cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
EVALUATION OF DAMAGE POTENTIAL OF URBAN TURF-ASSOCIATED NEMATODE COMMUNITIES UNDER MICROPLOT CONDITIONS AND INFLUENCE OF SOIL TYPE ON NEMATODE REPRODUCTION

Two full-season microplot experiments were conducted to evaluate the damage potential of a plant-parasitic nematode community on St. Augustine and centipede turfgrasses grown in three soil types and to assess the influence of soil type on reproduction of the nematode populations comprising the community. Genera of nematodes associated with both turfgrasses included Criconemella, Helicotylenchus, Meloidogyne, Pratylenchus, Tylenchorynchus, and Tylenchus spp. In 2012, nematodes did not cause significant damage to either turfgrass, but soil type affected plant growth parameters. In 2013, there was significant nematode-related injury to both turfgrasses, but there were no significant effects of soil type on plant growth parameters.
Embryology of the Central Nervous System

A basic understanding of the embryology of the central nervous system is necessary to appreciate the dysmorphology of congenital malformations of the brain and attendant neurologic dysfunction. The number of neurons at birth is 100 billion. Since there is little increase in that number after birth, the rate of neuron production can be estimated at 250,000/min. The glial cells number about one trillion. Because the brain must pass through several critical processes during its development, its liability to morphologic alteration and physiologic dysfunction is high.
Executive function and childhood stuttering: Parent ratings and evidence from a behavioral task.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine the executive function (EF) abilities of preschool children who do (CWS) and do not stutter (CWNS) using a parent-report questionnaire and a behavioral task. Method Participants were 75 CWS and 75 CWNS between the ages of 3;0 and 5;11 (years; months). Parents rated their children’s EF abilities using the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Function–Preschool Version (BRIEF-P; Gioia, Espy, & Isquith, 2003). Children’s ability to integrate cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control, and working memory was measured using a behavioral task, the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders (HTKS; Cameron Ponitz, McClelland, Matthews, & Morrison, 2009). Results The CWS were judged by their parents as being less proficient in working memory, shift/flexibility, and overall EF than the parents of the CWNS. Children in the CWS group were also 2½ to 7 times more likely than children in the CWNS group to exhibit clinically significant difficulties with EF. Behavioral task findings revealed that 3-year old CWS performed more poorly than their peers on the HTKS. Parental ratings of executive function and working memory were significantly and moderately correlated with receptive and expressive vocabulary skills only for the CWNS group. Conclusion CWS have more difficulty with EF in everyday life and may experience early delays in their ability to integrate aspects of attention and EF compared to CWNS.
Life Adrift: Climate Change, Migration, Critique

iStock/chameleonseyeAmid all of the attention paid in the United States and Europe to cities awash in floodwaters, extreme storms, intense heat waves, drought and wild fires, also frigid, icy blast...
Effect of oxidation on damage evolution in titanium matrix MMC's

This paper develops a continuum mechanics model for predicting time dependent surface oxidation in continuous fiber metal matrix composites using conservation of mass and Fickian diffusivity. The oxidation model is adjoined to a linear thermoelastic model for predicting stresses in the oxidized surface layer. Due to the complexity of the problem, solutions are obtained computationally by the finite element method. Example results are obtained for SiC fibers embedded in both Ti-15-3 and Ti-β21S matrix material, and for temperatures ranging between 600°C and 800°C. Limited comparisons to experimental results indicate that the model may be appropriate for use in life prediction methodologies for metal matrix composites subjected to environmental degradation.
Impact of On-Ramp Traffic Flow Arrival Profile on Queue Length at Metered On-Ramps

AbstractAt a metered on-ramp, a vehicle queue will be formed in front of the ramp meter when on-ramp demand exceeds the ramp-metering capacity. It is therefore important to provide adequate queue s...
Bootleggers and Baptists in the Passage of Federal Surface Mining Law

This chapter explores the origins of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 and the manner in which it was ultimately implemented through the economics of regulation, and more specifically a Baptists and bootleggers framework. I argue that a coalition of strange bedfellows involving eastern environmentalists, the United Mine Workers Union, and western coal interests coalesced to raise the cost of mining coal through surface extraction methods through the key SMCRA provision to restore the land to “approximate original contour,” or in less technical terms—rebuild the mountain. An optimal storm of natural conditions such as coal quality and topography combined with policy imperatives surrounding the energy crises of the 1970s, the growing environmentalism movement, increased production and demand for western coal, and the consequences of other environmental regulation in that era allowed for the coalition to take hold.
Dynamic Data Driven Applications Systems --- DDDAS 2009

This workshop covers several aspects of the Dynamic Data Driven Applications Systems (DDDAS) concept, which is an established approach defining a symbiotic relation between an application and sensor based measurement systems. Applications can accept and respond dynamically to new data injected into the executing application. In addition, applications can dynamically control the measurement processes. The synergistic feedback control-loop between an application simulation and its measurements opens new capabilities in simulations, e.g., the creation of applications with new and enhanced analysis and prediction capabilities, greater accuracy, longer simulations between restarts, and enable a new methodology for more efficient and effective measurements. DDDAS transforms the way science and engineering are done with a major impact in the way many functions in our society are conducted, e.g., manufacturing, commerce, transportation, hazard prediction and management, and medicine. The workshop will present such new opportunities as well as the challenges and approaches in technology needed to enable DDDAS capabilities in applications, relevant algorithms, and software systems. The workshop will showcase ongoing research in these aspects with examples from several important application areas.
Utilization and Outcomes of Thrombolytic Therapy for Acute Pulmonary Embolism: A Nationwide Cohort Study

Background There are increased options to deliver thrombolytic treatment for acute, high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE). The goals of this study were to examine practice patterns of systemic thrombolysis and catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) and to compare outcomes following CDT with ultrasound facilitation (CDT-ultrasound) and CDT alone. Methods The study analyzed adults aged > 18 years with hospitalizations associated with acute PE and thrombolysis in the 2016 Nationwide Readmissions Database. The study identified characteristics associated with the use of systemic thrombolysis and CDT. Comparisons of CDT-ultrasound vs CDT alone were then made by evaluating in-hospital events and readmissions. The primary outcomes were in-hospital mortality and 30-day readmission rates. Results Among 5,436 hospitalizations, systemic thrombolysis was used more often (n = 3,376; 62.1%) than CDT (n = 2,060; 37.9%). Compared with CDT, systemic thrombolysis was used more frequently in patients with higher rates of vasopressor use (4.3% vs 1.0%), shock (15.8% vs. 6.9%), cardiac arrest (12.7% vs 3.4%), and mechanical ventilation (19.0% vs 5.9%). Among patients who underwent CDT, 417 (20.2%) received CDT-ultrasound, and 1,643 (79.8%) received CDT alone. Rates of bleeding events, vasopressor use, and mechanical ventilation were similar between therapeutic strategies. Following adjustment, in-hospital mortality (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.63-2.26; P = .59) and 30-day readmission rates (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.47-1.22; P = .25) were not significantly different between CDT-ultrasound and CDT alone. Conclusions Systemic thrombolysis is used more often than CDT in patients with acute PE, in particular among those with a greater prevalence of high-risk features. Among patients treated with CDT, there were no differences in events between CDT-ultrasound and CDT alone.
Efficient Synthesis of 1,4-Thiazepanones and 1,4-Thiazepanes as 3D Fragments for Screening Libraries

1,4-Thiazepanes and 1,4-thiazepanones represent seven-membered ring systems with highly 3D character and are currently underrepresented in fragment screening libraries. A nuclear magnetic resonance...
Examining Overdose and Homelessness as Predictors of Willingness to Use Supervised Injection Facilities by Services Provided Among Persons Who Inject Drugs.

Background and objectives Internationally, supervised injection facilities (SIFs) have demonstrated efficacy in reducing rates of overdose and promoting entry into treatment among persons who inject drugs (PWID); however, they remain unavailable in the United States. Early findings examining American PWID illustrate high overall willingness to use SIFs. The current study expands upon this research by examining PWID's likelihood to use SIFs based on services offered (eg, provides clean needles, linkage to treatment programs) and whether known risk factors (prior overdose, homelessness) influence PWID's willingness to use a SIF. Methods Participants (n = 184) were patients entering short-term inpatient opioid withdrawal management in Massachusetts between May 2018 and February 2019 who reported injection drug use in the prior 30 days. We examined PWID's likelihood to use a SIF if eight unique services were available, and compared if this differed by overdose history and homelessness status using ordered logistic regression and Pearson's χ2 -tests of independence. Results Participants (34.2 [±8.3 SD] years of age, 68.5% male, 85.9% white, 8.2% Hispanic) reported being most likely to use SIFs that provided safety from police intervention (86.7%), entry into withdrawal management (85.9%), or clean needles (83.2%). Drug works disposal and safety from police were particularly important for PWID with a history of overdose. Conclusion and scientific significance Overall, treatment-seeking PWIDs reported greater willingness to utilize SIFs if particular services were provided. These findings point to features of SIFs that may enhance treatment-seeking PWID's amenability to utilizing these services if such sites open in the United States. (Am J Addict 2021;30:21-25).
Before the Nautical Almanacs

From the earliest times astronomical information was used for calendars, time, climate, farming, seasons, and phenomena predictions. The Sun, Moon, five planets, and star patterns were known. Treatises and tables were used to calculate positions of planets. There are records of astronomical data in different forms from different countries. Ptolemy created accurate geometrical models for compiling positions of planets. The Chinese had records of celestial phenomena. The Mayan had their codices containing almanacs. The Islamic cultures had astronomical zijes of astronomical tables. In the 15th and 16th centuries there were a number of almanacs printed with the printing presses. In 1628 Kepler produced the Rudolphine Tables, the first real improvement since Ptolemy. With the printing press many almanacs were published with astronomical data and other information. The Royal Observatory at Greenwich was founded in 1675. The Connaisance des Temps was first published in 1678. In 1700 the Calendar Edict introduced the Gregorian Calendar to Germany and required a stamp tax on calendars, which supported the astronomers of the Berlin Observatory. Navigators could determine latitude by angular measurements of Polaris or the Sun. Different navigational instruments were developed for measuring celestial angles with increasing precision.
Tracking California's sinking coast from space: Implications for relative sea-level rise.

Coastal vertical land motion affects projections of sea-level rise, and subsidence exacerbates flooding hazards. Along the ~1350-km California coastline, records of high-resolution vertical land motion rates are scarce due to sparse instrumentation, and hazards to coastal communities are underestimated. Here, we considered a ~100-km-wide swath of land along California’s coast and performed a multitemporal interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) analysis of large datasets, obtaining estimates of vertical land motion rates for California’s entire coast at ~100-m dimensions—a ~1000-fold resolution improvement to the previous record. We estimate between 4.3 million and 8.7 million people in California’s coastal communities, including 460,000 to 805,000 in San Francisco, 8000 to 2,300,00 in Los Angeles, and 2,000,000 to 2,300,000 in San Diego, are exposed to subsidence. The unprecedented detail and submillimeter accuracy resolved in our vertical land motion dataset can transform the analysis of natural and anthropogenic changes in relative sea-level and associated hazards.
Crowdedness as the Missing Link between Shelter-In-Place and the Spread of COVID-19

As of the end of May 2020, 44 of the 51 U.S. states and District of Columbia have implemented shelter-in-place (SIP) policies at some point during the initial outbreak of the novel coronavirus. Despite the widespread adoption of SIP policies, empirical researchers are unable to reconcile SIP policies' apparent causal impact on improvements in public health outcomes with the lack of evidence of a mediating social distancing (SD) mechanism. We argue that these contradictory econometric results can be reconciled if researchers (1) use historical SD data to account for heterogeneous seasonality patterns across regions and (2) adopt our proposed crowdedness measure of SD that captures traffic density over non-residential square footage. Using weather variables to instrument for SD behaviors, we show that a 10% decrease in crowdedness leads to a 1-1.5 percentage point decrease in the confirmed case growth rates while changes to the percent of time at home, a standard SD measure, has a negligible impact on case growth rates. Furthermore, we adopt a triple differences approach, comparing differences between pre- and post-intervention (1st) counties' year over year changes in SD behavior (2nd) with the corresponding metrics of counties without such interventions over the same timeframes (3rd), to demonstrate that SIP policies decreased crowdedness by nearly 10%. This magnitude of decrease in crowdedness fully mediates our estimated direct impact of SIP on case growth rates. Informed by our findings, policy makers should consider allocating limited resources to tracking and controlling crowdedness rather than attempting to enforce blanket SIP orders.
Aural history - long distance connections in sound studies: Ways of hearing, by Damon Krukowski, Cambridge, Massachusetts, MIT Press, 2019, 135 pp., $19.95 (paperback), ISBN 9780262039642

Damon Krukowski’s Ways of Hearing is a carefully designed slim volume, and a welcome publication in sound studies, though it is no conventional book. At its core, it is a transcription of six podca...
Screening of avocado oil nanoformulations intended to skin delivery

Introduction: vegetable ingredients are increasingly common in skin products. Avocado oil is an ingredient of natural source with various properties on skin. In this work crude avocado oil-loaded nanocapsules were evaluated regarding to its physicochemical stability to obtain a skin delivery formulation with adequate quality. Method: nanoparticles formulations with components variation were evaluated for 2 months. Nanoparticle formulation considered the most stable was further evaluated for 6 months. Furthermore, oxidative stability of nanoencapsulated avocado oil and crude avocado oil was also performed in order to detect any sign of oil oxidation. Results: all formulations had negative zeta potential after 2 months of storage. pH values of nanoparticles ​​remained stable throughout the test. Formulation with the lowest content of ingredients exhibited the highest stability after 2 months of storage. Nanoencapsulated avocado oil and crude avocado oil showed no evidence of oxidation. Conclusions: Aqueous dispersions with the lowest content of ingredients presented the best physicochemical stability. Therefore, we have demonstrated preliminary the feasibility of developing avocado-oil loaded nanocapsules.
The Legendary Biographies of Tamerlane: Inauguration and Kingship

Tīmūr's ascent to the throne of his Central Asian realm followed a sequence of events whose aim was not only to establish the hero's merit and worthiness of the esteemed position, but also to show how reluctant he had been to part with the old tradition that prescribed that only Chinggis Khan's male descendants had the legitimacy to claim the seat of majesty. By the time the last Chaghatayid khan had died, Tīmūr had already secured the support of the military commanders and the Sufis. They all agreed that he should become king, but he still hesitated. A seemingly chance meeting with a 200-year-old deformed woman affected him greatly. After all, she had in her possession – courtesy of an early thirteenth-century Sufi shaykh – the original agreement between Tīmūr's ancestor, Qachulai, and the latter's brother, Qabūl (Chinggis Khan's great-grandfather), that she had been instructed to deliver to him. After further deliberation, Tīmūr was still not persuaded. He believed that he had located the real heir to the throne, a Chinggisid youth residing in a village to the east. Messengers were dispatched to fetch the boy, but despite all efforts the boy found his premature demise. On his death bed the boy implored Tīmūr to take upon himself the task of ruling the land. Tīmūr seemed moved but still not fully convinced. That night, the Prophet himself was revealed to our hero in a dream and commanded him to accept leadership.
A Reversible, Calcium-dependent, Copper-catalyzed Inactivation of Guinea Pig Liver Transglutaminase

Abstract Guinea pig liver transglutaminase is rapidly and progressively inactivated during incubation with copper salts in the presence of calcium, a divalent cation essential for enzymatic activity. Substrate exerts some protection against this inactivation. Complete loss of transglutaminase activity is accompanied by a concomitant loss of approximately 4 sulfhydryl residues. This loss of enzyme sulfhydryl groups appears to be the result of formation of 2 intramolecular disulfide bridges. The Cu++-inactivated enzyme is readily reactivated by treatment with dithiothreitol or potassium cyanide. Peptide mapping experiments show that a sulfhydryl group of transglutaminase previously identified as essential for catalytic activity is not a component of the disulfide bonds formed as a result of Cu++ treatment. The dissociation constant (Kd) for calcium (7.1 ± 1.0 x 10-3 m) estimated from the rate of inactivation of transglutaminase by Cu++ as a function of calcium ion concentration is in close agreement with Kd values for calcium determined by other direct binding experiments. It is suggested, on the basis of earlier findings, that a calcium-induced conformational change in the enzyme protein is essential for Cu++-catalyzed formation of an inactive disulfide form of transglutaminase.
Low Serum Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) in Family Members of Individuals with Autism Correlates with PiMZ Genotype.

Aim: Deficiency of Alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) can be a genetic condition that increases the risk of developing liver, lung and possibly gastrointestinal disease. Since many autistic children also have gastrointestinal disorders, this study was designed to measure serum concentration of AAT and establish AAT genotypes in autistic children, age and gender matched non- autistic siblings, parents and controls. Subjects and Methods: We used an indirect ELISA with monoclonal IgG to AAT to measure AAT serum concentrations in 71 members from 16 families of individuals with autism and 18 controls (no family history of autism). We used a duplex polymerase chain reaction to detect M, S and Z alleles for alpha-1 antitrypsin expression in 52 members of 12 of the above families. Results: A significantly high number of autistic family members had lower than normal serum levels of AAT when compared to controls. Autistic children with regressive onset had significantly lower levels of AAT compared to controls, and a significant number of autistic children with low serum AAT also had hyperbilirubinemia, gastrointestinal disease and respiratory problems. We also found that a significantly high number of these individuals had the PiMZ genotype and correspondingly low levels of serum alpha-1 antitrypsin. Discussion: Knowing that low levels of alpha-1 antitrypsin may be inherited, and that low levels of AAT may be associated with GI disease in autistic children, genotyping autistic children may help identify individuals susceptible to developing digestive problems.
Strategies for Characterizing Transducers and Measurement Systems

The primary objective in calibrating ultrasonic transducers and measurement systems is to ensure the interchangeability of data. Thus, one wishes to create a situation in which experimental results, e.g. A-Scans or C-Scans taken at one time and place, can be directly compared in a quantitative sense to similar data taken at another time and place. The presently available tools are not sufficient to this task. As noted by Burley [1], there has been no single type of calibration standard that is suitable in all ultrasonic applications and inspection procedures. Instead, there is a wide range of reference standards that are used in different situations to calibrate transducers and measurement systems. Although these have served the community well in bounding the results which can be obtained by different systems, they do not ensure uniformity of results. A striking example for the case of eddy currents can be found in Fig. 4 of Ref. [2].
Focus on . . . Employee Stock Ownership Plans for S Corporations

Beginning this year, S corporations can now adopt Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). Although this presents many planning opportunities for S corporations and their shareholders, numerous factors must be considered before making the adoption decision.
Vertical Restraints and the Secularization of Antitrust

Professor Baxter paints a very bleak picture of the present antitrust rules concerning vertical arrangements.' My message is more optimistic-not because of any basic dispute over his assessment but rather because of a different vantage point. His analysis focuses on how far we have yet to go; I would emphasize how far we have come. I agree with Professor Baxter that the anomalies in the current treatment of vertical restraints are likely to continue. And the doctrinal reform he proposes is at best many years away-possibly well into the second century of the Sherman Act. On the other hand, since the 1960's there has been significant progress in making sense out of this area of law, and I see nothing in my crystal ball to threaten that progress. First of all, the present state of the law is not all that new or radical. It is not as if someone painted a mustache on the Mona Lisa or desecrated the Holy Ark. Instead, in many respects, the current treatment of vertical restraints is just a restoration of the law before changes wrought by the Warren Court. Consider, for example, so-called "restraints on alienation," which the Supreme Court in United States v. Arnold, Schwinn & Co.2 held were per se illegal. Prior to Schwinn, the controlling test was the rule of reason, which apparently had never been applied to invalidate a restraint on alienation.3 And, ten years later, in overruling the Schwinn per se rule, the Court in Continental T.V., Inc. v. GTE Sylvania, Inc.4 merely restored the rule of reason test.
Mobile silver ions and glass formation in solid electrolytes

Solid electrolytes are a class of materials in which the cationic or anionic constituents are not confined to specific lattice sites, but are essentially free to move throughout the structure. The solid electrolytes AgI and Ag2Se (refs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) are of interest for their use as additives in network glasses8,9,10,11,12, such as chalcogenides and oxides, because the resulting composite glasses can show high electrical conductivities with potential applications for batteries, sensors and displays. Here we show that these composite glasses can exhibit two distinct types of molecular structures—an intrinsic phase-separation that results in a bimodal distribution of glass transition temperatures, and a microscopically homogeneous network displaying a single glass transition temperature. For the first case, the two transition temperatures correspond to the solid-electrolyte glass phase and the main glass phase (the ‘base glass’), enabling us to show that the glass transition temperatures for the AgI and Ag2Se phases are respectively 75 and 230 °C. Furthermore, we show that the magnitude of the bimodal glass transition temperatures can be quantitatively understood in terms of network connectivity, provided that the Ag+ cations undergo fast-ion motion in the glasses. These results allow us to unambiguously distinguish base glasses in which these additives are homogeneously alloyed from those in which an intrinsic phase separation occurs, and to provide clues to understanding ion-transport behaviour in these superionic conductors.
Concerning Lateral Dynamics of Flight on a Great Circle

References 1 lannuzi, F. A. and Weddington, E. D., "Free Flight Pressure across the Base of Sharp and Blunt 10-degree Cones at Mach Numbers from 15 to 20," TR 66-223, Dec. 1966, Arnold Engineering Development Center, Tullahoma, Tenn. 2 Softley, E. J. and Graber, B. C, "An Experimental Study of the Pressure and Heat Transfer on the Base of Cones in Hypersonic Flow," AGARD, CP 19, May 1967. 3 Murman, E. M., "Experimental Studies of a Laminar Hypersonic Cone Wake," AIAA Journal, Vol. 7, No. 9, Sept. 1969, pp. 1724-1730. 4 Cassanto, J. M. and Hoyt, T. L., "Flight Results Showing the Effect of Mass Addition on Base Pressure," AIAA Journal, Vol. 8, No. 9, Sept. 1970, pp. 1705-1707. 5 Cassanto, J. M., "Flight Test Base Pressure Results at Hypersonic Mach Numbers in Turbulent Flow," AIAA Journal, Vol. 10, No. 3, March 1972, pp. 329-331. 6 Cassanto, J. M., "Radial Base Pressure Gradients in Laminar Flow," AIAA Journal, Vol. 5, No. 12, Dec. 1967, pp. 2278-2279. 7 Cassanto, J. M., "Ratio on Base Pressure," AIAA Journal, Vol. 3, No. 12, Dec. 1965, pp. 2351-2352. 8 Sherman, M. M. and Nakumura, T., "Flight Test Measurements of Boundary Layer Transition on a Non-Ablating 22° Cone," Journal of Scientific Research, Vol. 7, No. 2, Feb. 1970, pp. 137-142. 9 U.S. Standard Atmospheric Supplements, 1966, 15° N. Annual. 10 Ohrenberger, J. T. and Baum, E., "Laminar Near Wake Solutions under Atmospheric Entry Conditions," AIAA Paper 72-116, San Diego, Calif., 1972. 11 Ohrenberger, J. T. and Baum, E., "A Theoretical Model of the Near Wake of a Slender Body in Supersonic Flow," AIAA Journal, Vol. 10, No. 9, Sept. 1972, pp. 1165-1172. 12 Van Hise, V., "Investigation of Variation in Base Pressure over the Reynolds Number Range in which Wake Transition Occurs for Two-Dimensional Bodies at Mach Numbers from 1.95 to 2.92," TN D-167, Nov. 1959, NASA. 13 Kavanau, L. L., "Results of Some Based Pressure Experiments at Intermediate Reynolds Numbers with M = 2.84," Journal of Aerospace Sciences, Vol. 21, April 1954; also "Base Pressure Studies in Rarefied Supersonic Flows," Preprint 529, Jan. 1955, Institute of Aerospace Sciences, 14 Batt, R. G. and Kubota, T., "Experimental Investigation of Laminar Near Wakes behind 20° Wedges at M^ = 6," AIAA Journal, Vol. 6, No. 11, Nov. 1968, pp. 2077-2083. 15 Chapman, D. R., "An Analysis of Base Pressure at Supersonic Velocities and Comparison with Experiment," Rept. 1051, May 1950, NACA.
Effect of Body Size on Expression of Manduca sexta Midgut Genes

Isometric growth of larval insect midgut predicts that the ratio of midgut surface area to body mass decreases as larvae grow. Gut tissue and gut content masses were measured in first through fifth instar Manduca sexta larvae. Wet mass of gut tissue increased in relationship to body mass with a scaling exponent of 0.85 compared to an exponent of 1.33 for gut content mass, suggesting that surface area becomes increasingly limiting in larger larvae. To test the hypothesis that compensation for the decrease in relative surface area of the midgut occurs by increased expression of membrane proteins, we compared midgut mRNA expression in fourth and fifth instar. Surveyed genes encoded apical membrane proteins with diverse functions, including the potassium amino acid transporter KAAT1, ion channel CAATCH1, aminopeptidase msAPN3, V-type H-ATPase E subunit, and cation chloride cotransporter masBSC. KAAT1 was expressed 300- to 1500-fold higher in middle and posterior midgut compared to anterior midgut. Expression of msAPN3 was approximately 200-fold higher in posterior midgut than middle midgut. Expression of KAAT1 was 2.3- to 3.1-fold higher in fifth compared to fourth-instar larvae, and masBSC expression was 1.3- to 1.9-fold higher in fifth-instar larvae. Expression of msAPN3 and V-ATPase, but not KAAT1, decreased as body mass increased within the fifth instar. Although the increased expression of KAAT1 and masBSC in fifth-instar larvae supports the hypothesis of increased membrane protein expression in larger larvae, results from the other genes do not support this hypothesis.
Effects of Mutations and Growth Conditions on Lipid Synthesis in Neurospora crassa

A morphological mutant (col-2) of Neurospora, which is partially deficient in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) activity and has lower levels of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), accumulated three-fold more triglycerides during log-phase growth than the wild-type strain. Increased lipid deposition was not found in other strains that included slow-growing morphological mutants, NADPH-deficient strains, G-6-PD-deficient mutants, wild-type revertants from col-2, and a cel, col-2 double mutant. The cel, col-2 strain was supplemented with an exogenous source of fatty acids because it cannot synthesize these lipid moieties. The observed normal lipid content of this strain suggests that the lipid deposition in col-2 on glucose is due to an overstimulation of fatty acid synthesis and not a deficiency in fatty acid breakdown. The neutral lipid levels in both wild type and col-2 were decreased to identical levels when grown on glutamate as a carbon source. This effect was not due to changes in glutamic dehydrogenase levels. The omission of citrate from the glutamate medium reduced wild-type neutral lipid levels even further, but had no effect on col-2. The variations with time in the neutral lipid levels of col-2 upon changes in these carbon sources are presented, as well as a discussion of the possible types of regulatory effects unique to the col-2 mutation which might affect fatty acid synthesis.
Varieties of Liberalism: Keynesian Responses to the Great Recession in France and Germany

This article argues that distinctive liberal traditions shaped France and Germany's Keynesian policy responses to the post-2007 economic crisis. In France, “statist liberalism” privileges an activist state that favors macroeconomic intervention and investment. German “corporate liberalism,” by contrast, is more pluralist and emphasizes the powers and responsibilities of social and economic groups, who are viewed as the fundamental components of the social order. The article argues that these traditions shaped elite interpretations of the crisis and played central roles in defining policy trajectories. They informed a modest French response focused on macroeconomic stimulus that relied on existing income support and a larger German effort centered on a microeconomic strategy of group subsidization. It concludes that these outcomes are inconsistent with traditional institutional accounts and highlights the importance of research on the role of ideas in shaping national responses to economic crises.
The Borexino experiment—a status report

Abstract The goal of the Borexino experiment is to measure the mono-energetic 0.86 MeV 7 Be solar neutrinos, a central feature in the on-going story of missing solar neutrinos. Borexino will accomplish this by detecting neutrino-electron scattering events in a low background liquid scintillator, well shielded from external radiation in the underground Gran Sasso Laboratory.
Ultrasonic scattering and velocity methods for characterization of fibre-matrix interphases

Abstract This paper discusses two potential ultrasonic techniques for characterization of fibre-matrix interphases in composites: measurements of wave scattering (attenuation) and its phase velocity. The implementation procedures of these two methods are described using analytical or numerical models with an emphasis on their applicability. Examples of ultrasonic characterization of interphases are given for ceramic and intermetallic matrix composites reinforced with large diameter SiC fibres. Carbon-rich interphase coatings are added on these fibres to improve composite performance and chemical and thermal compatibility. The experimentally measured interphase moduli from ultrasonic data are compared with those determined from interphase microstructures showing good agreement. Finally, several applications of these techniques for interphasial damage assessment are demonstrated, including characterization of oxidation damage in ceramic matrix composites and of fatigue damage in metal matrix composites. These experimental results show that ultrasonic wave attenuation and velocity are significantly affected by degradation of the elastic properties of the interphasial layer; thus, both methods are very useful for non-destructive assessment of interphasial damage.
The Hofer–Moest decarboxylation of d-glucuronic acid and d-glucuronosides

Research was undertaken to effect the oxidative decarboxylation of glycuronosides. Experiments with free D-glucuronic acid and aldonic acids were also executed. Both anodic decarboxylation and variants of the Ruff degradation reaction were investigated. Anodic decarboxylation was found to be the only successful method for the decarboxylation of glucuronosides. It was, therefore, proposed that glycuronosides can only undergo a one-electron oxidation to form an acyloxy radical, which decomposes to form carbon dioxide and a C-5 radical, that is, a Hofer-Moest decarboxylation. The radical is subsequently oxidized to a cation by means of a second one-electron oxidation. The cation undergoes nucleophilic attack from the solvent (water), whose product (a hemiacetal) undergoes a spontaneous hydrolysis to yield a dialdose (xylo-pentodialdose from D-glucuronosides).
A load-controlled scheduling scheme for integrated voice-data communication on high-speech LANs/MANs

A new dynamic bandwidth-allocation (or rate-control) strategy that can be employed for integrating multimedia traffic on a class of high-speed fiber optic local and metropolitan area networks (LANs/MANs) is investigated. This new scheme is adapted from the original work by Limb on load-controlled-scheduling-of-traffic (LOCOST) mechanism, which employs channel feedback for proper distributed control operation. Although the mechanism is quite general for integrating diverse traffic types, the specific focus of this paper is on the integration of packet voice with data. The medium access control is simple, and is fully asynchronous and distributed which make it easy to implement. The necessary control functions are performed locally and independently at each data station based on a single parameter called its packet allowance, while each voice station can transmit a voice packet whenever it can. A gated global queue model is formulated to approximately analyze this system, and simulation results are also included to study the protocol's performance.
An Alternative Method for Computing Mean and Covariance Matrix of Some Multivariate Distributions

Computing the mean and covariance matrix of some multivariate distributions, in particular, multivariate normal distribution and Wishart distribution are considered in this article. It involves a matrix transformation of the normal random vector into a random vector whose components are independent normal random variables, and then integrating univariate integrals for computing the mean and covariance matrix of a multivariate normal distribution. Moment generating function technique is used for computing the mean and covariances between the elements of a Wishart matrix. In this article, an alternative method that uses matrix differentiation and differentiation of the determinant of a matrix is presented. This method does not involve any integration.
NGOs as intelligence agencies: The empowerment of transnational advocacy networks and the media by commercial remote sensing in the case of the Iranian nuclear program

Abstract In December 2002 the Institute for Science and International Security (ISIS), a Washington-based nongovernmental organization, announced that it had found two previously undisclosed nuclear facilities in Iran. Using information provided by a dissident group called the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), ISIS was able to pinpoint the two suspect sites by using general geographic descriptions provided by NCRI to find more precise mapping coordinates. Using these coordinates as guides, ISIS purchased commercial high-resolution remote sensing satellite images from DigitalGlobe, a leading imaging data provider. Next, working with the news network CNN, ISIS announced its findings to a global television audience on December 12, 2002, some three months before the US invasion of neighboring Iraq. ISIS’s disclosure forced the Bush administration to acknowledge the Iranian nuclear enrichment program, something it had been aware of but kept secret for over a year. It may have also forced Iran to allow international inspectors into the two sites the following February, something it had previously refused to do. ISIS’s disclosure brought an end to a policy of willful public silence about the nuclear enrichment programs in Iran by both the Bush administration and the government of Iran. Bringing a political communication perspective to geography studies, these events are used to illustrate the way new technologies may empower transnational advocacy networks and media while challenging state control of information.
Serum correlates of the placebo effect in irritable bowel syndrome

Background In diseases defined primarily by the subjective nature of patient self-report, placebo effects can overwhelm the capacity of randomized controlled trials to detect medication-placebo differences. Moreover, it is unclear whether such placebo effects represent genuine psychobiological phenomena or just shifts in selective attention. Knowledge of predictors of the placebo response could improve the design of clinical trials and the delivery of personalized medical care. Methods In patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a subset of our previous study that were randomized to placebo treatment (sham acupuncture) or no-treatment group (waitlist), we tested an enriched panel of 10 serum biomarkers at the enrolment and the 3rd week of intervention, using a multiplex electrochemiluminescent immunoassay. Key Results More pronounced changes overtime in serum levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG) have been found in patients who received placebo treatment compared with the waitlist group (P = 0.039). Moreover, serum levels of OPG at baseline were found to be higher (P = 0.0167) in patients who subsequently achieved adequate relief (AR) of their IBS symptoms, independently of their treatment group. Besides, serum levels of TNF-related weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) at baseline were also higher (P = 0.0144) in patients who reported AR and in particular in those who received the placebo treatment. Conclusions & Inferences These two measurable biological parameters associated with placebo, namely serum OPG and TWEAK, provide a proof of principle for discovering putative molecular signatures of placebo response in IBS and perhaps in other illnesses with patient self-reported outcomes.
Quantify Temperature Effects on Crack Size Studies in Metallic Structures Using Vibration-Based Health Monitoring

This paper examines the vibration-based monitoring technique to quantify the smallest crack size that is detectable in Aluminum beams using piezoceramic excitation and sensing. Having the analytical model of the effect of crack formation on the frequency response of the system, the effect of temperature is also taken into consideration to have a better understanding of the damage effect. The analytical model used in the present work is based on the recent model introduced by Aydin (2008) which is a simplified version of the model used by Khiem et. al. (2001). The beam studied here is assumed to be a uniform Euler-Bernoulli beam having a single fatigue crack and being axially loaded. The crack is treated as a localized reduction in the stiffness and is modeled as a massless rotational spring at the location of the crack, connecting the bisections of the beam. The beam is assumed to be simply supported and subject to a uniform heat flux along the top surface of the beam. For the simplicity in the modeling, it is assumed that the bottom surface of the beam is insulated. The crack is also assumed to be non-breathing during the deformation of the beam. The change in the temperature will alter the modulus of elasticity of the beam and will also cause thermal moments inside the beam which will add terms in both the equation of motion and the boundary conditions of the vibrating beam. First, the effect of temperature on the modulus of elasticity of the beam is studied analytically for different boundary conditions of the beam ends. These modeling results are then compared to the experimental ones. Second, the effect of temperature variation is analytically modeled into the equation of motion of the beam and the boundary conditions. Having the equation of motion of the vibrating beam, the effect of temperature on the frequency response of the beam having a single fatigue crack is studied. Taking into account the effect of temperature on the resonance frequency of the beam will be essential in distinguishing the two effects of damage presence and temperature variation and will be important in quantifying the smallest detectable crack in a structure.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Migration within China and from China to the USA: The effects of migration networks, selectivity, and the rural political economy in Fujian Province

This paper tests a new strategy for simultaneously studying internal migration within, and international migration from, China. Our theoretical discussion draws on ideas from migration-networks theory and studies of the transition to a market-oriented economy. Data collection is modelled on the Mexican Migration Project. We find that education is more important in initiating internal migration than international migration. Second, although the role of migration networks at a community level seems similar to that for Mexico–USA migration, the networks at a family level show a different pattern. Third, there is evidence that internal and international migration are competing options. Finally, we find that individuals with cadres (public officials) in the family are less likely to undertake internal migration, but more likely to participate in international migration, a finding that highlights the continuing significance of the cadres in coastal rural China.
Influence of strain-hardening and strain-rate sensitivity on the permanent deformation of impulsively loaded rigid-plastic beams☆

Abstract A simple method is presented for estimating the combined influence of strain-hardening and strain-rate sensitivity on the permanent deformation of rigid-plastic structures loaded dynamically. A study is made of the particular case of a beam supported at the ends by immovable frictionless pins and loaded with a uniform impulse. The results of this work indicates that considering strain-hardening alone when appropriate or strain-rate sensitivity alone gives permanent deformations which are similar to those predicted by an analysis retaining both effects simultaneously.
Evolution of membranous nephropathy into anti-glomerular-basement-membrane glomerulonephritis

Abstract In a patient with biopsy-proved membranous nephropathy (nephrotic syndrome) acute fatal renal failure suddenly developed. Autopsy revealed rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis superimposed on the previous membranous changes. IgG eluted from the kidney was shown by immunofluorescence technic to bind to the glomerular basement membrane of normal human and monkey kidneys, and was capable of producing an acute anti-glomerular-basement-membrane nephritis in two monkeys. The IgG antibody, by radioisotopic methods, was specifically directed against primate kidney. It is postulated that immune complexes responsible for the original membranous nephropathy induced release of antigenic glomerular-basement-membrane fragments into the circulation, stimulating formation of antibodies to the membrane and producing fatal acute glomerulonephritis. (N Engl J Med 290:1340–1344, 1974)
Applicant considerations associated with selection of an emergency medicine residency program.

Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to assess variables that residency applicants ranked as influential in making residency choices. The secondary objective was to determine if residents were satisfied with their residency choices. Methods: A secondary analysis was performed on a cohort database from a stratified, random sampling of 322 emergency medicine (EM) residents collected in 1996–1998 and 2001–2004 from the American Board of Emergency Medicine Longitudinal Study on Emergency Medicine Residents (ABEM LSEMR). Residents rated the importance of 18 items in response to the question, “How much did each of the following factors influence your choice of residency program location?” The degree to which residents’ programs met prior expectations and the levels of satisfaction with residency programs were also assessed. All analyses were conducted using descriptive statistics. Results: Three-hundred twenty-two residents participated in the survey. Residents considered the following to be the most important variables: institutional reputation, hospital facilities, program director reputation, and spousal influence. Several geographic and gender differences were noted. Ninety percent (95% confidence interval [CI] = 86% to 93%) of residents surveyed in their final year answered that the residency program met or exceeded expectations. Seventy-nine percent (95% CI = 76% to 82%) of residents identified themselves as “highly satisfied” with their residency choice. Conclusions: The most influential factors in residency choice are institutional and residency director reputation and hospital facilities. Personal issues, such as recreational opportunities and spousal opinion, are also important, but are less influential. Significant geographic differences affecting residency choices exist, as do minor gender differences. A majority of residents were highly satisfied overall with their residency choices.