cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fire behavior characteristics of buffelgrass-fueled fires and native plant community composition in invaded patches

Buffelgrass invasions have been documented in Australia to North America, pointing to an end result of large-scale wildfires. In heavily populated areas such as Nogales, Sonora and Tucson and Phoenix, Arizona buffelgrass populations are growing exponentially. Although much research has been conducted on buffelgrass, relatively little is known about fire behaviors produced by a buffelgrass-fueled fire. To determine which abiotic and biotic characteristics best predict fire behavior, fire-behavior characteristics were measured in four prescribed fires in southern Arizona. Given that buffelgrass is known to decrease native plant richness in other ecosystems, the relationship between buffelgrass abundance and native plant cover was evaluated. Buffelgrass fires are more intense than fires in surrounding ecosystems, even in communities with comparable fuels. There is a strong negative relationship between buffelgrass cover and native plant cover. In addition, buffelgrass appears to be invading favorable microsites rather than species-poor communities and is radiating from the former sites. Historically, fire was rare in arid regions, but with the increase in fuels and because arid regions have weather that promotes intense fire behavior, as observed in this study, managers will increasingly observe and need to mitigate hazardous fires.
AMPA-elicited dark cell degeneration of cerebellar Purkinje neurons has characteristics of apoptosis

Because AMPA receptor-induced degeneration of cerebellar Purkinje cells and hippocampal pyramidal cells morphologically exhibits a type of delayed cell death often observed in numerous acute clinical conditions, understanding the mechanism of the toxicity is of major therapeutic importance. We utilized morphological and biochemical techniques in the cerebellar slice preparation to determine whether AMPA-induced dark cell degeneration of Purkinje cells represents an apoptotic-like toxicity. In addition to the previously described morphological features of DCD, additional evidence to support apoptotic mechanisms was obtained. These findings included DNA fragmentation detected by both in situ TUNEL labeling and gel electrophoresis, attenuation of AMPA-induced morphological damage using an endonuclease inhibitor, and an inhibitor of protein translation. The results of these experiments reveal that AMPA-receptor elicited toxicity of PCs is an active process that has many characteristics and features of classically defined apoptosis.
Compensation of feedback-control systems subject to saturation

Abstract A theory for the design of compensating networks for feedback-control systems and filters is developed herein. The novel feature of this theory is its consideration of saturation and transient performance in addition to the usual steady-state behavior. This theory is essentially an extension of the researches of Wiener and Lee in statistical methods for filter design. Saturation is handled by limiting the rms. signal levels at critical points in the linear model used as the design basis for the physical system. Transient performance is handled by limiting the integral-square errors to a set of transient tests signals.
ET and other event-by-event distributions from AGS to RHIC energies

Abstract Event-by-event distributions in multiplicity, E T and 〈 p T 〉 are illustrated and techniques to understand them are discussed.
Fundamentalism and education in the Scopes era: God, Darwin, and the roots of America’s culture wars

Adam Laats uses the Scopes trial as a focal point to offer a thoughtful and readable assessment of the determined campaign by Protestant fundamentalists in the 1920s to win control over the schools...
Tight-binding calculations of the band structure and total energies of the various phases of magnesium

Tight-binding calculations for Mg in a variety of crystal structures are reported using the nonorthogonal tight-binding model with parameters selected to fit accurately first-principles results. These parameters correctly predict hcp to be the stable crystal structure. We have calculated electronic properties (band structure and density of states), elastic constants, phonon frequencies at high-symmetry points, surface energies, surface electronic structure, stacking fault energies, the energy of a small cubic cluster, and finally, dynamical properties. We find good agreement with previous calculations and experiment.
Small fatigue cracks: mechanics, mechanisms and engineering applications

Damage-tolerant design and life-prediction methodologies have been practiced for metallic structures for decades, although their application to brittle materials, such as ceramics, and intermetallic alloys, still poses particular problems, primarily because of their extreme flaw-sensitivity.
Comment on the7Li(p, γ)8Be reaction at energies of astrophysical interest

The results of two recent publication are reconsidered. These papers argue that the p-wave effects seen in the7Li(p, γ)8Be reaction belowEp=80 keV can be accounted for by considering the low-energy tail of the p-wave resonance atEp=441 keV. It is shown that the cross section and analyzing power data require an order-of-magnitude more p-wave strength when considered together.
REDUCED EXPRESSION OF PAX-3 IS ASSOCIATED WITH OVEREXPRESSION OF CDC46 IN THE MOUSE EMBRYO

CDC46/MCM5 encodes a protein that is highly conserved among yeast, plants, and animals. It is found in a complex which exhibits DNA replication licensing activity, which is proposed to regulate the synthesis of DNA once and only once per cell cycle. In yeast, loss of function mutations of CDC46/MCM5 decrease DNA synthesis. Very little is known about the regulation of CDC46/MCM5 in any species. We report here that, in the mouse embryo, expression of cdc46 is increased in unfused portions of the neural tube when the gene encoding the transcription factor, Pax-3, is either nonfunctional or underexpressed. These results were observed both in embryos of diabetic mice, which we have previously shown express significantly reduced levels of Pax-3 mRNA, and in Splotch embryos, which carry loss of function Pax-3 alleles. This indicates that expression of cdc46 is negatively regulated as part of a Pax-3-dependent pathway. Since cdc46 appears to regulate DNA synthesis and cell cycle progression, it is possible that its overexpression is involved in defective embryonic development that is associated with loss of Pax-3 function.
Pickup ions from energetic neutral atoms

The inner source of pickup ions (PUIs) was once thought to derive exclusively from the interaction between solar wind and interplanetary grains near the Sun. Recently, however, Gruntman & Izmodenov suggested that inner source hydrogen may derive from energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) from the outer heliosphere. Here, following up on these authors' proposal, we show that the ENA flux recently observed by the Interstellar Boundary Explorer is sufficiently large to actually produce the observed inner source pickup proton densities. We then go on to examine the possibility that solar wind heavy ions, which undergo multiple consecutive electron captures from neutral interstellar atoms in the outer heliosphere, could constitute another significant source of ENAs, thus producing an inner source PUI composition similar to the solar wind, as observed. Because the ENA source is distributed, the generation of PUIs from ENAs occurs throughout the heliosphere, and the ENA source of PUI likely contributes significantly to the metallic elements of anomalous cosmic rays (ACRs), which were previously unexplained. Thus, we show that ENAs create a large fraction of the inner source PUI and provide an extended source of PUIs in the heliosphere that likely generates the metallic ACRs.
An Exploratory Study Evaluating the Effectiveness of an Innovative Model for Teaching Multicultural Social Work Education

Abstract Effective social work practice with diverse populations requires the successful incorporation of multicultural knowledge, awareness, and skills.As a result, there is a pressing need for innovative and evidencebased teaching strategies and methods that provide social work students with these key multicultural tools. This paper describes one such teachingmodel and presents the findings of an exploratory study to empirically evaluate its effectiveness with undergraduate social work students (N =23) enrolled in a multicultural social work course. Based on pre-and post-test composite scores, the findings suggest that this new model of multicultural instruction and assignments increases students' multicultural awareness andknowledge.
Simple and Efficient Tetrahedral Finite Elements With Rotational Degrees of Freedom for Solid Modeling

A mixed variational principle and derivation of two simple and efficient tetrahedral finite elements with rotational degrees of freedom (DOF) are presented. Each element has four nodes. Every node has six DOF, which include three translational and three rotational DOF. Each element is capable of providing six rigid-body modes. The rotational DOF are based on the displacement formulation, while the translational DOF are hinged on the hybrid strain Hellinger-Reissner functional. Explicit expressions for stiffness matrices are obtained. Element performance has been evaluated with benchmark problems, indicating that they have superior accuracy compared with other lower-order tetrahedral elements.
Some in Vitro Effects of Adenine Added to Stored Blood

When adenine was added to freshly collected ACD blood and the blood incubated at 37 C. for one or two days, the concentration of ATP and adenine nucleotides (AMP + ADP + ATP) was higher than in the same blood without adenine. The addition of inosine with adenine was even more effective. Adenine was used by the red cells and the effective amounts of adenine to be added varied with the experimental conditions, for example, length of incubation. When adenine or adenine and inosine were incubated with outdated ACD blood, the ATP and adenine nucleotide concentrations rose, indicating that synthetic abilities were still present in red cells which had deteriorated energetically as a result of storage in citrate in the cold. When outdated red cells were returned to a more normal pH, the ATP levels increased. When adenine addition was included along with neutralization, the effects were remarkable, the ATP and adenine nucleotide levels going even above normal fresh blood levels. These experiments suggest that added adenine enhances ATP synthesis and allows formulation of a scheme for the participation of adenine in the metabolic reactions of stored cells.
A comparison of methods for training self-control

Three methods of training self-control were compared in a group of disruptive adolescent boys: a token fading group, where skills at self-evaluation, prediction of reward consequences, and self-monitoring were necessary to obtain points; a behavioral rehearsal group, where (GSR) machines provided feedback of emotional control during role playing of stressful situations; and a traditional therapy group. The token fading condition was effective in establishing self-control in classroom situations not monitored by any contingency system as well as in the training classroom following termination of token rewards. While showing no such classroom generalization, the behavioral rehearsal students learned to respond more effectively on tests measuring cognitive tasks such as attention span, foresight, resistance to distraction, and persistence. No treatment effect was noted for the traditional therapy condition. The results suggest that self-control is not a unitary concept, and provide a basis for specifying treatment approaches appropriate to specific self-control goals. The appropriateness of some self-control treatment goals is also discussed.
Condensation in the presence of a noncondensable gas in direct contact

Abstract This work analyses the effect of impurities of a noncondensable gas present in the bulk of a vapor in direct contact condensation. The physical model is a free laminar stream that is exposed to its own vapor atmosphere containing the inert gas. The solution is based on the boundary layer conservation equations and is obtained using an exact similarity solution and an approximate integral method. The analysis predicts reduction in the heat transfer rates near the “leading edge” (small x∗ ), which may be significant depending on the concentration of the noncondensable gas and the temperature driving force. This effect is accentuated at lower pressures. Far downstream ( x∗ > 1 ) the reverse effect is observed, namely, the local heat flux becomes much higher compared to the case without the presence of noncondensables.
High-resolution emissions of CO2 from power generation in the USA

[1] Electricity generation accounts for close to 40% of the U.S. CO2 emissions from fossil fuel burning, making it the economic sector with the largest source of CO2. Since the late 1990s, the Environmental Protection Agency Clean Air Markets Division (EPA CAMD) has kept a repository of hourly CO2 emission data for most power plants in the conterminous United States. In this study, the CAMD CO2 data are used to derive a high spatiotemporal resolution CO2 emissions inventory for the electricity generation sector (inventory available on request). Data from 1998 to 2006 have been processed. This unique inventory can be used to improve the understanding of the carbon cycle at fine temporal and spatial scales. The CAMD data set provides the first quantitative estimates of the diurnal and seasonal cycles of the emissions as well as the year to year variability. Emissions peak in the summertime owing to the widespread use of air conditioning. Summertime emissions are in fact highly correlated with the daily average temperature. In conjunction with the EPA Emissions and Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID), we have derived high-resolution maps of CO2 emissions by fossil fuel burned (coal, gas, oil) for the year 2004. The CAMD data set also reflects regional anomalies in power generation such as the August 2003 blackout in the northeastern United States and the 2000–2001 increase in production in California. We recommend that all sectors of the economy report similar high-resolution CO2 emissions because of their great usefulness both for carbon cycle science and for greenhouse gases emissions mitigation and regulation.
Analyses of cracks in thick stiffened plates repaired with single-sided composite patch

Abstract This study investigated the effect of composite patches applied to thick stiffened plates with single-sided repairs. A simplified analytical model was derived to predict the reduction in the mode I strain energy release rates resulting from the single-sided composite patches. Finite element analyses were also conducted to compute the mode I strain energy release rates with and without composite patches, and their results were compared to the analytical model prediction. Furthermore, changes in the location of the neural axis with single-side patches were examined with their effects on the effectiveness of the patch repair with variations in both material and geometric parameters of the patch and plate. The neutral axis location in the patched plate played an important role to influence the effectiveness of the composite patch.
Strategic Therapy with Families and Children

Abstract This paper suggests the potential value of strategic interventions, in the form of direct and paradoxical directives, in the treatment of families with symptomatic children. A review of past and present theoretical understanding of the nature of change within family systems is offered as a framework for such interventions. Two clinical cases are presented to illustrate the use of this approach in brief and long-term psychotherapy. The need for thorough understanding of the problem and concurrent use of more traditional techniques is stressed. Limitations and pitfalls are described along with cautions that this approach is not a simple means to effect quick changes.
Highly ionized gas in the Gum nebula and elsewhere : a comparison of IUE and Copernicus satellite results

The data from six high-dispersion IUE echelle spectra are averaged in order to obtain an interstellar absorption line spectrum with an S/N of about 30 and a resolution of about 25 km/s. The interstellar lines of C IV and Si IV are very strong and broad and N V is detected. The profiles for these species and Al III are compared to the Copernicus satellite profiles for O VI. The high ionization lines toward HD 64760 are much stronger and broader than those recorded toward Zeta Pup and Gamma super 2 Vel, the two exciting stars of the Gum nebula. The profiles for Al III and Si IV are similar and considerably narrower than the O VI profile. An origin in photoionized Gum nebula gas is suggested as the most likely explanation for Al III and Si IV. The C IV profile has a high positive velocity wing extending to approximately +80 km/s, which is similar in appearance to the positive velocity portion of the O VI profile. It is inferred that a substantial part of the observed C IV has an origin in the collisionally ionized gas most likely rsponsible for the O VI.
Digital geometry image analysis for medical diagnosis

This paper describes a new medical image analysis technique for polygon mesh surfaces of human faces for a medical diagnosis application. The goal is to explore the natural patterns and 3D facial features to provide diagnostic information for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). Our approach is based on a digital geometry analysis framework that applies pattern recognition techniques to digital geometry (polygon mesh) data from 3D laser scanners and other sources. Novel 3D geometric features are extracted and analyzed to determine the most discriminatory features that best represent FAS characteristics. As part of the NIH Consortium for FASD, the techniques developed here are being applied and tested on real patient datasets collected by the NIH Consortium both within and outside the US.
Sensible simulation for industrial systems

This paper introduces a new series of short articles that will appear in Simulation in the coming months. Their common topic will be the use of simulation in solving industrial-process problems. This paper briefly surveys the use of operations-research (OR) methods by large industrial organizations and notes that only 60% of the OR projeets included in the sur vey were successful. The purpose of the new series is to identify those areas where simulation is an effective tool and those where it is not. Readers are asked to submit articles and letters on success ful and unsuccessful applications of simulation, on guidelines for using simulation in studying indus trial processes, and on better ways of using simula tion in operations research.
On the Transient Convective Transport from a Body of Arbitrary Shape

The net rate of transient convective heat transfer from a body at uniform temperature in steady flow is shown to be invariant to pointwise reversal of the flow. Such reversal is physically possible in both creeping and potential flows. Creeping flow and the unseparated potential flow of a low Prandtl number fluid yield physically important transfer problems. Additionally, the theorem is applicable to problems for which flow reversal has no physical significance; numerical reversal of any incompressible streaming flow will leave the net transfer rate unchanged. The proof is not based on symmetry and places no restriction on the shape of the body. It remains valid over the entire range of Reynolds and Peclet numbers even though local transfer rates may differ significantly in the two directions of flow. The theorem applies to the analogous mass transport and is generalized to include a homogeneous first order reaction decreasing the concentration.
Construction of Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus Vector Containing the Rat Preproinsulin II Gene☆

Abstract We have investigated a possible delivery system for the rat preproinsulin II gene ( rI 2 ) utilizing a recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vector system, with the long-term goal of engineering stably infected insulin-producing cell lines. The rAAV vector was chosen because it is a safe and nonpathogenic method for gene transfer. The plasmid pBC12BI (ATCC) was purified and digested with restriction enzymes SspI and StuI to release a fragment containing the Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat (RSV-LTR) promoter-driven rat preproinsulin II gene ( rI 2 ). Subsequently, the RSV- rI 2 gene fragment was cloned into the Bam HI site of rAAV vector plasmid pWP-19 to produce the rI 2 recombinant plasmid designated pLP-1. The pWP-19 also encodes the AAV inverted terminal repeats for integration and replication and the herpes virus thymidine kinase promoter-driven gene for neomycin resistance (neo R ). The cell line 293 (ATCC) was then co-transfected with pLP-1 and helper plasmid pAAV\AD, which is required for viral replication. The rAAV genome, now containing rI 2 , was rescued using adenovirus and packaged into mature AAV virions termed vLP-1. Finally, human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells (HPAC; ATCC) were exposed to vLP-1, selected for G418 resistance, and screened for insulin production. Successful rescue was confirmed by Southern blot analysis using the rI 2 gene probe derived from the original plasmid. The final titer of 1.25 × 10 9 particles/ml was determined by DNA slot blots using pLP-1 as the standard. HPAC cells were infected with vLP-1 (termed HPAC/ rI 2 ). Integration of the rI 2 genome in G418-resistant clones was confirmed by Southern blot analysis and again after 6 months in culture by amplification of the rI 2 gene by PCR. Insulin gene transcription was confirmed by RT-PCR. We have developed a rAAV-mediated gene transfer system for the rat preproinsulin II gene. Successful transduction and stable integration of rI 2 into HPAC was achieved. Production of insulin by HPAC/ rI 2 was confirmed by RIA and RT-PCR, validating this system as an effective approach to experimental gene therapy.
Labelling wool products for animal welfare and environmental impact

The notable growth of the market in recent years indicates apparel consumers' interest in organic fibre products. Yet less is understood about how apparel consumers would respond to labelling for other credence attributes associated with animal-fibre products, such as animal welfare or eco-friendliness. An online survey of 507 US consumers was used to compare consumers' reactions with a variety of labelling schemes for wool product attributes, including animal-friendly, organic and environmentally friendly production. Consumer segments were created based on frequency of label choice, and analysis of variance and multinomial logit regression were used to identify and characterize the demographics and psychographics of the consumer segments that found labelling for animal welfare or environmental concerns appealing. The study identified a segment of consumers (19% of the sample) who were motivated to purchase apparel products labelled for animal welfare. These animal-focused consumers could be identified with relatively high accuracy from the demographic and psychographic variables in the model. The model variables, which included familiarity with organic products and self-perceived knowledge about environmental damage related to apparel production, were not effective in identifying the environment-focused apparel consumers. The results also demonstrated the ability of a general belief in animal rights to motivate the apparel consumers in the sample, suggesting that acting on a concern for animals could be a more powerful motivation for consumer behaviour than acting on a concern for the environment.
BASAL REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES DETERMINE THE SUSCEPTIBILITY TO APOPTOSIS IN CIRRHOTIC HEPATOCYTES

Abstract Hepatocytes from cirrhotic murine livers exhibit increased basal ROS activity and resistance to TGFβ-induced apoptosis, yet when ROS levels are decreased by antioxidant pretreatment, these cells recover susceptibility to apoptotic stimuli. To further study these redox events, hepatocytes from cirrhotic murine livers were pretreated with various antioxidants prior to TGFβ treatment and the ROS activity, apoptotic response, and mitochondrial ROS generation were assessed. In addition, normal hepatocytes were treated with low-dose H 2 O 2 and ROS and apoptotic responses determined. Treatment of cirrhotic hepatocytes with various antioxidants decreased basal ROS and rendered them susceptible to apoptosis. Examination of normal hepatocytes by confocal microscopy demonstrated colocalization of ROS activity and respiring mitochondria. Basal assessment of cirrhotic hepatocytes showed nonfocal ROS activity that was abolished by antioxidants. After pretreatment with an adenovirus expressing MnSOD, basal cirrhotic hepatocyte ROS were decreased and TGFβ-induced colocalization of ROS and mitochondrial respiration was present. Treatment of normal hepatocytes with H 2 O 2 resulted in a sustained increase in ROS and resistance to TGFβ apoptosis that was reversed when these cells were pretreated with an antioxidant. In conclusion, cirrhotic hepatocytes have a nonfocal distribution of ROS. However, normal and cirrhotic hepatocytes exhibit mitochondrial localization of ROS that is necessary for apoptosis.
Changes in Hispanic Local Public Employment in the Southwest

rT _HIS ARTICLE examines the changing nature of Hispanic employment in Southwestern municipalities during 1973-78. Despite the size and importance of the Hispanic population especially in the Southwest there has been scant research on the rates of Hispanic public employment. Previous research has shown that minority public employees black, Hispanic, women, or others are overrepresented at the bottom rungs of the occupational ladder in local, state, and federal employment, and are underrepresented in management and higher-level posts (cf. Sigelman 1976; Hall and Saltzstein 1975, 1977; Meier 1978; Cayer and Sigelman 1980; Rose and Chia 1978; Herbert 1974; Hutchins and Sigelman 1981; see also Krofcheck and Jackson 1974). Cayer and Sigelman (1980) found some improvement in the status of minorities and women in the total state and local workforce between 1973
Amitriptyline overdose treatment by pegylated anionic liposomes.

Abstract Liposomes composed of DOPG, 50:50 DMPC:DOPG, 95:5 and 85:15 DOPG:DPPE-mPEG-2000, and 55:15:30 DMPC:DPPE-mPEG-2000:CH were studied for their ability to sequester amitriptyline in human serum. The effects of lipid type and loading, liposome size, PEG inclusion, protein interaction and storage were considered. Liposome size had no effect on drug uptake, as 40, 100, and 284 nm liposomes bound similar amounts of drug in buffer. The optimal amount of PEG-modified lipid incorporated into liposomes was found to be 5%. 95:5 DOPG:DPPE-mPEG-2000 liposomes loaded at 1.44 mg lipid/mL were most effective at shielding protein interactions while still allowing amitriptyline to diffuse to the bilayer surface and bind. Absolute reductions of 99% in buffer and human serum samples were observed, while the free drug concentration reduction relative to binding in serum without liposomes was nearly 90% across a drug concentration range of 1–20 μM. With such reductions, serum drug concentrations could be rapidly reduced from toxic to therapeutic levels. Furthermore, storage tests revealed that such liposomes may be stored for at least one month without a change in drug binding ability. These findings strongly suggest that predominantly anionic liposomes incorporated with PEG are excellent candidates for amitriptyline overdose treatment.
Axiomatic path strength definition for fuzzy connectedness and the case of multiple seeds

This paper presents an extension of the theory and algorithms for fuzzy connectedness. In this framework, a strength of connectedness is assigned to every pair of image elements by finding the strongest connecting path between them. The strength of a path is the weakest affinity between successive pairs of elements along the path. Affinity specifies the degree to which elements hang together locally in the image. A fuzzy connected object containing a particular seed element is computed via dynamic programming. In all reported works so far, the minimum of affinities has been considered for path strength and the maximum of path strengths for fuzzy connectedness. The question thus remained all along as to whether there are other valid formulations for fuzzy connectedness. One of the main contributions of this paper is a theoretical investigation under reasonable axioms to establish that maximum of path strengths of minimum of affinities along each path is indeed the one and only valid choice. The second contribution here is to generalize the theory and algorithms of fuzzy connectedness to the multi-seeded case. The importance of multi-seeded fuzzy connectedness is illustrated with examples taken from several real medical imaging applications.
Comparison of Mixed-Effects Models for Skew-Normal Responses with an Application to AIDS Data: A Bayesian Approach

The potency of antiretroviral agents in AIDS clinical trials can be assessed on the basis of a viral response such as viral decay rate or change in viral load (number of HIV RNA copies in plasma). Linear, nonlinear, and nonparametric mixed-effects models have been proposed to estimate such parameters in viral dynamic models. However, there are two critical questions that stand out: whether these models achieve consistent estimates for viral decay rates, and which model is more appropriate for use in practice. Moreover, one often assumes that a model random error is normally distributed, but this assumption may be unrealistic, obscuring important features of within- and among-subject variations. In this article, we develop a skew-normal (SN) Bayesian linear mixed-effects (SN-BLME) model, an SN Bayesian nonlinear mixed-effects (SN-BNLME) model, and an SN Bayesian semiparametric nonlinear mixed-effects (SN-BSNLME) model that relax the normality assumption by considering model random error to have an SN distr...
Concept discovery by school children: six concepts of middleness.

54 school children of Grades 1, 3, 5 were presented with 12 sets of 3 pictures representing high, low, and intermediate degrees along each of 6 stimulus dimensions: length, height, size, position, color, and density. Ss were tested individually, using a correctional method with knowledge of results. Comparative data justified the conclusions: (1) School children's ability to discover the general concept of middleness is a function of their developmental levels. (2) Difficulty of discovering various concepts of middleness is, in addition, contingent upon the specific stimulus dimensions. This shows that children proceed from various specific concepts to a generalized concept of middleness.
Perspectives on Current Issues Is “Anthropic Selection” Science?

I argue that there are strong reasons for resisting as a principle of science the concept of “anthropic selection.” This concept asserts that the existence of “observers” in a universe can be used as a condition that selects physical laws and constants necessary for intelligent life from different laws or physical constants prevailing in a vast number of other universes, to thereby explain why the properties of our universe are conducive to intelligent life. My reasons for limiting “anthropic selection” to the realm of speculation rather than permitting it to creep into mainstream science include our inability to estimate the probabilities of emergence of “observers” in a universe, the lack of testability through direct observation of the assumed high variability of the constants of nature, the lack of a clear definition of an “observer,” and the arbitrariness in how and to what questions anthropic selection is applied.
Some Observations on Vitamins A and D Activation of Yeast by X-Ray and Other Radiation.

ConclusionThe Cooper-Hewitt lamp, quartz light and x-ray in low voltage cause an activation of the vitamin D and the vitamin A in yeast fed to rats along with a deficient vitamin D and vitamin A ration. The period of exposure of the light in each case varies with the type of light used. The maximum point of activation is found with each light.
Interplay between manganese and zinc homeostasis in the human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae

ICP-MS analysis of Streptococcus pneumoniae reveals a high cell-associated Mn(II) concentration that is comparable to that of Zn(II). Stressing these cells with 100–200 μM Zn(II) leads to a slow-growth phenotype and a total Mn(II) concentration that is reduced, with no decrease of other metal ions. Supplementation of the growth media with as little as 10 μM Mn(II) fully restores the growth defect and cell-associated Mn(II) to normal levels. DNA microarray analysis reveals that zinc stress induces the expected upregulation of czcD (encoding a zinc effluxer), but also a pleiotropic transcriptional response suggestive of mild cell wall stress. Genes encoding a nitric oxide (NO) detoxification system (nmlR) and the Mn(II) uptake system (psaBCA) are also induced. We conclude that Zn(II) toxicity results in a cytoplasmic Mn(II) deficiency, possibly caused by competition at the Mn(II) uptake transporter protein PsaA.
ZnSe:Mn/ZnS high temperature nanophosphors with very high quantum efficiency for white LEDs

We have synthesized ZnSe:Mn/ZnS doped core/shell nanocrystals with 91% quantum efficiency at the 497 nm emission with 453 nm excitation. Combined with their high temperature stability, this makes them very attractive as nanophosphors for white LEDs.
Laparoscopic transgastric repair of a gastrogastric fistula after gastric bypass: a novel technique.

Gastrogastric fistulas are an uncommon complication following laparoscopic Roux-Y gastric bypass surgery (LRYGB) and may be caused by staple-line dehiscence or leak. Described here is a novel technique to treat these fistulae via a laparoscopic transgastric approach and closure of the fistulous tract with an Endo Stitch™ device. The 33-year-old patient, post LRYGB in 2002, with documented gastrogastric fistula, had failed non-operative management. A transoral endoscope was passed into the cephalad portion of the gastrogastric fistula; a glidewire was passed from the gastric pouch into the gastric remnant. Laparoscopically, 2 gastrotomies were made and a “pneumogastrium” created with carbon dioxide. Under direct, transgastric visualization, the distal portion of the gastrogastric fistula was closed using an Endo Stitch™ device. This technique is safe and reproducible when performed by an experienced laparoscopic surgeon and could be modified for other scenarios requiring alternate access to the stomach.
A unified approach to moving-image coding for most media and most applications

Abstract Developments in picture coding for broadcast television, multimedia workstations, and other applications, have led to a movement to develop source- and channel-coding methods that would simplify interoperability between different formats. Interoperability considerations include not only equipment cost and complexity, but also the image quality achieved when pictures originating in one application are used in another. In this paper, we attempt to set forth the requirements for such universal coding systems and to explore new and old ideas that can be applied to their design. Among the potentially useful techniques are multiresolution source coding, channel coders that permit various decoders to use more or less of the transmitted information, and special modulation/transmission methods, such as orthogonal frequency-division multiplex and single-frequency networks, which are designed to deal with the particular problems of terrestrial broadcasting. One of the main messages that we hope to deliver in this paper is that further progress in this field requires at least as much attention to channel coding as has heretofore been applied to source coding. This is as true for computer-related applications as it is to broadcasting; it is highly likely that the computer of the future will have an antenna.
Building consensus on divisive issues: a case study of the Yukon wolf management team

Abstract This article presents a case study of a successful effort to reach agreement on one of the most intractable environmental issues of our time: wolf management. This case is unusual in several ways. In this case, the members of the negotiating team were ordinary citizens rather than leaders of organized groups. This team was given an unusually high level of authority to write the plan as they saw fit; the agency pledged to implement “whatever they came up with.” The agency convened the process, but agency personnel were not members of the team and attended only when they were invited. The team members were able to reach agreement on this tough issue even though polar opposites were at the table—one who felt that wolves are a “spiritual essence” and another who felt that, as he put it, “wolves, coyotes, and cockroaches have a lot in common”. They produced a detailed plan that addressed all the issues in just 5 months. Another unusual aspect of this effort is that the final agreement does not list the team members. They explained that they wanted their plan to “stand alone” and be judged based on what it said, not on who was involved. However, just after their agreement was completed, a new, pro-wolf control government was elected that refused to endorse the plan. While the government gave various reasons for not ratifying the plan, more and more diverse interest groups came out in support for both the plan and the process that created it. Eventually, overwhelming public support forced the government to sign and implement the plan as written. This demonstrates that, while it is important for a team to seek the sanction of decision-makers, it is perhaps even more important for the general public to see the effort and the final agreement as fair. Strong support from a broad spectrum of the public can help win the necessary political support. In addition to discussing the unorthodox aspects of this consensus-building effort, this article also attempts to give the reader a front row seat to this process by using the informants' own words—words rich in detail, brimming with color and spoken straight from the heart. Certainly their experience dispels any notion that such efforts are simply a matter of following a recipe. During the process, members of the negotiating team experienced the entire gamut of emotions—anger, defeat, humor and, finally, a genuine sense of pride. As team member Patty Denison put it, “We showed that a random group of people could work together and do something truly monumental.”
Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) with and without blue-dyed food.

The purpose of this prospective study was to determine if fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) maintains high intra- and interrater reliability in detecting pharyngeal dysphagia and aspiration without the addition of FDC (2) evidence of bolus retention in the vallecula or pyriform sinuses after the pharyngeal swallow; (3) laryngeal penetration defined as material in the laryngeal vestibule but not passing below the level of the true vocal folds either before or after the pharyngeal swallow; and (4) tracheal aspiration defined as material below the level of the true vocal folds either before or after the pharyngeal swallow. Three speech-language pathologists experienced in interpreting FEES results independently and blindly reviewed the digitized videotape three times. Intrarater agreements for the four variables with blue-dyed and non-blue-dyed food trials were 100% and monochrome trials ranged from 95% to 100%. Average kappa values for interrater reliability ranged from moderate to excellent agreement (0.61-1.00) for all viewing conditions. Kappa values for blue-dyed trials versus monochrome trials were 0.83 and for non-blue-dyed trials versus monochrome trials were 0.88, indicative of excellent reliability under both viewing conditions. FEES maintains both high intra- and interrater reliability in detecting the critical features of pharyngeal dysphagia and aspiration using either blue-dyed or non-blue-dyed foods. The endoscopist, therefore, can be assured of reliable FEES results using regular, non-dyed food trials.
Thermal degradation of clozapine-N-oxide to clozapine during gas chromatographic analysis.

Studies were undertaken to determine if clozapine-N-oxide, the principal urinary metabolite of the antipsychotic agent clozapine, may interfere with the gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric bioanalysis of clozapine. Following injection of clozapine-N-oxide onto a (5% phenyl)methylpolysiloxane capillary column operated at 250°C, significant on-column reduction of clozapine-N-oxide to the parent drug occurred. Accordingly, preparation of biological samples for clozapine determination by gas chromatography should avoid conditions which reportedly co-extract the N-oxide to assure no artifactual contribution of this metabolite in the detection of clozapine.
Fine root decay rates vary widely among lowland tropical tree species

Prolific fine root growth coupled with small accumulations of dead fine roots indicate rapid rates of fine root production, mortality and decay in young tree plantations in lowland Costa Rica. However, published studies indicate that fine roots decay relatively slowly in tropical forests. To resolve this discrepancy, we used the intact-core technique to quantify first-year decay rates of fine roots in four single-species plantations of native tree species. We tested three hypotheses: first, that fine roots from different tree species would decay at different rates; second, that species having rapid fine root growth rates would also have rapid rates of fine root decay; and third, that differences in fine root decay among species could be explained by fine root chemistry variables previously identified as influencing decay rates. Fine roots in Virola koschnyi plantations decayed very slowly (k = 0.29 ± 0.15 year−1); those of Vochysia guatemalensis decayed seven times faster (k = 2.00 ± 0.13 year−1). Decay rates of the remaining two species, Hieronyma alchorneoides and Pentaclethra macroloba, were 1.36 and 1.28 year−1, respectively. We found a positive, marginally significant correlation between fine root decay rates and the relative growth rates of live fine roots (R = 0.93, n = 4, P = 0.072). There was a highly significant negative correlation between fine root decay and fine root lignin:N (R = 0.99, P = 0.01), which supports the use of lignin:N as a decay-controlling factor within terrestrial ecosystem models. The decay rates that we observed in this single study location encompassed the entire range of fine root decay rates previously observed in moist tropical forests, and thus suggest great potential for individual tree species to alter belowground organic matter and nutrient dynamics within a biotically rich rainforest environment.
Parameter extraction of source plasma from observed particle velocity distribution

[1] Plasma measurements in the Earth's magnetotail have revealed occasional existence of multiple plasma components containing a fast flowing beam embedded within a stationary population during dynamic episodes. We present here a quantitative procedure to extract plasma parameters at the source location of a fast flowing beam from the observed 3D velocity distribution. These parameters include the magnetic field at the source location of the beam as well as total electric potential drop experienced by the beam. This procedure is based on the Liouville's Theorem and the nonlinear least square Levenberg-Marquardt fitting method, under the assumptions of gyrotropic distribution and constant phase space density for a given magnetic moment in the ensemble. We demonstrate this technique with an event observed by Geotail 3D plasma measurements. The result shows that the fast-flowing beam population originated generally from a location with a magnetic field strength much less than that measured locally, had similar thermal properties as the local stationary population, and had undergone substantial electric field acceleration before detection at the observing site.
UCP2 Overexpression Worsens Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Accelerates Disease Progression in a Mouse Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Mitochondrial dysfunction leading to deficits in energy production, calcium capacity, and free radical generation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) caused by mutations in Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1). Numerous studies link UCP2, a member of the uncoupling protein family, to protection of neurons from mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage in various mouse models of acute stress and neurodegeneration, including Parkinson's disease. Here, we tested the potential neuroprotective effects of UCP2 and its ability to modulate mitochondrial function, in the G93A mutant SOD1 mouse model of familial ALS. Disease phenotype, mitochondrial bioenergetics, and calcium capacity were investigated in the central nervous system of double transgenic mice, expressing both human mutant G93A SOD1 and human UCP2 (hUCP2). Unexpectedly, hUCP2 expression accelerated the disease course of SOD1 mutant mice. In addition, we did not observe a classical uncoupling effect of hUCP2 in G93A brain mitochondria, although we did detect a decrease in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production from mitochondria challenged with the respiratory chain inhibitors rotenone and antimycin A. We also found that mitochondrial Ca2+ capacity was decreased in the double transgenic mice, as compared to G93A mice. Taken together our results indicate that the neuroprotective role of UCP2 in neurodegeneration is disease-specific and that, while a mild uncoupling by UCP2 in brain mitochondria may protect against neurodegeneration in some injury paradigms, the mitochondrial damage and the disease caused by mutant SOD1 cannot be ameliorated by UCP2 overexpression.
Electrophysiological analysis of reciprocal caudato-nigral relations.

Abstract Intracellular recordings from neurons of the substantia nigra have disclosed 3–4 msec latency EPSPs and succeeding IPSPs in response to ipsilateral stimulation of the head of the caudate nucleus. Nigral neurons activated by caudate stimulation are found in rostral portions of the nucleus whereas more caudal regions of the nigra contain elements responsive to stimulation of medial pallidal-entopeduncular outflow pathways. The latter stimulation evoked long latency EPSPs with low synaptic security in caudal nigral cells. Nigral stimulation in chronic animals surviving destruction of peri-nigral conductile pathways (cortico-spinal, cortico-bulbar, medial lemniscus and brachium conjunctivum pathways) elicits two types of activity in elements of the head of the ipsilateral caudate. Short latency caudate unit discharges are identified as antidromic responses to nigral stimulation; long latency (15–20 msec) unit discharges are attributed to orthodromic activation of direct nigro-caudate connections. The electrophysiological data are discussed in terms of the possible histological features of nigro-caudate connections.