cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SMAP Instrument Antenna, on Orbit Performance Validation and Verification

NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) Mission is currently flying in a 685 km orbit. Featuring a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and a radiometer sharing the same antenna, SMAP was developed in collaboration between Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). While the radar requirements on the instrument antenna were more benign from an RF point of view, the radiometer requirement were more difficult to meet because of the stability required by the radiometer to operate to its full potential. The instrument antenna performance was predicted by a very detailed RF model and verified by measuring a 1/10th scale model with great accuracy before launch. Once in orbit, we had the opportunity to measure the antenna performance for both the radiometer and the radar and compare it with the predicted performance given by our RF model. This paper discusses the work done both at JPL and GSFC in order to verify and validate the on orbit performance of the SMAP instrument antenna.
Risk Prediction in Women With Congenital Long QT Syndrome

Background We aimed to provide personalized risk estimates for cardiac events (CEs) and life‐threatening events in women with either type 1 or type 2 long QT. Methods and Results The prognostic mod...
Techniques for Assessing Metal Mobility in the Environment: A Geochemical Perspective

Understanding metal mobility is very important for understanding the fate, transport, and toxicity of metals that negatively impact health of humans and other living organisms. The behavior of metals released from former mining sites is of particular interest in applied medical geology. The goal of the current chapter is to provide a detailed framework for assessment of metal mobility in the environment. Specifically, the chapter discusses a step-by-step approach to assess the geochemistry of a site, using relevant examples from mining legacy. The framework discussed in this chapter includes recommendations for site characterization, analytical techniques, laboratory experiments, and the identification of challenges for investigating metal mobility in the environment. Furthermore, limitations of some of these proposed techniques and alternative complementary approaches to overcome these limitations will also be presented. The chapter is intended to provide sufficient knowledge to members of non-geochemistry/geology disciplines to learn and acquire a reasonable understanding of different geochemical tools that are available to assess the mobility of metals and metalloids. In addition, the extensive bibliography of the chapter should provide a representative sample of the extant literature on this topic.
The Gastrocnemius Flap

The gastrocnemius muscle flap has been a workhorse flap for decades in reconstructing defects of the upper third of the leg. It is a very reliable and easy to perform muscle flap that can reliably cover defects of the upper third up to 15 cm distal to the knee. While both heads of the gastrocnemius muscle can be harvested, we prefer to harvest the medial head whenever possible for two main reasons: (1) the medial head is usually bigger and longer and thus can reconstruct larger defects compared to the lateral head and (2) the lateral head of the gastrocnemius is in close proximity to the common peroneal nerve at the proximal fibula, and as a result, the nerve can be damaged during flap harvesting. We prefer to use this flap when traumatic wounds of the upper third of the leg needs to be reconstructed, or when the knee joint is exposed (e.g., after an infection following a total knee arthroplasty); however, some middle third defects can be reconstructed as well. The flap can be used in combination with other flaps (soleus, propeller flap, etc.) providing a wide range of reconstructive options for the upper and middle lower leg. The gastrocnemius muscle serves to plantar flex the foot, but harvesting one head does not result in a significant donor site morbidity. A hemi-gastrocnemius and a hemi-soleus can be safely harvested at the same time without the patient experiencing a clinically significant defect in plantar flexion of the foot. There is a significant aesthetic donor site defect that can occur, and this should be taken into account when discussing this reconstructive option especially in children and female patients. The donor site can be closed primarily and the muscle can be skin grafted in a single stage procedure.
Piping Of SSC Synchrotron Radiation Revisited

Synchrotron Radiation of 20 TeV protons at the design circulating current of the SSC dominates the refrigeration heat load of the 4.15 K cryogenic system. An earlier paper suggested that the synchrotron x-rays could be piped by total external reflection from polished metal surfaces to “warm” absorbers to relieve this heat load. Although the piping efficiency discussed earlier is now known to be unrealistic, it can be shown that significant power can be saved nonetheless on detailed consideration of a realistic lattice. Specifically, judiciously placed radiation absorbers could intercept much of the radiation. Four alternative schemes are discussed.
Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Activity Is Required for IL-4 Induction of IL-4 Receptor α-Chain

To investigate the role of protein tyrosine phosphatases in IL-4Ralpha-chain expression and signaling, we first established that SHP-1, but not SHP-2, coimmunoprecipitated with anti-IL-4Ralpha chain Abs in extracts prepared from resting lymphocytes. We further observed that the protein tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors Na3VO4 and pervanadate blocked the striking induction of IL-4Ralpha-chain expression that is mediated by IL-4. However, Na3VO4 did not diminish IL-4-induced Stat6 phosphorylation nor did it block the IL-4-mediated increase in IL-4Ralpha-chain mRNA. The striking inhibition in total cellular IL-4Ralpha-chain and in cell surface IL-4 receptors was associated with an inhibition of biosynthetic labeling of IL-4Ralpha-chain after a 30- min pulse with [35S] methionine, indicating that reduction of IL-4Ralpha-chain protein resulted from either a diminished production of the receptor or a rapid degradation, possibly as a result of phosphorylation of the receptor in an early biosynthetic cellular compartment. Control of newly synthesized IL-4Ralpha-chain protein expression by phosphatase may provide a novel means to regulate IL-4 responsiveness.
Sensor Principles and Remote Sensing Techniques

Model-derived estimates of water stored in the upper few meters of soil, in vegetation, and in snow packs are the objectives of a new satellite microwave remote sensing technology. The most mature of the alternatives, this technology will use a combination of longer wavelength satellite microwave brightness observations and Soil Vegetation Atmosphere Transfer (SVAT) models, forced by solar and thermal radiation and by weather, to produce a near-daily global field of stored water. While the near-daily temporal resolution is a unique strength for hydrometeorology, its likely spatial resolution of tens of kilometers is a serious weakness for land-surface hydrology. This article is intended as a review of the concept and the investigations that have contributed to it. It also includes brief surveys of some technologies, like aperture synthesis radiometry and combined active passive sensing, that are being explored to improve spatial resolution. Keywords: soil moisture; Snow Water Equivalent (SWE); stored water; microwave radiometry; remote sensing hydrology
Pennsylvania and Pornography

Pennsylvania recently attempted to hold ISPs criminally liable for their customers ability to access child pornography. The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office would create a list of websites that they believe to contain child pornography. They would then notify a handful of ISPs and demand that they block their users from being able to view the websites. If the ISPs failed to administer some form of block, they would be held liable under a criminal statute and subject to fines as well as jail time. The Pennsylvania statute suffers from a number of serious defects arising from technological limitations as well as Constitutional flaws. The District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania struck the law down as being unconstitutional under a number of possible theories, including: an unlawful restraint of the First Amendment and a violation of Federal powers under the Dormant Commerce Clause.
Reading Fluency in the Middle and Secondary Grades.

In this article we discuss the specifics of reading fluency and provide suggestions for identifying when reading is fluent and when it is not. We then discuss the important role that reading fluency plays in the attainment of literacy achievement and briefly review research results that highlight the relationship between fluency and comprehension. This is followed by a discussion of reading fluency and comprehension data gathered by one of the authors in India that highlight the possibilities for the acquisition of fluent reading in those learning English as a second language. Following a review of strategies to assist middle and secondary teachers with the development of fluent reading in their students, we conclude with a discussion of word study strategies that promote syllabic and morphemic analysis. Such strategies aid readers in the development of word automaticity and encourage the development of fluent reading.
ON HOW TO PRIORITIZE DESIGN REQUIREMENTS DURING THE QFD PLANNING PROCESS

A decision model for the prioritization of design requirements during the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) planning process is introduced. The concept of deployment normalization as advocated by Lyman [8] is extended to properly account for dependencies which may exist between design requirements. A mathematical justification for prioritizing design resources by ranking the index of technical importance to cost, as first proposed by Hales et al. [5], is provided.
Gradual wear monitoring of turning inserts using wavelet analysis of ultrasound waves

Abstract Discrete wavelet transforms of ultrasound waves is used to measure the gradual wear of carbide inserts during turning operations. Ultrasound waves, propagating at a nominal frequency of 10 MHz, were pulsed into the cutting tools towards the cutting edge at a burst frequency of 10 KHz. The reflected waves off the mark, nose and flank surfaces were digitized at a sampling rate of 100 MHz. Daubechies Quadrature Mirror Filter pair was used to decompose ultrasound signals into frequency packets using a tree structure. Normalized signals in each level of decomposition were used to search for a neural network architecture that correlates the ultrasound measurements to the wear level on the tool. A three-layer Multi-Layer Perceptron architecture yielded the best correlation (95.9%) using the wave packets from the fourth level of decomposition with frequencies 3.75–4.375 and 5.625–6.875 MHz.
Administration of intravenous antibiotics immediately before extraction of wisdom teeth lowers the rate of postsurgical infections.

Article Title and Bibliographic Information Does Prophylactic Administration of Systemic Antibiotics Prevent Postoperative Inflammatory Complications after Third Molar Surgery? Halpern LR, Dodson TB. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2007;65(2):177-85 Strength of Recommendation B Purpose/Question To determine whether presurgical administration of intravenous penicillin or clindamycin lowers the rate of postoperative inflammatory complications following removal of third molars. Source of Funding Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Foundation Research Grant and Massachusetts General Hospital for Applied Clinical Investigation Type of Study/Design Randomized Masked Controlled Trial
A Supersonic Expansion Method of Ice Nuclei Generation for Weather Modification

Abstract Aerosols of organic ice nucleating agents were formed by rapid adiabatic expansion, by passing superheated steam laden with the organic vapors through a supersonic nozzle. The effect of the Mach number of the flow through the nozzle on the aerosol particle size and number concentration was investigated. It was found that the number of particles formed increased by a factor of 103 as the Mach number increased from 1 to 2, but further increases in Mach number had little effect. The ice nuclei activity spectra of the organic aerosols thus generated showed plateaus at colder temperatures, with approximately 1014 nuclei per gram below −9°C for 1,5-dihydroxynaphthalene and 1012 g−1 below −7°C for metaldehyde. Coagulation rates of both organic smokes were determined. Coagulation of 1,5-dihydroxynaphthalene aerosols followed the Smoluchowski equation. Coagulation of metaldehyde aerosols was not only extremely rapid, but in addition the coagulation constant increased with time. The latter effect was attri...
Neutron images of the through-plane water distribution of an operating PEM fuel cell

Neutron imaging has proven an invaluable tool for water metrology in operating proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Due to limitations in scintillator-based detector resolution, neutron imaging has been applied only to assessing the in-plane water distribution, without being able to distinguish water in the anode from the cathode. A new detector technology, based on micro-channel plates, enables a near order of magnitude improvement in the image resolution. This new detector technology will enable direct measurement of the through-plane water distribution in the gas diffusion layer, and enable the determination of the relative water content on the anode and cathode sides of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell. We report on the initial measurements with this new detector and discuss future measurement possibilities.
Modeling of Pretreatment Condition of Extrusion-Pretreated Prairie Cordgrass and Corn Stover with Poly (Oxyethylen) 20 Sorbitan Monolaurate

Extrusion processing has shown potential to be used as a pretreatment method for second-generation bioethanol production. Furthermore, surfactants have been shown to reduce enzyme deactivation and increase the efficiency of hydrolysis. Therefore, a sequential pretreatment technique was developed for corn stover (CS) and prairie cordgrass (PCG) in which a single screw extruder was used for the first pretreatment according to a previously optimized condition using 70–180 °C for feed, barrel, and die zones with 65–155 rpm screw speed. The second pretreatment was optimized in this study at 45–55 °C, 1–4 h, 0.15–0.6 g Tween 20/g glucan according to response surface methodology. Optimization of surfactant pretreatment facilitated the estimation of interaction and higher-order effects for major factors involved in surfactant treatment (temperature, time, surfactant loading). Using 8.6 FPU/g glucan cellulase, the optimum conditions found by fitting appropriate quadratic models to the data increased glucose and xylose yield by 27.5 and 33 % for CS and by 21.5 and 27 % for PCG, respectively. Tween 20 concentrations and pretreatment temperature were the most significant factors affecting sugar yield (p value <0.05). Studies of SDS concentration at and beyond critical micelle concentration (5.2–100 mM) demonstrated a decrease in sugar yield compared to control.
A novel urushi matrix sodium ion-selective field-effect transistor

Abstract A durable sodium ion-selective field-effect transistor (ISFET) is proposed with Urushi as the membrane matrix. The sodium ion-sensing membrane is composed of sodium ionophore (ETH 227), di-2-ethylhexylphthalate, potassium tetrakis(p-chlorophenyl)borate and Urushi. The prepared Urushi matrix ISFET showed a linear response in the sodium ion activity range from 100 M to 10−3.5 M and about 53 mV per decade change of sodium ion activity. The selectivity of the Urushi matrix ISFET was almost the same as that of the corresponding PVC matrix ion-selective electrode. The Urushi ISFET showed excellent stability with drift below 0.15 mV per hour and durability for over a month, because of strong adhesion of the membrane to the Si3N4 gate.
Review of Narrative Therapy: Research and Utility:

Narrative therapy has captured the attention of many in the family counseling field. Despite the apparent appeal of narrative therapy as a therapeutic modality, research on its effectiveness is in ...
Propagation of voidage waves in a two-dimensional liquid-fluidized bed

Abstract Digital video recordings were used to obtain voidage distribution in a narrow fluidized bed with a small gap slightly larger than three particle diameters. From these recordings we determined auto-correlations and power spectra in spatial and temporal and joint spatial-temporal power spectra. Increases in the fluidization velocity lead to increasing disorganized non-periodic flows. Our experimental results are discussed in the light of experimental results and theories found in literature.
Molecular dynamics calculation of the isotope effect for vacancy diffusion

Abstract The relative jump frequencies of tracer atoms with masses 1.00 and 1.05 times the host atom mass have been computed by molecular dynamics in a system of 255 Lennard-Jones atoms comparable with solid argon at 80 °K. The chief error of previous theoretical treatments of the isotope effect is found to be their neglect of unsuccessful saddle point crossings (e.g. U turns) which become more prevalent the lighter the diffusing atom. In the system studied, this effect lowers the ΔK factor from its harmonic value of 0.98 to an effective value of 0.89±0.05.
Storage hexamer utilization in two lepidopterans: differences correlated with the timing of egg formation.

Most insects produce two or more storage hexamers whose constituents and developmental profiles are sufficiently different to suggest specialization in the ways that they support metamorphosis and reproduction. Hexamerin specializations are compared here in the Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), which produces eggs during the pupal-adult molt, and the Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), which produces eggs under long-day conditions after adult eclosion. In both sexes of both species, reserves of arylphorin (ArH) were exhausted by the end of metamorphosis. In Cecropia, the same was true for the high-methionine hexamerins, V-MtH and M-MtH. But in short day Monarch females 20–30% of the pupal reserves of V-MtH and M-MtH survived metamorphosis, persisting until long-day conditions were imposed to stimulate egg formation. Differences in storage sites have been documented in other lepidopterans, with MtH reserves being found primarily in fat body protein granules and the ArH reserve being found primarily in the hemolymph. Similar differences could explain how a fraction of the MtH's, but not of ArH, escapes utilization during metamorphosis in a species with post-eclosion egg formation. No differences in utilization schedules were detected between V- and M-MtH, despite divergent compositions and antigenic reactivity.
Capsella embryogenesis: The suspensor and the basal cell

The suspensor and basal cell ofCapsella were examined with the electron microscope and analyzed by histochemical procedures. The suspensor cells are more vacuolate and contain more ER and dictyosomes, but fewer ribosomes and stain less intensely for protein and nucleic acids than the cells of the embryo. The end walls of the suspensor cells contain numerous plasmodesmata but there are no plasmodesmata in the walls separating the suspensor from the embryo sac. The lower suspensor cells fuse with the embryo sac wall and the lateral walls of the lower and middle suspensor cells produce finger-like projections into the endosperm. At the heart stage the suspensor cells begin to degenerate and gradually lose their ability to stain for protein and nucleic acids.
Stigmatization and Denormalization as Public Health Policies: Some Kantian Thoughts

The stigmatization of some groups of people, whether for some characteristic they possess or some behavior they engage in, will initially strike most of us as wrong. For many years, academic work in public health, which focused mainly on the stigmatization of HIV-positive individuals, reinforced this natural reaction to stigmatization, by pointing out the negative health effects of stigmatization. But more recently, the apparent success of anti-smoking campaigns which employ stigmatization of smokers has raised questions about whether stigmatization may sometimes be justified, because of its positive effects on public health. Discussion of the issue so far has focused on consequences, and on some Kantian considerations regarding the status of the stigmatized. In this article, I argue that further Kantian considerations regarding the treatment of the general public (the potential stigmatizers) also count against any public health policy involving stigmatization. Attempts to encourage stigmatization are likely to fail to appeal to the rational decision-making abilities of the general public, and the creation of stigmatized groups (even if they are stigmatized for their voluntary behavior) is an obstacle to the self-improvement of members of the general public.
Strain rate dependence of properties of cryomilled bimodal 5083 Al alloys

Abstract The strain-rate-dependent deformation behavior of bimodal 5083 Al alloys processed by cryomilling is studied in the present investigation. The alloys were processed by hot extrusion of a mixture of cryomilled and unmilled Al powders. Their tensile stress–strain curves displayed a short work-hardening region, followed by a small stress drop after the ultimate stress while their tensile ductility increased with decreasing strain rates. Compressive stress–strain curves displayed a nearly perfect plastic behavior and negative strain rate sensitivity. Inspection of the deformation characteristics and fractography revealed that the higher ductility at lower strain rate was caused by effective diffusion-mediated stress relaxation, which delayed microcrack nucleation and propagation. Furthermore, crack blunting/bridging by ductile coarse grains played a significant role at lower strain rates. The phenomenon of the negative strain rate sensitivity of compression flow stress is proposed to be as a consequence of dynamic strain aging.
Three-dimensional photorefractive signal processing for radar applications

A photorefractive crystal can be used as a three-dimensionally parallel array of multipliers. In writing the photorefractive gratings, the crystal performs the operation of multiplying the inputs and integrating the resulting products. In readout the photorefractive crystal multiplies the inputs with the stored gratings. The three dimensional array of multipliers is only accessible from the two-dimensional faces. This restricts us to using the photorefractive crystal for outer- products in writing to the full three dimensions of parallelism and inner products in reading out the three dimensions, when we are using a single wavelength system. We have explored issues in using the full three dimensions of parallelism in the real time volume holograph for signal processing applications. These issues are illustrated with our successful implementation of a high-bandwidth large phased-array radar processing system. This example system leads to a new algorithm for processing phased-array-radar data, which has a great advantage in hardware complexity over the classic Widrow algorithm and leads to a significant hardware savings for true-time-delay phased-array-radar control systems.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Liver biopsy: increased risks in patients with cancer.

Nine thousand two hundred twelve liver biopsies were performed according to a defined protocol, and data were prospectively recorded to identify risk factors for major bleeding. There were 10 fatal and 22 nonfatal hemorrhages (0.11% and 0.24%, respectively). By comparison with a control group that did not hemorrhage, malignancy, age, sex, and the number of passes were the only predictable risk factors. The risk of fatal hemorrhage in patients with malignancy is estimated to be 0.4%; for nonfatal hemorrhage, 0.57%. In patients undergoing liver biopsy for nonmalignant disease, the risks are 0.04% and 0.16%, respectively.
The Dominant Role of Sp1 in Regulating the Cystathionine β-Synthase –1a and –1b Promoters Facilitates Potential Tissue-specific Regulation by Kruppel-like Factors

Abstract Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) catalyzes the condensation of serine with homocysteine to form cystathionine and occupies a crucial regulatory position between the methionine cycle and transsulfuration. The human cystathionine β-synthase gene promoters –1a and –1b are expressed in a limited number of tissues and are coordinately regulated with proliferation through a redox-sensitive mechanism. Site-directed mutagenesis, DNase I footprinting and deletion analysis of 5276 bp of 5′ proximal –1b flanking sequence revealed that this region does not confer tissue-specific expression and that 210 bp of proximal sequence is sufficient for maximal promoter activity. As little as 32 bp of the –1b proximal promoter region is capable of driving transcription in HepG2 cells, and this activity is entirely dependent upon the presence of a single overlapping Sp1/Egr1 binding site. Co-transfection studies in Drosophila SL2 cells indicated that both promoters are transactivated by Sp1 and Sp3 but only the –1b promoter is subject to a site-specific synergistic regulatory interaction between Sp1 and Sp3. Sp1-deficient fibroblasts expressing both Sp3 and NF-Y were negative for CBS activity. Transfection of these cells with a mammalian Sp1 expression construct induced high levels of CBS activity indicating that Sp1 has a critical and indispensable role in the regulation of cystathionine β-synthase. Sp1 binding to both CBS promoters is sensitive to proliferation status and is negatively regulated by Kruppel-like factors in co-transfection experiments suggesting a possible mechanism for the tissue specific regulation of cystathionine β-synthase.
Nonequilibrium effect in an electron turnstile.

When an electron tunnels into a quantum dot, it may be stuck in a state higher than the lowest available singe-particle level. Equilibration with a lead is greatly slowed down by the Coulomb blockade in the dot and Pauli exclusion in the lead at low temperatures. This may produce heating of an electron turnstile or pump, if the intradot relaxation rate is slow compared with the pumping frequency. These ideas are demonstrated by simple models with realistic parameters, and the effect of phonon-induced intradot transitions is estimated in some detail.
Multi‐scale simulation with a hybrid Boussinesq‐RANS hydrodynamic model

A hybrid wave model is developed for simulation of water wave propagation from deep water to shoreline. The constituent wave models are the irrotational, 1-D horizontal Boussinesq and 2-D vertical Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS). The models are two-way coupled, and the interface is placed at a location where turbulence is relatively small. Boundary conditions on the interfacing side of each model are provided by its counterpart model through data exchange. Prior to the exchange, a data transformation step is carried out due to the differences in physical variables and approximations employed in both models. The hybrid model is tested for both accuracy and speedup performance. Tests consisting of idealized solitary and standing wave motions and wave overtopping of nearshore structures show that: (1) the simulation results of the current hybrid model compare well with the idealized data, experimental data, and pure RANS model results and (2) the hybrid model saves computational time by a factor proportional to the reduction in the size of the RANS model domain. Finally, a large-scale tsunami simulation is provided for a numerical setup that is practically unapproachable using RANS model alone; not only does the hybrid model offer more rapid simulation of relatively small-scale problems, it provides an opportunity to examine very large total domains with the fine resolution typical of RANS simulations. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pervasive locking, saturation, asymmetric rate sensitivity and double-valuedness in crayfish stretch receptors

The correspondence between afferent discharges and sinusoidal length modulations (0.2---10 cps, under 10% of the natural length variations) was studied in isolated fast-adapting stretch receptor organs (FAO) of crayfish, largely using average displays of rate vs. length (or derivatives) along the cycle. Rate modulations were greatest during early cycles and then stabilized, an initial adjustment remindful of mechanical preconditioning. Responses to stimulation in the FAO, as in the slowly-adapting organs (SAO) and possibly other receptors, exhibit the following features, all striking because of their magnitude and ubiquity. i) A zig-zag overall afferent rate vs. stimulus frequency graph with positively and negatively sloped segments. This precludes the straighforward use of Bode plots. ii) Marked non-linearities as an obvious stimulus-response locking in the positively sloped segments, a double-valuedness with one rate while stretching and another while shortening, a lower-limit saturation with the receptor silent for more than half a cycle, and an asymmetric rate sensitivity. iii) Clear-cut discharge leads relative to the stimulus at low frequencies and lags at high ones. The FAO responds worse than the SAO to low frequencies, and better to high ones; it is locked 1-to-1 in a much broader range (e.g., 3---100 vs. 1---3 cps). All features were strongly frequency-dependent. With higher frequencies: i) the number of impulses per cycle fell from several to just one and finally to one every several cycles at higher values; ii) the two values of each length approached one another usually but not always; iii) the silent proportion of the cycle increased; and iv) the rate sensitivity changed. Each feature can arise in principle at any of the transduction stages from length to discharge: the mechanical transduction from length to dendritic deformation, and the encoder one from generator potentials to discharges are particularly likely candidates.
Effects of row application of insecticides at sowing on leaf miner (Pegomya betae) injury to sugar beet

Abstract Injury to the leaves of sugar-beet seedlings caused by the mining of Pegomya betae larvae was greatly decreased by applying insecticide granules in the furrow with the seed: carbofuran, carbosulfan, terbufos and aldicarb were very effective but bendiocarb was only partially effective. Carbosulfan applied as a band spray along the row was less effective than the better granule treatments, while band sprays of gamma-HCH, quinalphos and oxamyl were ineffective or even increased the incidence of damage.
The relaxation of linear flexible polymers which are slightly poly-disperse

The relaxation of slightly poly-disperse linear flexible polymers has been expressed in a simplified blending rule which is presumed to be a weighted linear superposition of the relaxation spectra of mono-disperse components which constitute the blend. Discrete components are characterized by their molecular weight M i,weight fraction w i,and relaxation time spectrum H i(λ). ). In contrast to broadly distributed blends in which the small molecules mobilize the large ones and vice versa, we introduce the term “slightly polydisperse” for blends with molecular weight distributions narrow enough to have very little change in the longest relaxation times of each molecular weight component. The properties of this blending rule are analyzed and dynamic data is calculated for slightly poly-disperse polystyrene. As an application, the blending rule is used to determine the characteristic mono-disperse parameters (BSW parameters) of two materials, poly (vinyl methyl ether) and polycarbonate, for which we could not determine their BSW parameters directly since they were not available in nearly monodisperse form. The proposed blending rule can only be applied to systems in which all components are above the entanglement molecular weight, i.e. M i≫M c.
Symplectic shell-model calculations for 20Ne with horizontal configuration mixing

Abstract The symplectie shell model, which incorporates vertical (2n h ω; n = 1, 2…) major shell configuration mixing as dictated by a quadrupole interaction, is augmented with horizontal (0ħω) mixing induced by realistic single-particle energies and a monopole-pairing interaction. The excitation spectrum and B (E2) rates of the 20 Ne ground band are accurately reproduced without the use of an effective charge. The degree of horizontal and vertical mixing is found to be on the order of 20% in the ground state and up to as much as 50% for the 8 + level.
Physiologic responses of SCI subjects to electrically induced leg cycle ergometry

The purpose of this study was to determine steady-state physiologic responses of spinal-cord-injured (SCI) subjects to electrically induced leg-cycle ergometry, and to compare these responses to those of able-bodied (AB) individuals performing voluntary leg-cycle ergometry at the same power output (PO) levels. Twelve SCI subjects and 6 AB subjects exercised on a microprocessor-controlled functional neuromuscular stimulation (FNS) cycle ergometer. FNS of paralyzed leg muscles was delivered via skin-surface electrodes over the quadriceps, hamstring, and gluteal muscle groups. Subjects performed several 5-min bouts of progressive intensity cycling (6- or 12-W increments) at 50 r.p.m. Each bout was followed by a 5-min rest period. Oxygen uptake, pulmonary ventilation, and heart rate were significantly higher for the SCI group at each PO level. The data suggest that this FNS exercise may elicit metabolic and cardiopulmonary responses from FNS-trained SCI individuals that are of similar magnitudes to those elicited from AB individuals during jogging exercise. The authors therefore hypothesize that this mode of FNS exercise training may promote higher levels of aerobic fitness in many SCI individuals than can be obtained by conventional arm exercise (e.g. wheelchair propulsion, cranking). >
Casein Kinase II Activity Is Required for Transferrin Receptor Endocytosis

The effect of protein kinase inhibitors on transferrin receptor (TR) internalization was examined in HeLa, A431, 3T3-L1 cells, and primary chicken embryo fibroblasts. We show that TR endocytosis is not affected by tyrosine kinase or protein kinase C inhibitors, but is inhibited by one serine/threonine kinase inhibitor, H-89. Inhibition occurred within 15 min, was completely reversible after H-89 withdrawal, and was specific for endocytosis rather than pinocytosis since a TR mutant lacking an internalization signal was not affected. Interestingly, H-89 also inhibited the internalization of a TR chimera containing the major histocompatibility complex class II invariant chain cytoplasmic tail, indicating that the effect was not specific for the TR. Since H-89 inhibits a number of kinases, we employed a permeabilized cell endocytosis assay to further characterize the kinase. In permeabilized 3T3-L1 cells, addition of pseudosubstrate inhibitor peptides of casein kinase II (CKII) blocked TR internalization by more than 50%, whereas pseudosubstrates of cyclic AMP-dependent kinase A, protein kinase C, and casein kinase I had no effect. Furthermore, addition of purified CKII to the cell-free reactions containing CKII pseudosubstrates reversed the endocytosis block, suggesting that CKII or a CKII-like activity is required for constitutive endocytosis.
Heteretepic ossification following hip replacement or spinal cord injury. Two clinical studies with EHDP

Abstract We report two double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of the effects of disodium etidronate (EHDP) on the incidence and severity of heterotopic ossification following total hip arthroplasty or spinal cord injury. The large placebo groups in these studies allowed the estimation of the incidence of heterotopic ossification in these patient populations. Heterotopic ossification occurred in 65% of patients after hip replacement and in the majority of these within 15 weeks. Clinically significant ossification occurred in 19% of affected patients. The incidence of heterotopic calcification after spinal cord Injury was less (35%) but followed a similar natural history. Treatment with EHDP reduced the incidence and severity of lesions both at the time of stopping EHDP and up to 9 months after treatment.
Photocatalytic activity and electrochemical response of titania film with macro/mesoporous texture

Abstract Multifunctional anatase titania (TiO2) films with macro/mesoporous texture have been prepared using a non-acidic polyethylene glycol-associated titanium alkoxide precursor sol, followed by 500 °C calcination. It was found that increasing polyethylene glycol 2000 loading in the sol not only increases the macroporous size in the films, but can also lead to an enhancement of mesopore volume (the number of mesopores). This is considered to have major contribution to increasing the final specific surface area due to inhibition of pore shrinkage or collapse at high calcination temperature (i.e., 500 °C). Good dissolution of polyethylene glycol 2000/acetonitrile solution in the isopropanol based sol can lead to the formation of the resulting TiO2 films with uniform and macroporous surface morphology. The film at optimum polyethylene glycol loading (20 g/L polyethylene glycol 2000, 500 °C) exhibits good mechanical stability, enhanced photocatalytic activity in the degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol in water and superior electrochemical response to catechol in the presence of ascorbic acid (a common interferent) by cyclic voltammetry. The unique textural structure, including enhanced specific surface area/pore volume and macroporous morphology with mesoporous anatase titania wall (average macrospore size in the range of 150–200 nm, mesoporous size of ~ 5 nm) are considered to be the main factor attributing to such a multifunction of the titania films.
First Report of Sudden Death Syndrome (Fusarium solani f. sp. glycines) of Soybean in Minnesota

In August 2002, soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) plants exhibiting foliar and root symptoms typical of sudden death syndrome were observed in Blue Earth and Steele counties in south-central Minneso...
Effects of Department Size and Organization on the Research Productivity of Academic Economists.

Abstract Data gathered from four earlier surveys ranking economics departments by their output of published research are used to assess whether department size or organization as public or private are significantly related to average research productivity. We find that private institutions are associated with greater average productivity, a conclusion that holds across all time periods, department and journal samples, and productivity measures utilized. There is also some support in the data for the idea that research productivity is positively affected by department size, but that this effect diminishes as size increases.
EXPERIMENTAL SALMON POISONING DISEASE IN JUVENILE COYOTES (CANIS LATRANS)

Salmon poisoning disease (SPD) was experimentally induced in juvenile coyotes (Canis latrans). The disease was lethal in 11 of 12 coyotes within 15 days after inoculation with 1,000 or 4,000 metacercariae of Nanophyetus salmincola. Clinical manifestations of the disease included lymph node enlargement, anorexia, pyrexia, diarrhea and death. Coccoid bodies indistinguishable from rickettsiae were observed in macrophages of spleen, liver, lymph nodes, and duodenum. Percentage recovery of adult trematodes from metacercariae administered was 23% from 12 inoculated coyotes, compared to 13% in one inoculated dog. Juvenile coyotes appear to be highly susceptible to experimental SPD.
The reproduction of lake trout in southern Lake Superior

Abstract The principal spawning grounds of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush namaycush) in United States waters of southern Lake Superior are on rocky shoals at depths of less than 20 fathoms. Most spawning occurs in October and early November. Of the mature fish collected on or near the spawning grounds, 60 to 69 percent were males. Among mature fish the average length of females was greater than that of males; few males less than 24 inches or females less than 26 inches in total length were caught. Recoveries of lake trout tagged on the spawning grounds showed that some males remained in the immediate area for a period of several weeks during the spawning season. Marked fish showed a tendency to return during later years to spawning grounds on which they had been tagged, even though many of them ranged long distances between spawning seasons. The percentage of the total weight composed by gonads of maturing females collected in 1950 was 5.0 percent on August 11–30 and 12.3 percent on October 6–9, but thi...
Development of a general approach to the synthesis of a library of isoflavonoid derivatives

Abstract Isoflavonoids are a class of organic compounds that act primarily as antioxidants. They are produced almost exclusively by various members of the bean family including soybeans, tofu, peanuts, chick peas, and alfalfa. The antioxidant characteristics that isoflavonoids exhibit help hinder the progression of certain cancers, primarily breast, prostate, and colon cancer. We have developed a three-five step synthesis for obtaining a suite of isoflavonoid derivatives. The synthesis involves an enamine formation, a ring closure and halogenation, a Suzuki coupling, and finally a global deprotection to obtain the respective isoflavonoid derivatives.
Puerperal mastitis: a reproductive event of importance affecting anti-mucin antibody levels and ovarian cancer risk.

Purpose Test the hypothesis that puerperal mastitis may alter immunity related to the mucin (MUC) family of glycoproteins and lower risk of ovarian cancer.
Power law behavior of the magnetization curves of YBCO materials

Abstract Series representations for the average magnetization M are obtained from the known analytic solutions of the Bean model. It is found that as relatively high fields, M has the same functional dependence on H as J c . A power law behavior of M is found experimentally for YBCO powder samples, which indicates J c has a similar power law dependence.
Crack growth retardation under aircraft spectrum loads

Abstract In the past, the prediction of the fatigue life of a part was often compared with Miner's rule (Σn/N = 1) wherein damage was computed by a linear accumulation of growth under individual loads. The difference between the predicted and observed damage for variable amplitude tests showed up as either retarded or accelerated fatigue life depending on test conditions. In this program, fatigue crack growth tests were performed with the compact tension specimen under aircraft spectrum loading to develop techniques for predicting fatigue life. Two models were investigated for their application to retardation behavior—linear cumulative growth and Wheeler. Constant amplitude crack growth rate data represented by the Forman equation was used as source data for the computer models. These models appear suitable for comparison with actual test results for diffusion-bonded Ti-6A1-4V and HP-9Ni-4Co steel at 0.3 and 0.2 carbon contents for the aircraft spectrums investigated. The 2219-T851 aluminum alloy, on the other hand, exhibited accelelerated behavior in relation to the linear cumulative growth scheme. An explanation is proposed by relating recent crack closure and spike overload studies in aluminum with the format of the applied spectrum. Also, the Wheeler model was found dependent on material and spectrum variables, and the Forman equation did not accurately represent crack growth rate below a rates of 10−5 in/cycle.
Dynamic Film Analysis System

A 16 mm film projection system was designed for biomechanical analysis of cinematographic images. The design was determined on the basis of an evaluation of several systems currently in use. The resulting system has incorporated many desirable features for digitizing motion picture films. These features include variable image size potential, front surface projection, fixed projector alignment, variable screen orientation and comfortable operation.
Tempos of Elderly Age and Geographical Concentration

This paper presents a method to measure two types of tempos: 1) the tempo of elderly age concentration, the rate of change in the elderly proportion in a region; and 2) the tempo of elderly geographical concentration, the rate of change in a region's share of the national elderly population. The two measurements are applied to historical data for the United States. The results reveal that both tempos vary spatially and temporally. Relative tempos are also introduced to compare the indices between different age groups and regions.
Anatomic variation and dosimetric consequences of neoadjuvant hormone therapy before radiation therapy for prostate cancer

Abstract Purpose To characterize anatomic variation during neoadjuvant androgen deprivation (NAD) and determine a treatment planning strategy to maintain acceptable normal tissue dose while treating potential microscopic disease in the original (pre-NAD) tumor bed. Methods and Materials We retrospectively examined the effects of treating the post-NAD anatomy with plans derived before and after NAD in a group of 44 patients enrolled in an institutional review board-approved protocol. An 8-field intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) treatment plan was generated on anatomy both before and after NAD for the first 35 patients. The pre-NAD treatment plan was applied to the post-NAD anatomy to evaluate the effect of complete pre-NAD tumor bed treatment on normal tissue sparing, and the post-NAD treatment plan was applied to the pre-NAD anatomy to investigate whether microscopic disease might go untreated in the location of the pre-NAD tumor bed. Results The prostate decreased in volume by an average of about 14 cm 3 (24.3%) and was correlated with NAD duration ( P = .002). The prostate center of volume systematically shifted in the inferior direction (mean = 1.4 mm, P = .005) and inferior shift was correlated with absolute volume reduction of the prostate ( P = .044) in a multivariate model containing rectal and bladder volume change and initial prostate volume. Pre-NAD treatment planning resulted in a significant increase in the bladder volume ( P P = .033 and 0.025; seminal vesicles: P Conclusions Anisotropic volume reduction of the prostate was found during NAD and correlated with NAD duration. Post-NAD based treatment planning can minimize excess bladder and rectal dose.
DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSE OF LOBLOLLY PINES TO CLIMATIC STRESS

Loblolly pines in Texas and Louisiana exhibit different reactions to moisture extremes, as indicated by the susceptibility of weakened individuals to attack by southern pine beetles. In Texas, intense insect outbreaks among pines occur during periods of extreme moisture surplus, whereas extreme moisture deficits render the Louisiana pines susceptible to attack. Intraspecies tree reponse to moisture extremes therefore appears to be spatially variable and partially dependent upon the frequency occurrence of severe climatic conditions.