cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhanced situational awareness in autonomous mobile robots using context-based mapping (October 2012)

Our institution has on-going research projects which utilize autonomous mobile robots in a variety of settings. These robots navigate and interact with humans and their environment. As part of this effort a framework to integrate the navigational operation and the speech interaction to react to contextual stimuli is provided. This framework provides a system which is easy to configure and modify. The basis of this framework blends the rationale of human nature with the interpretation of sensor inputs. This combination of real-time and environmental information is at the core of having situational awareness. Context-based mapping allows the system to learn an environmental context and how to identify it from real-time interaction. Context-based mapping techniques link data prioritized by contextual value to physical locations on a visual or representative map. This system categorizes objects and events in an adaptive way. By determining the appropriate behavior in a given situation, a mobile robot uses only the relevant knowledge and data. This information is stored to allow both historical and real-time data to be used as appropriate. This approach allows the robot to access the previously collected data for statistical reference. As data are collected from various sensory inputs, the weighted contribution in that context is determined. This research examined the deployment of an autonomous mobile robot. The robot was able to function in the environment, which included both indoor and outdoor settings. Speech was used for input and as response explanations by the robot. The robot was trained initially in a supervised mode, but after the heuristics and adjustments had been reached, the robot was able to balance the sensors appropriately and learn without supervision. The result was a robot that could navigate autonomously and respond to the environment appropriately. Experiments were performed to demonstrate the ability of the robot to function effectively in indoor and outdoor environments and transition between them. The robot was also able to create a defined signature for a location using sensor information. After this training, the robot was able to exhibit situational awareness in dynamic environments, answering numerous questions regarding the state of the surrounding environment.
Hip Fracture Presenting as Isolated Knee Pain

Hip fracture is commonly seen in the emergency department. Clinical presentation generally includes a history of trauma or fall, a complaint of pain in or around the hip, and physical findings of limb shortening or external rotation. A case of spontaneous hip fracture in an elderly woman presenting as pain isolated to the anterior knee alone is reviewed. Recognition of this atypical presentation will aid prompt diagnosis of this common clinical entity.
POLLEN FLOW AND FECUNDITY IN POPULATIONS OF LITHOSPERMUM CAROLINIENSE

Stigmatic pollen loads of pin and thrum forms of distylous Lithospermum caroliniense (Walt.) MacMill. generally have very large proportions of incompatible pollen grains. Assortative pollination probably results from large components of self-pollination rather than geitonogamous pollinations, because pollen loads of large and small individuals are the same, although large individuals would be expected to experience more geitonogamous pollinator flights than small individuals. The distylous reproductive system appears relatively insensitive to changes in pollinator activity and preferential pollen flow between pins and thrums cannot be demonstrated. In contrast to the relatively uniform proportions of pin and thrum pollen on stigmas, absolute pollen loads vary substantially in different years and localities. Extremely low fecundity, which appears to be characteristic of this species, may result in part from lack of pollinator activity. However, even under optimal conditions for pollination, fecundity is less than 20%. Although L. caroliniense appears to have an inefficient pollination system, intrinsic low fecundity may represent a more critical feature of the life history.
SU‐FF‐T‐131: Cs‐131 Prostate Brachytherapy and Treatment Plan Parameters

Purpose: While I‐125 and Pd‐103 have been widely used for low dose‐rate prostate brachytherapy, Cs‐131 (half‐life = 9.7 days) has only recently become available. Due to differences in the radial dose fall‐off for Cs‐131 relative to I‐125 and Pd‐103, there are several qualitative differences with Cs‐131 treatment plans. We investigate the relationship between plans using different isotopes as a function of prostate size and seed activity. Method and Materials:Treatment plans were generated for ellipsoid prostate volumes using the VariSeed Treatment Planning System (Varian Medical Corporation). Ellipsoid dimensions (width, thickness, and length) were taken from representative averages for prostates in the volume ranges 20–30cc, 30–40cc, and 40–50cc. Appropriate seed activities for the Cs‐131, I‐125, and Pd‐125 plans were found by comparing dose fall off and by direct observation of the sample plans. In order to investigate the effect on plan parameters by seed strength between different isotopes, a higher seed‐activity plan and a lower seed‐activity plan were developed for a medium volume and small volume prostate. Identical seed arrangements were used for each of the three isotopes.Results: While the D90s for each configuration (lower and higher activity, smaller and larger prostate volume) were within 8% of each other, the V200 range was much greater (within about 26% of each other relative to the prescription dose). The ratio of seeds needed for a large prostate relative to a small prostate was less for Cs‐131 compared to I‐125. Conclusion: The greater range of Cs‐131 results in plans with fewer hotspots. Because the dose falloff is more gradual, these plans should be more robust against seed placement error, at the expense of greater dose outside the prostate. Larger prostates require relatively fewer Cs‐131 seeds. The short half‐life of Cs‐131 presumably outweighs any of these treatment planning considerations.
Physiology of the Third Heart Sound: Novel Insights from Tissue Doppler Imaging

Background The third heart sound (S 3 ) is thought to be caused by the abrupt deceleration of left ventricular (LV) inflow during early diastole, increased LV filling pressures, and decreased LV compliance. We sought to determine whether the ratio of early mitral inflow velocity to diastolic velocity of the mitral annulus (E/E') could confirm the proposed mechanism of the S 3 . Methods A total of 90 subjects underwent phonocardiography, echocardiography, tissue Doppler imaging, and left-sided heart catheterization. Results Phonocardiography detected an S 3 in 21 patients (23%). Subjects with an S 3 had lower ejection fraction ( P = .0006) and increased E deceleration rate ( P P P 3 confidence score correlated with E/E' ( r = 0.46; P r = 0.43, P = .0001). Of the echocardiographic variables, only E/E' was independently associated with the S 3 confidence score ( P = .009), independently of invasively determined LV filling pressures ( P = .001). Conclusions The most important determinants of the pathologic S 3 are an increased deceleration rate of early mitral inflow, elevated LV filling pressures, and abnormal compliance of the myocardium as measured by tissue Doppler imaging.
An Evaluation of the Rasberry-Heinrich Model for the Analysis of Silicate Rocks

The Rasberry-Heinrich model for correcting for absorption and secondary fluorescence effects is evaluated in the analysis of silicate rocks. The interelement effect of binary mixtures of the oxides of Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, Fe, and Mn is studied in a 1:11 fusion mixture with Li2B4O7. Two binary systems are expected to exhibit secondary fluorescence effects and are reported in detail. The combination Fe2O3/TiO2 shows a small secondary fluorescence, whereas the Al2O3/SiO2 binary shows an absorption effect. The latter effect is attributed to the large absorption effect due to oxygen. The secondary fluorescence of its Fe2O3/TiO2 system in a diluted matrix of Li2B4O7 acts like a negative absorption rather than secondary fluorescence as described by the Rasberry-Heinrich model.
X-ray binaries in globular clusters

It appears to be very unlikely that primordial binaries in globular clusters have evolved to produce high-luminosity X-ray sources like the four variable sources detected by the Uhuru and OSO-7 satellites. It is suggested that the cluster X-ray sources are binaries formed by capture from the remnants of massive single stars that exploded with sufficient isotropy to remain bound in the cluster. These remnants have lurked near the centers of the clusters where the high stellar densities have favored their capture of field stars which eventually turn the remnants on as X-ray sources when the captives enter the post-main-sequence expansion phase of their evolution. A case is made for the conclusion that there is approximately one potential binary X-ray source near the center of each of the globular clusters.
A novel plaque method for attenuated rubella virus in Vero cell cultures.

Under defined plaquing conditions, three attenuated strains of rubella virus showed different plaque morphology and plaque size when tested in Vero cell cultures. The Cendehill strain of rubella virus formed distinct, ring-shaped plaques, while strains HPV 77 and RA 27/3 produced clear plaques that could be distinguished by their different size. These distinguishing characteristics remained preserved even after the vaccine strains were passaged five consecutive times in Vero cell cultures.
Erosive wear of composite materials

Abstract The erosive wear behavior of selected polymer matrix composite materials was investigated using an erosion wear tester. Scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize the eroded surface. The results show that the erosive wear rates in these materials are at least an order of magnitude greater than that of low carbon steel. Of the composites tested, continuous graphite fiber-epoxy composites showed erosive wear that is typical of brittle materials (maximum wear rate when the impingement is normal to the surface), while continuous aramid fiber-epoxy and chopped graphite fiber-polyphenylene sulfide showed quasi-ductile behavior (maximum wear rate at 25°–45° impingement angle). These results are discussed in terms of the observed failure modes.
A role for TrkA nerve growth factor receptors in mammalian ovulation

Several members of the neurotrophin (NT) family, including nerve growth factor (NGF), NT-3, and NT-4/5, are expressed in the mammalian ovary. As their respective receptor tyrosine kinases are also found in the gland, the possibility exists that NTs act directly on the gonads to exert effects unrelated to their support of the ovarian innervation. We now report that trkA, the NGF receptor tyrosine kinase, is involved in the acute activational process that leads to the first ovulation. The trkA gene becomes transiently expressed in periovulatory follicules at the time of the first preovulatory surge of gonadotropins at puberty; the increase in trkA messenger RNA (mRNA) content is dramatic ( > 100-fold), but transient (approximately 9 h). No such changes in trkB or trkC mRNA were observed; the abundance of these mRNAs, which encode the receptor tyrosine kinase for NT-4/5 and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and NT-3, respectively, remained at very low levels throughout puberty. In vivo and in vitro experime...
Normal-mode-analysis-monitored energy minimization procedure for generating small-molecule bound conformations.

The energy minimization of a small molecule alone does not automatically stop at a local minimum of the potential energy surface of the molecule if the minimum is shallow, thus leading to folding of the molecule and consequently hampering the generation of the bound conformation of a guest in the absence of its host. This questions the practicality of virtual screening methods that use conformations at local minima of their potential energy surfaces (local minimum conformations) as potential bound conformations. Here we report a normal-mode-analysis–monitored energy minimization (NEM) procedure that generates local minimum conformations as potential bound conformations. Of 22 selected guest–host complex crystal structures with guest structures possessing up to four rotatable bonds, all complexes were reproduced, with guest mass–weighted root mean square deviations of <1.0 A, through docking with the NEM–generated guest local minimum conformations. An analysis of the potential energies of these local minimum conformations showed that 22 (100%), 18 (82%), 16 (73%), and 12 (55%) of the 22 guest bound conformations in the crystal structures had conformational strain energies of less than or equal to 3.8, 2.0, 0.6, and 0.0 kcal/mol, respectively. These results suggest that (1) the NEM procedure can generate small–molecule bound conformations, and (2) guests adopt low-strain–energy conformations for complexation, thus supporting the virtual screening methods that use local minimum conformations.
Intravenous Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Decreases Brain Injury Resulting From Focal Ischemia in Cats

Background and Purpose We tested the hypothesis that intravenous administration of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) during 4 hours of permanent focal ischemia would affect acute brain injury. Methods Halothane-anesthetized cats underwent left middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion for 4 hours. Control cats received diluent (n=14). Experimental cats were treated with bFGF at a rate of 5 (n=13), 50 (n=13), or 250 μg/kg per hour (n=9) intravenously beginning 60 minutes after initiation of ischemia and continuing until the end of the protocol. Results As measured by the microsphere method, blood flow to ipsilateral caudate nucleus and ipsilateral inferior temporal cortex was decreased similarly during ischemia, before drug administration, in all groups. Likewise, there was no difference in blood flow to ipsilateral caudate nucleus or inferior temporal cortex as a result of bFGF administration during MCA occlusion. Triphenyltetrazolium-determined injury volume of the ipsilateral cerebral cortex (control, ...
Measuring quality of life in a reformed health system.

Prologue: One of the most troubling aspects of managed care, be it for mental or physical ailments, is the degree to which the outcomes of care can be assessed. Many hours of research and many mill...
The Association Between 2D:4D Ratios and Sociosexuality: A Failure to Replicate

Researchers investigating the role of biological factors in the development and maintenance of interest in uncommitted sexual activity (i.e., sociosexuality) have reported that greater prenatal androgen action in women, as inferred by the ratio of the 2nd to 4th digit, is associated with greater interest in uncommitted sexual relationships, as measured by scores on the Sociosexuality Orientation Inventory (SOI) (Clark, 2004). This evidence suggesting a rather extensive role for prenatal factors in human mating behavior has been cited over 20 times in the literature. However, despite this indication of the impact of the research results on theories of human sex differences, there are no published replications of the original finding. For that reason, the association between 2D:4D ratios and sociosexuality was evaluated in two studies. In the first study, using methodology similar to the original report, no significant association between 2D:4D ratios and SOI scores was found either in women (n = 25) or men (n = 25). Next, to test the possibility that moderating factors, such as menstrual cycle phase and circulating testosterone levels, influence the strength of the association between 2D:4D ratios and sociosexuality, salivary hormone levels and behaviors were measured during the early follicular and mid-luteal phase of the menstrual cycle in women not using hormonal contraceptives (n = 40) and at two time points in women using oral contraceptives (n = 44) and in men (n = 42). Women and men in this study showed the expected sex differences in hormone levels and behavior. However, circulating hormones and 2D:4D ratios were unrelated to measures of sociosexuality obtained at the two test sessions. In sum, these data suggest that factors other than prenatal and circulating hormones explain the sex differences in self-reports of sociosexuality.
Blood cultures for community‐acquired pneumonia: Are they worthy of two quality measures? A systematic review

BACKGROUND: Obtaining blood cultures (BCs) for patients hospitalized with community-acquired-pneumonia (CAP) has been recommended by experts and used as a measure of quality of care. However, BCs are infrequently positive in these patients and their effect on clinical management has been questioned. PURPOSE: We performed a systematic review of the literature to determine the impact of BCs on clinical management in CAP requiring hospitalization and thus its appropriateness as a quality measure. DATA SOURCES: We searched MEDLINE, MEDLINE In-Process, and the Cochrane databases for English-language studies that reported the effect of BCs on management of adults hospitalized with CAP. We also searched the reference lists of included studies and background articles and asked experts to review our list for completeness. STUDY SELECTION: Studies were chosen if they included adults admitted to the hospital with CAP, BCs were obtained at admission, and BC-directed management changes were reported. DATA EXTRACTION: We abstracted study design, BC positivity, and frequency of BC-directed management changes. DATA SYNTHESIS: Fifteen studies, all with observational cohort design, were identified and reviewed. Two included only patients with BCs positive for pneumococcus, yielding 13 studies for the primary analysis. BCs were true-positive in 0% to 14% of cases. They led to antibiotic narrowing in 0% to 3% of patients and to antibiotic broadening ultimately associated with a resistant organism in 0% to 1% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: BCs have very limited utility in immunocompetent patients hospitalized with CAP. Pneumonia quality measures that include BCs should be reassessed. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2009;4:112–123. © 2009 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Seed yield and residue production of lentil cultivars grown at different slope positions

The presence of crop residue on the soil surface is important in controlling soil erosion, but residue amounts from lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) are often insufficient to control soil erosion during subsequent phases of the cereal-grain legume cropping systems of the U.S. Pacific Northwest To gain knowledge of residue production by lentil in typical production environments, six lentil cultivars were grown at four slope positions in southeastern Washington over 3 yr. Residue and seed production varied significantly among cultivars and slope positions (P < 0.01). Total residue production ranged from four to 20 times the 290 lb/acre required by conservation standards, however, the amount remaining after sowing of the subsequent winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crop was much less, indicating that large losses occurred during harvesting and tillage operations. On lower slope positions, grain and residue yields were inversely correlated for all cultivars. On upper slope positions, grain yields were nearly constant among cultivars, but 'Laird' produced an average of 42% more residue than 'Brewer'. No single cultivar met yield and residue production criteria across all landscape positions. Growers can improve erosion control by site-specific sowing of high-residue cultivars such as Laird. Breeding programs should consider the differences in the upper and lower slope positions for seed and residue production when selecting for cultivars with improved biomass production.
Concentrations of the Genotoxic Metals, Chromium and Nickel, in Whales, Tar Balls, Oil Slicks, and Released Oil from the Gulf of Mexico in the Immediate Aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Crisis: Is Genotoxic Metal Exposure Part of the Deepwater Horizon Legacy?

Concern regarding the Deepwater Horizon oil crisis has largely focused on oil and dispersants while the threat of genotoxic metals in the oil has gone largely overlooked. Genotoxic metals, such as chromium and nickel, damage DNA and bioaccumulate in organisms, resulting in persistent exposures. We found chromium and nickel concentrations ranged from 0.24 to 8.46 ppm in crude oil from the riser, oil from slicks on surface waters and tar balls from Gulf of Mexico beaches. We found nickel concentrations ranged from 1.7 to 94.6 ppm wet weight with a mean of 15.9 ± 3.5 ppm and chromium concentrations ranged from 2.0 to 73.6 ppm wet weight with a mean of 12.8 ± 2.6 ppm in tissue collected from Gulf of Mexico whales in the wake of the crisis. Mean tissue concentrations were significantly higher than those found in whales collected around the world prior to the spill. Given the capacity of these metals to damage DNA, their presence in the oil, and their elevated concentrations in whales, we suggest that metal exposure is an important understudied concern for the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster.
Logistics needs qualitative research – especially action research

This paper describes how qualitative research methods, particularly action research case studies, can contribute to further advance and develop logistics research. The paper also describes limitations with the current dominance of quantitative (especially survey) research in logistics. However, the paper is not a pure criticism of the use of quantitative research methods in general or in logistics in specific. Rather, the argument is that it is necessary to use both quantitative and qualitative methods if we really want to develop and advance logistics research. Logistics problems are often ill‐structured, even messy, real‐world problems. Modern logistics is based on holistic and systemic thinking and uses multi‐disciplinary and cross‐functional approaches. Thus action research case studies are especially suited for an applied field such as logistics since they strive to advance both science and practice. This should also be reflected in published logistics research, which it is not. In order to change this situation, we first have to understand paradigms and their influence on how we approach and evaluate research. Second, we have to define what case studies in journal articles mean. Third, we need to develop criteria for evaluating action research case studies.
Efficient leader election using sense of direction

This paper presents a protocol for leader election in complete networks with a sense of direction. Sense of direction provides nodes the capability of distinguishing between their incident links according to a global scheme. We propose a protocol for leader election which requires O(N) messages and O(log N) time. The protocol is message optimal and the time complexity is a significant improvement over currently known protocols for this problem.
Inactivation of the Ca2+-pump in the mussel, Mytilus edulis

Abstract 1. 1. Lateral ciliary activity was studied on intact and isolated gill cell preparations in the mussel, Mytilus edulis . 2. 2. It has been previously demonstrated by the senior author that the lateral cilia are under the control of both excitatory and inhibitory axons present in the branchial nerve. Furthermore, it was shown that low frequency [5 Hz; neurotransmitter released is serotonin (5-HT)] and high frequency (50 Hz; neurotransmitter released is dopamine (DA)) nerve stimulation activated cilio-excitatory and/or cilio-inhibitory axons. 3. 3. This study confirms the above findings and in addition shows that perfusing intact and isolated gill cell preparations with salyrgan (Ca 2+ -ATPase poison) in the presence of external Ca 2+ is also cilio-inhibitory. Salyrgan potentiates the cilio-inhibition produced by high frequency nerve stimulation/DA. It antagonizes the cilio-excitation that occurred after low frequency nerve stimulation/5-HT. The addition of lanthanum to the salyrgan perfusate enhances the cilio-inhibitory response of the latter probably by more effectively stopping the Ca 2+ -pump. 4. 4. It is postulated that salyrgan effects the Ca 2+ -pump of lateral cells by slowing or stopping (with addition of lanthanum) the pump so that external Ca 2+ leaks across the cell membrane. A subsequent rise in internal Ca 2+ concentration produces lateral ciliary arrest.
Expanding Feedstock Resources for Manufacture of Vaseline

An alternative to petrolatum in feedstock for manufacture of medicinal Vaseline from Azerbaidzhan crudes was sought. The feedstock, adsorbent, and processing conditions selected increase the yield of Vaseline from 35–40 to 70–75% while reducing formation of difficult to use wastes.
Limited vs full microbiological investigation for the management of symptomatic polymicrobial urinary tract infection in adult spinal cord-injured patients

Spinal cord-injured (SCI) patients often suffer from symptomatic polymicrobial urinary tract infection (UTI). The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome and cost-savings associated with antibiotic therapy based on limited vs full microbiological investigation of urine cultures in adult SCI patients with symptomatic polymicrobial UTI (> or = 2 organisms growing in urine cultures). In the first part of the study, a total of 40 evaluable patients were prospectively randomized in a single-blinded fashion to receive antibiotic therapy based on either limited (21 patients) or full microbiologic investigation (19 patients) of urine cultures. The practicality of a limited microbiological investigation was further examined in the second part of the study where 12 consecutive patients with symptomatic polymicrobial UTI initially had only limited microbiological investigation of urine cultures and received antibiotic therapy accordingly. When analyzing all patients in the study, the likelihood of adequate clinical response was not significantly different between those who received antibiotic therapy based on limited (28/33 = 85%) vs full (18/19 = 95%) microbiological investigation of urine cultures (P = 0.40). An average of 183 US dollars could be saved per patient by managing symptomatic polymicrobial UTI based on a limited vs a full microbiological investigation. These results suggest that in adult SCI patients with symptomatic polymicrobial UTI antibiotic therapy guided by a limited microbiological investigation may be practical, adequate and cost-saving.
Cenozoic Geology of Idaho

Cenozoic Geology of Idaho provides abundant information, including much that was previously unpublished, about the last 65 m.y. of the earth's history in this interesting state. The softbound volume consists of 41 individually authored papers organized by topic into 14 chapters. Volcanic stratigraphy and structures have received the most attention, but Tertiary basin sediments and Quaternary glacial deposits are each the subject of several papers. Geophysical data is seldom mentioned, except for a fine summary of the geophysics and tectonics of the Snake River Plain by D. R. Mabey (Utah Geological and Mineral Survey, Salt Lake City). Unfortunately absent, especially for those unfamiliar with the region, is any overview summary (or even a regional location map) to provide a framework within which the individual detailed papers can be integrated.
Carrier-Phase DGPS for Closed-Loop Control of Farm and Construction Vehicles

Operating heavy equipment can be a difficult and very tedious task. Control of an agricultural tractor requires the continuous attention of the driver, and farmers often work long hours during critical times of planting and harvesting. Loaders and other ground vehicles are frequently used in situations that are unpleasant or even hazardous for a human operator. This paper explores the use of carrier-phase DGPS as the sole position and attitude sensor in closed-loop control of farm and construction vehicles. A land vehicle optimal control system was designed and simulated using realistic plant, sensor, and disturbance models. To validate this simulation, a GPS-equipped electric golf cart was driven to high accuracy under automatic steering control. Golf cart experimental data were examined in post-processing to determine the feasibility of on-line system identification with GPS.
Inhibition of human coagulation factor Xa by thrombin substrates

Abstract The thrombin specific chromogenic substrates, Phe-Pipecolyl-Arg-p-nitroanilide (S-2238) and benzoyl-Phe-Val-Arg-p-nitroanilide (S-2160) are inhibitors of factor Xa amidolytic and proteolytic activity. The inhibition is of the partial noncompetitive type in that no change in the Km for the hydrolyzed substrate was observed and some factor Xa activity remains even at infinite inhibitor concentration. High performance liquid chromatographic analysis indicated that the inhibitors were essentially free of either p-nitroaniline or free peptide contamination. Neither p-nitroaniline nor acid hydrolyzed inhibitors were capable of inhibiting factor Xa demonstrating that a minimal peptide structure is necessary for inhibition. Our results indicate that factor Xa contains a regulatory site which, when occupied by certain peptides, causes a decrease in the rate of catalysis.
Water Use in a Multiproduct Dairy

Abstract Water use was monitored in a multi-product dairy plant by 25 cumulative use meters. Twenty-two of the meters were located in the building for product processing for study of selected operations. Fluid products accounted for 87% of production, and frozen products and by-products were 10 and 3%. Mean water use was 1.9 kg/kg product for fluid products, 10.5 kg/kg product for by-products, and 15.7 kg/kg product for frozen products. Cleaning and sanitizing operations accounted for 38% and utilities for 30% of the total process water. The milk case washer used 6.6% of the total plant water. The peak times of water use were for start-up in the morning hours and for clean-up in the early afternoon. Water saving suggestions are presented.
Reversal of Pentobarbital Blockade of Ovulation After Cardiac Puncture

In rats displaying 4-day estrous cycles, pentobarbital (PB) (3 mg/100 g body wt) administered at 1400 on proestrus blocked ovulation in 10/10 animals. The above treatment plus cardiac puncture (CP) at 1600 proestrus (1 mlblood withdrawn) resulted in 11/32 rats ovulating by 1000 the next morning. Serum LH was higher in the sample takea at 1600 proestrus among thePB-CP ovulators than the PB-CP nonovulators. Pituitary LH was decreased in PB-CP ovulatorson the morning of estrus, while PB-CP nonovulatorshad high pituitary LH content, similar tolevels seen in PB-blocked rats not subjected toCP. Serum FSH in PB-CP ovulators was high on the morning of expected estrus, similar to levelsin the ovulating saline controls. These data suggestthat there may have been a release of gonadotropinafter the 1600 proestrous CP sufficient inamount to cause ovulation in a number of animals. Serum LH values at the 1600 proestrousCP suggest that the reversal of PB blockade afterCP was most effective in those rats which alreadyshow...
Policy options to address global land use change from biofuels.

The use of biofuels can increase land competition, leading to global land use change (LUC). LUC poses risks such as increased greenhouse gas emissions and food prices. The magnitude of the risk is uncertain, but could be significant. Given these uncertainties and risks, we suggest that policymakers pursue a mix of the following three strategies: (1) promote feedstocks that rely less on land; (2) reduce LUC risk for land-using feedstocks; and (3) stimulate investments that increase land productivity and environmental protection. To realize these three strategies, we recommend that policymakers distinguish among feedstocks based on LUC risk; explore certifying production that avoids land competition; and adopt policy mechanisms that encourage investments in LUC-prone areas. We favor including feedstock-specific LUC emissions estimates in policies despite relatively large scientific uncertainty. While misleadingly precise, point estimates can be selected from science-based ranges to directly link LUC policy to emissions and provide strong transparent signals to biofuel investors. LUC emissions estimates can be updated regularly (∼3–5 years) to reflect improvements in scientific understanding, and global changes in policy and economic environments. With or without LUC emissions point estimates, additional policies, some outside the biofuel sector, will be needed to pursue the three strategies above.
A simple method for fabricating silver nanotubes

We report an easy and simple approach for making silver nanotubes (NTs) using electrospinning. Silver nanoparticles were first deposited on an electrospun polymer nanofiber template by dip-coating in aqueous medium. Subsequently, selective dissolution of the polymer core led to the formation of silver NTs. Average diameter of the NTs was 250 nm and wall thickness was about 50 nm. This method allows the synthesis of a large quantity of silver NTs with high yield. Wall thickness and porosity of the NTs could be readily tuned by varying the dipping time and concentration of the metal precursor. The approach developed is very general and could be used for fabricating NTs of a variety of noble metals, bi-metals and metal oxides.
The ecological role of chemical stimuli for the zooplankton: Predator-avoidance behavior in Daphnia

Eight different clones (seven species) of Daphnia had behavioral responses to fish and invertebrate predators. The behavioral response was measured in the laboratory as a change in the average population depth, relative to controls, when exposed to a predator. Behavior for each clone was tested with three common predators: Chaoborus, Lepomis, and Notonecta. Each Daphnia clone responded to at least one predator. Some clones responded to all three predators. The responses are both predator and. prey-specific. The stimulus produced by the predator is a water-soluble chemical that persists for up to 7 h in the laboratory. The number of predator species to which a clone responds shows a positive correlation with average body size of the Daphnia. Number of responses per clone is independent of lake size, although there was a tendency (not statistically significant) for the number of responses to decrease with lake size. Behavioral responses may be components of diel vertical migration and horizontal distribution patterns seen in nature.
Fasting plasma leptin level is a surrogate measure of insulin sensitivity.

Context: Published studies indicate marked variability in plasma leptin levels among persons with similar body mass index (BMI). We tested the hypothesis that such variations in leptin levels reflect differences in insulin sensitivity. Subjects and Methods: Using euglycemic clamp, we assessed insulin sensitivity (ISI) in 57 nondiabetic adults (36 women, 21 men), whose BMI ranged from 20 to 78 kg/m2. We identified 38 age-matched subjects, stratified by fasting leptin (normal, <15 ng/ml vs. high, ≥15 ng/ml) and BMI (nonobese, <27 kg/m2 vs. overweight/obese, BMI ≥ 27 kg/m2) and compared ISI across the four strata. Results: Fasting leptin levels correlated with ISI (r = −0.66 in men and −0.60 in women). In a multivariate regression model, leptin emerged as a strong predictor of ISI (r = −0.41, P = 0.0002) after controlling for adiposity, whereas insulin weakened as a predictor (r = −0.32, P = 0.0116). From regression plots of ISI vs. BMI and leptin, a BMI greater than 27 kg/m2 and a leptin level greater than 15 ng/dl strongly predicted decreased ISI. A fasting leptin cutoff of 15 ng/ml for detection of insulin sensitivity has a sensitivity of 72.7%, specificity of 56.3%, and positive predictive value of 69.6%. Overweight/obese subjects with fasting leptin less than 15 ng/ml were 100% more insulin sensitive than control subjects with leptin greater than 15 ng/ml. Conclusions: Insulin sensitivity explains about 40% of the variance in fasting leptin levels. Thus, fasting plasma leptin levels probably serve as an endogenous response to ambient insulin resistance and may provide a surrogate measure of insulin action.
Reduction in Prosodic Prominence Predicts Speakers' Recall: Implications for Theories of Prosody.

Repeated words are often reduced in prosodic prominence, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The present study contrasted two theories: does prosodic reduction reflect the choice of a particular linguistic form, or does ease of retrieval within the language production system lead to facilitated, less prominent productions? One test of facilitation-based theories is suggested by findings on human memory: Whether a second presentation of an item benefits later memory is predicted by the item's availability at the time of the second presentation. If prosodic reduction partially reflects facilitated retrieval, it should predict later memory. One naive participant described to another participant routes on a map. Critical items were mentioned twice. Following the map task, the speaker attempted written recall of the mentioned items. As expected, acoustic intensity of the second mentions predicted later recall in the same way that difficulty of retrieval has in other tasks. This pattern suggests that one source of prosodic reduction is facilitation within the language production system.
Effect of hydrogenation of the walls of oil-and-gas pipelines on their soil corrosion and service life

On the basis of the well-known theoretical concepts and some experimentally substantiated hypotheses, we propose a physicochemical model and establish mathematical relations for the description of the stress-corrosion fracture of pipe materials of underground oil-and-gas pipelines with regard for the intensification of this process by diffusion-moving hydrogen. We also quantitatively estimate the effect of hydrogenation on the rate of soil corrosion and residual service life of the pipes of oil-and-gas pipelines.
Enzymatic Synthesis of Cyclo propane Fatty Aldehydes

FATTY aldehydes containing a cyclopropane ring have been isolated after acid methanolysis of the phospholipids obtained from Clostridium butyricum. 36 per cent by weight of the fatty aldehydes contained a cyclopropane ring1,2. Zalkin et al.3 and Chung and Law4 have shown that cyclopropane fatty acids are formed by the addition of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine to an unsaturated fatty acid moiety of phosphatidylethanolamine. An enzyme which catalyses this addition has been purified from extracts of C. butyricum4,5 The vinyl ether-linked, aldehydogenic chains in C. butyricum plasmalogens can be derived from exogenous fatty acids and fatty acid precursors, presumably by way of the normal pathways for fatty acid synthesis2.
Lis1, the Drosophila homolog of a human lissencephaly disease gene, is required for germline cell division and oocyte differentiation

Lissencephaly is a severe congenital brain malformation resulting from incomplete neuronal migration. One causal gene, LIS1, is homologous to nudF, a gene required for nuclear migration in A. nidulans. We have characterized the Drosophila homolog of LIS1 (Lis1) and show that Lis1 is essential for fly development. Analysis of ovarian Lis1 mutant clones demonstrates that Lis1 is required in the germline for synchronized germline cell division, fusome integrity and oocyte differentiation. Abnormal packaging of the cysts was observed in Lis1 mutant clones. Our results indicate that LIS1 is important for cell division and differentiation and the function of the membrane cytoskeleton. They support the notion that LIS1 functions with the dynein complex to regulate nuclear migration or cell migration.
Arabidopsis PAI Gene Arrangements, Cytosine Methylation and Expression

Previous analysis of the PAI tryptophan biosynthetic gene family in Arabidopsis thaliana revealed that the Wassilewskija (WS) ecotype has four PAI genes at three unlinked sites: a tail-to-tail inverted repeat at one locus (PAI1-PAI4) plus singlet genes at two other loci (PAI2 and PAI3). The four WS PAI genes are densely cytosine methylated over their regions of DNA identity. In contrast, the Columbia (Col) ecotype has three singlet PAI genes at the analogous loci (PAI1, PAI2, and PAI3) and no cytosine methylation. To understand the mechanism of PAI gene duplication at the polymorphic PAI1 locus, and to investigate the relationship between PAI gene arrangement and PAI gene methylation, we analyzed 39 additional ecotypes of Arabidopsis. Six ecotypes had PAI arrangements similar to WS, with an inverted repeat and dense PAI methylation. All other ecotypes had PAI arrangements similar to Col, with no PAI methylation. The novel PAI-methylated ecotypes provide insights into the mechanisms underlying PAI gene duplication and methylation, as well as the relationship between methylation and gene expression.
Family psychosocial risk, distress, and service utilization in pediatric cancer: predictive validity of the Psychosocial Assessment Tool.

BACKGROUND: The way families negotiate diagnosis and early treatment for pediatric cancer sets the stage for their adaptation throughout treatment and survivorship. The Psychosocial Assessment Tool (PAT) is a brief parent-report screener capable of systematically identifying families at risk for problems of adaptation. The current study evaluated stability and predictive validity of PAT psychosocial risk classification with regard to distress, family functioning, and the use of psychosocial services over the first 4 months of treatment. METHODS: Caregivers of children with cancer completed the PAT and measures of distress and family functioning at diagnosis and again 4 months into treatment. At the second time point, social workers completed checklists of services provided and rated the intensity of their work with each family. Referrals to psychologists also were tracked. RESULTS: Psychosocial risk classification, based on the PAT, was stable across the first 4 months of cancer treatment; 57% to 69% of families remained at the same level of risk. PAT total scores did not differ across time, but subscale scores indicated increases in family and child (patient) problems and decreases in unhelpful beliefs. Families classified at higher levels of psychosocial risk at diagnosis had more distress, more family problems, and greater psychosocial service use 4 months into treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding and identifying risks for psychosocial adjustment difficulties within families of children with cancer, considering changes across treatment and beyond, is very complex. Despite evidence of the predictive validity of PAT, additional research is necessary to find ways to effectively use this screener in practice to guide intervention. Cancer 2009;115(18 suppl):4339–49. V C 2009
Improved algorithm for independent component analysis

Firstly, this paper introduces the basic theory of Independent Component Analysis (ICA) and the FastICA algorithm. In order to increase the algorithm convergence rate and reduce the running time, the paper amends the Newton's iteration method and gives an improved algorithm of independent component analysis-the Newton's iteration method with fifth-order convergence. The simulation result of the image signal separation shows that the improved algorithm have the same separate effect as conventional FastICA algorithm and can reduce the times of iterations and the running time significantly. Furthermore, the improved algorithm can also increase the convergence rate and operation efficiency.
SACRED GEOGRAPHY IN THE NOCHIXTLAN VALLEY

The pages of the Mixtec screenfolds are painted with hundreds of place signs. Only a handful have been linked to specific locations on the ground. In this essay, I propose identifications for seven place signs which appear on pages 4 to 1 of the Codex Vienna and page 3 of the Codex Nuttall. I draw on five types of sources: testimonies from the 1544–1547 Yanhuitlan idolatry investigation, the pictorial records of the Mixtec screenfolds themselves, the findings from a FAMSI-funded study of colonial and independence-era land records, previous archaeological surveys, and on-the-ground reconnaissance. By considering the sequential relations of place signs painted in the Mixtec screenfolds, the spatial connections of geographic features visible today (features whose names and recent history are recorded in archival land records), and the sacred connections revealed by the actions of nobles and religious specialists in the Yanhuitlan idolatry investigation, strong proposals for the identification of particular place signs can be made. In turn, these identifications have broader implications for understanding colonial transformations of space. Over the course of the sixteenth century, sprawling pre-Hispanic polities were atomized. The land documents their leaders then created mapped out visions of political space that were far more circumscribed than those we see in pre-Hispanic books, and indeed in alphabetic documents—such as the Yanhuitlan idolatry investigation—that date to the first half of the sixteenth century. This suggests that different types of research methods are needed for studying landscape representations created before and after the middle of the sixteenth century.
147 Controlling Harmful Algal Blooms Through Clay Flocculation

The potential use of clays to control harmful algal blooms (HABs) has been explored in East Asia, Australia, the United States, and Sweden. In Japan and South Korea, minerals such as montmorillonite, kaolinite, and yellow loess, have already been used in the field effectively, to protect fish mariculture from Cochlodinium spp. and other blooms. Cell removal occurs through the flocculation of algal and mineral particles, leading to the formation of larger aggregates (i.e. marine snow), which rapidly settle and further entrain cells during their descent. In the U.S., several clays and clay-rich sediments have shown high removal abilities (e.g. >80% cell removal efficiency) against Karenia brevis, Heterosigma akashiwo, Pfiesteria piscicida and Aureococcus anophagefferens. In some cases, the removal ability of certain clays was further enhanced with chemical flocculants, such as polyaluminum chloride (PAC), to increase their adhesiveness. However, cell removal was also affected by bloom concentration, salinity, and mixing. Cell mortality was observed after clay addition, and increased with increasing clay concentration, and prolonged exposure to clays in the settled layer. Mesocosm, field enclosure, and flume experiments were also conducted to address cell removal with increasing scale and flow, water-column impacts, and the possible benthic effects from clay addition. Results from these studies will be presented, especially those in regards to water quality, seawater chemistry, bottom erodibility and faunal impacts in the benthos. At this time, clay dispersal continues to be a promising method for controlling HABs and mitigating their impacts based on existing information and experimental data.
Pierre and the Fundamental Assumption

: Kripke's Pierre puzzle undermines some of the central epistemic intuitions that underlie traditional defences of the Fregean assumption that sentences'S believes that Fa ‘and'S believes that Fb’ can differ in truth value, even though a = b. Millian theorists have seized on this and employed the puzzle to reject the Fregean assumption itself. I argue that Millians are correct in rejecting traditional defences of the Fregean assumption, but they are wrong in rejecting the Fregean assumption itself. To this end, I offer a different argument kr the assumption, one that is not open to Kripkean/Millian objections.