cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rice crop duration and leaf appearance rate in a variable thermal environment. III. Heritability of photothermal traits

Abstract In arid, irrigated, rice environments, crop duration is highly variable, resulting in uncertain crop calendars for double cropping. The main causes of this variability are varying temperature and daylength. Breeding for stable crop duration in such environments might make a major contribution to rice production. A previous study established genetic differences in phenological responses to temperature and photoperiod, based on a field study with sequential planting dates in Senegal. The present study applied this experimental approach to a five-parent complete dialled scheme. The five parents and 20 F1 progeny populations were sown on 14 dates at 2-week intervals at Ndiaye, Senegal (16°14′ N) during the cold-dry, hot-dry and wet seasons in 1996. The model LAP (Leaf Appearance) described previously was used to disaggregate photoperiodic and thermal traits, which gave reproducible results for the thermal component, but not for the photoperiodic responses. Responses to photoperiod were therefore measured using a subset of environments in the wet season (stable temperatures and 12.6–13.1 h daylength). Cross involving IR29725-40-3-2-3 (IR29725; short duration) and IR4630-22-2 (IR4630; medium duration), in combination with any of the other lines in the diallel, gave consistent patterns of heritability for earliness of flowering in the different seasons, the sensitivity of panicle induction to low temperatures, and photoperiod-sensitivity in the range of 12.6–13.1 h daylength. The results permitted three conclusions: (1) short duration in the wet season was a dominant trait, and in the cold-dry season, a super-dominant trait. IR29725 is a promising donor for this trait. (2) Despite its moderate to high phenological sensitivity to low temperatures, IR29725 acted as donor for low sensitivity of panicle initiation to temperature. This trait was dominant. (3) At least under the thermally stable conditions of the wet season, IR4630 acted as donor of a dominant trait for photoperiod-sensitivity, whereas IR29725 acted as donor for photoperiod-insensitivity. In summary, IR29725 is a promising donor of traits, such as short duration, low photoperiod-sensitivity and low sensitivity of phenological processes to temperature.
Glassy polymer‐sorption phenomena measured with a quartz crystal microbalance technique

The quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) method is applied to the measurement of CO 2 sorption in glassy poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), poly(methyl methacrylate), and polysulfone. Polymer thin films in the thickness range of 350-550 nm are prepared by spin-casting onto the quartz crystal devices. Sorption isotherms at temperatures below the glass transition are analyzed with the dual-mode sorption model. As-cast, quenched, and slow-cooled thermal-conditioning protocols yield consistent trends in the sorption level, namely, as-cast > quenched > slow-cooled. The sorption levels and model results for the quenched-conditioned samples measured with QCM compare favorably with those reported from the pressure-decay and gravimetric methods on thick films. With extended analysis of PET, the QCM technique is also useful for the exploration of the temperature dependence associated with gas sorption in glassy polymer systems. Measured heats of sorption and the collapse of the Langmuir component near the PET glass-transition temperature agree with those reported previously.
Time course of coagulopathy in isolated severe traumatic brain injury

Abstract Background Time aspects of coagulopathy following severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) are ill defined throughout the literature. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the time course of coagulopathy following isolated sTBI and its relationship to in-hospital outcomes. Methods Retrospective analysis of patients sustaining isolated sTBI (head AIS ≥ 3, extracranial injuries AIS Results Overall, 45.7% ( n = 127) of the 278 patients included developed coagulopathy. Coagulopathy occurred 23.1 ± 2.2 h [range: 0.1–108.2 h (0–4.5 days)] post-admission with a mean duration of 68.0 ± 7.4 h [range: 2.6–531.4 h (0.1–22.1 days)]. The time interval to onset of coagulopathy decreased significantly with increasing head injury severity ( p = 0.015). Early coagulation abnormalities occurring within 12 h of admission along with markers of devastating head injury including head AIS 5, penetrating injury mechanism, subdural hematoma, and a low GCS on admission proved to be independent risk factors for mortality. Conclusions The sTBI-associated coagulopathy may ensue as late as 5 days after injury with a prolonged duration (>72 h) in 30% of patients. Early coagulopathy occurring within 12 h after injury is a marker of increased morbidity and poor outcomes. Pertinent prolonged screening of this sequela is warranted.
The observed relation between the Kolmogorov and von Karman constants in the surface boundary layer

In steady, neutrally-stratified flow over uniform terrain, the Kolmogorov constant for the one-dimensional spectrum in the inertial subrange (α1) and the von Karman constant of the logarithmic profile (k) are shown to be related by $$\alpha _1 k^{{4 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {4 3}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} 3}} = \left[ {\frac{{\sum \phi }}{{0.555}}} \right]\left[ {\frac{{nz}}{{\bar U_z }}} \right]^{{2 \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {2 3}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} 3}} \left[ {\frac{{\ln z_2 /z_1 }}{{\bar U_2 - \bar U_1 }}} \right]^2 \simeq 0.136,$$ , where the numerical value results from field measurements recorded in near-ideal conditions. This experimentally-observed Kolmogorov-von Karman ‘K-von K’ product is close to the value designated by a one-dimensional equivalent of the theoretical relation previously given by Roth (1970). More-over, it is in remarkably close agreement with new values of both constants independently proposed in recent years.
Automated learning of a detector for the cores of /spl alpha/-helices in protein sequences via genetic programming

The author used J.R. Koza's (1992) genetic programming to evolve programs that classified contiguous regions of proteins as being /spl alpha/-helix cores or not. He snipped positive and negative examples of /spl alpha/-helix core regions out of a set of 90 proteins. These proteins were chosen from the Brookhaven Protein Data Bank to be non-homologous. The fitness of the programs was defined as the correlation coefficient between the observed and the predicted /spl alpha/-helicity of the above regions. The fittest program produced by the genetic programming system that predicted the training set at least as well as the testing set had a correlation of 0.4818 between the observed classifications and the classifications predicted by the program (on the proteins in the testing set). >
Examination of age-related deficits on the Wisconsin card sorting test

Adult age differences in Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) measures were examined before and after statistical control of age-related differences in measures of feedback usage, working memory, and perceptual-comparison speed. The proportion of age-related variance associated with a summary measure of WCST performance was greatly reduced after controlling for measures of feedback usage, working memory, and perceptual-comparison speed. Furthermore, the age-related variance associated with the feedback-usage measure was reduced after controlling for working memory and perceptual-comparison speed measures. These results are consistent with the idea that age-related performance differences in the WCST are partially mediated by adult age differences in feedback usage and that age differences in feedback usage are mediated by age differences in working memory, which are in turn-mediated by age-related reductions in processing speed, indexed by measures of perceptual-comparison speed.
Sliding of Proteins Non-specifically Bound to DNA: Brownian Dynamics Studies with Coarse-Grained Protein and DNA Models

DNA binding proteins efficiently search for their cognitive sites on long genomic DNA by combining 3D diffusion and 1D diffusion (sliding) along the DNA. Recent experimental results and theoretical analyses revealed that the proteins show a rotation-coupled sliding along DNA helical pitch. Here, we performed Brownian dynamics simulations using newly developed coarse-grained protein and DNA models for evaluating how hydrodynamic interactions between the protein and DNA molecules, binding affinity of the protein to DNA, and DNA fluctuations affect the one dimensional diffusion of the protein on the DNA. Our results indicate that intermolecular hydrodynamic interactions reduce 1D diffusivity by 30%. On the other hand, structural fluctuations of DNA give rise to steric collisions between the CG-proteins and DNA, resulting in faster 1D sliding of the protein. Proteins with low binding affinities consistent with experimental estimates of non-specific DNA binding show hopping along the CG-DNA. This hopping significantly increases sliding speed. These simulation studies provide additional insights into the mechanism of how DNA binding proteins find their target sites on the genome.
Where are tomorrow's innovators? Keeping America competitive through education

Abstract This article describes how the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) encourages innovation nationwide through an educational outreach program. PROJECT XL encourages the teaching of inventive thinking skills at all levels of the curriculum, and at the same time introduces students and young entrepreneurs to the wealth of information contained in patent documents, and demonstrates the value and use of the patent system. It is estimated that PROJECT XL has reached over 4000 teachers and 100 000 students throughout the country.
A graphical specification system for user-interface design

An environment for creating user interfaces for embedded systems, called the graphical specification system (GSS), is presented. GSS combines graphical and minimal low-level textual specification with a prototyping capability for rapid user-interface design and evaluation. It is part of a larger embedded systems project at Lockheed, called Express. The user interface components, display components, user-machine interaction, interface-application interaction, and executive component are discussed. Two scenarios, developed with GSS tool prototypes, demonstrate how some GSS tools function. One is the construction of a display with two pairs of gauges, one Cartesian and one polar. The other is the design of a display for submarine tracking. >
Synthesis, structural analysis, and SAR studies of triazine derivatives as potent, selective Tie-2 inhibitors

A novel class of selective Tie-2 inhibitors was derived from a multi-kinase inhibitor 1. By reversing the amide connectivity and incorporating aminotriazine or aminopyridine hinge-binding moieties, excellent Tie-2 potency and KDR selectivity could be achieved with 3-substituted terminal aryl rings. X-ray co-crystal structure analysis aided inhibitor design. This series was evaluated on the basis of potency, selectivity, and rat pharmacokinetic parameters.
New York: the Big Apple in the 1990s

Abstract New York plays a fundamental role in the world economy as both a motor and beneficiary of globalization. This paper traces New York’s international ties in the 1990s. While the city’s global pre-eminence as a center of finance capital is well known, New York is also an important international center of corporate headquarters, business services, communications, tourism, and commercial real estate. Next, it reviews the spatial configuration of employment, with an emphasis on the overwhelming concentration of jobs in Manhattan, a reflection of the enormous agglomerative economies found there. Third, it notes the marginalized populations that have not benefited from globalization. Fourth, it addresses changing regimes of governance that have accompanied the city’s intersections with the global economy.
Review of the Genus Mydas (Diptera: Mydidae): The xanthopterus Group of Southwestern United States and Mexico

The xanthopterus group of species of the genus Mydas is revised. The four species are M. luteipennis Loew (= M. simplex Loew, new synonymy); M. xanthopterus Loew (= M. lavatus Gerstaecker); M. evansi, new species; and M. fisheri, new species. The male and female terminalia of each species are illustrated. A lectotype is designated for M. xanthopterus. Illustrations also are provided for the male of M. subinterruptus Bellardi, a sympatric species which may be confused with M. luteipennis .
A Review of “Atlantic History: A Critical Appraisal”

This much-needed assessment of the notion of Atlantic history, which has taken the discipline by storm over the past few decades, grew out of a session at the 2005 meeting of the American Historica...
Numerical Analysis of Store-Induced Limit-Cycle Oscillation

Store-induced limit-cycle oscillation of a rectangular wing with tip store in transonic flow is simulated using a variety of mathematical models for the flowfield: transonic small-disturbance theory (with and without inclusion of store aerodynamics) and transonic small-disturbance theory with interactive boundary layer (without inclusion of store aerodynamics). For the conditions investigated, assuming inviscid flow, limit-cycle oscillations are observed to occur as a result of a weakly subcritical Hopf bifurcation and are obtained at speeds lower than those predicted 1) nonlinearly for clean-wing flutter and 2) linearly for wing/store flutter. The ability of transonic small-disturbance theory to predict the occurrence and strength of this type of limit-cycle oscillation is compared for the different models. Differences in unmatched and matched aeroelastic analysis are described. Solutions computed for the clean rectangular wing are compared to those computed with the Euler equations for a case of static aeroelastic behavior and for a case of forced, rigid-wing oscillation at Mach 0.92.
A Monte Carlo model for absorbed dose calculations in computed tomography.

A Monte Carlo program has been devised that estimates the total absorbed energy and mean dose in defined regions within phantoms exposed to rotating x‐ray sources. The calculations deal with fanlike beams of rectangular cross section projected onto elliptic cylindrical phantoms, which may be inhomogeneous. The effects of coherent scattering, which may be significant in a narrow‐beam geometry, can be studied. The code can score the exit flux, allowing study of the relationship between dose and image quality. The model is described, the code is verified, and typical results are presented.
SELECTED HEALTH-FITNESS RANKINGS OF LOW-INCOME YOUTH

Two parameters, tricep skinfold and one-mile walk/run, from the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance health-related fitness test were assessed in 226 low-income children, ages 10 through 14 years. Group means by age and sex were compared with state and national norms. As a whole, on both fitness parameters, this low-income sample fell in the bottom quartile for the state of Maine. The group's national ranking was even lower. Not only are low-income families burdened financially, it appears from this study that the children are also at health risk.
Alteration of Ryanodine Receptor-Mediated Calcium Release in Heart Failure

The decrease in contractility in heart failure associates with impaired cellular Ca2+ homeostasis that is in part due to altered ryanodine receptor (RyR) function. We studied properties of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ release in normal and failing rabbit ventricular myocytes using simultaneous measurements of cytosolic ([Ca2+]i) and intra-SR free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]SR). At a given SR Ca2+ content, fractional SR Ca2+ release during action potential stimulation was higher in failing than nonfailing myocytes, suggesting increased sensitivity of RyRs in heart failure. In permeabilized myocytes, SR Ca2+ content and Ca2+ spark frequency were decreased in heart failure, while Ca2+ spark amplitude was similar between failing and nonfailing myocytes. To compare these two groups further, SR Ca2+ content was experimentally decreased in nonfailing myocytes to the level observed in failing myocytes using SERCA inhibition. When SR Ca2+ content was matched, both Ca2+ spark frequency and amplitude were markedly increased in failing myocytes, showing that RyRs are more sensitive to release activation. By monitoring [Ca2+]SR during Ca2+ sparks, we also observed that the [Ca2+]SR level for spark termination was significantly lower in myocytes from failing hearts. Because Ca2+ sparks are a major contributing factor to diastolic SR Ca2+ leak, we compared the properties of SR Ca2+ leak in normal and failing myocytes. In failing myocytes SR Ca2+ leak was significantly faster, particularly at high [Ca2+]SR where Ca2+ sparks are the predominant pathway for SR Ca2+ leak. These data show that during the progression of heart failure, modifications to RyRs alter both activation and termination of local SR Ca2+ release events. At a given SR Ca2+ content these effects may increase fractional SR Ca2+ release and preserve contractility during systole, however at the cost of increased diastolic SR Ca2+ leak and SR depletion.
Cross-cultural association between dietary animal protein and hip fracture: A hypothesis

Age-adjusted female hip fracture incidence has been noted to be higher in industrialized countries than in nonindustrialized countries. A possible explanation that has received little attention is that elevated metabolic acid production associated with a high animal protein diet might lead to chronic bone buffering and bone dissolution. In an attempt to examine this hypothesis, cross-cultural variations in animal protein consumption and hip fracture incidence were examined. When female fracture rates derived from 34 published studies in 16 countries were regressed against estimates of dietary animal protein, a strong, positive association was found. This association could not plausibly be explained by either dietary dietary calcium or total caloric intake. Recent studies suggest that the animal protein-hip fracture association could have a biologically tenable basis. We conclude that further study of the metabolic acid-osteoporosis hypothesis is warranted.
Effect of theophylline and Na+ on methionine influx in Na+-depleted intestine.

Abstract The unidirectional influx of methionine into the brush border epithelium of chicken jejunum has been studied. Tissues leached of Na+ transport methionine from a medium devoid of Na+ with reduced apparent affinity (Kt) and maximal flux (Jmax). Addition of Na+ to the medium during a 1-min incubation with substrate, or during a 30-min preincubation, restored Kt but affected Jmax slightly. Theophylline was found to maintain Jmax in the absence of Na+. Essentially complete restoration of Kt and Jmax could be attained when theophylline-treated tissue was exposed to Na+ for 30 min. Influx from a Na+ medium was unaffected by theophylline pretreatment in Na+-containing buffer. Kt was increased without an effet upon Jmax when influx was studied from choline medium following preincubation in Na+. Modifiers of tissue cyclic AMP levels were investigated in conjunction with theophylline. Histamine and carbachol were found to inhibit theophylline-stimulated transport. Secretin was found to stimulate influx in Na+-leached tissue, but did not potentiate the theophylline effect. Amino acids in the incubation medium inhibited theophylline-stimulated influx, whereas preloaded lysine or methionine had no effect. The results are interpreted in terms of a model which envisions roles for cellular and external Na+ and for cyclic AMP in the activation and regulation of amino acid transport in intestine.
The vibrational ground state rotational spectroscopic constants and structure of the HCN dimer

Abstract Rotational spectra have been assigned for four isotopic species of the linear HCN dimer in the vibrational ground state. The spectroscopic constants are isotope - B 0 (MHz) D J (kHz) x N 1 (MHz) x N 2 (MHz) HC 14 N-HC 14 N 1745.80973(50) 2.133(30) −4.0973(200) −4.4400(190) HC 14 N-HC 15 N 1700.30190(30) 1.939(40) −4.1059(10) - HC 15 N-HC 14 N 1729.92082(20) 2.023(30) - −4.4339(6) HC 15 N-HC 15 N 1684.28825(25) 1.900(30) - - (Superscripts 1 and 2 on x indicate bonding and non-bonding nitrogen sites, respectively.)
Studies of a patient isolator unit and prophylactic antibiotics in cancer chemotherapy. General techniques and preliminary results

A patient isolator unit (Life Island) has been evaluated in 13 patients with neoplastic disease. Three oral nonabsorbable antibiotic regimens were used and the patients were fed sterile food. The combination of vancomycin, paromomycin, polymyxin B and amphotericin B or nystatin was well tolerated and effective. Most patients tolerated confinement in the unit quite well, although four very ill patients developed mental aberrations. Weight loss occurred in most patients but was largely due to toxicity from cancer chemotherapy. Infections did occur in the unit but the incidence was lower than would be anticipated. Five of nine patients with acute myelogenous leukemia achieved complete marrow remission and one achieved a partial remission. Three patients in the unit were able to tolerate more intensive chemotherapy than has been customarily given.
ARF6 regulates a plasma membrane pool of phosphatidylinositol(4,5)bisphosphate required for regulated exocytosis.

ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) 6 regulates endosomal plasma membrane trafficking in many cell types, but is also suggested to play a role in Ca2+-dependent dense-core vesicle (DCV) exocytosis in neuroendocrine cells. In the present work, expression of the constitutively active GTPase-defective ARF6Q67L mutant in PC12 cells was found to inhibit Ca2+-dependent DCV exocytosis. The inhibition of exocytosis was accompanied by accumulation of ARFQ67L, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), and the phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase type I (PIP5KI) on endosomal membranes with their corresponding depletion from the plasma membrane. That the depletion of PIP2 and PIP5K from the plasma membrane caused the inhibition of DCV exocytosis was demonstrated directly in permeable cell reconstitution studies in which overexpression or addition of PIP5KIγ restored Ca2+-dependent exocytosis. The restoration of exocytosis in ARF6Q67L-expressing permeable cells unexpectedly exhibited a Ca2+ dependence, which was attributed to the dephosphorylation and activation of PIP5K. Increased Ca2+ and dephosphorylation stimulated the association of PIP5KIγ with ARF6. The results reveal a mechanism by which Ca2+ influx promotes increased ARF6-dependent synthesis of PIP2. We conclude that ARF6 plays a role in Ca2+-dependent DCV exocytosis by regulating the activity of PIP5K for the synthesis of an essential plasma membrane pool of PIP2.
Imaging the Lung in Radiotherapy: Where 4D Meets Multimodality

Summary The increasing research and clinical interest in the intrafractional motion management of lung tumour radiation treatment is in part fuelled by the availability of multiple 4D modalities that resolve temporal information of the tumour motion. These improved imaging modalities allow the escalation of dose to the tumour besides enhancing the conformality of the dose to a moving tumour, which could improve the local control rate. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; including dynamic MRI and hyperpolarized 3He tagging), 4DCT, fluoroscopy and EM transponders are reviewed in this article. The working mechanisms, advantages/disadvantages and unique information of these techniques and their contribution to the management of lung cancer are discussed.
Centrifugal distortion effects in the microwave spectrum of methylene cyanide

Abstract The rotational spectrum of methylene cyanide has been measured up to J = 62 and a total of 82 b-type transitions have been obtained. These data have been analyzed with a semirigid rotor Hamiltonian to give accurate rotational and centrifugal distortion constants. The rotational constants are (in MHz) A = 20882.7537 ≠ 0.017, B = 2942.3003. ≠ 0.0031, C = 2616.7225 ≠ 0.0031 The quartic centrifugal distortion constants are (in MHz) Δ J (1.855455 ≠ 0.014) x 10 −3 Δ JK = (−6.79218 ≠ 0.027) x 10 −2 Δ K (8.621628 ≠ 0.013) x 10 −1 δ J = (4.892607 ≠ 0.016) x 10 −4 δ K = (6.7501 ≠ 0.29) x 10 −3 The uncertainties are twice the standard deviations in the constants obtained from the least squares analysis, and represent approximately 95% confidence limits.
Field Performance of Two Snap Bean Cultivars at Varying Levels of Exchangeable Aluminum

Abstract Aluminum (Al) toxicity can be a major problem in production of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in many parts of the world. Seedling/vegetative assays have demonstrated genotypic differences among bean genotypes for tolerance to Al toxicity, but insufficient information is available to determine whether results are indicative of tolerance measured in the field on mature plants. A two-year field study was conducted to determine if snap bean cultivars ‘Dade’ and ‘Tendercrop,’ previously shown to respond differently for Al tolerance in early vegetative assays, also exhibit differential Al tolerance as mature plants in field assays. Exchangeable Al varied from 0 to 10.67 cmolc kg− 1. In 1999, grain weights of ‘Dade’ and ‘Tendercrop’ were negatively associated with exchangeable Al, but did not differ from each other in their association with exchangeable Al. In 2000, the grain weight of ‘Dade’ was lower than in 1999, but still negatively associated with exchangeable Al. For ‘Tendercrop’, 2000 y...
Janus Head of Liquidated Damages: Does Public Policy Influence United States Courts Regarding Enforceability of a Liquidating Damages Clause?

For a liquidated damages clause to be legally enforceable, it must not be economically punitive. The scholarly literature maintains there exist four legal test to validate a liquidated damages clause. These test are: a) intent, b) difficulty, c) reasonableness, and d) public policy. It is the application of the public policy test that creates scholastic controversy. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to statistically ascertain whether the United States court system employs a public policy legal test to determine the enforceability of a liquidated damages clause. The sample set is composed of 43 United States Federal appellate court cases. Chi-square and Cramer V coefficient, measuring judicature application preference, resoundingly rejected the null hypothesis: the United States Federal Court system maintains a patterned application preference to test the validity of a liquidated damages clause using a public policy test. This outcome is represented by a percent case split equaling a 3 to 40 metri...
Synthesis of Bipyridine-Centered Diblock Copolymers

A series of bipyridine-centered diblock copolymers, bpy(A)(B), containing PMMA, PS, PCL, PLA, and PEG chains were synthesized via sequential, orthogonal strategies from unsymmetrical, difunctional bipyridine ligands. Specifically, the combination of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and ring-opening polymerization (ROP) generally produced bpy(PCL)(PMMA) (16) and bpy(PS)(PCL) (14) samples with anticipated molecular weights and low polydispersities (PDIs = 1.1−1.2). ROP or ATRP was also used in conjunction with a polymer coupling strategy to synthesize bpy(PEG)(R) diblocks with a bipyridine binding site at the block junction where R = PCL (12), PLA (13), or PMMA (21). Polymers with low PDIs were again generated in all cases (PDI ∼ 1.2−1.3). The particular design explored in this study could ultimately lead to block copolymeric metal complexes that form ordered assemblies with metal ions at microdomain interfaces.
Image effects on selective exposure to computer-mediated news stories

Abstract Do pictures accompanying news stories influence selective exposure to the stories as compared to the same stories viewed without pictures? Further, does the emotional nature of the image – non-threatening versus threatening – impact selective exposure? This study aimed to answer these questions by examining the impact of different types of pictures on selectivity of and duration of exposure to computer-mediated news stories. Male and female participants were randomly assigned to one of four image conditions (text only control, reporter portrait, non-threatening, threatening) in which they were able to freely select and view news stories via a computer based delivery system. The findings of this study revealed that exposure to both non-threatening and threatening images resulted in significantly longer self-exposure to that portion of the news story where the image and text were presented concurrently. Furthermore, the data at hand shows that the incorporation of negatively valenced images accompanying news stories resulted in significantly longer self-exposure time to subsequent sections of the news story text devoid of an accompanying image. This latter finding provides the first evidence of selective exposure induced by a graphic, threatening image that is not confounded with the presence of the image. Some implications of these findings and avenues for future research are discussed.
SU-C-18C-04: Evaluation of Effective Dose During Ureteroscopy for Obese and Non-Obese Patients

Purpose: Ureteroscopy involves fluoroscopy which potentially results in considerable amount of radiation dose to the patient. Purpose of this study was two-fold: (a) to develop the effective dose computational model for obese and non-obese patients undergoing left and right ureteroscopy, and (b) to evaluate the utility of a commercial Monte Carlo software for dose assessment in ureteroscopy. Methods: Organ dose measurements were performed on an adult male anthropomorphic phantom, representing the non-obese patients, with 20 high-sensitivity MOSFET detectors and two 0.18cc ionization chambers placed in selected organs. Fat-equivalent paddings were placed around the abdominal region to simulate for obese patients. Effective dose (ED) was calculated using ICRP 103 tissue weighting factors and normalized to the effective dose rate in miliSivert per second (mSv/s). In addition, a commercial Monte Carlo (MC) dose estimation program was used to estimate ED for the non-obese model, with table attenuation correction applied to simulate clinical procedure. Results: For the equipment and protocols involved in this study, the MOSFETderived ED rates for the obese patient model (‘Left’: 0.0092±0.0004 mSv/s; ‘Right’: 0.0086±0.0004 mSv/s) was found to be more than twice as much as that to the non-obese patient model (‘Left’: 0.0041±0.0003 mSv/s; ‘Right’: 0.0036±0.0007 mSv/s). The MC-derived ED rates for the non-obese patient model (‘Left’: 0.0041 mSv/s; ‘Right’: 0.0036 mSv/s; with statistical uncertainty of 1%) showed a good agreement with the MOSFET method. Conclusion: The significant difference in ED rate between the obese and non-obese patient models shows the limitation of directly applying commercial softwares for obese patients and leading to considerable underestimation of ED. Although commercial softwares offer a convenient means of dose estimation, but the utility may be limited to standard-man geometry as the software does not account for table attenuation, obese patient geometry, and differences between the anthropomorphic phantom and MC mathematical phantom.
A late Holocene varved sediment record of environmental change from northern Ellesmere Island, Canada

A composite record of varve sedimentation is presented from high arctic meromictic Lake C2. The combination of a short runoff and sediment transport season with the strong density stratification of the lake lead to the formation of annual sediment couplets. This conclusion was confirmed by 210Pb determinations. High intra-lake correlation of the varves allowed the construction of a composite record of varve sedimentation from overlapping segments of multiple sediment cores. Cross-dating between core segments isolated counting errors in individual cores, that could be attributed to minor sediment disturbances and vague structures. Resolving counting errors by cross-dating reduced the chronological error of the composite series to an estimated ±57 years.
Nutrient requirements of South American camelids: A factorial approach

Abstract Literature describing digestive physiology and defining specific nutrient requirements for llamas and alpacas was reviewed. Using data from studies defining maintenance energy and protein requirements, llamas and alpacas have lower energy and protein requirements compared to other ruminants; however, they have a greater protein requirement per unit of energy. This is consistent with observed differences in urea and glucose metabolism between camelids and other ruminants suggesting a reliance on protein catabolism to maintain blood glucose concentrations. Evidence suggests llamas and alpacas may have a greater requirement for Vitamin D, but no other evidence of significant differences in requirements between camelids and other ruminants. There are limited data defining other nutrient requirements or differences in requirements based on physiologic state for llamas and alpacas. In spite of limited data, a factorial approach to estimate nutritional requirements of llamas and alpacas was described. Defined maintenance energy and protein requirements were extrapolated to other physiologic states using beef cattle, sheep and goat data as templates. Models were developed to predict energy, protein, mineral and vitamin requirements for growth, pregnancy and lactation. Model development was based on determining beef cattle and sheep nutrient requirements on an amount per kg of body weight and assuming no inherent metabolic differences among species. An averaged value was calculated and used as a basis for defining requirements for llamas and alpacas. Amount per kg body weight requirements were converted to a recommended dietary nutrient density basis using an observed lower dry matter intake per unit body weight. Factorially derived models were in better agreement with North American feeding recommendations compared to predicted requirements using current North American-based requirement models. North American-based requirement equations over predicted energy and protein, resulting in required dietary nutrient densities in excess of practical feeding practices. The proposed factorial models need to be critically validated, but provides a starting point for discussion in advancing the study and application of llama and alpaca nutrient requirements. There are tremendous gaps in our knowledge of llama and alpaca requirements, requiring further basic research especially in the areas of neonatal and fetal growth and composition, lactational performance and mineral bioavailability.
Some effects of aspect on tense construal

Abstract This article presents an approach to tense construal that assumes that Times are arguments of TP, and proposes an account of how Times are represented in the syntax without there being lexical items that refer to them. It is argued that VP material is copied into positions that are construed as temporal argument positions. The ‘copy’ approach to Reference time and Speechtime is argued to account for the influences of VP and DP features on temporal ordering. The ‘copy’ approach also makes available a new analysis of the relationship between Event time (E) and Reference time (R). That relationship has most often been characterized as either a finite tense-ordering relation or an aspectual relation. It is argued here that when R and E are not coreferential the relation between them is one of temporal partitivity.
The Local Chromaffin Cell Plasminogen/Plasmin System and the Regulation of Catecholamine Secretion

: Chromaffin cells express components of the plasminogen/plasmin system, including its major activator, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), and high-affinity cellular receptors for plasminogen, which promote local concentration and activation of plasminogen at the cell surface. Our studies suggest that plasmin participates in local neuroendocrine prohormone processing and that perturbation of this system profoundly affects the secretory characteristics of the cells. These results suggest the presence of a local, functionally active, chromaffin cell plasminogen/plasmin system that plays a major role in the regulation of catecholamine release from catecholaminergic cells.
Estimation and detection of signals in multiplicative noise

We define a class of detection-estimation problems on matrix Lie groups in which the observation noise is multiplicative in nature. By examining the differential versions of the hypotheses, which are bilinear, we are able to derive the relevant likelihood ratio formula and the associated optimal estimation equations for the signal given the observations and the assumption that the signal is present. These estimation equations are of interest in their own right, in that they represent a finite dimensional optimal solution to a nonlinear estimation problem and consist of a Kalman-Bucy filter along with the on-line computation of the solution of the associated Riccati equation, which is driven by the observations. The usefulness of these results is illustrated via an example concerning the detection of an actuator failure in a rigid body rotational control system.
A family of graphs and the degree-diameter problem

We investigate a family of graphs relevant to the problem of finding large regular graphs with specified degree and diameter. Our family contains the largest known graphs for degree-diameter pairs (3, 7), (3, 8), (4, 4), (5, 3), (5, 5), (6, 3), (6, 4), (7, 3), (14, 3), and (16, 2). We also find a new bound for (3, 6) by an unrelated method. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 37: 118–124, 2001
Metrology tool fleet management: a comprehensive discussion of requirements and solutions

Managing a fleet of metrology tools is becoming an extremely daunting task. This is especially so in manufacturing lines where it is not unusual to have many tools in the fleet and a very large mix of product and technologies. It is this large mix of product and technologies which pushes the number of recipes created into the thousands. Combine the large number of recipes with a poorly calibrated, monitoring and managed fleet of tools and productivity can be negatively impacted many ways. In this paper, these productivity detractors are explained in more detail to help understand the numerous ways a fleet of metrology tools can negatively impact the productivity of the manufacturing and development lines. In the pursuit of reducing metrology tool induced productivity detractors, the concept of metrology tool fleet management is presented. Categories of fleet management are also introduced along with a comprehensive discussion of requirements. It is hoped that this discussion of requirements and solutions concerning the metrology tool fleet management concept will launch efforts in coordinating the comprehensive solutions needed between suppliers and tool owners. Some recommendations are made regarding long term solutions to needs with respect to integrating fleet management into manufacturing fab systems.
Gene delivery by microfluidic flow-through electroporation based on constant DC and AC field

Electroporation is one of the most widely used physical methods to deliver exogenous nucleic acids into cells with high efficiency and low toxicity. Conventional electroporation systems typically require expensive pulse generators to provide short electrical pulses at high voltage. In this work, we demonstrate a flow-through electroporation method for continuous transfection of cells based on disposable chips, a syringe pump, and a low-cost power supply that provides a constant voltage. We successfully transfect cells using either DC or AC voltage with high flow rates (ranging from 40 µl/min to 20 ml/min) and high efficiency (up to 75%). We also enable the entire cell membrane to be uniformly permeabilized and dramatically improve gene delivery by inducing complex migrations of cells during the flow.
Utilization of a calmodulin lysine methyltransferase co-expression system for the generation of a combinatorial library of post-translationally modified proteins

By successfully incorporating sequence diversity into proteins, combinatorial libraries have been a staple technology used in protein engineering, directed evolution, and synthetic biology for generating proteins with novel specificities and activities. However, these approaches mostly overlook the incorporations of post-translational modifications, which nature extensively uses for modulating protein activities in vivo. As an initial step of incorporating post-translational modifications into combinatorial libraries, we present a bacterial co-expression system, utilizing a recently characterized calmodulin methyltransferase (CaM KMT), to trimethylate a combinatorial library of the calmodulin central linker region. We show that this system is robust, with the successful over-expression and post-translational modification performed in Escherichia coli. Furthermore we show that trimethylation differentially affected the conformational dynamics of the protein upon the binding of calcium, and the thermal stability of the apoprotein. Collectively, these data support that when applied to an appropriately designed protein library scaffold, CaM KMT is able to produce a post-translationally modified library of protein sequences, thus providing a powerful tool for future protein library designs and constructions.
Identification of highly elevated levels of melatonin in bone marrow: Its origin and significance

Bone marrow is an important tissue in generation of immunocompetent and peripheral blood cells. The progenitors of hematopoietic cells in bone marrow exhibit continuous proliferation and differentiation and they are highly vulnerable to acute or chronic oxidative stress. In this investigation, highly elevated levels of the antioxidant melatonin were identified in rat bone marrow using immunocytochemistry, radioimmunoassay, high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection and mass spectrometry. Night-time melatonin concentrations (expressed as pg melatonin/mg protein) in the bone marrow of rats were roughly two orders of magnitude higher than those in peripheral blood. Measurement of the activities of the two enzymes (N-acetyltransferase (NAT) and hydroxyindole-O-methoxyltransferase (HIOMT)) which synthesize melatonin from serotonin showed that bone marrow cells have measurable NAT activity, but they have very low levels of HIOMT activity (at the one time they were measured). From these studies we could not definitively determine whether melatonin was produced in bone marrow cells or elsewhere. To investigate the potential pineal origin of bone marrow melatonin, long-term (8-month) pinealectomized rats were used to ascertain if the pineal gland is the primary source of this antioxidant. The bone marrow of pinealectomized rats, however, still exhibited high levels of melatonin. These results indicate that a major portion of the bone marrow's melatonin is of extrapineal origin. Immunocytochemistry clearly showed a positive melatonin reaction intracellularly in bone marrow cells. A melatonin concentrating mechanism in these cells is suggested by these findings and this may involve a specific melatonin binding protein. Since melatonin is an endogenous free radical scavenger and an immune-enhancing agent, the high levels of melatonin in bone marrow cells may provide on-site protection to reduce oxidative damage to these highly vulnerable hematopoietic cells and may enhance the immune capacity of cells such as lymphocytes.
In-Depth Analysis of the Magnaporthe oryzae Conidial Proteome

The filamentous fungus Magnaporthe oryzae (M. oryzae) is the causative agent of rice blast disease and presents a significant threat to worldwide rice production. To establish the groundwork for future research on the pathogenic development of M. oryzae, a global proteomic study of conidia was performed. The filter aided sample preparation method (FASP) and anion StageTip fractionation combined with long, optimized shallow 210 min nanoLC gradients prior to mass spectrometry analysis on an Orbitrap XL was applied, which resulted in a doubling of protein identifications in comparison to our previous GeLC analysis. Herein, we report the identification of 2912 conidial proteins at a 1% protein false discovery rate (FDR) and we present the most extensive study performed on M. oryzae conidia to date. A similar distribution between identified proteins and the predicted proteome was observed when subcellular localization analysis was performed, suggesting the detected proteins build a representative portion of the predicted proteome. A higher percentage of cytoplasmic proteins (associated with translation, energy, and metabolism) were observed in the conidial proteome relative to the whole predicted proteome. Conversely, nuclear and extracellular proteins were less well represented in the conidial proteome. Further analysis by gene ontology revealed biological insights into identified proteins important for central metabolic processes and the physiology of conidia.
Shell finite element method via Reissner's principle.

Abstract A specialized form of Reissner's variational principle for stresses and displacements suitable to formulate a finite element version of the governing equations for thin shells is presented. The Euler equations of the modified Reissner's functional are three force equilibrium equations and three moment curvature relations expressed in terms of the linear displacement vector and stress couple vectors. The boundary conditions are derived as natural conditions of this functional. The shell domain is divided into a set of triangular or quadrilateral elements for the purpose of defining a set of piecewise linear functions as comparison functions for the dependent variables of this formulation. The use of these functions, expressed in terms of their values at the nodes, in the variational principle results in a set of algebraic simultaneous equations for the nodal variables. A characteristic of the method is its algebraic simplicity and accuracy when compared with other approximate methods of solution. Some numerical examples practically illustrate these characteristics of the method. When this method is specialized for plate bending analysis a significant improvement with respect to a similar previously known finite element procedure is observed.
Successful repair of blunt cardiac rupture involving both ventricles.

Blunt cardiac rupture occurs infrequently and is usually lethal. Successful repairs of isolated atrial or ventricular ruptures have been reported when the diagnosis is made early. Our patient sustained blunt cardiac rupture of both ventricles in a motor vehicle accident. The diagnosis was made during emergency exploratory laparotomy when her vital signs deteriorated without obvious cause. A large Satinsky clamp was placed across the apices of the right and left ventricle to control hemorrhage while the repair was done without cardiopulmonary bypass. She survived and was discharged to home with a normal echocardiogram