cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimum combined test plans for systems and components

Since mathematical models based on component reliabilities are frequently used for prediction of system reliability, it stands to reason that cost-effective inferences on the reliability of a system could be made on the basis of tests of its constituent components. Prior research in the area of system-based component testing has for the most part addressed the development of plans that test only the components. From a practitioner's point of view, this is an issue of concern since system failures are often caused by imperfect interfaces and other causes that are not directly attributable to component failures. The exclusion of system tests may thus be an erroneous approach. This paper addresses the development of test plans that explicitly consider the possibility of interface failures. The paper analyzes a series system to determine when testing should be performed on the system alone, on the components only, and on both, depending on test costs and interface reliabilities. Optimum test plans are derived by solving a two-stage mathematical program.
Optimizing sub-ns pulse compression for high energy application

We demonstrate ∼ 40X pulse compression (down to ∼ 300 ps) with ∼ 1 joule, nanosecond pulses for high energy applications requiring ≥ 1 gigawatt of peak power. Our method is based on the established principle of stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS). To push the SBS technique to its highest peak-power limit, a combination of theoretical modeling and experiments is used to identify and optimize all critical parameters, including optical configuration, interaction length, intensity matching, choice of gain medium and thermal stability. Pulse compression results are presented both at 1064 nm and 532 nm, with performances close to the theoretical limit and excellent shot-to-shot reproducibility.
The heat capacity of dicesium monoxide (Cs2O) from 5 to 350 K and the Gibbs energy of formation to 763 K

Abstract The heat capacity of dicesium monoxide, Cs2O, was measured by adiabatic calorimetry from 5 to 350 K. The thermodynamic results at 298.15 K were as follows: C p o (298.15 K ) = (76.00 ± 0.23) J K −1 mol −1 ; S o (298.15 K ) = (146.87 ± 0.44) J K −1 mol −1 ; {H o (298.15 K ) − H o (0)} = (17678 ± 53) J mol −1 ; {G o (298.15 K ) − H o (0)} 298.15 K = − (87.58 ± 0.29) J K −1 mol −1 . The standard Gibbs energy of formation, ΔGfo, of Cs2O was derived from experimental results to be ΔGfo(Cs2O, c, 298.15 K) = − (308.42 ± 1.18) kJ mol−1. To permit practical thermodynamic calculations to be made at higher temperatures, the heat capacities were extrapolated to 763 K, the melting temperature of Cs2O, and a table of extrapolated thermodynamic functions, including ΔGfo(T) up to T = 763 K, is presented.
Ear Leaf Photosynthesis and Related Parameters of Transgenic and Non-GMO Maize Hybrids

Hybrid maize (Zea mays L.) through transgenics now includes δ-endotoxins for insect control and tolerance to the herbicides glyphosate and glufosinate. Some hybrids have multiple transgenic traits as part of their genotype (stacked gene). Limited information is available on how these traits alone affect (net assimilation rate; µmol CO2 m−2 s−1) and related physiological parameters. A two-year, two-location, irrigated experiment comparing four stacked gene, four glyphosate tolerant, and two non-GMO hybrids for ear leaf , (stomatal conductance; mol H2O m−2 s−1), Em (transpiration; mol H2O m−2 s−1), IWUE (intrinsic water use efficiency; ), and Ci (intercellular [CO2] µmol CO2 mol air−1) was completed at Stoneville, MS, in 2012. Data were collected at growth stages R1 (anthesis) and R2 (early kernel filling) using a Li-Cor LI-6400XT set at 355 μmol mol−1 CO2 with a flow rate of 500 μmol s−1 and a 6400-02 light source set at 87.5% full sunlight. Measurements were made between 08:30 h and 11:30 h CST, within 48 h of 25 ha mm irrigation and ≥33.0% cloud cover. Transgenic traits did not influence the physiological parameters of , , Em, IWUE, or Ci during the critical growth stages of R1 or R2.
Origin, cellular expression, and cybrid transmission of mitochondrial CAP-R, PYR-IND, and OLI-R mutant phenotypes.

Chloramphenicol-resistant (CAP-R) mouse and Chinese hamster lines were isolated in a single selection step in drug medium containing pyruvate. Cellular expression of the CAP-R phenotype required pyruvate— or an appropriate substitute—as a nutritional supplement. Subclone lines which were pyruvate independent (PYR-IND) arose in second-step selections at a high frequency. CAP-R PYR-IND Chinese hamster mutants could be directly isolated in single-step selections but at a very low frequency. Subclone lines (OLI-R) which were cross-resistant to oligomycin were isolated in a third selection cycle. The PYR-IND and OLI-R phenotypes were cotransmitted with the CAP-R mtDNA mutation but were expressed at the cellular level only if the number of mutant mitochondrial genomes exceeded a minimum threshold value. Analysis of a mtDNA restriction fragment alteration in one series of mutants supported this model. Threshold limits for cellular expression of mitochondrial mutant phenotypes are likely to be a general phenomenon and will constrain models of the origin and segregation of mtDNA mutations.
Dissociation of Developing Slime Mold Cells Does Not Inhibit the Developmentally Regulated Rise in Alkaline Phosphatase Activity

The rise in alkaline phosphatase activity after the resumption of development of dissociated slime mold cells is comparable to that found in non-dissociated aggregates.
Dillon cutoff-Basement-involved tectonic link between the disturbed belt of west-central Montana and the overthrust belt of extreme southwestern Montana

The front of the Cordilleran fold and thrust belt in western Montana follows the disturbed belt in the north, merges with the southwest Montana transverse zone in the west-central part of the region, and in southwestern Montana is marked by a broad zone characterized by complex interaction between thrust belt structures and basement uplifts. The front margin of the thrust belt in Montana reflects mainly thin-skinned tectonic features in the north, an east-trending lateral ramp that curves southwest in the central part into the Dillon cutoff, an oblique-slip, thick-skinned displacement transfer zone that cuts through basement rocks of the Lima recess, and a zone of overlap between thin- and thick-skinned thrusts in extreme southwestern Montana. The transverse ramp and basement-involved thrust faults are controlled by Proterozoic structures.
An Embedded Pressure Sensing Approach for Stamping Process Monitoring

This paper investigates the interactions between sheet metal stamping tool and workpiece through finite element simulation and experiments using an array of force sensors embedded into a customized stamping test fixture. The study is aimed at developing a more effective means for stamping process monitoring as compared to the conventionally used tonnage sensing technique. An analytical framework for processing data acquired from the sensor array is established, and the spatial significance of the sensor positions has been incorporated into the analysis. The utility of two numeric surface generation schemes has been investigated to interpolate the pressure distribution at any point across the tooling surface, based on measurements from limited, spatially distributed sensing points. The suitability of the surface schemes has been evaluated using finite element models established for the customized test fixture. The feasibility of embedded pressure sensing for defect detection in stamping operations has been demonstrated.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Observation of Second Sound in NaF by Means of Light Scattering

Application of the technique of forced thermal light scattering allowed the observation of second sound in NaF in spite of the extremely weak coupling between light and thermal fluctuations. The velocity and damping were measured up to 23 K. These measurements extend the results of previous heat-pulse experiments in agreement with theory.
The Bacteriophage T4 Rapid-Lysis Genes and Their Mutational Proclivities

Like most phages with double-stranded DNA, phage T4 exits the infected host cell by a lytic process requiring, at a minimum, an endolysin and a holin. Unlike most phages, T4 can sense superinfection (which signals the depletion of uninfected host cells) and responds by delaying lysis and achieving an order-of-magnitude increase in burst size using a mechanism called lysis inhibition (LIN). T4 r mutants, which are unable to conduct LIN, produce distinctly large, sharp-edged plaques. The discovery of r mutants was key to the foundations of molecular biology, in particular to discovering and characterizing genetic recombination in T4, to redefining the nature of the gene, and to exploring the mutation process at the nucleotide level of resolution. A number of r genes have been described in the past 7 decades with various degrees of clarity. Here we describe an extensive and perhaps saturating search for T4 r genes and relate the corresponding mutational spectra to the often imperfectly known physiologies of the proteins encoded by these genes. Focusing on r genes whose mutant phenotypes are largely independent of the host cell, the genes are rI (which seems to sense superinfection and signal the holin to delay lysis), rIII (of poorly defined function), rIV (same as sp and also of poorly defined function), and rV (same as t, the holin gene). We did not identify any mutations that might correspond to a putative rVI gene, and we did not focus on the famous rII genes because they appear to affect lysis only indirectly.
Influence of Steel Composition on Additive Performance

Coatings formed by lubricants on rubbing surfaces are believed to control the friction, wear, and fatigue of rolling contact bearings, gears, cams and tappets, and other heavily loaded components. To investigate the influence of steel composition on the formation of these surface coatings, friction, fatigue, and static immersion studies were conducted with two case-hardened steels (1018 and 4118) and five through-hardened materials (51100, 52100, M-50, 440-C, and Stellite #3). More surface coating formed on the low alloy steels than on the high alloy steels, with the composition of the oxide layer apparently being the controlling factor. The magnitude of the steel effect depended on the additive and the oxygen available. Elemental analyses of the surface coatings obtained with representative additives indicated that all contained significant organic fractions. Decomposition of the additive in the bulk oil was a necessary prerequisite for surface coating formation. Additive decomposition was generally prom...
Outcomes of thrombectomy procedures performed in hemodialysis grafts with early failure.

Abstract Purpose Percutaneous declotting is usually not offered for hemodialysis access grafts clotting Materials and Methods Of 860 percutaneous mechanical thrombectomies performed between July 2001 and June 2007, 23 were performed in grafts Results There was no difference between the U30 and U60 groups in primary patency (13 vs 19 days, respectively, P = 0.17) or in postintervention access patency (38 vs 189 days, respectively, P = 0.63). A strong trend toward shorter secondary patency in U30 grafts was observed (17 vs 73 days, P = 0.06). Underlying lesions not amenable to percutaneous treatment were found in 62% of U30 grafts and 33% of U60 grafts ( P = 0.18). Neither group achieved the K/DOQI Guidelines' recommended 85% technical success or 40% 90-day primary patency; in the U30 group it was 0% and in the U60 group 17%. Conclusions Percutaneous declotting of grafts yields poor outcomes, well below the K/DOQI threshold not only within 30 days but also within 60 days of placement.
Heritability of Intensity of Yellow Shank Pigmentation in Cross-Bred Broiler Chickens

Abstract BUYERS of commercial broilers prefer chickens with well pigmented shanks to those with lightly pigmented or pale shanks. Certain pathological conditions, ration, and source and level of vitamin D (Hammond and Harshaw, 1941) influence shank and skin color of growing chickens. Collins et al. (1955) found significant breed, strain, sex and trial differences in shank pigmentation of ten-week old broilers in the New Hampshire Broiler Test. Bird (1952) reported breed, strain, and sex differences in pigmentation score of dressed broilers. Lambert and Knox (1927) and Hammond and Harshaw (1941) found a close relationship between the degree of yellow of the beak, shanks and skin in chickens. Fritz el al. (1958) reported that yellow color of the shanks, skin and body fat of chickens is due primarily to the presence in those areas of the pigment xanthophyll. The objective of this study was to estimate the heritability of yellow shank pigmentation …
Studies on the relationship of water balance properties and survival in the Hawaiian drosophilid, D. Mimica

Abstract Some aspects of the relationship between water balance characteristics and biological fitness have been explored both for a laboratory-reared stock (K85P1) of Drosophila mimica and for each of four field-caught populations of D. mimica . At low a v 's, there is a clear correlation between water loss rates and survival time, but at saturation, the relationship is less striking. Neither body weight nor sex correlate strongly with water loss rate at 0.70 a v , but females survive longer than males. Some differences in the response to desiccation between populations from different collection sites are also suggested.
A Taxonomy of Organizational Justice Theories

A taxonomy is presented that categorizes theories of organizational justice with respect to two independent dimensions: a reactive-proactive dimension and a process-content dimension. Various theories within each of the four resulting categories are identified. The implications of the taxonomy are discussed with respect to clarifying theoretical interrelationships, tracking research trends, and identifying needed areas of research.
RESILIENT MODULUS AND MICROSTRUCTURE OF CEMENT-KILN-DUST STABILIZED BASE/SUBBASE AGGREGATE

ABSTRACT Resilient modulus (Mr) is one of the most important parameters in the design of highway pavements, and it is an indicator of the behavior of material as a component of the pavement system which is subjected to vehicular loading. To improve on the quality of the aggregate, cement kiln dust (CKD) is being proposed as an additive to an aggregate intended for base/subbase construction of highway pavements. A series of triaxial cyclic loading tests were performed in accordance with the AASHTO T294-921 procedure to investigate effects of CKD amounts and curing time on the resilient modulus of the aggregate. It is found that the Mr values increase with the CKD amount and with curing time within a certain period. The aggregate stabilized with 15% CKD is found to be best suited for base/and subbase with regard to the Mr value. For 7-day and 28-day curing periods, the increase in Mr values with respect to the raw aggregate can be up to 70% and 120%, respectively; however, the difference between the 28-day and 90-day stabilized aggregate is minimal. Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM) tests and X-ray diffraction (XRD) tests were performed to reveal the mechanism of stabilization. It is found that the increase in resilient modulus is the result of hydration of the CKD and filling of the intracluster voids of the fine particles of the aggregate.
Protein kinase C δ is a critical regulator of CD1d-mediated antigen presentation

We have recently demonstrated that the p38 and ERK1/2 MAP kinases play reciprocal roles in the control of CD1d-mediated antigen presentation. Although the use of specific inhibitors for these pathways clearly had an effect, the effects were not complete, leading to speculations that additional pathways were involved. Here, we show that inhibiting protein kinase C delta (PKCdelta) substantially impairs antigen presentation by murine CD1d1 to NKT cells. This effect was accompanied by marked changes in the intracellular localization of CD1d. Expression of a dominant-negative mutant of PKCdelta in CD1d(+) cells resulted in nearly undetectable endogenous antigen presentation, substantially impaired CD1d recycling, a decrease in MAPK activation, and a decrease in the ability to present low (but not high) concentrations of alpha-galactosylceramide at the cell surface. These data strongly suggest that PKCdelta is a critical regulator of CD1d-mediated antigen presentation and is involved in multiple steps of the process.
The Control of Sociological Theory: In Praise of the Interregnum*

The argument advanced here contends that integrative efforts within sociology exacerbate, rather than mitigate, theoretical and organizational fragmentation. Viewing epistemologically driven movements towards theoretical control as counter- productive, this study contains a proposal for a greater analytical focus on ontology as a better way to promote and preserve the sociological enterprise. Such a move would reflect a return to the ethos of sociology's classical project and encourage embracing theoretical diversity as a desirable condition.
Does humic acid form a micelle

Abstract Surfactants are substances that have the ability to lower the surface tension of a solution. It has been recognized for some time that the addition of humic acid to an alkaline, aqueous solution will lower the surface tension of that solution. Thus, humic acid is a surfactant. The surface tension of this solution will continue to decrease as the humic acid concentration is increased until, at some point, it becomes constant despite the addition of more humic acid. For many surfactants, this indicates the formation of aggregates known as micelles. This point is called the critical micelle concentration (or CMC). In an aqueous solution, micelles have a hydrophobic interior and a relatively hydrophilic exterior surface. The presence of a hydrophobic ‘core’ gives micelles the ability to solubilize otherwise insoluble compounds to levels many times greater than their solubility in that solvent alone or in solutions with surfactant concentrations below the CMC. The similarities between the effect of micelle-forming surfactants and humic acid on the surface tension of aqueous solutions has prompted the suggestion that humic acid forms a micelle. This hypothesis has never been rigorously tested. This paper presents a definitive test of this hypothesis based on the ability of a micelle to solubilize a hydrophobic organic compound. It is shown that humic acid will form a micelle in an alkaline aqueous solution but at extremely high concentrations (7.4 g humic acid/1).
DATABASE KEYWORD SEARCH: BEYOND ITS CURRENT LANDSCAPE

As an active research field, database keyword search (KWS) has put much emphasis on the performance issues, due to its high computational cost. However, a closer examination on KWS reveals that there are some other interesting aspects worth noting. In this paper, we examine KWS from a broader perspective, analyzing its profound implications. Freed from syntax-related considerations, KWS users now have better opportunities to explore the data in the way as they wish, and such exploration may reveal useful hindsight for understanding the hidden nature of the data, thus benefiting the exploitation on the use of the data. In particular, we examine the potential of KWS to data mining from the behavior mining perspective. This examination also leads us to a discussion of viewing KWS in the "web of life" context. We further discuss connections of KWS with other related concepts, including dataspace. Based on our findings and critical examination, we also provide a brief overview of an integrated environment which facilitates the interplay of KWS and data mining.
Temperature-Time Relationships for High-Temperature-Short-Time Sterilization of Evaporated Milk

Summary The temperature-time relationships for the destruction of spores in concentrated whole milk by high-temperature-short-time heating are given and the method described. The required killing time is an exponential function of the temperature.
Nuclear magnetic resonance and the design of chromatographic separations

Abstract The design of commercial chromatographic separations is an increasingly important subject as the number of products being introduced to the market and pressures for cost containment continue to increase. Of particular concern are the development of more productive columns, dealing with the large numer of design parameters of industrial importance and increasing the scale of production. It is therefore important to relate macroscopic column performance to underlying physico-chemical fundamentals, and important among these are mass transfer and fluid mechanics. It is shown here that well established nuclear magnetic resonance techniques can be helpful in characterizing the diffusion and flow behavior of commercial columns and for obtaining the insights needed to develop new designs. It is also suggested that the design parameters so obtained be incorporated into a non-dispersive formulation for describing column behavior.
Surface-Initiated Polymerization of 5-(Perfluoro-n-alkyl)norbornenes from Gold Substrates

We report the surface-initiated ring-opening metathesis polymerization (SI-ROMP) of 5-(perfluoro-n-alkyl)norbornenes (NBFn) to grow partially fluorinated polymer films of tunable thicknesses ranging from tens of nanometers to micrometers on gold substrates. The perfluoroalkyl chains range in length (n) from 4 to 10 carbons, representing 67−83% of the molecular weight of the repeat unit. The growth rate of the film depends on the perfluoroalkyl chain length, with longer chains enabling faster surface-initiated growth and greater ultimate thicknesses. These films exhibit hydrophobic and oleophobic surface properties and provide effective barriers to the diffusion of aqueous ions. The critical surface tensions of the films exhibit a minimum for a fluorocarbon chain of 8 (pNBF8) and range from 9 to 19 mN/m. The morphologies of the pNBFn films consist of densely packed 20−30 nm clusters that differ in the concentration of fluorocarbon chains in the outer few nanometers of the film.
Irrigation of Residential Landscapes Using the Toro Intelli-Sense Controller in Southwest Florida

AbstractThe objective of the research reported in this paper was to determine the potential water-savings effectiveness of Toro Intelli-Sense evapotranspiration (ET)-based irrigation controllers in single-family homes. Of the 36 cooperators selected, 21 cooperators were outfitted with Toro Intelli-Sense TIS-612 (the ET group) and the remaining 15 were used as comparisons. The ET group reduced irrigation compared to the gross irrigation requirement by 23–41% and the 9-year historical average by 23–34%. Results varied based on the relationship between historical irrigation and the gross irrigation requirement, with water savings of 24%, no difference, and an increase of 54% when the historical value exceeded, approximated, and was less than the gross irrigation requirement, respectively. Turfgrass quality was maintained above an acceptable threshold for both treatments. In southwest Florida, a properly programmed Intelli-Sense controller is recommended when irrigation exceeds the gross irrigation requiremen...
Genetics of Hypertension: What Is Next?

Hypertension or an elevated blood pressure continues to be a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Despite intensive public education including lifestyle modification programs and the availability of safe and effective pharmacologic agents to treat hypertension, the treatment and control of hypertension is suboptimal. Over the past several decades, there have been tremendous advances in the use of genetics to prevent, detect, and treat human disease states. Despite these advances and an intensive effort, the application of genetics to the broad population with hypertension has not met expectations. This review will address our present understanding and use of genetics in hypertension and areas where genetics may impact significantly our approach and clinical treatment of hypertension in the future.
Pushing the envelope on youth civic engagement: A developmental and liberation psychology perspective.

In this article, we take a critical look at the growing interest in U.S. political participation as it exists in the youth civic engagement literature. Our critique draws from principles of liberation and developmental psychology, and from the incisive writings of experts in youth organizing. Youth Organizing evolved from the Positive Youth Development (PYD) and Community Youth Development (CYD) perspectives but its addition of social justice activism is consistent with liberation psychology. The essence of our critique is this: Although there is certainly value in the current civic engagement literature, much of it focuses on the maintenance of social and political institutions rather than on action for social justice. To promote a better balance, and one more relevant to the lives of youth of color and other marginalized young people, we offer a framework for empirical research on youth sociopolitical development. The focus is on the relationship between social analysis (including critical consciousness) and societal involvement that includes the full range of service and political work. Because youth is the focus, we also include a brief discussion of a distinctive challenge that adults face in doing just work with young people—namely, adultism. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 35: 779–792, 2007.
ASCII protocol conversion revisited

One of the first implementations of protocol conversion was the connection of 'dumb' ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) asynchronous terminals to IBM 370 hosts. A protocol converter box made the ASCII terminal appear to the host as a 3270 display and made the host appear to understand the escape sequences necessary to control the ASCII terminal. The author describes an approach to connecting 'smart' asynchronous ASCII devices to 370 hosts. By having a single screen at the microcomputer instead of two (one at the controller and one at the display) and by utilizing compression and asynchronous data links, the performance of remote workstations on slow links can be greatly improved. >
Development of LPS antagonistic therapeutics: synthesis and evaluation of glucopyranoside-spacer-amino acid motifs

Sepsis is a serious medical condition characterized by bacterial infection and a subsequent massive systemic inflammatory response. The release of proinflammatory products and mediators from responding innate immune cells, such as mononuclear phagocytes, directly contributes to the pathogenesis of sepsis. The primary bacterial trigger of inflammation is lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which interacts with the germline-encoded macrophage receptor cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14) via its Lipid A moiety. In an effort to identify compounds that block LPS-induced inflammation we investigated a series of Lipid A analogs that lack a disaccharide core yet still possess potent antagonistic activity against LPS. We found it beneficial to develop molecules that contain the following: a glucopyranoside core, hydrophobic ether substituents, and an amino acid to provide an ionic character to the constructs. Here we report an efficient synthesis of molecules of this type and the ensuing biological studies thereof.
Analysis of the transcriptome in molecular epidemiology studies

The human transcriptome is complex, comprising multiple transcript types, mostly in the form of non-coding RNA (ncRNA). The majority of ncRNA is of the long form (lncRNA, ≥ 200 bp), which plays an important role in gene regulation through multiple mechanisms including epigenetics, chromatin modification, control of transcription factor binding, and regulation of alternative splicing. Both mRNA and ncRNA exhibit additional variability in the form of alternative splicing and RNA editing. All aspects of the human transcriptome can potentially be dysregulated by environmental exposures. Next-generation RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) is the best available methodology to measure this although it has limitations, including experimental bias. The third phase of the MicroArray Quality Control Consortium project (MAQC-III), also called Sequencing Quality Control (SeQC), aims to address these limitations through standardization of experimental and bioinformatic methodologies. A limited number of toxicogenomic studies have been conducted to date using RNA-Seq. This review describes the complexity of the human transcriptome, the application of transcriptomics by RNA-Seq or microarray in molecular epidemiology studies, and limitations of these approaches including the type of cell or tissue analyzed, experimental variation, and confounding. By using good study designs with precise, individual exposure measurements, sufficient power and incorporation of phenotypic anchors, studies in human populations can identify biomarkers of exposure and/or early effect and elucidate mechanisms of action underlying associated diseases, even at low doses. Analysis of datasets at the pathway level can compensate for some of the limitations of RNA-Seq and, as more datasets become available, will increasingly elucidate the exposure-disease continuum.
An evaluation of reconstruction filters for volume rendering

To render images from a three-dimensional array of sample values, it is necessary to interpolate between the samples. This paper is concerned with interpolation methods that are equivalent to convolving the samples with a reconstruction filter; this covers all commonly used schemes, including trilinear and cubic interpolation. We first outline the formal basis of interpolation in three-dimensional signal processing theory. We then propose numerical metrics that can be used to measure filter characteristics that are relevant to the appearance of images generated using that filter. We apply those metrics to several previously used filters and relate the results to isosurface images of the interpolations. We show that the choice of interpolation scheme can have a dramatic effect on image quality, and we discuss the cost/benefit tradeoff inherent in choosing a filter. >
Gonadotrophin Assay in Chicks

Abstract INTEREST in more effective assays for gonadotrophins has recently been revived by the work of Steelman and Pohley (1953), Hays and Steelman (1955), Witschi (1955), and Segal (1957). These investigators have described efficient methods for assaying small amounts of pituitary follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Each method, however, has certain disadvantages. The assay of FSH described by Steelman and his associates, for example, involves a synergistic reaction of the hormone with human chorionic gonadotrophin, Steelman and Pohley (1953), Hays and Steelman (1955). The assay of LH in the Weaver Finch as reported by Witschi (1955), Segal (1957) depends on pigment production in regenerating feathers. This is an effect, however, which is not on a primary sex organ. For several years, we have utilized newly-hatched White Leghorn cockerels in our work for the assay of gonadotrophins and have found tests with these animals to be rapid and to …
An electro-osmotic knife for slicing large box cores

ABSTRACT Large box cores can be sliced vertically or horizontally on board ship with a knife that has an electrified metal blade. The knife operates on the principle of electro-osmosis, which reduces drag along the blade during slicing and minimizes distortion of the sediment. The slices are useful for subsampling the core and for studying physical and biogenic sedimentary structures. Making slices helps solve the problems of handling, storing, and shipping the large volumes of sediment recovered in box cores.
Exclusion of neutropenic children from implanted central venous catheter placement: impact on early catheter removal.

Abstract Background/Purpose Based on the known risks of implanted central venous catheter (ICVC) placement in neutropenic children, we instituted a protocol whereby children with hematologic malignancies and an absolute neutrophil count less than 0.5 × 10 9 /L were excluded from an ICVC and had a percutaneously inserted central catheter placed until neutropenia resolved. The impact of this policy on the incidence of ICVC removal within 100 days of placement was evaluated. Methods The records of all children with hematologic malignancies who underwent placement of an ICVC (port or cuffed catheter) from 1999 through 2008 were reviewed. The incidence of catheter removal within 100 days was compared between subjects who had ICVC placed before (preprotocol) and after (postprotocol) the absolute neutrophil count–based exclusion protocol. Results Implanted central venous catheters were placed in 437 children, 311 in group 1 and 126 in group 2. The incidence of catheter removal within 100 days of placement for infection (4.1% [13/314] versus 0.8% [1/126], P = .07) and all causes combined (9.6% [30/314] versus 2.4% [3/126], P = .01) was substantially lower in the postprotocol group. Conclusions We have demonstrated that a protocol whereby neutropenic children were excluded from ICVC placement dramatically diminished complications that necessitated early catheter removal.
Patent foramen ovale and intracardiac thrombus identified by transesophageal echocardiography during liver transplantation.

Vascular anastomosis was completed, and the vascular crossclamps were removed to establish hepatic reperfusion (stage III) after only 24 minutes of warm ischemia time and 261 minutes of cold ischemia time. Reperfusion during the first minute was tolerated well, with a BP of 110/60 mmHg, HR of 110 beats/min, SaO2 of 100% on 100% FIO2, systolic/diastolic PAP of 30/18 mmHg, CVP of 10 mmHg, CI of 5.5 L/min/m2, and SvO2 of 81%. Five minutes after reperfusion, the patient’s BP suddenly decreased to 81/42 mmHg with an associated HR of 58 beats/min. A TEE revealed a large free-floating thrombus in the right atrium. The thrombus started in the inferior vena cava (IVC) (Video 2), extended into the PFO (Video 3), and was partially obstructing the tricuspid valve and right ventricular inflow (Video 4). The thrombus position was highly concerning given that a massive embolus could occur. If the thrombus further migrated into the left atrium through the PFO (Fig 2), then the potential of a systemic embolus existed. If the thrombus migrated into the right ventricle, then the potential of a massive pulmonary embolus existed. The surgeon was notified, and suction of the venous anastomosis site was initiated in order to decrease the right atrial pressure. The BP was increased with intravenous epinephrine, 50 g, in order to increase the left atrial pressure, with the aim to keep a left-toright shunt through the PFO and maintain the thrombus in the right atrium. During this time, unfractionated heparin (2,000 U 2 boluses) was given at 5-minute intervals in order to stabilize the clot formation, which resulted in rapid resolution of the clot from the right ventricle inflow only 10 minutes after clot detection. No clinical signs of pulmonary embolism were noted because PAPs remained within normal limits with no right ventricular dysfunction and no wall motion abnormality on TEE.
Born model repulsive interactions in the alkali halides determined from ultrasonic data

Abstract Recent studies of the Born Model of the Li, Na, K and Rb halides using ultrasonic data are summarized. It is shown that, when ultrasonic values of the temperature and pressure derivatives of the bulk modulus are used in the Hildebrand approximation for vibrational terms in the free energy, the stiffness π = − r 2 W ″ R / rW ′ R of the net repulsive interaction, W R , exhibits a smooth and regular behavior when plotted against nearest neighbor distance, d o . This contrasts with the erratic behavior of the repulsive stiffnesses when hydrostatic compression data are employed. Numerical values of the ultrasonic W R and π are given. The experimental stiffnesses compare well in their pattern with a recent comprehensive set of theoretical values (exchange charge model) calculated by Hafemeister and Zahrt. A possible improvement of the theory is pointed out.
Evaluation of Strategies for Fire Blight Control in Organic Pome Fruit Without Antibiotics.

Abstract Apple and pear produced organically under the U.S. National Organic Program (NOP) standard can be treated with antibiotics for suppression of fire blight caused by Erwinia amylovora. Recent regulatory actions by the NOP, however, have lessened the likelihood of antibiotic use after the 2014 season. In response, western U.S. organic apple and pear stakeholders identified two immediate-need research objectives related to fire blight control: development of effective non-antibiotic control programs based on combinations of registered biological products; and, in apple, integration of these products with lime sulfur, which is sprayed at early bloom to reduce fruit load. In orchard trials in Oregon, increasing the frequency of treatment with biological products improved suppression of floral infection. In apple, fruit load thinning with 2% lime sulfur plus 2% fish oil (LS+FO) at 30 and 70% bloom significantly (P ≤ 0.05) reduced the proportion of blighted flower clusters in four of five orchard trials....
Representation and Integration of Auditory and Visual Stimuli in the Primate Ventral Lateral Prefrontal Cortex

Through the influence of Goldman-Rakic, much research has been focused on the role of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in spatial working memory, decision making, and saccade generation, whereas functions of other parts of the frontal lobe including the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) are less clear. Previous studies in non-human primates have shown that some VLPFC cells are selectively responsive to faces. Recent findings indicate that adjacent to the region where face- and object-selective cells have been recorded are neurons which respond to complex sounds including human and monkey vocalizations. Furthermore, when neurons in this same region are tested with combined face and voice communication stimuli, it is apparent that some cells in VLPFC are multisensory and respond to audiovisual stimuli. The determination that ventral prefrontal neurons are multisensory and responsive to auditory and visual communication stimuli may help to establish an animal model to assist in the investigation of the circuit and cellular basis of human communication. This will also aid in the understanding of general frontal lobe function and the processes that go awry in disorders including autism and schizophrenia, where disturbances in prefrontal function have been noted.
Historical origins of current IBD concepts.

The “nonspecific” inflammatory bowel diseases, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, represent a group of heterogeneous inflammatory and ulcerative diseases of the small and large intestines of unknown etiology, associated with many gastrointestinal and systemic complications. Appearing initially as isolated cases in Great Britain and northern Europe during the 19th and early 20th centuries, they have steadily increased numerically and geographically and today are recognized worldwide.
Muscles do more positive than negative work in human locomotion.

Summary Muscle work during level walking and ascent and descent ramp and stairway walking was assessed in order to explore the proposition that muscles perform more positive than negative work during these locomotion tasks. Thirty four healthy human adults were tested while maintaining a constant average walking velocity in the five gait conditions. Ground reaction force and sagittal plane kinematic data were obtained during the stance phases of these gaits and used in inverse dynamic analyses to calculate joint torques and powers at the hip, knee and ankle. Muscle work was derived as the area under the joint power vs time curves and was partitioned into positive, negative and net components. Dependent t-tests were used to compare positive and negative work in level walking and net joint work between ascent and descent gaits on the ramp and stairs (P<0.010). Total negative and positive work in level walking was −34 J and 50 J, respectively, with the difference in magnitude being statistically significant (P<0.001). Level walking was therefore performed with 16 J of net positive muscle work per step. The magnitude of the net work in ramp ascent was 25% greater than the magnitude of net work in ramp descent (89 vs −71 J m −1 , P<0.010). Similarly, the magnitude of the net work in stair ascent was 43% greater than the magnitude of net work in stair descent (107 vs −75 J step −1 , P<0.000). We identified three potential causes for the reduced negative vs positive work in these locomotion tasks: (1) the larger magnitude of the accelerations induced by the larger ground reaction forces in descending compared to ascending gaits elicited greater energy dissipation in non-muscular tissues, (2) the ground reaction force vector was directed closer to the joint centers in ramp and stair descent compared to ascent, which reduced the load on the muscular tissues and their energy dissipating response, and (3) despite the need to produce negative muscle work in descending gaits, both ramp and stair descent also had positive muscle work to propel the lower extremity upward and forward into the swing phase movement trajectory. We used these data to formulate two novel hypotheses about human locomotion. First, level walking requires muscles to generate a net positive amount of work per gait cycle to overcome energy losses by other tissues. Second, skeletal muscles generate more mechanical energy in gait tasks that raise the center of mass compared to the mechanical energy they dissipate in gait tasks that lower the center of mass, despite equivalent changes in total mechanical energy.
A Test of Consumer Awareness for Adults

The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument to measure adult awareness of consumer product/service information sources, consumer protection laws and channels of recourse. The process included identification of prevalent consumer problems, development of test items based on the identified problems, and assessments of the content validity and the reliability of the instrument. The process of construct validity was initiated by developing and testing hypotheses concerning the relationships between scores on the instrument and selected socio-economic characteristics of consumers. Low consumer awareness scores were predominant, supporting the need for consumer education for adults.
Valvular Heart Disease and Pregnancy - Part II: Prosthetic Valves

A large number of prosthetic heart valves (PHV) are being implanted in patients with both congenital and acquired valvular disease. Many of the recipients of such valves are women of childbearing age who desire to have children. The main issues involved with pregnancy in a patient with PHV include the selection of PHV in women during their childbearing age, risks to both the mother and the fetus associated with pregnancy and the management of the patients with PHV during gestation.
Cryogenic small-signal model for 0.55 mu m gate-length ion-implanted GaAs MESFET's

The cryogenic microwave performance of 0.5*300- mu m gate ion-implanted GaAs MESFETs is presented. The devices studied have been fabricated as part of a process control monitor chip (PCM) which uses comparable industry standard design rules. Detailed small-signal element modeling has been performed to determine the temperature dependence of important physical parameters over a lattice temperature range from 300 K to 115 K. The authors find appreciable improvement in cut-off frequency (f/sub T/) and well behaved temperature dependence of transconductance (g/sub m/) and gate-source capacitance (C/sub gs/). Empirical relations for the temperature dependence of f/sub T/, the maximum frequency of oscillation (f/sub max/), g/sub m/ and C/sub gs/, that should provide accurate temperature-dependent device and circuit models are presented. >
A 5.8S nuclear ribosomal RNA gene sequence database: applications to ecology and evolution

We complied a 5.8S nuclear ribosomal gene sequence database for animals, plants, and fungi using both newly generated and GenBank sequences. We demonstrate the utility of this database as an internal check to determine whether the target organism and not a contaminant has been sequenced, as a diagnostic tool for ecologists and evolutionary biologists to determine the placement of asexual fungi within larger taxonomic groups, and as a tool to help identify fungi that form ectomycorrhizae.
U‐Pb dating of a remagnetized Paleozoic limestone

The Upper Ordovician Trenton Group of New York State is one of a number of Appalachian limestones which yields paleomagnetic poles suggesting disturbance in the late Paleozoic. Calcite fractions dissolved from samples of the Trenton Limestone define a 238U-206Pb age of 454±8 Ma (MSWD=12.8) in excellent agreement with 40Ar−39 Ar and U-Pb ages for the deposition of the underlying Diecke Bentonite. This requires that the U-Pb system in the calcite has been preserved since deposition and early diagenesis. If late Paleozoic remagnetization of this limestone was induced by fluids, these fluids did not interact with significant amounts of carbonate. The apparent robustness of the U-Pb system, and the large spread in µ values (18.17–118.8), offers potential precision of ±1 Ma in determining the Paleozoic time scale.
The Value Relevance of Revenues beyond Earnings

This study examines the role of information on revenues in valuing firms. It examines whether revenue has incremental ability to explain stock returns beyond earnings and whether this ability (1) is pervasive or it is limited to situations in which earnings are less informative, (2) has changed over time, and (3) is sensitive to nonlinearity in the relation between returns and earnings. The analysis indicates that revenue information is useful both as a summary measure of a firm's performance for valuation purposes and in conveying new information to the market, after controlling for earnings information. These results are not driven by technology firms, firms incurring losses, or firm-quarters with extreme earnings news, for which earnings information may be less useful, and are robust to model misspecification due to nonlinearity in the returns-earnings relation. Further, while the ability of revenues and earnings to summarize firm performance is stable across time, the new information conveyed by earnings has declined while the ability of revenues to convey new information is undiminished.
Microbiological profiles of fungal keratitis: a 10-year study at a tertiary referral center

Given the rise in cases of fungal keratitis in recent years, this study was performed to better elucidate the microbiological profile, risk factors, and surgical intervention rates of fungal keratitis at a tertiary referral center in the Southeastern USA. This is a retrospective case series of fungal keratitis infections treated at Duke University Eye Center from January 1, 1998, to October 6, 2008. Of the 4651 culture-proven corneal ulcers identified, 63 (1.4 %) were positive for fungal keratitis with a total of 69 fungal organisms isolated. The majority of isolates were filamentous species (44 of 69, 64 %), and the most commonly isolated organism was Curvularia (11 of 69, 16 %). Bacterial coinfections were found in 24 of the 63 cases (38 %). The most commonly associated risk factors were contact lens wear (n = 15, 24 %) and prior penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) (n = 15, 24 %). Twenty-three cases (37 %) required surgical intervention. The rate of surgical intervention was highest in patients with prior PKP (7/15, 47 %). In this study, the leading risk factors for fungal keratitis were contact lens wear and prior PKP. Filamentous species were the most common causative pathogens. A relatively high rate of mixed bacterial-fungal infections was found. Patients with prior PKP were more likely to require surgery than patients without history of keratoplasties.