cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reduction of Salmonella Contamination on Chicken Egg Shells by a Peroxidase‐Catalyzed Sanitizer

A peroxidase-catalyzed compound (PCC) sanitizer was tested to determine its bactericidal activity on Salmonella typhimurium and Salmonella enteritidis inoculated on egg shell surfaces. Eggs with no treatment were compared to those immersed in either deionized distilled water, PCC or 200 ppm chlorine-treated water for 1, 3 or 5 min. Eggs immersed in PCC or chlorinated water solutions had lower (P < 0.05) S. typhimurium and S. enteritidis populations than those not exposed to treatments. No differences were detected among PCC and chlorine treatments except the S. typhimurium populations from PCC dipped eggs were significantly higher than those from eggs dipped in the chlorinated water for 1 min. Results indicate that PCC has potential as an effective shell egg sanitizer.
Effects of selecting for yield versus yield efficiency on morphological and physiological traits of tropical maize

Selection criteria to accelerate improvement of tropical maize (Zea mays L.) are needed because resources are limited and foods needs are growing. Yield efficiency (YE) (yield per unit leaf area), the reported grain yield-limiting factor in tropical maize, should be compared with grain yield (GY) (yield per unit land area) as selection criteria for rapid improvement of tropical maize. Selections for GY and for YE were conducted in two open-pollinated tropical maize cultivars that contrasted in morphological and physiological traits. Effectiveness of each selection criterion, changes in morphological and physiological traits, and density responses of synthetics associated with each selection criterion were studied. S1 lines were extracted in each population and evaluated in their area of adaptation at three locations in Southeastern Zaire during the 1976–77 growing season. The ten high yield-efficient and ten high yielding S1 lines in each population were separately combined to produce synthetics for high YE and high GY, respectively. The two synthetics selected in each population were compared with their original population at four densities (40 000, 60 000, 80 000 and 100 000 plants/ha) at Kaniama, Shaba, Zaire during 1977–78. Selecting for GY effectively increased GY, but also tended to maintain or increase excessive vegetative growth. Selecting for YE effectively reduced plant vegetative growth in one population and individual leaf size in the other population. It did not increase GY or YE because environmental and genetic factors that operate on YE were confounded. Neither selection criterion improved density tolerance. Maize breeding should emphasize selecting for combined criteria of GY and YE to achieve high GY, high YE, and density tolerance.
Soil respiration in conventional and no-tillage agroecosystems under different winter cover crop rotations

Carbon-dioxide efflux from conventional (CT) and no-tillage (NT) soils under winter ryegrain sorghum and crimson clover-grain sorghum rotations was measured for two consecutive cropping seasons using a static-absorption technique. Overall, CO2 output was significantly higher from NT than from CT soils, and from soils cropped to clover than from those cropped to rye. During the cool season, soil respiration was similar in NT and CT soils, and in an adjacent forest and old field. Carbon dioxide production ranged from 5 to 50 g CO2 m−2 day−1 over the 17 months of observation. Pulses of CO2 production were observed, following mowing of the winter crops, in both CT and NT. Plowing did not stimulate CO2 production in CT as was expected, but annual CO2 production in these systems may have been underestimated. Tillage appeared to affect the timing rather than the total amount of CO2 production. Linear regressions showed strong relationships between temperature and respiration in both CT (r = 0.88) and NT (r = 0.80) soils but not between soil moisture and respiration. However, soil moisture was significantly related to the contribution of surface residue to total respiration in NT (r = 0.80), suggesting that wetting and drying cycles may be more important to the decomposition of residues in NT than in CT.
Relative efficiencies and physical characteristics for a selected group of X-ray phosphors

We have measured the energy dependent conversion factors and quantum efficiencies for a number of selected phosphors in response to 0.7 to 6.0 keV X-rays. We have investigated the effects of deposition techniques, optical attenuation, dead layer material and front surface aluminization upon the light yield of the phosphor. From these measurements a simple model was derived that enables us to predict the light yield of a phosphor over a wide range of incident X-ray energies.
Effects of the rust Puccinia jaceae var. solstitialis on Centaurea solstitialis (yellow starthistle) growth and competition

Abstract The rust fungus Puccinia jaceae var. solstitialis was introduced to California in 2003 for biological control of yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis). To test its effectiveness under field conditions, we examined biomass production, chlorophyll levels, and seedhead production of yellow starthistle (YST) infected with P. jaceae. We also evaluated the effect of P. jaceae on the competitive ability of YST grown with wild oat (Avena fatua), a widespread winter annual grass commonly associated with YST infestations. Chlorophyll levels were reduced by over 50% in severely rust-infested YST leaves. P. jaceae had no effect on growth or reproductive variables in monoculture plots, but caused a modest reduction in YST performance in the competition experiment. In this study, infected plants had fewer leaves than uninfected plants and slightly reduced rosette diameters. P. jaceae also decreased YST biomass from 3.18 kg m−2 in non-inoculated competition plots to 2.62 kg m−2 in inoculated plots over both years of the experiment. Although not significant, there was a trend towards reduced seedhead production in the inoculated plots. These results indicate that P. jaceae may have some negative effects on YST growth, especially under conditions of interspecific competition. However, the effects of P. jaceae appear to be of minor biological significance and are unlikely to cause major declines in YST populations statewide.
Oxygen Atom Transfer Energetics: Assessment of the Effect of Method and Solvent

Several density functional methods, the semiempirical methods AM1 and PM3, Hartree-Fock, and Gaussian3 theories were applied to compute the oxygen atom transfer enthalpies for 14 X/XO couples (inorganic and organic systems, charged and neutral species, light and heavy main group element containing molecules). The calculated reaction enthalpies were compared to available experimental data. The G3 method alone was found to perform within the experimental error, while the popular B3LYP and BLYP functionals provided inadequate results. Solvent effects were estimated for 19 neutral and anionic X/XO couples by using the conductor-like polarizable continuum model and several cavity models coupled with the B3LYP/6-31++G(2d,2p) level of theory. Surprisingly, the magnitude of the aqueous solvent correction was found to vary significantly for different solute cavity models, occasionally giving larger errors than the gas-phase calculation.
Decision model for the acute treatment of mania

Decision making in psychiatric diagnosis and treatment has not been evaluated systematically. The authors present a model for treatment of an acute manic episode using a decision analysis software program. Six treatment options were put into the model: lithium, valproate, carbamezepine, electroconvulsive therapy, clonazepam, and neuroleptics. Each treatment was evaluated on three factors, efficacy, tolerability, and cost, using data from the literature and pharmacy and billing information. Output from the computer program identified three top choices among the six options: valproate, carbamazepine, and lithium, with valproate emerging as the first choice using the data we inputted. Depression and Anxiety 4:289–293, 1996/1997.© 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effect of fenfluramine on appetite and lipid metabolism of the young ruminant.

Abstract Eight Holstein calves were used in two 4×4 Latin square experiments to determine the action of fenfluramine (N-ethyl-3-trifluoromethylphenethylamine) at five daily oral doses of 0, 5, 10 and 20mg per kg bodyweight on appetite, blood lipids and glucose. Subsequently, eight additional calves were fasted for eight days and used to determine the effect of fenfluramine in fasted calves. Four calves received 10mg per kg per day of drug while 4 served as controls. Preliminary rumen incubations showed that fenfluramine was stable in the rumen environment and blood serum peaks of fenfluramine within 2 hours following oral dosing suggested rumen absorption of the drug. Dose effected a linear reduction in feed intake which was 50% at 10mg per kg. Serum free fatty acids were very closely correlated with feed intake, increasing linearly with drug concentration but returning to normal in two days after discontinuing the drug. Fasting alone produced a significant lipolytic response, but some lipolytic action of drug was present during Days 1 and 2 of fast. In fed calves, all concentrations of drug resulted in similar reductions of triglycerides. In fasted calves, triglycerides for both control and treated groups declined to 60% of base values, but fenfluramine calves returned to base values faster than controls. Serum glucose was reduced for fed calves at all concentrations of drug as well as in fasted control and fasted drug-treated calves, thus suggesting that the plane of nutrition was the important factor. Serum cholesterol was not altered by fenfluramine or fasting. The mechanism of action of fenfluramine in bovine metabolism was discussed.
The feasibility of C. W. degenerate four-wave mixing in the far-infrared to millimeter region using an artificial Kerr medium

Using the results of Rogovin, the C. W. submillimeter phase conjugate reflectivities and response times of various prototype suspensions have been calculated for the degenerate four-wave mixing geometry. Assuming realistic liquid and particle optical constants as well as realistic submillimeter laser pump powers it is demonstrated that phase conjugate reflectivities approaching or exceeding unity could be expected in the strong pump limit for a wavelength of ≈100 microns. For longer wavelengths phase conjugation is not practical because the grating formation time exceeds the particle fall time hence no spatial grating can be formed. However, it is shown that if the particle buoyancy could be increased, phase conjugation could proceed with high efficiency at longer wavelengths.
Double lox targeting for neural cell transgenesis.

Abstract ES cells differentiated along the neural lineage in vitro are an attractive model system. Here we have developed ES cell lines that are suitable for inserting transgenes at a single chromosomal site. ES cell line CE1 (for C assette E xchange) contains one ‘acceptor’ module (CE1) that allows for efficient double lox targeting. The site is also permissive for gene expression in neural progenitor cells, as well as differentiated neurons and glia. Line CE2 was derived by swapping a puromycin resistance cassette into CE1. Neural progenitors derived from this line are puromycin-resistant. A β-actin/GFP expression cassette was inserted into the CE1 site to create CE3. The CE3 cell line was differentiated into neural cells and displayed strong EGFP expression in neural progenitors, differentiated neurons and glia. Differentiated CE3 ES cells (4−/4+ RA) were transplanted into the injured rat somatosensory cortex where many of the transplanted cells survived and differentiated into neurons expressing GFP. This strategy for creating sets of transgenic lines with multiple cassettes inserted into a single chromosomal site provides a powerful tool for studying development and function of ES cell-derived neural cells. Many of these will be useful in transplantation research.
USING CHILD AND FAMILY INDICATORS TO INFLUENCE COMMUNITIES AND POLICY IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY

This article presents a case study on the use of social indicators to guide community action and influence policy decisions around children and families in Los Angeles County California. Since the early 1990s, the Children's Planning Council has incorporated strategic use of data in all of its planning and community organizing. The Council has developed a unique set of strategies for using social indicators, in combination with large-scale organizing, to convene stakeholders, change perceptions and influence decison-making. The article describes the Council, the theoretical framework that guides its approach to data, key issues that have guided its information strategies, and the challenges that still lie ahead.
Treatment strategies for patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Strategies for the treatment of patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus are discussed. In order to achieve treatment goals, diet and exercise remain important components of an overall treatment program that may include sulfonylurea drugs, especially in cases where patients are of normal weight or only slightly obese, have had the disease less than five years, and are taking little or no insulin. Failure to control blood sugar levels with sulfonylurea drugs may lead to combining this therapy with insulin or administering insulin alone, regardless of patients' weights.
Individual Differences in Executive Attention Predict Self‐Regulation and Adolescent Psychosocial Behaviors

Abstract: This study examined temperament, executive attention, parental monitoring and relationships, and involvement in pro- and antisocial behaviors in an ethnically diverse sample of adolescents. We sought to relate parent- and self-reported effortful control to performance on measures of executive attention and to better understand the relative contributions of individual-difference variables and environmental variables in predicting behaviors in adolescence. The results indicated a relationship between poor executive attention and mother-reported effortful control. Inclusion of individual-difference variables significantly increased prediction of problem-behavior scores, suggesting the importance of including such variables in studies of adolescent deviance.
Redox mediation involving oxide films as examined by surface-enhanced raman spectroscopy: peroxodisulfate reduction at oxide-modified gold electrodes

Abstract The influence of peroxodisulfate on the potential-dependent state of oxidation of gold and nickel oxide-coated gold electrodes in alkaline aqueous solution has been examined by means of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). For a gold electrode in 1 M KOH containing 1–20 mM S2O2−8, the SERS metal surface-oxygen band at about 560 cm−1 which diagnoses the presence of an oxidized gold surface (associated with a gold hydroxide film) survives to markedly (0.3 to 0.4 V) more negative electrode potentials than in the absence of S2O2−8. This chemically induced change in the state of surface oxidation is attributed to the oxidation of OH− by S2O2−8 to form gold oxide; the latter undergoes electroreduction resulting in the mediated reductions of S2O2−8. This mechanism is discussed on the basis of electrochemical kinetic data for the reduction of S2O2−8 and gold oxide, obtained used rotating disk and linear-sweep voltammetry. Peroxodisulfate is also observed to influence the potential-dependent redox state of thin nickel oxide films on gold in alkaline solutions. A significant amount of the oxidized film is detected in the presence of S2O2−8 from the residual appearance of the characteristic 480/560 cm−1 doublet at potentials where the reduced [Ni(OH)2] film is thermodynamically more stable. This latter effect appears to be associated with the redox mediation of S2O2−8 reduction by the nickel oxide film. These results illustrate the utility of SERS for examining the state of surface oxidation during such redox mediated electrochemical processes.
On the ‘spitting’ behaviour in cobras (Serpentes: Elapidae)

Spitting' behaviour was examined in selected taxa of Naja and Hemachatus. A description of the kinematics and variations of spitting in each species was generated from the analysis of videotape records of over 400 spits. Interspecific variation was noted in the spitting behaviour. Intraspecific variation ranged from very stereotypic spitting in N. siamensis, and H. haemachatus, to N. pallida and N. mossambica in which every aspect of the behaviour was variable. A striking lunge and exhalant burst of air may occur as part of the spitting behaviour, but are not essential agents in venom spitting.
Single-mode optical fiber goniometer.

A two-element single-mode optical fiber goniometer that uses graded-index microlens receivers is presented that measures the angular orientation of a remote laser. The goniometer exhibits a sensitivity of 1.0 V/mrad and a calculated shot-noise-limited angular resolution of 1.0 nrad/Hz.
Nonlinear simulation of environmental resources systems

Abstract Nonlinearity, inherent in physical systems, can be simulated using elementary catastrophe theory. In this paper, we present a general framework for the application of this theory to environmental systems and demonstrate its practicality in a series of quantitative models consisting of the eutrophication of small lakes, rainfall infiltration process, geothermal simulation and the multispecies/multiphase flow in oil reservoir.
A simple, rapid, and sensitive method of determining CSF IgG, using latex.

Abstract A simple, rapid and sensitive method of determining cerebrospinal fluid IgG is presented. The procedure depends upon the fact that spinal fluid gamma globulin, and two of its components (IgG and IgM) will precipitate latex particles in proportion to their concentration, and that the optical density of the supernatant solution containing unprecipitated latex particles after centrifugation is inversely proportional to the concentration of these immunoglobulins. The method is sensitive to 50 nanograms, is inexpensive, requires 0.1 ml. or less of spinal fluid, and can be performed in minutes. Preliminary studies show that it compares favorably with results obtained by radial immunodiffusion.
Electron transfer in the cleavage of ethers and epoxides by nickel(0) complexes

Abstract Certain allylic ethers, such as allyl phenyl ether and benzyl phenyl ether undergo allylic carbon-oxygen bond scission with either bis(1,5-cyclopentadiene)nickel(0) or tetrakis(triethylphosphine)nickel(0). Added donors or solvents accelerate these cleavages in the following order: 2,2′-bipyridyl > TMEDA > THF > C6H6. Similarly, the aforementioned nickel(0) reagents effect the deoxygenation of epoxides bearing electron-withdrawing substituents and yield the corresponding trans olefins. These observations are interpreted in terms of electron-transfer pathways.
The Effects of Freezing Temperature Storage on Digitalis Leaf Glycoside Yields

Fresh digitalis leaf material has been subjected to freezing temperature storage for a two-year period and compared in glycoside content with dried material from the same growth. Higher glycoside yields were obtained following freezing temperature storage. Advantages and disadvantages of the process are suggested.
In vitro evaluation of ureteral stent compression

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the force required to radially compress ureteral stents and the impact of compression on stent performance across a broad range of stent sizes and manufacturers. Methods Fourteen ureteral stents ranging in size from 6F to 10.3F were evaluated for radial compression using an MTS Micro Bionix Testing System using Testworks II software, 5N load cell, vibration isolation table, and socket set screws with rounded caps. Radial compression was exerted in 0.2-mm increments. Cycles of compression and a 100-second hold time were repeated for each stent to maximal compression. Three trials were completed for each stent. The Young’s Modulus, E, was calculated from each trial using the engineering stress. Simultaneous flow data using normal saline were collected for the Amplatz stent. Results The Cook C-Flex (E = 30,355 ± 910 Pa), Microvasive Percuflex Plus 6F (E = 28,973 ± 250 Pa), Cook EndoSof (E = 28,403 ± 471 Pa), and Fossa Open Lumen (E = 28,627 ± 5,338) were the most resistant to compression and the Cook Amplatz 10.2F (E = 11,922 ± 220 Pa) and Microvasive Percuflex Plus 10.3F (E = 8,247 ± 286 Pa) were the least resistant to compression. Stress relaxation occurred similarly in all stents. Flow through the Cook Amplatz stent decreased at a rate of 5 mL/s/mm of compression linearly (R2 = 0.95). Conclusions Stents resistant to radial compression are critical for function in the face of extrinsic ureteral obstruction. The Cook C-Flex ureteral stent resisted extrinsic compressive forces best. Although large-lumen stents are often used in this clinical situation, they were the most susceptible to compressive forces.
Interleukin-15 inhibits sodium nitroprusside-induced apoptosis of synovial fibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells.

Objective One of the pathologic hallmarks of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) is a tumor-like expansion of inflamed synovial tissue, or pannus, which causes much of the joint damage in this disease. The expansion of pannus is supported by extensive formation of new blood vessels. We have previously shown that revascularization of minced JRA synovial tissues engrafted into SCID mice correlated with the intensity of inflammatory activity in the tissues and with interleukin-15 (IL-15) expression. Since synovial vascular endothelial cells (VECs) expressed IL-15 receptors, the present study was undertaken to investigate the hypothesis that IL-15 might play a role in neovascularization of the pannus. Methods To evaluate IL-15 for possible angiogenic activity, we assessed the ability of recombinant human IL-15 (rHuIL-15) to induce VEC growth directly and to stimulate synovial cells to produce endothelial growth factors. Since IL-15 had been shown to inhibit apoptosis of certain immune cells, we were also interested in whether it might have similar effects on VECs. Apoptosis was induced by addition of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) at 1–2 mM to >80% confluent primary VECs, and numbers of apoptotic cells were determined by annexin V assay. Results Addition of rHuIL-15 at 10–100 ng/ml to primary synovial fibroblast cultures failed to up-regulate expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and angiopoietin 1 by these cells. Although rHuIL-15 failed to induce a mitogenic response of VECs, it promoted survival of these cells on Matrigel. Preincubation of VECs with rHuIL-15 at 50 ng/ml significantly reduced the proportion of VECs undergoing apoptosis. Conclusion IL-15 promotes survival of VECs on Matrigel and inhibits SNP-induced apoptosis of endothelial cells. We hypothesize that this mechanism may be relevant to the stabilization of newly formed vascular structures in JRA synovium.
An Improved Algorithm to Smooth Delay Jitter in Cyber-Physical Systems

Delay jitter is a critical factor that must be considered in networked real-time applications that require accurate prediction of packet delivery times. Delay jitter can be smoothed by holding packets in a play-back buffer for a certain time called a play-back delay. In this paper, we propose a scheme to enhance the prediction of the play-back delay in Networked Control Systems (NCSs) with no need for clock synchronization. Our newly proposed scheme differs from previous schemes by using the one way delay variation. We have studied the behavior of one way delay variation by conducting extensive measurements between 50 strategically located wired and wireless connected hosts. The advantage of our scheme is that it significantly improves handling of sudden delay spikes, provides a closer approximation to the round trip time (RTT), and exhibits less frequent outliers.
Security considerations for personal computers

The wide use of personal computers and general access to telecommunications links have intensified the need for computer security, Security practices as discussed in this paper relate to protecting an organization's personal computers as physical propedy, protecting the organization's data and applications, and protecting the organization itself. These matters are discussed from the point of view of protection from the improper use of personal computers.
Fluorescence Polarization Binding Assay for Aspergillus fumigatus Virulence Factor UDP-Galactopyranose Mutase

Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic human pathogenic fungus responsible for deadly lung infections in immunocompromised individuals. Galactofuranose (Galf) residues are essential components of the cell wall and play an important role in A. fumigatus virulence. The flavoenzyme UDP-galactopyranose mutase (UGM) catalyzes the isomerization of UDP-galactopyranose to UDP-galactofuranose, the biosynthetic precursor of Galf. Thus, inhibitors of UGM that block the biosynthesis of Galf can lead to novel chemotherapeutics for treating A. fumigatus-related diseases. Here, we describe the synthesis of fluorescently labeled UDP analogs and the development of a fluorescence polarization (FP) binding assay for A. fumigatus UGM (AfUGM). High-affinity binding to AfUGM was only obtained with the chromophore TAMRA, linked to UDP by either 2 or 6 carbons with Kd values of 2.6 ± 0.2 μM and 3.0 ± 0.7 μM, respectively. These values were ~6 times lower than when UDP was linked to fluorescein. The FP assay was validated against several known ligands and displayed an excellent Z′ factor (0.79 ± 0.02) and good tolerance to dimethyl sulfoxide.
Passive resonance tuning through closely spaced coupled split ring resonators

Bilayer split ring resonators as a function of separation (∼λ /500) and orientation are measured. Terahertz measurements match simulations showing frequency shifting of the resonances with implications for electrically small antenna design.
Effect of High Levels of Dietary Cholesterol on the Serum Proteins of the Chicken

Abstract INTRODUCTION THE increase of the amount of cholesterol in the blood serum of the cockerel during the administration of a diet containing high levels of cholesterol (Dauber and Katz, 1942) has been associated with the development of atherosclerosis (Dauber and Katz, 1943). It has been established that the laying hen does not develop atherosclerosis during the feeding of cholesterol as readily as the cockerel even though the blood serum from the laying hen does contain a high level of cholesterol (Stamler et al., 1955). The administration of estrogens to the cockerel was found to result in a rise in the amount of serum cholesterol and to increase resistance to the development of atherosclerosis during cholesterol feeding. Chicken blood serum proteins have been characterized by electrophoretic methods (Brandt et al., 1950; Heim and Schechtman, 1954), and laying hens and cockerels, injected with estrogens, exhibit similar electrophoretic blood serum protein patterns which differ…
Gout: Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs and Colchicine to Prevent Painful Flares During Early Urate-Lowering Therapy

A case report on a gout patient is presented with discussion of the use of prophylactic agents for prevention of gouty flare in such a patient when beginning urate-lowering therapy. The limitations of the literature on this subject are described. Advantages and disadvantages of of prophylaxis and the burden of pain are discussed.
CAM04-5: Toward Understanding the Behavior of BGP During Large-Scale Power Outages

While the Internet continues to thrive, the resiliency of its fundamental routing infrastructure is not fully understood. In this paper, we analyze the behavior of the de facto inter-domain routing protocol, BGP, during a large-scale power outage that affected the connectivity of 3,175 networks in dozens of cities in the eastern USA and Canada. By observing proper metrics of BGP, we study BGP behavior from both the global level and the prefix level. At the global level, our results show that many global BGP metrics remained stable during the blackout event; importantly, we do not find an increase in the number of BGP announcements, a metric that has been primarily used to indicate significant changes in routing. However, we observe an apparent increase in the number of withdrawals. At the prefix level, we introduce per-prefix AS-path graphs and study their evolution for affected prefixes during the blackout; we have found that in such graphs there is a sharp decrease in the number of edges and nodes as well as changes in node degrees.
Electronic circuitry to protect solid state switches from excessive locked-rotor current in appliances

The locked-rotor current in washing machines can destroy a triac before the circuit breaker has time to trip. The design of electronic circuitry to sense the overload condition and turn off the triac before damage results is presented. The protection circuits feature programmable response time, automatic resetting, and low cost. Data on the prototype circuit are given, and a computer simulation is used to compute component values. Critical triac device parameters are discussed, and their effect on protection circuit design is evaluated. >
Three-guide optical couplers in GaAs

Three-guide optical couplers consisting of three 4.75-μm-wide slab-coupled rib guides separated by 4.25μm have been fabricated in GaAs. The performance of these couplers at 1.28 μm is in close agreement with that predicted using a modified effective-index method to obtain an approximate analytical solution for this type of coupler. The coupling length needed to symmetrically transfer power from the center guide to the two outside guides was 3.2 mm. At this length, less than 1 percent of the power remained in the center guide. The length needed to transfer power from one outside guide to the other outside guide was ≈ 6.4 mm, which is \approx \sqrt{2} - times that of a similar two-guide coupler and twice that required to couple power from the center guide to the two outside guides. The power transfer efficiency in this case is not as good as when power was inputted into the center guide. Three-guide couplers of this type should prove useful as power dividers and combiners, especially in cases where waveguide bend losses preclude the use of "Y" - junctions. They may also prove useful as replacements for two-guide couplers where either sharper transfer characteristics are desired or where losses due to waveguide bends are again unacceptable.
CsrA and three redundant small RNAs regulate quorum sensing in Vibrio cholerae

Bacteria communicate using a process called quorum sensing which involves production, secretion and detection of signalling molecules called autoinducers. Quorum sensing allows populations of bacteria to simultaneously regulate gene expression in response to changes in cell density. The human pathogen, Vibrio cholerae, uses a quorum-sensing circuit composed of parallel systems that transduce information through four redundant regulatory small RNAs (sRNAs) called quorum regulatory RNAs (Qrr) to control the expression of numerous genes, most notably those required for virulence. We show that the VarS/VarA two-component sensory system comprises an additional regulatory input controlling quorum-sensing-dependent gene expression in V. cholerae. VarS/VarA controls transcription of three previously unidentified small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) that are similar to the sRNAs CsrB and CsrC of Escherichia coli. The three V. cholerae sRNAs, which we name CsrB, CsrC and CsrD, act redundantly to control the activity of the global regulatory protein, CsrA. The VarS/VarA-CsrA/BCD system converges with the V. cholerae quorum-sensing systems to regulate the expression of the Qrr sRNAs, and thus, the entire quorum-sensing regulon.
National Center for Advanced Information Components Manufacturing: program update

The National Center for Advanced Information Components Manufacturing (NCAICM) was established by congressional appropriation in the FY93 Defense Appropriation Bill. The Center, located at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM, is funded through the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA). The technical focus of NCAICM is emissive flat panel displays and associated microelectronics, specifically targeting manufacturing issues such as materials, processes, equipment, and software tools. This Center is a new avenue of collaboration between ARPA and the Department of Energy (DOE). It will help the government meet its obligation to develop dual-use capabilities for the defense and civilian sectors of the economy and provide a new method for cooperation and collaboration between the federal government and American industry. In particular, one of NCAICM`s goals is to provide industry access to the broad resource base available at three DOE Defense Programs laboratories -- Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
R/qtlbim: QTL with Bayesian Interval Mapping in experimental crosses

Summary: R/qtlbim is an extensible, interactive environment for the Bayesian Interval Mapping of QTL, built on top of R/qtl (Broman et al., 2003), providing Bayesian analysis of multiple interacting quantitative trait loci (QTL) models for continuous, binary and ordinal traits in experimental crosses. It includes several efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithms for evaluating the posterior of genetic architectures, i.e. the number and locations of QTL, their main and epistatic effects and gene--environment interactions. R/qtlbim provides extensive informative graphical and numerical summaries, and model selection and convergence diagnostics of the MCMC output, illustrated through the vignette, example and demo capabilities of R (R Development Core Team 2006). Availability: The package is freely available from cran.r-project.org. Contact:byandell@wisc.edu or nyi@ms.soph.uab.edu
Pregnancies after hysteroscopic sterilization: a systematic review.

Abstract Background Female sterilization is the second most commonly used form of contraception in the United States. Newer approaches to female sterilization, including hysteroscopic methods, have been approved for use in the United States since 2002. Little is known about the occurrence and timing of pregnancies after these procedures. Study Design The objective of this systematic review was to identify evidence that assesses when and how often pregnancies occur following hysteroscopic sterilization. The PubMed database was searched for all studies published from database inception through March 2012 that reported whether or not pregnancies occurred following hysteroscopic sterilization. Results Twenty-four original research articles of fair quality met the inclusion criteria: 22 studies of women who underwent Essure® placement and 2 studies of women who underwent Adiana® placement. Eleven articles that documented bilateral tubal occlusion with hysterosalpingogram (HSG) or placement with X-ray or ultrasound following Essure® placement did not report any pregnancies with follow-up ranging from 7 months to 7 years. The remaining 11 articles identified 102 reported pregnancies. Eighteen of these pregnancies occurred prior to the 3-month period required before imaging for contraceptive reliability. Two articles did not report what follow-up imaging was performed among women after Essure® placement; one of these articles reported three pregnancies. Two reports from the same study of women who underwent Adiana® placement reported six pregnancies during the first year of follow-up, three pregnancies during the second year of follow-up and no pregnancies during the third year of follow-up. Conclusions Fair-quality evidence suggests that among women who were followed beyond 3 months after hysteroscopic sterilization, pregnancies were rare and generally occurred among women who had no imaging follow-up or had inadequate confirmation of placement or occlusion. Few pregnancies occurred in women with documented bilateral tubal occlusion by HSG or correct placement at 3 months by ultrasound or X-ray. Only one study reported follow-up past 5 years. Further studies are needed to address the long-term effectiveness of hysteroscopic sterilization.
Computer Simulations for Fault Diagnosis Training: From Simulation to Live System Performance

Three methods of training for fault diagnosis were studied: traditional instruction, context-specific computer simulations, and context-free simulations. Each of thirty-six powerplant maintenance trainees were trained with one of these methods, and then, transferred to real aircraft powerplants and, later, to simulations of an auto-pilot system. For the aircraft powerplants, it was found that traditional instruction was only superior if explicit demonstrations were provided for the exact failures to be encountered. With respect to overall performance, context-free training did not produce improved performance on the unfamiliar auto-pilot system. Considering correlates of live system performance, it was found that performance in the context-free simulation was a good predictor, while performance in the context-specific simulations was by no means useful. Trainee Grade Point Averages and scores on traditional quizzes were also highly correlated with live system performance.
Sentinel: Hardware-Accelerated Mitigation of Bot-Based DDoS Attacks

Effective defenses against DDoS attacks that deplete resources at the network and transport layers have been deployed commercially. Therefore, DDoS attacks increasingly use normal- looking application-layer requests to waste server CPU or disk capacity. CAPTCHAs attempt to distinguish bots from human clients and are often used to avoid such attacks. However, CAPTCHAs themselves consume resources and frequently are defeated. Kill-Bots reduces CAPTCHA overhead by pushing client authentication into the kernel. However, Kill-Bots requires kernel modifications, which can be infeasible. We describe the design, implementation, and performance evaluation of Sentinel, a network device that overcomes several limitations in Kill-Bots. Sentinel can be easily deployed as a bridge in front of server farms, modularly accepts a variety of present and future authentication schemes, and can use network processors to accelerate authentication. Experiments show that Sentinel greatly reduces the impact of DDoS attacks on the response time experienced by legitimate clients.
Wormlike Micelles of Block Copolymers: Measuring the Linear Density by AFM and Light Scattering

Wormlike micelles can form from polystyrene-b-polyisoprene copolymers in heptanesa selective solvent for polyisoprene. We have measured the aggregation number per unit length of polystyrene-b-polyisoprene wormlike micelles by light scattering and AFM. The values obtained from both techniques are in good agreement. The aggregation number per unit length decreases as the temperature increases due to the improvement of the solvent quality.
A dual role of BRCA1 in two distinct homologous recombination mediated repair in response to replication arrest

Homologous recombination (HR) is a major mechanism utilized to repair blockage of DNA replication forks. Here, we report that a sister chromatid exchange (SCE) generated by crossover-associated HR efficiently occurs in response to replication fork stalling before any measurable DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Interestingly, SCE produced by replication fork collapse following DNA DSBs creation is specifically suppressed by ATR, a central regulator of the replication checkpoint. BRCA1 depletion leads to decreased RPA2 phosphorylation (RPA2-P) following replication fork stalling but has no obvious effect on RPA2-P following replication fork collapse. Importantly, we found that BRCA1 promotes RAD51 recruitment and SCE induced by replication fork stalling independent of ATR. In contrast, BRCA1 depletion leads to a more profound defect in RAD51 recruitment and SCE induced by replication fork collapse when ATR is depleted. We concluded that BRCA1 plays a dual role in two distinct HR-mediated repair upon replication fork stalling and collapse. Our data established a molecular basis for the observation that defective BRCA1 leads to a high sensitivity to agents that cause replication blocks without being associated with DSBs, and also implicate a novel mechanism by which loss of cell cycle checkpoints promotes BRCA1-associated tumorigenesis via enhancing HR defect resulting from BRCA1 deficiency.
Coping with health stresses and remission from late-life depression in primary care: a two-year prospective study

OBJECTIVES—Identifying predictors of late-life depression that are amenable to change may lead to interventions that result in better and faster remission. Thus, authors investigated the impact of two different strategies for coping with physical illness on depression in older, primary care patients. Health-oriented goal engagement strategies involve the investment of cognitive and behavioral resources to achieve health goals. Conversely, disengagement strategies involve the withdrawal of these resources from obsolete or unattainable health goals, combined with goal restructuring. METHODS—Participants were 271 adults aged >59 who took part in a two-year randomized clinical trial for treating depression in the elderly (PROSPECT -- Prevention of Suicide in Primary Care Elderly: Collaborative Trial). The use of engagement and disengagement strategies, along with other risk factors for depression, were included in a tree-structured survival analysis to identify subgroups of individuals at risk for not achieving depression remission.
Stresses in 3C-SiC films grown on Si substrates

C-Sic films were grown epitaxially on Si(OO1) substrates by an atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition method. The stresses in the films were determined by Raman spectroscopy and compared to data from load-deflection measurements on similar films. The films are tensile as grown and have a stress of 0.3 GPa, which is lower than the reported values for similar films. A possible explanation for the lower stresses as well as other observed trends is suggested. A. Introduction In order for 3C-Sic films epitaxially grown on Si substrates to be used in devices, it is important that the stresses in the films be well understood and controlled, as these stresses determine the flatness and usability of these wafers, as well as other subsequent device characteristics. These stresses do not arise from the lattice mismatch of 20%, but rather from the thermal mismatch of 8% and other factors. The lattice mismatch is accommodated within the first monolayer by the formation of misfit dislocations. However, the thermal coefficient mismatch cannot be avoided and the stresses develop as the film-substrate system cools down after growth. While a number of explanations have been offered in the past for these stresses in chemical vapor deposition (CVD) grown films (l), there is no clear quantitative explanation that explains all the data. B. Experimental Results The films were grown in an atmospheric pressure CVD (APCVD) reactor and the details of the growth have been previously reported (2). The stresses were measured by micro- Raman spectroscopy and compared with data on films grown in the same reactor and measured by a load-deflection technique (3). The calculations of stress are based on the work of Feng et al. (4). It is well known that stresses cause a shift in the Raman peaks. These stresses can be estimated from the shifts in the LO (longitudinal optical) and TO (transverse optical) phonon positions. The peak positions for the films are tabulated in Table 1. From these values, the stress was determined. A stress of 0.3M0.2 GPa was measured in a 0.3 pm thick film grown in the APCVD reactor at 1360 "C. This value of stress is lower than the values on similar films obtained by the load-deflection technique (3). These films were all grown in the same reactor under identical conditions. The resolution of the micro-Raman measurements was lower than that of the load deflection technique and that could explain the higher stress value measured by Raman spectroscopy. It has already been established in the SiC/Si system, that there are no stresses due to the film-substrate lattice mismatch, because of the presence of misfit dislocations with the appropriate spacing at the interface. Thus, any residual stresses are due to the thermal mismatch and other intrinsic stresses. The thermal mismatch stresses (of) can be calculated for each film orientation, using
The Big Effects of Short-term Efforts: A Catalyst for Community Engagement in Scientific Software

Scientific progress relies crucially on software, yet in practice there are significant challenges to scientific software production and maintenance. We conducted a case study of a bioinformatics software library called Biopython to investigate the promise of Google Summer of Code (GSoC), a program that pays students to work on open-source projects for the summer, for addressing these challenges. We find that GSoC creates communication networks that engage students with mentors and the community at large. GSoC students learn how to contribute to the Biopython codebase and about software engineering principles more generally. We also find that GSoC benefits the Biopython community by bringing in new members, sometimes resulting in the addition of stable features into Biopython.
The Life Cycle Assessment of Carbon Dioxide Emission of Four Major Sewage Treatment Plants in Taiwan

The sewage comes from buildings is drained into public sewers. The sewage is then treated in a sewage treatment plant to meet the sanitation standards before being discharged to the water cycle in nature. The sewage treatment process consumes energy and produce CO2. In this research, the idea of streamlined life cycle assessment was applied. The CO2 emission of sewage treatment was assessed from direct energy consumption of four major sewage treatment plants in Taiwan. The results show that the unit CO2 emission of sewage treatment calculated from four plants is 0.174 kg-CO2/m3. The CO2 emission at in-plant sewage treatment stage takes more than 95% of total CO2 emission for most plants. The results suggest that CO2 emission of sewage treatment can be calculated from energy consumption at in-plant sewage treatment stage to simplify the calculation. This database will be important reference for water resource research.
Joint Identification and Segmentation of Domain-Specific Dialogue Acts for Conversational Dialogue Systems

Individual utterances often serve multiple communicative purposes in dialogue. We present a data-driven approach for identification of multiple dialogue acts in single utterances in the context of dialogue systems with limited training data. Our approach results in significantly increased understanding of user intent, compared to two strong baselines.
TNF-α and interleukin 1 activate gastrin gene expression via MAPK- and PKC-dependent mechanisms

Helicobacter pyloriand proinflammatory cytokines have a direct stimulatory effect on gastrin release from isolated G cells, but little is known about the mechanism by which these factors regulate g...