cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In vitro culture of rice: transformation and regeneration of protoplasts.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the primary food source for about 40% of the people of the world (Yamada and Loh, 1984). Based upon population growth projections, rice yields must increase by over 5 million tons per year just to maintain current levels of rice consumption per person (IRRI, 1985). Because of the importance of rice production, extensive research efforts and progress have been made during the last 30 years to improve yields. Most of this research has been carried out in China, Japan, India, and at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines on the two major subspecies of O. sativa, the japonica and indica varieties. Japonica lines are grown primarily in temperate regions of the world, especially northern China and Japan. Researchers in these countries have improved the yield of these lines considerably during the past two decades. The indica varieties, which are more adapted to the humid tropics and are thus an important food source to a larger proportion of the human population, have been improved markedly at IRRI, primarily through conventional plant breeding. It is apparent that even higher performance rice cultivars will be needed in the future. Some improvements will continue through conventional breeding programs, but these programs will be most effective when coupled to the current advances in in vitro cell culture of rice and genetic engineering using the tools of cellular and molecular biology.
Morphological evidence for the evolutionary origin of Astigmata (Acari: Acariformes)

A century ago, Antonio Berlese first discussed the close phylogenetic relationship between the large mite groups Oribatida and Astigmata. Since then, information having phylogenetic value has greatly increased and the paradigms within which we interpret it have changed. Herein I refine the general hypothesis that Astigmata originated within oribatid mites and suggest Malaconothridae as a possible sister group. Among the 14 apomorphies used to support the origin of Astigmata within oribatid mites are possession of lateral opisthosomal glands, regression of hysterosomal setal pair f1, paired prelarval denticles, partially internalized chelicerae with incomplete adaxial walls, an atelobasic rutellum, pretarsal condylophores that articulate posteriorly with the tarsus, a dorsally fused palp tibia and tarsus and transdehiscent ecdysis. A further 13 apomorphies support the origin of Astigmata at some level within Malaconothroidea. These include absence of an oblique labiogenal articulation, presence of a distal rutellar lamella, shortening of the palp tarsus, larval regression of hysterosomal seta f2, loss of the bothridial seta in all instars, and several losses and modifications of leg setae. The hypothesis brings to light evolutionary questions that were previously obscured by incorrect or inappropriate classifications. The nomenclatural problems that arise from it are best solved by considering Astigmata as a subgroup within Oribatida.
The Renin—Angiotensin System in Diabetic Cardiovascular Complications

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) exerts a wide range of effects on cardiovascular homeostasis and blood pressure (BP) control. A large body of clinical evidence has demonstrated that inhibition of angiotensin II (Ang II, Aspl-Phe8) production by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors reduce the onset and/or progression of renal (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), retinal (8,9), and cardiovascular (5,9, 10, 11, 12) complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). The majority of the BP-lowering effects and in vivo vascular effects of ACE inhibitors have been reproduced with angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonists (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18), suggesting that the Ang II/AT1 receptor pathway mediates most of angiotensin’s adverse cardiovascular effects in diabetes. Although inhibition of the RAS provides protective effects against both the microvascular and cardiovascular complications of DM, the actions and regulation of the RAS in diabetes remain incompletely understood. This chapter will review the interactions between the RAS and diabetes that have been associated with insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease (CVD).
The case for maintaining assurance cases

When we build and maintain safety-, mission-, or security-critical systems, we are usually constrained by regulations and acquisition guidelines that requires us to provide a documented body of evidence that the system satisfies specified critical properties. In other words, we must construct an "assurance case" to convince the purchaser or user of the system's suitability or quality. However, in building such high-quality software and balancing many objectives, it has become painfully clear that the resulting software is brittle: small changes in the software itself; the hardware and software environment; or in its operational use, can have unexpected and significant (unwanted) effects. Unfortunately, assurance cases for software are often even more brittle than the software itself. This presentation will address the challenges we confront in preserving the quality of the assurance cases as we maintain the quality of the associated software. It is critical that we make progress in addressing these challenges as software continues to become a fundamental enabling technology for 21st-century society.
Sparse Cut Projections in Graph Streams

Finding sparse cuts is an important tool for analyzing large graphs that arise in practice, such as the web graph, online social communities, and VLSI circuits. When dealing with such graphs having billions of nodes, it is often hard to visualize global partitions. While studies on sparse cuts have traditionally looked at cuts with respect to all the nodes in the graph, some recent works analyze graph properties projected onto a small subset of vertices that may be of interest in a given context, e.g., relevant documents to a query in a search engine. In this paper, we study how sparse cuts in a graph partition a certain subset of nodes. We call this partition a cut projection. We study the problem of finding cut projections in the streaming model that is appropriate in this context as the input graph is too large to store in main memory. Specifically, for a d-regular graph G on n nodes with a cut of conductance Φ and constant balance, we show how to partition a randomly chosen set of k nodes in \(\tilde{O}(\frac{1}{\sqrt{\alpha\Phi}})\) passes over the graph stream and space \(\tilde{O}(n\alpha + \frac{n^{3/4}k^{1/4}}{\sqrt{\alpha}\Phi^{19/4}})\), for any choice of α ≤ 1. The resulting partition is the projection of a cut of conductance of at most \(\tilde{O}(\sqrt{\Phi})\). We note that for k < nα 6Φ O(1), this can be done in \(\tilde{O}(1/\sqrt{\alpha\Phi})\) passes and space \(\tilde{O}(n\alpha)\) that is sublinear in the number of nodes.
Dietary History Methods for Epidemiologic Studies: Application in a Case-Control Study of Vitamin A and Lung Cancer

A dietary history method for use in a case-control study of vitamin A and lung cancer is described. The method was designed to obtain estimates of the usual frequencies and quantities of 84 major food sources of vitamin A and carotene consumed prior to symptoms of disease in cases and during the same time period in matched controls. Amounts were estimated from photographs of each item that showed three different quantities. The development of the questionnaire is described in detail, as well as the data collection and analysis. The results of the study showed that relative to those men with the highest intakes, the men who consumed less vitamin A or carotene had a higher risk for lung cancer in a general dose-response fashion. These findings were not apparent for females. Recommendations regarding dietary methodology for future studies concerning vitamin A and carotene intakes include further research on the validation and reproducibility of the dietary methods, identification of appropriate biological markers that reflect past exposures of vitamin A and carotene, and further research on the vitamin A and carotene content of available food items.
Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP, mammalian bombesin) in the pathogenesis of lung cancer

Established human lung cancer exhibits a complex pattern of genetic changes as well as several distinct autocrine growth factor loops for regulatory peptides. The best studied example is that of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP), the mammalian homolog of the amphibian bombesin. It is produced by up to 70% of small cell lung cancers and 10-20% of non-small cell lung cancers. GRP stimulates the growth of normal bronchial epithelium as well as that of small cell lung cancer, and its blockade with the use of antibodies or synthetic antagonists inhibits the growth of these tumors. Study of its molecular biology has revealed a complex pattern of mRNA processing which has lead to the recent isolation of a novel family of peptides termed gastrin-releasing peptide gene-associated peptides (GGAPs), present in normal and malignant human tissues. Additional efforts have been directed at characterizing the GRP receptor as well as its intracellular signaling pathways which have been reported both as G protein phospholipase C coupled events as well as activation of a membrane associated tyrosine kinase. In view of its expression in normal bronchial epithelium and its mitogenic effects on this tissue, GRP appears to play a central role in the early events of pulmonary carcinogenesis.
The IGF-I receptor in cancer research.

The type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-IR) plays an important role in both normal and abnormal growth. It is particularly important in anchorage-independent growth. Impairment of its function causes apoptosis of tumor cells and inhibition of tumor growth in experimental animals. However, the IGF-IR can also induce differentiation, and eventually cell death, of certain types of cells. Its major substrates, IRS-1 and Shc, determine whether the IGF-IR will transform cells or will cause their differentiation.
Phase-Resolved Subnanosecond Spectroscopy Using the Beat Frequencies from Mode-Locked Lasers

It is shown that the beat frequencies inherent to a mode-locked dye laser can be used in phase fluorometry. The fluorescence lifetime of cresyl violet, quenched by KI, is determined with the use of the first two harmonics of a synchronously pumped dye laser. The results from the two frequency components are in excellent agreement. The fluorescence life-time is determined by time-resolved spectroscopy, with the use of the same sample and photomultiplier. The data show that narrower confidence intervals are obtained in the phase-resolved measurement, and this result is attributed to the high phase stability of a cw mode-locked laser.
Medium-dose 308-nm excimer laser for the treatment of psoriasis

Abstract Background: The excimer laser can deliver high-intensity ultraviolet B (UVB) energy at 308 nm, a wavelength similar to that used in narrow-band UVB phototherapy. Objective: The goal of this investigation was to evaluate the role of high-dose single treatments with the excimer 308-nm laser in stable plaque-type psoriasis. Methods: Eighteen volunteers were enrolled in the study. Two plaques were selected and half of each plaque was held as a control while the other half was treated with a single dose of either 8 or 16 times the minimal erythema dose. Results: Sixteen subjects completed the study. Two patients signed up but never actually participated because of scheduling problems. Eleven showed significant improvement within 1 month, and 5 still demonstrated persistent areas of clearing at 4 months. Conclusion: As little as one high-dose excimer laser treatment can be effective for localized plaque-type psoriasis. Multiple treatments or other irradiation schedules with this innovative device may prove even more efficacious. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2002;46:732-7.)
Major Depression with Melancholia: A Comparison of Middle-Aged and Elderly Adults

Patients admitted to an inpatient psychiatric service were screened to identify middle-aged (35 to 50 years of age) and elderly (60 years of age and over) patients suffering from a major depressive episode with melancholia. Thirty-seven subjects (18 middle-aged and 19 elderly) were identified. Criteria symptoms for depression and symptoms specifically associated with melancholic or endogenous depression did not differ across age groups, with few exceptions. Major depression with melancholia in this hospitalized population was symptomatically similar in the middle-aged and elderly. The syndrome is therefore relatively common on this inpatient service and should be easily recognized.
Origin and Straying of Hatchery Winter Steelhead in Oregon Coastal Rivers

Abstract We evaluated the origin and straying of hatchery steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss among 16 rivers on the Oregon coast to examine rearing or release practices that might contribute to straying. Data were collected on the returning adults of three brood years that had been differentially marked and released as smolts in 1990–1992. The percentage of strays averaged 11% (range, 4–26%) of the samples of hatchery and wild fish in 11 streams where hatchery steelhead were released. Stray hatchery fish composed a mean of 22% (range, 9–43%) in 5 streams without hatchery releases. The two predominant factors that contributed to straying were releases of stocks transplanted from their natal basins and releases into adjacent basins. Releases of transplanted stocks into adjacent basins accounted for 41% of the strays, while releases of transplanted stocks into nonadjacent basins accounted for 29% of the strays. Local stocks of steelhead released into adjacent basins accounted for 16% of the strays. The incidence ...
Fracture mechanisms during fiber pull-out for carbon-fiber-reinforced thermosetting composites

Abstract We have investigated the mechanism of fiber/resin debonding in three untreated and three corresponding plasma-treated carbon-fiber-reinforced thermosetting micro-composites by examining the fiber/resin fracture surfaces with the aid of wetting force scanning. The wettability of a debonded microdroplet resin site (50–150 μm long) on a fiber was compared with that of the original fiber surface by scanning with ethylene glycol. Wetting force scans show that, for most fiber/resin combinations, the original location of the interface had a distinctly different wetting force as compared with adjacent non-bonded fiber surfaces. This suggested either the removal of a layer of carbon fiber along with the resin or a sub-microscopic cohesive failure in the resin leaving a thin residual layer of the resin on the fiber. For only a few specimens, no change in wetting force at the resin site was observed, suggesting adhesive failure of the interface. The different failure mechanisms proposed for various fiber/resin systems are explained on the basis of the morphological structures of the carbon fibers, cohesive shear strengths of the resins and the measured bond strengths.
Analysis of symmetry and three-dimensional reconstruction of thin gp32*I crystals.

Abstract Thin, multilayered crystals of gp32∗I were analyzed by negative stain electron microscopy and image processing. Images of untilted crystals exhibited different projection symmetries and structural motifs. Systematic analysis of these images categorized the projections into four types. Areas producing the type 1 projection were reconstructed in three-dimensions from four tilt series containing 111 images. The three-dimensional data has excellent p121 plane group symmetry and reveals that the gp32∗I molecule contains two large domains linked together by a small domain. Computer simulations utilizing projection data suggested that the type 2 and 3 projections arise from superposition of type 1 projections related by a 21 screw axis along the projection axis. The three-dimensional reconstruction was utilized in a final simulation that explained the occurrence of the fourth type of projection. This work provides a firm foundation for future high-resolution analysis of the crystal by electron cryomicroscopy.
PROBLEMS AND PERSPECTIVES IN MEASURING THE SOCIAL COSTS OF OIL POLLUTION1

ABSTRACT Efficient allocation of resources demands that the full social costs and benefits of all economic activities be reflected in market prices. Ignoring the costs of performing damage assessments, all damages caused by oil pollution of marine and coastal environments should be valued and included in the price we pay for petroleum products. Furthermore, widely accepted principles of equity demand that the victims of oil pollution be compensated for their losses. To meet both goals, methods must be developed for measuring the nature and extent of oil pollution damages in economic terms. Measurement of oil pollution damages to natural resources is an inexact art. Not only do marine biologists and ecologists have an imperfect understanding of damage mechanisms, but economists, whose task it is to value damages, find it difficult to place dollar values on the affected resources. This paper analyzes the problem of providing an economic measure of oil pollution damages from three perspectives: the accuracy ...
Comparison of Survival of Campylobacter jejuni in the Phyllosphere with That in the Rhizosphere of Spinach and Radish Plants

Campylobacter jejuni has been isolated previously from market produce and has caused gastroenteritis outbreaks linked to produce. We have tested the ability of this human pathogen to utilize organic compounds that are present in leaf and root exudates and to survive in the plant environment under various conditions. Carbon utilization profiles revealed that C. jejuni can utilize many organic acids and amino acids available on leaves and roots. Despite the presence of suitable substrates in the phyllosphere and the rhizosphere, C. jejuni was unable to grow on lettuce and spinach leaves and on spinach and radish roots of plants incubated at 33°C, a temperature that is conducive to its growth in vitro. However, C. jejuni was cultured from radish roots and from the spinach rhizosphere for at least 23 and 28 days, respectively, at 10°C. This enteric pathogen also persisted in the rhizosphere of spinach for prolonged periods of time at 16°C, a temperature at which many cool-season crops are grown. The decline rate constants of C. jejuni populations in the spinach and radish rhizosphere were 10- and 6-fold lower, respectively, than on healthy spinach leaves at 10°C. The enhanced survival of C. jejuni in soil and in the rhizosphere may be a significant factor in its contamination cycle in the environment and may be associated with the sporadic C. jejuni incidence and campylobacteriosis outbreaks linked to produce.
A Review of “Fascinating Hindutva: Saffron Politics and Dalit Mobilisation”

The last two decades have seen the remarkable rise of two striking, if very different, forces in Indian popular politics: right-wing Hindu nationalism (Hindutva) on the one hand and lower caste—Dal...
Inhomogeneous insulator-metal transition in conducting polymers

Abstract A review of recent work on the insulator-metal transition (IMT) in conducting polymers is presented. The temperature dependence of the dielectric function [e(ω)] of highly conducting polyaniline and polypyrrole, which cross the IMT as probed by δ DC (T) , has been measured over an unusually broad range of frequencies (6.5 GHz and 2 meV− 6 eV). These data demonstrate that the inhomogeneous disorder model is a more appropriate description for the IMT than the homogeneous three-dimensional Anderson model.
Seasonal fluctuation in malate dehydrogenase, phosphatase and proteinase activity of dormant peach flower buds

Abstract Malate dehydrogenase (MDH) in dormant flower buds of peach ( Prunus persica L. Batch) had 3 pH optima. In vitro, abscissic acid (ABA) stimulated the activity of isoenzyme I (pH 6.7), but had no effect on isoenzyme III (pH 7.6). Arrhenius plot of isoenzyme I showed a break at 22°C, whereas isoenzyme III had a break at 17°C. Three forms of peach-bud MDH were found during dormancy, differing in their Km values. A low Km form occurred only in the 18 February samples. Intermediate and high Km forms with low affinity for substrate occurred during dormancy. Abscissic acid seemed to have an effect on shifting the intermediate form to the high Km form during dormancy. MDH activity increased 72-fold from October to February (green-tip stage) after which its activity declined. Preincubation of MDH preparation for 3 min at 5 or 22°C accelerated its activity. However, as a result of preincubation at 30°C activity was depressed. At 5°C preincubation ABA inhibited MDH activity, but at 30°C it had no effect. Highest proteinase activity was detected in December. In vitro, ABA (2 × 10 −5 M) inhibited proteinase activity 27%. Phosphatase activity increased rapidly from late October to mid-December, then leveled off during the remainder of the season.
The Sandia Laser Plasma Extreme Ultraviolet And Soft X-Ray (XUV) Light Source

Laser produced plasmas have been shown to be extremely bright sources of extreme ultra-violet and soft x-ray (XUV) radiation; however, certain practical difficulties have hindered the development of this source as a routinely usable laboratory device. To explore solutions to these difficulties, Sandia has constructed an XUV laser plasma source (LASPS) with the intention of developing an instrument that can be used for experiments requiring intense XUV radiation from 50-300 eV. The driving laser for this source is a KrF excimer with a wavelength of 248 nm, divergence of 200 jtrad, pulse width of 23 ns at 20 Hz and typical pulH energy of 500 mJ which allows for good energy coupling to the plasma at mgderate (1012 W/cm2) power densities. This source has been pulsed approximately 2 x 105 times, demonstrating good tolerance to plasma debris. The source radiates from the visible to well above 1000 eV, however, to date attention has been concentrated on the 50-300 eV region. In this paper, spectral data and plasma images for both stainless steel and gold targets are presented with the gold target yielding a 200 μ, plasma and reradiating 3.9% of the pump energy into 15-73 eV band, a flux of 1.22 x 10 photons/pulse/eV into 2n sr. Further efforts will expand these measurements to rare earth targets and to higher spectralenergies. A special high throughput wide angle XUV (50-300 eV) monochromator and associated optics is being concurrently developed to collect the plasma radiation, perform energy dispersion and focus the radiation onto the experimental area.© (1986) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A one-dimensional simulation of the stratocumulus-capped mixed layer

A marine stratocumulus model has been developed which has four major sub-models: (1) a one-dimensional version of the CSU cumulus model, (2) a partially-diagnostic higher-order turbulence model, (3) an atmospheric radiation model for both short-wave and long-wave radiation, and (4) a partial condensation scheme and cloud fractional parameterization. A set of numerical experiments have been performed to study the interactions among the turbulence, the long-wave radiation, the short-wave radiation, and the sub-grid condensation processes. The results indicate that surface sensible eddy heat flux and not radiative cooling is the major control on the rate of cloud-top entrainment. Cloud-top radiation cooling occurs principally within the upper part of the mixed layer. However, for the stratocumulus with numerous towers penetrated into the capping inversion, most of the long-wave radiation occurs within the capping inversion. It is found that cloud-top radiation cooling is balanced by turbulence transport of sensible heat from cloud-base levels.
Enhanced machining of micron-scale features in microchip molding masters by CNC milling

An improved approach for the generation of aluminum masters used in the replication of polymer-based microfluidic devices is proposed. It is commonly assumed that conventional computer numerical controlled (CNC)-milling yields insufficient specifications for use in micro-milling. As molding masters suitable for microfluidic device replication require features whose dimensions are on the order of tens to hundreds of microns, the previous limitations of CNC-milling include machining tolerances that exceed 25% of the machined feature and inability to mill intersecting features. Here, we present several novel and advanced machining techniques to overcome existing limitations of a CNC-milling based approach. To achieve microfeatures with tolerances up to a factor of ten better than expected from the CNC-mill used, external calibration and measurement of the milling process was employed. To reduce the unwanted volume occurring from two intersecting features, 102 μm dia. high-density micrograin carbon endmills were used with all milling steps externally calibrated and measured. To generate masters with abutting features of different widths, keyway slots were milled into the master that could accommodate various size molding master keys. In addition to adding flexibility to the downstream embossing step, the use of keys eliminated dead-volume effects. A variety of molding masters have been machined and characterized in this work. Taken together, these approaches illustrate that conventional CNC-milling using equipment commonly found in university machine shops is a viable alternative to other more expensive master generation processes. Molding masters can be machined to yield high aspect ratio microfeatures with a tolerance of ±4 μm, and these masters can then be used in conjunction with casting or hot embossing to produce polymer microchip platforms suitable for analytical use.
Relative Rank Statistics for Dialog Analysis

We introduce the relative rank differential statistic which is a non-parametric approach to document and dialog analysis based on word frequency rank-statistics. We also present a simple method to establish semantic saliency in dialog, documents, and dialog segments using these word frequency rank statistics. Applications of our technique include the dynamic tracking of topic and semantic evolution in a dialog, topic detection, automatic generation of document tags, and new story or event detection in conversational speech and text. Our approach benefits from the robustness, simplicity and efficiency of non-parametric and rank based approaches and consistently outperformed term-frequency and TF-IDF cosine distance approaches in several experiments conducted.
High-power vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers for solid-state laser pumping

Vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) have emerged as a promising candidate for pumping of solid-state lasers, as they can be configured into high-power two-dimensional arrays and modules of arrays. VCSELs emit in a circular, uniform beam which can greatly reduce the complexity and cost of coupling optics. Their narrow and stable emission spectrum is well suited to the narrow absorption spectrum generally observed for solid-state gain media. The superior reliability of VCSELs greatly enhances the robustness of solid-state laser systems and enables high-temperature operation. In this work, we discuss recent developments on kW-class VCSEL pumps for solid-state lasers. Results on VCSEL modules designed for end-pumping and for side-pumping are presented. More than 4kW in CW operation is demonstrated from a multi-array VCSEL module. We also present results on solid-state lasers using VCSEL modules as pumps. In an end-pumping configuration, more than 250W peak power at 1064nm is demonstrated, and in a sidepumping Q-switched configuration, more than 21mJ at 946nm is demonstrated for an Nd:YAG solid-state laser.
Properties of North Atlantic Abyssal Plain Sediments From High-Quality Long Piston Cores

Two abyssal plain sites on either side of the North Atlantic Ocean are characterized by sequences of distal turbidites and pelagic clays. At the Great Meteor East location, turbidites are quite thick and geotechnical properties such as water content and shear strength can be correlated to the observed stratigraphy. At the Southern Nares Abyssal Plain site, turbidites are much thinner, harder to identify, and less distinct from the pelagic clays. Geotechnical properties there can not easily be correlated to the type of sediment.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Prompt-Neutron Emission from Single Fission Fragments

With a ${\mathrm{Cf}}^{252}$ source placed at the edge of a large cadmium-loaded liquid scintillator, it has been possible to obtain a measure of the number of prompt neutrons emitted from a single fission fragment of measured mass. The mass determination results from a concurrent time-of-flight measurement of the two fragment velocities. The 30-in. scintillator has a high detection efficiency, little dependent on the energy of the neutrons, and permits detection in a full hemisphere about the direction of one of the fragment flight paths. The average number of neutron counts per fission is found to increase with the mass number of the fragment approaching the neutron detector in much the same way in both the light- and heavy-fragment groups, with a sharp decrease occurring in passing from the light to the heavy group. A correction for the geometry of the neutron detection, assuming isotropic emission of the neutrons in the fragment frames, enhances slightly the sawtooth dependence of $\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}(A)$ and gives for the ratio of the average number of neutrons from the light fragment to that from the heavy fragment $\frac{{\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}}_{L}}{{\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}}}_{H}}=1.02\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02$. One is led to believe that either the emission of the neutrons is far from isotropic or that the slightly lighter fragments possess considerably more excitation energy than the slightly heavier fragments when the mass division is nearly symmetric. Perhaps a new picture of the mass division is indicated.
Detecting abrupt changes in a piecewise locally stationary time series

Non-stationary time series arise in many settings, such as seismology, speech-processing, and finance. In many of these settings we are interested in points where a model of local stationarity is violated. We consider the problem of how to detect these change-points, which we identify by finding sharp changes in the time-varying power spectrum. Several different methods are considered, and we find that the symmetrized Kullback-Leibler information discrimination performs best in simulation studies. We derive asymptotic normality of our test statistic, and consistency of estimated change-point locations. We then demonstrate the technique on the problem of detecting arrival phases in earthquakes.
Reflections on Communication and Sport: On Institutions and Strategies

In this essay, Robert Bellamy reflects on scholarly work focused on understanding sports media institutions and their strategies over the past 25 years. The first section assesses the economic and cultural importance of sport as a media product, and, in particular, as a television product in an era of structural change. The second section of the article considers the author’s path to focusing research concerns on the institutional dynamics behind sports programming in the media marketplace. The focus section of the essay considers the merits and limitations to using an industrial organizations approach (i.e., structure–conduct–performance) to study sport communication within a larger political–economic context. Considered here are key issues about regulatory policy options, barriers to entry in the marketplace for sport media product, prospects for structural change, responsiveness to changing usage patterns, and the evolution of branding strategies in a multiple channel environment. The essay closes with...
Computer based data analysis in longevity research.

Abstract This work presents the results from an application of multiple procedures of data analysis to a body of data consisting of the life history information gathered from next of kin listed on death certificates of 500 white male deaths in Boston during 1965. Seventy variables were analyzed by zero-order correlation, multiple regression, linear discriminant analysis, factor analysis, nonlinear discriminant analysis, and nonlinear clustering. The results show a substantial shift in significance of independent variables as one proceeds from univariate to multivariate and from linear to nonlinear analysis. Various perturbations in such studies are outlined, such as the effects of secularity and bimodal distributions. The substantive findings suggest that physical predictors are more important than social predictors to account for advanced longevity while the contrary holds for moderate longevity. Although social variables are more vulnerable to secularity than physical variables (which whittle down their presence in the variable set and consequently their ability to emerge as important relative to physical variables), there was some evidence of their being more important than physical variables.
Assay of Tocainide in Blood by High-pressure Liquid Chromatography

A sensitive, specific, high-pressure liquid chromatographic assay for the determination of tocainide in whole blood is described. The residue from a methylene chloride extract of alkalinized blood was resolvated in a mobile phase of methanol-water (4753) containing 1% acetic acid and 6.16 mM 1-octanesulfonic acid, adjusted to pH 4.0. Chromatography was performed on a reversed-phase column with detection at 254 or 225 nm. The limits of accurate measurement were 2 μg/ml for a 1-ml blood sample monitored at 254 nm and 0.2 μg/ml for a 2-ml sample monitored at 225 nm. The assay was tested on samples from emergency protocol patients and was also found suitable for sinple-dose pharmacokinetic studies.
Convergence analysis and algorithmic implications of two dynamic processes toward an oligopoly-competitive fringe equilibrium solution

Abstract This paper considers a market in which an oligopoly coexists along with a competitive fringe, all firms supplying a homogeneous product noncooperatively. The oligopoly is comprised of a few major firms whereas the competitive fringe is comprised of several smaller firms. For such a situation, two dynamic production-level readjustment processes are described. One of these processes is proven to converge to an equilibrium solution, whereas for the other process, it is demonstrated that a state of disequilibrium may persist. Algorithmic implications as well as economic interpretations of these two processes are provided. The presentation is exemplified through numerical examples and graphical illustrations.
Striped double-cavity Fabry-Perot interferometers using both glass and air

We have used piezo-driven Fabry-Perot interferometers in the past for many continuous velocity-time measurements of fast moving surfaces. In order to avoid the annoying drift of some of these devices, we have developed and used inexpensive, solid glass, striped etalons with lengths up to 64 mm. Useable apertures are 35 mm by 80 mm with a finess of 25. A roundabout technique was devised for double cavity operation. We built a passive thermal housing for temperature stability, with tilt and height adjustments. We have also developed and used our first fixed etalon air-spaced cavity with a rotatable glass double-cavity insert. The rotation allows the referee cavity fractional order to be adjusted separately from that of the main cavity. It needs very little thermal protection, and eliminates the need for a roundabout scheme for double cavity operation, but is more costly than the solid glass version. For a cavity with an air length H, glass length T, index n and wavelength (lambda) , the fringe angles are (root)j(lambda) /(H+T/n) where j is the fractional order plus an integer. This means double cavity fringe patterns plotted vs. velocity will cross if both air and glass are part of the system. This crossing, which is an advantage, will not occur for pure glass or pure air systems. The velocity per fringe is given by c(lambda) /4[H+T(n- (lambda) dn/d(lambda) )] where dn/d(lambda) is the derivative of index with respect to wavelengths. This expression therefore includes the effects of dispersion in the glass. Because the angle depends upon T/n and the velocity upon Tn, there is no equivalent air cavity for a given glass cavity. Very high quality glass is preferable to air, since for a given velocity per fringe, the fringe separation is larger for glass cavities, resulting in less finess degradation due to streak camera spatial resolution.
Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients who require long-term dialysis

Abstract Background . Should coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) be performed in patients on long-term dialysis? This subject has been debated for several years. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of all patients who had CABG from August 1989 to October 1997. Methods . We identified 70 patients who were on long-term dialysis and had CABG during that time period. Patients were evaluated by chart review and telephone survey. Forty-nine patients (70%) had unstable angina and 37 patients (52%) had triple vessel disease. Patient risk factors included 60 patients with hypertension (85%), 40 patients with diabetes mellitus (57%), 35 patients who had congestive heart failure (50%), 35 patients who had a previous myocardial infarction (50%), and 31 smokers (44%). Operative procedures included 49 patients who had CABG only and 21 patients who had concomitant CABG with valve replacement or repair. During the postoperative period, complications developed in 50% of patients. Results . Review of these complications showed that 25% of patients required prolonged mechanical ventilation, and 10% of patients had septicemia. Operative mortality was high, with 10 patient deaths (14.3%) within 30 days of the procedure. Six (60%) of these deaths occurred in patients who had CABG and valve repair or replacement. Long-term follow up at 50.3 months showed no improvement in survival in patients who had CABG compared with the known mortality rate of 22% per year in dialysis patients regardless of comorbid conditions. Quality of life subjectively improved in only 41% of patients in follow-up telephone survey. Conclusions . Patients requiring long-term dialysis with coexistent severe cardiac disease should be thoroughly evaluated preoperatively. One must weigh the high morbidity and mortality risk against the limited long-term resolution of angina and ultimate survival.
Aortic calcification contributing to bone densitometry measurement.

Abstract A 75-yr-old glucocorticoid-dependent asthmatic male had a bone mineral density study to assess possible osteoporosis prior to initiating therapy. A radiograph of the lumbar spine revealed an asymmetrical compression of the second lumbar vertebra, marked scoliosis, vertebral osteopenia, and a highly calcified abdominal aorta. Bone mineral density (dual X-ray absorptiometry [DXA]) revealed low bone mass in L2-L4 and a markedly abnormal pattern, with a linear central density representing a calcified aorta. Posterior-anterior measurements of the midlumbar region with and without the overlying aorta indicated that the calcified vessel contributed up to 33% of the measured density. This was a far higher contribution than reported in other studies. Lateral DXA measurements of the L2 vertebra and the overlying aorta were performed to validate this finding. The density of the L2 vertebra was 0.215 g/cm 2 , and that of the overlying calcified aorta was 0.210 g/cm 2 . This case suggests that aortic calcifications may contribute significantly to overall lumbar bone density and, unless recognized, can inadvertently lead to misclassification of osteoporosis.
Health care finance in the US: Past, present, and future

Presently the US is the only major industrialized nation that does not insure universal access to health care for all of its citizens. Although the US spends one out of every eight dollars on health care, over one-eighth of all Americans lack basic health insurance coverage. Another concern is health care cost inflation. The quest for comprehensive health care coverage for all Americans began shortly after the turn of the century and has received varying degrees of support since then. Since the historical course of health policy in the US has followed an evolutionary rather than revolutionary course, unless consistent policies are developed to rationalize the incentives facing consumers, providers, and insurers, alike, the future path of American health policy will continue to be characterized by disjointed incrementalism. National health insurance can provide decision makers with a tool to structure and focus the American health care system. In order for cost control measures to be effective they must be...
Nicotine elicits a developmentally dependent depression in bullfrog neuroventilatory response to CO2

Nicotine exposure is associated with numerous neurodevelopmental aberrations, including impairment of the neuroventilatory response to hypercapnia in bullfrog tadpoles and mouse neonates following prolonged developmental exposure. It is unclear how acute nicotine exposure affects neuroventilation and the neuroventilatory response to hypercapnia, or how these effects might differ from those of chronic exposure. In this study the neural correlates of ventilation were recorded from in vitro brainstem preparations derived from early and late metamorphic tadpoles and juvenile bullfrogs. Lung and gill/buccal breath parameters were compared during control (=0), 18, 50, 100, and 200microg/L nicotine conditions, applied during normocapnia (1.5% CO(2)) and hypercapnia (5.0% CO(2)). All preparations demonstrated a reduction in normocapnic lung burst frequency and an attenuated hypercapnic response during acute nicotine treatment. The concentrations necessary to elicit both of these responses decreased from 200microg/L nicotine in early metamorphic tadpole brainstems to 18microg/L nicotine in juvenile bullfrog brainstems, which suggests a developmental increase in acute nicotine sensitivity that is distinguishable from the developmental changes in vulnerability to chronic nicotine exposure. In summary, acute nicotine exposure impaired central CO(2) response, attenuated rather than enhanced respiratory drive, and had more pronounced effects at progressively lower concentrations as development proceeded through metamorphosis.
Carbon management response curves: Estimates of temporal soil carbon dynamics

Measurement of the change in soil carbon that accompanies a change in land use (e.g., forest to agriculture) or management (e.g., conventional tillage to no-till) can be complex and expensive, may require reference plots, and is subject to the variability of statistical sampling and short-term variability in weather. In this paper, we develop Carbon Management Response (CMR) curves that could be used as an alternative to in situ measurements. The CMR curves developed here are based on quantitative reviews of existing global analyses and field observations of changes in soil carbon. The curves show mean annual rates of soil carbon change, estimated time to maximum rates of change, and estimated time to a new soil carbon steady state following the initial change in management. We illustrate how CMR curves could be used in a carbon accounting framework while effectively addressing a number of potential policy issues commonly associated with carbon accounting. We find that CMR curves provide a transparent means to account for changes in soil carbon accumulation and loss rates over time, and also provide empirical relationships that might be used in the development or validation of ecological or Earth systems models.
Biomechanical evaluation of the Eco-Pick lift assist: A device designed to facilitate product selection tasks in distribution centers.

Abstract Developing lift assist devices to aid workers performing case tasks in distribution centers has been challenging given the movement of workers through a distribution facility. The objective of this work was to biomechanically evaluate a lift assist that can be integrated with pallet jacks and thereby move through the facility with the workers. Twelve participants transferred 16.4 kg boxes from one pallet to another manually and using the Eco-Pick lift assist. Electromyographic (EMG) activities were measured bilaterally in the Bicep, Deltoid, Latissimus Dorsi, and Erector Spinae muscles. The analysis showed that the 90th percentile normalized EMG values were significantly reduced in 4 of the 8 muscles sampled when using the Eco-Pick. Likewise, the 50th percentile normalized EMG data were significantly reduced for the Erector Spinae, Latissimus Dorsi, and the Bicep muscles when using the assist. For some of the muscles the advantage of the Eco-Pick was dependent upon the initial lift height or the placement height. Overall, it appears that this evaluation of the Eco-Pick's efficacy indicates that the device has the potential to be an effective means of reducing worker exposure to risk factors associated with back and shoulder injuries experienced during manual palletizing tasks found in distribution centers.
Carry Small, Live Large

The phrase "Carry Small, Live Large" embodies the idea that for mobility, small computers are attractive; they fit in a pocket and can be carried without encumbering their owner. "Live large" speaks to the idea that we have high expectations for our interactions with computers, and we expect them to positively impact our lives.
The Primer for Sports Medicine Professionals on Imaging The Shoulder

Because of its inherent superior soft tissue contrast and lack of ionizing radiation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is highly suited to study the complex anatomy of the shoulder joint, particularly when assessing the relatively high incidence of shoulder injuries in young, athletic patients. This review aims to serve as a primer for understanding shoulder MRI in an algorithmical approach, including MRI protocol and technique, normal anatomy and anatomical variations of the shoulder, pathologic conditions of the rotator cuff tendons and muscles, the long head of the biceps tendon, shoulder impingement, labral and glenohumeral ligament pathology, MR findings in shoulder instability, adhesive capsulitis, and osteoarthritis.
Decision-theoretic control of inference for time-critical applications

Systems that operate successfully in the real world have to coordinate their behavior with the behavior of processes outside their immediate control. Since the decision making required for good performance takes time and expends computational resources, it is often useful for a system to reason about its decision-making capabilities. This article surveys a number of approaches for designing systems capable of managing their computational resources so as to maximize the expected utility derived from decision making. In particular, we consider methods that enable a system to trade some measure of decision-making accuracy for speed in problem solving and planning. In some cases, the tradeoffs can be made at design time and compiled into a run-time system. Alternatively, general knowledge for making the tradeoffs can be built into the system enabling it to make the necessary tradeoffs at run time. We explore the issues involved in making both sorts of tradeoffs and provide directions for further research.
Correlation of ultrasound estimated with dye-determined or directly measured amniotic fluid volume revisited.

Background/Aims: To examine the relationship of the amniotic fluid index (AFI) and single deepest pocket (SDP) with an AFV as modelled by Brace or Magann. <b&g
Generation and photoionization of cold Nan clusters; n to 200

Abstract Featureless abundance distributions are found for sodium atomic clusters in a cold He flowstream by laser ablation, demonstrating that the “magic number” ledges observed previously from oven-beam experiments are caused by high cluster temperatures. The utility of the cold pulsed beams indicated here by experiments on photoionization and photofragmentation properties, including ionization potential estimates for n as large as 137. Electronic and chemical measurements on cold alkali metal clusters in beams or flowing gases will permit critical tests of the electronic shell model.