cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Examination of Factors Contributing to the Decline of the Yellow Perch Population and Fishery in Les Cheneaux Islands, Lake Huron, with Emphasis on the Role of Double-crested Cormorants

Double-crested cormorants increased exponentially in the Les Cheneaux Islands area during the 1980s and 1990s. The yellow perch fishery and population declined by the late 1990s and finally collapsed in 2000. Previous research confirmed that cormorants fed seasonally on perch. This analysis sought to use creel survey data and data from an annual gillnet collection to characterize the perch fishery and population during this time so as to explore if declines were a result of declining recruitment or increased mortality or both. Regression analysis explored six possible independent variables to account for yellow perch trends. Yellow perch abundance and its fishery declined throughout the Les Cheneaux Islands. Mean age declined which was consistent with a high mortality rate explanation. Yellow perch recruitment, as indicated by gillnet catch rate of age-2 perch, continued during this time including one very strong year class. Total annual mortality rates determined by the cohort method were as high as 85% during much of this time and increased over the time series. Cormorant abundance accounted for a total of five significant relationships with the yellow perch data, more than any other independent variable. From this, it is apparent that cormorant predation is at least one factor affecting the perch population and fishery and may be the most influential force, among those examined, during this time series.
Pyridoxine induced puffing (II-48 C) and synthesis of a 40 KD protein in Drosophila hydei salivary glands

A specific heat shock puff (II-48 C) has been induced in isolated salivary glands of D. hydei by pyridoxine (vitamin B6) at concentrations from 10−7 to 10−2 M. The puff begins to form within 5 min and continues to increase in size up to 2 h. Under conditions of puff induction the α-amanitin sensitive synthesis of a 40 KD protein is induced.
Cyclic tensile strain increases interactions between human epidermal keratinocytes and quantum dot nanoparticles

The effects of quantum dots (QD) on cell viability have gained increasing interest due to many recent developments utilizing QD for pharmaceutical and biomedical applications. The potential use of QD nanoparticles as diagnostic, imaging, and drug delivery agents has raised questions about their potential for cytotoxicity. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of applied strain on QD uptake by human epidermal keratinocytes (HEK). It was hypothesized that introduction of a 10% average strain to cell cultures would increase QD uptake. HEK were seeded at a density of 150,000 cells/mL on collagen-coated Flexcell culture plates (Flexcell Intl.). QD were introduced at a concentration of 3 nM and a 10% average strain was applied to the cells. After 4 h of cyclic strain, the cells were examined for cell viability, QD uptake, and cytokine production. The results indicate that addition of strain results in an increase in cytokine production and QD uptake, resulting in irritation and a negative impact on cell viability. Application of physiological load conditions can increase cell membrane permeability, thereby increasing the concentration of QD nanoparticles in cells.
Enhanced gastrointestinal absorption of aluminumin in uremic rats

Enhanced gastrointestinal absorption of aluminum in uremic rats. To investigate the possibility of enhanced gastrointestinal absorption of aluminum in uremia, we measured the urinary aluminum excretion of rats following an oral load of 11 mg aluminum. Rats, in which uremia had been established by the remnant kidney model, excreted 1.5 to 2.2-fold higher amounts of aluminum in their urine over a collection period of five days compared with their controls. Within this period of time up to 0.17 ± 0.08% of the oral dose of aluminum was recovered in the urine of the uremic animals. Serum concentrations of aluminum were significantly elevated five hours after ingestion of aluminum, but this increase was similar in rats with normal or reduced renal function. Uremic rats excreted significantly less aluminum during the first 24 hours after i.v. administration of 15 µg aluminum if the data were corrected for the higher baseline excretion rates. The excretion rate showed a negative correlation with the serum creatinine. Selective parathyroidectomy had no effect on the pattern or amount of urinary aluminum excretion after an oral load in either uremic rats or in rats with normal renal function. We conclude that the gastrointestinal absorption of aluminum is increased in uremic rats, and that parathyroid hormone has no detectable effect on the magnitude of aluminum absorption, regardless of the renal function in this model.
AGING, REMINISCENCE AND LIFE SATISFACTION

Reminiscence. or recalling the past, is a behavior common to all ages. Research todate, however, has been conductedonly with olderadults and has failed to clearly delineate how reminiscence might be related to self-esteem. cognitive functioning, or lifesatisfaction. This study focused upon the relationship between life satisfaction and the reminiscent behavior of 309 students, young adults, middle-aged men and women and older adults. Life satisfaction scores were obtained by summing responses to the 17-items of the Philadelphia Geriatric Morale Scale. Two factors, Coping and Enjoyment, were derived from eleven statements regarding feelings subjects reported having while reminiscing. Multiple regression analysis revealed a weak though statistically significant (a = .01) relationship between life satisfaction and the two factors. Those who placed greater emphasis upon reminiscence as enjoymcnr tended to have higher lice satisfaction scores. Conversely, those who had highei scores on using reminiscence for c...
Crack spacing in brittle films on dissimilar planar and axisymmetric elastic substrates

The phenomenon of multiple cracking in brittle films on dissimilar elastic substrates is analyzed using a fracture mechanics approach. Film cracking is based on an energy release rate criterion. Energy release rates are calculated using finite elements and the domain integral method. Both planar and axisymmetric configurations are considered. Crack spacing curves are obtained as a function of applied load for a range of materials and geometric parameters. These curves may be used to determine the film fracture toughness if either the crack initiation stress or crack spacing is measured experimentally. The results obtained are applicable to the cases of mechanical or residual stress induced cracking in thin films and to the tensile test of a thin coated fiber.
Regulation of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 gene expression and secretion in rat pulmonary alveolar macrophages by lipopolysaccharide, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-1 beta.

Chemotactic cytokines coordinate the recruitment of leukocytes into the lung during pulmonary inflammation. In a previous study, we determined that rat pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAMs) facilitate monocyte recruitment and activation in the lung during acute inflammatory lung injury, in part, through the inducible expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). MCP-1 is an 11 to 15 kD basic peptide that specifically mediates monocyte chemotaxis and activation. Inflammatory mediators that regulate the expression and secretion of MCP-1 by rat PAMs have not been identified. We determined that stimulation of resident rat PAMs with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), murine tumor necrosis factor-alpha, or human interleukin-1 beta resulted in the inducible expression of MCP-1 mRNA and the secretion of biologically active MCP-1. In contrast, phorbol myristate acetate, a nonphysiologic leukocyte activator, was significantly less effective in stimulating either enhanced MCP-1 mRNA expression or secret...
Seasonal variation in the attachment strength of blue mussels: Causes and consequences

The midintertidal zone of temperate rocky coasts is often dominated by mussels that form dense beds and exclude other primary space holders. The rate at which storms remove mussels from their substrate consequently has a controlling influence on intertidal community structure. The rate of disturbance by waves can be predicted mechanistically by comparing the attachment strength of an organism to the force it encounters. One simplifying assumption often implemented with this approach is that organismal strength is temporally constant. This study demonstrates that such an assumption is not valid for Mytilus edulis in Rhode Island, where byssal attachment strength (tenacity) increases twofold in winter compared to summer. Time series analysis of monthly samples (1998‐ 2000) indicates tenacity generally tracks seasonal fluctuations in wave height, which suggests that mussels sense and respond to changes in their flow environment. However, the ability of mussels to respond to wave climate is not precise; during September and October (hurricane season), mussels remain weakly attached and are prone to major mortalities. Mussel reproductive condition also displays seasonal cycles, peaking 3‐4 months after attachment strength. This suggests a possible energetic constraint on the ability of mussels to respond to their flow environment, as mussels trade byssal thread production for gonad development. This study demonstrates that accurate predictions of disturbance events must consider not only a storm’s magnitude, but its timing relative to the cycle in attachment strength. Given the recent shift to increased hurricane activity in the North Atlantic, it is likely that mussels will begin to suffer more frequent and more severe disturbances compared to those that occurred during 1971‐1994.
THE OMBUDSMAN IN BRITAIN: A QUALIFIED SUCCESS IN GOVERNMENT REFORM

The Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration has not been the dismal failure forecast by critics at the time the office was established in 1967. One alleged defect — not criticizing the substance of administrators’ discretionary decisions — is characteristic to a large degree of other admired ombudsmen. Recruiting the Commissioner and his investigators from the civil service has not had expected harmful effects. On the other hand, the office has fallen short of the performance of other ombudsmen with regard to the public's access to the Commissioner (the MP filter), the efficiency of his investigative methods, and certain limitations on his jurisdiction. Failure so far to remove these defects appears to be the result of inadequate comparative research and analysis in support of reformers’ proposals, the overly cautious and consensual style of civil service policy formulation, and opposition from members of existing institutions (MPS and the officers of civil service unions) who mistakenly believe that their complaint handling activities are threatened by proposed changes.
"Languaging" factors affecting clients' acceptance of forgiveness intervention in marital therapy

Forgiveness is a signijicant intervention for healing interpersonal injury. Yet therapists do not often use forgiveness intervention. Employing a semantic perspective and a survey design (n = 307), this study investigated whether the language used to rationalize forgiveness intervention (set at $ve levels: personal growth, relationship reconciliation, spiritual issue, others’ growth, and pardoningkondoning) may affect its acceptability. Gendel; problem type, and choice were also included in the analyses, Overall, forgiveness was found to be an acceptable intervention. A pardoningkondoning rationale led to signijicantly lower acceptability ratings. Other results are discussed. We conclude that therapists should be less apprehensive about using forgiveness, but need to inform themselves better concerning its purpose, process, and articulation.
Neurotrophin‐3 is expressed in a discrete subset of olfactory receptor neurons in the mouse

In transgenic neurotrophin-3 lacZ-neo (NT-3(lacZneo)) mice, in which the coding region for NT-3 is replaced by Eschericia coli lacZ, the expression of beta-galactosidase faithfully mimics the expression of NT-3 (Vigers AJ, Baquet ZC, Jones KR [2000], J Comp Neurol 416:398-416). During embryonic and early postnatal development, beta-galactosidase is detected in the olfactory system, beginning at embryonic day 11.5 in the nasal epithelium and at embryonic day 16.5 in the olfactory bulb. Levels of beta-galactosidase rise with age, reaching a peak during the second postnatal week, when beta-galactosidase reactivity is visible in up to 50% of the glomeruli. As the animal matures, the beta-galactosidase levels decline, but staining remains present in axons and cell bodies of a specific subset of olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) projecting to a limited subset of glomeruli. The heavily labeled ORNs do not follow the typical OR expression zones in the epithelium but appear similar to the "patch" expression pattern of mOR37 receptors. The most heavily reactive glomeruli exhibit a striking reproducible pattern in the ventral olfactory bulb (OB). Some glomeruli of the OB contain calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-immunoreactive fibers of the trigeminal nerve. However, double-label immunocytochemistry for CGRP and beta-galactosidase rendered no correlation between trigeminal innervation and the degree of innervation by NT-3-expressing ORNs. Thus, the timing and presence of beta-galactosidase in a subset of ORNs suggests that NT-3 plays a role in synaptogenesis and/or synapse function in a specific subset of ORNs within the olfactory bulb.
Gravity Waves in a Horizontal Shear Flow. Part II: Interaction between Gravity Waves and Potential Vorticity Perturbations

Interaction among potential vorticity perturbations and propagating internal gravity waves in a horizontally sheared zonal flow is investigated. In the strong stratification limit, an initial vorticity perturbation weakly excites two propagating gravity waves while the density component of the potential vorticity perturbation is significantly amplified, potentially leading to convective collapse. If stratification is sufficiently weak, a strong coupling between vorticity perturbations and gravity waves is found and spontaneous gravity wave generation occurs. This coupling can be traced to the nonnormal interaction between the potential vorticity and gravity wave manifolds in the weak stratification limit. Vorticity perturbations amplify in energy due to downgradient Reynolds stress when their phase lines tilt against the shear and the large growth attained is transferred to propagating gravity waves. When the flow geometry is such that the excited gravity waves are confined in the vicinity of the vorticity perturbation by their trapping levels, an overall convective collapse of this region can be anticipated. On the other hand, when the flow geometry permits wave propagation, significant gravity wave emission occurs.
Confounding roles for type I interferons during bacterial and viral pathogenesis

Although type I interferons (IFN-I) were initially defined as potent antiviral agents, they can also cause decreased host resistance to some bacterial and viral infections. The many antiviral functions of the IFN-I include direct suppression of viral replication and activation of the immune response against viruses. In addition to their antiviral effects, IFN-I are also protective against several extracellular bacterial infections, in part, by promoting the induction of TNF-α and nitric oxide. In contrast, there is a negative effect of IFN-I on host resistance during chronic infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and acute infections with intracellular bacteria. In the case of LCMV, chronic IFN-I signaling induces adaptive immune system suppression. Blockade of IFN-I signaling removes the suppression and allows CD4 T-cell- and IFN-γ-mediated resolution of the infection. During acute intracellular bacterial infection, IFN-I suppress innate immunity by at least two defined mechanisms. During Francisella infection, IFN-I prevent IL-17 upregulation on γδ T cells and neutrophil recruitment. Following Listeria infection, IFN-I promote the cell death of macrophages and lymphocytes, which leads to innate immune suppression. These divergent findings for the role of IFN-I on pathogen control emphasize the complexity of the interferons system and force more mechanistic evaluation of its role in pathogenesis. This review evaluates IFN-I during infection with an emphasis on work carried out IFN-I-receptor-deficient mice.
Impact of 6-month aerobic exercise on Alzheimer's symptoms

Little is known about how aerobic exercise affects Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The purpose of this pilot study was to test the impact of 6-month cycling on AD symptoms in community-dwelling older adults with mild-to-moderate AD, using a single-group, repeated-measures design (n = 26). AD symptoms were measured with the AD Assessment Scale–Cognitive (ADAS-Cog), Disability in AD (DAD), and Neuropsychiatric Inventory–Caregiver (NPI-Q) scales at baseline, 3 and 6 months. Data were analyzed using mixed linear models. The ADAS-Cog, DAD, and NPI-Q severity scores remained unchanged over the 6-month period, while caregiver distress decreased 40% (p < .05). We conclude that aerobic exercise may reduce AD symptoms and appears effective in decreasing caregiver distress. Further randomized controlled trials are needed to examine the effects of aerobic exercise in AD.
STUDIES ON THE MICROTUBULES IN HELIOZOA: III. A Pressure Analysis of the Role of These Structures in the Formation and Maintenance of the Axopodia of Actinosphaerium nucleofilum (Barrett)

Electron microscope preparations were made of specimens of Actinosphaerium nucleofilum fixed in glutaraldehyde before, during, and after exposure to high pressures (4,000 to 8,000 psi). A study of this material showed that, although other organelles were relatively stable, the microtubular elements of the axopodia and cytosome became unstable under pressure. Their rapid disintegration under pressure was correlated with beading and retraction of the axopodia. Moreover, after the release of pressure, microtubules reappeared as soon as, or sooner than the reextension of the axopodia. The rate of disintegration increased as the pressure was raised. At 4,000 psi, few if any tubules remained after 10 min, whereas at 6,000 and 8,000 psi the disintegration was much more rapid. Some adaptational reorganization of the microtubules and axopodia occurred while relatively low pressures were maintained. This was accompanied by an actual elongation of the axopodia in specimens maintained for 20 min at 4,000 psi, but was confined to knoblike axopodial remnants in animals kept at 6,000 psi. No regeneration of tubules or axopodia occurred at 8,000 psi. The presence of fibers and a finely fibrillar material in pressurized animals suggests that these may be derivatives of microtubular disintegration. This evidence, though purely morphological, is consistent with the hypothesis that microtubules play an important role not only in maintaining the formstability of the axopodia, but also in the active process by which the axopodia reextend themselves after retraction.
Should continent diversion be performed in patients with locally advanced bladder cancer

Objectives. To assess the effect of local, regional, and distant recurrence on pouch function in patients with locally advanced bladder cancer treated by cystectomy and continent diversion. Methods. A review of 64 consecutive patients undergoing orthotopic (n = 40) or continent cutaneous (n = 24) urinary diversion was performed; 25 patients (39.1%) had locally advanced cancers as defined by deep muscle invasion, extension into perivesical fat, stromal invasion of the prostate, or node-positive disease. Patients were followed at 6-month intervals with physical examination, assessment of voiding function, and computed tomography (CT) scans. Results. The pelvic recurrence rate was 4.7% in the overall group and 12% in patients with locally advanced disease. In the 39 patients with organ-confined tumors, 34 (87%) are alive without evidence of recurrence and have normal pouch function with a median follow-up of 27 months. Four patients in this group receiving systemic chemotherapy for clinical recurrences have retained normal pouch function until last follow-up or death. In the 25 patients with locally advanced tumors, 15 (60%) are alive without evidence of recurrence and have normal pouch function with a median follow-up of 15 months. Seven patients in this group received a median three cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy, and 4 patients received chemotherapy for clinically evident recurrences. Surgical recovery did not delay the onset of adjuvant therapy in any patient, nor did problems specifically related to the presence of a continent pouch delay any cycle of chemotherapy in those patients treated for recurrent disease in either group. Only 1 patient (1.5%) experienced treatment-related toxicity related to the presence of a continent diversion. Conclusions. This experience suggests that the use of orthotopic or continent cutaneous diversions after cystectomy in patients with locally advanced bladder cancer is safe, does not interfere with the delivery of subsequent therapy, and allows most patients to anticipate normal pouch function even in the presence of recurrent disease.
Early Genes Required for Salivary Gland Fate Determination and Morphogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster

Studies of Drosophila salivary gland formation have elucidated the regulatory pathway by which the salivary gland fate is determined and the morphogenetic processes by which the primordial cells are internalized to form the tubular glands. Both the position of the salivary primordia and the number of cells recruited to a salivary gland fate are established through a combination of the localized expression of the transcription factors SEX COMBS REDUCED (SCR), TEASHIRT (TSH) and ABDOMINAL-B (ABD-B), and localized DPP-signaling. Similarly, the distinction between the two major cell types, duct and secretory, is determined by spatially limited EGF-signaling. Salivary gland formation also requires the function of two transcription factors expressed in nearly all cells of the developing embryo, EXTRADENTICLE (EXD) and HOMOTHORAX (HTH). Once the salivary gland fate is determined, cells of the secretory primordia are internalized by an apical constriction mode of invagination. We have characterized three genes en...
Quantifying sediment transport on desert piedmonts using 10Be and 26Al

In situ produced 10 Be and 26 Al, measured in 40 sediment samples collected from the Iron and Granite Mountain piedmonts, eastern Mojave Desert, provide a unique view of piedmont modification processes and process rates over the 10 3 to 10 5 year time scale. Cosmogenic nuclide-based models suggest that the Iron and Granite Mountains generate 0.11–0.13 and 0.082–0.097 m 3 of sediment per year per meter of rangefront, respectively. The sediment moves down the piedmont in an active transport layer (ATL), which is 20 to 30 cm thick (based on visual observations, measurements of depth to a buried B-horizon, cosmogenic nuclide data, and maximum ephemeral channel depths). Sediment in this layer is well-mixed vertically and horizontally on the 10 2 year time scale, indicating that the small ephemeral channels, which dominate the piedmont surface migrate quickly. Interpretive models of increasing nuclide activities at depth in two pits suggest steady sediment deposition on the piedmont (at rates between 17–21 and 38–45 m Ma � 1 ) until the late Pleistocene epoch, when a discontinuity to markedly lower nuclide activities in the isotopically well-mixed active transport layer suggests that deposition stopped, a significant change in piedmont behavior. Nuclide activities in 10 amalgamated surface samples, each collected along a different 4-km-long transect, increase steadily away from the mountain front. Thus, we infer that sediment is uniformly dosed by cosmic rays as it is transported down the Iron and Granite Mountain piedmonts. Interpretive models suggest that long-term average sediment speeds down the Iron and Granite Mountain piedmonts are a few decimeters to a meter per year. D 2002 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
The existence and uniqueness of Volterra series for nonlinear systems

Given an input-output map described by a nonlinear control system \dot{x}=f(x,u) and nonlinear output y=h(x) , we present a simple straightforward means for obtaining a series representation of the output y(t) in terms of the input u(t) . When the control enters linearly, \dot{x} =f(x)+ ug(x) , the method yields the existence of a Volterra series representation. The proof is constructive and explicitly exhibits the kernels. It depends on standard mathematical tools such as the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus and the Cauchy estimates for the Taylor series coefficients of analytic functions. In addition, the uniqueness of Volterra series representations is discussed.
The Kinetics of the Enhancement of Thyroidal Iodide Accumulation After Actinomycin D Administration

It has been previously reported that actinomycin D (act D) increases the thyroid serum 131I– concentration ratio (T/S) in rats. Such an effect could be due to enhanced thyroidal clearance (k1) -of 131I–, a diminished rate constant (IC2) for the exit of m I– from the thyroid, or changes in both k1 and k2. Sixteen hr after the administration of act D, kinetic analysis of thyroidal I– transport in terms of a 2-compartment model, done with the use of a digital computer, revealed no change in k1 as compared with control rats, but a substantial reduction in k2. Act D therefore increases thyroidal accumulation of 131I– by diminishing its loss from the gland, not by enhancing its clearance from plasma by the thyroid. In contrast, other factors which raise the T/S, for example TSH, do so by elevating k1. (Endocrinology 84: 943, 1969)
Abstract 2095: A virtual pyrogram generator to resolve ambiguity of pyrosequencing results

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL We report a freely available software program, Pyromaker, which generates simulated pyrosequencing traces based on user inputs and aids in analysis of complex pyrosequencing results. To achieve this goal, simulated pyrograms are generated based on the hypothesized mutations and matched with the actual pyrogram. We validated the software testing common KRAS gene mutations and several mutations in the BRAF, GNAS and, p53 genes. We demonstrate that all eighteen possible single base mutations within codons 12 and 13 of KRAS gene generate unique simulated pyrosequencing traces and highlight the distinctions between them. We further verify that all reported codon 12 and 13 complex mutations produce unique pyrograms. However, some complex pyrograms are indistinguishable from single base mutations, using a standard dispensation order. Pyromaker was used in two strategies, one in which hypothesis-based simulated pyrograms were pattern-matched with the actual pyrograms. In a second mode, with only the pyrogram, Pyromaker was used to identify the underlying mutation by iteratively reconstructing the mutant pyrogram. Either strategy was able to successfully identify the complex mutations, which were confirmed by cloning and subsequent sequencing. With two examples of KRAS codon 12 mutations, (GGTαTTT, G12F and GGTαGAG, G12E), we report optimal combinations of the five analysis approaches that permit unambiguous mutation identification. The most efficient one is pyrosequencing with Pyromaker. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2095. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2095
Trends in spatio-temporal variability in annual rainfall in Ghana (1951-2000)

Rainfall variability in humid West Africa (south of 8oN) is less studied than that of the Sahelian zone, the data for which are responsible for the general consensus of a downward rainfall trend in West Africa over the last few decades. Such a generalization may not be useful for modelling and planning purposes. Rainfall mechanisms in the drier Sahel and the humid Guinea Coast region differ; the former region has a single rainfall peak (in summer) but the latter region has a bi-modal seasonal distribution. It is therefore not necessarily true that a failure in the rainfall regime in one zone – and its subsequent impact on agriculture and livelihood – means the same for the other. In fact, it has been observed that a warmer South Atlantic is associated with more rainfall in the Guinea Coast region and less rainfall in the Sahel (Gu and Adler, 2003). It is also suggested that the El Nino-Southern Oscillation phenomenon (ENSO) may be more strongly associated with Sahelian rainfall than with that of the Guinea Coast region (Ward et al., 2004). Therefore there is a need to investigate rainfall trends and variability in the humid areas to better inform agricultural decision-makers. Agricultural productivity has decreased in recent decades following declining rainfall since the early 1970s, with the rainfall showing signs of improvement after 2000. This analysis will contribute to the knowledge of rainfall trends and aid in agricultural and allied industrial decision-making in this important agroclimatic zone. The study utilizes annual rainfall totals over 50 years to identify the spatial and temporal dimensions of rainfall variability in Ghana by comparing the characteristics of the period 1951 to 1970 and 1981 to 2000, hereafter referred to as P1 and P2 respectively. Specific emphasis is placed on the subhumid area of midGhana because of its national and regional significance to agricultural production and food security. Rainfall variability in Ghana
Control of a dumbbell spacecraft using attitude and shape control inputs only

An elastic dumbbell spacecraft is assumed to consist of two identical mass particles that are connected by a long elastic link. The motion of the dumbbell spacecraft can be described by orbit, attitude and shape dynamics that arise due to gravitational forces, an elastic restoring force along the longitudinal axis of the spacecraft, and control forces that act to change the attitude and shape of the spacecraft. These control forces have the property that there is no net external force on the dumbbell spacecraft. Since the angular momentum of the spacecraft is necessarily conserved, Routh reduced equations of motion are developed that describe the reduced dynamics of the controlled spacecraft. The reduced equations of motion are developed; relative equilibria are determined, and simplified reduced equations, in a linear form, are obtained. These linear reduced equations demonstrate spacecraft controllability properties. It is shown that certain maneuvers, involving a change in orbit, can be accomplished using only attitude and shape control inputs. The proposed framework can be used to study this propulsion force approach to orbital maneuvers.
Role of control and support in occupational stress: An integrated model

Drawing from the Demand-Control Model and the conceptual framework of the stress process developed by researchers at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research, this paper presents and tests an "integrated model" of occupational stress. The results indicate that control and social support are strongly correlated with negative job feelings. The effect of control on health was found to depend on the type of control and organizational level at which control is exercised. Specifically, the effect of participation on health outcomes was found to differ at the job and organizational levels, and participation without influence was associated with increased negative job feelings. The effect of social support was found to depend on the type of support and from whom the support was provided. Results also indicate that it is important to test for moderating, mediating, and direct effects of control on health, and underscore the complementary nature of qualitative and quantitative data in furthering knowledge and understanding.
Fundulus heteroclitus acutely transferred from seawater to high salinity require few adjustments to intestinal transport associated with osmoregulation

The common killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus, has historically been a favorite organism for the study of euryhalinity in teleost fish. Despite the species' large range of salinity tolerance, studies of osmoregulation in high salinity are rare, with most previous studies focused on fish transferred between freshwater and seawater. Similarly, while branchial transport properties have been studied extensively, there are relatively few studies investigating the role of the intestine in osmoregulation in killifish. This study sought to characterize the fluid and ion transport occurring in the intestinal tract of killifish adapted to seawater, and furthermore to investigate the adjustments that occur to these mechanisms following acute transfer to high salinity (70ppt). In vivo samples of blood plasma and intestinal fluids of seawater-acclimated killifish indicated absorption of Na(+), Cl(-), and water, the relative impermeability of the intestine to Mg(2+) and SO(4)(2-), and active secretion of HCO(3)(-) into the intestinal lumen. The details of these processes were investigated further using in vitro techniques of isolated intestinal sac preparations and an Ussing chamber pH-stat titration system. However, these methods were discovered to be of limited utility under physiologically relevant conditions due to tissue deterioration. Results that could be validly interpreted suggested that there are few changes to intestinal transport following transfer to high salinity, and that adjustments to epithelial permeability occur in the first 24h post-transfer.
Correlated Magnetoexcitons in Semiconductor Quantum Dots at Finite Temperature

We describe computational methods for the theoretical study of explicit correlations beyond the mean field in excitons confined in semiconductor quantum dots in terms of the Auxiliary-Field Monte Carlo (AFMC) method [1]. Using AFMC, the many-body problem is formulated as a Feynman path integral at finite temperatures and evaluated to numerical precision. This approach is ideally suited for implementation on high-performance parallel computers. Our strategy is to generate a set of mean-field states via the Hartree-Fock method for use as a basis for the AFMC calculations. We present preliminary results.
Dynamic harmonic texture mapping using methods of fundamental solutions

Feature-aligned surface mapping improves the effect of texture mapping by enforcing feature correspondence between 3D meshes and images. We present a novel constrained texture mapping computation framework based on the method of fundamental solution (MFS). We first flatten the surface onto planar domain, then compose a 2D harmonic map with user specified features aligned with corresponding texels in the texture image. We demonstrate that our framework can efficiently conduct feature-aligned texture mapping with dynamic deforming meshes or texture images.
Frictional Resistances of Metal-lined Ceramic Brackets Versus Conventional Stainless Steel Brackets and Development of 3-D Friction Maps

The frictional resistances of 2 metal-lined ceramic brackets (Luxi and Clarity) were compared with 2 conventional stainless steel brackets (Mini-Taurus and Mini-Twin) in vitro. In method 1, we varied the second-order angulation from 0 degrees to 12 degrees while maintaining the normal or ligature force constant at 0.3 kg; in method 2, we varied the ligature force from 0.1 kg to 0.9 kg while maintaining the angulation at theta = 0 degrees or theta = 11 degrees. The hardware simulated a 3-bracket system in which the interbracket distances were always 18 mm. All couples were evaluated at 34 degrees C using the same size stainless steel archwire (19 x 26 mil) and ligature wire (10 mil). In the passive region, the static and kinetic frictional forces and coefficients of friction were key parameters; in the active region, the static and kinetic binding forces and coefficients of binding were critical parameters. From outcomes of methods 1 and 2, the 4 aforementioned parameters, and a knowledge of the critical contact angle for binding, 3-dimensional friction maps were constructed in the dry and wet states from which the frictional resistances could be determined at any ligature force or second-order angulation. Those 3-dimensional maps show that metal-lined ceramic brackets can function comparably to conventional stainless steel brackets and that 18-kt gold inserts appear superior to stainless steel inserts. As the morphologies of metal inserts are improved, these metal-lined ceramic brackets will provide not only good esthetics among ceramic brackets but also minimal friction among conventionally ligated brackets.
Mutual disambiguation of 3D multimodal interaction in augmented and virtual reality

We describe an approach to 3D multimodal interaction in immersive augmented and virtual reality environments that accounts for the uncertain nature of the information sources. The resulting multimodal system fuses symbolic and statistical information from a set of 3D gesture, spoken language, and referential agents. The referential agents employ visible or invisible volumes that can be attached to 3D trackers in the environment, and which use a time-stamped history of the objects that intersect them to derive statistics for ranking potential referents. We discuss the means by which the system supports mutual disambiguation of these modalities and information sources, and show through a user study how mutual disambiguation accounts for over 45% of the successful 3D multimodal interpretations. An accompanying video demonstrates the system in action.
Sodium "channelopathies" and sudden death: must you be so sensitive?

Recognizing the diverse cascade of ionic currents that compose the cardiac action potential, and the wisdom of nature to provide redundant systems that protect us from environmental insults, one wonders whether the heart could really notice the aberrant behavior of a single group of excitable proteins. Nonetheless, the first linkage of Na+ channel mutations to an inherited form of the long-QT syndrome (LQT3)1 made it amply clear that badly behaved Na+ channels are not well tolerated. Even more surprising were the functional studies of channels carrying the LQT3-linked mutations. Although Na+ channels normally open only briefly (and then inactivate) as the action potential commences, channels carrying these autosomal dominant mutations occasionally “forget” to inactivate, causing a small inward current that persists during the action potential plateau.2 It appears that this excess current, essentially a gain of Na+ channel function, delays cellular repolarization, prolongs the QT interval, and predisposes patients to torsades de pointes. Surprisingly, the size of this “pathologic” current is minuscule compared with the overall size of the Na+ current ( I Na) in its full glory (so-called “peak I Na”). For the 1505-1507 ΔKPQ III-IV interdomain linker deletion mutant,3 and the recently identified C-terminus mutation E1784K,4 the sustained current accounts for only ≈2% of the peak I Na. Even more striking, the R1644H long-QT mutation produces a sustained current that is ≈0.5% of the peak current.3 5 Nonetheless, a mechanistic linkage between this small defect, action potential prolongation, and proarrhythmic triggered activity (“EADs”) was recently validated in an elegant quantitative model,6 a result that expanded our intuition for the nonlinear relationship between Na+ channel function and the risk of sudden death. In this context, it was not altogether surprising to learn that another class of …
Enhance content broadcast efficiency in routers with integrated caching

With integrated in-network caching diagram, each router advertises the cached content to its immediate neighbors. Although the baseline content broadcast strategy can significantly improve the performance, it leads to low overall cache utilization while each router makes independent caching decisions. In this paper, we enhance the efficiency of content broadcast by providing implicit coordination among neighboring routers. Through detailed simulations, we show that the proposed technique has dramatic performance improvement over the baseline content broadcast scheme. More importantly, this performance gain can be achieved with a minimal communication overhead.
An Empirical Investigation of Psychotherapy With Schizophrenic Patients

We examined the experience of schizophrenic patients who had been in psychotherapy for 1 year or longer. Therapists and their patients in a university-affiliated community mental health center were interviewed. One year later, followup interviews were conducted. Characteristics of participating patients, descriptions of therapy, behavioral changes, and relationships among these variables are reported. A comparison group of schizophrenic s not in psychotherapy was interviewed once. The schizophrenic patients who maintain psychotherapies are isolated and quite impaired. Most patients and therapists report that psychotherapy helps; but there is little evidence of improved social functioning. Therapies that are associated with improved patient behavior are often conducted by more experienced therapists, and participants describe the therapeutic relationship in similar terms. Therapies without associated improvement are described in dissimilar terms by the participants. Results support the thesis that the process of psychotherapy with schizophrenics is related to outcome. Implications for training residents are discussed.
Distributed Output Feedback MPC for Power System Control

In this paper, a distributed output feedback model predictive control (MPC) framework with guaranteed nominal stability and performance properties is described. Distributed state estimation strategies are developed for supporting distributed output feedback MPC of large-scale systems, such as power systems. It is shown that under certain (easily verifiable) conditions, local measurements are sufficient for observer stability. More generally, stable observers can be designed by exchanging measurements between adjacent subsystems. Both estimation strategies are suboptimal, but the estimates generated converge exponentially to the optimal estimates. A disturbance modeling framework for achieving zero-offset control in the presence of nonzero mean disturbances and modeling errors is presented. Automatic generation control (AGC) provides a practical example for contrasting the performance of centralized and distributed controllers.
Potential roles of WRKY transcription factors in regulating host defense responses during Aspergillus flavus infection of immature maize kernels

Abstract The mechanisms regulating the expression of maize resistance genes against Aspergillus flavus are poorly understood. This study examined the potential roles of six WRKY transcription factors and the expression of three pathway indicator genes in response to A. flavus inoculation in B73 (susceptible) and TZAR101 (resistant). The genes ZmWRKY19, ZmWRKY53, and ZmWRKY67 were found to possess elevated expression in TZAR101. ZmNPR1 expression was induced by inoculation in TZAR101 without concurrent induction of ZmPR-1, possibly due to the induction of ZmERF1. These findings indicate that WRKY transcription factors are involved in resistance and that salicylic acid and ethylene signaling may coordinate defense responses.
#DearCongress: A public letter

#DearCongress was prevalent within Twitter discourse during the 2013 U.S. government shutdown. The hashtag allowed a community to form by assembling around a common topic. What a group communicates through social networks cannot be separated from its context. This micro-analysis of #DearCongress utilizes discourse tracing through word clouds, guided by Bruns & Burgess’ concept of an ad hoc public. By looking at the commentary during a political and time stamped event, we can better understand the role discourse plays in group formation, evolution, and impact.
Examining platelet-fibrin interactions during traumatic shock in a swine model using platelet contractile force and clot elastic modulus.

A significant proportion of severely injured patients develop early coagulopathy, characterized by abnormal clot formation, which impairs resuscitation and increases mortality. We have previously demonstrated an isolated decrease in clot strength by thrombelastography in a swine model of nonresuscitated traumatic shock. In order to more closely examine platelet-fibrin interactions in this setting, we define the observed decrease in clot strength in terms of platelet-induced clot contraction and clot elastic modulus using the Hemostasis Analysis System (HAS) (Hemodyne Inc., Richmond, Virginia, USA). Whole blood was sampled for HAS measurements, metabolic measurements, cell counts, and fibrinogen concentration at baseline prior to injury and again at a predetermined level of traumatic shock defined by oxygen debt. Male swine (N = 17) received femur fracture and controlled arterial hemorrhage to achieve an oxygen debt of 80 ml/kg. Platelet counts were unchanged, but fibrinogen concentration was reduced significantly during shock (167.6 vs. 66.7 mg/dl, P= 0.0007). Platelet contractile force generated during clot formation did not change during shock (11.7 vs. 10.4 kdynes, P= 0 .4 1 ), but clot elastic modulus was dynamically altered, resulting in a lower final value (22.9 vs. 17.3 kdynes/cm 2 , P<0.0001). In this model of traumatic shock, platelet function was preserved, whereas terminal clot elastic modulus was reduced during shock in a manner most consistent with early changes in the mechanical properties of the developing fibrin fiber network.
The Product Manager as an Influence Agent

How do product managers with little or no formal authority gain support for their product lines? This article reports the results of an exploratory field study designed to identify the sources of i...
Architects and Planners in the Middle of a Road War: The Urban Design Concept Team in Baltimore, 1966–71

In 1966, an interdisciplinary team led by architect and planners replanned a freeway system of Baltimore to meet “the social, economic, and esthetic needs.” But staying true to their mission, they ...
A Probabilistic Creep Fatigue Computer Program for Structural Integrity Analysis

This paper describes a computer program which can determine the probability of failure of gas turbine structures as a function of time due to creep fatigue crack growth. The probability of failure is computed by combining stress analysis and creep fatigue analysis with probabilistic analysis methods. The creep fatigue analysis is based on a reference stress approach which provides a simple, accurate, and efficient method for determining the steady state component, C*, of the time dependent fracture mechanics parameter C(t). Stress intensity factors are computed from stress distributions derived from a linear elastic finite element analysis of the uncracked structure and weight functions. Several probabilistic methods are available such as efficient approximate methods, importance sampling and Monte Carlo sampling. Efficient approximate methods and importance sampling methods are typically one to two orders of magnitude more efficient than Monte Carlo sampling. Probabilistic sensitivity measures are generated as a byproduct of the probabilistic analysis and indicate the importance of the random variables to the reliability of the structure. The theoretical background, computer code and an example problem are presented.© 1996 ASME