cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of soil surface arthropod populations in conventional tillage, no-tillage and old field systems

Abstract Soil surface arthropod populations in conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT) sorghum and adjacent old field (OF) were compared using pitfall trap captures. Overall diversity ( H ) and similarity quotients (QS) between systems were calculated for each of seven 24-h sampling periods throughout the season. Diversity of the soil surface arthropods was greater in NT than either CT or OF. Although each system was distinct (any two of the systems had less than 30% of their species in common), NT was most similar to OF and least similar to CT during a period of drought and after heading of the sorghum. Percentages of individuals and species represented by spiders were similar in NT (30 and 15%) and OF (22 and 17%); percentages were substantially less in CT (11 and 8%). Yields (biomass of sorghum) in CT and NT were not significantly different despite the generally predicted higher pest populations in NT in the absence of insecticides. Leaf area grazed by insects was greater in CT (28%) than in NT (12%).
Track analysis of energetic neutral atom blobs at Saturn

[1] A statistical analysis of observations of the Magnetospheric Imaging Instrument (MIMI) on the Cassini spacecraft at Saturn reveals the morphology and dynamics of energetic neutral atoms (ENA). The ENA (20–50 keV hydrogens) images are smoothed and projected onto Saturn's equatorial plane, and the intensities are slant-corrected using a thin-disk approximation. The resulting images exhibit intensity “blobs” that move in a prograde (corotational) sense about Saturn. Blob centroids are determined and tracked for as long as they persist as recognizable objects. The radial distribution of the centroids maximizes near the orbit of Rhea (∼9 RS, 1 RS = 60,268 km). The angular speeds of all blobs lasting longer than 5 h vary from near zero to nearly twice the rigid corotation speed. However, the longer-lived blobs (those lasting longer than 10 h) exhibit a sharp cutoff at the corotation speed. Inside the orbit of Rhea, the angular speeds decrease linearly with radial distance with a slope of −11.4°/h/RS, while outside the orbit of Rhea, the speeds are essentially constant at 13.1 ± 1.6°/h. Generally, the angular speeds differ from corotation (33.4°/h). The angular speeds tend to be somewhat slower near midnight than at other local times. The radial speed distribution peaks at the slightly inward value of −0.26 RS/h. Radial speeds exhibit a slight outflow from 6 to 10 h local time and a slight inflow from 16 to 20 h.
Cost-effectiveness projections of oxaliplatin and infusional fluorouracil versus irinotecan and bolus fluorouracil in first-line therapy for metastatic colorectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND The results of a randomized comparison study (N9741) showed that oxaliplatin and infusional fluorouracil (FU) (FOLFOX) was superior to the previous standard of care in the United States, irinotecan and bolus FU (IFL), as first-line therapy for patients with metastatic colon carcinoma. The trade-offs between costs and survival for these two regimens have not been explored. METHODS A post-hoc, incremental cost-effectiveness (ICE) projection using simulated cohorts of patients starting FOLFOX or IFL was tracked for major clinical events, toxicities, and survival. Recurrence and survival risks were based on clinical trial data. Resource use was projected using observed dose intensity, duration of therapy, delays in therapy, and toxicities Grade > 2 in N9741. The frequency, costs, and consequences of second-line therapy were examined. The time frame was 5 years, and the perspective was that of Medicare as a third-party payer. RESULTS Initial treatment with FOLFOX versus IFL had an average incremental cost of $29,523, a survival benefit of 4.4 months, and an ICE of $80,410 per life year (LY), $111,890 per quality-adjusted LY, and $89,080 per progression-free year. By using the 95% confidence interval for the time to progression observed in N9741, the ICE associated with FOLFOX ranged from $121,220 to $59,250 per LY. In the clinical trial, dose delays and skipped doses were frequent. If progression-free patients were treated without delay for the first year or lifetime, then the ICE for FOLFOX increased to $117,910 and $222,200 per LY, respectively. The ICE increased to $84,780 per LY when the model incorporated a revised IFL schedule with lower early toxicity and similar rates of treatment with second-line regimens. CONCLUSIONS FOLFOX provided substantial benefits that incurred substantial additional costs. The ICE for FOLFOX fell into the upper range of commonly accepted oncology interventions in the context of the United States healthcare system. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Outward currents in olfactory receptor neurons activated by odorants and by elevation of cyclic AMP.

We studied the outward currents elicited by an odorous compound, isoamyl acetate, in isolated olfactory receptor neurons of the grass frog under whole-cell perforated-patch voltage-clamp recording. Odorant-induced outward currents were relatively rare occurring in about 16% of the responding cells. Responses had smaller amplitudes and shorter time courses when compared to the more commonly found odorant-induced inward currents. There was a high correlation between odorant-induced outward current and responses evoked by either 8-(4-chlorophenylthio) adenosine 3′∶5′-cyclic monophosphate, a membrane-permeant cyclic adenosine monophosphate analog, or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor. The outward current responses to all three substances increased in amplitude when the membrane potential was more negative than −60 mV and decreased in amplitude when the membrane potential was more positive. Responses were still present when the potential was held at −100 mV, indicating that the responses are not the result of a potassium conductance. Removal of external calcium from the perfusion medium abolished the outward currents. Our results indicate that the odorant-induced outward current is a calcium-dependent event that may be mediated by cyclic adenosine monophosphate.
Silver-silver chloride plunge electrode needles and chloriding monitor (bioelectric signal recording application)

A plunge electrode is made from a hypodermic needle with one side cut open and multiple electrodes exposed from tip to base. A method for constructing chlorided silver electrode plunge needles is explained, and problems associated with electrode chloriding are pointed out. The small surface area of these electrodes makes empirical methods of chloriding difficult to use. A monitor for the testing and chloriding of a twelve-electrode plunge needle was constructed. This system continuously measures the impedance of the electrodes during chloriding. >
Determinants of Educational Attainment in Rural Thailand: A Life Course Approach

Using data from rural Thailand, we examine the determinants of educational attainment of school-age children. We organize our analysis around three central principles of the life course perspective: the embeddedness of lives in historical time and place, linked or interconnected lives, and the timing of lives. We examine these principles using comparisons within cohorts and between cohorts. We find that educational attainment is related to a combination of factors related to each of these principles. Specifically, despite a serious economic downturn occurring midway through our study, we nonetheless found that educational levels were higher following the downturn than preceding it. Interconnections to parents and siblings also affected educational outcomes, as did the timing of life events such as migration, marriage, and childbearing. For the latter, mother’s education and migration both positively affected educational attainment. For the former, having more siblings, both those in the household and those migrating, reduced education.
Editorial Teacher Attrition: An Issue of National Concern

While visiting friends in Florida I met a married couple who had left careers as high school teachers to start their own house cleaning business. They cheerfully enumerated the advantages of their new job: flexible hours, more time spent together, greater physical fitness, less stress, good salaries/tips, and vacations that were not dictated by the school calendar. True, the couple admitted, they had lost some social status and were no longer working in the profession in which they had invested four years of college study. Yet some of the sources of satisfaction that had eluded them as teachers were accessible to them for the first time. They mentioned such things as the ability to exercise a high level of control over their work and resources, the freedom to select an efficient system of operation, and the luxury of sticking with it. Perhaps most gratifying of all, they now left work behind at the end of the day. Reactions from the pair s former teaching colleagues varied considerably, ranging from those who thought they had lost their minds to those who envied them (Jalongo, Rieg, & Helterbran, 2007, pp. 1–2).
Tradition and the Working Class, 1850–1950

For two days, October 25–26, 1991, about forty scholars—mostly, but not exclusively, historians—sat around a conference table in the Alumni Room of the prestigious Ecole Polytechnique in Paris and discussed “Tradition and the Working Class, 1850–1950.” We came from nine countries (the largest delegations were from France and the United States) to participate in the third of what has become a tradition in itself among historians of the working class, an international colloquium sponsored by ILWCH and the French social history journal. Le Mouvemem social , and supported as well by the Maison des Sciences de l'Homme. CNRS. and DAGIC.
In vitro regulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarylcoenzyme a reductase and acylcoenzyme a: Cholesterol acyltransferase activities by phoshorylation-dephosphorylation in rabbit intestine

The regulation of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutarylcoenzyme A reductase and acylcoenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase activities by phosphorylation-dephosphorylation in rabbit intestine was studied in vitro. Preparing intestinal microsomes in the presence of 50 mM NaF caused a 64% decrease in the reductase activity. It had no effect on acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase activity. Microsomes that were prepared in NaF were incubated with intestinal cytosol, a partially purified phosphatase from cytosol, and Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase. All three preparations increased 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase by two- or three-fold suggesting dephosphorylation and ‘reactivation’ of enzyme activity. Cytosol caused a 78% increase in acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase activity, but neither the partially purified phosphatase nor the E. coli alkaline phosphatase affected the acyltransferase activity. Microsomes incubated with increasing concentrations of MgCl2 and ATP decreased both the activities of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase and acylcoenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase in a step-wise fashion. Whereas this inhibitory effect was specific for reductase, the effect on acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase activity was secondary to the presence of ATP in the assay mixture. The 8500×g supernatant of intestinal whole homogenate from isolated intestinal cells or scraped mucosa was incubated with MgCl2, ATP and NaF. In microsomes prepared from this supernatant, the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase was significantly decreased. Again, no change was observed in the acyltransferase activity. The rate of cholesterol esterification in isolated intestinal cells was not affected by 0.1 mM cAMP or 50 mM NaF. We conclude that under conditions which regulate 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase activity in rabbit intestine by phosphorylation-dephosphorylation, no regulation of acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase activity is observed.
Electron induced deposition and in situ etching of CrOxCly films

In a 3 keV electron system, we have studied both electron beam induced CrOxCly deposition using precursor CrO2Cl2 and electron beam induced etching of as-deposited CrOxCly film using Cl2. The CrO2Cl2 pressure, 6.5 × 10−5 Torr, was experimentally observed to be a threshold for CrOxCly deposition. The Cr film is a composite of Cr, O and Cl with a ratio of Cr:O:Cl = 1:2.2:1.1, and under electron beam irradiation, O increases while Cl decreases. As-deposited CrOxCly films can be etched in situ by chlorine at a pressure of 6 × 10−4 Torr with an electron flux of 10 mA cm−2, demonstrating that Cl2 pressure is the key in initiating the etching reaction.
Marine fungi deteriorating chitin of hydrozoa and keratin-like annelid tubes

Higher marine fungi were found for the first time as degraders of chitinous exoskeletons of hydrozoa and of keratinous (?) tubes of annelids. Collections were made in several locations of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Fruiting bodies and hyphae of the ascomycete Abyssomyces hydrozoicusKohlm. occurred on hydrozoa at a depth of 631 to 641 m near the South Orkney Islands. Sterile mycelia, some of them resembling Dictyonema zoophytarumReinsch, were collected on hydrozoa on the North Carolina coast, and offshore at a depth of 46 to 73 m. Tubes of the polychaete Chaetopterus variopedatus (Renier) washed ashore in California contained ascocarps and mycelia of Lulworthia sp. Hyphal growth on and in the animal tubes is described and illustrated.
The secret ingredient in mindfulness interventions? A case for practice quality over quantity.

As mindfulness-based interventions become increasingly widespread, interest has grown in better understanding which features of these treatments produce beneficial effects. The present study examined the relative contribution of mindfulness practice time and practice quality in predicting psychological functioning (negative affect, emotion regulation, quality of life, mindfulness). Data were drawn from a randomized clinical trial of mindfulness training for smokers and assessed outcomes at posttreatment (n = 43) and 5-month follow-up (n = 38). The intervention included instruction in mindfulness techniques targeted to smoking cessation and relapse prevention and was composed of 10 group meetings over 8 weeks. Data from 8 treatment groups were used. Mindfulness practice quality was measured weekly over the course of treatment, and multilevel modeling was used to estimate trajectories of change in practice quality. The measure of practice quality was shown to be valid and reliable, with change in practice quality predicting change in psychological functioning at both posttreatment (β= .31, 95% CI =[0.04, 0.56], p = .022) and follow-up (β= .45 [0.16, 0.73], p = .002), even when controlling for practice time. Practice time predicted outcomes at posttreatment (β= .31 [0.05, 0.57], p = .019) but not at follow-up (β= .16 [[{"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"H11002","term_id":"875822"}}H11002]0.14, 0.47], p = .293). Neither practice time nor change in practice quality predicted smoking abstinence at 1 month or 6 months postquit. Results support the importance of practice quality as a relevant aspect of mindfulness interventions.
The effect of laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery on dyslipidemia in severely obese patients

Abstract Background Dyslipidemia is common in the morbidly obese population. Lipid parameters typically improve after bariatric surgery, but the effects have been inconsistent and may depend on the surgical procedure performed. If bariatric surgery consistently improves dyslipidemia, there may be associated cost savings in lipid-modifying medications. Methods Patients undergoing laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB) for morbid obesity had lipid analyses performed preoperatively and 1 and 2 years postoperatively. The number of lipid-modifying medications taken was documented by an electronic medical record review. Results A total of 168 patients were enrolled. Of these, 96 patients had preoperative and 1-year postoperative data and 18 had preoperative and 2-year postoperative data. In the 1-year cohort, total cholesterol (TC) decreased by 12.5%, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) decreased by 19.4%, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) increased by 23.2%, triglycerides (TG) decreased by 41.2%, and the percentage of dyslipidemic patients decreased from 82.3% to 28.1% ( P P = .036), LDL decreased by 21.7% ( P P P = .015), and the percentage of dyslipidemic patients decreased from 94.4% to 27.8% ( P P = .049). Conclusions Laparoscopic RYGB improved all lipid parameters studied and decreased the percentage of dyslipidemic patients. Furthermore, fewer patients were taking lipid-modifying medications postoperatively, suggesting a substantial medication cost savings over time.
The polarization of X-rays scattered into 90°

Abstract The coherent and incoherent scattering cross sections (normalized to the atomic form and incoherent scattering factors) for X-rays have been integrated over solid angle from a point source into 90° while maintaining the polarization information. This polarization information is important in X-ray fluorescence with crystal spectrometers since it can be used to reduce the background in the spectra.
HISTOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF ADVENTITIOUS BUD FORMATION IN CULTURED DOUGLAS FIR COTYLEDON

Initiation of adventitious bud formation in vitro from Douglas fir cotyledons required both cytokinin and auxin at concentrations of 5 ,uM BAP and 5 nM NAA. Histological observations showed that these adventitious buds arose de novo from cells residing in hypodermal layers. Development of adventitious buds in culture was characterized by the sequential appearance of four anatomically distinguishable structures: 1) meristemoid, 2) bud primordium, 3) shoot apex with needle primordia, and 4) adventitious bud. The anatomical structure of tissue culture-produced buds was similar to that of vegetative buds produced on intact plants. Cultured cotyledons capable of producing adventitious buds (bud culture) were compared with bud-callus and callus cultures initiated by 5 ,uM BAP plus 5 ,uM NAA and 5S,M NAA alone without BAP, respectively. Results showed that, during early stages of the culture period (i.e., prior to the appearance of meristemoid structure), cell division of bud culture was mainly located in hypodermal layers, whereas for the other culture types, bud-callus and callus cultures, cell division occurred randomly in all tissues. REGENERATION of plantlets of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) through tissue culture has been accomplished in this laboratory under a defined culture condition (Cheng and Voqui, 1977). Development of adventitious buds in vitro required an appropriate combination of both cytokinin and auxin, and depending upon the combined concentrations of these two compounds, various different types of cultures could be generated (Cheng, 1977). In this report, the processes of development of adventitious buds in cotyledon cultures were analyzed histologically. In addition, the mode of cell activation and the pattern of cellular growth of bud culture prior to the appearance of meristemoid structure was compared with two different types of cultures, namely, bud-callus culture and callus culture, in order to gain insight into the mode of action of plant growth regulators in controlling morphogensis in vitro.
Physiological and psychophysical spectral sensitivities of the cichlid fish, Hemichromis bimaculatus

Electrophysiological and psychophysical spectral sensitivities of the teleost Hemichromis bimaculatus (Pisces; Cichlidae) were determined by measurement of electroretinogram b-wave magnitude and optomotor response threshold. The physiological and behavioral curves exhibit trivariance and trichromacy, respectively, with peaks occurring in the 460–478, 546, and 623–646 nm spectral regions. A 20-nm shift to the red is seen in the physiological curves upon strong light adaptation, accompanied by an order of magnitude decline in overall sensitivity. Photopic physiological and behavioral sensitivities correspond in sensitivity, but differ in dominant peaks, with the red and green spectral sensitivities dominating the respective curves. The common spectral peaks correspond with suspected vertebrate photopigments, correlate with the visually oriented nuptial and parental behaviors of the cichlids, and imply cone dominance in the retina of this teleost.
The “now” economy and the traditional accounting reporting model: Opportunities and challenges for AIS research☆

Abstract The real time economy (RTE) can be characterized by a substantive acceleration of business measurement, assessment, and decision processes. It implies a new business model where there is reduction of intra-process and inter-process latency. The AIS research literature has failed to develop new paradigms for accounting of accelerated processes. This paper places key relevant research questions for accounting, assurance, and business information systems in the RTE.
An RXR-Selective Analog Attenuates the RARα-Selective Analog-Induced Differentiation and Non-G1-Restricted Growth Arrest of NB4 Cells

Abstract NB4, a human acute promyelocytic leukemia cell line expressing the promyelocyte–retinoic acid receptor α (PML–RARα) hybrid protein was treated with RAR- and retinoid X receptor (RXR)-selective analogs to determine their effects on cell proliferation, retinoblastoma (RB) tumor-suppressor protein phosphorylation, and differentiation. An RAR- or just RARα-selective analog alone induced similar cell population growth arrest, cell cycle arrest without restriction to G1, hypophosphorylation of RB, and myelomonocytic cell surface differentiation marker expression (CD11b). In addition, an RARα antagonist could inhibit the effects of the RARα agonist completely. The RARα-selective analog-elicited response was attenuated by simultaneous addition of various RXR-selective analogs. In contrast, each of the RXR-selective analogs was unable to induce any of the cellular responses analyzed. The growth arrest of NB4 cells is not G1-restricted and occurs at all points in the cell cycle. Cells growth arrested by treatment with an RARα-selective analog show primarily hypophosphorylated RB. When these cells are sorted into G1or S + G2/M subpopulations by flow cytometry, hypophosphorylated RB protein was in G1as well as S + G2/M cells. This suggests that the hypophosphorylated RB protein may be mediating the growth arrest of NB4 cells at all points in the cell cycle. These results are consistent with an involvement of PML–RARα and/or RARα in the transduction of the retinoid signal in NB4 cells.
Technology parameters to achieve premium clinical positron emission tomography (pet): overview of the technology implemented in the general electric advance pet scannertm targeted to a clinical pet routine use

Les techniques d'imagerie an topographie d'emissions de positrons (TEP) sont disponibles aussl bien sur gamma-cametas que sur aes scanners dedies a la TEP. La technique mise en œuvre sur les gamma-cameras necessite d'importantes modifications de l'informatique, ce qui a un impact certain sur les procedures SPECT. sans que l'utilite clinique pour l'imagerie TEP en oncologie soit prouvee. Les scanners dedies a la TEP peuvent maintenant repondre aux besoins des oncologues avec de bons indices de performance pour le diagnostic, en particulier dans les procedures TNM de caracterisation et de bilan d extension de la tumeur. Les examens au FDG du corps entier, a haut rendement, sont maintenant courants sur des appareils comme le Generai Electric Advance™, qui a ete concu pour sa facilite d'utilisation en routine olinique, sans compromis de qualite d'image. Plusieurs ameliorations du materiel et du logiciel comme la correction d'attenuation, la reconstruction iterative, l'examen par transmission apres injection de FDG. ou le reecnantilionnage 3D de type Founer Rebinning™, garantissent aux scanners dedies a la TEF un fort potentiel de developpement en oncologie.
A prospective, randomized, multicenter study evaluating early corticosteroid withdrawal with Thymoglobulin® in living‐donor kidney transplantation

Woodle ES, Peddi VR, Tomlanovich S, Mulgaonkar S, Kuo PC, for the TRIMS Study Investigators. A prospective, randomized, multicenter study evaluating early corticosteroid withdrawal with Thymoglobulin® in living-donor kidney transplantation. Clin Transplant 2010: 24: 73–83. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: Background: This study compared the safety and efficacy of early corticosteroid withdrawal (ECSWD) with rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin (rATG) induction to chronic corticosteroid therapy (CCST) without antibody induction in primary, living-donor renal transplant recipients. Methods: Eligible subjects were randomized 2:1 to receive either an ECSWD (n = 103) or CCST (n = 48) regimen, with all subjects receiving tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). Results: Results are reported as ECSWD vs. CCST. No significant differences were observed in the primary composite endpoint of freedom from biopsy-proven acute rejection (BPAR), graft loss, and death at six months (85.4% vs. 85.4%) or 12 months (84.4% vs. 74.4%). At 12 months, no difference was observed in BPAR (13.9% vs. 19.4%); however, ECSWD was associated with lower total cholesterol (159.7 ± 39.2 vs. 196.5 ± 56.7 mg/dL, p = 0.012), and trends toward significance were noted in serum triglycerides (151.9 ± 92.0 vs. 181.4 ± 78.8 mg/dL, p = 0.073) and weight gain (+3.6 ± 9.4 vs. +6.4 ± 9.3 kg, p = 0.069). No differences were observed in serious adverse events or infectious complications, with the exception of a higher incidence of leukopenia with ECSWD. Conclusions: rATG with tacrolimus and MMF therapy may allow early elimination of corticosteroids, is associated with trends toward lower lipid levels, less weight gain, and a safety profile comparable to CCST therapy.
The Oral Proficiency Interview in Real Life: Sharpening the Scale.

ORAL PROFICIENCY HAS BEEN CALLED, among other things, an organizing principle (12). It is viewed as a means of helping language educators organize instruction and testing. Lowe (7) has referred to the ILR Proficiency Scale as a "synthesizing research principle." Viewing the oral proficiency interview (OPI) as a viable instrument for use in language acquisition research is laudable, yet difficult, and may make reason stare if taken at face value. The mere bluntness of the instru-
A role for uteroglobin in glomerulopathy: knockout mice as a model system.

F OR THE TYPICAL nephrologist, the effort necessary to understand the details of molecular engineering must be as great as that required by a basic scientist like me during the average grand rounds case: each is daunting from the other’s point of view. Most intimidating of all to someone outside the field of molecular biology may be the subject of transgenic animals. If one can put aside momentarily that anxiety, however, a recent report from Zhang et al’ provides a fine example of how transgenic technology can be used to address fundamental questions of protein function. As a bonus, their work also suggests a mechanism underlying some forms of glomerular disease characterized by deposits of fibronectin (Fn) and collagen. The story begins with uteroglobin (UG), a secreted protein of approximately 16,000 daltons searching for a function.’ The number of names by which UG is known is exceeded only by the number of suggestions for its physiological relevance. It was first discovered in the rabbit uterus, but has since been observed in many nonreproductive tissues.3’4 Endocrinologists have used it as a model system because it is regulated by both steroid and polypeptide hormones. There is also a clear involvement of UG with the immune system, and it often acts as an immunosuppressant. Moreover, after binding to plasma membrane receptors, it seems to decrease cell interactions with the extracellular matrix. Despite the host of enzymes and processes with which UG may be involved, its biological importance at the systemic level was unknown. There was certainly little reason to suspect that its elimination would produce renal pathology. Indeed, it is not even expressed in the kidney.
Parametric and cycle tests of a 40-A-hr bipolar nickel-hydrogen battery

A series of tests was performed to characterize battery performance relating to certain operating parameters which included charge current, discharge current, temperature and pressure. The parameters were varied to confirm battery design concepts and to determine optimal operating conditions. Spacecraft power requirements are constantly increasing. Special spacecraft such as the Space Station and platforms will require energy storage systems of 130 and 25 kWh, respectively. The complexity of these high power systems will demand high reliability, and reduced mass and volume. A system that uses batteries for storage will require a cell count in excess of 400 units. These cell units must then be assembled into several batteries with over 100 cells in a series connected string. In an attempt to simplify the construction of conventional cells and batteries, the NASA Lewis Research Center battery systems group initiated work on a nickel-hydrogen battery in a bipolar configuration in early 1981. Features of the battery with this bipolar construction show promise in improving both volumetric and gravimetric energy densities as well as thermal management. Bipolar construction allows cooling in closer proximity to the cell components, thus heat removal can be accomplished at a higher rejection temperature than conventional cell designs. Also, higher current densities are achievable because of low cell impedance. Lower cell impedance is achieved via current flow perpendicular to the electrode face, thus reducing voltage drops in the electrode grid and electrode terminals tabs.
Two chamber methods for the determination of pesticide flux from contaminated soil and water

Abstract Two types of glass chambers—a 19 L flow-through chamber with residue trap and a 22 ml static headspace gas chromatograph (HS-GC) “micro-chamber”—were used to measure evaporative flux of pebulate, trifluralin, and endosulfan-α and -β from impoundment soil and molinate from spiked tap water. For the compounds on soil, two versions of the flow-through chamber—one with a pressure drop of 5–7 Pa and the other with a pressure drop of 148 Pa—gave comparable flux results that did not reflect the difference in pressure drop. Flux results for pebulate and endosulfan-α using HS-GC compared to within 15–56% (ave=38%; pebulate) and 9–29% (ave=17%; endosulfan-α) with the results obtained using the flow-through chamber. Molinate flux from water measured using HS-GC compared to within 32% with the field results when wind speed was considered.
Numerical Simulation of Warm Cloud Electricity

Abstract Drop charge in warm clouds was simulated numerically in a cloud model which includes four basic electric charge generation processes. These basic physical mechanisms are Wilson's induction ion capture effect, Gunn's diffusion effect, the surface potential effect, and the vapor pressure effect. The diffusion and surface potential effects contribute to the negative electrification in–cloud at the developing stage. Evaporation causes drops to become positively charged at the cloud top in the mature stage. It is only during the dissipating stage that the Wilson effect becomes primary; at this stage, electric charge separation in the air is at the maximum so that high potential gradient develops. The numerical calculations compare favorably with recent observations in Hawaii.
Use of LOWTRAN-derived atmospheric parameters in synthetic image generation models

The Digital Imaging and Remote Sensing laboratory's Image Generation model combines computer aided design, ray tracing techniques, radiometric principles, and thermodynamic models to create synthetic imagery. The model emphasizes rigorous radiometric solutions that account for spectral reflectance effects, angular emissivities, atmospheric transmission and upwelled and downwelled sky radiance. This paper describes enhancements to the radiometric portion of the code that permits inclusion of variations with azimuth of downwelling sky radiance, solution of the radiometric propagation models using specific radiosonde data including adjustments for the time of day, and the incorporation of background effects from objects adjacent to the target. Simulated scenes are presented that show how these enhancements produce imagery that more closely match observed phenomena. In particular, the importance of properly modeled sky radiance is shown both for low altitude oblique imagery where the sky is directly observed and for near nadir imagery where reflected sky radiance is important.
Byzantine fault tolerant public key authentication in peer-to-peer systems

We describe Byzantine fault tolerant authentication, a mechanism for public key authentication in peer-to-peer systems. Authentication is done without trusted third parties, tolerates Byzantine faults and is eventually correct if more than a threshold of the peers are honest. This paper addresses the design, correctness, and fault tolerance of authentication over insecure asynchronous networks. An anti-entropy version of the protocol is developed to provide lazy authentication with logarithmic messaging cost. The cost implications of the authentication mechanism are studied by simulation.
Comparison of once daily and twice daily FSH injections for superovulating beef cattle

Twelve cycling Angus-based crossbred cows were used in a crossover experimental design to evaluate two different injection schedules using Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) for superovulating donor cattle. Females randomly assigned to Treatment (A) were given twice daily FSH injections of 5 mg each (12 hours apart) for five consecutive days starting on day 10 of the estrous cycle while those in Treatment (B) received the same daily dose level of FSH, except it was given in a 3.2% protein gelatin carrier vehicle and administered on a once daily injection schedule. Animals in both Treatments (A) and (B) were each given a 30 mg dose of commercially available prostaglandin-F(2alpha) agent 48 hours after the first FSH injection. Cows in estrus were initially handmated to a fertile bull then artificially inseminated 12 hours later with two units of frozen semen. All 12 animals (100%) given twice daily FSH injections and 11 of the females (91.6%) administered once daily FSH injections exhibited standing estrus within 5 days following injection of the luteolytic agent. On day 7 or 8 after the onset of standing estrus a laparotomy was performed to observe ovarian structures. When the superovulation response was evaluated, the mean number of corpora lutea per ovary ranged from 2.9 in the twice daily injection group to 4.1 in the once daily injected group. Unexpectedly, the once daily treated group had significantly more corpora lutea per animal (8.1 vs. 6.4) than those in the twice daily treated group. In addition, mean ovarian size score per animal increased significantly when pre-treatment scores were compared to those recorded following FSH treatment (laparotomy) in both Treatment (A) and (B), however, the post-treatment ovarian size scores were not different between these groups. When evaluating post-treatment follicular development, the once daily injection group had significantly more smaller follicles ( 10 mm) than the twice daily injection group. Furthermore, viable appearing embryos were recovered from both treatment groups and no adverse reactions were observed with the gelatin carrier vehicle in Treatment (B). Since the once daily FSH injection schedule resulted in a superovulatory response equal to or greater than the twice daily FSH injection schedule, this approach to superovulation should not be overlooked by those involved in bovine embryo transplantation.
Vector–raster server-side analysis: a PostGIS benchmark

Report generation from coverages around points of interest (POIs) or in areas of interest (AOIs) is a common need in thematic research projects. The extracted information adds value to the POIs or AOIs dataset by enriching its information content. In a common scenario, POIs or AOIs are usually vector data whereas background thematic datasets are often raster data. The paper investigates different approaches for zonal statistic computation about both raster and vector data with particular focus on server-side free and open source software (FOSS)-based solutions. Extensive performance tests are based on PostGIS (the spatial extension of popular PostgreSQL (http://www.postgresql.org/) FOSS DBMS) 2.0. This version is the first to offer raster support. Previously, vector–raster analysis was not supported by any FOSS DBMS environment and such analyses were possible in a FOSS server-side environment using geographical information system (GIS) tools (e.g., Geographic Resources Analysis Support System (GRASS) GIS) and Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) Web Processing Server. PostGIS performance data from the tests are compared to an almost standard ESRI ArcGIS desktop approach. A project aimed at monitoring fire alerts in African protected areas provides the benchmarking application. The computation of people living in the surroundings of POIs (alert points from Global Fire Information Management System) based on a world population density dataset (LandScan) is the benchmarking query. The impact of many parameters on performances is considered: the adopted tile size in the storing of the raster in the DBMS, the dimension of queried areas in relation to the above-mentioned tile size, the number of queried features.
Gauged duality, conformal symmetry, and spacetime with two times

We construct a duality between several simple physical systems by showing that they are different aspects of the same quantum theory. Examples include the free relativistic massless particle and the hydrogen atom in any number of dimensions. The key is the gauging of the Sp(2) duality symmetry that treats position and momentum $(x,p)$ as a doublet in phase space. As a consequence of the gauging, the Minkowski spacetime vectors ${x}^{\ensuremath{\mu}}{,p}^{\ensuremath{\mu}}$ get enlarged by one additional spacelike and one additional timelike dimension to ${(x}^{M}{,p}^{M}).$ A manifest global symmetry $\mathrm{SO}(d,2)$ rotates ${(x}^{M}{,p}^{M})$-like $(d+2)$-dimensional vectors. The $\mathrm{SO}(d,2)$ symmetry of the parent theory may be interpreted as the familiar conformal symmetry of quantum field theory in Minkowski spacetime in one gauge or as the dynamical symmetry of a totally different physical system in another gauge. Thanks to the gauge symmetry, the theory permits various choices of ``time'' which correspond to different looking Hamiltonians, while avoiding ghosts. Thus we demonstrate that there is a physical role for a spacetime with two times when taken together with a gauged duality symmetry that produces appropriate constraints.
INSIGHT INTO THE MOLECULAR BASIS OF AROMATIC POLYKETIDE CYCLIZATION: CRYSTAL STRUCTURE AND IN VITRO CHARACTERIZATION OF WHIE-ORFVI

Aromatic polyketides are biologically active natural products. Many important pharmaceuticals are derived from aromatic polyketides. Especially important in aromatic polyketide biosynthesis is the regiospecific cyclization of a linear, preassembled polyketide chain catalyzed by aromatase/cyclase (ARO/CYC), which serves as a key control point in aromatic ring formation. How different ARO/CYCs promote different cyclization patterns is not well understood. The whiE locus of Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2) is responsible for the biosynthesis of an aromatic polyketide precursor to the gray spore pigment. The WhiE ARO/CYC catalyzes the regiospecific C9-C14 and C7-C16 cyclization and aromatization of a 24-carbon polyketide chain. WhiE ARO/CYC shares a high degree of similarity to another nonreducing PKS ARO/CYC, TcmN ARO/CYC. This paper presents the apo crystal structure of WhiE ARO/CYC, and cocrystal structures of WhiE and TcmN ARO/CYCs bound with polycyclic aromatic compounds that mimic the respective ARO/CYC products. Site-directed mutagenesis coupled with in vitro PKS reconstitution assays was used to characterize the interior pocket residues of WhiE ARO/CYC. The results confirmed that the interior pocket of ARO/CYCs is a critical determinant of polyketide cyclization specificity. A unified ARO/CYC-mediated cyclization mechanism is proposed on the basis of these structural and functional results.
The splitting number of the complete graph in the projective plane

If a given graphG can be obtained bys vertex identifications from a suitable graph embeddable in the projective plane ands is the minimum number for which this is possible thens is called the splitting number ofG in the projective plane. Here a formula for the splitting number of the complete graph in the projective plane is derived.
Semiconductors interfacing polymers for light emission

Abstract The repertoire of polymers used for light emission has widened recently to include polymers of higher ionization potential and electron affinity. However, the corresponding repertoire of contact materials, including one semiconductor, commonly applied to these polymers has not changed, remaining better suited to the original PPV type polymers. In principle, additional semiconductors could be useful with this wider range of polymers, enabling better energy level matching. In this connection, interfacial effects will have to be considered carefully, however. The potential range of energy levels obtainable with commonly available semiconductors is surveyed and various criteria discussed which could guide selection of suitable semiconductor substrates and, in some cases, evaporated top contacts. A particularly relevant criterion may come from the recent development of epitaxial growth of organic crystals on non-pseudomorphic substrates. Semiconductors that appear favorable from these criteria include GaN and the Zn and Hg chalcogenides.
The Robust Nature of the Biopsychosocial Model Challenge and Threat: A Reply to Wright and Kirby

This article responds to Wright and Kirby’s (this issue) critique of our biopsychosocial (BPS) analysis of challenge and threat motivation. We counter their arguments by reviewing the current state of our theory as well as supporting data, then turn to their specific criticisms. We believe that Wright and Kirby failed to accurately represent the corpus of our work, including both our theoretical model and its supporting data. They critiqued our model from a contextual, rational–economic perspective that ignores the complexity and subjectivity of person–person and person–environmental interactions as well as nonconscious influences. Finally, they provided criticisms regarding possible underspecificity of antecedent components of our model that do not so much indicate theoretical flaws as provide important and interesting questions for future research. We conclude by affirming that our BPS model of challenge and threat is an evolving, generative theory directed toward understanding the complexity of personality and social psychological factors underlying challenge and threat states. Wright and Kirby (this issue) critiqued our challenge and threat theory and its supporting empirical data. We disagree with their assessment and believe their criticisms (a) are based on a misunderstanding and selective presentation of elements of our current theory and data; (b) are based on a rational–economic perspective entailing only objective comparison of the amount of effort individuals are willing and able to expend to the amount required by the situation, which fails to integrate contextual elements involved in social behavior, in general, and subjectivity and automatic processing, in particular; and (c) provide some interesting challenges for our theory that should be construed as research questions within an ongoing, evolving theoretical framework rather than fatal flaws. Here, we first provide a brief summary of our current challenge and threat theory and research. We then respond to Wright and Kirby’s criticisms and finally provide our conclusions regarding their critique.
MO-F-BRA-03: NURBS-Based Deformable Image Registration

Purpose: To develop and investigate the efficacy of optimization schemes for Non‐Uniform Rational B‐Splines (NURBS) in deformable image registration (DIR). Methods: Previously, we developed a method for fitting a known DIR displacement vector field (DVF) using non‐uniform knot placement in one‐ and two‐ dimensions. In this method, an initial fit was made with uniform knot spacing. The error generated by this fit served as an attractive force pulling on the knots, acting against a resistive spring force in an iterative equilibration scheme. This two‐step approach has been extended to three‐dimensional deformable image registration by allowing the difference image to serve as the attractive force, which now acts on planes of knots. We compare the force equilibration scheme with a simplex search for the optimized rectilinear positioning of the planes of knots. In addition, we investigate the efficacy of simplex and gradient descent searches for optimizing the control points and their associated weights. Results: In one‐ and two‐dimensional B‐spline fits to known DVFs, the force equilibration scheme was shown to produce non‐uniform knot patterns that reduced both the overall sum of squared errors and the frequency of large errors. Non‐rational B‐spline fits to surface DVFs were found to be more accurate than rational B‐spline fits with the same number of total free parameters. Conclusions: Non‐uniform B‐splines offer an attractive alternative to uniform B‐splines in modeling DVFs. Specifically, knot placement offers increased local control as well as the ability to explicitly represent topological discontinuities in the deformation. We are investigating the most effective method to solve for NURBS configurations in the problem of three‐dimensional deformable image registration. NIH 1 R01CA123299
The impacts of urbanization on emissions and air quality: comparison of four visions of Austin, Texas.

The impacts of alternative regional development patterns on emissions, dry deposition, and air quality were examined using four visions of future land use in Austin, Texas associated with a doubling of the population in 20−40 years from 2001. Emissions and their spatial allocation were determined based on the development pattern and used to predict hourly ozone concentrations. Differences in hourly ozone concentrations due to changes in anthropogenic emissions between the future case scenarios and a 2007 base case ranged from −14 to 22 ppb and were primarily associated with the implementation of federal mobile source standards; differences due to biogenic emissions and dry deposition due to urbanization ranged from only −1.4 to 0.7 ppb. These differences in the magnitude of emissions produced greater changes in air quality than differences in regional development patterns between the four scenarios. Differences in hourly ozone concentrations between the future development scenarios and a 2007 base case ra...