cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Losses in Yield, Quality, and Profitability of Cotton from Improper Harvest Timing

Excessive weathering may diminish cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) lint yield and fiber quality to the extent that economic losses occur for the producer. Our objective was to determine the effects of systematic delayed harvest on cotton lint yield, fiber quality, and profitability. Experiments were conducted from 1998 to 2000 at the Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Tifton, GA, on a Tifton loamy sand (fine-loamy, kaolinitic, thermic Plinthic Kandiudults). The treatments consisted of a standard harvest-aid combination applied at weekly intervals over a 13-wk period beginning at first open boll. Harvest aids were applied to each plot according to its week after first open boll designation and machine harvested 2 wk thereafter. After ginning, fiber quality was determined on lint samples from each plot. High volume instrument (HVI) fiber length urtiformity was greatest in 1999 and 2000 when harvest aids were applied between 58 and 88% open boll, while the advanced fiber information system (AFIS) fiber length by number coefficient of variation and short fiber content by number were lowest when harvest aids were applied from 40.1 to 46.8% open boll. The HVI upper half mean fiber length and the AFIS mean fiber length by number were greatest when harvest aids were applied between 39.1 and 56.7% open boll. In 1999 and 2000 lint yield and adjusted gross income were greatest when harvest aids were applied from 76.5 to 89.0% open boll. Results from this study indicate optimum fiber quality is established earlier during boll opening than lint yield and profitability.
Ers1, a rapidly diverging protein essential for RNA interference-dependent heterochromatic silencing in Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Abstract Centromeric silencing and heterochromatin formation in Schizosaccharomyces pombe require the RNA interference (RNAi) machinery. Three factors that mediate this mechanism have been identified: 1) the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase complex RdRC, 2) the Argonaute-containing RITS (RNA-induced initiation of transcriptional silencing) complex, and 3) the endoribonuclease Dicer ortholog Dcr1. S. pombe mutants lacking a new factor described here, Ers1, are completely defective in RNAi-dependent silencing of centromeric regions but, importantly, not in RNAi-independent silencing at the mat3M or tel2R loci. ers1Δ cells likewise fail to convert centromeric pre-small interfering RNA transcripts into small interfering RNAs, are defective in histone H3 Lys9 methylation, and are unable to recruit the RITS complex to centromeric sequences. Surprisingly, Ers1 lacks obvious orthologs outside of the genus Schizosaccharomyces. Within this group, it is diverging rapidly, raising the possibility that it is coevolving with target RNA elements.
Information processing in visual search: a continuous flow conception and experimental results.

This paper reexamines the visual search process, and visual information processing more generally, from a perspective of the continuous flow of information and responses through the visual system. The results from three experiments are reported which support the continuous flow conception: Information accumulates gradually in the visual system, with concurrent priming of responses. The first two experiments investigated the processing of display stimuli which varied in size and figure-ground contrast in a nonsearch task, and provided evidence confirming a continuous flow model. Experiment 3 employed an asynchronous onset of target and noise and provided convergent evidence of the accumulative nature of information and response priming in visual processing.
Dirty Baby: The Gender Politics of Million Dollar Baby

Million Dollar Baby (2004) offers a salient example of how a media text shapes the public discourse around an issue having moral, legal, and political implications. The debate the film engendered b...
Race, gender, and risk perceptions of the legal consequences of drinking and driving.

Abstract Introduction This study investigated whether subjective beliefs about the consequences of driving while intoxicated (DWI) differ by race/gender. Method Beliefs affect driving behaviors and views of police/judicial fairness. The researchers compared risk perceptions of DWI using a survey of drinkers in eight cities in four states with actual arrest and conviction rates and fines from court data in the same cities. Results With state arrest data as a benchmark, Black males were overly pessimistic about being stopped, whether or not actual drinking occurred, and attributed higher jail penalties to DWI conviction. That Black males overestimated jail sentences incurred by the general population suggests that they did not attribute higher jail penalties to racial bias. Arrest data did not reveal disparities in judicial outcomes following DWI arrest. Conclusions Blacks’ subjective beliefs about DWI consequences may reflect social experiences, which are not jurisdiction- or crime-specific; this is a challenge to policymakers aiming to deter DWI by changing statutes and enforcement. Impact on Industry If perception of bias exists despite no actual bias, a change in enforcement policy would not be effective, but a public relations campaign would be helpful in realigning beliefs.
Enhancing the Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEB) Approach for Estimating Landscape ET: Validation with the METRIC model

Evapotranspiration (ET) can be derived from satellite data using surface energy balance principles. MET- RIC (Mapping EvapoTranspiration at high Resolution with Internalized Calibration) is one of the most widely used models available in the literature to estimate ET from satellite imagery. The Simplified Sur- face Energy Balance (SSEB) model is much easier and less expensive to implement. The main purpose of this research was to present an enhanced version of the Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEB) model and to evaluate its performance using the established METRIC model. In this study, SSEB and METRIC ET fractions were compared using 7 Landsat images acquired for south central Idaho during the 2003 growing season. The enhanced SSEB model compared well with the METRIC model output exhibit- ing an r2 improvement from 0.83 to 0.90 in less complex topography (elevation less than 2000 m) and with an improvement of r 2 from 0.27 to 0.38 in more complex (mountain) areas with elevation greater than 2000 m. Independent evaluation showed that both models exhibited higher variation in complex topographic regions, although more with SSEB than with METRIC. The higher ET fraction variation in the complex mountainous regions highlighted the difficulty of capturing the radiation and heat transfer physics on steep slopes having variable aspect with the simple index model, and the need to conduct more research. However, the temporal consistency of the results suggests that the SSEB model can be used on a wide range of elevation (more successfully up 2000 m) to detect anomalies in space and time for water resources management and monitoring such as for drought early warning systems in data scarce regions. SSEB has a potential for operational agro-hydrologic applications to estimate ET with inputs of surface temperature, NDVI, DEM and reference ET. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Survey of Seasonal Trematode Infections in Helisoma trivolvis (Gastropoda) from Lentic Ecosystems in New Jersey, U.S.A

Abstract Helisoma trivolvis (Gastropoda) from 10 lentic ecosystems in New Jersey, U.S.A., was investigated on a seasonal basis from Fall 2003 to Fall 2004. A total of 6,766 H. trivolvis (5.7-22.9 mm shell diameter) was examined by isolation, and 8 different types of cercariae were recovered. Prevalence data from the 10 study sites showed cercariae of Echinostoma trivolvis from 9 sites (0.9–27.8%), cercariae of Zygocotyle lunata from 6 sites (0.1–7.7%), armatae cercariae from 4 sites (0.4–6.8%), brevifurcate apharyngeate cercariae from 4 sites (0.4–3.3%), longifurcate pharyngeate cercariae from 4 sites (0.002–3.6%), vivax cercariae from 2 sites (0.9–1.0%), brevifurcate pharyngeate cercariae from 1 site (0.6–1.1%), and gymnocephalous cercariae from 1 site (0.001%). The study showed that H. trivolvis is host to various different larval trematodes in New Jersey, and prevalence of digenean infections is affected by seasonality.
Protein compositional analysis of inclusion bodies produced in recombinant Escherichia coli.

Culture conditions favouring the simulataneous formation of soluble protein and inclusion bodies (IBs) were chosen for producing the cytoplasmic protein β-galactosidase or the periplasmic protein TEM-β-lactomase. Soluble and insoluble cell fractions of Escherichia coli producing either β-galactosidase or TEM-β-lactomase were analyzed by one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and subsequent silver staining or immunodection of the recombinant protein. The results show that truncated fragments of the recombinant protein were not present in the soluble cell fraction but accumulate in the IB fraction. The presense of other cellular, non-plasmid-encoded proteins in IB preparations such as the outer membrane proteins OmpF, OmpC, and OmpA or the ribosomal subunit proteins L7/L12 was attributed to co-precipitation of cell-debris-associated components. Protein-folding enzymes were not detected in IB preprations. The specificity of in-vivo protein association in the formation of IBs and its implication on protein purification is discussed.
The Measurement of Fear of Crime

The volume of research on fear of crime in the United States is substantial and continues to regularly appear in sociology and criminology journals. Despite the amount of research on the subject, the measurement procedures most frequently used are suspect because of theoretical and methodological shortcomings. We present a conceptual definition of fear of crime and then systematically review the way it has been measured in research over the last fifteen years. The review indicates that whik omnibus fear of crime and risk of crime measures are only moderately correlated, a substantial number of studies have used risk measures and generalized to fear. Suggestions for future research are offered.
Intersensory processing efficiency of fluent speakers and stutterers.

SummaryInefficient performance on auditory-visual tests of intersensory integration is thought to be a sensitive indicator of certain specific types of cerebral dysfunction which cannot be detected by standard neurological examination. The present study was designed to assess the proficiency of fluent speakers and stutterers at matching auditory-temporal (tapping) patterns with visual-spatial (dot) displays. A modification of the Birch and Belmont test of auditory-visual integration was administered to twenty pairs of matched stutterers and fluent speakers. Results indicated that the stutterers' performance on this particular intersensory integration task was significantly lower than that of their fluent peers. This finding was interpreted as supporting the theory that the cortical organisation of stutterers might somehow be different from and less efficient than that of fluent speakers. Stutterers would seem to possess some type of specific neurological dysfunction which prevents or interferes with their...
A divide and conquer real space finite-element Hartree–Fock method

Since the seminal contribution of Roothaan, quantum chemistry methods are traditionally expressed using finite basis sets comprised of smooth and continuous functions (atom-centered Gaussians) to describe the electronic degrees of freedom. Although this approach proved quite powerful, it is not well suited for large basis sets because of linear dependence problems and ill conditioning of the required matrices. The finite element method (FEM), on the other hand, is a powerful numerical method whose convergence is also guaranteed by variational principles and can be achieved systematically by increasing the number of degrees of freedom and/or the polynomial order of the shape functions. Here we apply the real-space FEM to Hartree–Fock calculations in three dimensions. The method produces sparse, banded Hermitian matrices while allowing for variable spatial resolution. This local-basis approach to electronic structure theory allows for systematic convergence and promises to provide an accurate and efficient ...
Why it matters where on a leaf a folivore feeds.

Because the tip of many dicot leaves matures and ceases expansion well before the base, we predicted that the removal of a given amount of leaf tissue from the base of an expanding leaf would result in greater reductions in final leaf area and overall plant performance than removal of the same amount of tissue from the tip of an expanding leaf or from either the base or tip of mature, fully expanded leaves. We tested this notion by removing a circular 3.9 cm2 hole from either the base or tip of rapidly expanding leaves (20–30% expanded, two nodes from the apex) or nearly fully expanded, mature leaves (85–100% expanded, five nodes from the apex) of tobacco (Nicotiana tabaccum) and measuring the final area of the hole, the final area of the fully expanded damaged leaf, and the number and mass of fruits produced by a plant. A given amount of area removed from the base of an expanding leaf resulted in almost 4 times the amount of visible damage than occurred when the same amount of damage was applied to the tip or base of a mature leaf and over twice the amount of visible damage than occurred on the tip of an expanding leaf. Furthermore, damage to the base of an expanding leaf resulted in nearly a 40% reduction in the final area that the leaf would have achieved without damage and a 35% reduction in the number and mass of fruits produced. These results not only suggest that where on a leaf a folivore feeds has consequences to the ultimate area that a leaf can reach and to overall plant performance, but they also have strong implications for a number of research areas in plant-herbivore interactions. For example, these data show that a lack of consideration of leaf developmental patterns can result in gross overestimates of consumption by folivores and severe under-estimates of the effect of folivory on leaf area display.
An unusual case of esophageal obstruction in a child

Summary An unusual case of esophageal obstruction is reported in a child of two years with a complete cure, following a transgastric plastic operation on the cardia.
Dichroic Thin Layer Films Prepared from Alkanethiol-Coated Gold Nanoparticles

A simple method for preparing thin dichroic metal composite films is described. Alkanethiol-derivatized gold particles are incorporated into poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) matrixes that have been friction-transferred onto glass slides. Exposure of these gold particle/PTFE composites to flame (ca. 1700 °C) leads to strong dichroic properties in the visible spectrum. Extinction spectra obtained with the incident electric field polarized perpendicular to the direction of friction orientation show a plasmon extinction band with a maximum at ca. 545 nm. Spectra collected with the incident field polarized parallel to the friction orientation direction show a strong extinction band with a plateau from λ = 550 to 850 nm. The experimental polarization spectra are in general accord with the predictions of the Bruggeman effective medium approximation (EMA). EMA theory modeling suggests that the gold structures are not surrounded primarily by air, but rather are coated with, or imbedded within, a material that itse...
Universal scaling laws for the disintegration of electrified drops

Abstract Drops subjected to strong electric fields emit charged jets from their pointed tips. The disintegration of such jets into a spray consisting of charged droplets is common to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, printing and coating processes, and raindrops in thunderclouds. Currently, there exist conflicting theories and measurements on the size and charge of these small electrospray droplets. We use theory and simulation to show that conductivity can be tuned to yield three scaling regimes for droplet radius and charge, a finding missed by previous studies. The amount of charge that electrospray droplets carry determines whether they are coulombically stable and charged below the Rayleigh limit of stability or are unstable and hence prone to further explosions once they are formed. Previous experiments reported droplet charge values ranging from 10% to in excess of . Simulations unequivocally show that electrospray droplets are coulombically stable at the instant they are created and that there exists a universal scaling law for droplet charge, .
A Systems Theory of Organizational Conflict

Four “subsystems” of activity within an organization are identified—informational, political, functional, and social. Conflict among the subunits of an organization may occur within any one of thes...
Theory of three-photon absorption

Abstract A general theoretical expression is derived for the probability of a three-photon absorption process. It is concluded that three-photon absorption to a discrete level may be observed if the radiation field contains a laser beam and additional light with a continuous frequency distribution and that a transition to a continuum ofstates may be observed if the radiation field consists of laser light only. The selection rules for three-photon absorption are basically the same as for one-photon absorption.
Simulation studies and the need for field reflectance studies

There is a need to calibrate satellite data obtained at large polar (i.e. off-nadir) view angles for effects caused by scanner geometry and by the atmosphere. If such effects are not corrected for, then recorded radiance data will contain systematic and random errors which will make accurate target identification and quantification difficult. Adequate calibration of digital radiance data requires both an inductive analysis of digital satellite images and a deductive analysis based upon a priori simulation studies. The inputs to a simulation model (ground reflectance, atmospheric transmission and bandscatter) and their variability are dependent upon (for example) sun-target-sensor geometry. There is a major need to make accurate ground reflectance measurements to provide calibration information on the anisotropy of ground reflectance. There is also a need to assess atmospheric transmission and backscatter from the image itself. A potential simple, inexpensive method for making ground reflectance measurements in the above context is discussed.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effects of calcium ion and covalent crosslinking on formation and elasticity of fibrin gels

Abstract The elastic properties of fibrin gels prepared under a variety of conditions were studied using a Couette elastometer. Fibrin gels formed either by addition of thrombin to fibrinogen or by dilution of previously prepared fibrin monomer were seen to be dependent on calcium ion for the expression of maximum elasticity. By dialyzing a fibrinogen solution it was shown that two calcium ions per mole are tightly bound. Factor XIIIa was shown to have an effect on the elastic modulus by means of its crosslinking the α-chains to form α-polymer. γ-γ crosslinking caused no additional increase over calcium in elasticity of fibrin gels. The relative effects of calcium concentration on the rates of crosslinking of α-chains and γ-chains to form α-polymers and γ-γ dimers were determined by means of SDS gel electrophoresis in the presence of dithiothreitol. At calcium concentrations below 2×10 −4 M α- and γ-chain crosslinking proceed at the same rate which depends strongly on the calcium concentration, while at higher concentrations the rate of α-crosslinking remains constant and the γ-chain crosslinking rate is dependent on calcium concentration. Factor XIIIa was shown also to lower the gel point of dilute solutions of fibrinogen clotted with thrombin in the presence of calcium. This demonstrates that Factor XIIIa promotes gelation in very dilute fibrin solution, probably by irreversibly crosslinking intermediate polymers of fibrin.
Evolution of improved antithrombotic and antiplatelet agents: genesis of the Comparison of Abciximab Complications with Hirulog [and back-Up Abciximab] Events Trial (CACHET).

Abstract Enhanced adjunctive pharmacotherapy for percutaneous coronary revascularization is evolving. New modifications to the original antithrombotic, antiplatelet combination of heparin and aspirin have become part of standard practice. Platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors have been shown to decrease the incidence of death or nonfatal myocardial infarction at 30 days by approximately 50%. However, there are continuing concerns with this class of agents, including bleeding complications, cost, and the inability to identify which patients are most likely to benefit from their use. Bivalirudin, a direct thrombin inhibitor capable of inactivating clot-bound thrombin, has demonstrated enhanced short-term efficacy with a significantly decreased incidence of bleeding compared with heparin in patients with acute coronary syndromes. These findings provided a basis for a new, large-scale trial—Comparison of Abciximab Complications with Hirulog [and Back-Up Abciximab] Events Trial (CACHET)—which compares primary abciximab plus aspirin and heparin with aspirin plus intraprocedural bivalirudin and ad hoc abciximab. All patients who are candidates for stenting will receive clopidogrel before coronary intervention, and if stenting is performed, maintenance clopidogrel for 30 days. The trial aims to evaluate improved anticoagulation with bivalirudin and preprocedural oral antiplatelet protection and the use of ad hoc abciximab as a basis for a practical, acceptable antithrombotic, antiplatelet strategy to improve outcomes in percutaneous coronary revascularization.
Sliding mode control of a unity power factor AC-to-DC boost converter

The subject of the paper is a control scheme that allows achievement of a unity power factor value for a class of power converters commonly addressed as power factor pre- compensators. The primary control objective is to provide a constant level output voltage while keeping a power factor value close to unity, in the presence of unknown parameter uncertainties. Such uncertainties are identified using the sliding mode parameter observer, while the main regulation problem is addressed via the sliding mode control. Numerical simulation is furnished for assessing the performance of the proposed control method.
NASA's lunar planning

NASA announced plans on 30 October to establish the NASA Lunar Science Institute (NLSI). To be managed from the Ames Research Center, the institute is expected to begin operations on 1 March 2008 and will augment other agency-funded lunar science investigations by encouraging the formation of interdisciplinary research teams. “NLSI will help us coordinate and expand a number of in-depth research efforts in lunar science and other fields that can benefit from human and robotic missions that are part of NASA's exploration plans,” said Alan Stern, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate.
Dependency of polyelectrolyte complex stoichiometry on the order of addition. 1. Effect of salt concentration during streaming current titrations with strong poly-acid and poly-base

Titrations were carried out between solutions of a strong poly-acid (polyvinylsulfate, potassium salt) and a strong poly-base (poly-diallyldimethylammonium chloride (poly-DADMAC)) over a range of salt concentrations. Streaming current (SC) analysis of the titration endpoints appeared to show increasing deviations from 1:1 stoichiometry of complexation with increased salt. The results depended on the direction of the titration, such that a stoichiometric excess of the titrant (second additive) was required to achieve a SC reading of zero. These symmetrical results, depending on the order of addition, were obtained despite the fact that the plastic surfaces of the SC device had a slight negative charge and differing adsorption tendencies for the two kinds of polymer. A qualitative model of molecular events, based on non-equilibrium entrapment of non-complexed polymer segments was found to be inconsistent with results of tests carried out over a range of initial polymer concentration. Results were better described by a qualitative model involving formation of polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs) in solution, in which near-stoichiometric core complexes are stabilized by an excess of the second additive on their surface. Implications of the latter model were compared with the results of turbidimetric tests, aqueous contact angles on polymer-treated plastic surfaces, and microelectrophoresis of PECs. Results of this study have consequences for interpretation of polyelectrolyte titrations, as well as for industrial operations that involve the mixing of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes.
Devazepide increases food intake in male but not female Zucker rats

The genetically obese Zucker rat (fa/fa) is hyperphagic compared to lean controls (Fa/?). This hyperphagia is characterized by increased meal size. Cholecystokinin (CCK) has been shown to decrease meal size in many species including humans. In the present study we investigated the role of endogenous CCK in mediating the hyperphagia of male and female obese Zucker rats. CCKA-type receptors were blocked with the specific antagonist, devazepide, and test meal size was measured. Male obese and lean rats significantly increased food intake following devazepide. Neither obese nor lean female rats significantly increased food intake following devazepide. This is the first demonstration of a gender difference in endogenous CCK-mediated satiety. These results have implications for the higher incidence of eating disorders in females.
Noise autocorrelation in magnetic recording systems

This paper describes a new technique for measuring the noise autocorrelation in magnetic recording systems. Unlike the spectrum, the autocorrelation function characterizes non-stationary noise as well as stationary noise so it is particularly suitable for signal dependent noise often found in disks. In addition, noise sources can be separated by properly choosing the sample space. Many interesting properties of particulate and metal film disks were found by this technique.
Using a circadian rhythms model to evaluate shift schedules

As long as the need for shiftwork exists, so will the demand for an optimal scheduling strategy that balances the needs of both industry and the shiftworker. One aim is for schedules that require workers to be on duty during the times that they are most naturally alert and awake. Czeisler et al. (1982) developed a set of circadian rhythm based guidelines intended to aid in designing such shiftwork schedules. This paper takes research one step further by testing such empirical criteria in a mathematical setting. The two-oscillator model of free-run human circadian rhythms developed by Kronauer et al. (1982) was modified to represent the circadian rhythms of a shiftworker on a pre-selected shiftwork schedule. Numerical simulations were used to compare the circadian rhythms produced from a variety of shiftwork schedules to the free-run rhythms. Shift schedules that resulted in circadian rhythms closest to the free-run rhythms were identified as preferred schedules. The numerical results supported Czeisler's findings (1982), indicating the best shift schedules adopt a slow, forward-shifting rotation pattern, rotate shifts after 2-week periods and allow an average of 2 days off per week.
Microwave planar triodes in preamplifiers of nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers

Abstract Microwave planar triodes are investigated as low-noise devices for preamplifiers of high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers in the frequency band from 10 to 100 MHz. Noise sources, noise figures and a preamplifier circuit for planar triodes are considered. Planar triode noise performance is realistically evaluated by measurements under actual operating conditions. Comparison with other competitive low-noise devices in the frequency band from 10 to 100 MHz are given. A microwave planar triode preamplifier with high amplification stability has been designed; when operated with the optimum value of source conductance, it has a minimum noise figure of 0.35 dB at 24.3 MHz.
Radiation locked photon echoes and optical free induction in ruby

Abstract We report the first observation of the radiation locked photon echo and optical free induction in ruby. The initial time behavior of the free induction when produced by a long pulse is examined.
Education, technical progress, and economic growth: the case of Taiwan

Abstract This paper investigates the effect of education and the role of technical progress on economic growth in Taiwan over the 1965–2000 period. A structural earnings function and indicator for average schooling years are applied to a measure of education, and a transcendental production function is used in the model. Findings reveal that education has a positive and significant effect on growth, but the role of technical progress does not appear to be extraordinarily important. According to the complementarity test, no markedly significant relationships exist between capital and education, or between education and technical progress. [ JEL classification : O40, J24, I20]
Feasibility assessment of pervaporation for desalinating high-salinity brines

Pervaporation, which is a non-pressure driven membrane process, was evaluated to determine its viability for desalinating high-salinity source waters like those originating from oil and natural gas development (produced water). Two types of membrane material chemistries were studied in order to identify the optimal properties for maximizing the permeate flux under a given set of operating conditions. Permeate flux was determined to be a significant function of membrane thickness and the diffusion coefficient of water through the membrane. The diffusion coefficient is in turn a function of the membrane9s affinity for water (hydrophilicity) and its fractional free volume space. A cellulose triacetate membrane (Membrane B) achieved fluxes of 0.06 m 3 m –2 day –1 when treating solutions having salt concentrations of 100 g L –1 , comparable to fluxes achieved by other types of non-pressure driven membrane processes. The flux increased in a linear fashion with decreasing ionic strength and improved through increases in the vapor pressure gradient and/or inclusion of a feed channel spacer into the test cell. Salt rejection efficiencies by all membranes were >99%; however, co-ions were able to penetrate into the membrane material matrix over time.
Heat Transfer From Freely Suspended Bimaterial Microcantilevers

Bimaterial atomic force microscope cantilevers have been used extensively over the last 15 years as physical, chemical, and biological sensors. As a thermal sensor, the static deflection of bimaterial cantilevers, due to the mismatch of the coefficient of thermal expansion between the two materials, has been used to measure temperature changes as small as 10 ―6 K, heat transfer rate as small as 40 pW, and energy changes as small as 10 fJ. Bimaterial cantilevers have also been used to measure "heat transfer-distance" curves—a heat transfer analogy of the force-distance curves obtained using atomic force microscopes. In this work, we concentrate on the characterization of heat transfer from the microcantilever. The thermomechanical response of a bimaterial cantilever is used to determine the (1) thermal conductance of a bimaterial cantilever, and (2) overall thermal conductance from the cantilever to the ambient. The thermal conductance of a rectangular gold coated silicon nitride cantilever is G c =4.09±0.04 μW K ―1 . The overall thermal conductance from the cantilever to the ambient (at atmospheric pressure) is G a =55.05±0.69 μW K ―1 . The effective heat transfer coefficient from the cantilever to the ambient (at atmospheric pressure) is determined to be ≈3400 W m ―2 K ―1 .
IS N2O-DEPENDENT DAMAGE FIXED BY ACTION OF THE RECA LOCUS ?

SummaryNitrous oxide (N2O) is often a radiation sensitizer of procaryotic cells, although it has little or no effect in recA− strains of E. coli and Saccharomyces. Here we test the hypothesis that N2O-dependent damage is in itself not lethal, but that lethality occurs when this damage is incorrectly repaired by the recA+ strains. Because sensitization by N2O requires the radiolytic production of H2O2, the hypothesis can be tested with reagent H2O2. If the ‘inaction’ of the recA locus prevents N2O sensitization in the recA− strains, then those strains should not be sensitized by reagent H2O2. Our data show that all these strains, including the recA+ parent, are efficiently sensitized by reagent H2O2 in N2 and also in N2O; thus our data do not support that hypothesis. We propose instead that the correlation between N2O sensitization and the recA− genotype occurs because of the inherent anoxic sensitivity of the recA− strains; the doses used to assay survival, and thus to test for sensitization by N2O, are s...
1H, 13C, 15N NMR and Ab Initio/IGLO/GIAO-MP2 Study of Mono-, Di-, Tri-, and Tetraprotonated Guanidine1

Mono- and diprotonated guanidines were prepared in superacid solutions and studied by 1H, 13C, and 15N NMR spectroscopy. The structures, energies, and NMR chemical shifts were also calculated by ab initio/IGLO/GIAO-MP2 method. Excellent agreement were found between experimental and calculated 13C and 15N NMR chemical shifts. No persistent triprotonated guanidine was observed. Tri- and tetraprotonated guanidines were also studied by ab initio/IGLO/GIAO-MP2 method.
Higher BMC and areal BMD in children and grandchildren of individuals with hip or knee replacement

The relationship between aBMD and osteoarthritis (OA) remains unclear. We compared aBMD, BMC and bone size among children and grandchildren of Hutterites with hip or knee replacement (n=23 each) to children and grandchildren of age- and sex-matched controls (178 children and 267 grandchildren). There were no differences in anthropometric measures or activity levels between case and control probands, but femoral neck (FN) and spine (LS) aBMD and Z-scores were greater in cases than controls (0.89 vs. 0.80 g/cm2; 1.15 vs. 1.03 g/cm2; 1.5 vs. 0.8; 2.4 vs. 1.2: all p or =2 years post-menarcheal or males> or =18 years): 33 were not classified. Post-menarcheal, but not premenarcheal, granddaughters of cases had greater hip, FN and LS aBMD Z-scores (0.7 vs. -0.1; 0.6 vs. -0.1; 0.8 vs. -0.3); greater hip and spine aBMD (1.03 vs. 0.95, 1.10 vs. 0.98 g/cm2); greater femoral neck and spine BMC (4.77 vs. 4.21, 66.7 vs. 55.4 g); and greater spine bone area (60.7 vs. 56.6 cm2) compared to granddaughters of controls (all, p<0.05), which remained significant when height, weight, and age were included as covariates. Growing grandsons of cases were taller and heavier than control grandsons, and a greater hip aBMD among grandsons of cases (0.88 vs. 0.76 g/cm2) was the only bone difference that remained significant after taking into account body size differences. Grandsons who were not growing had greater spine bone area (1.19 vs. 1.08 cm2) if their grandparent had OA compared to grandsons whose grandparents did not have OA. We speculate that there is a genetic basis for OA that leads to early differences in growth patterns among boys and greater peak bone mass and aBMD among girls.
Quercetin-induced expression of rat mast cell protease II and accumulation of secretory granules in rat basophilic leukemia cells

Abstract Rat basophilic leukemia (RBL) cells are considered to be similar to bone-marrow derived mast cells and to mucosal mast cells (MMC), the latter of which may be involved in inflammatory bowel diseases. RBL cells are not able to accumulate histamine and secretory granules under regular growing conditions. Here we show that the flavonoid quercetin, which inhibits mast cell secretion of histamine, also inhibited RBL cell proliferation and constitutive histamine release while it induced synthesis of rat mast cell protease (RMCP) II and triggered processes leading to accumulation of secretory granules. Cell viability was also retained in the presence of quercetin, whereas untreated cells did not survive past 6 days of growth. Quercetin did not affect the expression of mRNA for α-subunit of immunoglobulin E (IgE) receptor, but led to increased expression of mRNA for, and synthesis of RMCP II, which is a marker protein for MMC. Many of these granules showed metachromasia with toluidine blue after 3 days of growth, stained red with alcian blue counterstained with safranin after 8 days of growth, and contained electron dense material. Our results suggest that RBL cells have the capacity to progress to a more mature state and may lend themselves to further analysis of a growth regulator(s) with action similar to that of quercetin.
Cerebellar top-of-the-basilar syndrome

We present a patient with unusual cerebrovasculature due to the absence of anastomosis between anterior and posterior circulations and bilateral fetal posterior cerebral arteries. This resulted in an atypical 'cerebellar' top-of-the-basilar syndrome, with bilateral superior cerebellar artery infarctions. We review the clinical presentation and radiologic findings and explain the embryologic origin of this vascular anatomy.
Rapid detection of lytic antimicrobial activity against yeast and filamentous fungi.

A rapid method for assessing the lytic activity of antimicrobial agents against yeast and fungi has been developed. The assay is based on the release of the intracellular enzyme, maltase (alpha-glucosidase). The released maltase activity was measured colorimetrically by the production of p-nitrophenol from p-nitrophenyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (PNPG). The lytic activity of different antimicrobial compounds was measured against yeast cells or germinating spores of filamentous fungi. Lytic anti-yeast activity could be detected within 20 min incubation at 30 degrees C against Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans, and Cryptococcus neoformans. Lytic anti-fungal activity appeared after 2 h of incubation at 30 degrees C against germinating spores of Aspergillus niger and Botrytis cinerea. Whole cells of either yeast or fungi did not hydrolyze sufficient PNPG within 3 h at 30 degrees C to yield a detectable color change. Lytic activity of enzymes (e.g., Lyticase), antibiotics (e.g., Amphotericin B), and an antibiotic-producing strain of bacteria were detected using the assay. The anti-yeast assay has been adapted to a 96-well microtiter format. Both assays provided a rapid, sensitive, and reproducible detection of lytic anti-yeast and anti-fungal activity.
A Test for Granger-sausality in a multivariate ARMA model

The objective of this paper is to present a parametric test of Granger causality in a multivariate ARMA model. We derive the necessary and sufficient condition for Granger causality. We then relate our method to previous studies by examining Sims' nominal income and money data.
A uniqueness result concerning the identification of a collection of cracks from finitely many electrostatic boundary measurements

The problem of locating and identifying a collection of finitely many cracks inside a planar domain from measurements of the electrostatic boundary potentials induced by specified current fluxes is considered. It is shown that a collection of n or fewer cracks can be uniquely identified by measuring the boundary potentials induced by n + 1 specified current fluxes, consisting entirely of electrode pairs.
Spectrum Modeling for Air Shock-Layer Radiation at Lunar-Return Conditions

Anew air-radiationmodel is presented for the calculation of the radiative flux from lunar-return shock layers. For modeling atomic lines, the data from a variety of theoretical and experimental sources are compiled and reviewed. A line model is chosen that consists of oscillator strengths from the National Institute of Standards and Technology database and theOpacity Project (formany lines not listedby theNational Institute of Standards andTechnology), as well as Stark broadening widths obtained from the average of available values. Uncertainties for the oscillator strengths and Stark broadening widths are conservatively chosen from the reviewed data, and for the oscillator strengths, the chosen uncertainties are found to be larger than those listed in the National Institute of Standards and Technology database. This new atomic line model is compared with previous models for equilibrium constantproperty layers chosen to approximately represent a lunar-return shock layer. It is found that the new model increases the emission resulting from the 1–6-eV spectral range by up to 50%.This increase is due to both the increase in oscillator strengths for some important lines and to the addition of lines from the Opacity Project, which are not commonly treated in shock-layer radiation predictions. Detailed theoretical atomic bound–free cross sections obtained from the Opacity Project’s TOPbase are applied for nitrogen and oxygen. An efficient method of treating these detailed cross sections is presented.The emission fromnegative ions is considered and shown to contribute up to 10% to the total radiative flux. The modeling of the molecular-band systems using the smeared-rotational-band approach is reviewed. The validity of the smeared-rotational-band approach for both emitting and absorbing-band systems is shown through comparisons with the computationally intensive line-by-line approach. The absorbingband systems are shown to reduce the radiative flux by up to 10%, whereas the emitting-band systems are shown to contribute less than a 5% increase in the flux. The combined models chosen for the atomic line, atomic bound–free, negative-ion, and molecular-band components result in a computationally efficient model that is ideal for coupled solutions with a Navier–Stokes flowfield. It is recommended that the notable increases shown, relative to previous models, for the atomic line and negative-ion continuum should be included in future radiation predictions for lunarreturn vehicles.
Folding Determinants of LDL Receptor Type A Modules

To investigate how three disulfide bonds and coordination of a calcium ion cooperate to specify the structure of an LDL-A module, we studied the interdependence of disulfide bond formation and calc...
Chapter 2: Source pigs

: An islet xenotransplantation product includes live cells from a non-human source, in this study, a pig source. A live product cannot be subjected to conventional disinfection, and therefore the source pig must be depleted of infectious agents that can transmit to the recipient and cause disease. Among other requirements, regulatory guidances specify that donor animals fulfill the designated pathogen-free (DPF) status. Donor pigs fulfilling DPF status are generally bred and maintained in biosecure facilities, where they are shielded from the outside by filtered air, disinfected water, and irradiated food that is certified free of any mammalian protein. All materials are autoclaved upon entry, and personnel enter by shower-in/shower-out, and are wearing special clothes. The operation of such facilities is in compliance with Current Good Manufacturing Practices. To ensure DPF status, pigs are brought into such facilities via Cesarean section, and the source pigs are kept as a closed herd. The DPF status cannot be realized for endogenous viruses, such as porcine endogenous retrovirus. Therefore, regulatory authorities require patient monitoring after xenotransplantation. Considering the infectious pathogen status and necessary regulatory compliance, it is recommended that organ procurement be conducted at the animal facility and that cell manufacturing facilities be located nearby. To enable assessment of as-yet unknown pathogens long after xenotransplantation, regulatory guidances mandate archiving donor materials for at least 50 yr. As this is essentially a public health issue, governmental institutions are urged to be responsible for the archive. Table of Contents • Introduction • Designated pathogen-free status • Biosecure barrier facility • Organ retrieval and islet manufacturing • Alternatives
The anomalous circulation in the southern hemisphere stratosphere during spring 1987

The general circulation of the Southern Hemisphere stratosphere during 1987 is analyzed based on National Meteorological Center analyses, and contrasted to a climatological average constructed from the years 1980-1986. The polar lower stratosphere in spring 1987 is substantially colder than the climatology, with zonal mean differences of order 16K near 50 mb in November. Substantially warmer temperatures (near 8K) are observed in these data in the polar upper stratosphere coincident with the lower level cooling. Associated with the strong cooling in the lower stratosphere is a delay in the spring final warming during 1987 of approximately 20 days (compared with climatology). Although the majority of the observed cooling probably results from the record low ozone levels observed during 1987, the observed planetary wave driving during 1987 is substantially below climatological levels, also contributing to a colder pole.
Analysis of batch nitrification using substrate inhibition kinetics

The utility of using batch nitrification constants for predicting results in continuous flow systems is assessed. For this work, nitrifier growth kinetics were quantified with the Haldane function. The constants for nitrification which are contained in the equation were determined via analysis of batch ammonia removal data.
Analysis of sampled-data high-gain observers in the presence of measurement noise

This paper studies sampled-data output feedback control of nonlinear systems using high-gain observers in the presence of measurement noise. The observer is designed in continuous time, then discretized. It is shown that the sampled-data output feedback controller recovers the performance of the continuous-time state feedback controller as the observer gain is increased. However, the effect of measurement noise dominates beyond a certain point, and the gap between the performance of the two controllers widens as the observer gain is increased further. The analysis quantifies the relationship between the high-gain observer parameter and the amplitude of the noise.
Optical properties of Europium doped gels during densification

Abstract Base catalyzed porous silica sol–gel monoliths fired at 1000°C were used to prepare Eu and Eu–Al co-doped glasses by post doping and subsequent densification around 1125–1150°C in air. Both Eu3+ and Eu2+ ions were found to coexist in densified Al co-doped glasses. The absorption, emission and excitation spectra of the Eu-doped glasses are significantly dependent on the alumina content. The densification temperature of the doped gel also played a major role in the reduction process. The UV excitation efficiency for the 5 D 0 → 7 F 2 transition of Eu3+ ions (614 nm) was increased in the presence of Eu2+ ions due to energy transfer from Eu2+ to Eu3+ ions.