cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predicting boron coordination in multicomponent borate and borosilicate glasses using analytical models and machine learning

Abstract Accurate prediction of boron coordination in multicomponent glasses is critical in glass science and technology as it strongly affects the properties of borate and borosilicate glasses. We have collected a dataset containing 657 glasses from literature with boron coordination values and developed models using analytical functions based on the well accepted Dell, Xiao and Bray model. Good prediction of boron coordination with a R2 value higher than 0.8 was obtained. The large variation of boron coordination from experiments, originated from sample preparations and characterizations, led to difficulties in obtaining models with better prediction performances. Various machine learning (ML) algorithms were evaluated and a slightly better prediction performance was observed; however, interpretation of the ML models is less straight forward. This study developed various models capable of providing quantitative boron coordination predictions, providing insights into its structural roles in multi-component glasses, and suggesting fruitful areas for future research.
Cartografia e Humanismo: concordâncias e discordâncias / Cartography and Humanism: concordances and discordances

Este artigo procura explorar as relacoes entre a cartografia e o humanismo e apontar as suas consonâncias e divergencias. No contexto da historia do Ocidente e Oriente, tracam-se paralelos entre a pintura de paisagem e os processos de mapeamento. O humanismo e a producao de mapas se aproximam mais no que tange questoes de poder e estetica e se afastam pelo seu tratamento diferenciado de questoes de temporalidade (mapas como momentos estaticos), expressao de emocoes (mapas favorecem espaco ao lugar) e moralidade (representacao do bem e do mal). Conclui-se que, apesar das limitacoes dos mapas, o ato de cartografar e um processo essencial humano que contribui para a compreensao do mundo.
Misery loves company? Linkages between actual vs. Desired couple work arrangements and women’s mental health

Match or mismatch between the demands of work, home, and the broader community shape individuals’ well-being, leading to some recognition of mismatch as a public health issue. Using a life-course f...
Holistic Chiplet–Package Co-Optimization for Agile Custom 2.5-D Design

With the increasing popularity and applications of 2.5-D integration, both chip and packaging industries are making significant progress in this direction. In advanced high-density 2.5-D packages, package redistribution layers become similar to chiplet back-end-of-line routing layers, and the gap between them scales down with pin density improvement. Chiplet–package interactions become significant and severely affect system performance and reliability. Moreover, 2.5-D integration offers opportunities to apply novel design techniques. The traditional die-by-die design approach neither carefully considers these interactions nor fully exploits the cross-boundary design opportunities. In this article, we present a holistic chiplet–package co-optimization flow for high-density 2.5-D packaging technologies with little performance overhead and zero pipeline-depth increase. Our holistic extraction can capture all parasitics from chiplets and the package and improve system performance through iterative optimizations. Both drop-in and pay-as-you-use design methodologies are implemented for agile development and quick turn-around time. To prove the effectiveness of our flow, we implement several design cases of a microcontroller system in TSMC 65-nm technology. Our design methodologies can reduce the performance gap by 85% with respect to the 2-D reference design after holistic optimizations. We demonstrate design flexibility and development cost-saving by presenting several flavors of a three chiplets system. To validate our flow in silicon, we tape-out a chip in TSMC 65-nm technology with measured data and validated functionality.
Fat content quantification using dual-energy CT for differentiation of anterior mediastinal lesions from normal or hyperplastic thymus.

Abstract Background Detection of fat content in thymic lesions is crucial to differentiate thymic hyperplasia from thymic tumors or other anterior mediastinal pathologies. Purpose To assess the feasibility of dual-energy CT (DECT) fat content quantification for the differentiation of anterior mediastinal lesions from benign thymic lesions and the normal spectrum of the thymus. Materials and Methods Chest DECT images of 465 patients (median 61 years, 63% female) were visually evaluated by two radiologists and semiquantitatively scored based on the degree of fatty degeneration ranging from completely fatty (score 0) to predominantly soft-tissue (score 3), and anterior mediastinal mass (score 4). A subset of scans (n =134 including all cases with scores 2-4 and 20 randomly-selected cases from scores 0 and 1) underwent quantitative DECT analysis (fat fraction, iodine density, and conventional CT value). DECT values were compared across the semiquantitative scores. Results Results of visual evaluation included 35 with predominantly solid thymus (score 3) and 15 with anterior mediastinal mass (score 4). The most common clinical diagnoses of the 15 masses (including 8 with pathologic confirmation) were metastases (n = 10) and lymphoma (n = 4). CT values in the abnormal thymus were significantly higher than those in score 3 (median: 69.7 HU versus 19.9 HU, P Conclusion DECT fat fraction measurements of the thymus may provide additional value in distinguishing anterior mediastinal lesions from benign thymus. Use of DECT may reduce the need for subsequent imaging evaluation.
Overview of attacks against civilian infrastructure during the Syrian civil war, 2012-2018.

Background Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed during the Syrian civil war and millions more displaced along with an unconscionable amount of destroyed civilian infrastructure. Methods We aggregate attack data from Airwars, Physicians for Human Rights and the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition/Insecurity Insight to provide a summary of attacks against civilian infrastructure during the years 2012-2018. Specifically, we explore relationships between date of attack, governorate, perpetrator and weapon for 2689 attacks against five civilian infrastructure classes: healthcare, private, public, school and unknown. Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) via squared cosine distance, k-means clustering of the MCA row coordinates, binomial lasso classification and Cramer's V coefficients are used to produce and investigate these correlations. Results Frequencies and proportions of attacks against the civilian infrastructure classes by year, governorate, perpetrator and weapon are presented. MCA results identify variation along the first two dimensions for the variables year, governorate, perpetrator and healthcare infrastructure in four topics of interest: (1) Syrian government attacks against healthcare infrastructure, (2) US-led Coalition offensives in Raqqa in 2017, (3) Russian violence in Aleppo in 2016 and (4) airstrikes on non-healthcare infrastructure. These topics of interest are supported by results of the k-means clustering, binomial lasso classification and Cramer's V coefficients. Discussion Findings suggest that violence against healthcare infrastructure correlates strongly with specific perpetrators. We hope that the results of this study provide researchers with valuable data and insights that can be used in future analyses to better understand the Syrian conflict.
Electrostatic Energetics of Bacillus subtilis Ribonuclease P Protein Determined by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance-Based Histidine pKa Measurements

The pKa values of ionizable groups in proteins report the free energy of site-specific proton binding and provide a direct means of studying pH-dependent stability. We measured histidine pKa values (H3, H22, and H105) in the unfolded (U), intermediate (I), and sulfate-bound folded (F) states of RNase P protein, using an efficient and accurate nuclear magnetic resonance-monitored titration approach that utilizes internal reference compounds and a parametric fitting method. The three histidines in the sulfate-bound folded protein have pKa values depressed by 0.21 ± 0.01, 0.49 ± 0.01, and 1.00 ± 0.01 units, respectively, relative to that of the model compound N-acetyl-l-histidine methylamide. In the unliganded and unfolded protein, the pKa values are depressed relative to that of the model compound by 0.73 ± 0.02, 0.45 ± 0.02, and 0.68 ± 0.02 units, respectively. Above pH 5.5, H22 displays a separate resonance, which we have assigned to I, whose apparent pKa value is depressed by 1.03 ± 0.25 units, which is ∼0.5 units more than in either U or F. The depressed pKa values we observe are consistent with repulsive interactions between protonated histidine side chains and the net positive charge of the protein. However, the pKa differences between F and U are small for all three histidines, and they have little ionic strength dependence in F. Taken together, these observations suggest that unfavorable electrostatics alone do not account for the fact that RNase P protein is intrinsically unfolded in the absence of ligand. Multiple factors encoded in the P protein sequence account for its IUP property, which may play an important role in its function.
Application of Optimal Control Theory to Civil Engineering Structures

Modern control theory has been successfully applied to control the motions of aerospace vehicles. An exploratory study is made herein to investigate the feasibility of applying such a theory to control the vibration of civil engineering structures under random loadings. It is assumed that random excitations to structures, such as wind loads and earthquakes, can be modeled by passing either a stationary Gaussian white noise or a nonstationary Gaussian shot noise through a filter. The performance index to be minimized consists of the covariances of both the structural responses and the control forces. Under these conditions, the optimal control law is a linear feedback control. The optimal control forces are obtained by solving a matrix Riccati equation. Applications of the optimal control to a multi-degree-of-freedom structure, under stationary wind loads and nonstationary earthquakes, are demonstrated. It is shown that significant reduction in covariances of the structural responses can be achieved by the use of an active control system.
Signal integrity and robustness of ACCI packaged systems

AC coupled interconnects (ACCI) enable reliable multiGiga-b/s/channel communication with less than 100/spl mu/m pin pitch, and with BER less than 10/sup -12/. This paper discusses the potential for switching noise, crosstalk and ISI control in ACCI system.
Challenges for constraint reasoning and optimization in computational sustainability

Computational Sustainability is a new emerging research field with the overall goal of studying and providing solutions to computational problems for balancing environmental, economic, and societal needs for a sustainable future. I will provide examples of challenge problems in Computational Sustainability, ranging from wildlife preservation and biodiversity, to balancing socio-economic needs and the environment, to large-scale deployment and management of renewable energy sources, highlighting overarching computational themes in constraint reasoning and optimization and interactions with machine learning, and dynamical systems. I will also discuss the need for a new approach to study such challenging problems in which computational problems are viewed as "natural" phenomena, amenable to a scientific methodology in which principled experimentation, to explore problem parameter spaces and hidden problem structure, plays as prominent a role as formal analysis.
An automorphic approach to the design of fault-tolerant multiprocessors

A general and systematic approach to the design of fault-tolerant multiprocessors modeled by graphs is developed. The approach is based on graph automorphisms and is applicable to any graph structure and any degree of fault tolerance. In addition, it incorporates other useful design criteria such as incremental design, low redundancy, and efficient reconfigurability. The authors apply their approach directly to a class of regular multiprocessor graphs termed 'circulant'. For noncirculant graphs, they give an algorithm to construct their circulant edge supergraphs efficiently. They show that the automorphic design method is amenable to efficient implementation using switched redundant links. An application of the foregoing theory to the design of a fault-tolerant hypercube multiprocessor is described. >
Human errors and structural failure probability

Predicting the influence of human errors on structural failure probability is the topic of this paper. There are two principal reasons for needing this information. First, if errors are present after the design of a structure is completed, as is generally the case, this will provide the engineer with a measure of what effect such errors will have on the structural safety. Second, this information is directly useful in the optimisation of quality assurance expenditures, which can effectively be used for controlling the probability of structural failure due to errors. Simplified probabilistic models are developed to integrate human errors into structural risk assessment. Numerical examples illustrate the sensitivity of structural safety to errors.
Melanoma tumor growth is accelerated in a mouse model of sickle cell disease

The effect of sickle cell disease (SCD) on tumor growth is unknown. Sickled red blood cells may form aggregates within the microvasculature of hypoxic tumors and reduce blood flow leading to impairment of tumor growth. However, there is a paucity of data related to tumor growth in SCD. To investigate the effect of SCD on tumor growth in a melanoma model, we generated SCD and control mice using bone marrow transplantation and inoculated the chest wall with B16-F10 melanoma cells. Tumor growth was monitored and angiogenesis was studied in vivo and in vitro. From day 1 to 21, tumor growth rate was nearly identical between SCD and WT mice, however from day 22 to day 29 tumor growth was accelerated in SCD mice compared to WT mice. Disparity in tumor size was confirmed at autopsy with an approximate 2-fold increase in tumor weights from SCD mice. Tumors from SCD mice showed increased vascularity and elevated levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). HO-1 inhibition with zinc protoporphyrin (ZnPP) blocked the angiogenic and tumor growth response to SCD in vivo and the response to hemin in vitro. Growth of melanoma tumors is potentiated in a mouse model of SCD. Therapies targeting angiogenesis or HO-1 may be useful in SCD patients with malignant tumors.
Community Characteristics and Changes in Toxic Chemical Releases: Does Information Disclosure Affect Environmental Injustice?

It is well known that environmental burdens are more pronounced in socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, a phenomenon known as environmental injustice. Yet, there have been few studies that have addressed whether the degree of environmental injustice has changed over time. We analyze toxic releases in the United States over the first 26 years of the toxics release inventory and examine whether the decreases in toxic releases differ according to characteristics of the communities in which the emitters reside. We find that decreases over these years are universal but far more substantial in high-income areas. Our results speak to both the nascent literature on information disclosure and that on environmental justice.
Prediction of Gene Activity in Early B Cell Development Based on an Integrative Multi-Omics Analysis

An increasingly common method for predicting gene activity is genome-wide chromatin immuno-precipitation of ‘active’ chromatin modifications followed by massively parallel sequencing (ChIP-seq). In order to understand better the relationship between developmentally regulated chromatin landscapes and regulation of early B cell development, we determined how differentially active promoter regions were able predict relative RNA and protein levels at the pre-pro-B and pro-B stages. Herein, we describe a novel ChIP-seq quantification method (cRPKM) to identify active promoters and a multi-omics approach that compares promoter chromatin status with ongoing active transcription (GRO-seq), steady state mRNA (RNA-seq), inferred mRNA stability, and relative proteome abundance measurements (iTRAQ). We demonstrate that active chromatin modifications at promoters are good indicators of transcription and steady state mRNA levels. Moreover, we found that promoters with active chromatin modifications exclusively in one of these cell states frequently predicted the differential abundance of proteins. However, we found that many genes whose promoters have non-differential but active chromatin modifications also displayed changes in abundance of their cognate proteins. As expected, this large class of developmentally and differentially regulated proteins that was uncoupled from chromatin status used mostly post- transcriptional mechanisms. Strikingly, the most differentially abundant protein in our B-cell development system, 2410004B18Rik, was regulated by a posttranscriptional mechanism, which further analyses indicated was mediated by a micro RNA. These data highlight how this integrated multi-omics data set can be a useful resource in uncovering regulatory mechanisms. This data can be accessed at: https://usegalaxy.org/u/thereddylab/p/prediction-of-gene-activity-based-on-an-integrative-multiomics- analysis
Interferometric Measurements of Isotope Shifts in Mercury II and Mercury III with Enriched Isotopes

Interferometric measurements of isotope shifts in the visible region of a number of lines of singly and doubly ionized mercury have been made from sources containing enriched isotopes Hg198, Hg200, and Hg202. In particular those lines having large isotope shifts were carefully studied. The results indicate a constant value, within experimental limit, of the ratio of the shift of Hg198–Hg200 to that of Hg200–Hg202.
Efficient p -adic cell decompositions for univariate polynomials

Abstract Cell decompositions are constructed for polynomials f ( x )∈ Z p [ x ] of degree n , such that n p , using O ( n 2 ) cells. When f is square-free this yields a polynomial-time algorithm for counting and approximating roots in Z p . These results extend to give a polynomial-time algorithm in the bit model for f ∈ Z [ x ].
Contamination monitoring approaches for EUV space optics

Data from contaminant-induced UV optics degradation studies and particulate models are used here to develop end-of-service-life instrument contamination requirements which are very stringent but achievable. The budget is divided into allocations for each phase of hardware processing. Optical and nonoptical hardware are monitored for particulate and molecular contamination during initial cleaning and baking, assembly, test, and calibration phases. The measured contamination levels are compared to the requirements developed for each phase to provide confidence that the required end-of-life levels will be met.
Government's role in developing a high-tech industry: the case of Taiwan's semiconductor industry

Abstract This paper discusses the successful case of Taiwan's semiconductor industry over the past fifteen years, which has not been carefully examined in previous studies. From a historical viewpoint, the purpose is to study the role played by the Taiwan government in developing the industry. Three major policies — technology acquisition and in-house pioneer research, technology transfer, and infrastructure build-up — are discussed. The results indicate that, in a developing country without large enterprises, the government must play an active role in developing an emergent high-tech industry. However, as the environment is changing, the government's role should change correspondingly. Moreover, given different environments, and differences in national advantage, a successful strategy in one country cannot be duplicated in another without modification.
A Critical Review of Research on the Human/Companion Animal Relationship: 1988 to 1993

Fifty-two research reports from the human/companion animal relationship literature published from 1988 to 1993 were reviewed using a shortened farm of the Selby Research, Assessment Form II (RAF) Descriptive data were analyzed for characteristics such as attributes of authors, grant funding, purposes, quality of literature reviews and conceptual frameworks, settings and sampling, research designs, and implications for future research. Qualitative data describing results of studies were summarized. Over half of the studies were published in Anthrozoos and were not grant funded. These were primarily nonexperimental studies using nonprobability, nongeneralizable samples. Social support was the most frequently cited framework. Understudied populations were rural groups, the middle aged, adolescents, and institutionalized elders. Few errors were committed in describing instruments or reporting analyses of data.
Multi-port equivalencing of external systems for simulation of switching transients

A multi-port external system equivalent model to simulate switching transients is developed based on direct time domain techniques, as opposed to the currently available models based on frequency domain methods. The model comprises discrete-time filters, which are built using the external system's response at each of the M ports to a multisine excitation signal and solving a system identification problem. At each port, the filters obtained are converted into an equivalent Norton circuit consisting of M current sources (in parallel). A unique feature of the model is that it explicitly incorporates the travel time delay between the ports. The complete M-port model, having M decoupled equivalent Norton circuits, is easily integrated into the discrete-time representation of the study subsystem. The proposed model is validated by simulating the line energization and post-fault transients in a study subsystem connected at two ports to an external system. >
Obstructive external iliac arteriopathy in avid bicyclists: New and variable histopathologic features in four women

Abstract Objective: Avid competition bicycling may be associated with the development of external iliac artery stenosis. European studies have documented endofibrosis that primarily has affected young men. Our objective was to review the histopathologic features of obstructed external iliac arteries resected from avid competition bicyclists at a single institution. Method: Medical records and microscopic slides were reviewed from all competitive bicyclists who had undergone resection and graft placement for segmental external iliac artery disease at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minn) between 1991 and 2001. Results: Of seven patients (five female, two male) seen with external iliac obstructive disease, four underwent resection and graft placement and thus had specimens available for histopathologic review. Ages of these four patients, all of whom were women, ranged from 31-40 years (mean, 36 years). Claudication was the primary symptom in all four women. There were five iliac arteries involved in the four women, and pre-operative arteriography showed stenotic disease in these arteries, ranging from subtle stenosis to occlusion. Gross examination of the five resected arteries showed wall thickening and luminal narrowing, without aneurysm formation. Microscopically, luminal thrombus was observed in two arteries (one old and one recent). Intimal thickening affected four specimens (symmetric in three and asymmetric in one). Thickening was the result of smooth muscle hyperplasia, with only mild collagen or elastin deposition. Medial hypertrophy was present in three specimens (symmetric in two and asymmetric in one), one of which also contained focal calcification. Adventitial thickening was prominent in four (symmetric in two and asymmetric in two) and was due to smooth muscle hyperplasia. There was no intimal, medial, or adventitial inflammation. Conclusions: In contrast to previous reports, iliac arteriopathy among competition bicyclists may occur in women. The microscopic lesions responsible for stenosis are more varied than the "endofibrosis" that has been previously documented. In addition to the intimal fibrosis and luminal thrombosis noted by others, we describe medial and adventitial responses to repetitive trauma. Accordingly, we favor the term "external iliac arteriopathy" for this disease entity. (J Vasc Surg 2002;36:565-70.)
Synthesis of ribosomal RNA in E. coli: Analysis using deletion mutants of a λ transducing phage carrying ribosomal RNA genes

Abstract Transducing phage λ rif d 18 carries an rRNA transcription unit containing genes for 5S, 16S, and 23S rRNAs and also tRNA 2 Glu . Mutants were isolated from this phage that carry deletions removing various amounts of the distal end of this transcription unit. These deletions were physically mapped on the λ rif d 18 phage genome. Synthesis of rRNAs and of tRNA 2 Glu was examined in ultraviolet-irradiated E. coli cells infected with λ rif d 18 or with various deletion mutants. It was observed that mutant phages in which the distal end (the 5S rRNA gene and a part of the 23S rRNA gene) of the rRNA transcription unit is deleted can still synthesize both 16S rRNA (or its precursor) and tRNA 2 Glu . Apparently, the post-transcriptional cleavage that produces these RNA molecules does not require the presence of the entire transcription unit, that is, it can take place without the complete structure of the transcript ("30S pre-ribosomal RNA"). In addition, the experimental results support the gene order, 16S rRNA, tRNA 2 Glu , 23S rRNA, and 5S rRNA genes, in the rRNA transcription unit carried by λ rif d 18.
A generalized Kantorovich theorem on the solvability of nonlinear equations

The Kantorovich theorem is a fundamental tool in nonlinear analysis for proving the existence and uniqueness of solutions of nonlinear equations arising in various fields. This theorem was weakened recently by Argyros who used a combination of Lipschitz and center-Lipschitz conditions in place of the Lipschitz conditions of the Kantorovich theorem. In the present paper we use the Argyros theorem to formulate a generalized Kantorovich theorem that enables us deduce the solvability of equations and the convergence of Newton’s method with minimal assumptions.
Assessment of vacuum cleaners and vacuum cleaner bags recommended for allergic subjects

Abstract Background: High-quality vacuum cleaners and vacuum cleaner bags are often recommended to allergic patients as a means of reducing indoor allergen exposure. A number of vacuum cleaners on the market today claim to capture 99.9% of particles 0.3 μm or larger entering the vacuum cleaner, and many vacuum cleaner bags are now being sold as microfiltration bags. Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the allergen-trapping abilities of vacuum cleaners and to use a new technique for testing vacuum cleaner bags that are recommended for allergic patients. Methods: Vacuum cleaners were tested in an 18-m 3 laboratory room permeated with dust containing high levels of cat allergen by using techniques previously described. Air was sampled with parallel filters in conjunction with a particle counter. The filters were assayed by ELISA for cat allergen (Fel d 1). Vacuum cleaner bags were tested by using a modified dust trap to pull sieved house dust containing a known amount of Fel d 1 across the material used for the bag. Allergen passing through the bag was trapped on a filter covering the exit of the trap and analyzed for Fel d 1. Results: In general, vacuum cleaners designed for allergic patients leaked lower amounts of allergen ( 3 ) than that found in our previous studies ( 3 ). Single-layer vacuum cleaner bags performed poorly (1250-2640 ng recovered) compared with most of the 2- and 3-layer microfiltration bags (0.53-2450 ng recovered). The range of allergen recovered from the 2-layer bags (0.93-2450 ng recovered) highlighted the variability found between manufacturers. Conclusion: The results suggest that although allergen leakage has been reduced, there is still room for improvement. A method of testing allergen leakage by using Fel d 1 should be applied to vacuum cleaners and bags recommended for allergic patients. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;104:1079-83.)
Analysis of the genome to personalize therapy for melanoma

The treatment of cancer is being revolutionized by an improved understanding of the genetic events that occur in tumors. Advances in the understanding of the prevalence and patterns of mutations in melanoma have recently led to impressive results in trials of personalized, targeted therapies for this disease. In this review, we will discuss the molecular targets that have been validated clinically, additional genetic events that are candidates for future trials, and the challenges that remain to improve outcomes further in this aggressive disease.
Potassium Homeostasis in Glia

Diverse cellular mechanisms exist in the central nervous system (CNS) to counteract rapid changes in extracellular K + concentration that occur with neuronal activity. These mechanisms of K + buffering include net K + uptake into glial cells and K + spatial buffering by glia. With net K + uptake, K + influx into glial cells occurs via activity of the Na, K-ATPase pump and by ion flux through Na–K–Cl cotransporters. With K + spatial buffering, regulation of local K + changes occurs by a K + current flow through glial cells, transferring K + from areas of high concentration to areas of low concentration. A specialized form of K + spatial buffering, termed K + siphoning, occurs in the retina, where K + currents are directed preferentially through cell endfeet. Molecular studies have identified the Kir4.1 channel as the main glial ion channel implicated in K + spatial buffering. Furthermore, dysregulation of K + buffering has been implicated in diseases such epilepsy, Huntington's disease, and Multiple Sclerosis.
Foliar salt accumulation and injury in crops sprinkled with saline water

Many crops accumulate salts through the leaves when they are wetted by sprinkler irrigation. This accumulation may cause foliar injury and decrease crop yield. This study was conducted to test the salt sensitivity of sprinkled alfalfa, barley, cauliflower, cotton, potato, safflower, sesame, sorghum, sugarbeet, sunflower and tomato. Plants were grown in a greenhouse in covered sand cultures that were trickle-irrigated with nonsaline nutrient solutions. Sprinkling with 15 and 30, and in the case of cotton and sunflower, 30 and 60 meq/l waters (9:1 NaCl:CaSO4) was begun when plants were 1 to 3 months old and was continued for 4 to 7 weeks at a frequency of 1 h/day, 5 days/week. Except for sorghum, Na+ and Cl− absorption through the leaves was essentially a linear function of salt concentration and duration of sprinkling. Most species absorbed Nat at approximately the same rate as Cl−; however, in potato and sugarbeet Nat absorption exceeded Cl−; and in barley and sesame Cl−; exceeded Na1. The mean rates of Na+ and Cl−; absorption among species increased in the order: sorghum ≪ cotton = sunflower < cauliflower < sesame = alfalfa = sugarbeet < barley = tomato < potato = safflower. Susceptibility to leaf injury among species did not vary in strict relation to rates of salt absorption from 30 meq/l water. Potato and tomato readily absorbed Na+ and Cl−; and quickly exhibited symptoms of leaf tip and margin necrosis. On the other hand, safflower, with one of the highest rates of salt absorption was only slightly injured by sprinkling. Barley readily absorbed salt, particularly Cl−; and exhibited minor injury symptoms; whereas sesame and alfalfa had intermediate absorption rates but were somewhat more susceptible to injury. Sugarbeet was uninjured by sprinkling but absorbed appreciable amounts of Nat; whereas sorghum developed some necrosis along leaf edges but absorbed very little salt. Cauliflower, cotton, and sunflower absorbed salt slowly and exhibited almost no injury.
Mysteries of bottom water

Ocean bottom water has historically represented a constant physical entity to most geophysicists. The ocean floor has long been modeled as a classic isothermal, semi-infinite surface in geophysical calculations. Peter Rhines of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution recently said about the subject of bottom water, ‘We've all been trained to imagine that the deep ocean is steady…. It's not so much a belief, but a practice that became a way of teaching’ (Science, November 12, 1982).
Global property of error density estimation in nonlinear autoregressive time series models

This paper considers estimation of the error density function in nonlinear autoregressive stationary time series regression model. The asymptotic distribution of the maximum of a suitably normalized deviation of the density estimator from the expectation of the kernel error density (based on the true error) is obtained to be the same as in the case of the one sample set up, which is given in Bickel and Rosenblatt (Ann Stat 6:1071–1095, 1973).
Policy Conundrums in Rural North America: Discussion

The papers by Freshwater and van Kooten and Arthur (in this issue) illustrate several types of conundrums in policy-conundrums involving competing ends (developmental vs. environmental), competing means (agricultural vs. nonagricultural policy to improve rural life), and competing places. These conundrums are representative of common themes in policy analysis and policy making. The venue for these meetings provides an interesting opportunity to look at these policy conundrums from different perspectives. Despite their common history and many social, political, and economic similarities, Canada and the United States have quite different policy institutions and processes, and their economies reflect the consequences of different policy choices. In this paper, I outline my views on the similarities and differences in policy environments in Canada and the United States. I then review the papers by Freshwater and van Kooten and Arthur in light of these different environments.
Selected topics in B-physics

Abstract The present experimental status of B-physics is reviewed, emphasizing measurements of the CKM-matrix elements Vub and Vts , hadronic B-meson decays, and the impact of B-physics of the unitarity triangle. Prospects for improvement are summarized at the end of this review.
The Keeping Quality of Whole Milk Powder. II. The Effect of Preheat Temperatures on the Development of Peroxides and Ferricyanide-Reducing Groups under Different Storage Conditions,

Summary With respect to peroxide development, the critical preheat temperature for milk to be dried lies between 160 and 170° F. for a 20-min. holding period. Storage at 85° F. tends to accelerate peroxide development in powder samples having an inadequate preheat treatment of 160° F. However, powder samples made from milk preheated at 170° F. gave slightly lower values at 85° F. than at 45° F. storage, due to greater breakdown of the peroxides at the higher temperature. Nitrogen-packed samples gave very low peroxide values, and samples made from milk with no preheat treatment gave quite low peroxide values which did not increase greatly during storage and were considerably lower than samples made from preheated milk, but were quite rancid in flavor, however. The acid ferricyanide-reducing groups values were higher at 85° F. storage than at 45° F., and higher in nitrogen- than air-pack at 85° F. The latter result was thought to be due to greater ascorbic acid retention in the nitrogen-packed samples.
The World Came to Tucson by Katherine Rambo. Stanegate Press, Tucson, AZ; www.stanegate.com. 107 pages; 2014; $20 (softbound).

This interesting book by Katherine Rambo is everybody's guide to Tucson and the annual gem and mineral show that has made this city a place where devotees of gemstones, jewelry, minerals, and fossi...
Accuracy improvements from a consensus of updated individual analyst earnings forecasts

Abstract This study compares the bias and accuracy of mean consensus earnings forecasts comprised of updated individual analyst forecasts to the bias and accuracy of other frequently cited forecast measures. It is well known that analyst forecast accuracy improves as the forecast horizon shortens. I use a model that updates individual analyst forecasts for information revealed after the forecast date, in effect shortening the forecast horizon. Any resulting accuracy improvement is of interest to investors, who rely on analysts for earnings forecasts, and is relevant to studies that compare the accuracy of analyst forecasts with time series-based forecasts and management forecasts. My study adds to the literature on combining forecasts by demonstrating that a mean consensus of updated, chronologically synchronized, individual analyst forecasts is a less biased and more accurate forecast of actual earnings than other frequently cited forecast measures, including an average of recently issued forecasts.
Racism and capitalism--crisis and resistance exploring the dynamic between class oppression and racial oppression

Understanding and opposing racist oppression in the world today requires analysis and clarification of the following: First, what is distinctive about racist oppression in all its forms, in contras...
GABA Attenuates L-DOPA-Induced Striatal and Nigral ERK1/2 Signaling in a Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease

L-DOPA is the primary drug used to treat Parkinson’s disease (PD) symptoms, but motor side effects limit its long term use. Previous experimental studies show that L-DOPA acts on supersensitive D1 receptors in the basal ganglia to induce extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2), a pair of MAP-kinase proteins that may be involved in induction of motor side effects. Since GABA is known to be intimately involved in basal ganglia function, we investigated whether elevating GABA levels via a GABA-transaminase (GABA-T) inhibitor affects the L-DOPA-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation in the striatum and substantia nigra (SN) using a rat model of PD. Unilateral dopaminergic lesions of median forebrain bundle neurons were done using the neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine. Rats were prescreened for the extent of the lesion by apomorphine-induced rotation test. Lesioned rats were treated with aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA, a GABA-T inhibitor), L-DOPA, or in combination. Immunohistochemistry of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH, a direct indicator of dopaminergic lesion), substance P (SP, an indirect marker that decreases after lesion), and phospho-ERK1/2 was done using slices at the level of striatum and SN. Unilateral dopaminergic lesioned rats, as expected, exhibited >90% TH loss and a modest SP loss in the striatum and SN. L-DOPA alone induced a 343% and 330% increase in phospho-ERK1/2 in the striatum and SN, respectively. We report here a novel finding that pretreatment with AOAA attenuated the L-DOPA induced increase in phospho-ERK1/2 by 62% and 68% in the striatum and SN, respectively, suggesting a DA-GABA-ERK1/2 link in the therapeutic and/or side effects of L-DOPA.
A comparative study of refractory metal nitridation in an NH3 ambient

Abstract Thin passivation layers for Ag films have been formed by annealing Ag/Ti and Ag/Cr bilayer films evaporated on oxidized substrates in an ammonia ambient. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) and Auger depth profiles have shown the segregation of the refractory metal (Ti or Cr) at the surface and interface. Ti or Cr diffused out through the silver layer and reacted with ammonia to form a TiN or CrN layer that self-encapsulated the silver film. At the interface, Ti reduced SiO 2 and formed a Ti-oxide/Ti-silicide structure to promote the adhesion of Ag to the underlying oxide, whereas there was no interfacial reaction detected in the Ag/Cr systems. Silver films in Ag/Ti bilayer structures exhibited a strong texture component, with the fiber axis parallel to the film normal. In contrast, nearly random oriented grains were observed in Ag films on Cr underlayers. RBS analysis confirmed that the encapsulated silver layers had minimal Ti accumulations. X-Ray diffraction analysis indicated the absence of intermetallic phase transformation. As a result, resistivity values of about 2 μ Ω -cm were measured in the encapsulated Ag bilayer films, which are comparable to that of the bulk values.
Impurity-induced desorption mechanism for releasing light impurities in Tokapole II

Abstract The release mechanism for light impurities in Tokapole II, a tokamak with a four-node poloidal divertor, has been characterized through impurity gas puffing experiments. The desorption process responsible for the light impurity concentrations during the current-rise phase of the discharge depends on the mass of the particles in the discharge. During switch-over from H 2 to D 2 filling gas the oxygen concentration increases as the deuterium-to-hydrogen ratio increases. Puffing with small but increasing amounts of any gas studied (H 2 , D 2 , He, N 2 , O 2 , Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe) usually produces linear increases in the early-time radiation of O, C, and N. These impurity increases are proportional to the mass of the injected impurity as might be expected for a momentum transfer process. O and N signals increase faster than linearly with concentration of O 2 and N 2 , respectively, since both dopant-induced desorption and direct population of the plasma and wall occur. A model for early-time desorption is discussed.
Bunts and Smuts Revisited: Has the Air Been Cleared?

This review discusses the current situation regarding these pathogens of wheat: the smut fungi dwarf bunt and Karnal bunt. Accepted for publication 30 May 2000. Published 22 June 2000.
Effects of Slow-Downs and Failure on Stochastic Service Systems

The reliability and efficiency of a stochastic service system subject to break-downs and slow-downs is investigated. A mathematical model of such a system is a single server queue with Poisson input and exponential service time. However, the server is subject to break-downs and slow-downs, the lengths of which are exponentially distributed. During these periods he serves at varying rates. Analytic expressions are derived for the mean waiting time and the mean queue length.
Correlation of phonon decay with localized electron spin-phase diffusion

A spin decoherence mechanism is proposed for localized electrons. The irregular phonon phase disturbances originated from phonon relaxation can influence electron spin precession with a net effect of spin phase decay. A quantitative analysis demonstrates relatively high efficiency of this mechanism in the low temperature and low magnetic field regime compared to the spin-flip processes.
Numerical studies of the formation and decay of electron-hole plasma clusters in highly excited direct-gap semiconductors

The master equation for the cluster-size distribution function is solved numerically for the example of GaAs excited by various laser pulses. The results show that the steady-state distribution would be obtained only with excitation pulses which last around 100 ns. The formation and decay of the small clusters which are created under typical nano- and picosecond-pulse excitations are calculated, as well as the time dependence of various quantities which are relevant for experimental observations.
Abscisic acid inhibition of arachidonic acid-mediated rishitin synthesis in potato tuber discs

The ability of abscisic acid (ABA) to inhibit synthesis of the phytoalexin, rishitin, in aging arachidonic acid-treated potato tuber discs was studied in a time-restricted manner. The extent of inhibition was decreased to near zero when the ABA was applied up to 24 h after cutting the discs, regardless of whether the arachidonic acid treatment was at 0 or 24 h after cutting. Application of ABA to potato discs more than 24 h after cutting the discs caused high levels of inhibition in discs treated with arachidonic acid at 24 h, but not in discs treated with arachidonic acid at 0 h. Apparently ABA interferes with at least two separate aging events that are required for phytoalexin synthesis. One event is initiated by cutting the potato tissue, and the other by the arachidonic acid treatment.
Graviton production in inflationary cosmology

Abstract We provide a completely quantum-mechanical derivation of the spectrum of gravitational waves producedin any inflationary cosmology. The gravitational waves result from a sequence of Bogoliubov transformations between creation and annihilation operators defined in de Sitter space and in radiation- and matter-dominated Robertson-Walker spacetimes. We discuss how the results depend on the initial state at the beginning of the inflationary period.
Binding of (G- 3 H)-7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene to DNA of normal and of rapidly dividing hepatic cells of rats.

Abstract The administration of tritium-labeled 7,12-dimethylbenz(α)anthracene (DMBA) to rats at 24 h after partial hepatectomy resulted in its binding to DNA in small intestine and regenerating liver. The binding in regenerating liver, which began 3 h after i.v. administration of DMBA, reached a maximum at 6 h and declined at 24 h; the uptake in intestinal DNA was similar but there was no decline for 48 h. The DMBA-induced inhibition of DNA synthesis paralleled uptake; both were dose dependent. More than twice as much DMBA was bound in vitro to DNA that had been isolated from livers of immature rats or from those undergoing regeneration than to DNA from livers of young adults. Such a difference was also observed in vivo. The possibility that the binding of DMBA is causally related to inhibition of DNA synthesis and carcinogenesis is discussed. Two forms of binding were apparent. In one the attractive forces were weak. In the other the binding resisted extensive dialysis, solvent extraction and denaturation. That the tightly bound form involved unchanged hydrocarbon was shown by direct gas-chromatographic analysis of the DNA-DMBA complex. The amount of DMBA tightly bound after i.v. injection of biologically active doses of 12.5–25 mg/kg corresponded to about 10·103–20·103 molecules per regenerating rat liver cell genome. This kind of interaction with DNA, which may be causally related to the mechanism of DMBA-induced oncogenesis, does not appear to require prior metabolic activation of the agent.
Holographic interferometric tomography for limited data reconstruction

Holographic interferometric tomography can provide reconstruction of instantaneous three-dimensional gross flowfields. The technique, however, encounters ill-posed reconstruction problems in practical applications, that is, restricted scanning and incomplete projection. A reconstruction algorithm, termed the variable grid method, has been developed to improve the reconstruction under the ill-posed conditions. To test the performance of the developed technique, a three-dimensional gravity-driven flow around two interacting isothermal cubes is investigated experimentally. The flow, while providing challenging reconstruction problems, lends itself to accurate numerical solution for comparison. The refractive-index fields at two horizontal sections of the thermal plume with and without an opaque object, respectively, are reconstructed as a function of view angle varying from the full view to a minimum value of 40 deg. The experimental reconstructions are then compared with those from numerical calculation and thermocouple thermometry.
Sex differences, environmental complexity, and mother-infant relations.

Differential handling of male and female infants by their mothers and differential behavior of male and female infants independent of maternal behavior is a critical research issue with significant implications for understanding human development. This report describes mother-infant interaction in the squirrel monkey as a function of the infant's sex in a variety of laboratory environments. In a complex social environment, males move away from their mothers at a younger age than do females. The mothers then attempt to keep the males physically close. This maternal effort at continuing mother-son closeness is not successful, indicating greater infant-activated autonomy in the male.