive longitudinal data (ILD) measured through ecological momentary assessment facilitates the novel use of an engineering modeling approach to better understand self-regulation. Methods Dynamical systems modeling is a mature engineering methodology that can represent smoking cessation as a self-regulation process. This article shows how a dynamical systems approach effectively captures the reciprocal relationship between day-to-day changes in craving and smoking. Models are estimated using ILD from a smoking cessation randomized clinical trial. Results A system of low-order differential equations is presented that models cessation as a self-regulatory process. It explains 87.32% and 89.16% of the variance observed in craving and smoking levels, respectively, for an active treatment group and 62.25% and 84.12% of the variance in a control group. The models quantify the initial increase and subsequent gradual decrease in craving occurring postquit as well as the dramatic quit-induced smoking reduction and postquit smoking resumption observed in both groups. Comparing the estimated parameters for the group models suggests that active treatment facilitates craving reduction and slows postquit smoking resumption. Conclusions This article illustrates that dynamical systems modeling can effectively leverage ILD in order to understand self-regulation within smoking cessation. Such models quantify group-level dynamic responses in smoking cessation and can inform the development of more effective interventions in the future.
How internet users' privacy concerns have evolved since 2002

Internet privacy was the topic in this paper. A 2008 survey revealed that US Internet users' top three privacy concerns haven't changed since 2002, but privacy-related events might have influenced their level of concern within certain categories. The authors describe their results as well as the differences in privacy concerns between US and international respondents. They also mentioned that individuals have become more concerned about personalization in customized browsing experiences, monitored purchasing patterns, and targeted marketing and research.
Studies on the fine structure of normal and denervated neuromuscular junctions from mouse gastrocnemius

The fine structure of normal and denervated motor end-plates of gastrocnemii from albino mice was examined in this study. Changes following nerve section are described and include a decrease in the number of synaptic vesicles and axonal terminal retraction from subsynaptic sarcolemma. Counts on the number of synaptic vesicles and the degree of axonal terminal retraction in terms of percentage of total sub-neurilemmal cross-sectional area were made with the aid of a compensating polar planimeter. The events (decrease in the number of synaptic vesicles and axonal terminal retraction) observed here are compared with previously reported loss of neuro-muscular transmission in cat gastrocnemius and decrease in acetylcholine concentration in the distal portion of sectioned popliteal nerves (12). It is suggested from this study that causes for neuromuscular transmission failure following denervation are multiple and due as much to retraction of axolemma from the subsynaptic sarcolemma as to any other single factor.
Survival of Corneal Grafts from Donors Supported by Mechanical Ventilation

Eighty-five patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty with tissue from donors supported by mechanical ventilation (Ventilator group) were compared to a surgeon- and diagnosis-matched group (Control group). Age at surgery, duration of follow-up, and sex of recipient patients were similar in the two groups. The mean donor age in the Ventilator group (26.4 years) was significantly less than in the Control group (45.8 years, P less than 0.0001). Mean time on the ventilator was 99.4 hours (range, 4 hours to 21 days). Overall graft survival rates in the Ventilator and Control groups were similar (P greater than or equal to 0.72). Time on the ventilator did not affect graft survival. Cultures of corneoscleral donor rims were positive more often in the Ventilator group than in Controls (39.7 versus 23.1%), but the difference was not significant (P = 0.09). Prolonged ventilator time was not associated with a higher rate of positive corneoscleral rim cultures, nor did positive cultures affect graft survival. The most common cause of graft failure in both groups was allograft rejection. In no case could postoperative bacterial infection be attributed to contamination of the donor material. One case of primary donor failure occurred in the Ventilator group, but the incidence (1.2%) is similar to that of previously reported studies. The data indicate that corneal tissue from ventilator-supported donors should be considered for use in penetrating keratoplasty.
Flashover performance of thin-wall spacers in field emission displays

This paper reports for the first time the electrical conduction and breakdown characteristics of thin-wall ceramic spacers bridging two thin-film electrodes, which represent the FEA cathode and the phosphor anode in a field emission display (FED). Techniques to set up a high aspect- ratio thin-wall spacer were specially developed, without use of glue. An extra-low light detection 3D-imaging system using an intensified CCD camera was developed, without use of glue. An extra-low light detection 3D-imaging system using an intensified CCD camera was developed which was able to identify the location of any light activity in the stressed vacuum-gap, indicative of imminent device failure. The result of this work are highly encouraging in that an approximately 1000 micrometers tall spacer can support approximately 18 kV, at least 80 percent above the expected operational voltage of high voltage FEDs. However, it is likely that the breakdown strength can degrade in the presence of electronic bombardment from the field emitted array in an FED - a subject for future investigations in our laboratory.
RAPIDITY OF RESPONSE OF SPINACH TO CHANGE IN PHOTOPERIOD.

When plants are shifted abruptly from existing photoperiodic conditions to a day-length favorable for flowering, changes in the metabolism of the plant result ultimately in flower-bud formation. The change thus initiated should be easier to demonstrate than the gradual shift from a vegetative to a flowering stage which accompanies the natural variation in length of day. These experiments were conducted to see how quickly a change could be noted in the plant after a change in photoperiod. Garner, Bacon and Allard (1) found a sharp decline in the hydrogenion concentration of the sap of the region of the growing points of a number of species of plants. This occurred three to five days after the plants were transferred to a short day. They believed this to mark definitely the actual transition from the vegetative to the flowering stage. The catalase activity of the tissues of the growing point has been shown (3, 4) to be closely associated with the vegetative or reproductive condition of the bud. As the seed-stalk increased in height the catalase activity decreased. Unpublished data obtained in connection with earlier studies (4) indicated that there was a considerable increase in catalase activity of cosmos buds the morning following the sudden change from a long to a short day, although some days later the catalase activity decreased. Further, it seemed that this increase in catalase activity could be noted within a few hours of the change. A vegetative spinach plant may have a stem height of 5 to 7 mm. as measured from the junction of the root and stem. Thus in data previously presented (3) which showed a correlation between the increase in height of seed-stalk and the decrease in catalase activity of the apical bud, there were 43 of the 143 individuals which had a seed-stalk height of less than 10 mm. This stage of development was accompanied by a high catalase activity of the bud. It was impossible to say whether or not this level of catalase activity was higher than it was before the plants were exposed to the longer photoperiod. Seed-stalk development had not proceeded far enough for elongation to be visible. Nor had the bud reached the stage which would be accompanied by a decline in the catalase activity.
Structural Configuration Analysis of Crew Exploration Vehicle Concepts

Structural configuration modeling and finite element analysis of crew exploration vehicle (CEV) concepts are presented. In the structural configuration design approach, parametric solid models of the pressurized shell and tanks are developed. The CEV internal cabin pressure is same as in the International Space Station (ISS) to enable docking with the ISS without an intermediate airlock. Effects of this internal pressure load on the stress distribution, factor of safety, mass and deflections are investigated. Uniform 7 mm thick skin shell, 5 mm thick shell with ribs and frames, and isogrid skin construction options are investigated. From this limited study, the isogrid construction appears to provide most strength/mass ratio. Initial finite element analysis results on the service module tanks are also presented. These rapid finite element analyses, stress and factor of safety distribution results are presented as a part of lessons learned and to build up a structural mass estimation and sizing database for future technology support. This rapid structural analysis process may also facilitate better definition of the vehicles and components for rapid prototyping. However, these structural analysis results are highly conceptual and exploratory in nature and do not reflect current configuration designs being conducted at the program level by NASA and industry.
Changes in hardwood forest understory plant communities in response to European earthworm invasions.

European earthworms are colonizing earthworm-free northern hardwood forests across North America. Leading edges of earthworm invasion provide an opportunity to investigate the response of understory plant communities to earthworm invasion and whether the species composition of the earthworm community influences that response. Four sugar maple-dominated forest sites with active earthworm invasions were identified in the Chippewa National Forest in north central Minnesota, USA. In each site, we established a 30 3 150 m sample grid that spanned a visible leading edge of earthworm invasion and sampled earthworm populations and understory vegetation over four years. Across leading edges of earthworm invasion, increasing total earthworm biomass was associated with decreasing diversity and abundance of herbaceous plants in two of four study sites, and the abundance and density of tree seedlings decreased in three of four study sites. Sample points with the most diverse earthworm species assemblage, independent of biomass, had the lowest plant diversity. Changes in understory plant community composition were most affected by increasing biomass of the earthworm species Lumbricus rubellus. Where L. rubellus was absent there was a diverse community of native herbaceous plants, but where L. rubellus biomass reached its maximum, the herbaceous-plant community was dominated by Carex pensylvanica and Arisaema triphyllum and, in some cases, was completely absent. Evidence from these forest sites suggests that earthworm invasion can lead to dramatic changes in the understory community and that the nature of these changes is influenced by the species composition of the invading earthworm community.
Labor force behavior in the process of socioeconomic attainment: New scales added to classical models☆

Abstract We show that new scales summarizing complex types of labor force behavior are strongly related to socioeconomic attainments for males aged 25–64, net of standard predictors measuring background, schooling, and experience or first-job status. Baseline status-attainment models are reconsidered with data from the 1973 Occupational Changes in a Generation study (OCG-II), with both the models and the data viewed as an important test case. One goal is to examine whether the “effects” of labor force behavior remain when background status and other factors are statistically controlled. Results provide evidence for the importance of proximate labor market experiences (i.e., recent labor-force careers) and worker marginality (i.e., underemployment) in models predicting occupational status and especially in models predicting log-earnings. The perspective advocated here can be used in longitudinal analyses involving labor force careers as predictors of attainments over the life cycle.
GAC-GEO: a generic agglomerative clustering framework for geo-referenced datasets

Major challenges of clustering geo-referenced data include identifying arbitrarily shaped clusters, properly utilizing spatial information, coping with diverse extrinsic characteristics of clusters and supporting region discovery tasks. The goal of region discovery is to identify interesting regions in geo-referenced datasets based on a domain expert’s notion of interestingness. Almost all agglomerative clustering algorithms only focus on the first challenge. The goal of the proposed work is to develop agglomerative clustering frameworks that deal with all four challenges. In particular, we propose a generic agglomerative clustering framework for geo-referenced datasets (GAC-GEO) generalizing agglomerative clustering by allowing for three plug-in components. GAC-GEO agglomerates neighboring clusters maximizing a plug-in fitness function that capture the notion of interestingness of clusters. It enhances typical agglomerative clustering algorithms in two ways: fitness functions support task-specific clustering, whereas generic neighboring relationships increase the number of merging candidates. We also demonstrate that existing agglomerative clustering algorithms can be considered as specific cases of GAC-GEO. We evaluate the proposed framework on an artificial dataset and two real-world applications involving region discovery. The experimental results show that GAC-GEO is capable of identifying arbitrarily shaped hotspots for different data mining tasks.
Isolation, purification and characterisation of lunasin from defatted soybean flour and in vitro evaluation of its anti-inflammatory activity

Abstract Lunasin is a chemopreventive peptide present in soybean and other plant sources. The high cost involved in obtaining synthetic lunasin limits its application in chemopreventive and nutritional interventions. The objective of this study was to isolate, purify and characterise lunasin from defatted soybean flour and determine its in vitro anti-inflammatory activity using RAW 264.7 macrophages. Isolation and purification was achieved by ion-exchange chromatography, ultrafiltration and size exclusion chromatography. The identity of lunasin was established by Western blot, HPLC, MALDI-TOF and LC/MS-MS. The results showed that lunasin eluted from a DEAE anion exchange column at 0.15 M NaCl, and after 1.5 void volumes from size exclusion chromatography. Fractions from both chromatographic techniques consistently showed three peptides with positive immunoreactivity against lunasin mouse monoclonal antibody corresponding to 5, 8 and 14 kDa. LC/MS-MS analysis of the three immunoreactive peptides showed that 5 and 14 kDa bands contained the lunasin epitope, RGDDDDDD DDD while 8 kDa band showed high homology with 2 S soy albumin, a lunasin precursor. This is the first report on the potential anti-inflammatory activity of lunasin. Treatment of RAW 264.7 macrophage with 100 μM lunasin decreased the production of NO (92.6 ± 0.8%) and PGE 2 (10.1 ± 4.5%), and the expression of iNOS (27.8 ± 2.1%) and COX-2 (41.4 ± 16.7%). We concluded that combination of ion-exchange chromatography, ultrafiltration and size exclusion chromatography represents a feasible process for the production of purified lunasin, which was also found to inhibit COX-2/PGE 2 and iNOS/NO pathways. This newly discovered property of lunasin might contribute to the suppression of inflammation in vivo .
Building a Cell and Anatomy Ontology of Caenorhabditis elegans

We are endowed with a rich knowledge about Caenorhabditis elegans. Its stereotyped anatomy and development has stimulated research and resulted in the accumulation of cell-based information concerning gene expression, and the role of specific cells in developmental signalling and behavioural circuits. To make the information more accessible to sophisticated queries and automated retrieval systems, WormBase has begun to construct a C. elegans cell and anatomy ontology. Here we present our strategies and progress.
Patients in psychoanalysis: some findings related to sex and religion.

The paper reports on findings related to the sex and religious backgrounds of 144 patients in psychoanalytic treatment between September 1, 1962, and August 31, 1963. The data, obtained from questionnaires completed by 30 analysts in the Baltimore area, indicate significant differences between the sexes and among religious groups in a number of areas related to diagnosis and symptomatology.
Isolation and Purification of Double-Stranded RNA Fragments from Retrovirus RNA

Abstract Genomic or high molecular weight RNA of retroviruses consisted of 2 to 5% double-stranded RNA. Fragmentation of genomic viral RNA by limited RNase T1 treatment before cellulose CF-11 chromatography indicated that 3 to 5% of the viral RNA fragments were eluted as double-stranded RNA. This double-strandedness was in close agreement with the more representative 2 to 3% double-strandedness as determined by RNase T2 resistance studies performed on genomic and subunit viral RNA. The double-stranded RNA of RNase T2 treated retrovirus RNA was purified by cellulose CF-11 chromatography.
Infrared and Raman spectra of sol-gel prepared methyl-substituted silica

Sol-gel processes provide techniques to prepare materials which contain silicate and organic groups in a single amorphous phase. Such materials can possibly possess a resultant combination of beneficial physical and chemical properties from silicate glass and organic polymeric materials. Also, silica glasses containing organic components in their network can more readily dissolve organic dyes, and therefore be used in optical fibers to promote optical amplifier capabilities. The properties of such solid materials intimately relate to the structural arrangements in the materials. Infrared and Raman spectroscopy have been applied in this study to obtain valuable information for sol-gel condensates from the tetramethoxysilane (TMOS)/diethoxydimethylsilane (DEDMS)/methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) system. Compositions in this system can possess methyl-bonded silicon atoms in their structural networks in contrast to silica gels and glasses. The resulting differences that are noted in the distributions of the three-fold (Si-O)3 ring and the four-fold (Si-O)4 ring structures of these materials with respect to silica gels and glasses are discussed on the basis of observed infrared and Raman spectra. Also, structural changes occurring during the heat treatment of gels that were prepared from binary TMOS/DEDMS mixtures were also investigated using infrared spectroscopy.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Simultaneous SOHO andYohkoh Observations of a Small Solar Active Region

We present new results from observations of a small active region taken with the SUMER spectrograph and Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) on SOHO and with the Soft X-Ray Telescope (SXT) on Yohkoh. The SUMER study features line and continuum emission covering a wide range of temperatures and includes the density-sensitive O IV] λ1400 multiplet. A more extensive analysis of quiet Sun data presented in a previous paper is also included. The presence of a power-law relationship between emission-line power and electron density is confirmed, although the exponents in the active region are slightly higher than those found in the quiet Sun. These power-law relationships suggest that the volume filling factor decreases with increasing density and indicate possible differences between emitting material in active regions and the quiet Sun. We study active-region emission measures from both the SUMER and SXT data sets. For the active region as a whole, SXT temperatures and emission measures appear to fit smoothly onto the emission-measure distribution determined from cooler transition region and coronal lines in the SUMER spectra. We find no significant variation in the shape of the lower transition region emission-measure distribution for different subregions of the data set. This reinforces the conclusion from the original quiet Sun paper that ensembles of "cool loops" are unlikely to be the source of this emission unless the structures are considerably smaller than the 1'' spatial resolution of SUMER.
Sweat chloride and conductivity 1

Editor,—As a principal author of the sweat testing document published by National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) and consultant to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) (USA), I write to address an inaccuracy in the article by Heeley et al .1 The authors misrepresent the NCCLS document on the role of conductivity analysis. Nowhere does the NCCLS document refer to the current conductivity methods described in the paper as unreliable; it does restate the widely accepted fact that some older conductivity methods are subject to evaporation error. The NCCLS document goes on to state that the CFF has approved the use of newer conductivity analysers for the screening of cystic fibrosis (CF) at community hospitals, using a decision level of 50 mmol/l.2 This decision level is supported by the data presented in the Heeley article. The data presented in the article concerning equivocal patients also support the US reference interval for sweat chloride …
Separation Failure in Linear Programming Discriminant Models

Linear programming discriminant analysis (LPDA) models are designed around a variety of objective functions, each representing a different measure of separation of the training samples by the resulting discriminant function. A separation failure is defined to be the selection of an “optimal” discriminant function which incompletely separates a pair of completely separable training samples. Occurrence of a separation failure suggests that the chosen discriminant function may have an unnecessarily low classification accuracy on the actual populations involved. In this paper, a number of the LPDA models proposed for the two-group case are examined to learn which are subject to separation failure. It appears that separation failure in any model can be avoided by applying the model twice, reversing group designations.
In-tool process control for advanced patterning based on integrated metrology

Control on the order of a nanometer is crucial for present days advanced logic, SRAM, and DRAM integrated circuits (IC). This level of control is necessary to ensure proper functioning of these circuits. In logic and SRAM applications the most important control parameter is the critical dimension of the gate conductor and for DRAM deep trench it is the etch depth. Advanced Process Control (APC) using feedforward and feedback closed loop techniques have been implemented in fabs for over two decades. Up until recently most fabs have used standalone metrology tools exclusively to collect critical wafer parameters. In this paper, a fully integrated Transforma TM Closed Loop (CL) etch system is used to facilitate nanometer gate etch control by enabling, for the first time, real-time feedforward and feedback measurement on a gate etch process.
Reduction of odor and volatile substances in pig slurries by using pit additives

Abstract The effects of five commercial pit additive products on the release of odor nuisance and volatile compounds from swine manure were examined in this study. The changes of pH, volatile fatty acids, total solids, total volatile solids, total nitrogen, and total ammonia nitrogen in swine manure were measured and the levels of aerial ammonia and hydrogen sulfide were monitored. The odor threshold was determined by a dynamic triangle forced‐choice olfactometer. The results showed that all the five products reduced the levels of odor threshold by different degrees ranging from 58% to 87% as compared with the control samples. Three of the five products showed reductions in volatile fatty acids and total volatile solids. Comparing the reduction in odor threshold levels with the changes in the amount of volatile fatty acids indicated that the malodor intensities are not proportionally related to the overall amount of volatile fatty acids existing in the swine manure. The malodor could be produced by certai...