cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synaptic vesicle recycling in synapsin I knock-out mice.

The synapsins are a family of four neuron-specific phosphoproteins that have been implicated in the regulation of neurotransmitter release. Nevertheless, knock-out mice lacking synapsin Ia and Ib, family members that are major substrates for cAMP and Ca2+/ Calmodulin (CaM)-dependent protein kinases, show limited phenotypic changes when analyzed electrophysiologically (Rosahl, T.W., D. Spillane, M. Missler, J. Herz, D.K. Selig, J.R. Wolff, R.E. Hammer, R.C. Malenka, and T.C. Sudhof. 1995. Nature (Lond.). 375: 488-493; Rosahl, T.W., M. Geppert, D. Spillane, D., J. Herz, R.E. Hammer, R.C. Malenka, and T.C. Sudhof. 1993. Cell. 75:661-670; Li, L., L.S. Chin, O. Shupliakov, L. Brodin, T.S. Sihra, O. Hvalby, V. Jensen, D. Zheng, J.O. McNamara, P. Greengard, and P. Andersen. 1995. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 92:9235-9239; see also Pieribone, V.A., O. Shupliakov, L. Brodin, S. Hilfiker-Rothenfluh, A.J. Czernik, and P. Greengard. 1995. Nature (Lond.). 375:493-497). Here, using the optical tracer FM 1-43, we characterize the details of synaptic vesicle recycling at individual synaptic boutons in hippocampal cell cultures derived from mice lacking synapsin I or wild-type equivalents. These studies show that both the number of vesicles exocytosed during brief action potential trains and the total recycling vesicle pool are significantly reduced in the synapsin I-deficient mice, while the kinetics of endocytosis and synaptic vesicle repriming appear normal.
Effect of Some Nonionic Surfactants on the Rate of Absorption of Aminophylline from Suppositories in Rabbits

The rate of absorption of aminophylline from theobroma oil base suppositories containing 5 percent of various nonionic surfactants was determined. The results were erratic and unpredictable, with no correlation with in vitro results reported in a previous communication.
Turning meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products into nutraceuticals, Part three: The literature of animal nutrition approaches to increasing conjugated linoleic acid levels in eggs, fluid milk, cheese, yogurt, and butter as a part of a value-added functional foods strategy.

In the first of this three-part series of articles, the debate in the clinical literature over the reality or extent of particular positive health benefits of a putative nutraceutical, conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs), in human subjects was reviewed. In the second part, we explored the means by which animal scientists and farmers—responding as much to annual sales in the hundreds of millions of dollars in health food stores of seed oil capsules rich in CLAs, as opposed to any conclusive clinical science—are aggressively pursuing ways to feed livestock and fowl that would naturally increase the concentration of CLAs per conventional consumer dietary portions of beef, lamb, goat, pork, and broiler chicken meat so as to be to be marketed as functional foods. In this third and final installment, animal nutrition means of enhancing CLAs in eggs and in fluid milk, cheese, yogurts, and butter are recorded. As in the prior parts of this series, the core journals covering this third chapter in the CLA research sto...
Effect of interspecific hybridization between Heliothis virescens and H. subflexa (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on sex pheromone production by females

Abstract The effect of interspecific hybridization between Heliothis virescens and H. subflexa on the production of sex pheromone by females was studied. The F1 hybrid females from crosses between H. virescens ♂ and H. subflexa ♀ did not produce sex pheromone during a distinct period in the scotophase. The mean amounts of pheromone present in extracts obtained from insects sampled at 1 h intervals remained relatively constant from the second to ninth hours of the scotophase. Hybrid females from the reciprocal cross (H. subflexa ♂ × H. virescens ♀) had peak pheromone production at the sixth hour of the scotophase. Homogenates of cephalic ganglia obtained from either of the hybrid lines stimulated pheromone production when injected into either of the parent species or either of the F1 hybrid lines during the photophase. Thus, F1 females had the capacity to produce pheromone and pheromonotropic substances were present in the cephalic ganglia. We conclude that hybridization between H. virescens ♂ and H. subflexa ♀ affected the endogenous release of pheromonotropic substances from the cephalic ganglia.
Cutset sampling and reconstruction of images

This paper presents a new approach to sampling images in which samples are taken on a cutset with respect to a graphical image model. The cutsets considered are Manhattan grids, for example every Nth row and column of the image. Cutset sampling is motivated mainly by applications with physical constraints, e.g. a ship taking water samples along its path, but also by the fact that dense sampling along lines might permit better reconstruction of edges than conventional sampling at the same density. The main challenge in cutset sampling lies in the reconstruction of the unsampled blocks. As a first investigation, this paper uses segmentation followed by linear estimation. First, the ACA method [1] is modified to segment the cutset, followed by a binary Markov random field (MRF) inspired segmentation of the unsampled blocks. Finally, block interiors are estimated from the pixels on their boundaries, as well as their segmentation, with methods that include a generalization of bilinear interpolation and linear MMSE methods based on Gaussian MRF models or separable autocorrelation models. The resulting reconstructions are comparable to those obtained with conventional sampling at higher sampling densities, but not generally as good as conventional sampling at lower rates.
Testing graphs for colorable properties

Let P be a property of graphs. An ∈-test for P is a randomized algorithm which, given the ability to make queries whether a desired pair of vertices of an input graph G with n vertices are adjacent or not, distinguishes, with high probability, between the case of G satisfying P and the case that it has to be modified by adding and removing more than ∈(n2) edges to make it satisfy P. The property P is called testable, if for every ∈ there exists an ∈-test for P whose total number of queries is independent of the size of the input graph. Goldreich, Goldwasser and Ron [7] showed that certain graph properties, like k-colorability, admit an ∈-test. In [2] a first step towards a logical characterization of the testable graph properties was made by proving that all first order properties of type “∃∀” are testable while there exist first order graph properties of type “∀∃” which are not testable. For proving the positive part, it was shown that all properties describable by a very general type of coloring problem are testable.While this result is tight from the standpoint of first order expressions, further steps towards the characterization of the testable graph properties can be taken by considering the coloring problem instead. It is proven here that other classes of graph properties, describable by various generalizations of the coloring notion used in [2], are testable, showing that this approach can broaden the understanding of the nature of the testable graph properties. The proof combines some generalizations of the methods used in [2] with additional methods.
Hierarchical organization of gamma and theta oscillatory dynamics in schizophrenia.

Background Schizophrenia patients have deficits across a broad range of important cognitive and clinical domains. Synchronization of oscillations in the gamma frequency range (∼40 Hz) is associated with many normal cognitive functions and underlies at least some of the deficits observed in schizophrenia patients. Recent studies have demonstrated that gamma oscillations are modulated by the phase of theta waves, and this cross-frequency coupling indicates that a complex and hierarchical organization governs neural oscillatory dynamics. The aims of the present study were to determine if schizophrenia patients have abnormalities in the amplitude, synchrony, and cross-frequency coupling of gamma and theta oscillations in response to gamma-frequency steady-state stimulation and if abnormal neural oscillatory dynamics are associated with cognitive deficits in schizophrenia. Methods Schizophrenia patients ( n = 234) and healthy control subjects ( n = 188) underwent electroencephalography testing in response to 40-Hz auditory steady-state stimulation. Cognitive functions were assessed with a battery of neuropsychological tests. Results Schizophrenia patients had significantly reduced gamma intertrial phase coherence, increased theta amplitude, and intact cross-frequency coupling relative to healthy control subjects. In schizophrenia patients, increased theta amplitude was associated with poor verbal memory performance. Conclusions Results suggest that schizophrenia patients have specific alterations in both gamma and theta oscillations, but these deficits occur in the context of an intact hierarchical organization of their cross-frequency modulation in response to 40-Hz steady-state stimulation. Cortical oscillatory dynamics may be useful for understanding the neural mechanisms that underlie the disparate cognitive and functional impairments of schizophrenia.
Decentralized architectures for thermal control of buildings

This paper considers the problem of partitioning a building or any other complex energy system into clusters for its decentralized thermal control. Using a Model Predictive Control (MPC) framework, a measure of deviation in performance between centralized control and decentralized control, called the Optimality Loss Factor (OLF) is derived. For a given partition size, the computationally intractable problem of determining the partition with the smallest OLF is then considered and an agglomerative clustering approach is proposed to overcome the computational limitation. The potential use of this approach to determine decentralized control architectures which yield the best trade-off between the underlying optimality and robustness objectives is demonstrated using an example.
Assessing Elementary Science Methods Students' Understanding About Global Climate Change

Global climate change, referred to as climate change in this paper, has become an important planetary issue, and given that K-12 students have numerous alternative conceptions or lack of prior knowledge, it is critical that teachers have an understanding of the fundamental science underlying climate change. Teachers need to understand the natural and human-induced factors affecting climate, and the potential consequences, and ways to mitigate and adapt to climate change. This study focusses on assessing preservice and inservice teachers' knowledge about climate change at the beginning and end of an instructional intervention embedded in an elementary science methods course. This paper describes the development of an instrument derived from the constructive modeling approach framework. The four components of this approach (the construct map, items design, outcome space, and measurement model) are discussed. In addition, the instructional intervention is described along with findings from the study and an a...
Use of Superpave Gyratory Compactor To Characterize Hot-Mix Asphalt

A method was developed to identify unstable mixes with the help of Superpave gyratory data. The basis of this method is that the primary difference in behavior of a stable mix and an unstable mix is that a stable mix gains in strength with densification and retains it through further compaction and ultimately resists lowering of voids below a particular value, whereas an unstable mix initially gains in strength but loses it beyond a certain densification point and becomes susceptible to shear failure. Hence it is proposed that the strength of a mix be evaluated at two void levels: at 5 percent, where a mix is expected to have an increased shear strength compared with postconstruction voids, and at 2 percent, where a well-performing mix should have an increased or at least similar shear strength compared with shear strength at 5 percent, and where an unstable mix is expected to have a reduced shear strength compared with shear strength at 5 percent voids. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Superpave gyratory...
IMPLEMENTING A PROFESSIONAL ON‐CAMPUS WORK EXPERIENCE FOR CLOTHING AND TEXTILE STUDENTS

A Clothing and Textile course is described which provided a transition from classroom education to the world of work, improved students’ interpersonal skills and assisted in helping women students establish identities as professional people. In addition, the experience described demonstrates how concepts and skills from a large number of other courses are integrated when a specific real-life clothing problem must be solved. Through an on-campus experience, twenty-eight jackets for the Washington State University Men's Ski Team were designed and produced. Students were organized into a design team and a management team. The design team designed the jacket to meet the requirements of the ski team, made the the patterns, fitted the basic shells, reworked the pattern, wrote the assembly instructions and determined the most efficient layout. The management team investigated and purchased the materials and equipment needed, including a Babylock serger, determined jacket cost, organized and conducted meetings with the clients, and wrote the contract. All students participated in the construction of the jackets, a process organized as a factory assembly line. Students were enthusiastic about this practical opportunity to apply design and management principles and the chance to work with others towards a common goal. The approach used with this class is applicable to numerous functional clothing design problems.
Pion--nuclear total cross sections near the 3/2, 3/2 resonance

Abstract The π + total nuclear cross sections for 9 Be, 12 C, 16 O, and 27 Al have been measured in the energy range 114 to 210 MeV, while π − data have been taken at 153 MeV. In the center-of-mass coordinate system the π-nucleus total cross sections reach their maximum value near the π-nucleon ( 3 2 , 3 2 ) resonance ( T π C.M. = 1.52 MeV) where they scale as A 2 3 . The measured total cross sections exhibit considerable broadening with respect to the π -nucleon resonance.
Modeling Microbial Community Structure and Functional Diversity Across Time And Space

Microbial communities exhibit exquisitely complex structure. Many aspects of this complexity, from the number of species to the total number of interactions, are currently very difficult to examine directly. However, extraordinary efforts are being made to make these systems accessible to scientific investigation. While recent advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies have improved accessibility to the taxonomic and functional diversity of complex communities, monitoring the dynamics of these systems over time and space - using appropriate experimental design - is still expensive. Fortunately, modeling can be used as a lens to focus low-resolution observations of community dynamics to enable mathematical abstractions of functional and taxonomic dynamics across space and time. Here we review the approaches for modeling bacterial diversity at both the very large and the very small scales at which microbial systems interact with their environments. We show that modeling can help to connect biogeochemical processes to specific microbial metabolic pathways.
Bone-specific overexpression of DMP1 influences osteogenic gene expression during endochondral and intramembranous ossification.

Dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1) is a key regulator for osteoblast differentiation and mineralization of the bone extracellular matrix (ECM). Osteocalcin (OCN) is one of the most abundantly expressed non-collagenous protein by osteoblasts in bone. In the present study, we generated a mouse model (OCN-DMP1) that overexpresses full-length DMP1 utilizing the OCN promoter. Expression of genes encoding osteogenic transcription factors and ECM proteins during early post-natal development in male OC-DMP1 and wild type (WT) mice was evaluated in femurs and calvaria. Bones were dissected from n=4 animals at 15, 30, 60 and 90-days of age. Total RNA was isolated, reverse transcribed, and real-time PCR analysis was performed. Results confirmed a difference (p<0.05) in osteogenic gene expression between OC-DMP1 and WT mice at the specified time points. Additionally, a unique osteogenic gene expression profile for calvaria and femur, representing intramembranous and endochondral bone formation was identified. These data suggest that bone-specific DMP1 overexpression has a profound influence on bone development by impacting osteogenic gene expression. This animal model presented here provides new opportunities for analysis of in vivo roles of DMP1 in bone.
Non-grey benchmark results for two temperature non-equilibrium radiative transfer.

Abstract Benchmark solutions to time-dependent radiative transfer problems involving non-equilibrium coupling to the material temperature field are crucial for validating time-dependent radiation transport codes. Previous efforts on generating analytical solutions to non-equilibrium radiative transfer problems were all restricted to the one-group grey model. In this paper, a non-grey model, namely the picket-fence model, is considered for a two temperature non-equilibrium radiative transfer problem in an infinite medium. The analytical solutions, as functions of space and time, are constructed in the form of infinite integrals for both the diffusion description and transport description. These expressions are evaluated numerically and the benchmark results are generated. The asymptotic solutions for large and small times are also derived in terms of elementary functions and are compared with the exact results. Comparisons are given between the transport and diffusion solutions and between the grey and non-grey solutions.
A periodic network of neurochemical modules in the inferior colliculus

A new organization has been found in shell nuclei of rat inferior colliculus. Chemically specific modules with a periodic distribution fill about half of layer 2 of external cortex and dorsal cortex. Modules contain clusters of small glutamic acid decarboxylase-positive neurons and large boutons at higher density than in other inferior colliculus subdivisions. The modules are also present in tissue stained for parvalbumin, cytochrome oxidase, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase, and acetylcholinesterase. Six to seven bilaterally symmetrical modules extend from the caudal extremity of the external cortex of the inferior colliculus to its rostral pole. Modules are from ∼800 to 2200 μm long and have areas between 5000 and 40 000 μm2. Modules alternate with immunonegative regions. Similar modules are found in inbred and outbred strains of rat, and in both males and females. They are absent in mouse, squirrel, cat, bat, macaque monkey, and barn owl. Modules are immunonegative for glycine, calbindin, serotonin, and choline acetyltransferase. The auditory cortex and ipsi- and contralateral inferior colliculi project to the external cortex. Somatic sensory influences from the dorsal column nuclei and spinal trigeminal nucleus are the primary ascending sensory input to the external cortex; ascending auditory input to layer 2 is sparse. If the immunopositive modular neurons receive this input, the external cortex could participate in spatial orientation and somatic motor control through its intrinsic and extrinsic projections.
Diagnosing and Treating Halitosis

Halitosis (bad breath) has been defined as offensive odors emitted from the mouth. Although bad breath is a common complaint, identifying the cause and developing an appropriate treatment plan can be difficult. A thorough examination must be performed to rule out an oral source.
Cultural Evolution, Disproportionate Prior Exposure and the Problem of Cooperation

How can disproportionate prior exposure cause a behavior to evolve in a population? This article investigates how this mechanism might evolve cooperation in a manner that can overcome the tendency towards defection in human societies. We extend Mark's analysis by testing his emulation model in a social setting where defection is likely, and we offer new models that more accurately capture the learning process of disproportionate prior exposure. Our results suggest that this mechanism can account for some evolution of cooperation, and that its strength is greatly influenced by conditions that alter actors' perceptions of the joint distribution of fitness and cooperation. We conclude by discussing how cultural mechanisms like stories and myths may magnify the evolutionary potential of disproportionate prior exposure in cultural evolution.
New time-frequency analyses of EMG and TMJ sound signals

The use of the reduced interference distribution (RID) to obtain improved energy density representation of nonstationary signals in time and frequency is described. Two applications of clinical interest, namely, 3-D graphical presentations of motor unit action potentials (MUAPs) and of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) sounds, have been performed and are presented to show the advantages of using the RID. It is found that the RID gives more detailed and more accurate information about those signals when compared with other methods for time-frequency representation. >
The Influence of Abnormal Hip Mechanics on Knee Injury: A Biomechanical Perspective

Synopsis During the last decade, there has been a growing body of literature suggesting that proximal factors may play a contributory role with respect to knee injuries. A review of the biomechanical and clinical studies in this area indicates that impaired muscular control of the hip, pelvis, and trunk can affect tibiofemoral and patellofemoral joint kinematics and kinetics in multiple planes. In particular, there is evidence that motion impairments at the hip may underlie injuries such as anterior cruciate ligament tears, iliotibial band syndrome, and patellofemoral joint pain. In addition, the literature suggests that females may be more disposed to proximal influences than males. Based on the evidence presented as part of this clinical commentary, it can be argued that interventions which address proximal impairments may be beneficial for patients who present with various knee conditions. More specifically, a biomechanical argument can be made for the incorporation of pelvis and trunk stability, as we...
The way we teach basic statistics in medicine.

This article describes an introductory, biostatistics course that combines the teaching of basic statistics with an introduction to use of the computer for statistical analysis. The course emphasises a problem-oriented approach to learning in which the student utilises the computer to minimise the laborious and error-prone task of data analysis. In this age of rapid technological advancement, both statistics and computer skill will no doubt prove valuable to the physician.
Ictal Panic and Interictal Panic Attacks: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Principles

Ictal and postictal panic and interictal and primary panic attacks share common symptoms but differ with respect to duration and association with other symptoms. A careful history is often sufficient to distinguish these events. When necessary, electroencephalography and neuroimaging studies, estimation of prolactin levels can be a helpful tool in establishing an accurate diagnosis.
THE DELICATE BALANCE OF WORK AND ILLUSION IN PSYCHOANALYSIS

One might say that the analyst counts on the patient's unconscious work, while conscious work is, to some extent, just one more thing to be deconstructed (analyzed). Analyst and patient, however, cannot avoid thinking that they are working on a common project, partly because the image of a mutual work distracts from the painfully uncertain illusion that the analyst is really offering a lasting, familial sort of bond, and partly because the sense of being involved in a joint project actually fosters the specific unconscious psychoanalytic work, provided that it is delicately balanced against the necessary illusion of the relationship. If, however, we choose to tilt the balance one way or the other, we must be prepared to make some sacrifices.
Teacher Instructional Language and Student Experience in Middle School Choral Rehearsals.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between teacher language use and student quality of experience during choral rehearsals. Particularly at the middle school level, few data exist about the ways in which instructional discourse during rehearsals affects student experience. Existing research suggests the use of instructional scaffolding as effective in enhancing student learning and experience, but this had not been previously investigated during music rehearsals. The language of two teachers during 20 rehearsals was recorded and examined for evidence of instructional scaffolding and sequential units of instruction; student self-reports of affect, challenge and skill were correlated with the teachers’ language. Students reported higher levels of challenge and skill (often referred to as ‘flow experience’) during rehearsals with greater use of scaffolding language. Analysis suggests that a strong positive relationship exists between teachers’ use scaffolding language, complete seq...
Medicare Skilled Nursing Facility Reimbursement and Upcoding

Post-acute care provided by skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) is reimbursed by Medicare under a prospective payment system using resource utilization groups (RUGs) that adjust payment intensity on the basis of predefined ranges of weekly therapy minutes provided and the functionality of the patient. Individual RUGs account for differences in the intensity of care provided, but there exists significant regional variation in the payments SNFs receive from Medicare due to the use of geographic adjustment factors. This paper is the first to use this geographic variation in the generosity of Medicare reimbursement to empirically test if SNFs respond to payment differences between RUG categories. The results are highly suggestive that SNFs upcode patients by providing additional therapy minutes to increase revenue, whereas we find no evidence of upcoding related to patient functionality scores. Simulating how different payment differentials affect RUG selection, we predict that reducing the financial incentive to upcode could result in significant savings to Medicare.
A trusted infrastructure for facilitating access control of location information

The location information is critical for many location-aware applications and services. Recent efforts have resulted in a plethora of techniques to localize wireless devices. However, with the availability of the location information, privacy concerns are raised: by whom and when should the location information be accessed? In order to provide trusted access to the location information, in this work, we propose an infrastructure to regulate the access of the location information by enforcing that the mobile devices are only able to access the location information in a manner that conforms to their privileges. We presented both a centralized architecture as well as a fully decentralized enforcement mechanism. For the decentralized infrastructure, we proposed an on-node trusted component and developed the Neighbor ObseRvation Mechanism (NORM) for position verification of wireless devices. Further, the feasibility of our proposed infrastructure is evaluated through both simulation as well as a prototyping effort with a real-time indoor localization system.
The Learning Disabled Adolescent and Young Adult An Overview and Critique of Current Practices

In this article the author discusses the educational and psychological characteristics of adolescents and young adults with learning disabilities, the specific assessment practices which have been implemented to evaluate this target population, the current educational programs which are available to service this age category, and a representative sample of the empirical research which has been conducted on the adolescent and young adult with learning problems. As a result of this review, the writer discovered that one of the major problems in understanding this target population is in the vague manner by which adolescents and adults with learning problems are classified. In addition, there is a critical need to design new diagnostic measures for LD adolescents and adults which more accurately differentiate between primary neurological indicators and secondary emotional symptomatology. At the college level, no consistent pattern of academic programming has emerged, making it imperative for professionals to...
Models of the effects of marine-derived nutrients on salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) population dynamics.

Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) populations transfer large quantities of nutrients from their marine to their freshwater habitats. These nutrients have been shown to affect salmon populations in fresh water, including increasing basal food resources and elevating juvenile salmon growth rates and condition. The broader effects on recruitment and commercial harvests, however, are not clear. I developed and explored mathematical models of the effects of these nutrients on stock–recruitment relationships and used these models to investigate management implications. Populations strongly dependent on nutrients had lower sustained yields than those not dependent on nutrients. When nutrients strongly affected the stock–recruitment relationship, relatively low harvest rates and high escapement levels were necessary to maintain the population’s productivity. However, in some scenarios, the highest yields were obtained from small, nutrient-depleted populations. In other scenarios, the nutrient dependence had few ...
Space segment technologies for the 21st century: key challenges for national satellite systems

Profiles of three new unconventional satellite designs have been developed for providing 21st century fixed satellite services. These designs are optimized for national/regional satellite systems for developed countries, but could be applied to other satellite systems as well. It is felt that new orbits and new stabilization systems and much higher levels of on-board intelligence will be needed for future generations of satellites to compete with fiber optic cables. The author discusses the satellite market, intelligent satellites, advanced antenna design and costs. >
Mobile image search with multimodal context-aware queries

The proliferation of camera-equipped mobile devices with enhanced mobile computing power and network connectivity results in a rising demand for mobile image search. Although image search has been studied extensively over the last few decades, most existing solutions are based on and optimized for desktop and server platforms, not for mobile devices. In this paper, we address some of the challenging issues unique in mobile search scenarios and suggest a list of potential solutions. As a case study, we design a mobile landmark image search system to evaluate the effectiveness of some proposed solutions. To enhance the mobile search experience, we propose a multimodal search scheme which uses both image content and user location to increase search precision and thus minimize network usage. We also suggest a post-search result pruning method designed to match the most relevant results to a user's search interests. Experiments conducted on our Landmark-450 image dataset demonstrate that the proposed methods can significantly increase the relevance of selected results in response to mobile image search while also reducing the amount of data transferred across the network.
Energy savings by adopting precision agriculture in rural USA

Energy input in agriculture has increased tremendously and accounts for about 17% of total energy consumed in the USA. Precision agriculture involves knowledge-based technical management systems to optimize application of fertilizer, chemicals, seeds, and irrigation resources to reduce input costs and to enhance crop yield while simultaneously reducing harmful environmental impacts associated with inefficient use of agricultural inputs. It also uses GPS-based auto-guidance systems in agricultural vehicles to reduce overlapping of equipment and tractor passes, thus saving fuel, labor, time, and soil compaction with environmental benefit. This study was undertaken to quantify the fuel and labor savings resulting from adoption of precision agricultural technology in the upper mid-west state of North Dakota in the USA. A survey was conducted with responses from farmers of various demographics about savings of time and fuel in their agricultural vehicle by the use of GPS guidance and autosteering systems. It was found that 34% farms used GPS guidance systems, reducing machine time and fuel consumption by 6.04% and 6.32%, respectively. Twenty-seven percent of the farms used autosteering systems, which further reduced machine time by 5.75% and fuel consumption by 5.33%. GPS guidance and autosteering systems can save an average of 1,647 and 1,866 L of fuel per farm respectively. The monetized values of time saved for the average farm are US$733.85 and US$851.27 for GPS guidance and autosteering systems, respectively. The farm energy savings in terms of fuel and time by using GPS guidance and/or autosteering systems in farm vehicles in the Upper-Midwest region of the USA was estimated from the survey results. Based on the perceptions of farmers adopting precision agriculture, the two technologies investigated in this research provided a positive return on investment and would be beneficial to North Dakota’s agricultural sector if adopted more widely.
The fault tolerant parallel processor operating system concepts and performance measurement overview

It is pointed out that mission critical applications of the future will require a computing system capable of high throughput as well as very high reliability. The fault tolerant parallel processor (FTPP), a system designed specifically to satisfy these goals, is described. The FTPP architecture consists of interconnection network/redundancy management hardware and standard commercial processors. The architecture provides flexibility in the appropriate balance of throughput and reliability for a given application. Furthermore, to maintain a system of high reliability the FTPP expeditiously identifies faulty components and performs some remedial operations. These redundancy management functions are performed by the operating system to relive the application from the knowledge of the underlying fault tolerance. How the operating system achieves redundancy management in conjunction with the fault tolerant hardware is described. Performance data to characterize system behavior are presented. Performance measurements indicate that the cost of fault tolerance does not significantly penalize forming redundancy management functions requires a mere .93 ms/frame more than a simplex processor performing no redundancy management. >
Fall harvest management effects on 'Grasslands Matua' prairie grass quality

Forage production of 'Grasslands Matua' prairie grass [Bromus catharticus M. Vahl; syn. B. unioloides Kunth, B. willdenowii Kunth] (Matua, for short) during the fall months is excellent, but highly management dependent. Unfortunately, fall harvest management effects on the quality of this grass are relatively unknown. Our objectives were to determine the effects of fall harvest management on forage quality of Matua prairie grass during the fall and following spring. Two field experiments were conducted on Hagerstown silt loam soil (fine, mixed, mesic Typic Hapludalfs). Experiment 1 addressed date of fall harvest and residual stubble height; Experiment 2 addressed frequency of fall harvest and residual stubble height effects on forage quality in the fall and spring. Delaying fall harvest of Matua prairie grass caused forage crude protein (CP) content to decline by about 30%; however, delaying fall harvest had no or little effect on acid-detergent fiber (ADF), neutral-detergent fiber (NDF), or in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD). Grasslands Matua quality in the spring was unaffected or inconsistently affected by fall harvest management. Delaying harvest of Matua prairie grass in the spring reduced forage quality but not to the extent reported for other cool-season forage grasses. Our findings indicate that Matua offers considerable latitude in fall and spring harvest management with regards to obtaining quality forage; however, these finding should be considered along with previous findings that fall harvest management has a large effect on winter survival of Matua.
Urea-induced hypometabolism in the hibernating wood frog (Rana sylvatica) is not reflected in isolated mitochondria.

It has long been speculated that urea accumulated during seasonal dormancy contributes to metabolic depression. Recent work suggests urea can indeed act as a metabolic depressant during dormancy in a number of taxonomically diverse species of ectotherms. The mechanisms by which urea exerts its hypometabolic effect are unknown, but potentially stem from inhibition of mitochondrial respiration. We isolated mitochondria from Rana sylvatica skeletal muscle, an organ that is metabolically responsive to urea, and measured respiration rates in the absence or presence of 80 mmol l−1 urea in the respiration medium. Because the effect of urea may be influenced by the intracellular milieu, in these experiments we varied substrate (pyruvate or palmitoylcarnitine), temperature (4, 10, or 15°C), and pH (6.8 or 7.4). Oxygen consumption of control and urea-treated mitochondria was sensitive to each of these variables, but neither state 3 nor state 4 respiration was reduced by urea treatment and, to the contrary, urea treatment slightly increased state 4 respiration at higher test temperatures. Although we did not test the efficacy of other incubation times or urea concentrations, the outcome of our experiment intimates that the urea-induced hypometabolism observed in hibernating R. sylvatica results from inhibition of energy-utilizing processes elsewhere in the cell, rather than a direct inhibition of mitochondrial respiration. Future investigation into urea’s effects on non-mitochondrial metabolic pathways is necessary to uncover the mechanisms by which urea depresses metabolic rate.
A Bioreducible Polymer for Efficient Delivery of Fas-Silencing siRNA into Stem Cell Spheroids and Enhanced Therapeutic Angiogenesis

This paper describes a bioreducible polymer for efficient delivery of Fas-silencing small interfering RNA (Fas siRNA) into human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). The genetically modified hMSCs could be formulated as spheroids with enlarged sizes (≥ 800 μm in diameter) to enhance their angiogenic efficacy. The Fas siRNA delivered into the cytoplasm of hMSCs via the bioreducible polymer could efficiently inhibit Fas expression, leading to effective inhibition of hypoxia-induced apoptosis in the core of an enlarged spheroid of hMSCs. The enlarged spheroid not only increased the number of viable hMSCs but also significantly enhanced the secretion of bioactive angiogenic growth factors per hMSC relative to small spheroids that were not treated with Fas siRNA. Twenty-eight days after transplantation into mouse with ischemic hindlimbs, the enlarged hMSC spheroids significantly enhanced cell survival, limb salvage, blood perfusion, and vessel formation while substantially reducing muscle degeneration and tissue fibrosis. This study demonstrates a promising strategy that combines siRNA and spheroid-based stem cell therapies using a stimuli-responsive nonviral siRNA carrier for the efficient treatment of ischemic disease.
LINEAR COEFFICIENT OF THERMAL EXPANSION OF POROUS ANODIC ALUMINA THIN FILMS FROM ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY

In this article, a precise and convenient technique based on the atomic force microscope (AFM) is developed to measure the linear coefficient of thermal expansion of a porous anodic alumina thin film. A stage was used to heat the sample from room temperature up to 450 K. Thermal effects on AFM probes and different operation modes at elevated temperatures were also studied, and a silicon AFM probe in the tapping mode was chosen for the subsequent measurements due to its temperature insensitivity. The topography of the porous anodic alumina sample was obtained, and the pore sizes and the surface roughness were analyzed. The thermal expansion of the sample was measured within the temperature range of 293 to 443 K. The results show that the linear coefficient of thermal expansion of the porous anodic alumina thin film is approximately two times larger than that of bulk alumina.
Competition, Comparative Performance, and Market Transparency

We study how competition affects market transparency, taking into account that comparative performance is assessed via tournaments and contests. Extending Dye (1985) to a multi-firm setting in which top performers are rewarded, we show that increased competition usually makes disclosure less likely, which lowers market transpar ency and may decrease per capita welfare. This result appears to be robust to several model variations and as such, has implications for market regulation. ( JEL D82, D83, L77, L25)
Comparative efficacy of 3 soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors in rat neuropathic and inflammatory pain models

Epoxy-fatty acids have been recognized as important cell signaling molecules with multiple biological effects including anti-nociception. The main degradation pathway of these signaling molecules is via the soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) enzyme. Inhibitors of sEH extend the anti-nociceptive effects of fatty acid epoxides. In this study two models of pain with different etiology, streptozocin induced type I diabetic neuropathic pain and lipopolysaccharide induced inflammatory pain were employed to test sEH inhibitors. A dose range of three sEH inhibitors with the same central pharmacophore but varying substituent moieties was used to investigate maximal anti-allodynic effects in these two models of pain. Inhibiting the sEH enzyme in these models successfully blocked pain related behavior in both models. The sEH inhibitors were more potent and more efficacious than celecoxib in reducing both diabetic neuropathic pain and lipopolysaccharide induced inflammatory pain. Because of their ability to block diabetic neuropathic pain sEH inhibition is a promising new approach to treat chronic pain conditions.
Improved pairwise alignments of proteins in the Twilight Zone using local structure predictions

Motivation: In recent years, advances have been made in the ability of computational methods to discriminate between homologous and non-homologous proteins in the 'twilight zone' of sequence similarity, where the percent sequence identity is a poor indicator of homology. To make these predictions more valuable to the protein modeler, they must be accompanied by accurate alignments. Pairwise sequence alignments are inferences of orthologous relationships between sequence positions. Evolutionary distance is traditionally modeled using global amino acid substitution matrices. But real differences in the likelihood of substitutions may exist for different structural contexts within proteins, since structural context contributes to the selective pressure. Results: HMMSUM (HMMSTR-based substitution matrices) is a new model for structural context-based amino acid substitution probabilities consisting of a set of 281 matrices, each for a different sequence--structure context. HMMSUM does not require the structure of the protein to be known. Instead, predictions of local structure are made using HMMSTR, a hidden Markov model for local structure. Alignments using the HMMSUM matrices compare favorably to alignments carried out using the BLOSUM matrices or structure-based substitution matrices SDM and HSDM when validated against remote homolog alignments from BAliBASE. HMMSUM has been implemented using local Dynamic Programming and with the Bayesian Adaptive alignment method. Availability: Matrices, source codes and programs are available at http://www.bioinfo.rpi.edu/~bystrc/downloads.html. Contact:[email protected], [email protected]
“A Debate: Is Surgical Intervention for Cystic Neoplasms of the Pancreas Being Overutilized”

At the 2012 meeting of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, an interesting and stimulating debate was held on the topic of the appropriate utilization of surgical resection for cystic neoplasms of the pancreas. The view that surgical resection is underutilized was supported by Dr. Max Schmidt from Indiana University with the opposing view that surgical resection is overutilized argued by Dr. Peter Allen of the Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Both speakers are recognized internationally as outstanding pancreatic surgeons who have published extensively on the topic of cystic neoplasms of the pancreas and specifically sidebranch intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs), which is certainly the main issue of importance in both this debate and in the clinical management of patients. Furthermore, both authors are among the leaders nationally in establishing prospective databases to follow patients with cystic neoplasms at their own institutions. The authors have summarized their opinions in the following manuscripts and have provided evidence to support their beliefs.
Poultry litter as a fuel

In the UK about 1.4 million tonnes of used poultry litter are produced each year. Its disposal by direct use as a fertilizer or by landfill can, in some circumstances, have an adverse environmental impact. Waste-to-energy schemes which generate revenue from the energy produced and may provide fertilizer as a valuable byproduct offer an alternative and environmentally acceptable means of disposal.
Study on the Difference of Child-bearing Women between Urban and County

Objective To investigate the difference of women of child-bearing age between urban and county.Methods 4557 women of child-bearing age were received in Shenyang Heping Women and Children's Hospital from 2000 to2009.Using SPSS 16.0 for windows to analyze the age of primipara,neonate weight,sex ratio of newborn and Caesarean Section ratio.Results and Conclusions There were difference in the difference of child-bearing women between urban and county.The age of primipara in county was highly concentrated from 20 to 28 years old,while the age of primipara in urban was concentrated from 23 to 32 years old,Both the difference of Caesarean Section ratio and neonate weight between urban and county had statiscal significance(P0.05).The difference of sex ratio of newborn between urban and county had no statiscal significance(P0.05).
The Promotion of Legal Services Through Television Advertising: Perspectives Offered by Current Legal Research

TV advertising of legal services is a rapidly growing and hotly debated promotional practice of the past decade. While U.S. law concerning attorney advertising in general is now relatively clearly defined, TV advertising remains a “special case” not yet adequately developed by court decisions or by state and bar regulations. This paper explores attitudes of the general public and of attorneys toward TV advertising by attorneys, and summarizes the current legal status of the practice, based upon an intensive review of research findings reported in the professional legal literature.
Public policy and dietary recommendations to reduce population levels of blood cholesterol

Because atherosclerosis and its physiological/behavioral precursors are mass phenomena and because the scientific evidence supports the potential benefit, safety, and feasibility of a populationwide approach to their prevention, changes in eating patterns are recommended to lower average blood cholesterol levels for the American public. This public health approach is complementary to needed research on mechanisms of diet response, lipoprotein regulation, atherosclerosis, and coronary disease, and to the identification and treatment of individuals with dyslipoproteinemia or other elevated risk characteristics.