cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Relative Profitability of Sustainable Grain Cropping Systems: A Meta-Analytic Comparison

ABSTRACT Studies of the profitability of organic and no-till grain cropping systems relative to that of conventional systems were compared and analyzed. In all, enough information was collected from the literature for 321 separate profitability results including 120 direct comparisons of organic production to conventional and 144 no-till vs. conventional direct comparisons for North American grains for a meta-analysis. The first part of the analysis was a standard, descriptive summary of the data. This showed that the relative profitability of organic production was, on average, higher for corn and grain sorghum and if the research was conducted at a research experiment station. No-till averaged higher profitability in on-farm trials and with oilseeds, corn and grain sorghum in the descriptive analysis. Then the study proceeded with a meta-analysis of the economic comparisons. The meta-analysis results indicated that study location (Eastern, Central or Western North America) was a key factor in explaining...
AP-domains and unique factorization

Abstract In this paper we generalize the standard notion of unique factorization domains to the nonatomic situation. The main result of this paper is that, in contrast to the atomic situation, the assumption that every irreducible is prime (atoms prime) and the notion that every (atomic) nonzero nonunit can be factored uniquely into irreducible elements are distinct notions.
Gravity waves generated by sounds from big bang phase transitions

Inhomogeneities associated with the cosmological QCD and electroweak phase transitions produce hydrodynamical perturbations, longitudinal sounds and rotations. It has been demonstrated by Hindmarsh et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 112, 041301 (2014)] that the sounds produce gravity waves well after the phase transition is over. We further argue that, under certain conditions, an inverse acoustic cascade may occur and move sound perturbations from the (UV) momentum scale at which the sound is originally produced to much smaller (IR) momenta. The weak turbulence regime of this cascade is studied via the Boltzmann equation, possessing stationary power and time-dependent self-similar solutions. We suggest certain indices for the strong turbulence regime as well, into which the cascade eventually proceeds. Finally, we point out that two on-shell sound waves can produce one on-shell gravity wave, and we evaluate the rate of the process using a standard sound loop diagram.
Exploiting feature dynamics for active object recognition

This paper describes a new approach to object recognition for active vision systems that integrates information across multiple observations of an object. The approach exploits the order relationship between successive frames to derive a classifier based on the characteristic motion of local features across visual sweeps. This motion model reveals structural information about the object that can be exploited for recognition. The main contribution of this paper is a recognition system that extends invariant local features (shape contexts) into the time domain by integration of a motion model. Evaluations on one standardized and one custom collected dataset from the humanoid robot in our laboratory demonstrate that the motion model allows higher-quality hypotheses about object categories quicker than a baseline system that treats object views as unordered streams of images.
Changing occlusal variation in Pima Amerinds

Occlusal variables and arch measurements have been recorded on 341 Pima Amerinds pertaining to two samples, one of older individuals raised on traditional diets, the other of younger individuals raised on refined commercial foods that are typical of modern urbanized people. Permanent dental occlusion is significantly more variable from defined ideals in the younger sample, despite their fewer deformities resulting from progressive aging. The youths had relatively narrower palates, correlating with a general trend among industrialized populations and also among experimental animals fed soft diets. Relative rate of deciduous tooth loss and replacement did not correlate with any occlusal variable.
Limited parotidectomy: the role of extracapsular dissection in parotid gland neoplasms.

Objective: Surgical techniques for parotid gland neoplasm removal have been shaped over the years by the importance of the gland's relationship with the facial nerve, histologic behavior of parotid tumors, and recurrence rates from specific techniques. Parotidectomy with facial nerve dissection has become the procedure of choice in removal of parotid gland neoplasms because of the resulting low recurrence rate. However, these more comprehensive dissections can cause significant postoperative complications, some cosmetically devastating. We propose that a more limited dissection yields a similar low recurrence rate but with less risk of complications. Study Design: Retrospective case series. Methods: A retrospective review of the clinical outcomes and pathology of 27 patients who underwent extracapsular dissection for parotid gland neoplasms. Results: All tumors were located in the superficial lobe of the parotid gland and size of the masses ranged from 4.0 to 1.0 cm (mean 2.4 cm) in diameter. Pathology of the parotid tumors consisted of 11 pleomorphic adenomas, six Warthin's tumors, six benign epithelial cysts, one sarcoid lesion, two lymphoid hyperplasia, and one Kaposi's sarcoma. There were no cases of capsular rupture. There was no temporary or permanent facial paralysis and no incidence of Frey's syndrome. One patient developed a sialocele, which was aspirated and resolved after 3 months. There were no recurrences with follow-up times between 5 months and 6 years (mean 41 mo). Conclusion: We advocate extracapsular dissection for benign parotid neoplasms because of the acceptable recurrence rates with limited complications as compared to superficial parotidectomy.
Pathogenesis of Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis

Onset of multiple sclerosis in childhood occurs in 3-5% of patients. There is limited, but growing knowledge about the underlying pathobiology of pediatric MS. It is crucial to better understand this area in order to address central questions in the field: 1) Can pediatric multiple sclerosis inform us about factors related to disease initiation and propagation? 2) What are the biomarkers of disease course in pediatric multiple sclerosis; 3) Does pediatric multiple sclerosis pathogenesis differ from adult-onset multiple sclerosis; 4) How can we optimize treatment in pediatric demyelinating diseases? 5) Can pediatric multiple sclerosis provide insights into the environmental risk factors for multiple sclerosis in general? Here we review the current knowledge of the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis in children, and address the five questions raised above.
The Effect of Edible Coatings and Pressure Frying Using Nitrogen Gas on the Quality of Breaded Fried Chicken Nuggets

: The effects of 2 edible coatings, methylcellulose (MC) and whey protein isolate (WPI), and 2 pressure sources (nitrogen gas and steam) on the quality attributes (crispness, moisture and fat content, juiciness, color, and texture) of breaded fried chicken nuggets were evaluated. MC or WPI was incorporated into either the pre-dust or the batter before frying. Chicken nuggets were fried in a modified restaurant-type pressure fryer under a constant pressure of 163 kPa at 175°C for 240 s. Samples were held under a heat lamp at 60°C for 0-, 10-, 20-, and 30-min time intervals. Crispness was evaluated using a nondestructive ultrasonic technique. Coating type and pressure source had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on all quality attributes. Chicken nuggets fried using nitrogen gas were crispier (P < 0.05) than those fried with steam. The treatment combination of MC incorporated into the pre-dust and frying with nitrogen gas was the most effective at maintaining product crispness.
Hypnosis and the addictions: A critical review

Abstract The use of hypnosis as a treatment for the addictions has generally been done in a vacuum ignoring the progress made in behavior therapy and self-control techniques. Recent developments in experimental hypnosis and experimental imagery work have clarified the nature of the hypnotic process. Yet these important distinctions have not been reflected in research in hypnosis and the addictions. A new model of hypnosis, the hypnotic skills model, is presented. This model is compatible with recent trends in experimental hypnosis and behavior therapy, especially self-control research. It is argued that use of the skills model in evaluating potential contributions of hypnosis to addiction research will be very valuable. These potential benefits include clarification of essential variables potent in addictions treatment, potential improvement in treatment success, and refinement of self-control, maintenance and generalization strategies.
A New Intellectual Framework for Psychiatry

In an attempt to place psychiatric thinking and the training of future psychiatrists more centrally into the context of modern biology, the author outlines the beginnings of a new intellectual framework for psychiatry that derives from current biological thinking about the relationship of mind to brain. The purpose of this framework is twofold. First, it is designed to emphasize that the professional requirements for future psychiatrists will demand a greater knowledge of the structure and functioning of the brain than is currently available in most training programs. Second, it is designed to illustrate that the unique domain which psychiatry occupies within academic medicine, the analysis of the interaction between social and biological determinants of behavior, can best be studied by also having a full understanding of the biological components of behavior.
Mycoplasmas of goats and sheep.

The goat is an important commodity in many areas of the world, where it is kept as a source of meat, milk, and fiber. Often described as the “poor man’s cow,” the goat can survive in areas where a cow cannot and, therefore, replaces the cow in importance for a large segment of the world’s population. Improved goat husbandry will help maximize human food supplies from marginal agricultural lands under restrictive climatologic circumstances. Among the important goat diseases, mycoplasmal infections result in significant losses on the African continent and in countries such as Greece, France, Inassigned an arbitrary serotype number, except for ureaplasmas, which will be referred to as Ureaplasma spp. under a single serotype. To retain continuity with previous reports, serotype numbers for unclassified mycoplasmas are retained as originally listed in other reports. Three strains, Mycoplasma spp. G, U, and V, were first isolated from the external ear canals of clinically normal goats in Australia but also occur in the ear canals of goats in the United States (strains GM274B or GM790A, GM623, and GM257A, respectively) and are probably new mycoplasma species. New evdia, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and the United States. idence suggests that one of these serotypes (identical Morbidity and mortality can reach 100%. Several imto Mycoplasma sp. G or the US serologic equivalents portant outbreaks have been described, including 1 [strains GM274B or GM790A]) are pathogenic for the that required the destruction of an entire herd of 700 goat. goats in the United States. The list of mycoplasma serotypes given herein repClinical mycoplasmosis often lacks pathognomonic resents only those that differ from the other serotypes characteristics, and symptoms can be shared by or can named in this report, with the exception of strain mimic other clinically significant infections. As a conAl 343, which could not be obtained for comparison. sequence, the diagnosis of an acute caprine mycoplasThus, some publications list isolates as “unclassified” ma1 infection can be easily misinterpreted, even by the or “unspeciated” mycoplasma of goat or sheep oriveterinarian. For example, in acute or peracute infecgin 14,67,91 These mycoplasmas, and undoubtedly many tions with Mycoplasma capricolum or caprine strains others, are not included here because they were not of M. mycoides ssp. mycoides, the animal can die suddenly without premonitory signs. In such cases, the histologic sented for picion of gorized as changes are slight, and cases that are preroutine diagnostic analysis without any susmycoplasmal infection can easily be catebeing of undetermined etiology. serologically compared rotypes listed herein. with all the caprine/ovine se-
HIV-1 gp120 and Drugs of Abuse: Interactions in the Central Nervous System

HIV-1 infection is a global public health problem with more than 34 million people living with HIV infection. Although great strides have been made in treating this epidemic with therapeutic agents, the increase in patient life span has been coincident with an increase in the prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). HAND is thought to result from the neurotoxic effects of viral proteins that are shed from HIV-infected microglial cells. One of the primary neurotoxins responsible for this effect is the HIV-1 glycoprotein gp120. Exposure of neurons to gp120 has been demonstrated to cause apoptosis in neurons, as well as numerous indirect effects such as an increase in inflammatory cytokines, an increase in oxidative stress, and an increase in permeability of the blood-brain barrier. In many patients, the use of drugs of abuse (DOA) exacerbates the neurotoxic effects of gp120. Cocaine, methamphetamine and morphine are three DOAs that are commonly used by those infected with HIV-1. All three of these DOAs have been demonstrated to increase oxidative stress in the CNS as well as to increase permeability of the blood-brain barrier. Numerous model systems have demonstrated that these DOAs have the capability of exacerbating the neurotoxic effects of gp120. This review will summarize the neurotoxic effects of gp120, the deleterious effects of cocaine, methamphetamine and morphine on the CNS, and the combined effects of gp120 in the context of these drugs.
Multimedia wireless transmission with network coding

In recent years, Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) have become the premier choice for many homes and enterprises. WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) has also emerged as the wireless standard that aims to deliver data over long distances, and can potentially provide wireless broadband access as an alternative to the wired cable and DSL networks. Parallel with the surge of wireless networks is the explosive growth of multimedia applications. Therefore, it is important to explore efficient methods for delivering multimedia data in such wireless settings. In this paper, we propose a network coding based scheduling policy to be used at WLAN-like Access Point (AP) or at a WiMAX-like broadcast station that optimizes the multimedia transmission in both broadcast and unicast settings. In particular, the contributions of this paper include (a) a framework for increasing the bandwidth efficiency of broadcast and unicast sessions in a wireless network based on network coding techniques and (b) an optimized scheduling algorithm based on the Markov Decision Process (MDP) to maximize the quality of multimedia applications. Simulations and theoretical results demonstrate the advantages of our approach over the conventional techniques.
Towards a tool for keystroke level modeling of skilled screen reading

Designers often have no access to individuals who use screen reading software, and may have little understanding of how their design choices impact these users. We explore here whether cog-nitive models of auditory interaction could provide insight into screen reader usability. By comparing human data with a tool-generated model of a practiced task performed using a screen reader, we identify several requirements for such models and tools. Most important is the need to represent parallel execution of hearing with thinking and acting. Rules for placement of cogni-tive operators that were developed for visual user interfaces may not be applicable in the auditory domain. Other mismatches be-tween the data and the model were attributed to the extremely fast listening rate and differences between the typing patterns of screen reader usage and the model's assumptions. This work in-forms the development of more accurate models of auditory inter-action. Tools incorporating such models could help designers create user interfaces that are well tuned for screen reader users, without the need for modeling expertise.
Parent involvement at school entry: A national examination of group differences and achievement:

This research examined the scope of parental involvement at school entry and sought to determine what, if any, differences existed between ethnic groups. In addition, the researcher attempted to de...
Sequence-based control for large-scale power electronics networks

A switching-sequence-based control scheme for power electronics networks is presented in this paper. The proposed scheme guarantees global stability while meeting predefined performance criteria. First, using techniques based on composite Lyapunov functions and piecewise-linear models of the system, the set of switching sequences that guarantee global stability, is determined. Next, by solving optimization problems using predefined cost functions for the saturated (transient) and unsaturated (steady-state) regions of operation, the optimal switching sequence and the duration of time spent in it is determined. The application of the proposed scheme is demonstrated using a parallel-connected network of three-phase inverters.
Detection and confirmation of ractopamine and its metabolites in horse urine after Paylean administration.

We have investigated the detection, confirmation, and metabolism of the beta-adrenergic agonist ractopamine administered as Paylean to the horse. A Testing Components Corporation enzymelinked imunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit for ractopamine displayed linear response between 1.0 and 100 ng/mt with an 1-50 of 10 ng/mL and an effective screening limit of detection of 50 ng/mL. The kit was readily able to detect ractopamine equivalents in unhydrolyzed urine up to 24 h following a 300-rag oral dose. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) confirmation comprised glucuronidase treatment, solid-phase extraction, and trimethylsilyl derivatization, with selected-ion monitoring of ractopamine-tris(trimethylsilane)
Radial cytoarchitecture and patterns of cortical connectivity in autism

To explain the pattern of preserved and superior abilities found in autism spectrum disorders, a hypothesis has emerged, which assumes that there is a developmental bias towards the formation of short-range connections. This would result in excessive activity and overconnectivity within susceptible local networks. These networks might become partially isolated and acquire novel functional properties. In turn, this would affect the formation of long-range circuits and systems governing top-down control and integration. Despite many tantalizing clues, mechanisms relating pathogenesis and altered cell function to the ‘disconnection’ of integrative and focal activity remain obscure. However, recent post-mortem studies of brains of individuals with autism have shown characteristic differences in the morphometry of radial cell minicolumns, which add credence to the connectivity hypothesis.
William James and the Fight for Science

William James, the foremost psychologist in American history, contributed broadly to the field of psychology across various specializations. Of prime importance are his contributions to the neglect...
Fossil evidence of wing shape in a stem relative of swifts and hummingbirds (Aves, Pan-Apodiformes)

A feathered specimen of a new species of Eocypselus from the Early Eocene Green River Formation of Wyoming provides insight into the wing morphology and ecology in an early part of the lineage leading to extant swifts and hummingbirds. Combined phylogenetic analysis of morphological and molecular data supports placement of Eocypselus outside the crown radiation of Apodiformes. The new specimen is the first described fossil of Pan-Apodiformes from the pre-Pleistocene of North America and the only reported stem taxon with informative feather preservation. Wing morphology of Eocypselus rowei sp. nov. is intermediate between the short wings of hummingbirds and the hyper-elongated wings of extant swifts, and shows neither modifications for the continuous gliding used by swifts nor modifications for the hovering flight style used by hummingbirds. Elongate hindlimb elements, particularly the pedal phalanges, also support stronger perching capabilities than are present in Apodiformes. The new species is the smallest bird yet described from the Green River Formation, and supports the hypothesis that a decrease in body size preceded flight specializations in Pan-Apodiformes. The specimen also provides the first instance of melanosome morphology preserved in association with skeletal remains from the Green River Formation.
On the design of FIR analysis-synthesis filter banks with high computational efficiency

Presents an effective design algorithm for analysis-synthesis filter banks with computationally efficient structures. Although a wide variety of implementation structures can be accommodated, the focus of the paper is on cosine modulated filter banks. The design procedure is based on a time domain formulation of analysis-synthesis filter banks in which each individual channel filter is constrained to be a cosine modulated versions of a baseband filter. The resulting filter banks are very efficient in terms of computational requirements and are relatively easy to design. A unique feature of this approach is that relatively low reconstruction delays can be imposed on the system. A discussion of the associated computational properties of the designed systems and some design examples are included. >
“Built for the Publick Worship of God, according to the Church of England”: Anglican Landscapes and Colonialism in South Carolina

In 1706, the Church of England became the established church of South Carolina. Construction of several churches began shortly thereafter under the supervision of local parish supervisors. Archaeological testing at the 1707 St. Paul’s Parish Church indicates parish supervisors purposely altered the church’s orientation from the traditional east-west orientation in order to make it more of a presence on the landscape. A subsequent regional landscape study of other early-18th-century South Carolina Anglican churches suggests that throughout the colony church supervisors strategically placed churches on the landscape to be material expressions of the Anglican Church’s presence and power in the culturally and ethnically divided colony. As a consequence of the intentional placement of churches on the landscape, the South Carolina Anglican Church played a larger role in the development of the colony by affecting the expansion of transportation networks and, later, settlement patterns.
The Administrative Law Legacy of Kenneth Culp Davis

Kenneth Culp Davis, one of the twentieth century's outstanding authorities on administrative law, passed away in September 2003. This commemorative essay surveys his manifold contributions to the field. The concept that is most often associated with his name, the distinction between adjudicative facts and legislative facts, is still a crucial reference point in analyses of the right to be heard in judicial or administrative proceedings. His influence has been felt in a number of other areas as well. During the past few decades, for example, administrative adjudication has become more streamlined, rulemaking has become more widely employed, and obstacles to obtaining judicial review, such as standing and ripeness defenses, have been relaxed. Davis played a large role in promoting each of these developments. Some of his other initiatives, such as his efforts to tame the administration of "discretionary justice," have been less successful. The essay concludes with a suggestion that Davis's ideas, influential as they were, might have had even greater impact if the legal system had not, in recent times, veered away from the kind of open-ended judicial common lawmaking that much of his work presupposed.
The Good, the Bad, and the Unflinchingly Selfish: Cooperative Decision-Making Can Be Predicted with High Accuracy Using Only Three Behavioral Types

The human willingness to pay costs to benefit anonymous others is often explained by social preferences: rather than only valuing their own material payoff, people also care in some fashion about the outcomes of others. But how successful is this concept of outcome-based social preferences for actually predicting out-of-sample behavior? We investigate this question by having 1067 human subjects each make 20 cooperation decisions, and using machine learning to predict their last 5 choices based on their first 15. We find that decisions can be predicted with high accuracy by models that include outcome-based features and allow for heterogeneity across individuals in baseline cooperativeness and the weights placed on the outcome-based features (AUC=0.89). It is not necessary, however, to have a fully heterogeneous model -- excellent predictive power (AUC=0.88) is achieved by a model that allows three different sets of baseline cooperativeness and feature weights (i.e. three behavioral types), defined based on the participant's cooperation frequency in the 15 training trials: those who cooperated at least half the time, those who cooperated less than half the time, and those who never cooperated. Finally, we provide evidence that this inclination to cooperate cannot be well proxied by other personality/morality survey measures or demographics, and thus is a natural kind (or "cooperative phenotype")
Biophone: Physiology monitoring from peripheral smartphone motions

The large-scale adoption of smartphones during recent years has created many opportunities to improve health monitoring and care delivery. In this work, we demonstrate that motion sensors available in off-the-shelf smartphones can capture physiological parameters of a person during stationary postures, even while being carried in a bag or a pocket. In particular, we develop methods to extract heart and breathing rates from accelerometer data and compare them with measurements obtained with FDA-cleared sensors. We evaluated their accuracy on 12 people across different still body postures (pre- and post- exercise) and were able to reach mean absolute errors of 1.16 beats per minute (STD: 3) and 0.26 breaths per minute (STD: 0.5) when considering different conditions. Furthermore, we evaluated the same methods during regular phone activities, such as when watching a video or listening to a conversation, yielding increased but still comparable error rates for some conditions.
Nonlinear spectroscopic theory of displaced harmonic oscillators with differing curvatures: a correlation function approach.

We present a theory for a bath model in which we approximate the adiabatic nuclear potential surfaces on the ground and excited electronic states by displaced harmonic oscillators that differ in curvature. Calculations of the linear and third-order optical response functions employ an effective short-time approximation coupled with the cumulant expansion. In general, all orders of correlation contribute to the optical response, indicating that the solvation process cannot be described as Gaussian within the model. Calculations of the linear absorption and fluorescence spectra resulting from the theory reveal a stronger temperature dependence of the Stokes shift along with a general asymmetry between absorption and fluorescence line shapes, resulting purely from the difference in the phonon side band. We discuss strategies for controlling spectral tuning and energy-transfer dynamics through the manipulation of the excited-state and ground-state curvature. Calculations of the nonlinear response also provide...
Research Note: Effect of Narasin and Roxarsone Combinations on Eimeria tenella Infections in Floor Pen-Raised Broilers

Abstract A series of four floor pen trials was conducted to evaluate the effects of narasin and roxarsone, both alone and in combination, on their capacity to control severe Eimeria tenella infections in broilers. Three levels of narasin (0, 60, and 80 ppm) were fed to chickens receiving either 0, 25, or 50 ppm roxarsone in a factorial design. Cecal coccidiosis was induced by seeding the litter with ionophore-tolerant and ionophore-sensitive strains of E. tenella. After 8 days, 10 birds/pen were killed and their cecal lesions scored. Performance (body weight and feed consumption) and mortality were measured at the termination of the trials. Narasin reduced the severity of cecal coccidiosis as measured by a reduction in cecal lesions and an improvement in bird performance. Roxarsone also reduced cecal lesion scores. The highest level of roxarsone (50 ppm) in combination with 60 or 80 ppm narasin produced additive responses in the control of E. tenella infections. Maximum performance was obtained when narasin alone was fed at 80 ppm; drug combinations improved performance when compared with that of nontreated or roxarsone only-medicated groups.
Genetic forms of adrenal insufficiency.

ABSTRACT Objective: The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists Adrenal Scientific Committee has developed a series of articles to update members on the genetics of adrenal diseases. Methods: Case presentation, discussion of literature, table, and bullet point conclusions. Results: The genetic mutations associated with several familial causes of adrenal insufficiency have now been identified. The most common ones that will be discussed here include Allgrove syndrome, adrenoleukodystrophy, adrenal hypoplasia congenita, autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1, congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), lipoid CAH, and familial glucocorticoid deficiency. Although these diseases most commonly present in childhood, some rarely present in adulthood, and thus all endocrinologists must be familiar with these syndromes. Some patients only develop glucocorticoid deficiency, and others have both glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid deficiency. These diseases may be associated with other conditions, especially neurologic disease, hypogonadism, or dermatologic problems. Diagnosis is suspected based on clinical presentation and laboratory findings. Gene testing may be necessary for confirmation of a diagnosis and/or screening of family members. Conclusion: This article briefly reviews the various familial adrenal insufficiency syndromes and the specific associated gene defects. Abbreviations: AAA = Allgrove syndrome (alachrima-achalasiaadrenal insufficiency) ACTH = adrenocorticotropic hormone AHC = adrenal hypoplasia congenita ALD = adrenoleukodystrophy CAH = congenital adrenal hyperplasia DAX1 = dosage-sensitive sex reversal, adrenal hypoplasia congenita, X-chromosome FGD = familial glucocorticoid deficiency LCAH = lipoid CAH MCM4 = mini-chromosome maintenancedeficient 4 SF1 = steroidogenic factor 1 VLCFA = very-long-chain fatty acid
Lactogenic Hormone Content of the AP of the Pigeon.

SummaryThe lactogen content of the anterior pituitary of two types of pigeons, the common and the White King, were compared in both sexes. As in mammals, the pituitaries of the male pigeons contained only 1/2 to 1/3 as much lactogen as the female by all methods of comparison even though the male pigeon aids in the incubation of the eggs and in feeding the squabs.The common female pigeon, although considerably lighter in body weight than the White King, contains as much or more lactogen per pituitary. Per 100 g body weight, the pituitary of the White King contains only 1/2 to 2/3 as much lactogen as the common pigeon.
Extrasynaptic receptors on cell bodies of neurons in central nervous system of the leech

1. A systematic study has been made of the sensitivity of identified sensory and motoneurons in the leech central nervous system to chemical transmitter substances. 2. The following substances elicited responses from the cell bodies of individual neurons: acetylcholine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, gamma-aminobutyric acid, glutamic acid, glycine, dopamine, and norepinephrine. Since the cell bodies of leech neurons are free of synapses, the receptors that give rise to these responses are extrasynaptic. 3. Sensory and motoneurons of different function had characteristic complements of extrasynaptic receptors. For example, mechanosensory cells responding to light touch, to pressure, and to noxious stimuli could be distinguished by their responses to iontophoretically applied compounds. For one of these modalities (nociceptive), neurons with different receptive fields but otherwise similar properties had markedly distinct extrasynaptic receptors. The possible significance of extrasynaptic receptors is discussed.
Gauging submersed plant response to CO2 enrichment: Pot size matters

Abstract The availability of a photosynthetic carbon source may limit submersed plant growth, and experimental assessment of this limitation may depend on the volume available to belowground plant parts. To test the effect of pot size on submersed plant growth response to CO 2 enrichment, we grew the freshwater macrophyte Vallisneria americana in pots containing 1.01, 2.25, and 4.04 L of lake sediment in pH- and [CO 2 ]-controlled greenhouse tanks for nine weeks. A highly significant (P 2 ] and pot size for final biomass, root mass fraction, dry weight gain, and relative growth rate (RGR) indicated that growth response to CO 2 enrichment depends on pot size. The ratios of growth at high [CO 2 ] to that at low [CO 2 ] increased from 3.2 in small pots to 8.1 in large pots for dry weight gain, and from 1.8 in small pots to 3.3 in large pots for RGR. Response to CO 2 enrichment was thus substantially greater for plants grown in larger pots. Further, increasing pot size from small to large did not increase dry weight gain at low [CO 2 ], but yielded 69% greater dry weight gain at high [CO 2 ]. Macrophyte experimentalists should carefully consider pot size in relation to available sediment resources, which can influence growth rate and growth response to CO 2 enrichment.
Structural Effects of Solvation by 18-Crown-6 on Gaseous Peptides and TrpCage after Electrospray Ionization.

Significant effort is being employed to utilize the inherent speed and sensitivity of mass spectrometry for rapid structural determination of proteins; however, a thorough understanding of factors influencing the transition from solution to gas phase is critical for correct interpretation of the results from such experiments. It was previously shown that combined use of action excitation energy transfer (EET) and simulated annealing can reveal detailed structural information about gaseous peptide ions. Herein, we utilize this method to study microsolvation of charged groups by retention of 18-crown-6 (18C6) in the gas phase. In the case of GTP (CEGNVRVSRE LAGHTGY), solvation of the 2+ charge state leads to reduced EET, whereas the opposite result is obtained for the 3+ ion. For the mini-protein C-Trpcage, solvation by 18C6 leads to dramatic increase in EET for the 3+ ion. Examination of structural details probed by molecular dynamics calculations illustrate that solvation by 18C6 alleviates the tendency of charged side chains to seek intramolecular solvation, potentially preserving native-like structures in the gas phase. These results suggest that microsolvation may be an important tool for facilitating examination of native-like protein structures in gas phase experiments.
Comet deflection by directed energy: a finite element analysis

Comets and Asteroids are viable threats to our planet; if these space rocks are smaller than 25 meters, they burn up in the atmosphere, but if they are wider than 25 meters they can cause damage to the impact area. Anything more than one to two kilometers can have worldwide effects, furthermore a mile-wide asteroid travelling at 30,000 miles per hour has the energy equal to a megaton bomb and is very likely to wipe out most of the life on Earth. Residents near Chelyabinsk, Russia experienced the detrimental effects of a collision with a Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA) on 15 February 2013 as a ~20 m object penetrated the atmosphere above that city. The effective yield from this object was approximately 1/2 Megaton TNT equivalent (Mt), or that of a large strategic warhead. The 1908 Tunguska event, also over Russia, is estimated to have had a yield of approximately 15 Mt and had the potential to kill millions of people had it come down over a large city1. In the face of such danger a planetary defense system is necessary and this paper proposes a design for such a system. DE-STAR (Directed Energy System for Targeting of Asteroids and exploRation) is a phased array laser system that can be used to oblate, deflect and de-spin asteroids and comets.
Lightguides for improving edge crystal identification and energy resolution in pixelated scintillator detectors

A phoswich depth of interaction (DOI) detector composed by two layers of scintillator arrays (LYSO and BGO) has been proposed. To use this design for building practical systems, a tapered multiple-element glass lightguide is necessary to couple the scintillator arrays to a PSPMT. The complete individual detector module offers an overall dimension of 52×52 mm2 that matches the external dimensions of the PSPMT package, allowing continuous positioning of the scintillator arrays for creating flat panel detectors without introducing gaps between detector modules. In this work, we define the elements adjacent to the edge in an array as “edge+” elements. Both of the layers of the phoswich detector and the lightguide have such edge+ elements. The lightguide was modified according to the photodetector geometry, aiming at improving edge and corner crystal identification and energy resolution: In an assembled detector, the optimized edge+ lightguide elements superimpose on top of both edge and edge+ anodes of the PSPMT. In that case, the edge+ lightguide elements distribute light onto both the edge and edge+ anodes, while edge lightguide elements primarily distribute light onto the edge anodes. This different light sharing scheme improves the capability of identifying edge+ crystals from edge crystals. In addition, the edge lightguide elements were enlarged to improve the light collection and corresponding energy resolution for the edge crystals. Flood images were acquired and energy resolution was calculated for individual crystals. All the edge and edge+ crystals were clearly resolved. Energy resolution was improved from 24.4 ± 4.4% to 20.0 ± 1.7% for edge crystals. The new proposed lightguide successfully improved edge crystal identification and energy resolution in the proposed pixelated scintillator detector.
Technologies for efficient farming

The more efficient that farmers farm the more profits they have at sale of their crops. They achieve more efficiency through modern technologies. The technologies include the AFS system by the Case International Company, IntelliSteer by the New Holland Corporation, Fieldstar, Auto-Guide, SGIC systems by the Agco Corporation, and GreenStar system by the John Deere Company. The John Deere Company was formed to manufacture equipment and products, which provide constant improvements in the farming industry. The company is improving the farming industry using a number of Agriculture Management Solutions systems. The systems include the GreenStar system that helps farmers drive a parallel line or drives the line for them using the AutoTrac option. The StarFire position receiver tells the farmer where he/she is in the field from GPS satellites. The JDOffice helps the farm managers keep track of their fields' production and machines. The JDLink sends data from a computer in the tractor to one in the manager's office telling what may be wrong with the machine. With Harvest Doc, the farmer can receive and track information on the yields and moisture content of his crops. These technologies help to keep John Deere in the forefront of farming technology
A Single-Cell Roadmap of Lineage Bifurcation in Human ESC Models of Embryonic Brain Development.

During human brain development, multiple signaling pathways generate diverse cell types with varied regional identities. Here, we integrate single-cell RNA sequencing and clonal analyses to reveal lineage trees and molecular signals underlying early forebrain and mid/hindbrain cell differentiation from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Clustering single-cell transcriptomic data identified 41 distinct populations of progenitor, neuronal, and non-neural cells across our differentiation time course. Comparisons with primary mouse and human gene expression data demonstrated rostral and caudal progenitor and neuronal identities from early brain development. Bayesian analyses inferred a unified cell-type lineage tree that bifurcates between cortical and mid/hindbrain cell types. Two methods of clonal analyses confirmed these findings and further revealed the importance of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in controlling this lineage decision. Together, these findings provide a rich transcriptome-based lineage map for studying human brain development and modeling developmental disorders.
Tibiofemoral Contact Mechanics with Horizontal Cleavage Tear and Resection of the Medial Meniscus in the Human Knee

Background: The meniscus is known to increase the contact area and decrease contact pressure in the tibiofemoral compartments of the knee. Radial tears of the meniscal root attachment along with partial resections of the torn meniscal tissue decrease the contact area and increase pressure; however, there is a lack of information on the effects of a horizontal cleavage tear (HCT) and partial leaf meniscectomy of such tears on tibiofemoral contact pressure and contact area. Methods: Twelve fresh-frozen human cadaveric knees were tested under 10 conditions: 5 serial conditions of posterior medial meniscectomy (intact meniscus, HCT, repaired HCT, inferior leaf resection, and resection of both inferior and superior leaves), each at 2 knee flexion angles (0° and 60°) under an 800-N axial load. Tekscan sensors (model 4000) were used to measure the contact pressure and contact area. Results: HCT and HCT repair resulted in small changes in the contact area and an increase in contact pressure compared with the intact condition. Resection of the inferior leaf resulted in significantly decreased contact area (to a mean 82.3% of the intact condition at 0° of flexion and 81.8% at 60° of flexion; p < 0.05) and increased peak contact pressure (a mean 36.3% increase at 0° flexion and 43.2% increase at 60° flexion; p < 0.05) in the medial compartment. Further resection of the remaining superior leaf resulted in additional significant decreases in contact area (to a mean 60.1% of the intact condition at 0° of flexion and 49.7% at 60° of flexion; p < 0.05) and increases in peak contact pressure (a mean 79.2% increase at 0° of flexion and 74.9% increase at 60° of flexion; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Resection of meniscal tissue forming the inferior leaf of an HCT resulted in substantially decreased contact area and increased contact pressure. Additional resection of the superior leaf resulted in a further significant decrease in contact area and increase in contact pressure in the medial compartment. Clinical Relevance: Repair or minimal resection of meniscal tissue of an HCT may be preferred to complete leaf resection to maintain knee tibiofemoral contact mechanics.
Abstract P080: New Strategy, Old Remedy: Elucidating the Effect of Hibiscus Sabdariffa in a Neuronal Model of Oxidative Stress

Introduction: Neurogenic hypertension is characterized by increased blood pressure, neuroinflammation, and neuronal oxidative stress. Thus, its pathophysiology dictates a unique therapeutic strategy. It is established that Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) plays a beneficial role in decreasing blood pressure, yet the role of HS as an anti-oxidant defense system in neurogenic hypertension has not been investigated. Our objective was to generate an in vitro model of neuronal oxidative stress to test the hypothesis that HS creates a neuroprotective antioxidant defense system. Methods: To create a model of oxidative stress, SY5Y, neuroblastoma cells, were treated with 32uM hydrogen peroxide. To determine the effect of methanol-extracted HSE (50 and 100ug n ≥ 8) in this model of oxidative stress, SY5Y cells were treated with vehicle-PBS, HSE (24hrs), pretreated with HSE (24hrs) and then treated with H2O2 (8hrs). Using molecular techniques markers of oxidative stress were measured and percentages were out of 100. Data was normalized to the control and analyzed by one way ANOVA (p value < .05 was considered significant). Results: HSE significantly increases cell viability (50 or 100ug > 99%) compared to H2O2 alone (43%). HSE significantly decreases ROS generation (113%-50ug versus 89%-100ug) compared to H2O2 (120%). HSE significantly decreases lipid peroxidation (11.3%-50ug versus 10.2%-100ug) compared to H2O2 (135%). HSE significantly increases GSH content (72%-50ug versus 91%-100ug) compared to H2O2 (58%). HSE significantly increases catalase activity (31%-50ug versus 51%,-100ug) compared to H2O2 (23%). HSE significantly increases mitochondrial complex 1 activity (125%-50ug versus 229%-100ug) compared to H2O2 (26.2%). There was no significant change in superoxide dismutase activity amongst groups. Conclusion: These observations suggest that HSE creates an antioxidant defense system that provides cytoprotection against H2O2-induced neuronal oxidative stress. Thus, HS, a known anti-hypertensive should be revisited to investigate its in vivo role in neurogenic hypertension.
A discussion of Chaplin and Smith's patent for the cancellation of repetitive vibrations

This paper considers a method proposed by Chaplin and Smith for the cancellation of repetitive vibrations. Direct implementation of the concepts of the patent is not straightforward because of the lack of precise information regarding certain components, and because of the absence of guidelines for the design of a system with satisfactory stability and performance properties. This paper proposes a specific algorithm based on the concepts of the patent, and provides an approximate analysis which is found useful to obtain a closed-loop system with predictable dynamic characteristics. Simulations demonstrate the validity of the approximation and the success of the design. A tendency of the algorithm for convergence toward undesirable operating states is identified, and an improved version is derived. The algorithm is also compared to another algorithm proposed-for the same purposes.