cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Plant–Soil Feedbacks Contribute to the Persistence of Bromus inermis in Tallgrass Prairie

As invasive plants become a greater threat to native ecosystems, we need to improve our understanding of the factors underlying their success and persistence. Over the past 30 years, the C3 nonnative plant Bromus inermis (smooth brome) has been spreading throughout the central grasslands in North America. Invasion by this grass has resulted in the local displacement of natives, including the tallgrass species Panicum virgatum (switchgrass). To determine if factors related to resource availability and plant–soil interactions were conferring a competitive advantage on smooth brome, field plots were set up under varying nitrogen (N) levels. Plots composed of a 1:1 ratio of smooth brome and switchgrass were located in a restored tallgrass prairie and were randomly assigned one of the following three N levels: (a) NH4NO3 added to increase available N, (b) sucrose added to reduce available N, and (c) no additions to serve as control. In addition, soil N status, soil respiration rates, plant growth, and litter decomposition rates were monitored. Results indicate that by the 2nd year, the addition of sucrose significantly reduced available soil N and additions of NH4NO3 increased it. Further, smooth brome had greater tiller density, mass, and canopy interception of light on N-enriched soils, whereas none of these characteristics were stimulated by added N in the case of switchgrass. This suggests that smooth brome may have a competitive advantage on higher-N soils. Smooth-brome plant tissue also had a lower carbon–nitrogen (C:N) ratio and a higher decomposition rate than switchgrass and thus may cycle N more rapidly in the plant–soil system. These differences suggest a possible mechanism for the persistence of smooth brome in the tallgrass prairie: Efficient recycling of nutrient-rich litter under patches of smooth brome may confer a competitive advantage that enables it to persist in remnant or restored prairies. Increased N deposition associated with human activity and changing land use may play a critical role in the persistence of smooth brome and other N-philic exotic species.
Rheological Analysis and Measurement of Neutrophil Indentation

Aspects of neutrophil mechanical behavior relevant to the formation of adhesive contacts were assessed by measuring the dependence of the contact area between the cell and a spherical substrate under controlled loading. Micropipettes were used to bring neutrophils into contact with spherical beads under known forces, and the corresponding contact area was measured over time. The neutrophil was modeled as a viscous liquid drop with a constant cortical tension. Both the equilibrium state and the dynamics of the approach to equilibrium were examined. The equilibrium contact area increased monotonically with force in a manner consistent with a cell cortical tension of 16–24 pN/μm. The dynamic response matched predictions based on a model of the cell as a growing drop using published values for the effective viscosity of the cell. The contact pressure between the cell and substrate at equilibrium is predicted to depend on the curvature of the contacting substrate, but to be independent of the impingement force. The approach to equilibrium was rapid, such that the time-averaged stress for a two-second impingement was within 20% of the equilibrium value. These results have implications for the role of mechanical force in the formation of adhesive contacts.
Determination of benzene residues in recycled polyethylene terephthalate (PETE) by dynamic headspace-gas chromatography.

A dynamic headspace‐gas chromatography (HS/GC) method was developed to quantitate benzene in recycled PETE material derived from 21 PETE beverage bottles. The analytical system consisted of a purge‐and‐trap apparatus which was interfaced directly with a gas chromatograph/flame ionization detector. Cryofocusing and non‐cryofocusing GC systems were used. The technique was applied to spiked PETE test samples which were prepared at various benzene concentrations ranging from 100 ppb to 117 ppm. The initial spiked benzene concentration in the PETE test samples was determined gravimetrically. The HS/GC technique was limited by the slow desorption rate of benzene from the PETE matrix; as a result, multipurges were performed at 60°C. Regression analysis was done on the multipurge data to develop a desorption model which would predict the total amount of benzene in the PETE. The calculated results agreed with the experimental recoveries within ±10%. Recovery depended on the initial benzene level in the PETE and ra...
Flow, Heat Transfer, And Wavefront Distortion In A Gas Cooled Disk Amplifier

The potential of the gas cooled disk architecture to operate at kilowatt to megawatt levels of average power is explored. The key issues investigated are flow and heat transfer in the cooling channel, the power required to perform the cooling and its implications for overall system efficiency, flow conditioning in the drift region, losses due to turbulent scattering, and beam quality due to optical distortions. In all cases an understanding of the issues leads to ways to mitigate or eliminate deleterious effects. Our conclusion is that the gas cooled disk geometry is an architecture which can lead to devices which are capable of average power levels reaching from a few kilowatts up to hundreds of kilowatts per beam line without stressing existing engineering or technology.
Evaluation of Burst Error Correcting Codes Using a Simple Partitioned Markov Chain Model

The simple partitioned Markov chain model is used to evaluate the effectiveness of burst error correcting codes. A Massey diffuse convolutional code is analyzed as an example to illustrate the method. Calculated results and simulation results are presented.
Superdense Water Ice

A new allotropic form of water ice with a density of 2.32 ± 0.15 grams per cubic centimeter has been observed at very low pressures and for temperatures lower than 100°K. It is most likely amorphous.
Lesions in Guinea Pigs Infected with Coxiella burnetii Strain M-44

Guinea pigs inoculated with the live M-44 vaccine strain of Coxiella burnetii were examined grossly and microscopically for the presence of Q fever-related lesions. Mild myocarditis was observed in 38% of the infected animals but in none of the control animals. Livers showed significant incidence of hepatitis, necrosis, and granuloma formation, especially during the first eight days of the infection. A much lower incidence of splenitis was also found but was considered to be of borderline significance. Generally, lesions were mild in nature, and none seemed to endanger the life of the animal or to cause observable distress.
1566 NEONATAL GLUCOSE DYSHCMEOSTASIS IN A RAT PUP MODEL OF SEPSIS

Endotoxin(ETN) plays a significant role in the morbidity and mortality of newborn sepsis. Hypoglycemia and lactic acidosis are prominent in sepsis neonatorium. The pathogenesis of this hypoglycemia is unknown. S. Enteritidis ETN was given to 10 day old 4 hour fasted, temperature controlled groups(n = 15) of controls(CT), mild sepsis, ED20(.03mg/kg I.P.), and severe sepsis ED90(0.1mg/kg I.P.). Pups were dispatched at 0,½,2,3, and 4 hours. Standard analyses were used for glucose (G,mg/dl), lactate (L,mmole/L), and insulin (I,uU/ml). These data demonstrate that the hypoglycemic trend (p <.05) seen at 4 hours in the LD90 group is not the result of hyperinsulinemia. The elevated lactate levels(p < .05) at 4 hours indicate anaerobic metabolic compensation.
Minimax review schedules for degradable systems under a specified operational reliability

Abstract Degradable systems deteriorate with age. In order to operate such systems with maximum gain, they must be monitored and/or inspected for possible repairs or replacements. For example in service industries (such as in warehousing and distribution) management sets allowable service level or operational reliability which the system should operate in order to maintain customer satisfaction at a minimum cost. A perfect complementarily problem which management must resolve is to determine an economic surveillance schedule for the system at the desired operational reliability. In this paper, we address the minimax review schedule problem using discrete maximum entropy policy. The derived model is applied to container (case) inventory review schedules for a warehouse storage system.
Hierarchical Classification of Environmental Noise Sources Considering the Acoustic Signature of Vehicle Pass-Bys

This work is focused on the automatic recognition of environmental noise sources that affect humans’ health and quality of life, namely industrial, aircraft, railway and road traffic. However, the recognition of the latter, which have the largest influence on citizens’ daily lives, is still an open issue. Therefore, although considering all the aforementioned noise sources, this paper especially focuses on improving the recognition of road noise events by taking advantage of the perceived noise differences along the road vehicle pass-by (which may be divided into different phases: approaching, passing and receding). To that effect, a hierarchical classification scheme that considers these phases independently has been implemented. The proposed classification scheme yields an averaged classification accuracy of 92.5%, which is, in absolute terms, 3% higher than the baseline (a traditional flat classification scheme without hierarchical structure). In particular, it outperforms the baseline in the classification of light and heavy vehicles, yielding a classification accuracy 7% and 4% higher, respectively. Finally, listening tests are performed to compare the system performance with human recognition ability. The results reveal that, although an expert human listener can achieve higher recognition accuracy than the proposed system, the latter outperforms the non-trained listener in 10% in average.
Overview: The future of ecological risk assessment

Abstract Risk assessment has become a popular tool to help solve ecological problems. The basic concept is not new and has been applied to diverse decision problems. The application to ecological problems, especially complex ecological problems, is fairly recent and controversial. The fundamental and most important elements of the controversy revolve around two key points: (1) a person's implicit “world view;”; and (2) the assumption of who (or what) receives the benefits and who (or what) pays the costs for ecological “decisions.”; A person's attitude toward risk assessment is, at least implicitly, defined by a world view. It is this world view that defines how each of us reacts to risk assessment applied to ecological problems. How the question of benefits and costs is defined also defines the appropriate use, if any, of ecological risk assessment. The future of ecological risk assessment will almost certainly follow the course of other analytical tools: enthusiastic support, rapid, widespread adoption ...
Is principal components analysis necessary to characterise dietary behaviour in studies of diet and disease

OBJECTIVE To assess the relative ability of principal components analysis (PCA)-derived dietary patterns to correctly identify cases and controls compared with other methods of characterising food intake. SUBJECTS Participants in this study were 232 endometrial cancer cases and 639 controls from the Western New York Diet Study, 1986-1991, frequency-matched to cases on age and county of residence. DESIGN Usual intake in the year preceding interview of 190 foods and beverages was collected during a personal interview using a detailed food-frequency questionnaire. Principal components analysis identified two major dietary patterns which we labelled 'healthy' and 'high fat'. Classification on disease status was assessed with separate discriminant analyses (DAs) for four different characterisation schemes: stepwise DA of 168 food items to identify the subset of foods that best discriminated between cases and controls; foods associated with each PCA-derived dietary pattern; fruits and vegetables (47 items); and stepwise DA of USDA-defined food groups (fresh fruit, canned/frozen fruit, raw vegetables, cooked vegetables, red meat, poultry, fish and seafood, processed meats, snacks and sweets, grain products, dairy, and fats). RESULTS In general, classification of disease status was somewhat better among cases (54.7% to 67.7%) than controls (54.0% to 63.1%). Correct classification was highest for fruits and vegetables (67.7% and 62.9%, respectively) but comparable to that of the other schemes (49.5% to 66.8%). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that the use of principal components analysis to characterise dietary behaviour may not provide substantial advantages over more commonly used, less sophisticated methods of characterising diet.
SU-E-T-106: Development of a Collision Prediction Algorithm for Determining Problematic Geometry for SBRT Treatments Using a Stereotactic Body Frame

Purpose: Collision between the gantry and the couch or patient during Radiotherapy is not a common concern for conventional RT (static fields or arc). With the increase in the application of stereotactic planning techniques to the body, collisions have become a greater concern. Non-coplanar beam geometry is desirable in stereotatic treatments in order to achieve sharp gradients and a high conformality. Non-coplanar geometry is less intuitive in the body and often requires an iterative process of planning and dry runs to guarantee deliverability. Methods: Purpose written software was developed in order to predict the likelihood of collision between the head of the gantry and the couch, patient or stereotatic body frame. Using the DICOM plan and structures set, exported by the treatment planning system, this software is able to predict the possibility of a collision. Given the plan's isocenter, treatment geometry and exterior contours, the software is able to determine if a particular beam/arc is clinically deliverable or if collision is imminent. Results: The software was tested on real world treatment plans with untreatable beam geometry. Both static non-coplanar and VMAT plans were tested. Of these, the collision prediction software could identify all as having potentially problematic geometry. Re-plans ofmore » the same cases were also tested and validated as deliverable. Conclusion: This software is capable of giving good initial indication of deliverability for treatment plans that utilize complex geometry (SBRT) or have lateral isocenters. This software is not intended to replace the standard pre-treatment QA dry run. The effectiveness is limited to those portions of the patient and immobilization devices that have been included in the simulation CT and contoured in the planning system. It will however aid the planner in reducing the iterations required to create complex treatment geometries necessary to achieve ideal conformality and organ sparing.« less
1995 National Clinical Pharmacy Services Study.

To determine the extent of hospital-based clinical pharmacy services in 1995, we surveyed 1109 United States acute care, general, medical-surgical, and pediatric hospitals with 50 or more licensed beds. Fifteen clinical pharmacy services were assessed to determine pharmacists' specific patient care responsibilities. The percentage of hospitals offering services grew between 1992 and 1995: pharmacokinetic consultations (16% increase), drug therapy protocol management (15%), drug therapy monitoring (8%), drug counseling (13%), and parenteral-enteral nutrition team (6%). All other services increased 0-5%. Pharmacists conducted clinical research in 14% of hospitals, averaging 6.3 ± 22.1 protocols/department annually; total budget $96,219 ± $262,026. Patient-focused care predominated in 20% of hospitals, although most pharmacists reported to directors of pharmacy through traditional pharmacy department channels. Clinical pharmacy services continue to expand, with pharmacists providing higher-level direct patient care activities related to drug therapy management and monitoring.
Effects of Pushing Agents on the Separation and Detection of Debranched Amylopectin by High-Performance Anion-Exchange Chromatography with Pulsed Amperometric Detection

Abstract The effects of acetate and nitrate as pushing agents on the high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detector (HPAEC-PAD) for the separation and detection of debranched amylopectin were evaluated. Our experimental data indicated that nitrate could differentiate branched from linear isomers, whereas acetate could not. Therefore, the nitrate system had better separating power than the acetate system provided that the chromatograms under both gradient systems were completed within 100 min. Nitrate was more compatible with the detector than acetate; thus, a higher detector response resulted. Under our experimental conditions, with a signal-to-noise ratio of two, the number of DP (degree of polymerization) at various concentrations that was resolved by the nitrate system (62 at 0.5 mg/mL, 65 at 1.0 mg/mL, and 66 at 1.5 mg/mL) was larger than those resolved by the acetate system (56 at 0.5 mg/mL, 58 at 1.0 mg/mL, and 58 at 1.5 mg/mL). The chromatograms obtained from the n...
Cosmic Rays at High Altitudes

DURING the past year the cosmic ray investigators at the University of Chicago have carried out three different experiments to investigate some of the interesting phenomena associated with cosmic rays at altitudes of twenty thousand feet and higher. Marcel Schein and E. O. Wollan in collaboration with the author have been able by coincidence counter apparatus carried by balloons to determine as a function of altitude (1) the vertical intensity of the mesotrons in the atmosphere, and (2) the number of mesotrons generated in a block of lead 2 cm. thick by non-ionizing radiation. The mesotron intensity was found to increase rapidly with altitude up to a maximum value at about 6˙6 cm. pressure and then to decrease. The production of mesotrons in the lead block becomes noticeable at an altitude of 5 km., and from this point on increases with altitude at about the same rate as does the soft component of cosmic rays.
Gain Equalization for Few-Mode Fiber Amplifiers Beyond Two Propagating Mode Groups

We investigate gain equalization in few-mode fibers supporting more than two-mode groups at the signal wavelengths and find that a combination of pump control and doping profile optimization is required to equalize mode-dependent gain.
Assessing the functions: Understanding the functions of an undergraduate research mentor

As undergraduate research has become increasingly prominent in engineering education, researchers are beginning to explore this environment in more detail to better understand both what and how students learn. While multiple factors shape student experiences, the role of mentors has emerged as a critical facet. Previous mentoring research identifies functions such as role modeling, psychosocial support and career support, but little work has been done to understand how these functions are operationalized in undergraduate research experiences within engineering or how students perceive these practices. Summer research experiences, represent a unique environment because they are short-term (typically 8–10 weeks), highly intense (20–40 hours/week), and typically take students out of their home institution making the formation of mentor/mentee relationships challenging. To begin addressing this gap, this study explores student perceptions of mentoring in an interdisciplinary summer research program in water sustainability through qualitative interview data. The data set includes interviews with 20 students, gathered over two separate summers. Using a framework developed by prior researchers, the results indicate that these identified functions are valued by students, and they recognize when these functions are not adequately supplied, this encourages that exit interviews are an adequate way to assess the functions of research mentors.
Adsorption of Biomolecules to Ice and Their Effects upon Ice Growth. 2. A Discussion of the Basic Mechanism of “Antifreeze” Phenomena

Different fish, insects, and plants have evolved a range of peptides and glycopeptides that adsorb to ice from water solution and dramatically influence ice growth in ways that benefit the organisms. These “antifreeze” biomolecules are fairly large, the smallest so far discovered having a MW of 1600, and they prevent ice crystal growth from water at values of supercooling up to several degrees Celsius. Dealing with their interaction with the ice/water interface, one is faced with the choice of treating it as an adsorption-equilibrium phenomenon, in which the surface concentration adjusts easily to the solution concentration, or as irreversible adsorption, as if the molecules are very small particles that can achieve essentially permanent, equilibrium configurations at the ice/water interface. The two viewpoints each have areas of validity and usefulness, but the particle viewpoint is argued here to be the more insightful for the problem of understanding how the antifreezes produce their effects upon ice g...
Acquisition of the cat scratch disease agent Bartonella henselae by cat fleas (Siphonaptera:Pulicidae).

We assayed the ability of cat fleas to become infected with Bartonella henselae , using an artificial feeding device. Fleas fed a concentration of 1 X 105 cfu/ml in blood were examined using immunofluorescent antibody assay and polymerase chain reaction. Bacteria were present in the gut at 3 h, and persisted up to 9 d after infection. Qualitatively, the density of B. henselae was greater in the flea gut at 9 d, indicating that replication was occurring in the gut. B. henselae also was detected in the feces of infected fleas 9 d after infection, and produced viable colonies upon inoculation onto heart infusion agar/rabbit blood plates. Our results indicate that fleas can maintain infection with B. henselae , and may play a role in the transmission of this bacterium from infected cats to humans.
Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizas in Equisetum

Root systems of 91 % of the specimens of Equisetum collected mainly from sand dunes on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan were colonized by vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Typical arbuscules, vesicles and internal hyphae occurred in the roots of E. arvense, E. hyemale v. affine, and E. x ferrissii. Levels of colonization ranged from 0–90% of the root length and were significantly greater in Equisetum plants growing in association with dune grasses than in plants more isolated from other plant species. The demise of the Equisetales, previously attributed to the inability of this group to form VA mycorrhizas, was perhaps due to some other cause such as the world-wide change from hydric to mesic conditions.
Peyronie disease treated with ultrasound and hydrocortisone

Thirty patients with Peyronie disease were treated with ultrasound using hydrocortisone ointment as the conducting vehicle. Twenty-five patients completed at least one course of treatment. Of those 25, 19 had at least some benefit with evidence that multiple courses of treatment were more beneficial than a single course. We conclude that ultrasound with hydrocortisone is beneficial in relieving pain, relieving deviation, and reducing the size of the fibrous plaque. It has the advantages of being noninvasive, repeatable, and without any side effects.
Zinc status and distribution of protein kinase C in rat platelets

Platelet aggregation is impaired by zinc deficiency and in vitro zinc has been reported to affect subcellular distribution of protein kinase C (PKC), an enzyme required for platelet aggregation. In this study, the effects of zinc deprivation and in vitro calcium on phorbol ester-induced platelet aggregation and PKC distribution were investigated. Platelets were collected from rats fed a low zinc diet (<1 mg/kg) and controls that consumed a zinc adequate diet (100 mg/kg), ad libitum or pair-fed. Washed platelets were stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA, 160 nmol/L) and the rate of aggregation determined. Without added Ca2+ the rate of aggregation was not affected by zinc status. With added Ca2+ (1 mmol/L) the rate was decreased by zinc deficiency (P < 0.05). For PKC measurement, platelets from each animal were pretreated briefly with either 0 or 1 mmol/L Ca2+, then suspended in a low Ca2+ buffer, and sonicated. Specific binding of phorbol dibutyrate (PDBu) to mixed membranes and cytosol was measured. Pretreatment with Ca2+ increased binding to membranes and decreased binding to cytosol. Overall, zinc deficiency decreased [3H]PDBu binding to membranes approximately 10% (P = 0.01), but had no effect on cytosol binding. Only in the presence of in vitro Ca2+ did zinc deficiency decrease both PMA-induced aggregation and phorbol ester binding to mixed membranes. Zinc status had no effect on the distribution of phorbol ester binding, suggesting that low zinc status decreased availability of extracellular calcium and thus decreased membrane PKC binding affinity or the stability of PKC in the membranes
Cyber-security analysis of smart grid SCADA systems with game models

Smart grid SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems are key drivers to monitor, control and manage critical processes for the delivery and transmission of electricity in smart grids. Security attacks to such systems can have devastating effects on the functionality of the smart grids leading to electrical blackouts, economic losses or even fatalities. This paper presents an analytical game theoretic approach to analyzing security of SCADA smart grids by constructing a model of sequential, nonzero sum, two-player game between an attacker and a security administrator. The distinction of our work is the proposed development of game payoff formulae. A decision analysis can then be obtained by applying backward induction technique on the game tree derived from the proposed payoffs. The paper describes the development of the game payoffs and illustrates its analysis on a real-world scenario of Sybil and node compromised attacks at the sensor level of the smart grid SCADA systems.
Deriving potential functions via a symmetry principle for nonlinear equations

Parameterized homotopy equations that define paths through the interior of the feasible region of a linear program are reformulated as gradient mappings, and a standard symmetry principle for nonlinear equations is then used to derive associated potential functions. These functions are the Lagrangians of weighted logarithmic barrier problems. Primal, dual and self-dual cases are considered, with emphasis on the situation when starting points are infeasible.
Reliability Bounds for Multistate Systems with Multistate Components

The reliability literature has recently introduced several multistate models. This paper discusses reliability bounds in the most general of these models. It presents inclusion-exclusion bounds and compares them with disjoint subset bounds. The later bounds are based on a generalization of Abraham's recursive disjoint products.
The Economics of Vocational and Technical Education: A Report on three Studies

The role of structural factors in the national unemployment experi? ence in recent years [Killingsworth, Galla way] suggests the importance of updating the supply of labor services. Technological change as well as shifts in consumers' preferences with respect to final goods have brought about changes in relative demand schedules for various types of labor services. The resulting unemployment could then be effectively reduced and relief brought to those who bear the cost of technical progress by modifications in the supply of labor. Vocational and technical training programs could be expected to perform yet another important function?upgrading the quality of the existing supply of labor. The result is an improvement in the productivity of the flow of labor services, and an upward displacement of the total product schedule of labor. Furthermore, technical and vocational educa? tion can contribute to the long-run solution of poverty by increasing the potential earning power of those at the lower income scale. The essential analytical expectation is, of course, that systematic relations exist between investment in training and skill development on the one hand, and the flow of benefits on the other. [Somers and Stroms dorfer; Carroll and Ihnen; Kaufman; Corazzini; Hu, Lee and Stroms
Strings at high energy densities and complex temperature

We discuss quantum and classical statistical mechanics of springs at high energy densities using a complex temperature formalism. The high energy behavior of the microcanonical distribution is governed by the singularities of the canonical partition function in the complex β-plane. We identify the nature and locations of the singularities in addition to the Hagedorn singularity for strings in both compact and noncompact spaces and deduce thermodynamic properties from the resulting microcanonical distribution.
Effect of Actual and Perceived Availability of Time on Voluntarism

Actual and perceived availability of time were hypothesized to be directly related to hours volunteered. However, actual time was unrelated and perceived time negatively related to voluntarism.
In-Use Fuel Economy of Hybrid-Electric School Buses in Iowa

Although it is much safer and more fuel-efficient to transport children to school in buses than in private vehicles, school buses in the United States still consume 822 million gal of diesel fuel annually, and school transportation costs can account for a significant portion of resource-constrained school district budgets. Additionally, children in diesel-powered school buses may be exposed to higher levels of particulates and other pollutants than children in cars. One solution to emission and fuel concerns is use of hybrid-electric school buses, which have the potential to reduce emissions and overall lifecycle costs compared with conventional diesel buses. Hybrid-electric technologies are available in the passenger vehicle market as well as the transit bus market and have a track record indicating fuel economy and emissions benefits. This paper summarizes the results of an in-use fuel economy evaluation for two plug-in hybrid school buses deployed in two different school districts in Iowa. Each school district selected a control bus with a route similar to that of the hybrid bus. Odometer readings, fuel consumption, and maintenance needs were recorded for each bus. The buses were deployed in 2008 and data were collected through May 2010. Fuel consumption was calculated for each school district. In Nevada, IA, the overall average fuel economy was 8.23 mpg for the hybrid and 6.35 mpg for the control bus. In Sigourney, IA, the overall average fuel economy was 8.94 mpg for the hybrid and 6.42 mpg for the control bus. The fuel consumption data were compared for the hybrid and control buses using a Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results indicate that fuel economy for the Nevada hybrid bus was 29.6% better than for the Nevada control bus, and fuel economy for the Sigourney hybrid bus was 39.2% higher than for the Sigourney control bus. Both differences were statistically significant.
USE OF FETAL MOUSE SALIVARY GLANDS IN CULTURE TO DETECT EMBRYOTOXICITY : EVALUATION OF EIGHT ADDITIONAL CHEMICALS

Several developmental processes interact to convert an epithelial bud into a gland with many lobes. For each chemical tested, 20 glands were placed into a control and each of 3 concentrations of the chemical. From dose-response curves, the concentration that reduced gland growth by 50% was determined and divided into the LD50 for mice. These ratios were used to compare the toxicity of the chemicals. The ratios of cyclamate, diphenhydramine, allopurinol, nitrofen and urethane would indicate that embryotoxicity would not be expected without maternal toxicity. Promethazine, diethyldithiocarbamate, and 5-fluorouracil would be expected to show embryotoxicity without maternal toxicity.
Straightening the colon with curved cross sections: an approach to CT colonography.

Rationale and Objectives. The purpose of this study was to straighten digitally and consistently the colon with curved cross sections and to compare the results with planar cross-section-based processing for computed tomographic (CT) colonography. Materials and Methods. In electric field-based straightening, curved cross sections are formed along electric force lines because of electric charges digitally distributed along the colon central path. Four straightening experiments were conducted on CT scans of a colonoscopy phantom. Representative images were studied for polyp detectability and feature distortion. Two further trials involved patient data to demonstrate the clinical feasibility of this method. Results. In colon straightening with planar sections, a polyp was counted multiple times in both phantom and patient studies where the polyps were in central path turns with substantial curvature. Furthermore, opposite the central path turns, the colon walls were undersampled with planar sections. Straightening with curved sections produced consistent mappings. Image distortion was present in straightening with curved sections, but the conspicuity of polyps was maintained. In the soft-straightening process, trilinear interpolation greatly suppressed the surface-or volume-rendering noise associated with nearest neighbor interpolation. Conclusion. Straightening with curved sections outperforms straightening with planar sections in terms of polyp detectability. This approach eliminates the navigation difficulties of current CT colonography and may have clinical use.
Neuroanatomy: Mushrooming mushroom bodies

A revolution is spreading in the study of mushroom bodies, structures within the insect brain that mediate learning and memory processes and pheromonal discrimination of the opposite sex.
Rotational spectra of 34S- and 33S-containing isotopologues of laser ablation generated tin monosulfide

Abstract Using a newly constructed source, tin monosulfide is produced by the reaction between carbonyl sulfide and the products resulting from the ablation of tin metal by the pulsed output of a frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser ( λ = 532 nm). Entrained in argon carrier gas, SnS is introduced into the cavity of a Balle–Flygare Fourier transform microwave spectrometer that has a frequency range encompassing the two lowest rotational transitions ( J = 1 − 0 and 2 − 1) for this molecule. Except for 115 Sn 34 S, spectra are obtained in natural abundance for all 34 S-containing isotopologues with naturally occurring tin isotopes. Additionally, spectra were obtained for the rare isotopologues, 115 Sn 32 S and 120 Sn 33 S. Resolution of the hyperfine structure in the latter species allows a more precise determination of its 33 S nuclear quadrupole coupling constant. Spectra for all species containing 34 S are analyzed in terms of mass-independent Dunham parameters and are combined with all available isotopologues to determine Born–Oppenheimer breakdown terms for both tin and sulfur.
A collection of papers by Björn Kurtén

A collection of papers by Bjorn Kurth, CHRISTINE JANIS BJORN KURTEN 1924 11 19-1988 1228
Effect of glucose on sporulation and extracellular amylase production byClostridium perfringens type A in a defined medium

The effect of glucose and other sugars on sporulation and extracellular amylase production byClostridium perfringens NCTC 8679 type A in a defined medium was studied. Cells grown in the presence of glucose and mannose yielded the highest levels of amylase activity, while disaccharides such as lactose, maltose, and sucrose resulted in moderate amylase production. Little amylase activity was detected in the medium in the presence of ribose or galactose. The concentration of each sugar resulting in highest amylase production was between 6 and 10mm except for fructose (25mm). Levels of heat-resistant spores decreased as sugar concentrations increased. The addition of even small amounts of glucose to the medium before exponential growth suppressed sporulation but maximized amylase activity. The addition of glucose after the initiation of sporulation did not inhibit spore formation. However, its addition to 3-h amylase-producing cells did inhibit subsequent sporulation but promoted the continued excretion of amylase. The different response to glucose between sporulating cells and amylase-producing cells suggests that the mechanisms of catabolite repression of extracellular amylase production and sporulation are distinct in this strain ofC. perfringens.
Toxicity, the Therapeutic Index, and the Ranking of Drugs

The therapeutic index is often used to rank the net effectiveness of drugs and to provide a guide for choosing the best among several drugs. This can be a misleading guide since we show that drugs with the same therapeutic index can have unequal "worth." A substitute ranking measure for the therapeutic index is proposed that would be based on minimizing the losses from the failure to cure plus the losses due to toxicity. This measure would specify a "best" dose over a wide range of conditions, which the therapeutic index does not do. An example is given in which the minimum loss approach produces a ranking of drugs different from that produced by the therapeutic index. In this example the different rankings hold, with minor shifts, over a wide range.
Distinct phenotypes of obesity-prone AKR/J, DBA2J and C57BL/6J mice compared to control strains

Objective: To characterize and compare three obesity-prone inbred strains, AKR/J, DBA/2J and C57BL/6J, to three control strains, C3H/HeJ, BALB/cByJ and C57L/J, selected based on their normal eating patterns and moderate weight gain on high-calorie diets. Methods and procedures: These six strains were examined at 5 weeks of age while still of normal body weight, and they were maintained for 1 day or 3 weeks on different feeding paradigms with macronutrient diets. Measurements were taken of macronutrient intake, body weight and body fat accrual, circulating hormones and metabolites, and the hypothalamic peptide, galanin. Results: The three control strains each selected a balanced diet with 50% carbohydrate and 15-25% fat when given a choice of macronutrients, and they had similar, normal range of scores for the measures of body weight, adiposity, the hormones, insulin and leptin, and the metabolites, glucose and triglycerides. When compared to this control baseline, the obesity-prone strains with similar total caloric intake to controls selected a diet with significantly more fat (30-40%) and less carbohydrate (<40%). They also had greater adiposity, with the largest differences detected for the AKR/J and DBA/2J strains. These two obesity-prone strains compared to control strains had elevated levels of insulin and leptin. They also had higher triglyceride levels and increased expression and levels of galanin in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. A very different pattern was detected in the obesity-prone C57BL/6J strain, which exhibited a stronger preference for protein as well as fat, normal levels of insulin, leptin and triglycerides, hyperglycemia relative to all other strains, and a small increase in galanin. Conclusion: These comparisons to control strains revealed a distinct phenotype in the two obesity-prone strains, AKR/J and DBA/2J, which is very similar to that described in obesity-prone, outbred rats. They also identified a clearly different phenotype in the obesity-prone C57BL/6J strain.
Correlates of School Satisfaction Among Adolescents

Abstract Interrelationships among life experiences, academic self-efficacy, and school satisfaction reports from a sample of 92 adolescents in a private secondary school were investigated. Results revealed that life experiences, both positive and negative, were significantly associated with school satisfaction reports. Students' perceptions of their academic self-efficacy did not moderate the relationship between life events and school satisfaction; however, self-efficacy perceptions did contribute significant variance in a linear fashion beyond life experiences. The authors concluded that both a wide array of negative and positive environmental experiences and individual difference variables need to be considered to understand adolescents' reactions to schooling and to design prevention and intervention programs.
Support Measures for Caulistic Macroevolutionary Transformations in Evolutionary Trees1

Abstract Investigation of caulistic macroevolution in an evolutionary tree often requires separate support measures for exemplar groups, and for the taxon they represent. A taxon may be actually or cryptically heterophyletic on a molecular tree. Congruence between branch order of morphological and molecular cladograms is not as important as is congruence between inferred macroevolutionary transformations at the taxon level as caulistic elements on an evolutionary tree. Unsampled paraphyletic branches can affect perceived progenitor-descendant relationships and may be inserted in a molecular tree to help explain lack of congruent caulistic inferences without affecting calculated branch order. Integrable and non-integrable analyses must be combined for scientific completeness. Support for inferred macroevolutionary transformations may be estimated from either the amount of present-day paraphyly in densely sampled, related groups or from clade support and nearest neighbor interchange.
Influences of ENSO-Induced Indo–Western Pacific SST Anomalies on Extratropical Atmospheric Variability during the Boreal Summer

The causes for the observed occurrence of anomalous zonally symmetric upper-level pressure ridges in the midlatitude belts of both hemispheres during the year after warm El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events have been investigated. Sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the Indo–western Pacific (IWP) sector were simulated by allowing an oceanic mixed layer model for that region to interact with local atmospheric changes forced remotely by observed ENSO episodes in the eastern/central tropical Pacific. The spatiotemporal evolution of these SST conditions through a composite ENSO cycle was then inserted as lower boundary conditions within the IWP domain in an ensemble of atmospheric general circulation model (GCM) integrations. This experimental setup is seen to reproduce zonally symmetric geopotential height anomalies with maximum amplitudes being attained over the extratropics in the boreal summer after the peak phase of ENSO. The model evidence hence supports the notion that these globalscale atmospheric changes are primarily responses to SST perturbations in IWP, which are in turn linked to ENSO variability in the equatorial Pacific by the “atmospheric bridge” mechanism. Experimentation with a stationary wave model indicates that the Eastern Hemisphere portion of the aforementioned atmospheric signals are attributable to forcing by tropical heat sources and sinks associated with precipitation anomalies in the IWP region, which are closely related to the underlying SST changes. Diagnosis of the output from the GCM integrations reveals that these circulation changes due to diabatic heating are accompanied by alterations of the propagation path and intensity of the high-frequency eddies at locations farther downstream. The geopotential tendencies associated with the latter disturbances bear some resemblance to the anomalous height pattern in the Western Hemisphere. Such local eddy–mean flow feedbacks hence contribute to the zonal symmetry of the atmospheric response pattern to forcing in the IWP region. Analysis of zonally averaged circulation statistics indicates that the mean meridional circulation induced by divergence of anomalous transient eddy momentum fluxes in ENSO events could also generate zonally symmetric perturbations in midlatitudes. The model-simulated precipitation and surface temperature anomalies in the North American sector in response to SST changes in IWP suggest an increased frequency of droughts and heat waves in that region during the summer season after warm ENSO events.
Functional substitution for TAF II 250 by a retroposed homolog that is expressed in human spermatogenesis

TAF II 250, the largest subunit of the general transcription factor TFIID, is expressed from the human X chromosome, at least in somatic cells. In male meiosis, however, the sex chromosomes are transcriptionally silenced, while the autosomes remain active. How then are protein-encoding genes transcribed during human male meiosis? Here we present a novel autosomal human gene, TAF1L, which is homologous to TAF II 250 and is expressed specifically in the testis, apparently in germ cells. We hypothesize that during male meiosis, transcription of protein-encoding genes relies upon TAF1L as a functional substitute for TAF II 250. Like TAF II 250, the human TAF1 L protein can bind directly to TATA-binding protein, an essential component of TFIID. Most importantly, transfection with human TAF1L rescued the temperature-sensitive lethality of a hamster cell line mutant in TAF II 250. TAF1L lacks introns and evidently arose by retroposition of a processed TAF II 250 mRNA during primate evolution. The observation that TAF1L can functionally replace TAF II 250 provides experimental support for the hypothesis that during male meiosis, autosomes provide cellular functions usually supplied by the X chromosome in somatic cells.
The Runt-related transcription factor 1 in prostate cancer-associated fibroblasts

Although most carcinomas arise from a series of genetic alterations in epithelial cells, cancer is a disease that affects not just the transformed cells themselves, but the entire tissue. During tumor development, reciprocal signaling patterns between the cancer cells and the surrounding tissue are altered in a way that affects tissue architecture and cell fate (1). As a result of signals derived from the tumor and a response to tumor development that resembles the response to a wound (2, 3), epithelial tumors of a number of organs, including prostate, are often surrounded by an activated stroma that can constitute as much as half of the tissue mass. This activated stroma is characterized by changes in extracellular matrix proteins, increased angiogenesis, and a heightened inflammatory reaction (4). The cells within this activated stroma include endothelial cells and pericytes that form the tumor vasculature, infiltrated inflammatory cells, and the predominant population, the activated myofibroblasts (3, 5). Activated myofibroblasts resemble normal fibroblasts, cells that secrete extracellular matrix proteins and thereby create a 3D environment that provides tissue with strength and flexibility (4). However, in the tumor microenvironment, the fibroblasts undergo a myodifferentiation process in which they express smooth muscle actin, proliferate, and produce extracellular matrix proteins, including collagen (2). The cancer-associated fibroblasts of the activated stroma have been shown in mouse models to promote tumor growth and progression (6, 7). In patients, the presence of activated fibroblasts is associated with aggressive behavior (8), angiogenesis (7, 9), inflammation (9), and poor prognosis (10). Preventing the host stroma from contributing to cancer growth could represent an important therapeutic strategy. Realizing this goal requires a better understanding of the development of a reactive stroma. In PNAS, Kim et al. advance our understanding of the myofibroblasts that surround tumors and the molecular basis for their function (11).
Sound and the City: Mimicry and Media in South India

Through an analysis of gramophone recordings of mimicry of scenes of public city life made in Tamil in South India between 1904 and 1907 and marketed to a new urban middle class in the colonial city of Madras, this article examines the relationship between emerging class structures and the technologies that are contemporaneous with them. I argue that through these recordings the gramophone is constructed on analogy with the mimicry artist as a faithful recorder of linguistic difference, while the intertwining of realism and parody inherent in mimicry is used here to recruit an omniscient middle-class listening subject. [sound recording, linguistic difference, class, voice, verbal performance]