cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laser-Induced Solid-Surface Room-Temperature Phosphorimetry of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Laser-induced solid-surface room-temperature phosphorimetry (SSRTP) has been employed for the detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. A nitrogen-pumped laser and a dye laser were used as excitation sources. The effects of sample volume, laser irradiation, and background reduction treatment on the precision and sensitivity of the method were studied. With the use of thallium(I) acetate as a phosphorescence enhancer, picogram limits of detection were estimated for phenanthrene, pyrene, benzo[g,h,t]perylene, chrysene, coronene, and 1,2-benzofluorene. The study demonstrates that laser excitation can improve the sensitivity of SSRTP by up to three orders of magnitude.
A game theoretic approach to gray hole attacks in Wireless Mesh Networks

Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) are multi hop networks in which the mesh clients rely on static mesh routers (or directly via other mesh clients) to relay data from one point to another in a multihop fashion. WMN gained significant attention because of the numerous applications it supports, e.g., broadband home networking, community and neighborhood networks, delivering video, building automation, in entertainment and sporting venues etc. But the main challenge of these multihop networks is the susceptibility to various security threats. In this paper, we address the problem of gray hole attack in which a malicious node refuses to forward a subset of the packets it receives. We present the attack in a simple network of mesh routers in the framework of a non-cooperative Markov game between genuine and malicious mesh router. The main objective of the legitimate node (Player I) is to maximize its throughput by minimizing the loss caused by the attackers. On the other hand , the main goal of the attacker (Player II) is to minimize the throughput of the network by dropping the data packets. We investigate the nash equilibrium of the non cooperative game by allowing the nodes to select their own actions that optimizes the individual performance in terms of the packet delivery ratio.
Chemical effects in ion mixing of transition metals on SiO2

Abstract The mixing of thin evaporated films of Ti, Cr and Ni of various thicknesses on thick (≅ 650 nm) thermally grown SiO2 layers on 〈111〉 Si wafers has been investigated for 290 KeV Xe irradiations over the range of Xe fluence, Φ, of 1015 to 2 × 1016 Xe/cm2 and of irradiation temperature, T, of 77 to about 750 K. For the analysis of the irradiated samples, mainly backscattering spectrometry was used after the free metal had been removed by chemical etching. The amount of mixed metal contained in the SiO2 increases as Φβ, where β ≅ 0.56, to 0.73, at room temperature and below, for all metals and thicknesses, suggesting that cascade mixing dominates the transport process in this temperature region. The contribution of recoil mixing at the deep tail of the metal profiles is probable and may account for the values of β > 1 2 . At 750 K, enhanced mixing occurs for the thermally reactive systems Ti/SiO2 and Cr/SiO2; however, mixing is suppressed for Ni/SiO2. The fact that the deep tail of the metal profiles is not altered suggests that only the cascade mixing process is affected by chemical driving forces.
Advances in antimicrobial peptide immunobiology

Antimicrobial peptides are ancient components of the innate immune system and have been isolated from organisms spanning the phylogenetic spectrum. Over an evolutionary time span, these peptides have retained potency, in the face of highly mutable target microorganisms. This fact suggests important coevolutionary influences in the host-pathogen relationship. Despite their diverse origins, the majority of antimicrobial peptides have common biophysical parameters that are likely essential for activity, including small size, cationicity, and amphipathicity. Although more than 900 different antimicrobial peptides have been characterized, most can be grouped as belonging to one of three structural classes: (1) linear, often of alpha-helical propensity; (2) cysteine stabilized, most commonly conforming to beta-sheet structure; and (3) those with one or more predominant amino acid residues, but variable in structure. Interestingly, these biophysical and structural features are retained in ribosomally as well as nonribosomally synthesized peptides. Therefore, it appears that a relatively limited set of physicochemical features is required for antimicrobial peptide efficacy against a broad spectrum of microbial pathogens. During the past several years, a number of themes have emerged within the field of antimicrobial peptide immunobiology. One developing area expands upon known microbicidal mechanisms of antimicrobial peptides to include targets beyond the plasma membrane. Examples include antimicrobial peptide activity involving structures such as extracellular polysaccharide and cell wall components, as well as the identification of an increasing number of intracellular targets. Additional areas of interest include an expanding recognition of antimicrobial peptide multifunctionality, and the identification of large antimicrobial proteins, and antimicrobial peptide or protein fragments derived thereof. The following discussion highlights such recent developments in antimicrobial peptide immunobiology, with an emphasis on the biophysical aspects of host-defense polypeptide action and mechanisms of microbial resistance.
Molecular and Structural Insight into proNGF Engagement of p75NTR and Sortilin

Nerve growth factor (NGF) is initially synthesized as a precursor, proNGF, that is cleaved to release its C-terminal mature form. Recent studies suggested that proNGF is not an inactive precursor but acts as a signaling ligand distinct from its mature counterpart. proNGF and mature NGF initiate opposing biological responses by utilizing both distinct and shared receptor components. In this study, we carried out structural and biochemical characterization of proNGF interactions with p75NTR and sortilin. We crystallized proNGF complexed to p75NTR and present the structure at 3.75-A resolution. The structure reveals a 2:2 symmetric binding mode, as compared with the asymmetric structure of a previously reported crystal structure of mature NGF complexed to p75NTR and the 2:2 symmetric complex of neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) and p75NTR. Here, we discuss the possible origins and implications of the different stoichiometries. In the proNGF-p75NTR complex, the pro regions of proNGF are mostly disordered and two hairpin loops (loop 2) at the top of the NGF dimer have undergone conformational changes in comparison with mature NT structures, suggesting possible interactions with the propeptide. We further explored the binding characteristics of proNGF to sortilin using surface plasmon resonance and cell-based assays and determined that calcium ions promote the formation of a stable ternary complex of proNGF-sortilin-p75NTR. These results, together with those of previous structural and mechanistic studies of NT-receptor interactions, suggest the potential for distinct signaling activities through p75NTR mediated by different NT-induced conformational changes.
Introduction to the special issue on psychological benchmarks of human–robot interaction

The idea for this special issue took shape during discussions on the prospects for using technology to simulate nature and, in particular, the human form. Could it be possible to devise an artificial human being? The computer scientist and robotic engineer, with such ambitions, can reply: “Sure, just give us major funding, say a half billion dollars, and 30 years, and we’ll show you how.” The skeptic can reply, “You’re kidding, right?” Along these lines, debates have raged in the philosophy of mind and cognitive science on whether anything like present day computers could implement a conscious mind, one that could experience what it’s like to be human. Moreover, because it is unclear even what makes us conscious, this problem is likely to remain a hard one for years to come. Nevertheless, we can reframe what a human being is from the standpoint of human attribution. If the technologist insists that it will eventually be possible to build an artificial human being, it is important to determine what would count as one in our own estimation, taking a view from the outside. The question then becomes: What are the benchmarks — categories of interaction that capture fundamental aspects of human life — by which we could measure progress toward this goal? Getting the right set of benchmarks then becomes critical for the emerging field of human–robot interaction (HRI). The benchmarks can help establish the questions the field asks in setting its research agenda, determining where funding is directed, and shaping how graduate students are educated. The right set of benchmarks will also be important to other disciplines, such as comparative psychology, and to meeting the long-term needs of society in areas such as nursing, eldercare, and social work. To these ends, Peter H. Kahn, Jr. and his colleagues proposed six benchmarks in a paper he showed Kerstin Dautenhahn, who was then organizing the 15th IEEE International Symposium on Robot and Human Interactive Communication
Neurophysiological signals as potential translatable biomarkers for modulation of metabotropic glutamate 5 receptors.

The Group I metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5 (mGluR5) is widely distributed in the brain with dense expression in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and basal ganglia. These receptors have been implicated in psychiatric and neurological disorders such as schizophrenia, Fragile X syndrome, addiction, anxiety/depression, Parkinson's disease and neuropathic pain. The present study evaluated the effects of the mGluR5 negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) 4-difluoromethoxy-3-(pyridine-2-ylethynyl)phenyl)5H-pyrrolo[3,4-b]pyridine-6(7H)-yl methanone (GRN-529) and methyl (3aR,4S,7aR)-4-hydroxy-4-[(3-methylphenyl)ethynyl]octahydro-1H-indole-1-carboxylate (AFQ056) on polysomnographic (PSG) and quantitative electroencephalographic (qEEG) measures in freely moving rats. Furthermore, the anxiolytic profile of GRN-529 was characterized in anesthetized rats by measuring stimulation-induced hippocampal theta oscillation. The present findings demonstrate that inhibition of mGluR5 via its allosteric site profoundly modulates high-level neuronal network activities as indicated by changes in sleep-wake activity and power distribution of qEEG. Both GRN-529 and AFQ056 reduced the total time spent in rapid-eye movement with AFQ056 producing a significant increase in wakefulness at the highest dose tested. Additionally, qEEG revealed significant compound-induced increases in delta power concomitant with more subtle decreases in theta and alpha band power. Receptor occupancy (RO) studies revealed that GRN-529 and AFQ056 at all doses resulted in over 45% mGluR5 occupancy. Furthermore, GRN-529 dose-dependently decreased elicited hippocampal theta frequency, consistent with previous findings using clinically active anxiolytic compounds. The described changes in neurophysiological signals identified in freely moving rats may be considered suitable translational biomarkers for the clinical evaluation of mGluR5 NAMs.
Vascular Dysfunction in Sleep Apnea: Not Just a Peripheral Concern

See related article, pp 417–424 Cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been increasingly implicated in a breadth of cardiovascular diseases, including systemic hypertension, heart failure, stroke, arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia, and pulmonary arterial hypertension.1 The importance of this association, especially in the context of OSA as an etiologic factor, is compellingly relevant to disease management strategies, given the high prevalence of OSA and its likely rising trajectory secondary to the ongoing obesity epidemic.2 OSA may be present in approximately 20% of American adults, only a minority of whom have ever been diagnosed; this is true even for patients with established cardiovascular disease3 and despite the widespread availability of several effective treatment modalities (including continuous positive airway pressure [CPAP]). It is only over the past 2 decades that serious investigative interest has been paid to the interactions between OSA and cardiac and vascular disease and dysfunction. Deciphering the mechanisms, causal relationships, and potential therapeutic targets in the links between OSA and cardiovascular morbidity has not been an easy task, in part because of the constellation of comorbidities that characterize a large proportion of sleep apnea patients. OSA leads to multiple sources of cardiovascular stress, including nocturnal hypoxemia and hypercapnia, precipitous intrathoracic pressure changes, repetitive arousals, and poor sleep quality with consequent sleep deprivation. These, in turn, have been linked to endothelial dysfunction,4 systemic inflammation, sympathetic activation,5 metabolic dysregulation, hypercoagulability, and atrial enlargement, the combination of which may contribute to the initiation and progression of a range of cardiovascular diseases. Of these, endothelial dysfunction …
Free Radical Polymerization of 7-Methyl-1-methylene-3-phenylindene. Copoly(methylene/7-methyl-3-phenyl-1,1-indenylene)−Excimer Photoluminescence

The free radical polymerization of 7-methyl-1-methylene-3-phenylindene (IV) yields copoly(methylene/7-methyl-3-phenyl-1,1-indenylene) (V). This novel copolymer has an aliphatic backbone and pendant...
Interpretation of imperfect line data as a three-dimensional scene

This paper describes a heuristic scene description system called INTERPRET. This system accepts as input a scene represented as a line drawing. Based on a set of known object models the program attempts to determine the identity and location of each object viewed. INTERPRET uses knowledge about the world in a variety of ways to produce a description of the scene that is consistent with its input. The most significant feature of the system is its ability to deal with imperfect input data. This ability appears essential in light of our current stock of preprocessing technique and the variation that is possible in real world data.
Pulsed laser deposition of YBCO thin films on 7×20-cm2 substrates

Abstract A specially designed and patented setup has been built up for Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) of homogeneous YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7− x (YBCO)-films on substrates as large as 7×20 cm 2 . YBCO films have been deposited on small substrates (SrTiO 3 , LaAlO 3 and buffered polycrystalline YSZ). Their structural and superconducting properties have been measured. The mean values of the transition temperatures and the critical current densities at T =77 K and zero magnetic field on single crystal substrates are 90 K and 4.3 MA/cm 2 , respectively. The YBCO films on buffered polycrystalline YSZ substrates reach critical current densities up to 1.1 MA/cm 2 at T =77 K and B =0 T.
The OSS and Ho Chi Minh: Unexpected Allies in the War Against Japan – By Dixee Bartholomew-Feis

In September 1945, in the last report that Office of Strategic Services officer Peter Dewey wrote before becoming the first American casualty of the wars in Vietnam, he warned his handlers in Washi...
A Cluster of Noninvoluting Endocytic Cells at the Margin of the Zebrafish Blastoderm Marks the Site of Embryonic Shield Formation

In zebrafish embryos, the nascent embryonic shield first appears as a thickening in the germ ring of the mid-epiboly blastoderm. This site defines the dorsal side of the developing embryo. In this paper, we report that the site of embryonic axis formation is marked earlier at the late-blastula stage by the appearance of a cluster of cells with unique endocytic activities. This cluster of cells is composed of enveloping layer epithelial cells and one to two layers of underlying deep cells. Unlike other marginal blastomeres, cells in this cluster do not participate in involution as the blastoderm undergoes epiboly. These noninvoluting endocytic marginal (NEM) cells can be selectively labeled by applying membrane impermeant fluorescent probes to pre-epiboly and mid-epiboly embryos. During embryonic shield formation, deep cells in the NEM cell cluster rearrange and are displaced forward to the leading edge of the blastoderm. As deep NEM cells move into this location, they become a group of cells known as "forerunner cells." Between 60%- and 80%-epiboly, the forerunner cells coalesce into a coherent cell cluster that forms a wedge-shaped cap at the leading edge of the blastoderm. During embryonic axis formation, deep cells migrate and converge toward the embryonic midline, which is defined by the center of the forerunner cell cluster. At approximately 90% epiboly, the forerunner cell cluster becomes overlapped by the constricting germ ring. At tailbud stage, forerunner cells form the dorsal roof of Kupffer's vesicle, which is located ventral to the nascent chordoneural hinge. On the basis of previous grafting studies and known dorsal gene expression patterns, we discuss possible roles that the NEM/forerunner cell cluster may play in teleost axis formation.
Properties of supersymmetry breaking via gravitino condensation

Abstract We study the implications of a recently proposed mechanism to break local supersymmetry through gravtino condensation. We find that gravitino condensates destabilize the Minkowski background and generate a large cosmological constant.
CUSTOMIZING THE INSTRUCTIONAL GRID

The Web contains hundreds of thousands of educational resources available any time and any place. However no smart technology is available to help teachers and students locate appropriate resources customized to their needs and social characteristics. When educational resources are indexed, it is often done by demographics, such as student age and grade. This article describes customized Grid Learning Services (GLS) that will personalize instruction based on an individual's presumed knowledge and cognitive and learning needs. The customized GLS will use real-time student modeling, the Semantic Web, intelligent agents, and pre-tests of cognitive, affective, and social characteristics to personalize the selection of educational resources and problems. Components of the customized GLS include an ontology construction agent, goal-based retrieval mechanisms, a lesson planner, and student and pedagogical agents.
Factors predicting an elevated postvoid residual urine volume in ambulatory women

Abstract Objective: To identify factors present in patients with urinary urgency/frequency and/or urge incontinence which predict that the postvoid residual urine volume (PVR) will be elevated in order to simplify the screening process for ambulatory incontinent patients. Methods: A retrospective chart review of all new patients in our referral urogynecology practice between June 1998 and May 1999 was conducted. The study population was limited to patients with symptoms of urinary urgency/frequency and/or urge incontinence. Patient characteristics were evaluated as predictors of an elevated PVR (more than 100 mL within 10 minutes of voiding) using logistic regression analysis. Results: Three-hundred ninety-three charts satisfied criteria for review. We found an elevated PVR in 10% (33/336) of patients with the symptom of urge incontinence and in 5% (3/57) of patients with urgency/frequency without urge incontinence. In urge incontinent patients, we found that (1) the presence of pelvic organ prolapse stage II or greater, (2) the symptom of voiding difficulty, and (3) the lack of the symptom of stress incontinence predicted 80% of patients with an elevated PVR. In patients with urgency/frequency without urge incontinence, no reliable predictors of elevated PVR were found. Conclusions: In ambulatory women with urge incontinence, measurement of a PVR should precede consideration of anticholinergic therapy when there is pelvic organ prolapse to the hymen and/or the patient reports difficult voiding.
Observation vs performance in learning over the fourth to sixth grades

Fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade children were trained and tested in a multiple-choice learning situation under both performance (guessing with knowledge of results) and observation (watching the performer) conditions. Although the observer superiority previously found for college students and grade-school children did not occur, there was a reliable trend in that direction from the fourth to the sixth grade.
Purification of a Mammalian Homologue of Escherichia coli Endonuclease III: Identification of a Bovine Pyrimidine Hydrate-Thymine Glycol DNA-Glycosylase/AP Lyase by Irreversible Cross Linking to a Thymine Glycol-Containing Oligodeoxynucleotide†

We purified a homologue of the Escherichia coli DNA repair enzyme endonuclease III 5000-fold from calf thymus which, like endonuclease III, demonstrates DNA-glycosylase activity against pyrimidine hydrates and thymine glycol and AP lyase activity (DNA strand cleavage at AP sites via β-elimination). The functional similarity between the enzymes suggested a strategy for definitive identification of the bovine protein based on the nature of its enzyme−substrate (ES) intermediate. Prokaryotic DNA glycosylase/AP lyases function through N-acylimine (Schiff's base) ES intermediates which, upon chemical reduction to stable secondary amines, irreversibly cross link the enzyme to oligodeoxynucleotides containing substrate modified bases. We incubated endonuclease III with a 32P-labeled thymine glycol-containing oligodeoxynucleotide in the presence of NaCNBH3. This resulted in an increase in the apparent molecular weight of the enzyme by SDS−PAGE. Phosphorimaging confirmed irreversible cross linking between enzyme a...
Effect of Fluorosurfactant on Capillary Instabilities in Nanoimprinted Polymer Patterns

Surface forces play a paramount role in most aspects of Nanoimprint Lithography. In particular, subjecting nanoimprinted patterns to moderate heating allows surface tension to smooth out undesirable roughness and defects in the patterns, but this “thermal reflow” treatment can induce structural decay or even collapse of the patterns by capillary instability if this process is not carefully controlled. Adhesion between the mold and polymer film can also cause the imprinted structure to tear or fracture. Fluorinated surfactants (FS) are attractive for reducing mold adhesion, yet the effects of these additives on nanostructure stability during thermal reflow are not well understood. Here we present thermal stability studies of line-space grating patterns created by Thermal Embossing Nanoimprint Lithography (TENIL) on model polystyrene (PS) films with FS additives. As expected by energy considerations, FS segregates to the air interface, where it seems to facilitate mold release. This also reduces the surface energy and thus reduces the driving force for pattern “slumping” (height decay). However, the beneficial effects of the surfactant are counterbalanced by the fact that the FS decreases the effective film viscosity, which accelerates nanopattern leveling. The net effect is that the pattern height decay is strongly a function of FS concentration. This enhanced film fluidity in the presence of FS also makes the pattern more susceptible to an undulatory capillary instability under thermal reflow conditions. Surface phase segregation of FS and PS is also observed in conjunction with both slumping and lateral capillary instabilities, which may be useful for producing chemically patterned surfaces. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 2591–2600, 2009
Printing and protestants: an empirical test of the role of printing in the Reformation

The causes of the Protestant Reformation have long been debated. This paper seeks to revive and econometrically test the theory that the spread of the Reformation is linked to the spread of the printing press. I test this theory by analyzing data on the spread of the press and the Reformation at the city level. An econometric analysis that instruments for omitted variable bias with a city's distance from Mainz, the birthplace of printing, suggests that cities with at least one printing press by 1500 were at minimum 29 percentage points more likely to be Protestant by 1600.
Effect of weaning on ileal short-chain fatty acid concentrations in pigs

Abstract Pigs cannulated at the terminal ileum were used to investigate the effect of weaning on volatile fatty acid and lactate concentrations in the intestinal chyme. In two replicate trials performed 50 days apart, a total of twenty-four 14 day old nursing pigs from 6 sows were cannulated in the terminal ileum and randomly assigned to either a 21-day or 28-day weaning interval. Ileal samples were collected at 20, 23, 27, 30, 34, 37, and 41 days of age. Samples were assayed for free acetate, propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate, valerate, isovalerate, D(−), and L(+) lactate. Ileal pH and digesta dry matter were also determined. Acetate, butyrate, isovalerate, and total VFA concentrations were decreased postweaning ( P P P P
Observation of the Tm169 nuclear magnetic resonance in thulium gallium garnet

Abstract The observation of the Tm 169 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) at T = 4° K in single crystals of thulium gallium garnet is reported. A study of the angular dependence of the Tm 169 NMR clearly shows that the symmetry of the Tm 3+ crystal field interaction is orthorhombic. An analysis of the NMR data yields values for the components of the orthorhombic susceptibility tensor. An experimental value 〈 r −3 〉 = 11.7 ± 0.2 a . u . is also obtained.
A structural model of human erythrocyte band 2.1: alignment of chemical and functional domains.

Abstract Protein 2.1 is a 210-kilodalton protein that connects erythrocyte spectrin to the NH2-terminal cytoplasmic domain of band 3 and thereby functions as the essential linkage between the membrane skeleton and the bilayer. We cleaved this protein into specific chemical domains by limited digestion with trypsin and alpha-chymotrypsin at 0 degrees C. Intermediate-sized peptides were separated by two-dimensional isoelectric focusing/NaDodSO4/polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and characterized by high resolution peptide mapping. We have established a provisional structural model of protein 2.1 by comparing the peptide maps of these chemical domains to maps obtained from larger overlapping chymotryptic fragments as well as fragments obtained from 2-nitro-5-thiocyanobenzoic acid cleavage. In addition to providing a provisional structural map of protein 2.1, we have identified two functional domains of protein 2.1, an 83-kilodalton tryptic peptide (T-83) which binds band 3 and a 65-kilodalton tryptic peptide (T-65) which binds spectrin. We have therefore localized the functional domains along our linear map of protein 2.1.
The Zeros and the Final Value of a Polynomial Form

ABSTRACT A polynomial form f, is a not necessarily linear map, from an infinite module over a ring &#x1d537; to a finite abelian group of exponent n satisfying some additional conditions. Denote the zeros of f by Ωf. We show it satisfies a weak closure condition. Among all &#x1d537;-submodules of finite index, there is a submodule B such that |f (B)| (the order of the subset f (B)) is as small as possible. f (B) is called the final value of f and D. S. Passman asks if f (B) is necessarily a subgroup of S. This paper shows that if the degree of f ≤ 2 then the final value is a subgroup and if the form f has arbitrary degree from an finitely generated infinite abelian group, then the final value is 0.
The structure and reproduction of Dudresnaya lubrica sp. nov. (Rhodophyta, Dumontiaceae)

Dudresnaya lubrica sp. nov. is described from Oahu Island and constitutes the second species of the genus reported from the Hawaiian Islands. D. lubrica differs from other species of the genus by its vegetative and reproductive morphology. The internal and external structure of the male and female vegetative thalli, spermatangial, carpogonial and auxiliary-cell branches and the corresponding post-fertilisation stages of the carposporophyte are discussed and compared with those of other species of Dudresnaya.
Mechanism of smoke-induced seed germination in a post-fire chaparral annual

1 Smoke-stimulated germination in the post-fire flora of California chaparral does not appear to be triggered by nitrate. Application of freshly prepared unbuffered KNO3 solutions (pH c. 6.2) failed to enhance germination of five populations of Emmenanthe penduliflora or one Phacelia grandiflora population, regardless of light or stratification conditions. 2 KNO3 buffered at acidic pH (or unbuffered solutions equilibrated with atmospheric CO2) did induce germination, but KNO3 solutions at pH 7 failed to induce germination. Induction of germination is therefore not due to the nitrate ion per se, but rather to high [H+], although buffered controls gave weak germination at low pH, suggesting a role for H+ plus nitrate. However, other anions such as sulphate were equally as effective as nitrate at breaking dormancy. 3 The germination response to KNO3 was affected by the type of filter paper used and this may be linked to differences in pH. 4 NO2, at concentrations present in biomass smoke, was highly effective at inducing germination, and other oxidizing agents also induced germination. 5 Several growth regulators, including nitrite and gibberellin, were stimulatory only at acidic pH, but KCN was stimulatory across a broad pH range. 6 Germination decreased at smoke exposures longer than a few minutes. Also, smoked water samples effective at breaking dormancy were acidic and were less effective when buffered to pH >7. 7 Physical scarification of the seed coat induced germination but the effect was not due to penetration of a water barrier, or to enhanced oxygen uptake or to wound responses such as CO2 or ethylene production. 8 Different effects of the gibberellin inhibitor CCC (chlorocholine chloride) suggested that the mechanisms of scarification-induced and smoke-induced germination may differ. 9 We conclude that either oxidizing gases in smoke and/or acids generated on burnt sites play a role in germination of post-fire annuals in chaparral.
Certificate of Need Regulations and the Diffusion of Intensity-modulated Radiotherapy

Objective To better understand the associations between the certificate of need regulations and intensity-modulated radiotherapy dissemination. Methods Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare data, we identified men (aged ≥66 years) treated with radiotherapy for prostate cancer who had been diagnosed from 2001 to 2007. Using data from the American Health Planning Association, we sorted the health service areas (HSAs) according to the stringency of certificate of need regulations (low vs high) in that market. We assessed our outcomes (ie, the probability of intensity-modulated radiotherapy adoption and intensity-modulated radiotherapy use in the HSAs) using Cox proportional hazards and Poisson regression models, respectively. Results The low- and high-stringency markets were similar in terms of racial composition (80% vs 85% white, P = .08), population density (1085 vs 558 people/square mile, P = .08), and income (median $38 683 vs $40 309, P = .44). However, the low-stringency markets had more patients with stage T1 disease (45% vs 36%, P P = .65). However, among the adopting HSAs, those with high stringency consistently had greater use of intensity-modulated radiotherapy ( P Conclusion The certificate of need regulations fail to create significant barriers to entry for intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Among the HSAs that acquired intensity-modulated radiotherapy, high-stringency markets demonstrated a greater propensity for using intensity-modulated radiotherapy. These findings raise questions regarding the ability of the certificate of need regulations to control technology dissemination.
The Uniqueness Of Normal Forms Via Lie Transforms And Its Applications To Hamiltonian-Systems

A necessary and sufficient condition is given for the unique normal forms about critical elements-equilibrium points and periodic orbits. With some applications to the Birkhoff's normal form along with its generalized form by K.R. Meyer, the restricted problem of three bodies near L4, the Birkohoff's normalization procedure, and the singular perturbation, of Hamiltonian systems are discussed.
An active trust model based on zero knowledge proofs for airborne networks

Trust is a fundamental concept that enables cooperation and collaboration among the nodes in any network. Formal trust models are necessary for sharing information in a collaborative environment. Trust assessment methods that are commonly used in network applications or in social networks passively gather information about other nodes and take significant amount of time for assessing trust. Such models are not convenient for applications such as tactical airborne networks which are typically deployed for short durations of time.This paper presents an active trust model in which the nodes in a network proactively probe other nodes to assess their level of trust before sharing mission specific information. Active trust models are useful for assessing trust within short durations of time making them appropriate for airborne networks. The proposed model is based on zero-knowledge proofs.
Elastic wave attenuation in composite laminates with cracks

In structural health monitoring, energy dissipation of wave propagation is a key factor to determine optimal placement of sensors and quantify damage. This paper focuses on the study of wave scattering and attenuation in fiber-reinforced composite laminates with damage. In order to obtain the overall attenuation coefficient, the propagation of elastic shear wave in fiber-matrix medium is investigated starting from the Helmholtz equation. The wave attenuation due to interfacial damage is considered. The attenuation due to cracks of varying sizes and the effect of frequency on the attenuation value has been examined. It can be shown that a critical frequency exists at a given crack size for which the attenuation in the composite medium is at its highest value. Furthermore, the wave attenuation in composite laminates is investigated by incorporating energy transfer in layerwise medium. The overall attenuation coefficient for the laminate is obtained. Experiments are also conducted to evaluate some of the observations obtained from the model.
The effect of cooking with water having elevated sodium levels upon the concentration of sodium and potassium in vegetables

This study compared the sodium and potassium levels in three naturally low sodium vegetables (cabbage, potato and squash) cooked in water containing no sodium with vegetables cooked in water with s...
A Simple, Effective Viscosity Formulation for Turbulent Flow and Heat Transfer in Compact Heat Exchangers

A simple algebraic methodology for computing turbulent stresses and fluxes in arrays of heat exchanger elements is proposed. An effective Reynolds number is computed from the back-projection of the friction or heat transfer factor onto the low-Reynolds-number profile. This is then used to obtain the turbulent viscosity for fluid friction, or turbulent Prandtl number, for heat transfer. It is shown that under certain circumstances, the resulting mathematical expression is consistent with the Brinkman–Forchheimer modified form of Darcy's law and also with the Reynolds quadratic form for frictional/heat transfer resistance. The model is critically appraised in comparison to empirical data for compact and tube bank heat exchangers. The circumstances where it renders a good predictive measure are highlighted and discussed critically.
Potassium permanganate staining of ultrathin sections for electron microscopy.

Ultrathin sections of Araldite- and Maraglas-embedded tissues may be cleanly stained by submersion for 30 minutes in a freshly prepared 1.0% aqueous solution of KMnO4. Results resemble those achieved with lead stains. By submersion of the sections throughout the staining and washing procedure, contamination of the specimen is avoided. Capricious precipitation of the stain, granularity of the section, tissue damage, and fragility of the section in the electron beam (reported disadvantages of KMnO4 as an electron stain) have not been encountered. Destructive effects associated with KMnO4 staining may be due to excessive or indiscriminate use of agents, e.g., citric acid, to remove precipitated stain. Use of such bleaching agents is unnecessary after properly executed staining procedures. The only disadvantage encountered is failure of cytoplasmic RNP particles to stain completely after OsO4 fixation.
Anomalies and malformations affecting the fetal/neonatal chest

Although significant anomalies of the fetal thorax are uncommon, with improvement in high-resolution ultrasonography, more of these lesions are being diagnosed prenatally. Accurate and specific prenatal diagnosis is important because different lesions have different natural histories and prognosis. Prenatal MRI is an increasingly important adjunct for identification and differentiation of these lesions and may help determine in selected cases when and if in utero fetal intervention is indicated.
Observations on the ultimobranchial gland in small wild and laboratory mammals, with special reference to the histochemical localization of polysaccharides†

This is the last of a series of observations involved in a comparative histological study of the ultimobranchial body in vertebrates. Complete serial longitudinal or transverse paraffin sections were made of formol alcohol, Bouin's, and formalin-fixed ultimobranchial and thyroid tissues that had been removed from adult specimens of the cat, cotton rat, ground squirrel, Guinea pig, kangaroo rat, bushytailed wood rat, rabbit, and raccoon. The alcian blue-PAS, aldehyde fuchsin-alcian blue, mucicarmine, alcian blue-safranin, Best's carmine, and toluidine blue staining procedures show that the glandular mammalian ultimobranchial tissue is capable of producing considerable amounts of various mucosubstances, particularly the acid mucopolysaccharides, and other carbohydrate-containing materials. The carbohydrate moiety has been histochemically identified as mucopolysaccharides possessing acidic groups, those having both carboxyl and ester sulfate groups; and as glycogen, muco-and glycoproteins and other carbohydrate-protein complexes. The differences in the intensity and localization of a given staining reaction reflect not only individual and species variations but also significant differences in the position of the ultimobranchial tissue in relation to the thyroid gland. An accessory thyroid lobule found near parathyroid IV and thymus IV in a bushy-tailed wood rat may represent a cystic manifestation of the ultimobranchial body because its follicles varied greatly in size and were lined by a thick stratified squamous epithelium. The possible hormonal mechanisms (TSH, thyroxine) involved in the regulation of ultimobranchial activity are discussed in relation to the gland's production, storage, and release of mucopolysaccharides and other secretory substances.
Resonance Raman depolization ratios for cyclopentadiene demonstrate the presence of two overlapping electronic transitions with perpendicular polarizations in the low energy absorption band: the 1B2 and 2A1 states

Abstract The absorption spectrum of 1,3-cyclopentadiene in the 260–220 nm region exhibits some vibrational structure superimposed on a broad continuum. The depolarization ratios (p) of resonantly enhanced Raman transitions of the three strongest totally symmetric modes of vibration all deviate significantly from the value of 1 3 corresponding to a single electronic transition. This directly and unambiguously demonstrates the presence of two overlapping electronic transitions with perpendicular transition moments. The variation of p with excitation wavelength is consistent with association of the weak structured absorption with the transition to the 2A1 state, analogous to the 2Ag state of centrosymmetric polyenes, and the much stronger underlying continuous absorption with the transition to the 1B2 state, analogous to the corresponding 1Bu state of butadiene.
Individual, Group, and Organizational Decision Making in Technological Emergencies: A Review of Research:

Emergency-response systems for hazardous technological emergencies are gen erally comprised of a number of organizations with varying degrees of control over information and resources. The implementation of such systems and the need for coordination impose various conflicts on decision makers and re sponse personnel. Using the example of nuclear power plant accidents, four critical categories of performance-shaping factors that can enable decision fail ures are identified: structural, affective, informational, and task and resource characteristics. A review of individual, group, and organizational decision- making literature suggests that many such factors may have important negative influences on performance. The role of training and exercises is discussed as a means for improving emergency-response system effectiveness and reliability.
FROM BIRTH TO SEVEN YEARS: A GREEK NATIONAL LONGITUDINAL STUDY

In Greece all infants born in April 1983 were included in the National Perinatal Study. Out of those 10921 children-excluding dead, severely handicaped and those who immigrated-8158 were traced, only by their date of birth, 7 years later in primary school. Parents assisted by teachers completed a questionnaire covering important aspects of their physical, behavioural and social development. Checking for varius variables we showed that the bias introduced by missing 18% of the original cohort was not statistically significant. Moreover the two records for each individual child were matched for 70% of the cohort. The descriptive analyses gave a thesaurus of information on: family structure (5% single parents, 21% cohabitation with grandparents); child's medical history (31% hospitalization); motor ond sensory development (7% motor disability, 8.5% speech problems) accidents (34%, 1.25 per child); present health status (7.5% asthma, 7%, epilepsy); life-style (homework, T.V., sports, hobbies); preschool and primary school activities; behaviour both at school and home (3.6% bed wetting and 1% soiling at least once a week); socioeconomic status; attitudes towards rearing (18% physical punishment every day) and performance at school (2.6% severe learning problems). These findings mayserve, as guidelines for rational reorganisation of all pertinent services in Greece based on the real needs of our children and their families.
Effect of substituents on the phenyl coupling reaction on Cu(111)

Abstract By using selectively substituted iodobenzenes, we have been able to study the kinetics of the Ullmann phenyl coupling reaction on the Cu(111) surface. The substituted iodobenzenes used in these experiments were (iodobenzene (C6H5I), 3-iodotoluene (m-CH3C6H4I), 1-fluoro-2-iodobenzene (o-FC6H4I), 1-fluoro-3-iodobenzene (m-FC6H4I) and 1-fluoro-4-iodobenzene (p-FC6H4I)). Variable heating rate temperature programmed reaction (TPR) experiments were used to determine the energy barriers and preexponential factors in the rate constant for phenyl coupling. These studies have allowed us to probe the nature of charge separation in the transition state. Fluorination of iodobenzene in the meta or para position decreased the activation barrier, indicating that the transition state is electron rich with respect to the initial state. Reaction rate constants were calculated from the kinetic parameters and linear free energy relationships (LFER) or Hammett plots were constructed using tabulated values of the substituent constants. The reaction constant, ϱ, was determined to be 6.0 ± 3.3 from the Hammett plot. The sign of the reaction constant indicates the electron rich character of the transition state relative to the initial state.
The origins of entropy and irreversibility

The origins of entropy and irreversibility in thermodynamics are re-examined once more, in the light of 45 years of influence from information-theoretic concepts. Familiar, but elusive notions of the approach to equilibrium, and time-dependent entropy, are subjected to renewed scrutiny.
1984: Latin in the United States Twenty Years After the Fall

After a precipitous decade-long decline during the late 1960s and the early 1970s, interest and enrollments in secondary school Latin language and literature courses have been steadily rising across the nation since 1976. A disturbing consequence of this otherwise felicitous trend has been the development of a serious shortage of qualified Latin teachers in most areas of the country over the past five to ten years. This study examines trends in both high school and college enrollments, as well as such other indicators of interest in the language as student and professional organization memberships and College Board Achievement Test and Advanced Placement exam participation rates. The seriousness of the teacher shortage is underscored and some measures for alleviating the problem are briefly suggested.
POSTMODERNISM AND HISTORY: MISSING THE MISSED CONNECTIONS

On the Future of History: The Postmodernist Challenge and Its Aftermath. By Ernst Breisach.
Non-perturbative formulation of Reggeon field theory on a lattice☆

Abstract A non-perturbative formulation of Reggeon field theory is presented. We investigate the consequence of the anti-hermitian interaction, and provide an alternative and yet equivalent description of RFT at α 0 >1 as compared to the quantum lattice-spin approach advocated by Amati et al.
Flavanone-7-O-glucosyltransferase activity from Petunia hybrida

Citrus spp. are known for the accumulation of flavanone glycosides (e.g., naringin comprises up to 70% of the dry weight of very young grapefruit). In contrast, petunia utilizes relatively more naringenin for production of flavonol glycosides and anthocyanins. This investigation addressed whether or not petunia is capable of glucosylation of naringenin and if so, what are the characteristics of this flavanone glucosylating enzyme. Petunia leaf tissue contains some flavanone-7-O-glucosyltransferase (E.C. 2.4.1.185) activity, although at 90-fold lower levels than grapefruit leaves. This activity was partially purified 89-fold via ammonium sulfate fractionation followed by FPLC on Superose 12 and Mono Q yielding three chromatographically separate peaks of activity. The enzymes in the peak fractions glucosylated flavanone, flavonol, and flavone substrates. Enzymes in Mono Q peaks I and II were relatively more specific toward flavanone substrates and peak I was significantly more active. Enzyme activity was not effected by Ca2+, Mg2+, AMP, ADP, or ATP. The petunia enzyme was over 10,000 times more sensitive to UDP inhibition (Ki 0.89 microM) than the flavanone-specific 7GT in grapefruit. These and other results suggest that different flavanoid accumulation patterns in these two plants may be partially due to the different relative levels and biochemical properties of their flavanone glucosylating (7GT) enzymes.
Autobiographical memory specificity and the persistence of depressive symptoms in HIV-positive patients: Rumination and social problem-solving skills as mediators

Individuals infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at elevated risk for depressive conditions, which in turn can negatively impact health-related behaviours and the course of illness. The present study tested the role of autobiographical memory specificity and its interaction with perceived stress in the persistence of depressive symptoms among dysphoric HIV-positive individuals. Additionally, we examined whether rumination and social problem solving mediated these effects. Results indicated that memory specificity moderated the impact of perceived stress, such that perceived stress was more strongly associated with follow-up depressive symptoms among those with greater memory specificity. Rumination, but not social problem solving, mediated this effect. Implications of these findings are discussed.