cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Crop Sequence Effects on Leaf Spot Diseases of No-Till Spring Wheat

Crop sequence is an important management practice that may lower the risk for leaf spot diseases of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Field research was conducted near Mandan, ND, to determine the impact of crop sequences on leaf spot diseases of hard red spring wheat early in the growing season. Spring wheat was evaluated for disease severity following crop sequence combinations of 10 crops [buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench), canola (Brassica napus L.), chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), corn (Zea mays L.), dry pea (Pisum sativum L.), grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.), oil seed sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.), and hard red spring wheat). Spring wheat leaves with distinct lesions were collected for determination of lesion number and percentage necrosis data, which were used to estimate leaf spot disease severity. Pyrenophora tritici-repentis (Died.) Drechs., the cause of tan spot, and Phaeosphaeria nodorum (E. Miiller) Hedjaroude, the cause of Stagonospora nodorum blotch, were the major leaf spot diseases and consistently present throughout the growing season. The frequency of isolation following alternative crops was generally lower compared with spring wheat following wheat. Leaf spot diseases on spring wheat were impacted by crop sequencing. Spring wheat following crop sequences with alternative crops for 1 or 2 yr had lower levels of disease severity compared with a continuous spring wheat treatment early in the growing season. Disease severity was apparently not related to the percentage of crop residue coverage on the soil surface associated with various crop sequence combinations. New alternative crops preceding spring wheat reduce levels of leaf spot diseases.
Lost in Familiar Places: Creating New Connections Between the Individual and Society

This article presents a review of the book “Lost in Familiar Places: Creating New Connections Between the Individual and Society,” by Edward Shapiro and A. Weslev Carr.
Greater signal, increased depth, and less photobleaching in two-photon microscopy with 10 fs pulses

Abstract The fundamental advantages to using ultrafast (≪100 fs) laser pulses in two-photon microscopy for biomedical imaging are seldom realized due to chromatic dispersion introduced by the required high numerical aperture microscope objective. Dispersion is eliminated here by using the multiphoton intrapulse interference phase scan (MIIPS) method on pulses with a bandwidth greater than 100 nm full width at half maximum. Higher fluorescence intensity, deeper sample penetration, and improved signal-to-noise ratio are demonstrated quantitatively and qualitatively. Due to the higher signal intensity obtained after MIIPS compensation, lower laser power is required, which decreases photobleaching. The observed advantages are not realized if group delay dispersion is compensated for while higher-order dispersion is not. By using a pulse shaper and taking advantage of the broad spectrum of the ultrafast laser, selective excitation of different cell organelles is achieved due to the difference in nonlinear optical susceptibility of different chromophores without requiring an emission filter wheel. Experiments on biological specimens, such as HeLa cells and mouse kidney tissue samples, illustrate the advantages to using sub-10 fs pulses with MIIPS compensation in the field of two-photon microscopy for biomedical imaging.
Visualization technique for improved situation awareness

ABSTRACT Military commanders must understand the complexities ofthe tactical picture, which is made up ofmany individual entities(microstates) with their own organizational allegiance, capabilities, and attributes. Further, while individual events can occurquickly, a battle can occupy several hours to days. It is inadequate to simply perceive the differentiated data about battlefieldentities at some point in timethe commander must understand the integrated meaning of the entities as they interact acrosstime. We say that the commander is building situation awareness (SA), and doing so using traditional information displaysconsumes scarce resources of time and cognitive effort. The challenge is to combine the many individual microstates into afew integrated macrostates and display this information to the commander in a way that is instantly meaningful. We suggesta method for reducing the time and cognitive effort necessary to acquire SA by applying principles of visual perception to thedesign ofbaulefield visualization displays. Specifically, we exploit the organizational properties ofgestalt figures and thephenomenon of global preference to create displays that allow immediate understanding of relevant information on thelocation, identity, and concentration of friendly and enemy units. The data is then compressed temporally, bringing battledynamics into a useful time domain.Keywords: Battlefield Visualization, Situation Awareness, Information Assimilation
Inhibition of bacterial growth by mercury and the effects of protective agents

Twenty-two bacterial cultures were isolated from sediment samples, characterized morphologically and biochemically, and tested for resistance to mercury. Of all the cultures examined only two obligate anaerobes, Bacteroides and a Clostridium were found to be sensitive to very low levels of mercury. Both the Bacteriodes and Clostridium were inhibited by 1.1 /sup +/g mercury or more per disc. In the presence of the same level of mercury and at a cell concentration of 10 CFU per ml of medium, the inhibition zones were greater for the Bacteriodes than for the Clostridium. Maximum protection of the entire cell population was noted against 5.0 ..mu..g Hg/ml when the buffer had 5.0 mg of sediment. The surviving fraction in the presence of 2.5 mg of sediment and 2.5 ..mu..g of mercury remained fairly constant (0.81) during the entire 15 minute exposure, indicating that this level of sediment completely protected the entire cell population against the bactericidal action of that level of mercury. 21 references, 2 figures, 1 table.
The Yield of Hydroxyl Radical from the Decomposition of Peroxynitrous Acid

Mechanistic predictions, based upon the assumption that free {sm{underscore}bullet}OH and {sm{underscore}bullet}NO{sub 2} radicals are formed as intermediates during the ONOOH decay, were tested using inorganic radical scavengers. Both the rates and the yields of Fe(CN){sub 6}{sup 4{minus}} and IRcl{sub 6}{sup 3{minus}} oxidation by ONOOH were independent of their concentrations in submillimolar range. A 55 {+-} 7% Fe(CN){sub 6}{sup 3{minus}} yield and 25 {+-} 3% IrCl{sub 6}{sup 2{minus}} were measured at pH 5.7, 22 C. A yields ratio close to 2 is expected, because, of the two radicals produced, only {sm{underscore}bullet}OH can rapidly oxidize IRCl{sub 6}{sup 3{minus}}. The competition kinetic studies demonstrated that the relative reactivities of the oxidizing intermediate generated by ONOOH toward IrCl{sub 6}{sup 3{minus}} and NO{sub 2}{sup {minus}} were identical with the reactivities of the authentic {sm{underscore}bullet}OH radical generated by pulse radiolysis. It is concluded that ONOOH decomposes via its peroxo bond homolysis producing a pair of discrete {sm{underscore}bullet}OH and {sm{underscore}bullet}NO{sub 2} radicals with 28 {+-} 4% yield. A bimolecular reaction between ONOOH and Fe(CN){sub 6}{sup 4{minus}} with the rate constant (8.2 {+-} 0.4) M{sup {minus}1} s{sup {minus}1} significantly increases both oxidation yield and rate at high [Fe(CN){sub 6}{sup 4{minus}}].
Design, Fabrication, and Mixing Characteristics of an Electrostatically Activated Resonant Micropump-Mixer

An active mixing and pumping strategy is proposed to enhance mixing of two fluids through vortex accumulation by a resonant plate actuation. A resonant micropump-mixer is designed and fabricated, where an electrostatically activated plate is placed at or in close vicinity of the interface between the two incoming streams at the junction of a Y-shaped microchannel. Mixing is enhanced by increased interface area between the two fluids during the vortex formation at the tip of the resonant plate. Fabrication of the micropump-mixer is achieved in two steps. Commercial PolyMUMPs process is initially used to fabricate a resonant plate, where it is eventually packaged into a Y-shaped microchannel. The resonant plate, in this study, has a length of 300 μm, thickness of 1.5 μm, and it is activated by an AC power source, which results in significant oscillation amplitude at the tip of the plate. The Laser Induced Fluorescence (LIF) technique is used for flow visualization and characterization, where effective mixing and pumping capabilities of the micropump-mixer are demonstrated.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Biology of Conoderus vespertinus in the Piedmont Section of North Carolina (Coleoptera: Elateridae)

The tobacco wireworm, Conoderus vespertinus (Fabricius), overwinters in the larval stage and has a single generation each year. A small percentage of individuals may pass through two winters in the larval stage; however, the typical life cycle from egg to egg requires about 348 days in North Carolina, as follows: egg, 10 days; larva, 315 days; pupa, 10 days; and pre-oviposition period, 13 days. Mortality was high, particularly among the early instars, in field populations and in rearing cages. Low soil moisture, high temperature, disease, predation, and cannibalism were among the mortality factors observed. An illustrated key to the larvae of five of the more common species of Conoderus is included.
Rapid creation of gastric pouches with the use of an automatic stapling instrument.

Summary In the dog satisfactory closure of cut ends of stomach and bowel is secured by the application, in one step, of a double row of staggered stainless steel wire staples. This principle offers a convenient and rapid way of constructing gastric pouches.
Admissions procedures of educational programs for the specialist in blood bank technology

A national survey of specialists in blood bank technology educational programs was performed to describe current admissions procedures. Programs generally were AABB approved for and accepted either two or four students annually from 10 to 14 complete applications which result from 25 to 50 inquiries. The program selection criteria usually included an evaluation of overall GPA, science GPA, prior blood bank experience, three professional references, and a non-standardized interview with the medical director, educational coordinator, and other faculty or staff. Admissions procedures were characterized by an admissions committee of four members differentially weighting the various selection criteria that often were not quantified through the use of a point value system. Programs reported that their admissions procedures were not quantified through the use of a point value system. Programs reported to their admissions procedures were objective enough and resulted in students of adequate quality, even though their procedures could be improved, possibly with more specific AABB guidelines.
Sex differences in attraction to infants: When do they occur?

Harlow (1971) observed that all-female college audiences responded to a pictured infant rhesus monkey with an “ecstasy response,” while males were “completely unresponsive,” and females in coeducational audiences “inhibited the ecstasy response,” explaining these differences in terms of innate sex differences. The present study compared college students' self-reported attraction to pictures of 15 infant and adult nonhuman primates under several conditions. Infant pictures were of two types: infants which were engaged in typical infant behaviors (Infant Behavior), and those which were not (Infant). Subjects made judgments in same- or mixed-sex groups and reported degree of attraction publicly or privately. Ratio scores were used to represent each subject's attraction to infant or infant-behavior pictures compared with his or her attraction to pictures of adults. There were no significant sex differences in attraction to infant or infant-behavior pictures, and sex did not interact with any other variable. However, situational variables significantly affected the response. Males as well as females reported greater attraction to infant and infant-behavior pictures when they viewed the pictures in same-sex compared with mixed-sex groups. Both sexes reported greater attraction to infant and infant-behavior pictures privately than publicly.
Quantitative Analysis Of Accuracy In The 3-D Video-Based Motion Analysis Corporation System

A complete system to quantify three-dimensional human movement kinematics was developed and initial accuracy testing was completed. This video-based system incorporates a video processor produced by Motion Analysis Corporation to edge-detect markers in a calibrated space, a SUN computer work station to receive data from the video processor, and appropriate software for analysis of the data. A series of tests was performed to compare static and dynamic accuracy of this video-based system to that reported of other video and film-based systems. The mean absolute errors for the static testing were 4.0 mm in the X direction, 2.5 mm in the Y direction, and 5.4 mm in the Z direction, with standard deviations of 4.0, 1.8, and 5.9 mm respectively. The mean absolute errors for the static testing were 11.1, 2.6, and 17.6 mm in the X, Y, and Z directions, respectively, with standard deviations of 0.4, 0.5, and 1.1 mm. These errors are comparable to those of other video-based systems but are slightly higher than those found with film-based systems.
The effects of surgical desalivation of the rat upon taste acuity

Abstract Taste acuity in control and surgically desalivated rats was evaluated with a two-bottle preference test. Rats were presented with a choice between water and various concentrations of Nacl, HCl and quinine sulphate (QS) solutions. Intake of the latter solutions was expressed as a percentage of the total intake. Total volume intake was expressed as ml intake/g body weight. When presented with a choice between the water and salt solutions, both immediately and 7 months after desalivation, experimental rats showed a variable response as compared to controls, suggesting some type of abnormality in regulation of salt solution intake. Control rats showed a marked rejection of the HCl (range 5.2–16 per cent) and QS (range 4.2–11.8 per cent) solutions while the desalivated rats showed significantly less rejection (range 25–57.4 per cent for HCl and 73.7–31.8 per cent for QS). On most test days, volume intake of the desalivates was greater than the controls, both immediately and 7 months after desalivation. The data suggest a decrease in taste acuity in rats without normal salivary flow.
In Situ Lining of a Pre-Action Fire Suppression System to Prevent Pitting Corrosion of the Carrier Pipe

A pre-action fire suppression system was installed in a portion of a US Army Reserve Component Headquarters building in the Southeastern United States, when the structure was constructed in 1995. A pre-action fire suppression system, which is normally kept at a standard internal air pressure using air compressors in the basement electrical-mechanical room, is designed to remain dry and only have water in it in the event of a fire. The installed pre-action system developed pinhole leaks due to what appeared to be galvanic corrosion. An in-situ epoxy lining technique was used to stop the corrosion and restore the integrity of the fire suppression system piping. The work included lining of all interior pre-action piping mains, risers, branch laterals and service piping to individual sprinkler head locations, installing new ½” sprinkler heads on the preaction system followed by recertification of the pre-action system. This presentation describes the in-place epoxy lining process and presents before and after photographs of the coated system used to eliminate the pin hole leak problem.
TH-C-19A-01: Analytic Design Method to Make a 2D Planar, Segmented Ion Chamber Water-Equivalent for Proton Dose Measurements

Purpose: Quality Assurance (QA) measurements of proton therapy fields must accurately measure steep longitudinal dose gradients as well as characterize the dose distribution laterally. Currently, available devices for two-dimensional field measurements perturb the dose distribution such that routine QA measurements performed at multiple depths require multiple field deliveries and are time consuming. Methods: A design procedure for a two-dimensional detector array is introduced whereby the proton energy loss and scatter are adjusted so that the downstream dose distribution is maintained to be equivalent to that which would occur in uniform water. Starting with the design for an existing, functional two-dimensional segmented ion chamber prototype, a compensating material is introduced downstream of the detector to simultaneously equate the energy loss and lateral scatter in the detector assembly to the values in water. An analytic formalism and procedure is demonstrated to calculate the properties of the compensating material in the general case of multiple layers of arbitrary material. The resulting design is validated with Monte Carlo simulations. Results: With respect to the specific prototype design considered, the results indicate that a graphite compensating layer of the proper dimensions can yield proton beam range perturbation less than 0.1mm and beam sigma perturbation less than 2% across the energy range of therapeutic proton beams. Conclusion: We have shown that, for a 2D gas-filled detector array, a graphite-compensating layer can balance the energy loss and multiple Coulomb scattering relative to uniform water. We have demonstrated an analytic formalism and procedure to determine a compensating material in the general case of multiple layers of arbitrary material. This work was supported by the US Army Medical Research and Materiel Command under Contract Agreement No. DAMD17-W81XWH-04-2-0022. Opinions, interpretations, conclusions and recommendations are those of the author and are not necessarily endorsed by the US Army.
Measurement of perioperative flexion-extension mechanics of the knee joint

Perioperative knee mechanics currently are evaluated Perioperative knee mechanics currently are evaluated by measuring range of motion. This is an incomplete measurement, however, because the torque applied to achieve the motion is not measured. We hypothesized that a custom goniometer and force transducer could measure the torque required to passively flex a knee through its full range of motion. This measurement was done in the operating room immediately before and after surgery in 20 knees having total knee arthroplasty and 9 having surgery on another limb. Surgery changed the mechanics of 8 knees, whereas unoperated knees remained unchanged. This measurement technique is safe, easy, and repeatable. It improves on the current standard of perioperative knee measurement and can be applied to investigate the effects of surgery and rehabilitation on ultimate knee motion.
Concordance between life history traits, invasion history, and allozyme diversity of the Everglades invader Melaleuca quinquenervia.

During the century following its initial introduction in 1886, the Australian tree Melaleuca quinquenervia (Myrtaceae) dispersed from a few introduction points to occupy over 200,000 ha, primarily in historic Everglades wetlands of southern Florida. Cellulose acetate gel electrophoresis (CAGE) was used to investigate the allozyme diversity and population genetic structure of 208 individuals in a dozen populations resulting from this invasion. The analyses showed that these populations have a high (82%) rate of polymorphic loci and an average of 2 alleles/locus. There was substantial heterozygosity (mean He = 0.356), which concords well with recent studies reporting a greater number of introduction events and sources than generally recognized. The introduction history and distributional patterns within Florida have led to geographic structuring (GST = 0.419) in which the Gulf Coast metapopulation has a greater effective number of alleles and greater heterozygosity than the Atlantic Coast metapopulation. The gene diversity in M. quinquenervia was comparable to other tropical woody species. Its strong population divergence was reminiscent of pioneer species and consistent with its status as a plant invader in Florida. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Emission scenarios and the health risks posed by priority mobile air toxics in an Urban to regional area: An application in Nashville, Tennessee

Toxic air pollutants, also known as hazardous air pollutants, are those that are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects, such as birth defects or adverse environmental outcomes. The aim of this research was to predict air toxics related health risks due to different emission scenarios by linking Models-3/CMAQ and cancer risk assessments. To demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach, this study was performed on the priority mobile source air toxics (PMSAT) of benzene, 1,3-butadiene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and diesel particulate matter (DPM), based on data from 2003. The analysis was carried out in the eastern US, and mainly in Nashville, TN. Ten emissions scenarios were examined, including a 2020 scenario with the effects of on-road mobile source regulations. The results show that DPM poses a cancer risk that is 4.2 times higher than the combined total cancer risk from all of four other PMSAT. These high cancer risk levels are mainly due to non-road sources (57.9%). The main cancer risk from acetaldehyde, benzene, formaldehyde, and 1,3-butadiene (4HAPs) is due to biogenic sources, which account for 32.2% of this risk, although these cannot be controlled. Excluding DPM, the main on-road cancer risk contribution was due to the air toxics generated by gasoline light duty vehicles (LDVs), principally benzene and 1,3-butadiene. The scenario for 2020 showed reductions in the adverse health effects related to DPM and 4HAPs of 32.8 and 19.4%, respectively. This research provides strong evidence that reducing ambient DPM concentrations will lead to greater improvements in human health than other air toxics, indicating that better technologies and regulations must be applied to mobile diesel engines, as these have more significant adverse health effects than non-road diesel sources.
High magnetic field induced changes of gene expression in arabidopsis.

High magnetic fields are becoming increasingly prevalent components of non-invasive, biomedical imaging tools (such as MRI), thus, an understanding of the molecular impacts associated with these field strengths in biological systems is of central importance. The biological impact of magnetic field strengths up to 30 Tesla were investigated in this study through the use of transgenic Arabidopsis plants engineered with a stress response gene consisting of the alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh) gene promoter driving the β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene reporter. Magnetic field induced Adh/GUS activity was evaluated with histochemical staining to assess tissue specific expression and distribution, and with quantitative, spectrofluometric assays to measure degree of activation. The evaluation of global changes in the Arabidopsis genome in response to exposure to high magnetic fields was facilitated with Affymetrix Gene Chip microarrays. Quantitative analyses of gene expression were performed with quantitative real-time polymerase-chain-reaction (qRT-PCR). Field strengths in excess of about 15 Tesla induce expression of the Adh/GUS transgene in the roots and leaves. From the microarray analyses that surveyed 8000 genes, 114 genes were differentially expressed to a degree greater than 2.5 fold over the control. These results were quantitatively corroborated by qRT-PCR examination of 4 of the 114 genes. The data suggest that magnetic fields in excess of 15 Tesla have far-reaching effect on the genome. The wide-spread induction of stress-related genes and transcription factors, and a depression of genes associated with cell wall metabolism, are prominent examples. The roles of magnetic field orientation of macromolecules and magnetophoretic effects are discussed as possible factors that contribute to the mounting of this response.
Patterns of Neighboring: Practicing Community in the Parochial Realm

This article investigates the practices and functions of neighboring. It is based on interviews and “go-alongs” with over sixty residents and on ethnographic observation of two middle-class neighborhoods in Hollywood, California. Building on Lofland’s (1998) model of three social realms (the public, the parochial, and the private), I conceptualize neighboring as a set of interactive principles that characterize parochial or communal territories such as neighborhoods. I discuss four distinct patterns in detail: friendly recognition, parochial helpfulness, proactive intervention, and embracing and contesting diversity. While integrating previous research and theorizing on neighboring, the article contributes to the continuing debate in sociology over what constitutes community.
Get connected: New Fall Meeting technology

Kick off your 2012 Fall Meeting experience today by joining the Fall Meeting Community, an interactive Web-based community. Whether you are attending this year's Fall Meeting or are just interested in learning more, this site can help you connect with colleagues, learn about the groundbreaking research and amazing programming being presented in San Francisco, and plan your trip to the largest Earth and space science conference of the year. Available through the Fall Meeting Web site (http://fallmeeting.agu.org), the Community allows you to share your Fall Meeting experience like never before. You can join groups based on your interests, and each group includes a message board that allows you to ask questions, post comments, discuss presentations, and make plans with colleagues. You can also create your own groups and use the Community's robust search engine to find and connect with friends. And because the Fall Meeting Web site was improved for 2012 to allow for nearly seamless functionality on mobile devices, you can access much of the same Community functionality on the go.
An AFLP-based approach for the identification of sex-linked markers in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Abstract A DNA AFLP-fingerprinting approach has been used in this study for the identification of sex-linked markers in rainbow trout. Using a sex-typed pool strategy we analyzed a total of 486 different primer combinations of which 19 gave sex-associated amplification across the pooled DNA samples. Segregation analysis showed that 18 out of 19 AFLPs (95%) were informative for individual sexing and genetic mapping. Fifteen AFLPs that showed sex-associated amplification in the pooled segregant analysis were converted into single locus markers (SCARs). One out of 15, the SCAR Omy -163, was Y chromosome-linked and mapped near the sex locus in all of four genetically diverse male clonal lines of rainbow trout examined. Three microsatellites, Ots517NWFSC, OmyFGT19TUF and Omm1026, which were previously mapped on the sex linkage group in rainbow trout, were also analyzed. The SCAR Omy -163, Ots517NWFC and OmyFGT19TUF showed low levels of intraspecific allelic polymorphism. Y chromosome-linked AFLP markers were relatively strain-specific suggesting an intraspecific genetic polymorphism of the rainbow trout Y-chromosome. Estimation of the level of polymorphism for AFLPs using one of our strains revealed that approximately 34,506 putative loci were tested in our study of which about 4374 were polymorphic. Considering 11 Y-linked polymorphic loci in this strain, we estimated that 0.25% of polymorphic loci (11/4374) were confined to a single sex. Assuming that the length of the rainbow trout genome is estimated to be 2627.5 cM (2.4×10 6 kb), the male-determining region detected using our screen may span 6.6 cM (6100 kb). The AFLP technique provides an efficient marker system for revealing polymorphic loci and for linkage map construction. An AFLP approach in combination with a sex-type pool strategy resulted in a quick analysis for identifying sex-linked loci in rainbow trout. Similar approaches may be useful for molecular mapping of markers linked to genes of interest in other species.
Attachments to Blankets, Teddy Bears, and Other Nonsocial Objects: A Child's Perspective

The purpose of this study was to provide normative developmental data on children's thinking about attachments to soft objects. Four- to 8-year-old children (54 with object attachments and 27 without object attachments) were interviewed about their understanding of an object attachment's history and function, their perceptions of adults' reactions to object use, their beliefs about appropriate use of these objects, and their reasoning about an object's unique identifying attributes and functions (e.g., comforting). Even young children with object attachments were able to provide clear and cohesive descriptions of their nonsocial attachments. However, the children's reasoning about the uniqueness of objects was affected by both age and experience. The results have implications for hypotheses about the origins of object attachments, and the findings are discussed in terms of sources of children's beliefs.
Fiscal policy issues in the aging societies

Aging may be one of the most far-reaching processes defining the economic, fiscal, and social changes societies are likely to experience over the next 40 years. The demographic consequences of aging will have a dramatic impact on labor markets, economic growth, social structures — and government budgets. These issues have gained urgency after the second largest global recession in the past 100 years. Based on a broad comparative analysis of countries that include the EU and non-EU European and Central Asian countries, as well as several case studies and model simulations, the paper seeks to provide broad answers — tailored in part to distinct groups of countries according to their aging-fiscal profiles –– to major questions facing governments’ budgets in aging societies: What are the fiscal-aging profiles of Western European, emerging European, and Central Asian countries? In other words, how good or bad is their fiscal situation — “initial conditions” — in view of their emerging aging-related problems? What kind of public spending pressures are likely to emerge in the coming decades, and what will be their relative importance? How do countries compare in terms of the possible impacts of aging on growth and long-term debt sustainability? What can be learned from in-depth and comparative case studies of aging, fiscal sustainability, and fiscal reform? Are there good-practice examples — countries doing things right at the right time — that may offer lessons for the others? And, perhaps most important, given the need for long-term fiscal consolidation for many countries, what kind of revenue and expenditure policy agendas are likely to emerge to mitigate the effects of aging? A key policy conclusion is that countries should aim for early rather than delayed reforms dealing with long-term aging pressures. The urgency is accentuated by the debt situations and/or adverse debt and demographic dynamics in almost all countries but also by the evolving voter preferences. As societies age and voting preferences increasingly reflect the political will of the older population, it will become more difficult to enact the necessary reforms ensuring social and fiscal sustainability.
Organelle tethering by a homotypic PDZ interaction underlies formation of the Golgi membrane network

Formation of the ribbon-like membrane network of the Golgi apparatus depends on GM130 and GRASP65, but the mechanism is unknown. We developed an in vivo organelle tethering assaying in which GRASP65 was targeted to the mitochondrial outer membrane either directly or via binding to GM130. Mitochondria bearing GRASP65 became tethered to one another, and this depended on a GRASP65 PDZ domain that was also required for GRASP65 self-interaction. Point mutation within the predicted binding groove of the GRASP65 PDZ domain blocked both tethering and, in a gene replacement assay, Golgi ribbon formation. Tethering also required proximate membrane anchoring of the PDZ domain, suggesting a mechanism that orientates the PDZ binding groove to favor interactions in trans. Thus, a homotypic PDZ interaction mediates organelle tethering in living cells.
Sectoral Economies, Economic Contexts, and Attitudes toward Immigration

Do economic considerations shape attitudes toward immigration? In this article, we consider the relationship between economic interests and immigration preferences by examining how developments in individuals’ sectors of employment affect these views. Using survey data across European countries from 2002 to 2009 and employing new measures of industry-level exposure to immigration, we find that sectoral economies shape opinions about immigration. Individuals employed in growing sectors are more likely to support immigration than are those employed in shrinking sectors. Moreover, the economic context matters: making use of the exogenous shock to national economies represented by the 2008 financial crisis, we show that sector-level inflows of immigrant workers have little effect on preferences when economies are expanding, but that they dampen support for immigration when economic conditions deteriorate and confidence in the economy declines. These sectoral effects remain even when controlling for natives’ v...
Specialized neuronal and glial contributions to development of the hamster lateral geniculate complex and circadian visual system

The intergeniculate leaflet (IGL) is an integral part of the adult circadian visual system. It is characterized by the presence of retinal afferents and peptidergic cells projecting via a geniculohypothalamic tract (GHT) to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), site of the mammalian circadian clock. The adult IGL also contains abundant reactive astrocytes immunoreactive to GFAP. Because glia have a large role in brain development, we examined the ontogeny of the hamster IGL with respect to both glial and neuronal markers. Neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive (NPY-IR) cells destined for the IGL appear on embryonic day 11 (E11) in a matrix of vimentin (VIM)-IR radial glia. Migratory ellipsoid NPY-IR cells with long leading and trailing processes become oriented between the reticular thalamic neuroepithelial lobule, and the developing IGL. Most NPY-IR cells arrive in the IGL by E14 and extend axons ventrally into the GHT. These penetrate the SCN at P3 and arborize to an adult-like stage by P10. A specialized GFAP-IR radial glial path coinciding with the migratory route of NPY-IR cells appears by E14. As early as E15, cells contributing to this path are found displaced away from the ventricle. As the glial path disappears from the maturing brain, the entire length of the IGL becomes filled with GFAP-IR astrocytes. These features are consistent with translocation and transformation of a specialized set of radial glia into IGL astrocytes. The results demonstrate that the IGL is a large, developmentally important, feature of the lateral geniculate complex that is embryologically distinct from adjacent dorsal and ventrolateral geniculate nuclei.
Kneser-Haken finiteness for bounded 3-manifolds, locally free groups, and cyclic covers

Associated to every compact 3-manifold M and positive integer b, there is a constant c(M, b) = c. Any collection {Fij of incompressible surfaces with Betti numbers b,F, < b for all i, none of which is a boundary parallel annulus or a boundary parallel disk, and no two of which are parallel, must have fewer than c members. Our estimate for c is exponential in b. This theorem is used to detect closed incompressible surfaces in the infinite cyclic covers of all non-fibered knot complements. In other terms, if the commutator subgroup of a knot group is locally free, then it is actually a finitely generated free group. Q 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd
Security Services in Wireless Sensor Networks Using Sparse Random Coding

The task of providing security services for wireless sensor networks is not trivial due to the resource constraints of the sensor nodes. An adversary may launch a wide range of attacks including eavesdropping, message forgery, packet dropping, and noise injection. In this paper, we propose random coding security (RCS) that provides protection against all the aforementioned attacks. For this purpose, the proposed protocol makes extensive use of node collaboration and data redundancy. Moreover, using location information, we both localize adversarial activities to the area under attack and enhance routing the data toward the sink. The objectives of using the novel idea of sparse random coding in RCS are twofold. First, every node generates correlated data by calculating random linear combinations of the received packets. Hence, the availability of the data at the receiver is guaranteed with a high probability. The second advantage is the feasibility of implementing the RCS in the real case scenario in which the communication media between the sensors is usually modeled as the erasure channel. The existing protocols cannot be trivially modified to suit this realistic situation. In the overall, RCS provides many security services with computation and communication overheads comparable with other schemes
FINDSITELHM: A Threading-Based Approach to Ligand Homology Modeling

Ligand virtual screening is a widely used tool to assist in new pharmaceutical discovery. In practice, virtual screening approaches have a number of limitations, and the development of new methodologies is required. Previously, we showed that remotely related proteins identified by threading often share a common binding site occupied by chemically similar ligands. Here, we demonstrate that across an evolutionarily related, but distant family of proteins, the ligands that bind to the common binding site contain a set of strongly conserved anchor functional groups as well as a variable region that accounts for their binding specificity. Furthermore, the sequence and structure conservation of residues contacting the anchor functional groups is significantly higher than those contacting ligand variable regions. Exploiting these insights, we developed FINDSITE(LHM) that employs structural information extracted from weakly related proteins to perform rapid ligand docking by homology modeling. In large scale benchmarking, using the predicted anchor-binding mode and the crystal structure of the receptor, FINDSITE(LHM) outperforms classical docking approaches with an average ligand RMSD from native of approximately 2.5 A. For weakly homologous receptor protein models, using FINDSITE(LHM), the fraction of recovered binding residues and specific contacts is 0.66 (0.55) and 0.49 (0.38) for highly confident (all) targets, respectively. Finally, in virtual screening for HIV-1 protease inhibitors, using similarity to the ligand anchor region yields significantly improved enrichment factors. Thus, the rather accurate, computationally inexpensive FINDSITE(LHM) algorithm should be a useful approach to assist in the discovery of novel biopharmaceuticals.
Teaching, learning, and academic program planning

SUNY College at Potsdam, participating in a national project with nine other institutions, is strengthening critical student skills through sound academic planning.
0088 Exploring the unknown: Utah’s prescription drug policy evaluation experience

Statement of purpose The purpose of evaluating the Utah Emergency Administration of Opiate Antagonist Act (Naloxone Access Law) is to determine if it is effective in reducing opioid overdose deaths in Utah. The Naloxone Access Law expands access to naloxone and provides protection for the administration of naloxone in Utah. Methods/Approach A Utah Policy Evaluation Team was assembled from members of the Utah Pharmaceutical Drug Community Project (UPDCP), Utah’s coalition that addresses prescription drug abuse, misuse, and overdose prevention efforts. The Team met to gain an understanding of the law and its intended outcomes. They received 16 training hours at the Injury and Violence Prevention Program and Policy Evaluation Institute, received four hours of customised technical assistance, and participated in the Safe States Alliance Evaluation Community of Practice. Results Approximately 3000 informational naloxone pocket cards have been disseminated, 26 community pharmacies have received naloxone education and training, and one community pharmacy has a collaborative practice agreement in place. In addition, information on naloxone is being incorporated on several state websites. Naloxone evaluation questions have been added to the 2015 Utah Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System and provider and pharmacy surveys focusing on naloxone related attitudes, knowledge, awareness, and beliefs have been developed. This survey will be distributed to approximately 11,000 healthcare professionals. Conclusions Several evaluation efforts indicate that the Utah Emergency Administration of Opiate Antagonist Act will go a long way in decreasing opioid overdose deaths by removing legal barriers to the timely administration of naloxone and reducing the fear of criminal prosecution when reporting an overdose. Significance and contribution to the field Evaluating the Naloxone Access Law will help strengthen the evidence of effectiveness around laws designed to prevent prescription opioid overdose deaths. In addition, it will contribute to the identification and implementation of the best options for addressing the prescription drug abuse, misuse, and overdose epidemic for states as lessons learned and evaluation results are shared. It is crucial to provide evidence that the resources being expended actually produce the benefits and results expected.
Intrarenal Dopamine Production and Distribution in the Rat: Physiological Control of Sodium Excretion

Dopamme (DA), produced by the renal proximal tubule, has been demonstrated as an mtrarenal paracnne hormone mediating dmresls and natrmresls The precise mechanism by which DA exerts its cell-to-cell action 1s not fully understood In the present study, renal mterstltlal flmd (RIF) DA (by m VIVO mlcrodlalysls) and urinary DA excretion (U,,V) were compared m anesthetized rats on either normal (0 28% NaCl, NS) or high (4 0% NaCl, HS) sodium balance and m response to acute Y-L- glutamyl-L-dopa (gludopa) admmlstratlon Urme flow (UV) and sodium excretion (U,,V) m HS were greater than m NS rats U,,V was increased m HS compared with NS rats RIF DA was significantly lower m HS than NS rats Gludopa at 3, 5, and 7 5 nmol/kg (IV bolus) produced a larger Increase m UoAV than RIF DA Only the highest dose of gludopa (7 5 nmol/kg), which re- sulted m a 7 3-fold mcrease m UoAV and 1 7-fold increase m RIF DA, was associated with slgmficant dmresls and natrmresls Cor- tical and medullary blood flow remamed unchanged after gludopa (7 5 nmol/kg) admmlstratlon, while anglotensm II (100 ng kg-' mm-') mduced slgmficant reductton m cortical and medullary blood flow Prior bilateral renal denervatlon did not have a slg- mficant effect on basal DA levels (RIF DA and U,,V) or gludopa- induced DA production or natrmresls and dmresls The\e data demonstrated that both chronic sodium loadmg and acute gludopa admmlstratlon stimulated renal DA production and release pre- dominantly mto the tubule lumen, where DA had a direct tubule action m the control of UN,V Renal DA productlon and its renal effects were not significantly regulated by renal sympathetic nerve activity (Hypertension. 1997;29(part 2):228-234.) l dopamme l extracellular space l gludopa l hdney l mlcrodlalysls l sodium
The Use of Maximum Likelihood Estimates in {\chi^2} Tests for Goodness of Fit

The usual test that a sample comes from a distribution of given form is performed by counting the number of observations falling into specified cells and applying the χ2 test to these frequencies. In estimating the parameters for this test, one may use the maximum likelihood (or equivalent) estimate based (1) on the cell frequencies, or (2) on the original observations. This paper shows that in (2), unlike the well known result for (1), the test statistic does not have a limiting χ2-distribution, but that it is stochastically larger than would be expected under the χ2 theory. The limiting distribution is obtained and some examples are computed. These indicate that the error is not serious in the case of fitting a Poisson distribution, but may be so for the fitting of a normal.
Effects of Tenofovir on Cytokines and Nucleotidases in HIV-1 Target Cells and the Mucosal Tissue Environment in the Female Reproductive Tract

Tenofovir (TFV) is a reverse transcriptase inhibitor used in microbicide preexposure prophylaxis trials to prevent HIV infection. Recognizing that changes in cytokine/chemokine secretion and nucleotidase biological activity can influence female reproductive tract (FRT) immune protection against HIV infection, we tested the hypothesis that TFV regulates immune protection in the FRT. Epithelial cells, fibroblasts, CD4(+) T cells, and CD14(+) cells were isolated from the endometrium (Em), endocervix (Cx), and ectocervix (Ecx) following hysterectomy. The levels of proinflammatory cytokines (macrophage inflammatory protein 3α [MIP-3α], interleukin 8 [IL-8], and tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α]), the expression levels of specific nucleotidases, and nucleotidase biological activities were analyzed in the presence or absence of TFV. TFV influenced mRNA and/or protein cytokines and nucleotidases in a cell- and site-specific manner. TFV significantly enhanced IL-8 and TNF-α secretion by epithelial cells from the Em and Ecx but not from the Cx. In contrast, in response to TFV, IL-8 secretion was significantly decreased in Em and Cx fibroblasts but increased with fibroblasts from the Ecx. When incubated with CD4(+) T cells from the FRT, TFV increased IL-8 (Em and Ecx) and TNF-α (Cx and Ecx) secretion levels. Moreover, when incubated with Em CD14(+) cells, TFV significantly increased MIP-3α, IL-8, and TNF-α secretion levels relative to those of the controls. In contrast, nucleotidase biological activities were significantly decreased by TFV in epithelial (Cx) and CD4(+) T cells (Em) but increased in fibroblasts (Em). Our findings indicate that TFV modulates proinflammatory cytokines, nucleotidase gene expression, and nucleotidase biological activity in epithelial cells, fibroblasts, CD4(+) T cells, and CD14(+) cells at distinct sites within the FRT.
A non-recursive expression for the number of irreducible representations of the symmetric group Sn

Consideration of a classification of the number of partitions of a natural number according to the members of sub-partitions differing from unity leads to a non-recursive formula for the number of irreducible representations of the symmetric group Sn.