cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nuclear data sheets for A = 47*

Level schemes, spin and parity assignments, and decay properties are presented for all nuclei with mass number A = 47. Experimental data and adopted values are given along with conclusions as to the best spin and parity assignments. The presentation of the nuclear properties is given in the light of the data and current theoretical ideas. Inconsistencies in the data are discussed wherever they are noted by the compiler. While a few levels in each of the A = 47 nuclei appear to be well represented as ‘shell model’ states, it is clear that there are may more low-lying complex states than have been accounted for by model calculations. As one views the nuclei from 47K to 47V it may be noted that simple shell properties deteriorate in the sense that (a) the single-particle strengths become increasingly fragmented, (b) the most strongly bound states become no longer the single-particle type (i.e., have small spectroscopic factors), and (c) the 2s1/2, d3/2, and 2p shell nucleons become increasingly important for the lowest levels as the proton and neutron numbers increase beyond 20 and decrease below 28, respectively. The experimental data for A = 47 nuclei indicate the need for more measurements such as transition rates and multi-nucleon transfer reaction cross sections in order to determine the more complex nature of the low-lying levels. The gamma-ray properties in 47Ca are poorly known, and only two levels in 47K have been identified. Very little data exist on high-spin (J > 7/2) states expected in this region. All the tabulated C2S and C2S direct-reaction strengths are derived from distorted-wave Born approximation reaction theory. The reader is referred to the individual papers for details of the calculations. The adopted level and decay properties are based on data received before March 1970.
Inaccurate Gas Viscosity at HP/HT Conditions and its Effect on Unconventional Gas Reserves Estimation

Viscosity is one of the gas properties that is always uncertain at high-pressure and high-temperature (HPHT) conditions because no reliable correlation has been developed for HPHT and accurate measurement of gas viscosities at HPHT is difficult. However, the industry currently does not pay sufficient attention to the need for accurate gas viscosity values in HPHT gas fields' development. We show that small errors in gas viscosity affect the inflow performance relationship (IPR) curves and eventually change the reserves estimate for HPHT conditions in ways that can drastically influence production forecasting. A sensitivity analysis for a synthetic case at these conditions shows that a 1% error in gas viscosity measurement results in a 1% error in gas flowrate, which in a large scale of gas production may severely underestimate or overestimate recovery from an HPHT field. This linearity between gas viscosity and gas flowrate continues to ±10% errors. An evaluation of gas viscosity correlations commonly used in the industry shows that none of them is reliable at HPHT conditions, mainly for two reasons: measured data are not available to confirm their consistency and they do not account for impurities in the gas. Clearly, the industry needs accurate gas viscosity measurements and needs a new procedure to develop correlations based upon accurate HPHT gas viscosity data.
Genome Editing as a Tool toward Better Functional Understanding of Variants Identified by Next-Generation Sequencing

Next-generation sequencing has revolutionized clinical laboratory diagnostics; however, it is not without its challenges. One of the main shortcomings of clinical laboratories using this technology is interpretion of the variants identified. International efforts are aimed at reclassification of variants of unknown significance (VUS)2 as deleterious or benign, based on available data such as allelic frequency in a control population, conservation of the amino acid, in silico predictors, and published functional assays. However, these efforts have their limitations. A recent article in Nature Medicine by Tsai et al. (1) discusses a recent technology called genome editing as a relatively quick, simple, and cost-effective way to reclassify VUS. Briefly, genome editing, via the Cas9 …
Composition and speciation of sodium fluoride extracted soil solutions

Abstract The effects of F on the chemical components of soils were examined by equilibrating 0.0 to 2.5 mM NaF solutions with ten soils for 24 h. The solutions were then analyzed for total F, Al, Fe, Mn, Ca, Mg, K, Na, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, Cr, P, Si, N03, NH3, organic C, SO4, free F, and pH. The computer equilibrium program CHEMSPEC was used to calculate ion speciation in solution. The solution concentration of Al, Fe, organic C, OH, and P increased with initial F concentration. Aluminum existed in solution almost entirely as complexes with F and organic C, while Fe was complexed almost completely by OH and organic C. When Al was present, an average of 72% of the F in solution was complexed with it. Fluoride existed primarily as the uncomplexed ion in the absence of Al. The solution concentration of Ca and Mg remained constant as a function of F concentration when Al was not detected, but decreased when Al was present. Solutions where Al was not detectable were supersaturated with respect to CaF2, and precipit...
A CHOLINERGIC-ADRENERGIC HYPOTHESIS OF MANIA AND DEPRESSION

Abstract Central cholinergic factors may play a role in the aetiology of affective disorders. Specifically, a given affective state may represent a balance between central cholinergic and adrenergic neurotransmitter activity in those areas of the brain which regulate affect, with depression being a disease of cholinergic dominance and mania being the converse. Support for this hypothesis comes from animal experiments demonstrating antagonistic cholinergic and adrenergic central behavioural effects. Furthermore, reserpine, a drug which causes depression, has central cholinomimetic properties. Conversely, tricyclic antidepressants have central anticholinergic properties. In man, physostigmine and other centrally acting cholinomimetic agents which increase central acetylcholine levels counteract mania and may cause depression in some individuals. Considering manic-depressive disorders and related phenomena from the viewpoint of cholinergic-adrenergic balance, or conceptualising behaviour as having both adrenergic and cholinergic components, provides a framework for understanding the affective disorders. Possibly, manic-depressive illness represents compensatory overreaction of certain parts of the central autonomic nervous system. A natural tendency toward hom1/2ostasis, associated with compensatory adrenergic activcation, could explain why most depressions are self-limiting. To balance hypothesis, more direct evidence is needed on the changes which occur in both systems during various affective states. Nevertheless, it seems that biological influences are involved in the aetiology of affective disorders, and possibly they include cholinergic and adrenergic factors.
Assessing sensory panel performance using generalizability theory

Abstract Generalizability theory provides a framework for assessing panel reliability, both for the panel as a whole and for individual panellists. The variability of the sensory panel scores is split up into products, panellists, replications, and interactions between these terms. Reliability is defined as product variance over total variance. Coefficient G only includes terms including product in the denominator and focusses on the ordering of the product scores. Coefficient Φ is introduced, which includes all variance components in the denominator and focuses on the ordering as well as on the absolute values. It is shown that this latter feature provides important additional information about panel performance. An algorithm is described which excludes panellists one by one and then evaluates the contributions of each panellist on total test reliability. The focus is on changes in the coefficients and variance components after removal compared to before, allowing for an in-depth evaluation of the performance of individual panellists. When coefficient Φ increases with an amount deemed relevant (0.05 on average for all attributes, or 0.10 for a single attribute) after removal of a panellist, the panellist qualifies for exclusion from the statistical analysis. The total number of panellists to be excluded is limited to a maximum of 20% of the panel size. It is shown that a statistical power calculation is a useful addition to a reliability analysis by checking if panel discrimination meets a pre-set standard. It is explained how the reliability algorithm and the power calculation can be implemented using MS Excel. The common criteria for assessing panel performance: discrimination, consensus, and repeatability, are defined in terms of generalizability theory variance components. Discrimination focuses on maximising product variance, consensus on minimising all components containing panellist, and repeatability on minimising all components containing replicate. It is discussed how reliability results obtained using this methodology can be used for panel management. Two examples from studies carried out by the Givaudan sensory panel in Ashford, UK, are given.
Does epidural analgesia prolong labor and increase risk of cesarean delivery? A natural experiment.

Abstract Objective: More than 50% of pregnant women in the United States are using epidural analgesia for labor pain. However, whether epidural analgesia prolongs labor and increases the risk of cesarean delivery remains controversial. Study Design: We examined this question in a community-based, tertiary military medical center where the rate of continuous epidural analgesia in labor increased from 1% to 84% in a 1-year period while other conditions remained unchanged—a natural experiment. We systematically selected 507 and 581 singleton, nulliparous, term pregnancies with spontaneous onset of labor and vertex presentation from the respective times before and after the times that epidural analgesia was available on request during labor. We compared duration of labor, rate of cesarean delivery, instrumental delivery, and oxytocin use between these two groups. Results: Despite a rapid and dramatic increase in epidural analgesia during labor (from 1% to 84% in 1 year), rates of cesarean delivery overall and for dystocia remained the same (for overall cesarean delivery: adjusted relative risk, 0.8; 95% confidence interval, 0.6-1.2; for dystocia: adjusted relative risk, 1.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.7-1.6). Overall instrumental delivery did not increase (adjusted relative risk, 1.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.8-1.4), nor did the duration of the first stage and the active phase of labor (multivariate analysis; P >.1). However, the second stage of labor was significantly longer by about 25 minutes ( P Conclusion: Epidural analgesia during labor does not increase the risk of cesarean delivery, nor does it necessarily increase oxytocin use or instrumental delivery caused by dystocia. The duration of the active phase of labor appears unchanged, but the second stage of labor is likely prolonged. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;185:128-34).
Effect of Calcium and Strontium on the Preferential Formation of an Adenosine Triphosphatase in Wheat Roots

THERE are a number of factors which may induce the formation of a specific enzyme in living tissue homogenates1. In keeping within the definition established in ref. 1, the prefix ‘induced’ restricts the type of enzyme formation to one in which a specific inducer molecule is shown to be necessary in the formation of a particular enzyme. The present communication concerns the effects of the inorganic cations calcium and strontium on the selective formation of an adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) of wheat roots. To distinguish this type of rather indirect effect, the term ‘preferential’ enzyme formation will be used.
Functional Proteomics Analysis to Study ATM Dependent Signaling in Response to Ionizing Radiation

Ataxia telangiectasia (AT) is a human genetic disease characterized by radiation sensitivity, impaired neuronal development and predisposition to cancer. Using a genetically defined model cell system consisting of cells expressing a kinase dead or a kinase proficient ATM gene product, we previously reported systemic alterations in major metabolic pathways that translate at the gene expression, protein and small molecule metabolite levels. Here, we report ionizing radiation induced stress response signaling arising from perturbations in the ATM gene, by employing a functional proteomics approach. Functional pathway analysis shows robust translational and post-translational responses under ATM proficient conditions, which include enrichment of proteins in the Ephrin receptor and axonal guidance signaling pathways. These molecular networks offer a hypothesis generating function for further investigations of cellular stress responses.
FEDERAL MARGIN REQUIREMENTS: A SELECTIVE INSTRUMENT OF MONETARY POLICY*

FEDERAL MARGIN REQUIREMENTS constitute a significant refinement in the evolution of Federal Reserve policy. Yet, after almost twentyfive years of experience and increasing respectability of the instrument, a thorough treatise devoted specifically to it had not appeared. This study undertakes a broad treatment of the subject. Conceptual aspects and controversies are first examined. The mechanics and measurement of stock-market credit are explained, as are resources for analysis of margin-trading activity. The economic and historical background of margin regulation and prior efforts to control stock-market credit excesses are reviewed. The legislative history of margin regulatory authority is traced, and the implementation through the technical formulation and adaptation of Regulations T and U is detailed. Policy is approached chronologically, with each Federal Reserve action discussed and appraised in its particular economic setting. A serious effort is made to analyze and determine some of the more significant relationships between margin requirements and, successively, margin-trading activity and stock-market credit volume, common-stock prices, share-trading volume, capital markets, and organized processes in the secondary marketing of securities. Finally, certain deficiencies and limitations on margin regulation deserving of further or continuing attention are noted. Margin requirements, in regulating the terms of transactions in securities, continue to be a subject of some controversy. A majority of economists, perhaps, view the selective concept-particularly margin requirements-as a useful addition to resources of monetary authorities. Major criticism centers around contentions that the techniques are both ineffective and authoritarian. Supporters generally view selective regulations as supplementary to other instruments, not substitutive, and of only limited usefulness in the management of general economic tendencies. Stock-market credit, arising from net flows of payments between cash and margin traders, is measured by several statistical series. But there are serious shortcomings in the measures, and the resources for examining margin-trading activity are even more deficient.
Improved high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for theophylline in plasma and saliva in the presence of caffeine and its metabolites and comparisons with three other assays

Abstract A new ion-pairing reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for theophylline is described which allows the separation of theophylline from 1,7-dimethylxanthine — a metabolite of caffeine which interferes with most theophylline assay procedures. Levels of 1,7-dimethylxanthine equivalent to 3 mg/l theophylline were seen in individuals not taking theophylline but who drank three to four cups of coffee per day. This compound was not seen in individuals abstaining from xanthine-containing foods and beverages.
A prescription for THz transistor characterization

Advances in microwave wafer probes and vector network analyzers have opened up a whole new world of discovery in microwave metrology, making possible accurate on-wafer measurements in printed transmission lines at microwave, millimeter-wave, sub-millimeter-wave, and even terahertz frequencies. Dr. Dylan Williams, winner of the 2013 IEEE Joseph F. Keithley Award in Instrumentation and Measurement, will trace the history of on-wafer measurements, discuss the fundamental principles behind on-wafer measurements and tell you everything you need to know about how to make accurate on-wafer measurements from DC to THz frequencies.
Paradoxical adaptation to taste mixtures

Quinine, sucrose, quinine-sucrose mixtures, and water were employed both as preadapting rinses and as stimuli in a factorial experiment. Human subjects judged the perceived taste intensity of the 16 stimulus-rinse pairs, which were flowed over the dorsal anterior tongue surface. Previously documented effects of adaptation, mixture suppression, and release from suppression were observed. Following adaptation to quinine-sucrose mixtures, presentation of equimolar unmixed quinine or equimolar unmixed sucrose resulted in a reliable residual bitter or sweet taste, respectively, which was significantly greater than the taste following self-adaptation of the unmixed solutions. The residual taste following mixture adaptation suggests a peripheral mechanism underlying suppression between bitter and sweet tastes in a mixture.
Microcirculatory fraction (MCFI) as a potential imaging marker for tumor heterogeneity in breast cancer

Cancer is a heterogeneous disease by nature. Current imaging studies usually ignore intratumor variability in imaging biomarkers. We postulate that quantifying tumor heterogeneity with imaging techniques can provide useful information about cancer biology and potentially serve as novel imaging biomarkers. In this retrospective study, we identify a potential imaging marker, the microcirculatory fraction (MCF(I)), that quantifies tumor heterogeneity in normoxic/hypoxic cellular composition. We demonstrate its application on a test population of 22 women with stage II/III HER-2 negative breast cancer receiving antiangiogenic-cytotoxic combination neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Early change in MCF(I) (ΔMCF(I)) is assessed with dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging at the end of Cycle 2 and associated with pathologic response. Its performance is compared with other established volumetric imaging biomarkers (initial tumor volume and volume change) by statistical and graphic methods. We demonstrate that a significant (P<.01) difference in ΔMCF(I) can be detected between good (median ΔMCF(I) 0.27) and poor (median ΔMCF(I) -0.12) responders, despite the limited population size. Differences in the volumetric biomarkers are not statistically significant. Receiver operating characteristic analysis also shows that ΔMCF(I) is a good predictor for pathologic response (AUC=0.86, 95% CI 0.69-1.00, P<.01), while predictions made with the established volumetric biomarkers are not significantly better than random guesses. We conclude that ΔMCF(I) has the potential of being a better predictive biomarker for therapeutic response assessment. Our findings support our postulation that quantifying tumor heterogeneity with imaging techniques can provide additional information that can serve as novel biomarkers.
The United Arab Emirates and Japan: Diversifying Bilateral Relationships and Challenges in the Context of Japan’s New Foreign Policy Focus and US-Japan Relation

In this article, I analyze the Japan-Middle East-U.S. triangle relationship. Japan’s Middle East policies, the author contends, have been influenced by its energy needs and relationship with the United States. Fully aware of its status as a country with hardly any energy resources, Japan has engaged in energy diplomacy and investment in oil fields in the Middle East. This article describes how, despite pursuing an energy strategy largely independent of the United States, Japan has constantly needed to take into account its relationship with the Americans, and Japan has slowly shifted toward more frequent support for American policy especially after the Gulf War in 1990. At the same time, Japan’s Middle East policies have been influenced by its domestic politics. For example, former Prime Minister Koizumi’s post-September 11 plan to let Japan’s military forces play a more prominent role in the War on Terror was crushed by his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). This article explains that LDP politicians were afraid that supporting the war would undermine Japan’s economic interests in the Muslim world and how the Democratic Party of Japan which took office this September has attempted to pursue a more independent position in its relations with the United States. This article also explores the shifts in Japan’s Middle East policies under the new administration and their implications on US-Japan relations.
A linear time algorithm for computing the most reliable source on a series-parallel graph with unreliable edges

Given a network with n vertices and m edges where each edge has an independent operational probability, we are interested in finding a vertex of the network whose expected number of reachable vertices is maximum. Such a vertex is called a most reliable source of the network. This problem was studied by Melachrinoudis and Helander (1996) where an O(n2) time algorithm was proposed when the given network is a tree. In a more recent paper, Xue presented an O(n) time algorithm for this problem when the given network is a tree. In this paper, we present an O(n) time algorithm for computing the most reliable source on series-parallel graphs, using their embeddings in 2-trees.
Economic and equity implications of land-use zoning in suburban agriculture

A cash-flow viability model is used to evaluate the impacts of land-use zoning on farm households in New Jersey. Findings suggest that zoning results in increased production expenses, lower efficiency and profitability, and the devaluation of land assets. Cash flow and economic viability are, thus, reduced. Impacts of zoning on farm incomes, off-farm incomes, revenues from land sales, indebtedness, and farm sizes were not statistically significant. The results suggest that the use of land-use zoning statutes to guarantee the existence of agriculture may not be equitable unless transferable development rights or other methods of compensating farmers for their losses are simultaneously implemented.
Design of an image projection correlating wavefront sensor for adaptive optics

A new wavefront sensor data processing algorithm is described and analyzed. The wavefront sensing concept is similar to a Shack-Hartmann type wavefront sensor, but uses an image projection correlation algorithm as opposed to a centroiding approach to estimate optical tilt. This allows the wavefront sensor to estimate tilt parameters while guiding off of point sources and extended objects such as the surface granulation of the sun. The projection-based cross-correlating scheme differs from a 2-D correlation-based tilt estimation approach in that the images are vectorized on the focal plane array itself prior to readout. This on-chip preprocessing approach allows the wavefront sensor data to be compressed, which results in a large reduction in the amount of data read out of the focal plane array while maintaining the desired bandwidth of the adaptive optical system. An implementation of the projection-based wavefront sensor algorithm is described in detail, showing important signal processing steps on and off of the focal plane array of the sensor. The algorithm design is tested in simulation for speed and accuracy by processing simulated solar and astronomical datasets. Timing analysis is presented, which shows how the collection and processing of image projections is computationally efficient and lends itself to a wavefront sensor design that can produce both competitive speed and tilt estimation accuracy.
Prenatal care and obstetric abnormalities

THIS study was commenced during 1968 as an initial effort towards better understanding of the nature and efficacy of so-called ‘prenatal care’ in relation to pregnancy outcome. Problems associated with maternity and infant care are complex and multidisciplinary in nature. We have provided a rather extensive literature review in the field of perinatal epidemiology as a way of introduction to the present study. We have also tried to provide sufficient information to indicate that the subject of ‘prenatal care’ together with its stereotypic conception is not yet properly understood even among many health professionals. Our study, which was based on the experiences of 185,000 births delivered in Pennsylvania during the calendar year of 1967, has shown some interesting and significant results which support the importance of early prenatal care to reduce the risk of obstetric abnormalities. To follow up on the results of this study, we are now developing a long-range, prospective epidemiologic study to evaluate further in depth how prenatal care, together with postnatal care, can influence pregnancy outcome, child health, growth and development.
Quasi-one dimensional metal oxide semiconductors: Preparation, characterization and application as chemical sensors

Abstract The continuous evolution of nanotechnology in these years led to the production of quasi-one dimensional (Q1D) structures in a variety of morphologies such as nanowires, core–shell nanowires, nanotubes, nanobelts, hierarchical structures, nanorods, nanorings. In particular, metal oxides (MOX) are attracting an increasing interest for both fundamental and applied science. MOX Q1D are crystalline structures with well-defined chemical composition, surface terminations, free from dislocation and other extended defects. In addition, nanowires may exhibit physical properties which are significantly different from their coarse-grained polycrystalline counterpart because of their nanosized dimensions. Surface effects dominate due to the increase of their specific surface, which leads to the enhancement of the surface related properties, such as catalytic activity or surface adsorption: key properties for superior chemical sensors production. High degree of crystallinity and atomic sharp terminations make nanowires very promising for the development of a new generation of gas sensors reducing instabilities, typical in polycrystalline systems, associated with grain coalescence and drift in electrical properties. These sensitive nanocrystals may be used as resistors, and in FET based or optical based gas sensors. This article presents an up-to-date review of Q1D metal oxide materials research for gas sensors application, due to the great research effort in the field it could not cover all the interesting works reported, the ones that, according to the authors, are going to contribute to this field’s further development were selected and described.
A postcontingency test of the effectiveness of reinforcement

A test of the effectiveness of reinforcement outside the contingency condition was carried out with lever-pressing behavior using college students as Ss. When a more probable (reinforcing) response was made contingent upon a less probable (instrumental) response there was an increase in responding in the less probable response. This reinforcement effect, however, did not carry over into subsequent postcontingency conditions.
Properties of Aqueous Solutions and Gels of Poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide)-g-poly(acrylic acid)

Gelation in aqueous solutions of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) grafted onto poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(propylene oxide)-b-poly(ethylene oxide) (Pluronic F127) has been studied. The gel point and onset of micellization are observed in Pluronic−PAA solutions at the same temperatures, confirming that the gelation occurs via formation of micelles that act as thermoreversible cross-links. The salt- and pH-dependent expansion or folding of the polyelectrolyte segments changes the gel elasticity. The increased polarity due to enhanced polymer ionization at higher pH or with salt addition causes the poly(propylene oxide) (PPO) segments to aggregate at lower temperatures. The weak dependence of the polymer concentration at the maximum reduced viscosity on the salt concentration is attributed to hydrophobic interactions among PPO segments.
Aminoguanidine reduces cisplatin ototoxicity

Abstract Cisplatin is known to cause high-frequency neurosensory hearing loss. While reactive oxygen species have been shown to play a role, reactive nitrogen species have been implicated, but not proven to be involved, in cisplatin ototoxicity. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of nitric oxide ( NO) in cisplatin ototoxicity by administering aminoguanidine (AG), a relatively specific inhibitor of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), in conjunction with cisplatin. Rats were injected with cisplatin, AG, or both. Auditory brainstem evoked responses (ABR) were measured before and 3 days after cisplatin administration. The cochlear tissue was then assayed for NO and malondialdehyde. Cisplatin alone caused significant ABR threshold shifts at all stimuli tested, whereas AG alone caused no shifts. There was a significant reduction in threshold shift for clicks and 16 kHz tone bursts (but not 32 kHz) when AG was given with cisplatin. The malondialdehyde concentration (but not the NO concentration) in the AG/cisplatin group was significantly lower than that of the cisplatin group. This suggests that AG reduces cisplatin ototoxicity by directly scavenging hydroxyl radicals. The iNOS pathway may play a role in the generation of free radicals and hearing loss resulting from cisplatin administration, but this conclusion was not supported by our data.
Endophyte-grass-herbivore interactions: the case of Neotyphodium endophytes in Arizona fescue populations.

Neotyphodium endophytes in introduced agronomic grasses are well known to increase resistance to herbivores, but little is known of interactions between Neotyphodium endophytes and herbivores in native grass populations. We investigated whether endophytes mediate plant-herbivore interactions in a native grass species, Festuca arizonica in the southwestern United States, in two ways. First, to test the prediction that the presence and frequency of endophyte-infected (E+) plants should increase with increasing herbivory, we determined endophyte frequencies over a 4-year period in six natural Arizona fescue populations. We compared Neotyphodium frequency among plants growing inside and outside long-term vertebrate grazing exclosures. Second, we experimentally tested the effects of Neotyphodium infection, plant clone, and soil nutrients on plant resistance to the native grasshopper Xanthippus corallipes. Contrary to predictions based upon the hypothesis that endophytes increase herbivore resistance, levels of infection did not increase in plants subjected to grazing outside of exclosures relative to ungrazed plants within exclosures. Instead, endophyte frequencies tended to be greater inside the exclosures, where long-term vertebrate grazing was reduced. The grasshopper bioassay experiment corroborated these long-term patterns. Survival of grasshoppers did not differ between infected (E+) and uninfected (E–) plants. Instead, mean relative growth rate of grasshoppers was higher on E+ grasses than on E– ones. Growth performance of newly hatched grasshopper nymphs varied among host plant clones, although two of six clones accounted for most of this variation. Our results suggest that Neotyphodium-grass-herbivore interactions may be much more variable in natural communities than predicted by studies of agronomically important Neotyphodium-grass associations, and herbivory is not always the driving selective force in endophyte-grass ecology and evolution. Thus, alternative hypotheses are necessary to explain the wide distribution and variable frequencies of endophytes in natural plant populations.
Dissolved saxitoxin causes transient inhibition of sensorimotor function in larval Pacific herring (Clupea harengus pallasi)

Herring (Clupea harengus pallasi) spawning sites in Puget Sound, Washington overlap spatially and temporally with blooms of Alexandrium catenella, a toxic dinoflagellate species responsible for paralytic shellfish poisoning. Consequently, newly hatched herring larvae may be regularly exposed to the suite of dissolved paralytic shellfish toxins that are released into the water column from toxic cells during blooms. To date, virtually nothing is known about the impacts of these neurotoxins on early developmental stages of marine fish. In the present study, herring larvae at three ages, 0 days post hatch (dph), 4 dph, and 11 dph, were exposed to dissolved saxitoxin (STX) in 24-h and multi-day exposures. All larvae were examined for sensorimotor function (i.e. spontaneous swimming behavior and touch response). Significant reductions in spontaneous and touch-activated swimming behavior occurred within 1 h of exposure. EC50s at 1 h of exposure were 1,500, 840, and 700 μg STX equiv. l−1 for larvae introduced to STX at 0, 4, and 11 dph, respectively. This progressive age-specific increase in STX-induced paralysis suggests that older larvae were more sensitive to the toxin than younger larvae. Interestingly, herring larvae at all ages exhibited a significant degree of neurobehavioral recovery within 4–24 h of continuous exposure relative to the 1-h time point. This recovery of normal motor behaviors was not observed in previous studies with freshwater zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae under the same continuous exposure conditions, suggesting that an adaptive detoxification or toxin sequestration mechanism may have evolved in some species of marine fish larvae. Our data reveal that (1) dissolved STX is bioavailable to marine finfish larvae, (2) the toxin is a paralytic agent with potencies that differ between developmental stages, and (3) STX-induced sensorimotor inhibition occurs rapidly but is transient in marine larvae. Collectively, these results suggest that dissolved algal toxins may have important sublethal effects on marine fish populations.
Determination of washout performance of various monochrome displays under simulated flight ambient and solar lighting conditions

The aircraft cockpit ambient lighting simulation system (ACALSS) has been developed to study display readability and associated pilot/vehicle performance effects in a part-task simulator cockpit. In the study reported, the ACALSS was used to determine the illumination levels at which subjects lose the ability to maintain aircraft states when using three display technologies as display media for primary flight displays: a standard monochrome EL (electroluminescent) flat-panel, a laboratory-class monochrome cathode-ray tube (CRT), and an enhanced-brightness EL flat-panel. The multivariate statistical technique of modified profile analysis was used to test for performance differences between display devices as functions of illumination levels. >
Linearized Rays, Amplitude and Inversion

In this paper, ray theoretical amplitudes and travel times are calculated in slightly perturbed velocity models using perturbation analysis. Also, test inversions using travel time and amplitude are computed. The perturbation method is tested using a 3-D velocity model for Norsar having velocity variations up to 8.0 percent. The perturbed amplitudes are found to be in excellent agreement with the calculated ray amplitudes. Velocity inversions based on travel time and amplitude are next investigated. Perturbation analysis using linearized ray equations is efficiently used to compute amplitude derivatives with respect to model parameters. The trial linearized inversions use smaller velocity variations of 1.7 percent to avoid possible effects due to ray shift, even though the perturbation analysis is valid for larger variations. The trial 2-D inversion results show that linearized amplitude inversions are complementary and not redundant to travel time inversions, even in smoothly varying models.
How to Describe and Interpret an Electrocardiogram

Sir William Osier noted that the most efficient way to utilize one’s gifts with the least possible effort is to cultivate system,916 and system is so basic to the way doctors think most of the time that they are hardly even aware of it. The order for taking a history and doing a physical examination, for instance, for documenting the findings and recording a diagnosis, is universal. The purpose of this chapter is to describe a similar approach to electrocardiograms.
Reinvestigation of the role of the rabies virus glycoprotein in viral pathogenesis using a reverse genetics approach.

The rabies virus glycoprotein (G) gene of the highly neuroinvasive and neurotropic strains SHBRV-18, CVS-N2c, and CVS-B2c was introduced into the non-neuroinvasive and less neurotropic SN-10 strain...
Age and Chemistry of Tertiary Volcanic Rocks in North-Central Arizona and Relation of the Rocks to the Colorado Plateaus

During late Miocene (14.8 m.y.) to early Pliocene (10.1 m.y.) time, local latite and widespread basaltic flows accumulated with associated continental sedimentary deposits in north-central Arizona. Some of these rocks were displaced and tilted by normal faults, and new drainage, now occupied in part by basalt flows of late Pliocene age (average 5 m.y., maximum of 6 m.y.), was established at the southern margin of the Colorado Plateaus. The time of faulting and uplift of the Colorado Plateaus in this region is thus bracketed between about 10.1 and 6 m.y. ago. Five analyzed basalts fall within the tholeiitic basalt field of the alkali-silica diagram and twenty are in the alkalic basalt field; in general, they are similar to other alkali-olivine basalts from the western United States.
Psoriatic arthritis: pathogenesis and novel immunomodulatory approaches to treatment.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory arthropathy characterized by the association of arthritis and psoriasis. PsA runs a variable course, from mild synovitis to severe, progressive, erosive arthropathy. The pathogenesis of PsA involves alteration in the components of the immune response, although the exact cause of PsA is unknown. A number of patients with severe peripheral arthritis fail to respond to standard conventional therapy. Advances in biotechnology and in our understanding of the immunopathogenesis of PsA have led to great interest and progress in regards to biologic treatments for PsA. Notable success achieved with recently introduced biologic therapies has paved the way for further research and develpoment of additional therapies that should improve outcomes for affected patients.
Outer lead and die bond reliability in high density TAB

An evaluation of the reliability of solder-reflow outer lead bonds (OLBs) and conductive epoxy die bonds made in the tape automated assembly of high-performance, high-lead-count emitter-coupled-logic (ECL) devices into plastic pin-grid-array packages is discussed. Temperature cycling, thermal shock tests, and thermal resistance measurements were used to test reliability. Solder fluxes for OLBs were also evaluated. No significant degradation was observed in OLB strength after 2000 temperature cycles or 500 thermal shock cycles between 0 degrees C and 100 degrees C. Under more severe conditions from -65 degrees C to 150 degrees C mean OLB strengths degraded by about 35% from 83 to 54 gm between 500 and 1000 cycles. Die bond shear strength degraded by 50% after 500 temperature cycles between -65 degrees C and 150 degrees C at the beginning of the test. Measured thermal resistances of the die bonds were less than 2.5 degrees C/W. >
Figure-Ground Segmentation—Pixel-Based

Background subtraction is a widely used concept to detect moving objects in videos taken from a static camera. In the last two decades several algorithms have been developed for background subtraction and were used in various important applications such as visual surveillance, sports video analysis, motion capture, etc. Various statistical approaches have been proposed to model scene background. In this chapter we review the concept and the practice in background subtraction. We discuss several basic statistical background subtraction models, including parametric Gaussian models and nonparametric models. We discuss the issue of shadow suppression, which is essential for human motion analysis applications. We also discuss approaches and tradeoffs for background maintenance, and point out many of the recent developments within the background subtraction paradigm.
Cytotoxic Effect of Curcumin on Malaria Parasite Plasmodium falciparum: Inhibition of Histone Acetylation and Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species

The emergence of multidrug-resistant parasites is a major concern for malaria control, and development of novel drugs is a high priority. Curcumin, a natural polyphenolic compound, possesses diverse pharmacological properties. Among its antiprotozoan activities, curcumin was potent against both chloroquine-sensitive and -resistant Plasmodium falciparum strains. Consistent with findings in mammalian cell lines, curcumin's prooxidant activity promoted the production in P. falciparum of reactive oxygen species (ROS), whose cytotoxic effect could be antagonized by coincubation with antioxidants and ROS scavengers. Curcumin treatment also resulted in damage of both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, probably due to the elevation of intracellular ROS. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that curcumin inhibited the histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity of the recombinant P. falciparum general control nonderepressed 5 (PfGCN5) in vitro and reduced nuclear HAT activity of the parasite in culture. Curcumin-induced hypoacetylation of histone H3 at K9 and K14, but not H4 at K5, K8, K12, and K16, suggested that curcumin caused specific inhibition of the PfGCN5 HAT. Taken together, these results indicated that at least the generation of ROS and down-regulation of PfGCN5 HAT activity accounted for curcumin's cytotoxicity for malaria parasites.
Methods to design low-sensitivity canonical digital filters using impulse response data

We minimize a two-objective function to iteratively design canonical-structure digital filters. The frequency response is matched by approximating a desired impulse response, and the coefficient sensitivity is directly minimized using both forward and backward prediction error methods. Low sensitivity digital filters have low output quantization noise power. The described methods yield filters with variable MA and AR orders: examples show that filters with more transfer function zeros than poles possess low sensitivity and highly matched impulse responses.
Investigation of novel cathode surface coatings for microsecond pulse conditions

The University of Missouri - Columbia (UMC) is investigating cathode surface coatings applied to microfibrous carbon emitters in an effort to increase low field electron emission. Low field, high electron density cathodes are highly desirable components of nonrelativistic high power microwave sources, for they require no external energy source to drive thermionic emission. The objective of the research is to improve upon the already impressive performance of cesium iodide doped carbon fibers by decreasing the work function of the emitters utilizing specialized subcoating technologies. Cathode tests were conducted on a modulator, which generated an electron beam. The modulator, designed and built at UMC, uses a modified type E pulse-forming network (PFN) switched by a hydrogen thyratron to provide the electrical energy. The electron gun was designed to deliver up to 10 A. The PFN can be configured to deliver pulse lengths from 2.5 to 5 µs at voltages from 50 to 120 kV. An electron gun was designed around a carbon fiber emitter element that was 3 cm in diameter. The emission fibers were grown onto graphite bases by ESLI, and the fibers were several millimeters long and 8 µm in diameter. Several emitters were prepared, one having no treatment, one having a conventional cesium-iodide coating, and one having novel coatings deposited on the carbon prior to cesium-iodide treatment. The results of the emission research are reported.
MCM-L Compatible Integrated Resistors And Capacitors

Integration of passive components offers inherent benefits such as reduced size, density, cost, and improved packaging efficiency and reliability. An integrated RC network requiring relatively large capacitance and resistance was selected as a model for integration of R and C components using low temperalare PWB compatible fabrication processes. Ohmega-Ply resistor/conductor laminates and photodefinable epoxies filled with high K ceramic powders were used as candidate materials for fabrication of embedded resistors and thin film capacitors. In order to reduce in-plane device area, multilayer (currently, two-layer) capacitors were stacked in the thickness direction. Meniscus coating of filled polymer dielectrics over large area (12 in x 12 in) was evaluated for cost and manufacturability advantages. This paper discusses the design, choice of materials, and fabricatilon issues of an integrated RC device. 1. Introlduction The Packaging Research Center at Georgia Tech is in the process of developing low temperalure MCM-L based processes suitable ICR L
Observation, interpretation, and diagnostic utility of plasma-induced line shifts

Abstract Time-resolved Ar K-shell spectra from directly driven microballoon implosions are presented, where the position of the He- and H-like resonance lines and their associated satellites apparently shift to lower energy as the implosion proceeds. This apparent shift is explained as being solely the result of the plasma-induced line shifts long predicted by Stark broadening theory. The properties of the line shift and the line shape are exploited in a proposed time-dependent diagnostic of plasma composition which may be useful in determining time-dependent ablator-fuel mix amounts in inertial confinement fusion experiments.
The role of adjuvant pelvic radiotherapy in rectal cancer with synchronous liver metastasis: A retrospective study

Synchronous liver metastases are detected in approximately 25% of colorectal cancer patients at diagnosis. The rates of local failure and distant metastasis are substantial in these patients, even after undergoing aggressive treatments including resection of primary and metastatic liver tumors. The purpose of this study was to determine whether adjuvant pelvic radiotherapy is beneficial for pelvic control and overall survival in rectal cancer patients with synchronous liver metastasis after primary tumor resection. Among rectal cancer patients who received total mesorectal excision (TME) between 1997 and 2006 at Yonsei University Health System, eighty-nine patients diagnosed with synchronous liver metastasis were reviewed. Twenty-seven patients received adjuvant pelvic RT (group S + R), and sixty-two patients were managed without RT (group S). Thirty-six patients (58%) in group S and twenty patients (74%) in group S+R received local treatment for liver metastasis. Failure patterns and survival outcomes were analyzed. Pelvic failure was observed in twenty-five patients; twenty-one patients in group S (34%), and four patients in group S+R (15%) (p = 0.066). The two-year pelvic failure-free survival rates (PFFS) of group S and group S+R were 64.8% and 80.8% (p = 0.028), respectively, and the two-year overall survival rates (OS) were 49.1% and 70.4% (p = 0.116), respectively. In a subgroup analysis of fifty-six patients who received local treatment for liver metastasis, the two-year PFFS were 64.9% and 82.9% (p = 0.05), respectively; the two-year OS were 74.1% and 80.0% (p = 0.616) in group S (n = 36) and group S+R (n = 20), respectively. Adjuvant pelvic RT significantly reduced the pelvic failure rate but its influence on overall survival was unclear. Rectal cancer patients with synchronous liver metastasis may benefit from adjuvant pelvic RT through an increased pelvic control rate and improved quality of life.