cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamic root distributions in ecohydrological modeling: A case study at Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed

[1] Arid regions are characterized by high variability in the arrival of rainfall, and species found in these areas have adapted mechanisms to ensure the capture of this scarce resource. In particular, the rooting strategies employed by vegetation can be critical to their survival. However, land surface models currently prescribe rooting profiles as a function of only the plant functional type of interest with no consideration for the soil texture or rainfall regime of the region being modeled. Additionally, these models do not incorporate the ability of vegetation to dynamically alter their rooting strategies in response to transient changes in environmental forcings or competition from other plant species and therefore tend to underestimate the resilience of these ecosystems. To address the simplicity of the current representation of roots in land surface models, a new dynamic rooting scheme was incorporated into the framework of the distributed ecohydrological model tRIBS+VEGGIE. The new scheme optimizes the allocation of carbon to the root zone to reduce the perceived stress of the vegetation, so that root profiles evolve based upon local climate and soil conditions. The ability of the new scheme to capture the complex dynamics of natural systems was evaluated by comparisons to hourly timescale energy flux, soil moisture, and vegetation growth observations from the Walnut Gulch Experimental Watershed, Arizona. Robust agreement was found between the model and observations, providing confidence that the improved model is able to capture the multidirectional interactions between climate, soil, and vegetation at this site.
On estimating the size of projections

We present a new sampling algorithm for estimating the number of tuples in the projection of a relation. The algorithm requires no assumptions about the distributions of values in the attributes of the relation and converges faster and smoother than previous sampling algorithms for the problem. We give both a sound theoretical basis for the algorithm and experimental data from an implementation of the algorithm.
A System for Crack-Opening-Displacement Measurement and Photomicrography of Cracks at High Temperatures

It has been observed that very short cracks can propagate at different rates than would be predicted by procedures used for long cracks (1). Often the short cracks propagate faster, which means that designs and analyses based on long-crack behavior would be non-conservative. In addition, developments in nondestructive inspection techniques have lowered the threshold of crack size that can be reliably determined. The definition of a “short crack” is not standardized, but for the purposes of this work an upper limit of 0.5 mm (500 micrometers) can be taken. However, much of the research into short-crack behavior deals with cracks as short as a few micrometers.
Pavlovian Conditioning and Directed Movements

Publisher Summary This chapter describes various research, which demonstrate that the establishment of stimulus-reinforcer contingencies (i.e., Pavlovian conditioning) produces powerful effects on skeletomotor activities of the whole organism. Even though the animal's behavior does not affect unconditioned stimulus (US) delivery, the organism moves toward or away from environmental stimuli, depending on whether these stimuli are positively or negatively correlated with the reinforcer. Moreover, behavior directed at signals of impending reinforcement is surprisingly difficult to eliminate and frequently persist even if it actually prevents the delivery of a scheduled reinforcer. The fact that the experimental arrangements produce directed actions and yet fulfill most of the usual criteria for Pavlovian conditioning raises serious questions about the respondent-operant distinction. The results indicate that the learning of a relationship between a stimulus and reinforcer precedes and guides skeletal movements in various situations. The results of the research described in this chapter imply that the operant-respondent distinction is not very helpful and may be quite misleading, as all behavioral tasks involve potential interplay between stimulus→stimulus and response→stimulus relations, even if the experimenter does not explicitly arrange them.
Developments in Microencapsulation, High Concentration

The earliest method of achieving microcapsules was the technique of coacervation. Polymers were used to disperse or suspend material to be microencapsulated. A polymer-rich phase was caused to develop in the suspension and envelop the suspended material. Further processing was required to harden the precipitated polymers to produce useful shell walls. Because coacervation was a dilute process and batch-to-batch variation was difficult to control, this technique did not gain wide practice in the microencapsulation of agricultural pesticides. Microencapsulation by interfacial polymerization was a major step toward agricultural applications. Water-soluble monomers in the aqueous phase were reacted with oil-soluble monomers in the oil phase to produce microcapsule shell walls at the interface of suspended droplets. Although more concentrated suspensions of microcapsules could be produced by interfacial polymerization, agricultural formulations were limited to about two pounds of active ingredient per gallon. Recent breakthroughs in interfacial polymerization have expanded this technology to concentrations of active ingredients typical of commercial agricultural products. Directly usable suspensions of microcapsules which can be diluted with formulating ingredients to contain four pounds of microencapsulated active ingredient per gallon have been made.
Conditional overdominance at an alcohol dehydrogenase locus in yeast.

Documented examples of heterosis attributable to overdominance at specific protein-encoding gene loci have rarely been reported, the association of sickle cell hemoglobin with malarial resistance being the best documented example of this phenomenon. Here we report an example of overdominance that is temperature- and allyl alcohol-dependent and due to heterozygosity at the ADH1 locus, involving two ADHI functional mutants. Overdominance appears to be due in part to an intermediate level of ADHI activity in the heterozygote. Unlike previous work with this system using haploid strains, the NAD +/NADH ratios show no negative correlation with allyl alcohol resistance. This system is formally equivalent to that of sickle cell hemoglobin and shows promise as a tool for investigating the physiological basis for overdominance.
Planetary Surface Processes: Regoliths, weathering, and surface texture

It is generally accepted that the dynamic nature of the [lunar] regolith is primarily the result of meteoritic bombardment. Although other contributing mechanisms have been suggested (e.g. electrostatic levitation …) the formation of agglutinates, breccias, diaplectic glasses, and the presence of significant contamination of the regolith with meteoritic material are collectively unambiguous evidence in support of the dominant role meteoritic impact has played in regolith evolution. Gault et al. (1974) Lunar and asteroid regoliths: soil on airless bodies Impact pioneer Gene Shoemaker and his colleagues introduced the modern concept of a planetary regolith in 1967 (Shoemaker et al. , 1967). Following the first soft landing on the Moon’s surface by the Russian probe Luna 9 in 1966, Surveyors 1, 3, and 5 were the first successful landers of the American Surveyor program. Detailed analysis of their images by Shoemaker’s team was the first step toward clarifying the nature of an airless planetary body’s surface. Geologist R. B. Merrill had coined the word “regolith” in 1897 to designate the fragmental layer of rock debris that mantles the Earth’s surface. Compounded from the Greek words for “blanket” ( rhegos ) and “stone” ( lithos ), the word had become obsolete by 1967, allowing Shoemaker to revive it in the context of the Moon’s surface. Although the lunar surface layer is sometimes referred to as “lunar soil,” it is utterly different from the familiar agricultural soil of the Earth. Terrestrial soils typically contain large amounts of organic carbon and weathered rock material that has been transported by wind or water. Living organisms play a major role in creating Earth’s soil layers. In contrast, the lunar surface is blanketed by a loose breccia composed of broken, angular rock fragments that range in size from fine, submicron dust to meter-sized blocks. The lunar regolith has never been disturbed by wind, water, or organic life. Instead, it is created and maintained by the steady hail of meteoritic debris and radiation from open space (Figure 7.1).
Consultancies and capabilities in innovating with IT

When firms innovate with information technology (IT), they frequently retain consultants, who presumably bring certain capabilities to the process. But what capabilities are these and why do they seem to be so needed? In this essay, I consider several different consultancy specializations - business strategy, technology assessment, business process improvement, systems integration, business support services - and how they facilitate an IT innovation process both within and across firms. For each specialization, I examine the consultancy's capabilities and contributions both to the client (within an engagement) and to the broader support of the innovation (across and beyond engagements). The analysis suggests a number of conjectures as to the influence of consultancies on an IT innovation's adoption, diffusion and eventual institutionalization.
The Cohort Mortality Perspective: The Emperor′s New Clothes of Epidemiology, an Illustration Using Cancer Mortality

Abstract Cohort analysis of cancer mortality in industrialized countries has led to the generally accepted conclusion that these populations have been exposed to increasing levels of carcinogenic influences. Age-specific cancer mortality rates in the United States from 1962 to 1988 were portrayed in both cross-sectional and cohort manners. Both representations are consistent with the Strehler-Mildvan modification of the Gompertz relationship between aging and mortality. These observations suggest that environmental cohort effects are not responsible for rising cancer mortality. The cohort mortality perspective in epidemiology is inherently biased due to the effects of competing mortality. Competing mortality, like environmental exposures, is applied in a cross-sectional manner across multiple birth cohorts. Competing mortality produces selective mortality, or differential survival, within a birth cohort. Differential survival, an underappreciated form of selection bias, alters the gene pool of surviving birth cohort members. Since cross-sectional competing mortality risks vary with age, the gene pool of different birth cohorts is not uniformily altered. Consequently, differences between birth cohorts in age-specific mortality rates with respect to a particular disorder, for example, cancer, do not specifically imply differences in environmental exposures.
A steiner tree associated with three quarks

The MIT bag model with three static quarks of the same charge has been discussed by Aerts & Heller. Two different geometries are given for the bag. It is shown that both geometries give the same energy. Use is made of the symbol manipulation system MACSYMA.
The use of literacy bags promotes parental involvement in Chinese children’s literacy learning in the English language

This study employed an ethnographic methodology to explore the use of ‘literacy bags’ (LBs) to promote parental involvement in Chinese children’s literacy learning in the English language. It was c...
The Usefulness of NMR Quantum Computing

Quantum computing—the manipulation of a quantum mechanical system to do information processing—has attracted considerable recent attention, largely triggered by Shor's proposed algorithm for finding prime factors in polynomial instead of exponential time ([1][1]). The importance of this problem
“Alternative” mating behavior in the swordtails Xiphophorus nigrensis and Xiphophorus pygmaeus (Pisces: Poeciliidae)

The swordtail Xiphophorus nigrensis exhibits three relatively discrete male body-size classes that derive from allelic variation at the Y-linked pituitary (P) locus. Previous studies have shown that larger males have greater relative reproductive success, and that females prefer large males. We describe the mating behavior utilized by males of each size class during individual encounters with females. Small males rely on “chase” behavior, similar to the alternative mating behavior classified as ‘sneaker” in small males of other species. Large males court and intermediate-sized males court or chase, depending on their body size. There is a strong correlation between P alleles for small size (s) and large size (L) with chasing and courting, respectively. The relationship between mating behavior of males of the genotype I is ambiguous. In the closely related species X. pygmaeus, males are of size similar to smaller X. nigrensis males. Paradoxically, these males do not show the courtship display that typifies larger male X. nigrensis and many other species of swordtails, but instead often employ chase behavior identical to the alternative mating behavior in small male X. nigrensis. We suggest that historical and genetic constraints, in addition to current selection forces, might be important factors in explaining the existence of alternative mating behavior in X. pygmaeus.
Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio as a predictor of cognitive dysfunction in carotid endarterectomy patients.

Background Systemic inflammation has been implicated in the development of cognitive dysfunction following carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a reliable measure of systemic inflammation. We hypothesize that patients with elevated preoperative NLR have increased risk of cognitive dysfunction 1 day after CEA. Methods Five hundred fifty-one patients scheduled for CEA were enrolled at Columbia University in New York, NY from 1995 to 2012. NLR was retrospectively reviewed; only 432 patients had preoperative NLR values available within 2 weeks of CEA. NLR was analyzed as a continuous variable and categorically with a cutoff of ≥5 and Results Patients with cognitive dysfunction had significantly higher NLR than those without cognitive dysfunction (4.5 ± 4.0 vs 3.2 ± 2.6; P P P P = .006). In the final multivariate model, diabetes mellitus (odds ratio [OR], 2.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-3.75; P = .03) and NLR ≥5 (OR, 3.38; 95% CI, 1.81-6.27; P P = .01). Conclusions Preoperative NLR is associated with cognitive dysfunction 1 day after CEA. NLR ≥5 and diabetes mellitus are significantly associated with increased odds of cognitive dysfunction whereas statin use is significantly associated with decreased odds.
Importance of nuclear effects in the dissociation of 6He and 6Li at E/A=65 MeV.

Alpha particles from the dissociation of $^{6}\mathrm{He}$ and $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$ on Al and Au targets have been observed at 5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} in the laboratory for beam energies near 65 MeV/nucleon. Coincident \ensuremath{\gamma} rays were observed by an array of ${\mathrm{BaF}}_{2}$ scintillators that surrounded the target, subtending 90% of the solid angle. In all cases at least half of the observed events were accompanied by \ensuremath{\gamma} rays, presumably from excitation of the target via nuclear processes. For $^{6}\mathrm{He}$ incident on the Au target, the data permit an approximate separation into nuclear and Coulomb processes; the latter are in qualitative agreement with theoretical predictions.
Two-layer mathematical modeling of gene expression: Incorporating dna-level information and system dynamics

High-throughput genome sequencing and transcriptome analysis have provided researchers with a quantitative basis for detailed modeling of gene expression using a wide variety of mathematical models. Two of the most commonly employed approaches used to model eukaryotic gene regulation are systems of differential equations, which describe time-dependent interactions of gene networks, and thermodynamic equilibrium approaches that can explore DNA-level transcriptional regulation. To combine the strengths of these approaches, we have constructed a new two-layer mathematical model that provides a dynamical description of gene regulatory systems, using detailed DNA-based information, as well as spatial and temporal transcription factor concentration data. We also developed a semi-implicit numerical algorithm for solving the model equations and demonstrate here the efficiency of this algorithm through stability and convergence analyses. To test the model, we used it together with the semi-implicit algorithm to si...
CSA Will Not Be Prosecuted Scientifically: A Comment on Sbraga and O'Donohue

Sbraga and O'Donohue (2003, this issue) focus on the post hoc reasoning inherent in theories of child sexual abuse (CSA). This comment provides some perspective on the judicial context in which these theories are presented.
Boltzmann simulation of a storage ring laser

A numerical technique is described, which follows the motion of the entire electron distribution in a storage ring laser. The laser gain and electron distribution parameters such as energy spread, bunch length, damping rates, and containment time are discussed, both with and without the use of the gain expansion technique. The limits of validity of the onedimensional approximation are defined.
Nuclear data sheets for A = 179

Abstract Spectroscopic data for all nuclei with mass number A=179 have been evaluated, and the corresponding level schemes from radioactive decay and reaction studies are presented. This evaluation for A=179 supersedes the earlier one by E. A. Henry (76He03), published in Nuclear Data Sheets 17 , 287 (1976).
Association of INSIG2 polymorphism with overweight and LDL in children.

Background Dyslipidemia and overweight are common issues in children. Identifying genetic markers of risk could lead to targeted interventions. A polymorphism of SNP rs7566605 near insulininduced gene 2 (INSIG2) has been identified as a strong candidate gene for obesity, through its feedback control of lipid synthesis. Objective To identify polymorphisms in INSIG2 which are associated with overweight (BMI 85% for age) and dyslipidemia in children. Hypothesis: The C allele of rs7566605 would be significantly associated with BMI and LDL. Design/Methods
Technique for Measuring Eructated Gas in Cattle

Summary A technique, involving tracheal transection, to determine the frequency and amplitude of eructation, was developed with seven steers and two cows. To measure the volume of the eructations, a mask was installed on the animal's muzzle and a cannula was inserted in the anterior end of the transected trachea. Tubing connected the mask and cannula to a spirometer. It was found in this type of preparation that most, if not all, of the eructated gas escaped via the anterior trachea. The volume of gas evolved in the rumen (less that absorbed through the rumen wall) was measured in ten trials with the eructation technique. These values compared favorably with those recorded from four trials using a method where the gas was aspirated directly from the rumen. For the comparison, two steers and diets of alfalfa hay, oat hay, and alfalfa tops–oat hay were employed. The rumination reflex appeared to be unimpaired.
Radiative pion absorption in complex nuclei

Abstract It is shown that radiative absorption of pions may be used to study spin-isospin modes of excitation in nuclei.
A high performance liquid chromatography method to obtain rat epidermal filaggrin.

Abstract Sodium pyrophosphate-glycerol buffer, a non-denaturing buffer has been used to solubilize epidermal proteins. The extracted proteins are different in their electrophoretic profile in various mammalian species, 47 K in rat and guinea pig, 31 K and 60 K in mouse and 43 K and 60 K proteins in human epidermis were most predominant. Electrophoretic analyses show synthesis of new proteins as a function of age in rat tissue. Purification of the major rat protein fraction was achieved using a reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography using a gradient of 5–50% acetonitrile. Based upon the molecular size, amino acid data and immunodiffusion analyses, we conclude the purified rat protein to be filaggrin.
Reducing Dynamic Dispatch Overhead (DDO) of SLDL-synthesized embedded software

System-Level Design Languages (SLDL) allow component-oriented specifications, e.g. for separating computation and communication. This separation allows for a flexible model composition, refinement and explorations. This flexibility, however, requires dynamic dispatch during execution that degrades the simulation performance. After synthesized to a target platform, the model re-composition is no longer required. Then, the involved Dynamic Dispatch Overhead (DDO) only limits performance without providing benefits. Thus, approaches are needed for software synthesis to analyze model connectivity and eliminate the DDO wherever possible. This paper introduces a static dispatch type analysis as part of the DDO-aware embedded C code synthesis from SLDL models. Our DDO-aware software (SW) synthesis emits faster, more readable static dispatch code whenever a static connectivity is determinable. By replacing virtual functions with direct function calls, the DDO can be totally eliminated allowing for aggressive inlining optimizations by the compiler. We demonstrate the benefits of the improved SW synthesis on a JPEG encoder, which runs up to 16% faster with DDO-reduction on an ARM9-based HW/SW platform. Our approach combines the flexibility benefits in specification modeling with efficient execution when synthesized to embedded targets.
A varistructured fail-soft cellular computer

The architecture of a von-Neumann class computer is considered, in which the user programmer can request, at the beginning of his task, one of many word widths, and one of many memory heights. Several users are able to space share the computer. We call this feature varistructure. The computer is a minimally, yet strongly connected cellular structure consisting of microcomputers, and has the capability of being fail-soft.
A New Technique to Exploit Instruction-Level Parallelism for Reducing Microprocessor Power Consumption

A large portion of the power consumed by a high-performance out-of-order microprocessor is attributed to units within the instruction window pipeline stages, from dispatch to commit. Power consumed within the window, and by the overall processor, is reduced by dynamic size adjustment of those units based on program needs. In this article, we introduce a new metric for estimating the Instruction Level Parallelism (ILP) for a group of instructions using a simple ratio of the longest data dependence path's length to the total number of instructions in the group, hence referred to as the Longest Dependence Path Ratio (LDPR). We couple this concept with a design where units in the instruction window are divided into segments that are dynamically disabled for power savings when they are unused. The maximum number of enabled segments that a program can utilize is limited based on the amount of ILP estimated using the LDPR. We also show how measuring the LDPR is implemented by a simple extension to the dependence-check-logic at dispatch stage. Results using the LDPR show that power is saved with a minimal impact on performance, by reducing the number of available segments, not only in low ILP periods, but also over those having very high ILP. Using the Wattch power models and the MinneSPEC benchmarks, the LDPR implementation achieves an average of 36.5% of window power savings and 11% overall processor power savings, and with an average performance loss of a very modest 1.9%.
VIDI surveillance - embassy monitoring and oversight system

We hypothesized that potential spies would try to use other employees' terminals in order to not draw attention to themselves. We define one type of suspicious activity as IP use on a terminal when the owner is inside the classified area. We created a timeline visualization of IP usage, overlaid with classified area entrances and exits. The vertical axis divides the timelines into 31 rows, one for each day of the month. The horizontal axis represents the time of day from early morning to late evening. A single employee's entire month is viewed all at once using this visualization. The employee being viewed can be changed using the arrow keys. Every IP event is represented by a vertical bar positioned at the exact time of its appearance. We color the IP events by port number, which is either intranet, HTTP, tomcat, or email, and size the bar based on the outgoing data size. Whenever an employee enters the classified area, a semi-transparent yellow region is drawn until that user exits the classified area. In rare cases when the user double enters, the region is twice as opaque, and in the other rare case where a user leaves the exits without entering, a red region is drawn until the next time the employee enters. The legend key and office diagram showing the current selected employee, highlighted in red, can be seen in the top left-hand corner.
ANOMALOUSLY SHORT FLUORESCENCE LIFETIMES IN JET COOLED 4-HYDROXYINDOLE. EVIDENCE FOR EXCITED STATE TAUTOMERISM AND PROTON TRANSFER IN CLUSTERS

Abstract Jet cooled fluorescence lifetimes following excitation of S 1 origins have been measured for 4-hydroxyindole. The subnanosecond values obtained are anomalous compared to other substituted indoles, in particular 5-hydroxyindole. The short lifetimes are most likely related to excited state tautomerism in the bare 4-hydroxyindole. It was further found that one solvent molecule addition of triethylamine to 4-hydroxyindole is sufficient to induce excited state proton transfer, to a significantly greater extent than with 5-hydroxyindole.
Mathematical theory of cross-reactive radioimmunoassay and ligand-binding systems at equilibrium

Abstract A mathematical basis for radioimmunoassays and radio-ligand assays in multicomponent cross-reactive systems at equilibrium has been defined, formulated, and solved for the case of several antigens (or ligands) and several antibodies (or binding proteins) with different pairwise affinity constants. This formulation makes it possible to describe complex binding systems quantitatively, predicting such assay parameters as response level, sensitivity, and specificity under conditions of cross-reactivity, nonidentity of labeled and unlabeled hormone, or other cases of multiplicity and diversity of reactants. Computer programs have been developed for making these quantitative predictions. Experimental applications are discussed and illustrated.
DSM-IV alcohol abuse and dependence criteria characteristics for recent onset adolescent drinkers.

Abstract Background Little is known about the psychometric properties of alcohol abuse and dependence criteria among recent-onset adolescent drinkers, particularly for those who consume alcohol infrequently. This study evaluated how well DSM-IV alcohol dependence criteria measure an alcohol use disorder (AUD) construct for recent onset adolescent drinkers at different levels of drinking frequency. Method Data were drawn from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a nationally representative sample of 9356 recent-onset adolescent drinkers, aged 12–21, who began drinking within the past year. Multiple group item response theory analysis was conducted to assess the 11 DSM-IV alcohol abuse and dependence criteria. Results Criteria most likely to be endorsed at lower AUD severity included “withdrawal,” “problems at home, school or work” and “tolerance.” The criteria “drinking larger amounts/longer period of time,” “unsuccessful efforts to cut down” and “continuing to drink despite related health problems” were more likely to be endorsed at higher AUD severity. Two criteria, “tolerance” and “time spent getting, using or recovering from alcohol” showed differential item functioning between drinking frequency groups ( Conclusions All but two DSM-IV criteria had consistent psychometric properties across drinking frequency groups. Symptoms were most precise for a narrow, intermediate range of AUD severity. Those assessing AUD in recent onset adolescent drinkers might consider additional symptoms to capture the full AUD continuum.
Officer's Cave, a Pseudokarst Feature in Altered Tuff and Volcanic Ash of the John Day Formation in Eastern Oregon

Officer9s Cave is the uppermost of four rapidly eroding cave levels constituting a cavern complex about 700 feet long developed chiefly in clay and silt. Its outer room is 35 feet by 43.5 feet by 100 feet and slopes about 45° east into the western end of a narrow linear hill called Officer9s Cave Ridge. Dry valleys, blind valleys, hanging valleys, sinkholes, pipes, caves, and natural bridges are abundant. These, together with subterranean drainage, give the area a karstlike development. For such terrains the term “pseudokarst” is applied. These pseudokarsts are the product of piping and are fairly widespread over the world9s drylands.
Poststocking Survival of Hybrid Striped Bass after Changes in Water Hardness and Temperature

Abstract Mortality of hybrid striped bass (striped bass Morone saxatilis × white bass M. chrysops) after stocking can be high and is often attributed to changes in hardness between hatchery water and natural systems. Two studies were conducted to examine the effect of (1) rate of reducing water from high to low hardness and (2) abrupt changes in water hardness and temperature on poststocking survival of hybrid striped bass. In the first study, small ( 50 g) fingerling hybrid striped bass in high-hardness water (365 mg/L CaCO3) were tempered to low-hardness water (42 mg/L) over 35 or 60 min and compared with a control group exposed to no change in hardness. In the second study, small and large fingerlings from high-hardness water (365 mg/L; 17°C) were subjected to (1) an acute 5°C increase in water temperature; (2) an acute 326-mg/L decrease in water hardness; (3) a simultaneous acute 5°C increase in temperature and 326-mg/L decrease in water hardness; or (4) no change in hardness or temp...
Magnetorheological and electrorheological materials in adaptive structures and their performance comparison

Magnetorheological (MR) and electrorheological (ER) materials show variations in their rheological properties when subjected to varying magnetic and electric fields, respectively. They have quick time response, in the order of milliseconds, and thus are potentially applicable to structures and devices when a tunable system response is required. When incorporated into an adaptive structural system, they can yield higher variations in the dynamic response of the structure. This study presents a detailed analysis of vibration control capabilities of adaptive structures based on MR and ER materials, and compares their vibration minimization rates, time responses and energy consumption rates. Homogeneous one-dimensional MR and ER adaptive beam configurations were considered. A structural dynamic modeling approach was discussed and vibration characteristics of MR and ER adaptive beams were predicted for different magnetic and electric field levels. In addition to the model predictions, actual MR and ER adaptive beams were fabricated and tested. Both studies illustrated the vibration minimization capabilities of the MR and ER adaptive beams at different rates and environmental conditions. The relative performances of both MR and ER adaptive beams were discussed in detail and their advantages and disadvantages were listed.
Substances in nuclear wheat germ extracts which interfere with polymerase III transcriptional activity in vitro

Wheat germ nuclear extracts inhibited an active yeast polymerase III (pol III) transcription extract. We isolated two chromatin-associated fractions which harbored biochemically distinguishable inhibitory activities, each contributing about 40–50% to the total inhibitory activity. One fraction, which was released from the chromatin upon treatment with 350 to 900 mM NaCl, was purified to homogeneity and identified as histone H1. It inhibited the yeast extract by excluding the transcription machinery from the template DNA. It can be partially antagonized by additional nontemplate DNA together with templates that have strong pol III promoters. The other fraction, which was released from the chromatin between 0 and 350 mM NaCl, inhibited transcription by affecting transcription complex formation partially through transcription factor-inhibitor interactions. Furthermore, it affected the rate of transcription reinitiation but not the elongation rate. Ways to move towards an active, DNA-dependent pol III plant extract are discussed.
UR Well Eye Care: a model for medical student ophthalmology education and service in the community

PURPOSE To assess medical student ophthalmic educational exposure and service provided through the University of Rochester's UR Well Eye Care (URWEC) program, a student-run initiative in which medical students provide supervised eye care to an uninsured urban population. DESIGN Retrospective chart review. SUBJECTS Consecutive patients seen at the student-run URWEC in Rochester, NY, USA between June 2008 and June 2013. METHODS One hundred and forty-five of 148 charts of consecutive patients seen at URWEC over the 5-year period were identified and reviewed. Data on patient demographics, reason for visit, history, examination, diagnoses, and management were collected into a database. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Main outcome measures included reasons for referral, student performance of ophthalmic examination components, ophthalmic diagnoses, and hours of volunteer service rendered. RESULTS Patients came from a variety of countries and educational and racial backgrounds. The most common reason for referral to URWEC was diabetic screening eye exams (66/145, 46%). Student volunteers performed the following examination components in 79%-100% of visits under direct supervision of an attending ophthalmologist: visual acuity, pupils, extraocular movements, confrontation visual fields, intraocular pressure, drop administration, slit-lamp examination, and dilated fundoscopic exam. The most common diagnosis other than refractive error was cataract (29/145, 20%). Almost half of patients (66/145, 46%) were diagnosed with potentially vision-threatening conditions. Six hundred and thirty hours of community service were rendered by students and attending ophthalmologists during the 5-year period. CONCLUSION Student-run eye clinics provide a longitudinal setting where students can receive one-on-one training with attending ophthalmologists, attain a broad clinical exposure, and provide a needed service in their communities.
In vivo isomerization of all-trans- to 11-cis-retinoids in the eye occurs at the alcohol oxidation-state

The vertebrate biochemical pathway for regeneration of visual pigments in the living eye after bleaching is largely uncharacterized. Since isomerization of an all-trans-retinoid to an 11-cis-retinoid could conceivably occur via the aldehyde, alcohol, or ester forms of vitamin A, it is important to determine the oxidation state of the retinoid that is isomerized in vivo. To address this problem, light-adapted rats and frogs were injected intraperitoneally with a mixture of (15-/sup 3/H)-all-trans-retinol and (15-/sup 14/C)-all-trans-retinol. After 4 or 24 h of dark adaptation, labeled retinoids in the animal's eyes were analyzed. All rats had the expected 50% loss of /sup 3/H label (relative to /sup 14/C) in 11-cis-retinal, a loss of /sup 3/H that must occur when (15-/sup 3/H)retinol is oxidized to retinal. 11-cis-Retinyl esters in the rats' eyes at 4 h retained 67% of the /sup 3/H label, and this could be increased to 81% when the rats were pretreated with 4-methylpyrazole, an alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor known to inhibit dark adaptation. This result demonstrates that retinoid isomerization occurs at the alcohol oxidation state in the rat eye. Had it occurred at the aldehyde oxidation state, at least 50% of the /sup 3/H in the 11-cis-retinyl esters would have beenmore » lost. The importance of this isomerization pathway is emphasized by the observation that dark-adapting rats whose alcohol dehydrogenase(s) had been inhibited by 4-methylpyrazole had increased amounts of 11-cis-retinyl ester in their eyes relative to control rat eyes, a result that is understandable only if retinoids are isomerized in vivo at the alcohol oxidation state.« less
Effect of Chemical Structure and Molecular Weight on High-Temperature Stability of Some Fomblin Z-Type Lubricants

High-temperature stability of a series of Z-type PFPE lubricants with different MW and end-groups have been studied by TGA, GPC, and FT-IR. It was found that, in air and at elevated temperatures, the weight-loss of low-MW Zdols is due to evaporation while the weight-loss of high-MW Zdols is initiated by thermal oxidative decomposition. The experimental results also show that the end-groups have a significant effect on the decomposition mechanism. For Zdols that have hydroxyl end-groups, the initiation of decomposition reaction is oxidative in nature. For Zs that have perfluoromethyl end-groups, the decomposition is a thermal depolymerization reaction.
Extremely High Two-Photon Absorbing Graphene Oxide for Imaging of Tumor Cells in the Second Biological Window.

Cancer, a life-threatening disease, has become a global pandemic. Targeted tumor imaging using near-infrared (NIR) light is the key to improve the penetration depth and it is highly promising for clinical tumor diagnostics. Driven by this need, in this Letter we have reported aptamer conjugated graphene oxide-based two-photon imaging of breast tumor cells selectively. Reported data indicate that there is an extremely high two-photon absorption from aptamer conjugated graphene oxide (σ2PA = 46890 GM). Experimental data show that two-photon luminescence signal remains almost unchanged even after 2 h of illuminations. Reported results show that S6 RNA aptamers conjugated graphene oxide-based two-photon fluorescence can be used for selective two-photon imaging of SK-BR-3 breast tumor cell in second biological transparency windows using 1100 nm wavelength. Experimental data demonstrate that it is highly capable of distinguishing targeted breast cancer SK-BR-3 cells from other nontargeted MDA-MB-231 breast canc...
The cloned cardiac Na channel α-subunit expressed in Xenopus oocytes show gating and blocking properties of native channels

The neonatal rat cardiac Na channel α-subunit directed currents in oocytes show characteristic cardiac relative resistance to tetrodotoxin (TTX) block. TTX-sensitive currents obtained by expression in Xenopus oocytes of the α-subunits of the rat brain (BrnIIa) and adult skeletal muscle (μI) Na channels show abnormally slow decay kinetics. In order to determine if currents directed by the cardiac α-subunit (RHI) exhibit kinetics in oocytes like native currents, we compared RHI-directed currents in oocytes to Na currents in freshly isolated neonatal rat myocytes. The decay rate of RHI currents approached that of neonatal myocytes and was faster than BrnIIa and μI currents in oocytes. The voltage dependence of availability and activation was the same as that in the rat myocytes except for a 12–19 mV shift in the depolarizing direction. The RHI Na currents were sensitive to Cd2+ block, and they showed use dependence of TTX and lidocaine block similar to native currents. The current expressed in oocytes following injection of the cRNA encoding for the α-subunit of the cardiac Na channel possesses most of the characteristic kinetic and pharmacological properties of the native cardiac Na current.
A variance formula related to a quantum conductance problem

Abstract Let t be a block of an Haar-invariant orthogonal ( β = 1 ), unitary ( β = 2 ) or symplectic ( β = 4 ) matrix from the classical compact groups O ( n ) , U ( n ) or Sp ( n ) , respectively. We obtain a close form for Var ( tr ( t ∗ t ) ) . The case for β = 2 is related to a quantum conductance problem, and our formula recovers a result obtained by several authors. Moreover, our result shows that the variance has a limit ( 8 β ) −1 for β = 1 , 2 and 4 as the sizes of t go to infinity in a special way. Although t in our formulation comes from a block of an Haar-invariant matrix from the classical compact groups, the above limit is consistent with a formula by Beenakker, where t is a block of a circular ensemble.
High-speed nondirective optical communication for wireless networks

The primary obstacles to high-speed communication, namely, shot noise from ambient light, high-capacitance photodiodes and multipath dispersion, are reviewed, and ways to counter them are demonstrated for a prototypical infrared system. The discussion is limited to the physical-layer issues involved in the design of a single high-speed optical link. The focus is on the downlink (from base station to portable), which is a more challenging problem technically than the uplink for two reasons. First, the complexity of the portable receiver is much more constrained than that of the base station, due to power consumption and cost restrictions. Second, the downlink data rates are likely to be much higher than the uplink rates, because downlink communication will include downloading large executable files and possibly video services, whereas uplink communication will be used for transferring working files and keyboard commands which tend to be much smaller. >
Recording of respiration by electrical impedance change from the dogfish in sea water

Respiratory movements of the dogfish,Squalus acanthias, were recorded by measuring the change in electrical impedance between two stainles steel needle electrodes inserted on either side of the pharyngeal cavity at the level of the gill slits. Observations indicated that the various portions of the impedance wave form could be consistently related to particular phases of the respiratory cycle of the animal. Cycle-to-cycle uniformity of the consecutive wave forms suggests that it may be possible to calibrate the impedance measurement of pharyngeal volume in these animals in truly physiological terms.
An evaluation of terminal hinge position and neuromuscular position in edentulous patients. Part II. Duplicate mandibular dentures

The purpose of Part II of this study was to determine whether or not a denture fabricated to the neuromuscular position (NMP) could be as functional as one fabricated to the terminal hinge position (THP). Two mandibular dentures were fabricated for each of six edentulous subjects, one to the THP and one to the NMP, along with only one maxillary denture each. The subjects had no prior knowledge of the two mandibular dentures in order to determine the clinical significance of a difference in the two positions. These results were evaluated by clinical methods. It was concluded that the NMP is clinically acceptable for intercuspation of artificial teeth on complete dentures.
Heterokaryon formation by protoplast fusion of drug-resistant mutants in Phytophthora megasperma f.sp. glycinea

Abstract The Phytophthora megasperma f.sp. glycinea (Pmg)-soybean disease interaction is a model system for studying race-specific host-pathogen interactions. Two obstacles to the genetic analysis of Pmg are the lack of phenotypic merkers and the inability to cross different isolates. Drug-resistant mutations were used as selectable markers and were obtained at a frequency of 1 × 10−5 zoospores after mutagenesis with N-methyl-N′-nitro-N′-nitrosoguanidine. Protoplasts were produced from mycelium so that heterokaryons from different isolates could be made by protoplast fusion. Protoplasts from a fluorotryptophan-resistant mutant and a metalaxyl-resistant mutant were fused in the presence of polyethylene glycol and CaCl2. Colonies from fused protoplasts were selected by their ability to grow in the presence of both fluorotryptophan and metalaxyl. The rate of heterokaryon formation was 100-fold higher than the spontaneous mutation rate of the parental isolates. Heterokaryons were identified from doubly drug-resistant colonies by recovering both parental phenotypes from the zoospore progeny. Fifteen heterokaryons produced zoospores of each parental phenotype. Nineteen doubly drug-resistant colonies produced zoospores of predominantly one parental phenotype. Eleven heterokaryons produced a large number of zoospores resistant to both fluorotryptophan and metalaxyl. Karyogamy may have occurred in those heterokaryons producing double drug-resistant zoospores. Protoplast fusion was attempted between a Pmg isolate and a P. megasperma f.sp. medicaginis (Pmm) isolate because analysis of karyogamy was possible. The putative heterokaryons had the Pmm phenotype for all 10 characters examined and are probably spontaneous mutants of the Pmm parent.
Coping with disfigurement and dysfunction after head and neck cancer surgery: A conceptual framework

The relationship between coping effectiveness and degree of postoperative disfigurement and dysfunction has been described. Current nationwide mandates for more cost-effective health care warrant continued efforts to describe this patient population in relation to coping patterns. Those patients who do not cope adequately should be considered for more intensive intervention while still in the therapeutic environment of the hospital. More creative and innovative solutions are needed to facilitate effectiveness of intervention and predictability of outcomes within an appropriate time frame and in a fiscally responsible manner. In the interim, inability to cope with disfigurement and dysfunction at discharge can predispose the patient to infection or noncompliance with follow-up care, pathological obsession with or denial of the defect, depression, and social isolation.
Flow-induced vibration of a circular cylinder at limiting structural parameters

Transverse oscillation of a dynamically supported circular cylinder in a flow at Re=100 has been numerically simulated using a high-resolution viscous-vortex method, for a range of dynamical parameters. At the limiting case with zero values of mass, damping and elastic force, the cylinder oscillates sinusoidally at amplitude A/D=0·47 and frequency fD/U_∞=0·156. For zero damping, the effects of mass and elasticity are combined into a new, “effective” dynamic parameter, which is different from the classic “reduced velocity”. Over a range of this parameter, the response exhibits oscillations at amplitudes up to 0·6 and frequencies between 0·15 and 0·2. From this response function, the classic response in terms of reduced velocity can be obtained for fixed values of the cylinder/fluid ratio m*. It displays “lock-in” at very high values of m*.