cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Communicating With High-Level Plans

This paper provides support for the following points regarding the design of intelligent interfaces (or more generally, intelligent dialog systems): 1) Constraints of human dialog processing, including limited attention span and partial understanding, should be dealt with explicitly in design of intelligent dialog systems; 2) An intelligent dialog system should be a partly autonomous agent, though accountable to its users; 3) An intelligent dialog system should be designed to incorporate explicit active models of tasks, users, the system itself and the process of dialog with the user; 4) Models should be built and maintained both for types of tasks, users and dialog processes and for specific instances for tasks, users and dialogs. In particular, an intelligent dialog system should model users in terms of their individual human characteristics; 5) The configuration of models maintained by an intelligent interface should be self referencing. That is, the system's model of itself, which is a component of the model configuration, should be able to refer to the model configuration as a whole, and should be able to access the assertions in that configuration; and 6) Dialog processes should be modeled from a first-party (system) view and the system's second-party view of the user, rather than from a third-party (observer's) view.
A security protocol for advanced metering infrastructure in smart grid

In this paper, we propose a security protocol for advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) in smart grid. AMI is one of the important components in smart grid and it suffers from various vulnerabilities due to its uniqueness compared with wired networks and traditional wireless mesh networks. Our proposed security protocol for AMI includes initial authentication, secure uplink data aggregation/recovery, and secure downlink data transmission. Compared with existing researches in such area, our proposed security protocol let the customers be treated fairly, the privacy of customers be protected, and the control messages from the service provider be delivered safely and timely.
Quality and price competition in international wheat trade: A case study of the United Kingdom wheat import market

The input characteristic model (ICM) was used to analyze impacts of price and quality on competition in international wheat trade. The model was applied to a UK processor that produces flour with domestically produced wheat and imported hard wheats. Results are used to identify critical quality parameters and the impact of relative prices on import demand. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Cellular and molecular mechanisms of asbestos-induced fibrosis.

Pleural and pulmonary fibrosis (asbestosis) are ramifications of occupational exposures to asbestos fibers, a diverse family of ubiquitous, naturally-occurring minerals. The pathogenesis of asbestos-associated fibrosis involves the participation of a number of cell types and is characterized by an early and persistent inflammatory response that involves the generation of oxidants, growth factors, chemokines, and cytokines. These mediators may also contribute directly to cell injury, proliferation, and fibrogenesis. After interaction with cells, asbestos fibers trigger a number of signaling cascades involving mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NFkB). Activation of transcription factors such as NF-kB and activator protein-1 (AP-1) may be linked to increases in early response genes (e.g., c-jun and c-fos) which govern proliferation, apoptosis, and inflammatory changes in the cells of the lung. The goal of this article is to review the cellular and molecular mechanisms of asbestos-induced fibrosis that may be critical to the development of effective treatment regimens. J. Cell. Physiol. 180:158 ‐166, 1999.
SEASONAL ADJUSTMENTS IN CAPTURED WILD NORWAY RATS: II. SURVIVAL TIME, PELT INSULATION, SHIVERING, AND METABOLIC AND PRESSOR RESPONSES TO NORADRENALINE

During the winter, wild rats (Rattus norwegicus) develop metabolic adjustments similar to those found in the white rats acclimated to cold in the laboratory. The rate of shivering found in the winter-captured wild rats is lower than that found in the summer-captured rats, indicating the presence of non-shivering thermogenesis. The metabolic response to noradrenaline is enhanced suggesting that non-shivering metabolism in these wild rats, as in the case of white rats, is mediated by noradrenaline. Unlike white rats acclimated to a constant cold temperature in the laboratory, but like white rats acclimatized to cold by group exposure to outdoor winter conditions, wild rats develop a greater pelt insulation in winter.
Phytotoxicity of cobalt, vanadium, titanium, silver, and chromium

Abstract The phytotoxicity of five nonessential elements (Co, V, Ti, Ag, Cr) to higher plants was studied in solution culture experiments with bush beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L. C.V. Improved Tendergreen). All, but in varying degrees, tended to concentrate in roots with a decreasing gradient to stems and leaves. Cobalt was one of the more mobile of the five trace metals. Its toxicity was expressed as severe chlorosis; 43 (with 10‐5 M) and 142 (with 10‐4 M) μg Co/g dry weight in leaves resulted in severe chlorosis. Vanadium as 10‐4 M vanadate resulted in smaller plants but not in chlorosis. Leaf, stem, and root V, respectively, were 13, 8, and 881 μg/g dry weight. Titanium was somewhat mobile with considerable yield decrease at 10‐4 M; leaf, stem, and root Ti concentrations, respectively, were 202, 48, and 2420 μg/g. Symptoms were chlorosis, necrotic spots on leaves, and stunting. Silver was very lethal at 10‐4 M AgNO3; at 10‐5 M yields were greatly decreased, but plants were grown without symptoms. Leaf, s...
Optimal Quantum Memory with Hot Rb Atoms

We present an analysis of pulse propagation under conditions of electromagnetically induced transparency and four-wave mixing in hot Rb vapor. We experimentally and theoretically investigate the prospect of dual-mode light storage.
Prevention of programmed cell death in Caenorhabditis elegans by human bcl-2

Programmed cell death is a physiological process that eliminates unwanted cells. The bcl-2 gene regulates programmed cell death in mammalian cells, but the way it functions is not known. Expression of the human bcl-2 gene in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans reduced the number of programmed cell deaths, suggesting that the mechanism of programmed cell death controlled by bcl-2 in humans is the same as that in nematodes.
Preventing ruptured ectopic pregnancy with a single serum progesterone.

Retrospective data on patients with documented ectopic pregnancies have demonstrated the potential usefulness of serum progesterone in decreasing the time to diagnosis. We report a prospective trial utilizing serum progesterone in the emergency department of a large city-county hospital. Sixty-seven ectopic pregnancies were document in the 582 patients screened; 54 (80.6%) had a progesterone level
Solid State 13C and 19F NMR Characterization of Fluorinated Charcoal

The preparation of CFx by elemental fluorination of charcoal was studied using solid state 13C and 19F NMR spectroscopy. 19F−13C CP/MAS NMR experiments determine the extent of fluorination vs reaction temperature. Three types of carbon species observed over the temperature range −80 to 350 °C were assigned to graphitic carbon (C), CF, and CF2 on the basis of chemical shift. These assignments were confirmed by measurement of cross polarization and dipolar dephasing time constants, TCF and TDD, respectively. The fluorinated carbons fully cross-polarize in tenths of milliseconds, while polarization transfer among graphitic carbon is slower and is explained by a two-component model. One component, with TCF less than 1 ms, is assigned to sp2 carbons adjacent to fluorinated carbons, viz., interfacial graphitic carbon. The other component, with TCF on the order of milliseconds, is assigned to more remote carbon species, viz., bulk graphitic carbon. The concentrations of CF and CF2 found in the 19F−13C CP/MAS NMR...
Development of odor-guided behavior in Wistar and Spraque-Dawley rat pups

Abstract The odor of home-cage shavings attracts Sprague-Dawley and Wistar pups 3–4 days old. Attraction increases during postnatal week one in both strains. Lemon odor repels Sprague-Dawley pups 3 and 8 days old equally, while Wistar aversion to lemon increases during the first postnatal week. Shavings from the nests of strange litters 4 or 8 days old attract Sprague-Dawley pups 4 but not 8 days old equally. Sensory changes appear to underlie Sprague-Dawley response development, while locomotor and sensory changes may mediate Wistar response ontogeny.
Sudden illness and biographical flow in narratives of stroke recovery

The conceptual framework of biographical disruption has dominated studies into the everyday experience of chronic illness. Biographical disruption assumes that the illness presents the person with an intense crisis, regardless of other mitigating factors. However, our data suggests that the lives of people who have a particular illness that is notably marked by sudden onset are not inevitably disrupted. Extensive qualitative interviews were conducted with a sample of veteran non-Hispanic white, African-American, and Puerto Rican Hispanic stroke survivors, at one month, six months and twelve months after being discharged home from hospital. Narrative excerpts are presented to describe specific discursive resources these people use that offset the disrupting connotations of stroke. Our findings suggest a biographical flow more than a biographical disruption to specific chronic illnesses once certain social indicators such as age, other health concerns and previous knowledge of the illness experience, are taken into account. This difference in biographical construction of the lived self has been largely ignored in the literature. Treating all survivor experiences as universal glosses over some important aspects of the survival experience, resulting in poorly designed interventions, and in turn, low outcomes for particular people.
Free Recall of Verbal Material in the Classroom as a Function of Method of Presentation and Method of Practice

Order in which stimuli were presented, and practice instructions were varied for 182 Ss receiving classroom practice on a free recall task with lists of nonsense words. The order within the list was a critical factor for the two levels of task difficulty used. Ss who studied the list gave more correct responses than did those who copied the list with the difficult material only. Ss then received additional practice with a second list. No facilitation in the free recall of the second list, attributable to the conditions which facilitated the learning of the first list, was found.
Efficiency of Cardiochiles nigriceps as a Parasite of Heliothis virescens on Cotton

A 2-year study (1969 and 1970) was made of the population density on cotton of a braconid parasite, Cardiochiles nigriceps Viereck, and the corresponding parasitism of Heliothis larvae. In 1969, estimates indicated that 800 actively searching females of C. nigriceps per acre were present and resulted in 96% parasitism. In 1970, an estimated 450 females per acre were present and resulted in 74% parasitism. Calculations from both years’ data indicate that 80% parasitism of H. virescens (F.) on cotton can be achieved with 400–600 C. nigriceps females per acre. Observations concerning the searching behavior of the parasite also are made.
Habits and routines in the daily management of hypertension

Two purposive case studies illustrate the role of habits and routines in illness management and how they are addressed in the clinical encounter. We argue habits and routines are related, but distinct constructs, and that by overlooking habits and routines, providers may be missing key opportunities to influence behaviour change. Utilization of 'habit-changing' professionals or health coaches who have the opportunity to communicate with patients on a regular basis in their daily living environment is proposed.
Bioinert solution-cross-linked hydrogen-bonded multilayers on colloidal particles.

Bioinert polyelectrolyte multilayers comprised of poly(acrylic acid) and polyacrylamide were deposited on colloidal particles (1.7 μm in diameter) at low pH conditions by layer-by-layer assembly using hydrogen-bonding interactions. The multilayer films were coated uniformly on the colloidal particles without causing any flocculation of the colloids, and the deposited films were subsequently cross-linked by a single treatment of a carbodiimide aqueous solution. The lightly cross-linked multilayer films show excellent stability at physiological conditions (pH 7.4, phosphate-buffered saline), whereas untreated multilayer films dissolved. The multilayer-coated surfaces, both on flat substrates and on colloidal particles, exhibit excellent resistance toward mammalian cell adhesion. With this new solution-based cross-linking method, bioinert H-bonded multilayer coatings offer potential for biomedical applications.
Conglomerate crystallization in organic compounds. Part 3. the X-ray diffraction crystal structure of triphenyl methane, molecular mechanics, and quantum mechanical calculations of the structure and energetics of this molecular propeller

The motivation for this study was the interesting, and contrasting, reported crystallization modes of triphenylmethane and triphenylsilane, the former said to crystallize as a conglomerate [Riche and Pascard-Billy,Acta Crystallog. B1974,30, 1874], whereas the latter was reported to crystallize as a racemate [Allemand and Gerdi,Cryst. Struct. Commun.1979,8, 927]. As we show in what follows, we had planned to justify these observations via molecular mechanics and semiempirical (AM1) calculations. However, in the process of doing some geometrical calculations unavailable in the original, we found that it was impossible for the reported structure [Riche and Pascard-Billy,op. cit.] to be correct. Therefore, we redetermined the structure and found that triphenylmethane also crystallizes as a racemate. The compound was recrystallized from toluene and its structure was solved in space groupPna21 (No. 33). The cell constants area=25.593(14),b=14.804(19),c=7.521(15) a;V=2849.5(6) a3,d(MW=244.32 g mol−1;z=8)=1.139 g cm−3. A total of 2183 independent reflections were collected over the range 4‡ ≤ 2θ ≥40‡. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined using rigid-body constraints for the three phenyl rings as a result of the large, and unfavorable, ratio of variables/observed data had the individual atoms been refined. Molecular mechanics (HyperChem) calculations were carried out to ascertain the degree of agreement between the observed structural parameters and those obtained from an energy-minimized structure. The agreement is remarkably good, especially given the quality of the X-ray data. Similar comments can be applied to the results obtained by semiempirical (AM1) calculations (in HyperChem). Thus, this is a satisfying agreement lending weight to the suggestion that the X-ray data are very reasonable, even if flawed. Calculations were also carried out to determine a conformational potential surface for the molecule as a function of rotation of the phenyl rings around their HC-C(phenyl) vector. These calculations indicate a shallow minimum around the conformation with C3 symmetry with torsional angles [H-C-C(head)-C(ortho) of 30‡, 30‡, 30‡], as well as possible low-energy pathways between molecules of opposite axial chirality.
Social ties and cognitive recovery after stroke: does social integration promote cognitive resilience?

Background/Aims: Little is known about the possible effects of social resources on stroke survivors’ level and change in cognitive outcomes. Understanding this association may help
Water quality in pit lakes in disseminated gold deposits compared to two natural, terminal lakes in Nevada

Within the next 10–15 years, over 35 mines in Nevada will have a lake in their open pit mines after dewatering and cessation of mining. Of the ten past or existing pit lakes at eight different gold mines for which temporal data are available, most had near neutral pH, yet most had at least one constituent (e.g., As, SO4, TDS) that exceeded drinking water standards for at least one sampling event. Most samples from pit lakes had TDS exceeding drinking water standards, but lower than that in the natural Pyramid (TDS≈5,500 mg/l) and Walker (TDS≈14,000 mg/l) Lakes. In the past century, salinity increased in both natural, terminal lakes, in part due to irrigation withdrawals and evapoconcentration. The salinity in the pit lakes may also increase through time via evapoconcentration. However, water balance models indicate that up to 132% (Walker Lake) of the total yearly inflow evaporates from the terminal lakes, whereas steady-state may be reached in the pit lakes modelled, where evaporative losses account for only ≈6% of the total pit lake volume annually and ≈100% of the net inflow (groundwater inflow minus outflow, precipitation and runoff into the lake). The effects of evapoconcentration are expected to be less significant at most pit lakes than at the natural, terminal lakes because (1) evaporation rates are lower at many pit lakes because they are located at higher elevations than the terminal lakes, and (2) the surface area to depth ratio of the pit lakes is >1000 times smaller than that of the terminal lakes.
Graft-versus-host reactions and the effectiveness of donor lymphocyte infusions.

Abstract We retrospectively analyzed 83 consecutive recipients of donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) after allogeneic transplantation for factors associated with disease response and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). DLI was highly effective in relapsed chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), with 71% of patients achieving durable complete remissions (CR). In relapsed acute myeloid leukemia, DLI led to durable CRs in 31% of patients; the rate was
PHYLOGENY OF LOBOCHARACIUM (CHLOROPHYCEAE) AND ALLIES: A STUDY OF 18S AND 26S rDNA DATA1

The phylogenetic affinities of Lobocharacium coloradoense were investigated by analysis of combined 18S and 26S rDNA data. Results from both parsimony and likelihood methods supported a close alliance among Lobocharacium, Characiosiphon, and Characiochloris. These three taxa formed a clade near the base of the “Dunaliella” group within the chlamydomonad lineage. Protosiphon, which exhibits a siphonous habit similar to Characiosiphon and Lobocharacium, was not resolved as a close ally of the latter two taxa. The Lobocharacium alliance was characterized by the presence of an attachment pad associated with the nonmotile vegetative stage and pyrenoids that possess cytoplasmic invaginations. The pyrenoid feature is an ultrastructural trait that has now been observed in five different chlorophycean lineages. The Lobocharacium–Characiosiphon–Characiochloris clade is not predicted by any classifications of green algae. Additional taxon and data sampling need to be completed to resolve inconsistencies between the molecular phylogenetic evidence and at least some of the current family-level taxa.
Effect of metal removal on the toxicity of airborne particulate matter from the Utah Valley.

Epidemiological studies have linked the inhalation of airborne particulate matter (PM) to increased morbidity and mortality in humans. However, the mechanisms of toxicity of these particles remain unclear. Some hypotheses state that the toxicity might stem from PM transition metal content, adhered organic compounds, the biological component, or ultrafine particle content. In order to analyze metal involvement in PM toxicity, human airway epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B) cultures were exposed for 24 h to an aqueous extract of PM collected in the Utah Valley. A portion of the extract was treated with Chelex, an agent that removes cations (including transition metals) from solution. Removal of the majority of the metal mass was confirmed by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analyses. Cells that were incubated with the untreated extract (62-1000 µg dry extract equivalent) showed a significant concentration-dependent increase in the inflammatory mediator interleukin-8 (IL-8) when compared to the control cells. Ho...
Ritual Solidarity and Sport

In this paper, attention is focussed on the nature of ritual as a form of expression through which the identities and values of sport groups may be revivified and sustained Ritual is, however, a condensed form of expression which is largely dependent upon a shared cultural context for its meaning and significance, and may, therefore, be weakened by the growth of special isation, diversity and individualism. Whilst it is accepted that these features of the division of labour are of general social significance, their impact on many sport groups appears to be limited to some extent by bonds of similitude generated by the sport groups themselves. In particular, it is argued that the intense and shared nature of the experience of many sport activities, the identities and values that are often associated with them, and common features of social composition, tend to generate shared cultural contexts and, therefore, condensed forms of expression, of which ritual remains a significant component.
Towards scalable, energy-efficient, bus-based on-chip networks

It is expected that future on-chip networks for many-core processors will impose huge overheads in terms of energy, delay, complexity, verification effort, and area. There is a common belief that the bandwidth necessary for future applications can only be provided by employing packet-switched networks with complex routers and a scalable directory-based coherence protocol. We posit that such a scheme might likely be overkill in a well designed system in addition to being expensive in terms of power because of a large number of power-hungry routers. We show that bus-based networks with snooping protocols can significantly lower energy consumption and simplify network/protocol design and verification, with no loss in performance. We achieve these characteristics by dividing the chip into multiple segments, each having its own broadcast bus, with these buses further connected by a central bus. This helps eliminate expensive routers, but suffers from the energy overhead of long wires. We propose the use of multiple Bloom filters to effectively track data presence in the cache and restrict bus broadcasts to a subset of segments, significantly reducing energy consumption. We further show that the use of OS page coloring helps maximize locality and improves the effectiveness of the Bloom filters. We also employ low-swing wiring to further reduce the energy overheads of the links. Performance can also be improved at relatively low costs by utilizing more of the abundant metal budgets on-chip and employing multiple address-interleaved buses rather than multiple routers. Thus, with the combination of all the above innovations, we extend the scalability of buses and believe that buses can be a viable and attractive option for future on-chip networks. We show energy reductions of up to 31X on average compared to many state-of-the-art packet switched networks.
Allocation policy for hepatocellular carcinoma in the MELD era: room for improvement?

Currently, liver transplantation is the optimal cure for hepatocellular cancer (HCC) limited to the liver. The requisite use of a scarce resource and the effective “competition” between transplant candidates with and without HCC necessitates an allocation policy that defines the subset of HCC patients appropriate for transplantation and their equitable waiting-list prioritization relative to non-HCC patients. Under Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) allocation, HCC candidates must meet the Milan criteria (single tumor ≤5 cm in diameter or 2 or 3 tumors, each <3 cm in diameter) to qualify for exceptional HCC waiting-list consideration. Their waiting-list prioritization is based on estimating progression risk beyond the Milan criteria (termed dropout), an event for HCC patients considered equivalent to death for non-HCC patients. Although the Milan criteria may be too restrictive, thereby denying deserving patients access to transplantation, high rates of understaging by pretransplantation radiographic imaging and concern for erosion of recurrence-free survival rates have dampened enthusiasm for relaxation of tumor guidelines. The efficacy of pretransplantation locoregional therapies to reduce dropout, downstage patients, and/or decrease posttransplantation recurrence remains to be determined. Genomic, molecular, or clinical criteria to accurately differentiate HCC patients whose disease will recur from those whose disease will not recur would resolve much of the current controversy regarding appropriate criteria for HCC patients to qualify for transplantation. Liver Transpl 13:S36–S43, 2007. © 2007 AASLD.
Magnetic-field-induced semiconductor-semimetal transition in Bi-Sb alloys

Accurate and detailed measurements of the temperature dependence of the longitudinal magnetoresistance of single-crystal Bi-Sb alloys have been made, with static magnetic fields in the range 0–100 kG oriented parallel to the trigonal axis. Alloy concentrations were in the range 8–12 at.% Sb, and temperatures in the range 1–35 K. At very high fields the resistance increases with increasing temperature in a metallic manner with “ideal” and “residual” components, in contrast to the semiconductor behavior observed at zero field or low fields. For the high-field semimetal regime the electrical resistance behaves in a simple manner similar to a metal in zero field, in contrast to the complicated magnetoresistance phenomena for metals in low fields. This behavior can be understood in terms of a simple quasi-one-dimensional extreme-quantum-limit regime. The magnetic-field-induced semiconductor-semimetal transition is associated with an energy gap and changes of the energy-band structure which are of order 1 meV. Thermal activation energies for electrical conduction manifest this gap only at temperatures below approximately 20 K. Activation energies an order of magnitude larger which have been measured at considerably higher temperatures are apparently the direct gap at theL-point in the Brillouin zone and are not directly connected with the semiconductor-semimetal transition. Our results indicate that the zero-field indirectL-T energy gap increases from zero somewhere near 7–8 at. % Sb to values only as large as approximately 1.5 meV at 12 at. % Sb. At the magnetic-field induced transition there occurs evidence of an intermediate “excitonic insulator” phase, a resistance minimum below 10 K reminiscent of the Kondo alloy behavior. This anomalous regime is a property of the semiconductor-to-semimetal transition and cannot be associated with the well-known temperature and magnetic-field “freeze-out” of charge carriers in extrinsic semiconductors, or with magnetic ordering of the Kondo type.
Quinolinic acid stimulates luteinizing hormone secretion through a serotonin-dependent mechanism.

Previous results from this laboratory suggest that the tryptophan metabolite, quinolinic acid (QUIN), stimulates luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion in female rats, most likely through actions on NMDA-preferring excitatory amino acid receptors. The present experiments examined whether QUIN alters LH secretion through actions requiring intact catecholaminergic or serotonergic mechanisms. Each study examined the effects of intracisternal (i.c.) injections of 25 μl acidic saline or saline containing QUIN (500 nmol) or the synthetic analogue, N-methyl-DL-aspartate (NMA, 500 nmol), into ovariectomized, estradiol benzoate-primed rats after pharmacologic disruption of monoaminergic neurotransmission. In each experiment, animals were decapitated 5 min after QUIN or NMA administration. Experiment 1 examined whether reduction in brain serotonin (5-HT) or of norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) alters the QUIN- or NMA-induced stimulation of LH secretion. Rats were pretreated with the dopamine-β-hydroxylase inhibitor, FLA-63 (40 mg/kg 2 h prior). A second experiment examined the effects of the 5-HT antagonist, methysergide, on QUIN or NMA stimulation of LH secretion. Methysergide (15 mg/kg) was administered 30 min prior to experimentation. Experiment 3 examined whether selective destruction of raphe serotonergic neurons with the indoleamine neurotoxin, 5,7 dihydroxytryptamine (5,7 DHT), alters QUIN's stimulatory effects. In each study, serum LH concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. Hypothalamic catecholamine and 5-HT concentrations were measured by radioenzymatic assay and liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection, respectively. Depletion of brain 5-HT with PCPA significantly reduced the stimulation of LH secretion by QUIN, but not by NMA. Similarly, the administration of the serotonin antagonist, methysergide, and reduction of brain 5-HT induced by injections of 5,7 DHT in the vicinity of raphe nuclei also attentuated QUIN's stimulatory effect on LH. In contrast, depletion of brain NE and E did not significantly affect the release of LH in response to either QUIN or NMA. These findings suggest that QUIN stimulates LH secretion through mechanisms dependent on the activation of serotonergic neurons projecting from the raphe nuclei. The release of LH induced by the synthetic agonist, NMA, appears to be independent of brain monoamines.
Evolution of the plow over 10,000 years and the rationale for no-till farming

Abstract Agriculture and the plow originated 10–13 millennia ago in the Fertile Crescent of the Near East, mostly along the Tigris, Euphrates, Nile, Indus and Yangtze River valleys, and were introduced into Greece and southeastern Europe ∼8000 years ago. The wooden plow, called an ard, evolved into the “Roman plow”, with an iron plowshare, described by Virgil around 1 ad and was used in Europe until the fifth century. It further evolved into a soil inverting plow during the 8th to 10th century. In the U.S., a moldboard plow was designed by Thomas Jefferson in 1784, patented by Charles Newfold in 1796, and marketed in the 1830s as a cast iron plow by a blacksmith named John Deere. Use of the plow expanded rapidly with the introduction of the “steam horse” in 1910 that led to widespread severe soil erosion and environmental degradation culminating in the Dust Bowl of the 1930s. A transition from moldboard plow to various forms of conservation tillage began with the development of 2,4-D after World War II. No-till is presently practiced on about 95 million hectares globally. No-till technologies are very effective in minimizing soil and crop residue disturbance, controlling soil evaporation, minimizing erosion losses, sequestering C in soil and reducing energy needs. However, no-till is effective only with the use of crop residue as mulch, which has numerous competing uses. No-till farming can reduce yield in poorly drained, clayey soils when springtime is cold and wet. Soil-specific research is needed to enhance applicability of no-till farming by alleviating biophysical, economic, social and cultural constraints. There is a strong need to enhance sustainability of production systems while improving the environmental quality.
Mechanistic and Structural Analyses of the Role of His67 in the Yeast Polyamine Oxidase Fms1

The flavoprotein oxidase Fms1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae catalyzes the oxidation of spermine and N1-acetylspermine to spermidine and 3-aminopropanal or N-acetyl-3-aminopropanal. Within the active site of Fms1, His67 is positioned to form hydrogen bonds with the polyamine substrate. This residue is also conserved in other polyamine oxidases. The catalytic properties of H67Q, H67N, and H67A Fms1 have been characterized to evaluate the role of this residue in catalysis. With both spermine and N1-acetylspermine as the amine substrate, the value of the first-order rate constant for flavin reduction decreases 2–3 orders of magnitude, with the H67Q mutation having the smallest effect and H67N the largest. The kcat/KO2 value changes very little upon mutation with N1-acetylspermine as the amine substrate and decreases only an order of magnitude with spermine. The kcat/KM–pH profiles with N1-acetylspermine are bell-shaped for all the mutants; the similarity to the profile of the wild-type enzyme rules out His67 ...
Pressure! So Much Pressure!

Glaucoma is not a single disease entity, but a group of ocular diseases which are characterized by progressive death of retinal ganglion cells (the axons of which coalesce to become the optic nerve) and have the common, constant risk factor of elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). It is, unfortunately, an all too common condition in dogs with a prevalence similar to that occurring in human beings (close to 2% of both the human and canine populations). Because there are so many different forms of glaucoma, even beyond the simplistic categories of primary, secondary, congenital, open-angle, and narrow angle, treatment necessarily must target the risk factor that is common to all types. Therefore, the elevation in IOP, which is incompatible with the health of the eye and the maintenance of vision, becomes the factor we rely upon for diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of glaucoma.
Leptogenesis and Neutrino Physics

We review the possible connection between the CP-violating phases which appear in the lepton unitary mixing matrix with the ones which play a role in the leptogenesis mechanism.
On the six-dimensional orthogonal tensor representation of the rotation in three dimensions: A simplified approach.

Abstract The six-dimensional orthogonal tensor representation of the rotation about an axis in three dimensions was first proposed by Mehrabadi et al. [Mehrabadi, M.M., Cowin, S.C., Jaric, J., 1995. Six-dimensional orthogonal tensor representation of the rotation about an axis in three dimensions. International Journal of Solids and Structures 32 (3–4), 439–449]. In this brief note, a simple and coherent approach is presented to construct the six-dimensional orthogonal tensor representation of the rotation of any parametrization in three dimensions and to prove its orthogonality.
Three-dimensional rotational spectroscopy in the submillimeter

Abstract There is a growing consensus that traditional approaches to submillimeter spectroscopy will continue to be outpaced by the growth of molecular astrophysics and the analytical sciences. We report here a methodology that significantly reduces this challenge by providing three-dimensions of spectroscopic information (frequency, line strength, and lower-state energy), even for complex, perturbed spectra, without the need for spectral analysis. The method is based on the analysis of complete, intensity-calibrated spectra taken over a range of temperatures. The 3D spectral information significantly reduces the assignment space and leads to much more efficient and accurate spectral assignment and quantum-mechanical modeling.
The Effect of Arousal on Short- and Long-Term Memory

AbstractThe hypothesis that high arousal during the acquisition phase of learning results in good long-term memory and poor short-term memory was investigated, as was the effect of low arousal. Fifty Ss in five retention groups individually listened to a 20-minute taped lecture with arousing words preceding selected passages. Recall scores, statistically treated by ANOVA, supported the arousal-retention hypothesis.
ELR+ CXC chemokines in human milk.

Abstract CXC chemokines bearing the glutamic acid–leucine–arginine (ELR) motif are crucial mediators in neutrophil-dependent acute inflammation. Interestingly, however, Interleukin (IL)-8/CXC ligand (CXCL) 8 is expressed in human milk in biologically significant concentrations, and may play a local maturational role in the developing human intestine. In this chemokine subfamily, there are six other known peptides beside IL-8/CXCL8, all sharing similar effects on neutrophil chemotaxis and angiogenesis. In this study, we measured the concentrations of these chemokines in human milk, sought their presence in human mammary tissue by immunohistochemistry, and confirmed chemokine expression in cultured human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs). Each of the seven ELR + CXC chemokines was measurable in milk, and except for NAP-2/CXCL7, these concentrations were higher than serum. The concentrations were higher in colostrum (except for GRO-β/CXCL2 and NAP-2/CXCL7), and correlated negatively with time elapsed postpartum. IL-8/CXCL8, GRO-γ/CXCL3, and ENA-78/CXCL5 concentrations were higher in preterm milk. There was intense immunoreactivity in mammary epithelial cells for all ELR + CXC chemokines, and the intensity of staining was higher in breast tissue with lactational changes. The supernatants from confluent HMEC cultures also contained measurable concentrations of all the seven ELR + CXC chemokines. These results confirm that all ELR + CXC chemokines are actively secreted by the mammary epithelial cells into human milk. Further studies are needed to determine if these chemokines share with IL-8/CXCL8 the protective effects on intestinal epithelial cells.
Review article: transcription factors and growth factors in ulcer healing.

Summary This review is focused on recent investigations demonstrating a pharmacological and patho-physiologic role in gastroduodenal ulceration for growth factors such as basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), as well as for transcription factors. Our experiments revealed accelerated healing, without decreased gastric acid secretion, of chronic cysteamine-induced duodenal ulcers in rats treated daily for 3 weeks with intragastric administration of bFGF, PDGF or VEGF. Our recent studies also indicate a pathophysiological role of endogenous growth factors in the natural history of experimental duodenal ulcer development and healing. More recently, we investigated the genetic regulation of these growth factors in experimental duodenal ulceration. Since gene expression is most effectively controlled by transcription factors, proteins that bind to cis-acting elements of DNA and guide the binding of polymerase II to start the transcription of specific mRNA, we tested the hypothesis that the expression of IEGs and their transcription factor products, such as Egr-1 and Sp1, might precede the increased synthesis of bFGF, PDGF and VEGF in duodenal ulcer healing. Indeed, the duodenal ulcerogen cysteamine, but not its nonulcerogen and toxic analogue ethanolamine, rapidly increased duodenal (but not gastric) mucosal levels of ET-1, which was followed by enhanced expression of Egr-1 and a decrease in Sp1 in the preulcerogenic stage of duodenal ulceration. These changes in levels of ET-1 and expression of transcription factors were also accompanied by increased expression of the CDK inhibitor p21. Thus, not only growth factors such as bFGF, PDGF and VEGF, but also transcription factors such as Egr-1 and Sp1 and the cell cycle regulator p21, may play a role in the natural history of experimental duodenal ulceration.
Synthesis, Strain, Conformational Analysis, and Molecular and Crystal Structures of 1,1,4,4-Tetraphenyl-1,4-disilacyclohexane and 1,1,4,4-Tetraphenyl-1,4-disilacyclohexa-2,5-diene†

Hydrogenation of 1,1,4,4-tetraphenyl-1,4-disilacyclohexa-2,5-diene (2) to 1,1,4,4-tetraphenyl-1,4-disilacyclohexane (1) provides an efficient new route to 1,4-disilacyclohexanes with isolated overall yields 10 times higher than previously available syntheses. Molecular and crystal structures of 1 and 2 determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction show that the saturated compound 1 adopts the ideal chairlike conformation, while the unsaturated analogue 2 has a planar 1,4-disilacyclohexa-2,5-diene ring. Ab initio geometry optimizations and vibrational frequency calculations at the 3-21G*/SCF level of theory confirm that the orientations of the phenyl rings observed in 1 represents the global minimum on the potential-energy surface. Calculations of the transition state for the phenyl ring rotations in 1 reveal a barrier height of ΔG⧧ = 4.09 kcal/mol. Energy profiles of chairlike and boatlike distortions of 1,4-disilacyclohexa-2,5-diene (12) were calculated and compared with the observed deviation from plan...
The National Solar Observatory Digital Library — a resource for space weather studies

Abstract We describe the National Solar Observatory Digital Library (NSODL), consisting of 200 GB of on-line archived solar data, a RDBMS search engine, and an Internet HTML-form user interface. The NSODL is open to all users and provides simple access to solar physics data of basic importance for space weather research and forecasting, heliospheric research, and education. The NSODL can be accessed at the URL www.nso.noao.edu/diglib .
Genetic counseling for congenital heart disease

The genetic knowledge of parents of children with congenital heart disease, who had received genetic counseling, was compared with that of a control noncounseled group attending the same cardiac clinic. A follow-up questionnaire showed that both groups had excellent knowledge of the nature of their children's heart lesions. The counseled group had significantly more accurate knowledge of their recurrence risks. Inasmuch as the reproductive attitudes of some of these parents were found to be influenced by genetic information, parents of children with CHD should be given a better understanding of recurrence risks for CHD than many of them possess.
INTERSPECIES CORRELATIONS OF CEREBRAL CORTICAL OXYGEN CONSUMPTION, ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY AND CHLORIDE CONTENT: STUDIES ON THE BRAINS OF THE FIN WHALE (BAAENOPTERA PHYSALUS) AND THE SPERM WHALE (PHYSETER CATODON)

— Previously reported interspecies correlations of cerebral cortical oxygen consumption (as a function of average species body weight) and of cerebral cortical chloride content and acetylcholinesterase activity (as functions of average species brain weight) were confirmed by selected repetitions of the determinations and were further validated by inclusion of data from samples of cerebral cortex of the fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus) and the sperm whale (Physeter catodon). Despite the fact that the samples of whale brain were obtained at 15–22 h after death and were preserved only by simply freezing on dry ice, no evidence of significant postmortem autolysis was obtained by examination of gangliosides, myelin basic proteins, acidic and amide residues of total isolated proteins, and lipid composition of cerebral cortical samples. The chloride content of whale cerebral cortex was 65.1 (± 12) μequiv./g, and the activity of acetylcholinesterase was 0.78 (± 0.28) μmol of acetylthiocholine hydrolysed min-1 g-1, with no differences in these values between the two species. The two interspecies correlations yielded regression curves with calculated slopes for chloride of +9.07 (± 0.37) and for acetylcholinesterase of -0–204 (± 0.006), each correlating significantly as functions of species brain weight at P 200 g) samples of whale (and beef) brain, subsequently prepared slices of whale cerebral cortex respired at a rate of 20.6 (± 1.8) μmol of O2 taken up h-1 g-1, also 50 per cent of the value of 40.7 predicted by extrapolation for fresh (unfrozen) slices. When plotted as a function of species body weight, the data for oxygen consumption by previously frozen cortical slices paralleled the regression curve for fresh slices previously characterized by the expression, R = 5.4 W-0.1. The data obtained for the two species of great whales (brain weights, 6800–7800 g; body weights, 3–53 ± 104 kg) served to ‘anchor’ with more certainty the upper limits of the three interspecies correlations re-examined here and thus provided a better basis for predicting by extrapolation normal values for human cerebral cortex.
Arabic Dinars Struck By the Crusaders

The phenomenon of gold coins struck by the Crusaders in imitation of contemporary Arabic dindrs has attracted the attention of several generations of numismatists. There exist many publications containing interesting discussions about the historical background of the appearance and circulation of these sarracenati, as well as meticulous descriptions of surviving specimens preserved in various numismatic collections 1). Although the authors of these contributions have succeeded in correlating textual and numismatic evidence, they have traditionally neglected certain basic historical questions concerning the function of the gold coinage of the Crusaders and the impact of its circulation on the monetary situation in the Mediaeval Mediterranean area. More recently, however, there have appeared two publications in which treatment of the coinage in question is different from the traditional approach of the numismatists. In one of them, entitle "Monnaies a legendes arabes de l'Orient Latin", Paul Balog and Jacques Yvon 2) propose the following interpretation of the role of the gold coins in the monetary system of the Crusaders. "A c6te d'une monnaie locale, emise par chaque principautd ou chaque fief, il existe une monnaie de valeur, internationale, dirons-nous, capable d'etre le moyen d'6change
The conserved RING-H2 finger of ROC1 is required for ubiquitin ligation.

ROC1 is a common component of a large family of ubiquitin E3 ligases that regulate cell cycle progression and signal transduction pathways. Here we present evidence suggesting that a conserved RING-H2 structure within ROC1 is critical for its ubiquitin ligation function. Mercury-containing sulfhydryl modification agents (ρ-hydroxymercuribenzoate and mercuric chloride) irreversibly inhibit the ROC1-CUL1 ubiquitin ligase activity without disrupting the complex. Consistent with this, these reagents also eliminate the ability of the Skp1-CUL1-HOS-ROC1 E3 ligase complex to support the ubiquitination of IκBα. Site-directed mutagenesis analysis identifies RING-H2 finger residues Cys42, Cys45, Cys75, His77, His80, Cys83, Cys94, and Asp97 as being essential for the ROC1-dependent ubiquitin ligase activity. Furthermore, C42S/C45S and H80A mutations reduce the ability of ROC1 to interact with CUL1 in transfected cells and diminish the capacity of ROC1-CUL1 to form a stable complex with Cdc34 in vitro. However, C75S, H77A, C94S, and D97A substitutions have no detectable effect on ROC1 binding activities. Thus, the ROC1 RING-H2 finger may possess multiple biochemical properties that include stabilizing an interaction with CUL1 and recruiting Cdc34. A possible role of the RING finger in facilitating the Ub transfer reaction is discussed.
Historical Perspectives on Instructional Language as Applied to an Assessment of Preservice Teachers.

The purpose of this study was to investigate aspects of instructional language from three historical perspectives in order to operationally define elements of teacher language behavior and to develop an instructional language assessment instrument that might be useful in evaluating the language behaviors of preservice elementary and music education majors. An investigation of the educational treatises of Quintilian, Erasmus, and Herbart revealed a number of views regarding teacher language behaviors. The Instructional Language Assessment instrument (ILA) and corresponding operational definitions for verbal interaction, subject-matter vocabulary, general vocabulary, speech speed, voice pitch, and articulation were developed from these historical instructional language views. The quality of the instructional language of 143 elementary and music education majors was evaluated using the ILA and video/audiotaped time-sampled music lessons. A descriptive analysis revealed that the elementary education majors re...
Rate and prediction of infection in children with diabetic ketoacidosis.

The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to determine the rate and prediction of infection in children, or = 15,000/mm3. WBC, differential, leukocytosis, as well as sex, temperature and new onset diabetes, were not significant predictors (P > .05) of bacterial infection. Bacterial infections were more common in children < or = 3 years of age (P = .03). There was a significant correlation of WBC with both pH (r = -0.59, P < .001) and bicarbonate (r = -0.43, P < .001). In conclusion, most children in DKA have no evidence of infection. Leukocytosis is common but most likely reflects the severity of DKA rather than the presence of infection.