cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling human heart based on cardiac tomography

Abstract A technique for constructing a three-dimensional (3-D) human heart model is proposed for study of anatomy of theheart and the coronary vessels as well as the dynamic changes in the shape of left and right ventricles throughout thecardiac cycle. The proposed model consists of the 3-D surfaces of epi- and endo-cardium of the heart with the coronarytree attached on the epicardium. The spatial 3-D geometry of coronary arteries is constructed from the stereoscopicradiographic images. The 3-D surfaces of epi- and endo-cardium of the heart are reconstructed from serial ultra fastCT cross-sectional images. For each cross section, the regions of epi- and endo-cardium are first identified by usingan adaptzve segmentation algorithm. The boundaries of these regions are then extracted. Using these boundaries,additional cross sections are generated by means of an elastic interpolation algorithm. The set of interpolated crosssections are then employed to form a cardiac surface which is subsequently smoothed using a spline-based surfaceinterpolation method.
Kripke models and the (in)equational logic of the second-order λ-calculus

Abstract We define a new class of Kripke structures for the second-order λ-calculus, and investigate the soundness and completeness of some proof systems for proving inequalities (rewrite rules) as well as equations. The Kripke structures under consideration are equipped with preorders that correspond to an abstract form of reduction, and they are not necessarily extensional. A novelty of our approach is that we define these structures directly as functors A: W → Preor equipped with certain natural transformations corresponding to application and abstraction (where W is a preorder, the set of worlds, and Preor is the category of preorders). We make use of an explicit construction of the exponential of functors in the Cartesian-closed category Preor W , and we also define a kind of exponential ΠΦ(As)s ϵ T to take care of type abstraction. However, we strive for simplicity, and we only use very elementary categorical concepts. Consequently, we believe that the models described in this paper are more palatable than abstract categorical models which require much more sophisticated machinery (and are not models of rewrite rules anyway). We obtain soundness and completeness theorems that generalize some results of Mitchell and Moggi to the second-order λ-calculus, and to sets of inequalities (rewrite rules).
Absence of inducible nitric oxide synthase modulates early reperfusion-induced NF-κB and AP-1 activation and enhances myocardial damage

The role of nitric oxide (NO) generated by the inducible NO synthase (iNOS) during myocardial ischemia and reperfusion is not understood. We investigated the role of iNOS during early reperfusion damage induced in genetically deficient iNOS (iNOS−/−) mice and wild-type littermates. In wild-type mice, ischemia (60 min) and reperfusion (60 min) induced an elevation in serum levels of creatine phosphokinase and myocardial injury characterized by the presence of scattered apoptotic myocytes and mild neutrophil infiltration. Northern blot analysis showed increased expression of iNOS, whose activity was markedly elevated after reperfusion. Immunohistochemistry showed staining for nitrotyrosine; Western blot analysis showed elevated expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), a putative cardioprotective mediator. Plasma levels of nitrite and nitrate, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and IL-10 were also increased. These events were preceded by degradation of inhibitor κBα (IκBα), activation...
The Beliefs and Practices of School Counselors Who Use Data to Implement Comprehensive School Counseling Programs

School counselors are required to implement accountability strategies in order to increase student performance and contribute to closing the achievement gap. This study investigates the beliefs and practices of school counselors who have earned national recognition for implementing comprehensive school counseling programs based on identifying program goals and using data to close the achievement gap. The study asked Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) school counselors how they use data to inform program decisions and their beliefs about using data. The results suggest that school counselors who have earned RAMP understand the importance of using data to provide services to students and drive program evaluation and improvement. Participation in the RAMP process appears to have a positive impact on data practices and school counselors' beliefs about the importance of using data.
Spatial and Temporal Trends in Short-Chain Chlorinated Paraffins in Lake Ontario Sediments

Short-chain chlorinated paraffins (polychlorinated-[C10-C13]-n-alkanes) were measured in Lake Ontario sediments collected during a lake-wide survey to characterize spatial and temporal trends in contamination. The Lake Ontario average SCCP sediment concentration was 49 ng/g (dry wt), which was somewhat higher than the lake-wide average for sigmaDDT (32 ng/g). Individual stations in each of the depositional basins exhibited the highest concentrations, ranging from 147 ng/g (dry wt) to 410 ng/g at an index station in the Niagara (western) basin. Relative average contributions of the carbon chain groups to total SCCPs on a lake-wide basis were as follows: sigmaC10 = 24%, sigmaC11 = 35%, sigmaC12 = 34%, sigmaC13 = 6.6%. Assessment of core profiles and estimates of SCCP fluxes indicated that an area of the western end of Lake Ontario is heavily impacted (SCCP flux of 170 microg/m2 yr) and potentially influenced by local industrial sources of SCCPs. Maximum accumulation of SCCPs in this area of the western basin occurred in the mid-1970s. In contrast, SCCP concentrations in a core from a site in the central area of the lake (SCCP flux of 8.0 microg/m2 yr) were more similar to levels characteristic of remote locations primarily impacted by atmospheric sources.
THE RISK IMPLICATIONS OF FORECAST ERRORS OF BANK EARNINGS, 1976–1986

The forecast errors arising from security analysts' predictions of commercial bank earnings are investigated here and compared with the earnings forecast errors associated with savings and loans, other financial services organizations, and a random sample of nonfinancial firms from 1976 to 1986. Although bank earnings forecast errors did increase over 1976–1986, analyses suggest that the rise was less than at other industries considered in the study. The increase in forecast errors appears to be centered at multinational banking organizations, with only limited increases in earnings forecast errors at regional banks.
Quantitative and qualitative perceptions of the 2011 residency duty hour restrictions: a multicenter, multispecialty cross-sectional study

July 2011 saw the implementation of the newest duty hour restrictions, further limiting the working hours of first year residents and necessitating a variety of adaptations on the part of residency programs. The present study sought to characterize the perceived impact of these restrictions on residency program personnel using a multi-specialty and multi-site approach. We developed and administered a survey to internal medicine and general surgery residency programs at three academic medical centers within an urban region. The survey combined quantitative and qualitative components to gain a broader understanding of the impact of the newest regulations. Quantitative responses were compared between Internal Medicine and General Surgery programs with Student t-tests. Other comparisons were performed using ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis testing as appropriate. For all comparisons, the threshold for significance was set at 0.01. Two independent reviewers coded all qualitative data and assigned one or more themes based on content. Descriptive statistics were calculated and the diversity of themes identified. No between-group comparisons were conducted with the qualitative data. We found significant differences in the overall perceptions of duty hour restrictions across specialty (internal medicine more positive than general surgery) and across position (first year residents more positive than senior residents and faculty). Notably, individuals who trained at osteopathic medical schools reported significantly more negative views of the duty hour restrictions than those who had trained at allopathic or international medical schools, suggesting an influence of undergraduate medical training. The complementary qualitative data offered insights into the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the duty hour restrictions, as well as actionable suggestions that could help to improve residency program function. This study characterizes responses to the new duty hour restrictions from a variety of perspectives. Our findings show that individual (type of undergraduate medical education, role in graduate medical education) and program-wide (e.g., specialty) factors contribute to participant satisfaction with DHR. This research highlights the value of a mixed methods approach in the study of duty hour restrictions, with our qualitative arm yielding rich data that complemented and expanded upon the insights derived from the quantitative data.
Can You Say Condom?: It Makes a Difference in Fear‐Arousing AIDS Prevention Public Service Announcements1

Televised public service announcements (PSAs) continue to be the centerpiece of government acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) prevention campaigns in the US. Questions remain however about the effectiveness of fear-arousing appeals in producing behavioral change. In this study it was hypothesized that fear-arousing AIDS PSAs can help to induce a perception of susceptibility--the first step in the behavioral change process especially if accompanied by an efficacious strategy to prevent infection. 219 student volunteers from an undergraduate psychology class privately viewed and rated 1 of 8 PSAs and were offered condoms and AIDS brochures on the way out. Four fear-arousing PSAs ended with a message to use condoms to reduce AIDS risk; an otherwise identical set only gave a number to call for more information. Mean ratings for general fear arousal were high (5.00-5.29 on a 7-point scale) for all PSAs; they also created a high AIDS-specific fear (5.17-5.26). After exposure to the condom-promoting PSAs women but not men reported a stronger intention to use condoms with a new partner; a similar outcome was found for condom use intentions with a steady sexual partner. Men who viewed a PSA that included a message to use condoms took 1.5 more free condoms than those not exposed to such a message and 2.5 more condoms than women who watched the identical PSA with the condom recommendation. The latter finding is presumed to reflect the stereotypical expectation that men are responsible for buying and carrying condoms. The presence of a sexual scene in the PSA did not increase the relevance of the condom recommendation. Overall these findings tend to support the efficacy of fear-arousing PSAs for heterosexual audiences.
Modeling of brushless dc drive systems with pulse-width modulated excitation

A simulation model for the performance prediction of brushless dc drives with pulse-width modulated excitation is presented. The model allows for the detailed investigation of drive behavior in the presence of unbalances, asymmetries, and non-idealized parameter waveforms. Numerical predictions are obtained within minutes on a personal computer and test results show excellent correlation with practical data. A design example investigates torque pulsations for a motor of unusual geometry.
Cross-coupling reaction of allyl bromides with organotin reagents catalyzed by zinc chloride

Abstract Myrcene and β-farnesene have been synthesized by the zinc chloride catalyzed coupling reaction of (2-methylene-3-butenyl)trimethyltin with prenyl bromide and geranyl bromide, respectively; vitamin K1 was synthesized by a similar coupling reaction.
Distal Forelimb Kinematics During the Extended Trot of Dressage Horses Ridden on Two Different Arena Surfaces

Introduction Suspensory apparatus injuries are common in dressage horses. Studies demonstrate that surface type affects hoof forces and distal limb kinematics of equine athletes. Because synthetic race surfaces have lower stiffness and limb loads than dirt surfaces, it was hypothesized that dressage horses have less fetlock hyperextension on a synthetic surface than a dirt surface. Methods Two-dimensional, high-speed videos (250 Hz, 2 ppcm) of 6 dressage horses (ages 8–13; 5 males, 1 female) during extended trot on dirt and synthetic surfaces (6 trials (strides) per horse per surface) were digitized (low-pass Butterworth filter, 15 Hz). Fetlock and solar hoof angles determined from skin and hoof markers were compared between surfaces using a mixed model ANCOVA that accounted for horse velocity (saddle billet marker) and repeated horse measures. Surface mechanical behaviors were characterized using a track testing device. Maximum force, time to maximum force, maximum displacement, resting rebound, maximum vertical rebound, average stiffness, and maximum load rate were compared between surfaces and time of day (morning, afternoon) using a general linear model ANOVA. Results Maximum and toe off fetlock angles were greater on the synthetic surface compared to dirt (Δ = 2°, P = 0.070). Mean maximum fetlock angle on the synthetic surface was 260°. The maximum load rate of the synthetic surface was 5 times greater than the dirt surface (P = 0.0086). Conclusions Synthetic surfaces were designed to reduce injuries in equine athletes. Because suspensory apparatus elongation is largely dependent on fetlock extension, it is possible that suspensory apparatus strain is greater on synthetic surfaces. Thus, surface design may require more refinement to promote injury prevention based on horse discipline and gait. Ethical Animal Research The University of California, Davis Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee reviewed and approved the protocols used in the study. Owner informed consent was obtained for all study horses. Sources of funding: Merial (A Sanofi Company) in association with the Student Training in Advanced Research (STAR) program, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis and the Endowed Research Funds of School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis. Competing interests: none.
RAISED SERUM LEVELS OF TUMOUR NECROSIS FACTOR IN PARASITIC INFECTIONS

Abstract In a study of serum levels of endogenous tumour necrosis factor (TNF) in healthy people and patients with neoplastic or infectious disease, only patients with kala-azar (visceral leishmaniasis) and malaria were found to have a strikingly increased frequency of raised TFN levels (66.6% and 70.0%, respectively). 7.9% of samples from both healthy subjects and patients with neoplastic disease contained measurable TNF. The discovery of elevated TNF levels in the sera of patients with parasitic diseases suggests that this cytokine may play a part in host defences against parasitic infections.
Correction of rotational distortion for catheter-based en face OCT and OCT angiography

We demonstrate a computationally efficient method for correcting the nonuniform rotational distortion (NURD) in catheter-based imaging systems to improve endoscopic en face optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography. The method performs nonrigid registration using fiducial markers on the catheter to correct rotational speed variations. Algorithm performance is investigated with an ultrahigh-speed endoscopic OCT system and micromotor catheter. Scan nonuniformity is quantitatively characterized, and artifacts from rotational speed variations are significantly reduced. Furthermore, we present endoscopic en face OCT and OCT angiography images of human gastrointestinal tract in vivo to demonstrate the image quality improvement using the correction algorithm.
Phenolic composition of authentic pineapple juice.

ABSTRACT: The phenolic composition of authentic pineapple juice concentrate was analyzed by HPLC. Nine major peaks accounting for 70% of total peak area were characterized and their concentrations measured in 54 commercial samples. Means and standard deviations were as follows (mg/100 mL single-strength juice, normalized to 12.8 °Brix): tyrosine, 3.6(1.4); serotonin, 1.8(0.8); dimethylhydroxylfuranone, 1.4(0.7); dimethylhydroxylfuranone β-glucoside, 6.2(3.0); tryptophan, 2.2(0.9); S-sinapyl-L-cysteine, 1.1(0.6); N-γ-L-glutamyl-S-sinapyl-L-cysteine, 2.3(1.1); S-sinapyl glutathione, 5.4(1.4); and a p-coumaric acid-like phenolic compound (calculated as p-coumaric acid), 0.5(0.4). This information will be useful for evaluation of authenticity and quality.
Reinforcement during ecological speciation.

Reinforcement of pre–zygotic isolation can result when any of several kinds of selection act against hybrids. This paper investigates the situation where hybrids are selected against for ecological reasons, for example when there is no niche for individuals that are phenotypically intermediate between the parental species. The calculations here show how much ecological selection can lead to the reinforcement of a female mating preference or an assortative mating trait that is expressed in both sexes. The model allows for the ecological trait to be affected by any number of loci, but assumes that selection is weak and the introgression rate small. The effect of selection against hybrids increases rapidly as the difference between the mean phenotypes of the two populations increases. When genetic variation in the ecological trait is caused by many loci, stabilizing selection on it further contributes to reinforcement.
Characterization of Fine Particle Emissions from Burning Church Candles

A series of source tests were conducted on the combustion of paraffin and beeswax candles. An enclosed chamber sampling system was utilized, and fine particle samples were collected on both quartz fiber and Teflon filters. Electronic particle sizing was performed using an optical particle counter and a differential mobility analyzer. Filter samples were weighed to determine fine particle mass emission rates and then analyzed for elemental carbon and organic carbon by thermal evolution and combustion analysis and for organic chemical composition by GC/MS. Three modes of candle burning were observed with very different emission profiles: a “normal burning” mode characterized by low mass emission rates and particles smaller than 100 nm in diameter; a “sooting” behavior with high emission rates of predominantly elemental carbon particles; and a “smoldering” phase upon candle extinction during which most of the mass emissions occurred as white particles having diameters between 400 and 800 nm. The majority of emissions were organic compounds including alkanes, alkenes, alkanoic acids, wax esters, cyclohexylalkanes, and alkanals. Analysis of the unburned waxes revealed that while some of these compounds were thermally altered products of the unburned wax, many others were unaltered candle components emitted by direct volatilization. Thus, possible chemical tracers for candle burning may be easily identified by analyzing unburned wax material. The information provided in this study, in conjunction with future ambient indoor air sampling programs and receptor-oriented chemical mass balance techniques, can be used to determine the relative importance of candle burning to indoor soiling problems.
Results of vascularized rib grafts in complex spinal reconstruction. Surgical technique.

BACKGROUND: The application of vascularized rib grafts in spine surgery has been limited to the treatment of kyphosis with anterior placement of the rib graft to facilitate anterior spine arthrodesis. The outcomes following use of vascularized rib grafts in complex spinal reconstruction have not been adequately evaluated. The purpose of this study was to determine the results, including the time to osseous union and complications, following anterior or posterior placement of pedicled vascularized rib grafts for complex spinal reconstruction. METHODS: The medical records and images of all patients in whom a vascularized rib graft had been used for a multisegmental spine reconstruction at a single institution between 1994 and 2004 were retrospectively reviewed. Eighteen patients (mean age, 45.3 years) who had been followed for an average of 31.8 months were identified. Details regarding indications, the levels that were spanned, the graft length, the time to union, and complications were evaluated. RESULTS: The preoperative diagnoses included metastatic or primary tumor (thirteen patients) and progressive kyphosis secondary to chronic osteomyelitis (two), injury (one), congenital anomalies (one), or implant failure (one). On the average, 4.4 levels were fused and 1.9 vertebral bodies were excised. All eighteen arthrodeses included various forms of allograft and/or autograft material, and instrumentation was used, in addition to the vascularized rib graft, in twelve patients. The mean rib length was 16.1 cm, and a rib between the fifth and eleventh ribs, inclusive, was used, depending on the location of the spinal reconstruction. The average time to union was 6.8 months, and all rib grafts united. There were no complications specific to the rib-harvesting procedure. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a vascularized rib graft in complex spinal reconstruction adds little time to the overall procedure, is associated with low morbidity, and appears to offer substantial benefits to the patient.
Energy consumption during the manufacture of nutrients for algae cultivation

The effect of nutrient production on life cycle analysis (LCA) of energy use and greenhouse gas emissions for algal biofuels can be significant, yet recent algal biofuel LCAs vary significantly in their estimates for contributions from fertilizer production. Given the uncertainty in emissions associated with fertilizer manufacturing and the possibility that they play a significant role in algae LCA, this report examined nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer production in the U.S. by way of a detailed examination and analysis of published data. We found that the energy use and emissions of algae fertilizers derive from the manufacturing of just a few key reagents, namely ammonia and phosphoric acid. Under the assumption that large-scale algae growth will utilize commodity chemicals, the life cycle inventory centers on a few processes. We report relatively consistent values in the literature for these processes, suggest representative values to use in future LCA work, and discuss proper handling of fossil carbon in urea.
Origin, paleoecology, and paleobiogeography of early Bovini

Abstract The earliest Bovini have until now been reported from between 7 and 6 Ma from Africa. It has long been known that Bovini originated from “Boselaphini”, a paraphyletic assemblage of early Bovinae including also the living nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) and chousinga (Tetracerus quadricornis). This paper constitutes the first report that 1) the earliest members of the bovine lineage are present by at least 8.9 Ma; 2) that the origins of this clade (Pan–Bovini) appear to be in Asia south of the Himalayas; 3) that bovines represent a boselaphine lineage that expanded the ancestral dietary niche to include roughage in more open environments; and 4) that this clade's diversification and range extension coincided with global vegetation changes in the latest Miocene. These assessments are based on the description and analysis of new fossil dental material of certain late Miocene “Boselaphini”, including material traditionally assigned to Selenoportax and Pachyportax. It is proposed that the evolution of the large body size and robust dentition characteristic of bovines was driven by climatic and environmental changes, namely an intensification of seasonal aridity in southern Asia during the early late Miocene. Adaptations for a coarser diet would have permitted greater niche separation among large herbivores during dry seasons when commonly preferred food items become scarce.
Anidulafungin: a new addition to the antifungal armamentarium

Invasive fungal infections continue to be associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality, primarily in the immunocompromised hosts. Candida and Aspergillus are the most common causes of invasive fungal disease; however, other fungi can also cause disease in humans. Current therapeutic options for the management of invasive fungal infections include the polyenes, triazoles and echinocandins. Anidulafungin is a new echinocandin antifungal drug with a favorable toxicity profile and minimal drug–drug interactions that has activity against Aspergillus and Candida, including azole-resistant strains.
Mammuthus rumanus, early mammoths, and migration out of Africa: Some interrelated problems

Abstract Recent revalidation of the species Mammuthus rumanus influences several interrelated aspects of mammoth evolution. European material referred to M . rumanus might provide a useful background for the identification of finds from Africa and the Middle East. It seems plausible that M . rumanus originated in Africa c. 3.5 Ma and migrated to Eurasia via the Levant. While remaining poorly known, M . rumanus apparently played a significant role in the dispersal of mammoths to Eurasia, and any additional information on that species might elucidate problems of the earlier stages of mammoth evolution in Africa and their subsequent dispersal.
Patriots: The Men Who Started the American Revolution

With meticulous research and page-turning suspense, "Patriots" brings to life the American Revolution - the battles, the treacheries, and the dynamic personalities of the men who forged our freedom. George Washington, John Adams, Samuel Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry - these heroes were men of intellect, passion, and ambition. From the secret meetings of the Sons of Liberty to the final victory at Yorktown and the new Congress, "Patriots" vividly re-creates one of history's great eras.
Exploring Feedback Regulation in the S. Cerevisiae PKA Pathway

Protein kinase A (PKA) in S. cerevisiae is a central mediator of environmental nutrient sensing that modulates cellular growth and stress responses based on environmental conditions. In mammalian cells, PKA plays an equally important function in regulating growth, development, and metabolism. PKA activity is hence intricately regulated by multiple feedback loops. There are at least two known negative feedback loops regulating the synthesis and degradation of cAMP, the small molecule activator of PKA. While the individual components of the PKA regulatory network are known, we still lack understanding of the contribution of the different feedback loops to regulation in this system. Equally missing is a quantitative characterization of the loops that endow the system with its distinct dynamical features. In this work, we use a precise optogenetic input to study the dynamical properties and feedback regulation of the PKA network . Using time-lapse fluorescence microscopy, we measure the quantitative dynamics of PKA signaling in response to different light pulses for cells with an intact PKA network, in addition to cells where different feedback loops have been perturbed. We quantify the relative essentialness, strengths, and timescales of the feedback loops and organize these data in a computational model that provides predictive understanding of how changes in the feedback parameters tune the dynamical profile of the system.
Universally Coefficient Domains and Their Relation to the Cancellation Problem for Rings

Abstract We call an integral domainDauniversally coefficient domainif for any domainRwithD⊆R[x1,…, xn] thenD⊆R. It is true that every universally coefficient domain is strongly invariant but not conversely. We show that ifKis a field of characteristic zero andD=S−1K[x, y] thenDis a universally coefficient domain if and only if[formula], wherepis such that[formula]for some[formula]and where[formula]is the algebraic closure ofK. We then prove that any localization ofK[x, y], whereKis algebraically closed of characteristic zero, is a universally coefficient domain if and only if it is strongly invariant, giving necessary and sufficient conditions for localizations ofK[x, y] to be strongly invariant. This, in turn, shows that every localization ofK[x, y],Kalgebraically closed of characteristic zero, is invariant and strongly invariant if it is not a polynomial ring. We also discuss generalizations tonvariables and overrings, and we give examples of classes of polynomialsfsuch thatK[x1,…, xn, 1/f] is a universally coefficient domain.
Cottonseed allergy and gin

Abstract A satisfactory basis for attributing allergenic properties of the beverage, gin, to allergens of cottonseed is not found in an examination of the available information concerning the technology of the manufacture of gin nor in the consideration of the properties and known uses of cottonseed, the edible oil or other products of cottonseed. A brief description of the technology of the manufacture of gin and an assembled list of the components or adjuncts sometimes employed in the manufacture of this beverage are presented.
Modoc: A potato variety with bright red skin and early maturity for fresh market

Modoc is an early maturing, red-skinned, whitefleshed potato cultivar for fresh market use. The Agricultural Experiment Stations of Oregon, North Dakota, California, Idaho, and Washington jointly released Modoc in 2003. Modoc was derived from a 1989 cross of ND1196-2R and ND2225-1R performed at North Dakota State University. Modoc retains bright skin color in storage and is suited for marketing directly from the field or storage. It produces slightly lower total yield than Red LaSoda or Dark Red Norland, but higher marketable yield and more desirable tuber size and shape. Modoc tubers seldom exhibit growth cracks, secondary growth, hollow heart or other external or internal defects. Dry matter content of Modoc tubers is similar to Dark Red Norland and Red LaSoda (18.9% compared to 18.8% and 17.7%, respectively). Culinary quality of Modoc was rated equal to Dark Red Norland and Red LaSoda for boiling and microwaving preparation methods. Modoc tubers are similar to standard varieties in sugar, vitamin C, and glycoalkaloid (4.5 mg/100 g) concentration. Modoc foliage clearly expresses PVY symptoms and has not demonstrated high susceptibility to viral or fungal diseases during a decade of seed production and evaluation.
Early anti-pseudomonal acquisition in young patients with cystic fibrosis: rationale and design of the EPIC clinical trial and observational study'.

Background The primary cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) is progressive obstructive pulmonary disease due to chronic endobronchial infection, particularly with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa). Risk factors for and clinical impact of early Pa infection in young CF patients are less well understood.
Reactivity of crystalline ferrihemoglobin towards azide.

Abstract Reaction of a suspension of horse ferrihemoglobin crystals with azide has been compared with that of the soluble material under identical conditions. The crystalline material reacts with azide in a biphasic process, the steps of which are 2.5 and 22 times slower than the reaction of the soluble material with azide. It is apparent that the probability of the achievement of the necessary transitional conformation for reaction with azide is less in the crystalline than in the soluble material. The absence of the sulfate on the E7 histidine (Perutz & Mathews, 1966) rules out this group as a factor contributing to the lowered probability of the transitional conformation. Two explanations are considered for the biphasic nature of the reaction: the first, that intermolecular contacts decrease the accessibility of one pair of hemes with respect to the other pair; the other, that crystalline ferrihemoglobin consists of a mixture of “rapid” and “slow” conformations of the α- and the β-chains. The first explanation is favored.
A NOTE ON COMPARATIVE INDUCTIVE LOGIC

IN ( 86 of Logical Foundations of Probability (University of Chicago Press, I950), Carnap deals with the classificatory semantical concept of confirmation, the concept of confirming evidence. There he shows that it is easy to define an adequate explicatum for this concept on the basis of a given adequate explicatum for the quantitative concept of confirmation. He proceeds to discuss the question whether an adequate explicatum can be defined directly in terms of L-concepts, without the detour through the quantitative concept. This would benefit those logicians and scientists who are sceptical with regard to the possibility of constructing an adequate quantitative inductive logic. And, indeed, Carnap succeeds in defining in the mentioned way a concept Q' (h, i, e) such that a hypothesis h is &-confirmed by a new observational result i on the basis of the old evidence e if and
Simple solutions for modeling symmetric step-index dielectric waveguides

An approximate analytic solution for the guided wave in a planar step index waveguide is derived. It is shown that a solution can be chosen for the longitudinal and transverse propagation constants which is accurate to a few percent from cutoff to highly confined modes. This result is of importance for analytic modeling of step-index waveguides for problems such as directional couplers and nonlinear devices. It also provides a simple formula which can be used on a personal computer to model expected behavior. >
Properties of the strain-confined electron-hole liquid in Ge

A large volume of electron-hole liquid is formed by optically exciting a suitably stressed crystal of Ge. A contact stress produces a maximum shear region inside the crystal which acts as an attractive potential well for photoexcited carriers. Properties of the electron-hole liquid confined to this strain well are determined from spectral and spatial measurements of the recombination luminescence under wide variations in stress, temperature, and excitation level. Both electron-hole liquid and free-exciton phases are observed near 4 K, confirming the interpretation of a first-order liquid-gas phase transition and giving the exciton condensation energy phi approx. = 1 meV. The liquid pair density at intermediate stress is determined to be (0.50 +- 0.05) x 10/sup 17/ cm/sup -3/ from a luminescence line-shape analysis which takes into account the reduced electron band degeneracy and the strain-dependent hole mass. Magneto-oscillations in the luminesence intensity are observed which yield a similar density. A tenfold enhancement of the liquid lifetime is observed for stresses above 5 kgf/mm/sup 2/ and 1.8 < or = T < or = 4.2 K, consistent with the reduced pair density and inhibited liquid evaporation in the strain well. Compression of the liquid at high excitation levelmore » is reflected in the line-shape, lifetime, and spatial imaging measurements. Time-resolved imaging of the liquid luminescence provides a striking contrast between the strain-confined liquid and the usual cloud of droplets in unstressed Ge.« less
THE EFFECT OF THYROXIN AND THYROTROPIC HORMONE ON THE BASAL METABOLISM ANDTHYROID TISSUE RESPIRATION OF RATS ATVARIOUS AGES1

MANY STUDIES in senescence have centered about the endocrines. The thyroidand pituitary relationship has proved to be of interest, because many ofthe characteristics of old age resemble those of hypothyroidism (1). In thehuman being past the age of one year, the basal metabolism declines at a high rateuntil maturity, at which time the decline becomes retarded and continues at theslower rate for the remainder of life (2). The rat shows a similar trend in its basalheat production (3–8). The respiration of normal mammalian tissues also exhibits adecrease with advancing age (9–12). After maturity the histology of the thyroid reveals a decrease in the gland’s function (13, 14) although Dogliotti and Nuti (15) believe that there is a reactivation of the thyroid gland in old age. The response to thyroxin or desiccated thyroid has been shown to be influenced by the factor of age (9, 16, 17); that is, toxicity of thyroid preparations increases with age.
Inadequate group size compromises conclusions of hemodialysis graft surveillance study

To the Editor: A recent study by Ram et al1 criticizes earlier randomized, controlled trials on their statistical validity, but itself exhibits major statistical flaws.
The Role of Faculty, Counselors, and Support Programs on Latino/a Community College Students’ Success and Intent to Persist

This study examines how interactions with institutional agents (faculty and academic counselors) and select student support programs influence success (i.e., grade point average) and intentions to persist to degree completion for Latino/a community college students. Using social capital theory and college impact models, the study controls for the effects of select pre-college student characteristics, transition-to-college experiences, and academic and social factors. Findings indicate that interactions (quantity and type) with institutional agents exercise a small, but significant effect on Latino/a students’ success. Similarly, participation in an academically rigorous program and a counseling-intensive support program influences students’ success and intent to persist. Implications for practice are addressed.
Hypertext, full text, and automatic linking

Current computing systems typically support only mid-century information structures: simple hierarchies. Hypertext technologies enable users to impose many structures on document sets and, consequently, provide many paths to desired information, but they require that users work their way through some structure. Full-text search eliminates this requirement by ignoring structure altogether. The search strategy can also be restricted to work within specified contexts. The architecture provided for search readily supports automatic linking. These ideas have been tested in IRIS Intermedia.
A phosphorothionate isomer protects against the pneumotoxicity caused by O,O,S-trimethyl phosphorothioate.

Abstract O,O,S -Trimethyl phosphorothioate (OOS-TMP), an impurity in many organophosphorus insecticides, causes pneumotoxicity in rats at low doses (20 mg/kg) resulting in increases in bronchopulmonary lavage lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and morphological alterations of bronchiolar epithelium. Coadministration of the nontoxic isomer, O,O,O -trimethyl phosphorothioate (OOO-TMP), at 1% of the toxicant dose, has been found to protect against the increase in LDH levels and morphological changes in bronchioles caused by OOS-TMP. Since OOS-TMP appears to require metabolic activation for pneumotoxicity, the effects of OOO-TMP on pulmonary and hepatic P -450 content and P -450-mediated monooxygenases were examined as a possible biochemical mechanism of antagonism. Oral treatment with OOO-TMP (0.5, 1.0, and 4.0 mg/kg) decreased pulmonary P -450 levels by 23 to 50% at 2 and 6 hr, while no changes were detected in hepatic P -450 levels. Lung microsomal 7-ethoxycoumarin O -deethylase (7-Ec) was inhibited by 71 to 100%, while liver 7-Ec was inhibited by 26 to 52%. p -Nitroanisole demethylase activity was decreased 22 to 47% following treatment with the two highest dose levels of OOO-TMP. These results further support the view that the lung is a target organ of delayed toxicity produced by OOS-TMP, and that the antagonistic effect of OOO-TMP is due to alterations in the metabolic activation processes of OOS-TMP in the lung and/or liver.
Global Behavior of Solutions of a Nonlinear Second-Order Difference Equation☆

Abstract Our aim in this paper is to investigate the boundedness, the persistence, the global attractivity, the existence of periodic solutions of period 2, and the oscillatory nature of solutions of the equation x n + 1 = f ( x n , x n - 1 ) , n = 0 , 1 , ... , where f is a continuous, positive, and decreasing function on [0, ∞)2\{(0, 0)}. The results are applied to the difference equation y n + 1 = A y n p + 1 y n - 1 q , n = 0 , 1 , ... , where A, p, q ∈ (0, ∞).
The impacts of perceived fit, brand familiarity, and status consciousness on fashion brand extension evaluation

This study examined how strongly consumers’ evaluations of vertical and horizontal fashion brand extensions are influenced by perceived fit, brand familiarity and status consciousness. Data were collected from 187 female consumers aged 18 and older who were familiar with Giorgio Armani, the parent brand chosen for this study. Regression analyses revealed that brand familiarity was a positive predictor of vertical extension evaluation and that status consciousness was a positive predictor of the evaluations of both vertical and horizontal extensions. Perceived fit between the parent brand and the brand extension exhibited a positive effect on the evaluation of horizontal extension but a negative effect on the evaluation of vertical extension. Further, perceived fit moderated the relationship between status consciousness and overall evaluations of both extensions.
Suppression of growth of L cells in suspension culture by dibutyryl adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate

The growth of L cells in suspension cultures as determined by cell count and protein measurement is markedly reduced by the addition of dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (AMP) and theophylline to the culture flasks. Following the transfer of these cells to normal media the effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP on cell growth lasts between 24 and 48 hr, and afterwards the cells have normal growth Growth arrested L cells remain agglutinable by wheat germ agglutinin.
A Single Point Mutation Controls the Cholesterol Dependence of Semliki Forest Virus Entry and Exit

Membrane fusion and budding are key steps in the life cycle of all enveloped viruses. Semliki Forest virus (SFV) is an enveloped alphavirus that requires cellular membrane cholesterol for both membrane fusion and efficient exit of progeny virus from infected cells. We selected an SFV mutant, srf-3, that was strikingly independent of cholesterol for growth. This phenotype was conferred by a single amino acid change in the E1 spike protein subunit, proline 226 to serine, that increased the cholesterol independence of both srf-3 fusion and exit. The srf-3 mutant emphasizes the relationship between the role of cholesterol in membrane fusion and virus exit, and most significantly, identifies a novel spike protein region involved in the virus cholesterol requirement.
Preferred mode for the Quate-Thompson nonlinear acoustic correlation device

The Quate-Thompson microwave acoustic delay device is theoretically capable of performing convolution or correlation. A tapped delay line model is used to deduce that there is a preferred mode of correlation operation for the device. The effect of the time scale change associated with this mode of operation and the related effects that would be observed in its use as a range processor are discussed.
Prioritizing Species by Conservation Value and Vulnerability: A New Index Applied to Species Threatened by Sea-Level Rise and Other Risks in Florida

Land-use change, climate change, and sea-level rise (SLR) pose substantial threats to biodiversity. Conservation resources are limited and must be directed toward the species and ecosystems that are most vulnerable, biologically distinct, likely to respond favorably to conservation interventions, and valuable ecologically, socially, or economically. Many prioritization and vulnerability assessment schemes exist, each emphasizing different types of vulnerabilities and values and often yielding disparate evaluations of the same species. We developed an integrative and flexible framework that incorporates existing assessments and is useful for illuminating the differences between systems such as the IUCN Red List, the US Endangered Species Act, and NatureServe's Conservation Status Assessment and Climate Change Vulnerability Index. The Standardized Index of Vulnerability and Value Assessment (SIVVA) includes five advancements over existing tools: (1) the ability to import criteria and data from previous assessments, (2) explicit attention to SLR, (3) a flexible system of scoring, (4) metrics for both vulnerability and conservation value, and (5) quantitative and transparent accounting of multiple sources of uncertainty. We apply this system to 40 species in Florida previously identified as being vulnerable to SLR by the year 2100, describe the influence of different types of uncertainty on the resulting prioritizations, and explore the power of SIVVA to evaluate alternative prioritization schemes. This type of assessment is particularly relevant in low-lying coastal regions where vulnerability to SLR is predictable, severe, and likely to interact synergistically with other threats such as coastal development.
Mode-Locked Soliton Lasers

A comprehensive treatment is given for the formation of mode-locked soliton pulses in optical fiber and solid state lasers. The pulse dynamics is dominated by the interaction of the cubic Kerr nonlinearity and chromatic dispersion with an intensity-dependent perturbation provided by the mode-locking element in the laser cavity. The intensity-dependent perturbation preferentially attenuates low intensity electromagnetic radiation which makes the mode-locked pulses attractors of the laser cavity. A review of the broad spectrum of mode-locked laser models, both qualitative and quantitative, is considered with the basic pulse formation phenomena highlighted. The strengths and weaknesses of each model are considered with two key instabilities studied in detail: Q-switching and harmonic mode-locking. Although the numerous mode-locking models are considerably different, they are unified by the fact that stable solitons are exhibited in each case due to the intensity discrimination perturbation in the laser cavity.
Empirical evaluation of shared parallel execution on independently scheduled clusters

Parallel machines are typically space shared, or time shared such that only one application executes on a group of nodes at any given time. It is generally assumed that executing multiple parallel applications simultaneously on a group of independently scheduled nodes is not efficient because of synchronization requirements. The central contribution of this paper is to demonstrate that performance of parallel applications with sharing is typically competitive for independent and coordinated (gang) scheduling on small compute clusters. There is a modest overhead due to uncoordinated scheduling but it is often compensated by better sharing of resources. The impact of sharing was studied for different numbers of nodes and threads and different memory and CPU requirements of competing applications. The significance of the CPU time slice, a key parameter in CPU scheduling, was also studied. Application characteristics and operating system scheduling policies are identified as the main factors that influence performance with node sharing. All experiments are performed with NAS benchmarks on a Linux cluster. The significance of this research is that it provides evidence to support flexible and decentralized scheduling and resource selection policies for cluster and grid environments.
Waves triggered by lightning leak out of Earth's atmosphere

Lightning flashes can generate electromagnetic waves in the atmosphere. When these waves have a particular frequency, they can resonate in the cavity formed by the Earth's surface and the bottom of the ionosphere. This phenomenon, known as a Schumann resonance, has been observed from the ground and been used to study a variety of atmospheric properties. Now Simoes et al. report the first observations of Schumann resonances from a satellite. They detected the extremely low frequency waves with the Communications/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite, which studies ionospheric conditions. The researchers suggest that because these waves were detected in the ionosphere, outside of the surface-ionosphere cavity, some of them are unexpectedly leaking out into space. Therefore scientists may need to revise models of extremely low frequency wave propagation in the ionosphere. (Geophysical Research Letters, doi:10.1029/2011GL049668, 2011)