cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A survey of patient education activities of community pharmacists

Abstract Consumer demand for prescription drug information has increased in the past few years. This demand has created increased public expectations from the pharmacist for this information. The purpose of this study was to assess how pharmacists are responding to this demand and to examine factors that may explain their response. The study consisted of a survey of pharmacists working in a randomly selected sample of 400 community pharmacies in Michigan of which 234 (58.5%) usable responses were analyzed. The results indicate that pharmacists do not provide oral information to most of the patients to which they dispense prescriptions. Written information is provided primarily via the labels on the prescription container. However, pharmacists willingly provide advice to patients that they perceive as needing or wanting such information, particularly in response to patient requests. These findings suggest that patients will obtain more information from their pharmacists if they are more aggressive in seeking it. In addition, pharmacists should encourage questions from patients more often by spending more time with them and counseling them in a more private setting.
Manometric Studies in Rectal Prolapse

Manometric studies of internal sphincter responses were carried out on 15 patients−14 with rectal prolapse and one with mucosal prolapse with proctitis cystica profunda. In all 12 patients studied preoperatively, the internal sphincter reflexes (inhibitory reflex) were absent or markedly obtunded. Anterior resection was performed on three of the patients in whom preoperative and postoperative manometric studies could be carried out. In one, the inhibitory reflex returned to normal after successful corrective surgery and in one, absence of the reflex persisted after anterior resection and this patient eventually had recurrent rectal prolapse.
Fabrication of nanostructures using polymer brushes

Polymer brushes offer a surface platform consisting of densely packed macromolecular monolayers that can be used to generate and control nanostructures at surfaces based on the cooperative movement of interacting, stretched polymer chains in response to changes in the surrounding microenvironment. Depending on the chemical composition of the polymer and applied stimuli such as solvation or temperature, interfacial properties of polymer brushes can induce surface topographies that have been used to switch adhesion, morphology, wettability, and surface free energy. This review highlights recent advances in polymer brush fabrication using surface initiated polymerization techniques, with a particular emphasis on the advantages of using brushes to template surface properties at the nanoscale.
Molar absorptivity and A1 cm (1%) values for proteins at selected wavelengths of the ultraviolet and visible regions. XXII.

The molar absorptivity and A 1 cm 1% values for 150 proteins are reported. The conditions under which these values were obtained and citations to the sources of the data are also provided.
Calculation of compressible turbulent free shear layers

Rudy and Bushnell's (1972) mixing length theory for the prediction of mean velocity fields in turbulent shear layers is extended to include supersonic free turbulent mixing. The normal momentum equation is coupled with the conventional equations of motion and is solved iteratively. Results show that transverse static pressure variation has very little effect on the mean flow variables in compressible free turbulent shear layers.
Mass transfer during sensible charging of a hybrid absorption/sensible storage tank☆

Abstract A concept for long term thermochemical storage based on absorption of aqueous CaCl2 is described and evaluated during sensible charging operation. The novelty of the desiccant storage tank is that strong and diluted salt solutions as well as water are stored in one vessel. An immersed heat exchanger and manifold provide the means to charge the tank without mixing solutions of different CaCl2 mass fraction. The ability to heat the tank via natural convection, while minimizing mass transfer between regions of different salt mass fraction, is elucidated via optical measurements of the velocity and CaCl2 mass fraction distributions in a 1500 liter prototype tank. Over a wide range of the dimensionless parameters that govern mixing, the mass transfer between layers of differing CaCl2 mass fraction is low, typically with Sherwood numbers less than 100, and temperature stratification is maintained. Projected time scales for long term storage exceed 100 days.
Sequence of the spike protein of the Belgian B164S isolate of nephropathogenic infectious bronchitis virus.

Summary The sequence of the gene encoding the spike glycoprotein (S) of the 1984 Belgian nephropathogenic isolate B1648 has been determined and shown to encode a protein of 1171 amino acids. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of the S1 (amino‐terminal half) of S, which induces virus‐neutralizing antibodies, with that of vaccinal strains D274, H120 and D1466 revealed that it differed from them by 21, 25 and 49%, respectively, and by 24 to 25% from the North American nephropathogenic isolates Gray and Holte. The deduced amino add sequence of the S2 (carboxy‐terminal) half of S differed by 10 to 12% (25% from D1466).
A dual anti-tumor effect of a combination of interferon-α or interleukin-2 and 5-fluorouracil on natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytotoxicity

Abstract Previous in vitro and in vivo studies have shown a synergism between interferon (IFN) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) against different tumor cell lines. In the present study we report that the combination of IFN-α and 5-FU has a significant effect not only on the inhibition of tumor cell growth but also on the regulation of natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity (NK-CMC). The addition of 5-FU to effector cell population neither affects NK cell activity nor activation of NK cells by IFN or by interleukin (IL)-2. However, pretreatment of target cells with 5-FU increased their susceptibility to NK activity and abolished the protective effect induced by IFN against NK-CMC. This dual effect of IFN-α and 5-FU was found to be applicable to target cells of different origins including a cervical carcinoma cell line (ME-180), a hairy cell leukemia-like cell line (Eskol), a CML cell line (K-562) and a primary culture of AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma cells. Similar results were found with IL-2 treatment of Eskol cells but not other cells. Combination of IL-2 with 5-FU resulted in enhancement of the sensitivity of the cells to NK activity and abolished the protection against NK-CMC. Based on these results we propose that the combination of IFN-α and 5-FU not only has a direct growth inhibitory effect on tumor cells but also has a regulatory role on the immunological arm of the NK-CMC. Moreover, since the combination gave the same pattern of response in different tumor cells, both NK-sensitive and NK-resistant, this combination treatment may be a candidate for clinical trials in various types of tumors.
Pregnancy complicated by chronic spinal cord injury and history of autonomic hyperreflexia

Abstract Background: During pregnancy, women with spinal cord injuries are at risk for autonomic hyperreflexia (AH), which can result in hypertensive encephalopathy, cerebrovascular accidents, intraventricular hemorrhages, and death. Information in the literature is limited concerning the risks of developing AH after amniocentesis or fetal blood sampling. Furthermore, the intrapartum obstetric management of a patient with a history of AH during a prior labor is uncertain. This case demonstrates the safety of performing intrauterine procedures and a trial of labor in such a situation. Case: A 36 year-old patient, gravida 4, para 2, presented for prenatal care with a chronic spinal cord injury and a previous pregnancy complicated by AH intrapartum. During her subsequent two pregnancies, she required four amniocenteses and three fetal blood samplings secondary to isoimmunization. With these two pregnancies, labor was induced at term with early placement of an epidural catheter. There was no evidence of AH during any of the invasive uterine procedures or during the intrapartum period. Conclusions: We found in this case that intrauterine procedures, such as amniocentesis and fetal blood sampling, did not result in AH. Data are limited concerning the recurrence risk of both intrapartum and procedural autonomic dysreflexia; however, with proper precautions, invasive procedures and vaginal delivery should not be considered a contraindication in parturients with a history of AH.
Charge Detection Mass Spectrometry for Single Ions with an Uncertainty in the Charge Measurement of 0.65 e

Charge detection mass spectrometry (CDMS) provides a direct measure of the mass of individual ions through nondestructive, simultaneous measurements of the mass to charge ratio and the charge. To improve the accuracy of the charge measurement, ions are trapped and recirculated through the charge detector. By substantially extending the trapping time, the uncertainty in the charge determination has been reduced by a factor of two, from 1.3 elementary charges (e) to 0.65 e. The limit of detection (the smallest charge that can be reliably measured) has been reduced by about the same proportion, from 13 to 7 e. The more precise charge measurements enable a substantial improvement in the mass resolution, which is critical for applications of CDMS to mixtures of high mass ions.
Characterization of Undrained Porous Pavement Systems Using a Broken-Line Model

Past attempts at characterizing the hydrologic response of porous pavement systems have not distinguished between the different behaviors of drained and undrained pavements. Most models used that are appropriate for traditional catchments can be applied successfully to drained porous pavements; however, these models do not match the expected hydrologic behavior of undrained porous pavements. Undrained porous pavements exhibit a fill-and-spill response to rainfall events. While forcing an undrained pavement’s fill-and-spill behavior into a conventional runoff model may simplify design, it does so at the cost of accuracy. This research models the rainfall-runoff relationship for undrained porous pavements and proposes a broken-line model as an appropriate characterization of the behavior. The breakpoint of the model represents the initial abstraction of the pavement, and the slope of the upper line is primarily a function of the infiltration capacity of the underlying soil. Because both the initial abstraction and slope are functions of the pavement storage capacity and 24-h infiltration depth, a broad range of pavements were modeled and the results were compiled into figures, allowing the direct lookup of the model’s parameters. This new characterization of the hydrologic behavior of porous pavement provides a simple but more accurate model of the actual behavior, which will enable designers and regulators to easily calculate and understand an undrained pavement’s hydraulic behavior.
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in ependymal cells during development. An immunocytochemical study

Abstract Human ependymal cells show positive immunostaining for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) at one stage of the fetal development. The reaction seems to coincide with maturation of the epithelial layer and development of cilia. Two types of reactive cells are present: epithelial and tanycytes. The GFAP-positive reaction in both these cells is transient, appearing at different times and with different patterns in the various regions of the ventricular system. In order to explain the presence of detectable GFAP in developing ependymal cells and its absence in mature cells, it is proposed that either the synthesis of detectable amounts of GFAP occurs only at a stage of ependymal cell maturation, or that the intermediate filaments assembled in developing ependymal cells are antigenically distinct from those of the mature cells. The present findings indicate that tanycytes are not an immature form of ependymal cells but that they develop parallel to the epithelial cells. The role of the tanycytes remains obscure, but it is suggested that they are not related to radial glia.
Immunologic studies of experimental beryllium lung disease in the guinea pig

Abstract An experimental model for chronic, granulomatous beryllium lung disease was produced in Hartley (outbred) and strain 2 guinea pigs by endotracheal injection of beryllium oxide. These animals demonstrated positive skin tests to intradermal injections of beryllium sulfate and their peripheral lymphocytes showed significant blast transformation to beryllium salts in vitro. Treatment with prednisone decreased severity of the lung disease as graded by histologic evaluation. This beneficial effect disappeared within 8 weeks after therapy was discontinued. l -Asparaginase and cytoxan treatments had a similar effect. Guinea pigs made tolerant to beryllium by intravenous or oral administration of beryllium sulfate developed minimal disease when challenged with endotracheal beryllium oxide. In the study of inbred strains 2 and 13, the former consistently developed lung disease whereas the latter did not, although chemical analyses of lung tissue for beryllium content showed equivalent amounts to be deposited in both strains. In strain 2 guinea pigs, the disease as well as delayed skin reactivity could be transferred by spleen cells. These studies support the participation of immune mechanisms in beryllium lung disease.
Designing for social needs to support aging in place within continuing care retirement communities

With advancing age and disability, continuing care retirement community (CCRC) residents relocate to the next care level as needed. Occasionally, independent living does not offer services a resident needs, yet the resident may not be ready for assisted living. Additionally, since research indicates relocation negatively impacts frail adults’ health/well-being (Bernard et al. 1996), it is reasonable to ask if this approach is optimal. Might aging in place within independent living be more beneficial? Research also shows satisfying social needs is increasingly important to supporting health (Glass et al. 2006) and life satisfaction (Jang et al. 2004) as we age. How then, do we design to support resident social interaction without necessitating relocation? As aging residents experience physical declines such as limited mobility, nearby space designs become increasingly important. This study involving south eastern US, CCRC residents sought to determine how aging in place might be supported by social space designs. Using the Successful Social Space Attribute Model (Campbell 2014) as its organizing framework, this study examined independent and assisted living resident perspectives to identify factors impacting how well social spaces were liked and used, the markers of social space success. For both groups, this study identified two factors: active engagement opportunities (i.e. ways to engage with the environment and other people), and home range (i.e. resident’s daily path of travel). These findings suggest guidelines for designing CCRC social spaces to support aging in place.
A diffuse plate boundary model for Indian Ocean tectonics

It is suggested that motion along the virtually aseismic Owen fracture zone is negligible, so that Arabia and India are contained within a single Indo-Arabian plate divided from the Australian plate by a diffuse boundary. The boundary is a zone of concentrated seismicity and deformation commonly characterized as 'intraplate'. The rotation vector of Australia relative to Indo-Arabia is consistent with the seismologically observed 2 cm/yr of left-lateral strike-slip along the Ninetyeast Ridge, north-south compression in the Central Indian Ocean, and the north-south extension near Chagos.
Towards flame retardant cotton fabrics by atmospheric pressure plasma-induced graft polymerization: Synthesis and application of novel phosphoramidate monomers

The synthesis of two novel phosphoramidate flame retardant monomers for application to cotton textiles using atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma was achieved and the molecular structures were characterized using +ESI-MS and FT-IR. The effects of plasma exposure time, monomer concentration, crosslinker chemistry, crosslinker concentration and photoinitiator concentration on grafting yield were investigated and the process was optimized for highest grafting yield. SEM images of the treated fabrics showed a grafted polymer layer covalently bonded to the polymer structure of cotton that survived a lengthy extraction process to remove ungrafted homopolymer and/or unreacted monomer. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that fabrics treated with the monomers demonstrated an increased thermal stability relative to untreated cotton. Vertical burn testing demonstrated the effectiveness of the grafted phosphorus-containing polymer at promoting char formation even though the fabrics were not self-extinguishing. Measurement of the amount of phosphorus present on the treated samples confirmed that the add-on using this application strategy was too low for self-extinguishing properties, but the rest of the evidence suggested that these compounds have the potential for use in generating flame retardant cotton substrates provided that a more suitable application strategy is developed to further improve grafting yield.
Hybrid plasmids containing the araBAD genes of Escherichia coli B/r.

Abstract The DNA fragments generated by restriction endonuclease Bam I which contain the araCBAD genes from E. coli B/r have been cloned. The DNA fragments containing ara genes were identified by a comparison of the Bam I fragments of λh80d ara phages containing different ara deletion mutations. The ara genes were cloned into the plasmid pBR317, derivative of Co1E1. The cloned DNA fragments were analyzed by digestion with pairs of restriction endonuc leases to determine the molecular weight of the chimeras and to identify the cloned ara DNA fragments. The cloned ara fragments were also identified by genetic complementation and recombination tests.
Structural rearrangements underlying ligand-gating in Kir channels

Inward rectifier potassium channels are regulated by a range of ligands that act on a common gate, but the structural details of gating are unclear. Here, the molecular motions associated with gating of KirBac1.1 channels are assessed using small molecule fluorescent probes attached to introduced cysteines.
Translation in a wheat germ cell-free system of RNA from mitochondria of the normal and Texas male-sterile cytoplasms of maize (Zea mays L.)

RNA isolated from etiolated seedling shoot mitochondrial of maize (Zea mays L.) with normal (N) or Texas male-sterile (T) cytoplasm stimulated the incorporation of [35S]-methionine into protein when added to a cell-free protein-synthesizing system from wheat germ. Discrete polypeptides with molecular masses of up to approximately 67 kDa were synthesized, and the pattern of bands was distinct from that obtained with total RNA. Products of translation of T-urf13 RNA were identified by immunoprecipitation, and ofatpA, coxI, andcoxII RNA by hybrid arrest of translation by the cloned gene. several polypeptides were differentially synthesized from N and T mitochondrial RNA; these differences were more extensive than those found when isolated, intact, N and T mitochondria are allowed to synthesize proteins.
Mercury: a second-generation KrF laser for inertial fusion research

The `Mercury' KrF laser facility at Los Alamos, New Mexico, U.S.A. is being built with the benefit of lessons learned from the Aurora KrF laser. An increased understanding of KrF laser engineering, and the designed implementation of system flexibility, will permit Mercury to serve as a testbed for a variety of advanced KrF technology concepts.
A carboplatin-based regimen for the treatment of patients with advanced transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelium.

BACKGROUND Many patients with advanced transitional cell carcinoma are unable to receive cisplatin-based therapy. The efficacy and toxicity of a carboplatin-based regimen in the treatment of patients with advanced transitional cell carcinoma was therefore evaluated. METHODS Twenty-three patients with advanced transitional cell carcinoma were treated. Metastatic disease was present in 19 of 23 patients (83%) whereas 4 patients with T4, and/or N1, disease were treated. Patients were treated every 28 days with methotrexate, 30 mg/m2 intravenously (i.v.) on Days 1 and 15, along with leucovorin, 15 mg/m2 orally every 6 hours, 3 times daily beginning 24 hours after each methotrexate dose; vinblastine, 3 mg/m2 i.v. on Days 1 and 15; mitoxantrone, 15 mg/m2 i.v. on Day 1; and carboplatin, 300 mg/m2 i.v. on Day 1, adjusted for creatinine clearance (MVNCa). Dosage in subsequent cycles was adjusted according to hematologic toxicity. RESULTS Median age was 70 years (range, 52–83 years) and median pretreatment creatinine clearance was 50 mL/min (range, 30–106 mL/min). Of 23 patients, 8 (34.8%) obtained a complete response, and 5 (21.7%) obtained a partial response. The overall response proportion was 56.5% (95% confidence interval, 34.5–76.8%). Median survival was 10 months (range, 1–44+ months). Toxicity was moderate. Grade 4 neutropenia occurred in 10 of 107 (9.3%) administered treatment cycles; Grade 4 thrombocytopenia occurred in 11 of 107 (10.3%). There were 4 episodes of febrile neutropenia (3.7% of cycles). Renal, neurologic, or otic toxicity were not observed. Age older than 70 did not appear to impact on response proportion, survival, and toxicity. CONCLUSIONS The carboplatin-based MVNCa regimen is active in the treatment of patients with advanced transitional cell carcinoma and is well tolerated. Therapy with this regimen may be a less toxic alternative for patients for whom treatment with cisplatin is not an option. Cancer 1996;78:1775-80.
Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering studies of the organic semiconductor copper phthalocyanine

We report resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (RIXS) measurements on polycrystalline and single crystal samples of the organic semiconductor {beta}-copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) as well as time dependent density functional theory calculations of the electronic properties of the CuPc molecule. Resonant and nonresonant excitations were measured along the three crystal axes with 120 meV resolution. We observe molecular excitations as well as charge-transfer excitons along certain crystal directions and compare our data with the calculations. Our results demonstrate that RIXS is a powerful tool for studying excitons and other electronic excitations in organic semiconductors.
Cona: aspects for contracts and contracts for aspects

Design by Contract (DBC) and runtime enforcement of program assertions enables the construction of more robust software. It also enables the assignment of blame in error reporting. As of yet, no AOP implementation for the provision of DBC exists. We present an aspect-oriented DBC tool for Java named Cona. We also extend the use of DBC and assertions to AOP. Aspects are used in the implementation of contracts, and contracts are used for enforcing assertions on aspects.
Queuing with Preemptive Priorities or with Breakdown

Preemptive priority is defined and contrasted with head-of-the line priority Poisson arrivals at a single server are assumed throughout, and only steady-state solutions are found. The effect on service-time statistics of preempted items re-entering service according to various rules is considered. A formula for the joint probability distribution of queue lengths of two preemptive priority classes is derived assuming negative exponential service statistics. Moments of this queue length distribution are found by a generating function approach. For any number of preemptive priority classes, expected times-in-system are found for a general service time distribution for each class, and for negative exponential service, with the same rate for each class, the generating functions of the delay distributions are also obtained. The similarity of queuing with breakdown to queuing with preemptive priority is pointed out, and two models of breakdown effects are worked out.
A checklist for evaluating ergonomic risk factors resulting from awkward postures of the legs, trunk and neck

Abstract A one-page checklist for determining the presence of ergonomic risk factors associateed with awkward postures of the lower extremities, trunk and neck was developed and evaluated as part of a joint labor-management ergonomics intervention program. This checklist was used by plant personnel at four work sites to assess the postural requirements on 335 cyclical (i.e., work-cycle duration less than five minutes) manufacturing and warehouse jobs. In addition, results generated by the checklist were compared to the results of ergonomic analyses performed by persons with advanced training in occupational ergonomics. Workers were observed using awkward postures for most of the jobs in the survey. Awkward postures of the lower extrimities were relatively uncommon, occuring in 25 percent or less of the jobs. Awkward postures of the trunk and neck were common, occuring in more than 70 percent of the jobs. Results generated by the checklist were generally in agreement with results generated by the experienced ergonomists; however, the checklist was found to be more sensitive in identifying the presence of awkward postures. The checklist was found to be an effective rapid-screening instrument for identifying cyclical jobs that expose workers to potentially harmful postures. However, the checklist methodology did not include sufficient documentation of work methods to identify the specific job attributes associated with these exposures. Furthermore, the checklist was not used to evaluate non-cyclical jobs (e.g., maintenance and skilled trades).
Electrocardiographic Q-wave inconstancy in inferior wall myocardial infarction

Abstract Abnormal Q waves fulfilling standard criteria are the hallmark of “Q-wave” myocardial infarction (MI).1–3 Although a surprisingly large number of enzyme-positive acute MIs do not produce Q waves,4,5 abnormal Q waves may seem to “resolve” or disappear. Disappearance of established abnormal Q waves may be explained by tissue changes during healing, scar contraction or hypertrophy of adjacent myocardium, vectorially opposite new MI reducing or canceling preexisting Q waves or recovery of stunned myocardium.6 In acute myocarditis mimicking acute MI, abnormal Q waves often disappear, presumably because of resolution of subnecrotic damage.7 In anterior wall MI, electrode placement can significantly change the QRS including Q waves, but not in inferior wall MI, diagnosed strictly from limb leads. We frequently observed Q waves with established criteria (≥0.04 second in lead aVF) to be present on one day and not on an adjacent day (Figures 1 and 2). Such inconstancy must be a confounding factor in evaluating electrocardiographic evidence. The relatively poor sensitivity of electrocardiographic criteria for inferior wall MI8 could be partly due to surprisingly frequent day to day fluctuation.
Kokkos Array performance-portable manycore programming model

Large, complex scientific and engineering application code have a significant investment in computational kernels which implement their mathematical models. Porting these computational kernels to multicore-CPU and manycore-accelerator (e.g., NVIDIA® GPU) devices is a major challenge given the diverse programming models, application programming interfaces (APIs), and performance requirements. The Kokkos Array programming model provides library-based approach for implementing computational kernels that are performance-portable to multicore-CPU and manycore-accelerator devices. This programming model is based upon three fundamental concepts: (1) manycore compute devices each with its own memory space, (2) data parallel computational kernels, and (3) multidimensional arrays. Performance-portability is achieved by decoupling computational kernels from device-specific data access performance requirements (e.g., NVIDIA coalesced memory access) through an intuitive multidimensional array API. The Kokkos Array API uses C++ template meta-programming to, at compile time, transparently insert device-optimal data access maps into computational kernels. With this programming model computational kernels can be written once and, without modification, performance-portably compiled to multicore-CPU and manycore-accelerator devices.
Bacillus megaterium, KM β-galactosidase: Purification by affinity chromatography and characterization of the active species

Abstract The enzyme β-galactosidase from Bacillus megaterium, strain KM has been purified by affinity chromatography. The enzyme was found to have a dimeric subunit structure, with the monomer having a molecular weight of 120,000. The Keq of the monomer-dimer equilibrium was strongly shifted towards dissociation in the isolated state. Inclusion of 5% sucrose in the buffer (and maintenance of the temperature at 5 °) minimized this dissociation. Molecularly homogeneous monomer and dimer could be prepared on sucrose gradients. The dimer was determined to have an S20,w of 8, while the monomer had an S20,w of 3. The amino acid composition was found to be similar to that of the E. coli β-galactosidase although significant differences occur. The activity of the monomer was studied by both urea-denaturation experiments and by immobilization of the monomer on Sepharose-4B. The monomer, bound to Sepharose-4B, was found to be inactive but still capable of binding the inhibitor thio-methyl galactoside. Activity was reconstituted by adding free monomer, in 8 M urea, to the Sepharose-bound monomer, followed by removal of the urea by dialysis. In addition, free monomers from E. coli β-galactosidase were found to form active hybrids with Sepharose-bound B. megaterium β-galactosidase monomers. We conclude on the basis of these studies that the free monomer is inactive, and that the dimer is the active species, in marked contrast to E. coli β-galactosidase where only the tetrameric form is active.
Ecological impacts of the invasive grass Sorghum halepense on native tallgrass prairie

Invasive plants frequently have competitive advantages over native species. These advantages have been characterized in systems in which the invading species has already become well established. Surprisingly, invader impacts on native communities currently undergoing invasion are lacking from most ecological studies. In this work we document and quantify shifting patterns in plant community structure in a native ecosystem (remnant tallgrass prairie) undergoing invasion by the invasive exotic Sorghum halepense (Johnsongrass). Further, we use manipulative field and greenhouse studies to quantify impacts of potential allelochemicals contained in whole-plant S. halepense leachates on growth of the dominant native grass, Schizachyrium scoparium (Little Bluestem), and tested the inhibitory effects of the potential soil legacy of S. halepense on the native grass in the greenhouse. Plant diversity indices revealed three distinct plant communities within the remnant prairie: a native community, a densely S. halepense invaded area, and a transitional zone between the two. Dominance of the native grass, determined by relative percent cover, significantly declined with increased S. halepense invasion via rhizomatous growth. Annual global positioning system monitoring of the S. halepense invasion front was used to quantify advancement into native prairie, documented at an average rate of 0.45 m year−1. In the manipulative field and greenhouse studies, native S. scoparium treated with invasive S. halepense leachate had significantly less biomass and fewer inflorescences than control plants. These findings indicate the prolific clonal growth in conjunction with the plant chemistry of S. halepense play a significant role in displacement of the native grass.
Structure and chromosome localization of the human eosinophil-derived neurotoxin and eosinophil cationic protein genes: evidence for intronless coding sequences in the ribonuclease gene superfamily.

Abstract Human genomic DNAs for the eosinophil granule proteins, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), were isolated from genomic libraries. Alignment of EDN (RNS2) and ECP (RNS3) gene sequences demonstrated remarkable nucleotide similarities in noncoding sequences, introns, and flanking regions, as well as in the previously known coding regions. Detailed examination of the 5′-noncoding regions yielded putative TATA and CAAT boxes, as well as similarities to promoter motifs from unrelated genes. A single intron of 230 bases was found in the 5′ untranslated region and we suggest that a single intron in this region and an intronless coding region are features common to many members of the RNase gene superfamily. The RNS2 and RNS3 genes were localized to the q24–q31 region of human chromosome 14. It is likely that these two genes arose as a consequence of a gene duplication event that took place approximately 25–40 million years ago and that a subset of anthropoid primates possess both of these genes or closely related genes.
An asymmetric total synthesis of brevisamide.

An enantioselective synthesis of marine alkaloid brevisamide was accomplished in a convergent manner. The synthesis utilized an enantioselective hetero-Diels−Alder reaction which sets three chiral centers in compound 11. The synthesis also features a modified Wolff−Kishner reduction, Rubottom oxidation, and Suzuki−Miyaura coupling to furnish brevisamide.
Contributions of force and velocity to improved power with progressive resistance training in young and older adults

We investigated the effects of age on changes in the force and velocity components of knee extension (KE) power during 16 weeks of traditional progressive resistance training (PRT). Thirty-one young (27 ± 1 years, 16 men, 15 women) and 30 older (64 ± 1 years, 14 men, 16 women) adults trained by KE, leg press, and squat 3 days/week. PRT consisted of three sets with an appropriate load for 8–12 repetitions to fatigue. Testing occurred at baseline, 8, and 16 weeks. Thigh lean mass (TLM) was measured by DEXA. KE load–power and load–velocity curves were generated from peak concentric contractions against loads equivalent to 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60% maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) force. Quadriceps neural activation relative to maximum was assessed during a sit-to-stand task. Participants increased KE 1RM (P < 0.05) by 8 weeks with young adults also increasing strength from 8 to 16 weeks. Adjusting for TLM, all groups increased KE specific strength (P < 0.05). MVC improved by 8 weeks in older adults and by 16 weeks in young subjects (P < 0.05). Neural activation requirements during standing and sitting declined in older adults by 8 weeks (P < 0.05). The KE load–power curve improved for all groups (P < 0.05) by 8 weeks with only young adults improving from 8 to 16 weeks. Peak concentric velocity increased only in older adults (P < 0.05). Training improvements in power resulted primarily from increases in strength both early and late for young adults while older adults realized early improvements in both strength and peak concentric velocity.
Signature evolution with covariance equalization in oblique hyperspectral imagery

Covariance equalization (CE) is a method by which one can predict the change in an object's hyperspectral signature due to changes in sun position, atmospheric conditions, and viewing angle and range. Specifically, CE produces a linear transformation that relates the object's signature as measured at the sensor at a particular time to that measured at another time and under different conditions. The transformation is based on the background statistics of a scene imaged at the two times. Although CE was derived under the assumption that the two images cover mostly the same geographic area, it also has been found to work well for objects that have moved from one location to another. The CE technique has been previously verified with data from a nadir-viewing visible hyperspectral camera. In this paper, however, we show results from the application of CE to highly oblique hyperspectral SWIR data. We evaluate the utility of CE primaily through its effectiveness in transforming signatures acquired under one set of conditions for application to matched-filter object detection under a second set of conditions (e.g., view angle, slant range, altitude, atmospheric conditions, and time of day). Object detection with highly oblique sensors (75 deg. to 80 deg. off-nadir) is far more difficult than with nadir-viewing sensors for several reasons: increased atmospheric optical thickness, which results in lower signal-to-noise and higher adjacency effects; fewer pixels on object; the effects of the nonuniformity of the bidirection reflectance function of most man-made objects; and the change in pixel size when measurements are taken at different slant ranges.
Impact of Rising Energy Costs on Traditional and Energy Intensive Crop Production: the Case of Nicaragua

Fossil-based agricultural input price increases have shifted the competitive advantage from energy intensive agriculture to traditional agriculture in Nicaragua. A decline in output prices would make energy intensive agriculture uneconomical and reduce aggregate output of four major food crops, posing serious policy dilemmas for national development. L'Agriculture Nicaraguaise a subi une augmentation du prix des facteurs de production issus d‘energie fossile, conduisant a un declin de la competitivite du secteur agricole “moderne” au profit du secteur traditionnel. Une diminution du prix des produits agricoles reduirait la rentalilite de I'agriculture “moderne” et entrainerait une chute de la production nationale des quatre principales recoltes, posant de serieux dilemmes politiques pour le developpement economique du pays.
The glomerular filter: Biologic and genetic complexity

The list of known genes that, when altered, cause proteinuric renal disease continues to increase. Recent mouse and human genetic studies, including that by Hasselbacher et al., are refocusing our attention on glomerular basement membrane components as critical to the barrier to protein filtration.
Explaining Foreign Policy: U.S. Decision Making in the Gulf Wars, by Steve A. Yetiv

The views presented here represent those of the author and do not represent the views of the US Department of State or the US government.When analysing the US foreign-policy decision-making process...
Measurement of x-ray emission and thermal transport in near-solid-density plasmas heated by 130 fs laser pulses

Near-solid-density plasmas with peak temperatures of $370\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}50 \mathrm{eV}$ have been generated using a high-contrast $(\ensuremath{\approx}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}),$ 400 nm, 130 fs laser pulse of intensity $3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{17} {\mathrm{W}\mathrm{}\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$ at the Ultrashort Pulse Laser at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The x-ray-emission spectra from thin tracer layers of germanium, tamped by layers of plastic, were measured as a function of target depth. The results qualitatively agree with calculations based on detailed local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) and modified non-LTE spectroscopic opacity models using plasma conditions determined using LASNEX hydrodynamic simulations. No evidence of thermal flux inhibition into the bulk target material was observed. The experiments and detailed simulations are presented.
Automatic diagnosis with genetic algorithms and case-based reasoning

Abstract This article describes the application of Machine Learning (ML) techniques to a real world problem: the Automatic Diagnosis (classification) of Mammary Biopsy Images. The techniques applied are Genetic Algorithms (GA) and Case-Based Reasoning (CBR). The article compares our results with previous results obtained using Neural Networks (NN). The main goals are: to efficiently solve classification problems of such a type and to compare different alternatives for Machine Learning. The article also introduces the systems we developed for solving this kind of classification problems: Genetic Based Classifier System (GeB-CS) for a GA approach, and Case-Based Classifier System (CaB-CS) for a CBR approach.
Magnetic properties of sol-gel glasses containing titanium ions

Abstract B2O3SiO2TiO2 glasses were prepared by the sol-gel method. The magnetic ions in these glasses should, in principle, have a different spatial arrangement than the ions in a conventionaly melted glass. The sol-gel glasses were characterized by C13 NMR, IR, and X-ray diffraction. The NMR indicated that the carbon functional groups were not present in the final glass, which showed all the expected IR absorption bands of conventionally melted glasses. Some features unique to sol-gel glasses were revealed by IR and X-ray diffraction. The EPR spectra indicate a homogeneously dispersed magnetic ion for the sol-gel glasses, in contrast to magnetic clusters present in the melt glasses.
Open and transparent: the review process of the Semantic Web journal

While open access is established in the world of academic publishing, open reviews are rare. The Semantic Web journal goes further than just open review by implementing an open and transparent review process in which reviews are publicly available, the assigned editors and reviewers are known by name, and are published together with accepted manuscripts. In this article we introduce the steps to realize such a process from the conceptual design, over the implementation, a overview of the results so far, and up to lessons learned.
The small‐town police department

This conceptual article focuses on the small‐town municipal‐level police department, as a distinctive model within the mosaic of US policing. As an example of the success of a low‐tech, nonmilitarized, open systems model, the small‐town police department stands in stark contrast to its urban counterpart. As a result of its affinity towards generalization as opposed to specialization, the small‐town department has higher crime clearance rates and is organizationally receptive to the demands and requirements of community‐oriented policing. The small‐town police department’s absence of “professionalism” and militarism is key to its community connectedness, the foundation of its efficacy.
The advanced lead-acid battery consortium: a worldwide cooperation brings rapid progress

Abstract The development of valve regulated lead–acid (VRLA) batteries has, in recent years, been carried forward rapidly through the collaborative efforts of a worldwide consortium of battery manufacturers and related elements of industry; the Advanced Lead–Acid Battery Consortium (ALABC). This group has set aside its competitive instincts in order to achieve acceptable goals in respect of those parameters that are key factors controlling the marketability of electric vehicles (EVs): cost, cycle life, specific energy, specific power and rate of recharge. This paper provides an overview of the principal themes of the ALABC research and development programme.
E.N. economou's contribution to the establishment and development of the University of Crete and the Foundation for Research and Technology: Hellas

Abstract This paper offers a sketch of E.N. Economou's career in the context of historical and political developments in Greece during the past 40 years, and attempts to evaluate his multifaceted contribution to the University of Crete and the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas as a teacher and administrator. He was one of the first senior faculty members of UC, and played a vital role, not only in the creation of a first rate department of physics, but in the development of the University as a whole, in a critical period for Greek higher education. FORTH was his brain child and, under his leadership, has become – and been recognized – as an international center of excellence.
INABILITY OF EHRLICH ASCITES TUMOR CELLS TO VOLUME REGULATE FOLLOWING A HYPEROSMOTIC CHALLENGE

Ehrlich cells shrink when the osmolality of the suspending medium is increased and behave, at least initially, as osmometers. Subsequent behavior depends on the nature of the hyperosmotic solute but in no case did the cells exhibit regulatory volume increase. With hyperosmotic NaCl an osmometric response was found and the resultant volume maintained relatively constant. Continuous shrinkage was observed, however, with sucrose-induced hyperosmolality. In both cases increasing osmolality from 300 to 500 mOsm initiated significant changes in cellular electrolyte content, as well as intracellular pH. This was brought about by activation of the Na+/H+ exchanger, the Na/K pump, the Na++K++2Cl− cotransporter and by loss of K+ via a Ba-sensitive pathway. The cotransporter in response to elevated [Cl−]i (∼100mm) and/or the increase in the outwardly directed gradient of chemical potential for Na+, K+ and Cl−, mediated net loss of ions which accounted for cell shrinkage in the sucrose-containing medium. In hyperosmotic NaCl, however, the net Cl− flux was almost zero suggesting minimal net cotransport activity.
The assertive-aggressive distinction and the cross-cultural perspective*

Are assertive and aggressive behaviors distinguishable from each other across different cultures? A limited amount of research, reviewed here, indicates that they are. It seems that, across cultures, assertive and aggresive behaviors are identifiable as different constructs and that they vary independently from each other. Other variables that mediate differences on assertiveness between cultures such as individualism versus collectivism and masculinity versus femininity are considered. Finally, recommendations regarding research methodology for the study of assertive behaviors across cultures are presented.
Dietary and Hormonal Effects on Gluconeogenesis and Glycogenesis from Pyruvate-3-14C, Fructose-U-14C and Glycerol-2-14C in the Rat

When a single dose of 0.5 mmole fructose-U-14C or 1 mmole glycerol-2-14C was injected intraperitoneally in rats, the radioactivity of the extracellular fluid glucose increased steadily to reach a peak at between 30 and 45 min and then declined, just as was observed previously after injection of 1 mmole pyruvate-3-14C. Although glucose production from labeled fructose and glycerol in fed rats was 4- to 6-fold higher than that from pyruvate, nevertheless there were further increments in glucose formation from these labeled precursors in 48-hr fasted rats. These findings suggest that major suppression of glucose synthesis by glucose feeding is exerted below triose phosphate on the gluconeogenesis pathway, but that secondary control may be exerted between triose phosphate and hexose. When measured at early periods after injection of precursor, glucose formation from labeled pyruvate was markedly increased by prior treatment of rats with glucagon, catecholamines or guinea pig anti-insulin serum, and these effe...
Selection of synchronous Chlorella cells by centrifugation to equilibrium in aqueous ficoll

Synchronous daughter cells of Chlorella pyrenoidosa can be selected, on the basis of their unique density, from cultures growing in continuous light by centrifugation to equilibrium in aqueous Ficoll. The degree of synchrony, as judged from cell release data, is equivalent to or better than that obtained by intermittent-illumination procedures.