cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Quantitative Analysis of Flight Feather Replacement in the Moustached Tree Swift Hemiprocne mystacea , a Tropical Aerial Forager

The functional life span of feathers is always much less than the potential life span of birds, so feathers must be renewed regularly. But feather renewal entails important energetic, time and performance costs that must be integrated into the annual cycle. Across species the time required to replace flight feather increases disproportionately with body size, resulting in complex, multiple waves of feather replacement in the primaries of many large birds. We describe the rules of flight feather replacement for Hemiprocne mystacea, a small, 60g tree swift from the New Guinea region. This species breeds and molts in all months of the year, and flight feather molt occurs during breeding in some individuals. H. mystacea is one to be the smallest species for which stepwise replacement of the primaries and secondaries has been documented; yet, primary replacement is extremely slow in this aerial forager, requiring more than 300 days if molt is not interrupted. We used growth bands to show that primaries grow at an average rate of 2.86 mm/d. The 10 primaries are a single molt series, while the 11 secondaries and five rectrices are each broken into two molt series. In large birds stepwise replacement of the primaries serves to increase the rate of primary replacement while minimizing gaps in the wing. But stepwise replacement of the wing quills in H. mystacea proceeds so slowly that it may be a consequence of the ontogeny of stepwise molting, rather than an adaptation, because the average number of growing primaries is probably lower than 1.14 feathers per wing.
Global variability of transition zone thickness

[1] We analyze recordings from more than 3000 shallow earthquakes and measure S410S – S660S differential travel times on a global scale. These differential times are obtained using a novel cross-correlation technique that eliminates effects associated with a priori assumptions of crustal thickness and velocity variations above the upper mantle transition zone. Our measurements show absolute perturbations up to 8 s from the global average (242 km), which imply transition zone thickness variations of ±20 km on a length scale of ∼2000 km. The transition zone under major subduction zones, e.g., the western Pacific and South America, is significantly thicker than the global average; this could be associated with large-scale depressions of the 660-km discontinuity due to the accumulation of cold oceanic lithosphere at the base of the upper mantle. A narrow transition zone is observed under the central Pacific and northern Atlantic Oceans. We also observe a modest anticorrelation between S410S – S660S times and the delay times of shear waves (predicted using S12/WM13 [Su et al., 1994]) in the transition zone, which suggests considerable thermal influence on the large-scale topography of the 410- and 660-km discontinuities. The lack of a stronger anticorrelation suggests that (1) compositional heterogeneities may be present and (2) a significant fraction of thermal anomalies near the transition zone do not extend through the transition zone and influence both the 410- and the 660-km discontinuities. A regional analysis shows that the transition zone is, on average, 6–8 km thicker under continents than under oceans; this implies a temperature difference of 50–70°C. However, we do not observe a clear correlation between thickness and the age of the crust.
Health and Health Care Disparities Among Homeless Women

While disparities in health and health care between vulnerable (e.g., minorities, low-income) and majority populations are well documented, less is known about disparities within these special populations that are large and diverse. Such knowledge is essential to determine the neediest within these generally needy populations, and to plan interventions to reduce their health and health care disparities. With data from 1,331 women residing in Los Angeles County California, in one of the largest, most comprehensive studies of the health of homeless women to date, this study examined the health and health care disparities among homeless African American, Latina, and white women. This study further explored if race/ethnicity and other factors that predispose homeless women to poor health, or enable them to obtain better health care, were associated with their unmet need for medical care. The study found that white, non-Latina women were more likely to report unmet need than African Americans and Latinas, and women suffering from drug abuse, violence, or depression were most in need of care. These findings should be considered in targeting and addressing the special needs of homeless women of different racial/ethnic groups.
Urinary selenium and dental caries.

Cadell and Cousins reported recently on the concentration of urinary selenium and prevalence of dental caries among two groups of children 5–14 years of age in New Zealand1. From Table 1 of their article, all but two of the children in both groups had urinary selenium-levels in the range of 0.10–0.49 p.p.m. However, the mean values of urinary selenium given for the first and second group were 0.021 p.p.m. and 0.030 p.p.m. respectively. Obviously there is an error in the presentation of the data.
Role of microglia in glioma biology.

Microglia, a type of differentiated tissue macrophage, are considered to be the most plastic cell population of the central nervous system (CNS). In response to pathological conditions, resting microglia undergo a stereotypic activation process and become capable of phagocytosis, antigen presentation, and lymphocyte activation. Considering their immune effector function, it is not surprising to see microglia accumulation in almost every CNS disease process, including malignant brain tumors or malignant gliomas. Although the function of these cells in CNS inflammatory processes is being studied, their role in malignant glioma biology remains unclear. On one hand, microglia may represent a CNS anti-tumor response, which is inactivated by local secretion of immunosuppressive factors by glioma cells. On the other hand, taking into account that microglia are capable of secreting a variety of immunomodulatory cytokines, it is possible that they are attracted by gliomas to promote tumor growth. A better understanding of microglia-glioma interaction will be helpful in designing novel immune-based therapies against these fatal tumors.
Regulation of S-Adenosylmethionine synthetase activity in cultured human lymphocytes

Abstract S -Adenosylmethionine (AdoMet), inorganic pyrophosphate (PP i ) and inorganic phosphate (P i ) are potent product inhibitors of AdoMet synthetase and have been postulated to play a role in increasing AdoMet levels and turnover in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) after stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA). Measurements of these metabolites in PHA-stimulated PBM showed the expected 2- to 3-fold increases in AdoMet after 8 h, and smaller increases in PP i and P i . Since the kinetic model requires substantial decreases in PP i and P i in response to PHA, product inhibition cannot explain the observed changes in AdoMet metabolism in this system. A 2.5-fold increase in AdoMet synthetase catalytic activity was found in crude extracts of PBM within 8 h of PHA-stimulation and probably accounts for increased cellular levels and utilization of AdoMet. Immunochemical analyses with a monoclonal antibody specific for the α/α′ subunits of human lymphocyte AdoMet synthetase showed that these increases in catalytic activity were not associated with increases in immunoreactive protein. The ratio of catalytic activity to immunoreactivity in stimulated cells was 4-fold higher than in unstimulated controls and almost identical to that found in extracts from the human B-lymphocyte line WI-L2. Unstimulated PBM appear to contain substantial amounts of AdoMet synthetase α/α′ subunit with reduced or absent catalytic activity, which can be activated by PHA-stimulation.
Specific Binding of Cancer Cells Using a Microchamber Array Functionalized With Antibodies

Specific binding of target suspended metastatic cancer cells to an antibody-functionalized surface utilizing a microfluidic device has experimentally been investigated under various conditions. The microfluidic devices, fabricated in silicon using DRIE process, consisted of a 5×5 micochamber array; each 1mm×1mm in area, and 50μm in depth. The oxide surface of the microchammber array was functionalized with various antibodies immobilized on a protein G layer. The microfluidic device design allows accurate counting of cells loaded into each microchamber and, thus, enabling a reliable counting of cells captured from homogeneous suspensions. The effects of cell suspension concentration, incubation times and ambient temperature on cell capture efficiency have been examined. Furthermore, to evaluate the specificity of the cell-surface interaction, several cell cancer types expressing different membrane receptors have been incubated on surfaces functionalized with various counter receptors. Specific binding of up to 100% of the suspended cells is observed when using surfaces functionalized with counter receptors matching the cell receptors; otherwise, non-specific binding of less than 15% of suspended cells is obtained if the functionalized counter receptors do not match the cell receptors.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Geology, geochemistry, and origin of volcanic rock-hosted uranium deposits in northwestern Nevada and southeastern Oregon, USA

Abstract Northwestern Nevada and southeastern Oregon have the largest uranium (U) deposits in Tertiary volcanic rocks in the US. Most deposits are in or adjacent to calderas or rhyolite lava-dome fields and are hydrothermal. Almost all are associated with rhyolites that have high primary U concentrations (9 to 20 ppm), but the rhyolites range from peralkaline to peraluminous. Caldera-related occurrences are hosted by peralkaline rocks in the McDermitt and Virgin Valley calderas. At McDermitt, major deposits are along or just inboard of the southwestern (Kings River) and northern ring fractures (Bretz–Opalite) of the caldera complex. The Kings River deposits are strongly enriched in trace elements associated with epithermal precious-metal deposits (e.g., As, Au, Ag, Mo, and Sb). Much of the U occurs as hydrothermal uraniferous zircon, and whole rock samples contain as much as 5% Zr. Gangue minerals include quartz, adularia, fluorite, and numerous sulfides. 40 Ar/ 39 Ar dating of adjacent volcanic rocks and adularia indicates that mineralization was contemporaneous with igneous activity. The Bretz–Opalite deposits, which include the large Aurora resource (7.5×106 kg U3O8), are less enriched in epithermal trace elements and contain uraninite, coffinite, chalcedony, opal, and numerous sulfides. At Virgin Valley, deposits are mostly in tuffaceous sediments adjacent to ring-fracture rhyolites. Trace-element enrichment is minor, U is hexavalent in all identified U minerals, and associated phases include opal, organic material, and pyrite. Deposits in the Lakeview U district, Oregon are hosted by weakly peraluminous rhyolite domes and tuffs and are highly enriched in epithermal trace elements; the mineral assemblage includes coffinite, opal, and numerous sulfides. Minor U occurrences at Buff Peak, Nevada, the newly recognized, westernmost topaz (peraluminous) rhyolite in the US, are also trace element enriched; gangue minerals include quartz, adularia, and sulfides. On the basis of their geologic setting, geochemistry, age, and mineralogy, the McDermitt, Lakeview, and Buff Peak deposits are hydrothermal; sparse, published fluid inclusion data indicate temperatures between 200°C and 330°C. Virgin Valley deposits most likely are hydrothermal. Minor deposits in outflow ash-flow tuffs are distant from any intrusive heat source and probably formed from low-temperature groundwater.
A single-camera coupled PTV–LIF technique

A single-camera coupled particle tracking velocimetry–laser-induced fluorescence (PTV–LIF) technique and validation results from an experiment in a neutrally buoyant turbulent round jet are presented. The single-camera implementation allows the use of a 12-bit 60 frame-per-second 1024 × 1024 pixel digital CCD camera capable of streaming images in real time to hard disk resulting in very accurate PTV and LIF with excellent spatial and temporal resolution. The technique is capable of determining the turbulent scalar flux, \(\) as well as the Reynolds stress and mean and fluctuating velocity and concentration fields. Details of dye choice, corrections for attenuation due to dye, particles and water, photobleaching, vignetting, CCD calibration, and illumination power and geometry corrections are presented. Detailed results from the validation experiment confirm the accuracy and resolution of the technique, and in particular, the ability to measure \(\). Bootstrap 95% uncertainty intervals are presented for the calculated statistics.
Effect of surface boundary on time-resolved reflectance: measurements with a prototype endoscopic catheter

The implementation of time-resolved reflectance, R(t), measurements via endoscopes during medical procedures may provide an important diagnostic tool for medicine. This paper presents initial studies on a prototype catheter device suitable for the biopsy channel of an endoscope. A pair of optical fibers, one a source and one a collector, were adjoined with epoxy to create a single catheter tip. Such close proximity of two fibers is a special case of the generic R(r,t) measurement, where the fiber separation (r) approaches zero. The influence of an air/tissue surface boundary on the time-resolved collection of photons backscattered by a turbid media is presented. The catheter was either (1) place on the surface of an aqueous turbid solution, or (2) imbedded deep within the volume and distant from the surface or any boundaries. The time course of photon collection was found to be strongly influenced by the surface boundary. Such boundary effects are pertinent to the design of time-resolved catheters which require close spacing of the source and collector fibers.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Hybridization as a source of evolutionary novelty: leaf shape in a Hawaiian composite.

Hybridization is increasingly recognized as a significant creative force in evolution. Interbreeding among species can lead to the creation of novel genotypes and morphologies that lead to adaptation. On the Hawaiian island of O’ahu, populations of two species of plants in the endemic genus Lipochaeta grow at similar elevations in the northern Wai’anae Mountains. These two species represent extremes of the phenotypic distribution of leaf shape: the leaves of Lipochaeta tenuifolia individuals are compound and highly dissected while leaves of L. tenuis are simple. Based primarily on leaf shape morphology, a putative hybrid population of Lipochaeta located at Pu’u Kawiwi was identified. Individuals in this population exhibit a range of leaf shapes intermediate in varying degrees between the leaf shapes of the putative parental species. We analyzed individuals from pure populations of L. tenuifolia, L. tenuis and the putative hybrids using 133 AFLP markers. Genetic analysis of these neutral markers provided support for the hybrid origin of this population. The correlation between genetic background and leaf morphology in the hybrids suggested that the genome of the parental species with simple leaves might have significantly contributed to the evolution of a novel, compound leaf morphology.
Effects of Growth Regulators on Quality of Ripe Peach Fruit: Discoloration of Canned Peaches

Harvester and Alred Elberta peach trees (Prunus persica (L) Batsch) were sprayed with either daminozide [butanedioic acid mono (2,2-dimethylhydrazide)], ethephon [(2-chloroethyl)phosphonic acid] or GA4+7 (gibberellin GA4+7). Following harvest, treatments were sorted subjectively on the basis of ground color and surface firmness. Firm ripe fruit were placed in 4°C storage, green fruit were held at 23–27°C until ripe (usually 2–3 days). Ripeness was therefore removed as a factor of chemical composition. No differences in skin color were found by instrumental measurements, confirming uniformity of that parameter of ripeness. There were no significant differences among fresh fruit treatments in soluble solids, ascorbic acid content, flesh color, or rate of browning. However, canned product from the ethephon treatment lot was markedly discolored.
EFFECTS OF VARYING CYCLE LENGTH IN A TAU REINFORCEMENT SCHEDULE.

A temporally defined reinforcement schedule within the tau system of classification was studied, with pigeons as subjects and with cycle length as the independent variable. As cycle length decreased, response rates increased, responses-per-reinforcement went through a maximum, while the number of reinforcements-per-session increased. The first two functions are attributed to changes in the discriminability of the τD and τΔ components of the cycle, while the latter seems to result from changes in the relative durations of reinforcement time and τΔ time.
Classification of physical activities based on sparse representation

This paper presents a new classification method for physical activity assessment, based on sparse representation. This method bypasses the need for feature extraction and selection that is typically involved for activity classification, and classifies activities using raw sensor signals directly. Higher discriminative power than that from the conventional k-nearest neighbor algorithm has been demonstrated through experiments performed on 105 subjects.
Effects of Phosphorus Enrichment and Wave Simulation on Populations of Ulothrix Zonata from Northern Lake Superior

The effects of phosphorus enrichment and wave simulation on new (denuded rocks) and established populations of Ulothrix zonata were examined in specially designed stationary and rocking tanks on a bedrock ledge overlooking the western arm of Lake Superior at Castle Danger, Minnesota. Tanks received constant flow of lake water and were exposed to the same insolation and climatic conditions as the lake for a 10-week period during July, August, and September 1972. A rocking tank and a stationary tank were enriched to maintain an average concentration of 0.16 mg/L PO4–P. Two remaining tanks, receiving only lake water, served as controls. Each week, algal material was harvested from the tanks and analyzed for chlorophyll a, ash-free dry weight, and abundance of U. zonata and associated non-filamentous periphytic algae. Diatoms comprised, on the average, 95% of the total non-filamentous periphytic algae. The results show that phosphorus enrichment has marked effects on established populations of U. zonata in addition to favoring recolonization of U. zonata on bare rock substrates. Statistical analysis of the data revealed that phosphorus enrichment caused a significant increase in Ulothrix biomass and chlorophyll a in the enriched tanks. Wave simulation caused a significant reduction in total numbers of non-filamentous algae associated with Ulothrix in the rocking tanks.
Potential use of globins and their derivatives of abnormal red blood cells in the treatment of cancer and related immune disorders

Abstract One of the most important ‘antibodies’ that nature has developed for malarial parasites can be used for treating cancer as well as diseases like AIDS. The globins and their derivatives of abnormal red blood cells (sickle cells and thalassemia), have evolved as a selective resistance to malarial infections. Plasmodium species of sporozoa, which parasitize red blood cells and proliferate at their cost are inhibited by these abnormal red blood cells. To test the validity of this hypothesis, the author carried out a preliminary Medline search from 1974 to 1991 to find out if persons suffering from sickle cell or thalassemia diseases are ‘immune’ to HIV infections and malignancies. Clinical investigations lend support to the hypothesis. A research scheme is suggested for the study of the role of these globulin derivatives as they effect the synthesis of genetic material related to cell proliferation.
Group transfers 4. Arylselenide aniondiaryl diselenide exchange

Barriers for group transfers between nucleophiles have been postulated to be lowered when the transferring group can carry a considerable negative charge. Furthermore, anions readily subject to one electron oxidation appear to lead to lower barriers than do those of high oxidation potential. These suggestions are pursued here on the identity reaction ArSe− + ArSeSeAr → ArSeSeAr + ArSe−. Indeed the reaction is very fast, as shown by the appearance of only a single peak in the 77Se-NMR in an acetonitrile solution containing both ArSeNa and ArSeSeAr. The rate constant can be only very roughly estimated at low temperatures and dilute solutions, and is likely diffusion controlled for Ar = phenyl and p-methoxyphenyl. A stable intermediate (ArSe)3−, analogous to Br3−, is indicated, but quantitative stability could not be determined, from either the NMR or the UV spectra. Some properties of 77Se-NMR are discussed.
Deflection-based force sensing for continuum robots: A probabilistic approach

The inherent flexibility of continuum robots allows them to interact with objects in a safe and compliant way. This flexibility also makes it possible to use robot deflection to estimate external forces applied to the robot. This “intrinsic force sensing” concept is particularly useful for thin continuum robots where application constraints preclude the use of traditional force sensors. This paper describes an Extended Kalman Filter approach to estimate forces applied at the tip of a continuum robot using only uncertain pose measurements and a kinematic-static model of the robot with uncertainty.
Receptor protection studies comparing recombinant and native nicotinic receptors: Evidence for a subpopulation of mecamylamine-sensitive native α3β4* nicotinic receptors

Studies involving receptor protection have been used to define the functional involvement of specific receptor subtypes in tissues expressing multiple receptor subtypes. Previous functional studies from our laboratory demonstrate the feasibility of this approach when applied to neuronal tissues expressing multiple nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). In the current studies, the ability of a variety of nAChR agonists and antagonists to protect native and recombinant alpha3beta4 nAChRs from alkylation were investigated using nAChR binding techniques. Alkylation of native alpha3beta4* nAChRs from membrane preparations of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells resulted in a complete loss of specific [(3)H]epibatidine binding. This loss of binding to native nAChRs was preventable by pretreatment with the agonists, carbachol or nicotine. The partial agonist, cytisine, produced partial protection. Several nAChR antagonists were also tested for their ability to protect. Hexamethonium and decamethonium were without protective activity while mecamylamine and tubocurarine were partially effective. Addition protection studies were performed on recombinant alpha3beta4 nAChRs. As with native alpha3beta4* nAChRs, alkylation produced a complete loss of specific [(3)H]epibatidine binding to recombinant alpha3beta4 nAChRs which was preventable by pretreatment with nicotine. However, unlike native alpha3beta4* nAChRs, cytisine and mecamylamine, provide no protection for alkylation. These results highlight the differences between native alpha3beta4* nAChRs and recombinant alpha3beta4 nAChRs and support the use of protection assays to characterize native nAChR subpopulations.
Transmembrane partitioning of boron and other elements in RAW 264.7 and HL60 cell cultures.

The trace element boron is essential for all higher plants and is beneficial or has been established as essential for several animal models of human nutrition. To help identify the biomolecules that require boron for function in humans, we determined whether intracellular boron is retained against a concentration gradient. Cells (Abelson leukemia virus BALB murine monocyte-macrophage RAW 264.7 [RAW] and HL60) and supplemented media (Dulbecco’s modified essential media [+10% fetal calf serum] and Iscove’s modified Dulbecco’s medium [+5% fetal calf serum], respectively) were analyzed for mineral concentrations after culture and subculture. Special corrections were made for trapped extracellular media in cell pellets and endocytosed media. For RAW cells, the partitioning coefficients (PC; intracellular/extracellular ratios) were, in rank order, as follows: Mn, 110; Fe, 67; P, 65; Zn, 32; K, 15; Cu, 7.1; Mg, 4.3; B, 1.7; Ca, 0.4; Na, 0.3. For HL60 cells, the partitioning coefficients were, in rank order, as follows: Mn, 212; Zn, 211; P, 123; K, 21; Fe, 16; Mg, 11; B, 1.7; Ca, 0.8; Na, 0.3. Trapped extracellular media was estimated to be 6.7±0.8%; trapped extracellular and endocytosed media together was 24.8±0.3% of the mass within the isolated cell pellets. The partitioning coefficients indicate a positive gradient for intracellular accumulation of boron, zinc, phosphorus, managanese, magnesium, potassium, iron, and copper in RAW264.7 and HL60 cells. Specifically, the data indicate the existence of a selective boron-binding molecular species within the cell or the existence of a boron-specific membrane transporter.
Experimental Demonstration of Reduced Path-Length Sensitivity in Coherent Beam Combining Architectures

Proper exploitation of spatial supermodes in Michelson-type cavities reduces the sensitivity to path-length variations. The radiance improvement is experimentally demonstrated in a common-path generalized Michelson cavity formed by polarization multiplexing the two gain arms.
Factors Affecting Sinterability of Oxide Powders:BeO and MgO

Data on the sintering of BeO and MgO were reviewed with reference to the diffusion sintering model devised by Kuczynski and Herring. Sintering rates for compacts of the dead-burned oxide powders were in agreement with the bulk diffusion model with grain-boundary sinks, but those of the active low-calcined powders were not. During isothermal sintering the low-calcined powders had very high initial shrinkages, after which the shrinkage rate was low, corresponding to a rate index of about 10. The initial high rate was ascribed to crystallization and coalescence of the material comprising individual particles. The activation energy associated with the sintering of active BeO was estimated at 249 kcal per mole. (auth)
Curettage of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Cervical Lymphadenitis

• Cervicofacial nontuberculous mycobacterial infections of the head and neck are difficult to treat surgically because of their common location near the branches of the facial nerve. Curettage of these lesions through a small skin incision makes treatment simple without injury to the facial nerve fibers and leaves the patient with an excellent cosmetic result. Most discussions on the topic, however, favor complete surgical excision even though curettage has been reported as a safe and excellent means of treatment. For the past 2 years, the department of Otolaryngology—Head and neck surgery at the Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pa, has used curettage in seven patients as the primary treatment modality for these facial and cervical infectons. A review of these cases is presented. ( Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg . 1992;118:759-762)
Broadband ultrasound attenuation signals depend on trabecular orientation: an in vitro study.

Quantitative ultrasound (QUS) techniques have recently been introduced as alternative methods free of ionizing radiation for non-invasive assessment of skeletal status in osteoporosis. We carried out an in vitro study on bone specimens to investigate whether broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) signals are associated with bone structure, specifically with the orientation of the trabeculae, and whether this association is independent of the association between orientation and bone mineral density (BMD) as measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). BUA and BMD of 10 cubical specimens of purely trabecular bovine bone were examined along the three principal axes. The relative orientation of the trabeculae with respect to the direction of the ultrasound beam was evaluated on high-resolution conventional radiographs employing a semiquantitative ALIGNMENT score ranging from −2 (for perpendicular) to +2 (parallel). BUA variability was 27.6 dB/MHz, reflecting both inter-specimen (18.2 dB/MHz) and intra-specimen (19.4 dB/MHz) variability at comparable levels and to a much lesser extent reproducibility errors (1 dB/MHz). BUA was 44%–54% larger along the axis of the compressive trabeculae as compared with the two perpendicular axes. BMD and ALIGNMENT showed independent significant associations with BUA. A change in ALIGNMENT from perpendicular to parallel corresponded to a difference in BUA of 36.1 dB/MHz. The substantial level of intra-specimen variability suggests that BUA reflects anisotropical characteristics of trabecular bone. The association of BUA and ALIGNMENT indicates that BUA signals depend on trabecular orientation. This association is independent of BMD, indicating that BUA has considerable potential for non-invasive assessment of bone structure and strength, free of ionizing radiation, and for complementing existing bone densitometry examinations.
Concerning the ‘Wanzlick equilibrium’

Abstract A negative crossover experiment performed in the 1960s which ruled out Wanzlick's tetraaminoethylene–diaminocarbene equilibrium gave erroneous results, according to a recent claim by Denk. In response, this system has been reinvestigated. When potassium hydride is present to preclude electrophilic catalysis, no crossing over occurs and starting tetraaminoethylenes are recovered unchanged. The original conclusion regarding the proposed equilibrium is thus reaffirmed.
Plasticity of feeding behavior in the opisthobranch mollusc Navanax

Several forms of plasticity of feeding behavior were investigated in Navanax. Navanax is a gastropod mollusc which lacks a radula, and ingests prey with suction caused by rapid pharyngeal expansion. Feeding is little affected by handling or posture and is resistant to the noxious stimulus of cutting through the body wall. Feeding is affected by arousal, as shown by a decrease in latency following initial exposure to food. The feeding response also habituates, as shown by an increase in latency when feeding responses are elicited without allowing animals to engulf food. The latency increase is not likely to be due to motor fatigue, since it can be partially reversed by dishabituation with an alternate prey species. Continued feeding causes satiation, as shown by increased feeding latencies and eventual cessation of feeding after a mean weight gain of 42.0% of initial animal weight (N = 12). Another form of plasticity occurs when Navanax are presented with food too large to swallow whole. Navanax either cease to respond after a few presentations, perhaps due to habituation, or maintain suction on the partially swallowed prey for an extended period of time. During extended sucks, the more deeply ingested portions are digested.
Kalithea: Männer und Frauen In einem griechischen Dorf

Kalithea: Manner und Frauen In einem griechischen Dorf. Ulrike Krasberg. Frankfurt am Main and New York: Campus Verlag, 1996. 256 pp., map, notes, photographs, bibliography.
Retention of vitamin B-6, thiamin, vitamin E, and selenium in grilled boneless pork chops prepared at five grill temperatures

Fresh pork Canadian backs, cut into boneless pork chops, were cooked to 71C internal temperature by grilling at 93, 121, 148, 176, or 204C. Cooking times were significantly longer for chops grilled at 93C than for those grilled at the higher temperatures. Yield, moisture, and crude fat values of the chops in the different treatments were similar. Chops grilled at 204C had significantly lower retention values for thiamin and vitamin E and had lower mean retention values for vitamin B-6. Retention values for selenium were similar for all treatment groups. Shorter cooking times along with higher vitamin retentions were obtained in boneless pork chops grilled at 121, 148, and 176C.
On corrin biogenesis

Abstract In the light of recent experimental evidence a theory of corrin biogenesis is proposed which involves a symmetry-allowed concerted electrocyclic reaction as the key step.
Risk factors for multiple gestation in women undergoing intrauterine insemination with ovarian stimulation.

Abstract Objective: To identify whether sperm characteristics after washing and/or ovulation induction cycle characteristics can predict the occurrence of multiple conception in patients undergoing ovarian stimulation and IUI. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: A gynecology clinic and an andrology laboratory at a tertiary care facility. Patient(s): One hundred patients with single pregnancies and 22 patients with multiple pregnancies. Intervention(s): Patients underwent ovarian stimulation and IUI with their partner's sperm. Main Outcome Measure(s): Relation of patient characteristics, ovarian stimulation, and sperm characteristics after washing to the occurrence of multiple pregnancy. Result(s): The mean serum E 2 level on the day of hCG injection was significantly higher in the multiple conception group, but the number of follicles was not. The total sperm count, total motile sperm count, and sperm motility after washing did not differ between the groups. However, couples with multiple pregnancies had sperm with a significantly higher amplitude of lateral head movement than couples with single pregnancies. A peak E 2 level of >583 pg/mL on the day of hCG injection and sperm with an ALH of >4 μm after washing predicted the occurrence of multiple pregnancy. Conclusion(s): Sperm with an amplitude of lateral head movement of >4 μm and a peak E 2 level of >583 pg/mL are significant risk factors for multiple pregnancy in patients undergoing IUI.
Sensor Management for Static Target Detection with Non-Binary Sensor Observations and Observation Uncertainty

Previously, a grid-based sensor management framework has been developed that is useful for directing the operation of a suite of sensors seeking to detect static targets. Earlier versions of the framework only allow the sensors to make binary observations?either "target present" or "no target present"?within the cells of the grid. This paper introduces the use of non-binary observations within the sensor management framework. Simulation results are presented which show that the presented sensor manager continues to outperform a direct search technique with the use of non-binary observations. The effects of uncertain sensor observations are also examined in this paper, and uncertainty modeling is introduced in order to allow the sensor manager to model uncertain non-binary sensor observations. Simulation results show that proper uncertainty modeling is crucial for maintaining robust sensor manager performance.
The making of the global gambling industry: An application and extension of field theory

The past two decades have seen a global convergence from gambling prohibition to legalization, but also a divergence regarding how new gambling industries are structured and regulated. This article compares two cases of casino legalization exhibiting different and, given conventional understandings of the two countries, unexpected outcomes. In the United States, ethnic entrepreneurs (Indian tribes) were granted a monopoly on casinos in California; in South Africa, the new ANC government legalized a competitive, corporate casino industry. Through explaining these disparate industry structurings, two arguments are advanced. First, Bourdieu's field theory best describes the interests and strategies of industry “players” as they attempted to shape policy. Second, Bourdieu neglects the independent role of institutions in mediating between field-level dynamics and concrete regulatory outcomes. In California, Tribes converted economic into political capital through a public election. In South Africa, the ANC used a centralized commission to implement corporate gambling over public opposition, in essence converting political into economic capital. By viewing policy domains as “dramaturgical prisms” whose sign–production tools and audiences facilitate certain but not other capital conversion projects, I both explain unexpected regulatory outcomes and synthesize field and political process theories.
Adaptive multiple description video streaming over multiple channels with active probing

Low latency video applications need to incorporate a high level of error resiliency and of error concealment to provide acceptable quality. We investigate how to combine the benefits of multiple stream coding and multiple path transmission for this purpose. We present a transmission strategy for multiple description coded video which maintains the inherent error resiliency of the encoding in the case of transmission over bursty channels. Through the analysis of feedback and through rate-distortion optimized channel probing, this strategy determines which channels should be used to take advantage of path diversity. At the encoder, a restart scheme stops error propagation by selecting references in error-free streams. Experiments demonstrate significant gains over other schemes such as video redundancy coding.
Quantification of unbound prednisolone, prednisone, cortisol and cortisone in human plasma by ultrafiltration and direct injection into liquid chromatrography tandem mass spectrometry

BackgroundThe existing methods for quantitative analysis of free corticosteroids require high volume of plasma and laborious extraction processes. Development of ultrafiltration followed by the liq...
ADHESION PARTITIONING: INTRASOMATIC OBSERVATIONS ON NORMAL ESCHERICHIA COLI AND T2 BACTERIOPHAGE

Adhesion partitioning is a method for progressively dismantling small biological entities for observation of their internal structures. The method is particularly well suited to use with the electron microscope. Objects to be partitioned are air-dried between two preformed plastic films resulting in envelopment of the objects. On separating the films the objects are partitioned. Partitioned E. coli bacteria reveal a variety of structures which change markedly with culture age. Organisms from young cultures have a water-retaining gelatinous matrix in which radially striated discs, fabric-like structures, and microsomes are found. Older cultures are less anatomically complex. The T2 bacteriophage is shown to be composed of an outer limiting membrane and a cohesive semisolid fibrillar body substance, presumably nucleic acid, which can be drawn as a strand from the bacteriophage body.
Is 16S rDNA a Reliable Phylogenetic Marker to Characterize Relationships Below the Family Level in the Enterobacteriaceae

The phylogenetic relationships of multiple enterobacterial species were reconstructed based on 16S rDNA gene sequences to evaluate the robustness of this housekeeping gene in the taxonomic placement of the enteric plant pathogens Erwinia, Brenneria, Pectobacterium, and Pantoea. Four data sets were compiled, two of which consisted of previously published data. The data sets were designed in order to evaluate how 16S rDNA gene phylogenies are affected by the use of different plant pathogen accessions and varying numbers of animal pathogen and outgroup sequences. DNA data matrices were analyzed using maximum likelihood (ML) algorithms, and character support was determined by ML bootstrap and Bayesian analyses. As additional animal pathogen sequences were added to the phylogenetic analyses, taxon placement changed. Further, the phylogenies varied in their placement of the plant pathogen species, and only the genus Pantoea was monophyletic in all four trees. Finally, bootstrap and Bayesian support values were low for most of the nodes, and all nonterminal branches collapsed in strict consensus trees. Inspection of 16S rDNA nucleotide alignments revealed several highly variable blocks punctuated by regions of conserved sequence. These data suggest that 16S rDNA, while effective for both species-level and family-level phylogenetic reconstruction, may underperform for genus-level phylogenetic analyses in the Enterobacteriaceae.
Tobacco use among firefighters in the central United States

Background This study provides a comprehensive, population-based examination of tobacco use among both career and volunteer firefighters.
Understanding Statistical Testing

Statistical hypothesis testing is common in research, but a conventional understanding sometimes leads to mistaken application and misinterpretation. The logic of hypothesis testing presented in this article provides for a clearer understanding, application, and interpretation. Key conclusions are that (a) the magnitude of an estimate on its raw scale (i.e., not calibrated by the standard error) is irrelevant to statistical testing; (b) which statistical hypotheses are tested cannot generally be known a priori; (c) if an estimate falls in a hypothesized set of values, that hypothesis does not require testing; (d) if an estimate does not fall in a hypothesized set, that hypothesis requires testing; (e) the point in a hypothesized set that produces the largest p value is used for testing; and (f) statistically significant results constitute evidence, but insignificant results do not and must not be interpreted as evidence for or against the hypothesis being tested.
Re-Examining The Physical Basis of Pattern Density and Step Height CMP Models

Our group has proposed several chip-scale CMP models, with key assumptions including the notion of planarization length in the pattern density model [1], and step height dependent polishing rate in the density step height model [2]. In the effective density model, planarization length is the characteristic length of an elliptic weighting function based on the long-range pad deformation and pressure distribution during CMP. This semi-physical model is often adequate and usually gives a fitting error of a few hundred angstroms. As ever-shrinking device size pushes for tighter control of post CMP uniformity, however, we need a chip-scale CMP model with better accuracy. In this work, we re-examine the physical basis for averaging weighting functions and step height dependence, particularly in the context of contact mechanics based model formulations. The comparison of the two models confirms that the analytical density and step height models can be viewed as approximations to the contact wear model. The study also suggests a new dependence of contact height on line space and pattern density.
Estimation of the Effect of Eddies on Coastal El Nino Flows Using Along-Track Satellite Altimeter Data

AbstractPrevious work has shown that the El Nino sea level signal leaks through the gappy western equatorial Pacific to the coasts of western and southern Australia. South of about 22°S, in the region of the Leeuwin Current, the amplitude of this El Nino signal falls. Using coastal sea level measurements and along-track altimetry data from the Ocean Topography Experiment (TOPEX)/Poseidon, Jason-1, and OSTM/Jason-2 satellites, this study finds that the interannual divergence of the eddy momentum flux D′ is correlated with the southward along-shelf sea level amplitude decay, consistent with the eddies removing energy from the large-scale sea level signal. The quantity D′ is also correlated with the interannual flow with a surprisingly short dissipation time scale of only 2 days, much shorter than the interannual time scale.A similar analysis off the western coast of South America, site of the originally named “El Nino” current, was carried out. Interannual sea level decay along the shelf edge is observed, a...
God Had to Create the World

Dans un article recent, T. D. J. Chappell affirme que le christianisme orthodoxe est incompatible avec le consequentialisme. Sa these est fondee sur une serie de premisses, mais l'A. limite son ambition a critiquer une de ses idees selon laquelle un Dieu consequentialiste n'aurait pas pu creer le monde. Sans l'existence d'autres etres, Dieu est dans l'impossibilite d'exercer sa justice et sa bonte. Ainsi dans le but de se perfectionner et d'acquerir ces vertus, Dieu se devait de creer le monde
Transport Parameter Estimations of Plasma Transport Dynamics Using the Extended Kalman Filter

The accuracy of first-principle predictive models for the evolution of plasma profiles is sometimes limited by the lack of understanding of the plasma transport phenomena. It is possible then to develop approximate transport models for the prediction of plasma dynamics, which are consistent with the available diagnostic data. This data-driven approach, usually referred to as phenomenological modeling, arises as an alternative to the more classical theory-driven approach. In this paper, we propose a stochastic filtering approach based on an extended Kalman filter to provide real-time estimates of poorly known or totally unknown transport coefficients. We first assume that plasma dynamics is governed by tractable models obtained by first principles. However, the transport parameters are considered unknown and to be estimated. These estimates will be based solely on input/output diagnostic data and limited understanding of the transport physics. Numerical methods (e.g., finite differences) can be used to discretize the partial differential equation models both in space and time to obtain finite-dimensional discrete-time state-space representations. The system states and to-be-estimated parameters are then combined into an augmented state vector. The resulting nonlinear state-space model is used for the design of an extended Kalman filter that provides real-time estimations not only of the system states but also of the unknown transport coefficients. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method for a benchmark transport model in cylindrical coordinates.
Time-domain calculation of microstrip components and the curve-fitting of numerical results

The time-domain finite-difference method combined with Fourier transform techniques has recently been shown to be a very effective approach in modeling the dispersive characteristics of microstrip components. Here, the authors investigate the problems associated with the generation of design data over a larger substrate and line parameter range. The obtained numerical results are curve-fit into closed-form formulas to be incorporated into CAD (computer-aided design) packages. >