cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Why is It Difficult to Date When qalqala Became Unintelligible to Qurʾānic Reciters and Grammarians

Sībawayh describes /q/, /ṭ/, /b/, /ǧ/ and /d/ as [+ voiced + stop] phonemes. In pausal position, these phonemes are subject to qalqala, which can be described as the addition of a schwa [ə], and whose role is the proctection of the [+ voiced] feature of these phonemes. In standard Classical Arabic, the pronunciation of these phonemes has evolved (/q/ and /ṭ/ are now realised as [- voiced], and /ǧ/ as [+ affricate]). The consistency of qalqala as described by Sībawayh is thus lost, since the Qurʾānic recitation (taǧwīd) rule for qalqala does not fit the current standard pronunciation.In this study, we trace back a shift in the mere definition of qalqala as early as in al-Mubarrad’s Muqtaḍab that will enable Qurʾānic reciters to later remain blind to the fact that their actual pronunciation of some of these phonemes does not correspond to Sībawayh’s written description.
Important Research Principles in the Field of Spinal Osteotomy

Patient outcomes following spinal surgery in general and those utilizing osteotomy techniques in particular can be described in a number of ways. Traditional measures have included descriptive clinical and radiographic data such as degree of correction, surgical time, blood loss, pseudarthrosis rate, medical complications, and others. Current research has moved toward a focus on patient-reported outcomes. These are results provided by the patient either on validated scales or questionnaires. Patient-reported outcomes have been particularly influential in the field of spinal deformity surgery. The recent recognition of the influence of sagittal balance on patient outcome demonstrates the value of this research methodology [1]. It also underscores the value of corrective osteotomy techniques such as Smith-Peterson osteotomies, pedicle subtraction osteotomy, and vertebral column resection that allow the surgeon to restore sagittal balance. This chapter will introduce and define important concepts utilized in spine outcomes and cost-utility research and then review current literature focusing on the use of these techniques to describe the importance of sagittal balance with regard to patient outcomes.
Functionally deficient mesenchymal stem cells reside in the bone marrow niche with M2‐macrophages and amyloid‐β protein adjacent to loose total joint implants

We sought to demonstrate whether there is a difference in the local mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) niche obtained from patients undergoing their first total joint replacement surgery versus those patients undergoing a revision surgery for an failing total joint implant. Bone marrow aspirates collected from patients undergoing revision total joint arthroplasty were observed to be less clonal and the expression of PDGFRα, CD51, ALCAM, endoglin, CXCL12, nestin, and nucleostemin were decreased. Revision MSC were also less able to commit to an osteoblast-lineage or an adipocyte-lineage. Further, in revision MSC, OPG, and IL6 expression were increased. Monocytes, derived from revision whole marrow aspirates, were less capable of differentiating into osteoclasts, the cells implicated in the pathologic degradation of bone. Osteoclasts were also not observed in tissue samples collected adjacent to the implants of revision patients; however, the alternatatively activated M2-macrophage phenotype was observed in parallel with pathologic accumulations of amyloid-β, τ-protien and 3-nitrotyrosine. Despite the limited numbers of patients examined, our data suggest that nucleostemin may be a useful functional marker for MSC while the observation of M2-macrophage infiltration around the implant lays the foundation for future investigation into a novel mechanism that we propose is associated with loose total joint implants.
Effect of Nozzle hole Geometry on a HSDI Diesel Engine-Out Emissions

The combustion and emission characteristics of a high speed, small-bore, direct injection, single cylinder, diesel engine are investigated using two different nozzles, a 430-VCO (0.171mm) and a 320 Mini sac (0.131mm). Theexperiments were conducted at conditions that represent a key point in the operation of a diesel engine in an electric hybrid vehicle (1500 rpm and light load condition). The experiments covered fuel injection pressures ranging from 400 to 1000 bar and EGR ratios ranging from 0 to 50%. The effects of nozzle hole geometry on the ignition delay (ID), apparent rate of energy release (ARER, ARHR), NO x , Bosch smoke unit (BSU), CO and hydrocarbons are investigated. The results show that the 430 VCO produced longer ignition delays and cool flames of longer durations and higher intensities than its counterpart, the 320 mini sac nozzle, under all the operating conditions At zero EGR, the analysis of the data for the two nozzles showed the dependence of NO x on the premixed combustion fraction, and the dependence of smoke on the mixing controlled and diffusion controlled combustion fraction. The impact of EGR on this dependence is examined. Also, the trade-off between the engine-out emissions of NO x and Bosch Smoke Unit is determined for the two nozzles.
Abstract 2792: Engineering T lymphocytes with protein nanogels for cancer immunotherapy

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Adoptive cell transfer (ACT) with autologous tumor-reactive T-lymphocytes is a promising strategy in cancer immunotherapy, but treatment of solid tumors is limited by the rapid decline in function of the transplanted T cells. In order to maintain high numbers of viable tumor-specific cytotoxic T cells in tumors, co-administration of supporting immunostimulant agents together with transferred cells is typically necessary in clinical practice. When given systemically at high doses, these agents could enhance the in vivo viability of donor cells, improve their therapeutic function and lead to overall improved efficacy against cancer. However, high doses of such agents can also result in serious side effects. For example, the use of Interleukin-2 (IL-2) as an adjuvant drug significantly enhances the efficacy of ACT in melanoma, where IL-2 provides key adjuvant signals to donor T cells but also elicits severe dose-limiting inflammatory toxicity and expands regulatory T cells (Tregs). One approach to focus adjuvant drug action on the transferred cells and lower systemic toxicity is to genetically engineer donor cells to secrete their own supporting factors. However, the technical difficulty of engineering safe autocrine production of potent adjuvant molecules such as cytokines is a challenge. Thus, an inexpensive technology platform that would allow simple, safe and efficient delivery of adjuvant drugs specifically to therapeutic cells over a defined window of time could be broadly useful in ACT and other cell therapies for cancer. Here, we developed a novel strategy to deliver therapeutic proteins in T cell therapies, via the chemical conjugation of protein-polyethylene glycol (PEG) nanogels (NGs) directly onto the plasma membrane of donor cells, enabling continuous pseudoautocrine release of cargo proteins for stimulation of transferred T-cells. These PEG NGs loaded with IL-2 contained very high level of drug (∼80 wt% of NG was the protein cargo) and released native IL-2 in physiological conditions in a sustained manner through breakdown of a degradable linker between the IL-2 cargo and PEG chains of the NG. T-cells with optimized number of NGs conjugated per cell maintained their cellular functions and cancer targeting and killing capability. We demonstrated that this IL2-PEG NG-T cell conjugation strategy could augment T-cell expansion in vivo and result in markedly improved efficacy against metastatic B16F10 melanoma in mice. This approach provides a readily generalizable strategy to provide autocrine protein drug support to donor cells to enhance the safety and efficacy of ACT. Citation Format: Li Tang, Yiran Zheng, Darrell J. Irvine. Engineering T lymphocytes with protein nanogels for cancer immunotherapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2792. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2792
Russian unemployment : its magnitude, characteristics, and regional dimensions

Registered unemployment in Russia is now 2 percent; surveys indicate a true rate of between 5 and 6 percent. Until now, flow in and out of unemployment have been quite large, with duration low. This may be changing as the ease with which workers are matched to jobs declines -- in part because of financing constraints on firms. Already there is great regional variation in unemployment -- which, as this model indicates, is likely to persist because of the mismatch in distribtution of jobs and the unemployed.
Private sector, human resources and health franchising in Africa

In much of the developing world, private health care providers and pharmacies are the most important sources of medicine and medical care and yet these providers are frequently not considered in planning for public health. This paper presents the available evidence, by socioeconomic status, on which strata of society benefit from publicly provided care and which strata use private health care. Using data from The World Bank's Health Nutrition and Population Poverty Thematic Reports on 22 countries in Africa, an assessment was made of the use of public and private health services, by asset quintile groups, for treatment of diarrhoea and acute respiratory infections, proxies for publicly subsidized services. The evidence and theory on using franchise networks to supplement government programmes in the delivery of public health services was assessed. Examples from health franchises in Africa and Asia are provided to illustrate the potential for franchise systems to leverage private providers and so increase delivery-point availability for public-benefit services. We argue that based on the established demand for private medical services in Africa, these providers should be included in future planning on human resources for public health. Having explored the range of systems that have been tested for working with private providers, from contracting to vouchers to behavioural change and provider education, we conclude that franchising has the greatest potential for integration into large-scale programmes in Africa to address critical illnesses of public health importance.
Representing probability distributions of image segments and segmentations

The authors develop a method for probabilistically maintaining sets of alternative homogeneous regions and segmentations. Depending on the image size and complexity and on the applications, a probability distribution can be constructed over the entire image, or a distribution over partial segmentations can be formed. The authors develop an efficient representation structure and a probabilistic mechanism for applying Bayesian model-based evidence to guide the construction of the representation and influence the resulting posterior distribution over the space of alternatives. The formalism is applied to range images using a piecewise-planar model with additive Gaussian noise. >
Global and Regional Myocardial Innervation Before and After Ablation of Drug-Refractory Ventricular Tachycardia Assessed with 123I-MIBG

Cardiac innervation is a critical component of ventricular arrhythmogenesis that can be noninvasively assessed with 123I-MIBG. However, the effect of ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation on global and regional left ventricular sympathetic innervation and clinical outcomes has not been previously assessed. Methods: In this prospective, single-center feasibility study, 13 patients with cardiomyopathy (n = 9 ischemic, n = 4 nonischemic) who were scheduled to undergo ablation of drug-refractory VT underwent 15-min and 4-h 123I-MIBG scans before and 6 mo after the ablation procedure. Planar and arrhythmia-specific 757-segment analysis of short-axis SPECT images was performed in all datasets. Results: Global innervation assessed with heart-to-mediastinal ratio and washout rates was preserved in all patients at baseline (1.8 [continuous variables are expressed as median and quartile: Q1–Q3, 1.7–2.4] and 54% [Q1–Q3, 47%–67%]) and did not change significantly at the 6-mo follow-up (1.9 [Q1–Q3, 1.6–2.2], P = 0.9; and 56% [Q1–Q3, 41%–62%], P = 0.6). However, segmental analysis demonstrated that ischemic patients had larger areas of abnormal innervation at baseline (52.1% vs. 19.6%, P = 0.011) and at the 6-mo follow-up (56.7% vs. 27.5%, P = 0.011) than the nonischemic patients. Innervation defects affected 40% of the inferior segments in all ischemic cardiomyopathy patients, whereas they affected only 10% of inferior segments in 75% of nonischemic patients. When segmental data were further analyzed in denervated (DZ), transition (TZ), and normal (NZ) zones, there were changes in these designated innervation categories from baseline to the 6-mo follow-up for ischemic (19% DZ, 59% TZ, 22% NZ) and nonischemic (6% DZ, 45% TZ, 15% NZ) patients. In ischemic patients, relative changes were significantly greater in the TZ segments than in the DZ, which demonstrated the second highest proportional changes (P = 0.028). Receiver operating characteristic curves defined best cutoffs of DZ, TZ, and NZ as less than 30.5%, 30.6%–47.1%, and more than 47.1%, respectively. Conclusion: Patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy have larger areas of abnormal innervation than those with nonischemic cardiomyopathy. Although VT ablation did not change global innervation, a novel arrhythmia-specific segmental analysis demonstrated significant dynamic changes in innervation categories and allowed quantitative definitions of DZ, TZ, and NZ. These findings provide novel insights into the mechanics of sympathetic innervation in patients undergoing VT ablation and may have diagnostic and therapeutic implications.
Chromosome Condensation and Cohesion

The diploid human genome consists of 46 chromosomes, which collectively contain about 2 m of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). During mitosis, the genome is packaged into 46 pairs of sister chromatids, each less than 10 μm long. Two fundamental mechanisms govern the formation and maintenance of chromosome structure during mitosis: (i) the dramatic and progressive compaction of chromosomes in the process of chromosome condensation and (ii) the establishment of the physical linkages or cohesion between the sister chromatids. Central to the processes of chromosome condensation and cohesion are the type II topoisomerases and the Structure Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMC) family of proteins, which form the condensin and cohesin complexes. These proteins cooperate to ensure chromosome condensation and cohesion, thus promoting the accurate partition of the genome during mitosis. Key Concepts: Chromosome condensation and cohesion are necessary for accurate chromosome segregation. Condensin and topoisomerase IIα are the major regulators of chromosome condensation. Sister-chromatid cohesion is required for the bipolar attachment of chromosomes to the spindle microtubules and counteracts the spindle pulling forces generated at the kinetochores. The cohesin complex is critical for sister-chromatid cohesion. Both DNA catenation and sister-chromatid cohesion have to be resolved for proper sister-chromatid separation. Centromeric cohesion is regulated by the spindle checkpoint. Its removal occurs at the onset of anaphase. Keywords: chromosome condensation; sister-chromatid cohesion; chromosome segregation; mitosis; condensin; cohesin; topoisomerase II
Role of immunity in viral-induced bacterial superinfections of the lung.

Although viral illnesses are predisposing causes for pulmonary bacterial infections, the interrelationships of viral virulence and host immunity to alterations in susceptibility to bacterial infection are incompletely understood. We used two mutant strains of encephalomyocarditis virus (minimally virulent Mengo-37A and a highly virulent Columbia SK [Col-SK]) to investigate these interrelationships. Mice that had been immunized to Mengo-37A, and nonimmunized controls, were challenged with aerosols containing 104 plaque-forming units of Mengo-37A or Col-SK per liter. The effect of each viral infection on pulmonary antibacterial activity was assessed 3 days later by measuring the capacity of the lungs to kill inhaled radiophosphorus (32P)-labeled Staphylococcus aureus. The degree of antibacterial dysfunction found was proportional to the virulence of the infecting virus. If the host was immune to the infecting virus, bactericidal function was not impaired by viral challenge. Neither mutant caused significant pulmonary damage; therefore: (i) viral-induced impairment in bactericidal activity reflects, quantitatively, the virulence of the virus and (ii) viral immunity protects pulmonary bacterial defenses by preventing damage to the phagocyte from the virus or its attendant metabolic abnormalities.
A Markov Chain on the Symmetric Group That Is Schubert Positive

We study a multivariate Markov chain on the symmetric group with remarkable enumerative properties. We conjecture that the stationary distribution of this Markov chain can be expressed in terms of positive sums of Schubert polynomials. This Markov chain is a multivariate generalization of a Markov chain introduced by the first author in the study of random affine Weyl group elements.
ULTRA-VIOLET-ABSORBING COMPOUND/S/ REPORTED PRESENT IN THE MURRAY METEORITE

Spectral investigation of meteor extracts to ascertain the origin of the ultraviolet-absorbing compounds reported present in the murray meteorite
Writing on the Graceland Wall: On the Importance of Authorship in Pilgrimage Landscapes

The journey to Graceland—the final residence and resting place of singer and entertainer Elvis Presley—has become a major pilgrimage within modern popular culture and tourism. As a cultural religious landscape, Graceland plays an important role in both the official and vernacular construction of Elvis as a sacred figure. This paper examines the vernacular aspects of Graceland, specifically the practice of visitors inscribing messages on the fieldstone wall outside the estate. By focusing on the inscription process, the paper emphasizes the idea of Graceland visitors as ‘authors’ of Elvis' memory and religiosity. Elvis remains an important part of the American imagination because his meaning is not fixed but in a constant state of redefinition by fans and others. A reading of the Graceland wall reveals the existence of several discourses or ways of representing the image of Elvis. This study aims to advance not only our understanding of Graceland as a place of cultural religious heritage but also the impor...
On a multilevel preconditioning module for unstructured mesh Krylov solvers: two-level Schwarz

Multilevel methods offer the best promise to attain both fast convergence and parallel efficiency in the numerical solution of parabolic and elliptic partial differential equations. Unfortunately, they have not been widely used in part because of implementation difficulties for unstructured mesh solvers. To facilitate use, a multilevel preconditioner software module, ML, has been constructed. Several methods are provided requiring relatively modest programming effort on the part of the application developer. This report discusses the implementation of one method in the module: a two-level Krylov–Schwarz preconditioner. To illustrate the use of these methods in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) engineering applications, we present results for 2D and 3D CFD benchmark problems. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Safety and efficiency of interventional pulmonologists performing percutaneous tracheostomy

Background: The steady rise in the number of critically ill patients in the USA has led to an increase in the need for tracheostomies in patients requiring chronic ventilatory support. There is a matched need for experienced operators to safely and efficiently perform these procedures. Objectives: We evaluated the effects on procedural outcomes and efficiency of percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) placement in the medical intensive care unit (MICU) by the surgical team (ST) or interventional pulmonologists (IP). The IP team joined the PDT team in September 2007 and became primarily responsible for all PDT in the MICU. Methods: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of patients who received PDT in the MICU by ST and IP from September 2007 to August 2010 was made. Outcomes including safety, efficacy, and procedural efficiency were compared. Results: One hundred seven patients underwent bedside PDT in the MICU during this period. Forty-three procedures (40.2%) were performed by the ST and 64 procedures (59.8%) were performed by IP. There was no statistical difference between the incidence of airway injury and infection between the two procedural groups. There were no deaths related to the performance of PDT in our series. PDT was completed within 48 h of request in 100% of IP patients and 95% of ST patients (p = 0.08). Conclusions: There were no statistical differences in PDT between the ST and IP groups when comparing complications. There was a trend towards an increased efficiency in time to PDT after consultation within the IP PDT group. Trained IP can safely and effectively perform PDT.
Short-term cell-attachment rates: A surface-sensitives test of cell–substrate compatibility

Mechanisms of cell deposition from a sessile liquid phase and adherence to various plastic substrates have been investigated by measurement of short-term (less than 120 min) cell-attachment rates. Sigmoidal attachment-rate curves were fit with a three-parameter variant of a logistic equation to quantify parameters related to initial rate and equilibrium-adherence. For substrates on which cell adhesion was low, initial rates were estimated from slopes of linear best-fit equations. Average variations in adherence parameters for three cell lines, MDCK (epithelioid), VERO, and AHL-1 (fibroblastic) to tissue-culture grade polystyrene dishes were less than 10% (standard-error-of-mean/mean X 100) over extended periods of more than two months, so that attachment measurements could be repetitively applied with the same cell stocks continuously subcultured in the laboratory. Developed techniques were applied to a variety of plastics and the results tabulated. Comparison of adherence parameters for ionomer and polyethylene films, both with and without adsorbed fetal-bovine-serum proteins, demonstrated that surface carboxyl groups were important in protein adsorption and cellular adherence. Attachment rates of MDCK to polystyrene were dependent on starting cell number whereas equilibrium adherence did not vary significantly over a wide range of inoculum concentrations. It was concluded from theoretical considerations that initial rates of MDCK attachment were sensitive to and dependent on electrostatic barriers to formation of close substrate contacts whereas equilibrium-adherence levels were controlled by short-range forces such as interfacial energies and formation of receptor-ligand complexes.
Surfing Snails: Population Genetics of the Land Snail Ventridens ligera (Stylommatophora: Zonitidae) in the Potomac Gorge*

Abstract: The population structure of the land snail Ventridens ligera (Say, 1821) was investigated in the Potomac River Basin (Virginia, Maryland, U.S.A.). Animals were collected from two islands and the adjacent riverbanks along an 8.8-km stretch of the river. Four landlocked populations in Illinois and Maryland were also sampled to provide a comparison to the river populations. A total of 246 individuals were genotyped with five newly designed species-specific microsatellite primers. Low pairwise FST values ( 0.2 indicate population structuring. Low-level isolation by distance was found among the Potomac River populations, and the low FST suggests that the river is facilitating gene flow rather than acting as a barrier.
N-Glycans of Caenorhabditis elegans Are Specific to Developmental Stages

We have examined the N-glycans present during the developmental stages of Caenorhabditis elegans using two approaches, 1) a combination of permethylation followed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS) and 2) derivatization with 2-aminobenzamide followed by separation by high-performance liquid chromatography and analyses by MALDI-TOF MS, post source decay (PSD) MS, and MALDI-QoTOF MS/MS. The N-glycan profile of each developmental stage (Larva 1, Larva 2, Larva 3, Larva 4, and Dauer and adult) appears to be unique. The pattern of complex N-glycans was stage-specific with the general trend of number and abundance of glycans being Dauer ≈ L1 > adult ≈ L4 > L3 ≈ L2. Dauer larvae contained complex N-glycans with higher molecular masses than those seen in other stages. MALDI-QoTOF MS/MS of Hex4HexNAc4 showed an N-acetyllac-tosamine substitution not previously observed in C. elegans. Phosphorylcholine (Pc)-substituted glycans were also found to be stage-specific. Higher molecular weight Pc-containing glycans, including fucose-containing ones such as difucosyl Pc-glycan (Pc1dHex2Hex5HexNAc6) seen in Dauer larvae, have not been observed in any organism. Pc2Hex4HexNAc3, from Dauer larvae, when subjected to PSD MS analyses, showed Pc may substitute both core and terminally linked GlcNAc; no such structure has previously been reported in any organism. C. elegans-specific fucosyl and native methylated glycans were found in all developmental stages. Taken together, the above results demonstrate that in-depth investigation of the role of the above N-glycans during C. elegans development should lead to a better understanding of their significance and the ways that they may govern interactions, both within the organism during development and between the mobile nematode and its pathogens.
Simulation of Squeeze-Film Damping of Microplates Actuated by Large Electrostatic Load

We present a new method for simulating squeeze-film damping of microplates actuated by large electrostatic loads. The method enables the prediction of the quality factors of microplates under a limited range of gas pressures and applied electrostatic loads up to the pull-in instability. The method utilizes the nonlinear Euler-Bernoulli beam equation, the von Kdrmdn plate equations, and the compressible Reynolds equation. The static deflection of the microplate is calculated using the beam model. Analytical expressions are derived for the pressure distribution in terms of the plate mode shapes around the deflected position using perturbation techniques. The static deflection and the analytical expressions are substituted into the plate equations, which are solved using a finite-element method. Several results are presented showing the effect of the pressure and the electrostatic force on the structural mode shapes, the pressure distributions, the natural frequencies, and the quality factors.
The magnitude of the Pulfrich stereophenomenon as a function of target velocity.

“When filters of unequal optical density are placed in front of the two eyes, a target which is actually oscillating in a frontoparallel plane appears nearer than it really is for one direction of stroke and farther than it really is for the return stroke (Pulfrich stereophenomenon). Measurements of
NMR velocity mapping of gas flow around solid objects.

We present experimental visualizations of gas flow around solid blunt bodies by NMR imaging. NMR velocimetry is a model-free and tracer-free experimental means for quantitative and multi-dimensional flow visualization. Hyperpolarization of $^{129}\mathrm{Xe}$ provided sufficient NMR signal to overcome the low density of the dilute gas phase, and its long coherence time allows for true velocity vector mapping. In this study, the diverging gas flow around and wake patterns immediately behind a sphere could be vectorally visualized and quantified. In a similar experiment, the flow over an aerodynamic model airplane body revealed a less disrupted flow pattern.
Intelligence in a Dog

SOME time since a friend of mine, Mr. J. W. Schaub, a mechanical engineer at the Edgmore Ironworks of Wilmington, Del., informed me of an exceedingly interesting case of intelligence in a black and tan terrier belonging to him. The old mother dog and her playful family entered his bedroom while he was dressing, and one of the pups snatched his stocking as he was in the act of putting it on, running out of the room with it. The mother at once followed the young offender, took the stocking from him, and returned it to the master. Mr. Schaub said that her conduct gave evidence of displeasure at the action of the pup, and she impressed him with the idea that she felt in some way responsible for the conduct of her young. Being greatly interested in the matter, Mr. Schaub contrived to have the offence committed on many successive mornings, the same performance being repeated each time.
The ecological effect of acid conditions and precipitation of hydrous metal oxides in a Rocky Mountain stream

Periphyton and benthic invertebrates assemblages were studied at the confluence of two Rocky Mountain streams, Deer Creek and the Snake River near Montezuma, Colorado. Upstream from the confluence the Snake River is acidic and enriched in dissolved trace metals, while Deer Creek is a typical Rocky Mountain stream. In the Snake River, downstream from the confluence, the pH increases and hydrous metal oxides precipitate and cover the streambed. The algal and benthic invertebrate communities in the upstream reaches of the Snake River and in Deer Creek were very different. A liverwort, Scapania undulata var. undulata, was abundant in the Snake River, and although periphyton were very sparse, there were as many benthic invertebrates as in Deer Creek. Downstream from the confleunce, the precipitation of hydrous metal oxides greatly decreased the abundance of periphyton and benthic invertebrates. This study shows that in streams metal precipitates covering the streambed may have a more deleterious effect on stream communities than high metal-ion activities.
Overlapping stage-specific sets of numerous small collagenous polypeptides are translated in vitro from Caenorhabditis elegans RNA

Abstract Caenorhabditis elegans synthesizes four morphologically distinct types of collagenous cuticles during its lifetime. We show that in RNA populations isolated early or late during the L4-to-adult molt, chick and nematode collagen DNAs hybridize strongly to RNAs of about 1.2 kb. Different but over-lapping classes of correspondingly small collagenous polypeptides (310–460 residues in length) are translated in vitro from these two populations and from RNA isolated at the L2-to-dauer molt. Over 60 different collagenous translation products are identified. These collagenous polypeptides are smaller than mature cuticle collagens and smaller than most vertebrate collagens. They probably represent cuticle collagen precursors and the primary products of the cuticle collagen genes of C. elegans.
Description of the Microfilaria of Wehrdikmansia cervipedis (Wehr and Dikmans, 1935) and Observations on its Location in Arizona Deer1

Five of nine mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and all of eight white-tailed deer (O. verginianus) examined in central Arizona had microfilariae of Wehrdikmansia cervipedis (Wehr and Dikmans, 1935) in skin from the ear, but none in the blood, heart, lung, or skin from other areas of the body. These microfilariae, here described for the first time, averaged 224 μ long and 6 μ wide and had a sharply pointed tail. They do not have a sheath or an inner body. Adult W. cervipedis were found under the skin at the base of the ear in one mule and one white-tailed deer. The results suggest the ear may be the site of predilection for adults, as well as the microfilariae.
The genetic architecture of response to long-term artificial selection for oil concentration in the maize kernel.

In one of the longest-running experiments in biology, researchers at the University of Illinois have selected for altered composition of the maize kernel since 1896. Here we use an association study to infer the genetic basis of dramatic changes that occurred in response to selection for changes in oil concentration. The study population was produced by a cross between the high- and low-selection lines at generation 70, followed by 10 generations of random mating and the derivation of 500 lines by selfing. These lines were genotyped for 488 genetic markers and the oil concentration was evaluated in replicated field trials. Three methods of analysis were tested in simulations for ability to detect quantitative trait loci (QTL). The most effective method was model selection in multiple regression. This method detected ∼50 QTL accounting for ∼50% of the genetic variance, suggesting that >50 QTL are involved. The QTL effect estimates are small and largely additive. About 20% of the QTL have negative effects (i.e., not predicted by the parental difference), which is consistent with hitchhiking and small population size during selection. The large number of QTL detected accounts for the smooth and sustained response to selection throughout the twentieth century.
Hospital Costs Associated with Smoking in Veterans Undergoing General Surgery

Background Approximately 30% of patients undergoing elective general surgery smoke cigarettes. The association between smoking status and hospital costs in general surgery patients is unknown. The objectives of this study were to compare total inpatient costs in current smokers, former smokers, and never smokers undergoing general surgical procedures in Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals; and to determine whether the relationship between smoking and cost is mediated by postoperative complications. Study Design Patients undergoing general surgery during the period of October 1, 2005 to September 30, 2006 were identified in the VA Surgical Quality Improvement Program (VASQIP) data set. Inpatient costs were extracted from the VA Decision Support System (DSS). Relative surgical costs (incurred during index hospitalization and within 30 days of operation) for current and former smokers relative to never smokers, and possible mediators of the association between smoking status and cost were estimated using generalized linear regression models. Models were adjusted for preoperative and operative variables, accounting for clustering of costs at the hospital level. Results Of the 14,853 general surgical patients, 34% were current smokers, 39% were former smokers, and 27% were never smokers. After controlling for patient covariates, current smokers had significantly higher costs compared with never smokers: relative cost was 1.04 (95% Cl 1.00 to 1.07; p=0.04); relative costs for former smokers did not differ significantly from those of never smokers: 1.02 (95% Cl 0.99 to 1.06; p=0.14). The relationship between smoking and hospital costs for current smokers was partially mediated by postoperative respiratory complications. Conclusions These findings complement emerging evidence recommending effective smoking cessation programs in general surgical patients and provide an estimate of the potential savings that could be accrued during the preoperative period.
Energy Absorbability of Large Scale Inflatable Composite Structures

Airbeams, inflatable composite structures, have traditionally been used solely as structural elements. Modeling and test procedures have been under development by academia, industry and governmental agencies to predict and evaluate an airbeam's structural properties. However, the pneumatic component that gives airbeams their strength and stiffness also provides airbeams the capability to absorb energy. Test procedures and scaling laws that can be used to evaluate the energy absorbing capacity of these structural elements will be described and evaluated. Test data will show that airbeams can reliably absorb sufficient energy for applications such as a pneumatic fender and meet other functional requirements. The paper will also describe textile considerations and other material properties that will enable this application to be successful.
Mannose metabolism and the demonstration of mannokinase and phosphomannoisomerase activities in the lactating rat mammary gland.

Abstract The extent of conversion of the C 14 of mannose-1-C 14 to CO 2 and fatty acids by slices of lactating rat mammary gland was of the same order as that observed with glucose-1-C 14. The pronounced stimulation of lipogenesis from acetate in the lactating rat mammary gland slices, induced by the addition of glucose to the bicarbonate incubation medium, could also be demonstrated by addition of mannose. The degree of stimulation was the same with either glucose or mannose at all concentrations studied. A method for the study of mannose phosphorylation is presented. The presence of mannokinase, phosphomannoisomerase, and phosphoglucomutase activities in lactating rat mammary gland is demonstrated.
Pituitary-thyroid responsiveness to thyrotropin-releasing hormone in preterm and small-for-gestational age newborns.

Abstract. A dose of 40 μg TRH was injected intravenously in 12 preterm (PT) and 15 small-for-gestational age (SGA) babies (with advanced gestational ages) between 5 and 167 hours after birth. Serum-thyrotropin (TSH) was measured prior to and 30 and 180 min after TRH; serum-thyroxine (T4) and serum-triiodothyronine (T3) were measured prior to and 180 min after TRH. The percentage increase in serum-TSH in PT and SGA babies was comparable to that of fullterm newborns. The serum-TSH 30 min after TRH in SGA newborns was significantly correlated to basal TSH values, such a correlation could not be shown in the preterms. One SGA and four PT babies had a repeat TRH-test performed later in infancy: In all but one PT with a gestational age of 27 weeks the TSH rise was lower than in the neonatal period. The thyroid hormone responses after TRH were similar in the two groups of babies. The percentage increase above basal levels were: Median serum-T3 increase about 46% and median serum-T4 increase about 14%. It is concluded that in low-birth-weight newborn babies the pituitary TSH response to exogenous TRH was like that detected in fullterm newborns and more pronounced than later in infancy. The effect of endogenous TSH as measured by thyroid hormone increases was of the same magnitude as observed in fullterms and in adults.
Attenuation of exercise conditioning by low dose beta-adrenergic receptor blockade.

Because it has been shown that high doses of propranolol (40 to 80 mg orally, four times daily) markedly attenuate cardiovascular response to exercise training in healthy subjects, the effects of lower doses of this nonselective beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist on the conditioning response were investigated. Twelve normal men underwent maximal treadmill testing before and after a 6 week intensive exercise program. After an initial test, six men were randomized in a paired fashion to receive low dose propranolol and the others received no drug. The average propranolol dose ± standard error was 22 ± 4 mg four times daily, and the average decrease in maximal heart rate due to propranolol was 32 ± 4 beats/ min. Both groups trained at comparable intensities. At the end of the training period, propranolol was stopped and testing was repeated so that the effect of beta-receptor blockade was no longer present but the training effects still persisted. Maximal oxygen consumption increased in control subjects from 47.5 ± 1.1 to 51.4 ± 0.4 ml/kg per min (p It is concluded that low level beta-receptor blockade attenuates cardiovascular conditioning in normal subjects in exercise training programs. High levels of sympathetic stimulation during training appear to be important, if not essential, to the conditioning process.
Prediction of the transition from stratified to slug and plug flow for long pipes

Abstract Theoretical relations that can be used to predict transition from a stratified pattern to an intermittent pattern for gas–liquid flow in long pipes are presented. These include Kelvin–Helmholtz theory, viscous long wavelength theory, the necessary conditions for a slug to be stable (slug stability theory), and the definition of a plug flow. Comparisons are made with measurements of transition taken in systems over a range of pipe diameters and a range of fluid properties. An important result is that slug stability defines transition in flows with high gas density. A methodology for predicting transition is proposed.
Ultrasonic Amplification in Semimetals

When a semimetal is placed in crossed electric (E) and magnetic fields (H), both electrons and holes drift in the E\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}H direction with velocity $\frac{\mathrm{Ec}}{H}$. A sound wave propagating in this direction with velocity $s$ may be amplified if $\frac{\mathrm{Ec}}{H}gs$. The effect is similar to that described by Hutson, McFee, and White, except that the present arrangement for semimetals allows one to obtain conditions of amplification at much lower current densities, since the magnetic field limits the current flowing in the electric field direction. The theory of sound amplification in a semimetal has been worked out for the above conditions, assuming the field produced by the sound wave can be described by a deformation potential. Because of the relatively large carrier densities in semimetals such as bismuth, it is found that large amplification factors can be obtained.
Measuring the performance of research and technology programs: A balanced scorecard approach

Research programs, like other government programs, are now being requested to demonstrate relevance and value added to national social and economic needs. Complexity, unpredictability and other factors make it difficult to define specific performance measures for R&D programs. This paper describes the performance measurement efforts of one technology development program within the U.S. Department of Energy and proposes a strategy for applying this balanced scorecard approach to a fundamental research organization. Simple logical models of the inputs, activities, outcomes and long term results of R&D programs are proposed. A critical few measures of performance that answer questions from multiple audiences are then chosen across this performance spectrum.
Geographical information systems (GIS) to manage oceanographic data for site designation and site monitoring

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for ocean disposal site designations under the provisions of Section 102 of the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA). EPA Region IX led a multiagency (federal and state) effort to designate an ocean dredged material disposal site for the San Francisco Bay region. Geophysical and oceanographic studies were conducted on the continental slope west of the Farallon Islands. Data collected on the continental slope complements data collected previously on the continental shelf off San Francisco. The types of data collected range from sediment samples to marine bird and mammal counts. These data were the basis for evaluating alternative sites for ocean disposal site designation. Geographic information systems (GIS) technology is allowing researchers and managers to integrate these diverse data types into relational thematic coverages. Development of these thematic maps into two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional images enhances visual...
Expectation-maximization algorithms for image processing using multiscale models and mean- field theory, with applications to laser radar range profiling and segmentation

We describe a new class of computationally efficient algo- rithms designed to solve incomplete-data problems frequently encoun- tered in image processing and computer vision. The basis of this frame- work is the marriage of the expectation-maximization (EM) procedure with two powerful methodologies. In particular, we have incorporated optimal multiscale estimators into the EM procedure to compute esti- mates and error statistics efficiently. In addition, mean-field theory (MFT) from statistical mechanics is incorporated into the EM procedure to help solve the computational problems that arise from our use of Markov random-field (MRF) modeling of the hidden data in the EM formulation. We have applied this algorithmic framework and shown that it is effective in solving a wide variety of image-processing and computer-vision prob- lems. We demonstrate the application of our algorithmic framework to solve the problem of simultaneous anomaly detection, segmentation, and object profile estimation for noisy and speckled laser radar range images. © 2001 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.
Anatomy of an enigma: Jimmy Carter's 1980 state of the union address

This essay identifies several “image”; problems faced by President Jimmy Carter during the period leading up to his 1980 State of the Union speech. It is contended that Carter's address failed to overcome those problems, largely due to a series of rhetorical “errors”; contained in the speech.
Citation Analysis as a Tool for Collection Development and Instruction

The authors analyzed bibliographies from three departments’ undergraduate senior theses, with the goal of improving both collection development and information literacy instruction. Though undergraduate students were not citing major journals or key authors, the study revealed popular research topics, which will inform collection development. The finding that the library owned 70% of the journal articles undergraduates cited suggests that they are more likely to cite what their own institution owns, and thus a strong collection can have a significant influence on undergraduate work. The data also prompted conversations with faculty about their expectations and current strategies for guiding undergraduate research, which will allow librarians to improve instruction.
Thermal effects on swimming activity and habitat choice in juvenile Pacific cod ( Gadus macrocephalus )

The behavioral responses of fishes to temperature variation have received less attention than physiological responses, despite their direct implications for predator–prey dynamics in aquatic ecosystems. In this paper, we describe the temperature dependence of swimming performance and behavioral characteristics of juvenile Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus; 75–125 mm total length). Maximum swimming speeds increased with temperature and body size. Routine swimming speeds of Pacific cod in small groups of similarly sized fish (N = 6) increased with body size and were 34 % faster at 9 °C than at 2 °C. The response to temperature was opposite that previously described for juvenile walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma), reflecting species-specific differences in behavioral responses. In a separate experiment, we demonstrated the effect of temperature on habitat selection of juvenile Pacific cod: Use of an artificial eelgrass patch in a 5-m-long laboratory tank was significantly greater at 9 °C than at 2 °C. These results illustrate that temperature affects a range of behavioral traits that play important roles in determining the frequency and outcomes of predator–prey interactions.