cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recurrent Selection with Sub-Lethal Doses of Mesotrione Reduces Sensitivity in Amaranthus palmeri

Amaranthus palmeri, ranked as the most prolific and troublesome weed in North America, has evolved resistance to several herbicide sites of action. Repeated use of any one herbicide, especially at lower than recommended doses, can lead to evolution of weed resistance, and, therefore, a better understanding of the process of resistance evolution is essential for the management of A. palmeri and other difficult-to-control weed species. Amaranthus palmeri rapidly developed resistance to 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitors such as mesotrione. The objective of this study was to test the potential for low-dose applications of mesotrione to select for reduced susceptibility over multiple generations in an A. palmeri population collected from an agricultural field in 2001. F0 plants from the population were initially treated with sub-lethal mesotrione rates and evaluated for survival three weeks after treatment. All F0 plants were controlled at the 1× rate (x = 105 g ai ha−1). However, 2.5% of the F0 plants survived the 0.5× treatment. The recurrent selection process using plants surviving various mesotrione rates was continued until the F4 generation was reached. Based on the GR50 values, the sensitivity index was determined to be 1.7 for the F4 generation. Compared to F0, HPPD gene expression level in the F3 population increased. Results indicate that after several rounds of recurrent selection, the successive generations of A. palmeri became less responsive to mesotrione, which may explain the reduced sensitivity of this weed to HPPD-inhibiting herbicides. The results have significance in light of the recently released soybean and soon to be released cotton varieties with resistance to HPPD inhibitors.
Traditional View or Revisionist View? The Effects of Monetary Policy on Exchange Rates in Asia

This article investigates the channels through which the short-term interest rate is used as an instrument to stabilize the exchange rates in Asia during the financial crisis in the 1990s. A time-varying-parameter model with Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedasticity (GARCH) disturbances is employed to estimate the dynamic effect of the interest rate on the exchange rate. We distinguish the direct effect from the indirect effect. The direct effect exists so that a contractionary monetary policy can have an appreciation impact (the traditional view). The indirect effect refers to the higher default risk induced by a monetary policy tightening, which on the contrary generates a depreciation pressure (the revisionist view). Using weekly data from Indonesia, South Korea and Thailand from 1997:07 to 1998:12, we find that there is no significant evidence in favour of the traditional view. The revisionist view is clearly in effect in Thailand at the very beginning of the crisis.
Electrical Sensing Zone Particle Analyzer for Measuring Germination of Fungal Spores in the Presence of Other Particles

Microscopic, respirometric, and electronic sizing methods for measuring germination of fungal spores were compared. With the electronic sizing method, early stages of germination (i.e., spore swelling) were detected long before germ tube emergence or significant changes in respiratory rates were observed. This method, which is rapid, easy, sensitive, and reproducible, also permits measuring the germination of spores when similar-size particles are present in concentrations considerably in excess of the number of spores.
Degradation of Azo dyes by the lignin-degrading fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Under nitrogen-limiting, secondary metabolic conditions, the white rat basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium extensively mineralized the specifically [sup 14]C-ring-labeled azo dyes 4-phenylazophenol, 4-phenylazo-2-methoxyphenol, Disperse Yellow 3 [2-(4[prime]-acetamidophenylaso)-4-methylphenol], 4-phenylazoaniline, N,N-dimethyl-4-phenylazoaniline, Disperse Orange 3 [4-(4[prime]-nitrophenylazo)-aniline], and Solvent Yellow 14 (1-phenylazo-2-naphthol). Twelve days after addition to cultures, the dyes had been mineralized 23.1 to 48.1%. Aromatic rings with substituents such as hydroxyl, amino, acetamido, or nitro functions were mineralized to a greater extent than unsubstituted rings. Most of the dyes were degraded extensively only under nitrogen-limiting, ligninolytic conditions. However, 4-phenylazo-[U-[sup 14]C] phenol and 4-phenylazo-[U-[sup 14]C] 2-methoxyphenol were mineralized to a lesser extent under nitrogen-sufficient, nonligninolytic conditions as well. These results suggest that P. chrysosporium has potential applications for the cleanup of textile mill effluents and for the bioremediation of dye-contaminated soil.
Extrathymic generation of regulatory T cells--chances and challenges for prevention of autoimmune disease.

Abstract Fopx3+ expressing regulatory T cells (Tregs) function as an indispensable cellular constituent of the immune system by establishing and maintaining immunological self-tolerance. T cell receptor (TCR) ligands of high agonist activity, when applied in vivo under subimmunogenic conditions, convert naive but not activated T cells into stable Tregs expressing Foxp3. Tolerogenic vaccination with strong-agonist mimetopes of self-antigens may function as a safe and highly specific instrument in the prevention of autoimmune disease by promoting self-antigen-specific tolerance. In this review, we address the requirements for generation of dominant tolerance exerted by Foxp3+ Tregs in autoimmune disease with special focus on type 1 diabetes (T1D). Further understanding of differentiation of T cells into Tregs at the cellular and molecular level will facilitate development of additional tolerogenic vaccination strategies that can be used in prevention as well as therapeutically to combat unwanted immunity.
Mobile robot sensing for environmental applications

This paper reports the first application of iterative experimental design methodology for high spatiotemporal resolution characterization of river and lake aquatic systems performed using mobile robot sensing systems. Both applications involve dynamic phenomena spread over large spatial domain: 1) Characterization of contaminant concentration and flow at the confluence of two major rivers displaying dynamics due to flow of the water; and 2) Characterization of rapidly evolving biological processes such as phytoplankton dynamics in a lake system. We describe the development and application of a new general purpose method for mobile robot sensing in such environments - Iterative experiment Design for Environmental Applications (IDEA). IDEA introduces in-field adaptation of mobile robotic sensing system. Analysis of the complex spatial and temporal structures associated with each observed environment is presented. Detailed characterization of the observed environment using IDEA methodology is used as an informed prior to improve the performance of the existing adaptive experimental design approaches for mobile robotic systems - stratified adaptive sampling and hierarchical non-stationary Gaussian Processes.
ISOCITRATE LYASE AND MALATE SYNTHASE IN PSEUDOMONAS INDIGOFERA I. Suppression and Stimulation During Growth

Howes, William V. (Washington State University, Pullman) and Bruce A. McFadden. Isocitrate lyase and malate synthase in Pseudomonas indigofera. I. Suppression and stimulation during growth. J. Bacteriol. 84:1216–1221. 1962.—Specific activities of isocitrate lyase and malate synthase from Pseudomonas indigofera were studied as a function of growth. Each activity maximized in the mid to late exponential phase. Effects upon levels of isocitrate lyase and malate synthase of each of several compounds supplied with ethanol to P. indigofera were next investigated. Compounds tested were glucose, glyoxylate, malate, and yeast extract. Each was added at various concentrations to ethanol. At higher concentrations, glucose, malate, and yeast extract suppressed both enzymatic activities. Malate synthase was more sensitive to suppression. Glyoxylate, at higher concentrations, suppressed isocitrate lyase but substantially stimulated malate synthase. There was no evidence for diauxic growth. Each substrate furnished with ethanol stimulated growth. The possibility that in vivo control of isocitrate lyase activity was partially exerted through feedback inhibition by succinate was examined. Succinate at 5.2 × 10−3m inhibited the enzyme in “soluble” preparations. Intracellular succinate concentrations did not vary significantly at each of three growth phases when exogenous succinate was supplied. Thus, regulation of isocitrate lyase activity through feedback inhibition by succinate seems unlikely.
WRKY transcription factors: key components in abscisic acid signalling

Summary WRKY transcription factors (TFs) are key regulators of many plant processes, including the responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, senescence, seed dormancy and seed germination. For over 15 years, limited evidence has been available suggesting that WRKY TFs may play roles in regulating plant responses to the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA), notably some WRKY TFs are ABA-inducible repressors of seed germination. However, the roles of WRKY TFs in other aspects of ABA signalling, and the mechanisms involved, have remained unclear. Recent significant progress in ABA research has now placed specific WRKY TFs firmly in ABA-responsive signalling pathways, where they act at multiple levels. In Arabidopsis, WRKY TFs appear to act downstream of at least two ABA receptors: the cytoplasmic PYR⁄PYL⁄RCARprotein phosphatase 2C-ABA complex and the chloroplast envelope‐located ABAR‐ABA complex. In vivo and in vitro promoter-binding studies show that the target genes for WRKY TFs that are involved in ABA signalling include well-known ABA-responsive genes such as ABF2, ABF4, ABI4, ABI5, MYB2, DREB1a, DREB2a and RAB18. Additional well-characterized stressinducible genes such as RD29A and COR47 are also found in signalling pathways downstream of WRKY TFs. These new insights also reveal that some WRKY TFs are positive regulators of ABA-mediated stomatal closure and hence drought responses. Conversely, many WRKY TFs are negative regulators of seed germination, and controlling seed germination appears a common function of a subset of WRKY TFs in flowering plants. Taken together, these new data demonstrate that WRKY TFs are key nodes in ABA-responsive signalling networks.
Use and Usability in a Digital Library Search System

Digital libraries must reach out to users from all walks of life, serving information needs at all levels. To do this, they must attain high standards of usability over an extremely broad audience. This paper details the evolution of one important digital library component as it has grown in functionality and usefulness over several years of use by a live, unrestricted community. Central to its evolution have been user studies, analysis of use patterns, and formative usability evaluation. We extrapolate that all three components are necessary in the production of successful digital library systems.
Getting Ahead and Falling Behind: A Sociological Elaboration of Sen's Theory of Human Development†

Objective One relatively neglected question raised by Amartya Sen's theory of human development is: Why do people and societies differ in their capacity to convert income and commodities into valuable human achievements (“functionings” in Sen's terminology)? I focus upon the degree to which people in developed and developing societies realize each of the six diverse types of valued functionings: long life, schooling, living in a society with less income inequality and less gender inequality, more political freedom, and greater life satisfaction. Methods Using data from all societies with a population of over 1 million (N = 156), I first regress each type of functioning on societies’ GDP per capita to obtain the residual scores. These scores indicate which societies do better than expected, as expected, or worse than expected on the basis of their level of economic development. Results and Conclusion To explain these differences, I then estimate an ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model whose independent variables are economic growth rate, ethnolinguistic fractionalization, civil war fatalities, corruption, and several dummy variables for cultural regions of the world.
The Next Rung Up the Integrated Pest Management Ladder

Professor Dwight Isely richly deserves to be called the father of integrated insect control. More than 50 years ago he developed a system for control of the boll weevil, Anthonolmus grandis that, both strategically and tactically, is essentially the equivalent of the most effective systems in use today. It was founded on good understanding of the biology and ecology of the boll weevil and growth and development of the cotton plant.
Thermal Warp of Composite Panels

Warping due to temperature can be a problem with foam-filled panels since the faces may be held at widely different tem peratures and the faces are not free to ex pand or contract relative to one a...
Intentional-overlapping for multicarrier schemes based on user-specific filters

In this study, we introduce controlled overlapping in time and frequency between neighboring symbols in multicarrier schemes to increase spectral efficiency. Conventionally, multicarrier schemes are designed based on Nyquist criterion to avoid inter-carrier interference and inter-symbol interference. Also, the time---frequency lattice and the prototype filter are designed considering the worst-case of time-varying multipath channel. However, this approach ignores to make use of multi-user diversity and leads excessive spacings between successive symbols in time and frequency. Unlike the conventional methods, in this study, symbols are allowed to be overlapped (depending on time---frequency dispersion of their individual channels) as long as the signal-to-interference ratios observed by all users are kept above a certain level. Additionally, in order to achieve more flexibility in packing symbols, user specific filters that have different time---frequency characteristics are utilized. This enables further spectral efficiency improvement in our system design.
Prostaglandin-F2α stimulates reproductive behavior of female paradise fish (Macropodus opercularis)

Abstract The function of prostaglandin-F2α (PGF2α) in reproductive behavior of adult female paradise fish (Macropodus opercularis) was evaluated. In experiment 1, females were allowed to spawn normally with a male and were left with that male until the following day when testing occurred. Subjects were then randomly assigned to one of three groups: PGF2α (N = 8), vehicle control (N = 3), or a handling control (N = 3); for testing, females were removed, injected, then returned to the same tank. Seven of the eight subjects injected with 500 ng PGF2α initiated complete reproductive behavior following injection. Vehicle and handling control subjects did not show any female reproductive behaviors. Prostaglandininduced increases in sexual behaviors were seen from 15 to 75 min after the injection and were maximal approximately 45 min postinjection. In experiment 2, mature but unspawned (and presumably sexually naive) females were placed for 1 hr with males which were actively nestbuilding and parenting, following which subjects were either injected with PGF2α (N = 6) or given a vehicle injection (N = 6). Experimental females did not behave differently from control females. Neither groups was observed to approach the male or initiate spawning behaviors following treatment; all subjects in both groups spawned on the following day. In experiment 3, sexually mature females were given extended familiarity with the male and the test tank. Pairs which had not spawned after 6 days (unspawned) were randomly assigned to experimental (N = 6) or control (N = 5) groups. Pairs which had spawned 1 day previously (N = 6) formed a “prespawned” comparison group. Females from the experimental and prespawned groups were injected with PGF2α (500 ng), while the control females received a vehicle injection. Half of the “prespawned” females performed spawning acts while none of the unspawned or control females did so. Detailed behavioral analyses showed little or no effect of PG treatment, despite greater familiarity with the male. In experiment 4, females were placed with males and observed until the early signs of spawning, at which time they were injected with indomethacin (a PG synthesis inhibitor) or vehicle. The behavior of females treated with 35μg (N = 3) or 70μg (N = 6) of indomethacin was unaffected by indomethacin and largely indistinguishable from controls (N = 6). In summary, exogenous prostaglandins reinstate sexual behavior in female paradise fish. However, responsiveness to prostaglandins is influenced by prior sexual experience. Moreover, inhibition of PG synthesis with indomethacin following onset of sexual behavior appears insufficient to block behavior or egg release.
Paranoia and power anxiety

Summary Several previous studies of paranoid schizophrenia have provided only scattered support for Freud's notion that homosexual wishes and fears are the root of the difficulty. The present study was designed as a partial test of the broader theory that paranoid schizophrenia in men involves severe anxiety over aggression or assertion. The subjects were men and women in three categories: paranoid schizophrenic, nonparanoid schizophrenic, and people without any history of psychiatric trouble. Using a set of TAT cards portraying various situations of anger and aggression, it was found, as predicted, that paranoid schizophrenic men, and only paranoid schizophrenic men, show a defensive response. These findings are discussed in the context of traditional gender roles and other evidence about the paranoid style.
Oxytetracycline in Bovine Plasma, Milk, and Urine after Intrauterine Administration

Six healthy lactating cows with normal but varying stages of estrous cycles were treated with chelated or nonchelated oxytetracycline by intrauterine infusion, 4 mg/kg body weight. The chelated drug was a mixture of special metal halides and oxytetracycline while the nonchelated form was a commercial oxytetracycline solution suitable for intramuscular or intravenous administration. Oxytetracycline concentrations in plasma, milk, and urine were determined at timed intervals following treatment. Both forms of the drug appeared in the plasma, but the chelated form was a small amount. The nonchelated oxytetracycline also appeared in the milk. However, no oxytetracycline was in milk of cows treated with chelated oxytetracycline. Both forms of the drug were excreted in the urine. Milk should be withheld from market 24 and 0 h after administration of nonchelated and chelated forms.
Life-space characterization from cellular telephone collected GPS data

Abstract Life-space is an emerging method for measuring older adults’ functional status. Although global positioning system (GPS)-enabled smartphones can collect life-space data passively and accurately, researchers lack an effective process to derive activity information from the raw GPS data. In addition, the influence of GPS retrieving frequency on life-space characterization is unknown. We describe a GPS data processing procedure to estimate life-space. A cellular telephone was used to collect GPS data by a subject during a 4-month period. The GPS data processing procedure was then implemented and evaluated in terms of classification accuracy, reliability, and sensitivity to observation frequency. The proposed scheme generated sufficient zone-based activity information to characterize an individual’s life-space. The speed-based sensitivity assessment suggests 75 s as an appropriate GPS observation interval for smartphone based life-space data collection.
Self and Social Judgments of Ability: Beyond Distributional Information

In a given domain, low-skill individuals typically evaluate the ability level of other people more favorably than high-skill individuals. The current study tests whether this tendency continues to occur even when people have unambiguous distributional information available through which to judge others. Students received distributional information detailing their percentile rank in a statistics course and the percentile rank of another student in the course. Then, students were asked to evaluate their own and the other students' statistics ability. Students evaluated the other person's ability more favorably when their own rank in the course was low rather than high. Therefore, people may use themselves as a standard of comparison when they judge others even when more diagnostic sources of information are available.
On the homology between human development and pediatrics.

On the Homology Between Human Development and Pediatrics: ‘He who sees things grow from their beginning will have the finest view of them’ Aristotle Presidential Address to the Society for Pediatric Research [5]
To What Extent Do External Fields and Vibrational and Isotopic Effects Influence NMR Coupling Constants Across Hydrogen Bonds? Two-Bond Cl−N Spin−Spin Coupling Constants (2hJCl-N) in Model ClH:NH3 Complexes

EOM-CCSD calculations are performed to evaluate two-bond 35Cl−15N spin−spin coupling constants (2hJCl-N) for ClH:NH3 complexes. Coupling constants for structures in external electric fields of 0.0000, 0.0055, and 0.0150 au are investigated as models for complexes with traditional, proton-shared, and ion-pair hydrogen bonds. Two-dimensional coupling constant surfaces are constructed at these field strengths in the NH and ClH distances, and expectation values, 〈2hJCl-N〉, are calculated for ground and selected excited vibrational states of the dimer- and proton-stretching modes from the corresponding anharmonic wave functions. Single-point values, 2hJCl-N, are also calculated at the equilibrium geometry for each field strength and at the geometry corresponding to the ground-state expectation values of the NH and ClH bond lengths. Coupling constants evaluated in the presence of the electric field are referred to as explicit 〈2hJCl-N〉 and 2hJCl-N. Implicit 〈2hJCl-N〉 and 2hJCl-N are evaluated from the zero-fiel...
If You're Buying a Recording Machine

B ECAUSE of all that has been said and written about the use of recording machines in language classes, teachers who have had no personal experience with these new devices are interested in learning more about them. What many teachers hope for are short, simple answers to two questions: "What is the name and the address of the dealer who sells the machine I should buy?" and "How should I use it once I have it?" Yet even a person who wants his information in digest form realizes that a satisfactory answer to the second question cannot be compressed within the limits of a single article. Though many accounts have been published, all of them combined do not yet cover the topic completely. Little has appeared in the linguistic journals concerning the machines, but it does seem as if the first question could be answered in one line. The answer cannot be so simple as that. Because new machines are continually coming on the market and improvements are constantly being made in existing models, specific descriptions (to say nothing of recommendations) are almost worthless by the time they reach print. Second, cost (particularly comparative cost) is an important item in selecting a machine; yet in our present economy prices are rapidly changing and are further complicated by discounts, federal tax remission and other savings open to the state institution, the buyer in quantity lots and the like. Third and most important, the "rightness" of a machine for any particular teacher will depend on several variables: the specific uses to which he puts it, the situation in which he works, the particular foreign languages involved, the type of recording work done, the goodness of the individual teacher's ear and a number of other factors we shall see later. As a result some teachers find one make of machine completely satisfactory; others think that it reproduces the language sounds with too little fidelity to be useful in elementary classes. Consequently the language teacher should beware of the man with the pat answer. If specific advice is unwise under these circumstances, a general checklist can be offered of points which the purchaser of recording equipment should investigate. These are valid considerations regardless of technical improvements or the special demands of local situations, and the intelligent teacher can apply them for himself. By way of illustration and suggestion, however, I have listed the names and addresses of some manufacturers, whose machines are now on the market.'
Fluorescence polarization studies on four biliproteins and a bilin model for phycoerythrin 545.

Fluorescence (excitation) polarization spectroscopy in the wavelength region of the bilin chromophores was applied to phycoerythrocyanin (CV-phycocyanin), phycocyanins 645 and 612, and phycoerythrin 545. The cryptomonad biliproteins ^ phycoerythrin 545 and phycocyanins 612 and 645 ^ were studied as both protein dimers having an K2L2 polypeptide structure and as KL monomers. The cyanobacterial phycoerythrocyanin (CV-phycocyanin) was a trimeric oligomer. The changes in polarization across the spectrum were attributed to transfers of energy between bilins. Cryptomonad biliproteins are isolated as dimers. The similarities between their steady-state fluorescence polarization spectra and those of the corresponding monomers suggested that the monomers’ conformations were analogous to the dimers. This supports the use of monomers in the study of dimer bilin organization. The unusual polarization spectrum of phycoerythrin 545 was explained using a model for the topography of its bilins. Obtaining the emission spectra of phycoerythrin 545 at several temperatures and a deconvolution of the dimer circular dichroism spectrum also successfully tested the bilin model. Circular dichroism spectroscopy was used to determine which polarization changes are formed by Fo « rster resonance energy transfers and which may be produced by internal conversions between high- and low-energy states of pairs of exciton-coupled bilins. Attempts were made to assign energy transfer events to the corresponding changes in fluorescence polarization for each of the four biliproteins. fl 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Improving comfort in children with severe neurological impairment

AbstractPhysical discomfort is a frequent and significant problem for children with severe neurological impairment (SNI) of the central nervous system. Such children have various problems that can result in discomfort, including spasticity, muscle spasms, and autonomic dysfunction. Children with SNI also have a significant rate of pain, and pain can trigger and worsen these other problems. It can seem a daunting task to determine the primary cause of discomfort given the overlap in features seen with each problem. There is the added challenge of a non-verbal population unable to indicate symptoms. Knowledge of sources of discomfort can help guide a step-wise approach to empiric treatment. The goal of this article is to provide an evidence-based framework for approaching symptom treatment in a population vulnerable to under-recognition and under-treatment of discomfort. Interventions include integrative therapies and medications, such as gabapentinoids, tricyclic antidepressants, alpha-agonists, and opioid...
The H I Kinematics and Distribution of Four Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxies

We present VLA H I observations of the blue compact dwarf (BCD) galaxies NGC 2366, NGC 4861, VII Zw 403, and Haro 2. These galaxies span a range of BCD morphological types. The cometary-like BCDs NGC 2366 and NGC 4861 have regular rotational kinematics with a V/σ of 8.7 and 6.4, respectively. On the other hand, the velocity fields of the iE BCD VII Zw 403 and of the nE BCD Haro 2 lack regularity, and their rotational motion is around the major, not the minor, axis. The H I distribution is centrally peaked in VII Zw 403 and Haro 2, a general feature of all iE and nE-type BCDs, the most common ones. In contrast, cometary-type BCDs have multiple H I peaks that are scattered over the disk. The active regions of star formation are associated with regions of high H I column densities, with slight displacements between the H I and stellar peaks. NGC 2366 shows many H I minima, resulting from the disruptive influence of massive star formation and supernovae on the interstellar medium (ISM). In NGC 2366 and NGC 4861, there is a tendency for H I gas with a higher velocity dispersion to be associated with regions of lower H I column density. This anticorrelation can be understood in the context of a two-phase model of the ISM. In all BCDs, the radio continuum emission is associated with the star-forming regions and is predominantly thermal in nature. H I clouds with no optical counterparts have been found in the vicinity of NGC 4861 and Haro 2.
Characterization of a DFP-hydrolyzing enzyme in squid posterior salivary gland by use of Soman, DFP and manganous ion.

1. A phosphorus-fluorine splitting enzyme (DFPase) from squid nerve hydrolyzes DFP 5–10 times faster than it hydrolyzes another P-F compound, Soman, whereas a superficially similar enzyme from rat kidney hydrolyzes Soman 20–40 times faster than it hydrolyzes DFP, all under comparable conditions. 2. The DFPase from rat kidney is stimulated 2- to 3-fold by 4 × 10−4 M Mn2+, whereas the DFPase from squid nerve is unaffected or slightly inhibited by 4 × 10−4 M Mn2+. 3. These observations form the basis for distinguishing between a squid type DFPase and a mammalian DFPase, the names not being rigorously indicative of enzyme source or substrate. 4. When these criteria are applied to a P-F splitting enzyme found in squid saliva, the enzyme is identifiable as squid type DFPase. There is a significantly higher level of this enzyme in whole saliva from female squids than in whole saliva from male squids. This squid type DFPase is different from the proteinous toxin also found in squid saliva.
Pseudogaps, Jahn-Teller distortions, and magnetic order in manganite perovskites

Local spin-density calculations are used to investigate the relationship between lattice distortions, magnetic ordering, and electronic properties in manganite perovskites. Lattice distortions are found to open pseudogaps at the middle of the majority spin ${e}_{g}$ manifold, which are more directly related to rotations than Jahn-Teller distortion. Because the pseudogap is narrow, its effect on transport is strongly dependent on doping, falling off due to Fermi-level motion as La is replaced by divalent ions in LaMnO${}_{3}$. Structural relaxations provide evidence that unlike pure LaMnO${}_{3}$, lattice distortions in the ferromagnetically-ordered colossal-magnetoresistance (CMR) regime are relatively weakly coupled to electronic properties. These results are discussed in relation to the CMR effect.
The experimental demonstration of a multichannel time-series myoprocessor: system testing and evaluation

A multichannel time-series myoprocessor which combines the advantages of the parallel filtering limb function classifiers of P. Doerschuk et al. (ibid., vol.BME-130, p.18-28, 1983) and the optimal myoprocessor muscle force estimators described by N. Hogan et al. (ibid., vol.BME-27, p.382-410, 1980) is discussed. Magnitudes and directions of knee movements were identified accurately and robustly from EMG sites intermediate to the major thigh muscles of intact individuals. Electrode placement criteria were tested, and system performance and sensitivity to contraction level as functions of channel number were computed. By including spatially distributed information into the structure of the processor, gains in accuracy and reliability over systems with fewer channels were demonstrated. Operating range increased with the number of channels included in the processor. Joint movement was estimated from multiple channels of temporally correlated data, extending and generalizing previously reported techniques. Identifying the parameters of autoregressive models of the EMG at low levels of contraction resulted in more robust classification and joint movement estimation. >
Enhanced bioaccumulation of dietary contaminants in catfish with exposure to the waterborne surfactant linear alkylbenzene sulfonate.

Abstract Fish bioaccumulate a variety of contaminants and act as an exposure portal to the human consumer. Surfactants, known pharmaceutically to alter membrane permeability, change drug bioavailability and attenuate transporter function are also found in contaminant mixtures in the aquatic environment. The overall objective of this study was to determine if the surfactant C-12 linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) at environmentally relevant concentrations, alters the disposition and enhances bioaccumulation of co-exposed dietary xenobiotics in the catfish. Included for study were the carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), pharmaceutical, ivermectin (IVM), and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrate rhodamine 123 (Rho-123), each exhibiting different dispositional footprints. Rho-123 transport into bile and membrane fluidity was examined in isolated perfused livers from control and LAS exposed catfish. Mass balance residue assessments were performed on catfish following in vivo exposure for 12 days to LAS in water at 0, 100 or 300 μg/L with 6 days of 3 H-IVM or 3 H-BaP gavage treatments. LAS at 1, 5 and 20 μM in the perfused liver, significantly decreased the transport of Rho-123 (1 μM) into bile by 18.6, 38.1 and 66.7%, respectively. Fluorescence anisotropy measurements demonstrated a 29.7% increase in fluidity at the (1 μM, 348 μg/L) LAS concentration. In vivo mass balance studies indicated that waterborne LAS (100 and 300 μg/L) increased the dietary dose remaining in fish by 39% and 78% for 3 H-IVM and 50 and 157% for 3 H-BaP. LAS at environmentally relevant concentrations altered the bioavailability and disposition of dietary xenobiotics in the catfish. Co-exposure with LAS increases xenobiotic bioaccumulation, potential toxicity of mixture components to the fish and the potential for residue transfer from fish to the consumer.
Atomic collision and ionization effects in oxides

Abstract Irradiation with ions and electrons provides accelerated study of radiation damage in nuclear materials, such as those proposed for immobilization of actinides and long-lived fission products. The effects of ion irradiation in SrTiO3, Sm2Ti2O7 and Sr2Nd8(SiO4)6O2, as representative materials, are studied using 1 MeV Au+ ions. The irradiation-induced disorder, due to atomic collisions processes, increases nonlinearly with irradiation dose and is well described by a disorder accumulation model that includes contributions from amorphous domains, point defects and defect clusters. Ionization from 200 keV electrons induces recrystallization at the amorphous/crystalline (a/c) interface that exhibits several distinct stages associated with residual defect annihilation near the interface, epitaxial regrowth at the interface and a surface-stabilized amorphous state. Understanding ionization effects and the coupled effects of electronic and atomic dynamics on material behavior is a challenging area for scientific research.
The Properties of Structurally Homogeneous Poly(l-vinyluracils) and Their Interactions with Polynucleotides

Abstract It has been found that highly syndlotactic PVU has a greater hypochromism and fluorescence emission Intensity along with a different dimethyl sulfoxide denaturation profile than the less syndlotactic polymer in aqueous solutions. These results are probably attributable to an interrelation between the configurational arrangement of uracils, the conformation of the polymers, and base stacking between uracils. In the neutral pH range, before the onset of aggregation and precipitation, the polymers are thought to be in tightly packed coillike conformations which are stabilized by intramolecular base stacking forces. The reaction of highly syndlotactic PVU with Poly A was thought to form a triple stranded PVU:2 Poly A complex, while the less syndlotactic polymer formed a metastable double stranded 33.3% Poly A complex which on equilibration rearranged into a 25% Poly A complex probably containing PVU loops. In the presence of 20% DMSO this system formed a 13% Poly A complex indicative of partial denat...
Computational science: can get satisfaction.

The sheer complexity of some computational problems means they will probably never be solved, despite the ever-increasing resources available. But we can sometimes predict under what conditions solutions exist.
A practical and effective approach to active suspension control

A new approach to the control of Automotive Active Suspensions driven by electrohydraulic actuators is presented. Many studies on Active Suspensions focused on implementing a desired force between sprung and unsprung masses. It is shown why the introduction of this controllable force is difficult to achieve. A novel reformulation of the Active Suspension problem, based on prescribing a given displacement between the sprung and unsprung masses, is introduced and the advantages of this approach are discussed. As a result of the reformulation, the Active Suspension problem is transformed from previously examined ‘force-tracking’ problems to a ‘displacement-tracking’ problem. Once the reformulation is accomplished, the ability for a well designed servo-control methodology to achieve the desired tracking goals is increased for the particular hardware configuration considered in this work, subject to fundamental limitations on control-plant structure. Experimental results which demonstrate the benefits of this ...
Investigating fiber tow crimping effects in braided composite materials

Axial yarn crimping is produced in braided composites during compaction and curing. To investigate the effect of axial yarn crimping on compressive strength, braided composite panels were fabricated with controlled severities of crimping. Crimping was minimized through the use of whiffle tree tensioning fixtures during the compaction and curing process. Results show that high quality braided composite panels may be fabricated with minimized axial yarn crimping in comparison to conventionally fabricated braided composites. The axial yarn crimp produced by the conventional high-compaction cure process was found to produce a 30 percent decrease in static compressive strength compared to the tension-braided case with minimal axial yarn crimp. These results suggest that fabrication methodologies which produce minimized axial yarn crimping may be highly desirable for compressive-strength critical applications.
Benchmarking to the world's best in mathematics. Quality control in curriculum and instruction among the top performers in the TIMSS.

This article describes the education quality control systems (for mathematics) used by those countries that performed best on the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Enforced quality control measures are defined as “decision points”—where adherence to the curriculum and instruction system can be reinforced. Most decision points involve stakes for the student, teacher, or school. They involve potential consequences for failure to adhere to the system and to follow the program at a reasonable pace. Generally, countries with more decision points perform better on the TIMSS. When the number of decision points and TIMSS test scores are adjusted for country wealth, the relationship between the degree of (enforced) quality control and student achievement appears to be positive and exponential. Conclusion: The more (enforced) quality control measures employed in an education system, the greater is students' academic achievement.
Using a Build-and-Click Approach for Producing Structural and Functional Diversity in DNA-Targeted Hybrid Anticancer Agents

An efficient screening method was developed for functionalized DNA-targeted platinum-containing hybrid anticancer agents based on metal-mediated amine-to-nitrile addition, a form of “click” chemistry. The goal of the study was to generate platinum–acridine agents for their use as cytotoxic “warheads” in targeted and multifunctional therapies. This was achieved by introducing hydroxyl, carboxylic acid, and azide functionalities in the acridine linker moiety and by varying the nonleaving groups attached to platinum. The assay, which was based on microscale reactions between 6 platinum–nitrile complexes and 10 acridine derivatives, yielded a small library of 60 platinum–acridines. Reactions were monitored, and product mixtures were quantitatively analyzed by automated in-line high-performance liquid chromatography–electrospray mass spectrometry (LC–ESMS) analysis and subjected to cell viability screening using a nonradioactive cell proliferation assay. The new prescreening methodology proves to be a powerful...
Securing Remote Obstetrics Monitoring Systems

Reports from many countries describe remote obstetrics monitoring systems as a means of improving the quality of prenatal care. The next generation of remote obstetrics monitoring systems incorporate off-the-shelf equipment like commercial smartphones into their design, to not only reduce the cost of the monitoring equipment, but also to allow for greater flexibility by letting the patient perform monitoring herself, in the comfort of her own home. In this paper, the authors analyzed the security protections of recently proposed monitoring systems and proposed recommendations to improve the security of these systems.
Fish -- food to calm the heart.

In the Book of Genesis, fish appeared in the waters on the fifth day of creation, after dry land and water separated. This may be the first reference to a functional, indeed lifesaving, food for humans. In the 19th century, New England ships harvested marine oil not for food but to light lamps. Fast forward to the 20th century and the identification of the “Eskimo paradox,” which refers to the extremely low rates of death from cardiovascular disease among the Inuit, as compared with their northern European counterparts, despite similarly high intakes of fat — about 40 percent of calories. . . .
Dislocation behaviour in sapphire single crystals

Abstract The investigation by x-ray transmission topography of large sapphire crystals, melt-grown by the method of Schmid and Viechnicki (1970), revealed an arrangement of basal dislocations generally described as tangles. Since present theories could not fully account for the tangle formation in sapphire, a mechanism involving dislocation reactions is suggested as a possible explanation. Helices were generated by annealing thin sapphire plates close to the melting temperature. The axes of the helices were found to be parallel to the Burgers vector, i.e. parallel to directions with no preference for any particular one. The helices observed possessed relatively constant pitch and diameter. The average diameter of the helices was ∼ 50 μm. Mechanisms for the formation of cusp-dislocations are discussed. Some of the helical dislocations were found to transform into loops, offering evidence for the loop formation in a material where the collapse of vacancy discs into loops might not occur.
Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome: inheritance and relation to sudden infant death syndrome.

We evaluated the families of 50 children with idiopathic congenital cental hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) to (1) test genetic hypotheses, (2) explore the relationship to Hirschsprung disease (HD), and (3) examine other clinical findings including sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in relatives of CCHS patients. A questionnaire was administered to parents of each proband to determine a detailed pedigree and medical history for 3 generations including 1,482 relatives. The data were analyzed under the unified mixed model method (assumes individual genotype composed of multifactorial [MF] and major locus [ML] components). Analysis was made of the Total dataset and on subdivided data sets: HIR1 = families of probands with HD (n = 8) vs. HIR2 = families of probands without HD; then under a premise that severe, chronic constipation may be a milder form of HD (i.e., ganglion cells present but dysfunctional), CON1 = families of probands with HD or constipation (n = 13) vs. CON2 = families of probands without HD or constipation. By statistical genetic analysis of the Total, HIRI, and CON1 datasets, the MF and ML hypotheses were about equally likely, with the MF model slightly more parsimonious. Although HIR2 and CON2 datasets indicated no familiality, statistical evidence of heterogeneity between the result of HIR1 and HIR2, or between CON1 and Con2 was lacking. A SIDS incidence of 11.2/1,000 was documented among the relatives of CON1 vs. 1.8/1,000 among relatives of CON2. Our results are consistent with familiality by either MF or ML models. Recurrence risk is likely <5%. The relationship of CCHS to the high familial incidence of SIDS is intriguing and demand further investigation. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Magnetotelluric evidence for layered mafic intrusions beneath the Vøring and Exmouth rifted margins

Abstract Marine magnetotelluric (MT) surveys at two volcanic passive margins have revealed an enigmatic layer of extremely high conductivity (⩽ 0.1 Ωm) at ∼10 km depth. At the Voring Plateau off the northwest shelf of Norway, 2D inversion of data from nine sites along a 54 km line resolves a layer with a conductance of ∼10 4 S. At the Exmouth Plateau off the northwest shelf of Australia, 2D inversion of 122 sites in 17 lines finds a similar layer at similar depth but an order of magnitude higher conductance. At both plateaus, the depth of the high conductivity layer coincides roughly with what seismic studies have identified as an assemblage of sills. We propose that the extremely high conductance is due to well-connected conductive cumulates (e.g. magnetite) precipitated in layered mafic intrusions. In contrast to sill emplacement, the nature of layered intrusion formation requires connection to a magma source over time. Such a connection would not be likely during rifting when the rift provides a preferential pathway for pressure release. This implies emplacement prior to or during a pause in the early stage of continental breakup.
Bijective proofs of partition identities arising from modular equations

We establish generalizations of certain partition theorems originating with modular equations and give bijective proofs for them. As a special case, we give a bijective proof of the Farkas and Kra partition theorem modulo 7.
RESONANT MULTILEAD POINT-CONTACT TUNNELING

We analyze a model of resonant point-contact tunneling between multiple Luttinger-liquid leads. The model is a variant of the multichannel Kondo model and can be related to the quantum Brownian motion of a particle on lattices with $\ensuremath{\pi}$ flux through each plaquette (in the three-lead case, it is a honeycomb lattice with $\ensuremath{\pi}$ flux). By comparing the perturbative and instanton gas expansions, we find a duality property of the model. At the boundary, this duality exchanges Neumann and Dirichlet boundary conditions on the Tomonaga-Luttinger bosons, which describe the leads; in the bulk, it exchanges the ``momentum'' and ``winding'' modes of these bosons. Over a certain range of Luttinger-liquid parameter g, a nontrivial intermediate coupling fixed-point controls the low-energy physics. The finite conductance at this fixed point can be exactly computed for two special values of g. For larger values of g, there is a stable fixed point at strong coupling that has enhanced conductance resulting from an analogue of Andreev reflection at the point contact.