cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling Shoot and Root Biomass of Lucerne Crops—New Insights on the Seasonality of Dry Matter Partitioning and Root Maintenance Respiration

Lucerne crops (Medicago sativa L.) are an important source of energy and protein for grazing and confined livestock in temperate and tropical countries. In contrast with annual crops, the modeling of above ground biomass of lucerne crops is often inaccurate when light interception (Ri) and radiation use efficiency (RUE) are used to estimate assimilation. The reason is that a large fraction of total assimilates are allocated to the root system and the pattern of partitioning differs in response to seasonal environmental stimuli. This dynamic has not been accurately quantified in lucerne models. In this study, a simple framework for a lucerne model to address the dynamics of shoots and roots is tested. Simulation results are compared with 2 years of field data from Lincoln University, Canterbury, New Zealand. The model incorporates recent findings on RUE, Ri and dry matter partitioning to roots in response to environmental factors. Shoot biomass and vegetative development were accurately simulated. In contrast, the model showed a systematic offset between simulated and measured root biomass caused by assuming constant rates of root maintenance respiration (Rm). A new hypothesis was tested by using the model as a tool to indicate the most appropriate rates of Rm to improve fits and resemble the seasonality of root and shoot biomass dynamically. Results indicated a systematic pattern of change in Rm from 3.5% in summer to <0.5% in winter that is consistent with the differences in metabolic processes that involve storage and translocation of carbon and nitrogen reserves.
Introduction and Literature Survey of Statistical Control: Going Beyond the Mean

In traditional optimal control, the system is modeled as a stochastic differential equation and an optimal controller is determined such that the expected value of a cost function is minimized. An example is the well-known linear-quadratic-Gaussian problem that has been studied extensively since the 1960s. The mean or the first cumulant is a useful performance metric, however, the mean is only one of the cumulants that describe the distribution of a random variable. It is possible for the operator to optimize the whole distribution of the cost function instead of just the mean. In fact, a denumerable sum of all the cost cumulants has been optimized in risk-sensitive control. The key idea behind statistical control is to optimize other statistical quantities such as the variance, skewness, and kurtosis of the cost function. This leads to the optimal performance shaping concept. Furthermore, we use this statistical concept to generalize \(H_\infty\) and multiple player game theory. In both traditional \(H_\infty\) theory and game theory, the mean of the cost function was the object of optimization, and we can extend this to the optimization of any cumulants if we utilize the statistical control concept. In this chapter, we formulate and provide a literature survey of statistical control. We also review minimal cost variance (second cumulant) control, \(k\)th cost cumulant control, and multiobjective cumulant games. Furthermore, risk-sensitive control is presented as a special case of statistical control. When we view the cost function as a random variable, and optimize any of the cost cumulants, linear-quadratic-Gaussian, minimal cost variance, risk-sensitive, game theoretic, and \(H_\infty\) control all fall under the umbrella of statistical control. Finally, we interpret the cost functions via utility functions.
Force, Displacement, and Acceleration Sensors

This chapter discusses fiber optic and integrated optic sensor concepts. Force, displacement, and acceleration sensors are closely related. A displacement sensor may be used as a force sensor if we know precisely the mechanical constants of the sensor. A force sensor always implies displacement (even if this is not of interest and it may be extremely small). The relation between force and displacement in a force or displacement sensor depends on the sensor.
Absence of occult micrometastases in histologically negative lymph nodes among patients with distant recurrent endometrial cancer.

5606 Background: Lymph node metastasis is a criterion for adjuvant therapy in endometrial cancer (EC). The incidence of immunohistochemical (IHC) stain-positive micrometastases in H&E-negative lymp...
An interpretation of photoviscoelastic/plastic data

The birefringent effect of viscoelastic and viscoplastic polymeric materials is considered and shown to have separate contributions from the stress, recoverable strain and the permanent deformations. Experimental data for a number of materials are discussed and the procedure for analyzing these data described.
Challenges in the Patient With Pulmonary Hypertension and Atrial Septal Defect: Understanding When and How to Close the Defect

Atrial septal defects (ASDs) are common congenital heart defects in children and adults. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is found in subsets of both pediatric and adult patients with atrial d...
Complexiton solutions to the asymmetric Nizhnik–Novikov–Veselov equation

We present new complexiton solutions to the (2 + 1)-dimensional asymmetric Nizhnik–Novikov–Veselov (aNNV) equation by application of the Hirota direct method and the linear superposition principle....
Translating police research into policy: some implications of the National Academies report on proactive policing for policymakers and researchers

In February 2018, the U.S. Committee on Proactive Policing published its report on the evidence regarding the effects of different forms of proactive policing, particularly on crime and disorder. I...
Show me how to win: a robot that uses dialog management to learn from demonstrations

We present an approach for robot learning from demonstration and communication applied to simple board games like Connect Four. In such games, a visual representation of a winning condition on the board can be converted to an extensive form representation that can then support computation of a winning strategy. We present a robot that can learn simple games from responses to visual questions based on synthesized images, or to verbal questions. We illustrate how reliance on both modalities leads to more efficient learning.
The Benefit of RED CELL Antigen Testing in A Transfusion Service of A Large Cancer Center

Abstract 4374 Introduction: DNA-based tests are increasingly being used to predict blood group phenotypes in patients who have been recently transfused to aid in alloantibody identification, to distinguish an alloantibody from an autoantibody, in patients who have received hematopoietic stem cell transplants, when RBCS are coated with immunoglobulin (+DAT) and to detect weakly expressed antigens when the patient is unlikely to make antibodies to antigen- positive RBC9s transfused. The molecular bases associated with most antigens have been determined and PCR-assays available for testing RBC antigens are a powerful adjunct to the conventional hemagglutination, the gold standard technique to type RBCs for the presence or absence of blood group antigens. Purpose: This retrospective review of Red Blood cell (RBC) antigen testing data was conducted on all patients typed between January 2010 and December 2011 at MD Anderson Cancer Center. The purpose was to review the concordance between the antibody (ies) identified by serologic testing and the antigen negativity from phenotype predicted from DNA analysis for selecting antigen negative RBCs for transfusion. In addition we also wanted to review whether the extended phenotype red cell units transfused to patients with unidentified alloantibody (ies)/RACT and autoantibodies formed additional red cell alloantibody (ies) after transfusion. Methods: The technology of BioArray Solutions (Bioarray Solutions, Immuncor, Norcross, GA, USA) and the Human Erythrocyte Antigen (HEA) v1.2 BeadChip was used to assess the genotype and predicted phenotype of patients. We performed RBC antigen testing on all of our recently transfused patients with alloantibody (ies), patients whose red cell antibody panels showed reaction with all red cells tested (RACT) or unidentified antibodies, patients with positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT) and whose elution studies showing RACT or unidentified antibody (ies) and in patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia. Results: Atotal of 912 BioArray tests were performed on 912 patients [444 (49%) males:468 (51%) females; median age 60 years (range 1–92)]. Antibody screen was positive in 424 (46%) and negative in 488 (54%) patients. A DAT was performed in 126 patients with a positive antibody screen to establish immune from non-immune hemolytic anemia. The results are listed in Tables 1,2 and 3. Conclusion: We found 100% concordance between the predicted antigen negativity phenotype and the patient9s RBC alloantibody (ies) identified by serologic testing. The RBC antigen typing has allowed us to transfuse patients with unidentified antibodies and RACT with extended phenotype matched red cell units preventing the development of additional red cell alloantibody (ies) as well as allowed us to transfuse antigen-negative units preventing patient/blood donor incompatibility issues. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Safety of Needle Electromyography in Critically Ill Patients

Introduction: To evaluate the safety of needle electromyography (EMG) in critically ill intensive care unit (ICU) patients who are on anticoagulants and have comorbidities that increase the risk of bleeding and infections. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of critically ill patients who underwent needle EMG studies. The most common complications followed by needle EMG were reviewed and classified based upon common terminology criteria for adverse events (CTAC) criteria. Descriptive statistics were reported using the frequencies and percentages for categorical variables. The mean and interquartile range is used for continuous variables. All analyses were conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS Statistic Version 21, IMB Inc., Chicago, IL. Results: Twenty-nine patients were included. 17 (58.6%) were males with a mean age of 60.8 +/- 16.7 years. The mean PT, PTT, and INR were 15.2 sec, 36.5 seconds, and 1.13, respectively. Fourteen (48.2%) patients in this cohort were treated with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), and an additional 8 (27.5%) patients were administered subcutaneous (SC) heparin for deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis. Therapeutic heparin was being used in 3 (10.3%) patients and sequential compression devices (SCDs) in 4 (13.7%) patients. A total of 228 muscles were tested. Among them, 38 (16.6%) were deep muscles. There were no major bleeding complications at the time of the procedure and for the next seven days in any of the patients, including those with multiple medical comorbidities. All our patients met the grade 1 scale in the severity of adverse events criteria proposed by CTCAE. Conclusion: Needle EMG is safe in critically ill ICU patients on anticoagulants and multiple comorbidities including those that increase the risk of bleeding and infection.
The Zinc-Finger Antiviral Protein ZAP Inhibits LINE and Alu Retrotransposition

Long INterspersed Element-1 (LINE-1 or L1) is the only active autonomous retrotransposon in the human genome. To investigate the interplay between the L1 retrotransposition machinery and the host cell, we used co-immunoprecipitation in conjunction with liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry to identify cellular proteins that interact with the L1 first open reading frame-encoded protein, ORF1p. We identified 39 ORF1p-interacting candidate proteins including the zinc-finger antiviral protein (ZAP or ZC3HAV1). Here we show that the interaction between ZAP and ORF1p requires RNA and that ZAP overexpression in HeLa cells inhibits the retrotransposition of engineered human L1 and Alu elements, an engineered mouse L1, and an engineered zebrafish LINE-2 element. Consistently, siRNA-mediated depletion of endogenous ZAP in HeLa cells led to a ~2-fold increase in human L1 retrotransposition. Fluorescence microscopy in cultured human cells demonstrated that ZAP co-localizes with L1 RNA, ORF1p, and stress granule associated proteins in cytoplasmic foci. Finally, molecular genetic and biochemical analyses indicate that ZAP reduces the accumulation of full-length L1 RNA and the L1-encoded proteins, yielding mechanistic insight about how ZAP may inhibit L1 retrotransposition. Together, these data suggest that ZAP inhibits the retrotransposition of LINE and Alu elements.
The role of directors with related supply chain industry experience in corporate acquisition decisions

Abstract We examine the extent to which directors with supply chain experience (DSCs) on corporate boards create informational advantages that improve strategies and outcomes related to mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Our results suggest that DSCs play a dual role by motivating value-enhancing acquisitions while simultaneously deterring value-destroying ones. The nature and extent of these effects depend on such factors as the size of the acquiring firm and the level of uncertainty in its operating environment. Furthermore, we find that DSCs are positively associated with abnormal announcement returns. Acquirers with at least one DSC outperform their counterparts without DSCs by 3.1% during a three-day window around the announcement. Our results hold after we address endogeneity concerns using multiple methods. Finally, we show that acquirer board representation by DSCs is positively related to post-merger operating performance and negatively related to the premium paid for the target.
Financial Management Support for SSA Beneficiaries: Looking Beyond the Payee

People with mental illness who are on Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits have few options for support with their finances beyond handing control over to a representative payee. This helps some, but many others’ needs remain unmet. This research presents findings that examined the support options for people in the gray area between those who are clearly incapable and must have another person control their finances and those who are clearly capable of managing their finances without assistance. The research focused on understanding how the broader financial services environment impacts financial management. We gathered qualitative data from people with personal experience using a representative payee and explored innovative financial tools and products that could be helpful, as well as potential shared control/legal arrangements outside the payee mechanism.
[Hidden] / [Caution] / [Danger]: How Video Games Can Inform the Design of Sight Cues for Agents

As artificial agents proliferate into society, there will be more and more situations in which they need to communicate their capabilities to humans, including what they can “see.” Humans do this with each other by using mental models of human capabilities coupled with social cues that enable situation awareness. In order to design better agents, we analyze video games, which have been communicating to humans about agent visual perception for decades. We present preliminary findings from a qualitative thematic analysis of sight cues in video games. We focus on three cue properties that warrant further study: whether the cue specifies the perceiver, whether the stimulus’ primary purpose is to be a sight cue, and the communication of non-binary sighting information. We close with an additional call for future work: on the effects of using multiple sight cues in combination.
Mixed mesodermal tumors.

Abstract Mixed mesodermal tumors are highly malignant tumors composed of mesodermal elements from the endometrial stroma as well as epithelial components from the endometrial glands. This report analyzes a series of 25 patients with a median age of 64 years. Forty per cent of the patients were nulliparous and 20 per cent had received prior radiation therapy. Vaginal bleeding was the most common presenting symptom in association with palpable enlargement of the uterus. The median survival has been 12 months, and only 16 per cent of the patients have survived 5 years or more.
High performance data-path synthesis via communication metrics

The authors present a novel decomposition of the high-level data-path synthesis problem taking as input scheduled procedural behavior and outputting geometrically placed and optimized linear data-paths. The technique uses communication based analysis to allow simultaneous synthesis of the placement, bindings, and RTL topology for high performance linear data-paths. In effect, the procedure creates an architecture and a layout with specified performance and cost constraints. >
DSP based control of chassis systems

This paper describes variable damper based vehicle suspension and engine vibration control systems. The suspension control was implemented on a 1992 Cadillac Seville-STS. The system controller uses a Texas Instruments (TI) TMS320 DSP as the main algorithm processor along with a Motorola 68HC11 I/O processor. Portions of the control system were developed using the MathWorks' Simulink and a TI TMS32C40 based dSPACE controller. The engine vibration control is implemented on Motorola's DSP56166 incorporated as part of an automotive development controller. Practical issues such as control loop time constraints, finite word effects in 16 bits and fixed point versus floating point processors are presented. In addition, the control laws for both suspension and engine vibration control are described. Simulation results are compared to empirical data with similarities and deviations analyzed, correlated, and explained.
Hurricane Katrina, contamination, and the unintended organization of ignorance

Abstract This essay argues that society's understandings of environmental and public health threats are dangerously compromised by expert systems that create and legitimate those understandings. Principal among those expert systems, scientific disciplines and regulatory agencies reinforce expectations and practices for producing knowledge in ways that minimize the ecological and socio-historical contexts in which that knowledge is created. The result, in effect, is organized ignorance—a system of knowledge production that articulates risk in ways that leave much potential knowledge “undone.” We use the organization of environmental testing in Orleans Parish following Hurricane Katrina to illustrate these claims.
Analytical techniques for sesquiterpene emission rate studies in vegetation enclosure experiments

Abstract Sesquiterpene (SQT) compounds (C15H24) and their oxygenated alcohol and ketone derivatives are biogenic volatile organic compounds that have been identified in emissions from vegetation. SQT emission rates and landscape flux estimates are highly uncertain. Reliable ambient flux measurements have not been possible because of low-ambient concentrations, rapid atmospheric reactions (prohibiting ambient tower flux measurements), and analytical challenges and uncertainties that stem from the low volatility of SQT. Standards from an in situ capillary diffusion system with 18 SQT compounds and four other organic compounds (geranylacetone, 1,3,5-tri-isopropylbenzene, diphenylmethane, nonylbenzene) were used to thoroughly investigate experimental procedures for SQT emission rate studies by vegetation enclosure techniques. Recovery rates in tubing materials, sampling bags, leaf cuvettes, on six solid adsorbent materials (Tenax TA, Tenax GR, Carbotrap, Carbotrap C, Unibeads, Glass Beads) for gas chromatography analysis, and gas chromatography retention indices and mass spectral fragmentation patterns were determined. SQT compounds were found to exhibit a high degree of stickiness to all materials tested. However, the non-oxygenated SQT can be recovered in enclosure experiments for quantitative emission rate determination after careful consideration of the analytical conditions. It is utmost important to allow sufficient purging and equilibration times for all materials in contact with the sample air. In contrast oxygenated SQT were irreversibly lost in enclosure experiments which made their quantitative measurement prohibitive. Results for the other organic compounds were similar and indicate that these data mostly stem from the volatility of these compounds. Consequently, the findings of this study provide guidelines for the analysis of a wide range of volatile organic compounds in the ∼C13–C17 volatility range.
Coeliac Disease. V Some Experiments on the Cause of the Harmful Effect of Wheat Gliadin (Preliminary communication)

Summary The harmful effect of gliadin (containing 43 % glutamine) in coeliac patients can be abolished by a mild treatment of this substance with HCl. Since glutamine as such has no harmful influence, it is accepted as a working hypothesis that glutamine in bound form is the cause of the deleterious effect of wheat. It appeared that foodstuffs having a high ratio amid-nitrogen/non-amid-nitrogen are deleterious, whereas foodstuffs having a low ratio are harmless. In a number of foodstuffs this ratio has been determined. Malade cœliaque: V. Quelques experiences sur la cause de l'effet nocif de la gliadine du froment. On peut abolir chez des patients atteints de maladie cœliaque l'effet nocif de la gliadine (qui contient 43 % de glutamine) en laissant agir l'acide chlorhydrique legerement sur cette substance. La glutamine comme telle n'ayant pas d'influence nocive, on a admis comme hypothese valable que la glutamine dans sa forme liee est la cause de l'effet nuisible du froment. Il a semble que des aliments contenant un rapport eleve: azote-sous-forme-d'amide/azote-sous-forme-non-amido sont nuisibles, tandis que des aliments ayant un rapport abaisse sont inoffensifs. Ce rapport a ete determine pour un certain nombre d'aliments. Coeliakie. V. Einige Untersuchungen uber den schadlichen Einfluss vore Weizengliadin. Der nachteilige Effekt von Gliadin (das 43 % Glutamin enthalt) bei Coeliakie-Patienten kann durch eine milde Behandlung dieser Substanz mit HCl aufgehoben werden. Da Glutamin als solches keinen nachteiligen Einfluss ausiibt, wird als Arbeits-hypothese angenommen, dass Glutamin in gebundener Form die Ursache der schadlichen Wirkung des Weizens ist. Es scheint, dass Nahrungsmittel, die einen hohen Quotienten von amidhaltigem/amidfreiem Nitrogen haben, schadlich sind, wahrend Nahrungsstoffe mit einem niedrigen Quotienten harmlos sind. In einer Anzahl von Nahrungsmitteln ist dieser Quotient bestimmt worden. Enfermedad celiaca. V. Experimentos para determinar los efectos daninos de la gliadina del trigo. El efecto perjudicial de la gliadina (que contiene 43 % de glutamina) en enfermos celiacos puede ser eliminado tratando esta substancia con HCl. Como la glutamina como tal no tiene efectos daninos se acepta como hipotesis de trabajo que la forma ligada es la causa de dicho efecto en el trigo. Parece que alimentos conteniendo una elevada relacion nitrogeno amidado/nitrogeno no amidado son tolerados mientras que los que tienen una baja relacion son perjudiciales. Se determino esta relacion en algunos alimentos.
Comparison of calculations of fusion product losses from a tokamak

A comparison is made of models for 3.5-MeV alpha particle loss to the first wall of an axisymmetric tokamak, including calculations of the loss fraction, wall loading profile, and sensitivity to machine parameters.
On Going (Way) Beyond One's Data: A Proposal to Restrict Recommendations for Practice in Primary Educational Research Journals

To counteract what we see as a growing research-reporting concern, we propose the following editorial-policy change regarding the content of primary research articles in educational research journals: Contributors should restrict their discussion and conclusions to their data and not offer recommendations for educational practice nor speculate about the educational policy implications of their research. We believe that this change will be beneficial for maintaining a separation between evidence and opinion concerning the legitimate warrants of empirical research. We suggest viable accompaniments and alternatives to authors offering practical recommendations and policy speculations in primary-research journal articles. Among these is to rely on all sources of evidence, including systematic research syntheses based on the aggregated contribution of multiple research studies from different sources, with recommendations for practice tailored to specific situations so that both their validity and utility will be increased. It is hoped that our proposed policy change will initiate a conversation among researchers, editors, reviewers, and educational-policy experts with respect to the scope and purpose of primary research journal articles.
Generation of Life Events in Bipolar Spectrum Disorders: A Re-examination and Extension of the Stress Generation Theory

The extent to which stress generation occurs in bipolar spectrum disorders (BSD) is not well understood. The present study examined whether 75 BSD participants experienced elevated rates of behavior-dependent life events, as compared with 38 normal control participants. Within the BSD group, we also examined whether depressive or hypomanic symptoms prospectively predicted increases in various types of negative and positive life events. Results indicated that BSD participants experienced overall increases in behavior-dependent events over the follow-up, as compared with normal controls. At the symptom level, the event generation process occurred in more specific event domains. Results suggest that the stress generation theory of unipolar depression can be extended to BSD and that the type of generated events may be polarity-specific.
Discovery of novel antibacterials.

Importance of the field: Antibiotics have existed in the environment for millennia, but it has only been in the past 80 years that humans have used them systematically to treat infections. This bat...
A Pseudo-Spectral Numerical Scheme for the Simulation of Convective Flows

This paper focuses on the development and validation of a pseudo-spectral numerical scheme, based on a variational formulation, for the solution of the three-dimensional, time-dependent governing equations in wall bounded forced and natural convective flows. One of the novel aspects of this numerical scheme is the use of rescaled Legendre-Lagrangian interpolants to represent the velocity and temperature in the vertical direction. These interpolants were obtained by dividing the Legendre Lagrangian interpolants of same order by the square root of the corresponding weight used for Gauss-Lobatto quadrature. By rescaling the interpolants in such a manner, the mass matrix resulting from the variational formulation becomes the identity matrix, thus simplifying the numerical algorithm. Two specific problems have been investigated as part of the validation process: Steady and unsteady channel flow driven by an external streamwise oscillating pressure gradient and Rayleigh Benard convection. In all cases, comparison with exact solutions and published results yield excellent agreement.© 2002 ASME
The confluence of human genomics, environment, and determinants of health-related quality of life among African American hemodialysis patients.

The intersection of human genome sequencing, environmental factors that lend to further understanding of the etiology of complex diseases, and components that constitute the health-related quality of life for African American hemodialysis patients are explored in this article. There are many renal diseases that have genetic components. Even though genetic polymorphisms and allelic variations can explain some of the etiology and disparities in disease susceptibility for African Americans, the role of the environment must also be considered. For African American hemodialysis patients, the environmental influences of religiosity and social support, along with genetic factors, affect their health-related quality of life. A study of 176 African American hemodialysis patients revealed that religiosity and social support had a significant impact on patient's health-related quality of life. Implications of the study mandate that social and behavioral researchers, who tend to focus on environmental issues, be give...
The Relativistic Noncommutative Nonassociative Group of Velocities and the Thomas Rotation

The bizarre and counterintuitive noncommutativity and nonassociativity of the relativistic composition of nonparallel admissible velocities is sometimes interpreted as a peculiarity of special theory of relativity. It is related to the fact that Lorentz acceleration transformations in three space dimensions do not form a group due to the presence of the so called Thomas rotation. The Thomas rotation turns out to be the effect that provides a means to the presentation of the set of relativistically admissible velocities as an interesting noncommutative, nonassociative group with a group operation given by the relativistic velocity composition. Interestingly, the algebraic structure induced by the Thomas rotation is not an isolated result in special relativity. It was earlier discovered by Karzel, and studied by Kerby and by Wefelscheid in a totally different context.
HYPOTHYROIDISM BLUNTS THE GROWTH HORMONE |[lpar]|GH|[rpar]| RELEASING EFFECT OF HUMAN PANCREATIC GROWTH HOROMONE-RELEASING FACTOR |[lpar]|hpGRF|[rpar]| IN THE ADULT MALE RAT

The 44 amino acid peptide hpGRF (Bachem) was administered to 300 gram male control or hypothyroid rats under pentobarbital anesthesia. In euthyroid animals (T4=5.0±1.9(SD) ug/dl), intravenous bolus injection of 1.0 ug of hpGRF (N=4) increased serum concentrations of rat GH from 157±95 to a peak of 1871±1458 ng/ml (p<0.01 vs base) within 5-10 minutes. At a dosage of 10 ug (N=5) hpGRF increased rGH levels in control animals from 213±95 to a peak of 3123±923 ng/ml (p<0.01 vs base) in 5-15 minutes. In rats rendered hypothyroid by the ingestion of 0.05% propylthiouracil in drinking water for 21 days (T4-0.6±0.1 ug/dl, p<0.01 vs control) 1.0 ug of hpGRF (N=8) increased rGH concentrations from 39±24 to a peak of 79±37 ng/ml (p<0.01 vs base) in 5-30 minutes, while 10 ug of hpGRF (N=7) increased rGH values from 42±26 to a peak of 99±47 ng/ml (p<0.01 vs base) in 5 to 15 minutes. Basl and post hpGRF rGH concentrations were significantly (p<0.01) higher in control than in hypothyroid animals. We conclude that primary hypothyroidism blunts the GH-releasing effect of hpGRF in male rats in vivo.
Delocalized quantum nature of hydrogen adsorbed on the Rh(111) crystal surface

We observe, by electron-energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS), excitations between the ground-state band and all low-lying energy bands for the motion of hydrogen and deuterium atoms on the Rh(111) surface. The absence of a deuterium isotope shift for the lowest-energy excitation, the observation of broad energy bands, and good agreement with theoretical calculations for hydrogen on Ni(111) provide strong experimental evidence for delocalized quantum behavior of hydrogen atoms on the Rh(111) surface. We also observe a remarkable energy dependence of the intensity and linewidths of the EELS excitations.
Formal specification of generative component assembly using two-level grammar

Two-Level Grammar (TLG) is proposed as a formal specification language for generative assembly of components. Both generative domain models and generative rules may be expressed in TLG and these specifications may be automatically translated into an implementation which realizes an integration of components according to the principles of the Unified Meta-component Model (UMM) and Unified Approach (UA) to component integration. Furthermore, this implementation realizes Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees by means of static QoS verification at the time of system assembly, and dynamic QoS validation on a set of test cases.
Solvent extraction equilibria of uranium with 7-dodecenyl-8-quinolinol

Abstract Solvent extraction equilibrium constants in the system uranyl—7-dodecenyl-8-quinolinol (HL) in chloroform are reported. A mixed ligand complex is formed in the presence of acetate ion, UO2(OAc)L·HL, which adversely affects the extraction. In the absence of acetate, the extracted species is the self-adduct, UO2L·HL. The extraction is enhanced by 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) which forms UO2L2 · phen.
Borderline Personality Disorder and Chronic Pain: A Practical Approach to Evaluation and Treatment

Patients with chronic pain present a spectrum of complexity that can be overwhelming for the individual practitioner. These patients require thoughtful care and a comprehensive treatment plan. This complexity should be acknowledged, not avoided, and the patient should be engaged, not shunned. A practical approach will assist in developing expertise and proceeding empathically. The presence of a superimposed personality disorder significantly increases the difficulty of caring for these patients. Studies investigating the prevalence of borderline personality disorder in patients with chronic pain averaged 30 %, highlighting the importance of being able to effectively treat this patient population. Appropriate management of these patients should focus on a collaboration to practice productive behaviors despite intense emotional distress. Longitudinal research provides a foundation for an optimistic prognosis that can be enhanced with this rehabilitative approach.
Subclavian Artery Occlusion Masquerading as Painful Breast Plaque

A 51-year-old woman had an exquisitely tender lesion on her left breast for 1 year. She denied pain or numbness of the left arm. Her medical history was contributory for long-standing and quiescent Takayasu arteritis. Physical examination demonstrated a reticulated, atrophic plaque with …
Because the Rock Will not Read the Article: A Discussion of Jeremy D. Safran's Critique of Irwin Z. Hoffman's “Doublethinking our way to Scientific Legitimacy”

In this commentary I interpret Safran's discussion of Hoffman's 2009 article by turning to the broad historical context in which their exchange takes place. I situate psychology's traditional attempt to claim a scientific warrant for its practices by discussing the 400-year-old modern-era framework first described by Descartes that is still in place today. In the process I introduce philosophical hermeneutics, which I take to be an extended argument against Cartesian distinctions such as mind/body and subjective/objective. I draw from my (1995) suggestion that a historical era can be interpreted by examining how the self, its ills, its healers, and its healing techniques come to light. My subject is the predominant self of the last 30 years, a self that increasingly appears to be understood as a computer, and I interpret the current allure of objectivist evaluative measures and manualization as an expression of that self. Finally I suggest that Hoffman's and Safran's differences are reflective of opposing...
Caregiver Report of Executive Functioning in a Population-Based Sample of Young Children With Down Syndrome

Abstract The current study describes everyday executive function (EF) profiles in young children with Down syndrome. Caregivers of children with Down syndrome (n = 26; chronological ages = 4–10...
Photooxidation of Selected Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Aqueous Organic Media in The Presence of Ti(IV)Oxide

Abstract We have studied the photooxidation of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the presence of Ti(IV)oxide in a mixed solvent system consisting of N-methylpyrrolidinone (NMP) and water. Reaction rates for the photooxidation of acenaphthylene and pyrene were investigated by monitoring the disappearance of the PAH substrate from the reaction mixture as a function of time. For both compounds plots of In Co/Ct, as a function of time yielded straight lines, indicating first order kinetics with respect to the substrate. With an initial acenaphthylene concentration of 1.0 gL−1 the first order reaction rate constant was 0.19 hr−1 and the half life was 3.7 hr. With an initial pyrene concentration of 0.2 gL−1 the first order reaction rate constant was 0.0285 hr−1 and the half life was 24 hr. The photoproducts were characterized by high performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection (HPLC/DAD) and by liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (AP...
Scattering of Pions by Hydrogen at 165 Mev

Measurements of the elastic scattering of both positive and negative pions, and of the charge exchange scattering of negative pions were carried out at each of five angles, at 165 Mev using a liquid hydrogen target. In addition, the total cross sections for positive and negative pions were measured by the transmission method. Integration of the differential measurements gave total cross sections of 199\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}11 mb for the positive, and 69.8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3.8 mb for the negative pions. The corresponding cross sections obtained by transmission were 188.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5.4 mb and 67.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.5 mb, respectively.
The effect of rat age on the composition and functional activities of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane preparations.

Abstract The complex of membranes of which cells are comprised have been considered as likely sites of deterioration underlying the decline in physiologic competence with age. Although this concept is an attractive one on theoretical grounds, few direct experimental data are available on the effect of age on biological membrane. Since the sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle has been well characterized and is an easily studied membrane system in regard both to its composition and function, the effect of age on this membrane system was explored. Rats of 1, 2, 3, 6, 12 and 28 months of age were the source of sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes which were characterized by the following measurements: phospholipid/protein weight ratio; phospholipid composition; the activity of the (Ca ++ + Mg ++ _)-ATPase and the stready state concentration of its phosphorylated intermediate; the ATP-dependent, oxalate-promoted Ca ++ transport activity. Although there were some differences between age groups in these basic parameters of sarcoplasmic reticulum composition and function, the data obtained provide no clear evidence of deterioration of these membranes with age.
330 BIOACTIVE AND IMMUNOREACTIVE SERUM LH IN NORMAL PREPUBERTAL AND PUBERTAL BOYS

The testosterone (T) secretion of collagenase-dispersed rat interstitial cells exposed to gonadotropin provides a highly sensitive in vitro bioassay (RICT) for LH (Dufau et al, JCEM 39: 610, 1974). The serum levels of biologically active (B) LH and the relationship to immunoreactive (I) LH have been studied in 12 prepubertal (PRE) (age 2-17, T=9.0 ng/dl) and 12 pubertal (PUB) (age 10-16, T=164) normal males. Mean B-LH levels in PRE (< 1mIU/m1, IRP-2-hMG) are significantly (p < .001) lower than in PUB (13.8±2.4 (X±SE). B-LH was undetectable in all PRE and not separable by Tanner stages in PUB. I-LH levels, measured by double-antibody RIA, in PRE (3.6±1.0) are also lower (p <.01) than in PUB (9.3±1.5). B/I ratios in PRE (<0.6) are lower than in PUB (2.1±0.7). The B/I ratio in PRE is lower than in normal adult males (2.5±0.1) and closer to the levels reported in normal premenopausal women (1.2±0.1). The B/I ratio in PUB does not differ from that in adult males. In conclusion: (1) The RICT bioassay method for quantitating serum LH is applicable to studies in childhood; (2) RIA measurements of LH apparently overestimate true bioactive concentrations in subjects with minimal pituitary LH secretion; (3) The similarity of B/I ratio in PRE males to adult premenopausal women and in PUB to adult males suggests that sex steroids may modulate the biologic quality, as well as quantity, of pituitary LH secretion.
Laparoscopic Nephroureterectomy with Bladder-Cuff Resection: Techniques and Outcomes

Advancements in minimally invasive instrumentation and technique have provided the impetus to performing urologic procedures with reduced perioperative morbidity, shorter hospital stays, and, most importantly, efficacious oncologic results. At multiple centers of excellence, laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (LNU) has evolved into a new standard for the management of upper-tract transitional-cell carcinoma (TCC) that is not amenable to endoscopic resection. An LNU may be performed via a transperitoneal or retroperitoneal approach together with excision of the distal ureter and a bladder cuff. Analysis of present-day studies comparing LNU with open techniques demonstrates equivalent oncologic outcomes. In addition, those patients undergoing LNU fare better than their counterparts having open surgery with respect to hospital stay, analgesic requirements, and convalescence. With multiple options for excision of a cuff of bladder, a consensus has not been established. However, LNU has emerged as the new standar...
Asymptotic relations for preparative gradient elution chromatography of biomolecules.

The purpose of this study is to extend the widely used relations for gradient chromatography involving Gaussian peak shapes described by Snyder to preparative-scale systems. The relations presented in this study are not an exact solution for gradient chromatography but are asymptotic to the exact solution as the number of theoretical equilibrium plates and the mean dimensionless equilibrium constant become large
Recognition of ballet micro-movements for use in choreography

Computer vision as an entire field has a wide and diverse range of applications. The specific application for this project was in the realm of dance, notably ballet and choreography. This project was proof-of-concept for a choreography assistance tool used to recognize and record dance movements demonstrated by a choreographer. Keeping the commercial arena in mind, the Kinect from Microsoft was chosen as the imaging hardware, and a pilot set chosen to verify recognition feasibility. Before implementing a classifier, all training and test data was transformed to a more applicable representation scheme to only pass the important aspects to the classifier to distinguish moves for the pilot set. In addition, several classification algorithms using the Nearest Neighbor (NN) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) methods were tested and compared from a single dictionary as well as on several different subjects. The results were promising given the framework of the project, and several new expansions of this work are proposed.
Crimes Against Experience

Scott proposes that literary approaches offer us one way to read how identities are discursively constituted and understood as and of experience. She encourages us to read for and write how histories (personal, political, and social) are constructed and constructive. This article focuses on how difference, knowledge production, and witnessing produce identities as “not something that was always already there simply waiting to be expressed, not something that will always exist in the form it was given.” In particular, the author considers her experience as a mother alongside Julia Kristeva’s essay “Stabat Mater,” which contrasts Catholic understandings of motherhood and femininity with her own experience of maternity, and Minne Bruce Pratt’s poetry collection Crime Against Nature, which confronts the loss of Pratt’s children following her coming out as a lesbian.
Resonance enhanced laser ionisation mass spectrometry of four aromatic molecules

Abstract Multiphoton ionisation and fragmentation of aniline, benzene, N,N-dimethyl and 2,4-dimethyl aniline has been studied by laser ionisation mass spectrometry under collision free conditions. All four molecules undergo efficient resonance-enhanced two-photon ionisation (R2PI) with relatively low laser intensities at λ = 266 nm producing the parent ion almost exclusively. At higher intensities, high order processes compete producing extensive fragmentation. At 266 nm, all the major fragment ions are produced by R3PI. For aniline excited at 294 nm, energetic considerations suggest R4P1 formation of fragments with differences in fragmentation between 266 and 294 nm reflecting the differing orders and energies above threshold of the competing processes. Comparison of R2P1 efficiencies in aniline and benzene shows that the cross sections for ionisation of the resonant intermediate 1 B 2 excited state in both molecules are approximately equal and independent of wavelength in the range 250–300 nm.
Thermal and Mechanical Responses of BCC Metals to the Fast-Transient Process in Small Volumes

AbstractPlasticity in heterogeneous metallic materials with small volumes is governed by the interactions of dislocations within the bulk. Energy (heat) transfer, on the other hand, is micromechanically related to the interaction within phonons, electrons, or photons. To address the experimentally observed characteristics of small-volume metallic components such as thin films, these microstructural interactions need to be included in modeling. This gives rise to a large variety of generalized multiscale models that are developed on the continuum level and used to bridge the gap between the micromechanical and classical continuum models by means of certain characteristic time and length scales. A higher-order strain gradient model accounting for the size effect is combined in this paper with the generalized heat equation to identify the coupling effect of thermal and mechanical behavior of body-centered cubic (BCC) materials with small volumes and in transient time. A fully thermodynamically consistent fra...
Habitat Segregation of Mosquito Arbovirus Vectors in South Florida

Abstract Oviposition traps set in rural to urban environments in three south Florida counties were colonized predominantly by Culex quinquefasciatus Say (35.1%), Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (34.5%), Aedes aegypti (L.) (23.8%), and Culex nigripalpus Theobald (6.6%) during 1 yr of monthly sampling. Significant differences were detected among counties for abundances of Cx. quinquefasciatus and for percentage composition of that species and Ae. albopictus. Aerial images of habitats around each collection site were digitized, and coverages by each of 16 habitat variables were recorded. Abundances of Ae. aegypti were positively related to habitat variables associated with urbanization and negatively correlated to those reflecting rural characteristics. Multiple regression models of habitat selection explained similar proportions of variances in abundance of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, but signs of significant variables were opposite for these two species. No consistent trends of habitat associations were obser...
Community‐oriented policing in Virginia

This study examines community policing in Virginia. The methodology included (1) a telephone survey to identify programs and (2) questionnaires mailed to police agencies with community policing, and serving populations over 100,000. Information was collected to examine community policing, and departmental influence on both program strategies and community involvement. The nine programs identified had varying strategies, features, and activities. Most reported permanent assignment of officers in neighbourhoods, problem solving, and foot patrol. Neighbourhood substations were less common. Although not significant, a correlation was found between departmental commitment to community policing and community involvement. Policy implications of the study are also presented.
Components of Pictorial Informativeness

The hypothesis that parts of a picture rated high on a subjective informativeness dimension contain readily identifiable objects and medium informativeness regions contain contextual information was investigated. One group of 20 subjects (control) saw 100-msec. presentations of pictures and indicated whether an aftercoming picture section had been contained in the flash. Another group of 20 subjects (occlusion) saw the same pictures except that the target section was occluded. Their task was to judge whether the cued section could have been contained in the picture. Subjects in the occlusion group performed significantly worse than those in the control group on high informative sections but not on medium informative sections, supporting the original hypothesis.