cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Essays on nature and landscape

The editors have assembled here a collection of ten pieces by Susan Fenimore Cooper (1813-1894), the daughter of James Fenimore Cooper, that represent her most accomplished nature writing and the fullest articulation of her environmental principles. With one exception, these essays have not been available in print since their original appearance in Cooper's lifetime. A portrait of her thoughts on nature and how we should live and think in relation to it, this collection both contextualizes Cooper's magnum opus, "Rural Hours" (1850) and demonstrates how she perceived her work as a nature writer. Frequently, her essays are models of how to catch and keep the interest of a reader when writing about plants, animals and our relationship to the physical environment. By lamenting the decline of bird populations, original forests and overall biodiversity, she champions preservation and invokes a collective environmental conscience that would not begin to awaken until the end of her life and century. The selections include independent essays, miscellaneous introductions and prefaces and the first three instalments from Cooper's work of literary ornithology, "Otsego Leaves", arguably her most mature and fully realized contribution to American environmental writing. In addition to a foreword by John Elder, one of America's leading environmental educators, an introduction analyses each essay in various cultural contexts. Brief textual notes supplement the essays.
6 What Makes an Adolescent Sexually Active? Intra- and Interpersonal Influences.

Purpose: Sexual abstinence, a healthy people 2010 goal, is a period of time in which a person does not have sex. We examined intra- and interpersonal factors associated with the decision to have sex after a period of abstinence among young women at high STD risk. Methods: With IRB approval, we recruited 378 women (ages 14 – 17 at enrollment, >90% African American) from clinics in high STD risk communities. Subjects (ss) completed face-to-face interviews every 3 months, and daily diaries for 3 month periods twice a year. We PCR tested self-collected vaginal swabs for C. Trachomatis, N. Gonorrhea, and T. Vaginalis every 3 months, and weekly swabs during diary collection. On daily diaries, ss provided partner-specific coital behaviors. We defined an abstinence “run” (consecutive days of no sex) as our unit of analysis. Runs ended with a diary report of sex, and were censored with a missing diary day or the start or end of diary collection. We used frailty models to estimate the effect of intrapersonal factors, interpersonal factors, and STI diagnosis on time to ending a run. Frailty models are adaptations of proportional hazards models that control for multiple observations (in this case “runs” of abstinence) from one individual. Intrapersonal factors included daily positive and negative mood (3 items each, range 3-15, α=0.81 and 0.76 respectively), and daily sexual interest (1 item, range 1-5). Partner-specific interpersonal factors included daily partner support (4 items, range 0-4, α=0.85), and overall relationship quality (6 items, range 6-24, α=0.91). Recent STIs were diagnosed in the quarterly (or 3 month) interview immediately before the run. Results: 378 ss contributed 6070 runs of abstinence, with 55.3% ending with sex and 44.7% censored. The median length of an abstinence run was 10 days (95% CI 9, 11 days) and mean 39.1 days (std error = 0.71). Each year increase in age increased the hazard of ending a run by 22% (p<.001). Each unit increase in sexual interest increased the hazard of ending a run by 22% (p<.001); each unit increase in positive mood increased the hazard by 2% (p<.001); negative mood was not a significant predictor. Each unit increase in partner support increased the hazard of ending a run by 25% (p<.001); and each unit increase in relationship quality increased the hazard by 5% (p<.001). A recent STI decreased the hazard of ending a run by 17% (p<0.01). Conclusions: The decision to have sex after a period of abstinence was strongly influenced by relationship characteristics as well as sexual interest and mood. This challenges popular notions of “casual” adolescent sex (e.g. “friends with benefits”). Adolescent STD prevention may be enhanced by tailoring counseling to these intra- and interpersonal circumstances.
Severity and speed of Northern Hemisphere glaciation pulses: The limiting case?

A brief pulse of ice-sheet growth of enormous amplitude predicted by the theory of Milankovitch is confirmed by oxygen-isotopic and other evidence in Pacific and North Atlantic cores. This glaciation bisected “interglacial” isotopic stage 7, lasted no more than 23,000 yr from inception to end, and resulted in a very large ice-volume buildup and a full-glacial climatic response of the North Atlantic Ocean. This pulse, along with other episodes of rapid and large-scale ice growth, does not conform to the conventional “sawtooth” model of slow ice accumulation and rapid ice decay. Ice-growth rates on such pulses can approach the mean ice-decay rates on isotopic glacial terminations.
Toward aerosols LiDAR scattering plots clustering and analysis

A compact light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system is used for the purpose of aerosols profile measurements by identifying the aerosol scattering ratio as function of the altitude. These color plots can be treated as images with high intensities referring to high scattering ratios and low intensities referring to low scattering ratios. In this paper, we explore the clustering of these plots into homogeneous regions via unsupervised clustering techniques such as fuzzy techniques and evaluate their performance on this type of data. We introduce a new clustering technique to work efficiently on this type of images and compare its results against the regular techniques. By capturing different aerosols profiles at different times, we are able to describe the aerosol existence structure in the area of our interest.
Use of Railplugs to Extend the Lean Limit of Natural Gas Engines

Ignition of extremely lean mixtures is a very challenging problem, especially for the low speed, high load conditions of large-bore natural gas engines. This paper presents initial results from testing a high energy ignition system, the railplug, which can assure ignition of very lean mixtures by means of its high energy deposition and high velocity jet of the plasma. Comparisons of natural gas engine tests using both a spark plug and a railplug are presented and discussed in this paper. The preliminary engine test show that the lean stability limit (LSL) can be extended from an equivalence ratio, φ, of ∼0.63 using a spark plug down to 0.56 using a railplug. The tests show that the railplug is very promising ignition system for lean burn natural gas engines and potentially for other engines that operate with very dilute mixtures. The ignition characteristics of different railplug geometric and circuit designs are also discussed.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
MEMS reliability for space applications by elimination of potential failure modes through testing and analysis

As the design of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) devices matures and their application extends to critical areas, the issues of reliability and long-term survivability become increasingly important. This paper reviews some general approaches to addressing the reliability and qualification of MEMS devices for space applications. The failure modes associated with different types of MEMS devices that are likely to occur, not only under normal terrestrial operations, but also those that are encountered in the harsh environments of space, will be identified.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Comparative effect of carbarylon rat reproduction and guinea pig teratology when fed either in the diet or by stomach intubation*1

Abstract A 3-generation rat reproduction study, terminating with teratologic and mutagenetic studies included groups receiving carbaryl in the diet at maximum daily doses of 200 mg/kg while other groups concurrently received daily po intubation of carbaryl in doses as high as 100 mg/kg. A guinea pig teratology study was also run with maximum levels of carbaryl of 300 mg/kg in the diet or 200 mg/kg po. Previous publications of repeated po intubation reported rat reproduction effects from carbaryl at 2 mg/kg and guinea pig teratology at a maternal toxic level of 300 mg/kg. The concurrent study of administration of carbaryl by daily po administration or by dietary inclusion resulted in neither rat teratology or mutagenesis nor guinea pig teratology in the animals that received the maximum dosage levels. However, the maximum po groups had severe toxic effects in both studies as contrasted to little or no effect at the maximum dietary levels for rat or guinea pigs and no effect at 25 mg/kg po to rats or 100 mg/kg po to guinea pigs. These studies verify the differences that result by deviation from certain proposed guidelines for experimental design. There-fore, the importance of mode of administration was demonstrated, thus verifying that dosage-related responses must be considered if results are to be used to predict safety for man.
HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS OF THE QUASAR PKS 0637-752: EQUIPARTITION ELECTRON-PROTON JET FROM THE MOST COMPLETE SPECTRAL COVERAGE TO DATE

We present new Near-Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer and attitude control system observations of the quasar jet PKS 0637-752, and we use them, together with existing multiwavelength observations, to produce the most complete spectral coverage of the source to date. We explore the implications of these observations in the context of models for the jet X-ray emission. By relaxing the assumption of equipartition, we undertake an exhaustive study of the parameter space for external Compton off the cosmic microwave background (CMB) (EC/CMB) model. We find that the multiwavelength observations exclude a magnetic-field-dominated jet. Using the method proposed by Georganopoulos et al. for probing the jet matter content, we show that protons are practically needed for all jet configurations, extending a previous application of the method by Uchiyama et al. that was based on exploring three particular jet configurations. We also show that equipartition is the only configuration that can reproduce the observations and have one proton per radiating lepton. We finally present a rather model-independent argument that the jet has a spine-sheath flow pattern, with the spine being faster and emitting most of the infrared-optical X-ray emission.
Units of group rings

Abstract Let G be an abelian group and let Z G be its integral group ring. In special cases (e.g., G finite [4]) it has been noted that G is a direct summand of ( Z G)∗, the group of units of Z G. However, no explicit construction for the splitting maps is given in the literature. In Section 1 it will be shown that for any abelian group G, there is a canonical splitting of the inclusion G→ Z G∗. Upon attempting to generalize this result to other coefficient rings, we are led to the concept of a semimodule. We show in Section 2 that G→(AG)∗ splits if G admits a semimodule structure over A. The final section contains a number of partial results and examples showing the difficulty of deciding whether or not splittings exist in the general case. This paper originated from the construction of maps in algebraic K-theory using the Hochschild homology of a bimodule [6, Chap.X]. Let G→GLn Z G be given by gdiag (g, 1,…, 1). It will be shown elsewhere that for an arbitrary group G, there is a canonical splitting of the induced map Hi(G; Z )→Hi(GLn( Z G); Z ) (ordinary homology of groups with trivial action on Z for all i ⩾ 0, n ⩾ 1. As the case i = n = 1 is of independent interest, we present it here rather than obscure it in a paper dealing with algebraic K-theory. For a given integer i, the splitting is constructed via properties of Hochschild homology groups Hi(R, R) for certain rings R. For i = 1 and R a commutative ring, H1(R, R) is canonically isomorphic to Ω 1 R Z , the module of Kahler differentials. In Section 1 we use Ω 1 R Z and its properties to construct splittings as it will be more familiar than Hochschild homology groups to most readers.
Santayanan—Weberian Reason in Administration

The major purpose is to provide a philosophic basis for the study and practice of educational administration. An explicit assumption is that logical, propositional thought is a desirable prelude to action. Reason, which is defined as an organic harmony of impulses, is related to administration via three levels of discourse: 1) philosophic values (WHY), 2) hypothetico‐deductive theory (HOW), and 3) observed behavior (WHAT). The first level is defined by the discursive thought of the moral philosopher Santayana. His definition of rational ethics provides a foundation for administrative‐organizational theory in general, and the concept of bureaucracy in particular. The second level includes Weber's pure‐type structural model that has rationality as its dominant characteristic. The third level, administrative practice, or praxeology, is portrayed as a derivative of rational thought. Current approaches, including systems analysis and program budgeting, are rooted in the union of the logic of Santayana's ethics and Weber's structural model for human groupings.
Reflective Luck and Belief Ownership

A belief is reflectively lucky if it is a matter of luck that the belief is true, given what a subject is aware of on reflection alone. Various epistemologists have argued that any adequate theory of knowledge should eliminate reflective luck, but doing so has proven difficult. This article distinguishes between two kinds of reflective luck arguments in the literature: local arguments and global arguments. It argues that local arguments are best interpreted as demanding, not that one be reflectively aware of the reliability of the sources of one’s beliefs, but that one’s beliefs be attributable to one as one’s own. The article then argues that global arguments make illegitimate demands, because they require that we be ultimately answerable for our beliefs. In the end, the article argues that epistemologists should shift their focus away from reflective luck and toward the conditions under which beliefs are attributable to cognitive agents.
The group theoretic approach to image representation

Abstract This paper presents a group theoretic approach to space frequency image analysis and synthesis. The Weil map-Zak transform provides a major tool for study certain nonabelian function theoretic concepts, which underly the Gabor expansion theory.
The relationship of father absence and antisocial behavior to social egocentrism in adolescent mexican american females

This study investigated the relationship of family structure (father absence and intact) and the level of antisocial behavior (high and low) to social egocentrism in adolescent Mexican American females. The results indicated that high antisocial females had significantly higher egocentrism scores than low antisocial females. No main effect was found for family structure. A significant interaction was found between antisocial behavior and family structure, indicating that the high antisocial-father absent group had the highest egocentrism scores among the four groups.
Genetic differences between host races of Rhagoletis pomonella

Sympatric speciation by the formation of host races (parasite populations associated with different plant or animal hosts) has been the subject of great controversy. It has been difficult to demonstrate the existence of host races1,2, much less to prove that host races are evolving toward species status. Genetic polymorphism attributable to association with different resources does occur3, but the phenomenon is far from ubiquitous in parasite populations. The apple maggot fly Rhagoletis pomonella uses a variety of host plants, and Bush4,5 has argued that it is a likely candidate for speciation by a sympatric mode. So far however there has been no direct evidence of any genetic differentiation between host-associated fly populations. We report significant differences in allele frequencies between fly populations reared from sympatric apple (Mains pumila) and hawthorn (Crataegus mollis) trees at a field site in Urbana, Illinois, in the United States.
Niobium(V) 2-hydroxy-4-methylbenzoato coordination species in solution

Abstract A solution of niobium(V) oxide in concentrated sulfuric acid when added to a water solution of potassium 2-hydroxy-4-methylbenzoate and the pH adjusted to 13.2 was found to absorb strongly in the ultraviolet region thereby indicating the formation of a complex species. By means of spectrophotometric measurements taken at 318 mμ wavelength, it was established that a 1:1 niobium to ligand ratio existed in the complex. The formation constant was calculated to be 80.1.
Assessment of the Quantity of Biologically Available Phosphorus in Yeast RNA and Single-Cell Protein

Abstract Two assays were conducted with chicks fed a phosphorus-deficient crystalline amino acid diet from day 8 to 17 posthatching to evaluate the phosphorus availability of purified torula yeast RNA and single-cell protein (Torula yeast). Tibia bone ash of the chicks was the criterion used in both assays, and regression analysis was used to evaluate bone ash as function of phosphorus intake. A standard curve was established by feeding graded levels of KH2P04 in each assay. Weight gain, tibia weight and tibia ash all responded to phosphorus supplementation whether provided by KH2PO4, RNA or single-cell protein. Weight of tibia ash provided the best linear fit when evaluated as a function of phosphorus intake. Availability in both assays was estimated using the slope-ratio technique wherein milligrams of available phosphorus per gram of RNA or single-cell protein was calculated. In assay 1 the available phosphorus in RNA was found to be 93.2 mg./g. In assay 2 the available phosphorus in single-cell protein was found to be 14.1 mg./g.
Growth of oxalate crystals on films of acrylate polymers

Cast films of a series of acrylic copolymers and homopolymers were immersed in a crystallizing solutions of calcium oxalate which also contained a growth inhibitor. Hydroxylated polyacrylates, but not carboxylated polyacrylates, were found to form films of calcium oxalate. Microscopic observations of the time sequence for film formation suggested that crystals are nucleated inside the polymer film and then grow up through the surface.
Self-trapping of single and paired electrons in Ge2Se3

We report the theoretical prediction of single and paired electron self-trapping in Ge(2)Se(3). In finite atomic cluster, density functional calculations, we show that excess single electrons in Ge(2)Se(3) are strongly localized around single germanium dimers. We also find that two electrons prefer to trap around the same germanium dimer, rupturing a neighboring Ge-Se bond. Localization is less robust in periodic, density functional calculations. While paired electron self-trapping is present, as shown by wavefunction localization around a distorted Ge-Ge dimer, single-electron trapping is not. This discrepancy appears to depend only on the boundary conditions and not on the exchange-correlation potential or basis set. For single- and paired-electron trapping, we report the adiabatic barriers to motion and we estimate hopping rates and freeze-in temperatures. For the single trapped electron, we also predict the (73)Ge and (77)Se hyperfine coupling constants.
Interpretive analysis of observed and modeled mesoscale ozone photochemistry in areas with numerous point sources

Abstract The Regional Acid Deposition Model (RADM) has been applied to several of the field experiments that were part of the Acid Model Operational and Diagnostic Evaluation Study (AcidMODES) to assess the model's ability to simulate photochemical production of ozone in regions dominated by point source emissions. The comparison of model simulations at different grid resolutions suggests that increased resolution improves the simulation of ozone photochemistry in such regions. Further analysis of NO x and NO x concentrations and photochemical production rates of ozone, however, show that the model's response to large point source emissions is very unsystematic both spatially and temporally. This is due to the model's inability to simulate realistically the small-scale (subgrid) gradients in precursor concentrations in and around large point source plumes. Because of the inherently nonlinear nature of ozone photochemistry with respect to concentrations of NO x and VOC, ozone formation rates in model grid cells depend enormously on grid resolution, dispersion rates (primarily wind speed and mixed layer height), chemical background (VOCs and radicals) and NO x emission rates. Thus, the notion that increased grid resolution leads to better simulations of ozone photochemistry is not necessarily true. This analysis points to the needed to incorporate some kind of subgrid parameterization of plume photochemistry into mesoscale Eulerian grid models.
Body Mass Index Predicts Insulin Resistance in Survivors of Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Background Pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) therapies have been associated with many late effects, including obesity, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance. Few data are available linking these abnormalities to specific risk factors present during ALL treatment. Methods Retrospective cohort study with prospective follow-up. Subjects had been diagnosed with ALL at ages 1–18 years and had been off chemotherapy for >9 months. Oral glucose tolerance testing (OGTT) was performed and these results compared to demographic, treatment, and anthropomorphic data from medical records. Results Twenty-seven subjects (11 female) were evaluated. Mean (±SD) diagnosis age 5.7 ± 3.5 years, mean study age 11.3 ± 3.7 years, mean time off therapy 2.8 ± 1.5 years. Six subjects had transient hyperglycemia during ALL treatment. At study time, one subject had prediabetes; eight (29.6%) had insulin resistance. Insulin resistance was not predicted by glucose levels during treatment, cumulative steroid or asparaginase dose, or type of steroid received. Body mass index (BMI) for age correlated significantly with several measures of insulin resistance, including fasting insulin, HOMA index, Matsuda index and insulin AUC (P = 0.001–0.009). Waist/hip ratio and BMI at ALL diagnosis also correlated with insulin resistance, but these factors' effects could not be separated from BMI at study time. Conclusions Variations in ALL therapy and presence of transient hyperglycemia do not appear to increase risk of glucose intolerance or insulin resistance in the first few years after completion of therapy. Elevated BMI strongly predicted insulin resistance in this study, as it does in the general population. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;53:58–63. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Investigating the correlation between high-frequency global oscillations and solar flares

Global oscillations have been observed in the high-frequency spectrum in velocity and intensity measurements above the acoustic cutoff frequency of the solar atmosphere. In a recent work, strong correlation at high frequencies, determined between helioseismic spectra and soft x-ray flux has been cited as evidence that solar flares may be one of the mechanisms whereby these high-frequency oscillations are excited. We investigate the possible dependencies of the correlation coefficient, computed for helioseismic and soft x-ray data, on the pre-processing and data analysis, and the instruments used for data acquisition.
Dichotic competition of simultaneous tone bursts of different frequency-II. Suppression and ear dominance functions.

Abstract The perceptual interaction of the two tones of a dichotically presented chord was studied as a function of the differences in the intensity between the right and left ear tones. Large but highly consistent differences in perceptual interactions were found in thirty subjects. In 23 per cent of the subjects the pitch of the tones presented to the right ear dominated the pitch of the dichotically perceived chord. In 40 per cent the left ear was dominant, and in 37 per cent there was no marked ear asymmetry. These and other differences between the individual psychometric curves were accounted for by postulating the existence of two independent functional properties of dichotic interactions—a suppression function and an ear dominance function.
Holographic Associative Memory and Processor

Several concepts for associative holographic memories have been previously described that rely upon Bragg angle selection in the recording medium during parallel search readout of the memory. A new format of page-oriented associative holographic memory is proposed in this paper that relies upon constructive and destructive interference to provide a null signal output for the perfect match during associative search readout. The readout signal in this new format is not affected by page size, and the memory format also allows for limited parallel digital processing, making the holographic approach more compatible with present electronic associative memory processors.
The central role of line tension in the fusion of biological membranes

Recent progress in the fusion of biological membranes is reviewed to highlight the central role played by the line tension, which permits exquisite control of the process.
Do United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) scores predict in-training test performance for emergency medicine residents?

Abstract Background: Residency selection committees commonly utilize USMLE scores as criteria to screen residency applicants. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) in-training examination scores (ITEs). Methods: In an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited emergency medicine residency program, data were collected for this retrospective cohort study for the classes of 2002–2006. USMLE Step 1 and 2 scores and the ABEM ITEs were recorded for each post-graduate year (PGY) within the aforementioned time frame. Step 1 and 2 scores were compared to consecutive PGY ABEM ITEs to evaluate for an association. Results: There were 51 USMLE Step 1 and 39 Step 2 scores available for comparison with 153 ABEM ITEs. The mean USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 scores were 228.9 (range 197–252) and 228.4 (range 168–259), respectively. The mean in-training percentiles for the PGY 1, 2, and 3 years were 40.4, 68.3, and 81.7, respectively. The R-squared values for the Step 1 scores compared to the PGY 1, 2, and 3 years' ITEs were 0.25, 0.18, and 0.16, respectively. The R-squared values for Step 2 scores as compared to the ABEM ITEs for the PGY 1, 2, and 3 years were 0.43, 0.44, and 0.38, respectively. Residents who scored below 200 on either USMLE Step 1 or Step 2 had significantly lower mean ABEM ITEs than residents who scored above 200 (p
Radioulnar Heterotopic Ossification After Distal Biceps Tendon Repair: Results Following Surgical Resection

Purpose The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical outcome of patients who had excision of a radioulnar heterotopic ossification (HO) as a complication of a distal biceps tendon repair. The hypothesis is that there are no measurable clinical losses that persist after excision. Methods Eight consecutive patients were identified between 1996 and 2005. All were treated with HO excision using a standard surgical technique and rehabilitation protocol. These individuals were studied and compared to a matched cohort of 8 patients who had a distal biceps tendon repair with a similar surgical technique that was uncomplicated. All study patients were evaluated at a minimum 1-year follow-up with physical examination, isokinetic dynamometry, and outcome measures. Comparisons were made both between groups as well as side-to-side within groups. Results At follow-up examination, the mean arc of forearm rotation in the HO group measured 151°. The mean arc of forearm rotation in the control group measured 165°. With the numbers available, no measurable differences in arc of motion were identified between groups (p > .05). When compared to the normal, uninvolved side, patients who developed HO lost an average of 9° of forearm pronation (p .05). Conclusions When patients develop motion-limiting HO after distal biceps tendon repair, surgical resection can lead to a functional recovery of elbow and forearm motion. Biceps strength can be maintained with no measurable differences in clinical outcome when compared to individuals who do not suffer this complication following distal biceps repair. Type of study/level of evidence Therapeutic III.
Pandemic Influenza and Pregnant Women

Planning for a future influenza pandemic should include considerations specific to pregnant women. First, pregnant women are at increased risk for influenza-associated illness and death. The effects on the fetus of maternal influenza infection, associated fever, and agents used for prophylaxis and treatment should be taken into account. Pregnant women might be reluctant to comply with public health recommendations during a pandemic because of concerns regarding effects of vaccines or medications on the fetus. Guidelines regarding nonpharmaceutical interventions (e.g., voluntary quarantine) also might present special challenges because of conflicting recommendations about routine prenatal care and delivery. Finally, healthcare facilities need to develop plans to minimize exposure of pregnant women to ill persons, while ensuring that women receive necessary care.
FATAL FUNCTIONAL UTERINE BLEEDING

Fatal uterine hemorrhage is rare, except when it is due to complications of pregnancy or to corporeal and cervical tumors; it is then usually associated with some hematological dyscrasia. Payant (1), Van Vugt (2) and Frazer (3) each described such an occurrence in young women which was attributed to thrombocytopenic purpura. Payant's patient showed symptoms and signs of intraperitoneal hemorrhage for which a ruptured Graafian follicle was considered responsible. In none of these cases was a study of the ovaries or endometrium possible since neither curettement, laparotomy nor necropsy was made. Kermauner (4) reported the death of a 15-year-old girl with myeloid leukemia on the 12th day of her first menstrual period. An involuting corpus luteum was observed in one ovary at necropsy; the endometrium was not described. Fleischmann (5) detailed the necropsy findings in the case of a young woman, 24 years of age, dying from excessive uterine bleeding in association with pernicious anemia. There were observed a...
Big Soda Lake (Nevada). 2. Pelagic sulfate reduction

The epilimnion of hypersalinc, alkaline, meromictic Big Soda Lake contains an average 58 mmol sulfate liter-’ and 0.4 pmol dissolved iron litcr- I. The monimolimnion, which is permanently anoxic, has a sulfide concentration ranging seasonally from 4 to 7 mmol liter-l. Depth profiles of sulfate reduction in the monimolimnion, assayed with a 35S tracer technique and in situ incubations, demonstrated that sulfate reduction occurs within the water column of this extreme environment. The average rate of reduction in the monimolimnion was 3 Fmol sulfate liter-r d-’ in May compared to 0.9 in October. These values are comparable to rates of sulfate reduction reported for anoxic waters of more moderate environments. Sulfate reduction also occurred in the anoxic zone of the mixolimnion, though at significantly lower rates (0.025-0.090 pmol liter-l d-l at 25 m). Additions of FeS (I .O mmol liter I) doubled the endogenous rate of sulfate reduction in the monimolimnion, while MnS and kaolinite had no effect. These results suggest that sulfate reduction in Big Soda Lake is iron limited and controlled by seasonal variables other than temperature. Estimates of the organic carbon mineralized by sulfate reduction exceed measured fluxes of particulate organic carbon sinking from the mixolimnion. Thus, additional sources of electron donors (other than those derived from the sinking of pelagic autotrophs) may also fuel monimolimnetic sulfate reduction in the lake.
Lupeol inhibits growth of highly aggressive human metastatic melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo by inducing apoptosis.

Purpose: Poor prognosis of metastatic melanoma mandates the development of novel strategies for its treatment and prevention. In this study, the effect of lupeol, a diet-based triterpene, was determined on the growth and tumorigenicity of human melanoma cells in vitro and in vivo . Experimental Design: Normal human melanocytes, and human metastatic (451Lu) and nonmetastatic (WM35) cells were treated with lupeol; its effect on growth, proliferation, and apoptosis were evaluated. Further athymic nude mice bearing 451Lu cell–originated tumors were administered with lupeol thrice a week, and its effect on tumor growth and surrogate biomarkers was evaluated. Results: Lupeol significantly decreased the viability of 451Lu and WM35 melanoma cells but had only a marginal effect on normal human melanocyte cells at similar doses. Lupeol treatment of 451Lu cells caused ( a ) G 1 -S phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis; ( b ) down-regulation of Bcl2 and up-regulation of Bax; ( c ) activation of caspase-3 and induction of poly(ADP)ribose polymerase cleavage; ( d ) decreased expression of cyclin D1, cyclin D2, and cdk2; and ( e ) increased expression of p21 protein. Next, lupeol significantly reduced 451Lu tumor growth in athymic nude mice and modulated the expression of proliferation markers, apoptotic markers, and cell cycle regulatory molecules in tumor xenografts. Conclusion: Our findings showed the anticancer efficacy of lupeol with mechanistic rationale against metastatic human melanoma cells. We suggest that lupeol, alone or as an adjuvant to current therapies, could be useful for the management of human melanoma.
In Vivo Stability of Heterogeneous Expression Classes in Clinical Isolates of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococci

To define the stability of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in vivo, 22 isolates collected at one New York institution in 1989 and 1990 were studied. All 22 belonged to one of two distinct methicillin-resistant phenotypes (class 3 or 2), which were precisely identified as belonging to two distinct genotypes. Genotypic classification was based on restriction analysis of chromosomal DNA with EcoRI and HindIII and Southern analysis of ClaI digests using two DNA probes. One was specific for the mec gene; the other was specific for transposon Tn554. The findings suggest that the MRSA isolates studied were representative of two genetically distinct MRSA "clones," each with a unique strain-specific methicillin-resistant phenotype that is stable under the conditions of invasive disease, carriage, and spread from patient to patient.
On-the-fly elimination of dynamic irregularities for GPU computing

The power-efficient massively parallel Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) have become increasingly influential for general-purpose computing over the past few years. However, their efficiency is sensitive to dynamic irregular memory references and control flows in an application. Experiments have shown great performance gains when these irregularities are removed. But it remains an open question how to achieve those gains through software approaches on modern GPUs.This paper presents a systematic exploration to tackle dynamic irregularities in both control flows and memory references. It reveals some properties of dynamic irregularities in both control flows and memory references, their interactions, and their relations with program data and threads. It describes several heuristics-based algorithms and runtime adaptation techniques for effectively removing dynamic irregularities through data reordering and job swapping. It presents a framework, G-Streamline, as a unified software solution to dynamic irregularities in GPU computing. G-Streamline has several distinctive properties. It is a pure software solution and works on the fly, requiring no hardware extensions or offline profiling. It treats both types of irregularities at the same time in a holistic fashion, maximizing the whole-program performance by resolving conflicts among optimizations. Its optimization overhead is largely transparent to GPU kernel executions, jeopardizing no basic efficiency of the GPU application. Finally, it is robust to the presence of various complexities in GPU applications. Experiments show that G-Streamline is effective in reducing dynamic irregularities in GPU computing, producing speedups between 1.07 and 2.5 for a variety of applications.
Soil‐structure interaction at higher frequency factors

Approximate solutions to the forced vibrations of a rigid circular plate attached to the surface of an elastic halfspace are presented for large values of the frequency factor. These results are important when solving soil-structure interaction problems when such problems involve high-frequency factors. This situation arises when high-frequency components of earthquakes are associated with a relatively rigid foundation of a large base and located on a soft terrain. Similar situations occur in cases of blast loadings and impact and in the foundations of large high-speed machinery. These solutions are used to solve the problem of the motion of a rigid mass on an elastic halfspace subjected to steady state and transient horizontal accelerations. From these results, it is deduced that a large rigid mat foundation located on soft terrain significantly attenuates input accelerations and consequently may be useful as the foundation of large massive rigid structures such as nuclear power station. /Author/
Quantitative Study of Al/W Interaction In Si/SiO2/W-Ti/Al Thin Film System

The interaction of Al and W in the Si/SiO2/W-Ti/Al thin film system is studied quantitatively by glancing angle x-ray diffraction. The formation of Al-W compounds due to annealing is monitored by the variation of the integrated intensity from a few x-ray diffraction peaks of the corresponding compounds. The annealing was conducted at 400°C, 450°C and 500°C from 1 hour to 300 hours. The kinetics of compound formation is determined using x-ray diffraction data and verified by TEM observations. We will also show the correlation of the compound formation to the change of the electrical properties of these films.
Software and resources for computational medicinal chemistry

Computer-aided drug design plays a vital role in drug discovery and development and has become an indispensable tool in the pharmaceutical industry. Computational medicinal chemists can take advantage of all kinds of software and resources in the computer-aided drug design field for the purposes of discovering and optimizing biologically active compounds. This article reviews software and other resources related to computer-aided drug design approaches, putting particular emphasis on structure-based drug design, ligand-based drug design, chemical databases and chemoinformatics tools.
Manipulation of IAA‐Oxidase Activity and Auxin‐Deficiency Symptoms in Intact Cotton Plants with Manganese Nutrition

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L. cv. Deltapine 15) seedlings were grown in solution culture in which the Mn2+ level was varied. Following an initial period, a series of shifts in manganese nutrition were employed, each lasting 14 days. Appearance was observed and fresh weight, IAA oxidase (IAAO), peroxidase and IAAO inhibitor levels were determined. After the initial 3 weeks of treatment, growth was negatively correlated with IAAO (or peroxidase) activity. All shifts in manganese nutrition resulted in predicted changes in IAAO activity, growth and plant appearance during a second 2-week period of the experiment. Continuously deficient plants exhibited highest leaf abscission and IAA oxidase activity, and lowest growth of all treatments. Plants shifted from deficient to control levels of Mn2+ exhibited a marked decline in IAAO activity, increase in growth and absence of leaf abscission. Plants shifted from borderline deficiency to deficient Mn2+ exhibited a major increase in IAAO activity, reduction in growth and extensive leaf abscission. Control and borderline toxicity plants maintained normal IAAO activity, growth, and appearance. During a final 2-week period, symptom expression was intensified. In particular, the initial borderline deficiency plants shifted to deficient levels of Mn2+ abscised most of those leaves that expanded after the shift in treatment. In addition, shifts of some plants to toxic Mn2+ levels during the third phase of the experiment produced a complete cycle of manipulation. Plants initially deficient in Mn2+ with high IAAO and low growth recovered growth and declined in IAAO when shifted to control Mn2+ and then suffered severe inhibition of growth and toxicity symptoms when shifted to high Mn2+. In all cases changes in enzyme activity, growth, leaf abscission and similar symptoms were most strongly expressed in the youngest tissue or that with the greatest potential for growth during the interval of a particular treatment. Since total growth, IAAO, leaf abscission, internode length and similar symptoms were consistently manipulated in both directions (increase or decrease in intensity or degree) by raising or lowering Mn2+ levels in the plant culture medium, we conclude that there is a causal relationship between IAAO and these responses that involves destruction of auxin.
Higher Expression of Several Interferon-Stimulated Genes in HIV-1-Infected Females After Adjusting for the Level of Viral Replication

Background. Clinical studies have shown faster disease progression and stronger immune activation in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1–infected females when compared with males for the same level of HIV-1 replication. Here we determine whether the elevated levels of HIV-1–induced interferon-alpha (IFN-α) production observed in females are associated with higher interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) expression levels in T cells, hence suggesting type-I IFN as a mechanism for the higher HIV-1–associated immune activation observed. Methods. T-cell and dendritic cell populations were isolated from treatment-naive chronically HIV-1–infected individuals enrolled in the Adult Clinical Trials Group 384 by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. The expression of 98 genes involved in Toll-like receptor and type I IFN signaling pathways were quantified using Nanostring technology. Results. Several ISGs were significantly correlated with HIV-1 viral load and/or CD4 + T-cell count. Higher expression levels of a subset of these ISGs were observed in cells derived from females as compared to males after adjusting for viral load and were correlated to higher levels of T-cell activation. Conclusion. These data show that higher IFN-α production is associated with higher ex vivo expression of several ISGs in females. This might contribute to higher levels of immune activation and the observed faster HIV-1 disease progression in females for a given level of viral replication.
Large-scale systems with symmetrically interconnected subsystems: analysis and synthesis of decentralized controllers

A number of large-scale interconnected systems often encountered in practice are composed of subsystems with similar dynamics interconnected in a symmetrical fashion, and the synthesis of controllers for such systems must exploit the special structural properties in order to avoid overly conservative designs and to take advantage of the possible beneficial effects of the interconnections. An analysis of some important qualitative properties of such symmetrically interconnected systems focusing on the spectrum characterization, controllability, and observability and the solutions of the algebraic Riccati equation and the matrix Lyapunov equation are presented. Procedures for constructing the solutions to the analysis problems at the overall system level from the computationally simple subsystem level solutions are developed. A decentralized controller design procedure is presented as an illustration of the utilization of the available structural information in addressing synthesis problems. Numerical examples are included to demonstrate the superiority of the designs over existing approach which do not take full advantage of the structural knowledge of these large-scale systems. >
Seedling light limitation does not increase across a natural productivity gradient

Aims A key idea in plant community ecology is that the identity of the limiting resource shifts from soil nutrients in low productivity sites to light in high productivity sites. This idea, and its implications for plant community structure, has been tested many times in artificial productivity gradients (fertilization studies), but whether it applies to natural productivity gradients is unclear. Methods To test whether seedling light limitation would increase across a natural productivity gradient, I conducted a cross-site field experiment in southwest Michigan, USA. At each of six old fields naturally varying in productivity, I exposed transplanted seedlings of big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) to a light addition (tie-back) treatment that increased light availability and measured their biomass after one and two growing seasons. Important Findings Seedlings responded positively to the tie-back treatment, but positive responses did not increase across the natural productivity gradient. These results suggest that although light does limit seedling establishment, the strength of light limitation does not depend on variation in productivity in natural systems. Instead, light limitation interacted with a variety of site differences to determine establishment. Although the general principle that light limitation increases with productivity is well established, these results indicate that it may not always occur in natural systems.
Direct numerical simulation of inertial particle entrainment in a shearless mixing layer

We present the first computational study of the dynamics of inertial particles in a shearless turbulence mixing layer. We parametrize our direct numerical simulations to isolate the effects of turbulence, Reynolds number, particle inertia, and gravity on the entrainment process. By analysing particle concentrations, particle and fluid velocities, particle size distributions, and higher-order velocity moments, we explore the impact of particle inertia and gravity on the mechanism of turbulent mixing. We neglect thermodynamic processes, including phase changes between the drops and surrounding air, which is equivalent to assuming the air is saturated (i.e. 100 % humidity). Entrainment is found to be governed by the large scales of the flow and is relatively insensitive to the Reynolds number over the range considered. Our results show that both fluid and particle velocities exhibit intermittency and that gravity and turbulent diffusion interact in unexpected ways to dictate particle dynamics. An analysis of the temporal evolution of fluid and particle statistics suggests that particle concentration profiles and velocities are self-similar under certain circumstances. We also observe large fluctuations in particle concentrations resulting from entrainment and introduce a model to estimate the impact these fluctuations have on the radial distribution function, a statistic that is often used to quantify inertial particle clustering. Our study is both a computational counterpart to and an extension of the wind tunnel experiments by Gerashchenko, Good & Warhaft (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 668, 2011, pp. 293‐303) and Good, Gerashchenko, & Warhaft (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 694, 2012, pp. 371‐398). We find good agreement between these experimental studies and our computational results. We anticipate that a better understanding of the role of gravity and turbulence in inertial particle entrainment will lead to improved cloud evolution predictions.