cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Symposium: What Research Should Extension Poultry Specialists be Doing and How Should it be Carried Out?

Abstract THE purposes of this panel discussion are to examine the kinds of research being done by Extension Poultry Specialists and to see how it is organized and carried out. Three Extension Poultry Specialists from various sections of the country and with somewhat different approaches to research have been asked to report on their programs. Members R. A. E rnst University of California, Davis, California 95616 In California, specialized Farm Advisers do most of the field research, but they coordinate their plans with an Extension Poultry Specialist and biometrician. The procedure is for the Farm Adviser to draw up a plan and submit it for approval to the Extension Poultry Specialist and biometrician. If the plan involves an area outside of poultry, such as entomology, the plan is evaluated by a resource person in that area. The producer is informed of any risk involved before the project is started. The Farm Adviser helps collect…
Theory of Ion Angular Distributions in Electron-Stimulated Desorption

The angular distribution of ions desorbing from the surface of a solid is studied theoretically. Specific calculations for oxygen adsorbed on the (100) face of tungsten are presented. The angular patterns result from the three- dimensional spatial variations in the ion--solid potential surface. Details of the pattern are found to vary sensitively with changes in the surface geometry. (AIP)
RENAL TRANSPLANTATION IN DIABETES MELLITUS IN RATS

Immunoglobulins and complement are deposited in the glomerular mesangium of rats with progressive glomerulosclerosis secondary to chemically induced diabetes mellitus. Isotransplantation of a kidney from a rat diabetic for 6 mo into a normal recipient results within 2 mo in the disappearance of IgG, IgM, and β1C from the mesangium and arrest or reversal of the light microscopic glomerular lesions. Kidneys isotransplanted from normal donors into diabetic rats developed mesangial matrix thickening and deposition of IgG, IgM) and β1C in the mesangium. No glomerular changes occur upon transplantation of a normal kidney into a normal rat. These findings indicate that diabetic glomerular changes in the rat are reversible and are secondary to the diabetic state rather than to the inducing agent.
Deoxygenation of dibenzothiophene-S-oxide and dibenzoselenophene-Se-oxide : A comparison of direct and sensitized photolysis

Abstract Photolysis of dibenzothiophene- S -oxide (DBTO) and dibenzoselenophene-Se-oxide (DBSeO) was examined under direct and sensitized conditions. Quantum yield and solvent oxidation data are used to separate the direct irradiation conditions, plus benzophenone-sensitized and anthraquinone-sensitized irradiation of DBSeO, into one mechanistic class. Acridine-sensitized photolysis of DBSeO and triplet sensizitization of DBTO result in deoxygenation, but go by different mechanisms than the direct irradations. The two sensitized cases that appear mechanistically linked to direct photolysis are ones in which the spectroscopic triplet of DBSeO, which is very likely of comparable energy to the Se O BDE, is populated by triplet energy transfer.
Metacognitive emotion regulation: Children's awareness that changing thoughts and goals can alleviate negative emotions.

Metacognitive emotion regulation strategies involve deliberately changing thoughts or goals to alleviate negative emotions. Adults commonly engage in this type of emotion regulation, but little is known about the developmental roots of this ability. Two studies were designed to assess whether 5- and 6-year-old children can generate such strategies and, if so, the types of metacognitive strategies they use. In Study 1, children described how story protagonists could alleviate negative emotions. In Study 2, children recalled times that they personally had felt sad, angry, and scared and described how they had regulated their emotions. In contrast to research suggesting that young children cannot use metacognitive regulation strategies, the majority of children in both studies described such strategies. Children were surprisingly sophisticated in their suggestions for how to cope with negative emotions and tailored their regulatory responses to specific emotional situations.
A strategy for identifying osteoporosis risk genes.

The genetic factors that contribute to the susceptibility of osteoporosis are likely to be extremely heterogeneous, reflecting the complex genetic program that controls the cellular aspects of bone formation and remodeling. Because it is unlikely that current genetic methods will have the power to resolve multiple subtle genetic effects from the environmental contribution, biologic approaches will have to be developd to identify mechanistically similar forms of osteoporosis prior to applying more sophisticated molecular studies. This perspective article proposes a strategy that focuses on those subjects with an inherent impairment of bone formation as the primary cause of diminished bone mass. It views the impairment as a defect within the osteoprogenitor lineage and identifies the stage within the lineage where the progression digresses from normal. It is at the stage of diversion in the lineage that affected cells are isolated for extensive microarray studies with the intent to identify molecular pathways that are underperforming. The technological steps that have to be accomplished for this strategy to be successful rely heavily on promoter green fluorescent protein transgenes that can assess the extent and tempo of lineage progression in primary cells and intact bone, and that can allow for a relatively small subpopulation of cells from a primary bone cell culture to be isolated for molecular analysis. Initially, the strategy has to be validated in murine models with single gene defects affecting the performance of the osteoprogenitor lineage. The experience gained from murine models will allow a similar approach to be applied to humans.
Relationship between low hemoglobin levels and outcomes after treatment with radiation or chemoradiation in patients with cervical cancer: has the impact of anemia been overstated?

Purpose Previous reports have suggested that anemia increases rates of recurrence after radiation therapy for cervical cancer. However, these studies may not have fully corrected for confounding risk factors. Using a well-characterized cohort of cervical cancer patients, we examined the association between anemia and outcomes before and after the introduction of chemoradiation as standard of care. Methods and Materials We reviewed the records of 2454 patients who underwent definitive radiation therapy from 1980 through 2011. Minimum hemoglobin level (Hgb min ) was recorded for 2359 patients (96%). Endpoints included freedom from central recurrence (FFCR), freedom from distant metastasis (FFDM), and disease-specific survival (DSS). Results For the entire cohort, hemoglobin concentrations of 9, 10, and 12 g/dL before and during radiation were all significantly associated with FFCR, FFDM, and DSS (all P min less than 10 g/dL during RT (RT-Hgb ) remained significant, and it was correlated with lower DSS ( P =.02, hazard ratio [HR] = 1.28) and FFDM ( P =.03, HR=1.33) but not with FFCR. In a subset analysis of patients receiving chemoradiation (n=678), RT-Hgb was associated only with DSS ( P =.008, HR=1.49), not with FFCR or FFDM. In this subgroup, despite an association between RT-Hgb and DSS, the use of transfusion was not correlated with benefit. Conclusions No evidence was found supporting anemia as an independent predictor of central recurrence in patients treated with definitive radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy. Less emphasis on correcting anemia in cervical cancer patients may be warranted.
Neurons in culture maintain acetylcholine receptor levels with far fewer transcripts than in vivo

Of the 10 neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) genes identified in chick, five are expressed by ciliary ganglion neurons in vivo (α3, α5, α7, β2, and β4), and the mRNA levels produced increase during development approximately in parallel with the two major classes of AChRs present. Here we report that when chick ciliary ganglion neurons from 8-day embryos are transferred to dissociated cell culture, they express the same five genes but at much lower levels. The α3 and α7 transcripts, chosen for detailed analysis because they encode subunits segregated between the two AChR species, decrease rapidly in abundance on transfer to culture and, after 1 week, are at levels less than a 20th of those found in vivo for neurons of the same age. Co-culturing the neurons with skeletal myotubes did not increase the levels of AChR transcripts in the neurons. Despite low amounts of mRNA from all five genes, neither class of AChRs was much reduced in culture compared to in vivo. The numbers of AChRs on the cell surface actually increased with time in culture. Several culture conditions known to down-regulate the receptors in culture did not reduce the abundance of the α3 and α7 mRNAs. The results suggest that post-transcriptional controls can play an important role in determining AChR abundance on the neurons. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Average-case scalable on-line algorithms for fault replacement

Abstract We show that there is no average-case scalable on-line algorithm for replacing faulty nodes with spares in a general spare augmented architecture.
Impulsive set differential equations with delay

The basic theory of set impulsive set differential equations with delay is initiated by combining the theories of impulsive differential equations, set differential equations in metric spaces and delay differential equations.
Release from protoplasts of the Bacillus subtilis protease inhibitor

Conversion of Bacillus subtilis to protoplasts resulted in the release of 70–80% of the total protease inhibitor activity. Inhibitor fractions contained a polypeptide of approx. 15 kDa which reacted with inhibitor antibody. There was no release of protease inhibitor into the medium by sporulating cells, by osmotic shock of cells nor by washing with high concentrations of salt. The release of inhibitor activity was selective in that only 10–20% of the total protein, and < 10% of the glutamine synthetase activity was found in the protoplast supernatant. The inhibitor could be localized near the cell surface and function in cell protection.
Antibody-mediated enhancement of disease in feline infectious peritonitis: comparisons with dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Non-immune kittens passively immunized with feline serum containing high-titered antibodies reactive with feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV) developed a more rapid disease after FIPV challenge than did kittens pretreated with FIPV antibody-negative serum. Antibody-sensitized, FIPV challenged—kittens developed earlier clinical signs (including pyrexia, icterus, and thrombocytopenia) and died more rapidly than did non-sensitized, FIPV-challenged kittens. Mean survival time in sensitized kittens was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced compared to non-sensitized kittens (mean ± SEM, 10.0 ± 0.6 days vs. 28.8 ± 8.3 days, respectively). Lesions induced included fibrinous peritonitis, disseminated pyogranulomatous inflammation and necrotizing phlebitis and periphlebitis. FIPV antigen, immunoglobulin G, complement (C3) and fibrinogen were demonstrated in lesions by immunofluorescence microscopy. The pathogenesis of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) in persons bears striking resemblance to that of FIP in experimental kittens. In both FIP and DHF, non-neutralizing antibody may promote acute disease by enhancement of virus infection in mononuclear phagocytes or by formation of immune complexes, activation of complement and secondary vascular disturbances.
Axonal swellings in jimpy mice: Does lack of myelin cause neuronal abnormalities?

We have observed focal axonal enlargements in jimpy, a myelin deficient mutant mouse. Similar axonal swellings have also been found in other studies, in two other myelin deficient mutant mice and in a myelin deficient mutant rat. We suggest that this axonal abnormality represents a common secondary reaction to lack of myelin. Such a secondary reaction might also occur in other species including human, in response to deficient myelin or to loss of myelin due to disease.
Biochemical aspects of globoid and metachromatic leukodystrophies

Galactosylceramides and sulfogalactosylceramides are characteristic lipids of the myelin sheath. Two genetically determined leukodystrophies are caused by an inability to enzymically hydrolyze these glycolipids. Thus, a deficiency of galactocerebroside β-galactosidase results in globoid cell leukodystrophy, whereas a reduced activity of arylsulfatase A is responsible for metachromatic leukodystrophy. Besides these disorders, deficiencies of arylsulfatases A, B, C, and other sulfatases have been shown in a distinct condition called “multiple sulfatase deficiency”. All of these disorders are fatal and are characterized by marked demyelination and severe mental retardation. The cause of this demyelination is not known. However, cytotoxic galactosylsphingosine and sulfogalactosylsphingosine have been suggested as the agents responsible for this demyelination. Recent immunological studies have also shown that patients with globoid and metachromatic leukodystrophies contain a mutant galactocerebroside β-galactosidase and arylsulfatase A, respectively. The mutant enzymes have different kinetic properties compared to the enzymes from normal subjects. However, the can cross-react with antibodies to these enzymes. Since partially purified preparations of galactocerebroside β-galactosidase and homogeneous arylsulfatase A are now available, the possibility of enzyme replacement therapy in globoid and metachromatic leukodystrophies is discussed.
New approaches to children and development: Introduction and overview

Until recently, children as social actors have been largely invisible in development policy and practice, leading to disbenefits and lost opportunities both for children themselves and for the communities and societies in which they live. This paper provides an overview of the factors which have led to this situation, explores the impact of orthodox approaches on policy and practice, and lays out a preliminary agenda for future research and reform.
Numerical Simulations on Aerodynamic Drag of Ground Transportation System (GTS) Model

The aerodynamic drag characteristics of a heavy-duty truck with two configurations, a tractor and a single trailer, and a tractor and a tandem-trailer (two trailers), have been studied. The aerodynamic drag of a truck depends on geometry, frontal area and shape, and the speed of the truck. The basic geometry used in the simulation is a 1:8 scale Ground Transportation System (GTS). The effects of vehicle geometry, frontal shape, vehicle speed, and the gap size were investigated and the drag coefficients were computed. The effect of add-on devices such as aerodynamic boat-tail plates at the rear of the trailer on the aerodynamic drag of the truck has also been analyzed. In particular, the effects of the gap between tractor and trailer, and the gap between trailers on the aerodynamic drag of tractor and two trailers configuration were determined. The feasibility of Reynolds-Average Navier-Stokes (RANS) κ-e model in the prediction of aerodynamic drag at various Reynolds numbers has also been studied. The CFD software from CD-adapco together with an expert tool, es-aero, was used for all the analyses reported in this paper. CFD simulations for tractor and single trailer configuration were performed for various Reynolds numbers. The simulation results were validated with available experimental data and good agreements were found. Validation of numerical results for tractor and single trailer with the experimental data formed the basis for analyzing tractor and double trailer configuration. The tractor and two trailers configuration for different gap sizes between the trailers at various speeds were analyzed. The results showed that closing the gaps and incorporating boat-tails at the rear of the trailer could reduce the drag by as much as 33 percent. Drag coefficient also reduced by 46 percent by introducing smooth frontal fillets in case of tractor and single trailer. The study also emphasizes flow structures around the vehicle that contribute to the total drag.© 2006 ASME
Strategies for collecting networked statistics: practical suggestions

Purpose. To offer a range of practical suggestions for library staff and others who intend to collect and analyze data that describe their networked services. Method/approach. Based on the author's experience in completing a number of funded research projects on this topic, working directly with libraries in collecting networked statistics and implementing the findings from those efforts, and observing best practices at those libraries. Findings. Factors dealing with understanding the evaluation context, planning, training, organization, determining appropriate data collection methods, managing data, and knowing the target audience for reporting are all‐important. Details a number of specific factors and strategies that can be used to increase the success of collecting networked statistics. Practical implications. Thinking about the preparation needed to collect networked statistics and how the process can be handled as efficiently as possible before the effort begins can help ensure that the library staff uses its time as wisely as possible in the data collection process, collects high quality and useful data, integrates these data into other library data, can draw upon the data for future purposes through a management information system, and uses the data to improve overall library decision making, planning, and meeting community information needs.
Malpractice claims: outcome evidence to guide neurologic education?

Article abstract— The choice of objectives and content in neurologic education should be informed by evidence from patient outcomes and errors. Malpractice claims are proposed as one data source, although they only partially reflect health outcomes. Epidemiologic, statewide data suggest some provisional priorities for key topics and training targets, but require further research to assess their value for guiding neurologic education.
Spectrofluorometric Determination of Fluorescein-Tagged Tobacco Hornworms

The rate of disappearance of a 0.1% aqueous sodium Fluoresce in solution after being sprayed on adult male and female Manduca sexta (L.) and subsequently exposed in the laboratory, in the field, and in light traps was compared by spectroflnorometry. Also, when 1710 similarly marked male moths were released over a 2-month period on the island of St. Croix, 4.3% were recaptured in light traps. The fluorescein tagging proved effective and more sensitive than oil paint as a marker for the tobacco hornworm.
Monte carlo simulation of three-body ion-ion recombination

Three-body ion-ion recombination is studied, for Kr+ and F− ions in Ar and Xe+ and Cl− ions in Ne, at temperatures from 300 to 600 K and pressures from 0.5 to 8 atmospheres. A Monte Carlo simulation determines the probability of recombination for all ion pairs which approach within a critical separation and diffusion theory is used in the derivation of the macroscopic recombination rates.
The X-Ray K β 2 , 5 -Emission Lines and K -Absorption Limits of Cu-Zn Alloys

The shapes of the $K{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{2,5}$ lines of Cu and of Zn and their $K$-absorption edges in the pure metals and in a series of brasses have been studied with a double crystal spectrometer. Mixing Cu with Zn increases the high energy part of the emission of Cu $K{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{2,5}$ and decreases the corresponding part of the intensity of Zn $K{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{2}$. The magnitude of this redistribution of high energy conduction electrons between Cu and Zn is found to agree with theoretical calculations, which predict a maximum positive charge of about 10 percent of an electronic charge on a zinc atom dissolved in a Cu lattice. The present results are offered as further support for that interpretation of Cu $K{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{2,5}$ structure which attributes the extra low frequency emission to $3d$ band emission. In every alloy Zn $K{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{5}$ appears with very little change in width or in intensity per $Z\mathrm{n}$ atom, and can be definitely assigned to $3d$ quadrupole emission. No shifts of the high energy sides of the emission lines or the corresponding absorption limits greater than the experimental error have been observed with alloying, and there appears to be no evidence of any effect of crystal structure on the emission lines.
Micron thick epitaxial (100) Ag film growth on MgO

Epitaxial films of (100) Ag were deposited onto (100) MgO substrates to a thickness of 4 μm with no evidence of (111) nucleation. Deposited films were smooth and had large areas, 50 × 50 microns square, free of morphological defects. Films were deposited using a two-step process. First, pulsed laser deposition was used to grow a 1000 A Ag (100) seed layer on the MgO substrate. Second, e−beam evaporation was used to grow the film to the desired thickness. The high quality of the resulting films will allow them to be used as templates for further epitaxial deposition of other applied materials.
Peptide and small molecule microarray for high throughput cell adhesion and functional assays.

A novel class of chemical microchips consisting of glass microscope slides was prepared for the covalent attachment of small molecule ligands and peptides through site-specific oxime bond or thiazolidine ring ligation reaction. Commercially available microscope slides were thoroughly cleaned and derivatized with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES). The amino slides were then converted to glyoxylyl derivatives via two different routes: (1) coupling of Fmoc-Ser followed by deprotection and oxidation, or (2) coupling with protected glyoxylic acid and final deprotection with HCl. Biotin or peptide ligands derivatized at the carboxyl terminus with a 4,7,10-trioxa-1,13-tridecanediamine succinimic acid linker and an amino-oxy group or a 1,2-amino-thiol group (e.g., cysteine with a free Nα-amino group) were printed onto these slides using a DNA microarray spotter. After chemical ligation, the microarray of immobilized ligands was analyzed with three different biological assays: (1) protein-binding assay with...
The Selection and Preparation of Cooperating Teachers in Music Education

The purpose of this study is to describe the current process of selecting cooperating teachers and their preparation for this role in music teacher education throughout the state of Illinois to improve future practices and policies. Coordinators of student teaching and music education professors (N = 19) were surveyed regarding their school's selection and preparation practices. Findings include a reliance on the personal and professional relationships between K–12 and collegiate music educators when selecting music cooperating teachers rather than on the recommendation of school principals (p = .003) as reported throughout the general education literature. Preparation activities are limited to the use of handbooks of student teaching, one-on-one conferences between cooperating teachers and college or university supervisors, and an occasional class or workshop. Finally, current selection practices based on previous knowledge of cooperating teacher candidates may in fact decrease the need for preparation.
Random Approximants and Neural Networks

LetDbe a set with a probability measure?,?(D)=1, and letKbe a compact subset ofLq(D, ?), 1?q<∞. Forf?Lq,n=1, 2, ?, let?n(f, K)=inf?f?gn?q, where the infimum is taken over allgnof the formgn=?ni=1ai?i, with arbitrary?i?Kandai?R. It is shown that forformula], under some mild restrictions,?n(f, K)?Cq?n(K)n?1/2, where?n(K)?0 asn?∞. This fact is used to estimate the errors of certain neural net approximations. For the latter, also the lower estimates of errors are given.
Salmon on the edge

The global decline in salmon populations has muli-faceted implications. Ecologically, anadromous salmon (i.e. those that migrate from saltwater to freshwater to spawn) are not only an important component of both freshwater and saltwater ecosystems, but they also provide a vital link between the two by serving as a carrier of nutrients and organisms. Economically, salmon are responsible for generating billions of dollars worldwide through sport and consumer industries. Culturally, salmon have become a symbol of a way and quality of life that are also in need of preservation.
High-performance chiral displacement chromatographic separations in the normal-phase mode III. Separation of the enantiomers of 5-vinylpyrrolidin-2-one using the Chiralcel-OD stationary phase

A normal-phase displacement chromatographic method has been developed for the preparative-scale separation of the enantiomers of 5-vinylpyrrolidin-2-one using Chiralcel OD as chiral stationary phase, a solvent mixture of isopropanol-n-hexane (10:90, v/v) as carrier solution and 2-pyrrolidinone as displacer. Sample loads as high as 28 mg could be applied onto the 4.6 mm I.D. columns. Effluent fractions of 100 μl were collected during the displacement chromatographic runs and analyzed for enantiomeric purity in order to calculate the percent recoveries and the production rates.
An Overview of the Capabilities and Limitations of Smartphone Sensors

Few technical details are available about the various sensors embedded in modern smartphones, and what details are available can be hard to assemble and interpret by the broader technical community that uses these devices. Since the physical and electromagnetic aspects of the sensors' operation can significantly affect the analysis and use of their data, it is essential for those who rely on these data to understand these details. As such, the authors provide a simplified and yet technically precise explanation of some of the sensors found on the Motorola Droid, which are representative of sensors found in most smartphones. The authors specifically explain its proximity sensor, Hall effect magnetometer, capacitive accelerometer, orientation sensor, and light sensor. Each sensor is described using illustrations and experiments that are provided to demonstrate some unexpected behaviors.
Effects of dietary protein level on second year growth and water quality for largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) raised in ponds

Abstract Juvenile largemouth bass (122.1 ± 2.6 g), trained to accept artificial diets, were stocked into nine 0.04 ha ponds at a density of 12350 fish ha −1 and fed one of three practical diets containing either 42, 44, or 47% protein (dry weight). Fish meal composed a constant percentage (53%) of the dietary protein in each diet. Fish were fed all they would consume in 30 min once daily for 12 months (May 1994–May 1995). At final harvest, fish fed the 47% protein diet had significantly higher ( P −1 ), and survival (99%), and significantly lower ( P P > 0.05) from fish fed either 42% or 47% protein. Averaged over the study period, total ammonia-nitrogen (TAN) concentrations were significantly higher ( P P
Multi-station v.h.f. communication systems using frequency modulation

The reasons for the use of multi-station V.H.F. systems of communication are discussed, and an historical survey of previous technical experiments on F.M. systems is given. The standard equipment normally used for a single-station scheme is described and its technical performance stated. From the basis of this standard equipment the required performance of multistation equipment is derived. It is shown that one of the most important factors for such schemes is that the main carrier frequencies should be nearly identical and the permissible difference of frequency determined. Linking frequencies available for a control link are discussed and, in conjunction with the permissible frequency difference, the basic design factors of the equipment are evaluated. Details of a particular type of equipment are described, this equipment being that used for the initial experiments and for a completed installation. The factors affecting distortion caused by multipath transmission are discussed and a quantitative analysis made of the distortion occurring under the worst conditions. From this analysis the maximum permissible path difference for reasonable speech quality is determined, this being ±30 miles and this is shown to agree with practical tests. The practical tests carried out in the London area and in Scotland are described. Possible future developments of such systems are indicated.
Effect of Bicycles on Capacity of Signalized Intersections

Although much is known about the operation of signalized intersections, little or no empirical research has been conducted regarding the effect of bicycles on signalized intersection capacity. The purpose of this study was to accurately quantify the effects of bicycles on signalized intersection capacity through the videotaping of several intersections that had significant bicycle traffic. Through the videotaping of intersections in Davis, California, and Gainesville, Florida, a relationship was determined between bicycle volumes and the percent of the green phase during which bicycle traffic occupies a conflict zone between bicycles and right-turning motor vehicles. It was also determined that one can ascertain the total net occupancy due to pedestrians and bicycles by taking the overlapping effects between bicycles and pedestrians into account. Using this total occupancy due to bicycles and pedestrians, one can calculate a saturation flow adjustment factor (fRph) that reflects the reduction in saturatio...
The influence of walking speed on dynamic loading on the human musculoskeletal system.

Purpose: A study was conducted to investigate the effects of walking speed on the magnitude of the heel strike initiated shock waves that propagate throughout the human musculoskeletal system. Methods: Subjects walking on a treadmill at various speeds were used to acquire the experimental data regarding the heel strike-initiated shock waves. Fifteen young healthy men participated in this study. Each one walked on the treadmill at five various speeds, and their associated cadences, while the heel strike induced shock waves were recorded at the tibial tuberosity for each speed during a 16-s period at a sampling rate of I kHz. Results: The obtained data reveal a significant increase in the dynamic loading experienced by the human musculoskeletal system with an increase in the walking speed. Conclusion: The analysis of the recorded acceleration suggests that an increase in walking speed contributes to an increase in dynamic loading on the human musculoskeletal system. Further, the evidence indicates that dynamic loading increases with the increase in speed at five times the rate of the ground reaction force increase.
Growth and mineral nutrition of six rapid-cycling Brassica species in response to seawater salinity

The growth of six rapid-cycling lines of Brassica species, B. napus, B. campestris, B. nigra, B. juncea, B. oleracea and B. carinata was inhibited by seawater salinity. Based on the change in dry matter reduction relative to the control at varying concentrations of salts (4, 8 and 12 dS m-1), the relative salt tolerance of these species was evaluated. B. napus and B. carinata were the most tolerant and most sensitive species, respectively, while the other four species were moderately tolerant. The influence of seawater on the concentrations of 12 elements including macronutrients and micronutrients in the shoots of these Brassica plants was characterized to determine the relationship between nutritional disturbance and relative salt tolerance. It was found that seawater salinity had a significant effect on the concentrations of Ca, Mg, K, Cl, Na and total N in the shoots of these plants but only the change in Ca concentration was significantly related to the relative salt tolerance of these six rapid-cycling Brassica species according to a rank analysis of the data. This finding indicates that Ca may play a regulatory role in the responses of Brassica species to saline conditions.
TENSIONS BETWEEN NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL CONTROL OF THE WORLD FOOD ORDER: Contours of a New Food Regime

The current crisis of the world political economy stems from the breakdown of the Bretton Woods system, which was characterized by stable institutions of regulation of national capital accumulation within the Pax Americana. The resulting absence of rules governing international trade, reflected in rising (Northern) protectionism and anarchic competi- tion for markets for agricultural commodities, underlies a dramatic restruc- turing of the world economy. Focusing on the world food order, this essay speculates about the characteristics of a new international food regime that could arise to match the growing power of transnational companies to restructure production and consumption relations on a global scale. It is argued that the recomposition of North-South relations means a new subor- dination of Southern political-economy by intensifying Southern food de- pendency. This is a prelude to the further centralization of Northern corpo- rate power, and the possibility of a system of global regulation administered under the auspices of the IMF and the GATT. In the shadow of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade's (GATT) Uruguay Round, there is intense maneuvering for competitive advantage in the world economy, with agro-food restructuring being one component of the larger matrix of forces. The present world-economic juncture is transitional between the Pax Americana and a new world order that could be enforced by such international agencies as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the GATT acting as surrogates of Northern power. In this possible system of global regulation, the GATT would be the agent of trade discipline to match the finan- cial discipline meted out by the former two agencies over the past decade.
Microfluidics for Live-Cell Imaging Pancreatic Islets of Langerhans for Human Transplant

Since the introduction of the Edmonton Protocol in 2000, islet transplantation has been emerging as promising therapy for Type I diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and currently is the only therapy that can achieve glycemic control without the need for exogenous insulin. Transplanting islet cells has several advantages over transplanting a whole pancreas in that it involves only a minor surgical procedure with low morbidity and mortality, and at a significantly lower cost. However, an obstacle to realizing this goal is a lack of an islet potency index as required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) biologics licensing, as well as a more complete understanding of the physiological mechanisms governing islet and β-cell physiology. Recently, the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) has developed a microfluidic platform that can mimic in vivo islet microenvironments through precise and dynamic control of perifusing culture media and oxygen culture levels; all while measuring functionally relevant factors including intracellular calcium levels, mitochondrial potentials, and insulin secretion. By developing an understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of islets we can more effectively develop strategies that reduce metabolic stress and promote optimization in order to achieve improved success of islet transplantation and open new clinical avenues.The presentation begins by introducing key issues in the field of pancreatic islet transplantation as a clinical therapy for T1DM. This is followed by brief review various technologies that have been developed to study islet cells. The presentation then describes the design, application, and evolution of UIC’s microfluidic-based multimodal islet perifusion and live-cell imaging system for the study of pancreatic islet and β-cell physiology. The article then concludes presenting initial findings from studies seeking to develop an islet potency test.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Construction of hybrid plasmid vectors for cloning inEscherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and the cyanobacteriumAnacystis nidulans

Two hybrid plasmids capable of acting as shuttle cloning vectors inAnacystis nidulans andBacillus subtilis were constructed by in vitro ligation. One construct, pMG202, consists of theB. subtilis vector pNN101 and the endogenous cyanobacterial plasmid pUH24. This 14.6 kb plasmid confers chloramphenicol resistance in both hosts and tetracycline resistance inB. subtilis. A second vector, pMG101, consists of pNN101 linked to theA. nidulans-Escherichia coli chimeric plasmid pCB4 and is 12.9 kb in size. The pCB4 portion of the vector enables pMG101 to replicate in the third host,E. coli, and confers ampicillin resistance in this bacterium as well as inA. nidulans. Both plasmids possess identical uniqueStu I sites which permit insertional inactivation of the chloramphenicol resistance gene; and, in addition, identical uniqueXho I sites are present on both vectors. Each vector also has a third unique site:Sma I on pMG101 andXba I on pMG202.
Comment on "Theory of defect levels and the 'band gap problem' in silicon".

A Comment on the Letter by Peter A. Schultz, Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 246401 (2006). The authors of the Letter offer a Reply.
Successful external electrical defibrillation in acute myocardial infarction. Report of a case.

A patient with an acute myocardial infarction was observed who gave all the appearances of being dead; the electrocardiogram attached at the time showed ventricular fibrillation, which persisted for at least 6 minutes. Regular sinus rhythm was restored within 2 minutes after external defibrillation with the Zoll-Electrodyne External Defibrillator with use of 60-cycle alternating current at 350 volts every 10 seconds for 3 shocks. No other similar case that survived has been found in the literature. The necessity of immediate recognition of ventricular fibrillation in acute myocardial infarction is pointed out in cases of "sudden death." The preference of external electrical defibrillation over direct heart defibrillation is discussed.
Stage-specific changes in protein phosphorylation during preimplantation development in the mouse

To gain insight into the role of protein phosphorylation during early mammalian development, seven mouse preimplantation stages were metabolically labeled with radioactive orthophosphate and the radiolabeled proteins identified using gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. The results obtained indicate that there are marked differences in protein phosphorylation patterns between the zygote and two-cell stage and between the morula and blastocyst stage. In addition, there is a compaction-specific change in the phosphorylation profile of three components of Mr 37,000. This compaction-specific change takes place during compaction in the eight-cell embryo; thus, it is the first biochemical change specifically correlated to this important event of early development.
Evaluation of the probability of dynamic failure and processor utilization for real-time systems

It is shown how to determine closed-form expressions for task scheduling delay and active task time distributions for any real-time system application, given a scheduling policy and task execution time distributions. The active task time denotes the total time a task is executing or waiting to be executed, including scheduling delays and resource contention delays. The distributions are used to determine the probability of dynamic failure and processor utilization, where the probability of dynamic failure is the probability that any task will not complete before its deadline. The opposing effects of decreasing the probability of dynamic failure and increasing utilization are also addressed. The analysis first addresses workloads where all tasks are periodic, i.e., they are repetitively triggered at constant frequencies. It is then extended to include the arrival of asynchronously triggered tasks. The effects of asynchronous tasks on the probability of dynamic failure and utilization are addressed. >
A kinematics-based probabilistic roadmap method for high DOF closed chain systems

We consider the motion planning problem for arbitrary articulated structures with one or more closed kinematic chains in a workspace with obstacles. This is an important class of problems and there are applications in many areas such as robotics, closed molecular chains, graphical animation, and reconfigurable robots. We use the kinematics-based probabilistic roadmap (KBPRM) strategy proposed in [Han, L and Amato, NM (March 2000)] that conceptually partitions the linkage into a set of open chains and applies random generation methods to some of the chains and traditional inverse kinematics methods to the others. The efficiency of the method depends critically on how the linkage is partitioned into open chains. The original method assumed the partition was provided as input to the problem. We propose a fully automated method for partitioning an arbitrary linkage into open chains and for determining which should be positioned using the inverse kinematic solver. Even so, the size (number of links) of the closed loops that can be handled by this method is limited because the inverse solver can only be applied to small chains. To handle high dof closed loops, we show how we can use the iterative relaxation of constraints (IRC) strategy proposed by Bayazit to efficiently handle large loops while still only using inverse kinematics for small chains. Our results in 3-dimensional workspaces both for planar and spatial linkages show that our framework performs well for general linkages. We also use our planner to simulate an adjustable lamp called Luxo. Using IRC, our planner can handle a single loop of up to 98 links.
Formal Languages - Concatenation and Closure

Formal languages are introduced as subsets of the set of all 0-based finite sequences over a given set (the alphabet). Concatenation, the n-th power and closure are defined and their properties are shown. Finally, it is shown that the closure of the alphabet (understood here as the language of words of length 1) equals to the set of all words over that alphabet, and that the alphabet is the minimal set with this property. Notation and terminology were taken from [5] and [13].
Availability and uses of sensitive visual information: Protecting Diceros bicornis in South Africa

Compelling visual information is valuable as both education and entertainment, and is therefore profitable. The current study, a work in progress, investigates the impact of webcams trained on watering holes in Africa. These video streams have attracted tens of thousands of users interested in viewing African megafauna. Unfortunately, viewing rhinos via the Internet enables poachers to receive precise information about rhino locations. This study investigates the interactions among stakeholders in black rhino preservation, especially with respect to live streaming video and the role of the technical communicators who operate the cameras.
Noise analysis of LSO-PSAPD PET detector front-end multiplexing circuits

We are designing a 1 mm resolution PET (positron emission tomography) system with over twenty-thousand readout channels. Multiplexing of the PSAPD (position sensitive avalanche photodiode) detectors would simplify the readout electronics and reduce the density of the circuit board design. We used simulations and experiments to study the performance of three front-end circuit configurations, 1) no multiplexing, 2) multiplexing with single-ended preamplifiers, and 3) multiplexing with differential preamplifiers, by evaluating their energy resolution and crystal identification ability. With single-ended multiplexing, there is no degradation in energy resolution but there is some degradation in crystal identification. With the novel differential multiplexing scheme presented in this paper, in simulation, there is less than 0.1 dB degradation in energy resolution and no significant degradation in crystal identification. We also present a pseudo-differential technique which can be used when differential preamplifiers are not available, which we found gives a slight improvement over single-ended multiplexing.
Nitrogen Addition Increases Carbon Storage in Soils, But Not in Trees, in an Eastern U.S. Deciduous Forest

Forest ecosystems in most industrialized and agricultural regions receive elevated rates of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition from air pollution. To evaluate the effects of excess N deposition on carbon (C) and N cycling, we experimentally added N (as NH4NO3) to naturally-occurring, single-species plots of five different tree species that are common in the Northern Hardwood forests of northeastern North America: sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh), American beech (Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.), yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton), eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr), and northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.). The experiment was performed in the Catskill Mountains of southeastern New York State, USA, and used a paired-plot design with six replicate plots per species. After 6 years of treatment, most species showed increases in foliar N concentrations in N-treated plots, but only for maple and birch were those increases statistically significant. No significant effects of the N treatment were observed on woody biomass increment or aboveground net primary production (ANPP) for any species. In the oak plots, the N treatment increased acorn production in mast years. In the soils, the N treatment was associated with a significant decline in potential N mineralization and nitrification rates in the mineral horizon but not in the forest floor, and in the mineral horizon the effect of the N treatment varied among species. The N treatment caused a significant increase in C stock, N stock and C:N ratio in the forest floor, with the largest effect in the hemlock plots. Nitrate leaching increased significantly in treated plots compared to controls. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in soil solution was unaffected by the N treatment, but the variation in DOC across plots was correlated with the C stock in the forest floor. These results suggest that the ANPP of these forests is not limited by N availability, but that excess N may cause accumulations of C in the forest floor, particularly in hemlock stands, perhaps through inhibition of decomposition rates or by altering phenolic chemistry of the litter. The magnitude, and sometimes the direction of the N treatment responses varied among species, suggesting that predictions of forest responses to elevated N deposition should take into account spatial and temporal variation in tree species composition.
Preoperative Assessment for Children Requiring Dental Treatment Under General Anesthesia

Objective. This study aimed to describe children <6 years requiring general anesthesia for dental treatment and factors associated with a change in medical management prior to surgery. Study design. This case series reviewed the past medical history and preoperative assessment of patients referred for dental preoperative evaluations at a single institution (2005-2008). A “deflection” was defined as a recommendation to change preoperative or operative care based on the preoperative assessment. The sample was analyzed using descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses. Results. Of 648 subjects (aged 9 months to 6 years, mean 3.9 years), 63% had a past medical history abnormality and 38% had previous surgery. In total, 14% were deflected, most commonly because of the addition of infective endocarditis prophylaxis (29%). A history of coagulation disorder had the strongest association with deflection (P < .0001, odds ratio = 10.0, 95% confidence interval = 4.6-22.1), followed by cardiac anomalies. Conclus...