cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prioritizing seasonal habitats for comprehensive conservation of a partially migratory species

Abstract For conservation reserves to protect habitat to support viable populations, they must be effective in protecting all vital requirements; yet, it is unclear the extent that conservationists need to prioritize seasonal habitats when delineating reserves for partially migratory species. Identifying the similarity among seasonal habitats will assist conservationists in prioritizing specific requirements. Habitat similarity presumably falls along a gradient depending on the degree to which a species is migratory. How migratory a population is may even vary considerably within a species. A partially migratory species of conservation concern is the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), where breeding habitat has been prioritized. Our goal was to determine if a more migratory sage-grouse population required a different habitat conservation strategy to meet its comprehensive requirements than a less migratory population. Firstly, even though our study populations differed in behavior they both reflected what was expected for partially migratory populations with seasonal habitats that on average had a moderate degree of similarity. This suggests that prioritizing the conservation of one seasonal habitat will result in partly protecting other seasonal requirements but not completely meet all requirements. Secondly, for both populations, prioritization of breeding habitat was justified because breeding habitat was most like other seasonal requirements. Thirdly, information specific to each study population was necessary to identify the importance of prioritizing additional seasonal habitat with a greater need to include summer and winter habitat for the more migratory population. We created a cumulative habitat prediction map that depicts comprehensive habitat requirements to help guide reserve delineation. This process can be used to delineate priority areas for conservation reserves for other partially migratory species.
Laparoscopic Anti-reflux Surgery: Nissen and Partial Fundoplications

Anti-reflux surgery is the only cure for moderate to severe gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) that is unresponsive to medical therapy. Although most patients with GERD may present with acid reflux, heartburn, or chest pain, especial attention should be placed on those patients who present with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and atypical symptoms (hoarseness, laryngitis, nocturnal asthma, coughing, dental erosion), since it may represent up to half of the patients with GERD. The preoperative workup should include an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE), an esophageal manometry, and an esophagogastric video roentgenographic contrast study to assess esophageal length. The 24-h esophageal pH monitoring is usually reserved for those patients with negative UGE or present with atypical symptoms. The selection of a partial versus a complete fundoplication depends on the assessment of the esophageal contractility and the clinical presence of dysphagia. For those patients with normal esophageal length and motility, a laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication is our procedure of choice, whereas for those patients with decreased motility and dysphagia, our preference is to perform a Toupet fundoplication. Although no consensus exists on the best operative procedure, both procedures have demonstrated equivalent improvement in quality of life and long-term control of GERD.
Evaluation of serial blood lactate and the use of a point-of-care lactate meter in live-stranded pinnipeds.

Live-stranded pinnipeds often present to rehabilitation centers systemically debilitated with dehydration and poor perfusion. In many terrestrial mammals, blood lactate elevation has been correlated with global tissue hypoxia and decreased circulating blood volume. Serial blood lactate measurements in companion animals and humans have been used to guide fluid resuscitation therapy and evaluate prognosis. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of serial blood lactate levels in live-stranded pinnipeds in a rehabilitation setting. The secondary objectives were to evaluate the use of a point-of-care lactate meter, and potassium oxalate–sodium fluoride (gray-top) tubes for storing samples for lactate analysis in pinniped patients. Fifty-five live-stranded pinnipeds (30 northern elephant seals [Mirounga angustirostris], 21 Pacific harbor seals [Phoca vitulina richardsi], and four California sea lions [Zalophus californianus]) that presented to a rehabilitation center were manually restrained for blood collection and lactate measurement using a point-of-care analyzer (Lactate Plus™) prior to fluid or other medical therapy. Lactate measurements were repeated 72 hr post admission and prior to euthanasia or release. Plasma samples from gray-top tubes were frozen for 30–100 days at –80°C, then thawed and evaluated using both the LactatePlus and bench-top (ABL 815) analyzers. The point-of-care analyzer was successful in measuring lactate in pinnipeds. Gray-top tubes were effective at preserving lactate levels in frozen plasma samples for up to 100 days. Released animals had significantly greater lactate clearance at 72 hr (P = 0.039) than animals that died or were euthanized. Therefore, lactate clearance, determined by serial blood lactate measurements, may be useful for evaluating prognosis in live-stranded pinnipeds. Initial lactate and lactate values prior to euthanasia or release were not significantly associated with outcome. Given these findings, clinicians should interpret isolated lactate values in pinnipeds with caution.
The Plural of I

This chapter looks at the difficulty of trying to render the self as a collective of many selves in a language that continues to privilege some implicit, dominant self as organizing our point of view. This implicit point of view likewise eludes representation and thus reasserts a dichotomy between a “self ” as a construct and a “self ” as defiant of construction. As anxieties over exploitation, distortion, and identity grow, driven by increasing velocity and volume in the age of social media and the internet, we are called to see the way poetic meaning as an act of vision honors the self, how poetic wonder preserves it, and how, on the other hand, embattled and confused assumptions threaten ever-deeper alienation from one another and ourselves.
Exfoliated transition metal dichalcogenide nanosheets for supercapacitor and sodium ion battery applications

Growing concerns regarding the safety, flammability and hazards posed by Li-ion systems have led to research on alternative rechargeable metal-ion electrochemical storage technologies. Among the mo...
Report From the Workforce on Diversity and Inclusion-The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Members' Bias Experiences

Diversity and inclusion within The Society of Thoracic Surgeons is paramount to the growth and excellence of our specialty. As such, discussions about challenges that prevent our Society from achieving this goal are necessary. The Workforce on Diversity and Inclusion has been tasked with understanding our membership's comprehension and experience with bias, which is known to have a negative impact on those of female gender, minority race, sexual orientation status, and religious status. Bias contributes to the fact that we are far from gender parity within our Society's leadership and that we must make significant changes in order to achieve a diverse membership. Within this report, we discuss the literature regarding experience with gender- and racial/ethnic-directed implicit and explicit bias during surgical training and within the cardiothoracic surgical workforce. We also share survey results on members' experience with racial/ethnic-, gender-, and other minority demographic-directed bias.
Sparse Optical Phased Array Design

We propose a scalable, low fill factor, optical phased array design based on sparse arrays, relaxing the sub-wavelength antenna pitch requirement for sidelobe suppression, achieving significantly lower beamsteering power consumption than a uniform array.
Care Discontinuity in Emergency General Surgery: Does Hospital Quality Matter?

Background Changes in care providers and hospitals after emergency general surgery (EGS) (care discontinuity) are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The cause of these worse outcomes is unknown. Our goal was to determine if hospital quality is associated with mortality after readmissions independent of continuity in care. Study Design This was a retrospective analysis of Medicare inpatient claims (2007 to 2015). All inpatients older than 65 years of age who underwent 1 of 7 EGS procedures shown to represent 80% of EGS volume, complications, and mortality nationally, were included. Care discontinuity was defined as readmission within 30 days to a nonindex hospital. Hospital quality was determined by hospital-level, risk-adjusted mortality rates by EGS procedure and categorized into high quality (HQ) and low quality (LQ). The primary outcome was overall mortality. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association of discontinuity and mortality. Results There were 882,929 EGS patients, 87,232 of whom were readmitted within 30 days of discharge. Care discontinuity was independently associated with mortality (odds ratio [OR] 1.23; 95% CI 1.17 to 1.29). When readmitted patients were stratified by quality of index and readmitting hospital, mortality was associated with the quality of both the index hospital and the readmitting hospital. The highest mortality rate was observed in patients with index admission at low-quality hospitals and readmission to a different low-quality hospital. Conclusions Both care discontinuity and hospital quality are independently associated with mortality in EGS patients. These data support maintaining continuity of care, even at low performing hospitals.
Effect of workstation configuration on musculoskeletal discomfort, productivity, postural risks, and perceived fatigue in a sit-stand-walk intervention for computer-based work.

Abstract Objective Compare musculoskeletal discomfort, productivity, postural risks, and perceived fatigue for a sit-stand-walk intervention between two workstation configurations – one, individually customized for office workers according to ergonomic guidelines (Ergo-Fit); another, self-adjusted by office workers according to their preference (Self-Adjusted). Methods 36 participants performed a 60-min computer typing task in both configurations using a within-participants, counterbalanced design. Musculoskeletal discomfort and perceived fatigue were reported through surveys; productivity was operationalized by typing speed and typing error; postural risks were assessed by RULA for seated work, and REBA for standing work. Results Musculoskeletal discomfort and perceived fatigue did not vary significantly between configurations. Postural risks for seated and standing work were significantly lower for Ergo-Fit configuration; productivity was significantly higher for Self-Adjusted configuration. Conclusion Use of Ergo-Fit configuration for a sit-stand-walk intervention can facilitate postural transitions and increase physical activity, while enabling neutral postures in seated and standing work to minimize postural risks.
Fatal COVID-19 infection in a patient with long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency: A case report

Long-chain fatty-acyl CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (LCHADD) is an inborn error of long chain fatty acid oxidation with various features including hypoketotic hypoglycemia, recurrent rhabdomyolysis, pigmentary retinopathy, peripheral neuropathy, cardiomyopathy, and arrhythmias. Various stresses trigger metabolic decompensation. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic caused by the RNA virus SARS-CoV-2 with diverse presentations ranging from respiratory symptoms to myocarditis. We report a case of a patient with LCHADD who initially presented with typical metabolic decompensation symptoms including nausea, vomiting, and rhabdomyolysis in addition to mild cough, and was found to have COVID-19. She developed acute respiratory failure and refractory hypotension from severe cardiomyopathy which progressed to multiple organ failure and death. Our case illustrates the need for close monitoring of cardiac function in patients with a long-chain fatty acid oxidation disorder.
Endometriosis of the Rectus Muscle: A Single-Center Experience and a Novel Laparoscopic Approach

Objective: The aim of this research was to review preoperative and intraoperative findings in patients with rectus muscle endometriosis (RME) and to describe the current authors' novel technique of...
Advancing intersectionality approaches in intimate partner violence research: a social justice approach

The application of social categories in intersectionality intimate partner violence (IPV) scholarship is common in comparative analyses of social groups. Yet, consideration of the methods applied i...
The Importance of Technology Trust for B2B Electronic Commerce

Whereas the traditional notion of trust primarily focuses on trust in a trading partner, trust in e-business also incorporates the notion of trust in the infrastructure and the underlying control mechanisms (technology trust), which deals with transaction integrity, authentication, confidentiality, and non-repudiation. We argue that value creation in B2B e-commerce is heavily dependent on technology trust. Given the absence of adequate metrics to capture the technology trust in B2B e-commerce, this research develops and validates measures for technology trust, captured both as perceived benefits and also as B2B e-commerce performance. Our empirical results strongly support the hypothesis that technology trust is essential for successful B2B e-commerce. The Importance of Technology Trust for B2B Electronic Commerce
Explanatory Analysis of a Machine Learning Model to Identify Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Patients from EHR Using Diagnostic Codes

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic heart disease that is the leading cause of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young adults. Despite the well-known risk factors and existing clinical practice guidelines, HCM patients are underdiagnosed and sub-optimally managed. Developing machine learning models on electronic health record (EHR) data can help in better diagnosis of HCM and thus improve hundreds of patient lives. Automated phenotyping using HCM billing codes has received limited attention in the literature with a small number of prior publications. In this paper, we propose a novel predictive model that helps physicians in making diagnostic decisions, by means of information learned from historical data of similar patients.We assembled a cohort of 11,562 patients with known or suspected HCM who have visited Mayo Clinic between the years 1995 to 2019. All existing billing codes of these patients were extracted from the EHR data warehouse. Target ground truth labeling for training the machine learning model was provided by confirmed HCM diagnosis using the gold standard imaging tests for HCM diagnosis echocardiography (echo), or cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. As the result, patients were labeled into three categories of “yes” definite HCM “no” HCM phenotype and “possible HCM” after a manual review of medical records and imaging tests.In this study, a random forest was adopted to investigate the predictive performance of billing codes for the identification of HCM patients due to its practical application and expected accuracy in a wide range of use cases. Our model performed well in finding patients with “yes definite “possible” and “no” HCM with an accuracy of 71%, weighted recall of 70%, the precision of 75%, and weighted F1 score of 72%. Furthermore, we provided visualizations based on multidimensional scaling and the principal component analysis to provide insights for clinicians’ interpretation. This model can be used for the identification of HCM patients using their EHR data, and help clinicians in their diagnosis decision making.
A Retrospective Analysis to Determine Whether Training-Induced Changes in Muscle Thickness Mediate Changes in Muscle Strength

To investigate the role of muscle thickness changes on changes in strength following 6 weeks of unaccustomed resistance training, via retrospective analysis. 151 participants completed 6 weeks of no intervention (CONTROL), one-repetition maximum training (1RM-TRAIN), or traditional resistance training (TRAD-TRAIN). Groups were assigned by covariate adaptive randomization. 1RM-TRAIN and TRAD-TRAIN performed elbow flexion exercise on the dominant arm 3 times/week. One-repetition maximum strength and muscle thickness (B-mode ultrasound at 50, 60, and 70% of the anterior upper arm) were assessed pre- and post-training. Direct and indirect effects on strength via each training modality were quantified relative to CONTROL using indicator-coded, change-score mediation analyses for each muscle thickness site. Values are presented as regression coefficients (95% CI). The effect of 1RM-TRAIN on muscle thickness was greater than CONTROL for 60% [0.09 (0.01, 0.17) cm] and 70% [0.09 (0.01,0.18) cm] models. All muscle thickness changes for TRAD-TRAIN were greater than CONTROL: 50% [0.24 (0.16, 0.33) cm], 60% [0.25 (0.17, 0.33) cm], 70% [0.23 (0.14, 0.32) cm]. All direct effects on strength were greater for 1RM-TRAIN versus CONTROL: 50% [1.90 (1.21, 2.58) kg], 60% [1.89 (1.19, 2.58) kg], 70% [1.81 (1.12, 2.51) kg]; and TRAD-TRAIN versus CONTROL: 50% [2.04 (1.29, 2.80) kg], 60% [1.98 (1.22, 2.75) kg], 70% [1.79 (1.05, 2.53) kg]. Compared to CONTROL, there was no indication of an effect of 1RM-TRAIN on strength through muscle thickness (i.e., indirect effect) for 50% [− 0.03 (− 0.17, 0.10)], 60% [− 0.01 (− 0.17, 0.17)], or 70% [0.07 (− 0.09, 0.28)] sites, nor of TRAD-TRAIN for 50% [− 0.11 (− 0.48,0.29)], 60% [− 0.04 (− 0.42, 0.40)], and 70% sites [0.17 (− 0.23,0.58)]. Training-induced changes in muscle thickness do not appear to appreciably mediate training-induced changes in the strength of untrained individuals during the first 6 weeks of training.
From Research to Practise: Staying Ahead of the Problem

The 18 years of the use of glyphosate* as a non selective herbicide in perennial and annual crops of Spain can be considered a successful case of resistance management. For two reasons: its continuously expanding use and, second, the lowering of rates down from 1,08 kg/ha to 0,18 kg/ha a.i. It should be pointed out that glyphosate is normally applied up to 1–2 times a year in extensive crops, and up to 4 times a year in some intensive high quality citrus orchards, directed applications repeated. In addition to the intrinsic characteristics of the herbicide, the continued satisfactory use of glyphosate has been possible thanks to: Close monitoring of changes in weed spectrum. Development of improved recommendations / application systems. Combinations with complementary herbicides (MCPA, oxyfluorfen, among others). Eventual use of tillage, which is still the most used in extensive crops.
Familial Urothelial Carcinomas

Some urothelial carcinomas have a hereditary basis; in some cases due to as yet unknown genetic mechanisms and in others due to established genetic syndromes (e.g., Lynch syndrome). This chapter summarizes what is currently known about hereditary urothelial carcinomas, their genetic bases, relevant morphologic details, and familial implications.
High performance speaker verification using principal spectral components

The described system finds key application in physical entry control and control of access to privileged information. Verification is based on a fast and user-friendly protocol, consisting of two stages: 1. Primary verification using a fixed text phrase. 2. Secondary verification using a random 5-digit sequence. The features used in the verification algorithm are the Principal Spectral Components, derived from the spectrum of the speech signal. Verification experiments on a 40 speaker database give a true speaker rejection rate of less than 1% and an impostor acceptance rate of less than 0.1%.
PDDP: a parallel data distribution preprocessor

PDDP, a Fortran preprocessor under development at LLNL, is directed to a massively parallel machine with loosely coupled distributed shared memory. Using Fortran 90 array syntax and a Fortran D method of distribution, PDDP achieves a semiautomatic parallelization and offers the convenience of programming a shared virtual address space. The backend for PDDP is PFP, a split-join model also in the form of a Fortran preprocessor, that uses the team concept of parallel computing. The BBN TC2000 computer is the developmental platform for PDDP. Initial timings show a definite improvement of performance over a configuration in which the shared data are distributed by normal system interleaving procedures. >
Cold-Induced Urticaria in Infancy

The following account describes one case of cold-induced urticaria. CASE REPORT C.S., a 3.5-kg baby girl, was born after an uneventful pregnancy. She is one of three siblings, born to unrelated parents, with no familial history of cold-related medical disorders. At 3 months of age, generalized urticarial lesions developed after immersion for a few minutes in an outdoor swimming pool. She was immediately removed from the water. The hives disappeared completely within 30 minutes. There was no evidence of joint swelling, fever, or irritability. Similar urticarial lesions occurred at 6 months of age, once again associated with exposure to cold water in a swimming pool.
Observations of the Soft X-Ray Background

When soft X-rays were first detected with photon energies ~1/4 KeV, it was unclear whether their origin was galactic or extragalactic. Then the fact that the intensity did not go to zero in the galactic plane where the absorption optical depth is very large demonstrated that they were at least partly galactic. In the last few years, several experiments have attempted to measure the X-ray shadows of the Small Magellanic Cloud, M31, and the Large Magellanic Cloud. All have produced null results. The origin of the bulk of this radiation is convincingly galactic.
Robust 2-D spectrum estimation using Radon transform

Summary form only given. A robust method of 2-D spectral estimation of signals in additivbe white noise whose distribution is the so-called outlier contaminated Gaussian process was investigated. The term robustness refers here to insensitivity to small deviation in the underlying Gaussian noise assumption. Robust spectral estimation methods are known to be computationally feasible only when the number of parameters to be estimated is small, and recent approaches to 2-D robust spectral estimation require very extensive computation. In the work reported the 2-D spectral estimation problem was converted into a set of 1-D independent problems using the Radon transform. The 2-D array data were transformed into a set of 1-D sequences (projections), and each projection was modeled as a 1-D autoregressive (AR) process. A robust technique based on the Huber's minimax approach was utilized to estimate the AR parameters. The 2-D spectrum was finally obtained on a polar raster. This method is highly amenable to parallel processing. >
Acute Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Infancy: A Review of 64 Cases

Sixty-four cases of necrotizing enterocolitis are reviewed. The diagnosis was based on tissue examination in 57 and on the clinical syndrome, including pneumatosis, in 7. Three factors are important in the development of the disease: injury to the intestinal mucosa, bacteria, and feedings. The indications for surgical intervention are pneumoperitoneum, signs of peritonitis, and intestinal obstruction. The importance of stress in the etiology of the disease is confirmed by the high incidence of perinatal complications, particularly hypoxia. The mortality was high, but results are improving with the institution of early aggressive treatment.
Oral vaccination of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) with Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG).

Wildlife reservoirs of Mycobacterium bovis represent serious obstacles to the eradication of tuberculosis from livestock, particularly cattle. In Michigan, USA tuberculous white-tailed deer transmit M. bovis to other deer and cattle. One approach in dealing with this wildlife reservoir is to vaccinate deer, thus interfering with the intraspecies and interspecies transmission cycles. Thirty-three white-tailed deer were assigned to one of two groups; oral vaccination with 1×108 colony-forming units of M. bovis BCG Danish (n = 17); and non-vaccinated (n = 16). One hundred eleven days after vaccination deer were infected intratonsilarly with 300 colony-forming units of virulent M. bovis. At examination, 150 days after challenge, BCG vaccinated deer had fewer gross and microscopic lesions, fewer tissues from which M. bovis could be isolated, and fewer late stage granulomas with extensive liquefactive necrosis. Fewer lesions, especially those of a highly necrotic nature should decrease the potential for dissemination of M. bovis within the host and transmission to other susceptible hosts.
An integrated inventory model for a single product and its raw materials

In this paper a heuristic procedure is developed to determine the optimum inventory policies for an inventory system consisting of a single product and raw materials used in the manufacture of the product. The raw materials are optimally classified into groups so that the total inventory cost per unit time is minimized. The cost expression used as the objective function takes the inventory relationship between the product and its raw materials into consideration.
Propagation of linearly polarized Laguerre-Gauss vortex beams

Evolution of transverse intensity profiles for the dominant and cross-polarization components of linearly polarized Laguerre-Gauss laser beams is studied experimentally as they propagate away from their waist.
Comparison of Electron Cloud Mitigating Coatings Using Retarding Field Analyzers

Abstract In 2008, the Cornell Electron Storage Ring (CESR) was reconfigured to serve as a test accelerator (C esr TA) for next generation lepton colliders, in particular for the ILC damping ring. A significant part of this program has been the installation of diagnostic devices to measure and quantify the electron cloud effect, a potential limiting factor in these machines. One such device is the Retarding Field Analyzer (RFA), which provides information on the local electron cloud density and energy distribution. Several different styles of RFAs have been designed, tested, and deployed throughout the CESR ring. They have been used to study the growth of the cloud in different beam conditions, and to evaluate the efficacy of different mitigation techniques. This paper will provide an overview of RFA results obtained in a magnetic field free environment.
Heat flow measurements in the southern portion of the Gulf of California

Abstract Twenty-five new heat flow measurements made in the Gulf of California are presented. All the values except two at the mouth of the Gulf and two in the Sal si Puedes basin are high. The values ranged from 2.0 to greater than 10 μcal/cm 2 sec (82 to > 420 mW/m 2 ) with eight values greater than 5.2 (210 mW/m 2 ). Due to high rates of sedimentation throughout the Gulf, the actual heat flow, in many cases, may be up to 25% greater than that recorded. Most of the heat flow stations are concentrated in the Farallon and Guaymas basins and show a marked increase towards the central deeps, where new crust is believed to be forming. The heat flow values in the Farallon basin show a sharp peak 10–15 km southeast of the central depression while those in the Guaymas basin peak in the depression. The heat flow profiles across the Guaymas and Farallon basins are remarkably similar to those observed on other well sedimented spreading centers such as the northern portion of the Explorer trough. Thus they may provide evidence that the crust is being created by an axially symmetric intrusion process with a major loss of heat due to hydrothermal circulation. The absence of magnetic anomalies in the Gulf has been attributed to the supposed presence of large grains in the intruded basalt. Large grains form by the slow cooling of the basalt under a layer of sediment. Prominent magnetic anomalies have been observed on the northern portion of the Explorer trough. Observational data suggest that the thermal processes at this ridge axis and the center of the Farallon basin are identical. We suggest that further careful study is needed in the Gulf before the slow cooling model is accepted as an explanation for the attenuation of the magnetic anomalies.
Non-Adiabatically Tapered Multimode Interference Coupler for High-Power Single-Mode Semiconductor Lasers

A 1 x 8 tapered multimode interference coupler has been designed and simulated for use in a self-organizing semiconductor laser-array system. The taper allows for a broad area, single-mode output with 98% one-way efficiency.
An X-ray Photoelectron (ESCA) and Laser Raman Spectroscopic Investigation of Aluminum Perrhenate

Compound formation in supported heterogeneous catalysts is an area of significant interest. In the present study, Al(ReO4)3 was prepared and characterized by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and laser Raman spectroscopy. Characteristic spectra Al(ReO4)3 for are shown and compared to several rhenium reference compounds. The reduction behavior of Al(ReO4)3 is also explored; it was completely reduced to elemental rhenium in H2 at 500°C.
Effects of nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon enrichment on planktonic and periphytic algae in a softwater, oligotrophic lake in Florida, USA

The objective of this study was to investigate nutrient limitation of algal abundance in Anderson-Cue Lake, a softwater clear oligotrophic lake in north-central Florida. Nutrient diffusing clay pots and cylindrical enclosures were used in the field to test effects of different combinations of nitrogen, phosphorus, silica, and carbon on algal standing crop and composition of periphytic and planktonic algae, respectively. Effects of nutrient enrichment on periphytic algae were examined in two studies conducted 31 May – 8 July and 10 June – 15 July 1991. Nutrient effects on planktonic algae were examined in one study from 13 June – 1 July 1991. Planktonic and periphytic algal biovolume was significantly higher (p<0.05) when nitrogen and carbon were added in combination than with treatments without nitrogen, carbon, or nitrogen and carbon. Treatments with nitrogen and carbon combined resulted in lower algal diversity and dominance by coccoid green algae andScenedesmus. Results indicate that carbon and nitrogen can be limiting factors to algal growth in Anderson-Cue Lake and possibly other lakes of similar water quality.
Comments on “fatigue properties of materials” by E.G. Eeles and R.C.A. Thurston

Abstract This discussion is an attempt to emphasize what the writer feels is a most important aspect of the fatigue properties of materials, an engineering evaluation of the fatigue behaviour of fabricated structures. Consideration is given only to steel. However, it ss clearly shown that to properly use such materials in welded structures one must consider the design details as well as flaws or discontinuities that may be introduced by fabrication.
Intra -Monolayer Hydrogen-Bonding in Monolayer Protected Gold Clusters

Unlike the highly ordered Self-Assembled Monolayers (SAMs) formed on flat gold surfaces, those on gold nanoparticles radiate from a roughly spherical center and are amorphous in structure. One result of this structural motif is that the strength of intra- monolayer non-covalent interactions, such as Φ-stacking and hydrogen bonding, are a function of the distance of the recognition element from the colloidal core. We present here an exploration of these phenomena in amide functionalized thiols in MPCs where the amide functionality position was varied in the alkane chain. [1]
Peroxynitrite induces apoptosis in canine cerebral vascular muscle cells: possible relation to neurodegenerative diseases and strokes.

Abstract Considerable evidence is accumulating to suggest that in vivo formation of free radicals in the brain, such as peroxynitrite (ONOO − ), and programmed cell death (i.e. apoptosis) play important roles in neurodegeneration and stroke. However, it is not known whether ONOO − can induce apoptosis in cerebral vascular smooth muscle cells (CVSMCs). The present study was designed to determine whether or not canine CVSMCs undergo apoptosis following treatment with ONOO − . Direct exposure of canine CVSMCs to ONOO − induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner, as confirmed by means of fluorescence staining, TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling and comet assays. Peroxynitrite treatment resulted in an elevation of [Ca 2+ ] i in the CVSMCs. Peroxynitrite-induced apoptosis may thus be brought about by activation of Ca 2+ -dependent endonucleases. Although the precise mechanisms by which peroxynitrite induces apoptosis need to be further investigated, the present findings could be used to suggest that ONOO − formation in the brain may play important roles in neurodegenerative processes and strokes via detrimental actions on cerebral microvessels and blood flow.
Serum deoxyribonuclease I and clinical activity in systemic lupus erythematosus

Serum deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients was shown to be lower than that of healthy laboratory personnel, rheumatoid arthritis, and scleroderma patients (P<0.001). The decrease in DNase I activity in SLE sera was not due to the effect of various autoantibodies or to heat labile DNase I inhibitor. A relationship between serum DNase I activity and active SLE was demonstrated. Patients with active lupus nephritis had the lowest levels of enzymatic activity.
The Mathematical Miscellany and The Cambridge Miscellany of Mathematics: Closely connected attempts to introduce research-level mathematics in America, 1836–1843

No publication for research mathematics was sustained in the United States until the American Journal of Mathematics in 1878. Among early sputtering journal attempts, The Mathematical Miscellany and The Cambridge Miscellany of Mathematics, Physics, and Astronomy stand out with their hope of elevating the status of their readership, engaging them in a research program, and communicating European mathematical work to them. This article explores the conditions facing those who wanted to facilitate mathematical research in mid-19th-century America, surveys the content designed to provide encouragement and direction for that research, and examines the nature of the connection between these two short-lived journals.
The general model and the particular decision: Decision makers' awareness of their cue weightings

This paper examines the accuracy with which decision makers can predict the effects of the characteristics of a research study on their evaluations of its usefulness to their work. It draws on survey data from a sample of 155 decision makers in mental health: each of them predicted the effects of 26 research characteristics on usefulness and rated each of two research studies on usefulness and the extent to which each characteristic described the study. The principal finding is that decision makers' predictions of the effects of characteristics on usefulness correspond much more closely to the effects actually observed when these effects are calculated across individuals than when they are taken for a single individual rating one (or two) studies. After examining several alternative explanations, it is suggested that an individual decision maker uses multiple evaluation functions to judge research, weighting the characteristics differently in each, and that investigators should consider the possibility of such variation whenever they attempt to model individuals' evaluation functions.
Histochemical enzyme changes in epidermis of manganese-deficient fetal mice.

SummaryReactivity of cytochrome oxidase, choline esterase, lactic, succinic, malic, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenases, acid and alkaline phosphatases, and concentration of choline lipids were examined histochemically in cephalic sections of fetuses from manganese-deficient and pallid mice and their controls at 17 days of gestation. In the inner ear, enzymes and choline lipids were localized in the neural epithelium, but enzyme activity did not differ among the various groups. However, in epidermis of manganese-deficient fetuses there was reduced activity of cytochrome oxidase, choline esterase, and the false-positive yellow reaction for alkaline phosphatase, and reduced concentration of choline lipids.
Target extraction using hierarchical clustering with refinement by probabilistic relaxation labeling

A new multi-stage technique is presented for segmentation of targets of interest in synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data. The method creates an initial coarse segmentation using a histogram-based approach that labels each pixel as foreground or background. The extents of targets of interest are then determined using a hierarchical clustering stage that utilizes a novel weighting of intensity and pixel position. Finally, each potential target's segmentation is improved using probabilistic relaxation labeling. The approach loosens the typical region-based segmentation paradigm that only contiguous pixels can compose a segment. The technique is useful both for target segmentation and as a pre-processing step to verify the fidelity of artificially-generated data with real data.
Variable hospital accounting practices. Are they fair for the nursing department

Hospital accounting practices, in relation to nursing departments, are reviewed. Nursing departments lack a distinct identity as an organizational subentity for accounting purposes. Nursing, the main product of hospitals, is an "expense only" item. The authority and responsibility to incur and limit expense is uniquely withheld from the nursing department. Social factors that might explain these accounting practices are examined.
Concentration in food retailing

Abstract How free is the market for the retail distribution of food and household products? Harper Boyd, Jr., Henry Claycamp, and Ronald Frank have probed this interesting question through a detailed study of the strength of a small number of corporate and contract chains in the Chicago Metropolitan Area in fifty-nine food and household product classes. Their study shows that, in fifty-five of the fifty-nine categories, the ten leading organizations accounted for more than two-thirds of the volume purchased by consumers. This article reveals several important implications for the manufacturer who wishes to bring his product into a highly concentrated market.
Probing the Role of an Active Site Aspartic Acid in Dihydrofolate Reductase

Analogues of E. coli dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) containing modified amino acids at single, predetermined sites have been prepared. This was accomplished by the use of the DHFR gene containing an engineered nonsense codon (TAG) at the positions corresponding to Val-10 and Asp-27. Misacylated suppressor tRNAs activated with the modified amino acids of interest were employed for the suppression of the nonsense codons in a cell free protein biosynthesizing system, thereby permitting the elaboration of the desired protein analogues. In this fashion, the aspartic acid analogues erythro-carboxyproline, cysteic acid, β,β-dimethylaspartic acid, α-methylaspartic acid, erythro- and threo-β-methylaspartic acid, N-methylaspartic acid, and phosphonoalanine were incorporated into one or both of the aformentioned positions. Although a number of these analogues were incorporated only in low yield, a modification of the strategy has suggested how this might be improved significantly. The derived proteins were purified ...
Metabolism of high doses of methylprednisolone by the isolated perfused liver of different species

Abstract The metabolism of methylprednisolone has been studied in the isolated perfused liver of normal rabbits, pigs, and dogs as well as in dogs that had recovered from hepatic necrosis. A considerable difference in the rate of degradation was noted among the species, the rate being slowest in the rabbit and most rapid in the pig. Previous damage to canine livers that had subsequently recovered resulted in a very moderate decrease in the rate of steroid breakdown. The rate of breakdown of methylprednisolone in the pig approximates most closely that observed in vivo in human volunteers.
Precise Registration of Gene Expression Boundaries by a Repressive Morphogen in Drosophila

Summary Background Morphogen gradients are thought to create concentration thresholds that differentially position the expression boundaries of multiple target genes. Despite intensive study, it is still unclear how the concentration profiles within gradients are spatially related to the critical patterning thresholds they generate. Results Here we use a combination of quantitative measurements and ectopic-misexpression experiments to examine the transcriptional-repression activities of the Hunchback (Hb) protein gradient in Drosophila embryos. Our results define five expression boundaries that are set primarily by differences in Hb concentration and two boundaries that are set by combinatorial mechanisms involving Hb and at least one other repressor. Conclusions Hb functions as a repressive morphogen, but only within a specific range of concentrations (∼40% to ∼4.4% of maximum Hb concentration), within which there are at least four distinct concentration thresholds. The lower limit of the range reflects a position where the slope of the gradient becomes too shallow for resolution by specific target genes. Concentrations above the upper limit do not contribute directly to differential-repression mechanisms, but they provide a robust source that permits proper functioning of the gradient in heterozygous embryos that contain only one functional hb gene.
Change in instantaneous eigenproperties due to yielding of a structure

This paper presents an insight into the pattern of change in instantaneous eigenproperties of a building as a result of reduction in tangent stiffness due to yielding of different members of the building. Using a perturbation approach, it is found that for a shear building, a reduction in instantaneous stiffness due to a yielding occurring in the bottom story will cause a greater absolute percentage change in eigenvalues (squared frequencies) of a lower mode than that of a higher mode. In contrast, for a reduction in instantaneous stiffness due to a yielding occurring in the top story, this absolute percentage change in the eigenvalues increases with a increase in mode number starting from the fundamental mode. A numerical study with a four-story shear building and a four-story and an eight-story steel moment-resisting frame models representative of existing buildings demonstrates that the trends in change in eigenproperties obtained from the analytical study works well for these buildings. The findings of this study may be utilized to improve the design practices of buildings as well as non-structural components attached to buildings.
A dataflow approach to event-based debugging

This paper describes a novel approach to event-based debugging. The approach is based on a (coarsegrained) dataflow view of events: a high-level event is recognized when an appropriate combination of lower-level events on which it depends has occurred. Event recognition is controlled using familiar programming language constructs. This approach is more flexible and powerful than current ones. It allows arbitrary debugger language commands to be executed when attempting to form higher-level events. It also allows users to specify event recognition in much the same way that they write programs. This paper also describes a prototype, Dalek, that employs the dataflow approach for debugging sequential programs. Dalek demonstrates the feasibility and attractiveness of the dataflow approach. One important motivation for this work is that current sequential debugging tools are inadequate. Dalek contributes toward remedying such inadequacies by providing events and a powerful debugging language. Generalizing the dataflow approach so that it can aid in the debugging of concurrent programs is under investigation.
Enhanced CREB phosphorylation and changes in c-Fos and FRA expression in striatum accompany amphetamine sensitization

Abstract Expression in striatum of c-Fos, a 35 kDa Fos-related antigen (FRA) and the phosphorylated form of cyclic AMP response element binding protein (phosphoCREB) was assessed using Western blots in rats that developed behavioral sensitization following repeated amphetamine administration. Treatment with d-amphetamine (5 mg/kg) for 5 consecutive days produced behavioral sensitization. Similar to previous observations using chronic cocaine administration, amphetamine sensitized animals had decreased c-Fos and increased FRA proteins in striatum. Supershift analysis with antisera to c-Fos and FRA proteins demonstrated that c-Fos and the 35 kDa FRA are components of the striatal AP-1 binding complex from sensitized rats. Thus, amphetamine sensitization is accompanied by alterations in the composition of the AP-1 DNA binding complex. An increased amount of phosphoCREB protein was also present in the striatum of amphetamine sensitized rats. These results suggest that alterations in Fos, FRA and CREB transcription factors are common neuronal responses to chronic psychostimulant administration and may contribute to regulation of genes important to the neuroplastic changes underlying psychostimulant sensitization.
Use of spin polarized metastable atom deexcitation spectroscopy to probe the dynamics of metastable atom-surface interactions

Abstract Spin-labelling techniques, specifically the use of electron-spin-polarized metastable atoms in conjunction with spin analysis of the ejected electrons, are used to probe the dynamics of metastable atom-surface interactions. Studies of clean and adsorbate covered metallic, semiconductor and insulating surfaces show that the electron ejection processes are more complex than suggested by conventional models of metastable atom deexcitation at surfaces and that effects such as secondary electron production, inelastic spin-flip scattering, and perturbation of the incident atom by the surface must also be considered.
Lessons from ESCAPE: the PAC may not kill, but when should we consider ‘tailored’ therapy?

This article summarizes the results of the recent ESCAPE trial of the use of pulmonary artery catheter for haemodynamic monitoring and clinical decision making in patients with acute heart failure and proposes several clinical situations not included in the trial, which may be appropriate situations to use such monitoring.
Immunization of mice with peptomers covalently coupled to aluminum oxide nanoparticles.

Abstract Subunit vaccines generally require adjuvants to elicit immune responses, but adjuvants may alter the conformation of critical epitopes and reduce vaccine efficacy. We therefore tested an immunization strategy in which antigen is covalently coupled to aluminum oxide nanoparticles using a method that favors preservation of the native conformation. The test antigen consisted of “peptomers” (head-to-tail-linked peptide homopolymers) derived from the 4th conserved region (C4) of HIV-1 gp120 which is believed to be in an α -helical conformation prior to binding to CD4. Immune responses in mice to peptomer–nanoparticle conjugates were compared to responses elicited by free C4 peptide and C4 peptomers, with and without the hydrophilic adjuvant muramyl dipeptide (MDP). Highest peptomer-specific serum antibody responses were induced by peptomer–particles without MDP. Serum antibodies induced by peptomer–particles also showed highest reactivity towards recombinant, glycosylated gp120 and HIV-1 infected T cells. The results suggest that this novel vaccine approach could be useful for induction of immune responses against conformation-sensitive viral antigens without the need for additional adjuvants.