cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental analysis of the aqueous chemical environment following a loss-of-coolant accident

Five different 30-day tests were conducted to simulate the chemical environment in a pressurized water reactor containment water pool after a loss-of-coolant accident (LOCA). All chemical environments within the test apparatus included boric acid, lithium hydroxide, and hydrochloric acid. In addition, trisodium phosphate, sodium hydroxide, and sodium tetraborate were used to control pH in separate tests. Materials tested within this environment included representative amounts of submerged and unsubmerged metal coupons, concrete, insulation debris samples, concrete particulate, and latent debris. Visible changes were seen on the both submerged and unsubmerged metal coupons in each test because of corrosion. The tests with calcium silicate (cal-sil) insulation had considerably more sediment than the other tests with fiberglass insulation. Particulate deposits were found only on the exterior surfaces of the fiberglass bundles. The most particulate deposits were found on the fiberglass exterior from the test that involved cal-sil insulation and trisodium phosphate (TSP). In addition, snow-like white precipitates were found on top of the sediment in that test, that were rich in calcium and phosphorus. Precipitates were also present in the solutions of two tests when the solution was cooled to room temperature. These precipitates have high contents of aluminum and boron with small amounts of sodium and calcium. The presence of insulation debris, precipitates, and sediments is significant because of the impact they may have on the ECCS recirculation process.
Optimal Averaging of Seasonal Sea Surface Temperatures and Associated Confidence Intervals (1860–1989)

Abstract Optimal averaging (OA) is used to compute the area-average seasonal sea surface temperature (SST) for a variety of areas from 1860 to 1989. The OA gives statistically improved averages and the objective assignment of confidence intervals to these averages. The ability to assign confidence intervals is the main advantage of this method. Confidence intervals reflect how densely and uniformly an area is sampled during the averaging season. For the global average, the early part of the record (1860–1890) and the times of the two world wars have largest uncertainties. Analysis of OA-based uncertainty estimates shows that before 1930 sampling in the Southern Hemisphere was as good as it was in the Northern Hemisphere. From about 1930 to 1950, uncertainties decreased in both hemispheres, but the magnitude of the Northern Hemisphere uncertainties reduced more and remained smaller. After the early 1950s uncertainties were relatively constant in both hemispheres, indicating that sampling was relatively con...
Non-pegmatitic Deposits of Beryllium: Mineralogy, Geology, Phase Equilibria and Origin

Non-pegmatitic occurrences of Be minerals constitute a diverse set of geologic environments of considerable mineralogical and petrological interest; they currently provide the majority of the world’s Be ore and emeralds and they contain the greatest resource of these commodities. Of the approximately 100 Be minerals known (see Chapter 1 by Grew; Appendix A⇓), most occur in hydrothermal deposits or non-pegmatitic igneous rocks, where their distribution varies systematically with the setting and origin (Table 1⇓, Fig. 1⇓). View this table: Table 1. Beryllium minerals in non-pegmatitic deposits: formulas, use and occurrence.1 Figure 1. Chemography of the principal solid phases in the BeO-Al2O3-SiO2-H2O(-F2O−1) “BASH” system with the projected positions of helvite group and alkali Be silicates. Also shown are generalized fields for some of the major types natural of occurrences (cf. Table 1⇑, Fig. 4⇓; see text for discussion). Beryllium minerals are best known from geologic systems associated with felsic magmatism. They also occur in a variety of settings that lack evident igneous associations. Environments range from the surface to the deep crust and host rocks range from feldspathic to carbonate to ultramafic in composition. Genetically related igneous rocks are felsic and share low calcium and high F contents, but are diverse in composition, setting and origin. Compositions range from strongly peraluminous to peralkaline and can be silica undersaturated. Beryllium minerals also occur in metamorphic and basinal environments and are redistributed by surface processes. Table 2⇓ summarizes the types and significance of major groups of occurrences by their lithologic associations. Figure 2⇓ shows the global distribution of some important examples and regional belts. For most types, at least one example has been described in some detail and can be used to help evaluate general patterns; however, …
Patient simulation for training basic and advanced clinical skills

Introduction Patient simulators are increasingly used in the education and training of healthcare professionals. This paper describes the history of human patient simulator development, the features of contemporary simulators, the acquisition of basic and advanced clinical skills using patient simulators, and the benefits, cost, limitations and effectiveness of this innovative learning modality. Simulator development The development of human patient simulators began in the late 1960s, and accelerated in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Several simulator systems are now professionally manufactured, commercially available, and used at hundreds of medical centres, universities and colleges in the USA and throughout the world. Contemporary patient simulators have many clinical features, and look and respond to interventions with ever-increasing degrees of realism because sophisticated physiological and pharmacological models automatically control many features. Simulator use in medical education Simulators are used to teach basic skills, such as respiratory physiology and cardiovascular haemodynamics, and advanced clinical skills, e.g. management of difficult airways, tension pneumothorax, pulmonary embolism and shock. Benefits, costs and limitations The simulation laboratory offers distinct educational advantages, especially for learning how to recognise and to treat rare, complex, clinical problems. Costs of simulator-based educational programmes include facility, equipment and personnel. Current limitations include clinical realism of the patient manikin and faculty development.
VIDEO PLAYBACK EXPERIMENTS TESTING THE FUNCTION OF CLAW WAVING IN THE SAND FIDDLER CRAB

Like many territory advertisement signals, the claw waving display of fiddler crabs (genus Uca) is commonly thought to have the dual function of simultaneously repelling males and attracting females. I have found, however, that male sand fiddler crabs (U. pugilator) wave significantly more in the presence of females than males, suggesting that their waves are primarily directed to females. Here I use laboratory video playback experiments to ask whether male and female U. pugilator are both responsive to the display. Males and females were presented with video of an example of either a waving or a feeding male conspecific, or no video, and their behavior was measured in seven behavioral categories that were then collapsed into three principal components. Analysis of variance of females' principal component scores revealed significant differences in their behavior in the presence of waving male video compared with feeding male video or no video, demonstrating that females attend to the display. Male behavior, however, was not significantly different between the three treatments, which is inconsistent with the hypothesis that claw waving serves to repel or threaten other males. These results, together with my recent work on male signaling behavior, suggests that the claw waving display of U. pugilator is a signal primarily directed to females and attended to by females, and thus is not an example of a dual function signal.
WEIGHT CYCLING: MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS

Most men and women who attempt to lose weight will regain any weight that is lost. This cycle of weight loss and regain - referred to as weight cycling is a recurrent phenomenon for many patients. ...
Demonstration of transient gain x-ray lasers near 20??nm for nickellike yttrium, zirconium, niobium, and molybdenum

We demonstrate strong lasing on the Ni-like 4d S01?4p P11 transition at 18.9, 20.3, 22.0, and 24.0??nm for Mo, Nb, Zr, and Y ions, respectively, using the transient collisional excitation scheme. Approximately 5??J of laser energy in a combination of a 600-ps pulse and a 1-ps pulse from the Compact Multipulse Terawatt (COMET) tabletop laser system is used to irradiate slab targets of these materials. Small-signal gains of 17–26 cm-1 are determined on the 4d?4p transition, with overall gain–length products gL of 11–12. Lasing is observed and gain is measured on the 4f P11?4d P11 transition, which is pumped by collisional excitation combined with self-photopumping, for what is to our knowledge the first time.
Reciprocal Interaction and Similarity of Personality Attributes

In a study of the relationship between similarity of personality and interaction choices, 336 students gave up to ten choices within fifty person classes. Personality variables were measured two years before sociometric choices (before acquaintance) and at the time of the choices. Reciprocal interaction pairs were more similar on a derived authoritarianism scale of the Omnibus Personality Inventory (OPI) than no-choice pairs at the time of the choices, but not more similar before they became acquainted. Religious items accounted for the increased similarity. A Guttman scale of religious items was identified and scores were related to sociometric spaces generated with Guttman-Lingoes smallest space analysis. Church affiliation did not explain reciprocal interaction choices, but church attendance was weakly related to choices, with reciprocal pairs being more similar than no-choice pairs on frequency of attendance. Reciprocal interaction pairs which persisted to the fourth year were more similar on intellec...
A facile synthetic route to (η5-benzoyleyclopentadienyl) metal compounds

A reaction between cyclopentadienylsodium and ethyl benzoate in refluxing THF produces (benzoylcyclopentadienyl)sodium (4) in 70–80% yield. Subsequent treatment of 4 in ethanol solution with thallium ethoxide affords (benzoyleyclopentadienyl)thallium (3) in nearly quantitative yield. Reactions of 3 with Mn(CO)5Br, Re(CO)5Br, [Rh(CO)2Cl]2 or FeCl2 lead to the respective η5-benzoylcyclopentadienyl derivatives of these metals, and demonstrate the utility of 3 in organometallic syntheses. Reactions of several of these organometallic ketones with cymantrenyllithium [(η5-C5H4Li)Mn(CO)3] provide a useful new route to bimetallic compounds.
A Longitudinal Study of Attitudes Toward Physician Assisted Suicide And Euthanasia Among Patients with Noncurable Malignancy

This longitudinal study investigated whether attitudes toward physician-assisted suicide (PAS) and euthanasia (E) are stable among patients with noncurable malignancy, and whether depression and various coping strategies were related to such attitudes. Thirty patients with noncurable malignancies completed questionnaires measuring attitudes toward PAS and E, depression, and coping. Three months later, and subsequently at six-month intervals, repeated measures were obtained from 24 patients. There was a trend for patients to become less supportive of legalizing PAS and E from the initial to last attitude measurement. Depression was unrelated to attitude change. There were significant changes on two coping dimensions: use of social support for emotional reasons and use of religious resources. Our findings should be considered in clinical, legislative, and ethical debates.
Toward Learner-Centered Teaching: An Inductive Approach

Through the past several years, the emphasis in education has shifted from a teacher-centered to a learner-centered approach. Traditional teaching has too often been based on a passive lecture mode...
A fitting formula for the falloff curves of unimolecular reactions: II. Tunneling effects

By taking into account effects of tunneling on the shape of the falloff curves of unimolecular reaction rate constants based on Troe's weak collision integral, a fitting formula for these curves is developed and then examined for several tunneling-affected reactions. It is demonstrated that, compared to the widely used Troe's formula, the present expression not only substantially enhances the accuracy in fitting for tunneling-affected reactions, but it is also computationally more efficient in its evaluation.
The application of ion beam analysis to calcium phosphate‐based biomaterials

Ion beam technology may be applied in a straightforward fashion to the analysis and modification of biomaterials. For analytical purposes, characterization using megaelectron-volt He2+ ions provides a standardless, nondestructive means for accurately quantifying the composition of material surfaces and the thickness of thin films. In this study, three complementary ion backscattering techniques were utilized to characterize hydroxyapatite (HA) films: Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) can determine composition and amounts of elements heavier than He; forward recoil elastic spectrometry (FRES) can determine hydrogen content; resonance-enhanced RBS can quantify small amounts of light elements, e.g. carbon, by choosing a particular incident beam energy resulting in excitation of the light element nucleus. At this resonance energy, the scattering cross section greatly increases, improving elemental sensitivity. Sol-gel chemistry was used to synthesize HA films by spin coating and annealing in a rapid thermal processor. Using these techniques, the chemical composition of unfired films was Ca1.63O5.4H1.8C0.24P with a thickness of 3.01 x 10(18) atoms/cm2 and after firing at 800 degrees C as Ca1.66O4.0H0.26C0.09P with a thickness of 2.11 x 10(18) atoms/cm2. This compares favorably to stoichiometric HA, which has a composition of Ca1.67O4.33H0.33P.
Explosive nucleosynthesis, equilibrium thermodynamics, and relativistic heavy-ion collisions

A description of the formation of composite nuclei observed in relativistic heavy-ion collisions is developed. The description is analogous to that used in accounting for the formation of nuclei under explosive conditions, as encountered in the expansion of an isotropic and homogeneous universe and in imploding-exploding supermassive stars. The model studied is one in which composite nuclei are formed in the space-time evolution of a rapidly expanding system of nucleons. Within the framework of this model, it is shown that reaction rates may initially be fast compared to expansion time scales, that detailed balance can then be met, and a quasi-equilibrium established for a short period of time and limited volume of space in this space-time evolution. An idealized equilibrium model is then proposed which contains a sharp cutoff from equilibrium to free expansion. In such a model the observed properties of the composite particles reflect a ''frozen in'' equilibrium state. A simple discussion is then presented showing that the volume at which the transition occurs is related to the finite size of the correlated structures in the system. A key result in the approach developed is that properties of the composite particle cross sections can be used to obtainmore » information on the size of the emitting region without resorting to a Hambury-Brown--Twiss correlation measurement. Another important result is that cross sections for composite nuclei are characterized by Maxwell-Boltzmann distributions is some rest system and recent data will be discussed from this viewpoint. The thermodynamic properties of the system, such as the equation of state and the energy-temperature relationship are investigated. The effect of continuum correlations from resonances and echoes will also be discussed.« less
Linguistic behavior and religious activity

Abstract Studies have found that Mormons and non-Mormons in Utah exhibit significant linguistic differences. We break this down further by investigating whether there are also differences between Mormons who actively participate in the religion and those who do not, and find significant differences with a medium or larger effect size between the groups for multiple variables. We conclude that when investigating the linguistic correlates of religious affiliation in a community, it is vital to elicit not just respondents' religious affiliations, but also their level of participation within that religion.
Tailored electroactive and quantitative ligand density microarrays applied to stem cell differentiation.

The ability to precisely control the interactions between materials and mammalian cells at the molecular level is crucial to understanding the fundamental chemical nature of how the local environment influences cellular behavior as well as for developing new biomaterials for a range of biotechnological and tissue engineering applications. In this report, we develop and apply for the first time a quantitative electroactive microarray strategy that can present a variety of ligands with precise control over ligand density to study human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) differentiation on transparent surfaces with a new method to quantitate adipogenic differentiation. We found that both the ligand composition and ligand density influence the rate of adipogenic differentiation from hMSC’s. Furthermore, this new analytical biotechnology method is compatible with other biointerfacial characterization technologies (surface plasmon resonance, mass spectrometry) and can also be applied to investigate a range of protein...
Pathogenicity and effects on transmission of a mycoplasmalike organism of a transovarially infective bacterium on the leafhopper Euscelidius variegatus (Homoptera: Cicadellidae)

Abstract A transovarially transmitted, Gram-negative bacterium (BEV) reduced the median longevity of congenitally infected Euscelidius variegatus 54%, compared to uninfected controls of the same age and bred from the same parental stock. Mean fecundity was reduced over 80%, and nymphal development took almost 50% longer. Infected surviving adults of both sexes, however, weighed significantly more than uninfected controls. Infection of E. variegatus with BEV significantly reduced the transmission of the plant pathogenic mycoplasmalike organism causing X-disease in celery. The pathological effects of the BEV bacterium on its leafhopper host imply that infection by means other than transovarial transmission is necessary for the bacterium to persist in nature.
Intellectual evaluations of adolescents via human figure drawings: An empirical comparison of two methods

The human figure drawings of 200 adolescent boys were collected at a residential treatment center in a midsized, midwestern city. The drawings were scored for cognitive ability according to the systems of Buck (1966) and Goodenough and Harris (1963). Both scoring systems showed acceptable interrater reliability and both were positively and significantly related to IQ scores on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised. Buck's system, however, had less of a tendency to underestimate IQ scores. Buck's system may therefore hold greater promise for the intellectual assessment of adolescents with human figure drawings.
On Estimating the Distribution of a Random Vector When Only the Smallest Coordinate Is Observable

Let X = (X1 , ... , Xk) be a random vector with absolutely continuous distribution F. Let Z = minl<i<k Xi and define I by Z = XZ . The situation wherein X is not observable but where we may take observations on the pair (Z, I) arises in reliability problems and elsewhere (e.g. one may model in this way the "lifetime" Z of an object which "dies" the first time when one of k sure events take place). The object of this note is (a) to show that the distribution of the pair (Z, I) uniquely determines F whenever X has independent components having distributions F, with nonvanishing right tails: F,(x) = f_,, f,(t) dt < 1 for x < co, and (b) to remark on the estimation problem when Z is censored on the right. Let Gi = f gi be the distribution function of the conditional random variable Yj = Z I I = i and put pi = P(I = i) (i = 1, ... , k). Then for every index i 0 < pi < 1 and for all t and i
Characterization of the purified pituitary cytosolic NADPH: 5α-dihydroprogesterone 3α-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase

The purified cytosolic 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase (3 alpha-HSOR) from female rat pituitary which catalyzes the reversible conversion of 5 alpha-dihydroprogesterone (5 alpha-DHP) to 3 alpha, 5 alpha-tetrahydroprogesterone (3 alpha, 5 alpha-THP) has been characterized in terms of its steroid substrate specificity, dihydrodiol dehydrogenase activity and inhibition by drugs such as medroxyprogesterone and indomethacin. The purified enzyme has a strong preference for the C21 progestin steroid substrates, 5 alpha-DHP and 3 alpha, 5 alpha-THP, over the corresponding C19 androgenic steroid substrates, 5 alpha-dihydrotesterone (5 alpha-DHT) and 3 alpha, 5 alpha-tetrahydrotestosterone (3 alpha, 5 alpha-THT). The apparent Km for 5 alpha-DHP (80 nM) is about 250 times lower than the Km for the androgenic steroid, 5 alpha-DHT (21 microM). In the oxidative direction, the apparent Km for 3 alpha, 5 alpha-TP (1.4 microM) is about 3-fold lower than the Km for the androgenic steroid, 3 alpha, 5 alpha-THT (4.2 microM). A number of other naturally occurring 3-keto- and 3 alpha(beta)-hydroxy-steroids were assessed for their ability to act as inhibitors (alternate substrates) of the 3 alpha-reduction of 5 alpha-DHP catalyzed by the purified 3 alpha-HSOR. None of the 3 beta- or 5 beta-isomers had any effect. Of the other 3-keto and 3 alpha- steroids tested, only deoxycorticosterone and the ovarian progestins showed any significant inhibition. These may be acting as inhibitors since there was little, if any, direct 3 alpha-reduction of progesterone to 3 alpha-hydroxy-4-pregnen-20-one. Unlike the liver cytosolic 3 alpha-HSOR, the pituitary enzyme has no associated dihydrodiol (quinone) dehydrogenase activity. This enzyme is similar to other cytosolic 3 alpha-HSORs from liver and brain in that it is potentially inhibited by indomethacin and by medroxyprogesterone.
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the parotid gland in a 20-month-old child

Abstract A case has been reported in which a 20-month-old child with a history of traumatic injury at the early age of 7 months presented a mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the parotid gland. The patient is thought to be one of the youngest in whom this particular type of tumor has been reported.
A New Rapid Method for Thawing Fresh Frozen Plasma

The use of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) often results in unused thawed units because of the time required to thaw FFP prior to use. A rapid thawing technique was studied, utilizing a microwave oven. Resultant levels of coagulation factors were compared with conventional slow thawing in a 37 C water bath. Mean prefreezing, rapid thaw and conventional thaw values were fibrinogen 246, 223, 238 mg/100 ml; prothrombin 101, 103, 105 per cent; factor V; 102, 79, 86 per cent; factor VIII 94, 77, 75 per cent; factor IX 103, 92, 90 per cent; factors VII/X 101, 107, 103 per cent; and factor × 84, 79, 82 per cent. No significant differences existed between rapid thawing and conventional thawing for any coagulation factor studied. Average thawing times were five minutes for rapid thawing (RT) and 25 minutes for conventional thawing. Although careful establishment of thawing time is required for each oven, microwave thawing permits better utilization of FFP for surgery and speeds delivery in emergencies, without destroying coagulation proteins.
Modeling filling-in of afterimages

Van Lier, Vergeer, and Anstis (2009) reported that color information in a visual afterimage could spread across regions that were not colored in the inducing stimulus. The perceived color and shape of the afterimage could be manipulated by drawn contours that apparently trap the spread of afterimage color signals. They further hypothesized that the observed effects indicated a common mechanism for afterimage color filling-in and real-color filling-in phenomena. New simulations of the existing boundary contour system/feature contour system model of visual perception (Grossberg & Mingolla, 1985a, 1985b) demonstrate the connection between these phenomena.
Characteristics of IA currents in adult rabbit cerebellar Purkinje cells.

Abstract Classical conditioning the rabbit nictitating membrane involves changes in synaptic and intrinsic membrane properties of cerebellar Purkinje cell dendrites, and a 4-aminopyridine (4-AP)-sensitive potassium channel underlies these membrane properties. We characterized IA currents in adult, rabbit Purkinje cells to determine whether IA is the target channel involved in learning. Whole-cell recordings of Purkinje cell somas and dendrites revealed a fast activating and inactivating current with half maximal activation at −27.08 ± 3.48 mV and −25.51 ± 1.15 mV in somas and dendrites, respectively; half maximal inactivation at −58.91 ± 2.34 mV and −49.90 ± 2.58 mV; and a recovery time constant of 22.81 ± 1.92 ms and 16.60 ± 4.26 ms. Outside-out patch recordings from cerebellar Purkinje cell somas confirmed these 4-AP-sensitive currents with half maximal activation at −13.85 ± 1.17 mV and half maximal inactivation at −55.07 ± 5.54 mV. More importantly, there was an overlap of activation and incomplete inactivation at potentials from −60 to −40 mV, suggesting a “window” current that was responsible for subthreshold variations of membrane potential and might underlie conditioning-specific increases in Purkinje cell excitability. The potassium current was inhibited by 4-AP and by Heteropodatoxin, a specific blocker of Kv4.2 and Kv4.3 channels, but not by Stromatoxin, a blocker of Kv4.2 channels. Mouse monoclonal antibody labeling identified both Kv4.3 and Kv4.2 subunits in the granule cell layer but only Kv4.3 subunits in the molecular layer. This is the first demonstration of A-type currents in adult, rabbit Purkinje cells that may play a role in regulating membrane potential and firing frequency and comprise the target channel mediating conditioning-specific changes of excitability in rabbit Purkinje cell dendrites.
An IκB-α Mutant Inhibits Cytokine Gene Expression and Proliferation in Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Abstract Background. Inflammatory reaction and intimal proliferation of smooth muscle cells are characteristics of vascular stenotic lesions. Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) is involved in regulation of inflammation and cell survival in a variety of cell types. We tested a hypothesis that selective inhibition of NF-κB by expression of a mutated, nondegradable inhibitor of NF-κB, IκB-αM, would inhibit proinflammatory cytokine expression and proliferation in human vascular smooth muscle cell. Materials and methods. Smooth muscle cells were cultured from internal mammary artery and infected with recombinant adenovirus vectors. Results. Adenoviral expression of IκB-αM inhibited diverse signal-triggered cellular IκB-α degradation, subsequent NF-κB activation, and transactivation of proinflammatory cytokine genes. Expression of IκB-αM in low-density VSMC led to a 60% reduction in serum-stimulated cell growth and a 10% increment in apoptotic incidence but was without effect in high-density cultures. Coexpression of NF-κB p65 attenuated apoptosis in low-density cells induced by IκB-αM. Therefore, the susceptibility to apoptosis induction in the low-density cells correlated with lower constitutive NF-κB activity. The induction of apoptosis by IκB-αM and the rescue by NF-κB p65 might be explained by mutual control of NF-κB p65 and IκB-αM access to the nucleus. Conclusion. Our results suggest that expression of nondegradable IκB-α might have therapeutic potential in both vascular inflammatory reaction and smooth muscle cell proliferation.
Thirty year change in lodgepole and lodgepole/mixed conifer forest structure following 1980s mountain pine beetle outbreak in western Colorado, USA

Abstract Current mortality in lodgepole pine caused by mountain pine beetle (MPB) throughout much of western North America has resulted in concern about future forest structure. To better understand the long-term effects of the current mortality, and how it might differ depending on forest species composition, we measured forest vegetation and woody fuel accumulations in forest affected by a MPB outbreak in the late 1970s and early 1980s and compared conditions to 1980s USDA Forest Service data to quantify changes in the approximately 30 years following tree mortality. Stands were classified into two forest type groups based on species composition prior to 1970s/1980s MPB mortality: lodgepole pine and mixed conifer. In the 30 years after MPB mortality, lodgepole pine stands’ overstory recovered to 91% of pre-mortality total basal area and 93% of overstory trees ha −1 . Mixed conifer stands’ basal area and overstory trees ha −1 remained significantly reduced. In both forest types relative basal area and trees ha −1 of non-pine species increased, and understory trees ha −1 increased roughly fivefold. In lodgepole pine stands, the most abundant species in the 1980s understory was subalpine fir, followed by lodgepole pine. By the 2010s, subalpine fir and aspen were the most abundant understory tree species. In mixed conifer stands, subalpine fir and Engelmann spruce dominated all understory size classes in the 1980s and the 2010s. Total down woody fuels were greater in mixed conifer (103 Mg ha −1 ) than lodgepole pine stands (60 Mg ha −1 ) due to higher rotten fuel accumulation in mixed conifer than lodgepole pine stands. Overall, our results suggest that long-term forest recovery trajectories are dependent on pre-outbreak species composition, though understory densities are likely to increase regardless of non-pine species abundances. These shifts in species and size composition by 30 years after outbreak likely have substantial impacts on forest health, potential fire behavior and ecosystem processes. We speculate that forest recovery following the current MPB outbreak in these areas will be similar to observed changes following the 1970s/1980s outbreak.
Selective Self-assembly of Symmetry-breaking Nanoplasmonic Structures

Self-assembly approaches to construct plasmonic materials often result in high-symmetry structures within a thermodynamic limit. Here we demonstrate a novel selective self-assembly route for synthesis of a new class of nanoplasmonic structures with symmetry-breaking.
A closure scheme for chemical master equations

Probability reigns in biology, with random molecular events dictating the fate of individual organisms, and propelling populations of species through evolution. In principle, the master probability equation provides the most complete model of probabilistic behavior in biomolecular networks. In practice, master equations describing complex reaction networks have remained unsolved for over 70 years. This practical challenge is a reason why master equations, for all their potential, have not inspired biological discovery. Herein, we present a closure scheme that solves the master probability equation of networks of chemical or biochemical reactions. We cast the master equation in terms of ordinary differential equations that describe the time evolution of probability distribution moments. We postulate that a finite number of moments capture all of the necessary information, and compute the probability distribution and higher-order moments by maximizing the information entropy of the system. An accurate order closure is selected, and the dynamic evolution of molecular populations is simulated. Comparison with kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, which merely sample the probability distribution, demonstrates this closure scheme is accurate for several small reaction networks. The importance of this result notwithstanding, a most striking finding is that the steady state of stochastic reaction networks can now be readily computed in a single-step calculation, without the need to simulate the evolution of the probability distribution in time.
Mutations in the glutathione synthetase gene cause 5-oxoprolinuria.

5-Oxoprolinuria (pyroglutamic aciduria)1,2 resulting from glutathione synthetase (GSS) deficiency3,4 is an inherited autosomal recessive disorder characterized, in its severe form, by massive urinary excretion of 5-oxoproline, metabolic acidosis, haemolytic anaemia and central nervous system damage. The metabolic defect results in low GSH levels presumably with feedback over-stimulation of γ-glutamylcysteine synthesis and its subsequent conversion to 5-oxoproline3,4. In this study, we cloned and characterized the human GSS gene and examined three families with four cases of well-documented 5-oxoprolinuria5,6. We identified seven mutations at the GSS locus on six alleles: one splice site mutation, two deletions and four missense mutations. Bacterial expression and yeast complementation assays of the cDNAs encoded by these alleles demonstrated their functional defects. We also characterized a fifth case, an homozygous missense mutation in the gene in an individual affected by a milder-form of the GSS deficiency7, which is apparently restricted to erythrocytes and only associated with haemolytic anaemia. Our data provide the first molecular genetic analysis of 5-oxoprolinuria and demonstrate that GSS deficiency with oxoprolinuria and GSS deficiency without 5-oxoprolinuria are caused by mutations in the same gene.
On the stability limit of charged droplets

Single, highly charged droplets of dioctylphthalate and sulphuric acid of radius between 1 and 10 $\mu m$ are suspended in vacuum in a quadrupole trap. As the droplets evaporate their radius is monitored continuously by light scattering and their charge is determined periodically by weight balancing. The droplets break when the electric stress exceeds that of surface tension. The largest fragment remains trapped allowing a determination of the change in volume and charge. The fraction of volume and charge lost is found to be independent of particle size and sign of charge and is variable. The oil drops lose (15.0 $\pm$ 3.9) % of their charge on breakup and (2.25 $\pm$ 0.96) % of their mass. The acid droplets lose (49.4$ \pm$ 8.3) % of their charge and less than 0.1% of their mass. The acid results are compared with those from a model of field emission based upon prolate spheroid deformation and the formation of Taylor cones. For both oil and acid droplets the stability limits are in agreement with those predicted by Lord Rayleigh.
Steam surfactant systems at reservoir conditions

Mobility control is one of the main problems in steam flooding. Channeling of steam through highly permeable zones and gravity override lead to early steam breakthrough at the production wells. Accordingly, volumetric sweep efficiency and oil recovery are reduced. Foam has been proposed as a permeability blocking agent in steam flooding to improve oil recovery. This work describes 2 experiments. One is on static properties such as thermal stability, adsorption and partitioning; the other is on dynamic displacement by steam in the presence of surfactants. The aim of this study is to investigate some commercially available and experimental foaming chemicals (surfactants) for their longevity under simulated steam injection conditions. Namely at 400 F (205 C) and 300 to 500 psia (20 to 34 bars). The steam injection experiments have been conducted in a linear flow model to study flow, heat transfer, and mobility.
Nature tourism and enterprise development in Ecuador.

Nature-based observation and adventure figure prominently in Ecuador’s tourism attractions. From the standpoints of geography and biology, Ecuador is a small but highly diverse nation divided into four distinct zones: the Sierra Highlands, the Amazon Basin, the Pacific Coast Lowlands, and the Galapagos Islands. Across these four zones is found a wide variety of natural ecosystems for both casual and dedicated naturalists. Nature tourism is oriented primarily to visiting a few private holdings plus the publicly-owned national parks and related reserves. However, the major tour operators and airlines have not yet adopted a formal approach to promoting tourism which is specifically nature-oriented. The number of international visitors engaging in na-ture-oriented activities on the mainland falls far short of visitation to the Galapagos Islands. Responsible opinion concurs that development of tourism in the Galapagos must be carefully controlled, but disagreements concern practical interpretation of that idea...
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: Preclinical and Early Phenotype

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is caused by dominant mutations in sarcomere genes. Although the diagnosis of HCM is traditionally based on identifying unexplained left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) by cardiac imaging, LVH is not an invariable feature of disease. The expression of LVH is highly age-dependent, and LV wall thickness is typically normal during childhood. Overt cardiac hypertrophy often does not develop until adolescence or later. With genetic testing, family members who have inherited a pathogenic sarcomere mutation (G+) can be identified prior to a clinical diagnosis (LVH−). This allows characterization of a new and important subset, denoted preclinical HCM (G+/LVH−). Although there are no distinguishing morphologic features of early disease, there is evidence of myocardial dysfunction prior to the development of LVH. Otherwise healthy sarcomere mutation carriers frequently have subtle impairment of diastolic function, detectable by tissue Doppler interrogation. These findings can assist in differentiating such at-risk family members from those who did not inherit the mutation, despite the presence of normal LV wall thickness. In contrast, systolic function appears relatively preserved in preclinical HCM but impaired in overt disease, suggesting that both the sarcomere mutation and the characteristic changes in myocardial architecture (LVH, fibrosis, and disarray) are required to perturb force generation. Better characterization of preclinical HCM will identify the initial manifestations of sarcomere mutations, characterize intermediate disease phenotypes, and foster efforts to develop novel therapeutic strategies based on genetic identification of at-risk individuals and early initiation of therapy to prevent disease progression when treatment may be most effective.
The Political Economy of Market Reform and the Formation of Socio-Spatial Identities in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam:

This article attempts to place the concept of indigeneity in the context of contemporary conflicts and claims to resources in the face of increasing global integration. Rather than treating indigenous politics as primarily a product of historical and (European) colonial conflict of culture and race/ethnicity, I use the example of recent land conflicts in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam as a starting point toward understanding contemporary debates on indigeneity. Based on fieldwork in 1994, the article describes one community's conflict over resourceuse that demonstrates how land law, local rules of access, and the evolution of competing claims to land can create politicized socio-spatial localities overnight. Such communities, though sharing a similar culture, language, and history with the dominant nation, maintain local meanings and rules of access that define a distinct socio-spatial community. This example from Vietnam suggests that contemporary globalization and market integration is creating new indigenous communities that need to be better understood. Keywords: Indigenous, Community, Vietnam, Globalization, Customary Law, Property
Domains of Risk in the Developmental Continuity of Fire Setting.

Juvenile fire setting is a serious, dangerous, and costly behavior. The majority of research examining youth fire setting has been cross-sectional. We sought to examine early risk attributes that could differentiate fire setters from non-fire setters, in addition to examining their association with the developmental continuity of fire-setting behavior into late childhood. Using a sample of 361 youth drawn from 4 different U.S. communities, this study examined the association between a broad array of risk variables from the child, parent, and family domains, and fire-setting behavior over the course of 2 developmental periods: prior to 4th grade, and between 4th and 6th grade. Youth were classified into 1 of 4 groups (non-fire setters, desisters, later-onset fire setters, and persisters) based on their reported fire-setting behavior during these periods. Children who set fires had higher levels of risk on most of the variables assessed. Persistence of fire setting was associated with elevated parental depressive symptoms and more interparental conflict and ineffective discipline. The findings highlight the need for multicomponent preventive interventions to address the breadth of risk experienced by fire-setting youth and their families.
Hartree–Fock results for electron impact ionization of H atoms

The multiconfiguration Hartree–Fock method for bound and continuum wavefunctions has been extended to investigate electron impact ionization of atoms. As a test case, the method is applied to calculate triple differential cross sections for electron impact ionization of H atom at an excess energy of 4 eV for the coplanar θ12 = π geometry. The results are obtained for both equal and unequal energies of the two outgoing electrons in the Hartree–Fock (HF) and screening potential (SP) approximations in order to determine the importance of electron correlation between the two outgoing electrons in the present configuration. At equal energies, both the HF and SP results are found to be very close to each other and are in very good agreement with the relative experimental measurements and other accurate theoretical calculations. At unequal energies, both calculated results also compare well with the relative experimental data over all ranges of θ1 considered by experiment.
Guest Editorial to the Special Letters Issue on Therapeutic Ultrasound: Trends at the Leading-Edge

Discusses the main topics of discussion in the special section on therpeutic ultrasound as well as the current status and key trends in the industry.
If the State provided free computer literacy, would it find takers? Evidence and propositions from the Akshaya project in India

The Akshaya project from Kerala has been a much discussed case for the community of practitioners and scholars working on technology and development. A unique feature of the project is its state-wide e-literacy goal in which one member of every household was trained in the telecenters set up under Akshaya at public expense. Using a survey of 1,750 households in the experimental area of Malappuram and a comparison group of neighbouring Kozhikode, this work investigates the extent of e-literacy and discusses the performance of service delivery using telecenters. While the question of whether public funds should be spent on projects such as telecenters or e-literacy continues to be an ongoing debate, the evidence here is that even though structural factors such as service delivery mechanisms and publicity make an impact on technology adoption, the overall participation in free e-literacy services among poor households remains low.
The plasma binding protein for vitamin D is a site of discrimination against vitamin D-2 compounds by the chick

The binding of 25-hydroxy-[26,27-3H]vitamin D-3 and 25-hydroxy-[26,27-3H]vitamin D-2 to the vitamin D binding protein in the plasma of both rats and chicks has been studied. In the case of rats, sucrose density gradient analysis, competitive displacement, and Scatchard analysis demonstrate that 25-hydroxyvitamin D-3 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D-2 are bound equally well to the vitamin D binding protein. In contrast, 25-hydroxyvitamin D-2 is poorly bound, while 25-hydroxyvitamin D-3 is tightly bound to the vitamin D binding protein in chick plasma. On the other hand, the chick intestinal receptor binds 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-2 and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D-3 equally well with a KD of 7.10(-11) M for both compounds. These results strongly suggest that the failure of the plasma transport protein in chicks to bind the vitamin D-2 compounds may be responsible for their relative ineffectiveness in these animals.
Vibrational spectroscopic study of the compound TiTa2O7

Abstract The Raman and i.r. absorption spectra of polycrystalline TiTa2O7 were recorded at room temperature. No systematic coincidences in frequency were observed in the two vibrational spectra and this may be considered as indicating that TiTa2O7 crystallizes with an inversion symmetry. The observed Raman bands in the high frequency region are interpreted as due to corner and edge-shared octahedra. The existence of a Raman band at 1020 cm−1 indicates the presence of a short cation—oxygen distance and this is in agreement with the structural analog TiNb2O7.
Reflexion of Radio Waves from the Moon

As reported in a communication entitled “The Relation of 11-Metre Solar System Phenomena to Solar Disturbances” (see Nature, 179, 371; 1957), it appears very probable that the Moon echoes I reported previously (Nature, 178, 159; 1956) did not take place from the surface of the Moon itself, as concluded by Kerr and Shain, but rather from a large cloud of charged particles associated temporarily with the Moon. Their conclusion indeed lends support to the particle cloud hypothesis.
Role of luteal cell nucleus in the expression of gonadotropin action.

Gonadotropin receptors are not only present in cell membranes, but also in nuclei of bovine and human luteal cells. hCG/hLH can directly regulate several nuclear functions. To further investigate the role of luteal cell nucleus in the expression of gonadotropin action, the effect of enucleation of luteal cells on gonadotropin receptors and gonadotropin response was studied. Luteal cytoplasts were prepared by colchicine treatment of purified whole luteal cells followed by centrifugation at 37 C in a Percoll gradient. The cytoplasts were 85 to 90% pure with a recovery of about 57%. Cytoplasts were viable as determined by trypan blue exclusion (87%) and metabolically competent as determined by 3H-leucine incorporation into proteins. On the day of preparation, the viability and metabolic competency of cytoplasts were similar to control cells, i.e. untreated and colchicine treated whole luteal cells. In addition, cytoplasts and control cells showed a similar decline in number and viability during storage at 4 C. While control cells continue to be metabolically competent, cytoplasts showed a dramatic decline by 48 h of storage at 4 C. Neither the cytoplasts nor control cells degraded 1251-hCG. The kinetics of 1251-hCG association and dissociation, specificity and affinity of binding to cytoplasts were similar to control cells. However, the number of available gonadotropin receptors in cytoplasts was significantly lower than in control cells. Cytoplasts contained lower progesterone levels and more importantly, they could not be stimulated by 10 nM hCG or 10 mM dibutyry1 cyclic AMP to produce more progesterone. Controls cells, on the other hand, contained higher progesterone levels and responded to hCG and dibutyryl cyclic AMP stimulation. In summary, removal of nuclei from luteal cells results in a partial loss of gonadotropin receptors and complete loss of steroidogenic response to hCG and dibutyryl cyclic AMP. Whether the loss of steroidogenic response was related or coincidental to partial gonadotropin receptors loss is unknown.