cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bright greenish-yellow fluorescence and aflatoxin in recently harvested yellow corn marketed in north carolina

Corn kernels that exhibited bright greenish-yellow fluorescence (BGYF) under long-wave ultraviolet light were hand-picked from samples of yellow corn produced in eastern North Carolina. The BGYF kernels from 113 4-kg samples contained an average of 8665 parts per billion (ppb) aflatoxin compared to an average of 46 ppb in the non-BGYF kernels. A regression analysis between the ppb aflatoxin concentration and the wt % BGYF kernels in 2,304 4.5-kg samples produced the regression equation: ppb in sample =197 (wt % BGYF). The correlation coefficient for the analysis was 0.90. Testing programs to reduce aflatoxin concentrations in purchased lots of corn based on either the BGYF method or the AOAC chemical assay method were compared. The average aflatoxin concentration in lots accepted by the AOAC method was 4 ppb, 10 ppb or 18 ppb when an acceptance level of < 20 ppb, < 50 ppb or < 100 ppb, respectively, was used. For the BGYF method, the average aflatoxin concentration in accepted lots was 10 ppb, 16 ppb or 22 ppb when an acceptance level of < 0.10% BGYF, < 0.25% BGYF or < 0.50% BGYF, respectively, was used. Approximately the same percentage of lots were accepted by both methods when either the low, medium or high acceptance level was used.
THE SEASONAL CYCLE OF PHLOEM DEVELOPMENT IN JUNIPERUS CALIFORNICA

In Juniperus californica, all sieve cells of the previous season's phloem growth increment overwinter in a mature state. Initiation of cambial activity begins in early March and, by the end of March, the oldest sieve cells that overwintered lose their contents and die. By mid-April, even the youngest sieve cells of the previous season's growth increment have lost their contents. The period of greatest cambial activity begins in the last half of April and continues through May. With the slowing of cambial activity in June, callose begins to collect on the sieve areas of the first-formed sieve cells of the new increment. By July, the cambium and phloem are in a dormant state. Initiation of phloem production precedes that of the xylem by about 1 month. Production of new xylem and phloem ceases simultaneously in July.
Fatigue of polycrystalline silicon films with thin surface oxides

ABSTRACT The performance of structural films unde r cyclic loading conditions is a cri tical consideration when designing microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) based on silicon stru ctural films. Empirical and th eoretical studies have shown that silicon films are susceptible to fatigue at room temperat ure, but the underlying mechanistic origin is still an active topic of debate. This study characterized the fa tigue behavior of electrostatically-actuated, n + -type, 2 P m thick polycrystalline silicon films with a thin native oxide. Elect rostatically actuated resonators (natural frequency, f 0 ~ 40 kHz) were used to evaluate the stress-life fatigue behavior of the films in 30°C, 50% relative humidity (R.H.) air. These tests revealed delayed failure with increasing fatigue lives (up to 10 11 cycles) for decreasing stress amplitudes (down to 2.5 GPa). Long fatigue lives were as sociated with larger decreases in f 0 and very smooth failure origins that encompassed several grains. These findings are consis tent with cyclic degradation of silicon films occurring with in a surface reaction layer that forms upon exposure to the service environment and that evolves during fatigue loading. Keywords: silicon, fatigue, MEMS, reaction-layer fatigue
Electron Emission Properties of the Negative Electron Affinity (111)2×1 Diamond-Tio Interface

We report photoemission measurements from the (111)2×1 diamond-titanium monoxide (TiO) interface. Submonolayer deposition of TiO on the (111)2×1 diamond surface modifies the electron affinity of the surface from positive to negative. No change in the band bending was observed as a result of the TiO deposition. Total electron yield measurements from the diamond-TiO interface were also performed. The yield spectra, as expected for a negative electron affinity (NEA) surface, have emission thresholds that are in good agreement with the absorption coefficient of diamond. To further understand the emission properties of NEA (111) diamond surfaces we also compare the electron yield photo-excitation spectra of the diamond-TiO interface with the yield spectra of hydrogenated (111)1×1:H diamond surfaces.
Electric field enhancement in metallic and multilayer dielectric gratings

Successful operation of large-scale high-power lasers, such as those in use and planned at LLNL and elsewhere, require optical elements that can withstand extremely high fluences without suffering damage. Of particular concern are gratings used for pulse compression. Laser induced damage to bulk dielectric material originates with coupling of the electric field of the radiation to bound electrons, proceeding through a succession of mechanisms that couple the electron kinetic energy to lattice energy and ultimately to macroscopic structural changes (e.g. fracture, melting, ablation, etc.). The constructive interference that is responsible for the diffractive behavior of a grating or the reflective properties of a multilayer dielectric stack can enhance the electric field above values that would occur in unstructured homogeneous material. The presence of nonuniform electric fields, resulting from diffractive coherence, has the potential to affect damage thresholds We describe aspects of LLNL work directed towards understanding the influence of dielectric structures upon damage, with particular emphasis on electric fields within multilayer dielectric stacks.
Über die Anwendungsmöglichkeiten der Gas‐Chromatographie in der Lack‐ und Farbenindustrie

Bei der Untersuchung der Lacke ermoglicht die Kombination von Gas-Chromatographie und Pyrolyse sowohl eine Aussage uber die fluchtigen als auch uber die schwerfluchtigen und festen Bestandteile der Lacke. Diese kann zur Qualitatsbeurteilung der Produkte verwendet werden. About the Possibility of the Use of Gas Chromatography in the Paint and Varnish Industry By the examination of varnishes with the combination of gas chromatography and pyrolysis, it is possible to tell about the volatile as well about the difficultly volatile and solid components of the varnish. This can be used to determine the quality of the product.
Peroxynitrite Reduces Myocardial Infarct Size and Preserves Coronary Endothelium After Ischemia and Reperfusion in Cats

Background Peroxynitrite (ONOO−) is purported to exert cytotoxic effects at high doses. However, physiologically relevant concentrations of ONOO− inhibit polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) adhesion to the endothelium and attenuate PMN-mediated contractile dysfunction in isolated perfused rat hearts. We are unaware of any reports in vivo showing effects of peroxynitrite in myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (MI/R). Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the in vivo effects of a physiologically relevant concentration of ONOO− (1 μmol/L) in a feline model of MI/R injury. Methods and Results ONOO− (1 μmol/L) or its vehicle (0.9% NaCl at pH 8.4) was infused intraventricularly, starting 10 minutes before reperfusion in cats subjected to 90 minutes of myocardial ischemia and 4.5 hours of reperfusion. ONOO−-treated cats demonstrated marked attenuation of cardiac necrosis after MI/R compared with cats receiving only vehicle (P<.001). Moreover, vasorelaxation of ischemic-reperfused left anterior descending...
Ontology and politics: The problems of emergence and reductionism in integrative health science

The call for more integration between the social and physical sciences has been intensifying in recent years. This project has been especially active in the sociology of health where a number of integrative models have been proposed. However, these models have theoretical problems that have limited their empirical usefulness. Specifically, they have not adequately addressed the theoretical issues surrounding the emergence and reductionsim that occur in multilevel models of health and illness. Using examples from recent research in health and illness, this essay proposes a new conceptualization of integrative science that is based on a pragmatic tension between emergence and reductionism. This will reorient the focus from questions of ontology to questions of pragmatics. In doing so, I seek to craft a theory that can make sense of multilevel research while being sensitive to the inevitable problems of complexity and structural violence that develop in the translation of multilevel health research into diverse social realities.
An electron microscopic histochemical and X-ray microprobe study of spherites in a mussel.

Transmission electron microscopic, histochemical and X-ray analytical microprobe techniques were used to study the inorganic-organic relationship in the spherites (calcospherules) from the mantle, i.e. subadjacent to the outer mantle epithelium, of the fresh-water mussel Amblema. These structures were shown to contain calcium which could be chelated by the flotation of sections on solutions of either formic acid or ethylene glycol bis-(beta-amino ethyl ether)-N, N1-tetra-acetic acid (EGTA), Analysis of both non-chelated and sections revealed a significant sulfur peak. Chelated spherites were also intensely stained with acid phosphotungstic acid (PTA), Such data is indicative of the presence of an organic glycoprotein (proteoglycan) matrix which could serve to bind mineral ions, thus forming organic-inorganic aggregates for calcium transport and homeostasis. In this regard, the spherites are analogous to both calcium phosphate containing mitochondrial granules and the initial calcification sites in vertebrate mineralizing tissues.
Smart fiber-reinforced polymer rods featuring improved ductility and health monitoring capabilities

The strain-measuring capability of fiber optic strain gages in fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) rebars was investigated for failure-inducing loads. Fiber optic interferometric sensors were embedded in a pultruded carbon fiber core and then another layer of carbon fibers were filament wound around the core to form a shell. Pultrusion and filament winding techniques protect the fiber optic strain gages from the concrete environment while providing a secure bond to the core and additional ductility to the overall FRP rebar. Tests of coupon FRP rebar and of FRP-rebar-reinforced concrete beams show that the fiber optic strain gages can read internal strain through failure and can duplicate data from conventional linear variable differential transformers and electrical resistance strain gages. Also, the shell of the FRP rebar inside the concrete beams failed before the rebar core providing pseudo-ductility.
Infrared-microwave double resonance study of the ν4 fundamental band of POF3

Abstract Three-level and four-level infrared-microwave double resonance effects have been observed in a POF 3 sample contained in a microwave waveguide Stark cell that was modified to permit transmission of radiation from a CO 2 infrared gas laser. In three-level double resonance experiments laser pumping of rotational states in the ν 4 = 1 vibrational state greatly increased the signal/noise for observation of Stark-shifted rotational transitions in the excited vibrational state. The frequencies of the observed excited state transitions were used to confirm the assignment of laser Stark spectra and to obtain independent measures of the rotational constant B and the dipole moment for ν 4 = 1. The observation of four level double resonances could be explained qualitatively by the assumption of dipole selection rules for collision-induced transitions. However, the intensities of the double-resonance effects could not be explained by this simple model.
The analysis of motion in natural scenes using a spatiotemporal/spatiotemporal-frequency representation

It has been shown that motion can be characterized in the spatiotemporal-frequency (Fourier) domain, and that this phenomenon can be exploited for the computation of optical flow. However in practical (natural) sequences, the signatures of the different motions cannot be resolved in the Fourier domain, nor associated with their respective regions in the image sequence. In this paper we consider the application of a spatiotemporal/spatiotemporal frequency representation (a 3-D version of the widely used Gabor transform) to the computation of optical flow in natural scenes.
Cramer-Rao bounds for deterministic modal analysis

The accuracy with which deterministic modes can be identified from a finite record of noisy data is determined by computing the Cramer-Rao bound on the error covariance matrix of any unbiased estimator of mode parameters. The bound is computed for many of the standard parametric descriptions of a mode, including autoregressive and moving-average parameters, poles and residues, and poles and zeros. Asymptotic, frequency-domain versions of the Cramer-Rao bound bring insight into the role played by poles and zeros. Application of the bound to second- and fourth-order systems illustrates the influence of mode locations on the ability to identify them. Application of the bound to the estimation of an energy spectrum illuminates the accuracy of estimators that presume to resolve spectral peaks. >
Optimal Recovery in Noisy ICA

Independent Component Analysis (ICA) is a popular model for blind signal separation. The ICA model assumes that a number of independent source signals are linearly mixed to form the observed signal. Traditional ICA algorithms typically aim to recover the mixing matrix, the inverse of which can be applied to data in order to recover the latent independent signals. However, in the presence of noise, this demixing process is non-optimal for signal recovery as measured by signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR), even if the mixing matrix is recovered exactly. This paper has two main contributions. First, we show how any solution to the mixing matrix reconstruction problem can be used to construct an SINR-optimal ICA demixing. The proposed method is optimal for any noise model and applies in the underdetermined setting when there are more source signals than observed signals. Second, we improve the recently proposed Gradient Iteration ICA [21] algorithm to obtain provable and practical SINR optimal signal recovery for Gaussian noise with an arbitrary covariance matrix. We also simplify the original algorithm making the cumbersome quasi-orthogonalization step unnecessary, leading to improved computational performance.
Change in readmissions and follow-up visits as part of a heart failure readmission quality improvement initiative.

Abstract Objectives The study objectives were to quantify the change in 7-day follow-up visits and 30-day readmissions as part of a hospital quality improvement initiative and to characterize events at 7-day follow-up visits. Some data suggest that outpatient assessments of patients with heart failure within 7 days of hospital discharge may prevent readmissions, although little is known about patient needs at 7-day follow-up visits. Methods We performed a single-center, retrospective chart review of all heart failure discharges at the University of Connecticut Health Center (398 patients) the year before (2008) and the year after (2011) a quality improvement initiative that included mandatory 7-day follow-up visits. We quantified the change in 30-day readmission rate after the initiative, frequency of 7-day follow-up visits, and events at follow-up visits. Results The average age of patients with heart failure was 79.9 years in 2011, with 45.9% having systolic heart failure. Thirty-day all-cause readmissions decreased from 27.5% to 19.1% after our quality improvement initiative ( P = .024). Frequency of 7-day follow-up visits increased from 19.6% to 46.9% ( P Conclusions Our hospital's 30-day readmission rate for patients with heart failure decreased in parallel with an increase in 7-day follow-up visits. Patients with heart failure were complex and often had diagnostic testing and medication changes at follow-up visits.
Through the eyes of a bird: modelling visually guided obstacle flight.

Various flight navigation strategies for birds have been identified at the large spatial scales of migratory and homing behaviours. However, relatively little is known about close-range obstacle ne...
The epidemiology of total knee replacement in South Korea: national registry data

Objective. Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is prevalent among the elderly in Asian countries; however, the utilization of total knee replacement (TKR) is unknown. Using data from a national registry, we sought to estimate the incidence of TKR by age and sex, and the trend for TKR utilization from 2002 to 2005 in South Korea. Methods. Reimbursement records from all hospitals in South Korea were extracted from the Health Insurance Review Agency (HIRA) database. Records with both the procedure code corresponding to a TKR and the diagnosis code of knee OA were selected. We estimated the age- and sex-specific rates of TKR. To compare the rate of TKR between men and women, we calculated age-standardized risk ratios. A TKR registry from a single centre containing more clinical information was analysed, and the differences in the clinical features between men and women were compared. Results. From 2002 to 2005, 47 961 TKRs were performed in subjects over the age of 40 yrs due to OA. The rate of TKR has increased over the 4 yrs and was much higher in women than in men. Compared with men, the age-standardized rate ratios for TKR in women ranged from 7.4 to 8.0. The single-centre registry data revealed that there was no difference in age, disease duration and the Kellgren-Lawrence grade at the time of surgery between men and women. Conclusion. Using a national database, we found that the rate of TKR increased steadily from 2002 to 2005 in South Korea. The TKR rate in women was much higher than that in men. Risk factors that account for such disparity in TKR utilization need to be further investigated.
My Repository Runneth Over: An Empirical Study on Diversifying Data Sources to Improve Feature Search

Research on feature location that applies information retrieval techniques have experimented the kinds of inputs to the corpus and the algorithms that could be used. At first, only source code was used. Later extraction techniques were improved, and data from other software tools and analyses were used to expand or augment the repository. But, does having more diverse data in the repository always produce better results? In this paper, we report on an empirical study to examine the effect of increasing data diversity to improve feature location through search. In particular, we looked at the effect of including: i) change sets from revision control system, ii) tickets from issue trackers, and iii) elements from a Static Dependency Graph (SDG). We searched for three features of Jajuk, an open source Java jukebox, and two features of jEdit, an open source Java text editor. We used four different corpuses built with a combination of the above data. We used Eclipse’s code search and an index built with source code as baseline conditions. We found that it is not always better to have more diverse data. Adding SDG data to change sets increased recall, but drove down precision. Adding data from issue trackers had little effect and in one case lowered recall. We also found that large-scale refactoring of the code decreases the effectiveness using change sets for feature location.
Listening with integrity: the dialogical stance of Jaakko Seikkula.

observed Finnish psychologist Jaakko Seikkula conduct, in Swedish, a role-play simulation of a treatment meeting. For shifting a “stuck” situation, Seikkula’s understated approach was just as effective as the drama of full-scale network assembly. His stance was gentle, respectful, calm, centered, attuned, and responsive. He was poised to enter painful monologic discourse among network members and guide the conversation into dialogue. I had just begun exploring postmodern literature, having read Anderson and Goolishian’s (1988) work on the flight to the conference; meeting and working with Jaakko Seikkula allowed me to witness a brilliant performance of the “not-knowing” stance. I soon discovered a connection between Seikkula’s thesis, that therapeutic change involves a shift from monologic to dialogic discourse, and my own interest in the therapeutic breakthroughs that result from shared expressions of sorrow. Reflecting on the shared expression of sorrow in network assemblies (the “depression phase” of Speck and Attneave’s [1973] model), and on expressions of emotion in my psychotherapy office,
Monte Carlo simulation of DNA damage induction by x-rays and selected radioisotopes.

To better assess the potential biological consequences of diagnostic x-rays and selected gamma-emitting radioisotopes used in brachytherapy, we used the PENELOPE Monte Carlo radiation transport code to estimate the spectrum of initial electrons produced by photons in single cells and in an irradiation geometry similar to those used in cell culture experiments. We then combined estimates of the initial spectrum of electrons from PENELOPE with DNA damage yields for monoenergetic electrons from the fast Monte Carlo damage simulation (MCDS). The predicted absolute yields (Gbp(-1) Gy(-1)) and RBE values for single-strand break (SSB) and double-strand break (DSB) induction by 220 kVp x-rays are within 1% of the results from detailed track-structure simulations (Friedland et al 1999 Radiat. Environ. Biophys. 38 39). The measured RBE for DSB induction reported by Kuhne et al (2005 Radiat. Res. 164 669) for gamma-rays from (60)Co and for 29 kVp x-rays with a 50 microm Rh (mammography) filter are in excellent agreement (1.15 versus 1.16). DSB yields predicted by the MCDS also agree to within 7% with the absolute DSB yields reported by de Lara et al (2001 Radiat. Res. 155 440) and Botchway et al (1997 Radiat. Res. 148 317) for the irradiation of V79 cells by low energy (<2 keV) characteristic x-rays. The predicted RBE for DSB induction by gamma-rays from bare (169)Yb and (131)Cs to (60)Co are 1.06 and 1.14, respectively. Tabulated RBE values for the single-cell and monolayer cell culture geometries differ by at most 15%. The proposed methodology is computationally efficient and may also be useful for the prediction of damage yields for mixtures of other types of charged particles, such as those found in proton therapy, space applications or internal dosimetry.
A Diagonally Braked Vehicle for the Investigation of Tire Traction

Abstract The development and application of a diagonally braked vehicle test technique has yielded insights into factors known to affect pneumatic tire traction such as certain tire parameters (including size, construction, and tread pattern) and pavement properties (including surface finish and the type and extent of contamination). This paper reviews the effects of tire and surface characteristics on available traction, discusses how the test results could be applied to estimate aircraft stopping performance under low traction conditions, and concludes with comments relative to possible future application of the diagonally braked vehicle.
Dynamic Behavior of Electrons in Metals

In these lectures we shall be chiefly concerned with theoretical aspects of the dynamic behavior of electrons in metals. During the last few years both x-ray and electron inelastic scattering experiments in nearly free electron-like metals have yielded very interesting results on the dynamic form factor S(q,ω) of the electron liquid. At the present time we do not have a full understanding of S(q,ω). As regards the behavior of electrons in the static case and in the long wavelength limit, I have discussed it in my Antwerp lectures [Singwi, 1976] given two years ago. This aspect of the problem is relatively simpler and better understood. For the sake of continuity and for those of you who are not very familiar with solid state plasmas, I shall review in my first lecture some of the preliminaries.
Mathematical model for shear stress dependent NO and adenine nucleotide production from endothelial cells.

We developed a mass transport model for a parallel-plate flow chamber apparatus to predict the concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) and adenine nucleotides (ATP, ADP) produced by cultured endothelial cells (ECs) and investigated how the net rates of production, degradation, and mass transport for these three chemical species vary with changes in wall shear stress (τw). These simulations provide an improved understanding of experimental results obtained with parallel-plate flow chambers and allows quantitative analysis of the relationship between τw, adenine nucleotide concentrations, and NO produced by ECs. Experimental data obtained after altering ATP and ADP concentrations with apyrase were analyzed to quantify changes in the rate of NO production (RNO). The effects of different isoforms of apyrase on ATP and ADP concentrations and nucleotide-dependent changes in RNO could be predicted with the model. A decrease in ATP was predicted with apyrase, but an increase in ADP was simulated due to degradation of ATP. We found that a simple proportional relationship relating a component of RNO to the sum of ATP and ADP provided a close match to the fitted curve for experimentally measured changes in RNO with apyrase. Estimates for the proportionality constant ranged from 0.0067 to 0.0321 μM/s increase in RNO per nM nucleotide concentration, depending on which isoform of apyrase was modeled, with the largest effect of nucleotides on RNO at low τw (<6 dyn/cm(2)).
The urinary excretion of formic acid and formiminoglutamic acid in folic acid deficiency.

In previous investigations it was shown that in folic acid deficiency there is a large increase in the urinary excretion of formimino-n-glutamic acid (l-6). This increase has been explained by recent enzymatic studies demonstrating that the first step in the metabolism of formimino+glutamic acid is the transfer of the formimino group to tetrahydrofolic acid (7-9). Formimino-n-glutamic acid is an intermediate in histidine metabolism (10, 11)) and the urinary excretion of this compound in folic acid deficiency can be increased by the administration of n-histidine (3). Experiments with N16-labeled histidine demonstrated that the urinary formimino-n-glutamic acid was derived from histidine (3). In the present work we have demonstrated that, in addition to formimino-n-glutamic acid, there is a large increase in the excretion of formic acid in the urine of folic acid-deficient rats; in contrast to the results with formiminoglutamic acid, this formic acid is not derived from histidine. Our current studies have been facilitated by the recent development of sensitive spectrophotometric methods for the determination of formic acid (12) and formiminoglutamic acid (13). EXPERIMENTAL
Consumer motivation and site transfer behavior: Weblog analysis for online service

Online consumers visit retail websites in two venues: 1) Direct access by input of known URL addresses or 2) indirect access by clicking the links from third party websites. This research is an exploratory investigation on why online consumers access retail websites with each of the distinctive access manners and how it influences purchase decision-making processes: to purchase or to browse. In detail, it is assumed that the website access manners are affected by different web site visit motivations of goal-directed versus exploratory type. Unlike off-line store environments, it is possible to track online consumers' detailed behaviors by looking at the records saved in Web server log files. The present study utilizes the 3,885 clickstream data in Web log files, and attempts to investigate the differences in purchasing related activities between the distinctive access types. In further, we also consider the product involvement level to examine whether the differences between the two groups are affected by the degree of product level involvement. The empirical findings indicate that online consumers with direct access manner tend to display the characteristics of goal-directed shoppers. In comparison, the referred group of customers is associated with exploratory tendencies. The product involvement level is only effective in direct access group.
Root distribution and shoot development in no-till full-season and double-crop soybean

(...) The objectives of this research were to characterize soybean root length density and distribution as well as shoot dry matter accumulation under no-tillage soil management for: (i) full-season and double-crop planting dates, (ii) high and low soil K fertility levels, and (iii) narrow and conventional row spacings. Potassium fertility did not alter total shoot weight at R1, R5, or R7, but did alter shoot dry matter partitioning at R7. (...)
Trichoderma harzianum produces nonanoic acid, an inhibitor of spore germination and mycelial growth of two cacao pathogens

An isolate of Trichoderma harzianum Rifai from an infected cacao pod produces and secretes nonanoic (pelargonic) acid into a liquid culture medium. Nonanoic acid (NA) was very inhibitory to spore germination and mycelial growth of two cacao pathogens, Crinipellis perniciosa Stahel and Moniliophthora roreri Cif. H.C. Evans. It was highly active causing 75% inhibition of spore germination in an in vitro assay at a rate as low as 0.09 μM for M. roreri and 0.92 μM for C. perniciosa. Mycelial growth was comparatively less sensitive to inhibition, but still there was a 75% reduction in growth with 0.62 μM in M. roreri and 151 μM NA in C. perniciosa. In contrast, NA did not affect Trichoderma mycelial growth or spore germination at concentrations that were inhibitory to the pathogens. 6-pentyl-α-pyrone was also produced and secreted into the medium by T. harzianum, however; it was not antagonistic to the cacao pathogens. Although a number of metabolites produced by Trichoderma spp. have been identified in the past, this is the first report of NA production and secretion by any Trichoderma. The results suggest that NA may play a role in the successful use of some Trichoderma spp. isolates in the biocontrol of fungal diseases of plants.
Behind the Make‐Up: Gender Ambivalence and the Double‐Bind of Gay Selfhood in Drag Performance

This paper examines the motivational role of ambivalence in the genesis and reproduction of drag performance ritual, focusing on a particular drag cabaret in Atlanta, Georgia. Drag ritual has evolved as an institutionalized performance genre in response to a core set of ambivalent conflicts in the culturally modeled subjectivities of gay men due to the psychocultural hegemony of hetero-normative models of gender and sexuality. This situation means that the gay male life-course is characterized by a dialectic of transgression and conformity stemming from conflict derived from both masculine and feminine self-representations, understood here as the "double-bind of gay selfhood." The paper argues for theoretical expansion within cultural models analysis and emphasizes the relevance of performance theory, feminism, and the analysis of culture and power in psychological anthropology.
Role of RIHP and Renal Tubular Sodium Transporters in Volume Retention of Pregnant Rats

Background Normal pregnancy is characterized by sodium and water conservation and an increase in plasma volume that is required for an uncomplicated pregnancy. Renal interstitial hydrostatic pressure (RIHP) is significantly decreased in pregnant rats. This decrease in RIHP may play an important role in the sodium and water retention that characterizes normal pregnancy. Paradoxically this enhanced renal sodium and water reabsorption appear to conflict with the consistent findings of a general decrease in abundance of renal tubular sodium transporters during normal pregnancy. The objective of this review is to examine the apparent discrepancy between the increases in renal tubular sodium and water reabsorption, facilitated by decreases in RIHP, and the seemingly discordant decreases in abundance of renal tubular transporters during normal pregnancy in rats. Methods Western blots and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate abundance and localization of renal tubular transporters. RIHP was measured directly and continuously via a polyethylene (PE) matrix that was implanted in the left kidney of rats at the age of 11 to 16 weeks. Results Average basal RIHP and fractional excretion of sodium (FENa) were found to be significantly lower (P Conclusions We propose that during normal uncomplicated pregnancy, simultaneous decreases in RIHP and in net abundance of renal tubular sodium transporters occur. The effects of decreased RIHP exceed those of the reduction in net abundance, and presumably activity, of renal tubular transporters resulting in an enhanced net sodium and water retention during pregnancy.
Calculating expected DNA remnants from ancient founding events in human population genetics

Recent advancements in sequencing and computational technologies have led to rapid generation and analysis of high quality genetic data. Such genetic data have achieved wide acceptance in studies of historic human population origins and admixture. However, in studies relating to small, recent admixture events, genetic factors such as historic population sizes, genetic drift, and mutation can have pronounced effects on data reliability and utility. To address these issues we conducted genetic simulations targeting influential genetic parameters in admixed populations. We performed a series of simulations, adjusting variable values to assess the affect of these genetic parameters on current human population studies and what these studies infer about past population structure. Final mean allele frequencies varied from 0.0005 to over 0.50, depending on the parameters. The results of the simulations illustrate that, while genetic data may be sensitive and powerful in large genetic studies, caution must be used when applying genetic information to small, recent admixture events. For some parameter sets, genetic data will not be adequate to detect historic admixture. In such cases, studies should consider anthropologic, archeological, and linguistic data where possible.
The C-Type Lectin Receptor MCL Mediates Vaccine-Induced Immunity against Infection with Blastomyces dermatitidis

C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) are essential in shaping the immune response to fungal pathogens. Vaccine-induced resistance requires Dectin-2 to promote differentiation of antifungal Th1 and Th17 cells. Since Dectin-2 and MCL heterodimerize and both CLRs use FcRγ as the signaling adaptor, we investigated the role of MCL in vaccine immunity to the fungal pathogen Blastomyces dermatitidis. MCL(-/-) mice showed impaired vaccine resistance against B. dermatitidis infection compared to that of wild-type animals. The lack of resistance correlated with the reduced recruitment of Th17 cells to the lung upon recall following experimental challenge and impaired interleukin-17 (IL-17) production by vaccine antigen-stimulated splenocytes in vitro. Soluble MCL fusion protein recognized and bound a water-soluble ligand from the cell wall of vaccine yeast, but the addition of soluble Dectin-2 fusion protein did not augment ligand recognition by MCL. Taken together, our data indicate that MCL regulates the development of vaccine-induced Th17 cells and protective immunity against lethal experimental infection with B. dermatitidis.
Response of muscle protein synthesis to fasting in suckling and weaned rats

Protein synthetic efficiency (KRNA) is low in immature skeletal muscle of suckling rats and increases toward the end of the suckling period. To determine whether immature skeletal muscle is able to further reduce KRNA in response to fasting, suckling (5, 10, and 16 days of age) and weaned (28 days of age) rats were fed, fasted for 10 h, or fasted for 18 h and injected with a flooding dose of L-[4-3H]phenylalanine for measurement of muscle protein synthesis in vivo. In fed rats, fractional rates of protein synthesis (KS) and protein synthetic capacity decreased during the suckling period. KRNA increased toward the end of the suckling period. In 5-day-old rats, fasting for 10 h produced a 50% decline in KS of extensor digitorum longus and plantaris muscles, but KS did not change further after 18 h of fasting. In older suckled and weaned rats, 10 h of fasting decreased KS of extensor digitorum longus and plantaris muscles 30%; after 18 h of fasting, values had declined to 50% of those in fed animals. The reductions in KS in soleus muscles with 10 and 18 h of fasting were similar to those in other muscles at 5 and 10 days but were less than those in other muscles at 16 and 28 days. Changes in KRNA were similar to those for KS in all muscles from all age groups fasted for 10 and 18 h. Protein synthetic capacity decreased approximately 12% after 18 h of fasting, but this effect did not differ between age groups or muscle types.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Exploring the relationship between types of leisure activities and acculturation among Korean immigrants

Research has suggested that leisure engagement facilitates acculturation among immigrants. A dearth of information exists about which types of leisure activities are associated with acculturation among immigrants. This study focused on 434 Korean immigrants in order to determine what types of leisure activities were associated with behavioural acculturation (e.g. language usage and social context) and cultural value acculturation (e.g. collectivism, self-control and success). The results showed that participation in hobbies and indoor activities were the positive predictors of behavioural acculturation, while engagement in cultural and volunteer activities was the negative predictors of behavioural acculturation. In addition, cultural value acculturation had a positive association with social activity engagement, but had a negative association with participation in physical, cultural and volunteering activities. Overall, these findings indicated that engaging in leisure activities is positively associated...
The Downside of Self-Management: A Longitudinal Study of the Effects tf Conflict on Trust, Autonomy, and Task Interdependence in Self-Managing Teams

The very flexibility and adaptability that make self-managing teams effective can also be limiting and dysfunctional. I propose that self-managing teams may unintentionally restructure themselves inefficiently in response to conflict. Although detrimental consequences of conflict are normally considered as process-related, I explore possible structure-related effects. Specifically, I suggest that increased team conflict is associated with lower intrateam trust, which in turn may influence team structure by (1) reducing individual autonomy and (2) loosening task interdependencies in teams. This combination makes for a less than ideal team design. Longitudinal data from 35 self-managing teams support these expectations.
Ineffective Uncertainty Alleviation in the Wake of the October 2008 Shooting on the University of Central Arkansas Campus

In 2007, 46 murders were committed on college campuses in the United States. While that number is astounding, it doesn’t include the myriad other crimes – as well as natural disasters – classified as campus crises. Inherent in each crisis is a level of uncertainty for stakeholders. In 2008, two of these reported campus murders happened here in central Arkansas. On October 26, 2008, two students died as a result of a shooting on the University of Central Arkansas campus. As campus leaders scrambled to alleviate uncertainty surrounding the incident, their communication efforts came under fire from stakeholders. In this paper, I argue that University of Central Arkansas (UCA) communicators did not effectively manage uncertainty following the October 26, 2008, campus shooting.
Association Between Neighborhood-Level Smoking and Individual Smoking Risk: Maternal Smoking Among Latina Women in Pennsylvania.

OBJECTIVE We examined whether or not high maternal smoking rates at the neighborhood level increase the likelihood of individual smoking by Latina women in the three months prior to and during pregnancy, independent of other individual and neighborhood factors. METHODS This study was observational in nature, using linked vital statistics records for 24,443 Latina women in Pennsylvania (2009-2010) and U.S. Census data for 2,398 census tracts. We used multilevel logistic regression models to determine the individual odds of self-reported maternal smoking given different census tract-level rates of maternal smoking in the previous three years (2006-2008), adjusting for maternal and census-tract characteristics, including ethnic density, population density, and poverty. RESULTS Higher levels of maternal smoking at the census-tract level were associated with increased individual odds of smoking among Latina mothers. In the fully adjusted model, a 10% increase in the neighborhood smoking rate was associated with a 1.28 (95% confidence interval 1.22, 1.34) increase in the individual odds of smoking. CONCLUSION Latina women living in census tracts where more women have smoked during or immediately prior to pregnancy are themselves at higher risk of smoking during this period.
Resident performance in complex simulated urinary catheter scenarios.

Abstract Background Urinary catheter insertion is a common procedure performed in hospitals. Improper catheterization can lead to unnecessary catheter-associated urinary tract infections and urethral trauma, increasing patient morbidity. To prevent such complications, guidelines were created on how to insert and troubleshoot urinary catheters. As nurses have an increasing responsibility for catheter placement, resident responsibility has shifted to more complex scenarios. This study examines the clinical decision-making skills of surgical residents during simulated urinary catheter scenarios. We hypothesize that during urinary catheterization, residents will make inconsistent decisions relating to catheter choices and clinical presentations. Methods Forty-five general surgery residents (postgraduate year 2-4) in Midwest training programs were presented with three of four urinary catheter scenarios of varying difficulty. Residents were allowed 15 min to complete the scenarios with five different urinary catheter choices. A chi-square test was performed to examine the relation between initial and subsequent catheter choices and to evaluate for consistency of decision-making for each scenario. Results Eighty-two percent of residents performed scenario A; 49% performed scenario B; 64% performed scenario C, and 82% performed scenario D. For initial attempt for scenario A-C, the 16 French Foley catheter was the most common choice (38%, 54%, 50%, P 's P P P 's > 0.05). Conclusions Evaluation of clinical decision-making shows that initial catheter choice may have been deliberate based on patient background, as evidenced by the most popular choice in scenario D. Analyses of subsequent choices in each of the catheterization models reveal inconsistency. These findings suggest a possible lack of competence or training in clinical decision-making with regard to urinary catheter choices in residents.
First Language Acquisition: Specialization for language

What are the biological underpinnings of language? To what extent are we, as humans, specialized for language? And just what do we mean by specialization here: Existing capacities in the service of language? Capacities unique to language? Specialized organs for language? Specific areas of the brain for the processing of linguistic information? Answering these questions turns out to be complicated. There are extensive behavioral observations of language use and acquisition, but much less firm data available on the neurological underpinnings of language. And still less is known about just how the behavioral data map onto areas of the brain. The first issue, then, is whether there is specialization of the brain for language. Are there language skills assigned to specific areas of the brain – and if so, which areas and which skills? Such specialization could be present from birth, or the relevant areas might become assigned in the course of development. In either case, exposure to a language would appear essential for learning, but whether we store multiple languages in the same area of the brain or whether the area assigned depends on when during development that language is acquired remains unclear. All of language could be stored in a single area, or different languages or different aspects of a language could be distributed across different areas.
Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors

Abstract This chapter defines eigenvalues and their corresponding eigenvectors. It computes the eigenvalues and eigenvectors for a number of examples using polynomial root finding and Gaussian elimination with a homogeneous system. Some properties of eigenvalues are developed, including the fact that an n × n matrix is singular if and only if it has a zero eigenvalue, as well as the fact that the determinant of a matrix is the product of its eigenvalues. The concept of similar matrices is presented, and that similar matrices have the same eigenvalues. This discussion leads to the concept of matrix diagonalization. It is made clear that a matrix can be diagonalized only if it has n linearly independent eigenvectors. If a matrix has distinct eigenvalues, it has n linearly independent eigenvectors. A symmetric matrix can always be diagonalized, even if it has repeated eigenvalues. It is simple to compute powers of a diagonalizable matrix. An application involving an electrical circuit containing batteries, resistors, and inductors is presented, and the solution for the currents involves a first-order differential equation whose solution requires solving an eigenproblem. The chapter discusses irreducible matrices and the Perron-Frobenius theorem. This result is used to develop a scheme for ranking teams. The chapter ends by presenting the MATLAB function eig that computes eigenvalues or eigenvalues and their associated eigenvectors.
Ceftriaxone-Associated Biliary and Cardiopulmonary Adverse Events in Neonates: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Background Ceftriaxone is a third-generation cephalosporin with broad-spectrum activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Despite its effectiveness, its use for the treatment of infections in neonatal patients has been limited because of concern about its potential toxicity.
Coal depolymerization using permanganate under optimal conditions

Abstract For the purpose of solubilizing coal for liberating valuable chemicals, permanganate was used as an oxidant. To obtain the highest yield of soluble compounds from coal, permanganate was studied at different concentrations and different temperatures with different loading of bituminous coal from the Illinois basin. The optimal condition for dissolving 60% of the bituminous coal was: KMnO4 at 0.45 mol/L; temperature at 25 °C; coal loading at 50 g/L in a tumbler set at 45 rpm for 21 days. A mathematical equation was developed for predicting yield of soluble compounds from coal based on experimental data. Upon verifying the results predicted by the model, coal treatment also included samples from the San Juan basin and the Powder River Basin. After treatment, the residual coal was characterized in terms of elemental composition. The aqueous phase was subjected to analysis of total organic carbon (TOC), volatile compounds by HPLC and dichloromethane solubles by GC–MS. Considering the high TOC content demonstrated from this study, this work provided a cost-effective way for obtaining value-added chemicals from coal at different locations.