cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of fathead minnow colonization and removal on a prairie wetland ecosystem

Fish communities in prairie wetlands are extremely dynamic. Due to complete winterkills and periodic colonization, individual basins alternate between supporting a fish population and being fishless. Here we assess the ecological consequences of colonization and subsequent extinction of a fathead minnow population in a prairie wetland. We used a BACI-type approach (before-after control impact) in which data from the colonized wetland were paired with data from a similar fishless site first when both wetlands were fishless (1996), then when the minnow population reached moderate densities in the colonized site (1998), and then again when the colonized site became fishless after treatment with rotenone (1999). Fish colonization resulted in significant increases in turbidity, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll a in the water column; it also caused significant decreases in the abundance of aquatic insects and large cladocerans. Elimination of the minnow population largely reversed the effects of minnow colonization. Our results indicate that characteristics of prairie wetlands can vary as they alternate between supporting fathead minnow populations and being fishless and that ecological characteristics may change rapidly in response to minnow colonization or elimination.
Comparing commercial and recreational harvest characteristics of paddlefish Polyodon spathula (Walbaum, 1792) in the Middle Mississippi River

Summary Here we contrast the relative influence of the commercial and recreational harvest sectors on the Middle Mississippi River paddlefish Polyodon spathula (Walbaum, 1792) population. We performed a creel survey of randomly selected commercial fishers and recreational anglers to gather characteristic harvest information to make comparisons between sectors. We found that the commercial sector harvested predominately large, mature paddlefish. Conversely, the recreational sector tended to harvest a greater proportion of small, immature paddlefish. Because these sectors are harvesting different portions of the population, the relative influence on the dynamic rate functions and potential conflict between sectors must be taken into account for fishery management decisions. One approach would be to increase the minimum length limit, to allow for equal harvest between the commercial and recreational harvest sectors. Ultimately, this will allow for both harvest sectors to harvest the same portion of the population, as well as increase the reproductive potential of the population. Additionally, obtaining an accurate assessment of the catch and effort for both sectors is imperative for the management and allocation of a shared resource.
ACCEPTABILITY OF SOY PROTEIN IN OATMEAL MUFFINS

Dietary interventions have been found to be an effective method of reducing total and LDL-cholesterol, thereby reducing the risk of coronary heart disease. Incorporating soy protein in the diet may be one way of reducing cholesterol levels (Anderson et al. 1999). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the sensory attributes of oatmeal muffins after adding soy protein. The research study compared a control product (A), using all-purpose flour with two variations. For one variation (Product B) soy protein flour was substituted for all-purpose flour and the second variation (Product C) contained soy protein flour in place of all-purpose flour and water was added. Seventy-five subjects participated in the study. All products were served in a randomized and balanced order. The subjects used a standard nine-point hedonic scale (1=dislike extremely to 9=like extremely) and a 7-point “just about right” scale (1=lowest degree of attribute to 7=highest degree of attribute). Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and Chi-square were used to analyze the data. The results of the study indicated no significant differences (P<0.05) among the muffins for any of the four attributes of appearance, flavor, texture and overall acceptability. Product B soy muffin was liked and rated equally as well as the control, Product A muffin. Product C soy muffin scored lower on some attributes. Each soy muffin had 3.8 g of soy protein, that is 15% of the amount recommended per day to help prevent heart disease. There are strong implications for incorporating soy protein in a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol that may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by lowering blood cholesterol levels.
Rapid SLT Gene Detection on Polyethylene-Coacrylic Acid Film Without Molecular Labels or Surface-Fouling Agents

The commercially available copolymer of 10 mol% acrylic acid and polyethylene is easily formed into a nonfluorescing, non-polynucleotide-adsorbing film. The film has surface carboxylate functions whose concentration can be increased by heating to 80 degrees C in 30% NaOH. The carboxylate groups will react at pH approximately 7 with commercially available, oligo-DNA, 2-8 ng/microl, that has been synthesized with a C(12)-alkylamino tail on the 5'-end. The reaction is mediated with water-soluble carbodiimide reagent and is assumed to result in a primary amide bond between the polymer film and the modified oligo-DNA. The tethered oligo-DNA retains its hybridization activity, and its surface concentration is sufficient to permit qualitative, labelless detection of hybridized target by fluorescence after brief staining with ethidium bromide. The film is used to detect Shiga-like toxin gene II (SLT-II) from Escherichia coli O157:H7 after asymmetric, capillary, PCR amplification, and a 4-h hybridization. Captured target may be removed from the film using distilled water, after which the film can be used again without noticeable loss of activity. The method provides relatively rapid detection of PCR amplimers without having to use molecular labels, or surface-fouling agents.
Correction and addendum to “embedding problems with local conditions”

A correction is provided to a result of the author’s concerning embedding problems with p-group kernel. It is also shown that every such embedding problem for a Laurent series field in characteristic p has a proper solution.
Host Phases for Actinide Elements in the Metallic Waste Form

Argonne National Laboratory has developed an electrometallurgical process for conditioning spent sodium-bonded metallic reactor fuel prior to disposal. A waste stream from this process consists of stainless steel cladding hulls that contain undissolved metal fission products such as Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, and Ag; a small amount of undissolved actinides (U, Np, Pu) also remains with the hulls. These wastes will be immobilized in a waste form whose baseline composition is stainless steel alloyed with 15 wt% Zr (SS-15Zr). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations of simulated metal waste forms (SS-15Zr with up to 11 wt% actinides) show eutectic intergrowths of Fe-Zr-Cr-Ni intermetallic phases with steels. The actinide elements are almost entirely in the intermetallics, where they occur in concentrations ranging from 1–20 at%. Neutron- and electron-diffraction studies of the simulated waste forms show materials with structures similar to those of Fe2Zr and Fe23Zr6. Dissolution experiments on simulated waste forms show that normalized release rates of U, Np, and Pu differ from each other and from release rates of other elements in the sample, and that release rates for U exceed those for any other element (including Fe). This paper uses transmission electron microscope (TEM) observations and results from energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and selected-area electron-diffraction (SAED) to characterize relationships between structural and chemical data and understand possible reasons for the observed dissolution behavior. Transmission electron microscope observations of simulated waste form samples with compositions SS-15Zr-2Np, SS-15Zr-5U, SS-15Zr-11U-0.6Rh-0.3Tc-0.2Pd, and SS-15Zr-10Pu suggest that the major actinide-bearing phase in all of the samples has a structure similar to that of the C15 (cubic, MgCu2-type) polymorph of Fe2Zr, and that materials with this structure exhibit significant variability in chemical compositions. Material whose structure is similar to that of the C36 (dihexagonal, MgNi2-type) polymorph of Fe2Zr was also observed, and it exhibits less chemical variability than that displayed by material with the C15 structure. The TEM data also demonstrate a range of actinide concentrations in materials with the Fe23Zr6 (cubic, Mn23Th6-type) structure. Microstructures similar to those produced during experimental deformation of Fe-10 at% Zr alloys were observed in intermetallic materials in all of the simulated waste form samples. Stacking faults and associated dislocations are common in samples with U, but rarely observed in those with Np and Pu, while twins occurred in all samples. The observed differences in dissolution behavior between samples with different actinides may be related to increased defect-assisted dissolution in samples with U.
A Schematic Description of the Nature of Video-Conferencing and Internet Exchange: Enhancing Global Understanding

The world is becoming increasingly one multicultural Global village and business and education transnational, which implies that students will need to recognize accept and adjust to cultural differences in communications to succeed in their studies as well as in their future careers. This presentation is fundamentally about a niftier way of intercultural learning and knowledge-acquisition that adapts video-conferencing and Internet technology to build Web-based successful learning communities. Students can meet on interactive camera at least twice per week and thereafter at any time using Google-mail during the semester effectively forming a knowledge community. The learning community can collaborate to develop the capacity to create diffuse and distribute experiential knowledge in boundary-less and Global-campuses in virtual environments. Students from different universities will cohere to understand each other's culture without leaving their own countries. The method is cost-effective as compared to similar costly semester abroad and hiked out-of-state tuition rates. Students can access additional resources to enhance cultural competencies from the virtual libraries and faculty facilitating in the program without leaving their campuses.
Competitive Positioning, Deracialization, and Attack Speech A Study of Negative Campaigning in the 2001 Los Angeles Mayoral Election

Previous research on negative campaigning has focused on the influence of competitive circumstances and the timing of attacks. Here, we focus on whether campaign issues or character are more likely to be the focus of attacks and whether, as part of a deracialized campaign, minority candidates attack less than do nonminorities. Data are derived from content analyses of newspaper coverage and candidates’ TV ads in the 2001 Los Angeles mayoral election. Contrary to expectations, one’s position in the horse race is not a significant predictor of attacks in the primary campaign. More important are conditions in the campaign environment that maximize the benefits of attack speech. When candidates attack, they are likely to do so on salient issues and character. We also find that minority candidates attack significantly less than do nonminorities, in support of our expectations regarding deracialized campaigns. In a concluding section, we discuss the implications of our findings.
Personal Cleanliness Activities in Preschool Classrooms

One hundred and twelve preschool teachers in Indiana were asked to complete a questionnaire requesting them to indicate what personal health-related activities they were incorporating into their classroom routines, why they were incorporating them, and how often such activities were done. The results of the study indicate that the most incorporated activities were hand-washing, proper ways of coughing, and discussion on germs. The least incorporated personal health-related activities were proper use of bathroom and keeping things out of the mouth. Reasons for incorporating the activities include helping to curtail the spreading of colds and germs, helping the children to develop good life skills later in life, and helping the preschoolers know about the health hazards associated with germs, among others. The study recommends the need to make Health Education a core component of preschool teachers’ training.
Computers: High-density data recording: Very high bit rates in the acquisition of digitized data are possible using this new technique

Low-density digital recording on magnetic tape, in one form or another, has been used for many years, mostly in data-processing applications such as computer input and output, and, more recently, in storage of complex computer programs. On the other hand, high-density digital recording is a relatively new technology, used mostly in data acquisition, in cases where highly significant data are digitized and recorded in digital form at the source, and the quantity of data to be recorded per unit of time makes it impractical to use lower density recording techniques. Such data-acquisition applications range from space probes and satellites to less complicated earth-borne testing. Also, it is not inconceivable that, with the proper input and output interfaces, high-density digital recording might some day provide more efficient means of computer data storage.
Cosmical magnetic fields

Magnetic Field Generation in Electrically-Conducting Fluids. By H. K. Moffatt. Pp. 343. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge and London, 1978.) £15.50.
Governmental Control of the Dairy Industry Other Than Health Measures and Standards

Milk price-control legislation came into being pr imar i ly as the result of disastrously low farm prices in the early 1930's. Dairy farmers were par t icular ly hard-hit by the depression. With a perishable product they had little or no protection in the market place. Collective bargaining between producers and distributors broke down in most markets. Financial losses of producers led to violence, dumping of milk, and general d i s r u p t i o n of the dai ry industry. In this situation it was evident that something had to be done to raise the income of milk producers and restore some measure of stabili ty to the milk market. BeR. W. Bar t le t t tween 1933 and 1940, 26 states enacted legislation to control minmum prices to be paid producers as well as those to be pa id by consumers. Ear ly in 1933, the United States Agricultural Adjustment Act, which permitted the establishment of minimum wholesale and retai l milk prices, became a law. In 1933, nine states, including New York, Connecticut, Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Oregon, New Jersey, Vermont, and Wisconsin, enacted legislation to control both producer and consumer prices for milk. In 1934, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Virginia enacted similar legislation, followed by Alabama, Indiana, Maine, Montana, and New Hampshire in 1955. In January, 1934, the federal government abandoned the fixing of resale prices. By 1956, producer prices were regulated in 65 federal order markets, which cover over half of the urban population of the United States. In 1937, Georgia, California, and Utah passed complete milk price-fixing laws. Between 1938 and 1940, Delaware, Maryland, Michigan, South Dakota, Texas, and Washington enacted laws controlling both producer and resale prices, thus rounding out the 26 states which at one time or another were at tempting to control milk prices. In addition to federal and state regulation of milk prices, in recent years the federal government has set floor prices on butter, cheese, and nonfat solids. Analysis of each of the three main types of governmental price regulation is included in this discussion.
Bird species' tolerance of secondary forest habitats and its effects on extinction

: Intense deforestation causes massive species losses. These losses occur because the habitats supplanting primary forest are inadequate to sustain viable populations of forest-dependent species. Despite this, certain species do seem to persist within the secondary habitats that replace original forest. This implies that there is a special class of species that might survive the loss of primary forest. Such a result would significantly influence conservation plans and extinction predictions. We tested whether species that tolerate secondary habitats survive extensive habitat loss and whether the same degree of loss threatens species that are forest obligates. To identify purported “survivors,” we compared the remaining range sizes of endemic birds, their abundances, and their degree of extinction threat. We did this within the remaining Atlantic Forest of Brazil, a region extremely rich in endemics but with only approximately 10% of its forest remaining. We found no survivors. Habitat loss threatens forest-obligate birds and those using secondary habitats equally. Resumen: La deforestacion intensiva provoca perdidas masivas de especies. Estas perdidas ocurren porque los habitats que suplantan al bosque primario son inadecuados para sustentar poblaciones viables de especies dependientes de bosque. A pesar de esto, parece que ciertas especies persisten en los habitats secundarios que reemplazan al bosque original. Esto implica que hay una clase especial de especies que puede sobrevivir a la perdida de bosque primario. Tal resultado podria influir significativamente en los planes de conservacion y en las predicciones de extincion. Probamos si especies que toleran habitats secundarios sobreviven a la perdida de habitat y si el mismo nivel de perdida amenaza a especies que son exclusivas de bosques. Para identificar a “sobrevivientes” aparentes, comparamos el tamano del rango restante de aves endemicas, sus abundancias y el grado de amenaza de extincion. Hicimos esto para lo que queda de Bosque Atlantico de Brasil, una region extremadamente rica en endemicas pero con solo ∼10% de su bosque original. No encontramos sobrevivientes. La perdida de habitat amenaza por igual a aves exclusivas de bosque y a aquellas que utilizan habitats secundarios.
Does the Grist Change the Mill? The Effect of the Perceiver's Inferential Goal on the Process of Social Inference

Previous research suggests that perceives estimate the cause of behavior by (a) identifying the behavior (b) inferring the actor's disposition from the behavior, and (c) correcting this inference for situational constraints. An experiment investigated whether perceivers' inferential goals alter this process. Perceivers viewed a silent videotape of an anxious interview. Some perceivers estimated the target's dispositional anxiety; others estimated the degree of anxiety provoked by the interview questions. Within these conditions, half simultaneously performed a cognitive rehearsal task. Of perceivers who estimated the target's dispositional anxiety, those who performed the rehearsal task inferred more dispositional anxiety. In contrast, of perceivers who estimated the anxiety provoked by the questions, those who performed the rehearsal task inferred less dispositional anxiety. These findings suggest that social inference is more flexible than previously thought.
SLIM is a nuclear ubiquitin E3 ligase that negatively regulates STAT signaling.

Summary STAT proteins are a family of latent cytoplasmic transcription factors that are activated by tyrosine phosphorylation in response to a variety of cytokines, growth factors, and hormones. Once activated, STAT proteins translocate into the nucleus and help coordinate gene transcription. One striking feature of STAT signaling is its rapid and transient activation and deactivation cycle, although the molecular mechanisms responsible for this remain poorly understood. Here, we report on a nuclear protein that contains both PDZ and LIM domains and that interacts with activated STAT4 molecules. We show that SLIM is an ubiquitin E3 ligase that acts on STAT proteins to cause their proteosome-mediated degradation and enhance their dephosphorylation. Overexpression of SLIM leads to impaired STAT1 and STAT4 activity due to reduced STAT protein levels, while SLIM-deficiency results in increased STAT expression and thus enhanced IFNγ production by Th1 cells. These studies suggest that SLIM is a novel ubiquitin E3 ligase whose targets include STAT proteins.
Image graphs—a novel approach to visual data exploration

For types of data visualization where the cost of producing images is high, and the relationship between the rendering parameters and the image produced is less than obvious, a visual representation of the exploration process can make the process more efficient and effective. Image graphs represent not only the results but also the process of data visualization. Each node in an image graph consists of an image and the corresponding visualization parameters used to produce it. Each edge in a graph shows the change in rendering parameters between the two nodes it connects. Image graphs are not just static representations: users can interact with a graph to review a previous visualization session or to perform new rendering. Operations which cause changes in rendering parameters can propagate through the graph. The user can take advantage of the information in image graphs to understand how certain parameter changes affect visualization results. Users can also share image graphs to streamline the process of collaborative visualization. We have implemented a volume visualization system using the image graph interface, and our examples in the paper come from this application.
Using the AREA Approach to Create Successful Writers

The high stakes assessments that states are now administering use a rubric where not only is a correct response required by students, but also a justification or rationale for that response is needed for a higher score on the item. The AREA approach discussed in this article is an excellent strategy that both students and teachers can successfully employ in answering questions either in writing or in public speaking. It is a clear, straightforward way of responding to a question with assurance that the response was developed in a thorough and organized manner.
Limitations in the cardiac risk reduction provided by coronary revascularization prior to elective vascular surgery.

Abstract Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the proposed cardiac protective effect of previous coronary revascularization (coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG] or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty [PTCA]) before elective major arterial surgery. Method: Preoperative cardiac risk stratification using American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines was done on 425 consecutive patients undergoing 481 elective major vascular operations at an academic VA Medical Center. The algorithm assumed asymptomatic patients with prior coronary revascularization (CABG, Results: Coronary revascularization was classified as recent (CABG, P = .7). Significant differences in adverse cardiac events ( P = .01) and mortality ( P = .05) were found between patients with CABG done within 5 years or PTCA within 2 years (6.3%, 1.3%, respectively), individuals with remote revascularization (10.4%, 6.3%), and nonrevascularized patients stratified at high risk (13.3%, 3.3%) or intermediate/low (2.8%, 0.9%) risk. De novo or recurrent 3-vessel coronary disease by angiography, but not the presence or timing of previous revascularization, was an independent predictor of cardiac events after vascular operations, whereas remote revascularization was associated with fatal outcomes by multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Previous coronary revascularization (CABG,
Requirement of c-Jun NH2-Terminal Kinase for Ras-Initiated Tumor Formation

The c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) signal transduction pathway causes increased gene expression mediated, in part, by members of the activating transcription factor protein (AP1) group. JNK is therefore implicated in the regulation of cell growth and cancer. To test the role of JNK in Ras-induced tumor formation, we examined the effect of compound ablation of the ubiquitously expressed genes Jnk1 plus Jnk2. We report that JNK is required for Ras-induced transformation of p53-deficient primary cells in vitro. Moreover, JNK is required for lung tumor development caused by mutational activation of the endogenous KRas gene in vivo. Together, these data establish that JNK plays a key role in Ras-induced tumorigenesis.
Detection of nuclear retinoic acid receptor mRNA in histological tissue sections using nonradioactive in situ hybridization histochemistry

Nuclear retinoic acid receptors (RARs) function as ligand-activated trans-acting transcription factors and mediate the effects of retinoids on gene expression, cell growth, and differentiation. Determination of the receptors' expression in premalignant and malignant lesions may provide prognostic value and direct the selection of receptor-specific retinoids in cancer prevention or treatment. We describe a sensitive and practical in situ hybridization method for the analysis of RARs in tissue sections of fixed and embedded surgical specimens. Digoxigenin-labeled antisense and sense RNA probes were prepared for nuclear RAR-alpha, RAR-beta, and RAR-gamma. The specificity of the probes for their respective receptor mRNAs was demonstrated by Northern blot hybridization to total RNA extracted from murine and human cells. Optimal conditions for in situ localization of the RAR mRNA were established using cultured tumor cells, and these conditions were then used for the detection of RAR mRNA in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections of surgical specimens from human tumors. The hybridization stain was detected in the cytoplasm (where it was expected to be localized) and not seen in the cell nucleus. This method provides a rapid detection procedure with good resolution that allows one to clearly distinguish strongly and weakly stained cells. A comparison of receptor expression in head and neck squamous carcinoma specimens and in adjacent normal tissues revealed a significant decrease in the level of RAR-beta mRNA in the tumor cells.
Disappearance Rate and Distribution of Exogenous Thyrotropin in the Rat

The disappearance and the distribution volume of injected bovine, rat and human thyrotropin were measured in hypometabolic, normal and hypermetabolic rats, with and without renal circulation. The disappearance of thyrotropic activity from the serum did not depart significantly from linearity on a semilogarithmic plot. The major roles of the metabolic rate and of renal tissue were confirmed. Thyrotropin was also concentrated in the liver and, for the first time, was demonstrated in the hypothalamus and to a slight extent in the thyroid gland. Insignificant amounts also were found in the urine. The pituitary glands showed an unexpected increase in thyrotropic activity after the injection of thyrotropin.
Significance of Primary Tumor Size and Preorchiectomy Serum Tumor Marker Level in Predicting Pathologic Stage at Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection in Clinical Stage A Nonseminomatous Germ Cell Tumors

Objectives To determine whether the size of the primary tumor and degree of preorchiectomy serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) elevation predict for retroperitoneal pathologic findings in patients with clinical Stage A nonseminomatous germ cell tumor undergoing primary retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Methods The testicular cancer database was queried to identify patients with clinical Stage A nonseminomatous germ cell tumor with normalization of serum tumor markers after orchiectomy who had undergone retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. A total of 779 patients were identified. The preorchiectomy serum tumor marker level was recorded and categorized into the following subsets: AFP: less than 20 (normal), 20 to 100, 100 to 1000, and more than 1000 ng/dL; and β-hCG: less than 5.0 (normal), 5 to 100, 100 to 1000, and more than 1000. The association between AFP, β-hCG, and primary tumor size and retroperitoneal pathologic findings was determined. Results The retroperitoneal pathologic examination revealed metastatic disease in 207 patients (26.6%). The preorchiectomy serum β-hCG level, as a categorical variable, was not predictive of positive retroperitoneal pathologic findings ( P = 0.187). The preorchiectomy serum AFP did predict for positive retroperitoneal pathologic findings, with lower serum AFP levels associated with a greater incidence of retroperitoneal metastasis ( P P = 0.113). Conclusions Neither the primary tumor size nor the preorchiectomy β-hCG level was predictive of retroperitoneal metastases. However, a normal preorchiectomy AFP level was associated with a greater incidence of retroperitoneal metastases.
Direct determination of selenium in rat blood plasma by Zeeman atomic absorption spectrometry.

Abstract The method was developed to be applied for direct determination of selenium in rat plasma by graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometry with Zeeman background correction. Blood was obtained from CD® rats of both sexes 2 h after dosing in weeks 7 and 13 in order to acquire data on the levels of selenium in these animals during 13-week gavage administration of l -seleno-methylselenocysteine (SeMC), a new candidate chemopreventive agent under development. Application of the commonly used method of standard addition was found to be unsuitable to calculate the selenium content in rat plasma (within-run and between-run accuracy and precision parameters were less than 85%). Therefore, a new analytical method was developed. In this method, samples of rat plasma (50 μL) were diluted 10-fold with a reducing agent containing l -ascorbic acid, a modifier solution containing palladium chloride and Triton X-100. Samples were atomized in pyrolytically coated graphite tubes and peak height signals were measured. Selenium concentrations were determined by linear least squares regression analysis based on the standard curve generated in pooled rat blank plasma. Since selenium is normally present in plasma, a three-step approach was used to calculate selenium plasma levels. Initially selenium levels were determined based on the standard curve with selenium-spiked pool plasma. In the second step, background selenium levels in the pooled plasma were determined based on the same standard curve. In the third step, background level was added to the previously derived number. The relative errors were in the range from −4.6 to 11.4% (intra-day assay) and from −0.4 to 8.8% (inter-day assay) which proved good accuracy. The relative standard deviations were in the range from 1.88 to 4.70% (intra-day precision) and from 3.28 to 5.38% (inter-day precision). In rat plasma, the following dose-dependent selenium levels (mean ± S.D.) in males and females, respectively, were observed at 13 weeks: 655.5 ± 48.8 and 595.8 ± 43.9 ng/mL (control group), 927.9 ± 85.3 and 859.3 ± 164.3 ng/mL (0.4 mg/kg per day dose group), 1238.9 ± 182.4 and 1169.9 ± 112.6 ng/mL (0.8 mg/kg per day dose group), and 1476.5 ± 138.1 and 1320.1 ± 228.6 ng/mL (2.0 mg/kg per day dose group). No significant sex differences in selenium plasma levels were seen in the SeMC-treated groups. No significant differences in selenium plasma levels were seen between mean plasma levels at 7 and 13 weeks. The described method is simple, rapid, accurate, precise and can be easily applied in other laboratories for a large number of samples.
Characterization of immune complex components by dot blot analysis.

Abstract A method is described for the characterization of immune complex components by dot blot analysis. After isolation by chromatographic techniques and precipitation with polyethylene glycol, immune complexes were dissociated in 0.1 m phosphate (pH 2) and bound to a nitrocellulose membrane in a dot blot unit. Biotinylated probes were then used to identify the following immune complex components: specific antigens, biologically active antibodies, antibody isotypes, antibody subclasses, antibody idiotypes, and rheumatoid factors. This nonradioactive procedure takes less than 2 h to perform and has been used to analyze immune complexes isolated from sera (rabbit and human) and synovial fluid (human).
Measuring the fitness of symbiotic rhizobia

The legume-rhizobia symbiosis is an important model system for research on the evolution of cooperation and conflict. A key strength of this system is that the fitness consequences of greater or lesser investment in cooperative behaviors can be measured for each partner. Most empirical studies have characterized the fitness of symbiotic rhizobia exclusively by their numbers within nodules, often estimated using nodule size as a proxy. Here we show that the relationship between nodule size and rhizobial numbers can differ drastically between strains of the same species. We further show that differences in accumulation of the storage polyester poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB), which can support future reproduction, can be large enough that even direct measurements of rhizobial numbers alone can lead to qualitatively incorrect conclusions. Both results come from a comparison of strains differing in production of the ethylene-inhibitor rhizobitoxine (Rtx). A broader study (using three legume-rhizobia species pairs) showed that PHB/cell cannot be reliably estimated from its correlation with rhizobia/nodule or nodule size. Differences in PHB between strains or treatments will not always make major contributions to differences in fitness, but situation-specific data are needed before PHB can safely be neglected.
Keyword spotting via word shape recognition

With the advent of on-line access to very large collections of document images, electronic classification into areas of interest has become possible. A first approach to classification might be the use of OCR on each document followed by analysis of the resulting ASCII text. But if the quality of a document is poor, the format unconstrained, or time is critical, complete OCR of each image is not appropriate. An alternative approach is the use of word shape recognition (as opposed to individual character recognition) and the subsequent classification of documents by the presence or absence of selected keywords. Use of word shape recognition not only provides a more robust collection of features but also eliminates the need for character segmentation (a leading cause of error in OCR). In this paper we describe a system we have developed for the detection of isolated words, word portions, as well as multi-word phrases in images of documents. It is designed to be used with large, changeable, keyword sets and very large document sets. The system provides for automated training of desired keywords and creation of indexing filters to speed matching.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Connection preserving actions of lattices inSL nℝ

We consider connection-preserving actions of lattice subgroups ofSL nℝ on compact Riemannian manifolds, forn≥3. The main result gives a description of such actions, when dimM=n+1, as follows: Either the action preserves a smooth invariant Riemannian metric onM or it can be described in terms of linear actions on then-torus.
Healthcare for terminal cancer patients.

e said it simply, “I’m dying, one of the more natural rocesses of life.” He coughed, causing him to put the xygen mask on for 2 min. Finally he took it off. “I just ish it would not take so long!” (an anonymous cancer atient). A 70-year-old man entered the hospital severely physially impaired because of a large oat cell carcinoma of the ung with a “solitary” brain metastasis. In addition to being dministered “curative” chemotherapy, a neurosurgical conultation was obtained. The neurosurgeon thought that an perative procedure was not best but recommended radiourgery to the patient and family. A 60-year-old man, having had myeloma for 3 years was n relapse with increased pain at T9, the left humerus, and he right radius. The patient was given 20 Gy in 2-Gy ractions to the three painful regions. Although both of the patients described above were cared or by bright, well-intentioned physicians, certain verifiable acts, known in the oncologic literature, were being ignored. n both cases, the doctors did not act as if they were onvinced that palliation was the goal, in the sense that atients need to be treated quickly with a cost-effective chedule. The patient with Stage IV lung cancer needed hole brain irradiation, 20 Gy in 4-Gy fractions, because he probability was that he had more than one brain metasasis. His lung cancer was asymptomatic; why then chemoherapy? The bone pain of the patient with myeloma would ave been equally relieved by a 600–800-Gy dose in one raction. The lengthy treatment course was unnecessary. Treating palliative conditions aggressively, expensively, nd optimistically avoids telling the patient that he is dying. ne of many difficulties with telling patients they are going o die of their cancer, because they are no longer curable, is hat even though many patients want to be told, some do not ant to know. In addition, if and when you tell patients they re dying, many want to know how long they have. This is ften difficult to quantify. Owing to the advances in medial/technological “curing” of disease, it is even possible that
Investigations on quality factor of high frequency laterally vibrating LN on SiO 2 microresonators

This paper presents an investigation on the quality factor (Q) of Laterally Vibrating Resonators (LVRs) based on thin films of Y-cut ion-sliced Lithium Niobate (LN) on silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) that were first demonstrated in [1]. Devices operating between 500 MHz and 1.5 GHz were designed and fabricated to explore the dependence of Q on: (i) electrode coverage and location, (ii) air damping, (iii) temperature, (iv) frequency, and (v) vibration mode. A considerable increase in Q was attained when using smaller electrode coverage or strategically placing the electrodes at low strain locations. These results clearly indicate the impact of interfacial loss on Q. A minimal dependence of Q on pressure was found, implying that air damping has a minor effect in setting Q for these devices. Q vs. temperature of a characteristic resonator was also measured, hinting that damping mechanisms of thermoelastic nature are dominant in these devices.
Parallel triangularization of substructured finite element problems

Much of the computational effort of the finite element process involves the solution of a system of linear equations. The coefficient matrix of this system, known as the global stiffness matrix, is symmetric, positive definite, and generally sparse. An important technique for reducing the time required to solve this system is substructuring or matrix partitioning. Substructuring is based on the idea of dividing a structure into pieces, each of which can then be analyzed relatively indepenently. As a result of this division, each point in the finite element discretization is either interior to a substructure or on a boundary between substructures. Contributions to the global stiffness matrix from connections between boundary points from the K(bb) matrix are reported. The triangularization of a general K(bb) matrix on a parallel machine is specifically discussed.
Methaqualone: tolerance and physical dependence in mice.

Tolerance and physical dependence was produced in C57B1/6 male mice that had been exposed, for 36 days, to methaqualone in food pellets via an automated system. Tolerance was revealed in the reduction of sleep-times following intraperitoneal injection of methaqualone. Physical dependence was manifested as an alteration in neural sensitivity to flurothyl-induced convulsions.
The importance of total number of sentinel lymph nodes in patients with stage N0 cutaneous melanoma.

Staging of malignant melanoma now relies routinely on the sentinel node (SN) technique. On average, 2.1 SNs are removed per patient. Nevertheless, despite the success of the SN technique, approximately 10% of patients with negative SNs experience metastatic recurrence. Because a prior theoretical analysis using Poisson and Bayes probability models suggested that limited sampling of SNs could cause false-negative results, we undertook this study to see whether the subset of patients with negative SNs and only 1 or 2 nodes examined have a shorter time to recurrence than patients with 3 or more nodes examined and found to be negative. Our study cases comprised 178 melanoma cases with SN biopsy: positive SN, 47; negative SN and fewer than 3 nodes examined, 68; and negative SN and more than 2 nodes examined, 63. Patients with negative SNs and fewer than 3 examined had disease-free survival intermediate between patients with positive SNs and those with negative SNs and more than 2 examined ( P = .013). These results suggest that among patients with negative SNs, those with fewer than 3 nodes examined have greater risk for recurrence.
Natural exponential families of probability distributions and exponential-polynomial approximation

Abstract We consider expansions of regular functions in series with respect to infinite systems of Dirichlet polynomials, i.e., combinations of polynomials and exponents. We show that for every natural exponential family of probability measures on a real line and an infinite sequence of complex numbers, whose real parts belong to the natural parameter space of the above family, one can associate an expansion of any sufficiently regular function with respect to certain Dirichlet polynomials. We give an explicit formula for the remainder term in this expansion. It turns out to be an expectation of convolution of one of the above Dirichlet polynomials with certain differential operator of the function. The Dirichlet polynomials in question are combinations of exponents and Appel polynomials generated by members of the exponential family of distributions. Dirichlet series and expansions with respect to Appel polynomials are particular cases of the above expansions.
Actual and potential yield for rainfed and irrigated wheat in China

A crop yield model (YIELD), that uses climatic and environmental data to calculate yield and water consumption for a variety of major crops was applied specifically to maize (grain corn) in the region of China and Korea, by examining the parameters of potential and actual yield. A network of 241 stations provided the seasonal climatic input, which consisted of data averaged over approximately a 20 year period. Among the simulated results, highest yields under full irrigation (first growing season) occurred in the Yangtze River area, northward to Korea, Kweichou and Szechwan Provinces, and northcentral China, whereas least yield was found for the western interior. High yields exceeded 12,000 kg/ha per harvest. Under rainfed conditions, only the Yangtze River region retained its predominance. In order to achieve optimum crop yields, about 800 mm of irrigation water was needed in northcentral China, contrasted with none required in the south and east of China. Making certain dietary assumptions, the calculated grain corn production could potentially support between 700 and 400 million people, depending on the irrigation strategies adopted. If corn were used as feed stock for beef, only between 100 and 60 million persons could be supported. A sensitivity analysis was applied to determine the degree of error introduced by faulty, uncertain, or missing environmental input data for the stations utilized in this study.
A least-squares finite element method for the Navier-Stokes equations

Abstract A finite element method based on a least-squares variational principle is developed for the velocity-vorticity-pressure formulation of the Navier-Stokes equations. The method can be implemented so that only symmetric, positive definite matrices are encountered. Also, the method seems to be nearly optimally accurate.
Identification and population dynamics of bacteria in symptomatic oat leaves.

Bacteria isolated from symptomatic oat leaves included pseudomonads,Erwinia herbicola, and others.Pseudomonas coronafaciens was isolated predominantly from leaves with halo blight symptoms or necrotic spots. Leaves with red leaf symptoms yielded many types of bacteria, including saprophytic pseudomonads,P. syringae, E. herbicola, Bacillus sp.,Micrococcus sp.,Corynebacterium sp., a yeast, and other unidentified species. Only isolates ofP. coronafaciens were pathogenic on the plant hosts tested. The bacteria associated with red leaf symptoms exist as saprophytes and/or epiphytes on leaves with those symptoms. It is concluded that bacteria do not contribute to red leaf symptom development in oats, but symptomatic leaves provide an environment for their growth.
Effect of K/Bi ordering on the electronic structure of K2Bi8Se13

K2Bi8Se13 belongs to a class of complex chalcogenides which show potential for superior thermoelectric performance. This compound forms in two distinct phases, α and β. The β-phase, which has several sites with mixed K/Bi occupancy is a better thermoelectric. To understand the origin of this difference we have carried out electronic structure calculations within ab initio density functional theory using full potential linearized augmented plane wave (FLAPW) method. The generalized gradient approximation was used to treat the exchange and correlation potential. Spin-orbit interaction (SOI) was incorporated using a second variational procedure. The α-phase is found to be a semiconductor with an indirect band gap of 0.47eV compared to 0.76eV for the observed direct optical gap. For the β-phase we have chosen two different ordered structures with full occupancies of K and Bi atoms at the “mixed sites”. The system is a semi-metal for both the ordered structures. To incorporate the effect of mixed occupancy we have chosen a 1×1×2 supercell with an alternative K/Bi occupancy at the “mixed sites”. The superlattice ordering gives a semiconductor with an indirect gap of 0.38eV. Mixed occupancy is crucial for the system to be a semiconductor because the Bi atoms at the “mixed sites” stabilize the p orbitals of the neighboring Se atoms by lowering their energy, and opening up a gap at the chemical potential.
Altered phenology and temperature sensitivity of invasive annual grasses and forbs changes autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration rates in a semi-arid shrub community

Abstract. Many invasions, like the wide-spread establishment of annual grasses and forbs in semi-arid shrublands, are associated with climate change. In order to predict ecosystem carbon (C) storage it is critical that we understand how invasion affects soil respiration (Rt). Because plants and microbes have different seasonal dynamics, determining the relative contribution of autotrophic (Ra) and heterotrophic (Rh) respiration provides critical insight into soil C processes. Using automated soil respiration measurements and root exclusion cores we evaluated the moisture and temperature sensitivity of Rt and Rh and calculated the contribution of Ra in native shrub and invaded areas. Invasion increased cumulative Rt by 40% from 695 (±51) g C m−2 under shrubs to 1050 g C m−2 (±44) in invaded areas. Cumulative Rh did not change but invasion altered the seasonal pattern of Rh. Throughout the season Rt and Rh responded positively to temperature increases when soils were wet and negatively when soils were dry. Invasion increased temperature sensitivity of Rt and Rh in wet soils and decreased temperature sensitivity in dry soils. The altered temperature sensitivity of invasives was attributed largely to differences in phenology. Early phenology of invasive grasses caused rapid Ra increases early in the season; late phenology of invasive forbs resulted in the surprising maintenance of diurnal Ra and Rh signals despite high temperatures and low soil moisture. Invasion extended the respiration season of the system. Ability of the invasive community to withstand high temperatures and drought could confer greater resilience if temperature and precipitation patterns in the region change. The high contribution of Ra by invasive annuals means ecosystem C storage will depend heavily on seasonal rainfall dynamics and productivity of invasive annuals. In semi-arid ecosystems even small scale changes in plant community composition alter Rt, Ra and Rh and should be considered when attempting to predict Rt.