cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Digging deeper: what the critical zone perspective adds to the study of plant ecophysiology

The emergence of critical zone (CZ) science has provided an integrative platform for investigating plant ecophysiology in the context of landscape evolution, weathering and hydrology. The CZ lies between the top of the vegetation canopy and fresh, chemically unaltered bedrock and plays a pivotal role in sustaining life. We consider what the CZ perspective has recently brought to the study of plant ecophysiology. We specifically highlight novel research demonstrating the importance of the deeper subsurface for plant water and nutrient relations. We also point to knowledge gaps and research opportunities, emphasising, in particular, greater focus on the roles of deep, nonsoil resources and how those resources influence and coevolve with plants as a frontier of plant ecophysiological research.
The good side of the bad guys: predation of lepidopteran pests by Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Florida Panhandle

Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is an aggressive invasive species in many parts of the world, including the southeastern USA. The objectives of this study were to document S. invicta occurrence and predation potential of lepidopteran pests in peanut and cotton fields in the Florida Panhandle. The predation potential of S. invicta on Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was evaluated in experimental areas of peanut and cotton at the West Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida/IFAS, Jay, Florida, USA, during 2 crop seasons. Overall, we found a beneficial aspect of this invasive species in the agroecosystems of the Florida Panhandle. Key Words: red imported fire ant; invasive species; agroecosystem; Helicoverpa zea; egg predation Resumo Solenopsis invicta Buren (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) e uma especie invasora em muitos paises, incluindo a regiao sudoeste dos Estados Unidos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi documentar a ocorrencia de S. invicta e seu potencial de predacao de ovos de Lepidoptera nas culturas do amendoim e algodao na regiao da Florida Panhandle. O potencial de predacao de Helicoverpa zea por S. invicta foi avaliado em areas experimentais, durante duas safras de amendoim e algodao na West Florida Research and Education Center, University of Florida/IFAS, Jay, Florida, USA. A ocorrencia de S. invicta foi maior na cultura de amendoim do que no algodao. A contribuicao deste trabalho e documentar a funcao de inimigo natural de uma especie invasora na regiao de Florida Panhandle. Palavras Chave: formiga lava-pe; species invasoras; agroecossistema; Helicoverpa zea; predacao de ovos View this article in BioOne
41 – SOLAR POWER

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the basic concepts related to solar power. Energy from the sun can be collected and utilized in a variety of different ways as follows: (1) direct thermal applications involving collection of sunlight by solar thermal collectors for heating and cooling of buildings, heating water, distillation, or providing industrial and agricultural process heat; (2) solar electric applications in which energy from the sun is transformed into electricity by solar-thermal-electric, photovoltaic, wind, or ocean-thermal conversion systems; and (3) fuels from biomass, involving the production of fuels such as wood, methane, alcohols, or hydrogen from vegetation. The chapter describes solar-thermal-electric technologies, that is, the development of equipment for the collection of solar radiation and conversion of this energy into heat that, in turn, is utilized to generate electric power. These technologies are divided into two categories: (1) central receiver systems, which use a field of mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto the heat receiver to generate fairly large amounts of power, and (2) dispersed systems. The chapter provides an overview of solar concentrator concepts. It also discusses linear single axis tracking concentrators.
Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction and the Role of Noninvasive Cardiovascular Imaging.

Patients with coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) have significantly higher rates of cardiovascular events, including hospitalization for heart failure, sudden cardiac death, and myocardial infarction (MI). In CMD, several pathophysiological changes lead to functional and structural abnormalities in the coronary microvasculature, which disrupt the ability of the vessels to vasodilate and augment myocardial blood flow in response to increased myocardial oxygen demand, causing ischemia and angina. With the advent of more advanced non-invasive cardiac imaging techniques, the coronary microvasculature has been subjected to more intense study in the past two decades—this has led to further insights into the diagnosis, pathophysiology, treatment, prognosis and follow-up of CMD. This review will highlight and compare the salient features of the currently available non-invasive imaging modalities used in these patients, and discuss the clinical utility of these techniques in the workup and management of these patients.
Global Perspective on Cord Blood Stem Cell Banking

Cord blood (CB) transplantation has been successful in thousands of patients receiving units from public cord blood banks (CBB). Private CBBs focused on autologous CB donation are not recommended by professional organizations and create ethical concerns. The private model should require the same inspections and accreditation schemes as those undertaken in the public model and improve quality and transparency via independent ethical review before issuing an activity license. Currently there is a sustainability challenge for public CB banking activity since the number of cord blood transplantation (CBT) procedures has remained stable in the last 3 years. This is due to the improvement of the efficacy of adult unrelated registers and the appearance of other transplantation modalities like the use of haploidentical family donors. Therefore, CB banks must redefine their objective and update their current practice and inventories to meet clinical needs. Transplant center requires very reliable, highly cellular, off-the-shelf products at an affordable cost. CB banks need to define what a high quality unit is, to invest in up-front testing to facilitate the fast-track use of a suitable unit, and to target an operational list that maintains a high rate of inventory use (above 1 % ideally) thus allowing a reduction in procurement costs for patients. Future CBB banks need to be built on quality rather than quantity and must rely on international networking to achieve their fundamental goal of providing a donor for anyone in need.
Bdnf deficiency in the neonatal hippocampus contributes to global dna hypomethylation and adult behavioral changes

Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental psychiatric disorder, encompassing genetic and environmental risk factors. For several decades, investigators have been implementing the use of lesions of the neonatal rodent hippocampus to model schizophrenia, resulting in a broad spectrum of adult schizophrenia-related behavioral changes. Despite the extensive use of these proposed animal models of schizophrenia, the mechanisms by which these lesions result in schizophrenia-like behavioral alterations remain unclear. Here we provide in vivo evidence that transient pharmacological inactivation of the hippocampus via tetrodotoxin microinjections or a genetic reduction in brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein levels (BDNF+/- rats) lead to global DNA hypomethylation, disrupted maturation of the neuronal nucleus and aberrant acoustic startle response in the adult rat. The similarity between the effects of the two treatments strongly indicate that BDNF signaling is involved in effects obtained after the TTX microinjections. These findings may shed light on the cellular mechanisms underlying the phenotypical features of neonatal transient inhibition of the hippocampus as a preclinical model of schizophrenia and suggest that BDNF signaling represents a target pathway for development of novel treatment therapies.
An unusual cause of acute mitral regurgitation in TTK Chitra heart valve prosthesis.

Structural failure of mechanical heart valve was a known feature when it was evolving in the 1960s and 1970s. With the advent of pyrolytic carbon and a better design, it is a rare entity with present valves. We report a case of disc fracture leading to acute mitral regurgitation in TTK Chitra heart valve prosthesis (CHVP) (TTK Healthcare Limited, India) heart valve, 6 years after its implantation in mitral position.
Stress-driven cardiac calcium mishandling via a kinase-to-kinase crosstalk

Calcium homeostasis in the cardiomyocyte is critical to the regulation of normal cardiac function. Abnormal calcium dynamics such as altered uptake by the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+-ATPase and increased diastolic SR calcium leak are involved in the development of maladaptive cardiac remodeling under pathological conditions. Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II-δ (CaMKIIδ) is a well-recognized key molecule in calcium dysregulation in cardiomyocytes. Elevated cellular stress is known as a common feature during pathological remodeling, and c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is an important stress kinase that is activated in response to intrinsic and extrinsic stress stimuli. Our lab recently identified specific actions of JNK isoform 2 (JNK2) in CaMKIIδ expression, activation, and CaMKIIδ-dependent SR Ca2+ mishandling in the stressed heart. This review focuses on the current understanding of cardiac SR calcium handling under physiological and pathological conditions as well as the newly identified contribution of the stress kinase JNK2 in CaMKIIδ-dependent SR Ca2+ abnormal mishandling. The new findings identifying dual roles of JNK2 in CaMKIIδ expression and activation are also discussed in this review.
Experiences with User Studies in Augmented Reality.

The research field of augmented reality (AR) is of increasing popularity, as seen, among others, in several recently published surveys. To produce further advancements in AR, it is not only necessary to create new systems or applications, but also to evaluate them. One important aspect in regards to the evaluation is the general understanding of how users experience a given AR application, which can also be seen by the increased number of papers focusing on this topic that were published in the last years. With the steadily growing understanding and development of AR in general, it is only a matter of time until AR devices make the leap into the consumer market where such an in-depth user understanding is even more essential. Thus, a better understanding of factors that could influence the design and results of user experience studies can help us to make them more robust and dependable in the future. In this position paper, we describe three challenges which researchers face while designing and conducting AR users studies. We encountered these challenges in our past and current research, including papers that focus on perceptual studies of visualizations, interaction studies, and studies exploring the use of AR applications and their design spaces.
Salinity Intrusion and Residual Circulation in Delaware Bay During the Drought of 1984

A three-dimensional, time-dependent numerical model is used to simulate the dynamics and thermodynamics of Delaware Bay and River and the adjacent continental shelf. The model forcing includes observed winds, observed surface heat flux, observed free surface elevation at the mouth of the Bay, observed fresh water run-off from 16 rivers and tributaries, climatological temperatures and salinities at the shelf open boundaries, and predicted tides at the shelf break. The model was started at 00:00 am January 1, 1984 and ran through the entire year.
Stimulation of methanogenesis by aldicarb and several other N-methyl carbamate pesticides.

Aldicarb and several other N-methyl carbamate pesticides stimulated methane production in anaerobic salt marsh soils and organic-rich aquifer soils. Stimulation was biological and linearly related to the amount of carbamate added. Of the four carbamates studied, methomyl gave the greatest stimulation followed by carbaryl, aldicarb, and baygon. The percent conversions [(moles of CH4 in excess of control/mole of carbamate added) × 100] for methomyl, carbaryl, aldicarb, and baygon were 88, 57, 40, and 11, respectively. Using aldicarb as a model carbamate, we found that monomethylamine (MA) accumulated in sediments as a result of aldicarb addition. MA arises from the N-methyl carbamoyl portion of the carbamates as a result of presumptive biological hydrolysis. MA levels decreased as CH4 production was stimulated, and 2-bromoethane sulfonic acid (a specific inhibitor of mathanogenesis) partially inhibited the loss of MA. These findings suggest that N-methyl carbamates are readily hydrolyzed to MA in the presence of an active microbial population under anaerobic conditions and that methanogenesis is stimulated as a result of the consumption of MA by methanogenic bacteria.
CST Bank: A Corpus for the Study of Cross-document Structural Relationships.

Clusters of multiple news stories related to the same topic exhibit a number of interesting properties. For example, when documents have been published at various points in time or by different authors or news agencies, one finds many instances of paraphrasing, information overlap and even contradiction. The current paper presents the Cross-document Structure Theory (CST) Bank, a collection of multi-document clusters in which pairs of sentences from different documents have been annotated for cross-document structure theory relationships. We will describe how we built the corpus, including our method for reducing the number of sentence pairs to be annotated by our hired judges, using lexical similarity measures. Finally, we will describe how CST and the CST Bank can be applied to different research areas such as multi-document summarization.
Thermal stability of WSix and W Schottky contacts on n-GaN

WSix Schottky contacts on GaN are found to exhibit improved thermal stability compared to pure W contacts. While the W contacts degrade for anneal temperatures ⩾500 °C through reaction with the GaN to form β-W2N, the WSix contacts show a stable Schottky barrier height of ∼0.5 eV as obtained from I–V measurements up to temperatures >600 °C. The reverse leakage current in both types of diodes is considerably higher than predicted from thermionic emission and image-force-induced barrier height lowering. The reverse current density was found to vary approximately as VB0.5 (VB is the reverse bias) and suggests the presence of additional current transport mechanism in both types of diodes.
Pharmacist-managed aminoglycoside therapy in combination with a β-lactam agent in the treatment of nosocomial pneumonia in critically ill patients

We attempted to determine the outcome of treatment with aminoglycosides, dosed pharmacokinetically using traditional strategies, in combination with synergistic antibiotics in the management of nosocomial pneumonia in critically ill patients over a 1-year period. Twenty-three adults cared for in an intensive care unit received an aminoglycoside dosed by a pharmacist plus a beta-lactam antibiotic. Of these, 21 experienced clinical cure of the disease and 2 died of unrelated complications. No treatment failures were encountered. Therapy with aminoglycosides, dosed by traditional pharmacokinetic methods, in combination with synergistic antimicrobials, was effective in managing nosocomial pneumonia in this nontertiary care regional referral center.
The Aspergillus nidulans snt Genes Are Required for the Regulation of Septum Formation and Cell Cycle Checkpoints

In Aspergillus nidulans, germinating conidia undergo multiple rounds of nuclear division before forming a septum. Previous genetic results suggest that the ability to separate nuclear division and septum formation depends upon a threshold level of activity of the cyclin-dependent kinase NIMX(cdk1). Mutations in nimX and nimT, the gene encoding the NIMX(cdk1)-activating phosphatase, have revealed that Tyr-15 phosphorylation is important for determining the timing of the formation of the first septum. Here, we describe a screen for suppressors of nimT23 (snt), designed to identify additional components of the pathway regulating septum formation. We show that a subset of the snt mutants are defective in the temporal regulation of septum formation and in cell cycle checkpoint responses. Molecular characterization of sntA shows that it is allelic to the previously described ankA gene, which encodes the NIMX(cdk1) Tyr-15 kinase. Additional experiments described in this study show that nutritional conditions modulate the timing of septum formation and alter the phenotypes displayed by the snt mutants. A model that suggests that the timing of septum formation is influenced by DNA damage and glucose availability via the sntA and sntB gene products is proposed.
What Determines Employer Accommodation of Injured Workers? The Influence of Workers’ Compensation Costs, State Policies, and Case Characteristics

Despite a recent dramatic increase in the rate of employer accommodation of injured workers, the extant literature provides little evidence on the determinants of accommodation or the reasons for this upward trend. In this study, the authors take a comprehensive approach to estimating the determinants of workplace accommodation, assessing the influence of employer workers’ compensation (WC) costs; WC market features and state WC laws; and characteristics of firms, injured workers, and their injuries. Using state-level data from the BLS, they find that employer WC costs, WC market features, and state return-to-work (RTW) policies all have an impact on accommodation, but the effects are small and explain only one-fifth of the increase in restricted work. With data on injured workers from the NLSY79 and HRS, the authors study case-specific determinants of accommodation. Results suggest that employer and injury characteristics matter most, and these results are consistent with accommodation occurring mostly a...
Adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma. Unusual features of two patients from a low-incidence area.

The occurrence of adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma in two New Orleans patients, one native-born, the other originally from Honduras, is reported. Both exhibited an unusual feature. One patient was diagnosed following an atypical episode of sinusitis and demonstrated lymphomatous infiltration of the nasopharynx. A second patient had a fulminant course complicated by severe diarrhea and was found to have both tumor involvement and cytomegalovirus inclusions in the colon. Both had high titers of antibodies to HTLV-I. A cell line with T-lymphocyte characteristics was established from the peripheral blood of the first patient. Such studies may help better establish the clinical course, detection, and epidemiologic features of this difficult disease.Cancer 58:694-698, 1986.
Annotations of Interlibrary Loan Process : The Transition from Analog to Electronic

This study presents an examination of the annotations, comments and notes written by Interlibrary Loan Borrowing (ILLB) staff and interlibrary loan patrons. Interlibrary loan requests were submitte...
Do friendships change behaviors, or do behaviors change friendships? Examining paths of influence in young adolescents' alcohol use.

Abstract Purpose: This study examined support for models of peer influence, which postulates that young adolescents whose friends use alcohol will also engage in that behavior, and of peer selection, whereby young adolescents seek out friends whose drinking behavior is similar to their own. Methods: Data for this study are from 1804 adolescents participating in Project Northland, a school- and community-based alcohol use prevention trial. Using latent variable structural equation modeling, a series of models examined directions of influence between participant alcohol use and friend drug use over three points in Grades 7, 8, and 9. Results: Findings indicated that higher levels of friends' drug use led to increased participant alcohol use. The reverse-order relationship (i.e., greater participant involvement in alcohol leading to more drug use among friends) was not supported by these data. Finally, best-fitting models supported the notion that both participants' alcohol use and the alcohol and other drug use of friends were highly stable over time. Conclusions: Similarity in drinking behavior among adolescent friends may be more related to processes of peer influence than to processes of peer selection. Findings support the utility of alcohol use prevention programs that equip younger teens with skills to resist peer influences to use alcohol.
An improved method of plant megabase DNA isolation in agarose microbeads suitable for physical mapping and YAC cloning

The isolation of high quality megabase DNA from plant cells that is susceptible to a variety of molecular reagents is a critical first step in the physical analysis of complex genomes. A method for the isolation of such DNA by encapsulating plant protoplasts in agarose microbeads is presented. In comparison with the conventional agarose plug method, microbeads provide a dramatic increase in the surface area yielding megabase DNA that can be treated essentially as an aqueous DNA solution. Examples of the utility of DNA prepared by this technique for physical mapping, partial restriction enzyme digestion and cloning of large inserts as YACs are presented.
Critical review of external network modelling for online security analysis

Abstract A critical review of various external network modelling methods for online security analysis is presented. Motivations and derivations of the methods are discussed. Each method is assessed from the point of view of accuracy and of computational and load-flow compatibility. A unified approach to external network modelling which encompasses the desired features of different methods is proposed.
Glucocorticoids and thyroid hormones stimulate biochemical and morphological differentiation of human fetal lung in organ culture

We characterized the stimulatory effects of both glucocorticoids and thyroid hormones on the surfactant system in human fetal lung. Synthesis of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and morphology were examined in explant cultures (15-24 weeks gestation) maintained 1-7 days in serum-free Waymouth's medium in a 95%-air-5% CO2 atmosphere. Control explants (no hormones) had the same rate of choline incorporation into PC between 1 and 7 days, but a significant increase in tissue PC content [82 +/- 21%, (+/- SEM), day 6 vs. 1], consistent with slow turnover of PC. [3H]Choline incorporation was stimulated 36%, 137%, and 192% by T3 (2 nM), dexamethasone (Dex; 10 nM), and T3 plus Dex, respectively, after 6 days of exposure (optimal response) compared to 19%, 38%, and 84% after 2 days of exposure. Thus, a supra-additive response occurred in the presence of both hormones and was greater at a shorter exposure time. Dex increased the percent saturation of newly synthesized PC (28.9 +/- 0.9% vs. 17.8 +/- 0.8% for control), but T3 did not, whereas both hormones increased tissue PC content (74.4 +/- 7.3% and 18.7 +/- 7.8% increase vs. control, respectively). Pulse-chase experiments with [3H]choline suggest that remodeling of unsaturated PC to saturated PC occurred during culture and was stimulated by Dex. Incorporation of [3H]acetate and [3H]glycerol into PC was stimulated by Dex (830% and 77%, respectively), but not by T3; the distribution of incorporated radioactivity among phospholipids was changed by Dex (increased counts per min into PC and phosphatidylglycerol with acetate and glycerol, respectively), but not by T3. Half-maximal stimulation of choline incorporation occurred at concentrations of Dex (2.1 nM) and T3 (0.03 nM) that are similar to the Kd values for receptor binding (5 and 0.05 nM, respectively). The relative potencies of thyroid hormones were T3 greater than T4 greater than rT3, and for corticosteroids, Dex much greater than corticosterone greater than 11-dehydrocorticosterone = cortisol greater than cortisone. Stimulation by either T3 or cortisol was reversed within 24-48 h of hormone removal. Initial treatment of explants with Dex enhanced the subsequent response to T3, but not vice versa. Culture for 4-5 days in the absence of hormones produced some morphological maturation of the epithelial cells, whereas treatment with T3 plus Dex markedly increased the number and size of lamellar bodies in epithelial cells, caused extensive proliferation of apical microvilli, and reduced glycogen deposits. Our findings are consistent with receptor-mediated stimulation of surfactant synthesis in human lung by both glucocorticoids and thyroid hormones.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Characterization of ambient aerosol particulate samples from the St. Louis area by X-ray powder diffractometry

Abstract Direct X-ray powder diffraction analysis of airborne particulate material collected in the St. Louis area on cellulose ester membrane filters has given results for both fine and coarse particle fractions which are consistent with elemental data, and which are also in keeping with expectations based on the anthropogenic and natural sources of particles in the area. The most frequently observed compounds in the fine fraction samples were (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 and the double salts (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 PbSO 4 and 3(NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 H 2 SO 4 . The occurrence of (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 PbSO 4 appears to be mainly associated with discrete source activity although the formation of this compound by the interaction of automotive PbBrCl with atmospheric (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 cannot be ruled out. The minerals calcite (CaCO 3 ) and α-quartz (SiO 2 ) are present as major components in almost all coarse fraction samples as expected from the composition of surface rocks in the region. Some coarse fraction samples also contain compounds apparently emitted by nearby industrial sources.
Semiparametric quasilikelihood and variance function estimation in measurement error models

Abstract We consider a quasilikelihood/variance function model when a predictor X is measured with error and a surrogate W is observed. When in addition to a primary data set containing (Y,W) a validation data set exists for which (X,W) is observed, we can (i) estimate the first and second moments of the response Y given W by kernel regression; (ii) use quasilikelihood and variance function techniques to estimate the regression parameters as well as variance structure parameters. The estimators are shown to be asymptotically normally distributed, with asymptotic variance depending on the size of the validation data set and not on the bandwith used in the kernel estimates. A more refined analysis of the asymptotic covariance shows that the optimal bandwidth converges to zero at the rate n- 1 3 .
Method for profiling mucin oligosaccharides from gastric biopsies of rhesus monkeys with and without Helicobacter pylori infection.

A method for in vivo analysis of gastric mucin oligosaccharides was developed and applied to rhesus monkeys with and without Helicobacter pylori infection. Mucin-type O-linked oligosaccharides were directly released by reductive β-elimination from gastric biopsies from rhesus monkeys. The released oligosaccharides were structurally characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionozation and electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. A diverse profile of neutral and acidic oligosaccharides was observed with these techniques. The most predominant core structure detected in all of the samples at relatively high abundance corresponded to core 2 (2HexNAc−1Hex, m/z = 611.227). The spectra generated from H. pylori-infected monkey samples showed fewer oligosaccharides collectively. Peaks corresponding to 1HexNAc−1Hex (m/z = 408.148) and 2HexNAc (m/z = 449.174), which most likely represent core structures, were absent in all infected monkeys studied, although present ...
c-Kit-Mediated Functional Positioning of Stem Cells to Their Niches Is Essential for Maintenance and Regeneration of Adult Hematopoiesis

The mechanism by which hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) through interaction with their niches maintain and reconstitute adult hematopoietic cells is unknown. To functionally and genetically track localization of HSPCs with their niches, we employed novel mutant loxPs, lox66 and lox71 and Cre-recombinase technology to conditionally delete c-Kit in adult mice, while simultaneously enabling GFP expression in the c-Kit-deficient cells. Conditional deletion of c-Kit resulted in hematopoietic failure and splenic atrophy both at steady state and after marrow ablation leading to the demise of the treated adult mice. Within the marrow, the c-Kit-expressing GFP(+) cells were positioned to Kit ligand (KL)-expressing niche cells. This c-Kit-mediated cellular adhesion was essential for long-term maintenance and expansion of HSPCs. These results lay the foundation for delivering KL within specific niches to maintain and restore hematopoiesis.
Leader election in hierarchical star network

We propose a new leader election algorithm for the oriented hierarchical star networks that has linear message complexity.
Electrophysiologic Changes in Chronic Pars Planitis

We studied 13 patients, six males and seven females, ranging in age from 14 to 53 years, with chronic pars planitis and a form of secondary retinal degeneration. All had experienced visual blurring but none had significant pain. Nine of the 13 had some disturbance in night vision. Visual acuity had decreased in three patients (in one because of cataract, in one because of cystoid macular degeneration, and for unknown reasons in the third), increased in two patients (because of improvement in cystoid macular edema), and remained stable in eight. There were electrophysiologic abnormalities, consisting of delayed B-wave implicit time, abnormal response to 30-Hz flicker, and reduced B-wave oscillations, in almost every patient. Our finding suggested that pars planitis is a vitreoretinal disorder rather than an inflammatory disease of the uveal tract.
Effects of uniaxial drawing and heat-treatment on gas sorption and transport in PVC

Sorption and transport measurements for various gases in rigid poly(vinyl chloride) were made following uniaxial drawing and heat treatment. The permeabilities of He, Ar, N2, and CH4 were found to be essentially independent of pressure in PVC while CO2 showed a complex pressure dependence which varied with prior exposure and degassing history. Sorption isotherms were analyzed by the dual mode sorption model, and the parameters obtained were correlated with the Lennard–Jones potential-well depth of the gas. The Henry's law coefficient for CO2 was found to be significantly larger than expected which is believed to be the result of a specific interaction with PVC. Uniaxial drawing of PVC above its glass transition caused significant reductions in gas permeabilities, of which roughly one-third is attributable to the accompanying heat treatment rather than molecular orientation per se. The physical state of the polymer was characterized by density, birefringence, and calorimetry. Changes in gas sorption and permeation behavior are discussed in terms of these results.
Microstructure and deformation mechanism of Mg6Al1ZnA alloy experienced tension–compression cyclic loading

Microstructural characterizations were performed on thin walled tubular samples of extruded Mg6Al1ZnA (AZ61A) magnesium alloy that had experienced room temperature fatigue testing. The results show that the initial basal texture and loading amplitude/direction affect the deformation mechanism and microstructural features of AZ61A. Twinning activates under compression when the stress is ∼120 MPa and the strain is ∼0.005. With the strain amplitude is higher than 0.005, twinning–detwinning is the dominant deformation mechanism and residual twins change the grain crystallographic orientation and weaken the texture.
Comparison of three techniques for ovarian pedicle hemostasis during laparoscopic-assisted ovariohysterectomy.

Objective— To describe the safety, surgical time, and complications associated with 3 techniques for achieving hemostasis during laparoscopic-assisted ovariohysterectomy (LAOVH). Study Design— Prospective, randomized clinical trial. Animals— Female dogs (n=30). Methods— Dogs were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 methods for achieving ovarian pedicle hemostasis during LAOVH: extracorporeal modified Roeder knot application (suture group), metal clip application using a multifire 10 mm laparoscopic clip applier (clip group), or use of a novel 5 mm bipolar vessel-sealing device (vessel-sealing group). In all dogs a 3 median portal technique was used. Results— Controlling for the dogs' bodyweights, there was a significant association between surgical time and which method for hemostasis was used. This association was different when comparing the first 5 procedures using each method to the second 5. For a 20 kg dog, the surgical time (95% CI) for the first 5 procedures was 80 (69–91), 68 (57–79), and 33 (21–45) minutes for the suture, clip, and vessel-sealing groups, respectively. For the second 5 procedures surgical time was 71 (60–81), 50 (39–60), and 40 (29–51) minutes. Pedicle hemorrhage occurred in all dogs in the clip group, 3 dogs in the suture group, and none of the dogs in the vessel-sealing group although in all cases was considered hemodynamically inconsequential. All dogs recovered uneventfully. Conclusions— All methods of hemostasis were safe for pedicle sectioning. A learning curve exists for clip and suture methods. Clinical Relevance— Use of a vessel-sealing device significantly shortens surgical time and provides excellent hemostasis during LAOVH.
DISGUST: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES, SOCIAL MANIFESTATIONS, AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Abstract Emotions have been a long–standing cornerstone of research in social and clinical psychology. Although the systematic examination of emotional processes has yielded a rather comprehensive theoretical and scientific literature, dramatically less empirical attention has been devoted to disgust. In the present article, the nature, experience, and other associated features of disgust are outlined. We also review the domains of disgust and highlight how these domains have expanded over time. The function of disgust in various social constructions, such as cigarette smoking, vegetarianism, and homophobia, is highlighted. Disgust is also becoming increasingly recognized as an influential emotion in the onset, maintenance, and treatment of various phobic states, Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder, and eating disorders. In comparison to the other emotions, disgust offers great promise for future social and clinical research efforts, and prospective studies designed to improve our understanding of disgust are o...
Sound absorption and dispersion as a function of density near the critical point of xenon

Sound velocity and absorption have been measured at frequencies of 0.6, 1, and 3 MHz for xenon along the liquid-vapor coexistence curve and along several near-critical isotherms. By simultaneously measuring the dielectric constant, the local density was determined at the level in the fluid where the ultrasonic results were obtained. The shape of the coexistence curve obtained from dielectric data gave a critical exponent $\ensuremath{\beta}$ of 0.357 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.002. The critical sound absorption and dispersion have been analyzed in terms of our modification of Fixman-Kawasaki theory. It is shown that both absorption and dispersion data can be described in terms of a single reduced frequency. The thermodynamic sound-velocity values needed in the analysis of dispersion have been calculated from the linear-model parametric equation of state.
Detection of hypersensitivity toLegionella pneumophila in guinea pigs by skin test

Cross-reacting antigens of three serogroups ofLegionella pneumophila differed serologically and immunologically from the serogroup-specific antigens. Intradermal injection of cross-reacting antigens into sensitized guinea pigs evoked skin hypersensitivity. Animals were sensitized either by injection of inactivatedL. pneumophila in adjuvant or by infection with live organisms. Skin reactions were measurable about 2–4 h after injection and continued to increase in intensity for the first 24 h, followed by a gradual decline over the next 48 h. Histological examination of skin reactions taken from test sites at 48 h revealed infiltration of mononuclear cells in and about the small subcutaneous blood vessels and throughout the dermis, compatible with a delayed-type reaction. The overall appearance and time course of the reaction resembled a combination of immediate and delayed types of hypersensitivity. Each cross-reacting antigen of the three serogroups evoked skin reactions in animals which had been sensitized to any of those serogroups, but was not reactive in nonsensitized animals. These observations indicate the possibility of detecting present or past infection ofL. pneumophila by skin tests.
Numerical Analysis of Spreading of Liquid Droplet on a Heterogeneous Surface by the Lattice Boltzmann Method

In this paper, the behavior of a micron-scale fluid droplet on a heterogeneous surface is investigated using a two-phase lattice Boltzmann method. The solid surface is uniform hydrophilic substrate separated by a hydrophobic strip on the central line. The dependence of spreading behavior on wettability, the width of hydrophobic strip and gravity is investigated. A decrease in contact angle of the liquid on a hydrophilic surface leads to break up of the droplet for certain substrate patterns. The two-phase Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) permits the simulation of the time dependent threedimensional motion of a liquid droplet on solid surface patterned with hydrophobic and hydrophilic strips. A nearest-neighbor molecular interaction force is used to model the adhesive forces between the fluid and solid surface. The model is validated by demonstrating consistency of the measured dynamic contact line with experimentally measured surface properties and observed surface shapes. The simulations suggest that the present lattice Boltzmann model can be used as a reliable way to study fluidic control on heterogeneous surfaces and other wetting related subjects.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Mentoring and Transformational Leadership: The Role of Supervisory Career Mentoring.

Abstract Leaders may need to serve as mentors to activate transformational leadership and promote positive work attitudes and career expectations of followers. To test this premise, incremental effects of transformational leadership and mentoring over each other were examined using N =275 employed MBAs. Respondents with supervisory mentors reported receiving higher levels of career mentoring than respondents with non-supervisory mentors. Supervisory career mentoring (SCM) and transformational leadership had incremental effects over each other for job satisfaction. SCM had mediating effects over transformational leadership for organizational commitment and career expectations. Career mentoring by non-supervisory mentors was not associated with career expectations but there were incremental effects with idealized influence and inspirational motivation for job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Implications for the changing role of mentorship in organizations are discussed.
Lake Washington Fish: A Historical Perspective

(1994). Lake Washington Fish: A Historical Perspective. Lake and Reservoir Management: Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 148-151.
Factors Influencing Catenaria Anguillulae Infections in a Free-Living and a Plant-Parasitic Nematode

A phycomycetous fungus, Catenaria anguillulae, a parasite of phytonematodes, was isolated from greenhouse soil and cultured. Zoospores of the fungus were tested for virulence to the nematodes, Panagrellus redivivus and Ditylenchus dipsaci. A linear relationship was shown to exist between increasing numbers of zoospores and the incidence of the fungus disease in nematodes in vitro. The fungus developed more rapidly at 28° C than at the lower temperatures. D. dipsaci was less susceptible to attack from the fungus than P. redivivus. A pH of 9 and a low salt concentration favored the rapid development of the fungus in nematodes. Many more zoospores were required in sand and soil to achieve the same incidence of the disease than in liquid cultures. The tests indicated that this fungus isolate was not a very effective biological control agent.
Cosorption effect in gas chromatography: flow fluctuations caused by adsorbing carrier gases

Adsorbing carrier gases have a number of advantages in analytical and preparative gas chromatography, such as clearer detector signals and higher column efficiencies. This work shows that adsorbing carrier gases also may be useful because they cause the mobile phase flow rate to become unsteady after injecting a small amount of sample. This work shows that a 100 microL sample of helium can liberate enough carbon dioxide carrier gas from a zeolite 5A packed column at 373 K, that the departure from the steady-state flow rate had an upper lobe area of 586 microL of carrier gas. This was confirmed by coupling a modified Langmuir kinetic model with the Ergun equation.
Transient left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome.

A 63-year-old woman with a history of hypertension and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia presented with substernal chest pain that extended to her back and was associated with profound weakness and shortness of breath. Physical examination revealed an anxious-appearing woman with tachycardia (pulse rate, 123 beats/min) and hypertension (blood pressure, 180/95 mm Hg). Electrocardiography showed ST-segment elevation in leads V 2 through V 6 . The troponin T level was 0.32 ng/mL (reference range, <0.03 ng/mL), and the creatine kinase-MB fraction was 8.2 ng/mL (reference range, <6.2 ng/mL). Probable STsegment elevation myocardial infarction was diagnosed, and emergent cardiac catheterization was performed. Coronary angiography showed only mild atherosclerosis. However, left ventriculography revealed an ejection fraction of 34% with moderate hypokinesis of the apical segments suggestive of transient left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome. Also known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, after a round-bottomed narrow-necked Japanese fishing pot used for trapping octopus, transient left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome was first described in Japan by Dote et al more than a decade ago. It is characterized by transient For editorial comment, see page 732 left apical and midventricular wall motion abnormalities in the absence of acute occlusive coronary artery disease. The disorder occurs most commonly in postmenopausal women, who present with symptoms, electrocardiographic changes, and mildly elevated cardiac enzymes suggestive of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Although the exact cause of the syndrome is unknown, episodes are often preceded by an acute increase in psychologic or emotional stress. Treatment includes monitoring and supportive care, and the overall prognosis is favorable.
Complications of open compared to minimally invasive lumbar spine decompression.

Abstract Minimally invasive modalities have demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of neurogenic claudication. Direct comparisons, however, between complication rates of these newer techniques with open surgical techniques for lumbar decompression are lacking. This single-institution study examined neurogenic claudicants between August 2007 and June 2009. A total of 26 patients received open surgical decompression, and 23 patients microendoscopic decompression. Baseline demographic characteristics, peri-operative morbidity and mortality, length of hospital stay, and final disposition following hospitalization were recorded. Morbidity was divided into major and minor categories as defined by degree of requisite intervention and adverse impact on hospital stay. Average age, number of surgical levels, and pre-operative American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Index scores were similar in each group (p > 0.05). While minimally invasive surgery may be associated with slightly longer operative times, there is decreased blood loss, shorter hospital stays, and likely decreased requirements for ancillary support services upon discharge.
An update on photodynamic therapy applications.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), following health agency approvals throughout the world for various cancers and other diseases, is slowly being accepted as a standard treatment to be added to the medica...
Nutrient impacts on epifaunal density and species composition in a subtropical seagrass bed

The capacity of epifauna to control algal proliferation following nutrient input depends on responses of both grazers and upper trophic level consumers to enrichment. We examined the responses of Thalassia testudinum (turtle grass) epifaunal assemblages to nutrient enrichment at two sites in Florida Bay with varying levels of phosphorus limitation. We compared epifaunal density, biomass, and species diversity in 2 m2 plots that had either ambient nutrient concentrations or had been enriched with nitrogen and phosphorus for 6 months. At the severely P-limited site, total epifaunal density and biomass were two times higher in enriched than in unenriched plots. Caridean shrimp, grazing isopods, and gammarid amphipods accounted for much of the increase in density; brachyuran crabs, primary predatory fish, and detritivorous sea cucumbers accounted for most of the increase in biomass. At the less P-limited site, total epifaunal density and biomass were not affected by nutrient addition, although there were more caridean shrimp and higher brachyuran crab and pink shrimp biomass in enriched plots. At both sites, some variation in epifaunal density and biomass was explained by features of the macrophyte canopy, such as T. testudinum and Halodule wrightii percent cover, suggesting that enrichment may change the refuge value of the macrophyte canopy for epifauna. Additional variation in epifaunal density and biomass was explained by epiphyte pigment concentrations, suggesting that enrichment may change the microalgal food resources that support grazing epifauna. Increased epifaunal density in enriched plots suggests that grazers may be able to control epiphytic algal proliferation following moderate nutrient input to Florida Bay.
The hydrodynamic shape of oil stringers

Abstract A brief review is presented of the steady-state conditions for a thin oil stringer to be shaped and/or moved by hydrodynamic forces in an inclined aquifer. The conditions of validity of a thin stringer model are spelled out. A careful and detailed discussion is provided of the appropriate formulae for describing: (1) the stability of a thin stringer and, (2) the maximum length of the stringer that can be trapped if capillary forces are allowed for. Considerations appropriate to finite-thickness oil stringers are also examined.
Race and gender in current American politics: a discourse-analytic perspective.

Male and female, black and white political interviewees (M. Albright, B. Clinton, H. Clinton, B. Obama, C. Powell, and C. Rice) of Larry King on CNN TV are used to ascertain whether ethnicity and gender affect the way politicians actually speak. Qualitative comparisons are made of Obama’s hesitations and rate with and without a threatening context. A number of normalized response measures are evaluated quantitatively: percentage of syllables spoken by each interviewee, and use of interjections, interruptions, self-referent I, non-standard English, y’ know, and syllables of laughter. Senator Obama and Secretary of State Rice become the focus of the comparative evidence that both ethnicity and gender do indeed influence the speaking of politicians.