cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Application of Molluscicidal Nematodes to Slug Shelters: A Novel Approach to Economic Biological Control of Slugs

Abstract Slugs are a serious pest in floriculture, horticulture, and agriculture in many parts of the world, and Deroceras reticulatum is generally the most destructive species. A molluscicidal nematode, Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita, has potential for the biological control of pest slugs, but application rates of 3.0 × 10 9 infective juveniles (IJs)/ha are usually required for effective plant protection, rendering applications very expensive. The nematodes are usually applied as an overall application to the surface of soil to provide uniform coverage of the entire area. However, slugs possess a well-developed homing behavior with an ability to locate homing sites or shelters from over a meter away. As slugs are nocturnal foragers and spend significant time in the homing sites during the day, we hypothesized that the application of nematodes to the homing sites may be as effective as the overall application to the entire area. This hypothesis was tested in a newly designed bioassay arena consisting of 90 × 68 × 36-cm-deep plastic tubs mounted with copper slug barriers. Each tub contained muck soil to a depth of 15 cm, four Impatiens or Hosta plants, and 12 adult D. reticulatum slugs. The nematode, P. hermaphrodita, was applied at 0.3 × 10 6 or 0.6 × 10 6 IJs/m 2 either to the entire area or only under a 30 by 30-cm roofing shingle that served as an artificial slug shelter. A standard chemical molluscicide, metaldehyde, and an untreated control treatment were included for comparison. Although metaldehyde caused more rapid slug mortality than the nematodes, the nematodes provided plant protection (i.e., number of leaves damaged and leaf area eaten) equal or better than metaldehyde. Overall, the nematode application rate of 0.6 × 10 6 IJs/m 2 applied only under the shingles provided equally or more effective plant protection than the application of nematodes to the entire area at 0.3 × 10 6 IJs/m 2 . This represents a 63% reduction in the total number of nematodes required to treat the same area (i.e., 1.1 × 10 9 IJs/ha vs 3.0 × 10 9 IJs/ha). The additional presence of recycled nematodes provided 96–100% control of the reintroduced slugs. Even the low rate (0.3 × 10 6 IJs/m 2 ) applied only under shingles was as effective as the high rate (0.6 × 10 6 IJs/m 2 ) applied as an overall treatment to the entire area. We conclude that the application of P. hermaphrodita to slug shelters may provide more economical control than the overall application to the entire area.
Antibody production in sharks and humans: a role for natural antibodies.

Abstract Although gene segments specifying Igs of all vertebrates show clear homology, their arrangements differ markedly, thereby suggesting that the mechanisms for the generation of diversity and for the regulation of gene expression may be quite distinct. In the sandbar shark, light chain gene segments are distributed as apparently independent clusters consisting of V, J, and C elements that require rearrangement for expression. The usual distance between V and C in the clusters is 3 kb but larger clusters occur. The V, J, and C elements are clearly homologous to those of human λ chains. Shark Igs resemble mammalian IgM in structure and gene similarity. IgM may comprise as much as 50% of serum proteins in the shark. By contrast, IgM in humans comprises less than 5%. Human autoantibodies usually are IgM. These show little dependence on thymic function for expression and tend to increase with age. We have carried out a study of the capacity of Igs of unimmunized sharks and people (normals and patients suffering from autoimmune diseases) to react against a panel of antigens, including those usually considered autoantibodies, such as thyroglobulin and single-stranded DNA. Sharks and humans possess IgM antibodies that react with thyroglobulin and ssDNA. Affinity-purified natural shark antibodies to thyroglobulin or ssDNA constitute small fractions of total IgM. They illustrate extensive cross-reactivity comparable to that shown by polyspecific IgM autoantibodies produced by human B cells (CD5+) that appear early in ontogeny.
Interaction of Curved and Flat Molecular Surfaces. The Structures of Crystalline Compounds Composed of Fullerene (C60, C60O, C70, and C120O) and Metal Octaethylporphyrin Units

Solutions of C60, C60O, or C70 and metal complexes of octaethylporphyrin (OEPH2) yield crystals that contain both the fullerene and the porphyrin. The structures of C60·2CoII(OEP)·CHCl3, C60·2ZnII(OEP)·CHCl3, and C60O·2CoII(OEP)·CHCl3 are isomorphous and contain an ordered C60 cage surrounded by two MII(OEP) units. Although there is no covalent bond between the fullerene and porphyrin components, the separation between these units is shorter than normal van der Waals contact. Crystals of C70·CoII(OEP)·C6H6·CHCl3, C70·NiII(OEP)·C6H6·CHCl3, and C70·CuII(OEP)·C6H6·CHCl3 are also isomorphous with an ordered fullerene, but have only one porphyrin/fullerene contact. Crystalline C60·ClFeIII(OEP)·CHCl3 lacks the close face-to-face porphyrin/porphyrin contact that is common to all of the other structures reported here but retains the intimate contact between the porphyrin and the fullerene. In (C120O)·CoII(OEP)·0.6C6H6·0.4CHCl3 the fullerene dimer is enclosed by two CoII(OEP) moieties. Unfortunately disorder in th...
Selective flame emission detection of phosphorus and sulfur in high-performance liquid chromatography

Abstract A selective detector for phosphorus and sulfur based on flame emission has been developed for use with high-performance liquid chromatography. Up to 5 ml/min of the total column effluent is nebulized and directed into a cool hydrogen-nitrogen flame. In this flame, phosphorus- and sulfur-containing compounds emit characteristic emissions at 526 and 383 nm, respectively, which are measured by a simple band-pass filter/photomultiplier system. In favorable situations, the apparatus permits the detection of about 2 · 10−8 and 2 · 10−7 g/ml of phosphorus and sulfur, respectively, in the column effluent. However, with optimization of the system, sensitivity may be increased by an order of magnitude. The flame emission detector can be used for compounds containing phosphorus and sulfur in different forms. Excellent short- and long-term quantitation has been experienced in trace analysis. To date, application of the detector has been limited to systems with aqueous mobile phases since significant concentrations of organic materials affect detector sensitivity. Factors influencing the signal-to-noise response of the detector have been studied. These include: mobile phase nebulization rate, hydrogen, nitrogen and air flow-rates, and the effect of organic materials and salts.
The Effect of Brachytherapy, External Beam Irradiation and Hormonal Therapy on Prostate Volume

Purpose: We describe the effects of prostate brachytherapy with or without hormonal therapy, or external beam irradiation on gland volume.Materials and Methods: A total of 600 men with localized prostate cancer underwent 125I (357), 103Pd (118) or partial 103Pd combined with external beam irradiation (125) brachytherapy. Of the 600 men 299 (49.8%) received 3 to 9 months of hormonal therapy, which was initiated 3 months before implantation. Hormonal therapy consisted of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist plus antiandrogen in 251, luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist in 41 and flutamide plus finasteride in 7. Prostate volume measurements were made before the initiation of hormonal therapy, at implantation and yearly. Median followup was 5.2 years. Associations were tested by chi-square analysis. Means were compared by 1-way ANOVA and the Student t test.Results: Median initial prostate volume was 38.5 cc (range 9.2 to 151.5). Pre-implantation hormonal therapy resulted in a median prostate...
Reflection of a linearly polarized plane wave from a lossless stratified mirror in the presence of a phase-conjugate mirror

Reflection of a linearly polarized electromagnetic plane wave from an ordinary lossless stratified plane mirror is analyzed in the presence of a phase-conjugate mirror. It is shown that, if the conjugated waves are generated without losses or gains and also without a change in the state of polarization, the specularly reflected wave will be extinguished completely and a phase-conjugated replica of the incident wave will be formed. This result, which clearly illustrates a recently derived general theorem on phase conjugation, is independent of the reflectivity of the ordinary mirror and the separation between the two mirrors. New results for arbitrary reflectivities are also obtained.
Between d-stability and sign-stability: the 3 × 3 case

[2] introduced a decreasing sequence of sets of real n × n matrices, which begins with the D-stable matrices and stops at the sign-stable matrices. It is not clear how many of the n sets in the sequence are distinct. This article documents the disappointment that in the first case where the sequence could contain a set which is neither the D-stable matrices nor the sign-stable matrices(viz., the case n = 3) it doesn't.
Conformal Refinement and Coarsening of Unstructured Hexahedral Meshes

This paper describes recently developed procedures for local conformal refinement and coarsening of all-hexahedral unstructured meshes. Both refinement and coarsening procedures take advantage of properties found in the dual or “twist planes” of the mesh. A twist plane manifests itself as a conformal layer or sheet of hex elements within the global mesh. We suggest coarsening techniques that will identify and remove sheets to satisfy local mesh density criteria while not seriously degrading element quality after deletion. A two-dimensional local coarsening algorithm is introduced. We also explain local hexahedral refinement procedures that involve both the placement of new sheets, either between existing hex layers or within an individual layer. Hex elements earmarked for refinement may be defined to be as small as a single node or as large as a major group of existing elements. Combining both refinement and coarsening techniques allows for significant control over the density and quality of the resulting modified mesh.
The effect of immunomodulating drugs on adjuvant-induced arthritis in Lewis rats.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cyclosporine A (CSA) and methotrexate (MTX) as potential immunomodulators in a nonestablished adjuvant arthritis (AA) model. Non-injected hind paw volumes were reduced when AA rats were treated for 18 dayswith CSA (100% at 10 mg/kg) or MTX (100% at 0.1 mg/kg). Body weights of drug treated AA rats were increased above untreated AA rats and were similar to non-arthritic controls. AA rats show elevated T helper (W3/25+)/T suppressor (OX 8+) cell ratios (2.0 vs. 3.1,p<0.01). The immunomodulators tested all returned these elevated ratios to control non-arthritic levels. Similarly, these drugs returned the reduced mitogen responses and elevated blood granulocyte numbers toward normal non-arthritic control values.
A comprehensive model for the storage structure design of CODASYL databases

Abstract The performance of a database system depends, to a large extent, on the storage structure selected to represent the logical schema of the database. A comprehensive model for the physical design of network model databases is presented. It evaluates the retrieval time for each user query, database updating cost, storage requirements and total cost of the system in terms of design parameters. A linear 0–1 goal programming model, because of its multicriteria nature, has been selected here as a solution procedure. It finds the optimal location mode of each database record type based on the priority and weights assigned to the conflicting design objectives; short retrieval time for a user query, low database updating cost, small storage requirements and low total cost of the system. The designer can interactively change value of design parameters, priority and weights to perform tradeoff analysis. The model has been tested in the design of a department store database.
Hepatic glutathione suppression by the α-adrenoreceptor stimulating agents phenylephrine and clonidine

Abstract The effects of α-adrenoreceptor stimulation on hepatic glutathione content were examined in ICR male mice using a selective α1-adrenoreceptor stimulating agent, phenylephrine, and a selective α2-adrenoceptor stimulating drug, clonidine. Phenylephrine produced a dose-dependent depression in hepatic glutathione levels when administered by the intraperitoneal (i.p.) route, with a maximum extent of depression of approximately 30% occurring in both male and female mice. Phenylephrine was ineffective by the intracerebroventricular route, indicating a peripheral site of action which would be consistent with the mechanism(s) suggested by earlier in vitro studies using rat liver. Clonidine, an α2-adrenoreceptor stimulating agent, also depressed hepatic glutathione concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. The maximum extent of depression (approx. 45%) from clonidine administered by the i.p. route was somewhat greater than that from phenylephrine, and the apparent potency was about 10-fold greater. Unlike phenylephrine, clonidine was effective when administered by the intracerebroventricular route. Pretreatment of mice with phenylephrine (100 mg/kg, i.p.) resulted in a potentiation of hepatic necrosis from a mildly hepatotoxic dose of acetaminophen (400 mg/kg, i.p.). The results of these experiments suggest that the changes in glutathione homeostasis produced by α-adrenoreceptor stimulation may be sufficient to impair detoxification mechanisms.
A rheological network model for the continuum anisotropic and viscoelastic behavior of soft tissue

The mechanical behavior of soft tissue demonstrates a number of complex features including nonlinearity, anisotropy, viscoelasticity, and growth. Characteristic features of the time-dependent and anisotropic behavior are related to the properties of various components of the tissue such as fibrous collagen and elastin networks, large proteins and sugars attached to these networks, and interstitial fluid. Attempts to model the elastic behavior of these tissues based on assumptions about the behavior of the underlying constituents have been reasonably successful, but the essential addition of viscoelasticity to these models has been met with varying success. Here, a new rheological network model is proposed using, as its basis, an orthotropic hyperelastic constitutive model for fibrous tissue and a viscoelastic reptation model for soft materials. The resulting model has been incorporated into numerical and computational models, and is shown to capture the mechanical behavior of soft tissue in various modes of deformation including uniaxial and biaxial tension and simple shear.
Gold-198 Wires Used To Study Movements of Small Mammals

Eastern harvest mice, Reithrodontomys humulis humulis (Audubon and Bachman), were tagged with subcutaneously inserted 20 gauge gold-198 wires 10 mm long and varying in activity from 0.7 to 4.5 mc. None of the tags inserted by this method were lost or had any apparent effect on the animals. The movements of the tagged mice were successfully traced with a portable Geiger counter.
Construction and characterization of a red-emitting luciferase

Red light is transmitted through live tissue more efficiently than other wavelengths of visible light, thus by red-shifting the emission of bioluminescent reporters, we may enhance their utility for in vivo monitoring of biological processes. Codon changes at positions that may shift the yellow-green emission to red, based on studies of a related luciferase, were introduced into a variant of the North American firefly luciferase. Clones containing the desired mutation were selected based on the introduction of unique restriction enzyme sites and transfected into NIH 3T3 cells. Expression levels were evaluated using an intensified charge coupled device camera. Upon spectral analysis, all mutant luciferases demonstrated red-orange emission. Two emission peaks were detected in each spectrum, each clone with different peak heights at 560 nm and 610 nm. Sequence analyses of the compete coding region of several clones confirmed the presence of the target mutations, although sequence variation was observed at several secondary sites, likely resulting from the infidelity of Taq polymerase used in the mutagenesis protocol. A clone that demonstrated a strong 610 nm peak with a minimum shoulder at 560 nm was selected for use in animals. In summary, a red-shifted mutant of a well-characterized luciferase reporter gene was generated. Red light from this enzyme may both penetrate mammalian tissues to a greater extent and provide a tool for multicolor biological assays.
Surface/interfacial changes during polyurethane crosslinking: A spectroscopic study. V

Crosslinking reactions and stratification processes in polyurethane films were investigated using attenuated total reflectance (ATR) FTIR spectroscopy. The HDI trimer levels near the film–substrate (F–S) interface appear to increase at the early stages of reactions, and after reaching a maximum, decrease. This is attributed to solvent depletion and subsequent film shrinkage, thus causing local NCO concentration changes. At the later stages of crosslinking reactions, stratification of the 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) trimer occurs, with higher concentration levels at shallower penetration depths from the F–S interface. At the same time, NCO-containing groups assume preferentially parallel orientation to the F–S interface. On the other hand, H-bonded carbonyl groups tend to orient themselves in a perpendicular direction. Quantitative analysis indicates that at extended reaction times the amount of H-bonded CO groups at shallower penetration depths increases and their orientation tends to be more random, which is correlated with migration toward the F–S interface. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 2045–2054, 2001
Dynamics of OH (X2 Pi , v=0) in high-energy atmospheric pressure electrical pulsed discharge

Time transients of the number density of the hydroxyl radical ground state X2 Pi (v=0) formed in the DC high-energy atmospheric pressure pulsed discharge were measured by means of laser-induced fluorescence. The frequency doubled dye laser was tuned to the A2 Sigma from X2 Pi (v'=1 from v"=0) transition at 282 nm while emission at 309 nm from A2 Sigma to X2 Pi (v'=0 to v"=0) band, was observed. The discharge peak current Imax varied from 10-2 to 10 A, and the time duration was from 500 ns to 50 mu s. The discharge was operated at repetition rate of 10 Hz. The population of v"=0 of OH reaches the steady state within the first 20 mu s of the discharge and its value is independent on the current for Imax>or=0.2 A. The significant build-up of v"=0 state population was observed after the discharge pulse. The hydroxyl ground state number density reaches its maximum value approximately 100 mu s after the discharge and is up to three times larger than during the discharge pulse. This increase of v"=0 population is attributed to the vibrational relaxation within X2 Pi state.
Divergent Effects of Infused Progesterone on the Reflexive Release of Oxytocin in Ovariectomized Goats Variously Treated with 17β-Estradiol1

Progesterone, infused for 30 and 60 min at 50 µg/min, was found to reduce significantly the amount of oxytocin released in response to vaginal distention stimuli in intact goats and in ovariectomized goats treated continuously with 17β-estradiol from the time of surgery. Identical infusions in goats not treated with estradiol following ovariectomy, however, failed to suppress the reflex. Indeed, the infused steroid actually enhanced die oxytocin-releasing response to vaginal distention stimuli. Subsequent estrogen therapy failed to revive the suppressive action of infused progesterone in these animals. Instead, a significant facilitative effect persisted. These findings suggest, first, that progesterone may have both an inhibitory and a facilitative mode of action on the oxytocinreleasing reflex in intact goats and, second, that the integrity of the inhibitory component may depend upon an uninterrupted exposure of the animal to estrogen. (Endocrinology94:1531, 1974)
Inhibition of selective signaling events in natural killer cells recognizing major histocompatibility complex class I

Abstract Many studies have characterized the transmembrane signaling events initiated after T-cell antigen receptor recognition of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-bound peptides. Yet, little is known about signal transduction from a set of MHC class I recognizing receptors on natural killer (NK) cells whose ligation dramatically inhibits NK cell-mediated killing. In this study we evaluated the influence of MHC recognition on the proximal signaling events in NK cells binding tumor targets. We utilized two experimental models where NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity was fully inhibited by the recognition of specific MHC class I molecules. NK cell binding to either class I-deficient or class I-transfected target cells initiated rapid protein tyrosine kinase activation. In contrast, whereas NK cell binding to class I-deficient targets led to inositol phosphate release and increased intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i), NK recognition of class I-bearing targets did not induce the activation of these phospholipase C-dependent signaling events. The recognition of class I by NK cells clearly had a negative regulatory effect since blocking this interaction using anti-class I F(ab')2 fragments increased inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate release and [Ca2+]i and increased the lysis of the targets. These results suggest that one of the mechanisms by which NK cell recognition of specific MHC class I molecules can block the development of cell-mediated cytotoxicity is by inhibiting specific critical signaling events.
Methods to Compute Probabilistic Measures of Robustness for Structural Systems

Model uncertainty, if ignored, can seriously degrade the performance of an otherwise well-designed control system. If the level of this uncertainty is extreme, the system may even be driven to instability. In the context of structural control, performance degradation and instability imply excessive vibration or even structural failure. Robust control has typically been applied to the issue of model uncertainty through worst- case analyses. These traditional methods include the use of the structured singular value (μ-analysis), as applied to the small gain condition, to provide estimates of controller robustness. However, this emphasis on the worst-case scenario has not allowed a probabilistic understanding of robust control. Because of this, an attempt to view controller robustness as a probability measure is presented. As a result, a much more intuitive insight into controller robustness can be obtained. In this context, the joint probability distribution is of dimension equal to the number of uncertain ...
Size reduction of microstrip antennas

A scheme to reduce the size of a microstrip antenna is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. For a given operating frequency the patch length is significantly reduced when microstrip width discontinuities are introduced in the middle of the antenna patch.
Comparison of indices of traumatic brain injury severity as predictors of neurobehavioral outcome in children

Abstract This study examined the ability of early measures of traumatic brain injury (TBI) severity to predict neurobehavioral and functional skill outcomes shortly after injury and at 1 year postinjury. Ninety-eight children aged 6 to 15 years with TBI were consecutively identified on presentation to two regional medical centers. Ten measures of TBI severity were subsequently administered: initial Glasgow Coma Scale (motor, eye, verbal, and total GCS), duration of loss of consciousness, Abbreviated Injury Scale Head score, GCS motor score at 3 days postinjury, days to reach a total GCS score of 15, days to reach a GCS motor score of six, and duration of posttraumatic amnesia (days to reach a 75% performance on the Children's Orientation and Amnesia Test [COAT]). Cases were matched individually with controls on the basis of age, gender, school grade, the classroom teacher's assessment of pre-morbid level of academic performance in reading and arithmetic, and pre-morbid behavior. Both groups received intellectual, neuropsychologic, academic, and functional skill assessments three weeks after the case achieved full orientation and 1 year later. The indices of injury severity that were most predictive of both early and 1-year outcome across all neurobehavioral and functional measures were (1) days to an age-adjusted 75% performance on the COAT, (2) days to a GCS score of 15, and (3) initial total GCS score. For most outcome areas, a single measure of severity predicted outcome almost as well as multiple measures. However, early and 1-year academic performance and 1-year memory performance were best predicted by considering multiple indices of brain injury severity. The GCS verbal and motor scores were better predictors of outcome than the GCS eye score. However, consideration of individual GCS subscores did not improve upon prediction of outcome versus the GCS total score. These results provide strong validation for the use of duration of posttraumatic amnesia, measured by the COAT, as a measure of TBI severity and a significant indicator of neurobehavioral and functional outcome in children.
Diffusion of copper in thin TiN films

Abstract The diffusivity of copper in thin TiN layers was determined in specimens prepared by r.f. sputtering a copper (80 nm) layer onto a TiN (200 nm) layer on sapphire and silicon substrates. Specimens were isothermally heat treated at 608, 635 and 700 °C at pressures lower than 2 × 10 −6 Pa; they were compositionally analyzed by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy and Auger sputter profiling; and they were microstructurally characterized by transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction. The diffusivity D = 9 × 10 7 cm 2 s −1 exp (−427 kJmol −1 / RT ) from 608 to 700 °C. The mechanisms of copper diffusion were not bulk processes, but they were probably processes involving primarily grain boundaries in the TiN. This very low diffusivity at these temperatures makes TiN/Cu an excellent candidate for a high temperature metallization for silicon solar concentrator cells.
Carbonate and fluoride incorporation in synthetic apatites: Comparative effect on physico-chemical properties and in vitro bioactivity in fetal bovine serum

Abstract CO 3 - and/or F-substituted apatites have been considered as potential bone substitution material for dental and orthopedic applications. The objective of this study was to compare physico-chemical properties and in vitro bioactivity in fetal bovine serum (FBS) of apatites containing CO 3 and/or F. The results showed that CO 3 and F in apatites have opposite effects on crystallinity and solubility. Calcium deficient hydroxyapatite (HA) and F-substituted apatite (FA) partially transformed to beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) at temperature 950 °C. After immersion in FBS for 10 days, calcium deficient HA, FA, and CO 3 -substituted apatite (CHA) and CO 3 - and F-substituted apatite (CFA) pellet surfaces all showed formation of apatite.
The Enormous Potential for Hot Dry Rock Geothermal Energy

The concept of hot dry rock (HDR) geothermal energy originated at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. In 1970 it was proposed as a method for exploiting the heat contained in those vast regions of the earth’s crust that contain no fluids in place—by far more widespread than natural geothermal resources (HDR represents over 99% of the total U. S. geothermal resource). Although often confused with the small, already mostly commercialized hydrothermal resource, HDR geothermal energy is completely different from hydrothermal energy.
Sequential estimation over noisy channels with distributed node selection

In an autonomous sensor network without a central fusion center, it is desired that any node has the ability to make the final decision once it has enough information about the Phenomenon of Interest (PoI) within a certain confidence level. In this paper, we propose a distributed sequential methodology which updates the current node's estimator based on its own observation and noise corrupted decision from the previous node. We show that sequential processing is useful only when the channel quality of inter-sensor communication links satisfies a certain condition. We develop a distributed node selection algorithm to select the order of processing nodes based on information utilities and the communication cost. In the proposed scheme, each node only needs to keep track of its neighbor nodes leading to reduced complexity. Simulation results show that a significant reduction in the required number of processing nodes to achieve a desired performance level is obtained compared to that with nearest node selection method.
Multiple Bromodomain Genes Are Involved in Restricting the Spread of Heterochromatic Silencing at the Saccharomyces Cerevisiae HMR-tRNA Boundary

The transfer RNA gene downstream from the HMR locus in S. cerevisiae functions as part of a boundary (barrier) element that restricts the spread of heterochromatic gene silencing into the downstream region of chromosome III. A genetic screen for identifying additional genes that, when mutated, allow inappropriate spreading of silencing from HMR through the tRNA gene was performed. YTA7, a gene containing bromodomain and ATPase homologies, was identified multiple times. Previously, others had shown that the bromodomain protein Bdf1p functions to restrict silencing at yeast euchromatin-heterochromatin boundaries; therefore we deleted nonessential bromodomain-containing genes to test their effects on heterochromatin spreading. Deletion of RSC2, coding for a component of the RSC chromatin-remodeling complex, resulted in a significant spread of silencing at HMR. Since the bromodomain of YTA7 lacks a key tyrosine residue shown to be important for acetyllysine binding in other bromodomains, we confirmed that a GST-Yta7p bromodomain fusion was capable of binding to histones in vitro. Epistasis analysis suggests that YTA7 and the HMR-tRNA function independently to restrict the spread of silencing, while RSC2 may function through the tRNA element. Our results suggest that multiple bromodomain proteins are involved in restricting the propagation of heterochromatin at HMR.
Design Optimization for Minimum Sound Radiation from Point-Excited Curvilinearly Stiffened Panel

With the development of manufacturing techniques such as the electron beam free form fabrication, a metal deposition technique that deposits metal in complex shapes on a metallic base plate, it has become easy to manufacture complex shapes such as panels with curvilinear stiffeners. Designing panels with predefined structural and acoustic response is the focus of the present work. Researchers have dealt with sizing optimization of panels with straight/curvilinear stiffeners for many years and it has been proven that in many cases the mass of a panel with curvilinear stiffeners is lesser than the mass of a panel with straight stiffeners for a complex loading such as biaxial compression with shear and transverse pressure. This work deals with sizing as well as placement optimization of panel with straight and curvilinear stiffeners for desired structural and acoustic response. For acoustic optimization, point-excited stiffened panels are designed for minimal sound radiation given the constraint on total mass of the structure. The developed framework for structural-acoustic optimization of point-excited stiffened panels can be extended to multipoint excitation to capture the realistic excitations such as turbulent boundary-layer pressure fluctuations. Finite element method is used for structural response of the structure for point excitation, and acoustic response is calculated using Rayleigh integral. The present work deals with external radiation problem where the acoustic medium is air. The effect of air on the vibrating structure is considered to be very small. Therefore, coupling between structural and acoustic response is neglected. To reduce the computational expense of structural-acoustic optimization, a new methodology for objective function evaluation is proposed and optimal design for minimum radiated acoustic power is discussed.
A critique of the theory of p-n-p-n devices

A review of various papers dealing with p-n-p-n device characteristics shows essentially different interpretations of 1) the condition for switching and 2) the operating state defined by \alpha_{p}+ \alpha_{N} = 1 . The present paper attempts to show the relationship between these various papers and to clarify the conditions which exist at the switching point and holding point.
A Hospital Food-Borne Outbreak of Diarrhea Caused by Bacillus cereus: Clinical, Epidemiologic, and Microbiologic Studies

An outbreak of diarrhea involving 28 patients occurred in two wards of a chronic disease hospital. The illness was characterized by abdominal cramps and watery diarrhea without vomiting or fever. An epidemiologic investigation suggested food-borne intoxication and incriminated turkey loaf served at the preceding evening meal as the source of the outbreak. Bacillus cereus was isolated both from the stool of all 14 symptomatic patients who were cultured and from turkey loaf. No other enteropathogens were found. The isolate of B. cereus was shown to elaborate an enterotoxin that caused fluid secretion in assays in the rabbit ileal loop and suckling mice and that also caused a positive response in the Y-1 adrenal cell assay. B. cereus is an enteropathogen that should be sought in outbreaks of food-related gastroenteritis. This organism affects the gastrointestinal tract probably by the elaboration of enterotoxins.
Impact of ASC-H terminology on the detection of HSILs in medically underserved California women.

In this study we evaluated CDP: EWC, a large public health screening program for low-income women to determine whether the ASC-H term, introduced in the 2001 revision to the Bethesda System, has facilitated the detection of the most serious precancerous cervical lesions such as CIN-II–III/CIS, including accuracy of detection and minimizing diagnostic delays. Pap test and biopsy data from the period 2003–2006 were compared with those from 1995–1999, and included analysis of a subset of rarely and never-screened for each study period. More ASC-H Pap tests were followed by CIN-II+ biopsies (20%) than ASCUS Pap tests (5%). Thirteen percent of ASC-H showed CIN-III/CIS on follow-up biopsy. Following the introduction of ASC-H, negative and LSIL Pap tests followed by CIN-III/CIS biopsies decreased from 5.6% to 0.37% and 9.2% to 4.4%, respectively. Fewer CIN-III/CIS cases were preceded by Pap tests with negative and ASCUS results in 2003–2005 as compared with 1995–1999. The number of days from screening to diagnosis for women aged 25–39 years with ASC-H Pap test results (58 days) was less than for ASCUS results (78 days) for the current study period. In this high-risk multi-ethnic population, ASC-H more effectively communicates equivocal findings likely to represent HSIL leading to more rapid follow-up. The incidence of CIN-II or CIN-III/CIS following ASC-H Pap tests is lower than generally appreciated for this population, including for rarely or never-screened high-risk women. Fewer CIN-III/CIS lesions were detected following negative and ASCUS Pap results. Compliance with follow-up is less than ideal for this population. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Biorthonormal filter banks: some necessary conditions, and orthonormalization

Some properties of nonuniform biorthonormal filter banks are studied. It is shown that biorthonormality imposes a number of restrictions on the decimation ratios, e.g., they cannot be relatively prime. Biorthonormality implies orthonormality when all the impulse responses have the same energy. After a brief study of these properties, it is shown how to orthonormalize a nonuniform biorthonormal system by a procedure that is somewhat similar in spirit to (but fundamentally different from) the Gram Schmidt procedure. The procedure is modified for the purpose of designing biorthonormal filter banks that completely decorrelate the subband signals for given input statistics. >
A Novel Fault Diagnostics and Prediction Scheme Using a Nonlinear Observer With Artificial Immune System as an Online Approximator

In this paper, an observer-based fault diagnostics and prediction (FDP) scheme for a class of nonlinear discrete-time systems via output measurements is introduced by using artificial immune system (AIS) and a robust adaptive term. Traditionally, AIS was considered as an offline tool for system identification and pattern recognition whereas here AIS is utilized as an online approximator in discrete-time (OLAD) in a fault detection (FD) observer. A fault is detected when the output residual exceeds a predefined threshold. Upon detection, the OLAD is initiated to learn the unknown fault dynamics online while the robust adaptive term ensure asymptotic convergence of the output residual for a state fault whereas a bounded result for an output fault. Additionally, a mathematical equation is introduced to estimate the time-to-failure (TTF) by using the output residual and the estimated fault parameters. Finally, the performance of the proposed FDP scheme is demonstrated on an axial piston pump hardware test-bed.
When is sentinel node biopsy for breast cancer contraindicated

Sentinel node biopsy is an exciting new tool for staging the axilla in an accurate and less morbid way. It is becoming more apparent that sentinel node biopsy is appropriate in a variety of settings. When an experienced multidisciplinary team is present and patients are properly selected sentinel node biopsy can be performed with greater than 95% accuracy. The current data regarding contraindications for the use of sentinel lymph node biopsy and lymphatic mapping is reviewed.
No simple measures for antioxidant status in birds: complexity in inter‐ and intraspecific correlations among circulating antioxidant types

Summary 1. Recently, ecologists have shown interest in examining antioxidant protection in wild animals; carotenoids in particular have received attention as antioxidants that play an important role in mediating health, life-history trade-offs and sexual selection. However, we know almost nothing about the relationships among levels of different antioxidants in wild animals or whether variation in antioxidants can be viewed as a single coherent system. 2. Here we use a data set of 903 individuals from 99 bird species to examine covariation among concentrations of three types of antioxidants (uric acid, vitamin E and four carotenoids), and their relationship to a summary measure, Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), both inter- and intraspecifically in 30 species. 3. Three axes were necessary to adequately describe variation in nine antioxidant measures, and these axes corresponded to the basic categories of antioxidant measured: uric acid, vitamin E and carotenoids. There was substantial heterogeneity in the correlations across species. 4. TEAC covaried strongly with uric acid levels, both interspecifically and in 23 of the 30 species. Concentrations of different carotenoids covaried both inter- and intraspecifically, but there was also substantial variance explained by each carotenoid independent of the others. Vitamin E concentration did not robustly correlate with any other antioxidant parameters. 5. Overall, we show that although antioxidants tend to covary with those of similar type, these correlations demonstrate evolutionary lability and/or ecological heterogeneity. Even the most general associations are absent in some species, suggesting that conceptualization of a single antioxidant system is oversimplified and that ecological studies attempting to examine antioxidant function should use multiple measures.
Estimating 3-D motion and structure parameters of a rigid planar object by establishing landmark correspondence

Results of combining the shape recognition method of N. Ansari and E.J. Delp (1989) and two motion estimation algorithms presented by R.Y. Tsai and T.S. Huary (1981, 1982) to perform motion and structure estimation of a rigid planar object from landmark matching are presented. From all numerical experiments that have been tried, the recognition algorithm can handle the landmark matching tasks well if the object follows a relatively small rigid motion such that the normal of the object surface is not almost perpendicular to the optical axis. Due to the nonlinearity of the computation procedure of the combined algorithm and roundoff error generated by the computer, the estimated parameters deviate up to 10% from the predefined parameters. The combined algorithm is, however, convenient, inexpensive and not shaken by missing or extraneous landmarks in the second view as long as there are more than three landmark corresponding pairs. >
The moral case for reincarnation

I attempt to show that a cosmic theistic scheme that includes multiple lives as part of a benign plan for the world is likely to be the most moral scheme. It has the best chance of dealing with key aspects of the problem of evil, or of apparent cosmic injustice - particularly when compared to a single-life scheme. Its advantages have to do with the initial disparate condition of children, and with the massive nature of undeserved harm. A multiple-lives scheme is also promising for handling broader meaning of life questions. I end by replying to some common objections to multiple-lives schemes. The moral case for reincarnation Seeming chance is all around us. Some of us are born with clear advantages; others are born deprived in any number of ways. Some are struck by sudden cancer, or car crashes; others, in similar circumstances, experience near-misses and continued good fortune. Should we see these advantages and deprivations as distributed merely according to fortune? Many of us hope that this is not the case. If advantages and deprivations were to depend also on some system of cosmic justice, what form might such a system take? I see two main contenders: 'one-life theism', and 'many-lives theism'.' I will argue that the latter is best equipped to provide a moral explanation for life's apparent fortunes and misfortunes. Given the much wider popularity of one-life theistic views amongst my Western peers in theology and philosophy, I turn first to the reasons for rejecting even the best versions of one-life theistic accounts of cosmic justice. These inadequacies should prompt us to look at many-lives views. I argue that such a look reveals that many-lives schemes provide the best hope for cosmic justice.
Evolution of vertical faults at an extensional plate boundary, southwest Iceland

Vertical faults having both opening and vertical displacements are common in southwest Iceland, and hypotheses vary regarding whether they propagated to the surface from below or from the surface downward. We address this issue through a study of vertical faults and associated surface fracture zones in regions of both oblique and normal spreading in southwest Iceland. Individual fracture segments are commonly rotated out of the general trend of the fracture zone, suggesting oblique motion along subsurface normal faults. These faults commonly breach the upper hinge lines of narrow monoclinal folds that flank many fault traces on the hanging wall side. Based on these field observations and the results of numerical models, we propose that 60 ‐ 758 dipping normal faults in the subsurface propagated to the surface from below. Vertical fractures formed at the upper tips of the faults at depths of between 250 and 500 m (25‐ 50% of the fault length) in response to stress concentrations along the tip line. Model results indicate that narrow monoclinal folds develop at the surface above these vertical fractures, which subsequently breach the monoclines along the upper hinge line, forming vertical fault scarps and open fissures at the surface. If vertical fractures utilize pre-existing cooling joints in basalt to connect directly to the surface, the hanging wall is able to pull apart from the footwall without the development of a surface monocline along the fault trace. q 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Measuring African Governance by Attributes or by Results

A profusion of governance measures has emerged over the past decade. The major issue is whether governance should be understood only by its attributes (thus measured by process indicators) or also by its impact (thus measured also by outcome indicators). The article classifies the existing measures in three categories—indicators of governance and corruption, measures of civil liberties and human rights, specialized surveys—and discusses in greater depth the two comprehensive surveys: the World Governance Indicators, which are focused on the governance attributes of accountability, participation, transparency and rule of law; and the recent Ibrahim Index of African Governance, which includes in its 57 indicators useful outcome dimensions but also indicators weakly related to governance. Streamlining the Ibrahim Index to weed out these indicators will improve its clarity and utility and turn it into the standard measure of governance in Africa—perhaps also replicable for other regions.
Survival in blacks and whites after treatment for localized prostate cancer.

AbstractPurpose: Racial differences were assessed in all cause and disease related actuarial survivals after treatment for localized prostate cancer.Materials and Methods: We studied 148 black and 209 white men with clinical stages T1b to 4NXMO prostate cancer treated with surgery or radiation therapy between 1980 and 1991 at a Veterans Affairs medical center.Results: After a median potential followup of 96 months, there were no significant differences in the all cause, cause specific, metastases-free, clinical disease-free or prostate specific antigen disease-free survivals in 109 black and 167 white men with stages T1b to 2 cancer treated with surgery or radiation therapy, or in 39 black and 42 white men with stages T3 to 4 cancer treated with radiation therapy.Conclusions: Race appears to have no impact on the stage specific actuarial survivals in men with localized prostate cancer treated with surgery or radiation therapy in an equal access health care system.
Acute vincristine neurotoxicity in the presence of hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy type I

Acute vincristine neurotoxicity leading to a severe motor and sensory neuropathy has been noted in patients with hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy type I (HMSN-I). The case of a 2-year-old boy with acute lymphocytic leukemia and HMSN-I is reported, and additional cases from the literature are reviewed. Severe vincristine neurotoxicity in patients with HMSN-I may be secondary to impairment of both slow and- fast axonal transport. Vincristine should be used with caution in patients with a family history of polyneuropathy.
Microwave holography for antenna and radome diagnostics

Microwave holography is currently being used in antenna and radome manufacturing and in antenna and radome diagnostics and repair. The subject of this paper is the examination of the resolution of the holographically reconstructed field at the antenna (or antenna-radome combination) surface and the interpretation of these fields with respect to diagnosing antenna and radome behavior. Measured data is presented to demonstrate achievable resolution and interpretation aspects of microwave holography.
Maximum Entropy Production in Climate Theory

R. D. Lorenz et al. claim that recent data on Mars and Titan show that planetary atmospheres are in unconstrained states of maximum entropy production (MEP). Their model as it applies to Venus, Earth, Mars, and Titan is reexamined, and it is shown that their claim is not justified. This does not necessarily imply that MEP is incorrect, and inapplicable to atmospheres, but it does mean that the difficult and unexplored problem of dynamical constraints on the MEP solution must be understood if it is to be of value for climate research.