cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diabetes y enfermedad cardiovascular

La enfermedad cardiovascular es la principal causa de mortalidad y morbilidad en los paises desarrollados. La diabetes mellitus es un factor de riesgo importante para la enfermedad cardiovascular, que contribuye a producir sus devastadoras consecuencias economicas. El syndrome metabolico y la obesidad abdominal constituyen un problema de salud creciente, ligado a menudo a la diabetes (y la intolerancia a la glucosa). A diferencia del subcutaneo, el deposito de grasa intraabdominal pone en marcha una serie de mecanismos nocivos, como la liberacion de marcadores inflamatorios que contribuyen a producir la elevada incidencia de enfermedad cardiovascular en esa poblacion. De hecho, parece claro que la inflamacion es un factor importante en la obesidad, el sindrome metabolico y la diabetes, no solo contribuyendo a producir estos trastornos, sino tambien siendo un vinculo entre ellos. En realidad, hay varias vias que sugieren una interaccion entre el sistema metabolico y el sistema inmunitario-inflamatorio, lo cual indica que estos procesos no son mecanismos diferentes sino mas bien manifestaciones diferentes del mismo proceso. Las exploraciones de imagen cardiovasculares no invasivas recientemente aparecidas son un instrumento preciso para evaluar la carga de aterosclerosis. La resonancia magnetica se ha revelado como un instrumento de gran exactitud para determinar la carga de enfermedad (en los territorios extracoronarios). Sin embargo, el conocimiento del mecanismo involucrado en el desarrollo, la inflamacion y la inestabilidad de la placa ha conducido al concepto de exploracion de imagen funcional (ademas de las exploraciones de imagen anatomicas “clasicas”). La inflamacion en el interior de la placa aterosclerotica puede cuantificarse con la tomografia de emision de positrons con 18 F-fluorodesoxiglucosa. Se han depositado muchas esperanzas en el papel que pueda desempenar esta nueva modalidad de diagnostico por la imagen combinada en el diagnostico de las placas de alto riesgo y en la monitorizacion del tratamiento. Por ultimo, los nuevos avances en las tecnicas de imagen moleculares, con el empleo de medios de contraste dirigidos, han permitido una caracterizacion no invasiva de la composicion de la placa tanto mediante la resonancia magnetica como con la tomografia computarizada.
Escobar Syndrome (Multiple Pterygium Syndrome) Associated with Thoracic Kyphoscoliosis, Lordoscoliosis, and Severe Restrictive Lung Disease: A Case Report:

Background Escobar syndrome or multiple pterygium syndrome is characterized by a web across every flexion crease in the extremities, most notably the popliteal space. In addition, this syndrome is associated with two other structural anomalies: a vertical talus and congenital lordoscoliosis. We present a case report of a patient with Escobar syndrome who was initially managed conservatively and subsequently had severe and debilitating progression and respiratory decompensation ultimately requiring surgical intervention.
Ineffectiveness of carboxypeptidase B in inhibiting the pressor effect of incubated human plasma.

L'action vasopressive chez le rat nephrectomise, produite par l'injection du plasma humain lors de l'incubation a 38 ‡C pendant plusieurs heures n'est pas due a la liberation de plasmakinines. La carboxypeptidase B in vivo a des doses que produisent l'abolition des effets de la bradykinine et d'autres plasmakinines, ne modifient pas l'action vasopressive soit du plasma incube soit de sa fraction active.
Unusual Size Dependence of Nonradiative Charge Recombination Rates in Acetylene-Bridged Compounds

Time-resolved fluorescence decays of three asymmetrically substituted phenylethynyl molecules of different size show a sizable solvent dependence. Nonradiative rate constants estimated from quantum yield and lifetime data are consistent with classical electron-transfer theory. The electronic coupling elements, HRP, derived from fits of theory to the data do not follow the trend of donor−acceptor distance (or molecular size). It is found to be largest for the molecule with a butadiyne linker which is intermediate in size. Our results suggest that the bridge is directly involved in excited-state charge recombination in these conjugated molecules.
Statistical evaluation of electrical sounding methods; Part I, Experiment design

Traditional experiment design techniques, widely applied to both linear and nonlinear problems in many scientific fields, is applicable to the design of exploration geophysical surveys. The design technique is formulated using the mathematics of the generalized inverse and its construction via eigenvalue decomposition. The design technique is demonstrated by the designing of electromagnetic sounding surveys for a horizontal loop source.The experiment is designed whereby it is determined (1) which one of the electromagnetic field quantities, vertical and horizontal magnetic field amplitudes or phases, and polarization ellipse quantities, tilt angle, and ellipticity, and (2) which set of transmitter and receiver separations and transmitter frequencies, best resolve the conductivities and thicknesses of a given layered earth model. Model resolution is sensitive to the data error. As an example, for different assumed data errors, a model is best resolved in one instance by the phase of the two components of t...
Ecological Diversification of Vibrio fischeri Serially Passaged for 500 Generations in Novel Squid Host Euprymna tasmanica

Vibrio fischeri isolated from Euprymna scolopes (Cephalopoda: Sepiolidae) was used to create 24 lines that were serially passaged through the non-native host Euprymna tasmanica for 500 generations. These derived lines were characterized for biofilm formation, swarming motility, carbon source utilization, and in vitro bioluminescence. Phenotypic assays were compared between “ES” (E. scolopes) and “ET” (E. tasmanica) V. fischeri wild isolates to determine if convergent evolution was apparent between E. tasmanica evolved lines and ET V. fischeri. Ecological diversification was observed in utilization of most carbon sources examined. Convergent evolution was evident in motility, biofilm formation, and select carbon sources displaying hyperpolymorphic usage in V. fischeri. Convergence in bioluminescence (a 2.5-fold increase in brightness) was collectively evident in the derived lines relative to the ancestor. However, dramatic changes in other properties—time points and cell densities of first light emission and maximal light output and emergence of a lag phase in growth curves of derived lines—suggest that increased light intensity per se was not the only important factor. Convergent evolution implies that gnotobiotic squid light organs subject colonizing V. fischeri to similar selection pressures. Adaptation to novel hosts appears to involve flexible microbial metabolism, establishment of biofilm and swarmer V. fischeri ecotypes, and complex changes in bioluminescence. Our data demonstrate that numerous alternate fitness optima or peaks are available to V. fischeri in host adaptive landscapes, where novel host squids serve as habitat islands. Thus, V. fischeri founder flushes occur during the initiation of light organ colonization that ultimately trigger founder effect diversification.
DEVELOPMENT OF A SUBSTRATE RECYCLE AMPLIFICATION SYSTEM FOR L-GLUTAMIC ACID ASSAY

Abstract A sensitive enzymatic assay based on substrate recycling was developed for detection of l -glutamic acid. The procedure was carried out using glutamate oxidase for conversion of l -glutamic acid to α-ketoglutarate, ammonia, and hydrogen peroxide. Alpha-ketoglutarate was then recycled to l -glutamic acid by reacting with l -aspartic acid in the presence of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase. The coupled reactions were monitored by measuring the accumulated hydrogen peroxide spectrophotometrically. The magnitude of amplification was dependent upon the concentrations of l -aspartic acid, glutamate oxidase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, and the reaction time. Compared to the assay without amplification, a maximal 26-fold increase in sensitivity was obtained. When applied to measure glutamic acid levels in soya sauce, onion soup mix, and blood plasma, the results agreed well with those determined by Beckman high-performance analyzer.
Coupling of gaussian Schell-model beams into single-mode optical fibers.

We develop analytic equations that describe the mean and normalized variance of the coupling efficiency of Gaussian Schell-model beams into single-mode optical fibers. Numerical methods and computer simulations are used to evaluate the accuracy of the various approximations used in this analysis, and, with some insight, empirical compensation is made for the identified shortcomings. The simulations make use of both speckled and nonspeckled beams by employing two different Monte Carlo methods to generate randomly drawn optical fields. While the analytic approximations break down in certain cases, the use of empirical compensation demonstrated accuracies of better than 5% for the mean coupling efficiency in all cases, and generally better than 40% for the coupling efficiency variance. By optimizing the compensation for particular beam characteristics, even higher accuracies can be achieved.
Fludarabine, Cyclophosphamide, Mitoxantrone plus Rituximab (FCM-R) in Frontline CLL < 70 Years

Abstract Randomized trials demonstrated the superiority of chemoimmunotherapy over chemotherapy in the frontline treatment of CLL. Based on favorable experience with the addition of mitoxantrone (M) to fludarabine (F) plus cyclophosphamide (C), we designed a pilot study testing the combination of FCM plus rituximab (R). Thirty patients with previously untreated, symptomatic CLL,
Testosterone Replacement Therapy and Prostate Health

There is an emerging evolution in the understanding of the relationship between the prostate and testosterone. It has long been generally believed that with testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), increasing serum testosterone levels led to prostatic growth and worsening of voiding dysfunction and associated complications. A new theory, the Saturation Model of Testosterone and its effect on the Prostate has gained attention. This theory suggests that the prostate’s response to increasing levels of serum testosterone reaches a limit beyond which there is minimal effect. This model predicts that testosterone replacement therapy occurs above this saturation point, and replacing testosterone to eugonadal levels should not worsen prostate related benign disease. We evaluated the recent published data, with an emphasis on clinical studies done within the last 3 years, for the effects of testosterone supplementation on benign prostatic disease.
Management of advanced premalignant laryngeal lesions.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Laryngeal carcinogenesis is a multistep process with premalignant lesions progressing to invasive carcinoma over a period of years. The approach to these advanced premalignant lesions has always been early diagnosis and treatment to prevent further progression. Unfortunately, with the current means of diagnosis and a lack of consensus regarding treatment of these lesions, the incidence of advanced laryngeal malignancies continues to rise. The purpose of this article is to review the most recent contributions to the literature regarding diagnosis and management of advanced laryngeal premalignant lesions. RECENT FINDINGS The current literature focuses on several new diagnostic procedures to improve early detection of high-risk laryngeal lesions. These procedures include autofluorescence endoscopy, compact endoscopy, and topical 5-aminolevulinic acid. One large long-term study suggests an aggressive surgical approach in the treatment of advanced laryngeal premalignancies to decrease the incidence of malignant transformation. The preliminary results of chemoprevention trials as well as potential new biomarkers are discussed. SUMMARY There are several new promising procedures that may have an impact on the early diagnosis of laryngeal precursor lesions. In addition, we are gaining knowledge about the molecular events occurring along the continuum of laryngeal carcinogenesis. This will hopefully allow the identification of additional biomarkers and future targets for chemoprevention.
An Unusual Homonymous Visual Field Defect

A 75-year-old man suddenly became aware of an inferior right homonymous visual field defect. Although static perimetry suggested a lesion of the left lateral geniculate nucleus, kinetic perimetry indicated that the presumed homonymous horizontal sectoranopia noted on static perimetry was actually an incomplete homonymous hemianopia with incomplete sparing of the temporal crescent. The location of the lesion was subsequently confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. This case shows the value of kinetic perimetry in assessing homonymous visual field defects.
Nanoreinforced biocompatible hydrogels from wood hemicelluloses and cellulose whiskers

Nanoreinforced hydrogels with a unique network structure were prepared from wood cellulose whiskers coated with chemically modified wood hemicelluloses. The hemicelluloses were modified with 2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate prior to adsorption onto the cellulose whiskers in aqueous medium. Synthesis of the hydrogels was accomplished by in situ radical polymerization of the methacrylic groups of the adsorbed coating to form a network of poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (PHEMA) matrix reinforced with cellulose whiskers. The mechanical, swelling and viscoelastic properties, of water-swollen hydrogels were investigated. Results indicated that the number of effective crosslinks between polymer chains and the average chain length between crosslinking points was significantly different from PHEMA hydrogels that had been crosslinked by a conventional chemical method, using a cross-linking agent. The resulting hydrogels had enhanced toughness, increased viscoelasticity, and improved recovery behavior. With respect to the mechanical and swelling properties, it can be hypothesized that these nanoreinforced PHEMA hydrogels have potential for use in load-bearing biomedical applications such as articular cartilage replacement.
The Tacitron, A Low Noise Thyratron Capable of Current Interruption by Grid Action

Two thyratron considerations are (1) spurious noise output, and (2) speed and ease with which the anode current can be tuned on and off. The spurious noise output of conventional thyratrons often is such that they cannot be operated close to sensitive communications equipment. In addition, while the anode current can be established in a fraction of a microsecond, current interruption often requires times of the order of 100 microseconds. During this time one is confronted with the additional disadvantage of having to remove the anode voltage. The tacitron, a new thyratron whose construction and operation are herein described and analyzed, is so quiet in operation that it can be operated in close proximity to sensitive communications equipment without noticeable interference. Furthermore, its anode current can be switched on or off in about one microsecond without the necessity of anode voltage removal. With respect to arc drop, over-all efficiency, tube construction, and other salient characteristics the tube is similar to conventional ones. The tacitron owes its unusual capabilities mainly to a grid design that insures tube operation in a unique discharge mode where in ion generation takes place solely in the grid-anode region. Besides being useful in applications in which conventional thyratrons are now used, this new tube offers the possibility of use in many new applications presently denied conventional thyratrons, either because of noise or recovery time considerations. This includes computers and all sorts of pulse circuits.
Immunologic Ramifications of Minimally Invasive Surgery

Surgery is known to cause transient immune suppression, and although the underlying etiology is unclear, it appears to be related, at least in part, to the degree of surgical stress. A growing body of evidence suggests that minimally invasive surgery, which is associated with less surgical trauma and stress, may reduce the degree of immune suppression when compared with open surgery. Experimental data in cell culture, animal, and human models, reviewed in this article, demonstrate differences in many immunologic parameters, although observable differences in clinical outcomes have not been demonstrated to date.
Comparing representations with relational and EER models

The diffusion of technology to end users who can now develop their own information systems raises issues concerning the cost, quality, efficiency, and accuracy of such systems.
CLONING OF A COMMON SP1 - RB BINDING PROTEIN INVOLVED WITH RB-INDUCED AND SP1-MEDIATED TRANSCRIPTION OF URACIL DNA GLYCOSYLASE 2 •405

CLONING OF A COMMON SP1 - RB BINDING PROTEIN INVOLVED WITH RB-INDUCED AND SP1-MEDIATED TRANSCRIPTION OF URACIL DNA GLYCOSYLASE 2 •405
Morphology, Intensity, and Rainfall Production of MJO Convection: Observations from DYNAMO Shipborne Radar and TRMM

This study uses Dynamicsofthe Madden‐Julian Oscillation (DYNAMO) shipborne[Research Vessel (R/V) Roger Revelle] radar and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Precipitation Radar (PR) datasets to investigate MJO-associated convective systems in specific organizational modes [mesoscale convective system (MCS) versus sub-MCS and linear versus nonlinear]. The Revelle radar sampled many ‘‘climatological’’ aspects of MJO convection as indicated by comparison with the long-term TRMM PR statistics, including areal-mean rainfall (6‐7mmday 21 ), convective intensity, rainfall contributions from different morphologies, and their variationswithMJOphase.Nonlinearsub-MCSswerepresent70%ofthetimebutcontributedjustaround20% of the total rainfall. In contrast, linear and nonlinear MCSs were present 10% of the time but contributed 20% and 50%, respectively. These distributions vary with MJO phase, with the largest sub-MCS rainfall fraction in suppressed phases (phases 5‐7) and maximum MCS precipitation in active phases (phases 2 and 3). Similarly, convective‐stratiform rainfall fractions also varied significantly with MJO phase, with the highest convective fractions (70%‐80%) in suppressed phases and the largest stratiform fraction (40%‐50%) in active phases. However, there are also discrepancies between the Revelle radar and TRMM PR. Revelle radar data indicated a mean convective rain fraction of 70% compared to 55% for TRMM PR. This difference is mainly due to the reduced resolution of the TRMM PR compared to the ship radar. There are also notable differences in the rainfall contributions as a function of convective intensity between the Revelle radar and TRMM PR. In addition, TRMM PR composites indicate linear MCS rainfall increases after MJO onset and produce similar rainfall contributions to nonlinear MCSs; however, the Revelle radar statistics show the clear dominance of nonlinear MCS rainfall.
Comparison of intravenous pamidronate to standard therapy for osteoporosis: use in patients unable to take oral bisphosphonates.

Background:Bisphosphonates are potent therapies for osteoporosis, but some patients cannot tolerate oral forms. Our study sought to examine the effectiveness and safety of intravenous pamidronate as an alternate osteoporotic therapy in these patients.Methods:We conducted a retrospective study of 26
The Hidden Mass and Large Spatial Extent of a Post-Starburst Galaxy Outflow

Outflowing winds of multiphase plasma have been proposed to regulate the buildup of galaxies, but key aspects of these outflows have not been probed with observations. By using ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy, we show that “warm-hot” plasma at 105.5 kelvin contains 10 to 150 times more mass than the cold gas in a post-starburst galaxy wind. This wind extends to distances > 68 kiloparsecs, and at least some portion of it will escape. Moreover, the kinematical correlation of the cold and warm-hot phases indicates that the warm-hot plasma is related to the interaction of the cold matter with a hotter (unseen) phase at >>106 kelvin. Such multiphase winds can remove substantial masses and alter the evolution of post-starburst galaxies.
A feature-based approach to structural design

Despite the continuing improvements in computeraided design (CAD) systems and improvements in geometric modeling, most CAD systems are used as advanced drafting and drawing management tools by structural designers. A computer model of a structural design usually is generated by creating a detailed geometric model of the primitive components of the design and then attaching attributes, such as physical properties and loading conditions, to the various geometric components to reveal the structural characteristics of those components. Thisbottom-up approach has been inherited from early drafting techniques and contrasts sharply with a structural designer's natural way of thinking and reasoning about the design. Geometric features, on the other hand, provide high-level abstractions of design information and can be tailored to a designer's specific engineering needs. In this paper the advantages of using feature-based techniques in structural CAD systems are discussed. These techniques provide better modeling primitives for users and superior data models for CAD systems for reasoning about the geometry, topology, and engineering properties of a structure.
Where Have All the Majors Gone? Comment.

In the good old days of the 1980s, my colleagues at Barnard attributed the popularity of our economics major to the absence of a business major. Lured by the high salaries and high profiles of traders and investment bankers, an unprecedented proportion of our entering students planned careers on Wall Street. As a result, the economics major attracted the best and the brightest of students, if not the most interested. Those good old days came to end with the crash of October 1987. The popularity of the economics major plummeted overnight. In the class of the 1987, there were 50 majors; in the class of 1989, only 39.' Salemi and Eubanks (1996) present a different version of this same hypothesis. The University of North Carolina (UNC) has an undergraduate business major. During the 1980s, the popularity of this major soared. The business school responded to this excess demand by increasing the entry requirements. At the end of their sophomore year, those students who did not meet the requirements were forced to find an alternative major. For most, that alternative was economics. Whereas at a liberal arts college like Barnard, the lure of Wall Street attracted the best and the brightest, the discouraged business majors at UNC had weaker credentials than other economics majors. Salemi and Eubanks investigate how much of the growth in economics majors over the 1980s and the subsequent decline in the 1990s was caused by fluctuations in the number of discouraged business majors. Their data are quite persuasive. The discouraged-business-major hypothesis does appear to explain why UNC experienced a bigger drop in the popularity of economics than the national average. The central task in the Salemi-Eubanks article is to distinguish discouraged business majors (DBMs) from other economics majors and to count changes in their numbers. Salemi and Eubanks identify discouraged business majors through an analysis of transcripts. This process is unavoidably imprecise. Another researcher might look at the same transcript and make a different judgment. This is particularly true when the key indicator of status is itself endogenous. Salemi and Eubanks sort students primarily on the basis of their grade point average in prebusiness courses. A student who has decided not to major in business will not work as hard in those courses and thus, earn a lower grade. Yet, he may
An evaluation of acid-base changes following aortic cross-clamping using transcutaneous carbon dioxide monitoring.

To investigate the cause of acidosis following release of an aortic cross-clamp, we measured tissue PCO2 using a transcutaneous (TC) CO2 monitor placed below the level of the cross-clamp in 10 patients undergoing aortic arch surgery. Following placement of the aortic cross-clamp, the TC CO2 value from the lower extremity increased from 41 ± 4 to 92 ± 41, whereas there was no change in the TC CO2 value from the upper extremity. With release of the cross-clamp, end-tidal CO2 increased by 6.2 ± 1.9 mmHg, the upper TC CO2 increased by 8.4 ± 4.8 mmHg, and the lower extremity TC CO2 value returned to baseline. During cross-clamping, there was an increase in the base deficit of 4.3 ± 2.9 when comparing the baseline arterial blood gas value with the one obtained after cross-clamp release (p = 0.0004). These data demonstrate that the acidosis occurring during aortic cross-clamping is a mixed metabolic and hypercarbic acidosis. Appropriate treatment includes the provision of adequate minute ventilation to ensure CO2 removal and the use of sodium bicarbonate based on the degree of metabolic acidosis demonstrated by arterial blood gas analysis.
Roles of endogenous ascorbate and glutathione in the cellular reduction and cytotoxicity of sulfamethoxazole-nitroso

Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) is an effective drug for the management of opportunistic infections, but its use is limited by hypersensitivity reactions, particularly in HIV-infected patients. The oxidative metabolite SMX-nitroso (SMX-NO), is thought to be a proximate mediator of SMX hypersensitivity, and can be reduced in vitro by ascorbate or glutathione. Leukocytes from patients with SMX hypersensitivity show enhanced cytotoxicity from SMX metabolites in vitro; this finding has been attributed to a possible "detoxification defect" in some individuals. The purpose of this study was to determine whether variability in endogenous ascorbate or glutathione could be associated with individual differences in SMX-NO cytotoxicity. Thirty HIV-positive patients and 23 healthy control subjects were studied. Both antioxidants were significantly correlated with the reduction of SMX-NO to its hydroxylamine, SMX-HA, by mononuclear leukocytes, and both were linearly depleted during reduction. Controlled ascorbate supplementation in three healthy subjects increased leukocyte ascorbate with no change in glutathione, and significantly enhanced SMX-NO reduction. Ascorbate supplementation also decreased SMX-NO cytotoxicity compared to pre-supplementation values. Rapid reduction of SMX-NO to SMX-HA was associated with enhanced direct cytotoxicity from SMX-NO. When forward oxidation of SMX-HA back to SMX-NO was driven by the superoxide dismutase mimetic, Tempol, SMX-NO cytotoxicity was increased, without enhancement of adduct formation. This suggests that SMX-NO cytotoxicity may be mediated, at least in part, by redox cycling between SMX-HA and SMX-NO. Overall, these data indicate that endogenous ascorbate and glutathione are important for the intracellular reduction of SMX-NO, a proposed mediator of SMX hypersensitivity, and that redox cycling of SMX-HA to SMX-NO may contribute to the cytotoxicity of these metabolites in vitro.
Short-bowel syndrome in children and adults

Short-bowel syndrome is the malabsorptive state that follows extensive resection of the small intestine. Potential long-term survival without parenteral nutrition heavily depends on stimulation of the process of intestinal adaptation, through which the remaining small intestine gradually increases its absorptive capacity. This process is heavily nutrient dependent, and aggressive use of enteral nutrition is required to stimulate its completion. A combination of osmotic sensitivities, nutrient malabsorption, bowel dilatation and dysmotility, and changes in bacterial flora influence the symptoms and the management of this disorder. Chronic complications include parenteral nutrition-induced liver disease, nutrient deficiency states, and, frequently, small bowel bacterial overgrowth. Intestinal transplantation has been successfully developed in some centers in the United States, and preliminary experience suggest a long-term survival of 50%-75%, better in patients receiving an isolated intestinal transplant than a combined liver/bowel transplant. The ultimate role of intestinal transplantation is still undergoing evaluation.
Robust Finite Frequency ℋ∞ Passive Fault Tolerant Static Output Feedback Control with Application to Active Vibration Attenuation

Abstract In this work, the robust finite frequency ℋ ∞ passive fault-tolerant static output feedback controller design problem is investigated. The control law is a static output feedback control and the actuators are subject to faults. The fault matrix is described by a polytope with finite vertices. In order to attenuate the effect from the external disturbance to the controlled output, the finite frequency ℋ ∞ control in which the Hamilton matrix is avoided is employed. The static output feedback gain is determined via a two-stage method. Then, an iterative algorithm is proposed to derive a smaller ℋ ∞ performance index. The proposed algorithm is applied to an active control problem of a structural system under an earthquake excitation. Simulations and comparisons have shown that the designed fault-tolerant controller can significantly attenuate the vibration from the ground and protect the structural system even actuator faults occur.
Iron Deficiency of Soybean in the Upper Midwest and Associated Soil Properties

Iron deficiency chlorosis is a common, yield-limiting condition for soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] grown in areas with high-pH, calcareous soils. The objectives of this study were to document the extent of chlorosis in an area of the upper Midwest, to understand producers' perceptions and management practices related to Fe deficiency chlorosis, and to investigate the soil properties associated with it. A survey tool evaluated the perceptions of soybean producers in western Minnesota regarding cause, extent, and management of chlorosis. A detailed field study in western Minnesota compared plant attributes and soil properties in severely chlorotic, moderately chlorotic, and nonchlorotic sites. Soybean producers indicated that Fe chlorosis is responsible for substantial yield loss on 24% of their crop even though the majority of the producers selected chlorosis-resistant varieties. Chlorotic plants had stunted growth and poor nodule development relative to nonchlorotic plants. Compared with nonchlorotic areas, soil in chlorotic areas had greater soil moisture content and concentrations of soluble salts, carbonates, and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA)-Cr and had lesser concentrations of DTPA extractable Fe, Mn, Ni, and Cd. Discriminant analysis identified soluble salts, DTPA-Fe, DTPA-Cr, and soil moisture content as a set of significant predictors of chlorosis. This set of variables suggests that chlorosis occurs due to multiple stresses and not simply to limited available Fe. For a diagnostic soil test, a combination of DTPA-Fe and soluble salts predicted chlorosis expression. These observations should be considered in soybean variety screening so that variety tolerance can be matched with specific soil properties.
Thermo-mechanical processing of high-performance Ti alloys: recent progress and future needs

Abstract Over the past 10–15 years, improved thermo-mechanical processing of high-performance Ti alloys has been responsible for improving the reliability and performance of products that use them. Improvements in melting, ingot conversion practice and forging practice all have been contributing factors to this improvement. Modeling of the forging process coupled with hot die forging has led to significant improvements in uniformity of properties. Taken together, these factors have enabled improved reliability of critical components for aerospace applications. This paper describes these improvements and summarizes their benefits. There is room for further improvement, however, the most critical need is reduction of cycle time required to qualify a new forging or a change in forging practice. It is argued that improved models that permit prediction of the microstructure and resulting properties would be of great value. An image of some of the ingredients in improved models will allow this predictive capability will be outlined.
Pacific drift: Southeast Asia and the US‐Australia relationship

Abstract There has been much discussion of the economic rise of Asia and an emerging Pacific community. This is nowhere more true than in Australia and the United States. And yet an interesting by‐product of the tremendous change in Asia is that it has contributed directly to a drift in the bilateral relationship between Canberra and Washington. Notwithstanding the universally enthusiastic official rhetoric about Asia, the region is in fact of much greater importance to Australia than the United States. It is no coincidence that as Australia finds itself being increasingly pulled towards Asia, its traditionally very close relationsip with the United States is gradually weakening. This trend can be illustrated by focusing on developments in Southeast Asia and the differential way they are affecting US and Australian interests in three key policy areas: trade, politics and human rights, and security.
An NADP reductase, an NADH-dye reductase and a non-haem iron protein isolated from a facultative photoheterotroph, Rhodopseudomonas palustris

An NADP reductase, an NADH-dye reductase and a non-haem iron protein were isolated from a facultative photoheterotroph, Rhodopseudomonas palustris. The NADP reductase is a flavoprotein; its absorption spectrum has peaks at 370 mμ and 460 mμ, and its prosthetic group is not FMN but, probably, FAD. The enzyme reversibly reduces NAD(P)+ with reduced benzylviologen as the electron donor. It also catalyses reductions of R. palustris cytochrome c-552 and 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol by NADPH. NADH is a less effective electron donor than NADPH. The NADPH-cytochrome c-552 reductase activity is stimulated by benzylviologen, menadione and FMN. The enzyme also exhibits a pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenase activity. The NADH-dye reductase appears to be a flavoprotein with FMN as its prosthetic group. It reduces 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol and ferricyanide with NADH as the electron donor, but does not reduce R. palustris cytochrome c-552. However, in the presence of 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol, ferricyanide or menadione, the enzyme shows NADH-cytochrome c-552 reductase activity. The non-haem iron protein preparation shows an absorption spectrum very similar to that of green plant ferredoxin; there are peaks at 330 mμ and 420 mμ. It contains inorganic sulfide as well as non-haem iron. The millimolar extinction coefficients at 420 mμ are 4.8 and 7.6, determined on the basis of non-haem iron and of inorganic sulfide, respectively. It is reduced rapidly by Na2S2O4, and very slowly either by NADP reductase with NADPH as the electron donor, or by ascorbate. It is also reduced slightly by K4Fe(CN)6. The reduced form of the protein is very autoxidizable in all cases, but is not reoxidized by addition of NADP+ and NADP reductase under anaerobic conditions.
A High‐Performing Solution‐Processed Small Molecule:Perylene Diimide Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cell

By combining the molecular donor p-DTS(FBTTh2 )2 with a readily produced perylene diimide acceptor we are able to achieve a power conversion efficiency of 3.0%, making this one of the most efficient non-fullerene organic solar cells to date. The reduced power conversion efficiency of the present system compared to the use of phenyl-C71 -butyric acid methyl ester as an electron acceptor is shown to primarily be related to a significant reduction in the internal quantum efficiency. These results indicate the potential of small-molecule:non-fullerene bulk-heterojunction organic photovoltaics.
Development of a RAMI program for LANSCE upgrade

Improvement of beam availability is a prime objective of the present LANSCE (Los Alamos Neutron Scattering Center) Upgrade. A RAMI (reliability, availability, maintainability, and inspectability) program is being developed to identify the most cost-effective improvements to achieve the availability goal. The beam-delivery system is divided into subsystems appropriate for the modeling of availability. The availability of each subsystem is determined from operation data and assessment of individual component designs. These availability data are incorporated in an availability model to predict the benefit of improvement projects to achieve cost benefit prioritization. Examination of the data also identifies a comprehensive list of factors affecting availability. A good understanding of these factors using root-cause analysis is essential for availability improvement. In this paper, we will describe the RAMI program and the development of the availability model.
A Resilient Real-Time System Design for a Secure and Reconfigurable Power Grid

Energy infrastructure is a critical underpinning of modern society that any compromise or sabotage of its secure and reliable operation has an enormous impact on people's daily lives and the national economy. The massive northeastern power blackout of August 2003 and the most recent Florida blackout have both revealed serious defects in both system-level management and device-level designs of the power grid in handling attacks. At the system level, the control area operators lack the capability to 1) obtain real-time status information of the vastly distributed equipment; 2) respond rapidly enough once events start to unravel; and 3) perform coordinated actions autonomously across the region. At the device level, the traditional hardware lacks the capability to 1) provide reliable frequency and voltage control according to system demands and 2) rapidly reconfigure the system to a secure state through switches and power-electronics based devices. These blackouts were a wake-up call for both the industry and academia to consider new techniques and system architecture design that can help assure the security and reliability of the power grid. In this paper, we present a hardware-in-the-loop reconfigurable system design with embedded intelligence and resilient coordination schemes at both local and system levels that would tackle the vulnerabilities of the grid. The new system design consists of five key components: 1) a location-centric hybrid system architecture that facilitates not only distributed processing but also coordination among geographically close devices; 2) the insertion of intelligence into power electronic devices at the lower level of the power grid to enable a more direct reconfiguration of the physical makeup of the grid; 3) the development of a robust collaboration algorithm among neighboring devices to handle possible faulty, missing, or incomplete information; 4) the design of distributed algorithms to better understand the local state of the power grid; and 5) the adoption of a control-theoretic real-time adaptation strategy to guarantee the availability of large distributed systems. Preliminary evaluation results showing the advantages of each component are provided. A phased implementation plan is also suggested at the end of the discussion.
A Receptor-Specific Function for Notch2 in Mediating Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Growth Arrest Through Cyclin-dependent Kinase Inhibitor 1B

Rationale:Deregulated vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation contributes to multiple vascular pathologies, and Notch signaling regulates VSMC phenotype. Objective:Previous work focused on Notch1 and Notch3 in VSMC during vascular disease; however, the role of Notch2 is unknown. Because injured murine carotid arteries display increased Notch2 in VSMC as compared with uninjured arteries, we sought to understand the impact of Notch2 signaling in VSMCs. Methods and Results:In human primary VSMCs, Jagged-1 (Jag-1) significantly reduced proliferation through specific activation of Notch2. Increased levels of p27kip1 were observed downstream of Jag-1/Notch2 signaling and were required for cell cycle exit. Jag-1 activation of Notch resulted in increased phosphorylation on serine 10, decreased ubiquitination, and prolonged half-life of p27kip1. Jag-1/Notch2 signaling robustly decreased S-phase kinase–associated protein, an F-box protein that degrades p27kip1 during G1. Overexpression of S-phase kinase–as...
Discriminator using a dual-mode dielectric-resonator-loaded cavity for narrowband microwave receiver applications

An original dielectric resonator dual-mode discriminator is described for narrow band low-cost microwave receiver applications. The device is useful for receivers possessing an ultimate bandwidth from 5 to 50 MHz. An application is presented where the discriminator is used for automatic frequency control in a Ku-band satellite beacon receiver.
Diversification of Revenue Strategies: Evolving Resource Dependence in Nonprofit Organizations:

This article examines the effects of three major revenue strategies in nonprofit organizations. Evolving resource dependence is demonstrated by the shifting reliance on each source of funds: private contributions, government funding, and commercial activities. A wide-ranging literature review is condensed into summary profiles comparing revenue volatility, goal displacement, process, and structure effects of each strategy. The profiles are drawn upon to anticipate potential advantages and disadvantages of increasingly diversified revenue strategies employed by nonprofits to combat resource dependence. The potential interaction effects raise critical but unanswered questions about nonprofit performance, legitimacy, and public policy issues.
In-plane light-hole g factor in strained cubic heterostructures

In the context of a proposed design of a solid-state receiver for quantum communications, we consider the Zeeman splitting of the light-hole states in strained cubic heterostructures with an in-plane external magnetic field. The choice of interband optical transitions that allows coherent transfer of photon polarization to electron spin suggests that the magnitude of corresponding g factor component will be a critically important quantity for the success of such devices. Our approach allows a straightforward calculation of this parameter and incorporates the quantum confinement, heterolayers composition, and strain effects on the g factor.
Fast tracking of natural textures using fractal snakes

The natural environments that robotic applications often encounter can present difficult problems for image-based task execution. Prior efforts have used both grayscale and color as statistical appearance descriptors in these applications. In the case of natural environments, the statistical measures of luminosity and chromaticity are often ineffective due to relatively constant shades and colors of soil, flora, and fauna. Texture can provide an alternative/additional appearance descriptor in many of these environments; however the common approaches to textural segmentation are computationally intensive and cannot be used for real-time robotic visual servoing. We present a technique for textural segmentation and tracking that can discriminate between natural textures that are otherwise similar in color and brightness. The technique builds upon earlier work in fractal imaging and in statistical deformable models (a.k.a. snakes) to provide a simple and efficient method for extracting target shape and location from an initial textural example. We then give results from the application of this technique on standard texture test patterns. We then demonstrate the effectiveness of the method on natural imagery. Finally, we show how the technique can be applied to challenging robotic applications.
Reaching for Diversity: Recruiting and Retaining Mexican-American Students:

The authors focus on creating a comprehensive model for recruiting and retaining Mexican-American students. The academic and cultural issues facing Mexican-American students, as well as how Hispani...
Optical, Electrical, and Magnetic Studies of Organic Solar Cells Based on Low Bandgap Copolymer with Spin ½ Radical Additives

The charge photogeneration and recombination processes in organic photovoltaic solar cells based on blend of the low bandgap copolymer, PTB7 (fluorinated poly-thienothiophene-benzodithiophene) with C60-PCBM using optical, electrical, and magnetic measurements in thin films and devices is studied. A variety of steady state optical and magneto-optical techniques were employed, such as photoinduced absorption (PA), magneto-PA, doping-induced absorption, and PA-detected magnetic resonance (PADMR); as well as picosecond time-resolved PA. The charge polarons and triplet exciton dynamics in films of pristine PTB7, PTB7/fullerene donor–acceptor (D–A) blend is followed. It is found that a major loss mechanism that limits the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PTB7-based solar cell devices is the “back reaction” that leads to triplet exciton formation in the polymer donor from the photogenerated charge-transfer excitons at the D–A interfaces. A method of suppressing this “back reaction” by adding spin½ radicals Galvinoxyl to the D–A blend is presented; this enhances the cell PCE by ≈30%. The same method is not effective for cells based on PTB7/C70-PCBM blend, where high PCE is reached even without Galvinoxyl radical additives.
The effects of L-glutamate, AMPA, quisqualate, and kainate on retinal horizontal cells depend on adaptational state: implications for rod- cone interactions

We studied the responses of isolated and intact luminosity-type horizontal cells (L-HC) in the Xenopus retina to L-glutamate (L-glu) and its analogs. Isolated L-HCs studied with whole-cell patch clamp responded to L-glu, kainate (KA), AMPA, or quisqualate (quis) with inward currents from a holding potential of -60 mV, associated with a conductance increase. The current elicited by KA was relatively large and sustained, whereas AMPA or quis evoked a desensitizing current. Coapplication of quis and KA resulted in a smaller current and conductance change than that evoked by a pulse of either alone at the same concentration. This finding suggests that the L-HC has a single subtype of glutamate receptor that responds to both quis and KA. Prior exposure to dopamine enhanced the KA-evoked current about twofold. In the superfused eyecup we found that L-HC responses to quinoxalinediones (CNQX or DNQX) and to L-glu, KA, AMPA, and quis varied as a function of adaptational state. When driven exclusively by either cones or by rods, CNQX/DNQX hyperpolarized the L-HC and reduced its light response, without altering response kinetics, indicating that both rods and cones communicate with L-HCs at ionotropic glutamatergic synapses. Under mesopic conditions, however, as CNQX or DNQX reduced cone input, the rod input to the L-HC increased up to fivefold in magnitude and had slowed kinetics. The depolarizing response of the L-HC to L-glu, AMPA, or quis was relatively small and transient under photopic conditions, but was much larger and sustained when the eyecup was dark adapted. The D1 dopamine antagonist SCH 23390 potentiated the response to quis. In contrast, responses to KA were largest in light-adapted eyecups, were potentiated by a D1 dopamine agonist, SKF 38393, and were reduced by SCH 23390. We hypothesize that the segregated populations of glutamate receptors in the L-HC opposite cone and rod synaptic endings can be separately modulated to respond differentially to the native transmitter, glutamate. In photopic and mesopic states the dominant cone input tonically inhibits rod to L-HC communication. This inhibition appears to occur at the postsynaptic membrane and may be mediated by second messengers.
Using Cognitive Fit Theory to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Information Visualizations: An Example Using Quality Assurance Data

Cognitive fit theory, along with the proximity compatibility principle, is investigated as a basis to evaluate the effectiveness of information visualizations to support a decision-making task. The task used in this study manipulates varying levels of task complexity for quality control decisions in a high-volume discrete manufacturing environment. The volume of process monitoring and quality control data produced in this type of environment can be daunting. Today's managers need effective decision support tools to sort through the morass of data in a timely fashion to make critical decisions on product and process quality.