cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Seamounts and Island Building

Abstract Seamounts are the most abundant type of volcanoes on earth but only a miniscule fraction of them has been studied to this date. Seamounts may be found in any submarine tectonic setting and vary in size from abyssal hills (100 m) to the largest mountains on earth (>8 km). They evolve in distinct stages defined largely by size and eruption depth that control the abundance of effusive, clastic, and intrusive lithological rock types. Key effusive rock types include in particular pillow lavas and rare sheet or massive flows; clastic rock types include pillow breccias, pillow fragment breccias, and hyaloclastites ; and especially large seamounts may include up to 50% intrusive rock types, including dikes, sills , and other intrusions. While the clastic processes may occur at any depth, the production of volcaniclastics markedly increases above 1000 m water depth. Once both volcanic eruptions and sea-surface related erosion end, seamounts are among the most stable and long-lasting geomorphic features that ultimately will be subducted into the mantle and occasionally included into accretionary complexes.
Crop rotation and tillage affect nematode communities more than biocides in monoculture soybean

Abstract Long-term monoculture of susceptible soybeans naturally develops suppressiveness to soybean cyst nematode (SCN) Heterodera glycines if fields are not tilled or biocides applied. Nematode community indices, that integrate the responses of different taxa and trophic groups to perturbation, provide a tool to monitor the ecological status of soil communities. We tested the hypothesis that soil suppressiveness to Heterodera glycines is correlated positively to management practices that favor both greater trophic diversity (food web complexity) and a later stage ecological succession (less disturbance) within free-living nematode communities. A factorial combination of cultivation, crop rotation, and biocide application treatments were monitored for four years in a field with a history of no-till and monoculture of susceptible soybean for 15 years. Crop rotation had the greatest impact on nematode community index values followed by descending order of cultivation and biocides. Suppressive soils did have greater food web complexity, but not necessarily ecological succession. Nematode community composition was influenced by covariables nitrogen and organic matter content (mean 6.6%), but not pH or salinity. The study is novel by using a food web approach that includes multiple trophic levels rather than simply population ecology.
One Year into the TTIP Negotiations: Getting to Yes

In early 2013, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations were introduced with great fanfare in President Obama’s State of the Union speech. The world’s two largest economic zones would be united in a trade and investment pact, which would generate new economic growth at a time when it was desperately needed. Negotiations began in July of that year, with promises that this negotiation would not drag on endlessly, as some other trade talks have.We are now just over one year into the process, with the sixth round of talks having just taken place July 14-18 in Brussels and the seventh round to be held from September 29 through October 3 in Washington. It is time for an evaluation of what has been achieved. Are the talks progressing as rapidly as hoped? Are the hurdles surmountable? Will this giant free-trade zone actually come to fruition?This bulletin examines the current state of the TTIP talks relative to expectations and in the larger context of the world trading system. It describes some of the main stumbling blocks that have arisen and makes suggestions for moving the process forward.
Low temperature radical initiated hydrosilylation of silicon quantum dots

The photophysics of silicon quantum dots (QDs) is not well understood despite their potential for many optoelectronic applications. One of the barriers to the study and widespread adoption of Si QDs is the difficulty in functionalizing their surface, to make, for example, a solution-processable electronically-active colloid. While thermal hydrosilylation of Si QDs is widely used, the high temperature typically needed may trigger undesirable side-effects, like uncontrolled polymerization of the terminal alkene. In this contribution, we show that this high-temperature method for installing aromatic and aliphatic ligands on non-thermal plasma-synthesized Si QDs can be replaced with a low-temperature, radical-initiated hydrosilylation method. Materials prepared via this low-temperature route perform similarly to those created via high-temperature thermal hydrosilylation when used in triplet fusion photon upconversion systems, suggesting the utility of low-temperature, radical-initiated methods for creating Si QDs with a range of functional behavior.
Qualitative Analysis of Treatment Needs in Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome: Implications for Intervention

Background: Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a debilitating condition carrying substantial psychosocial burden. Psychological treatment for IC/BPS is little studied, and ther...
Assessing specific-capacity data and short-term aquifer testing to estimate hydraulic properties in alluvial aquifers of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado, USA

Abstract Study Region Rocky Mountains, United States Study Focus Groundwater-flow modeling requires estimates of hydraulic properties, namely hydraulic conductivity. Hydraulic conductivity values commonly vary over orders of magnitudes however and estimation may require extensive field campaigns applying slug or pumping tests. As an alternative, specific-capacity tests can be used to estimate hydraulic properties for large areas when benchmarked with slug or pumping tests. This study combined aquifer testing with specific capacity data to estimate hydraulic properties in a large alluvial aquifer. New hydrological insights for region In the Wet Mountain Valley, Colorado, both slug tests and pumping tests were conducted, resulting in a likely range of hydraulic-conductivity values. Aquifer-testing results were related to specific-capacity data, a more spatially distributed dataset, to expand the area of aquifer characterization beyond the distribution of wells included in aquifer testing. Specific-capacity data were used in two ways: (1) a regression was built between specific-capacity values and transmissivity derived from aquifer testing; and (2) an iterative method was utilized to estimate transmissivity from specific capacity at all sites (including sites lacking aquifer tests). Study results indicate that there is a statistically significant difference between hydraulic-conductivity values estimated using the two approaches and that the regression method yields systematically greater values. These results indicate that careful consideration of methods that use specific capacity for extrapolating aquifer properties is warranted as bias could be introduced depending on the applied methodology.
Efficacy the of Confinement Policies on the COVID-19 Spread Dynamics in the Early Period of the Pandemic.

In this study, we propose a clustering-based approach on time-series data to capture COVID-19 spread patterns in the early period of the pandemic. We analyze the spread dynamics based on the early and post stages of COVID-19 for different countries based on different geographical locations. Furthermore, we investigate the confinement policies and the effect they made on the spread. We found that implementations of the same confinement policies exhibit different results in different countries. Specifically, lockdowns become less effective in densely populated regions, because of the reluctance to comply with social distancing measures. Lack of testing, contact tracing, and social awareness in some countries forestall people from self-isolation and maintaining social distance. Large labor camps with unhealthy living conditions also aid in high community transmissions in countries depending on foreign labor. Distrust in government policies and fake news instigate the spread in both developed and under-developed countries. Large social gatherings play a vital role in causing rapid outbreaks almost everywhere. While some countries were able to contain the spread by implementing strict and widely adopted confinement policies, some others contained the spread with the help of social distancing measures and rigorous testing capacity. An early and rapid response at the beginning of the pandemic is necessary to contain the spread, yet it is not always sufficient.
Oscillations and Waves: An Introduction

Simple Harmonic Oscillation Massona Spring Simple Harmonic Oscillator Equation LC Circuits Simple Pendula Compound Pendula Damped and Driven Harmonic Oscillation Damped Harmonic Oscillation Quality Factor LCR Circuits Driven Damped Harmonic Oscillation Driven LCR Circuits Transient Oscillator Response Coupled Oscillations Two Spring-Coupled Masses Two Coupled LC Circuits Three Spring-Coupled Masses Transverse Standing Waves Normal Modes of a Beaded String Normal Modes of a Uniform String General Time Evolution of a Uniform String Longitudinal Standing Waves Spring-Coupled Masses Longitudinal Waves on a Thin Elastic Rod Sound Waves in an Ideal Gas Fourier Analysis Traveling Waves Standing Waves in a Finite Continuous Medium Traveling Waves in an Infinite Continuous Medium Wave Interference Energy Conservation Transmission Lines Normal Reflection and Transmission at Interfaces Electromagnetic Waves Doppler Effect Wave Propagation in Inhomogeneous Media Multi-Dimensional Waves Plane Waves Three-Dimensional Wave Equation Cylindrical Waves Spherical Waves Oscillation of an Elastic Sheet Polarization of Electromagnetic Waves Laws of Geometric Optics Fresnel Relations Total Internal Reflection Sound Waves in Fluids Wave Pulses Fourier Transforms General Solution of One-Dimensional Wave Equation Bandwidth Dispersive Waves Pulse Propagation Electromagnetic Waves in Unmagnetized Plasmas Faraday Rotation Electromagnetic Wave Propagation in Conductors Waveguides Pulse Propagation in Two Dimensions Gravity Waves Wave Dragon Ships Ship Wakes Capillary Waves Wave Optics Introduction Two-Slit Interference Coherence Multi-Slit Interference Thin Film Interference One-Dimensional Fourier Optics Single-Slit Diffraction Multi-Slit Diffraction Two-Dimensional Fourier Optics Wave Mechanics Introduction Photoelectric Effect Electron Diffraction Representation of Waves via Complex Numbers Schrodinger's Equation Probability Interpretation of Wavefunction Wave Packets Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle Wavefunction Collapse Stationary States Three-Dimensional Wave Mechanics Particle in Finite Square Potential Well Square Potential Barrier Appendix A: Physical Constants Appendix B: Useful Mathematics Appendix C: Electromagnetic Theory Bibliography Index Exercises appear at the end of each chapter.
Fatigue Crack Propagation in Short-Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Nylon 66: Effect of Frequency

The fatigue crack propagation (FCP) response of nylon 66 and composites containing 16 and 31 vol. % short glass fibers was determined at frequencies of 1, 10, 50, and 100 Hz. The sensitivity to frequency was found to depend on glass content and, in the case of the pure matrix, on the value of the stress intensity factor range, ΔK.
Gauge Theories for Soliton Problems

Publisher Summary This chapter examines the gauge theories for soliton problems, focusing on lax equations and isospectral deformations. Some of the striking properties of the K d V equation are its Hamiltonian structure, an infinite number of conservation laws, an associated invariant (isospectral) scattering problem, and multi-soliton solutions. The first step in the Wahlquist–Estabroak program is to replace the evolution equation by an ideal of 2-forms closed under exterior differentiation. The Lax equations may be interpreted as the vanishing of the curvature of a connection as an integrability condition.
Clean Air Acts

National, provincial, state, or municipal authorities in most developed countries have established legislation or Acts to control air pollution emissions and to protect human health and the general environment. The US and UK Clean Air Acts are briefly summarized in this article. Keywords: air pollution; acid rain; smoke; ozone; human health
Comparison of pandemic and seasonal influenza A infections in pediatric patients: were they different?

Please cite this paper as: Song et al. (2012) Comparison of pandemic and seasonal influenza A infections in pediatric patients: were they different?. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 6(1), 25–27. This retrospective cohort study revealed that the presence of pandemic H1N1 influenza resulted in a 77.7% increase of patient visits in the emergency department for influenza like illnesses and a 67.2% increase of hospital days in our hospital by comparing to a regular influenza season (2008–2009 season). However, median length of hospital stay was no different in either period (pandemic: 3 days versus seasonal: 4 days, P = 0.06). Except for the patients hospitalized for pandemic H1N1 influenza (n = 111) were older (median age: 4.7 years versus 1.6 years, P = 0.04) and tended to have pre-existing asthma (21.6% versus 9.0%, P = 0.07) than those hospitalized for seasonal influenza A infections (n = 44), this study found no significant difference between the two comparison groups with regards of other clinical and epidemiological features.
CONNECTIVE LEARNING PEDAGOGY ENHANCES STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCES BY INFUSING CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS

This study is a descriptive analysis of a Connective Learning teaching technique that is based on visual intelligence infused with critical thinking skills. This technique helped students achieve higher performance in biology. Students scored 1.7 times higher grades than students who did not receive this supplemented instruction. Furthermore, students show enhanced retention and transfer of knowledge in their respective field of studies.
Cystic Kidney Disease: A Primer

Renal cystic diseases encompass a broad group of disorders with variable phenotypic expression. Cystic disorders can present during infancy, childhood, or adulthood. Often, but not always, they can be distinguished by the clinical features including age at presentation, renal imaging characteristics, including cyst distribution, and the presence/distribution of extrarenal manifestations. It is important to take the clinical context into consideration when assessing renal cystic disease in children and adults. For example, solitary kidney cysts may be completely benign when they develop during adulthood but may represent early polycystic kidney disease when observed during childhood. In this review, we have categorized renal cystic disease according to inherited single-gene disorders, for example, autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease; syndromic disorders associated with kidney cysts, for example, tuberous sclerosis complex; and nongenetic forms of renal cystic disease, for example, simple kidney cysts. We present an overview of the clinical characteristics, genetics (when appropriate), and molecular pathogenesis and the diagnostic evaluation and management of each renal cystic disease. We also provide an algorithm that distinguishes kidney cysts based on their clinical features and may serve as a helpful diagnostic tool for practitioners. A review of Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Disease was excluded as this disorder was reviewed in this journal in March 2010, volume 17, issue 2.
IMAGING HELIOSPHERIC SHOCKS USING ENERGETIC NEUTRAL ATOMS

In order to explore the feasibility of energetic neutral atom (ENA) imaging of shock-associated energetic proton populations in the heliosphere, computer-simulated ENA images have been generated based on Voyager 1/2 energetic ion measurements. One favorable vantage point for ENA shock imaging is from the Cassini spacecraft's orbit around Saturn at 10 AU. These images, calibrated relative to the measured shock-associated proton fluxes, yield an absolute estimate of ENA fluxes which indicates that useful heliospheric ENA imaging can be accomplished with present technology.
Cloning and characterization of a glutamine transport operon of Bacillus stearothermophilus NUB36: effect of temperature on regulation of transcription.

Abstract We cloned and sequenced a fragment of the Bacillus stearothermophilus NUB36 chromosome that contains two open reading frames (ORFs) whose products were detected only in cells of cultures grown in complex medium at high temperature. The nucleotide sequence of the two ORFs exhibited significant identity to the sequence of the glnQ and glnH loci of the glutamine transport system in enteric bacteria. In addition, growth response to glutamine, sensitivity to the toxic glutamine analog gamma-L-glutamylhydrazide, and glutamine transport assays with parental strain NUB3621 and mutant strain NUB36500, in which the ORF1 coding segment in the chromosome was interrupted with the cat gene, demonstrated that glnQ and glnH encode proteins that are active in the glutamine transport system in B. stearothermophilus. The inferred promoter for the glnQH operon exhibited a low homology to the -35 and -10 regions of the consensus promoter sequences of Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli genes. In addition, the inferred promoter for the glnQH operon also exhibited a low homology with the consensus promoter sequence deduced from the sequences of the promoters of nine different genes from B. stearothermophilus. Transcription of the glnQH operon was activated in a nitrogen-rich medium at high temperature and inhibited under the same conditions at low temperature. Transcription of the glnQH operon was partially activated in a nitrogen-poor medium at low temperature. The region upstream from glnQ contains sequences that have a low homology with the nitrogen regulator I-binding sequences and the nitrogen-regulated promoters of enteric bacteria. The effect of temperature on the regulation of the glnQH operon is discussed.
Breast MR imaging: applications and pitfalls.

Context Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging provides better detail of the breast than either mammography or ultrasound imaging and can be a valuable adjunct to other imaging techniques, particularly for small lesions, in dense or augmented breasts and for treatment planning. Objective To illustrate some common technical problems encountered with MR imaging of the breast and present breast pathologies depicted with MR. Results Using a case-study approach, the authors discuss breast MR imaging difficulties related to hardware, software, technologist performance and patient cooperation. They also present examples of contralateral breast cancer, recurrent breast carcinoma and local staging of breast cancer with MR imaging. Summary MR imaging of the breast has important advantages over other techniques, despite occasional technical problems.
Compressive rendering of multidimensional scenes

Recently, we proposed the idea of using compressed sensing to reconstruct the 2D images produced by a rendering system, a process we called compressive rendering. In this work, we present the natural extension of this idea to multidimensional scene signals as evaluated by a Monte Carlo rendering system. Basically, we think of a distributed ray tracing system as taking point samples of a multidimensional scene function that is sparse in a transform domain. We measure a relatively small set of point samples and then use compressed sensing algorithms to reconstruct the original multidimensional signal by looking for sparsity in a transform domain. Once we reconstruct an approximation to the original scene signal, we can integrate it down to a final 2D image which is output by the rendering system. This general form of compressive rendering allows us to produce effects such as depth-of-field, motion blur, and area light sources, and also renders animated sequences efficiently.
Purification of egg-yolk proteins from the antarctic fish Chaenocephalus aceratus

Abstract 1. 1. Vitellogenin-derived yolk proteins from an antarctic teleost Chaenocephalus aceratus were separated and partially characterized by use of hydroxyapatite column chromatography followed by SDS-7.5% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. 2. 2. Nine distinct species of proteins were separated by gel electrophoresis and the distribution of all nine polypeptides throughout a broad range of phosphate gradient elution of hydroxyapatite-bound proteins suggested that all yolk proteins in this teleost were phosphorylated to varying degrees. 3. 3. Protein and phosphate determinations of delipidated fractions obtained from hydroxyapatite chromatography supported the above hypothesis. 4. 4. Molecular weights of the proteins were estimated according to the method of Ferguson by comparison with the mobilities of known standard proteins in SDS-polyacrylamide gel.
The ecological significance of solar UV radiation on aquatic organisms

Stratospheric ozone shields the Earth from much of the solar UV – B radiation which is the most biologically injurious component of sunlight. It is possible that both human technologies and natural events, such as reversal of the Earth's magnetic polarity, might lead to significant ozone reductions. The methodology of evaluation of the impact of an agent such as solar UV on organisms or ecosystems has not been firmly established and there has been little research in this area in the past. A new approach is proposed here. If solar UV were an important injurious factor in nature, then living organisms would be required to expend energy to cope with the solar UV exposure they receive. If organisms must specifically mitigate solar UV injury, then it would be expected that only a minimal tolerance would be achieved. We have quantitatively estimated exposure and tolerance of a number of aquatic organisms and find them to be remarkably similar.
Fine range-motion simulation for hardware-in-the-loop testing of monostatic-pulsed LFM radars

Frequency stepping is an established technique for increasing the range resolution of pulsed Linear Frequency Modulation (LFM, or chirp) radar waveforms [1]. When a monostatic radar system employs this waveform for increased range resolution measurements on an object with motion relative to the radar platform, simple changes in the received waveform arise, requiring fine motion compensation on a per-pulse basis. These motion effects include phase, frequency and frequency slope offsets which vary according to the transmitted pulse frequency and frequency rate, and the object range and range rate. All three offsets are easily compensated by complementary offsets in Direct Digital Synthesizer outputs used to form frequency conversion LO signals in the radar receiver. Radars employing stepped frequency LFM waveforms may be tested in a Hardware-in-the-Loop (HWIL) facility in simulations involving scenes or objects with radar-relative motion. Under these conditions, the motion effects on the radar receiver input signals must be accurately computed, synthesized and must modify the transmit signal prior to its return to the receiver. Engineers at the U.S. Army AMRDEC Advanced Simulation Center have developed signal processing techniques for accurate simulation of fine range motion effects to support HWIL testing of pulsed LFM radar systems. This paper provides an analysis of the signal processing involved for a simple model of an HWIL RF signal generation chain. Some results are presented from successful application of the motion simulation methods in an HWIL test setting.
Cooking with gas: Policy lessons from Rwanda's National Domestic Biogas Program (NDBP)

The Rwandan government, in partnership with international donors, began its National Domestic Biogas Program (NDBP) in 2007. The NDBP, with an initial budget of $14.1 million, was to develop a commercially viable Rwandan biogas sector and build 15,000 family sized biogas plants throughout the country by 2011. As of August, 2012, however, the NDBP had installed only 2600 units. This study explores what happened. It introduces readers to the rural energy situation in Rwanda, describes the history and benefits of the NDBP, and then discusses the barriers that explain its limited success. These barriers include lack of familiarity with biogas technology, and minimal institutional capacity following the Rwandan genocide. Other challenges include inadequate suppliers and maintenance personnel, limited financing and the bulk of biogas digester costs befalling households, and an inadequate marketing and awareness campaign. The study concludes by noting that government support and collaboration with all relevant stakeholders and the development of private sector capacity is vital to the successful implementation of renewable energy technology. It also notes that market-oriented approaches to renewable energy sector development require consistent and sustained efforts on behalf of the international community and the public sector, and that promoting and extolling the benefits of a new technology can be essential to overcoming societal resistance.
Suppression of excitatory synaptic transmission can facilitate low-calcium epileptiform activity in the hippocampus in vivo

Abstract It has been reported that the inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) is abolished before the excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) when the extracellular concentration of Ca2+ ([Ca2+]o) is removed gradually in hippocampal slices. However, the low-Ca2+ nonsynaptic epileptiform activity does not appear until the [Ca2+]o is decreased to a level sufficient to depress the excitatory synaptic transmission. This suggests the hypothesis that the suppression of excitatory synaptic transmission itself could facilitate the generation of epileptiform activity. In the present study, we tested this hypothesis and developed a new model of nonsynaptic epileptiform activity by gradually raising the neuronal excitability and blocking the synaptic transmission with high K+, zero Ca2+ and calcium chelator ethylene glycol-bis (β-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) in the CA1 region of hippocampus in vivo. The changes of synaptic transmission and recurrent inhibitory activity during this process were evaluated by measuring the amplitude of the population spikes (PS) in response to paired-pulse orthodromic stimulation. The results show that the epileptiform activity appeared only when the excitatory synaptic transmission was depressed by further lowering [Ca2+]o with EGTA. Similar epileptiform activity could be induced when EGTA was replaced by the excitatory postsynaptic amino acid antagonists d -(−)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (APV) plus 6,7-dinitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX) or APV alone but not DNQX alone. The combination application of APV and cadmium enhanced the epileptiform activity. These results suggest that the suppression of excitatory synaptic transmission can facilitate the appearance of epileptiform activity in solution with high K+ and low Ca2+ in vivo. These data provide new information to be considered in the development of antiepileptic drugs. They also suggest a possible mechanism to explain the fact that low-frequency electrical stimulation can suppress epileptiform activity.
Texture analysis — a survey

Abstract Texture is the term used to characterize the surface of a given object or phenomenon and it is undoubtedly one of the main features used in image processing and pattern recognition. It is commonly agreed that texture analysis plays a fundamental role in classifying and outlining the significant regions of a given gray level image. Texture can be seen in images ranging from multispectral remote sensed data to microscopic images. A solution to the texture analysis problem will greatly advance the image processing and pattern recognition fields and it will also bring much benefit to many possible industrial applications. This survey presents the state-of-the-art in the texture analysis field and it includes also its relation to scientific fields like artificial intelligence and visual perception. The paper outlines the main issues and difficulties and then it presents most of the relevant methods used today in texture analysis. We conclude by outlining directions for future research as they are perceived today in the image processing community.
The effects of carbogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen on noise-induced hearing loss

An investigation into the effect of Carbogen (95% 0, /5% CO,), 5% CO, /air, and 100% oxygen on cochlear threshold shifts caused by noise was undertaken. Five groups of eight pigmented guinea pigs were exposed to 105 dB broad band noise for 6 h per day for five consecutive days with each group receiving the various gaseous mixtures either during noise exposure or for 1 h immediately after noise exposure. A control group received the same noise exposure but respired air. Auditory threshold shifts, as measured by the auditory evoked brainstem response, were measured at 2,4,8,12,16, 20 and 24 kHz. Recordings were taken pre-exposure and at Day 1, 3, 5, and Weeks 2 and 3 after noise exposure. Carbogen, given during noise exposure, resulted in a trend toward less post noise exposure threshold shift (as compared to controls) which reached statistical significance by Week 3 at all frequencies except 2 and 20 kHz. Subjects given Carbogen after exposure also showed a general trend toward decreased noise induced threshold shifts, as compared to controls, but this was not statistically significant. The mixture of 5% CO, /air given during noise exposure yielded no difference in threshold shifts as compared to controls. When 100% oxygen was administered during noise exposure, a marked decrease in noise induced threshold shifts could be seen as compared to controls, with differences reaching statistical significance by day 5 at most frequencies. These results indicate that oxygen (i.e. cochlear-oxygenation) is a more important factor than CO, (i.e., as a vasodilator) in protection of the cochlea from noise induced damage. Guinea pig; Auditory brainstem response; Temporary threshold shift; Temperature
Biology of Ticks

Ticks are among the most significant blood-sucking arthropods worldwide. They transmit various pathogens that can cause disease and death in people, domesticated animals, and wildlife. Ticks have several morphologic features and physiologic mechanisms that facilitate host selection, ingestion of vertebrate blood, mating, survival, and reproduction. Although the natural history of ticks varies considerably among species, these arthropods are well-adapted to survive in tropical, temperate, and even subarctic habitats. Key factors, including the reversion of agricultural lands to forests and a close association between people and ticks, have greatly increased the risk of tick bite and human disease.
An XML description of detector geometries for geant4

Abstract A code has been developed that enables the geometry of detectors to be specified easily and flexibly in the XML language, for use in the Monte Carlo program geant 4. The user can provide clear documentation of the geometry without being proficient in the C++ language of geant 4. The features and some applications are discussed.
Polymorphic specificity of Q1/28, a monoclonal antibody that preferentially reacts with free class I heavy chains.

The Q1/28 monoclonal antibody (mAb) reacts with class I HLA heavy chains, either when free or bound to /32-microglobulin (/32-m). Subsequent to the initial description of Q 1/28 by Quaranta and co-workers (1981), the target epitope for the antibody was mapped to the o~ 3 domain of the class I heavy chain (Engelhard et al. 1985) and found to be present on HLA-B7 but not HLA-A2 heavy chains (Parham et al. 1987). To further investigate the polymorphic specificity of Q 1/28 we measured its binding to a panel of CIR cells which had been transfected with different class I HLA-A and B genes (Storkus et al. 1987). CIR is a mutant human B cell line that expresses HLA-Cw4 and low levels of HLA-B35 as the only endogenous class I HLA products (Zemmour et al. 1992). Flow cytometric analysis (Table 1) showed Q1/28 bound to HLA-B7 and B27, but not to HLA-A2, A68, or A69 molecules. Low but significant binding of Q1/28 to untransfected CIR cells was also observed, indicating the endogenous Cw4 and/or B35 molecules were also reactive. Isoelectric focusing (IEF) of immunoprecipitates from biosynthetically radioloabeled B-cell lines confirmed that Q1/28 reacted with B27 but not A2 and also revealed positive reactions with A3, A11, and B35, and a negative reaction with A31 (Fig. 1). Transfectants of the LCL721 cell line, which expresses no endogenous class I HLA molecules, with HLA-E,G and with a hybrid of the A2 and HLA-F genes containing exon 3 of HLA-F were also examined for binding to Q1/28. Reactivity was observed with HLA-E and the A2/F construct but not with HLA-G. As HLA-A2 does not bind Q1/28, the positive reactivity with the A2/F hybrid indicates the ~3 domain of the HLA-F heavy chain is positive for the epitope. Q1/28 reactivity correlated with amino acid substitutions at positions 193,207, and 253 in the e~ 3 domain of
The Biology of CD2: Adhesion, Transmembrane Signal, and Regulatory Receptor of Immunity

Cluster of differentiation antigen-two (CD2) is a transmembrane, cell surface glycoprotein found on many lymphocyte subsets. It is a member of the immunoglobulin-gene superfamily and was originally described as an adhesion molecule, strengthening the physical interaction between responder and antigen-presenting cells and between effector and target cells. More recently, numerous studies show important receptor functions for CD2, which transmits a variety of intracellular second messages after interaction with one or more separate extracellular ligands. These second messengers modify the function of additional cell surface adhesion receptors including CD3 and LFA-1. A model is proposed which integrates several of these adhesion-receptor-messenger systems and experimental data supporting the validity of this model during cell-mediated immunity are presented. CD2 serves as a paradigm for the multitude of adhesion-receptors now being described and characterized. Detailed understanding of each molecule will allow synthesis of an integrated understanding of cellular and molecular interaction during immunity.
EMPIRICAL BAYES ESTIMATION FOR FIRST‐ORDER AUTOREGRESSIVE PROCESSES

Summary Large sample properties of an empirical Bayes estimate for a first order autoregressive process are obtained with respect to both the empirical Bayes and the frequentist frameworks.
Comparison of two dosage regimens of albuterol in acute asthma

Abstract Background: The standard therapy for acute episodes of asthma in the United States consists of three 2.5-mg doses of aerosolized albuterol given every 20 minutes. Whether this approach represents optimum therapy has never been tested. Methods: This study employed a prospective, sequential design in which the effects of two doses of 5.0 mg of aerosolized albuterol administered during 40 minutes (high dose) were contrasted with the standard dose (three 2.5-mg doses). Improvements in pulmonary function, clinical resolution of the asthma attacks, and admission rates were used as primary endpoints. Both regimens were part of an overall care plan that involved objective, pretested decision algorithms. Results: In an emergency department, 160 patients who presented with acute exacerbations of asthma received either standard (n = 80) or high-dose (n = 80) albuterol treatment. There were no significant baseline differences in gender, racial composition, clinical signs and symptoms, medication use, or peak expiratory flow (PEF) between the groups. Both treatment schedules were effective, but the high-dose regimen increased lung function more rapidly and to a greater extent than standard-dose therapy. It also resulted in lower charges to third party payers. More subjects attained the discharge criteria quicker and left the emergency department with peak expiratory flows closer to normal. Fewer patients in the high-dose group were admitted, but this trend did not quite reach statistical significance. Conclusions: Two 5.0-mg treatments of aerosolized albuterol at a 40-minute interval provide effective therapy for acute exacerbations of asthma. This combination of dose and frequency promotes maximum bronchodilatation, increases efficiency, and reduces the risks of undertreatment.
Nonamphiphilic assembly in water: polymorphic nature, thread structure, and thermodynamic incompatibility.

Self-assembly of large quantities of entirely water-soluble molecules is entropically challenging. In this work, we describe the design and synthesis of water-soluble aromatic (dichromonyl) molecules that can form nonamphiphilic assemblies and the so-called chromonic liquid crystal phase in water. We discover a new molecule, 5′DSCG-diviol, that exhibits a large birefringent phase, and we show that the formation of this unique class of nonamphiphilic lyotropic liquid crystal shares enormous similarity to the polymorphism observed for crystal formation. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) revealed a concentration-independent rod-shaped assembly at concentrations below and above the formation of liquid crystal phase. Adding a small percentage of monoanionic aromatic molecules to the liquid crystal resulted in the elimination of the liquid crystal phase, but addition of dianionic aromatic molecules retained the liquid crystal phase. Together, these results suggest a new assembly structure for nonamphiphilic...
Groundwater's dynamic role in regulating acidity and chemistry in a precipitation-dominated lake

Abstract The role of groundwater in regulating the hydrologic and chemical regime ofan “acid-susceptible” lake situated in a sandy silicate aquifer in northern Wisconsin was determined by direct groundwater measurements using a network of 68 piezometers. Groundwater inputs were compared with precipitation and dryfall components of the hydrologic and chemical budgets for the lake. Groundwater contributed only 10% of the water to Crystal Lake in 1982 but was the major source of alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, silicon, and chloride. Precipitation contributed 90% of the water and was the major source of hydrogen and sulfate ions. Continuing analyses suggest that groundwater consistently supplies the bulk of the inoorganic constituents to the lake on annual basis. The flux of groundwater and dissolved solids to the lake is highly seasonal, with large pulses of groundwater inflow occuring after spring snowmelt and in the fall. For certain nonconservative elements such as silicon, the periodic influx of chemically concentrated groundwater can trigger significant changes in the chemical and biological balance in the lake. Despite the fact that the aquifer contains no carbonate minerals and the area experiences acid precipitation (pH = 4.6), the alkalinity of the small amount of groundwater entering Crystal Lake is more than enough to neutralize all of the acidity contributed by precipitation. In-lake sulfate reduction may generate an equal amount of alkalinity. This buffering of pH helps to regulate aluminum concentrations at low levels, thus minimizing potential aluminum toxicity in the lake. Most lakes in the region probably receive even larger amounts of alkalinity-rich groundwater than Crystal Lake, because most lie further downgradient in the regional flow system. This may help to explain why most lakes in this “acid-susceptible” area are no more acidic today than they were 50 years ago.
DNA methylation is widespread across social Hymenoptera

Summary Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic phenomenon by which the expression of a gene is influenced by the parent from which it is inherited. The evolutionary causes of imprinting are mysterious but it is likely to represent a form of within-genome conflict [1]. For instance, alleles inherited from the father and the mother will be in conflict over treatment of relatives to which they are differently related. In this context, natural selection may favor alleles with effects that differ depending on the allele's parental origin [1,2]. This ‘kinship theory of imprinting' has been developed and tested largely in the context of parental provisioning of offspring [1,2]. Given their haplodiploid genetic system and interspecific variation in social traits, the Hymenoptera (ants, bees, and wasps) provide a large variety of novel contexts in which to examine this theory [2]. However, aside from evidence that imprinting determines sex in the parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis [3], and a QTL that appears to be paternally inherited in the honeybee [4], nothing is known about imprinting in this group of animals. Here we provide evidence that CpG methylation, a hallmark of imprinting, is ubiquitously present in social insects but the proportion of methylated sites varies substantially among species and developmental stages.
Obesity and right ventricular structure and function: the MESA-RV study

Introduction The relationship between obesity and right ventricle (RV) has been inadequately studied due to difficulty in imaging its more complex geometry by echocardiography. While obesity associated RV diastolic dysfunction has been shown, inconclusive data exists regarding systolic function. We aimed to determine the association between obesity and RV structure and function by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a large multi-ethnic cohort.
Cumulative slant path rain attenuation statistics associated with the Comstar beacon at 28.56 GHz for Wallops Island, VA

Cumulative slant path rain attenuation statistics at 28.56 GHz are given for the year period April 1, 1977 through March 31, 1978 for Wallops Island, VA. These results were arrived at using the direct measurements of a beacon signal emanating from the Comstar geosynchronous satellite. Yearly, monthly, and time-of-day fade statistics are presented and characterized. In addition, a 19.04-GHz yearly fade distribution, corresponding to a second Comstar beacon frequency, is predicted using the concept of effective path length, disdrometer, and rain-rate results. Specifically, it is shown that the yearly attenuation and rain-rate distributions follow with good approximation lognormal variations for most fade and rain-rate levels, respectively. Attenuations were exceeded for the longest and shortest periods of times for all fades in August and February, respectively. These months thus represented the "worst" and "best" months at all attenuation levels. The eight-hour time period showing the maximum and minimum number of minutes over the year for which fades exceeded 12 dB were approximately between 1600-2400, and 0400-1200 h (local time), respectively. In employing the predictive method for obtaining the 19.04-GHz fade distribution, it is demonstrated theoretically that the ratio of attenuations at two frequencies is minimally dependent on raindrop-size distribution, providing these frequencies are not widely separated (such as 28 and 19 GHz).
Transport properties of alumina-supported MFI membranes made by secondary (seeded) growth

Abstract Zeolite MFI membranes with thicknesses in the range of 1–40 μm have been prepared by hydrothermal growth of colloidal silicalite-1 seed crystals of particle sizes ∼100 nm deposited on the surface of α-Al2O3 porous support disks. These membranes exhibit attractive separation characteristics as judged by permeation measurements with butane and xylene isomers. At 22°C, the permeation flux of n-butane and the n-butane/isobutane ratio from 50 kPa/50 kPa binary mixtures vary in the range of 1.0–4.0 mmol m−2 s−1 and 30–70, respectively. The n-butane flux exhibited a dependence on temperature and feed partial pressure consistent with activated diffusion of an adsorbed phase obeying Langmuir isotherm but was rather insensitive to the membrane thickness. For the best membranes, the single-component p-xylene flux and the p-xylene/o-xylene flux ratio at 100°C was in the range of 10–30 μmol m−2 s−1 and 30–130, respectively. The permeation flux of o-xylene increases dramatically in the presence of p-xylene resulting in a substantial loss in para/ortho selectivity (maximum of ∼5), an effect that may be attributed to the flexibility of the MFI framework in the presence of molecules with a close fit to its framework. At 100°C para/ortho selectivities ( > 20) are observed when the p-xylene feed partial pressure is below 0.05 kPa.
The nature of belief systems in mass publics (1964)

(2006). The nature of belief systems in mass publics (1964) Critical Review: Vol. 18, Democratic Competence, pp. 1-74.
Liver-targeting of primaquine-(poly-γ-glutamic acid) and its degradation in rat hepatocytes

Abstract We have synthesized poly-γ-glutamic acid (PGA) modified with a synthetic trivalent glyco-ligand (TriGalNAc) for the hepatocyte asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP-R). We investigated in vivo distribution of unmodified PGA and TriGalNAc-modified PGA (TriGalNAc-PGA) in mice after intravenous injection. Most of unmodified PGA administered was transported to the bladder over 20–80 min, suggesting a rapid excretion of unmodified PGA into urine. In contrast, TriGalNAc-PGA was found exclusively in the liver over the same period of time. We further synthesized TriGalNAc-PGA–primaquine conjugate (TriGalNAc-PGA–PQ), and investigated binding, uptake, and catabolism of the conjugate by rat hepatocytes. Our studies indicated that approximately 250 ng per million cells of the conjugate bound to one million rat hepatocytes at 0 °C, and approximately 2 μg per million cells of the conjugate was taken up over 7 h incubation at 37 °C. Furthermore, our results suggested that TriGalNAc-PGA–PQ was almost completely degraded over 24 h, and small degradation products were secreted into cell culture medium. The results described in this report suggest that the TriGalNAc ligand can serve as an excellent targeting device for delivery of PGA-conjugates to the liver hepatocytes, and rat hepatocytes possess sufficient capacity to digest PGA even modified with other substituents.
Viscoelastic behaviour at the thermal sol-gel transition of gelatin

Abstract Rheological studies of gelatin solutions in the concentration range 4–14% were performed through the sol-gel transition as a function of concentration, pH and ionic strength. At the gel point, a power-law frequency dependence of the viscoelastic functions G′(ω), G″(ω) and η∗(ω) was observed. The power-law exponents n obtained from these dynamic measurements were confirmed by creep experiments and are in agreement with a previous study in a lower concentration range, 1–5%. Under all conditions, the n values fall between 0.64 and 0.72, a range consistent with theoretical treatments of Martin et al. and Muthukumar et al. The critical gel strength, S, increases with concentration approximately as S ∝ C1.33 in the concentration range 4–14%. Within experimental error, S is approximately consistent with an empirical relation suggested in the recent literature, S = G1 − neηno, where Ge and ηo are, respectively, the equilibrium modulus of the fully developed gel and the shear viscosity of the initial sol. The implications of these observations with respect to the structure of the critical gel are discussed.
The importance of everyday encounters: young scholars reflect on fieldwork in Africa

This edited series explores the experiences of conducting field-based geographic research in an African setting with a particular focus on the importance of everyday encounters and relationships. As graduate students preparing for fieldwork, we spend much time thinking about and planning our research methods, yet it is often only when we begin our work that we realize the ways in which seemingly mundane acts, encounters and events shape and influence the kinds of knowledge we produce. With this mini-special issue we aim firstly to make space for the rich and valuable methodological reflections of graduate students who have recently returned from the field, voices we less frequently hear in the pages of scholarly journals. Secondly, we aim to contribute to the well-established work on critical methodologies in Geography and to prompt wider debate, discussion and collaboration within African Geographies in particular. The series includes three pieces from young scholars working in a diverse range of geograp...