cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Local geoid determination from airborne vector gravimetry

Methods are illustrated to compute the local geoid using the vertical and horizontal components of the gravity disturbance vector derived from an airborne GPS/inertial navigation system. The data were collected by the University of Calgary in a test area of the Canadian Rocky Mountains and consist of multiple parallel tracks and two crossing tracks of accelerometer and gyro measurements, as well as precise GPS positions. Both the boundary-value problem approach (Hotine’s integral) and the profiling approach (line integral) were applied to compute the disturbing potential at flight altitude. Cross-over adjustments with minimal control were investigated and utilized to remove error biases and trends in the estimated gravity disturbance components. Final estimation of the geoid from the vertical gravity disturbance included downward continuation of the disturbing potential with correction for intervening terrain masses. A comparison of geoid estimates to the Canadian Geoid 2000 (CGG2000) yielded an average standard deviation per track of 14 cm if they were derived from the vertical gravity disturbance (minimally controlled with a cross-over adjustment), and 10 cm if derived from the horizontal components (minimally controlled in part with a simulated cross-over adjustment). Downward continuation improved the estimates slightly by decreasing the average standard deviation by about 0.5 cm. The application of a wave correlation filter to both types of geoid estimates yielded significant improvement by decreasing the average standard deviation per track to 7.6 cm.
The Diligent: A Voyage through the Worlds of the Slave Trade

Based on an officer's diary, a vivid and unprecedented account of the voyage of one slave trading ship-The Diligent-and the worlds through which it sailed. . The slave trade is one of the best known yet least understood processes in our history. The popular image of traders in slave ships going to Africa and rounding up slaves as if they were cattle is not only historically inaccurate, it also disguises the fact that the slave trade was a highly organized Atlantic-wide system that required close collaboration at the highest levels of government in Europe, Africa, and the New World. Using the private journal of First Lieutenant Robert Durand, and supplementing it with a wealth of archival research, Yale historian Robert Harms re-creates in astonishing detail the voyage of the French slave ship The Diligent. We have histories of the slave trade, most recently Hugh Thomas's massive and authoritative The Slave Trade, but The Diligent is something entirely different: a deep bore into the economic, political, and moral worldviews of the participants on all sides of the trade, complete with a vivid dramatis personae. Nobody who reads this book will ever look at the slave trade in the same way again.
Risk of atrophy in kidneys with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis

The goal of this study was to determine the incidence of and risk factors for renal atrophy among kidneys with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (ARAS). Participants with at least one ARAS were followed prospectively with duplex scans performed every six months. Renal atrophy was defined as a reduction in renal length of greater than 1 cm. A total of 204 kidneys in 122 subjects were followed for a mean of 33 months. The two-year cumulative incidence (CI) of renal atrophy was 5.5%, 11.7%, and 20.8% in kidneys with a baseline renal artery disease classification of normal, or = 60% stenosis, respectively (P = 0.009, log rank test). Other baseline factors associated with a high risk of renal atrophy included a systolic blood pressure > 180 mm Hg (2-year CL = 35%, P = 0.01), a renal artery peak systolic velocity > 400 cm/second (2-year CI = 32%, P = 0.02), and a renal cortical end diastolic velocity < or = 5 cm/second (2-year CI = 29%, P = 0.046). The number of kidneys demonstrating atrophy per participant was correlated with elevations in the serum creatinine concentration (P = 0.03). In patients with ARAS, there is a significant risk of renal atrophy among kidneys exposed to elevated systolic blood pressure and among those with high-grade ARAS and low renal cortical blood flow velocity as assessed by renal duplex scanning. The occurrence of renal atrophy is well-correlated with changes in the serum creatinine concentration.
The cytolethal distending toxin family

Cytolethal distending toxins are produced by a small but diverse group of bacterial pathogens. This newly discovered toxin family can cause a variety of mammalian cells to become irreversibly blocked in the G2 phase of the cell cycle. How this novel effect is accomplished is unknown but the study of these fascinating toxins promises to reveal new methods of host-pathogen interaction.
Dissociation between early loss of actin fibres and subsequent cell death in serum-deprived quiescent Balb/c-3T3 cells

Serum withdrawal from either growing or quiescent Balb/c-3T3 murine fibroblasts causes a loss of F-actin fibres and focal adhesions within 30 min. Cells that are growing survive serum deprivation, whereas the great majority of density-arrested quiescent cells die during a period of up to 5 h from serum withdrawal. During this time an approximately constant fraction of the quiescent cell population dies per unit time. The population half-life is 60-70 min during this time. Addition of an appropriate cell growth factor or second messenger agonist at the time of serum withdrawal or within 2 h after serum withdrawal protects a similar fraction of viable cells. These findings suggest a model according to which withdrawal of serum (i.e. growth factors) initiates the death process in cells of the population with kinetics that approximate first-order kinetics. We postulate that appropriate growth factors or second messenger agonists block the initiating event that starts the cell death process.
Unrelated cord blood stem cell transplantation for AML

Postremission therapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) generally includes either consolidation with chemotherapy used in induction, or intensification using non–cross-resistant agents. Of approximately 60% of patients younger than 55 years who attain first remission with standard induction therapy
Factors That Predict Digital Game Play

This study examines gender, race, and the need for social gratification as significant predictors of the number of hours of weekday and weekend digital game play. Secondary analysis of data from the National Center for Education Statistics' Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 revealed that that Caucasian and Asian students were associated with diminished digital game play, whereas African Americans students were associated with increased play. Results also indicated that the need for social gratification and being male was associated with greater digital game play.
Testosterone stimulation of mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase in organ cultures of rat ventral prostate

Abstract Stimulation of mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase (mAAT) activity by testosterone was determined in organ cultures of rat ventral prostate. The effect of testosterone on citrate accumulation in the culture medium was also determined. Testosterone stimulation of citrate accumulation and mAAT occurred in a dose dependent manner. Stimulation of mAAT activity occurred after a 1–3 h lag period and appeared to involve the synthesis of specific RNA since the response was inhibited by actinomycin D. Studies utilizing [3H] l -leucine indicated that unlike the total tissue, testosterone stimulated the incorporation of [3H]leucine into proteins of the mitochondrial fraction. The results suggested that mitochondrial proteins may be more sensitive to testosterone stimulation than cytosol proteins. The response was specific for mAAT since testosterone had no effect on mitochondrial malic dehydrogenase activity. The data suggested that testosterone may regulate prostate citrate content by the induction of mAAT in prostate mitochondria, which results in a source oxalacetic acid for citrate synthesis through transamination of aspartate by alpha ketoglutarate.
Volumetric and Surface Positron Annihilation Studies of Fatigue Damage Accumulation in a Steel Alloy

Fatigue crack nucleation comprises a significant portion of the fatigue life for many structures. The ability to inspect and quantify damage before significant cracks appear could improve safety while allowing components to be retired only when they have reached the end of their useful life. Positron annihilation is one technique that allows for observation of damage accumulation on a much smaller scale than traditional nondestructive evaluation techniques. As-polished and shot-peened 300M steel specimens were fatigued under constant amplitude. Tests were interrupted at several fatigue life ratios between the as-received and failed conditions, and damage was measured with positron annihilation techniques. Positron annihilation was sensitive to both induced residual stresses and fatigue damage build up, but measurement uncertainty was high and sensitivity was low. Positron annihilation presents a potentially revolutionary nondestructive evaluation technique that could give a quantitative measure of early fatigue damage.
Reducing coding redundancy in LZW

LZW is a widely used text compression algorithm. It has been known for a long time that its flat coding method causes redundancy. In this article, we identify three sources of redundancy: (1) Flat coding does not use the code space fully. (2) LZW considers the entire dictionary, including leaf nodes, for computation of codeword size, where as leaf nodes would not be encoded. (3) LZW assigns index to a node much ahead of the time it would use the node for output. For (1), we present an elegant implementation of an approach known as phase-in binary coding. A characteristic of our formulation is that it incurs virtually no overhead and that it can be applied for integer sequence coding, as well. For (2) and (3), we assign double indices to dictionary nodes to identify nodes which should not be considered for coding. Our method generates some extra code symbols. To reduce the coding cost of these symbols, we use arithmetic coding for the final output. Experimental results are given for several benchmark datasets to compare code size reduction of our methods with some published results.
Factors associated with survival of reintroduced riparian brush rabbits in California

The riparian brush rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani riparius) is an endangered species found in dense, brushy habitat in the California’s Central Valley. We implemented a reintroduction program to bolster populations at a Federal Wildlife Refuge and to assess factors influencing mortality and subsequent survival of released individuals. Between July 2002 and July 2005, we reintroduced 325 captive-bred individuals to unoccupied habitat within their historic range using a soft-release strategy and monitored their subsequent survival with radiotelemetry. Longer time in soft-release pens resulted in increased monthly survival. Rabbits were most susceptible to post-release mortality during the first 4 weeks following reintroduction and both body mass and length of time in the soft-release enclosure influenced this relationship. When we controlled for release mortality during this acclimation period, subsequent monthly survival probabilities were most strongly influenced by release year (year 1 vs. years 2 and 3) and by a catastrophic flooding event; length of time in the soft-release enclosure remained an important variable in longer-term survival. Cause of mortality was unknown for the majority of deaths (61.9%), but predation (including presumptive predation) was the greatest known cause of death in translocated rabbits (26.4%). Reintroduction programs should employ an adaptive management approach with ongoing monitoring of target animals and concurrent analysis to allow managers to adjust methods as conditions dictate.
Physical aspects of the hartley transform

Abstract The close links between Fourier analysis and physics are shared by the Hartley transform which, as its implications are worked out, will offer alternative approaches. A distinguishing feature is that the Hartley transform represents real data by real transform values, rather than complex, a feature that carries over into optical interferometry. Some objects however are characterized by phase as well as brightness. In such cases the Hartley transform acquires an imaginary part while the Fourier transform loses its Hermitian property. The interrelation between the two complex planes suggests an instrumental means for object phase determination starting from only amplitude information in the transform domain.
Redox-mediated upregulation of hepatocyte iNOS transcription requires coactivator PC4.

Background Redox-mediated upregulation of transcription of hepatocyte inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) requires hepatocyte nuclear factor IV-alpha (HNF-4α). In this setting, PC4 is often isolated with HNF-4α in DNA-protein pull-down studies. Transcriptional coactivator PC4 facilitates activator-dependent transcription via interactions with basal transcriptional machinery that are independent of PC4-DNA binding. We hypothesized that PC4 is a necessary component of HNF-4α–regulated redox-sensitive hepatocyte iNOS transcription. Methods Murine CCL9.1 hepatocytes were stimulated with interleukin-1β (IL-1β; 1000 U/mL) in the presence and absence of peroxide (H 2 O 2 ; 50 nmol/L). Antisense and sense oligonucleotides to HNF-4α and PC4 were added selectively. Coimmunoprecipitation (Co-IP) studies determined the association between HNF-4α and PC4. Transient transfection was performed with the use of a luciferase reporter construct containing the murine iNOS promoter (1.8 kb). Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays determined in vivo binding of PC4 and HNF-4α to the iNOS promoter region. Results Ablation of either HNF-4α or PC4 blunted the peroxide-mediated increase in the activation of the iNOS promoter. In IL-1β+H 2 O 2 only, co-IP studies demonstrated the presence of an HNF-4α-PC4 protein complex, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that this complex binds to the genomic iNOS promoter. Conclusions Redox-mediated upregulation of hepatocyte iNOS transcription requires an HNF-4α-PC4 transcriptional complex.
Improvement of canine islet yield by donor pancreas infusion with a p38MAPK inhibitor.

BACKGROUND The activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) is implicated in cold ischemia-reperfusion injury of donor organs. The islet isolation process, from pancreas procurement through islet collection, may activate p38MAPK leading to cytokine release and islet damage. This damage may be prevented by treating pancreata with a p38MAPK inhibitor (p38IH) before cold preservation. METHODS Pancreata removed from Beagle dogs were infused with University of Wisconsin solution containing the p38IH, SB203580, and Pefabloc (n=6) or vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide and Pefabloc) alone (n=7), through the pancreatic duct and preserved using the two-layer method. After 20 to 22 hr, islets were isolated and 3000 IEQ/kg were autotransplanted into the corresponding dog to monitor glucose metabolism. RESULTS p38IH-treated pancreata yielded significantly more islets than control pancreata (IEQ/g: 2134+/-297 vs. 1477+/-145 IEQ/g or 65,012+/-9385 vs. 45,700+/-5103 IEQ/pancreas; P<0.05). Apoptotic beta-cell percentages assessed by laser scanning cytometry were lower in p38IH-treated than the controls (44%+/-9.4% vs. 61.6%+/-4.8%, P<0.05). Tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression assessed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was significantly lower in the p38IH-treated group than controls. All dogs (3000 IEQ/kg) transplanted with p38IH-treated islets (n=5) became euglycemic versus four of five dogs that received untreated islets. Plasma C-peptide levels after glucagon challenge were higher in animals receiving p38IH-treated islets (n=5) versus untreated islets (n=4) (0.40+/-0.78 vs. 0.21+/-0.05 ng/mL, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Infusion of pancreata with University of Wisconsin solution containing p38IH through the duct before preservation suppresses cytokine release, prevents beta-cell apoptosis, and improves islet yield significantly with no adverse effect on islet function after transplantation. p38IH treatment of human pancreata may improve islet yield for use in clinical transplantation.
Molecular analysis of intragenic recombination at the tryptophan synthetase locus in Neurospora crassa

Fifteen different classically generated and mapped mutations at the tryptophan synthetase locus in Neurospora crassa have been characterized to the level of the primary sequence of the gene. This sequence analysis has demonstrated that intragenic recombination is accurate to order mutations within one open reading frame. While classic genetic analysis correctly ordered the mutations, the position of mutations characterized by gene sequence analysis was more accurate. A leaky mutation was found to have a wild-type primary sequence. The presence of unique polymorphisms in the primary sequence of the trp-3 gene from strain 861 confirms that it has a unique history relative to the other strains studied. Most strains that were previously shown to be immunologically nonreactive with antibody preparations raised against tryptophan synthetase protein were shown to have nonsense mutations. This work defines 14 alleles of the N. crassa trp-3 gene.
Studies on the experimental epidemiology of respiratory infections. III. Certain aspects of the behavior of type A influenza virus as an air-borne cloud.

Received for publication January 24, 1950. This investigation was supported in part by grants from the Office of Naval Research, U. S. Navy. The opinions and assertions contained in this report are the private ones of the writer and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the views of the Navy Department or the naval service at large. (From Article 1252, U. S. Navy Regulations 1948.) The author wishes to thank Miss Kathryn Goudberg for valuable technical assistance. * Present address: Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Mo. 1. Wells, W. F. and Brown, H. W. 1936, Am. J. Hyg. 24: 407-413. 2. Wells, W. F. and Brown, H. W. 1936, Science, 84: 68-69. 3. Trillat, A. and Beauvillain, A. 1937, Compt. rend. Acad. d. sc. 205: 1186-1188. 4. Trillat, A. and Beauvillain, A. 1938, Rev. d'hyg. 6: 104-107. 5. Wells, W. F. and Henle, W. 1941, Proc. Soc. Exper. Biol. & Med. 48: 298-301. 6. Henle, W. and Zellat, J. 1941, Proc. Soc. Exper. Biol, ft Med. 48: 544-547. 7. Smith, W., Andrewes, C. H. and Stuart-Hardevelopment of techniques to study airborne infection has been reviewed in the first paper of this series, and reference for such information is therefore made to it.10
Nutritional, Physical and Sensory Characteristics of a Fresh Sausage Prepared From Fowl and Mutton

Abstract Breakfast sausages were prepared from 50% mutton:50% fowl (1M:1S) and from 67% mutton:33% fowl (2M:1S). The nutritional, physical and sensory properties of the muttonrfowl sausages were compared to those of a pork breakfast sausage. Attempts were made to keep the fat and salt content comparable in each formulation. Nutritionally, the three sausage formulations were similar except for the concentration of thiamine (0.51, 0.06 and 0.09 mg/100 g in the pork, 1M:1S and 2M:1S, respectively) and riboflavin (0.16, 0.06 and 0.07 mg/100 g in the pork, 1M:1S and 2M:1S, respectively) which were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) in the pork sausage. The water holding capacity (WHC) and homogenate stability (ES) of the 1 M: IS formulation was significantly greater (P ≤ 0.05) than for the pork or 2M:1S formulations while the WHC of the 2M:1S was significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) than that of the pork. Shear values for the three sausage formulations were not significantly different. Statistical analyses of the sensory data indicated no significant differences by judges (P ≤ 0.05) in juiciness, flavor or texture.
Post-Displacement Employment and Health in Professional Iraqi Refugees vs. Professional Iraqi Immigrants

This study investigates employment and health outcomes in Iraqi refugees compared to Iraqi immigrants. We surveyed 148 Iraqi professional refugees and 111 Iraqi professional immigrants residing in the United States. We hypothesized that Iraqi refugees would report lower employment and worse self-rated health as compared to Iraqi immigrants. Logistic regression was used to test various models. Results showed that more immigrants were employed, as well as employed in their original profession as compared to refugees. Regardless of immigration status, participants’ age and the way they rated their job played a larger role in health. The study is the first to demonstrate that, controlling for professional, ethnic, and cultural background, there are unknown mechanisms resulting in lower employment and skilled employment in refugees as compared to matched immigrant controls. Furthermore, satisfaction with the new work appears more important than employment, per se.
New Trends in Skeletal Reconstruction after Resection of Chest Wall Tumors

Involvement of the chest wall in malignant tumors, either primary or resulting from contiguous or metastatic spread, occurs in less than 5% of thoracic malignancies. From 1963 through 1978, 155 patients had chest wall resection in continuity with the tumor. Eighty-five tumors were carcinomas, and 70 were sarcomas. Since 1973 reconstruction of chest wall defects in 12 patients has included the use of a composite of Marlex mesh and methyl methacrylate. It provides an excellent replacement both physiologically and esthetically. Such a reconstructed chest wall has obviated the need for postoperative respiratory support. The overall mortality was 4.5% (7 out of 155). The 5-year survival in this varied group of patients is 20%. We believe excellent palliation can be achieved even in patients who are not potentially curable.
Patterning piezoelectric thin film PVDF–TrFE based pressure sensor for catheter application

Abstract We report a thin PVDF–TrFE (polyvinyledenedifluoride–trifluoroethylene) copolymer film pressure sensor, fabricated using standard lithography process for cost-effective batch process, film uniformity, and high resolution of polymer patterning. PVDF–TrFE copolymer, a semi-crystalline material, was spin-coated into thin films (1 μm thick) to tap the near β-phase formation. Pressure measurements demonstrated that the thin film (1 μm) show better performance compared to thick film (6 μm) with no electrical poling or mechanical stretching. Thin film devices showed higher β phase formation from Raman spectroscopy measurements, which translate into high piezoelectricity for sensing. The sensors can operate over a broad pressure range of 0–300 mmHg, with fast recovery time of 0.17 s, suitable for real time flow measurements in catheter applications.
Evolutionary implications of primate endogenous retroviruses

Endogenous DNA sequences related to retroviruses are probably present in all primates. By using approaches based on the polymerase chain reaction, two separate studies have revealed the evolutionary history of some of these sequences. In the first study, a retrovirus-like reverse transcriptase (RT) sequence homologous to that of Baboon endogenous virus (BaEV) has been identified in both Old World monkeys and African apes, but not in humans or Asian apes. This RT sequence is highly conserved at the amino acid level, but not the nucleotide level, in the baboon, African green monkey, Java macaque, chimpanzee, and gorilla. The patterns of nucleotide substitution indicate functional conservation and suggest that this RT sequence was present in the primate germline before apes and Old World monkeys diverged about 30 million years ago. In the second study, a comparison of endogenous proviral DNAs and their adjacent sequences has been used to analyze the evolutionary history of three previously reported human endogenous retroviruses, HERV-E(4.14), HERV-R(3), and HERV-Ia. It is shown that these retroviruses have also been resident in the primate line since before the ape-Old World monkey divergence. The implications of the presence of functionally conserved RT genes in the germlines of primates, and the potential for using integration sites as tools for analyzing phylogenetic relationships among primates and their retroviruses, are discussed.
Doppler Characterization of Murine Embryonic Umbilical Blood Flow: Insights into Developing Embryonic-Placental Circulation and Cardiac Function

Doppler Characterization of Murine Embryonic Umbilical Blood Flow: Insights into Developing Embryonic-Placental Circulation and Cardiac Function
Spatial and Time Structure of a Gravity Wave in Horizontal Atmosphere of Heterogeneous Stratification

By the use of the WKBJ method combined with the characteristic line method, the asymptotic solution of a gravity wave envelope in the atmosphere of horizontal heterogeneous stratification and time-varying stratification is obtained. The solution shows that not only the variation of amplitude of the gravity wave but also the variation of wavelength and the width of the envelope are affected by the horizontal heterogeneity. As the wave envelope moves from a region, of strong stratification to a weak one, the horizontal wavelength will become shorter, the width of the envelope will narrow and its amplitude will increase. The variation of stratification with time cannot lead to the variation of wavelength and envelope width, but the amplitude of the wave envelope will increase while the amplitude of the wave decreases in time.
Mössbauer observations of critical fluctuations in Fe

Studies of the Mossbauer linewidth in Fe just above the Curie point indicate behavior that is inconsistent with standard theory of critical fluctuations, but in agreement with previous hyperfine studies on Ni.
Mosses New to New Mexico

Abstract. A bryophyte inventory was conducted in the Valles Caldera National Preserve (VCNP), New Mexico, from 2009 to 2011. Specimens representing 113 species of bryophytes were collected. Of those bryophytes, seven of the mosses were new to New Mexico: Atrichum tenellum (Rohling) Bruch & Schimper, Dicranum tauricum Sapjegin, Orthotrichum pallens Bridel, Sphagnum girgensohnii Russow, Tortella fragilis (Hooker & Wilson) Limpricht, Tortella tortuosa (Hedwig) Limpricht var. fragilifolia (Juratzska) Limpricht, and Warnstorfia exannulata (Hedwig) Loeske.
Antifungal compounds from the roots of mycotrophic and non‐mycotrophic plant species

SUMMARY The roots of twelve plant spades From bath mycotrophic (hosts of YAM fungi) and non-mycotropic (non-hosts) families were examined for their ability to produce antifungal compounds. A TLC bioassay was used with the fungus Cladosporium cucumerimun Ellis & Arch. Of the non-mycotrophic species, five species from the Brassicaceae [Brassica kaber (DC.) Wheeler, Brassica napus L., Brassica campestris L.,Thlaspi arvense L., Rhaphanus raphasnistrum L.] had detectable antifungal compounds in extracts from roots, while two species from the Chenopodiaceae (Spinacea oleracea L., Beta vulgaris L.) and one species from the Amaranthaceae (Amaranthus retroflexus L.) did not. One mycotrophic species (Daucus carota L.) also had a detectable antifungal compound in root extracts, while three other mycotrophic species (Lactuca sativa LK., Abutilon theophrasti Medic., sorghum bicolor L.) did not. Chloroform extracts of B. kaber roots appeared to have the greatest quantity of extractable antifungal compounds as detarmined by the TLC bioassay. In a separate experiment, chloroform extracts from B. kaber roots greatly inhibited the germination of spores of Glomus etunicatum Becker and Gerd., while extracts from a number of other mycotrophic and non-mycotrophic plant roots were only marginally inhibitory. Three antifungal compounds in chloroform extracts from B. kaber roots were shown to be derived from glucosinolates. The predominant antifungal compound was identified as +-hydroxybenzyl isothiocyanate, the isothiocyanate produced by the action of myrosinase on glucosinalbin. The data provide evidence of a possible role for glucosinolates in determining the non-mycotrophic status in B. kaber.
Remote Access to the PXRR Macromolecular Crystallography Facilities at the NSLS

The most recent surge of innovations that have simplified and streamlined the process of determining macromolecular structures by crystallography owes much to the efforts of the structural genomics community. However, this was only the last step in a long evolution that saw the metamorphosis of crystallography from an heroic effort that involved years of dedication and skill into a straightforward measurement that is occasionally almost trivial [1]. Many of the steps in this remarkable odyssey involved reducing the physical labor that is demanded of experimenters in the field. Other steps reduced the technical expertise required for conducting those experiments.
Steering model-based oracles to admit real program behaviors

The oracle—an arbiter of correctness of the system under test (SUT)—is a major component of the testing process. Specifying oracles is particularly challenging for real-time embedded systems, where small changes in time or sensor inputs may cause large differences in behavior. Behavioral models of such systems, often built for analysis and simulation purposes, are naturally appealing for reuse as oracles. However, these models typically provide an idealized view of the system. Even when given the same inputs, the model’s behavior can frequently be at variance with some acceptable behavior of the SUT executing on a real platform. We therefore propose steering the model when used as an oracle, to admit an expanded set of behaviors when judging the SUT’s adherence to its requirements. On detecting a behavioral difference, the model is backtracked and then searched for a new state that satisfies certain constraints and minimizes a dissimilarity metric. The goal is to allow non-deterministic, but bounded, behavior differences while preventing future mismatches, by guiding the oracle—within limits—to match the execution of the SUT. Early experimental results show that steering significantly increases SUT-oracle conformance with minimal masking of real faults and, thus, has significant potential for reducing development costs.
Effects of ozone and simulated acidic precipitation on ectomycorrhizal formation on loblolly pine seedlings

Since air pollutants have been postulated to alter rhizosphere ecology, a study was initiated to evaluate the impact of O3 and acidic precipitation on ectomycorrhizal formation on loblolly (Pinus taeda L.) seedlings. Six-month-old loblolly pine from two families differing in O3 sensitivity were exposed to four O3 concentrations (charcoal-filtered air, non-filtered, non-filtered × 1.7, or non-filtered × 2.5) and three levels of rainfall acidity (pH = 3.3, 4.3, 5.3) in modified open-top chambers for one growing season. Seedlings were planted in root exclusion tubes designed to isolate individual root systems. Roots were evaluated for the presence or absence of ectomycorrhizal short roots. Ectomycorrhizae were quantified as numbers of morphotypes or morphotype tips per centimeter-long root. Total number of morphotypes per centimeter-long root increased with increasing O3 concentration in the O3-sensitive family. Elevated O3 caused a shift in some individual morphotypes in both families. Total number of morphotypes decreased with increasing rainfall acidity in the O3-sensitive family, but was not altered in the other family. The responses observed in this study are probably related to changes in host metabolism and/or shifts in individual morphotypes.
Murder by Timidity: BAM's Next Wave and Classic Revivals

T he Brooklyn Academy of Music's Next Wave Festival celebrated its twentieth year this season with two classical revivals conspicuous among its theatre offerings. Anchoring the festival were glitzy, large scale productions of Euripides' Medea and Shakespeare's Macbeth by prominent directors affiliated with major theatre outfits: Deborah Warner's Medea, from Dublin's famed Abbey Theatre, and Yukio Ninagawa's Macbeth, developed in his own Ninagawa Company in Japan. Both directors delivered sensational renditions of creepy old standards, but beneath a polished veneer of competence, these productions were strangely hollow and safe. A hallmark of innovative theatre is the ability to re-open classic plays and render them in creative and original ways, but these versions of Medea and Macbeth lacked the real boldness or fresh vision one hopes for from Next Wave. Improbable as it might seem considering their content, both of these murderous plays were presented as calculated crowd pleasers, leaving the impression that as Next Wave turns twenty, BAM is intent on cultivating an audience for increasingly conventional theatre. If these productions represent a "next wave" of classic revivals, the term itself is in need of an overhaul.
Cyclosporine A limits myocardial infarct size even when administered after onset of ischemia.

Objective : The role of the immunosuppressant cyclosporine A as a preconditioning-mimetic in the rabbit heart was examined. Methods : Cyclosporine A, a potent protein 2B or calcium/calmodulin-dependent phosphatase (PP) inhibitor, was administered to isolated rabbit hearts starting either 15 min prior to or 10 or 20 min after the onset of a 30 min period of regional ischemia and continuing until the onset of reperfusion. The effect of pretreatment with a second PP2B antagonist, FK-506, was also examined. In an additional protocol L-NAME was perfused for 50 min starting 5 min before the 45-min infusion of cyclosporine A. After 2 h of reperfusion infarct size was measured with triphenyltetrazolium chloride. In a second study left ventricular biopsies of isolated rabbit hearts were obtained to measure the effect of cyclosporine A on dephosphorylation of ![Graphic][1] phosphorylase kinase by calcium/calmodulin-dependent phosphatases. Results : Pretreatment with cyclosporine A resulted in only 10.0% infarction of the risk zone, significantly less than that in untreated control hearts (28.7%, p phosphorylase kinase by calcium/calmodulin-dependent phosphatases was inhibited by 67%. Conclusions: Cyclosporine A and FK-506, potent PP2B inhibitors, can protect the ischemic rabbit heart, and at least cyclosporine A continues to be effective when infusion is delayed until after the onset of ischemia. The mechanism of this protection may be related to inhibition of phosphatases and prolongation of the phosphorylation state of ischemic cells. [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif [2]: /embed/inline-graphic-2.gif
Reaction on alternating GC oligonucleotide templates.

The condensation reactions of activated nucleotides, ImpN or 2-MeImpN, with the selfcomplementary ribo-octanucleotide GCGCGCGC or with the partially self-complementary heptanucleotide GCGCGCG were studied. The templatedirected reaction of 2-meImpC with the heptamer yields the 3′–5′ octamer as the main product. All other reactions yield 2′–5′-linked octamers and pyrophosphates as major products. Surprisingly, 2-MeImpG facilitates the reaction of 2-MeImpC with the heptamer.
Efficacy of Slightly Acidic Electrolyzed Water in Killing or Reducing Escherichia coli O157:H7 on Iceberg Lettuce and Tomatoes under Simulated Food Service Operation Conditions

: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of slightly acidic electrolyzed (SAEO) water in killing or removing Escherichia coli O157:H7 on iceberg lettuce and tomatoes by washing and chilling treatment simulating protocols used in food service kitchens. Whole lettuce leaves and tomatoes were spot-inoculated with 100 μL of a mixture of 5 strains of E. coli O157:H7. Washing lettuce with SAEO water for 15 s reduced the pathogen by 1.4 to 1.6 log CFU/leaf, but the treatments did not completely inactivate the pathogen in the wash solution. Increasing the washing time to 30 s increased the reductions to 1.7 to 2.3 log CFU/leaf. Sequential washing in SAEO water for 15 s and then chilling in SAEO water for 15 min also increased the reductions to 2.0 to 2.4 log CFU/leaf, and no cell survived in chilling solution after treatment. Washing tomatoes with SAEO water for 8 s reduced E. coli O157:H7 by 5.4 to 6.3 log CFU/tomato. The reductions were increased to 6.6 to 7.6 log CFU/tomato by increasing the washing time to 15 s. Results suggested that application of SAEO water to wash and chill lettuce and tomatoes in food service kitchens could minimize cross-contamination and reduce the risk of E. coli O157:H7 present on the produce. Practical Application: SAEO water is equally or slightly better than acidic electrolyzed (AEO) water for inactivation of bacteria on lettuce and tomato surfaces. In addition, SAEO water may have the advantages over AEO water on its stability, no chlorine smell, and low corrosiveness. Therefore, SAEO water may have potential for produce wash to enhance food safety.
Atmospheric pressure laser induced fluorescence measurements of CH in flames using B(super)2signma(super)

Laser-induced fluorescence of CH B2Σ v’=1 is excited in flames using rotational levels above and below the predissociation limit. At atmospheric pressure rotational energy transfer produces a variation in the fluorescence quantum yield with rotational level and gas temperature.
Bilateral adrenalectomy for refractory Cushing disease: a safe and definitive therapy.

Background Refractory Cushing disease (CD) is associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Bilateral adrenalectomy (BA) offers effective permanent treatment. Both open and laparoscopic approaches have been used, but longterm comparisons are few. Study Design We reviewed 40 consecutive BA for refractory CD from 1995 through 2007. Surgical results were evaluated. A Short Form-36 Quality-of-Life (QOL) survey was performed. Results Eighty-five percent (34 of 40) of patients were women, and median age was 41.9 years (range, 22.2 to 78.3 years). All had persistent CD after transsphenoidal operation (mean, 1.7; range, 1 to 3). Median followup was 5.0 years. Thirty-eight percent (15 of 40) of procedures were performed laparoscopically; 1 was converted to open. There were no operative or 30-day mortalities, and there was 1 90-day mortality. Morbidities occurred in 7 of 40 (18%) patients. Median length of stay was shorter in the laparoscopic group (4 versus 6 days; p 200 ng/mL) was present during followup in 33% (13 of 40). A QOL survey demonstrated 86% of patients felt good to excellent compared with 1 year pre-BA. Chronic fatigue was present most or all of the time in 46%, and patients were below population norms on 7 of 8 Short Form-36 scales. No difference was evident in QOL between laparoscopic and open adrenalectomy. Conclusions Our experience demonstrates excellent survival and clinical results, despite the inherent risk in patients with CD. There are persistent fatigue and QOL deficits that are not ameliorated by laparoscopic compared with open resection.
Catalytic properties of polymeric copper-amine-cellulose complexes

Abstract Several Cu-amine-cellulose polymers, where the amine is 1,3-diamino-propane, 3,3'-dipropylamino- N -methyl-dipropylamine or triethylenetetramine, have been prepared and characterized by chemical analysis, UV—VIS and IR spectroscopy. They have been shown to be efficient catalysts for the selective and controlled autoxidation of a variety of organic systems in nonbasic solvents such as CHCl 3 , including the oxidative polymerization of phenols with very little dibenzoquinone as a product, oxidation of catechols to o -benzoquinones without further oxidation to muconic acid derivatives, benzoin to benzil without further oxidation to benzoic acid, oxidative coupling of terminal acetylenes to yield 1,3-diynes, oxidative halogenation of ketones and oxidative coupling of aromatic amines and aliphatic aldehydes. These complexes are easily prepared and are excellent reusable heterogeneous catalysts for a variety of autoxidations of organic substrates.
Numerical methods for nonlinear Fourier analysis, prediction, and filtering

The inverse spectral transform is numerically implemented to analyze arbitrary initial data for the Korteweg-de Vries equation with periodic boundary conditions and to predict the wave field at any point in spacetime without integration. Explicit analysis and prediction algorithms are described for arbitrary values of the gap number N. It is found that the method with N {approximately} 10 is computationally inexpensive and provides a useful analysis for a class of problems likely to occur in experimental situations. As an example the method is applied to randomized initial data, in a setting where neither soliton nor linear approximations are accurate. Wave structures occurring with these initial conditions are classified as multi-gap quasiperiodic modes and are simplified by nonlinear filtering. The efficiency of the method is briefly compared with that of direct numerical integration. 23 refs., 6 figs., 1 tab.
Effect of estradiol on pancreatic amylase and cholecystokinin binding in ovariectomized guinea pigs.

Abstract The effect of estradiol (E 2 ) on amylase content and on basal and stimulated amylase release from the pancreatic acini was examined in relation to its effects on cholecystokinin (CCK)-receptor (R) levels. Guinea pigs were ovariectomized (OVX) and a week later administered either E 2 (10 μg/kg) (Treated, T) or vehicle (corn oil) (Control, C) 0.2 ml/day s.c. After 7 days of injections, animals were killed, pancreata weighed and basal and stimulated amylase release from pancreatic acini measured. Receptors for CCK were measured on pancreatic membranes. Chronic administration of E 2 resulted in a significant decrease in: (1) pancreatic weight (0.96 ± 0.04, T vs 1.142 ± 0.046 g, C); (2) total pancreatic DNA content (5.74 ± 0.37, T vs 6.81 ± 0.16 mgs, C); (3) total amylase content in pancreata (2081 ± 307, T vs 3795 ± 442 I.U., C); (4) absolute value of basal amylase release (6.57 ± 1.4, T vs 11.8 ± 1.9 I.U./incubate, C); and (5) absolute value of amylase release stimulated by increasing doses (0.01–1000 nM) of CCK in T vs C animals. On the other hand, the amylase release in response to >0.5 nM of CCK, expressed as a percentage of the total amylase content, was significantly increased in T vs C animals, which may be related to a significant rise in the concentration (fmol/mg protein) of CCK-receptors (629.8 ± 65.9, T vs 313.4 ± 92.7 fmol, C). Concentration of DNA/unit pancreatic weight and basal amylase release expressed as a percentage of total content, however, was similar in the C and T guinea pigs, while concentration of amylase and CCK-receptors/unit pancreatic weight remained significantly different in the two groups of animals. These results suggest that E 2 may have more than one effect on the pancreas in vivo , including a significant reduction in pancreatic growth and amylase concentration/cell and an up-regulation of CCK-receptors/cell.
Information sensitivity of high tech industries: evidence from merger announcements

The uncertain nature of technological innovation and a potential misunderstanding of the complexities of high tech operations can lead to much speculation about the true worth of high tech firms. This valuation uncertainty is expected to heighten the information sensitivity of investors in high tech industries. To examine this prediction, this article investigates factors that influence the impact of high tech merger announcements on intra-industry firm valuations. The results show that investors in industry-related firms are highly sensitive to merger announcements involving high tech targets and that the industry responses are even stronger in takeovers with high information impact factors.
Updating Poverty Standards and Program Benefits

Poverty standards have risen in the past with increasing income but they have not done so at a uniform rate. Periodically there has been renewed interest in the problem of poverty and new standards have been established. Statistical definitions of poverty have become critical in the formulation of public policy toward income maintenance and social insurance. With increasing frequency they have been used as explicit criteria in determining the eligibility for programs and services and for evaluating their impact.
Comparative susceptibility of Culex tarsalis, Anopheles franciscanus, and Culiseta inornata (Diptera: Culicidae) to Plasmodium relictum (Haemosporidia: Plasmodiiae).

Repeated laboratory attempts failed to infect Culiseta inornata (Williston) and Anopheles franciscanus McCracken with Plasmodium relictum as efficiently as Culex tarsalis Coquillett controls. Of 210 An. franciscanus that imbibed a replete meal from a parasitemic canary, two were found with oocysts and none with sporozoites. Of 112 Cs. inornata similarly fed, seven contained oocysts and one contained sporozoites. In contrast, of 94 Cx. tarsalis tested, 80 (85%) were found with oocysts, thus confirming that this mosquito is a suitable host of P. relictum . Lack of An. franciscanus and Cs. inornata with sporozoites precluded transmission studies and indicated that these species do not play a major role in the maintenance of P. relictum during fall and winter in the Sacramento Valley, Calif.
Molar absorptivity and color characteristics of acylated and non-acylated pelargonidin-based anthocyanins

The effects of glycosylation and acylation on the spectral characteristics, molar absorptivity, and color attributes of purified acylated and non-acylated pelargonidin derivatives were compared. Pi...
Characterisation of the influence of micronisation on the crystallinity and physical stability of revatropate hydrobromide

Micronised particles of revatropate hydrobromide were observed to agglomerate when stored in uncontrolled conditions. Dynamic vapour sorption (DVS), isothermal microcalorimetry, microscopy and particle size measurement by laser diffraction have been used to study micronised revatropate hydrobromide. The rate and extent of agglomeration were dependent on the energy of the micronisation process, the sampling point for bulk within the mill and the humidity during storage. The agglomeration was attributed to the recrystallisation of disordered regions on the particles of revatropate hydrobromide generated during micronisation. This recrystallisation was assessed qualitatively and quantitatively, compared against spray-dried amorphous material, using DVS and isothermal microcalorimetry, respectively. A correlation was established between the energy of micronisation and the level of disorder within the micronised powder. A comparison of the DVS profiles of freshly prepared and aged micronised revatropate hydrobromide suggests an increased physical stability for the aged material.
Relative strength of the tibia and fibula and locomotor behavior in hominoids

The fibula has rarely been considered in comparative morphological studies, probably due to its relatively minor role in carrying mechanical loads. However, some differences in morphology (and inferred function) of the fibula between humans and apes, and within apes, have been noted and related to differences in positional behavior. Therefore, the study of tibiofibular relations may be useful in characterizing such differences. This study examines cross-sectional geometric (CSG) properties (cortical area and polar section modulus, Zp) of the tibia and fibula at mid-diaphysis across a sample (n ¼ 87) of humans, chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, and gibbons. The fibula is compared against the tibia in the different taxa. The results indicate that the robusticity of the fibula relative to that of the tibia can be explained in terms of differences in positional behavior. In particular, hominoids that are more arboreal (i.e., gibbons, orangutans, and chimpanzees) possess a relatively more robust fibula than do hominoids that are more terrestrial (i.e., gorillas and humans). The difference appears to be a consequence of the more mobile fibula and more adducted position of the hindlimb necessary in an arboreal environment. Apart from providing the first CSG data on the fibula, these results may be helpful in reconstructing the locomotor behavior of fossil hominoids. 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.