cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Seasonal methane and nitrous oxide emissions of several rice cultivars in direct-seeded systems

An understanding of cultivar effects on field greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in rice (Oryza sativa L.) systems is needed to improve the accuracy of predictive models used for estimating GHG emissions and to evaluate the GHG mitigation potential of different cultivars. We compared CH 4 and N2O emissions, global warming potential (GWP = N2O + CH4), yield-scaled GWP (GWPY = GWP Mg -1 grain), and plant growth characteristics of eight cultivars within four study sites in California and Arkansas. Nitrous oxide emissions were negligible (<10% of GWP) and were not different among cultivars. Seasonal CH 4 emissions differed between cultivars by a factor of 2.1 and 1.4 at one California and one Arkansas site, respectively. Plant growth characteristics were generally not correlated with seasonal CH4 emissions; however, the strongest correlations were observed for shoot and total plant (root + shoot) biomass at heading (r = 0.60) at one California site and for grain at maturity (r = -0.95) at one Arkansas site. Although differences in GWP and GWP Y were observed, there were inconsistencies across sites, indicating the importance of the genotype × environment interaction. Overall, the cultivars with the lowest CH4 emissions, GWP, and GWPY at the California and Arkansas sites were the lowest and highest yielding, respectively. These findings highlight the potential for breeding high-yielding cultivars with low GWP, the ideal scenario to achieve low GWPY, but environmental conditions must also be considered.
Vascular involvement in tuberous sclerosis

Vascular involvement in tuberous sclerosis (TS) is rare. Central and peripheral aneurysms and large and medium size arterial stenotic-occlusive disease have been reported in patients with TS. We present here three pediatric patients with TS and severe vascular abnormalities, followed by a review of the literature. The three cases include a 14-month-old girl with polycystic kidneys and cerebral tubers who had a large asymptomatic abdominal aortic aneurysm, a 2-year-old boy with multiple features of TS who had hypertension and was found to have mid-aortic syndrome with bilateral renal artery stenosis, and an 18-year-old girl with abdominal pain and TS features who had greater than 70% celiac artery stenosis. In all cases, noninvasive vascular imaging modalities were utilized for either initial diagnosis, surveillance, or both. These cases highlight the collaborative roles of the pediatric nephrologist and cardiovascular imager in the diagnosis and management of the vascular complications in TS patients. Appropriate care can only be made through a high index of suspicion.
Analysis of dual transport systems by means of Hill plots.

Abstract A method is proposed for calculating the parameters of dual solute transport systems utilizing Hill plots of isotope uptake data. The use of the method is illustrated with synaptosomal uptakes of phenylalanine and leucine and with data that have been reported in the literature for synaptosomal uptakes of taurine and glutamate via dual systems.
Determination of 32 elements in rocks by neutron activation analysis and high resolution gamma-ray spectroscopy

Neutron activation analysis and Ge(Li) spectroscopy was used to determine 32 elements in seven U.S.G.S. standard rocks of a wide range of composition. Short half-life nuclides (10 sec-10 min) were used to measure Sc, Hf, Dy, Mg, Al, Ca, Ti, V (and Na) in an automated rabbit Ge(Li) detector system. The elements K, Cu, Zn, Ga, Sr, Ba, La, Eu, Sm (and Mn) were determined by dissolution of the irradiated sample followed by removal of24Na on hydrated antimony pentoxide (HAP). Long-lived nuclides were used to measure Sc, Cr, Fe, Co, Zr, Rb, Sb, Cs, Ba, Ce, Eu, Yb, Tb, Lu, Hf, Ta and Th after decay of24Na. The method involves little radiochemistry and the separation is selective for24Na under the experimental conditions used. Elemental concentrations determined agree well with previously published data.
2009 Special Issue: Exploiting co-adaptation for the design of symbiotic neuroprosthetic assistants

The success of brain-machine interfaces (BMI) is enabled by the remarkable ability of the brain to incorporate the artificial neuroprosthetic 'tool' into its own cognitive space and use it as an extension of the user's body. Unlike other tools, neuroprosthetics create a shared space that seamlessly spans the user's internal goal representation of the world and the external physical environment enabling a much deeper human-tool symbiosis. A key factor in the transformation of 'simple tools' into 'intelligent tools' is the concept of co-adaptation where the tool becomes functionally involved in the extraction and definition of the user's goals. Recent advancements in the neuroscience and engineering of neuroprosthetics are providing a blueprint for how new co-adaptive designs based on reinforcement learning change the nature of a user's ability to accomplish tasks that were not possible using conventional methodologies. By designing adaptive controls and artificial intelligence into the neural interface, tools can become active assistants in goal-directed behavior and further enhance human performance in particular for the disabled population. This paper presents recent advances in computational and neural systems supporting the development of symbiotic neuroprosthetic assistants.
Pedagogical Red Tape: Difficulties in Teaching the Bureaucracy to Undergraduate Students

Americans are often perceived as holding extremely negative views of governmental bureaucrats. Phrases like bureaucratic waste and unresponsive bureaucracy fill the mainstream media and taint the image of bureaucrats. Beginning in basic high school civics classes, students are taught to respect the lawmaking process, the executive power of the President, and the interpretive influence of judges, yet very few are instructed to remember the mail carrier who delivers their mail consistently or the social service worker who handles a constant stream of phone calls—perhaps even on their behalf. Given the lack of background most students have on the bureaucracy, political science classes at the collegiate level are imperative in helping to overcome the popularly held negative myths of these important institutions. This article examines how academics attempt to tackle the complex issues surrounding the American bureaucracy with their American government students.
Contact potential contrast in SEM images observed on sulfur-adsorbed Cu3Au (110) surfaces

Abstract A special kind of spot contrast is observed in the SEM images of the sulfur-adsorbed Cu3Au (110) surfaces. The spots are identified as segregating Au islands induced by the segregation of sulfur on the surface. This contrast cannot be explained with the conventional morphology contrast or the contrast formed by the difference in the secondary electron emission coefficients of the materials on the surface. A new kind of contrast mechanism, contact potential contrast, is proposed to explain the observed SEM images and their change with the surface sulfur coverage. Based on the proposed model, contact potential contrast of Cu3Au is calculated by using a calculated energy distribution curve of secondary electron emission. The result is compared with experimental data.
Mutational Analysis of the Sequences at the Termini of the Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus DNA Required for Integration

Abstract The insertion of retroviral DNA into the genome of the infected cell to form the integrated provirus requires the presence of short inverted repeat (IR) sequences at the viral DNA termini. To examine the sequence requirements at the IRa for integration of the Moloney murine leukemia virus, we generated a series of mutants with deletion and substitution mutations and tested their ability to replicate and form proviruses in vivo. The experiments did not detect evidence of a requirement for sequences outside the IRs, and only a very loose requirement for the IR sequences, with many point mutations well tolerated. Examination of the mutants suggests that bases very near the terminus and those approximately one turn of the DNA helix away from the terminus are important for recognition by the integrase function.
p-n Junction photodetectors based on macroscopic single-wall carbon nanotube films

We have designed, fabricated, and characterized novel p-n junction photodetectors based on macroscopic single-wall carbon nanotube films. A broadband responsivity up to ∼ 1 V/W was observed at the junction region. By controlling for substrate and doping levels, we determined that the mechanism is the photothermoelectric effect, which is supported by a theoretical model.
Acute exacerbations in chronic hepatitis C: a clinicopathological and prognostic study

Abstract Background/Methods: To examine the incidence, predisposing factors, clinicopathological characteristics and implications of acute exacerbations in chronic hepatitis C, a consecutive series of 194 biopsy-verified, anti-HCV-positive and hepatitis B surface antigen-negative patients were followed up and studied for the events of acute exacerbations, sustained biochemical resolution and development of cirrhosis. Results: During a mean period of 6.2±3.5 (1.0–14.0) years, 151 episodes of acute exacerbations were recorded in 78 patients (40.2%). The estimated annual incidence of acute exacerbations was 11.9%. Fifty-five percent of acute exacerbations were asymptomatic. Histological study of acute exacerbations showed mild to moderate lobular inflammatory activities without bridging hepatic necrosis in all and periportal piecemeal in 23 (42.6%). The clinicopathological features of acute exacerbations in patients with chronic hepatitis C were less severe than those in patients with chronic hepatitis B. The route of infection, sex, age, mode of clinical presentation and the initial histology did not influence the occurrence of acute exacerbations. Only those with alanine aminotransferase ≥300 U/l at entry tended to develop acute exacerbations more frequently ( p per se did not influence the subsequent development of cirrhosis or sustained biochemical resolution. Cirrhosis developed more frequently in patients with chronic active hepatitis at entry ( p Conclusions: These results suggest that acute exacerbations also occur frequently in patients with chronic hepatitis C. They are clinically indolent, histologically less severe and not likely to be followed by sustained remission or development of cirrhosis.
Goiter from prolonged ingestion of iodide.

The development of myxedema and/or goiter in children and adults during the prolonged administration of large doses of iodide has recently been reported (1, 2, 3). This phenomenon has been attributed to an antithyroid action of the iodide (2). Administration of desiccated thyroid (2) or cessation of the iodide (3) resulted in a regression of the symptoms.
The catastrophic failure of pressurized graphite/epoxy cylinders initiated by slits at various angles

Graphite/epoxy cylinders with single slits were tested at angles of 0, 22.5, 45, and 67.5 deg to the longitudinal axis. The cylinders were fabricated from four plies of graphite/epoxy cloth and were fitted with end caps. Slits of varying lengths were cut through the wall at different angles to the longitudinal axis. The slits were sealed with patches constructed of thin aluminum strips that were slightly longer than the slit. Using the motion of an "equivalent" cylinder to extend the Mar-Lin relationship of a flat sheet to the cylinder, a simple method was developed to predict the fracture pressure of those cylinders exhibiting induced damage to the slits. A comparison of the predicted values with the experimental results shows that this method is reasonable.
Jumping and Spinning by Carcharhinid Sharks: Another View

Abstract Carcharhinus brevipinna (spinner) and Carcharhinus limbatus (blacktip) sharks make spectacular jumps and spinning leaps out of the water. Some believe these are: jumping responses to rid sharksuckers (Echeneis naucrates) that attach to their bodies, chaffing, shuttling, or heat hunter- cool rest behaviors. Examination of North Carolina shark data suggests that C. brevipinna and C. limbatus in temperate waters of North Carolina sense changes in abrupt ocean water temperatures. Echeneis naucrates is just along for the ride. Why after fourty-six years of longlining only one Echeneis naucrates occurred on C. brevipinna while many occurred on C. limbatus is unknown. Perhaps something in the skin texture, not shape, of C. brevipinna deters Echeneis from attaching.
Utilizing adaptive wing technology in the control of a micro air vehicle

Evolution of the design of micro air vehicles (MAVs) towards miniaturization has been severely constrained by the size and mass of the electronic components needed to control the vehicles. Recent research, experimentation, and development in the area of smart materials have led to the possibility of embedding control actuators, fabricated from smart materials, in the wing of the vehicle, reducing both the size and mass of these components. Further advantages can be realized by developing adaptive wing structures. Small size and mass, and low airspeeds, can lead to considerable buffeting during flight, and may result in a loss of flight control. In order to counter these effects, we are developing a thin, variable-cambered airfoil design with actuators embedded within the wing. In addition to reducing the mass and size of the vehicle or, conversely, increasing its available payload, an important benefit from the adaptive wing concept is the possibility of in-flight modification of the flight envelope. Reduced airspeeds, which are crucial during loiter, can be realized by an in-flight increase in wing camber. Conversely, decreases in camber provide for an airframe best suited for rapid ingress/egress and extension of the mission range.
History of LISP

This paper concentrates on the development of the basic ideas and distinguishes two periods - Summer 1958 through Summer 1958 when most of the key ideas were developed (some of which were implemented in the FORTRAN based FLPL), and Fall 1958 through 1962 when the programming language was implemented and applied to problems of artificial intelligence. After 1962, the development of LISP became multi-stranded, and different ideas were pursued in different places.
Combating Abuse of Health Data in the Age of eHealth Exchange

The eHealth Exchange is a widely distributed system that allows various healthcare enterprises to share electronic health data across the United States. Unfortunately, the healthcare system in the United States is plagued with abuse and fraud which costs the country an estimated 80 billion every year. The eHealth Exchange will likely become a target of new online attacks and such abuse will possibly increase in scale. In this paper, we discuss some of the emerging online threats that would likely target systems that facilitate sharing of electronic medical records. We design an enhanced version of the eHealth Exchange with mechanisms to prevent, detect and facilitate investigation of fraudulent medical claims resulting from successful breach of sensitive health data. We also support patient-awareness over how their data is consumed within the distributed network, and augment the accountability present within it. We implement our enhancements within CONNECT, which is an open-source implementation of the eHealth Exchange, and OpenMRS, which is a popular open source electronic medical record system platform. We provide a security analysis and preliminary performance results of our implementation.
Motivating Latina Doctoral Students in STEM Disciplines

Latina students who enter higher education and aspire to graduate degrees encounter numerous obstacles along the academic pipeline that ultimately shape their graduate school perspectives.
Optimal Control of Diffusions

Abstract. We prove a version of Pontryagin's maximum principle for time and norm optimal control of linear diffusion processes. This result includes both necessary and sufficient conditions and implies a ``concentration principle'' for the optimal measure-valued controls.
Where the genes flow

Particles of organic matter in the ocean host diverse communities of microorganisms. These particles may serve as hotspots of bacterial gene exchange, creating opportunities for microbial evolution.
The Oedipus complex in cultural anthropology today

Spiro, Melford E. Oedipus in the Trobriands. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1982. xii + 200 pp. including references and index. $8.00 paper.
Effects of Chlorhexidine Diacetate on Ruminal Microorganisms

The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of chlorhexidine diacetate on growth and L-lactate production by Streptococcus bovis JB1 as well as the effects of this antimicrobial compound on the mixed ruminal microorganism fermentation. Addition of 1.8 μM chlorhexidine diacetate to glucose medium resulted in a lag in growth by S. bovis JB1, and growth was completely inhibited in the presence of 3.6, 9.0, and 18 μM chlorhexidine. When 6.2 μM chlorhexidine diacetate was added to glucose medium after 2 h of incubation, glucose utilization and L-lactate production by S. bovis JB1 were reduced. Phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphorylation of 14C-glucose by toluene-treated cells of S. bovis JB1 was inhibited by increasing concentrations (1.8 to 18 μM) of chlorhexidine, whereas only the 18 μM concentration reduced the membrane potential (ΔΨ). Chlorhexidine diacetate was a potent inhibitor of L-lactate and methane production from glucose fermentation by mixed ruminal microorganisms. However, because chlorhexidine also decreased acetate and propionate concentrations and increased ammonia concentrations in mixed-culture incubations, this antimicrobial compound may have limited application as a ruminant feed additive.
Clinical Recognition and Management of an Atypical Dacryoadenitis

Dacryoadenitis, a condition defined as inflammation of the lacrimal gland, has many etiologies; rarely is it associated with a lacrimal gland abscess. In this article, a 7-year-old African American boy was diagnosed with a lacrimal gland abscess secondary to oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (ORSA). The incidence of conditions arising from ORSA, a term used interchangeably with methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA), is reportedly on the rise in our population over the past decade. Recognition of atypical pathogens, initiation of timely appropriate-spectrum pharmaceuticals, and conservative follow-up are imperative in treating and preventing potentially vision-threatening sequelae of dacryoadenitis.
SU-E-J-77: Clinical Evaluation of a Three-Dimensional Optical Surface Based Imaging Device for Breast Treatment Setup.

Purpose: The purpose of this work is to evaluate the accuracy of a three‐dimensional surface based optical imagingdevice for treatment setup of breast patients. A commercial system has been used to acquire live surface contour data, which are registered with a reference surface contour for setup corrections. This work is to investigate the accuracy of this system when compared with conventional portal images.Methods: The system was clinically applied to twenty breast cancer patients receiving radiotherapytreatment. For each patient, conventional portal imaging before the first fraction was acquired and approved by clinicians. After approval of portal images, a reference surface contour was acquired. This reference contour was subsequently used to guide daily patient setup followed by weekly portal images. A total of 89 sets of portal images were acquired for these patients. On days when portal images were taken, optical images were used to guide for initial patient setup, then portal images were taken and evaluated in order to make direct comparison between the optical imagingsystem and the conventional portal images.Results: Among 89 sets of portal images taken after optical imaging guidance, 11 (12%) sets of portal images required further adjustments in order to achieve clinically acceptable criteria. The average vector adjustments for these 11 fractions were 0.65 cm ± 0.30 cm. Average vector shifts made according to the optical imaging for all fractions of 20 patients was 0.66 ± 0.33 cm. Conclusions: Our data show that the commercial optical system can improve the accuracy of treatment setup for breast patients without additional radiation exposure. The observed discrepancy between the portal images and optimal images requires further investigation. The optical imaging guidance can be routinely used between normally scheduled portal imaging.
The dual influence of curvature and buoyancy in fully developed tube flows

Abstract Fully developed laminar flow through a heated horizontal curved tube is studied using a two-dimensional numerical representation of the fully-elliptic Navier-Stokes and energy equations. Buoyancy and curvature effects are included and two types of thermal boundary conditions are examined. Heat transfer and pressure drop data are provided in addition to flow velocity and temperature contours. Regime maps are presented which delineate the range of combined curvature/buoyancy influence for both types of boundary conditions. The results for uniform peripheral heat flux reveal a large region of parameter space where fully developed laminar solutions could not be found.
Effects of dynamic recovery on amorphization kinetics in 6H-SiC

Abstract Irradiation-induced amorphization in 6H-SiC has been previously studied as a function of irradiation temperature for electrons and ions ranging from Ne to Au. Analysis of these data with a dynamic model for amorphization reveals that the amorphization dose increases and the critical amorphization temperature decreases as the ratio of in-cascade ionization to displacement rates increases. Model fits to the data yield the ratio of radiation-induced recovery cross section, σ r , to damage cross section, σ d , and an activation energy of 0.12 ± 0.01 eV for irradiation-induced recovery. The critical temperature exhibits a linear dependence on 1/ln( σ r / σ d ), consistent with the model.
Diet and Primordial Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Children and Adolescents

It is now clear that the process of atherosclerosis begins in childhood. A series of pathology studies, starting with autopsy examination of young soldiers killed in combat in the Korean War1 and the war in Vietnam2 to more recent studies such as the Pathobiologic Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Youth (PDAY) study3 and the Bogalusa study,4,5 have demonstrated that fatty streaks in the aorta and coronary arteries develop early in life and that even the more advanced and more concerning fibrous plaques are present in a proportion of adolescents and young adults. The PDAY and Bogalusa studies also have demonstrated that the traditional risk factors such as high body mass index, high blood pressure, and dyslipidemia are strongly associated with the presence and extent of arterial lesions.3,4 The Bogalusa cohort also has demonstrated that the presence of multiple risk factors is associated with an even higher risk for atherosclerotic lesions.5 Article p 1032 It is also well known that atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in developed countries.6 Not uncommonly, the first clinical episode related to atherosclerosis is sudden cardiac death.7 Taken together, these data argue very strongly for the prevention of atherosclerosis and for prevention efforts to begin early in life. This might best be labeled primordial prevention because it is aimed at the prevention of development of risk factors in the first place. However, pediatric prevention of cardiovascular …
The stability of cesium iodide X-ray photocathodes

Abstract For pulsed X-ray measurements as applied, for example, in high temperature plasma diagnostics, it has been established that the cesium iodide photocathode is very efficient for X-ray diode and streak camera applications. Its quantum yield (electrons/incident photon) is ten to one-hundred times higher than that for the gold photocathode in the 100–10 000 eV region. The width of its secondary electron energy distribution is appreciably less than that for gold, allowing time resolved, streak camera measurements to be extended into the picosecond region. In this note an experimental study is described which demonstrates that the cesium iodide photocathode quantum yield and secondary electron energy distribution can be stable under practical conditions of preparation, handling, storage and short period exposures to the atmosphere.
Processing of Flavivirus Structural Glycoproteins: Stable Membrane Insertion of Premembrane Requires the Envelope Signal Peptide

The flavivirus structural proteins capsid (C), premembrane (prM), and envelope (E) are cleaved in that order from the N-terminus of the polyprotein by the ER intralumenal enzyme signal peptidase. The prM-E and E-NS1 junctions contain hydrophobic domains with both transmembrane and signal function. These domains reside at the C-termini of prM and E, respectively, after cleavage. We studied the functions of the 37-amino-acid C-terminus of the dengue virus type 4 (DEN4) prM (amino acids 243-279 of the DEN4 polyprotein) in the processing of prM and E. Hydrophobicity in this domain is interrupted by a conserved Arg residue (Arg-264) within a short amphipathic segment. Hydrophobic amino acids upstream from Arg-264 (aa 243-263) were presumed to constitute the membrane anchor for prM (the "tm" segment). Previous results had suggested that sequences downstream from Arg-264 (aa 265-279) constitute the E signal peptide. RNA transcripts prepared from wild-type (wt) and deletion-mutant DEN4 cDNAs encoding the prM signal peptide, prM, E, and the N-terminus of the nonstructural glycoprotein, NS1, were translated in rabbit reticulocyte lysate in the presence of microsomes. Processing of wt prM and E in vitro appeared to mimic processing occurring during flavivirus infection. Analysis of mutants confirmed the localization of the E signal peptide within residues 265 to 279. However, deletions within either the E signal peptide or the tm segment resulted in a defect in both membrane insertion of prM and cleavage of the prM-E junction. Membrane anchoring of prM appeared to be a two-step process requiring function of both the tm segment and the E signal peptide, and fully efficient prM-E cleavage was also dependent upon the integrity of both hydrophobic domains. We propose a model for the processing of the flavivirus structural glycoproteins based on these results.
Optically continuous silcrete quartz cements of the St. Peter Sandstone: High precision oxygen isotope analysis by ion microprobe

A detailed oxygen isotope study of detrital quartz and authigenic quartz overgrowths from shallowly buried (<1 km) quartz arenites of the St. Peter Sandstone (in SW Wisconsin) constrains temperature and fluid sources during diagenesis. Quartz overgrowths are syntaxial (optically continuous) and show complex luminescent zonation by cathodoluminescence. Detrital quartz grains were separated from 53 rocks and analyzed for oxygen isotope ratio by laser fluorination, resulting
Co-construction of Nonnative Speaker Identity in Cross-cultural Interaction

Informed by Conversation Analysis, this paper examines discursive practices through which nonnative speaker (NNS) identity is constituted in relation to native speaker (NS) identity in naturally occurring English conversations. Drawing on studies of social interaction that view identity as intrinsically a social, dialogic, negotiable entity, I propose that NS/NNS identities are social categories that are made procedurally relevant to the ongoing interaction and that consequently invoke an asymmetrical alignment of the participants. Two sets of videotaped English conversations were analyzed to delineate the sequential organization of the participant framework whereby participants negotiate their NS/NNS identities by aligning and realigning vis-a-vis each other. The analysis shows that participants invoke NS/NNS identities by incidentally undertaking requestor–requestee identities in the midst of a word search and further sustain them by assuming assessor–assessed identities within the situated activity of evaluating self or other's linguistic performance. Invoked NS/NNS identities often undergo renegotiation, which instantly revokes an asymmetry that has arisen between the participants within their NS/NNS identities. The findings indicate that a local asymmetry between an NS and an NNS is not merely an external constraint on participants’ discursive conduct but also provides resources for moving the interaction ahead.
Authoring Multiple formas de ser: Three Bilingual Latino/a Fifth Graders Navigating School

Drawing from sociocultural and anthropological perspectives, I present 3 case examples of bilingual, Mexican-origin students enrolled in a transitional bilingual educational program in an urban elementary school. By using the theoretical constructs of figured worlds, authoring, and formas de ser (ways of being), I examine how student identities were in a constant and dialogic state of formation by the students themselves and others. I discuss how high-stakes testing and other schooling practices narrowly authored students behaviorally, academically, and linguistically—bringing about schooling environments where students' strengths and multifaceted formas de ser were all-too-often overlooked.
Material handling, inventory and productivity improvement - A Lean Six Sigma approach case study

This paper describes a two-step strategic-tactical Lean Six Sigma methodology as used by the author to improve productivity, enhance inventory and material handling management, and thus, reduce operational costs at “Down Town Press Inc.”, a commercial printing press located in New York State, USA. A close look at the company's performance revealed a troubling picture with only 51 % utilization of personnel, nearly $40,000 of invested capital underutilized annually, and an excess of monthly inventory costs of almost $29,000. This study was conducted to help the company avoid a fatal bankruptcy and regain financial prosperity. First, a strategic Six Sigma DMAIC procedure approach is deployed to better understand the deep turmoil faced by Down Town Press Inc. Second, a more tactical Lean approach is applied to identify various wastes and propose a set of techniques, technologies and strategies to reduce or eliminate the identified wastes, and thus, reduce operational costs. The continuous improvement changes proposed at the conclusion of the study suggest a possible reduction of $300,000 in yearly operational capital. Furthermore, with the implementation of the proposed Inventory Management integrated with a comprehensive Material Handling Management System, the study predicts a higher utilization of employees and, therefore, an increased productivity.
Rapid measurement of somatosensory evoked potential response to cerebral artery occlusion

The aim of the paper is to determine the speed of the neurological response to cerebral artery occlusion by monitoring transient changes in somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs). SEPs, continuously monitored during temporary clipping of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in anaesthetised cats, are analysed. The SEP signals are modelled by a quasi-periodic Fourier series, the coefficients of which are estimated with the aid of two adaptive least squares estimation algorithms. The energy levels at various harmonics throughout the protocol are obtained directly from the filter weights. Noise covariance is estimated from pre-stimulus recording, and the adaptation rate of the algorithm is adjusted sweep-by-sweep to accomodate transient changes in the pre-stimulus noise level. After the occlusion, a significant decrease (p<0·05) in SEP amplitude is observed. The change in latency is not statistically significant (p≅0·5). The spectral trends show a sudden decline in energy at all harmonics immediately following occlusion, although when the amplifier bandwidth is changed to 5–1500 Hz (from an initial setting of 30–1500 Hz), the fundamental frequency component of the SEP signal shows the greatest responsiveness to injury. The average time constant of the decline in amplitude resulting from MCA occlusion is only 10·6±4·0 s. It is concluded that rapid detection of cerebral artery occlusion and ischaemia may be feasible by continuously monitoring SEP signals and analysing transient changes in time and frequency domains.
Electron Microscopy of Peripheral Nerves and Neuromuscular Junctions in the Wasp Leg

The peripheral nerve branch innervating the femoral muscles of the common yellow jacket (Vespula carolina) has been found to possess a thick lemnoblast basement membrane and a complex mesaxon. The term "tunicated nerve" is proposed to designate the type of peripheral nerve in which one or several axons are loosely mantled by meandering, cytoplasm-enclosing membranes of the lemnoblast. The peripheral axon courses longitudinally in a groove in the muscle fiber between the plasma membrane of the muscle fiber and a cap formed by lemnoblast and tracheoblast. The junction is characterized by apposition of plasma membranes of axon and muscle fiber, abundant mitochondria, and synaptic vesicles in the axon, and aggregates of "aposynaptic granules" plus mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum on the muscle side of the synapse. Unlike the vertebrate striated muscle fiber, no complex infolding of the synapsing plasma membrane of the muscle fiber occurs. The "connecting tissue" of the insect is formed by tracheoblasts, their basement membranes, and the basement membranes of other cells. Further mechanical support is given by the ramifying tracheoles. The physiologic roles of the specialized structures are considered.
Synthesis of 3‘-Fluoro-2‘,3‘-dideoxy-2‘,3‘-didehydro-4‘-ethynyl-d- and -l-furanosyl Nucleosides

An efficient procedure has been developed for the synthesis of 3'-fluoro-2',3'-dideoxy-2',3'-didehydro-4'-ethynyl D- and L-furanosyl nucleosides (1 and 2) starting from 2,3-O-isopropylidene-d-glyceraldehyde. The key intermediate 1-O-benzoyl-3E-fluoro-3,4-unsaturated-5,6-di(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-2-hexanone 8 was obtained in nine steps with the overall yield of 22%. The alpha,beta-unsaturated ketone 8 was then treated with ethynylmagnesium bromide in a typical Grignard reaction procedure to afford the two intermediates 9 and 10, which after deprotection, oxidation, and acetylation gave the corresponding 4-ethynyl-substituted D- and L-sugar moieties 15 and 16, respectively. A series of D- and L-pyrimidine and purine nucleosides were prepared by the coupling of the sugar moieties with various silylprotected bases. The anomeric mixtures were obtained after condensation. After separation, the beta-isomers were further deprotected to yield the target nucleosides. All the newly synthesized 4'-substituted nucleosides were tested for their activities against HIV, among which the D-adenine derivative showed moderate anti-HIV activity (EC(50) = 25.1 microM) without significant cytotoxicity.
Effects of position on oesophageal function: studies using combined manometry and multichannel intraluminal impedance

Abstract Multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII) allows assessment of intraoesophageal bolus transit. In the supine position, bolus transit is produced almost exclusively by peristaltic contractions; in the upright position, gravity also contributes to bolus transit. MII and peristaltic pressures were measured in four positions (0, 30, 60 and 90°) using ten swallows (5 cc each) of both water and viscous liquid with body position determined by random choice. Tracings were analysed for total bolus transit time: time interval between bolus entry at 20 cm above and bolus exit at 5 cm above the lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) and contraction amplitudes at 5 and 10 cm above the LOS. Statistical comparison of mean values of all four body positions was done using anova and Bonnferoni post-test. Ten normal subjects (five females and five males, age 24–45 years) completed the study. At each body position, liquid material transited faster (P 0.99 and P < 0.02 for both substances). Contraction amplitudes for liquid vs viscous material were not significantly different at a given degree of inclination. Mean distal oesophageal amplitude declined with increasing inclination. Combined MII–OM identifies and quantifies the effects of gravity on the dichotomy between specific pressures measured by OM and function assessed as transit measured by MII.
The effect of variation in foreign production on domestic factor prices

Abstract In this article, the effects of random versus nonrandom foreign production on the average commodity price ratio and on average domestic factor prices are examined within the context of the Heckscher-Ohlin framework. It is shown that the average price ratio is changed when production is random. Thus, the condition derived by Murray C. Kemp and Chulsoon Khang for expected factor prices to be changed when the commodity price ratio is random, must be altered in accordance with the Stolper-Samuelson theorem.
Aldosterone antagonists: effective add-on therapy for the treatment of resistant hypertension.

Resistant hypertension is defined as blood pressure that remains above target levels despite treatment with three different antihypertensive agents. Cross-sectional analyses and hypertension outcome studies indicate that it is a common clinical problem, which will undoubtedly become increasingly prevelant with an aging and increasingly overwight population. Secondary causes of hypertension are common in patients with resistant hypertension, particularly hyperaldosteronism, with a prevalence of approximately 15–20%. This, however, is likely to be an underestimation of the role excess aldosterone plays in causing resistance to treatment. In subjects with resistant hypertension, suppressed renin levels are common, exceeding 60% in studies conducted by the authors and from centers elsewhere in the world, suggesting occurrence of excess aldosterone beyond cases of true primary aldosteronism. Recent clinical studies indicate that aldosterone antagonists provide significant additional blood pressure reduction wh...
Choline metabolism in malignant transformation

Abnormal choline metabolism is emerging as a metabolic hallmark that is associated with oncogenesis and tumour progression. Following transformation, the modulation of enzymes that control anabolic and catabolic pathways causes increased levels of choline-containing precursors and breakdown products of membrane phospholipids. These increased levels are associated with proliferation, and recent studies emphasize the complex reciprocal interactions between oncogenic signalling and choline metabolism. Because choline-containing compounds are detected by non-invasive magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), increased levels of these compounds provide a non-invasive biomarker of transformation, staging and response to therapy. Furthermore, enzymes of choline metabolism, such as choline kinase, present novel targets for image-guided cancer therapy.
Concerning the Unity of Consciousness: Part I. Varieties of Conscious Unity

Everyone agrees on one thing about consciousness—it possesses some sort of unity. Theorists of consciousness do not always give the same account of what this property amounts to, or of that from which they believe unity derives. In the present article, the unity of consciousness is discussed with reference to authors who have given to it some, larger or smaller, quantity of theoretical attention. Four main kinds of conscious unity emerge from the discussion, though these are not all uncontroversial. William James's treatment of one of these—called here “personal conscious unity”–is addressed in the greatest detail; but there remains a great deal more that needs to be said about all four kinds of conscious unity. The article is published in two parts.
Orthomax rotation and perfect simple structure

A loading matrix has perfect simple structure if each row has at most one nonzero element. It is shown that if there is an orthogonal rotation of an initial loading matrix that has perfect simple structure, then orthomax rotation with 0 ≤γ ≤ 1 of the initial loading matrix will produce the perfect simple structure. In particular, varimax and quartimax will produce rotations with perfect simple structure whenever they exist.
272 BIRTH OF A CALF AFTER INTRACYTOPLASMIC SPERM INJECTION WITH FROZEN–THAWED EPIDIDYMAL SPERM FROM A POSTMORTEM BULL

The use of postmortem epididymal sperm for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) will allow a more effective use of valuable gametes if a breeding male dies unexpectedly. The objective of this study was to determine pronuclear formation and embryo development rates of frozenâthawed bovine epididymal sperm-injected oocytes. Epididymal sperm were harvested by multiple incisions in the cauda epididymides of an abattoir-derived mature, mixed breed beef bull within 5 h postmortem and frozen in 7% glycerol. Oocytes were matured in vitro for 21 h, selected for extrusion of the first polar body, and centrifuged at 6000g to assist in visualizing the microinjection procedure. Oocytes were injected with either frozen–thawed epididymal sperm, frozenâthawed ejaculated sperm (laboratory control), or were sham-injected (control). Piezo-injected oocytes were chemically activated 4 h post-injection in 7% ethanol for 5 min (Treatment A) or exposure to 5 μm ionomycin for 5 min followed by incubation in 10 μg mL–1 of cycloheximide for 5 h (Treatment B). The sperm-injected oocytes were cultured in CR1aa medium from day 0 to day 3 post-injection and then in CR1aa medium supplemented with 5% fetal bovine serum from day 3 to day 8 of in vitro culture. Pronuclear formation was assessed 18 to 20 h after sperm injection. A summary of oocyte activation by treatments indicated that ethanol was more successful than the ionomycin + cycloheximide treatment (Table 1). Cleavage and blastocyst rates were assessed on day 3 and day 8 of culture, respectively. A significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) fertilization rate was achieved when ejaculated (43%) rather than epididymal (31%) sperm was used in the ICSI procedure. However, this difference in fertilization rate was only noted when ethanol was used for the exogenous activation. Furthermore, the blastocyst rate for epididymal sperm-injected oocytes was significantly greater when using ethanol (14%) compared with ionomycin followed by cycloheximide (4%). The birth of a live bull calf (42.2 kg; 292-day gestation) resulted from the nonsurgical transfer of 2 ethanol-activated Grade 1 day ICSI blastocysts into each of 2 beef recipient females (50%). To our knowledge, this is the first calf produced by piezo ICSI using cryopreserved bovine caudal epididymal sperm. We can conclude that postmortem epididymal sperm can be collected from genetically valuable males and used for the production of offspring using piezo ICSI. Table 1. Summary of bovine oocyte activation using ethanol and ionomycin + cycloheximide (Iono + Cyclo) treatments
Bifurcation of periodic oscillations due to delays in single species growth models

Theorems are given which guarantee the bifurcation of non-constant, periodic solutions (of fixed period) of a scalar functional equation with two independent parameters. These results are applied to a single, isolated species growth model of general form with a general Volterra (Stieltjes) delay using the ‘magnitudes’ of the instantaneous and delayed growth rate responses as the independent bifurcation parameters. The case of linear growth rate responses (i.e. delay logistic models) is considered in more detail, particularly the often studied single lag logistic equation.
Performance of nonlinear instrumental variable unit root tests using recursive detrending methods

Abstract We examine the performance of nonlinear instrumental variable (NIV) unit root tests using various recursive detrending methods. We find that the NIV unit root tests using the recursive detrending method of Chang (2002) are the most powerful. They are more powerful than OLS based DF tests.
Serratia Keratitis Transmitted by Contaminated Eyedroppers

Serratia marcescens keratitis developed in three patients after keratoplasty. Two patients were using prednisolone sodium phosphate eyedrops and the third was using 0.5% timolol maleate eyedrops. All three cases resolved after treatment with topically and subconjunctivally administered antibiotics. Although S. marcescens was isolated from the outer grooves of the bottletops and from the inner surfaces of the eyedropper caps, it was not cultured from the solutions in the bottles. Moisture collecting in the dead space between the cap and bottle was apparently a culture medium for Serratia. When eyedrops were expressed into the patient's eyes, the eyes were inoculated with Serratia from the contaminated liquid flowing down the eyedropper shaft.
Infrasound Radiated During the Montana Earthquake of 1959 August 18

Summary Seismic waves caused by earthquakes radiate infrasound into the atmosphere as they proceed over the Earth's surface. Several instances of such sound waves radiated locally by seismic waves passing through the Washington, D.C., area have been observed at the infrasonic station there. A notable instance was the great Montana earthquake of 1959 August 18. Measurements of the radiated infrasound gave data on the seismic waves, including their travel times, local speeds, directions of travel, amplitudes, and waveforms.
Conversational multi-modal browser: an integrated multi-modal browser and dialog manager

This paper describes a multi-modal, free flow browser. A multi-modal browser allows the user to perform tasks via any of several modalities, such as speech and GUI or devices available sequentially or concurrently. A free-flow or mixed initiative browser allows the user to choose the navigation across an application and the order in which tasks are completed. This paper describes a system to provide flow conversational capability across modalities or devices. Multi-modal interaction is provided using a DOM based MVC multi-modal browser extended with an event-driven form-based dialog manager. We use XForms-based device independent authoring for the application. This paper details the XForms-based programming model of conversational applications, the principles and architecture of an XForms-based and event driven, task oriented, mixed initiative dialog manager and the integration of a dialog manager and a multi-modal browser using a standard-based DOM event driven interface. The dialog manager relies on a DOM based representation of the form-based framework presented by Papineni (1999) and Davies et al. (1999) to provide free-flow dialog management. It determines the user's intention by measuring the relevance of user input to different tasks. It also provides focus determination by determining the next logical turn in the conversation.
Biology of the Mantispidae.

▪ Abstract Members of the Neuropteran family Mantispidae, subfamily Mantispinae, are predators in the egg sacs of spiders, draining egg contents through a piercing/sucking tube formed by modified mandibles and maxillae. First-instar mantispids use two strategies to locate spider eggs: Larvae may burrow directly through the silk of egg sacs they find, or they may board and be carried by female spiders prior to sac production, entering the sac as it is being constructed. Mantispids that board spiders usually adopt positions on or near the pedicel; some species may enter the spider's book lungs. Larvae maintain themselves aboard spiders by feeding on spider blood. Transfers of larvae from spider to spider are possible during spider mating or cannibalism. All of the major groups of hunting spiders are attacked by spider-boarding mantispids; the egg sacs of web-building species are also entered by egg-sac penetrators.