cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evolutionary dynamics of a rapidly receding southern range boundary in the threatened California Red-Legged Frog (Rana draytonii).

Populations forming the edge of a species range are often imperiled by isolation and low genetic diversity, with proximity to human population centers being a major determinant of edge stability in modern landscapes. Since the 1960s, the California red-legged frog (Rana draytonii) has undergone extensive declines in heavily urbanized southern California, where the range edge has rapidly contracted northward while shifting its cardinal orientation to an east-west trending axis. We studied the genetic structure and diversity of these frontline populations, tested for signatures of contemporary disturbance, specifically fire, and attempted to disentangle these signals from demographic events extending deeper into the past. Consistent with the genetic expectations of the ‘abundant-center’ model, we found that diversity, admixture, and opportunity for random mating increases in populations sampled successively further away from the range boundary. Demographic simulations indicate that bottlenecks in peripheral isolates are associated with processes extending tens to a few hundred generations in the past, despite the demographic collapse of some due to recent fire-flood events. While the effects of recent disturbance have left little genetic imprint on these populations, they likely contribute to an extinction debt that will lead to continued range contraction unless management intervenes to stall or reverse the process.
The variable status of the classics in differing narratives of the sociological tradition

Warrants for continued attention to the sociological classics take diverse forms. This variation appears to be linked to a diversity of narrative interpretations of the sociological tradition. Positivist narratives affirm classics as building blocks for a naturalistic social science and as sources of material not yet incorporated into mainstream sociology. Pluralist narratives celebrate classics as exemplars of different legitimate perspectives. In synthetic narratives, classics are hailed for raising fundamental problems and pointing the way toward culminating syntheses. In humanistic narratives, classics appear as texts of enduring significance for their admixture of poetic insight and moral rumination as well as deep sociological analyses. Contextualist narratives view classics as expressive documents, giving voice to a cultural ambience or complex of collective interests. Dialogical narratives hail classics as parties to transnational and transgenerational conversations. This schema helps organize the...
Quantum manifestations of order and chaos in the Paul trap.

In the pseudopotential approximation the type of dynamics of two charged particles confined in a Paul trap depends on the ratio \ensuremath{\lambda}=${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{\mathit{z}}$/${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\omega}}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\rho}}}$ of the frequencies of the axial and the radial pseudo-oscillators, respectively. For \ensuremath{\lambda}=1/2,1,2 the classical dynamics is integrable. The classical dynamics appears to be nonintegrable for \ensuremath{\lambda}\ensuremath{\ne}1/2,1,2 and shows a mixed phase space with interspersed regular and chaotic regions. The type of classical dynamics manifests itself in the statistics of the quasienergy spectrum of the Paul trap. In the integrable case (\ensuremath{\lambda}=1/2,2) we find level clustering, whereas level repulsion is obtained in the chaotic regime.
Pediococcus acidilactici PO2 Bacteriocin Production in Whey Permeate and Inhibition of Listeria monocyfogenes in Foods

Growth of Pediococcus acidiluctici PO2 and production of associated bacteriocin (pediocin PO2) were demonstrated in whey permeate (WP) supplemented with 0.5–4% yeast extract (YE). Initial pH 6.5 (without PH regulation during fermentation) wag optimal for production of uediocin PO2 in WP containing 2% YE. A pediocin-rich dairy ingredient (PRDI) powder was made of the fermented WP and applied in heat-treated whole milk and pasteurized liquid whole egg. PRDI in-hibited Listeria monocyfogenes in milk. L. monocytogenes was inhib-ited by untreated liquid whole egg and PRDI appeared to contain a factor that offsets the inherent antilisterial action of the egg product.
Vibration and dynamic response control of adaptive cantilevers carrying externally mounted stores

The vibrational and dynamic response control of cantilevers carrying externally mounted stores is investigated. The cantilevered structure is modeled as a thin-walled beam of arbitrary cross-section and incorporates a number of non- classical effects such as transverse shear, secondary warping, anisotropy of constituent materials and heterogeneity of the construction. The control is carried out via a dynamic bending moment applied at the tip of the structure. A feedback control law relating the boundary moment with one of the kinematical variables characterizing the response of the beam is implemented, and its results upon the closed-loop eigenfrequencies and dynamic response are highlighted. The obtained numerical results emphasize the efficiency of this control methodology to enhance, without weight penalties, vibrational and dynamic response behavior and inhibit and even suppress the occurrence of the resonance phenomenon.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Improving Antibiotic De-Escalation in Suspected Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia An Observational Study With a Pharmacist-Driven Intervention

Background:Recommendations for treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) emphasize early empiric broad-spectrum antibiotics. However, appropriate antibiotic de-escalation is also critical for optimal patient care.Materials and Methods:We examined how often intensivists in our institution appropriately de-escalated antibiotics in cases of suspected VAP, and whether decision support by intensive care unit pharmacists could improve rates of antibiotic targeting and early antibiotic discontinuation in low-risk patients.Main Results:A total of 92 (observation phase = 50; intervention phase = 42) patients with suspected VAP were identified. During the observation phase, 39 cases yielded positive sputum cultures, but in only 23 (59%) were antibiotics targeted to culture results. This rate improved during the intervention phase when 29 (91%) of 32 cases with positive cultures were targeted (P value .003). There were 48 cases in which the risk of pneumonia was considered low. Of the 26 low-risk cases in t...
EFFECT OF HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE ON THE LOW-TEMPERATURE PHASE TRANSITION IN ALPHA--URANIUM.

Abstract Measurements of single crystal elastic moduli of uranium at low temperatures and hydrostatic helium pressures to 4 kbar show that d T a /d P = −3.4°K/kbar, where T a is the temperature of the phase transition that occurs at 42 ± 1°K at 1 bar. Extrapolation of the data indicates that T c , max , for superconductivity in uranium corresponds to T a at 11.5 kbar. This result supports the concept that d T c d P > 0 in uranium is a result of the phase transition.
Comments on Asymptotic expansion of a Bessel function integral using hypergeometric functions by L.J. Landau and N.J. Luswili

In a recent paper Landau and Luswili (J. Comput. Appl. Math. 132 (2001) 387) used generalized hypergeometric functions to obtain a complete asymptotic expansion for the integral ∫0π/2Jµ(λsin θ)Jv(λ sin θ) dθ, where Jµ is the µth-order Bessel function of the first kind and λ is a large parameter tending to infinity. The purpose of this note is to point out that the same complete asymptotic expansion for this integral (as well as another one for a Hankel-type integral) has previously been obtained by Stoyanov et al. (J. Comput. Appl. Math. 50 (1994) 533) by using the same method. In addition, an alternative, simpler representation of the algebraic series contribution to the asymptotic expansion is provided. A few errors are also corrected and additional relevant references indicated.
Serum prostate-specific antigen levels in older men with or at risk of HIV infection.

Objectives The aim of the study was to determine the rate of, and factors associated with, elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in older men with or at risk of HIV infection. Methods Using a cross-sectional analysis, we interviewed 534 men ≥49 years old at risk for HIV infection on demographics, behaviours and medical history. Laboratory testing included serum PSA level and HIV serology, and T-cell subsets for those who were HIV seropositive. Elevated PSA level was defined as >4.0 ng/mL, and men with elevated PSA levels were referred for urological evaluation. Results Fifteen per cent of men were white, 55% black, and 23% Hispanic; median age was 53 years (range 49–80 years); 74% were sexually active; 65% currently smoked cigarettes; and 16% had taken androgens. Among 310 HIV-positive men, CD4 counts were >500 cells/μL in 31%, 200–500 cells/μL in 51%, and <200 cells/μL in 19%. Twenty men (4%) had elevated PSA. On univariate analysis, only older age was significantly associated with elevated PSA, and there was no significant difference in the number of men with elevated PSA between HIV-positive and HIV-negative men (nine of 310 vs 11 of 224; P=0.28). On multivariate analysis, older age remained the only variable associated with elevated PSA level [reference group ≤50 years; adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) 1.0 for age 51–60 years; ORadj 5.9 (95% confidence interval 1.2–30.1) for age ≥61 years] adjusted for HIV status, family history of prostate cancer, and androgen use. Conclusions Among older men, PSA levels increased with age but did not differ by HIV status. The clinical use of PSA levels in older men currently do not need to be modified for those with HIV infection.
The effect of prompt physician visits on intensive care unit mortality and cost.

Objective To determine the effect on mortality, length of stay, and direct variable cost of physician response time to seeing patients after intensive care unit admission. Design Retrospective analysis of the intensive care unit database. Setting Medical center. Patients Subjects were 840 patients who had complete direct variable cost data and a subset of 316 patients who were matched by propensity scores. Interventions None. Measurements and main results Median time to first visit by a physician was 6 hrs. One hundred thirty-five patients (16.1%) died in hospital compared with 25.0% predicted by Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation risk (p 6 hrs) had greater hospital direct variable cost ($11,992 +/- $12,043 vs. $10,355 +/- $10,368, p = .04), before controlling for acuity of illness and other factors that may have affected time to evaluation. In the subpopulation of propensity-matched patients, patients seen promptly ( 6 hrs) had shorter hospital length of stays (11 +/- 11 vs. 13 +/- 14 days, p = .03) but similar direct variable costs ($10,963 +/- 10,778 vs. $13,016 +/- 13,006, p = .16) and similar mortality rates (24 vs. 30, p = .46). Conclusions In the total patient population, delay in seeing patients was associated with an increased risk of death. In the propensity-matched patients, promptly seen patients had shorter hospital stays but similar direct variable costs.
Molecular imaging of hemoglobin using ground state recovery pump-probe optical coherence tomography

We have undertaken an effort to further develop ground state recovery Pump-Probe Optical Coherence Tomograpy (gsrPPOCT) to specifically target and measure 3-D images of hemoglobin concentration with the goals of mapping tissue vasculature, total hemoglobin, and hemoglobin oxygen saturation. As a first step toward those goals we have measured the gsrPPOCT signal from the hemoglobin in the filament arteries of a zebra danio fish. We have further processed the resulting signal to extract a qualitative map of the hemoglobin concentration. We have also demonstrated the potential to use ground state recovery times to differentiate between two chromophores which may prove to be an effective tool for differentiating between oxy and deoxy hemoglobin.
Exotic Fragmenting States in Inclusive Reactions

The general inclusive process $a+b\ensuremath{\rightarrow}c+X$ is considered in the $b$ fragmentation region. It is proved that if the fragmenting state ($b\overline{c}$) is exotic, the presence or absence of energy-dependent terms in the invariant cross section $f$ cannot depend on whether or not ($\mathrm{ab}\overline{c}$) is exotic. If $f$ is a smooth function of the kinematic variables, there must be a nonzero but limited region of the variables, in which the energy-dependent terms for exotic ($b\overline{c}$) are small compared to their average size when ($b\overline{c}$) is not exotic. In this region, present experimental evidence is in agreement with the hypothesis that the energy-dependent terms are small when ($\mathrm{ab}\overline{c}$) is exotic.
An analysis of transient cavity growth controlled by grain boundary diffusion

An analysis of the elastic transient associated with grain boundary diffusion controlled cavity growth has been made for both two-dimensional and three-dimensional (axisymmetric) cavities using a technique developed by Raj. We find that characteristic times for the elastic transient,t E, and for the steady state diffusional growth process,t D, can be used to formulate expressions for the initial growth of a cavity of unit volume as follows:
Children with severe early childhood caries: Streptococci genetic strains within carious and white spot lesions

Background and objectives : Mutans streptococci (MS) are one of the major microbiological determinants of dental caries. The objectives of this study are to identify distinct MS and non-MS streptococci strains that are located at carious sites and non-carious enamel surfaces in children with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC), and assess if cariogenic MS and non-cariogenic streptococci might independently exist as primary bacterial strains on distinct sites within the dentition of individual children. Design : Dental plaque from children ( N =20; aged 3–6) with S-ECC was collected from carious lesions (CLs), white spot lesions (WSLs) and non-carious enamel surfaces. Streptococcal isolates ( N =10–20) from each site were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify MS, and arbitrarily primed-PCR for assignment of genetic strains. Primary strains were identified as ≥50% of the total isolates surveyed at any site. In several cases, strains were characterized for acidurity using ATP-driven bioluminescence and subjected to PCR-determination of potential MS virulence products. Identification of non-MS was determined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results : Sixty-four independent MS or non-MS streptococcal strains were identified. All children contained 1–6 strains. In many patients ( N =11), single primary MS strains were identified throughout the dentition. In other patients ( N =4), primary MS strains were identified within CLs that were distinct from primary strains found on enamel. Streptococcus gordonii strains were identified as primary strains on enamel or WSLs in four children, and in general were less aciduric than MS strains. Conclusions : Many children with S-ECC contained only a single primary MS strain that was present in both carious and non-carious sites. In some cases, MS and non-cariogenic S. gordonii strains were found to independently exist as dominant strains at different locations within the dentition of individual children, and the aciduric potential of these strains may influence susceptibility in the development of CLs. Keywords: oral streptococci; distribution of genotypic mutans; streptococcal strains; Streptococcus mutans; Streptococcus gordonii; severe early childhood caries (Published: 29 October 2014) Citation: Journal of Oral Microbiology 2014, 6: 25805 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/jom.v6.25805
Organic light-emitting diodes incorporating nanometer thick films of europium-cored complexes

Europium cored complexes may be used as a source of red emission in light emitting diodes. Novel europium cored complexes have been synthesized and incorporated into organic light emitting diodes (OLED's). These complexes emit red light at 615 nm with a full width half maximum (FWHM) of less than 5 nm. The europium complexes consist of one equivalent of europium chelated to three equivalents of a nonsymmetrical β-diketone ligand. The Claissen condensation of a polycyclic aromatic sensitizer and an ester of a fluorinated carboxylic acid create the ligands. The use of a sensitizer such as phenanthrene results in a ligand that has an emission band that directly overlaps with the absorption band of europium. The use of fluorinated chains improves the overall processibility as well as the charge transfer capability of the resulting metal cored complex. The europium core is further encapsulated by the inclusion of an additional polycyclic aromatic compound such as 4, 7 diphenyl - 1, 10 phenanthroline. Emission of 615 nm light is accomplished through excitation of the ligand and efficient Forrester energy transfer to the europium complex. A multiple layer device consisting of a substrate of indium tin oxide, followed by thin layers of BTPD-PFCB (with a thickness of 20nm), a polymer blend containing the europium complex (30 nm), followed by a layer of calcium (50nm) and finally a protective layer of silver (120 nm). The polymer blends were either poly(n-vinyl carbazole)(PVK) or poly vinyl naphthalene (PVN). The device performance was further improved by the incorporation of another lanthanide metal complex. These complexes were based upon similar ligands surrounding gadolinium. In these devices, there is a Dexter energy transfer as well as the Forster energy transfer. For the devices that are based on a PVN:PBD as a polymer host, the lowest turn on voltage was 12.0 volts. The devices that use PVK:TPD devices was 178 cd/m2 with an external quantum efficiency of 0.61%.For PVK:TKD the brightness was 116 cd/m2 with an external quantum efficiency of 0.048%. Devices that incorporate the gadolinium complexes have the turn on voltage of 5.6 volts. We report a maximum brightness of 201 cd/m2 with an external quantum efficiency of 1.0%.
Lewis, the lottery and the preface

Context-dependence is commonly believed to be a widespread phenomenon in natural language. In a context where the standards of precision are very demanding (say, a rocket launch), an utterance of ‘It’s 3 pm’ said at 3.01 will be reckoned false. Reduce the standards of precision and an utterance of the same sentence at the same time will be reckoned true. Semanticists habitually accommodate phenomena of this type by allowing that utterances of the same sentence type express different propositions on different occasions of use, owing to variations along contextual parameters that are not explicitly marked in the surface structure of the sentence itself. Contextualists in epistemology hold that the verb ‘know’ provides yet another case of context-dependence, expressing diverse relations on different occasions of use owing to shifting standards for its application. In Lewis’s particular version of contextualism, the key contextual parameter is the divide between the possible worlds that are being properly ignored by the ascriber and those that are not. He offers the following definition:
(2E,6Z)-2,6-Nonadienal a banana slug antifeedant from crushed leaves of Tolmiea menziesii and Disporum smithii

T. menziesii and D. smithii are small flowering plants from Pacific Northwest America. The leaves of these plants have little or no odour, but emit a pungent cucumber-like odour when crushed. To identify the cucumber odour compound, leaves of each species were manually crushed and after standing for 5 min were extracted with CH2Cl2. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) of these extracts showed (2E,6Z)-2,6-nonadienal, a compound with cucumber odour, was present at 4.6 mg/g from T. menziesii and 0.57 mg/g from D. smithii. (2E,6Z)-2,6-Nonadienal was identified using an authentic sample for
Decomposition of solid NaN3 by CO2 laser radiation

The radiative decomposition of NaN3 particles using CO2 laser radiation has been studied to determine the threshold and decomposition efficiency. Both long-pulse (0.05–5 s) and short-pulse (1 μs) irradiation were used. A proposed model adequately describes the main features of the decomposition. These experiments were conducted to provide information related to the feasibility of a novel high-pressure chemical laser concept.
Numerical simulation of wall-pressure fluctuations due to a turbulent boundary layer

*† In this investigation, wall pressure fluctuations are estimated by detached eddy simulation (DES) based on Spalart-Allmaras (SA) turbulence model (DES-SA) and compared with several single point wall pressure spectrum empirical models. Two different configurations are investigated in subsonic and transonic regimes. The general trend of the wall pressure spectra in mid and high frequency regions is similar to Goody’s empirical model. The range of the spectra obtained by DES is changing within the values estimated by Goody and Efimtsov (2) models. However, DES results in the low frequency region are higher compared to the empirical results.
Signaling pathways used by EGF to stimulate conjunctival goblet cell secretion.

The purpose of this study was to identify the signaling pathways that epidermal growth factor (EGF) uses to stimulate mucin secretion from cultured rat conjunctival goblet cells and to compare the pathways used by EGF with those used by the known secretagogue muscarinic, cholinergic agonists. To this end, goblet cells from rat conjunctiva were grown in culture using RPMI media. For immunofluorescence experiments, antibodies against EGF receptor (EGFR) and ERK 2 as well as muscarinic receptors (M1AchR, M2AchR, and M3AchR) were used, and the cells viewed by fluorescence microscopy. Intracellular [Ca2+] ([Ca2+]i) was measured using fura 2/AM. Glycoconjugate secretion was determined after cultured goblet cells were preincubated with inhibitors, and then stimulated with EGF or the cholinergic agonist carbachol (Cch). Goblet cell secretion was measured using an enzyme-linked lectin assay with UEA-I or ELISA for MUC5AC. In cultured goblet cells EGF stimulated an increase in [Ca2+]i in a concentration-dependent manner. EGF-stimulated increase in [Ca2+]i was blocked by inhibitors of the EGF receptor and removal of extracellular Ca2+. Inhibitors against the EGFR and ERK 1/2 blocked EGF-stimulated mucin secretion. In addition, cultured goblet cells expressed M1AchR, M2AchR, and M3AchRs. Cch-stimulated increase in [Ca2+]i was blocked by inhibitors for the M1AchRs, matrix metalloproteinases, and EGF receptors. Inhibitors against the EGF receptor and ERK 1/2 also blocked Cch-stimulated mucin secretion. We conclude that in conjunctival goblet cells, EGF itself increases [Ca2+]i and activates ERK 1/2 to stimulate mucin secretion. EGF-stimulated secretion is dependent on extracellular Ca2+. This mechanism of action is similar to cholinergic agonists that use muscarinic receptors to transactivate the EGF receptor, increase [Ca2+]i, and activate ERK 1/2 leading to an increase in mucin secretion.
Conflicting disclosure of conflicts of interest among spine societies: a cause for concern or an opportunity to evolve?

COMMENTARY ON: Ju BL, Miller CP, Whang P, Grauer JN. Quantifying the variability of financial disclosure information reported by authors presenting at annual spine conferences. Spine J 2011:11:1–8 ( in this issue ).
Constitutive overexpression of IL-5 induces extramedullary hematopoiesis in the spleen

The differentiation of eosinophils from hematopoietic precursors and their subsequent maturation, chemotaxis, and activation is primarily regulated by interleukin-5 (IL-5). To examine the effect of chronic IL-5 exposure on hematopoiesis, IL-5 transgenic (IL-5trg) mice and wild-type BALB/c (WT) mice were examined. In comparison to WT mice, a significant alteration in bone marrow hematopoiesis was observed in IL-5trg mice. Although the total number of myeloid progenitors in the bone marrow of IL-5trg mice was not significantly altered, the number of long-term culture-initiating cells (LTC-ICs) was 1.5-fold lower than that observed in WT mice. Furthermore, IL-5trg mice failed to demonstrate hematopoietic activity in long-term bone marrow cultures, which correlated with a significant decrease in the number of bone marrow mesenchymal/stromal progenitor (MSP) cells in these mice. In comparison to WT mice, a 10-fold decrease was observed in the number of fibroblast colony-forming units (CFU-Fs) in IL-5trg bone marrow. Hematopoietic activity of IL-5trg bone marrow cells was rescued by cultivation on preestablished layers of bone marrow-derived stromal cells. However, in contrast to bone marrow, increased hematopoietic activity was observed in the spleen and peripheral blood of IL-5trg mice. Likewise, the numbers of LTC-ICs and granulocyte-macrophage, macrophage, eosinophil, B-lymphocyte progenitors in the peripheral blood and spleen of IL-5trg mice were approximately 20-fold higher than in WT mice. A significant increase in CFU-F numbers was also observed in the spleens of IL-5trg mice compared with WT mice. Overall, our results suggest that constitutive overexpression of IL-5 can potentially induce colonization of spleen with MSP cells, which provides the necessary microenvironment for establishment of hematopoiesis in extramedullary sites.
A unified scheme for adaptive stroke-based rendering

This paper presents a comprehensive scheme for automatically generating a broad class of artistic illustrations from photographs. Using strokes as the major building blocks, our system optimizes the stroke attributes subject to the desired rendering style. The stroke attributes are computed adaptively to enable importance-based control of the abstraction level at each pixel. We propose a novel outline detection and refinement paradigm called edge painting to construct an outline map, and from which to derive the pixel-wise importance. We also introduce an adaptive bilateral filter to adaptively guide the curved stroke directions based on the importance map. Given the outline, importance, and direction maps, the system creates the illustration via selecting the representative colors, setting the style parameters, and optimizing the stroke attributes based on simulated annealing. The experimental results show that our scheme facilitates automatic production of artistic illustrations in a wide range of rendering styles.
Ocular Torsional Movements in Normal Humans

We conducted three studies of compensatory ocular torsional movements in normal human subjects, using changes in the axis of astigmatism, afterimages, and direct observation with cinematography. Measurements of changes in the axis of astigmatism and the subjects' subjective perception of afterimages with a superimposed Maddox rod showed a partial compensatory intorsion on head tilt to the ipsilateral side and extorsion on head tilt to the contralateral side. Cinematography demonstrated that the eye lags behind the head in a slow rolling movement as the head is tilted. Periodic rotary movements in the direction of the head tilt partially correct the lag and result in a partial compensatory torsion. A fourth experiment excluded false torsion as an artifact in these studies.
Study of the mixed conducting SrFeCo0.5Oy ceramic membrane material by in-situ neutron powder diffraction

Abstract Dense ceramic tubes of the multi-phase mixed ionic/electronic conductor SrFeCo0.5Oy have been synthesized by solid-state reaction, and the stability of its component phases studied using in-situ neutron diffraction over the oxygen partial pressure (pO2) range 10−0.68 to 10−15.0atm at 900°C. This being the likely conditions to which membranes are exposed in operational methane conversion reactors. This material is stable between air and log pO2 = −2.3, with Sr2(Fe,Co)3Oy (236) being the majority phase. When the oxygen partial pressure is lowered, 236 starts decomposing into perovskite and rocksalt phases. The small fraction of remaining 236 rapidly undergoes decomposition at log pO2 = −12.2, leaving only SrFeO2.5 and CoO. Rietveld analysis indicates that the oxygen content of the perovskite phase does not drop below O = 2.5 when log pO2 = −15.0, while there is an indication that CoO is reduced to cobalt metal. This decomposition at low partial pressures may be reversed when the gas is switched back to air, i.e., SrFeO2.5 + CoO re-form Sr2(Fe,Co)3Oy, to an extent that is seemingly dependent on sample and thermal history.
Radiation from Tritiated Thymidine Perturbs the Cell Cycle Progression of Stimulated Lymphocytes

Tritiated thymidine was found to affect the cell cycle progression of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human lymphocytes. By means of flow cytometry a statistically significant increase in the G2 and M phases of the cell cycle was observed in cultures with low concentrations of tritiated thymidine added 18 hours before the cultures were harvested.
Exploring e-waste management systems in the United States

Abstract Quantities of end-of-life electronics (or e-waste) around the world keep growing. More than 1.36 million metric tons of e-waste were discarded, mainly in landfills, in the U.S. in 2005, and e-waste is projected to grow in the next few years. This paper explores issues relating to planning future e-waste regulation and management systems in the U.S. It begins by reviewing the existing U.S. recycling systems in the U.S. to establish the importance of developing public responses. Other countries and regions around the world have already legislated and implemented electronic takeback and recycling systems. To establish the context of existing experience, e-waste management systems in the European Union, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan are explored. The paper then discusses what specific conditions are expected to influence the acceptability and implementation in the U.S. A key consideration is the cultural imperative in the U.S. for market-driven solutions that enable competition. Given this context, a solution is proposed that is designed to ensure a proper end-of-life option while at the same time establishing a competitive market for reuse and recycling services. The solution, termed e-Market for Returned Deposit , begins with a deposit paid by consumers to sellers at the time of purchase, electronically registered and tracked via a radio-frequency identification device (RFID) placed on the product. At end-of-life, consumers consult an Internet-enabled market in which firms compete to receive the deposit by offering consumers variable degrees of return on the deposit. After collection of the computer by the selected firm, the cyberinfrastructure utilizes the RFID to transfer the deposit to the winning firm when recycled. If the firm chooses to refurbish or resell the computer in lieu of recycling, the transfer is deferred until true end-of-life processing. Finally the paper discusses the domestic and international consequences of the implementation of the proposed design.
The Intergenerational Transfer of Political Ideologies in Eight Western Nations

Pre-adult socialization is one way in which political ideologies are formed. Parents can affect the ideologies of their offspring through direct transmission or through the indirect mechanism of familysocial milieu. This paper analyses parent-adolescent pairs drawn from a larger sample survey study of eight western nations carried out in the mid-1970s. Three varietiesof ideological perspectives are addressed: the traditional left-right continuum, pro- and anti-establishment attitudes, and material-postmaterial value structures. In general the familiar and historically rich orientations of the left-right dimension are transmitted much more successfully than are the remaining two, which are newer and less encapsulating. Regardless of particular ideology, the direct transmission model is significantly more faithful to the findings than an indirect model based on the family’s social class and religious composition. The distortion in the reproduction of ideologies between the generations indicates the importance of intra-individual development and macro-level forces as sources of political ideologies. Sparked by Converse’s seminal effort (1964), research in the area of ideology has reached massive proportions. Most of the effort has focused on the cognitive side of political ideology, as aptly suggested by the frequent use of the terms belief system, levels of conceptualization, and political sophistication in lieu of or as synonyms for political ideology. Amidst the many controversies over method, causes, and consequences, this line of inquiry has clearly had an enormous impact on the study of politics more generally.
ALLELE FREQUENCY SHIFTS IN RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF ALLOZYME VARIATION IN A MONTANE INSECT

Rapid changes in climate may impose strong selective pressures on organisms. Evolutionary responses to climate change have been observed in natural populations, yet no example has been documented for a metabolic enzyme locus. Furthermore, few studies have linked physiological responses to stress with allozyme genotypic variation. We quantified changes in allele frequency between 1988 and 1996 at three allozyme loci (isocitrate dehydrogenase, Idh; phosphoglucose isomerase, Pgi; and phosphoglucomutase, Pgm) for the leaf beetle Chrysomela aeneicollis in the Bishop Creek region of the Sierra Nevada of California (2900-3300 m). Beetles often experience high daytime (> 32 degrees C) and extremely low nighttime (< -5 degrees C) temperatures during summer. Bishop Creek weather station data indicated that conditions were unusually dry before 1988, and that conditions were cool and wet during the years preceding the 1996 collection. We found directional changes in allele frequency at Pgi (11% increase in the Pgi-1 allele), but not at Idh or Pgm. We also found that physiological response to thermal extremes depended on Pgi genotype. Pgi 1-1 individuals induced expression of a 70-kD heat shock protein (HSP) at lower temperatures than 1-4 or 4-4 individuals, and 1-1 individuals expressed higher levels of HSP70 after laboratory exposure to temperatures routinely experienced in nature. Survival after nighttime laboratory exposure to subzero temperatures depended on gender, previous exposure to cold, and Pgi genotype. Females expressed higher levels of HSP70 than males after exposure to heat, and recovery by female Pgi 1-1 homozygotes after exposure to cold (-5 degrees C) was significantly better than 1-4 or 4-4 genotypes. These data suggest that the cooler climate of the mid-1990s may have caused an increase in frequency of the Pgi-1 allele, due to a more robust physiological response to cold by Pgi 1-1 and 1-4 genotypes.
Analysis of a domain decomposition method for the nearly elastic wave equations based on mixed finite element methods

This paper concerns the numerical solution of the nearly elastic wave equations with the first-order absorbing boundary condition; these equations describe the motion of a nearly elastic solid in the frequency domain. Two mixed finite elements, the Johnson-Mercier element and the Arnold-Douglas-Gupta element, are adapted and analyzed for the problem. The resulting mixed finite element equations are complex-valued and are neither Hermitian nor definite. As a result, most standard iterative methods fail to converge for the systems. To solve the mixed finite element equations, a parallelizable domain decomposition iterative method is proposed. The convergence of the method is demonstrated and a rate of convergence of the form 1 - Ch is derived. These results are valid for the case when the original domain is decomposed into subdomains which consist of an individual element associated with the above two mixed finite elements.
The impact of response to previous mood stabilizer therapy on response to olanzapine versus placebo for acute mania

Objectives: A clinically important question for any new treatment for bipolar disorder is whether its efficacy extends to patients who have both responded and failed to respond to other mood stabilizers. In this secondary analysis of a placebo-controlled trial demonstrating olanzapine's efficacy for acute mania, we explore whether its usefulness extends to those patients with a history of poor response to other mood stabilizers. Methods: This 4-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial studied olanzapine monotherapy 5–20 mg/day for hospitalized patients in acute manic or mixed bipolar episodes. The primary outcome variable was beginning to endpoint change in the Young-Mania Rating Scale (Y-MRS) total score. We investigated whether prospectively identified history of recent failure to respond to other mood stabilizers predicted response to olanzapine. Results: As previously reported, olanzapine-treated patients experienced significantly greater improvement in Y-MRS total score and higher remission rates relative to placebo-treated patients. The current analysis compared these outcome parameters in patients with known poor prior response to lithium and/or valproate with all other patients and found no significant group by treatment interactions, i.e., treatment effects were not significantly diminished in non-responders to older mood stabilizing agents. Conclusions: Olanzapine has been shown to be superior to placebo for the treatment of mania. This secondary analysis suggests that olanzapine monotherapy is similarly effective for patients whether or not they previously have failed to respond to another mood stabilizer for mania. A study limitation is that response to lithium or valproate was determined retrospectively.
Measurement of propagation effects for high-speed, digital UHF channels

The work described here relates to an effort to assess the reliability and robustness of datacasting for use in the mobile environment. Datacasting employs the excess bandwidth from digital television signals for use in one-way data transmission and it is being used successfully for high-speed downloads at fixed receiver locations. It is being considered as a means for providing data-rich information to police and emergency personnel in the field, and the work reported here is part of the evaluation process. Datacasting operates in the UHF television band and employs 8-level vestigial sideband (8-VSB) modulation to provide data rates in excess of 2.5 Mb/sec. Datacast reception is known to be very vulnerable to multipath interference, particularly time-varying multi- path interference. Because of this, an estimation of coverage area based upon signal strength alone does not accurately predict where the signal will be available. While propagation models are available that can predict both signal strength and multipath, they cannot provide the type of statistical information about signal availability and reliability that is sought in this study. In order to get the desired information, datacasting receivers and data logging equipment were installed in police vehicles to measure the channel over a wide range of operating conditions. This paper reports on some of the key findings from that study.
The adoption of high-involvement practices and processes in emergent and developing firms: A descriptive and prescriptive approach

One of the most pressing challenges entrepreneurs face is how to do more with less. More often than not, the solution lies in the human resource component of the venture. As such, it is important that entrepreneurs understand how practices and processes designed to tap the knowledge, skills, and abilities of their employees can lead to greater productivity and performance. This article develops prescriptive arguments to implicate that adoption of involvement practices and processes by entrepreneurs early in the organization's life may extend desired stages such as growth, or may delay or negate unwanted stages such as maturity and decline. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effects of dissociation rate magnitudes and relative collision efficiencies on relaxation profiles in diatomic gases.

Dislocation rate magnitudes and relative collision frequencies influencing relaxation profiles in diatomic gases
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR BASIS OF CEREBRAL DYSGENESIS

Maldevelopment of the cerebral cortex, cortical dysgenesis (CD), may be associated with epilepsy, mental retardation (MR), and focal or widespread neurologic deficits. The histologic hallmark of CD is disrupted cytoarchitecture, including disorganized lamination, malpositioned neurons with respect to their normal radial orientation, abnormal dendritic arborization, and heterotopic neurons within the white matter. Seizures in these patients are particularly difficult to control with conventional anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) and may require epilepsy surgery to remove these abnormal foci. Focal CD has been reported in up to 30% of epilepsy surgery specimens and are believed to provide the central pathologic substrate responsible for seizures in these patients. How and why CD results in epileptiform activity is unknown. Advances in understanding the pathogenesis of some types of CD have occurred recently with the cloning genes responsible for a few types of X-linked and autosomal CD. This review will outline the major subtypes of CD, the pathologic findings, and the molecular etiologies for a variety of CD. We will also address recent experimental advances in studying the pathogenesis of CD.
Effect of Magnetic Field on Critical Current Density in Bulk Superconducting Wires

Bulk YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7‐x (YBCO) wires and tubes were fabricated by an extrusion technique. Critical current density (Jc) was measured as a function of applied magnetic field at 77 K and was found to decrease significantly in fields below 100 G. J c was dependent on specimen geometry. In addition, when a concentric magnetic field was generated by passing a current though a copper wire, the external field from the wire could interfere constructively or destructively with the magnetic field produced by current in a YBCO tube. The change in electrical properties with magnetic field has been attributed to weak‐link behavior at the grain boundaries. Batch‐to‐batch differences in the field dependence of Jc imply the possibility of reducing the dependence by processing modifications.
Magnetic resonance imaging of absorbed aluminum in alfalfa roots

Abstract An estimated 30% of the world's arable soils are acidic and aluminum (Al) toxicity is often the primary growth‐limiting factor. Excess Al is especially undesirable in sub‐soils because it reduces rooting depth and branching and predisposes plants to drought injury. Liming the plow layer does not generally neutralize subsoil phytotoxicity and Al‐tolerant cultivars offer an alternative or supplemental solution to the problem. Genetic diversity for acid soil tolerance in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is limited and a better understanding of the basic tolerance mechanisms would facilitate the design of more efficacious breeding procedures. Evidence is accumulating that organic acids and proteins elicited by Al stress may complex and detoxify Al either within, or external to, the root. Because Al is a paramagnetic element that can reduce T2 relaxation times (inter‐proton interactions) markedly, the mechanism of Al tolerance in alfalfa was investigated through T2‐based Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) o...
Tramadol Exposures Reported to Statewide Poison Control System

BACKGROUND:Tramadol is a unique analgesic that has been associated with seizures on overdose.OBJECTIVE:To determine the toxic effects associated with tramadol exposure.METHODS:A retrospective chart review of tramadol exposures reported to a multisite, state-wide poison control system over a 2.5-year period was performed.RESULTS:A total of 602 cases were retrieved; 190 had sufficient data for study evaluation. Cases with coingestants or unknown outcomes were eliminated. Of the 190 remaining cases, 55% were females. Acute ingestions represented 90.0%, chronic ingestions 7.9%, and acute on chronic 2.1% of the overdoses. Ages of the patients ranged from 9 months to 80 years. Suicide attempts represented the largest group of exposures. Main symptoms included central nervous system (CNS) depression (27.4%), nausea and vomiting (21.1%), tachycardia (17.4%), and seizures (13.7%). Dosage ranged from a taste amount to 5000 mg. The smallest amount of tramadol associated with seizure was 200 mg, and 84.6% of seizures...
China, the WTO, and implications for the environment

Abstract It was predicted that membership to the WTO in 2001 would bring China not only economic and political benefits, but significant environmental rewards. This article assesses how these environmental projections have panned out: it analyses the theoretical literature and China's pre-WTO historical context, then reviews China's recent industrial and agricultural development trajectories. On balance, factors related to China's WTO membership have been directly responsible for increasing environmental harms, both within China and abroad; moreover, intensifying socio-economic changes brought about by WTO membership have indirectly compounded these environmental problems. WTO accession has thus exacerbated China's already profound environmental challenges, posing a political dilemma that is difficult to resolve.
Rehearsing the War Away: Perpetual Warrior Training in Contemporary US Army Policy

The goal of military training is to match practice to combat. US Army documents on “Warrior Training” point out the increasingly simulacra-like quality of their staged drills. The intention is to make the training so real, so much a total “theatre immersion,” that when soldiers are in real battle they act as if they are still rehearsing, still playing.
Structural characterization of unsaturated glycerophospholipids by multiple-stage linear ion-trap mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization

Structural elucidation of glycerophospholipids (GPLs), including the polar head group, the position of double-bond(s) along the fatty acyl substituents, and the positions of acyl groups on the glycerol backbone, using multiple-stage liner ion-trap (LIT) mass spectrometric approach is described in this paper. While the product-ion spectra from MSn (n=2, 3) on the [M+Li]+ or [M−H+2Li]+ ions of GPL are readily applicable for discerning the phospholipid classes and for identifying and locating the fatty acid substituents on the glycerol backbone, the structural information from further dissociation of the dilithiated fatty acid cations produced from MSn (n=3, 4) on the [M−H+2Li]+ ion of GPLs, as well as from further dissociation of the monolithiated fragment ion that bears the unsaturated fatty acid moiety produced from subsequent MSn (n=3,4) on the [M+Li]+ ions of GPLs, affords assignment of the position of double-bond(s) along the fatty acyl groups. The application of the present method in the structural characterization of GPL molecules from the lipid extracts of biological origin, including mixtures of phosphatidylglycerol and of phosphatidylserine without prior chromatographic separation, is also demonstrated. Since lithiated molecular species of GPL are readily formed by ESI, this multiple-stage LIT mass spectrometric approach provides a direct means for the near-complete structural characterization of all the GPLs, including the molecules in the lysophospholipid and plasmalogen subclasses.