cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microinfarcts, brain atrophy, and cognitive function: the Honolulu Asia Aging Study Autopsy Study.

Dementia is a devastating syndrome for which there are many questions about relevant pathogenic processes and their determinants. The global cerebral atrophy commonly observed in late-age dementia is generally interpreted as evidence of widespread neurodegeneration attributed to Alzheimer processes(1). However, existing data also suggests ischemic vascular disease may contribute additively or synergistically to the development of cognitive impairment or dementia(2). The most frequently studied dementia-related cerebrovascular substrates are large and small focal ischemic lesions and white matter hyperintensities seen on neuroimaging (2). More recently several autopsy studies have identified microbrain infarcts [MBI] as a pervasive and very prevalent pathology that may contribute importantly to the pathophysiology or clinical presentation of dementia in an important sub-set of late-life cases(3–6). These lesions are different from larger infarcts in size and spatial distribution, are below the limits of resolution of today’s clinical neuroimaging methods and can only be seen on microscopic examination of brain tissue. Often, the lesions are widely distributed across brain regions, reflecting more global and diffuse ischemic processes. Due to the limited accessibility for study, little is known about the association of these MBI to dementia, or their possible role in processes leading to brain atrophy. The Honolulu Asia Aging Study(HAAS)provides the opportunity to examine these MBI in a well characterized sub-cohort of autopsied decedent participants. Here we test the hypothesis that MBI are associated with brain atrophy and to ante-mortem cognitive impairment. To give us insight into relationships of these vascular lesions to neurodegenerative changes and cognitive function, we also examine whether AD lesions mediate the association of MBI to brain atrophy and to ante-mortem cognitive function.
Health-related quality of life in children with thoracic insufficiency syndrome.

Background: The traditional techniques to treat thoracic insufficiency syndrome (TIS) are not able to stabilize or improve chest wall size or pulmonary function while allowing spine growth. To this end, vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR) was specifically designed to treat TIS by allowing growth of the thoracic cavity and control/correction of spine deformity. The purpose of this study was to determine quality of life (QOL) of children with TIS and its impact on their parents before and after implantation of the VEPTR and also compare these results to those of healthy children. Methods: As part of the original multicenter evaluation of the VEPTR, a Child Health Questionnaire (CHQ) was collected preoperatively on 45 patients who were subsequently treated with expansion thoracoplasty using the VEPTR. The average age was 8.2 ± 2.6 years, and the parent form of the CHQ was filled out by the primary caretaker. Patients were divided into 3 diagnostic categories: rib fusion (n = 15), hypoplastic thorax syndromes (n = 17), and progressive spinal deformity (n = 13). Results: There were significant differences between the study patients and healthy children in physical domains. Compared with parents of healthy children, parents of children with TIS experienced more limitations on their time and emotional lives due to their children's health problems. There were no significant differences in CHQ before and after the surgery except for a significant decrease in the self-esteem among a subgroup of patients with hypoplastic thorax syndromes. There were no significant differences in postoperative QOL between patients who had VEPTR-related complications and patients who did not have the complications. Conclusions: The children with TIS had lower physical scores and higher caregiver burden scores than healthy children. However, the scores in psychosocial domains were similar to those in healthy children. Our study demonstrated that QOL of children and burden of care in their parents remained the same after VEPTR instrumentation. Children's QOL seemed to be not affected by whether they had VEPTR-related complications or not.
The use of cell lethal mutations in the study of Drosophilia development.

Abstract Cell-lethal mutations are currently being used to study the role of cell death in the development of normal and mutant phenotypes, and in highly detailed studies of pattern formation. Histological studies of certain “position-specific” cell-lethals suggest that programmed cell death may be important in the development of normal imaginal discs, and that many mutations may be producing an abnormal phenotype by amplifying this normal process. Somatic mosaic studies using temperature-sensitive cell-lethals have provided much information about the development of pattern duplications, including the number of cells involved, their growth rate, and compartmentalization during duplication. Further work in this area may, when combined with genetic analyses of the loci involved, reveal much about the nature of the processes controlling pattern determination and differentiation.
Genetic variation in fatty acid elongases is not associated with intermediate cardiovascular phenotypes or myocardial infarction

Genetic variation in fatty acid elongases is not associated with intermediate cardiovascular phenotypes or myocardial infarction
Implications of post-bronchoscopy sputum smear in pulmonary tuberculosis.

I read with great interest the study by Malekmohammad et al., which evaluated the additional gain of performing post-bronchoscopy sputum collection for the earlier diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculos...
Are stone-wales defect sites always more reactive than perfect sites in the sidewalls of single-wall carbon nanotubes?

Density functional computations show, in contrast to general assumptions, that the reactions at the 7−7 ring fusions of Stone−Wales defects in the sidewalls of armchair (5,5) single-wall carbon nanotubes are much less exothermic than reactions at perfect sites. In addition, the peripheral 5−6 and 6−7 ring fusions of the defect are much more reactive.
Further studies on the behavior of inulin and serum albumin in rat kidney tubule

The findings support the conclusion that inulin is a satisfactory reference molecule for the measurement of glomerular filtration rate in the rat.
Barriers to successful implementation of conservation subdivision design: A closer look at land use regulations and subdivision permitting process

Abstract Conservation subdivision design offers an environmentally superior alternative to traditional large-lot, low-density subdivision development but remains far less prevalent. Moreover, when it is implemented, commonly identified goals of protection of lands with conservation value, creation of a regional network of open spaces, and contribution to improved water quality are often not reached. This paper investigates how local land use regulations impact conservation subdivision implementation; specifically whether regulations pose barriers to the development and environmental success of conservation subdivisions. The empirical analysis is based on a review of the zoning ordinances of 19 Waukesha County, WI, U.S.A. communities where 54 conservation subdivisions were built between 1990 and 2005. The ordinance review was supplemented with a review of permitting documents for 22 subdivisions and interviews with 16 developers. The analysis finds that conservation outcomes in a subdivision were seldom significantly different based on the presence and specificity of land use regulations and guidelines. In addition, the study identifies the permitting process and its most important tool, the zoning ordinance, as barriers to the successful implementation of conservation subdivision design. An important implication of this research is that unless conservation subdivisions are permitted by right or encouraged with incentives, rigorous guidelines for natural resource protection are provided, and the design is championed by key decision makers, conservation subdivision design is likely going to remain the less-popular development pattern at the urban fringe, and its environmental goals will continue to be compromised.
Marine life report highlights need for baseline knowledge

While there is a dearth of current knowledge about marine organisms and their habitats, there is also the potential for a vastly improved understanding of the diversity, distribution, and abundance of marine life, according to a new report on life in the world's oceans. A baseline report, issued by the Census of Marine Life on 23 October, indicates that the final tally for marine species diversity could be up to 10 times higher than the 210,000 marine life forms currently recognized by science. About 1,860 new marine species are being cataloged each year on average, the report states.
The Rural Kentucky marijuana industry: Organization and community involvement

This article explores the rural Kentucky marijuana industry, arguing that it is a form of organized crime. The article focuses on marijuana growers and the communities in which they live. Rural culture is shown both to nurture and to protect those who engage in growing and distributing marijuana. Socioeconomic factors play a role in the continuing existence of the marijuana industry. The scarcity of employment in rural Kentucky makes the growing of marijuana a tempting and lucrative endeavor. Strong informal social control and an abiding distrust of outsiders permits the marijuana industry to thrive unabated. Business expenses incurred by marijuana growers are detailed, including the costs of security and weaponry needed to deter thieves. Differences and similarities between traditional urban organized crime groups and the rural marijuana industry are also discussed.
Inuit Morality Play: The Emotional Education of a Three‐Year‐Old

Inuit Morality Play: The Emotional Education of. Three-Year-Old. Jean L. Briggs. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 1998. xii. 275 pp., maps, appendixes, notes, references.
TNM Staging of Cancers of the Head and Neck: Striving for Uniformity Among Diversity†

The sixth edition of the tumor-node-metastasis staging system for head and neck cancers incorporates some significant shifts in philosophy. As treatment paradigms shift and data from ongoing clinical and basic research become available, further revisions may be expected in the future. The purpose of this review is to highlight the complexities involved in developing a user-friendly staging system and to report the major changes in the new version. The authors also discuss some areas of current interest that may have the potential to lead to future modifications.
Discovering syntactic deep structure via Bayesian statistics

In the Bayesian framework, a language learner should seek a grammar that explains observed data well and is also a priori probable. This paper proposes such a measure of prior probability. Indeed it develops a full statistical framework for lexicalized syntax. The learner's job is to discover the system of probabilistic transformations (often called lexical redundancy rules) that underlies the patterns of regular and irregular syntactic constructions listed in the lexicon. Specifically, the learner discovers what transformations apply in the language, how often they apply, and in what contexts. It considers simpler systems of transformations to be more probable a priori. Experiments show that the learned transformations are more effective than previous statistical models at predicting the probabilities of lexical entries, especially those for which the learner had no direct evidence.
FOURTH SPECTRUM OF LUTETIUM.

Spectra of lutetium obtained with a sliding spark were photographed in the wavelength range 400–3200 A. Wavelengths of 246 lines, comprising all lines identified as Lu iv appearing in the spark at 50-A peak current, are given. Fifty-seven energy levels were deduced from these lines, including nearly all levels of the 4f13(5d, 6s, 6p, 6d, and 7s) configurations and their connection to the 4f14 1S0 ground state. An ionization energy of 364 500±200 cm−1 was derived. The energy levels are interpreted by means of a theoretical analysis utilizing fitted radial parameters. With these results, trends of Slater and spin–orbit parameters and configuration energy differences for fourth spectra of the rare earths are found. The fundamental energy differences between lowest levels of the 4fN and 4fN−15d configurations for the fourth and fifth spectra are deduced.
Origin of lunar high‐titanium ultramafic glasses: Constraints from phase relations and dissolution kinetics of clinopyroxene‐ilmenite cumulates

Abstract— Phase equilibrium and dissolution kinetics experiments on synthetic late-stage magma ocean cumulates are used to place constraints on hypotheses for the origin of lunar high-Ti ultramafic glasses. Models for the production of high-Ti lunar magmas have called for either (1) assimilation of late-stage clinopyroxene-ilmenite cumulates at shallow levels or (2) sinking of clinopyroxene-ilmenite cumulates to form a hybrid mantle source. To satisfy the constraints of our experiments, we propose an alternative model that involves shallow-level reaction and mixing of cumulates, followed by sinking of hybrid high-Ti materials. This model can fulfill compositional requirements imposed by the pristine lunar glass suite that are difficult to satisfy in assimilation models. It also avoids difficulties that arise in overturn models from the low solidus temperatures of clinopyroxene-ilmenite cumulates. Partially molten clinopyroxene-ilmenite cumulates become gravitationally unstable with respect to underlying mafic cumulates only when they have cooled to within ∼30°C of their solidus (∼1125°C at 100 km depth). At these temperatures, the viscosity of mafic cumulates is too high to allow for growth and descent of clinopyroxene-ilmenite diapirs on the appropriate time scale. Reaction and mixing between late-stage liquids and mafic cumulates at shallow levels would produce a refractory hybrid material that is negatively buoyant at higher temperatures and could sink more efficiently to the depths inferred for production of high-Ti ultramafic glasses.
Estimation of Sea Surface Roughness Effects in Microwave Radiometric Measurements of Salinity Using Reflected Global Navigation Satellite System Signals

In February-March 2009, an airborne field campaign was conducted using the Passive Active L- and S-band (PALS) microwave sensor and the Ku-band Polarimetric Scatterometer to collect measurements of brightness temperature and near-surface wind speeds. Flights were conducted over a region of expected high-speed winds in the Atlantic Ocean, for the purposes of algorithm development for sea surface salinity (SSS) retrievals. Wind speeds encountered during the March 2, 2009, flight ranged from 5 to 25 m/s. The Global Positioning System (GPS) delay mapping receiver from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Langley Research Center was also flown to collect GPS signals reflected from the ocean surface and generate postcorrelation power-versus-delay measurements. These data were used to estimate ocean surface roughness. These estimates were found to be strongly correlated with PALS-measured brightness temperature. Initial results suggest that reflected GPS measurements made using small low-power instruments can be used to correct the roughness effects in radiometer brightness temperature measurements to retrieve accurate SSS.
Molecular mechanics (MM4) calculations on carbonyl compounds part I: aldehydes

Aliphatic aldehydes have been studied with the aid of the MM4 force field. The structures, moments of inertia, vibrational spectra, conformational energies, barriers to internal rotation, and dipole moments have been examined for six compounds (nine conformations). MM4 parameters have been developed to fit the indicated quantities to the wide variety of experimental data. Ab initio (MP2) and density functional theory (B3LYP) calculations have been used to augment and/or replace experimental data, as appropriate. Because more, and to some extent, better, data have become available since MM3 was developed, it was anticipated that the overall accuracy of the information calculated with MM4 would be better than with MM3. The best single measure of the overall accuracy of a force field is the accuracy to which the moments of inertia of a set of compounds (from microwave spectroscopy) can be reproduced. For all of the 20 moments (seven conformations) experimentally known for the aldehyde compounds, the MM4 rms error is 0.30%, while with MM3, the most accurate force field presently available, the rms error over the same set is 1.01%. The calculation of the vibrational spectra was also improved overall. For the four aldehydes that were fully analyzed (over a total of 78 frequencies), the rms errors with MM4 and MM3 are 18 and 38 cm−1, respectively. These improvements came from several sources, but the major ones were separate parameters involving the carbonyl carbon for formaldehyde, the alkyl aldehydes and the ketones, and new crossterms featured in the MM4 force field that are not present in the MM3 version. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 22: 1396–1425, 2001
Research: Persistence and Task Performance

In the preceding chapter we described a theoretical model of the interactive effects of self-directed attention and outcome expectancies. In this chapter we review a variety of research that directly and indirectly supports that model. This research utilized several different dependent measures for assessing discrepancy-reduction attempts and withdrawal, including both persistence and performance measures. In addition, self-attention was varied both by experimental manipulations and by individual differences. Finally, outcome expectancies were varied in several different ways. Thus, there are three different respects in which the research taken as a whole incorporates a broad degree of generality.
Investigation of radiative tunneling in GaN/InGaN single quantum well light-emitting diodes

Abstract The mechanisms of carrier injection and recombination in a GaN/InGaN single quantum well light-emitting diodes have been studied. Strong defect-assisted tunneling behavior has been observed in both forward and reverse current–voltage characteristics. In addition to band-edge emission at 400 nm, the electroluminescence has also been attributed to radiative tunneling from band-to-deep level states and band-to-band tail states. The approximately current-squared dependence of light intensity at 400 nm even at high currents indicates dominant nonradiative recombination through deep-lying states within the space-charge region. Inhomogeneous avalanche breakdown luminescence, which is primarily caused by deep-level recombination, suggests a nonuniform spatial distribution of reverse leakage in these diodes.
A virtual reality interface to provide point interaction and constriction to the finger

Virtual reality (VR) simulation of tube thoracostomy may improve the procedural training for medical and nursing students. Current VR simulators, however, do not provide tactile feedback, which is essential for enabling certain tasks (e.g., surface palpation to identify rib location, blunt dissection for access to pleural space surrounding the lungs, and finger sweep to confirm location in the pleural space). This work develops a physical apparatus that provides users with point feedback at the fingertip when palpating an external surface and a sensation of constriction around the finger during insertion into a body. The physical apparatus is composed of two components that separately control the constriction on the tip and middle of the finger. Each constriction component is made of two nylon casings coated with a silicone-elastomer that enclose about the top and bottom of the finger. DC gearhead motors control the magnitude of pressure in proportion to feedback from force transducers embedded in the silicone-elastomer. The device is intended to communicate with a virtual environment (written in H3D). The apparatus augments traditional stick-based force feedback and should enhance the learning of tactile tasks in tube thoracostomy.
Homeo box genes and animal development

Homeotic and segmentation genes of Drosophila effect crucial patterning decisions in the morphogenesis of the fruit fly body plan. Many of these genes are members of a highly diverged multi-gene family. The signal homology for this family is the homeo box, a protein coding sequence of approximately 180 base pairs. The mouse and human genomes also contain multi-gene families with homeo boxes very similar to those found in Drosophila. A tenable hypothesis is that the various members of this gene family perform similar morphogenetic programming functions in both fly and mouse development. Thus far, there are two lines of experimental evidence that support this hypothesis. The first is that comparison of specific Drosophila and mouse gene homeo box gene sequences shows that some of the individual genes in the two species are truly homologues in terms of structure, i.e., individual homeo box genes had evolved conserved and separate functions before the evolutionary divergence that eventually gave rise to arthropods and mammals. The second line of evidence is that the patterns of expression of mouse homeo box genes during embryonic development show remarkable similarities to the patterns of expression exhibited by their Drosophila counterparts.
Maximizing the effectiveness of environmental enrichment: Suggestions from the experimental analysis of behavior

Abstract Environmental enrichment programs provide benefits to both captive animals and the facilities that house them, but cost time and resources to design, implement, and maintain. As yet, there have been few theoretically based guidelines to assist animal care staff in establishing cost-efficient enrichment methods that both elicit the desired behavioral changes and maintain their success over time. We describe several well-studied principles from the field of experimental analysis of behavior, including intrinsic reinforcement, extrinsic reinforcement, habituation, extinction, and schedules of reinforcement that could be very useful for evaluating the short- and long-term effectiveness of enrichment. We use this theoretical framework to generate testable hypotheses and provide examples of enrichment studies relevant to our predictions. In particular, we suggest that enrichment devices that offer extrinsic reinforcement (food, social access, etc. as a result of performing behaviors) should produce greater and more prolonged changes in behavior than devices that rely on the behavior itself being reinforcing to the animal. For techniques that provide no extrinsic reinforcement, using stimuli that are novel, are more different from the environment, have been withheld or altered in some way, or are presented less frequently may help reduce habituation. For techniques that provide extrinsic reinforcement, making reinforcement more difficult to obtain and providing more or higher quality reinforcers may increase the long-term success of the enrichment program. In addition, enrichment may be more effective if animal care staff avoid continuously reinforcing behaviors after they are established, enriching immediately after feeding, and exposing animals to enrichment when reinforcement is no longer available. While the current enrichment literature supports the application of behavior analytic theory, empirical evaluation of many of our predictions is still needed.
Experimental Evaluation and Analysis of Electrodynamic Screen as Dust Mitigation Technology for Future Mars Missions

The electrodynamic screen (EDS) is considered to be one of the feasible dust mitigation technologies for future Mars missions. In this paper, the performance of EDS for surface cleaning was characterized with respect to the following operational parameters: 1) the efficiency of screens under both continuous and intermittent operations with different rates of dust deposition; 2) electrical power requirements for the screen operation with respect to dust removal efficiency (DRE), frequency, and excitation frequency; and 3) the optical transmission efficiency of the transparent EDSs and the corresponding power loss, when these screens were placed on solar panels. The average DRE of EDS during continuous dust loading was over 95%, whereas it was 90% when the screen was activated intermittently. Power consumption by EDS, as well as the size and weight of the power supply, is one of the critical factors for its applicability for dust removal from solar panels during future Mars mission. The power consumption by EDS was measured under several dust loadings and using different frequencies and electrical field intensities for the safe operation of power supplies without Paschen breakdown. Experiments were conducted under simulated Martian atmosphere (5.0 mb CO2 atmosphere) using a screen with an active surface area of 59 cm2. The average power consumption of screen varied between 1.02 and 2.87 mW. The optical transmission efficiency for a transparent EDS (PET substrate with indium tin oxide electrodes) was measured for a PET screen with ITO electrodes. It was found that placing the transparent EDS on a typical space-type solar panel resulted in a significant obscuration. The power output of the solar panel decreased by 15%.
Observations of Gulf of Tehuantepec Gap Wind Events from QuikSCAT: An Updated Event Climatology and Operational Model Evaluation

Abstract A climatology of gale- and storm-force gap wind events in the Gulf of Tehuantepec is constructed for the first time using 10 yr of ocean surface vector wind data from the SeaWinds scatterometer on board NASA’s Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT) satellite. These wind events are among the most severe that occur within the National Hurricane Center’s (NHC) area of marine forecasting responsibility outside of tropical cyclones. The 10-yr climatology indicates that on average 11.9 gale-force events and 6.4 storm-force events occur in the Gulf of Tehuantepec each cold season. About 84% of these events occur between November and March, with the largest number of gale-force events occurring in December. Storm-force events are most frequent in January. Operational numerical weather prediction model forecasts of these events from the NCEP Global Forecast System (GFS) and North American Mesoscale (NAM) models were evaluated during the 2006/07 cold season. Results show that neither model is able to consistently ...
Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever in New York State

Clinical and laboratory data provided in 214 Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) case reports received by the New York State Department of Health during 1977-1988 were analyzed to determine recent trends of this disease observed infrequently, but continuously, in New York State residents. Age, sex, geographic exposure, onset, symptoms, laboratory test, treatment, and hospitalization data are presented. Despite a 69% decrease of disease incidence from 1977 (0.368 cases per 10(5) population) to 1980 (0.114 cases per 10(5) population), case incidence rates in New York State since 1980 have averaged 0.118 cases/10(5) population with a 5.2% case fatality rate. RMSF was reported more frequently in males (58.9%) and in the total 10-19-year-old age group (28%) than in any other age group. Of 156 reports including confirming laboratory data, 60.3% relied upon the microimmunofluorescence or indirect immunofluorescent antibody procedure, as opposed to 32.7% with Proteus-OX, 4.5% with complement fixation, or 1.9% with latex agglutination, microagglutination, or indirect hemagglutination procedures. Of 164 reports providing therapy data, 79% included the use of tetracyclines alone or in combination with other drugs, as opposed to 21% using chloramphenicol or other drugs. Of 44 patients in the 1-9-year-old age group, 32 (73%) received tetracyclines for RMSF therapy despite risks of staining the permanent teeth. One hundred and thirty patients (61%) required hospitalization, with the highest rate in the 30-39-year-old age group (19/24 = 79%).
Postpartum Fatigue in the Active‐Duty Military Woman

Objective (a) To describe fatigue levels in military active‐duty women, (b) to describe the relationship among selected predictor variables of fatigue, and (c) to examine the relationship between predictor variables, fatigue levels, and performance (as measured by functional status) after childbirth. Design Based on the Theory of Unpleasant Symptoms, a longitudinal, prospective design. Setting A large military medical facility in the southwest United States. Patients/Participants A convenience sample of 109 military active‐duty women. Main Outcome Measure Postpartum fatigue. Results Women were found to be moderately fatigued across time, with no change in fatigue levels from 2 to 6 weeks after delivery. All variables correlated with fatigue during hospitalization and at 2 weeks after delivery, and depression, anxiety, maternal sleep, and functional status correlated with fatigue at 6 weeks after delivery. Regression analyses indicated that maternal anxiety predicted fatigue at 6 weeks after delivery. Over half the women had not regained full functional status when they returned to work, and 40% still displayed symptoms of postpartum depression and anxiety. Conclusions Military women continue to experiencing postpartum fatigue when they return to the workplace. Future research is needed to examine issues surrounding fatigue and its associated variables during the first year after delivery.
Low-Cost System for Real-Time Monitoring of Luciferase Gene Expression

In some mammalian cells transfected with luciferase reporter genes, the luciferase/luciferin reaction in a cell monolayer produces a very small light flux. While the low light levels are often measurable with single-photon counting cameras, these devices are expensive and may require long averaging times to acquire an image. We describe an approach for real-time monitoring of light produced by luciferase gene expression in intact, cultured cells using readily available and relatively inexpensive components. The system uses a single-photon counting photomultiplier tube with built-in high voltage supply and photon counting circuitry to rapidly measure average light output from growing cells in a 35 mm culture dish. The fast, accurate and highly sensitive response of the system makes it useful for studying the dynamics of gene expression over time periods ranging from minutes to days.
Blend Bans and Butter Demand

A number of countries have instituted bans on the sale of butter blends to protect butter sales. A related strategy is to prohibit the coloration of margarine. This study examines the efficacy of the bans by estimating a pooled time series/cross section model of margarine and butter demand in Canada. Results suggest that such bans are effective. In particular, sales of butter in regions where the bans are in place are estimated to be 29 percent higher than in regions without bans, after adjusting for differences in prices, income, and other factors influencing interregional demands for fats and oils. The blend ban, moreover, is estimated to be about three times more effective at protecting butter sales than the coloration ban. Although removal of the bans is estimated to have a greater effect on margarine sales than on butter sales, it is not possible to determine which product would be the net loser without more information about blend compositions and supply responses in the respective markets.
Evaluating Crops for a Flexible Summer Fallow Cropping System

Substituting a short-season, spring-planted crop for summer fallow when soil water is sufficient at planting might reduce soil degradation without significantly increasing the risk of crop failure. The objectives of this study were to determine the relationship of crop grain or forage yield to plant available soil water at planting. The study was conducted on silt loam soils in 2004 and 2005 at Sidney, NE, and Akron, CO. A range of soil water levels was established with supplemental irrigation before planting. Four crops [spring triticale (X Triticosecale rimpaui Wittm.) for forage, dry pea (Pisum sativum L.) for grain, proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) for grain, and foxtail millet (Setaria italica L. Beauv.) for forage] were no-till seeded into corn (Zea mays L.) residue in a split-plot design with four replications per location. Triticale forage yield increased by 229 kg ha 21 for each centimeter of soil water available at planting in 2004. Foxtail millet forage yield and grain yield of proso millet increased by 399 kg ha 21 cm 21 and 148 kg ha 21 cm 21 , respectively, at Akron in 2004. Spring triticale, foxtail millet, and proso millet did not respond to soil water at planting in 2005, when precipitation was above the long-term average. Dry pea did not demonstrate a consistent positive response to soil water availability at planting. Soil water at planting may be a useful indicator of potential yield for selected short-season spring-planted summer crops, particularly when crop production is limited by growing season precipitation.
Fast and low-power thermooptic switch on thin silicon-on-insulator

We have designed and fabricated Mach-Zehnder interferometer thermooptic switches using a wafer-bonded thin-silicon-on-insulator materials system. The thermally switched devices use single-mode strip waveguides with dimensions 0.26/spl times/0.6 /spl mu/m/sup 2/, operating at a wavelength of /spl lambda/=1.55 /spl mu/m. Useful device characteristics include a low switching power, 50 mW, and a fast rise time of <3.5 /spl mu/s. These results demonstrate the potential of this high-index-contrast materials system for the design of fast and low-power thermooptic switches and as an active element in photonic integrated circuits.
Genomic change and gene silencing in polyploids.

Abstract Combining the genomes of two species through hybridization and chromosome doubling can create a new allopolyploid species virtually overnight. Although common in Nature, such genetic mergers might not be easy. Recent studies, mostly in plants, suggest that polyploidization can induce a flurry of genetic and epigenetic events that include DNA sequence elimination and gene silencing.
The trans-septal approach to the orbital apex via the contralateral exenterated orbit.

Purpose: To report a unique approach to the orbital apex through the contralateral orbit.Methods: A 65-year-old male presented with right compressive optic neuropathy due to nasopharyngeal carcinoma spread. Clinical evaluation and imaging showed a right orbital apex mass. Surgery included apical orbital tumor debulking, and orbital decompression performed via the contralateral exenterated side. Postoperatively, symptoms were relieved.Conclusions: Orbitotomy via the contralateral exenterated orbit should be considered as a surgical option in these unique patients requiring direct access to the orbital apex.
Nutrition Preparation and the Geriatric Nurse

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not geriatric nurses are prepared to implement nutrition interventionsfor high-risk elderly patients. Manyfactors can influence poor dietary in...
Plasma ACTH determinations in 58 patients before or after adrenalectomy for Cushing's syndrome.

Results of studies carried out on 58 patients with Cushing's syndrome either preor post-adrenalectomy for Cushing's syndrome are presented. The data are consistent with the concept that Cushing's syndrome due to adrenal hyperplasia is mediated by increased secretion of ACTH by the pituitary gland or less commonly from an ACTH-secreting nonendocrine carcinoma. The pituitary mediated form of the disease, as previously suggested, apparently can be characterized by 3 stages: 1) an initial loss of diurnal variation with little increase in plasma ACTH but increased secretion of cortical steroids by the adrenal gland presumably due to maintenance of high normal to slightly elevated ACTH throughout the 24-hr period; 2) clearly elevated levels of ACTH which may occur coincident with elevated secretion of cortical steroids by the gland (most commonly seen following partial adrenalectomy); 3) a third stage (most common after total adrenalectomy) in which plasma ACTH levels are often at extremely high levels, the pat...
Gating machinery of InsP3R channels revealed by electron cryomicroscopy

Inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (InsP3Rs) are ubiquitous ion channels responsible for cytosolic Ca(2+) signalling and essential for a broad array of cellular processes ranging from contraction to secretion, and from proliferation to cell death. Despite decades of research on InsP3Rs, a mechanistic understanding of their structure-function relationship is lacking. Here we present the first, to our knowledge, near-atomic (4.7 A) resolution electron cryomicroscopy structure of the tetrameric mammalian type 1 InsP3R channel in its apo-state. At this resolution, we are able to trace unambiguously ∼85% of the protein backbone, allowing us to identify the structural elements involved in gating and modulation of this 1.3-megadalton channel. Although the central Ca(2+)-conduction pathway is similar to other ion channels, including the closely related ryanodine receptor, the cytosolic carboxy termini are uniquely arranged in a left-handed α-helical bundle, directly interacting with the amino-terminal domains of adjacent subunits. This configuration suggests a molecular mechanism for allosteric regulation of channel gating by intracellular signals.
Self-efficacy Mediates the Relationship between Balance/Walking Performance, Activity, and Participation after Stroke

Background: Many outcome measures (OM) that assess individuals’ ability or beliefs in their ability to perform tasks exist to evaluate activity and participation after stroke; however, the relationship between various OM and activity/participation is unclear.Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between different OM and activity and participation in people after stroke.Methods: Fifty-nine subjects post stroke participated in an assessment including self-selected walking speed, 6 minute walk test, Timed “Up and Go” test, Berg Balance Scale, Functional Gait Assessment, Walk 12, and Activity-specific Balance Confidence Scale. Step Watch Activity Monitoring (SAM) was used as a measure of activity and Stroke Impact Scale-Participation (SIS-P) as a measure of participation. Exploratory Factor Analysis was performed including all measures except SAM and SIS-P. Two factors were extracted and termed performance based (PB) and self-efficacy (SE). A path analysis assessed the role of ...
Computer Design of CMAS Systems

The procedure followed is to first select a sludge age and aeration tank size and then solve the complete mixing activated sludge (CMAS) equations for each set of input data. The aeration tank size and sludge age values are incremented the desired number of times and amount with the calculations repeated each time. The cost of the secondary system is determined once for each aeration tank size and stored by the computer. The average unit BOD 5 removal cost and average unit suspended solids removal cost are determined for each tank size. At each sludge age the aeration tank with the lowest unit BOD 5 removal cost meeting the operational limits is selected. At the option of the designer all or part of the information is printed.
Chemical sensing based on graphene-aluminum nitride nano plate resonators

This paper reports on an innovative chemical sensing mechanism based on the effective transduction of the analyte induced variations in the electrical conductivity of a graphene electrode employed to excite mechanical vibration in an Aluminum Nitride (AlN) piezoelectric nano plate resonator (NPR). We show that the use of a single atomic layer graphene as a virtually massless and strainless electrode for AlN NPRs not only boosts the operating frequency (up to 63% higher f0) and electromechanical performance (up to 2× improved Q) of the devices, but it also enables unique chemical sensing capabilities. We experimentally demonstrate that the variations in the graphene electrode conductivity upon chemical doping can be efficiently detected by monitoring the corresponding induced variations in the vibration amplitude of the graphene-AlN (G-AlN) NPR, without the need of direct electrical probing of the graphene sensing layer. The effectiveness of the proposed sensing mechanism is experimentally verified by monitoring a progressive fluorination of the graphene electrode, which gradually converts it to an insulator. A 2 dB change in resonance amplitude is recorded when the G-AlN NPR is exposed to a highly diluted concentration of XeF2 vapor (XeF2 partial pressure ∼1/36 in N2) for 2 minutes.
The Mating of Aged Virgin Queen Honeybees

SUMMARYQueen honeybees were caged in a queenright colony until 1–38 days old, and then allowed to fly from mating nuclei, in good weather. All 11 queens caged 1–7 days produced worker brood, but 11 out of 13 caged for over a month laid only drone eggs. The other two produced worker brood, and their spermathecae contained sperm, but one had far fewer than is normal.
Preparing Adapted Physical Educators to Teach Students with Autism: Current Practices and Future Directions.

For many students with autism spectrum disorder, physical education is the responsibility of an adapted physical education specialist. In this study, we examined the training focused on teaching students with autism spectrum disorder received by a sample of 106 adapted physical education specialists. Competencies necessary on a course to train adapted physical education specialists to work with students with autism spectrum disorder were also defined using a two-step process. First, a group of physical education and special education experts generated a provisional list of competencies that they saw as necessary. Participants in this study then provided their opinions on the validity of this list. Additional suggestions for future training were also sought from participants.
INTRASEXUAL COMPETITION ALONE FAVORS A SEXUALLY DIMORPHIC ORNAMENT IN THE RUBYSPOT DAMSELFLY HETAERINA AMERICANA.

I studied the sex-limited red spots on the wings of male rubyspot damselflies (Hetaerina americana) in relation to territoriality and fitness in the wild. Both observational and experimental (wing spot manipulation) studies indicated that wing spots were selected through competition among males for mating territories, not through female choice or direct competition for females. Males with naturally or artificially large wing spots were more successful at holding territories and consequently mated at higher rates than males with relatively small wing spots. In contrast, sexual selection on male body size appeared to operate among nonterritorial males at the clasping stage of the mating sequence, perhaps because larger males were better at clasping females forcibly. Of four models proposed to explain the evolution of ornaments through territory competition, only the agonistic handicap model makes predictions consistent with the results of this study.
Characteristics of the glaciation of the Brooks Range, Alaska

A statistical investigation of the glaciation of Brooks Range in the area 143°15′–145°30′ W and 68°48′–69°20′ N showed that northern slopes are more glaciated (66%) than those exposed to the south (15%). This can be explained by the insolation during the ablation period which differs for northern and southern slopes by 9%. Glaciation of slopes exposed to the east is 17% higher than that of the western slopes. This might be explained by the higher temperature in the afternoon and the different amounts of precipitation recorded in these areas. A map indicating the cyclone frequency and the main tracks of cyclones proved that the precipitation occurs more frequently with winds from the east.
Effect of Aspirin Supplementation on Hemostatic Responses in Firefighters Aged 40 to 60 Years

Sudden cardiovascular events account for approximately 45% to 50% of all duty-related deaths among firefighters and a disproportionate number of these fatalities occur after strenuous fire suppression activities. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of acute and chronic aspirin supplementation on hemostatic function before and after live firefighting activities in older firefighters. A double-blind, crossover design included 4 treatments: a 2-week aspirin/placebo treatment ("chronic") and a single prefirefighting aspirin/placebo treatment ("acute"). Hemostatic function was assessed in 24 male firefighters (mean age = 48.2 ± 5.9 years) immediately before and after 18 minutes of live-fire firefighting activity. An acute bout of firefighting activity significantly decreased platelet aggregation time and decreased activated partial thromboplastin time. Compared with placebo, acute aspirin supplementation resulted in a significant increase in epinephrine closure time, which was further augmented by chronic supplementation. Aspirin supplementation had no effect on coagulatory or fibrinolytic factors. Our findings suggest that an acute bout of firefighting leads to increased coagulatory potential in older firefighters. In conclusion, aspirin supplementation had an antiplatelet effect that decreased platelet aggregability at rest and after an acute bout of firefighting compared with placebo.
Management of pediatric cancer.

Only a few decades ago the prognosis for children with cancer was uniformly poor. Today approximately 50% are long-term survivors, potentially or actually cured. Two basic questions are addressed: What problems remain to be overcome? Does pediatric cancer provide a model for treatment of adults? Therapeutic accomplishments in hematologic and solid tumors of childhood are reviewed.
Callus Morphology Associated with Somatic Embryogenesis in Barley

Our experiments with Atlas 57 barley callus cultures indicate that somatic embryogenesis is preceded by the formation of callus with an unusual morphology.
Evidence that activation of the Egr-1 promoter by v-Raf involves serum response elements

The constitutively active serine/threonine kinase encoded by the v-raf oncogene, v-Raf, activates the Egr-1 promoter in transient expression assays. To characterize the v-Raf-responsive transcriptional control elements, deletion mutants of the Egr-1 promoter were used in transient expression assays. A v-Raf expression vector was co-transfected into NIH3T3 cells with reporter chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) expression vectors under the control of the Egr-1 promoter or the Egr-1 promoter containing various deletions. Responsiveness to v-Raf was restricted to a region that contained repeated CC(A/T)6GG sequences, known as CArG boxes. CArG boxes form the core of serum response elements (SREs). v-Raf-induced Egr-1 promoter activation was lost by removal of the four tandemly repeated SREs. This region, between -425 and -250, which was necessary for v-Raf responsiveness, was also found to be sufficient for maximal Egr-1 induction by v-Raf when placed upstream from a minimal heterologous promoter. Three out of four SREs from this region were able to respond to v-Raf, however the activation of the individual SREs was lower than the clustered SREs. This cluster of SREs has previously been shown to be responsive to several mitogenic stimuli and the oncogene v-src. Thus, the SREs contained in this cluster may be an important target for cell division signals.