cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Drug detection based on the conformational changes of calmodulin and the fluorescence of its enhanced green fluorescent protein fusion partner

Abstract A homogeneous phase protein-based assay for the high throughput screening of drugs was developed using enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) as the reporter. For that, a fusion protein between calmodulin (CaM) and EGFP was constructed in order to monitor the conformational changes induced in CaM upon binding to tricyclic anti-depressant drugs. In the presence of Ca 2+ , CaM undergoes a conformational change exposing a hydrophobic pocket that interacts with CaM-binding proteins, peptides, and drugs. Further, the conformational changes induced in CaM upon binding to Ca 2+ and the target analyte drug, leads to a change in the microenvironment of EGFP concomitant with a change in its fluorescence intensity. The observed change in fluorescence intensity of EGFP can be correlated to the concentration of the analyte present in the sample. Further, the response of CaM–EGFP fusion protein in the presence of Ca 2+ to increasing concentrations of phenothiazines and structurally related tricyclic anti-depressants was investigated. Dose-response curves for various tricyclic anti-depressants were prepared. Moreover, this assay can serve as a model system for other homogeneous binding assays for pharmaceuticals employing genetically fused binding proteins with reporter proteins and may find applications in the high throughput screening of tricyclic anti-depressants.
Kinetic studies on the decomposition of potassium bis(oxalato)cobaltate(II)

Abstract The decomposition of K 2 [Co(C 2 O 4 ) 2 ] occurs in two steps. The first occurs in the range 140–250°C and involves the loss of 1.5 moles of CO to produce K 2 [Co(C 2 O 4 ) 0.5 (CO 3 ) 1.5 ]. Avrami rate laws with indices of 1.5 and 2 provide about equally good fits to most of the data. A gradual loss of CO continues up to about 350°C where the composition is K 2 [Co(CO 3 ) 2 ]: this decomposes in a single step to K 2 O and CoO by 430°C. This reaction gave α, T data, most of which were best represented by a power law, P3.
Carbon fibers as a novel material for high-performance microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)

We report the development of novel carbon fiber-integrated MEMS (FIM) structures which can achieve extremely large deformations at high speeds with nearly fatigue-free behavior. FIM cantilevers fabricated using single 5 µm diameter carbon fibers demonstrated tip deflections exceeding ±90° at frequencies of 8–30 kHz, and sustained these deflections for over 1010 cycles. Using existing MEMS fabrication techniques, carbon fiber-based MEMS optical scanners were subsequently fabricated with demonstrated angular scans >160° at a 2.5 kHz resonance. These results establish the vastly superior mechanical behavior of carbon fiber-based MEMS, while maintaining fabrication processes compatible with existing micromachining techniques. These novel carbon FIM structures are shown to be successful in overcoming the fracture toughness and fatigue limitations of existing material technologies. Further development of this technology offers the potential to realize many moving MEMS structures previously considered unfeasible.
Kantian moral psychology and criminal behavior

Purpose – What leads a person to commit a crime, an act which not only violates moral norms and rules but also what are often considered to be among the most serious legal ones? A wide variety of social scientists, including psychologists, economists, and sociologists, have offered answers to this question. The current paper aims to take a different approach, offering an explanation drawn from the moral psychology of a pre‐eminent philosopher, Immanuel Kant.Design/methodology/approach – While best known for his duty‐based ethics and the categorical imperative, Kant had a very rich conception of character, strength, and willpower that can inform the understanding of why persons choose to commit criminal acts. This short paper begins with a brief description of Kant's moral psychology, and then surveys a number of topics within the criminal law to which this can be applied, such as normative considerations in criminal penalties, Hart's distinction between internal and external points of view on the law, men...
Uniform approximation on [-1, 1] via discrete de la Vallée Poussin means

Starting from the function values on the roots of Jacobi polynomials, we construct a class of discrete de la Vallee Poussin means, by approximating the Fourier coefficients with a Gauss---Jacobi quadrature rule. Unlike the Lagrange interpolation polynomials, the resulting algebraic polynomials are uniformly convergent in suitable spaces of continuous functions, the order of convergence being comparable with the best polynomial approximation. Moreover, in the four Chebyshev cases the discrete de la Vallee Poussin means share the Lagrange interpolation property, which allows us to reduce the computational cost.
Effects of intrauterine infusion of gentamicin sulfate on bovine fertility

Abstract Gentamicin sulfate was administered by intrauterine infusion 10 minutes following first-service insemination at the rate of 200 mgs to dairy cows allotted at random to treatment and control groups to evaluate the effect on fertility. Pregnancy was determined by palpation of fetal membranes per rectum 45–75 days after breeding. The first-service pregnancy rate was 43.8% in 233 treated cows and 51.7% in 232 control cows (P>0.1). The second-service pregnancy rate was 54.7% in 106 treated cows and 47.4% in 95 control cows (P>0.1). The pregnancy rate for both first and second services was 68.7% for 233 treated cows and 71.1% for 232 controls (P>0.1). Fertility was not enhanced by this treatment.
Properties of twitch motor units of the ankle extensor muscles in the bullfrog Rana catesbeiana

A study of the mechanical properties of the twitch motor units in the ankle extensor muscles of bullfrogs was undertaken to expand our view of the diversity of motor unit properties among vertebrates. Two muscles were chosen that represent a wide range of extensor function: the plantaris longus (PL) is a large muscle providing most of the force for ankle extension in hopping and swimming, and the tibialis posticus (TP) is relatively small and may act as an ankle stabilizer or be primarily postural in function. Both muscles have highly fatigable motor units, but also some (especially in TP) low or non-fatigable ones. Mean tetanic tensions of motor units in both muscles are relatively large as compared with those of mammals but are especially large in PL. No clear correlations were found between contraction times and either motor unit tetanic tensions or fatigability, nor did the motor units fall into clearly defined types based on any functional parameters. Overall contraction and relaxation times are slow compared with those of mammals and are somewhat slow compared to those of other frogs; unlike results from earlier studies, the large units of PL are slower than the small units of TP. This results in PL units reaching fused tetani at lower stimulus frequencies. The twitch/tetanus and force/frequency ratios in PL motor units are much larger than those of TP, giving PL units greater relative forces at lower stimulus rates. These results are discussed in the context of motor unit function.
Influence of initial stresses on the stressed state of a composite with a periodic system of parallel coaxial normal tensile cracks

Within the framework of the linearized mechanics of deformable solids, we have investigated the axisymmetric problem of fracture of a prestressed composite material with a periodic system of parallel coaxial normal tensile cracks. Using the representations of the general solutions of linearized equilibrium equations via the harmonic potential functions and the technique of Hankel integral transformations, we have reduced the problem to a system of paired integral equations and then to a resolving second-kind Fredholm integral equation. We have obtained expressions for the stress intensity factors near the crack contours and for the case of a layered composite with isotropic layers. We have also analyzed the dependence of stress intensity factors on the initial stresses, the mechanical characteristics of components of the material, and the geometric parameters of the problem.
Numerical Simulations of Forced Shallow-Water Turbulence: Effects of Moist Convection on the Large-Scale Circulation of Jupiter and Saturn

Abstract To test the hypothesis that the zonal jets on Jupiter and Saturn result from energy injected by thunderstorms into the cloud layer, forced-dissipative numerical simulations of the shallow-water equations in spherical geometry are presented. The forcing consists of sporadic, isolated circular mass pulses intended to represent thunderstorms; the damping, representing radiation, removes mass evenly from the layer. These results show that the deformation radius provides strong control over the behavior. At deformation radii 4000 km (0.06 Jupiter radii) become dominated by barotropically stable zonal jets with only weak vortices. The lack of midlatitude jets at a small deformation radii results from the suppression of the beta effect by column stretching; this effect has been previously documented i...
Proportional distribution schemes

Abstract An amount of income can be obtained jointly by m agents, the ith agent's share of income being θi. The income and the utilities of each agent are functions of the state of nature. Each agent has a probability measure over the states of nature. An efficient proportional distribution is one which is (1) Pareto optimal and for which (2) the expected proportion of income agent i recieves divided by θi is independent of i. It is shown that if the attitudes are strictly concave then there exists exactly one proportional distribution scheme. Furthermore, in special cases, each agent expects to recieve an income that exceeds his share.
Improved cone beam local tomography

In this paper, we study cone beam local tomography (LT). A new LT function g is proposed. It is shown that g contains non-local artefacts, but their strength is an order of magnitude smaller than those of the previously known LT function gΛ of Louis A K and Maass P (1993 IEEE Trans. Med. Imaging 12 764–69). We also investigate LT reconstruction in the dynamic case, i.e. when the object f being scanned is undergoing some changes during the scan. Properties of g are studied, the notion of visible singularities is suitably generalized, and a relationship between the wave fronts of f and g is established. It is shown that the changes in f do not cause any smearing of the singularities of g. Numerical implementation of the new LT function is discussed, and results of numerical experiments are presented.
Application of Geminal Methods to Molecular Calculations

The energy of a molecule is expressed as a summation involving the expectations values of a two-electron Hamiltonian. An approximation which has been used for atomic systems, involving the weight factors in this summation, was made to evaluate the energies for the lithium molecule and of an isolated lithium atom. It was found that at 4.0 a. u. the bonding energy was of the correct order of magnitude, but the correlation energy of the system was overestimated giving an error in the total energy of the molecule of 1.3%. An alternative approximation for the evaluation of the summation was proposed, and it was found to give rise to an error of 0.3% in the total energy and a bonding energy of the correct order of magnitude. Attention is given to the application of geminal methods to larger systems.
Wood fracture, acoustic emission, and the drying process. Part 2. Acoustic emission pattern recognition analysis

Signal features were extracted from AE signals collected during mixed mode fracture tests of ponderosa pine and California black oak conducted at 12 and 18 percent moisture content and temperatures of 20, 40 and 60 °C. Five features in the time domain and three in the frequency domain were selected for further analysis. Signal features were found to be significantly affected by both temperature and moisture content. Cluster analysis showed that while signals could be successfully classified, the resulting patterns showed little relationship to wood fracture. Only load levels well beyond maximum load could be consistently distinguished from lower load levels. It was concluded that pattern recognition analysis would have only limited application to control the wood drying process.
Examination of atmospheric ammonia levels near hog CAFOs, homes, and schools in Eastern North Carolina

Abstract Hog concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) release ammonia (NH 3 ) in Eastern North Carolina (NC) to the atmosphere which is potentially hazardous for nearby human populations at community locations particularly homes and schools. We present NH 3 weekly average concentrations that were collected using passive diffusion tubes from October 2003 to May 2004 (20 sites) and from July 2004 to October 2004 (23 sites) near community locations in close proximity to hog CAFOs. The data for each phase of sampling was stratified by distance from the nearest hog CAFO. The mean Phase I levels were 16, 8, 7 and 5 ppb for distances 3 atmospheric concentration at the community level in Eastern NC. Statistical analyses confirmed that source terms such as distance to a hog CAFO and live weight per operation, as well as temperature, wind speed and wind direction were important predictors of atmospheric NH 3 at community locations. The results indicate potential zones of exposure for human populations who live or go to school near hog CAFOs.
Impact of grain structure of austenitic stainless steel on osteoblasts differention and mineralisation

AbstractThere is currently a strong interest in nano- and ultrafine grained planar surface and coatings in the biomedical community, but there is a lack of understanding with regard to the interplay between grain size and cell differentiation. Motivated by our previous studies on the interplay between grain structure and biological response, we describe here the influence of grain size from nano- to coarse grain on osteoblast differentiation and mineralisation. This aspect constitutes the objective of the study. Experiments on the interplay between grain structure and osteoblast functions indicated that cell differentiation and mineralisation varied with grain size and were favourably modulated on the nanograin (NG) and ultrafine grain (UFG) surface, consistent with alkaline phosphatase activity. Furthermore, it is elucidated that the grain structure strongly influences the ability of the surface to form a well mineralised bone-like extracellular matrix by secreting bone markers, which in turn is governed...
Application of the TRAP technique to lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) genotyping

To demonstrate the applicability of the target region amplification polymorphism (TRAP) marker technique to lettuce genotyping, we fingerprinted 53 lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cultivars and six wild accessions (three from each of the two wild species, L. saligna L. and L. serriola L.). Seven hundred and sixty-nine fragments from 50 to 900 bp in length were amplified in 10 PCR reactions using 10 fixed primers in combination with four fluorescent labeled arbitrary primers. Three hundred and eighty-eight of these fragments were polymorphic among the 59 Lactuca entries and 107 fragments were polymorphic among the 53 lettuce cultivars and the six wild accessions; 251 fragments were present only in the wild species. These markers not only discriminated all cultivars, but also revealed the evolutionary relationship among the three species: L. sativa, the cultivated species, is more closely related to L. serriola than to L. saligna. Cluster analysis grouped the cultivars by horticultural types with a few exceptions. These results are consistent with previous findings using RFLP, AFLP, and SAMPL markers. The TRAP markers revealed significant differences in genetic variability among horticultural types, measured by the average genetic similarity among the cultivars of the same type. Within the sample set, the leaf type and butterhead types possessed relatively high genetic variability, the iceberg types had moderate variability and the romaine types had the lowest variability. The genetic behavior of TRAP markers was assessed with a mapping population of 45 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from an interspecific cross between L. serriola and L. sativa. Almost all the markers segregated in the expected 1:1 Mendelian ratio and are being incorporated into the existing lettuce linkage maps. Our results indicate that the TRAP markers can provide a powerful technique for fingerprinting lettuce cultivars.
Perception of suprathreshold stimuli during saccadic eye movement

We have investigated the extent to which a graded series of suprathreshold stimuli are perceptually weakened by saccadic suppression. Stimuli were brief decrements of variable amplitude in the illumination of a Ganzfeld. For each of several decrements presented during fixation, we determined a matching amplitude of decrement presented during saccades. The measure of saccadic suppression was the ratio of these two amplitudes. The matches made by three observers exhibit ratios as high as 6:1 (0.8 log unit of suppression) near the threshold. Suppression decreases systematically as the strength of the stimulus increases, reaching 0.1 log unit or less for stimuli 2 log units above threshold.
Directed Evolution of a Yeast Arsenate Reductase into a Protein-tyrosine Phosphatase

Arsenic, which is ubiquitous in the environment and comes from both geochemical and anthropogenic sources, has become a worldwide public health problem. Every organism studied has intrinsic or acquired mechanisms for arsenic detoxification. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae arsenate is detoxified by Acr2p, an arsenate reductase. Acr2p is not a phosphatase but is a homologue of CDC25 phosphatases. It has the HCX5R phosphatase motif but not the glycine-rich phosphate binding motif (GXGXXG) that is found in protein-tyrosine phosphatases. Here we show that creation of a phosphate binding motif through the introduction of glycines at positions 79, 81, and 84 in Acr2p resulted in a gain of phosphotyrosine phosphatase activity and a loss of arsenate reductase activity. Arsenate likely achieved geochemical abundance only after the atmosphere became oxidizing, creating pressure for the evolution of an arsenate reductase from a protein-tyrosine phosphatase. The ease by which an arsenate reductase can be converted into a protein-tyrosine phosphatase supports this hypothesis.
Self-aligned SiGe-base heterojunction bipolar transistor by selective epitaxy emitter window (SEEW) technology

In the device a SiGe epitaxial base is integrated in a structure which uses in situ doped epitaxial lateral overgrowth for the formation of the emitter window and the extrinsic base contact. Nearly ideal I-V characteristics have been achieved for a base width of 60 nm with an intrinsic base resistance of 4.6 k Omega / Square Operator and for emitter widths down to 0.4 mu m. A DC collector current enhancement factor of 3.1 was obtained relative to a Si homojunction transistor with a 1.25 times higher intrinsic base resistance. The breakdown voltage BV/sub CBO/ is identical for both Si and SiGe devices, even though the collector-base depletion region is partly overlapped with the reduced-bandgap SiGe strained layer. The lower BV/sub CEO/, measured for the SiGe-base transistor, is due to the higher current gain. Based on these results the fabrication of high-speed bipolar circuits that take advantage of SiGe-base bandgap engineering seems possible using selective epitaxy emitter window (SEEW) technology. >
Nucleoporin 88 (Nup88) Is Regulated by Hypertonic Stress in Kidney Cells to Retain the Transcription Factor Tonicity Enhancer-binding Protein (TonEBP) in the Nucleus

Antibody microarray technology identified Nup88 (nucleoporin 88) as a highly up-regulated protein in response to osmotic stress in inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD3) cells. Changes in expression were verified by Western blot and quantitative PCR for protein and message expression. In mouse and human kidney, Nup88 expression was substantial in the papilla, whereas it was nearly absent in the cortex. Furthermore, the expression of Nup88 increased 410.4 ± 22% in the papilla of mice after 36 h of thirsting. Nup88 protein expression in IMCD3 cells was significantly up-regulated in the first 8 h following exposure to acute osmotic stress, indicating that Nup88 is an early response protein. To define the function of Nup88 in the osmotic stress response, the transcription factor associated with hypertonicity, tonicity enhancer-binding protein (TonEBP), was cloned upstream of the green fluorescent protein. Employing this construct, we demonstrate that silencing Nup88 in IMCD3 cells acutely stressed to hypertonic conditions reduces nuclear retention of TonEBP, resulting in a substantial blunting in transcription of important osmotic stress response target genes and reduced cell viability. Finally, we show that in IMCD3 cells, nuclear export of TonEBP under isotonic conditions involves CRM-1 but under hypertonic stress is CRM1-independent. Our data, therefore, suggest that Nup88 is up-regulated in response to hypertonic stress and acts to retain TonEBP in the nucleus, activating transcription of critical osmoprotective genes.
Theory of Nuclear Models

The framework for a unified theory of nuclear structure is described in which the wave functions for different nuclear models are obtained by transformations on the actual nuclear wave function. This formulation provides a basis for explaining the success of weak-coupling models of the nucleus and showing that they are not in conflict with the assumption that nucleons have very strong mutual interactions. The explanation lies in the fact that only in certain circumstances can the "particles" in a nuclear model be interpreted as nucleons.We investigate the properties which transformation operators must have to change the nuclear wave function into a model wave function and consider how far these properties are satisfied in practice. Self-consistent equations are set up for a model having a product wave function in the particle variables, and it is shown that these equations can be solved in an approximation relevant to the problem of nuclear saturation.
Agglutination of encapsulated bacteria

During the past year a systematic study of the group of encapsulated bacteria (including Bacterium pneumoniae Friedlander, Bacterium rhinoscleromatis v. Frisch, Bacterium ozenae Abel-Lowenberg, and Bacterium capsulatus mucosus Fasching) has been carried on, employing for the purpose biometrical methods somewhat similar in character to those suggested by Winslow1 in his work on the Coccaceae.During the course of the investigation, immunological methods have been used. At the outset, the reaction of agglutination was tried. Paltauf was the first (quoted by Beham2) to suggest that the agglutination of encapsulated micro-organisms is inhibited because the bacilli are surrounded by a slimy nucleo-protein capsule. Porges3 was able to supply experimental proof of this. v. Eisler and Porges4 then elaborated a method of removing the capsule, after the application of which these bacteria were agglutinable.My own work done independently of Beham has given results in harmony with his. I have found that Bacterium rhinosc...
Fused conically tapered fibre-optical power divider

We describe a novel, conically tapered fibre-optical power divider which substantially increases the usable power of an LED source and provides highly homogeneous power division among the output fibres. Such devices are of use in optical signal distribution systems such as fibre-optical local computer networks. The performance of a 25-fibre power divider is described.
FPGA-based pulse pileup correction

Modern Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) are capable of performing complex discrete signal processing algorithms with clock rates above 100MHz. This combined with FPGA's low expense, ease of use, and selected dedicated hardware make them an ideal technology for a data acquisition system for a positron emission tomography (PET) scanner. The University of Washington is producing a high-resolution, small-animal PET scanner that utilizes FPGAs as the core of the front-end electronics. For this next generation scanner, functions that are typically performed in dedicated circuits, or offline, are being migrated to the FPGA. This will not only simplify the electronics, but the features of modern FPGAs can be utilizes to add significant signal processing power to produce higher resolution images. In this paper we report on an all-digital pulse pileup correction algorithm that is being developed for the FPGA. The pileup mitigation algorithm will allow the scanner to run at higher count rates without incurring large data losses due to the overlapping of scintillation signals. This correction technique utilizes a reference pulse to extract timing and energy information for most pileup events. Using pulses were acquired from a Zecotech Photonics MAPDN with an LFS-3 scintillator, we show that good timing and energy information can be achieved in the presence of pileup.
Patterns of nitrogen and carbon stable isotope ratios in macrofungi, plants and soils in two old‐growth conifer forests

○ To further assess the usefulness of stable isotope ratios for understanding elemental cycling and fungal ecology, we measured δ 15 N and δ 13 C in ectomycorrhizal and saprotrophic macrofungi, plants, woody debris and soils from two old-growth conifer forests in Olympic National Park, Washington, USA. ○ Ecosystem isotope patterns were similar at the two forests, but differences existed that appear to reflect soil nitrogen availability and C allocation within the ectomyc-orrhizal symbioses. δ 15 N and δ 13 C of ectomycorrhizal and saprotrophic fungi differed in both forests, and a dual δ 15 N/δ 13 C plot provided the best means of distinguishing them. Within both groups, δ 15 N and δ 13 C differed among genera and species, and the difference in species composition was an important determinant of the different overall δ 15 N of the ectomycorrhizal fungi at the two forests. ○ Variation in multiple ecophysiological traits such as organic N use, mycelial morphology and transfer of N to phytobionts appears to underlie the variation in the isotope signatures of ectomycorrhizal fungi. ○ The varied isotope signatures of ectomycorrhizal fungi suggest considerable functional diversity among them. Life-history strategies could provide a framework for interpreting these patterns.
Modeling of bursty channels using stochastic context-free grammars

In order to design good error control schemes for bursty channels, and also to facilitate performance analysis, it is important to develop accurate and simple statistical models for the channels of interest. We propose a novel method, based on stochastic context-free grammars, to model channels described by long well-defined error bursts interleaved with longer error-free intervals. Compared with previous approaches based on Markov chains, the proposed model achieves a much better performance with similar training complexity. It also outperforms specific methods based on hidden Markov models developed for the same type of bursty channels, with the additional advantage of requiring much less training computation.
Insights into X-linked retinitis pigmentosa type 3, allied diseases and underlying pathomechanisms

In the past decade, we have witnessed great advances in the identification of genes underlying numerous neurodegenerative diseases and the stark complexity determining genotype-phenotype relationships that lead to the impairment, and ultimately, premature death of neurons. However, significant challenges lie ahead in understanding the pathobiological and spatiotemporal processes triggered by genetic lesions underlying neurodegenerative disorders. Neuroretinal dystrophies occupy a prominent place among neurodegenerative diseases, because of the large number and prevalence of disease-causing genes, the diverse functions, the wealth of allelic, non-allelic and clinical heterogeneities determining the phenotypic expressivity and penetrance of the disease and the ease of use of animal models to probe gene function and disease pathogenesis in a well-defined neuroretinal circuitry. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) has a prevalence of about one in 4000. RP is a retinal dystrophy leading primarily to the progressive death of photon-capturing neurons--the rod photoreceptors. X-linked retinitis pigmentosa type 3 (XlRP3) accounts up to 14% of all RP cases, higher than any other single RP locus identified to date, and considered to be the most severe of all RP cases. The XlRP3 encodes the retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator (RPGR). RPGR interacts with the RPGR interacting protein-1 (RPGRIP1). Mutations in RPGRIP1 cause Leber's congenital amaurosis. This review highlights the progress devoted to understand the pathogenesis associated with XlRP3 and allied disorders and, concepts, trends and discrepancies emerging as molecular, subcellular and physiological processes linked to RPGR and RPGRIP1-protein network begin to be elucidated, and that may serve as a paradigm for other biological processes and neurodegenerative diseases.
A conservation tillage research update from the Coastal plain soil and water conservation research center of South Carolina: A review of previous research

In the U.S. Southeastern Coastal Plains conservation tillage (CT) became useful as a management system with the development of in-row subsoiling systems capable of planting into heavy residues. Research priorities associated with the development of CT included: reducing cover crop water loss, improving stand establishment, assessing nutrient and water management requirements, determining optimal subsoiling strategies, understanding long-term conservation tillage effects on soil properties, evaluating the interaction of crop residue removal with tillage systems, and documenting tillage impact on pests and beneficial organisms. Since the late 1970s the Coastal Plains Soil and Water Conservation Research Center in Florence, SC has made a concerted effort to study these interactions and alleviate them as obstructions to the use of CT management. These studies showed that for Coastal Plain soils such as Norfolk sandy loam (fine-loamy, siliceous thermic, Typic Paleudults) winter cover crops such as rye (Secale cereale L.) desiccated the soil profile by evapotranspiration in the spring. This delayed emergence and early season growth of corn (Zea mays L.) but not full-season soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). Conservation tillage helped manage soil strength by gradually increasing soil organic matter content, restricting traffic patterns and maintaining higher soil water contents. Laboratory studies demonstrated a negative correlation (R2=0.85) between proctor soil strength and organic matter content. Conservation tillage affected nematode, Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Heliothis species populations. Alternate cropping systems using rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) as a winter crop or sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) either before soybean or after corn provided crop cover against potential soil loss from late autumn through early spring, when bare soil is exposed to intense rainfall. Water quality questions associated with CT have been raised but remain unanswered. Although CT can reduce runoff and erosion, the crop residues can support higher insect populations and pathogen inoculum levels, and thus prompt greater pesticide use. Quantifying relationships between soil strength, macropore formation and persistence, and water infiltration with surface and subsurface water quality is the focus of new long-term evaluations. The findings of these studies, published to date, are summarized in this paper.
Use of Nonquadratic Regularization in Fourier Imaging

In many Fourier imaging applications, the presence of unaccounted for amplitude or phase errors in the Fourier domain data can lead to a degraded system impulse response and high sidelobes in the image domain. Historically, many methods for data-driven correction of these effects have been proposed, and numerical optimization of nonquadratic, p-norm image quality metrics has recently emerged as a robust solution. This paper presents a tutorial examination of the sources of image sidelobes in Fourier imaging applications, and studies the effectiveness of p-norm regularization algorithms under various experimental conditions. Several observations are made, including comments on robustness to noise and methods for tapered window design and energy-constrained sparse aperture imaging. Image examples are presented as experimental validation.
Bullying in an increasingly diverse school population: A socio-ecological model analysis

Systematic research into bullying has a short history spanning about 40 years. However, investigations into school bullying from a multicultural context are especially limited. As schools in the 21st century become increasingly diverse due to rapid globalization and immigration, there is a need to consider bullying within changing populations. The goals of this study were three-fold. First, to explore the prevalence of bullying between refugee, immigrant, and native born children. Second, to explore the impact of immigration status, and age and gender on the prevalence of bullying. Finally, through a socio-ecological model framework, this study examined the influence of individuals and teachers upon bullying among refugee children. This study employed a mixed methodology consisting of both the Swearer Bully Survey and in-depth interviews. A purposeful sampling of 116 Grade 3 and Grade 6 students and 13 teachers from an inner city USA public school participated. Quantitative results suggest that statistica...
Tuberculosis During Pregnancy: The Rhode Island Experience, 1987 to 1991

Although recent studies have reported otherwise, previous conventional wisdom has held that one-half to twothirds of pregnant women with tuberculosis are asymptomatic. If true, this has important implications for screening programs. Charts of all patients with culture-proven Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Rhode Island between 1987 and 1991 were reviewed. One-third of women aged 21 to 32 years with culture-proven tuberculosis were pregnant at time of diagnosis (7 pregnant; 15 nonpregnant). Pregnant patients with pulmonary conditions were more likely to be found through routine screening (p=0.008) and to be asymptomatic (p=0.008). In addition, pregnant women with pulmonary conditions were more likely to present with unilateral noncavitary, smear-negative disease (p=0.02). If routine screening is not performed prenatally with radiographic follow-up of all infected individuals, most pregnant women will not have their conditions diagnosed and, therefore, will not be treated in time to prevent risk to the fetus, the newborn, and the obstetric ward.
Inflammation and lung cancer: Molecular pathology

Many cancers arise from sites of infection or chronic inflammation. The lung is a site for various repetitive or chronic inflammatory injuries. Accumulative evidence points to a causal rather than a coincidental relationship between inflammation and lung cancer development. For example, inflammatory cells, both innate and adaptive, foster lung tumor development and progression through various cytokine, chemokine and transcription factor networks, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Epidemiological studies demonstrate that persons with lung infections (e.g., tuberculosis), chronic inflammatory pulmonary conditions (e.g., COPD), or genetic polymorphisms in the inflammatory pathway exhibit increased lung cancer risk. However, the role of inflammation in lung cancer is not fully understood. Studies suggest both similarities and differences in the inflammatory processes between chronic inflammatory lung diseases and lung cancer. Understanding the molecular pathology of inflammation in the context of the stage of lung tumor development is crucial for developing new anti-inflammatory or immunomodulatory preventive and therapeutic approaches.
Primary angiosarcomas of the breast.

cinoma. Most patients underwent total mastectomy with (41%) or without (45%) axillary dissection. Regional metastasis to axillary lymph nodes was rare. There were 38 recurrences and 27 deaths. The 5-year overall (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were 61% (95% confidence interval [CI], 49%–76%) and 44% (95% CI, 33%–58%) with estimated medians of 100 and 37 months, respectively. In Cox proportional hazards models, OS and RFS were significantly associated only with T size and not with patient age, prior radiation, or chemotherapy administration. Of 29 patients treated with chemotherapy at recurrence, there were 4 complete and 10 partial responses (48%) with an anthracycline-ifosfamide or gemcitabine-taxane combination. CONCLUSIONS. Breast angiosarcoma is frequently advanced at diagnosis and has a tendency for local-regional recurrence. A significant number of responses to chemotherapy was observed in the metastatic setting. These data suggest that a multidisciplinary therapeutic approach should be employed in high-risk patients with large primary tumors. Cancer 2007;110:173–8. � 2007 American Cancer Society.
The impacts of a watershed CaCO3 treatment on stream and wetland biogeochemistry in the Adirondack Mountains

Temporal and longitudinal variations in the chemistry of two tributary streams of Woods Lake in the Adirondack Mountains of New York were monitored before and after a watershed CaCO3 application. One subcatchment of the lake had a large beaver pond and wetland at its headwaters, while the second was free-flowing. Treatment of both subcatchments with CaCO3 resulted in an immediate increase in acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) associated with Ca2+ release. The extent and duration of the response to the treatment were greater in the wetland-impacted stream. Aluminum was retained and complexed with organic solutes generated within the beaver-pond. In the free-flowing stream, NO 3 - concentration increased significantly after the manipulation; this pattern was not evident in the wetland-impacted stream. Net retention of SO 4 2- was evident in the beaver pond prior to and following treatment, and this response was enhanced after the watershed liming. Comparisons of beaver pond inlet/outlet concentrations, mass balance calculations, and in-pond profiles of chemical parameters revealed patterns of retention of SO 4 2- , NO 3 - and Al, and release of Fe2+, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and NH 4 + in the wetland during the summer before CaCO3 treatment. Post-treatment releases of Ca2+ from the near-sediment zone in the beaver pond corresponded to anoxic periods in mid- to late-summer and under ice in winter. These findings demonstrate the importance of increased microbial processing of organic matter, along with high partial pressure of CO2 (PCO2 ) in facilitating the dissolution of the applied CaCO3. Dissolved silica (H4SiO4) was retained in the wetland during the summer prior to treatment but was released after the manipulation. This phenomenon may reflect the dissolution of diatom frustules or silicate minerals in the wetland at higher pH and DOC concentrations. Within two years of the CaCO3 treatment 60% of the CaCO3 applied to the beaver pond and surrounding wetland was dissolved and transported from the pond, in contrast to only 2.2% of the CaCO3 applied to the upland subcatchment draining into the wetland. These results, coupled with high quantities of exchangeable Ca2+ found in sediments and on Sphagnum mosses in the pond, demonstrate the importance of hydrologic source areas and wetlands in facilitating the dissolution of added CaCO3, and in regulating the production of chemical species important in ANC generation.
Reduced cerebral blood flow and white matter hyperintensities predict poor sleep in heart failure

Background Poor sleep is common in heart failure (HF), though mechanisms of sleep difficulties are not well understood. Adverse brain changes among regions important for sleep have been demonstrated in patients with HF. Cerebral hypoperfusion, a correlate of sleep quality, is also prevalent in HF and a likely contributor to white matter hyperintensities (WMH). However, no study to date has examined the effects of cerebral blood flow, WMH, and brain volume on sleep quality in HF.
Construct validity of some unweighted product‐count diversification measures

Construct validities are assessed for three simple-to-compute, unweighted, SIC-based continuous diversification measures and a recently proposed two-dimensional, SIC-based categorical diversification measure. Two of the three continuous measures are found to correspond strongly to Rumelt's categorical measures, suggesting that these two objective and easy-to-calculate measures are better suited for large sample, strategy research than has previously been assumed. No support is found for the two-dimensional measure.
Towards fully integrated high temperature wireless sensors using GaN-based HEMT devices

Wireless sensors that are capable of working in extreme environments can significantly improve the efficiency and performance of industrial processes by facilitating better monitoring and control. Gallium nitride (GaN), a widely researched wide bandgap material, can potentially be used to fabricate components for sensing and actuation for high temperature integrated wireless sensors. In this paper we are presenting an experimental study on the performance of AlGaN/GaN HEMT at high temperatures (up to 300degC). From test results, DC and microwave parameters at different temperatures were extracted.
Animated molecular dynamics simulations of hydrated caesium-smectite interlayers

Computer animation of center of mass coordinates obtained from 800 ps molecular dynamics simulations of Cs-smectite hydrates (1/3 and 2/3 water monolayers) provided information concerning the structure and dynamics of the interlayer region that could not be obtained through traditional simulation analysis methods. Cs+ formed inner sphere complexes with the mineral surface, and could be seen to jump from one attracting location near a layer charge site to the next, while water molecules were observed to migrate from the hydration shell of one ion to that of another. Neighboring ions maintained a partial hydration shell by sharing water molecules, such that a single water molecule hydrated two ions simultaneously for hundreds of picoseconds. Cs-montmorillonite hydrates featured the largest extent of this sharing interaction, because interlayer ions were able to inhabit positions near surface cavities as well as at their edges, close to oxygen triads. The greater positional freedom of Cs+ within the montmorillonite interlayer, a result of structural hydroxyl orientation and low tetrahedral charge, promoted the optimization of distances between cations and water molecules required for water sharing. Preference of Cs+ for locations near oxygen triads was observed within interlayer beidellite and hectorite. Water molecules also could be seen to interact directly with the mineral surface, entering its surface cavities to approach attracting charge sites and structural hydroxyls. With increasing water content, water molecules exhibited increased frequency and duration of both cavity habitation and water sharing interactions. Competition between Cs+ and water molecules for surface sites was evident. These important cooperative and competitive features of interlayer molecular behavior were uniquely revealed by animation of an otherwise highly complex simulation output.
Internal market systems in Sweden: seven years after the Stockholm model.

Background: Sweden, like other European countries in the 1990s introduced internal market reforms in the delivery of health care. Specifically, in Stockholm county, the Stockholm model was introduced to strengthen the position of patients in their choice of care. Other reform measures introduced included the family doctor's legislation, care guarantee and the adel reform. This paper reports interviews with Swedish physicians, politicians and health economists seven years after the introduction of these reforms. The broader goals of this paper are to explore the extent to which these changes have overtime affected the views of physicians as they reflect on their working conditions and experiences with the use of the diagnostic-related groups (DRG) system. Methods: Data was obtained from in-depth interviews of 15 primary care physicians, 4 heads of hospital departments (surgery), 5 county council members and 4 health economists (N=28). A content analysis was performed on major themes on the interview transcripts. Results: The majority of our respondents reported that the financial incentives introduced through performance-based reimbursements do exist in Stockholm county and that productivity and efficiency have increased over the period of investigation . Primary physicians voiced support for the privatization process in health care delivery. Most physicians reported that they were generally satisfied with their work. Over half of the general physicians complained about their working conditions but felt they have a unique way to play as 'gatekeepers' in the overall Swedish health care delivery system. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that physicians are generally satisfied with their working conditions. Over 90% of our respondents support the use of a diagnostic-related group. What is clear though is that the primary care physician's role due to its potential benefit as an agent of cost control is important, but it is not clear that the primary care physicians have made a major contribution to the Swedish health care delivery system as they should be.
Recent advances: Palliative care

Palliative care is defined as comprehensive, interdisciplinary care of patients and families facing a terminal illness, focusing primarily on comfort and support.1 Key aspects include meticulous symptom control; psychosocial and spiritual care; a personalised management plan that maximises patient-determined quality of life; family oriented care that extends through the time of bereavement; and delivery of coordinated services, especially in the home but also in hospital, extended care facilities, day care centres, and specialised units. In this article I introduce current concepts about palliative care and review advances in this subject over the past five years, highlighting developments of particular interest to generalists.
Narcissism assessment in social–personality research: Does the association between narcissism and psychological health result from a confound with self-esteem?

Abstract Influential social and personality psychology research indicates that narcissism is related to psychological health. Such inferences are open to question, however, because they nearly all rely on the same self-report instrument—the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI; Raskin & Hall, 1979, 1981 )—to operationalize and measure narcissism. This is problematic because numerous NPI items do not appear to correspond to common definitions or manifestations of narcissism, and may instead be indicative of self-esteem. Two studies demonstrate that the NPI’s confound with self-esteem accounts for the purported relationship between narcissism and psychological health. This suggests that inferences about narcissism and psychological health may need to be reinterpreted. Results also highlight the need for measures that correspond more directly to core components of narcissism.