cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surface soil moisture parameterization of the VIC-2L model: Evaluation and modification

Abstract HAPEX-MOBILHY data, consisting of one year of hourly atmospheric forcing data at Caumont (SAMER No. 3, 43.68°N, 0.1°W) were used repeatedly to run the two-layer Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC-2L) land-surface scheme until the model reached equilibrium in its water and energy balance. The equilibrium results are compared with one year of weekly soil moisture measurements at different depths, the estimated latent heat fluxes for 35 days of the intensive observation period (IOP), and the accumulated evaporation, runoff and drainage for the entire soya crop season. The latent heat flux comparisons show that VIC-2L tends to underestimate the evaporation due to the low soil moisture in its upper layer. The soil moisture comparison shows that the total soil water content is well simulated in general, but the soil water content in the top 0.5 m is underestimated, especially in May and June. These comparisons suggest that the lack of a mechanism for moving moisture from the lower to the upper soil layer in VIC-2L is the main cause for model error in the HAPEX-MOBILHY application. A modified version of VIC-2L, which has a new feature that allows diffusion of moisture between soil layers, and a 0.1 m thin layer on top of the previous upper layer, is described. In addition, the leaf area index (LAI) and the fraction vegetation cover are allowed to vary at each time step in a manner consistent with the rest PILPS-RICE Workshop, rather than being seasonally fixed. With these modifications, the VIC-2L simulations are re-evaluated. These changes are shown to resolve most of the structural deficiencies in the original version of the model. The sensitivity analysis of the new version of the model to the choices of soil depths and root distribution show that the evapotranspiration and soil moisture at the model equilibrium state are more sensitive to the root distribution than to the soil depth.
In vivo transcription of rDNA spacers in Drosophila

Abstract The sequence-nonhomologous rDNA spacers of D. melanogaster and D. virilis exhibit remarkably similar organizations and transcription capabilities. In spacers of both species, tandemly repeated sequences are present upstream of the beginning of the pre-rRNA coding region, and the repeats are capable of transcriptional activity. Short, nuclear transcripts homologous to the spacer repeats have been identified by S1 nuclease protection experiments and by northern blot analyses. Although spacer transcripts are rare in steady state RNA populations, the presence of multiple promoter elements may suggest a regulatory role for rDNA spacers.
The trophic basis of reference and post-fire stream food webs 10 years after wildfire in Yellowstone National Park

Wildfire disturbance can alter stream ecosystems in numerous ways including loss of riparian litter inputs, altered flow regimes, shifts in resource allocations, and changes in biotic community structure. While some information exists on long-term recovery of streams following wildfire, patterns in trophic dynamics are poorly understood. This study involved comparison of trophic pathways in reference and post-fire streams in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) in 1998, ten years after wildfire. 2nd and 3rd order post-fire catchments in Cache Creek, YNP showed an increase in autochthonous grazing pathways compared to reference streams. The shift from detrital to grazing pathways, however, was less pronounced in 1998 (10-yrs post-fire) than it was in 1990 (2-yrs post-fire). Post-fire stream energy pathways showed an initial shift to autochthonous resources followed by recovery toward pre-fire allochthonous pathways over the first post-fire decade. Increasing energy derived from allochthonous resource pathways is expected to continue until it reaches pre-fire conditions in Yellowstone streams.
The effects of light and weather on ragweed season

Abstract Rationale Ragweed in northern latitudes pollinates as days shorten in late summer. We conducted the following studies to examine the impact of light and weather on the initiation and termination of ragweed pollen season. Methods Airborne ragweed was collected every four hours from August through October for 1999-2003. Collections were made using a Hurst-style spore trap. Slides were mounted with Calberlas stain in glycerin jelly and counted at 400x. Counts represented airborne concentration every 4 hours. Weather information was obtained from an Automated Weather Source station. We calculated the first day of ragweed season as the day when accumulated collection exceeded 1% of the total yearly collection and the last day of the season was the day 99% of the total yearly count was collected. Results Ragweed pollen counts were highest in 1999. Total seasonal ragweed concentration was highest in 2000 and 2002, very hot and dry years. Yearly rainfall from August 1 thru October 15 was inversely correlated with total ragweed. The mean first day of the ragweed season (August 18) coincided with a mean daily light level of 851 units and the mean last day of ragweed season (October 2) coincided with a daily light level of 679 units. Conclusion The relationship of ragweed season to rainfall and light level is quite regular. Of temperature, light, and rainfall, daily light level most reliably predicts the initiation of ragweed season. Rainfall most reliably predicts the end of ragweed season and the amount of ragweed pollen collected during the season.
Emission infrared spectroscopy for in situ analysis of the OMPVE growth surface

Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy has proven to be an effective tool for the analysis of OMVPE growth. Both transmission and attenuated total reflection (ATR) provide information including identification and the relative concentrations of both reactants and products. Until recently we have only been able to apply transmission to the gas phase and ATR to in situ surface analysis. OMVPE is a heterogeneous process and ATR using a GaAs element is limited to temperatures where the sample is transparent,i.e. <400° C. Surface reactions are important to the overall process. We have recently developed a technique which effectively monitors the surface species in situ. All materials emit infrared radiation proportional toT 4. Under OMVPE growth conditions (400-70° C) this emission is considerable, particularly from the surface of the emitting sample. Emission spectra correspond directly to that of absorption spectra and can easily be collected with an FTIR spectrometer. The spectra yield the same information as transmission FTIR primarily for surface species. We have used this system to monitor the adsorption and reaction of TMGa and ammonia. We have identified adsorbed ammonia and TMGa on the surface and have been able to see how these molecules change as they decompose on the surface.
The regulation of lipogenesis by thyroid hormone and its contribution to thermogenesis

Abstract We have used the tritiated water method to quantitate the effects of thyroid hormone on lipogenesis in the rat and then determined the contribution of this process to thyroid hormone-induced thermogenesis. After thyroid hormone administration to hypothyroid animals, fatty acid synthesis rose after a lag time of 12–16 h and reached a plateau after 4–5 days. This is consistent with the kinetics of an increase in oxygen consumption measured by others in similar animals. A diurnal variation was maintained in all thyroid states, with the peak value in the middle of the dark period being 3-fold higher than the nadir. Fatty acid synthesis in the livers of hyperthyroid animals was 3- to 4-fold higher than that in euthyroid rats, which, in turn, was 3- to 5-fold higher than the rate observed in hypothyroid rats. Slightly smaller but similar fold increases were measured in epididymal fat. A stimulation of fatty acid synthesis by thyroid hormone was also measured in the rest of the carcass, with hyperthyroi...
Optimal outlier removal in high-dimensional spaces

We study the problem of finding an outlier-free subset of a set of points (or a probability distribution) in n-dimensional Euclidean space. As in [BFKV 99], a point x is defined to be a β-outlier if there exists some direction w in which its squared distance from the mean along w is greater than β times the average squared distance from the mean along w. Our main theorem is that for any e > 0, there exists a (1 - e) fraction of the original distribution that has no O(n/e(b + logn/e))-outliers, improving on the previous bound of O(n7b/e). This is asymptotically the best possible, as shown by a matching lower bound. The theorem is constructive, and results in a 1/1-e approximation to the following optimization problem: given a distribution µ (i.e. the ability to sample from it), and a parameter e > 0, find the minimum β for which there exists a subset of probability at least (1 - e) with no β-outliers.
Rotating frame spin‐lattice relaxation experiments and the problem of intramolecular motions of peptides in solution

The application of rotating frame spin-lattice relaxtion to the determination of the intramolecular motions in peptides is discussed, and results are presented on the application of 13C T1p to peptide microdynamics in solution. The effective molecular rotational reorientation times at the amide and amino nitrogens may be derived from appropriate data onT1p of the carbons adjacent to them. We also show by theoretical caculations that 1H and 13C T1p experiments of suitable 2H and 15N substituted peptides will allow intramolecular main- and sidechain motions, characterized by times in the range 10−1–10−6 sec, to be investigated.
Open-endcap Penning traps for high precision experiments

Abstract Cylindrical Penning traps with open-endcap electrodes are compared with the hyperbolic traps which are currently used for high precision experiments. Cylindrical traps are easier to construct and allow free access to the center of the trap for particle loading, laser beams, or microwaves. The trapping potential can be tuned while particles are inside the trap to improve harmonicity. Special geometries are noted which allow anharmonicities to be tuned out without affecting the trap well depth, and the effects of trap imperfections and gaps between the electrodes are discussed. Such traps will be used for measuring the antiproton mass, for colling of trapped antiprotons, and possibly for producing antihydrogen.
Multivariate spectral analysis of the beat-to-beat sampled cortical NIRS signals and the heart-rate variability

Heart-beat-synchronous variations represent a significant noise during functional near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) measurements of the brain. ECG-synchronous sampling allows the heart beat correlated pulsatility to be removed from NIRS-signals. During visual stimulation the measured cortical oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin (oxy-Hb, deoxy-Hb) responses showed a factor > 2 improved signal to noise ratio in comparison to a fixed sampling frequency. The beat- to-beat concentrations of oxi-Hb, deoxi-Hb, the redox status of cytochrome-oxydase (Cyt-Ox) as well as the heart rate variability were analyzed in the frequency domain in order to find a possible correlation between the concentrations and the cardiovascular rhythms. A coherence analysis revealed a close link of these signals in the low frequency band (LF, 0.05 - 0.15 Hz) and the high frequency band (HF, 0.2 - 0.35 Hz). For the different concentration signals a different degree in coherence in the LF- and HF-bands could be observed. Spectral analysis revealed that the cardiovascular rhythms (LF and HF) may represent a noise source in the NIRS-signals which might be removed by special digital filters.
Integrated 100-W polarized narrow linewidth thulium fiber MOPA system

We report on a Tm:fiber master oscillator power amplifier system producing 100 W output power, with >10 dB polarization extinction ratio and diffraction-limited beam quality. To our knowledge, this is the highest polarized output power from an integrated Tm:fiber laser. The oscillator uses polarization maintaining (PM) single mode fiber with 10/130 μm core/cladding diameters, and the amplifier uses large mode area PM fiber with 25/400 μm core/cladding diameters. The oscillator and amplifier are pumped using 793 nm diodes spliced with pump combiners, and the oscillator is spliced to the amplifier via a mode field adaptor.
Rapid psychophysical measurements of orientation discrimination for basic research and for clinical testing

The yes-no signal-detection task was coupled to an interactive “tracking” procedure to create a rapid method for measuring orientation discrimination in clinical and basic research settings. As is the case in related physiological work, only one stimulus is presented on each trial: No simultaneous or successive matching is involved. Results obtained with this method show that orientation sensitivity for sinusoidal gratings depends on orientation (the “oblique effect”) but is independent of spatial frequency.
Wetland Accretion Rate Model of Ecosystem Resilience (WARMER) and Its Application to Habitat Sustainability for Endangered Species in the San Francisco Estuary

Salt marsh faunas are constrained by specific habitat requirements for marsh elevation relative to sea level and tidal range. As sea level rises, changes in relative elevation of the marsh plain will have differing impacts on the availability of habitat for marsh obligate species. The Wetland Accretion Rate Model for Ecosystem Resilience (WARMER) is a 1-D model of elevation that incorporates both biological and physical processes of vertical marsh accretion. Here, we use WARMER to evaluate changes in marsh surface elevation and the impact of these elevation changes on marsh habitat for specific species of concern. Model results were compared to elevation-based habitat criteria developed for marsh vegetation, the endangered California clapper rail (Rallus longirostris obsoletus), and the endangered salt marsh harvest mouse (Reithrodontomys raviventris) to determine the response of marsh habitat for each species to predicted >1-m sea-level rise by 2100. Feedback between vertical accretion mechanisms and elevation reduced the effect of initial elevation in the modeled scenarios. Elevation decreased nonlinearly with larger changes in elevation during the latter half of the century when the rate of sea-level rise increased. Model scenarios indicated that changes in elevation will degrade habitat quality within salt marshes in the San Francisco Estuary, and degradation will accelerate in the latter half of the century as the rate of sea-level rise accelerates. A sensitivity analysis of the model results showed that inorganic sediment accumulation and the rate of sea-level rise had the greatest influence over salt marsh sustainability.
Synergistic effects in hydrogen?helium bubbles

The detrimental effects of hydrogen and helium on structural materials undergoing irradiation are well documented, if not well understood. There is experimental evidence to suggest that a synergistic effect between the two elements exists, which results in increased damage when both are present. This situation is expected in the next generation of fusion and fission reactors, so a fundamental understanding of these synergistic interactions is needed to predict materials performance. We perform atomistic simulations of hydrogen and helium bubbles in body-centered cubic iron to determine the mechanism behind this effect. We first develop an interatomic potential suitable for describing the interactions between hydrogen and helium. Through analysis of the energetics and structure of these bubbles, we explain the observed synergy as a consequence of bubble growth through helium induced loop punching, aided by the presence of hydrogen, instead of as a direct interaction between hydrogen and helium. The hydrogen benefits from an increased area of free surface on which to bind.
«Time» Replaced by quantum correlations

Abstract coordinate time is not observable, but “clock time” is observable, Therefore, any statement about temporal evolution can be replaced, without loss of observational content, by a statement about correlations between a clock and another physical system. We show that information about such correlations can be represented just as well in a single “timeless” quantum state as in a whole history of states. It is therefore not necessary to include “time” as a basic element in the description of the world.
The effect of tumor size and lymph node status on breast carcinoma lethality.

BACKGROUND It has long been known that both tumor size and the presence of malignant disease in the regional lymph nodes are indicators of outcome for patients with invasive breast carcinoma; however, the way in which these two characteristics could be integrated into an overall assessment of prognosis has not been obvious. METHODS Kaplan–Meier survival estimates (15 years) according to tumor size and lymph node status were obtained for women with invasive breast carcinoma who were observed at the University of Southern California/Van Nuys Breast Center (Van Nuys, California) or at Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston, Massachusetts). RESULTS To isolate the individual contributions to death made by tumor size and lymph node status, data were sorted according to both of these variables. For women with tumors of equivalent size, lethality increased with increasing number of positive lymph nodes, such that there was an extra ≈6% chance of death associated with each positive lymph node. For women with equivalent lymph node status, tumor size was associated with increased lethality, such that each millimeter of tumor diameter was associated with an additional ≈1% chance of death. The overall lethality was equal to the sum of the contribution from lymph node status and the contribution from tumor size, and this finding led to the creation of a new technique (the Size+Nodes method) for predicting outcome. CONCLUSIONS The Size+Nodes method was shown to be capable of accurately estimating the risk of death due to invasive breast carcinoma from information on the size of the primary tumor and the number of positive lymph nodes. In addition, this method was used to stratify women into groups according to breast carcinoma lethality. In contrast, classification of women according to lymph node positivity, T status, or disease stage created groups with wide and overlapping levels of lethality. Cancer 2003. © 2003 American Cancer Society.
Alzheimer’s Disease Genetics

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia, and each year the number of individuals suffering from its consequences continues to increase, yet current treatments only delay AD symptom progression and do not modify the underlying causes of the disease. Recently, the genetics of AD have been explored with increasing scope and intensity, revealing that while only a portion of AD is familial, genetics play a strong role even in the common, apparently sporadic cases of AD. Initially, autosomal dominant forms of AD were discovered in genes that are now considered central to the pathogenesis of the disease. Then, in the next phase of genetic discovery, apolipoprotein E (APOE) e4 alleles were very strongly associated with AD risk; these findings and their role in the pathobiology of AD have been reviewed extensively elsewhere (Bettens et al. Lancet Neurol. 12(1):92–104, 2013). This current review discusses recent genetic directions in AD research and updates an earlier review, which detailed the biology and fundamental genetic findings in AD up to about 2009 (Bekris et al. J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol. 23(4):213–27, 2010), by focusing on new findings in the rapidly changing landscape of AD genetic research and demonstrating that multiple complementary genetic approaches, particularly in large-scale genomic-level investigations, are leading to rapid and accelerating progress.
Cultural festivals and regional identities in South Korea

This paper extends the literature in cultural festivals and urban methods to consider a case where the objectives of local government in holding a cultural festival exceeded economic development. In the city of Gwangju in South Korea, authorities initiated the Biennale exhibition to replace the troubling image of its political history with the new image of a city of art. This attempted transformation faced resistance from citizens who wanted to protect and develop Gwangju's own political identity and image. From 1995 to 2002, four Biennales were held. The Biennale, initiated to remove the controversial political image of Gwangju, became a place where Gwangju's history could be reinterpreted and its identity could be negotiated and defined by its own civil society.
Skeletal function and structure: implications for tissue-targeted therapeutics

Osteoporosis, arthritis, and periodontal disease are common diseases of the skeleton, all of which could benefit from new therapeutic strategies, including targeted drug delivery. While bone is a rigid structure, it is not inert, with the cells of the skeleton being able to repair damage and respond to alterations in mechanical stimuli and various endocrine agents. Several important factors related to bone physiology that could influence the success of a pharmacological treatment include heterogeneity in bone remodeling activities throughout the skeleton, differences in blood supply and local vascularization, and the "blood-bone" barrier. The structural qualities of bone, especially the presence of hydroxyapatite crystals in the bone mineral and the established binding of certain molecules to this mineral phase, including tetracyclines, bisphosphonates, and other chelators, provide unique opportunities to treat skeletal diseases using targeted drug delivery. Additional opportunities exist in targeting sites with contrasting bone surface activities, including surfaces that are inactive, forming new bone or being resorbed. The ultimate key to developing new bone-targeted therapies is to understand and exploit the physiological characteristics at the desired target sites.
Profile of an aggressor: childhood bullies evolve into violent youths

Violence in schools and communities is no longer an urban school problem; it is every school’s problem (Garbarino, 1999). What factors cause children to interact with increasingly violent and anti‐social behaviors? What strategies can teachers and schools use in order to help these childhood bullies who grow up to be violent youths? This paper examines the life of Jeffrey, a fictional young man created to personalize the effects that the environment, both home and school, has on the development of anti‐social and violent behaviors. Follow Jeffrey from birth, through the early years, into middle school, and, finally, high school and observe the development of increasingly anti‐social and violent behaviors, as well as explore classroom and school interventions that may have helped Jeffrey, and others like him, learn appropriate prosocial skills. Through Jeffrey, I examine the development of anti‐social and violent behaviors at four key developmental levels and address intervention strategies and programs th...
Inter-conversion of Neuregulin2 full and partial agonists for ErbB4

The EGF family hormone NRG2β potently stimulates ErbB4 tyrosine phosphorylation and coupling to IL3 independence. In contrast, the NRG2α splicing isoform has lower affinity for ErbB4, does not potently stimulate ErbB4 phosphorylation, and fails to stimulate ErbB4 coupling. Here we investigate these differences. The NRG2β Q43L mutant potently stimulates ErbB4 phosphorylation but not ErbB4 coupling to IL3 independence. This failure to stimulate ErbB4 coupling is not due to differential ligand purity, glycosylation, or stability. The NRG2α K45F mutant potently stimulates ErbB4 phosphorylation but not ErbB4 coupling to IL3 independence. Thus, this failure to stimulate ErbB4 coupling is not due to inadequate affinity for ErbB4. In contrast, the NRG2α L43Q/K45F mutant stimulates ErbB4 coupling, even though it does not have greater affinity for ErbB4 than does NRG2α/K45F. Collectively, these data indicate that Gln43 of NRG2β is both necessary and sufficient for NRG2 stimulation of ErbB4 coupling to IL3 independence.
A knowledge-based method for inferring semantic concepts from visual models of system behavior

Software designers use visual models, such as data flow/control flow diagrams or object collaboration diagrams, to express system behavior in a form that can be understood easily by users and by pogrammers, and from which designers can generate a software architecture. The research described in this paper is motivated by a desire to provide an automated designer's assistant that can generate software architectures for concurrent systems directly from behavioral models expressed visually as flow diagrams. To achieve this goal, an automated designer's assistant must be capable of interpreting flow diagrams in semantic, rather than syntactic, terms. While semantic concepts can be attached manually to diagrams using labels, such as stereotypes in the Unified Model Language (UML), this paper considers the possibility of providing autmated assistance to infer appropriate tags for symbols on a flow diagram. The approach relies upon constructing an underlying metamodel that defines semantic concepts based upon (1) syntactic relationships among visual symbols and (2) inheritance relationships among semantic concepts. Given such a metamodel, a rule-based inference engine can, in many situations, infer the presence of semantic concepts on flow diagram, and can tag symbols accordingly. Futher, an object-oriented query system can compare semantic tags on digram instances for conformance with their definition in the metamodel. To illustrate the approach, the paper describes a metamodel for data flow/control flow diagrams used in the context of a specific software modeling method, Concurrent Object-Based Real-time Analysis (COBRA). The metamodel is implemented using an expert-system shell, CLIPS V6.0, which integrates an object-oriented language with a rule-based inference engine. The paper applies the implemented metamodel to design software for an automobile cruise-control system and provides an evaluation of the approach based upon results from four case studies. For the case studies, the implemented metamodel recognized, automatically and correctly, the existence of 86% of all COBRA semantic concepts within the flow diagrams. Varying degrees of human assistance were used to correctly identify the remaining semantic concepts within the diagrams: in two percent of the cases the implemented metamodel reached tentative classifications that a designer was asked to confirm or override; in four percent of the cases a designer was asked to provide additional information before a concept was classified; in the remaining eight percent of the cases the designer was asked to identify the concept.
An electrostatic–elastic membrane system with an external pressure

Abstract An elastic membrane subject to an external pressure and electrostatic force is considered. The resulting elliptic problem is analyzed for the strip and disk geometry. The structure of the solution set is explored with the aid of phase plane techniques, perturbation methods, and bifurcation analysis. In each case, the stability of the solution is determined using linear stability theory with the aid of the bifurcation diagram.
Renormalization Constants, Wave Functions, and Energy Shifts in the Coulomb and Lorentz Gauges

The scattering wave functions for quantum electrodynamics are examined in the Coulomb gauge, in the conventional Lorentz gauge, and in a reformulated version of the Lorentz gauge. It is shown that when the Lorentz gauge is formulated so that Maxwell's equations hold even when the Green's-function pole is displaced off the real axis, ${Z}_{2}$ is identical in the Coulomb gauge and in the Lorentz gauge. It is also shown that the unrenormalized asymptotic states in the reformulated Lorentz gauge include a partial dressing of the bare electrons by longitudinal and timelike photons sufficient to generate the electron's static electric field. It is proven that for true bound states the radiative energy shifts in the reformulated Lorentz gauge and in the conventional formulation agree.
Accuracy of 30-minute indirect calorimetry studies in predicting 24-hour energy expenditure in mechanically ventilated, critically ill patients

Background: There is no consensus regarding the optimal duration of measurement or time of day to perform indirect calorimetry (IC). Energy expenditure (EE) varies at different times of day and with different activity levels. We sought to assess the variability of EE in mechanically ventilated patients over a 24-hour period and the accuracy of 30-minute IC studies in predicting the 24-hour energy expenditure (EE24). Methods: The study was a prospective comparison between the resting EE obtained by 30-minute measurement of IC and EE values obtained from 24-hour measurements. Tests were performed in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) of a tertiary care, university hospital. Oxygen consumption (VO2) and carbon dioxide production (VCO2) were measured for 24 hours in eight ventilated patients. Measurements were made every 3 minutes and used to calculate 30-minute and 24-hour oxygen consumption values. EE24 was calculated using the modified Weir equation. Each 30-minute interval was compared with the value ...
Tracking the relative in vivo pharmacokinetics of nanoparticles with PARACEST MRI.

A noninvasive assay that tracks the relative in vivo pharmacokinetics of two nanoparticles may accelerate the development of nanoparticles for biomedical applications, and may provide a method to select personalized nanomedicines for individual patients. To develop an in vivo competitive assay, two MRI contrast agents that could be selectively detected through paramagnetic chemical exchange saturation transfer (PARACEST) were conjugated to a second generation and fifth generation polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer. The CEST effects of each agent was calibrated relative to concentration. The effects of T1 relaxivities of these dendritic PARACEST magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents were found to be negligible relative to their CEST effects with respect to changes in image contrast, which facilitated the measurement of the ratios of their chemical exchange lifetimes. Injection of both contrast agents into a mouse model of mammary carcinoma resulted in a temporal increase in the CEST effect from ea...
Digital Power Drivers For A Liquid Crystal Light Modulator (LCLM)

Liquid Crystal Light Modulators (LCLMs), primarily display devices, may act as remarkably flexible image operators. Flexibility may be enhanced using dedicated digital drivers which provide real-time changes in the power supply, safely limiting the energy delivered. On the other hand fixed oscillators optimize display modes. Discussed are challenges in utilizing LCLMs as composite operators with varying sequences of operations accessible in real-time.
Effects of Preloading with NaCl, KCl, NaHCO3, or KHCO3 on Plasma Electrolyte Concentrations and Run Time During a High Intensity Exercise Test: A Pilot Study

Introduction NaHCO3 has been administered prior to racing in an attempt to enhance performance but it remains unclear whether potential ergogenic effects may be due to increased buffering capacity or expanded extracellular fluid volume. Methods Solutions of 1 g/kg of NaCl, KCl, NaHCO3, or KHCO3 in 8 L of water were administered via a nasogastric tube 60 min prior to a high intensity treadmill exercise test (12 m/s to fatigue) to 4 horses in a randomized fashion. Changes in mixed venous plasma electrolyte concentrations (NOVA Biomedical analyser) and run time to fatigue were compared by repeated measures ANOVA. Results Administration of Na and K salts increased Na and K concentrations before and during maximal exercise, respectively. Administration of bicarbonate salts attenuated acidosis and the decrease in bicarbonate concentration during exercise, as compared to Cl salts. Of interest, run time to fatigue was longer (P<0.001, power = 0.98) after administration of KCl (5.1 ± 0.6 min) as compared to both bicarbonate salts (3.7 ± 0.6 and 3.6 ± 0.8 min for NaHCO3 and KHCO3, respectively), but was not different than run time after NaCl administration (4.3 ± 0.8 min). Conclusions Preloading with large amounts of Na and K salts produced expected changes in mixed venous Na and K concentrations but preloading with bicarbonate did not improve performance. Observation of longer run times to fatigue after administration of NaCl or KCl was unexpected and warrants further investigation. Ethical Animal Research Animal use approved by the Animal Use Committee of Michigan State University. Sources of funding: Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Michigan State University. Competing interests: none.
Defensive gun use: vengeful vigilante imagery versus reality: results from the national self-defense survey

Abstract What kinds of people engage in defensive gun use and how do they differ from others? Data from a recent national survey on the prevalence and nature of defensive gun use compare gun defenders to others with a special focus on punitive attitudes toward criminals. The evidence suggests that persons using guns for self-defense do not have extreme punitive attitudes toward criminals. The findings suggest, however, that there may be some mild indirect effects of punitive attitudes on defensive gun use through gun ownership.
Contrasting effects of repeated treatment vs. withdrawal of methamphetamine on tyrosine hydroxylase messenger RNA levels in the ventral tegmental area and substantia nigra zona compacta of the rat brain

We have assessed the effect of repeated treatment with methamphetamine (METH) on the abundance of the messenger ribonucleic acid molecules encoding the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and preprocholecystokinin (PPCCK) in the substantia nigra zona compacta (SNc) and the ventral tegmental area (VTA) by in situ hybridization histochemistry. Rats were injected twice daily with METH (4 mg/kg of body weight) for 6 consecutive days and sacrificed either 5 h or 15 days after the last injection. TH mRNA in the VTA was unaffected by repeated METH treatment but was decreased 25% relative to controls in the SNc. Concurrent administration of METH and MK-801 decreased TH mRNA levels in the SNc to 47% relative to controls. In contrast, TH mRNA levels were found increased in the VTA (42%) but not SNc 15 days post-METH treatment. Coadministration of MK-801 with METH prevented the increase in TH mRNA in the VTA. PPCCK mRNA levels were not significantly affected by METH treatment in VTA or SNc either 5 h or 15 days posttreatment. The results demonstrate that exposure to repeated methamphetamine elicits changes of TH mRNA levels in the VTA that become manifest 2 weeks after withdrawal from this psychostimulant drug.
Using Personal Selling Techniques in Embedded Librarianship

This article examines the role of personal selling techniques in promoting embedded library services in a college of business. Using experiences from creating a successful embedded library presence at Northern Illinois University's College of Business, the author gives examples of how librarians can apply selling strategies to strengthen patron relationships and increase demand for services. The techniques used follow a traditional seven-step approach to selling and include techniques such as prospecting, cold calls, referrals, cross-selling, and up-selling.
Spontaneous electrical activity in Coprinus

Summary Extracellular recordings from the stipes of the mushroom Coprinus curtis showed spontaneous electrical fluctuations which resembled fluctuations reported in Phycomyces and in higher plants. The amplitudes of these fluctuations ranged to over a millivolt, rise times (10%–90%) were 0.1–0.2 s, and the half times for decay varied from about 0.25 to 2.5 s. The fluctuations were shown to be of biological origin. Spontaneous electrical fluctuations have been reported in Phycomyces ( Pickard , 1971) and in three higher plants ( Pickard , 1972). The purpose of this paper is to report the finding of similar electrical fluctuations in a basidiomycete, Coprinus curtis.
Plasma desorption characterization of glucuronide and glutathione conjugates derived from bilirubin

Abstract Plasma desorption was used for the first successful analysis by mass spectrometry of the underivatized mono- and diglucuronides of bilirubin. The method was also extended to characterize three novel metabolites formed by Gunn rats from the dimethyl diester of bilirubin. Based on mass spectrometry, chromatography and chemical degradation, these structures are proposed to be isomeric glutathione conjugates of dimethyl diesters of epoxybilirubins. Five measurements of mass of the M + H + ions of one of the glutathione conjugates made over 17 months had an average value of 936.8 u and a standard deviation of ±0.5 u.
New Directions in Jewish Philosophy

New Directions in Jewish Philosophy Aaron W. Hughes& Elliot R. Wolfson (Eds) Indiana University Press, 2010 353 pp., $32.00, ISBN 978-0-253-22164-3 Jewish philosophers have probably lost count of t...
Parenting Stress Among Adolescent Mothers in the Transition to Adulthood

This study assessed the existence and nature of parenting stress among 187 adolescent mothers over a period of two and one half years across their eldest child's preschool years. Although the majority of mothers did not report elevated levels of stress, approximately thirty percent of the sample reported clinically high levels of stress at any one of the six measurement points. Criticism from a parent regarding their childrearing and intimate partner violence were both found to be related to perceptions of parenting stress. Implications for practice, including the use of the Parenting Stress Index (PSI) as a clinical screening tool, are noted.
A Computational Study of the Reaction of Methyl Formate with ·H and ·CH3 Radicals

Ab initio molecular orbital theory has been used to examine the kinetics and mechanism for the reaction of hydrogen and methyl radicals with methyl formate. From the ab initio results the rate of reaction of hydrogen atoms with methyl formate is found to be significantly faster than the analogous reactions initiated by methyl radicals. Under oxygen rich combustion conditions reactions with H and OH are likely to dominate. Abstraction of the carbonyl hydrogen of methyl formate by H atom is significantly (85%) favored at 298 K. As the temperature increases, however, methyl and carbonyl hydrogen abstraction pathways become more equally probable.
THE INFLUENCE OF LIGHT ON THE REACTION TO INFECTION IN EXPERIMENTAL SYPHILIS.

A series of experiments was carried out for the purpose of determining whether the reaction of rabbits inoculated with Treponema pallidum might be influenced by their light environment. The conditions compared were (1) diffuse sunlight filtered through window glass and subject to variations due to natural causes, (2) constant and continuous exposure to artificial light with a wave-length of from 3022 to 5790 Angstrom units (Cooper Hewitt), and (3) complete exclusion of light. The results showed clearly that each of these conditions produced a distinctive effect and that the effect tended to conform to the nature of the environmental condition. In general, the efficiency of the reaction to infection increased with the amount of light received and with the constancy of the exposure.
Effect of Temperature, Elevated Carbon Dioxide, and Drought during Seed Development on the Isoflavone Content of Dwarf Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] Grown in Controlled Environments

The effects of elevated temperature, carbon dioxide, and water stress on the isoflavone content of seed from a dwarf soybean line [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] were determined, using controlled environment chambers. Increasing the temperature from 18 °C during seed development to 23 °C decreased total isoflavone content by about 65%. A further 5 °C increase to 28 °C decreased the total isoflavone content by about 90%. Combining treatments at elevated temperature with elevated CO2 (700 ppm) and water stress to determine the possible consequences of global climate change on soybean seed isoflavone content indicated that elevated CO2 at elevated temperatures could partially reverse the effects of temperature on soybean seed isoflavone content. The addition of drought stress to plants grown at 23 °C and elevated CO2 returned the total isoflavone levels to the control values obtained at 18 °C and 400 ppm CO2. The promotive effects of drought and elevated CO2 at 23 °C on the 6‘ ‘-O-malonygenistin and genistin leve...
Medical student web-based formative assessment tool for renal pathology

Background : Web-based formative assessment tools have become widely recognized in medical education as valuable resources for self-directed learning. Objectives : To explore the educational value of formative assessment using online quizzes for kidney pathology learning in our renal pathophysiology course. Methods : Students were given unrestricted and optional access to quizzes. Performance on quizzed and non-quizzed materials of those who used (‘quizzers’) and did not use the tool (‘non-quizzers’) was compared. Frequency of tool usage was analyzed and satisfaction surveys were utilized at the end of the course. Results : In total, 82.6% of the students used quizzes. The greatest usage was observed on the day before the final exam. Students repeated interactive and more challenging quizzes more often. Average means between final exam scores for quizzed and unrelated materials were almost equal for ‘quizzers’ and ‘non-quizzers’, but ‘quizzers’ performed statistically better than ‘non-quizzers’ on both, quizzed ( p= 0.001) and non-quizzed ( p= 0.024) topics. In total, 89% of surveyed students thought quizzes improved their learning experience in this course. Conclusions : Our new computer-assisted learning tool is popular, and although its use can predict the final exam outcome, it does not provide strong evidence for direct improvement in academic performance. Students who chose to use quizzes did well on all aspects of the final exam and most commonly used quizzes to practice for final exam. Our efforts to revitalize the course material and promote learning by adding interactive online formative assessments improved students’ learning experience overall. Keywords: curriculum; quiz; formative assessment; medical education; pathology (Published: 31 March 2015) Citation: Med Educ Online 2015, 20: 26765 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/meo.v20.26765
A motivational analysis of the Clinton first term and the 1996 presidential campaign

Abstract Selected Clinton speeches from the 1992 campaign and his first term were scored for imagery of the achievement, affiliation, and power motives. During the campaign and early in his first term, Clinton scored higher in achievement than power. In studies of other presidents, such a profile is associated with frustration and malaise. As the term progressed, however, Clinton's power motive score increased relative to achievement. These changing profiles suggest some motivational dynamics both of Clinton's early problems and also his later turnaround and re-election victory.
An electrostatic image tube with planar photocathode

It has been possible to flatten the electron image of a planar photocathode sufficiently well to obtain images with good center-to-edge focus on a planar screen. The essential element in the new tube is a spherical mesh with strong curvature. This mesh serves the dual function of a prefocusing lens in the approach space, and a field-flattening lens in the image space following. Additional advantages include an incidental correction of pin-cushion geometry and improved high voltage stability. Image resolution of over 16 line pairs/millimeter has been realized with meshes as are available at present. Further progress is entirely possible pending future developments in the technology of high-resolution meshes.
Induction of protective immunity to schistosomiasis with immunologically cross-reactive Lumbricus molecules.

Immunologically cross-reactive molecules of Schistosoma japonicum and Lumbricus terrestris were identified by antibodies derived from human and rodent sera. Pooled IgG from schistosomiasis patients but not uninfected individuals bound multiple antigens of identical molecular weight in both soluble S. japonicum worm antigen preparations (SWAP) and soluble earthworm preparations (SEWP). These antigens had molecular weights corresponding to 18, 40, 62, 64, 74, 97, and >110 kDa. Three of these antigens of 74, 97 and >110 kDa were immuno-affinity purified using antibodies derived from schistosomiasis patients' sera. Vaccination of mice with SEWP produced murine antibodies which bound parasite molecules of 40, 74, 97, and >110 kDa and induced 36% protection from S. japonicum infection (P<0.05). Antibody production to S. japonicum paramyosin, a molecule previously shown to induce protection from schistosome infection, was prominently expressed in the protected murine immune sera. The study shows that Lumbricus sp. represent a potential source for paramyosin and other candidate vaccine molecules for schistosomiasis.
Intraoperative Nursing Activities Performed by Surgica Technologists

In this study of delegated intraoperative nursing activities performed by surgical technologists (STs) in low-risk and high-risk surgical procedures, 343 OR directors, perioperative nurses, and STs from rural, community, and medical center hospitals reported that STs frequently perform activities related to surgical counts, the sterile field, and equipment and supplies. Surgical technologists do not frequently perform tasks related to patient transportation, teaching, medication administration, OR environment, patient monitoring, and patients' rights. The investigator used nine competency statements of intraoperative nursing as a framework for the research instrument. Data analysis determined that the levels of risk in patient situations affects how frequently STs perform transportation, teaching, sterile field, OR environment, and patients' rights activities.
Contraceptive care for adolescents.

Although declining, adolescent pregnancy represents a major public health concern. Adolescent pregnancy in the United States remains among the highest rates of all developed nations. This introductory chapter details why this book on the use of contraception by adolescents is needed and why the topic is of importance. All the available methods of contraception are discussed, but special emphasis is on the long-acting reversible contraception methods. The initial adolescent visit is discussed in detail in this chapter as well.
Controversies in the Surgical Management of Spinal Cord Injuries

Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) affects over 200,000 people in the USA and is a major source of morbidity, mortality, and societal cost. Management of SCI includes several components. Acute management includes medical agents and surgical treatment that usually includes either all or a combination of reduction, decompression, and stabilization. Physical therapy and rehabilitation and late onset SCI problems also play a role. A review of the literature in regard to surgical management of SCI patients in the acute setting was undertaken. The controversy surrounding whether reduction is safe, or not, and whether prereduction magnetic resonance (MR) imaging to rule out traumatic disc herniation is essential is discussed. The controversial role of timing of surgical intervention and the choice of surgical approach in acute, incomplete, and acute traumatic SCI patients are reviewed. Surgical treatment is an essential tool in management of SCI patients and the controversy surrounding the timing of surgery remains unresolved. Presurgical reduction is considered safe and essential in the management of SCI with loss of alignment, at least as an initial step in the overall care of a SCI patient. Future prospective collection of outcome data that would suffice as evidence-based is recommended and necessary.