cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recruitment to food in black vultures: evidence for following from communal roosts

Abstract Experimental and observational evidence from a 5-year study of a partially marked population of black vultures, Coragyps atratus, suggests that individuals can find food by following others from overnight roosting groups. Natural food sources usually lasted long enough for recruitment to occur. Black vultures formed larger roosting groups and had enhanced second-day recruitment during winter, when their main food source was least abundant. Successful foragers returned to experimental food sources on subsequent days and generally preceded new arrivals. Arrivals at bait were clumped on days of discovery and second days, but incoming groups were larger on second days and highly skewed towards early arrivals. In general, adults arrived at baited sites earlier than young adults and juveniles. During natural roost departures, adults were as likely to depart at the head of departing groups as at the rear, while young were concentrated in the rear. Birds removed experimentally from the population long enough to be naive about the location of food followed others from the roost when reintroduced. Control adults (birds caught and handled but not restrained for long) were not concentrated in the rear of roost-departing groups, as were experimental adults. Juveniles tended to follow regardless of recent experience. These results suggest that roost attendance facilitates foraging for black vultures; these roosts probably function as information centres.
Case Report: Transient Lipoprotein Lipase Deficiency with Hyperchylomicronemia

Abstract Type I hyperlipoproteinemia is a rare disorder characterized by the presence of chylomicrons in fasting plasma and dysfunction of the lipoprotein lipase system. The disease may result from primary genetic defects leading to the lack of the enzyme lipoprotein lipase or to a deficiency in the CII apoprotein activator of that enzyme. It may also appear secondary to underlying systemic diseases. We now describe a case of hyperchylomicronemia and pancreatitis with a lack of lipoprotein lipase activity as assessed by three different methods. The patient had no evidence of a plasma inactivator of lipoprotein lipase, and his plasma was able to activate the enzyme in control postheparin plasma. The postheparin plasma hepatic triglyceride lipase was normal. Tests for associated systemic diseases were negative. Six weeks after presentation, that patient’s lipoprotein levels and postheparin plasma lipase activities were normal. This was a unique case of hyperchylomicronemia which for a limited time was indistinguishable from primary lipoprotein lipase deficiency by current biochemical techniques.
MLA-L at Twenty

MLA-L, the electronic-mail distribution list for music librarians, is now twenty years old. Before the establishment of the list in 1989, professional communication among music librarians was paper based and slow. The growth of computer networks in the early 1980s led to the development of applications to promote group communication, including LIST-SERV, an e-mail distribution application released in 1986. With the help of Mary Papakhian, a member of the information technology staff at Indiana University, Ralph Papakhian established MLA-L as the first distribution list on the university's LISTSERV server. Growth of the list was rapid: by the end of 1995, there were over 1,000 subscribers, and since then the number has slowly increased to over 1,100. The topics of discussion on MLA-L cover all aspects of the profession, and the archives of messages posted to the list provide a rich resource for the study of the history of music librarianship.
Influence of iodine on growth and development of the brown alga Ectocarpus siliculosus in axenic cultures

Abstract Iodine is an essential nutrient for the growth of the marine brown alga Ectocarpus siliculosus, though filaments survive for at least 12 weeks in iodine-deficient media. Iodine is not replaceable by bromine at any of the concentrations tested. At least 1.5 × 10−3 μg at iodine/l is required for any appreciable vegetative growth, while 2.5 × 10−2 μg at/l is needed for the normal formation and maturation of plurilocular sporangia (Natural sea water contains about 4 × 10−1 μg at iodine/l). In 12-week cultures, 2 × 10−1 μg at iodine/l promotes .maximum growth, equivalent to 4 g dry weight per litre of medium. Concentrations up to one hundred times as high are tolerated without evident inhibitory effects.
Incorporating high-pressure electroosmotic pump and a nano-flow gradient generator into a miniaturized liquid chromatographic system for peptide analysis

We integrate a high-pressure electroosmotic pump (EOP), a nanoflow gradient generator, and a capillary column into a miniaturized liquid chromatographic system that can be directly coupled with a mass spectrometer for proteomic analysis. We have recently developed a low-cost high-pressure EOP capable of generating pressure of tens of thousands psi, ideal for uses in miniaturized HPLC. The pump worked smoothly when it was used for isocratic elutions. When it was used for gradient elutions, generating reproducible gradient profiles was challenging; because the pump rate fluctuated when the pump was used to pump high-content organic solvents. This presents an issue for separating proteins/peptides since high-content organic solvents are often utilized. In this work, we solve this problem by incorporating our high-pressure EOP with a nano-flow gradient generator so that the EOP needs only to pump an aqueous solution. With this combination, we develop a capillary-based nano-HPLC system capable of performing nano-flow gradient elution; the pump rate is stable, and the gradient profiles are reproducible and can be conveniently tuned. To demonstrate its utility, we couple it with either a UV absorbance detector or a mass spectrometer for peptide separations.
Functional whole rat bladder model

There are many animal models that have been utilized for the study of urinary bladder function including the dog, cat, rabbit, and rat. Although the rat has been used extensively for the study of urinary bladder function, the relatively small size and capacity of the urinary bladder has made the functional evaluation of the bladder difficult. The present study describes an in vitro whole rat bladder preparation with which we were able to measure the following properties of urinary bladder function: (1) the pressure-volume relationship (cystometry) of the isolated bladder; (2) intravesical pressure in response to pharmacological stimulation (isometric bladder contractility); (3) the ability of the bladder to expel its contents in response to pharmacological agents (isotonic contractility); and (4) the ability of the bladder to expand in response to pharmacological stimulation (isoproterenol). Bethanechol produced a dose-related increase in intravesical pressure (“closed system”) in the isolated bladder. The maximal pressure response was inversely proportional to the initial volume of the bladder. Bethanechol also produced a dose-related isotonic contraction of the bladder (“expulsion system”). Although bladders filled to one-fourth, one-half, three-fourths, or full capacity were able to expel approximately 100% of their initial volume, there was a significant shift in potency. As the initial volume of the bladder increased, a higher concentration of bethanechol was required to empty the bladder. In general, the in vitro whole rat bladder model is a methodology by which bladder function can be evaluated. In this regard, it has significant advantages over isolated strip methodologies. With this model the ability of the bladder to empty, to generate intravesical pressure, and to relax can be measured. Prior studies have clearly demonstrated that the ability of isolated strips to contract may not accurately reflect the functional ability of the bladder to empty.
Subcompactness and domain representability in GO-spaces on sets of real numbers

Abstract In this paper we explore a family of strong completeness properties in GO-spaces defined on sets of real numbers with the usual linear ordering. We show that if τ is any GO-topology on the real line R , then ( R , τ ) is subcompact, and so is any G δ -subspace of ( R , τ ) . We also show that if ( X , τ ) is a subcompact GO-space constructed on a subset X ⊆ R , then X is a G δ -subset of any space ( R , σ ) where σ is any GO-topology on R with τ = σ | X . It follows that, for GO-spaces constructed on sets of real numbers, subcompactness is hereditary to G δ -subsets. In addition, it follows that if ( X , τ ) is a subcompact GO-space constructed on any set of real numbers and if τ S is the topology obtained from τ by isolating all points of a set S ⊆ X , then ( X , τ S ) is also subcompact. Whether these two assertions hold for arbitrary subcompact spaces is not known. We use our results on subcompactness to begin the study of other strong completeness properties in GO-spaces constructed on subsets of R . For example, examples show that there are subcompact GO-spaces constructed on subsets X ⊆ R where X is not a G δ -subset of the usual real line. However, if ( X , τ ) is a dense-in-itself GO-space constructed on some X ⊆ R and if ( X , τ ) is subcompact (or more generally domain-representable), then ( X , τ ) contains a dense subspace Y that is a G δ -subspace of the usual real line. It follows that ( Y , τ | Y ) is a dense subcompact subspace of ( X , τ ) . Furthermore, for a dense-in-itself GO-space constructed on a set of real numbers, the existence of such a dense subspace Y of X is equivalent to pseudo-completeness of ( X , τ ) (in the sense of Oxtoby). These results eliminate many pathological sets of real numbers as potential counterexamples to the still-open question: “Is there a domain-representable GO-space constructed on a subset of R that is not subcompact”? Finally, we use our subcompactness results to show that any co-compact GO-space constructed on a subset of R must be subcompact.
Carbon fluxes and nitrogen availability along an urban–rural gradient in a desert landscape

Urbanization is increasing in arid and semi-arid regions of the world and impacting native ecosystems through disturbance, climatic modification, and pollution deposition. Arid ecosystems often exhibit a mosaic of shrub/tree canopy covered and non-canopy covered patches that differ in elemental pools and processes. We measured belowground ecosystem attributes and processes in native Larrea tridentata {(D.C.) Cov} dominated communities along an urban–rural gradient in Phoenix, Arizona. Organic carbon (C), total nitrogen (N), and nitrate levels were significantly greater in the urban locations, but soil respiration rates (Rs) were higher at the rural sites. Urban sites exhibited no difference in Rs and N between the canopy and interplant patches while both the rural and suburban sites had significantly greater N and higher Rs under the canopy than in the interplant spaces. Soil respiration rates at the urban locations were not correlated with either soil moisture or temperature individually. These data suggest that urbanization has caused a disconnect of ecological pattern and processes in L. tridentata ecosystems within the urban setting such that water and N limitations no longer explain expected spatial Rs patterns, or elemental pools.
The Excitement and Wonder of Teaching Science: What Pre-service Teachers Learn from Facilitating Family Science Night Centers

In this study, pre-service teachers facilitated stations at a family science night as a context to learn to identify, assess, and use children’s science ideas. Assessment is already difficult in K-12 classrooms. Assessing learning in informal learning environments adds the complication that participation is largely voluntary. As such, controlling the learners’ participation to systematically assess learning is counter to the intents of informal environments. The pre-service teachers in this study experienced success at teaching science and developed understandings about children’s science ideas. Data included reflective postings, class discussions, observations, artifacts, and photographs. The findings contribute to understanding the value of multiple learning contexts in teacher preparation and lead to implications about leveraging informal science contexts for educating teachers.
Spline function representation of the radial distribution function

Abstract Spline functions are currently of great interest in approximation theory and data analysis. A very useful spline system, the natural smoothing spline, is especially powerful for both representational and smoothing purposes. A member of this class of splines is applied to an illustrative set of data; in this case, the experimental radial distribution function (RDF) arising from the analysis of liquid diffraction data. The effect of the smoothing parameter is demonstrated and it is shown that the RDF reduces to the random, structureless distribution required by theory in the limit of heavy smoothing.
Comparison of satellite-derived and in-situ observations of ice and snow surface temperatures over Greenland

The most practical way to get a spatially broad and continuous measurements of the surface temperature in the data-sparse cryosphere is by satellite remote sensing. The uncertainties in satellite-derived LSTs must be understood to develop internally-consistent decade-scale land-surface temperature (LST) records needed for climate studies. In this work we assess satellite-derived "clear-sky" LST products from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), and LSTs derived from the Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) over snow and ice on Greenland. When possible, we compare satellite-derived LSTs with in-situ air-temperature observations from Greenland Climate Network (GC-Net) automatic-weather stations (AWS). We find that MODIS, ASTER and ETM+ provide reliable and consistent LSTs under clear-sky conditions and relatively-flat terrain over snow and ice targets over a range of temperatures from -40 to 0 C. The satellite-derived LSTs agree within a relative RMS uncertainty of approx.0.5 C. The good agreement among the LSTs derived from the various satellite instruments is especially notable since different spectral channels and different retrieval algorithms are used to calculate LST from the raw satellite data. The AWS record in-situ data at a "point" while the satellite instruments record data over an area varying in size from: 57 X 57 m (ETM+), 90 X 90 m (ASTER), or to 1 X 1 km (MODIS). Surface topography and other factors contribute to variability of LST within a pixel, thus the AWS measurements may not be representative of the LST of the pixel. Without more information on the local spatial patterns of LST, the AWS LST cannot be considered valid ground truth for the satellite measurements, with RMS uncertainty approx.2 C. Despite the relatively large AWS-derived uncertainty, we find LST data are characterized by high accuracy but have uncertain absolute precision.
Resampled confidence bounds on effects diagrams for signal-to-noise

Abstract A computer simulation investigation on the use of resampling for the construction of confidence bounds on signal-to-noise ratios is presented. The resampling technique employed is bootstrapping. Results indicate accurate confidence bounds may be constructed for the most common signal-to-noise ratio provided an adequate sample size is employed.
Elastic Versus Inelastic Energy Loss of Recoil Germanium and Silicon Atoms

Experiments of Wikner and van Lint have established the photoneutron method of producing displacement radiation effects by measuring the effect of recoils from $\mathrm{Si}(\ensuremath{\gamma}, n)$ reactions on the excess carrier lifetime. These experiments have been extended to Ge together with an additional experiment in which Si and Ge were bombarded by a 1-MeV reactor neutron spectrum and a mono-energetic beam of 14-MeV neutrons. The range of average energies of the recoil atoms from the bremsstrahlung experiment spans the range of the recoil atom energies of the neutron experiment, so that the results can be compared with theoretical calculations which assume varying percentages of elastic and inelastic energy loss of the recoils. The results are in good agreement with the theory given by Lindhard et al., which is based on a broad transition-energy region between elastic and inelastic energy losses.
Non-bonded interactions between proximate aryl and polyfluoroaryl rings

Abstract As part of a larger study, we describe the preparation and use of model compounds with fixed geometries to assess non-bonded interactions between closely disposed phenyl and polyfluorophenyl groups. The ultraviolet and 1H, 13C, and 19F nmr spectra of 4, 5, 7, 8-tetrafluoro [2.2] paracyclophane (I) have been compared with those for [2.2] paracyclophane (II) and octafluoro [2.2] paracyclophane (III). Studies are reported on competitive reactions between I and II and I and III. The results provide one basis for evaluating effects on chemical reactivity of transannular, internuclear interactions in I. Similar studies on 1-phenyl-8-pentafluorophenylnaphthalene are in progress. The availability of tetrafluoro “vis-a-visene” (nee “janusene”) (IV) would provide an especially interesting model for further exploration.
Continuous positive airway pressure device-based automated detection of obstructive sleep apnea compared to standard laboratory polysomnography

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common health problem that affects more than 2–4% of the US population. Polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard for diagnosing OSA. PSG is, however, expensive, time-consuming, and not always readily accessible. Hence, alternative diagnostic methods such as home-based testing have been evaluated. We studied the ability of the REMstar Pro (RSP2, a brand of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device) to identify abnormal breathing events in subjects with OSA and compared this with breathing events simultaneously determined by laboratory-based PSG. We evaluated 10 subjects previously diagnosed with OSA (apnea hypopnea index (AHI) > 15, known therapeutic level of CPAP). Subjects underwent attended PSG using the REMstar Pro M series machine and their prescribed interface/mask type. The first 3 h of the study were conducted using a subtherapeutic CPAP (4 cm H2O). The last 3 h or remaining portion of the PSG was completed using the previously determined therapeutic CPAP. Comparison of respiratory events detected by PSG vs the RSP2 was performed. Subjects included four men and six women, aged 32 to 57 years and with a body mass index ranging from 29.5–66.4. The baseline AHI ranged from 18.3–93.1, with the AHI at therapeutic CPAP ranging from 0–3. Apnea counts at baseline and at therapeutic CPAP by manually scored PSG and REMstar were not significantly different (mean at subtherapeutic 11.7 vs 12.5, p = 0.76; median at therapeutic CPAP 2.0 vs 4.5, p = 0.15). Hypopnea counts at baseline and at effective CPAP by PSG and REMstar were not significantly different (mean at subtherapeutic 38.1 vs. 40.9, p = 0.72; median at therapeutic CPAP 5.0 vs. 2.5, p = 0.34). The correlation coefficient of REMstar and PSG for apnea and hypopnea was significant in subtherapeutic phase only (apnea r = 0.78, p = 0.007; hypopnea r = 0.76, p = 0.01). Agreement between the two methods declined for hypopnea detection at therapeutic CPAP. The monitoring of residual sleep-disordered breathing on treatment, in addition to adherence, is an important objective therapeutic target in OSA. The REMstar Pro detects sleep-disordered breathing events similar to that of a manually scored PSG—for apnea but not for hypopnea—and merits further investigation as a device to determine disease severity and treatment efficacy.
CLONING: a microcomputer program for cloning simulations

A comprehensive computational tool is presented that performs cloning simulations using IBM PC/XT/AT or compatible microcomputers. The CLONING program contains a specific data base for restriction sites, gene markers, fragment sources and reference comments. It draws complete linear or circular maps either on the screen or employing conventional dot-matrix printers. The design of new recombinant molecules is a totally interactive process.
Time-continuous branching walk models of unstable gene amplification

We consider a stochastic mechanism of the loss of resistance of cancer cells to cytotoxic agents, in terms of unstable gene amplification. Two models being different versions of a time-continuous branching random walk are presented. Both models assume strong dependence in replication and segregation of the extrachromosomal elements. The mathematical part of the paper includes the expression for the expected number of cells with a given number of gene copies in terms of modified Bessel functions. This adds to the collection of rare explicit solutions to branching process models. Original asymptotic expansions are also demonstrated. Fitting the model to experimental data yields estimates of the probabilities of gene amplification and deamplification. The thesis of the paper is that purely stochastic mechanisms may explain the dynamics of reversible drug resistance of cancer cells. Various stochastic approaches and their limitations are discussed.
Mechanisms in the inhibition ofListeria monocytogenes by potassium sorbate

Abstract Listeria monocytogenes was injured by treating the bacterium with a solution of 1% (w / v) potassium sorbate for 30 min. Injury was shown by inability of the bacterium to tolerate 6% NaC1 in tryptose agar (TA) and ability to grow on TA with no added salt. Colony-forming ability of injured cells was restored when they recovered in tryptose broth containing sub-lethal amounts of metabolic or synthetic inhibitors. 2,4-Dinitrophenol was the only inhibitor which effectively prevented recovery of injured cells. No changes occurred in the cell membrane that allowed soluble proteins or nucleotides to leak from cells during the course of sorbate injury.
Biophysical properties of connexin-45 gap junction hemichannels studied in vertebrate cells.

Human HeLa cells transfected with mouse Cx45 and rat RIN cells transfected with chicken Cx45 were used to study the electrical and permeability properties of Cx45 gap junction hemichannels. With no extracellular Ca(2+), whole-cell recording revealed currents arising from hemichannels in both transfected cell lines. Multichannel currents showed a time-dependent activation or deactivation sensitive to voltage, V(m). These currents did not occur in non-transfected cells. The hemichannel currents were inhibited by raising extracellular Ca(2+) or by acidification with CO(2). The unitary conductance exhibited V(m) dependence (i.e., gamma(hc,main) increased/decreased with hyperpolarization/depolarization). Extrapolation to V(m) = 0 mV led to a gamma(hc,main) of 57 pS, roughly twice the conductance of an intact Cx45 gap junction channel. The open channel probability, P(o), was V(m)-dependent, declining at negative V(m) (P(o) 50 mV). Moreover, Cx45 nonjunctional hemichannels appeared to mediate lucifer yellow (LY) and propidium iodide (PI) dye uptake from the external solution when extracellular Ca(2+) level was reduced. Dye uptake was directly proportional to the number of functioning hemichannels. No significant dye uptake was detected in non-transfected cells. Cx45 transfected HeLa and RIN cells also allowed dye to leak out when preloaded with LY and then incubated in Ca(2+)-free external solution, whereas little or no dye leakage was observed when these cells were incubated with 2 mM external Ca(2+). Intact Cx45 gap junction channels allowed passage of either LY or PI dye, but their respective flux rates were different. Comparison of LY diffusion through Cx45 hemichannels and intact gap junction channels revealed that the former is more permeable, suggesting that gap junction channel pores exhibit more allosterical restriction to the dye molecules than the unopposed hemichannel. The data demonstrate the opening of Cx45 nonjunctional hemichannels in vertebrate cells when the external Ca(2+) concentration is reduced.
A comparison of motion capture data recorded from a Vicon system and a Microsoft Kinect sensor

This experiment investigates the perceived differences in the quality of animation generated using motion capture data using a Vicon motion capture system and a Microsoft Kinect sensor. The Kinect uses a depth map camera to determine the position of users and objects within the view of the camera. Using this information, the depth map can be processed to track the motion of a user over time, and for this experiment, this was done with PrimeSense's NITE algorithm[PrimeSense]. The final recording generated from the depth map camera is noisy and is clearly a lower quality recording when compared to the motion capture data created using a Vicon system. To overcome this problem, the motion capture data from the Kinect can be filtered to smooth the noise and create more usable data. This experiment focuses on using a Butterworth filter to smooth the Kinect data and attempts to identify how much the data can be smoothed so that the quality of the motion capture data is indistinguishable from the Vicon data for short video segments.
What Distinguishes Weight-Loss Maintainers from the Treatment-Seeking Obese? Analysis of Environmental, Behavioral, and Psychosocial Variables in Diverse Populations

Background Understanding the factors that influence successful weight control is critical for developing interventions.
A note on incentive incompatibility under franchising

This note provides a formal demonstration of the incentive incompatibility problem that exists in franchisor — franchisee relationships. It is shown that incentive incompatibility exists with respect to both price and quality. Several contractual mechanisms designed to mitigate the incompatibility problem are examined.
Electrochemical characterization of surface complexes formed on Cu and Ta in succinic acid based solutions used for chemical mechanical planarization

Abstract Open-circuit potential measurements, cyclic voltammetry and Fourier transform impedance spectroscopy have been used to study pH dependent surface reactions of Cu and Ta rotating disc electrodes (RDEs) in aqueous solutions of succinic acid (SA, a complexing agent), hydrogen peroxide (an oxidizer), and ammonium dodecyl sulfate (ADS, a corrosion inhibitor for Cu). The surface chemistries of these systems are relevant for the development of a single-slurry approach to chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) of Cu lines and Ta barriers in the fabrication of semiconductor devices. It is shown that in non-alkaline solutions of H 2 O 2 , the SA-promoted surface complexes of Cu and Ta can potentially support chemically enhanced material removal in low-pressure CMP of surface topographies overlying fragile low-k dielectrics. ADS can suppress Cu dissolution without significantly affecting the surface chemistry of Ta. The data analysis steps are discussed in detail to demonstrate how the D.C. and A.C. electrochemical probes can be combined in the framework of the RDE technique to design and test CMP slurry solutions.
Hatch Weight Selection: Effect on Post-Hatch Growth in the Japanese Quail 'Coturnix Coturnix Japonica'

The post-hatch growth of Japanese quail, weight selected at hatch, was investigated. The quail were grouped according to hatch weight as follows: Group I, 5.5-6.2 g; Group II, 6.3-7.0 g; and Group III, 7.1-7.6 g. Group III quail were 25 and 12% heavier at hatching than Group I and II quails, respectively, and reached a mature body weight which was 38 and 12% heavier than Group I and II quails, respectively. Gompertz growth parameters were not different in any of the groups. Feed and water consumption (g/kg body weight) rates were not significantly different among the three groups.
Phase separation in lead containing fluorozirconate glasses

Abstract Liquid/liquid phase separation in fluoride glasses can be a source of light scattering and thus increase optical losses in fluoride glass fibers. In this study we report the observation of phase separation in two glass compositions containing small amounts of PbF 2 : ZrF 4 BaF 2 LaF 3 AlF 3 YF 3 PbF 2 and ZrF 4 BaF 2 LaF 3 AlF 3 LiFPbF 2 . Initial melting of these compositions was done under reactive atmospheres containing chlorine and yielded opaque glasses. These glasses became transparent when remelted under argon. Definite evidence of phase separation in the opaque samples was obtained using scanning electron microscopy and wavelength dispersive analysis. These measurements revealed a PbF 2 -rich amorphous phase in the form of droplets about 1 μm in size dispersed in an amorphous matrix.
Factors associated with the likelihood of Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. in soil from dairy farms.

A study was conducted to identify factors associated with the likelihood of detecting Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. in the soil of dairy farms in a watershed area. A total of 37 farms were visited, and 782 soil samples were collected from targeted areas on these farms. The samples were analyzed for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts, Giardia spp. cysts, percent moisture content, and pH. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors associated with the likelihood of the presence of these organisms. The use of the land at the sampling site was associated with the likelihood of environmental contamination with Cryptosporidium spp. Barn cleaner equipment area and agricultural fields were associated with increased likelihood of environmental contamination with Cryptosporidium spp. The risk of environmental contamination decreased with the pH of the soil and with the score of the potential likelihood of Cryptosporidium spp. The size of the sampling site, as determined by the sampling design, in square feet, was associated nonlinearly with the risk of detecting Cryptosporidium spp. The likelihood of the Giardia cyst in the soil increased with the prevalence of Giardia spp. in animals (i.e., 18 to 39%). As the size of the farm increased, there was decreased risk of Giardia spp. in the soil, and sampling sites which were covered with brush or bare soil showed a decrease in likelihood of detecting Giardia spp. when compared to land which had managed grass. The number of cattle on the farm less than 6 mo of age was negatively associated with the risk of detecting Giardia spp. in the soil, and the percent moisture content was positively associated with the risk of detecting Giardia spp. Our study showed that these two protozoan exist in dairy farm soil at different rates, and this risk could be modified by manipulating the pH of the soil.
Antimicrobial activity of ethanol, glycerol monolaurate or lactic acid against Listeria monocytogenes

Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and antimicrobial effects of glycerol monolaurate (monolaurin), ethanol and lactic acid, either alone or in combination, against Listeria monocytogenes in tryptic soy broth were determined. Ethanol at concentrations up to 1.25% did not inhibit growth, but growth was strongly inhibited in the presence of 5% ethanol. MIC values of monolaurin and ethanol alone were 10 micrograms/ml (0.001%) and 50,000 micrograms/ml (5%), respectively. However, MIC values were not changed when monolaurin was combined with ethanol. When 5 micrograms/ml monolaurin was combined with 5% ethanol, the inhibitory effect of the combination was similar to the most active compound alone after 24 h incubation. These data indicate little interaction between monolaurin and ethanol against L. monocytogenes. MIC value of lactic acid alone was 5000 micrograms/ml (0.5%), but was lower when 1.25% ethanol was combined with 0.25% lactic acid. When 2.5% ethanol was combined with 0.25% lactic acid, the combination did not increase the inhibitory effect of the most active single compound alone. This result also indicates that there was little interaction between ethanol and lactic acid.
An activated glutamate residue identified in photosystem II at the interface between the manganese-stabilizing subunit and the D2 polypeptide.

Photosystem II (PSII) catalyzes the oxidation of water during oxygenic photosynthesis. PSII is composed both of intrinsic subunits, such as D1, D2, and CP47, and extrinsic subunits, such as the manganese-stabilizing subunit (MSP). Previous work has shown that amines covalently bind to amino acid residues in the CP47, D1, and D2 subunits of plant and cyanobacterial PSII, and that these covalent reactions are prevented by the addition of chloride in plant preparations depleted of the 18- and 24-kDa extrinsic subunits. It has been proposed that these reactive groups are carbonyl-containing, post-translationally modified amino acid side chains (Ouellette, A. J. A., Anderson, L. B., and Barry, B. A. (1998) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 95, 2204–2209 and Anderson, L. B., Ouellette, A. J. A., and Barry, B. A. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 4920–4927). To identify the amino acid binding site in the spinach D2 subunit, we have employed a biotin-amine labeling reagent, which can be used in conjunction with avidin affinity chromatography to purify biotinylated peptides from the PSII complex. Multidimensional chromato-graphic separation and multistage mass spectrometry localizes a novel post-translational modification in the D2 subunit to glutamate 303. We propose that this glutamate is activated for amine reaction by post-translational modification. Because the modified glutamate is located at a contact site between the D2 and manganese-stabilizing subunits, we suggest that the modification is important in vivo in stabilizing the interaction between these two PSII subunits. Consistent with this conclusion, mutations at the modified glutamate alter the steady-state rate of photosynthetic oxygen evolution.
Studies of niobium thin film produced by energetic vacuum deposition

An energetic vacuum deposition system has been used to study deposition energy effects on the properties of niobium thin films on copper and sapphire substrates. The absence of a working gas avoids the gaseous inclusions commonly seen with sputtering deposition. A biased substrate holder controls the deposition energy. Transition temperature and residual resistivity ratio of the niobium thin films at several deposition energies are obtained together with surface morphology and crystal orientation measurements by atomic force microscope inspection, X-ray diffraction analysis and transmitted electron microscope (TEM) analysis. The results show that niobium thin films on a sapphire substrate exhibit the best cryogenic properties at a deposition energy of around 123 eV. The TEM analysis revealed that epitaxial growth of film was evident when the deposition energy reached 163 eV for a sapphire substrate. Similarly, niobium thin films on copper substrates show that the film grows more oriented with higher deposition energy and the grain size reaches the scale of the film thickness at a deposition energy of around 153 eV.
An Extension of the String-to-String Correction Problem

The string-to-string correction problem asks for a sequence S of "edit operations" of minimal cost such that ~(A) = B, for given strings A and B. The edit operations previously investi- gated allow changing one symbol of a string into another single symbol, deleting one symbol from a string, or inserting a single symbol into a string. This paper extends the set of allowable edit opera- tions to include the operation of interchanging the positions of two adjacent characters Under certain restrictions on edit-operation costs, it is shown that the extended problem can still be solved in time proportional to the product of the lengths of the given strings.
Johnson noise in ideal type-II superconducting films

The Johnson-noise power spectrum is calculated for an ideal type-II superconducting film containing an array of thermally agitated vortices. The interactions between the vortices are taken into account via a wave-vector-dependent interaction matrix. We develop a theoretical method for the calculation of the voltage produced by a moving vortex in a measuring circuit with leads of finite radii. For a special measuring circuit, only transverse modes contribute to the measured voltage. Below a characteristic frequency determined by the interaction between the vortices, the viscous drag, and the geometry of the measuring circuit, the power spectrum is suppressed. The ac impedance, whose real part is proportional to the Johnson-noise power spectrum, is also calculated.
Optic nerve hypoplasia

Optic nerve hypoplasia is an easily overlooked, nonprogressive developmental anomaly which results in a wide range of visual deficits. It is frequently associated with clinically significant central nervous system and endocrine abnormalities. Maternal substance abuse is increasingly recognized in many cases. A supranormal regression of optic nerve axons in utero, rather than a primary failure of differentiation, is proposed as the pathogenesis.
Bioethics, Christian Charity and the View from No Place

This essay contrasts the notions of charity employed by Traditional Christianity and by liberal cosmopolitan bioethics, arguing that: (1) bioethics attempts to reconstruct the notion of charity in a manner that is caustic to the Traditional Christian moral vision, (2) Christians are, on the whole, more charitable than proponents of bioethics' reconstructed view (even given the standards of the latter), and (3) the theistically oriented conception of charity employed by Traditional Christianity cannot be expressed in bioethics' purportedly neutral public vocabulary. The upshot is that, in the name of neutrality and pluralism, liberal cosmopolitan bioethicists seek to impose an impoverished moral vocabulary that reflects liberal cosmopolitan ideology while excluding input from Traditional Christianity and other non-liberal-humanistic moral visions.
Sugar withdrawal induced by fasting in rats.

Bingeing on sugar results in signs of opiate-like dependence, as indicated by naloxone-induced withdrawal. The present experiment tested whether signs of withdrawal would emerge just by fasting, without naloxone. To induce bingeing, rats were maintained on 12-h deprivation followed by 12-h access to a 10% sucrose solution and chow for 28 days. Withdrawal was instigated by 36 h of fasting. These animals displayed anxiety in an elevated plus-maze, compared with an ad libitum chow group that was similarly deprived as a control. In vivo microdialysis showed a concomitant increase in extracellular acetylcholine and decrease in dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens shell. Hypoglycemia did not account for these results. The signs of anxiety and alterations in accumbens dopamine and acetylcholine balance were similar to those described previously for withdrawal from opiates. This supports the concept of “natural addiction” to sugar. In the present case it was observed in rats given an intermittent, binge-eating schedule followed by fasting. This may be a factor in eating disorders that involve bingeing and fasting. Supported by USPHS Grant MH-65024.
Academic Resilience in Mathematics among Poor and Minority Students.

Based on national data from the Prospects study, we identified the individual characteristics that distinguished academically successful, or resilient, elementary school students from minority and low-socioeconomic-status (SES) backgrounds from their less successful, or nonresilient, counterparts. We also formulated and tested 4 models of the risk factors and resilience-promoting features of schools: (a) effective schools; (b) peer group composition; (c) school resources; and (d) the supportive school community model. Our results suggested that minority students from low-SES backgrounds were exposed to greater risks and fewer resilience-promoting conditions than otherwise similar low-SES White students. Results, though, generally supported the applicability of uniform individual- and school-level models of academic resiliency to all low-SES students, regardless of their race. Greater engagement in academic activities, an internal locus of control, efficaciousness in math, a more positive outlook toward sc...
Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) in normal children, children with constitutional short stature, and children with growth hormone deficiency

Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) in normal children, children with constitutional short stature, and children with growth hormone deficiency
The Appropriate Extent of Intellectual Property Rights in Art

The paper examines whether intellectual property rights in art should be extended to the entire world. In earlier papers, the economics of patent rights have been examined and the argument made that world welfare is likely to fall if patent rights are extended to the entire world. This argument is recapitulated here with special attention to the assumptions that are needed for its validity. These assumptions are then reexamined in the context of markets for art to see whether the argument carries over. It is found that while most of the assumptions do carry over well enough to justify the argument, there are also certain circumstances that may require greater geographic extension of intellectual property rights in some cases.
Modifying structure-sensitive reactions by addition of Zn to Pd

Abstract Silica-supported Pd and PdZn nanoparticles of a similar size were evaluated for neopentane hydrogenolysis/isomerization and propane hydrogenolysis/dehydrogenation. Monometallic Pd showed high neopentane hydrogenolysis selectivity. Addition of small amounts of Zn to Pd lead Pd–Zn scatters in the EXAFS spectrum and an increase in the linear bonded CO by IR. In addition, the neopentane turnover rate decreased by nearly 10 times with little change in the selectivity. Increasing amounts of Zn lead to greater Pd–Zn interactions, higher linear-to-bridging CO ratios by IR and complete loss of neopentane conversion. Pd NPs also had high selectivity for propane hydrogenolysis and thus were poorly selective for propylene. The PdZn bimetallic catalysts, however, were able to preferentially catalyze dehydrogenation, were not active for propane hydrogenolysis, and thus were highly selective for propylene formation. The decrease in hydrogenolysis selectivity was attributed to the isolation of active Pd atoms by inactive metallic Zn, demonstrating that hydrogenolysis requires a particular reactive ensemble whereas propane dehydrogenation does not.
Longitudinal patterns of concentration-discharge relationships in stream water draining the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire

Abstract Longitudinal variations of concentration-discharge relationships and chemical fluxes were evaluated in two headwater streams at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest, New Hampshire. At high elevations changes in subsurface flow paths explained variations in H+, inorganic Al and Si concentrations, whereas variations of DOC concentration were inconsistent with this mechanism. Flow responses of middle and low elevation subcatchments were influenced by variable contributions of hydrologic source areas and the elevational concentration gradient which exists in these catchments, but in most cases were not consistent with responses predicted by changes in flow paths. Spatial patterns of chemical fluxes indicate that, in general, catchment neutralization processes increased in effectiveness in the downslope direction. However, this pattern can be interrupted by secondary tributaries, both ephemeral and persistent, which originate in variable source areas that contribute acidic surface runoff during high flow conditions. Current models of catchment acidification need to incorporate spatial variations of biogeochemical processes and flow responses to improve predictions of short-term variations in surface water chemistry.
How do host sex and reproductive state affect host preference and feeding duration of ticks

Parasitism is one of the most notable forms of symbiosis in the biological world, with nearly all organisms hosting parasites. In many vertebrates, males have higher ectoparasite burdens than females, especially when testosterone concentrations are elevated. Furthermore, reproductive females may have higher ectoparasite burdens than non-reproductive females. It is possible that testosterone-stimulated behaviors in males and offspring investment by females incur energetic costs that inhibit immune function. If questing ticks can sense host sex or reproductive condition prior to attachment, they could potentially choose hosts with the poorest immune function, thereby leading to improved feeding success and decreased feeding duration. In this study, we examined the host–parasite relationship between western fence lizards (Sceloporus occidentalis) and the western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus) to test the following hypotheses: (1) ticks prefer male lizards to female lizards. (2) Ticks prefer male lizards with higher testosterone. (3) Ticks prefer reproductive female lizards to non-reproductive female lizards. (4) Ticks feed to repletion more rapidly (decreased feeding duration) on reproductive females and males with higher testosterone. In all three experiments, ticks failed to show a preference for one group over another as demonstrated by similar attachment rates between groups. This suggests that observed differences in ectoparasite loads in free-ranging lizards is due to some other factor than host choice. However, tick feeding duration on female lizards was shorter when hosts were reproductive, suggesting that host reproductive condition alters tick feeding, possibly due to a decreased immune response. Interestingly, ticks fed more slowly on male lizards with elevated testosterone, suggesting that testosterone may actually improve immune function against ectoparasites.
Continuous process for propylene/propane separation by use of silver nitrate carrier and zirconia porous membrane

Abstract A continuous isothermal separation process was developed for components of olefin/paraffin mixtures. This process features a combination of two steps: absorption of olefin by silver ion in an aqueous solution at high pressure and isothermal regeneration of the absorbing solution using a ceramic membrane. The process takes advantage of: (1) the specific and reversible interaction between silver ions and olefin molecules; and (2) pressure drop across a ceramic membrane. Silver ions act as a carrier for olefin transport through the porous membrane. The zirconium oxide membrane serves as a depressurizing device for the olefin containing silver nitrate solution, allowing olefin to be released at the low pressure side of the membrane. Silver nitrate solution is recycled to the absorption chamber. Process performance was experimentally evaluated using propylene/propane mixtures in a bench-scale system. The experimental results are: propylene production rates as high as 3.4 cm 3 (STP)/(cm 2 min) and a stable continuous separation process with silver utilization efficiency as high as 60% and propylene recovery ratio as high as 80%. This process has features that circumvent previous shortcomings of the pressure-swing adsorption/desorption process for olefin separation.
Optimal insurance in a continuous-time model

Abstract We seek the optimal dynamic consumption, investment, and insurance strategies for an individual who seeks to maximize her expected discounted utility of consumption and bequest over a fixed or random horizon, such as her random future lifetime. Thus, we incorporate an insurable loss and random horizon into the classical consumption and investment framework of Merton. We determine that if the premium is proportional to the expected payout, then the optimal per-claim insurance is deductible insurance; thus, we extend this result for static models to our dynamic setting. We compute the value function and optimal controls for many examples and contrast their qualitative properties, including the impact of the investor’s horizon (or mortality) on the optimal controls and the interaction between the demand for insurance and the risky asset. We employ the Markov Chain approximation method of Kushner for those examples for which closed form solutions are not available.