cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Response of organic and inorganic carbon and nitrogen to long-term grazing of the shortgrass steppe.

We investigated the influence of long-term (56 years) grazing on organic and inorganic carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents of the plant–soil system (to 90 cm depth) in shortgrass steppe of northeastern Colorado. Grazing treatments included continuous season-long (May–October) grazing by yearling heifers at heavy (60–75% utilization) and light (20–35% utilization) stocking rates, and nongrazed exclosures. The heavy stocking rate resulted in a plant community that was dominated (75% of biomass production) by the C4 grass blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), whereas excluding livestock grazing increased the production of C3 grasses and prickly pear cactus (Opuntia polycantha). Soil organic C (SOC) and organic N were not significantly different between the light grazing and nongrazed treatments, whereas the heavy grazing treatment was 7.5 Mg ha−1 higher in SOC than the nongrazed treatment. Lower ratios of net mineralized N to total organic N in both grazed compared to nongrazed treatments suggest that long-term grazing decreased the readily mineralizable fraction of soil organic matter. Heavy grazing affected soil inorganic C (SIC) more than the SOC. The heavy grazing treatment was 23.8 Mg ha−1 higher in total soil C (0–90 cm) than the nongrazed treatment, with 68% (16.3 Mg ha−1) attributable to higher SIC, and 32% (7.5 Mg ha−1) to higher SOC. These results emphasize the importance in semiarid and arid ecosystems of including inorganic C in assessments of the mass and distribution of plant–soil C and in evaluations of the impacts of grazing management on C sequestration.
Periodic patterns and energy states of buckled films on compliant substrates

Thin stiff films on compliant elastic substrates subject to equi-biaxial compressive stress states are observed to buckle into various periodic mode patterns including checkerboard, hexagonal and herringbone. An experimental setting in which these modes are observed and evolve is described. The modes are characterized and ranked by the extent to which they reduce the elastic energy of the film–substrate system relative to that of the unbuckled state over a wide range of overstress. A new mode is identified and analyzed having nodal lines coincident with an equilateral triangular pattern. Two methods are employed to ascertain the energy in the buckled state: an analytical upper-bound method and a full numerical analysis. The upper-bound is shown to be reasonably accurate to large levels of overstress. For flat films, except at small states of overstress where the checkerboard is preferred, the herringbone mode has the lowest energy, followed by the checkerboard, with the hexagonal, triangular, and one-dimensional modes lowering the energy the least. At low overstress, the hexagonal mode is observed in the experiments not the square mode. It is proposed that a slight initial curvature of the film may play role in selecting the hexagonal pattern accompanied by a detailed analysis. An intriguing finding is that the hexagonal and triangular modes have the same energy in the buckled state and, moreover, a continuous transition between these modes exists involving a linear combination of the two modes with no change in energy. Experimental observations of various periodic modes are discussed with reference to the energy landscape. Discrepancies between observations and theory are identified and open issues are highlighted.
Melancholy Jouissance and the Study of Kabbalah: A Review Essay of Elliot R. Wolfson, Alef, Mem, Tau

These “kabbalistic musings on time, truth, and death” originated as the Taubman Lectures delivered at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2001. Wolfson summarizes them in his preface to Alef, Mem, Tau (henceforth AMT ): “The goal of my lectures was to illumine the nexus of time, truth, and death elicited from the symbolic imaginary of the Jewish esoteric tradition known by both practitioners and scholars as kabbalah” (xi). Without attempting further to isolate an “argument,” I can, at least, sketch for the potential reader some salient characteristics of these lectures.
The Development of Encoding Processes in Learning Disabled Children

The current experiment compared the development of encoding preferences in learning disabled children and non-disabled children. Both learning disabled (LD) and non-learning disabled (non-LD) boys from grades 2 and 6 were given a false recognition task. To measure the relative dominance of attributes encoded by the two groups at the two ages, study and test items were manipulated to form visual, acoustic, and semantic distracters. For both second grade and sixth grade LD subjects, visual distracters produced significantly greater numbers of false recognitions than acoustic or semantic distracters. This pattern of encoding preferences was also observed with non-LD second graders. However, sixth grade non-LD subjects displayed a shift in encoding preference and were significantly more distracted by semantic than by acoustic or visual items. The results suggest that LD students do not spontaneously use the eflortful semantic processing strategy of elaborative rehearsal.
On Best Approximations of Linear Operators

We recently gave in the note [8] some applications of the so-called spline interpolation formula to real variable theory. The purpose of the present note is to point out the fundamental role of spline interpolation in the numerical analysis of functions of one real variable. The role which spline interpolation is here called upon to play is based on the ideas of A. Sard [4, 5] and is inherently due to the two familiar requirements for approximation formulae of numerical analysis: 1) That they be linear, 2) That they be exact for polynomials of a certain specified degree.
The Gehring-Hayman inequality for quasihyperbolic geodesics

The quasihyperbolic metric in a proper subdomain D of R n is defined by where the infimum is taken over all rectifiable arcs γ in D joining x and y . There always exists an arc, called a quasihyperbolic geodesic in D , for which the infimum above is attained. We refer to [ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 16 ], and [ 17 ] for the motivation and basic properties of the quasihyperbolic metric.
Performing data flow testing in parallel

Testing is a critical and expensive part of software development. One testing methodology, data flow testing, uses the flow of data in a program to determine whether the program is adequately tested. We present a new approach that partitions the data flow testing workload into an appropriately sized granularity. The workload can be scheduled either statically or dynamically, and can be adapted to either a shared memory or a distributed memory environment. We implemented both uniprocessor and multiprocessor versions of our data flow tester in C for the Data General Corporation's AViiON 5000 machine, experimented with a variety of programs, and obtained good speedup using the multiprocessor version over the uniprocessor version. Currently, we are expanding our tester to handle larger programs, and experimenting an machines with different architectures and a greater number of processors. >
Variation in predator foraging behaviour changes predator–prey spatio‐temporal dynamics

Summary 1. Foraging underlies the ability of all animals to acquire essential resources and thus provides a critical link to understand population dynamics. A key issue is how variation in foraging behaviour affects foraging efficiency and predator–prey interactions in spatially heterogeneous environments. However, there is very little quantitative information available on this topic. 2. We evaluated the impact of variation in predator foraging on population dynamics of the predatory mite, Phytoseiulus persimilis, and its prey, the twospotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae, in a heterogeneous environment. 3. Through artificial selection, we generated predator lines with high levels of prey consumption, conversion efficiency or dispersal, which were otherwise similar in foraging and life history. With these lines, we experimentally compared the effect of these traits on temporal and spatial patterns of predators and prey. 4. We initiated the experiments in a 24-plant landscape, which contained two discrete prey patches (i.e. prey-infested plants) under two initial predator–prey population ratios (1 : 10 and 1 : 30). Predators were introduced into one of the prey patches and were left to forage for 24 days. 5. Predator population growth was similar among the three selected lines, but the high conversion efficiency line produced the most predators and had the highest predator–prey ratio, and the high consumption and high dispersal lines were intermediate. The unselected line showed the least predator growth and lowest predator–prey ratio throughout the experiment. 6. Initial predator–prey ratio did not affect the impact of the selected lines on prey population growth at the high (1 : 10) ratio. However, at the low predator–prey ratio (1 : 30), the unselected line had a much greater prey numbers than the selected lines. 7. Predators and prey were each individually aggregated, but the high conversion efficiency and high dispersal lines showed stronger spatial association and correlation with prey, while the high consumption line was less closely associated or correlated with the prey. 8. These results indicate that there may be multiple, equally effective strategies by which predators exploit prey in patchy landscapes, but suggest that the long-term dynamics may not be stable under all of these strategies.
Relativistic synchrotron radiation pulse

Synchrotron radiation by a single rotating electron and by an electron cloud in a lasetron is considered in the Heaviside-Feynman approach, which yields simple analytical solutions for the temporal shape of radiation pulses.
Antimicrobial resistance profiling and molecular subtyping of Campylobacter spp. from processed turkey

Campylobacter is a major cause of human disease worldwide and poultry are identified as a significant source of this pathogen. Most disease in humans is associated with the consumption of contaminated poultry or cross-contamination with other foods. The primary drugs of choice for treatment of human campylobacteriosis include erythromycin and ciprofloxacin. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of resistance to erythromycin and ciprofloxacin in Campylobacter isolates recovered from turkey carcasses at two processing plants in the Upper Midwest US. Further analysis of a subset of isolates was carried out to assess resistance and genotype profiles. Campylobacter isolates from plant A (n = 439; including 196 C. coli and 217 C. jejuni) and plant B (n = 362, including 281 C. coli and 62 C. jejuni) were tested for susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and erythromycin using agar dilution. C. coli were more frequently resistant than C. jejuni in both plants, including resistance to ciprofloxacin (28% of C. jejuni and 63% of C. coli, plant B; and 11% of C. coli, plant A). Erythromycin resistance was low among C. jejuni (0% plant A and 0.3% plant B) compared to C. coli (41%, plant A and 17%, plant B). One hundred resistant and susceptible isolates were selected for additional antimicrobial susceptibility testing, restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the flaA gene (fla typing), and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Fla-PFGE types obtained (n = 37) were associated with a specific plant with the exception of one type that was isolated from both plants. C. coli isolates (n = 65) were grouped into 20 types, while C. jejuni isolates (n = 35) were grouped into 17 types. Most isolates with identical fla-PFGE patterns shared identical or very similar antimicrobial resistance profiles. PFGE alone and composite analysis using fla-PFGE with resistance profiles separated C. jejuni and C. coli into distinct groups. Ciprofloxacin and erythromycin resistance in Campylobacter recovered from processed turkey occurred more frequently among C. coli than C. jejuni. Fla-PFGE types were associated with a particular species, antimicrobial resistance profiles, and a specific plant. Molecular subtyping in this study provided more information about the relationships among antimicrobial-resistant Campylobacter at the processing level.
Allometric change of landforms

Allometry is the study of the relative rates of change of two variables of a system. In the study of landforms, or the processes acting upon them, the power function Y = a X b is useful for correlating changes in variables. Allometric analysis includes the study of dynamic interrelations during geomorphic history, or the static interrelations at a given time. Such analyses may include aspects of geomorphic open systems that are tending toward a steady state, have attained a steady state, or do not tend toward a steady state. The highly flexible allometric model can be used to demonstrate adjustment between interdependent variables of hillslopes, streams, and depositional environments. It is highly unlikely that geomorphic steady states exist, because the dependent variables of a geomorphic open system cannot attain a time-independent state where the independent variables do not remain constant. Independent variables, such as climate, uplift, base level, erodibility of surficial materials, and impact of man, are changing at rates that are sufficiently rapid as to preclude attainment of steady state, particularly for those landforms that require geologic time spans to approach steady-state configurations. For most studies of processes and landforms, a broad perspective of the interrelations of materials, processes, and landforms can be obtained by using the model of allometric change in which landscape elements and processes are changing at different rates.
Alterations in serum FSH/LH ratios in relation to the estrous cycle pseudopregnancy and gonadectomy in the mouse.

Changes in mouse serum FSH and LH during the estrous cycle and pseudopregnancy were determined by the NIAMD Rat FSH and LH radioimmunoassay systems. The principal characteristics of these changes; namely, a surge of serum LH on the late afternoon and early evening of proestrus; significant elevation of serum FSH on the late afternoon of proestrus; and maximal elevation of serum FSH at the time of ovulation, are very similar to those previously observed in the rat estrous cycle (4). A 10-fold decrease in the ratio of concentrations of serum FSH and LH occurred during a period of IS hr between late afternoon of proestrus, when both LH and FSH were elevated, and early morning of estrus, when only FSH was elevated. Serum FSH and LH levels were low throughout pseudopregnancy, until the onset of the proestrus and estrus which terminated the pseudopregnant period. At that time the characteristic periovulatory increments in both serum FSH and LH concentration occurred. SO days after gonadectomy, male mouse serum ...
Molecular mapping of resistance to Pyrenophora tritici-repentis race 5 and sensitivity to Ptr ToxB in wheat

Tan spot, caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Ptr), is an economically important foliar disease in the major wheat growing areas of the world. Multiple races of the pathogen have been characterized based on their ability to cause necrosis and/or chlorosis in differential wheat lines. Isolates of race 5 cause chlorosis only, and they produce a host-selective toxin designated Ptr ToxB that induces chlorosis when infiltrated into sensitive genotypes. The international Triticeae mapping initiative (ITMI) mapping population was used to identify genomic regions harboring QTLs for resistance to fungal inoculations of Ptr race 5 and to determine the chromosomal location of the gene conditioning sensitivity to Ptr ToxB. The toxin-insensitivity gene, which we are designating tsc2, mapped to the distal tip of the short arm of chromosome 2B. This gene was responsible for the effects of a major QTL associated with resistance to the race 5 fungus and accounted for 69% of the phenotypic variation. Additional minor QTLs were identified on the short arm of 2A, the long arm of 4A, and on the long arm of chromosome 2B. Together, the major QTL on 2BS identified by tsc2 and the QTL on 4AL explained 73% of the total phenotypic variation for resistance to Ptr race 5. The results of this research indicate that Ptr ToxB is a major virulence factor, and the markers closely linked to tsc2 and the 4A QTL should be useful for introgression of resistance into adapted germplasm.
Early exposure of the pregestational intrauterine and postnatal growth-restricted female offspring to a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonist

Prenatal nutrient restriction with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) alters basal and glucose-stimulated insulin response and hepatic metabolic adaptation. The effect of early intervention wit...
Adaptive Virtual Metrology applied to a CVD process

Micron Technology and Applied Materials engaged in a project to determine if Virtual Metrology (VM) is viable in a semiconductor manufacturing environment, focusing on six chambers of a CVD process with a target metrology parameter of thickness. An adaptive modeling process was utilized that related process fault detection data to metrology data. Results indicate that (1), VM models can be developed and used to improve productivity and reduce cost of the CVD process by providing data to support more intelligent strategies and possibly by supporting a move from lot level to wafer level run-to-run control, and (2) the adaptive component of the models makes the models robust to drift and shift in process characteristics. Model robustness could be improved by utilizing multiple adaptive techniques depending on the process dynamics.
NAD(P)H Oxidase 4 Mediates Transforming Growth Factor-β1-Induced Differentiation of Cardiac Fibroblasts Into Myofibroblasts

Human cardiac fibroblasts are the main source of cardiac fibrosis associated with cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) irreversibly converts fibroblasts into pathological myofibroblasts, which express smooth muscle α-actin (SM α-actin) de novo and produce extracellular matrix. We hypothesized that TGF-β1–stimulated conversion of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts requires reactive oxygen species derived from NAD(P)H oxidases (Nox). We found that TGF-β1 potently upregulates the contractile marker SM α-actin mRNA (7.5±0.8-fold versus control). To determine whether Nox enzymes are involved, we first performed quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction and found that Nox5 and Nox4 are abundantly expressed in cardiac fibroblasts, whereas Nox1 and Nox2 are barely detectable. On stimulation with TGF-β1, Nox4 mRNA is dramatically upregulated by 16.2±0.8-fold (n=3, P<0.005), whereas Nox5 is downregulated. Small interference RNA against Nox4 downregulates Nox4 mRNA by 80±5%...
Universal transform coding based on backward adaptation

The method for universal transform coding based on backward adaptation introduced by Goyal et al. (see IEEE Int. Conf. Image Proc., vol.II, p.365-8, 1996) is reviewed and further analyzed. This algorithm uses a linear transform which is periodically updated based on a local Karhunen-Loeve transform (KLT) estimate. The KLT estimate is derived purely from quantized data, so the decoder can track the encoder state without any side information. The effect of estimating only from quantized data is quantitatively analyzed. Two convergence results which hold in the absence of estimation noise are presented. The first applies for any vector dimension but does not preclude the necessity of a sequence of quantization step sizes that goes to zero. The second applies only in the two-dimensional case, but shows local convergence for a fixed, sufficiently small quantization step size. Refinements which reduce the storage and computational requirements of the algorithm are suggested.
Neglected Areas in the Sociology of Immigrants and Ethnic Groups in North America

As SHILs has pointed out,' the study of the life of immigrants was one of the original justifications for the existence of American sociology.2 The earlier widespread sociological concern with immigrants and ethnic groups is confirmed by the voluminous literature, both analytical and descriptive, produced on these subjects. Since 1935 and particularly after World War II, however, the attention of sociologists to these subjects has continually been declining, as can be evidenced by comparative statistics on the "race and ethnic relations" specialty of the members of the American Sociological Association (while before 1935, 8.2 per cent had listed this field as their specialty, the percentage declined to 3.4 per cent in 1959); and by a decline in the scope and number of sociological publications on immigrants and ethnic groups.3 In contrast, it should be noted that a comparable decline of interest does not prevail among historians and anthropologists. The historians appear even to have increased their interest in recent years, as we note in the works of Handlin, Bjork, Hoglund, Jones, and Govorchin.4
The Drying Twist in Plant Fibers

The drying twist of a large number of commercial fibers has been determined. In addition, fibers from related plants which are not at present utilized on a large scale were studied.It was found that fibers from four of the twenty families represented by commercially im portant fibers have clockwise drying twists. These were the Linaceae, Urticaceae, Apocynaceae, and Asclepiadaceae. These observations should be useful in fiber identification and in yielding a clue to cell-wall structure.
The Induction of Molecular and Genetic Recombination in Eukaryotic Cells

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of the recombination in eukaryotes. Because several mutants have been identified that are recombination deficient and radiation sensitive, recombination is presumed to have a role in DNA repair. While recombination can occur during DNA synthesis, its importance in other parts of the cell cycle has not generally been established. Only for the repair of ionizing radiation damage, it is clear that recombination between existing homologous chromosomes is important for survival. The considerable work on repair and recombination in lower eukaryotes and prokaryotes has only recently been applied to mammalian cells. Although there has been substantial work on cytological changes following mutagen treatment, little is known about the molecular changes. There have only been a few attempts to interrelate induced recombination in lower and higher eukaryotes. Molecular and genetic techniques are now available that, when combined with the results from lower eukaryotes, will enhance the understanding of induced recombination in mammalian cells. As recombination—particularly gene conversion—enables the expression of recessive mutations throughout the cell cycle, the studies on recombination may be important for understanding mutagen-induced developmental changes such as tumor induction.
Fungal Drug Resistance: Azoles

Azole antifungal agents are widely used in the clinical arena to treat a variety of fungal infections. The azoles inhibit fungal lanosterol demethylase, a key fungal enzyme in the ergosterol biosynthetic pathway, leading to an altered membrane physiology and, most frequently, a fungistatic effect. However, the development of resistance to azole derivatives has become an increasingly important problem affecting the management of patients suffering from fungal infections. At the molecular level the most common mechanisms responsible for resistance to azoles are alterations in the target abundance and in drug affinity, reduced intracellular levels due to activation of multidrug efflux pumps, and formation of biofilms. In recent years, new information on genetic factors regulating these mechanisms as well as on fungal stress response pathways have provided additional insights into the development of azole resistance.
Social networks and Black–White differentials in public employment agency usage among mature job seekers

We conceptually and empirically analyze how local labor market weakness impacts the usage of public employment agencies (PEAs) between Blacks and Whites in the USA. Employing restricted-use data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, our empirical results indicate that Blacks have higher PEA-usage rates than Whites, likely caused by their higher unemployment rates. However, Whites in regions with relatively weak professional networks tended to tap into PEAs more than otherwise similar Blacks, reducing the Black–White differential in PEA usage. These findings fit with the conceptual prediction that Whites endure a disproportionate negative impact when tighter labor markets (and thus fewer referrals) exist. They also raise the question about whether current anti-labor-market discrimination policies account for potential job-referral differentials between Black and Whites. To the extent that employers favor employee recommendations from members of a particular racial/ethnic group, then perhaps policy targeting discrimination in the workplace should consider how job openings are initially advertised and subsequently filled.
Right Ventricular Function and Prognosis in Patients with Low-Flow, Low-Gradient Severe Aortic Stenosis.

Background Patients with low left ventricular ejection fractions and low-flow, low-gradient aortic stenosis (AS) represent a challenging cohort with high morbidity and mortality. The prevalence and clinical impact of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) on risk stratification and prognosis in these patients is unknown. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed of 65 patients with low-flow, low-gradient AS who underwent low-dose dobutamine stress echocardiography to determine AS severity and to ascertain flow reserve status (≥20% stroke volume increase). Clinical, demographic, and imaging data were prospectively collected. Per guidelines, RVD was defined as tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion Results The mean age was 74 ± 9 years, the mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 29 ± 10%, the mean indexed aortic valve (AV) area was 0.49 ± 0.1 cm 2 /m 2 , and the mean AV gradient 22 ± 7 mm Hg. RVD was present in 37 patients (57% of the study cohort). After a median follow-up period of 13 months (interquartile range, 5–30 months), there were 29 AV replacements and 30 deaths. The presence of RVD (hazard ratio, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.21−6.75; P = .02) was an independent risk factor associated with all-cause mortality despite many adjustments for potential clinical and echocardiographic confounders such as AV replacement, Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality score, severity of tricuspid regurgitation, and left ventricular global longitudinal strain. Conclusions Baseline RVD is prevalent in patients with low-flow, low-gradient AS undergoing dobutamine stress echocardiography. Quantification of right ventricular systolic function in these complex patients provides important prognostic value and risk stratification adjunctive to Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality score and should be incorporated into the decision-making process.
Abstract 5002: Functional significance and mechanisms of inactivation of Secreted Wnt antagonist DICKKOPF-3 (DKK-3) gene in human renal cell carcinoma

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Introduction: The Wnt signaling pathway is activated in most cancers while Wnt antagonist genes are inactivated. It has been reported that mRNA expression of Wnt antagonists is regulated by promoter methylation in many cancers. However the functional significance and mechanisms of inactivation of Secreted Wnt antagonist DKK-3 gene in kidney cancer has not been reported. Methods : DKK-1, DKK-2 and DKK-3 mRNA expression levels were detected by using real-time PCR. RCC cells were incubated with 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine or with TSA. The mRNA expression of apoptosis and cell cycle genes analyzed by real-time PCR 72 hr after transfection. Chromatin DNA was immunoprecipitated with antibodies for histone H3 (H3), and tri-methyl-histone H3 (Lys4) (H3K4). RCC cell lines were transiently cotransfected with either mock or DKK-3, TOPflash reporter plasmid, and pRL-TK plasmid encoding Renilla luciferase as an internal control for transfection efficiency. Cell lysates were measured for relative luciferase activities. Cell viability was analyzed by the MTS assay after transfection. Stable transfectants were used for cell cycle and apoptosis analysis using a Cell Lab Quanta SC Flow Cytometer. Mock and DKK-3 stable cells were injected subcutaneously into the left and right back side flanks of nu/nu mice, respectively. Results : DKK-3 mRNA expression in Caki-2, A498 and 769-P RCC cells was lower than that of normal kidney HK-2 cells. The DKK-3 promoter was methylated in RCC cells, but unmethyalted in normal kidney HK-2 cells. Expression of DKK-1 and DKK-2 mRNA was upregulated after treating RCC cells with 5-Aza-2′-deoxycytidine, but DKK-3 mRNA levels were not affected. In contrast, the level of DKK-3 mRNA was upregulated after TSA treatment, whereas these of DKK-1 and DKK-2 were not. The level of H3K4 in A-498 and 769-P cells was higher compared with HK-2 cells after TSA treatment, while that of H3 in A-498 and 769-P cells were not changed. Expression of cell cycle and apoptosis related genes showed that p21, MDM-2, Puma and Bik genes were increased after transfecting RCC cell lines with a DKK-3 expression plasmid. DKK-3 did not inhibit the Tcf-reporter transcriptional activity in RCC cells, but decreased the cell viability of A-498 and 769-P cells. DKK-3 stable transfectants increased the rate of apoptosis and induced G2/M arrest together with an increase in p21 expression. Growth of stable DKK-3 transfected cells in nude mice was decreased compared to controls. Conclusions : Our data suggests for the first time that mRNA expression of DKK-3 is regulated by histone modification and that DKK-3 inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in RCC cell. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5002.
Comparative Hind Limb Morphology in Geomyine and Thomomyine Pocket Gophers

Dissections of hind limb muscles in pocket gophers ( Geomys, Thomomys, Cratogeomys, Orthogeomys ) revealed 14 myological differences that supported both the monophyly of the Geomyidae with respect to the Heteromyidae and the separation of this family into two tribes. However, observed differences did not reflect reported functional similarities of the hind limbs in these taxa and they contrasted in nature with the types of myological variation observed in the forelimbs of these mammals. These results demonstrate the usefulness of myological characters in phylogenetic analyses and highlight the need for quantitative, functional studies that would clarify the action of hind limb muscles in these rodents.
A Mechanistic Study of the Selective Retention of SDS-Suspended Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes on Agarose Gels

Elution chromatography through columns packed with agarose beads has been used to separate metallic from semiconducting single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Prior studies have attributed the separation to either selective adsorption or size-exclusion (due to selective aggregation) of semiconducting SWCNTs. Initial SWCNT suspensions with different aggregation states were prepared to test these compet- ing theories. Retention characteristics of the SWCNT suspen- sions were not affected by changes to aggregation state, except when the centrifugation time was short and aggregation ex- cessive. On the other hand, selective adsorption of nanotubes on the agarose matrix is confirmed by modifying the surfactant structure around the SWCNTs without changing the aggregation state of the suspension. In addition, salt-modifiers and solvent- modifiers allow systematic changes to the surfactant aggregation number, orientation, and sidewall coverage. The retention characteristics from these modified SWCNT suspensions suggest that surfactant orientation rather than the exposed regions on the surface of the nanotubes is the dominant factor in the adsorption process.
Attachment of Mucin Specific Lectins to Alginate for Use as Bioadhesives

The use of bioadhesive materials for orally-delivered, controlled release systems could increase GI transit time and improve bioavailability. Through the covalent attachment of various ligands to drug delivery systems it is possible to engineer materials to adhere to specific moieties endogenous to the alimentary mucosal layer. The entire GI tract is covered by a continuous, protective, mucous coating made of 95% water and 5% electrolytes, lipids, proteins, and glycoproteins. The GI glycoproteins consist of a protein core with covalently attached carbohydrate side chains terminating in either L-fucose or sialic acid residues. There exist several plant and animal lectins which display high affinity binding to either of these sugars. We have studied the effect on bioadhesion of attaching biotinylated Ulex Europaeus I (UEA-I), an L-fucose specific lectin derived from the gorse seed, to barium-loaded alginate microspheres. Two carbodiimidazole (CDI) coupling procedures were investigated: premicrosphere-fabrication coupling and post-microsphere-fabrication coupling. The attachment of lectin was confirmed using an ABC reaction with HRP staining. The pre-modified microspheres clearly showed better labeling than the post-modified. For in vivo assessment of bioadhesion, 3 cohorts of 4 rats were force fed slurries of control, pre- and post-modified microspheres in saline. The animals were X-rayed 1 hour after feeding and sacrificed 19 hours later. Their entire GI tracts were excised, X-rayed and the microsphere distribution was assessed. The premodified microspheres showed greater retention in all areas of the alimentary canal. The total percentage of microspheres remaining in the GI tract after 19 hours was: 18.6% post-modified and 37.1% pre-modified. These results correlate well with the intensity of the reaction seen with the HRP staining, and suggest that attachment of mucin specific ligands to polymer microspheres may improve bioadhesion.
Commemorating the 50th anniversary of Mr. Manduertu being Engaged in Ethnic Studies

Mr.mandouertu has made outstanding contributions in ethnic studies,mainly in the studies on primitive social forms of ethnic minorities,on Shamanism,on the status quo and development of ethnic minorities,the social and historical investigations of Daur,the construction and development of subjects.
Design of Multi-frequency Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy

A realization of the multi-frequency technique for Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy(KPFM) is studied. In the multi-frequency KPFM, the first eigenmode of the cantilever probe is used for topographic imaging, while the second one is resonantly excited for surface potential. Thus, an additional feedback is needed to adjust the probe automatically. An analog feedback controller with bandwidth of about 5 k Hz is designed based on the principle of conventional Proportional-integral Controller(PIC). Employing the controller, a novel multi-frequency KPFM is developed, whose sensitivity for surface potential measurement is demonstrated to be better than 5 m V. Topography and surface potential distribution for a kind of dielectric film with the injection of charge are imaged with the multi-frequency KPFM,suggesting its application in the characterization of electrical material and devices.
Chances that Internet brings to Chinese rice merchants

The thesis analyses some important benefits that Internet can bring to rice merchants which was find market, reduce costs and promote the brand. Then gives some suggestions to them on how to utilize Internet while avoiding some potential crisis behind Internet and how to exploit the Internet.
Preliminary clinical observation of new allograft posterior lumbar fusion cage of anatomical shape

Objective To explore preliminary clinical results of a new anatomical shape allogeneic bone posterior lumbar fusion cage. Methods Follow-up patients used the allogeneic bone posterior lumbar fusion cage and use imaging methods and clinical score(VAS, ODI) to evaluate the patients′ clinical efficacy. Results 14 patients were followed up for 6 months or more, with an average follow-up time of 9.7 months, mean preoperative VAS 6.8 ± 1.1, ODI 32.7 ± 4.5. The mean preoperative disc height was(9.7 ± 2.0) mm and the average intervertebral height of 3 days post operation was(13.2 ± 1.7) mm. All patients got bony fusion in 6 months post operation, pain and function scores improved significantly compared with the pre-operation : VAS 2.4 ± 0.8(P = 0.000), ODI 9.8 ± 2.5(P = 0.000), the average intervertebral height was(13.1 ± 1.7) mm(P = 0.000). The average was VAS 2.1 ± 0.1(P = 0.000), average ODI was 8.9 ± 0.9(P = 0.000) at last follow up. Average of intervertebral height was(13.0 ± 1.8) mm, no significant difference compared to three days after surgery(P = 0.831). No serious complications and deep surgical site infection was observed. All implants were found no fragmentation, shift, cutting boards, and obviously sinking. Conclusion The anatomical shape allogeneic bone posterior lumbar fusion device is suitable for posterior lumbar interbody fusion, advantages of high fusion rate, satisfactory clinical results in the initial clinical trials, but its long-term efficacy requires further observation.
Nurse participation in decisions regarding limitation of treatment.

Abstract A vast literature exists on the ethical aspects of decisions to limit life-sustaining treatments, and much of it deals with the way decisions ought to be made. Little is known, however, about how decisions are made in actual clinical practice. Empirical studies have not investigated the decision-making process directly and, with one exception, have only focused on physician practices. Through the use of a case, this paper examines the nature of hospital cancer nurses' involvement in the decision-making process. Three practice domains are identified: assisting patients to reach a truly autonomous choice, helping families to understand and to cope with the realities of the situation, and communicating with and encouraging open communication among all those involved. In addition, the potential value of the in-between position of the nurse is noted, and nurse responsibilities are summarized.
A ideologia do crossover e a sua relação com o gênero

Resumo Este artigo discute o conceito de crossover, um componente complexo da ideologia racial como vivida na cultura dos Estados Unidos, enfatizando a relacao entre genero e etnicidade. Crossover refere-se a uma substantiva transformacao da musica, do comportamento percebido como culturalmente significativo e da vestimenta dos musicos. A significacao cultural estaria na presumida diferenca de etnicidade entre o grupo do qual a musica ou o musico se originam e a populacao alvo da transformacao. Acima de tudo crossing over esta adaptando uma expressao musical especifica ao mercado. Abstract This paper discusses the concept of crossover, a complex component of racial ideology as lived in the United States culture, paying attention to the relation between gender and ethnicity. Crossover refers to a substantive transformation of music and the perceived-yet-culturally-significant behavior and dress of musicians. The cultural signification lies in the presumed different ethnicity between the group from which the music or musician comes and the target population of the transformation. Above ali, crossing over is adapting one's musical expression to a perceived market.
Low- and High-Tc Squids and Some Applications

DC Superconducting QUantum Interference Devices are routinely fabricated from Nb films with an integrated input coil to couple in magnetic flux from the signal source. Typical dc SQUIDs operated at 4.2 K have a magnetic flux noise of 10−6 Φ0 Hz−1/2, where Φ0 is the flux quantum, corresponding to a magnetic noise energy of 10−32 JHz−1. With the aid of a superconducting flux transformer the magnetic field noise can approach 1 fT Hz−1/2. High-Tc dc SQUIDs fabricated from thin films of YBa2Cu3O7-x (YBCO) have achieved noise energies below 10−30 JHz−1 at 77 K and, with multilayer flux transformers, a magnetic field noise below 10 fT Hz−1/2 at frequencies down to a few Hz. An rf SQUID made from YBCO and operated at 77 K at frequencies around 1 GHz has achieved a magnetic field noise of 16 fT Hz−1/2 at frequencies above 100 Hz. A recent theory for rf SQUIDs predicts noise levels in good agreement with experiment. Two issues relevant to the operation of high-Tc SQUIDs in an unshielded environment are the increase in low-frequency noise arising from the entry of flux vortices into the YBCO films and the realization of long-baseline gradiometers. The applications of low-Tc SQUIDs to nuclear magnetic and nuclear quadrupole resonance, and of high-Tc SQUIDs to scanning SQUID microscopy and geophysics are discussed.
The Basic Theory of Fuzzy Decisions

In Chapter 5 we presented some basic and essential characteristics of fuzzy mathematics that has been used in the development of cost-benefit analysis. In the process the theory of fuzzy decision was woven into the cost benefit-analysis to create a theory of soft computing of collective decision. The cost-benefit analysis is seen as an approach to collective decision. The objective is to combine cost-benefit rationality and fuzzy rationality to deal with the essential problem of democratic decision making. The fuzzy rationality requires the development of the theory of fuzzy decisions.
Evaluation of a Single-Frequency versus Dual-Frequency Channel Structure for Very High Frequency Air/Ground Communications

The current very high frequency (VHF) air/ground (A/G) radio system is projected to approach its capacity limit in certain areas of the United States and Western Europe within the next ten years. As a result, broad system improvement studies are underway within the International Civil Aviation Organization and the Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics to examine all alternatives for a future system that can increase capacity within the same spectrum allocation. One alternative is channel splitting to 12.5 kHz and using analog amplitude modulation with improved filtering, which could increase the capacity by a factor close to 2. Another alternative is using digital modulation, multiplexing techniques, and low bit rate voice coding to increase capacity by a factor of 2 to 6. As part of this effort, this paper presents a relative capacity analysis of yet another somewhat independent aspect of a future radio system, namely, whether the system operates by using a single frequency for both uplink and downl...
Mercury Stoichiometric Relationships in a Subtropical Peatland

Spatially variable areas, or hotspots, of elevated mercury (Hg) concentrations in soil, water, and wildlife occur throughout the Everglades wetland ecosystem. This study investigates the stoichiometric controls of Hg relative to soil, water, and biotic components. Surface water, porewater, soil, periphyton, and Gambusia spp. (mosquitofish) were collected from hotspots and non-spot stations and analyzed for various parameters, including total mercury (THg), organic carbon (OC), total carbon (TC), total phosphorus (TP), and total nitrogen (TN) between late 2010 and early 2013. Soil nutrient ratios were significantly different between hotspot and non-hotspot stations, indicating a difference in trophic status and position along the decay continuum or differences in limiting nutrients. Overall, soil total Hg concentrations were negatively correlated with soil TC/TN, while soil TC/TP and soil TN/TP molar ratios and soil THg were negatively correlated at hotspot stations. Meanwhile, mosquitofish THg was negatively correlated with soil TC/TN molar ratio and positively correlated with soil TC/TP and TN/TP molar ratios, suggesting trophic truncation. Soil, surface water, and porewater THg, TC, and OC interactions resulted in significant differences between hotspot and non-hotspot stations and between molar ratios of C, N, and P. Periphyton-surface water THg/OC homeostasis and soil nutrient ratios significantly explained mosquitofish THg concentrations, further indicating a trophic influence on mosquitofish THg and potential hotspot dynamics. Several factors and processes including bottom-up trophic interaction and vegetation influence on Hg accumulation dynamics and food-chain length explain the development and persistence of Hg hotspot formation within the Everglades system.
The controlled center dynamics of discrete time control bifurcations

In this paper, we introduce the Controlled center dynamics for nonlinear discrete time systems with uncontrollable linearization. This is a reduced order control system whose dimension is the number of uncontrollable modes and whose stabilizability properties determine the stabilizability properties of the full order system. After reducing the order of the system, the synthesis of a stabilizing controller is performed based on the reduced order control system. By changing the feedback, the stability properties of the controlled center dynamics will change, and thus the stability properties of the full order system will change too. Thus, choosing a feedback that stabilizes the controlled center dynamics allows stabilizing the full order system. This approach is a reduction technique for some classes of controlled differential equations. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Why Human-Autonomy Teaming?

Automation has entered nearly every aspect of our lives, but it often remains hard to understand. Why is this? Automation is often brittle, requiring constant human oversight to assure it operates as intended. This oversight has become harder as automation has become more complicated. To resolve this problem, Human-Autonomy Teaming (HAT) has been proposed. HAT is based on advances in providing automation transparency, a method for giving insight into the reasoning behind automated recommendations and actions, along with advances in human automation communications (e.g., voice). These, in turn, permit more trust in the automation when appropriate, and less when not, allowing a more targeted supervision of automated functions. This paper proposes a framework for HAT, incorporating three key tenets: transparency, bi-directional communication, and operator directed authority. These tenets, along with more capable automation, represent a shift in human-automation relations.
A Review on Lack of Cohesion in Method

Cohesion is an important software attribute; it is one of the significant criterions for assessing object oriented software quality. Modules with high cohesion have a propensity to be preferable because high cohesion is associated with several desirable traits of software including robustness, reliability, reusability, and understandability while in the other case low cohesion is associated with undesirable traits such as being difficult to maintain, difficult to test, difficult to reuse, and even difficult to understand. This paper puts together the various techniques of lcom which has been proposed by various authors and this will give the overview about Lcom. This paper incorporates an assortment of aspects of lcom, which allows the reader to get a clear perspective on lcom. A selected choice of research articles were fused into this paper to facilitate the ease of a researcher searching for articles related to cohesion which in event makes the study of that researcher more competent.