cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Water relations of pine seedlings in relation to root and shoot growth

The effects of water stress on growth and water relations of loblolly and white pine seedlings were studied during series of drying cycles. As mean soil water potential decreased, growth of roots, needles, and buds decreased. Growth of roots during successive severe drying cycles was not uniform, however. A study of needle and root extension showed that of the total growth of roots for 3 7-day drying cycles, only 6% occurred during the third cycle, while needle extension was uniform for the 3 cycles. The difference in response of needles and roots to drying cycles may be attributed primarily to the effect of water stress on the growing region. When subjected to a severe stress, roots matured toward the tip and became dormant, resulting in less growth during subsequent drying cycles. The intercalary growing region of needles, however, was not altered seriously enough by the stress to cause a difference in amount of growth during each drying cycle.Transpiration of loblolly pine was lower in the second drying cycle than in the first. Needle water potential after rewatering was as high as that of control plants watered daily; root resistance was apparently not important in restricting transpiration during a second drying cycle. Needle diffusion resistance of loblolly pine, measured with a low-resistance diffusion porometer, was slightly higher during the second drying cycle than during the first. In addition, many primary needles were killed during the first period of stress. These factors contributed to the reduction of transpiration during the second drying cycle. Diffusion resistance of Coleus increased and transpiration ceased during the first drying cycle while water potential remained relatively high. After rewatering, both leaf resistance and transpiration returned to the control level, presumably because the stress during the first period of drying was not severe. The diffusion resistances observed for well-watered plants were 30 to 50 sec.cm(-1) for loblolly pine, 3 to 5 sec.cm(-1) for Coleus, and 4 to 6 sec.cm(-1) for tomato. These values agree closely with those reported by other workers.
Interrater agreement in judgments of listening competency: An item‐based analysis of the organizational listening survey

This research provides two independent examinations of interrater agreement between multiple individual's ratings of a co‐workers listening competency. Sample 1 was drawn from a corporate population (i.e., members of a large petroleum refining corporation); Sample 2 was drawn from staff members at a small liberal arts college. In both samples, the Organizational Listening Survey (Cooper & Husband, 1993) was used to assess the listening competency of the worker's immediate supervisor. Agreement among these ratings were analyzed and compared using the rwg index (James, Demaree & Wolf, 1993). The results showed strong overall levels of agreement among multiple raters of listening competency skills as well as differences in agreement between the corporate and college samples.
Anaerobic biodegradability and methanogenic toxicity of key constituents in copper chemical mechanical planarization effluents of the semiconductor industry

Abstract Copper chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) effluents can account for 30–40% of the water discharge in semiconductor manufacturing. CMP effluents contain high concentrations of soluble copper and a complex mixture of organic constituents. The aim of this study is to perform a preliminary assessment of the treatability of CMP effluents in anaerobic sulfidogenic bioreactors inoculated with anaerobic granular sludge by testing individual compounds expected in the CMP effluents. Of all the compounds tested (copper (II), benzotriazoles, polyethylene glycol ( M n 300), polyethylene glycol ( M n 860) monooleate, perfluoro-1-octane sulfonate, citric acid, oxalic acid and isopropanol) only copper was found to be inhibitory to methanogenic activity at the concentrations tested. Most of the organic compounds tested were biodegradable with the exception of perfluoro-1-octane sulfonate and benzotriazoles under sulfate reducing conditions and with the exception of the same compounds as well as Triton X-100 under methanogenic conditions. The susceptibility of key components in CMP effluents to anaerobic biodegradation combined with their low microbial inhibition suggest that CMP effluents should be amenable to biological treatment in sulfate reducing bioreactors.
Three-dimensional visualization of neuro-degeneration in cupric-silver stained serial rat brain slices following toluene exposure

Recognizing spatial relationships of neuro-degeneration in brains exposed to organic solvents is difficult when working from 2-dimensional serial slices. Recent advances in software have allowed the assembly of serial sections of stained tissue into a 3-dimensional (3D) representations. Appropriately chosen stains indicative of specific pathology can be highlighted and the 3D representation of its spatial distribution within the organ displayed. The purpose of this work was to develop a method for visualizing the spatial distribution of neuronal degeneration following organic solvent exposure. A cupric silver stain highly specific for degenerating neurons was used to identify neuronal degeneration in 83 serial histologic sections of brains of rodents exposed to toluene. Brain sections were scanned at 600 dpi using a grey-scale protocol. Scans were assembled into 3D images which were further processed into stereo pairs. Grey-scale scans were compared to the original sections in order to establish grey-scale ranges for healthy and damaged tissue and artifact staining. The respective categories then were assigned pseudo-colors to improve contrast.
Optimization-Based Digital Human Dynamics: Santos™ Walking Backwards

An objective of this study is to simulate the backward walking motion of a full-body digital human model. The model consists of 55 degree of freedom – 6 degrees of freedom for global translation and rotation and 49 degrees of freedom representing the kinematics of the entire body. The resultant action of all the muscles at a joint is represented by the torque for each degree of freedom. The torques and angles at a joint are treated as unknowns in the optimization problem. The B-spline interpolation is used to represent the time histories of the joint angles and the well-established robotics formulation of the Denavit-Hartenberg method is used for kinematics analysis of the mechanical system. The recursive Lagrangian formulation is used to develop the equations of motion, and was chosen because of its known computational efficiency. The backwards walking problem is formulated as a nonlinear optimization problem. The control points of the B-splines for the joint angle profiles are treated as the design variables. For the performance measure, total dynamic effort that is represented as the integral of the sum of the squares of all the joint torques is minimized using a sequential quadratic programming algorithm. The solution is simulated in the Santos™ environment. Results of the optimization problem are the torque and joint angle profiles. The torques at the key joints and the ground reaction forces are compared to those for the forward walk in order to study the differences between the two walking patterns. Simulation results are approximately validated with the experimental data which is motion captured in the VSR Lab at the University of Iowa.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Time-resolved videothermography at above-frame-rate frequencies

Temporal aliasing is a problem common all video imaging systems. IR video systems are particularly susceptible because of the relatively low (30 Hz) RS-170 frame rate. We have developed a system which compensates for the effects of aliasing, and allows images of repetitive thermal phenomena at frequencies up to 4 kHz to be acquired. The system utilizes an unmodified commercial imager (Inframetrics IR 600) and a microcomputer. Data is acquired selectively using a 'line-by-line' scheme which compares the motion of the camera's horizontal scanning mirror to a reference signal correlated to the event of interest. Only those horizontal lines that have a user-specified phase relationship to the reference signal are acquired. The resulting images have an effective integration time of 125 microseconds. This ability to acquire 'time-resolved' IR images allows investigation of phenomena not possible with a conventional RS-170 IR imaging system. For example, a conventional thermal image of an integrated circuit operating at several kilohertz yields no temporal information whatsoever. By comparison, we have acquired time-resolved images which show the AC heating and cooling of the circuit, so that we may identify AC hot spots. The system has also been applied to a running internal combustion engine. The imager views the piston head through an IR transparent (ZnS) window. Acquired images clearly show the motion of the flame front through the combustion chamber, and the subsequent heating and cooling of the piston head.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Impact of Drug Label Changes on Propofol Use in Pediatrics for Moderate Conscious Sedation

Abstract Background Drug product labeling is a critical component of communication regarding the appropriate use of medications. The information contained in a drug label is often complex, including contraindications and warnings that may be difficult to understand. In an attempt to further examine this issue, this article looks at one such difficult-to-understand label concerning anesthetic propofol and its use in the pediatric population. Objective The objective of this study was to describe the use of propofol for moderate conscious sedation (MCS) in pediatric patients (0–17 years) after drug warnings were disseminated. Methods This study was a retrospective, observational study from January 2001 to December 2007 that used data from the Premier Perspective Comparative Hospital database. This database includes approximately 425 hospitals with a broad range of hospital types and contains a weighting scheme that allows for the generation of national estimates in the United States. The main outcome measure was use of propofol during hospitalization. Results The study included 307,779 discharges in which MCS was used. Both the number of discharges for MCS and the percent of discharges using propofol increased from 2001 to 2007. After multivariable adjustment, there was more than a 3-fold increase in the odds of receiving propofol between 2001 and 2007 (odds ratio [OR] = 3.32; 95% CI, 2.96–3.72) for MCS. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that the label changes and a “Dear Doctor” letter did not affect propofol utilization. A more cohesive approach to the assessment of safety and the dissemination of label change information to practitioners is needed.
Second-harmonic generation circular-dichroism spectroscopy from chiral monolayers.

The second-harmonic-generation (SHG) efficiency from a monolayer of oriented chiral molecules (R- or S-2,2'-dihydroxyl-1,1'binaphthyl) has a strong dependence upon the handedness of the circularly polarized excitation beam. The SHG circular-dichroism (CD) effect is much larger than in ordinary CD spectroscopy because SHG-CD is electric dipole allowed. The technique allows the study of chiral surfaces. The preference for left or right circularly polarized light is dependent on both the chirality (R or S) and the absolute orientation of the molecules (pointed up or down).
Orographic precipitation and the relief of mountain ranges

[1] The influence of climate on the relief of mountain ranges has long been supposed but has received little quantitative investigation. The simplified system of a longitudinal river profile in a bedrock channel coupled to a physically based model of orographic precipitation is used to explore how orographically influenced patterns of precipitation affect the relief of fluvially sculpted mountain ranges. It is shown that the impact on the orography depends on the nature of the precipitation regime. Significant changes in relief also occur for imposed temperature changes of realistic magnitude, although the ability of the relief to respond to any given change depends sensitively on its response time and the timescale of the forcing.
Cellular basis for arrhythmogenicity of ionophores with different cation selectivities

In high concentrations, the ionophores salinomycin, monensin and X-537A cause cardiac arrhythmias in vivo. To determine if these arrhythmias result from a direct action of these ionophores on cardiac electrophysiology, we studied their effects on automaticity and transmembrane action potentials of isolated canine left ventricular Purkinje fibers. High concentrations of the ionophores suppressed automaticity and shortened action potential duration. These data suggest that high concentrations of the ionophores provoke cardiac arrhythmias in vivo by similar mechanisms despite their diverse cation transport selectivities.
Effects of dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin on secretion of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and prolactin in ovariectomized, pituitary stalk-transected ewes

Two experiments were conducted in ovariectomized, pituitary stalk-transected ewes to determine if dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE) or serotonin (5-HT) alter secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin (PRL). In experiment 1, ewes were infused (iv) with saline (control), DA (66 micrograms/kg/min), NE (6.6 micrograms/kg/min) or 5-HT (6.6 micrograms/kg/min). Treatments did not alter pulse frequency, but 5-HT increased (P less than .05) amplitude of pulses of LH and mean concentrations of LH, DA and NE were without effect on basal secretion of LH. DA but not NE or 5-HT decreased (P less than .05) the release of LH in response to gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone (GnRH, 25 micrograms, im). Concentrations of FSH were not affected by treatments. Secretion of PRL was reduced (P less than .05) by treatment with DA and NE but not 5-HT. Each amine reduced (P less than .05) the release of PRL in response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH; 3 micrograms, im). In experiment 2, ewes were given DA at doses of 0, 0.66, 6.6 or 66.0 micrograms/kg/min, iv. No dose altered basal LH, but each dose reduced (P less than .05) basal and TRH-induced release of PRL. Key findings from these studies include direct pituitary action for: (1) 5-HT enhanced basal secretion of LH, (2) suppression of GnRH-induced secretion of LH by DA. (3) DA and NE inhibition of PRL secretion, and (4) DA, NE and 5-HT inhibition of release of PRL in response to TRH.
Possible Resonant State in Pion-Hyperon Scattering

It is pointed out that there is a probability for a resonant state in pion-hyperon scattering at an energy of about 20 Mev below the K--p (C.M.) threshold energy. This possibility is discussed in some detail. Charge- dependent refinements due to the Coulcomb interaction and the K--K/sup 0/ mass difference are neglected. (W.D.M.)
Differential subsensitivity of dopaminergic and neostriatal neurons to apomorphine with long-term treatment.

Abstract The apomorphine-induced inhibition of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the rat was significantly attenuated following 2 daily injections of 0.05, 0.5 or 2.0 mg/kg apomorphine for 5 consecutive days. In fact, many of these neurons responded with an increase in firing rate whiich was never observed in control animals. Neostriatal neurons, on the other hand, decreased their sensitivity to apomorphine only after long-term treatment with 0.5 or 2.0 mg/kg. Multiple injections of the low dose actually potentiated the apomorphine-induced inhibition in the neostriatum. These results, which are consistent with the differential sensitivity of dopaminergic and neostriatal neurons to acute apormorphine, suggest that the subsensitivity of pre- and postsynaptic dopamine receptors produced by long-term apomorphine treatment is dose-dependent.
Transients in orientation of a fluorescent cross-bridge probe following photolysis of caged nucleotides in skeletal muscle fibres.

Abstract In muscle fibres labelled with iodoacetamidotetramethylrhodamine at Cys707 of the myosin heavy chain, the probes have been reported to change orientation when the fibre is activated, relaxed or put into rigor. In order to test whether these motions are indications of the cross-bridge power stroke, we monitored tension and linear dichroism of the probes in single glycerol-extracted fibres of rabbit psoas muscle during mechanical transients initiated by laser pulse photolysis of caged ATP and caged ADP. In rigor dichroism is negative, indicating average probe absorption dipole moments oriented more than 54.7 ° away from the fibre axis. During activation from rigor induced by photoliberation of ATP from caged ATP in the presence of calcium, the dichroism reversed sign promptly (half-time 12.5 ms for 500 μ m -ATP) upon release of ATP, but then changed only slightly during tension development 20 to 100 milliseconds later. During the onset of rigor following transfer of the fibre from an ATP-containing relaxing solution to a rigor medium lacking ATP, force generation preceded the change in dichroism. The dichroism change occurred slowly (half-time 47 s), because binding of ADP to sites within the muscle fibre limited its rate of diffusion out of the fibre. When ADP was introduced or removed, the dichroism transient was similar in time course and magnitude to that obtained after the introduction or removal of ATP. Neither adding nor removing ADP produced substantial changes in force. These results demonstrate that orientation of the rhodamine probes on the myosin head reflects mainly structural changes linked to nucleotide binding and release, rather than rotation of the cross-bridge during force generation.
Moisture Meter Calibrations for Untreated and ACQ-Treated Southern Yellow Pine Lumber and Plywood

This study investigates the effects of alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ) preservative treatment and of plywood glue lines on resistance-based moisture content (MC) measurements. Moisture meter readings using stainless steel screws as electrodes were acquired over a range of moisture conditions in Southern Yellow Pine (SYP) lumber and plywood. Calibration equations are presented for predicting gravimetric MC from meter readings taken in SYP lumber and SYP plywood with or without ACQ treatment. These corrections assume that the meter has been set for SYP. Correlation equations are also presented for directly relating resistance to gravimetric MC, which may be useful for automated data collection systems employed in monitoring moisture levels in buildings. The conductance of SYP lumber was raised by treatment with ACQ, particularly at higher moisture contents, but was unaffected by vacuum-pressure treatment with water. The conductance of untreated SYP plywood, measured with electrodes penetrating the glue lines, exceeded that of untreated SYP lumber. The conductance of SYP plywood was lowered by treatment with ACQ, by vacuum-pressure soaking with water, and by exposure to rain. We suggest that electrolytes in the plywood glue lines increase the conductance of untreated plywood relative to that of untreated lumber, and that the concentration of these electrolytes is lowered by the (aqueous) preservative treatment process, thereby lowering the conductance of these high-conductance pathways.
Time-domain finite element analysis of electromagnetic radiation and scattering and microwave circuits

In 1987, Cangellaris, Lin, and Mei proposed the time-domain finite element method as a promising numerical approach to simulating electromagnetic radiation and scattering phenomena. In this paper, we provide a brief overview of the recent progress in the development of the time-domain finite element method at the University of Illinois.
RIT‐DuPont supra‐threshold color‐tolerance individual color‐difference pair dataset

The RIT-DuPont dataset has been used extensively for formula development and testing since its inception during the 1980's, for example, in the development of CIE94 and CIEDE2000. The dataset was published as 156 color-tolerances, T50, along specific vector directions about 19 color centers. Probit analysis was used to transform judgments of 958 color-difference pairs by 50 observers to these 156 tolerances. For most statistical significance testing, the number of samples determines the confidence limits. Thus, there was an interest in publishing the individual color-difference pair visual and colorimetric data to improve the precision of significance testing. From these 958 pairs, 828 pairs had determinable visual differences. The others had either excessive visual uncertainty or had unanimous visual judgments such that visual differences were undefined. In addition, a method was devised to assign visual uncertainty to each of these pairs using the principles of maximum likelihood and the T50 values. Comparisons were made between the T50 and individual color-difference pair data both including and omitting uncertainty weightings. The weighted dataset was found to be equivalent to the T50 tolerances. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 2010
Combined CI‐HY studies of atomic states. IV. The four lowest 1S and four lowest 1P states of He and the lowest 1S and 1P states of H−1

Combined CI-HY method calculations are reported for the ground and first three excited S states of He with an error on the order of 10−7 a.u. within the same 120-term basis. For He 1P, the four lowest states are obtained with an error ≤2 × 10−6 a.u. within the same 102-term basis. H−1S and 1P states are also treated by the same CI-HY technique. The utility of an spd Slater-type orbital, r, v = 0, 1 basis is investigated, with indications that it might be an excellent basis for states of first row atoms.
Expression and Up-Regulation of Alternatively Spliced Transcripts of Melastatin, a Melanoma Metastasis-Related Gene, in Human Melanoma Cells

Loss of expression of a novel suppressor of metastasis, melastatin (MLSN1), has recently been reported to correlate with metastatic potential of melanoma cells. Using differential display analysis, we identified MLSN1 among genes overexpressed in pigmented metastatic human melanoma cells treated with the differentiation inducer hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA). In this study, we show that multiple short transcripts of MLSN1 are present in melanocytes and pigmented metastatic melanoma cell lines while the full-length 5. 4-kb mRNA is detectable only in melanocytes. Treatment of pigmented melanoma cells with the differentiation-inducing agent, HMBA, results in up-regulation of the 5.4-kb MLSN1 mRNA as well as short RNAs. Analysis of a panel of nonpigmented primary and metastatic melanoma cell lines showed weak expression of a 1.8-kb mRNA in a few melanoma cell lines. Northern blot and RT-PCR analyses with DNA probes and oligonucleotide primers that correspond to distinct regions of full-length MLSN1 mRNA indicated that the short transcripts contained sequences corresponding primarily to either 5'- or 3'-end of the 5.4-kb mRNA. HMBA appears to up-regulate MLSN1 transcripts derived mainly from the 5'-end. Modulators of cAMP and protein kinase C pathways had no significant effect on MLSN1 expression. Our data show that multiple MLSN1 transcripts, both constitutively expressed and inducible, are present in cultured pigmented melanoma cells, and suggest that MLSN1 expression can be regulated at the level of both transcription and mRNA processing.
Recovery of Egg Solids from Wastewaters from Egg-Grading and -Breaking Plants

Abstract Wastewaters from egg processing plants typically carry high wasteloads. The main part of the wasteload is egg solids with lesser amounts of dirt, manure, and cleaning compounds. We found that the egg solids could be recovered, after adjusting the pH of the wastewater to 4.7, heating to 75°C., and filtering or centrifuging the mixture. This process reduced the biochemical oxygen demand (B.O.D.) of the wastewater by 76 to 97%. Recovered egg solids might be used as livestock feed. The combination of heat and acid is adequate to destroy Salmonella or other harmful bacteria present.
Substance use disorders and employability among welfare recipients.

The 2006 welfare reform legislation (Deficit Reduction Act of 2005) imposed more stringent work requirements and defined the amount of time cash assistance recipients are allowed to be exempted fro...
Photometric history of BL Lacertae.

BL Lacertae photometric data, noting object brightness and optical similarity to N galaxy 3C371
Joining of Silicon Carbide with a Cordierite Glass-Ceramic

A method for the joining of silicon carbide using a cordierite glass-ceramic has been developed. Cordierite, with glass-ceramic processing, remains amorphous and wets the SiC substrate to form a strong bond when rapidly fired. Subsequent heat treatment crystallizes a multiphase interlayer with a matching bulk thermal expansion coefficient (CTE). A benchtop tape casting method for depositing joining precursor films of varying thickness is described. The wetting characteristics of cordierite on SiC that are pertinent to the joining process are shown to be highly sensitive to processing atmosphere. Doping with a fluoride ion flux can lower the peak processing temperature without significantly altering the crystallization path. The effect of interlayer thickness is observed by monitoring indentation crack paths and with 4-point bending tests. Controlling the degree of crystallinity is shown to tailor the mismatches in thermal expansion coefficient and elastic moduli to produce joints of high strength (σF > 500 MPa). Characterization is accomplished with XRD, SEM, and TEM.
Use of magnesium sulfate in the treatment of children with acute asthma

Abstract Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood. An acute asthma exacerbation is one of the common medical reasons for which a child requires care in an emergency department (ED). Despite the development of asthma management guidelines and many new medications available to treat asthma, there is still a population Mio does not respond to conventional therapy. The author provides a critical review of the literature on the use of magnesium in the treatment of asthma and provides some recommendations for the use of magnesium in selected cases.
Update on the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

The major components of atherosclerotic plaque, ultimately responsible for clinical effects, are deposited lipids--mostly cholesteryl esters and cholesterol, derived largely from the lower-density lipoproteins of the blood--and proliferated, modified arterial smooth muscle cells with their synthesized connective tissue products. Advanced plaques vary widely in the proportion of the two components, but evidence indicates that lipid deposition--especially of lipoprotein elements--often occurs in the lesion-prone intimal areas of the artery prior to the buildup of smooth muscle cells. The 1980s were remarkably productive for investigators who study the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We now know of the many forms of lower-density lipoproteins, i.e., low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), some of which are more likely to be associated with accelerated atherosclerosis and some of which are more likely to be influenced by diet. Among these forms of LDL and VLDL are LDL-1, beta-VLDL, and Lp(a). Work has been reported implicating various alterations of endothelial function in the permeability of the arterial endothelial barrier in the transport of these low-density, cholesterol-rich macromolecules. Of possibly greater interest is the developing evidence that such proliferation-stimulating molecules as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) can be produced by a number of cells likely to be involved in the progression of atherosclerotic plaque. In addition to platelets, these include activated monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages, injured endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells, which can undergo an autocrine conversion to PDGF synthesis--possibly stimulated by LDL from hyperlipidemic serum. Leukotrienes and other endothelium-associated regulatory molecules may also take part in the paracrine and autocrine mechanisms of stimulating smooth-muscle-cell proliferation. Additional recent developments that have led to a better understanding of atherosclerotic pathogenesis have occurred. The first is evidence of the involvement of oxidized LDL and its apolipoprotein B in atherogenesis. Research indicates that antioxidants have a suppressive effect on atherogenesis when oxidized LDL has been involved in lesion development. The data linking the development of autoimmune reactions to these oxidatively altered lipoproteins are also impressive. Further, there is increasing evidence that atherogenesis in nonhuman primates and in people in whom chronic sustained circulating immune complexes are involved is likely to be accelerated, even when few or no classic risk factors are present. These lesions appear to represent a distinct microarchitectural form of concentric and transmural atherosclerosis that is better classified as "atheroarteritis."
Andesite in oceanic regions

Among the chemically intermediate rocks of the central ocean basins, three genetic series-tholeiitic, low-K alkalic, and high-K alkalic-are recognizable on the basis of relations between the differentiation index (DI) and total alkalies and between DI and the alkali index [AI, here defined as 100 × K2O/(K2O + Na2O)]. The present nomenclature for these rocks, using terms based on locality names (hawaiite, tristanite, icelandite, and so forth), is inconsistent. Names based on chemical differences do not cover the range in composition, and names based on mineralogical differences do not reflect existing differences in chemistry. Alternatives to this “locality” nomenclature are considered: First, andesite is redefined, regardless of its geographic occurrence, as a volcanic rock in which more than 2/3 of the feldspar is plagioclase, the groundmass plagioclase is oligoclase or andesine, normative quartz is less than 15 percent, and the color index is less than 40. By prefixing this generalized andesite with appropriate terms indicating the genetic series, geographic location (for example, “oceanic”), and distinctive mineralogy, a consistent and informative nomenclature is possible. A second alternative is to define in a more consistent fashion the present locality names of the intermediate rocks by grouping them into two sets, one based on modal composition (mugearite, hawaiite), the other on chemistry (trachyandesite, trachybasalt).
Metabolic abnormality in the cerebellum in patients with essential tremor: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging study.

Abstract The pathological basis for essential tremor (ET) is unknown. We used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging ( 1 H MRSI) in 16 ET patients and 11 controls to measure levels of intracellular metabolites, including N -acetyl- l -aspartate (NAA) and total choline, relative to total creatine (tCR), in several brain regions (cerebellum, thalamus, basal ganglia). Multislice 1 H MRSI data were acquired on a 1.5 T GE Signa Scanner by prescribing four 15-mm axial-oblique slices. The mean (standard deviation) cerebellar cortical NAA/tCR was reduced in cases compared to controls (1.53 [0.36] versus 1.91 [0.49], P =0.03). There was an inverse association between cerebellar cortical NAA/tCR and dominant arm tremor severity ( r =−0.59, P =0.02). The reduction in cerebellar cortical NAA/tCR indicates that there is neuronal damage or loss in ET, suggesting that ET may be a neurodegenerative disease.
An investigation of paradoxical memory effects

Abstract The expectation-violation effect ( Hirshman, 1988 , J. Memory Language 27, 40–58) occurs when weakly related word pairs are better remembered than strongly-related word pairs following intentional learning. Hirshman (op. cit.) claimed that surprise responses to weakly related pairs caused the expectation-violation effect. This paper specifies this hypothesis further and demonstrates that the bizarre-imagery effect ( McDaniel & Einstein, 1986 , J. Experimental Psychology: Learning Memory and Cognition, 12, 54–65) is also a member of the class of expectation-violation effects. Specifically, bizarre sentences are better remembered than normal sentences because surprise responses to bizarre sentences increase the association of items in bizarre sentences to general contextual cues. The utility of the current theory is in explaining two seemingly unrelated effects with a simple theoretical mechanism. Four initial experiments demonstrate that the bizarre-imagery effect and the expectation-violation effect obey the same empirical regularities. Two further implications of the claim that the bizarre-imagery effect is a member of the class of expectation-violation effects are then tested. Two experiments demonstrate that the bizarre-imagery effect can occur without imaginal encoding instructions and that it disappears when subjects are informed of the presence of bizarre sentences in the study list.
Technology-design co-optimization of resistive cross-point array for accelerating learning algorithms on chip

Technology-design co-optimization methodologies of the resistive cross-point array are proposed for implementing the machine learning algorithms on a chip. A novel read and write scheme is designed to accelerate the training process, which realizes fully parallel operations of the weighted sum and the weight update. Furthermore, technology and design parameters of the resistive cross-point array are co-optimized to enhance the learning accuracy, latency and energy consumption, etc. In contrast to the conventional memory design, a set of reverse scaling rules is proposed on the resistive cross-point array to achieve high learning accuracy. These include 1) larger wire width to reduce the IR drop on interconnects thereby increasing the learning accuracy; 2) use of multiple cells for each weight element to alleviate the impact of the device variations, at an affordable expense of area, energy and latency. The optimized resistive cross-point array with peripheral circuitry is implemented at the 65 nm node. Its performance is benchmarked for handwritten digit recognition on the MNIST database using gradient-based sparse coding. Compared to state-of-the-art software approach running on CPU, it achieves >103 speed-up and >106 energy efficiency improvement, enabling real-time image feature extraction and learning.
The effect of disorder in superfluid graphene bilayers

An excitonic superfluid is predicted to form in a bilayer graphene system at room temperature. The superfluid requires a very precise configuration to form, as two graphene layers must be separated by an oxide no more than a few nanometers thick. As such, it is imperative to study the effects of lattice defects inevitably arising during the fabrication process. We present and compare the performance characteristics of both ideal and disordered bilayer graphene systems at room temperature. We perform quantum transport calculations on graphene bilayers using the non-equilibrium Greens function (NEGF) formalism in an effort to elucidate the evolution of a Bose-Einstein Condensate under non-equilibrium conditions in the presence of lattice defects. We find that lattice defects spread throughout the channel have little effect on the device performance, but vacancies concentrated near the contacts cause a considerable reduction in device performance.
Diurnal rhythm in plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine in the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

A study was made of norepinephrine and epinephrine in plasma of the channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) to determine if a diurnal variation occurred. Plasma was collected at midnight, 6 and 10 AM, and at 2 and 7 PM. Epinephrine exhibited no change during the 24-hour period studied. Norepinephrine, however, demonstrated a significant plasma concentration of 4.6 ± 0.5 μg/100 ml plasma at 2 PM and a second peak at midnight with a value of 2.7 ± 0.3 μg/100 ml.
The effect of recombinant human (1-84) or synthetic human (1-34) parathyroid hormone on the skeleton of adult osteopenic ovariectomized rats

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dose-effect relationship of recombinant human PTH [hPTH-(1-84)] and synthetic human PTH [sPTH-(1-34)] for the skeleton of estrogen-deplete osteopenic rats. Ex vivo densitometry of regionalized whole femurs and histomorphometry of proximal tibial cancellous bone were the end points. Retired breeder female rats, aged 6-7 months, were used. Ten were killed at baseline, and the rest were ovariectomized (OVX). On day 42, a pre-PTH treatment OVX group was killed. The rest were then treated by daily sc injection with hPTH (0, 1.55, 15.5, or 155 micrograms/kg BW.day) or sPTH (0.55, 5.5, or 55 micrograms/kg BW.day) and killed on day 70. The level of cancellous bone mineral was lower in pretreatment OVX rats than at baseline. It was higher in rats treated with 15.5-155 micrograms/kg.day hPTH and 5.5-55 micrograms/kg.day sPTH than in pretreatment and vehicle-treated OVX rats. Cancellous bone volume was also lower both 42 and 70 days after OVX. Although hPTH did not affec...
Kennedy and Kashmir, 1962–63: The perils of pivotal peacemaking in South Asia

(2002). Kennedy and Kashmir, 1962–63: The perils of pivotal peacemaking in South Asia. India Review: Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 1-38.
Common Problems in Critically Ill Obstetric Patients, With an Emphasis on Pharmacotherapy

Pharmacological treatment of critically ill obstetric patients can be especially challenging due to the complexity of caring for 2 patients, with a paucity of research to support practice. This review will provide practitioners with primary recommendations for management of the critical illnesses most commonly encountered in pregnancy and will discuss the scientific and clinical merit of these recommendations.
Subclavian artery cannulation for infant extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

A technique is presented for subclavian artery cannulation for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. This method allows antegrade perfusion of the carotid artery to occur both during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and after decannulation. This method may prevent neurologic sequelae associated with the more common techniques using the carotid artery.
When Does Religious Racial Integration “Count?” A Caution About Seeking Ideal Ethnographic Cases

If the particular demographics of attenders, their storied backgrounds, and the peculiar aspects of their social and economic circumstances fail to conform to an “ideal scenario” of “ultimate” diversity, we might find ourselves disappointed. This appears to be one of the most important aspects of Richard Pitt's critique. Pitt desires a different “ideal” case for analysis, a church with black leadership and a clear black dominance that successfully integrates whites. Such an analysis is sorely needed, but this does not reflect the dynamics of Oasis nor does it address what has been one of the most pressing questions among scholars of diversity over the past decade. Given that any black-white integration is rare, I would not so easily dismiss the specifics of this case. Indeed, rather than merely reverse the case, I want to radicalize the critique. It is time to more purposefully examine diversity beyond the “racial divide,” and I suggest here several ways we can expand the research agenda on diverse congregations.
Optimization of the Volumetric Hydrogen Chemisorption Technique for Dispersions of Ru/SiO2 Catalysts

Abstract Metal dispersions of silica-supported ruthenium catalysts determined by the standard volumetric chemisorption technique were found to be inaccurate due to irreversible spillover of hydrogen to the support. Direct evidence was obtained via in situ 1 H NMR for an irreversibly bound component of the hydrogen that migrated from the metal to the support on a time scale of tens of minutes or longer at room temperature. It was also shown in this work that hydrogen saturated the surface of the metal particles on a shorter time scale, on the order of minutes. Based on 1 H NMR, optimum conditions for the volumetric chemisorption method were determined in order to alleviate the interference of spillover with measurements of hydrogen uptake on the metal. Ruthenium dispersions obtained from the optimized volumetric chemisorption technique were more accurate and agreed well with the results of the 1 H NMR method.
The comparative antimicrobial activity of levofloxacin tested against 350 clinical isolates of streptococci

The global trend of increasing tolerance and outright resistance to penicillin among streptococcal species becomes even more problematic when considering the coresistance patterns to other commonly used alternative therapies. Levofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone with excellent bioavailability properties that affords potential use in the treatment of a wide variety of infections caused by Gram-positive organisms such as streptococci. We evaluated the antistreptococcal activity (350 strains) of levofloxacin compared with other fluoroquinolones, beta-lactams (penicillin and cephalosporins), erythromycin, and vancomycin against beta- and alpha-hemolytic streptococci including penicillin-resistant strains of pneumococci and species within the viridans group. With the exception of one strain, all isolates were inhibited by levofloxacin concentrations of < or = 2 micrograms/ml including all penicillin-resistant viridans group and pneumococcal strains. This activity was superior to that of comparison fluoroquinolones, all beta-lactams, and erythromycin, whereas all strains remained susceptible to vancomycin. Time-kill results established that levofloxacin is bactericidal against most streptococci and has enhanced activity when combined with gentamicin. These results suggest that levofloxacin alone or in combination with an aminoglycoside may prove useful as an alternative to conventional therapeutic approaches of commonly encountered or serious streptococcal infections.
Locating genetic loci with aneuploids.

This work demonstrates that it is possible to map defined genetic loci by dosage effects. By examining the levels of 15 enzymes in isogenic lines of the trisomic types of Datura stramonium it was found that genes influencing the levels of 9 enzymes could be located in either a single chromosome or a chromosomal arm. The work presents circumstantial evidence that regulation of many eukaryotic genes occurs at the level of transcription.
The relationship between mode of female masturbation and achievement of orgasm in coitus

To determine the relationship between masturbatory and coital behavior, 117 middle-class female volunteers were classified into three styles of masturbatory behavior—direct, indirect, and nonmasturbators. Direct masturbation was defined as the direct digital manipulation of the clitoris or use of a vibrator. Indirect masturbation included all other methods of masturbation not defined as direct. The classification was done on the basis of responses to a questionnaire. Of the masturbators 70% reported no change in their masturbatory style from initial masturbatory experiences. No relationship was found between either ability to masturbate or masturbatory style and coital orgasmic capacity. It was also found that (a) nonmasturbators achieved orgasm in coitus via additional clitoral stimulation significantly less frequently than either direct or indirect masturbators and (b) direct masturbators have a significantly greater preference for clitoral, as opposed to vaginal, stimulation as a means of achieving orgasm. The results are interpreted within the context of possible deficiencies in the questionnaire and confounding between the ongoing psychological and biological processes occurring in sexual activity. Within these constraints, the findings support current methods of treatment for primary and secondary anorgasmia.
Comparison of combined spinal-epidural and low dose epidural for labour analgesia.

Purpose: To compare the combined spinal-epidural (CSE) technique with the epidural technique with regard to time to initiate and manage, motor block, onset of analgesia and satisfaction during labour.
Crustal structure across the San Andreas Fault at the SAFOD site from potential field and geologic studies

[1] We present newly compiled magnetic, gravity, and geologic datasets from the Parkfield region around the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth (SAFOD) pilot hole in order to help define the structure and geophysical setting of the San Andreas Fault (SAF). A 2-D cross section of the SAF zone at SAFOD, based on new, tightly spaced magnetic and gravity observations and surface geology, shows that as drilling proceeds NE toward the SAF, it is likely that at least 2 fault bounded magnetic slivers, possibly consisting of magnetic granitic rock, serpentinite, or unusually magnetic sandstone, will be encountered. The upper 2 km of the model is constrained by an order of magnitude increase in magnetic susceptibility at 1400 m depth observed in pilot hole measurements. NE of the SAF, a flat lying, tabular body of serpentinite at 2 km depth separates two masses of Franciscan rock and truncates against the SAF.
Finite size scaling for critical parameters of simple diatomic molecules

We use the finite size scaling method to study the critical points, points of non-analyticity, of the ground state energy as a function of the coupling parameters in the Hamiltonian. In this approach, the finite size corresponds to the number of elements in a complete basis set used to expand the exact eigenfunction of a given molecular Hamiltonian. To illustrate this approach, we give detailed calculations for systems of one electron and two nuclear centres, Z + e −Z+. Within the Born-Oppenheimer approximation, there is no critical point, but without the approximation the system exhibits a critical point at Z = Zc = 1.228279 when the nuclear charge, Z, varies. We show also that the dissociation occurs in a first-order phase transition and calculate the various related critical exponents. The possibility of generalizing this approach to larger molecular systems using Gaussian basis sets is discussed.
Swimming Against the Current

Most social work students approach research classes with some reluctance. Aversion is greatest among non-traditional students, who are older, more pragmatic, more apprehensive about research ventures. Faced with a class of such students, the author arranged an experimental research project at a shelter for abused women. The project encountered real-life pitfalls in that setting, and the students came to realize that subjectivity invades obejctive and rational processes. Learning research in an agency-based setting united this reluctant class into a cohesive team. Although experiential approaches to teaching research techniques are not new, this article advances some cautions about the conditions necessary for a successful outcome.
Variable-centered and person-centered approaches to studying Mexican-origin mother-daughter cultural orientation dissonance.

The overall aim of the current study was to identify the methodological approach and corresponding analytic procedure that best elucidated the associations among Mexican-origin mother–daughter cultural orientation dissonance, family functioning, and adolescent adjustment. To do so, we employed, and compared, two methodological approaches (i.e., variable-centered and person-centered) via four analytic procedures (i.e., difference score, interactive, matched/mismatched grouping, and latent profiles). The sample consisted of 319 girls in the 7th or 10th grade and their mother or mother figure from a large Southwestern, metropolitan area in the US. Family factors were found to be important predictors of adolescent adjustment in all models. Although some findings were similar across all models, overall, findings suggested that the latent profile procedure best elucidated the associations among the variables examined in this study. In addition, associations were present across early and middle adolescents, with a few findings being only present for one group. Implications for using these analytic procedures in studying cultural and family processes are discussed.