cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
AIRS on-orbit cryocooler system performance

The Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) is one instrument in a suite of six instruments currently flying onboard NASA’s Earth Observing System (EOS) Aqua spacecraft. NASA’s Aqua spacecraft was launched successfully on May 4, 2002 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. AIRS is a cryogenic instrument developed under a Jet Propulsion Laboratory contract by BAe Systems formely Lockheed Martin Infrared Imaging Systems, for NASA. AIRS will provide new and more accurate data about the atmosphere, land and oceans, which provides a powerful new tool for climate studies and enables the advancement of weather prediction models. AIRS observations permit the measurement of the atmospheric temperature with an accuracy of 1 K in 1 km thick-layers in the troposphere and surface temperatures with an accuracy of 0.5 K. The Aqua spacecraft was placed in a sun-synchronous near-circular polar orbit with an inclination of 98.2 degrees, mean altitude of 705 km, 98.72 minute orbit period and 1:30 pm ascending node. The nominal on-orbit mission lifetime for the instrument is 6 years. AIRS measurements are based on passive infrared remote sensing using a precisely calibrated, high spectral resolution grating spectrometer with an infrared coverage from 3.7 to 15.4 μm. To achieve this high performance over this broad wavelength range, the spectrometer is cooled to 155 K and the Mercury Cadmium Telluride (HgCdTe) focal plane is cooled to 58 K. The detectors are cooled by a pair of long-life, low vibration, pulse tube mechanical coolers to 58 K, and a two-stage passive cooler with a deployable Earth shield provides cooling for the spectrometer to achieve a stable temperature near 155 K. This paper provides a general overview of the cryogenic system design and presents its on-orbit performance for the first year of operation.
Evaluation of glyphosate-tolerant soybean cultivars for resistance to bacterial pustule

Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. glycines causes bacterial pustule of soybean, which is a common disease in many soybean-growing areas of the world and is controlled by a single recessive gene (rxp gene) commonly found in many conventional glyphosate-sensitive soybean cultivars. Since glyphosate-tolerant cultivars are commonly planted today, there has been no information about whether these new cultivars have bacterial pustule resistance. The goal of this study was to screen glyphosate-tolerant soybean cultivars for resistance to X. axonopodis pv. glycines. Three experiments were completed to evaluate resistance. In experiment 1, 525 commercial glyphosate-tolerant cultivars from 2001 were inoculated with X. axonopodis pv. glycines strain UIUC-1. Following inoculation, many of the cultivars were resistant (developed no detectable pustule symptoms) although 152 (~29%) developed bacterial pustule. In experiment 2, the aggressiveness of three strains (UIUC-1, UIUC-2, and ATCC 17915) of X. axonopodis pv. glycines were compared on three bacterial pustule-susceptible, glyphosate-tolerant cultivars. One strain (UIUC-1) was less aggressive than the other two (UIUC-2 and ATCC 17915) on all three cultivars examined. In experiment 3, 45 cultivars from 2005 (all different from 2001) were inoculated with X. axonopodis pv. glycines ATCC 17915. A range of disease severities developed with five cultivars (11%) having disease severity ratings as high as or higher than those on a susceptible check cultivar. Overall, these results suggested that resistance to bacterial pustule occurs in glyphosate-tolerant soybean cultivars, but not at 100% frequency, which means bacterial pustule outbreaks could occur when a susceptible cultivar is planted and conditions are conducive for bacterial pustule development.
The role of PPARs in the microvascular dysfunction in diabetes

There is a major defect in skin blood flow (SkBF) in people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). This defect is associated with relatively normal nitric oxide (NO) production in the skin. The abnormal blood flow cosegregates with hypertension, dyslipidemia, abnormal fatty acid composition, a proinflammatory state, and insulin resistance. Since these covariates are an integral part of the insulin resistance syndrome, we examined the effects of the thiazoledindiones (TZDs) as insulin sensitizers for their ability to correct the abnormal blood flow. The PPARgamma rosiglitazone improved NO production to normal levels, but had a small effect on SKBF. In contrast, pioglitazone had a small effect on skin neurovascular function but a dramatic effect on reducing nitrosative stress. These effects do not appear to be due to the insulin sensitizing properties of these compounds but are associated with a reduction in indices of inflammation, hemodilution, and are likely to be due to one of the many "vascular" effects of TZDs. The role of inflammation in the disordered neurovascular function in diabetes cannot be underplayed and the possible contribution of PPARalpha agonists to alter the inflammatory state needs to be explored further. Since blood flow regulation is mediated by mechanisms other than NO, such as prostaglandins and endothelial derived hyperpolarizing factor, which, in turn, are compromised by the inflammatory state, we anticipate that activation of both the PPARgamma as well as PPARalpha should ameliorate the disordered blood flow in type 2 diabetes. While it now appears that the PPARs may have a major role to play in protection from macrovascular disease, their contribution to amelioration of the microvascular defects in type 2 diabetes has fallen short of spectacular success. In this respect, the combinations of PPARalpha, PPARbeta and PPARgamma may better serve the unique requirements for improving the microvascular defect in diabetes.
An exact solution for shearing flow of multicomponent mixtures

When a nondilute multicomponent fluid is placed in a viscometric testing device, the flow that is produced is not a viscometric flow. Rather, relatively thin layers of fluid with relatively few suspended particles accumulate near the boundaries. These layers exhibit high shear rates. The suspended particles accumulate far away from the boundaries, giving a high local viscosity and a low shear rate. We consider a simple but properly invariant theory of multicomponent fluids. We investigate steady flow between parallel plates with one plate stationary and the other plate moving parallel to it at constant speed. We give exact solutions to the field equations.
Argon laser micro-irradiation of mitochondria in rat myocardial cells in tissue culture: II. Correlation of morphology and function in irradiated single cells

Abstract It has been established that mitochondrial lesions of specific severity and morphology could be produced in myocardial cells by laser micro-beam irradiation. This paper (i) describes four general categories of contractility responses resulting from irradiation of a single mitochondrion in a beating myocardial cell (group I, no change; group II, change followed by return to rhythmic contractions; group III, cessation of contraction; group IV, cell death); (ii) correlates mitochondrial lesion type with functional response; and (iii) distinguishes between physiological deprivation of mitochondria within the cell and secondary effects due to laser energy dissipation. Of the 22 contracting cells that were altered but did not die (groups II and III) 18 returned to rhythmic contractility statistically similar to the pre-irradiation contraction rate. A definite correlation between lesion severity and functional response was noted: only cells in Group I (no change) had the least severe lesion type ( 8 14 ), and none had the most severe lesion type. Twenty of 22 cells in groups II and III had moderate type lesions, and of the 20 cells in group IV (cell death), 18 had the most severe lesion type. The short term physiological effects upon cell contractility (up to 30 minutes post-irradiation) of selective mitochondrial deletion were determined. Up to 36 large mitochondria were destroyed with the least severe lesion type, and no change in cell contractility was observed. This contrasts with the rapid cell death often obtained by destroying a single mitochondrion with the severe lesion type. The morphology and laser effects precipitating cell death are discussed. Quiescent cells have been stimulated to contract by irradiation and a few have continued to contract up to 5 minutes post-irradiation. These results are discussed in terms of the “pacemaker” cell theory.
Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol potentiates the disruptive effects of phencyclidine on repeated acquisition in monkeys

Patas monkeys acquired a different four-response chain each session by responding sequentially on three keys or levers in the presence of four discriminative stimuli (geometric forms or numerals). The response chain was maintained by food presentation under a fixed-ratio schedule. Errors produced a brief timeout but did not reset the chain. Each day there were four 15-min sessions, with a 10-min intersession interval. Cumulative dose-effect curves for phencyclidine were obtained by giving an IM injection before each of the four sessions; successive injections increased the cumulative dose by 1/4 log-unit steps. When phencyclidine was administered alone, overall response rate decreased and percent errors increased with increasing doses. When delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was administered PO before the first session at a dose that was ineffective when given alone, the phencyclidine dose-effect curves for both rate and accuracy tended to shift to the left. After pretreatment with a higher dose of THC, which decreased rate in one of three subjects without affecting accuracy when given alone, the rate-decreasing and error-increasing effects of phencyclidine were generally even more pronounced. The results indicate that THC potentiates the disruptive effects of phencyclidine on complex operant behavior in monkeys.
Perceptual Support for Ballistic Motion in Docking for a Mobile Robot

This paper describes ongoing research into methods to allow a mobile robot to effectively function in a manufacturing environment; specifically, generation of the ballistic motion phase of the docking behavior. This overall docking behavior causes the robot to move to a workstation and park in an appropriate position. The docking behavior consists of two distinct types of motion. Ballistic motion rapidly moves the robot to an area near the dock where recognition of the dock triggers the slower, more accurate orienting motion for the final positioning. The ballistic motion is supported with two simple low-level behaviors: a phototropic (light seeking) behavior and a temporal (motion) detection behavior. The phototropic or temporal activity perceptual strategy maneuvers the vehicle toward the bright light or the abundant motion usually associated with workstations. These vision algorithms have been selected because strict knowledge of the initial position of the dock is not needed and each requires limited computational resources. This system has been implemented and shown to successfully generate ballistic motion in support of docking in typical manufacturing environments.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Dense Right-Sided Hemiparesis in a 36-Year-Old Woman

Six months after implantation of a dual-chamber pacemaker at an outside facility for sinus bradycardia, a 38-year-old woman had a cerebrovascular accident that resulted in aphasia and dense right-sided hemiparesis. A transthoracic echocardiogram demonstrated a patent foramen ovale, and she was referred for further evaluation. On review of …
Characterization of Hydrogen Storage Capabilities in Advanced Battery Materials

Hydrogen storage capabilities in LaNi5 intermetallic compounds have been investigated utilizing the combination of thermoelectric power, Leco hydrogen determination, and Magnetic susceptibility measurements. Thermoelectric power has demonstrated a rapid hydrogen assessment capability and can achieve the equivalent of the pressure-composition-temperature (activity) diagram. Effective use of hydrogen storage materials occurs in the (alpha + beta)-phase plateau region of the PCT diagram. A thorough assessment of the content of each phase in this two-phase region to optimize performance of the hydrogen storage materials has been described. Electron concentration changes with variations in stored hydrogen content, thus altering the filling of the electronic d-band and slope of the plot of the paramagnetic susceptibility as a function of the thermoelectric power coefficient. Practices using the combination of these analytical techniques for rapid characterization of advanced hydrogen storage materials have been...
A Blackbody, A Blackbody Simulator, A Blackbody Simulator Cavity, A Blackbody Simulator Cavity Aperture, And A Blackbody Simulator Aperture Are Each Different From One Another

ABSTRACT Misunderstandings are described concerning blackbodies, simulators, cavities and apertures. Blackbodies are identified as ideal (not real) items, while the expression blackbody simulator is recommended for real (not ideal) approximations to blackbodies. Surface and volume considerations for blackbodies and blackbody simulators are addressed. Blackbody and blackbody simulator history are traced. The important roles of blackbody simulator cavities and blackbody simulator apertures are emphasized. 0. INTRODUCTION In agreement with the title, this paper discusses several variations of the expressions blackbody and blackbody simulator. In agreement with an implication of the title, this paper addresses the proposition thatthere are widespread misunderstandings concerning blackbodies, simulators, cavities and apertures.This paper is divided into six parts: (1) Blackbodies and blackbody simulators; (2) Blackbody surfacesand blackbody volumes; (3) Blackbody and blackbody simulator history; (4) Blackbody simulator cavities and
Arg Kinase Regulates Epithelial Cell Polarity by Targeting β1-Integrin and Small GTPase Pathways

Summary Background Establishment and maintenance of epithelial cell polarity is regulated in part by signaling from adhesion receptors. Loss of cell polarity is associated with multiple pathologies including the initiation and progression of various cancers. The β1-integrin adhesion receptor plays a role in the regulation of cell polarity; however, the identity of the signaling pathways that modulate β1-integrin function and connect it to the regulation of polarity pathways remains largely unknown. Results The present work identifies a role for Arg, a member of the Abl family nonreceptor tyrosine kinases, in the regulation of adhesive signals and epithelial cell polarity. In a three-dimensional cell culture model, activation of Arg kinase leads to a striking inversion of apical-basal polarity. In contrast, loss of Arg function impairs the establishment of a polarized epithelial cyst structure. Activated Arg kinase disrupts β1-integrin signaling and localization and impairs Rac1-mediated laminin assembly. Disruption of β1-integrin function by active Arg results in altered distribution of selected polarity complex components mediated in part by Rap1 GTPase signaling. Whereas polarity inversion is partially rescued by a constitutively active Rap1, Rac1-dependent laminin assembly is not, indicating that Rap1 and Rac1 signal independently during epithelial polarity. Conclusions These findings suggest that modulation of Arg kinase function may contribute not only to normal epithelial polarity regulation but also may promote pathologies associated with loss of cell polarity.
Interactive effect of hypoxia and otolith organ engagement on cardiovascular regulation in humans

We determined the interaction between the vestibulosympathetic reflex and the arterial chemoreflex in 12 healthy subjects. Subjects performed three trials in which continuous recordings of muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and arterial oxygen saturation were obtained. First, in prone subjects the otolith organs were engaged by use of head-down rotation (HDR). Second, the arterial chemoreflex was activated by inspiration of hypoxic gas (10% O2 and 90% N2) for 7 min with HDR being performed during minute 6. Third, hypoxia was repeated (15 min) with HDR being performed during minute 14. HDR [means +/- SE; increase (Delta)7 +/- 1 bursts/min and Delta50 +/- 11% for burst frequency and total MSNA, respectively; P < 0.05] and hypoxia (Delta6 +/- 2 bursts/min and Delta62 +/- 29%; P < 0.05) increased MSNA. Additionally, MSNA increased when HDR was performed during hypoxia (Delta11 +/- 2 bursts/min and Delta127 +/- 57% change from normoxia; P < 0.05). These increases in MSNA were similar to the algebraic sum of the individual increase in MSNA elicited by HDR and hypoxia (Delta13 +/- 1 bursts/min and Delta115 +/- 36%). Increases in MAP (Delta3 +/- 1 mmHg) and HR (Delta19 +/- 1 beats/min) during combined HDR and hypoxia generally were smaller (P < 0.05) than the algebraic sum of the individual responses (Delta5 +/- 1 mmHg and Delta24 +/- 2 beats/min for MAP and HR, respectively; P < 0.05). These findings indicate an additive interaction between the vestibulosympathetic reflex and arterial chemoreflex for MSNA. Therefore, it appears that MSNA outputs between the vestibulosympathetic reflex and arterial chemoreflex are independent of one another in humans.
Structural features in the formation of the green rust intermediate and γ-FeOOH

Abstract Electron microscopy data reveal a pattern of changes in the particle shape/morphology during the preparation of γ-FeOOH. The initial shapeless material develops to form large thin hexagonal crystals which are shown to be Green Rust-II (GR-II). With the initial, sudden pH decrease from about 8 to 6.5 at about 33% conversion of the total amount of Fe 2+ that is oxidized, small, dense, hexagonal Fe 3 O 4 particles are formed in addition to, or instead of, the GR-II hexagonal crystals. The large thin hexagonal crystals of GR-II contain holes. The disappearance of Fe 3 O 4 and GR-II particles with further oxidation is accompanied by the development of needle-like γ-FeOOH particles. The formation of γ-FeOOH by a pathway involving only GR-II is therefore an oversimplification of the actual process.
Securing Information Transfer in Distributed Computing Environments

The problem of migrating sensitive information between systems in dynamic environments is increasingly important as distributed computing expands. A proposed policy-based approach provides controlled and secure transfer of user credentials and data across platforms. We propose a policy-driven data-protection system to address the inadequacies of current technological solutions in preserving the confidentiality and privacy of data while it migrates between platforms. More specifically, we describe our solution for securing credential migration that we're developing for productization.
Crack extension caused by internal gas pressure compared with extension caused by tensile stress

Explosive loading in borehole configurations has been investigated to assess the relative importance of internal gas pressurization and stress-wave-induced circumferential tensions for extending radial cracks originating at the borehole walls. Simple calculations of an extending crack (with and without confining pressure) were performed to estimate an upper bound on crack length resulting solely from internal pressurization for comparison with the crack length resulting solely from tensile stresses. These calculations indicated that a internal gas pressure could increase the crack length by a factor of 10 to 100 (no confining pressure) or 3 to 25 [6.9-MPa (1000-psi) confining pressure] compared with the tensile stresses acting alone. Simple laboratory experiments were performed using 3.2 × 10−3m diameter (1/8in.) by 1.52 × 10−1m long (6 in.) borehole charges centered in a 1.3 × 10−2m diameter (1/2in.) borehole in transparent Plexiglas cylinders 3 × 10−1m in diameter by 3 × 10−1m long (12in. by 12in.) to verify these computational results. Two tests were performed: one with a thin (5.08 × 10−4m) steel liner to contain the explosive gases and one without a liner so that the explosive gases could enter and pressurize the fractures. A confining pressure of 6.9 MPa (1000 psi) was applied to the Plexiglas cylinders in both experiments to better simulate field conditions and to contain the cracks within the cylinder; all other experimental conditions were identical. These experiments indicated that the primary effect of the explosive gases was to increase crack length by a factor of five to ten compared with the tensile stresses acting alone, in approximate agreement with the predictions.
Endovascular therapy and imaging Is a picture worth a thousand words

The earliest reports of endovascular therapy for acute stroke date to the early 1980s and predate US Food and Drug Administration approval of IV tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Initial approaches included regional infusion of urokinase in the extracranial carotid,1,–,3 followed later by reports of direct infusions into intracranial arteries through a catheter embedded in a thrombus.4 Since then, development of new devices and greater availability of interventional operators have resulted in steady growth of endovascular treatment for stroke. Despite impressive rates of recanalization, approaching 90%, good clinical outcomes occur for fewer than 50% of treated patients.5,6 It is likely that multiple factors contribute to the discrepancy between recanalization and good outcomes. Recanalization of the arterial occlusion does not always result in adequate restoration of perfusion to the ischemic area. Reocclusion may occur after the angiographic procedure is completed.7 The interval from stroke onset to reestablishing adequate flow is an important variable, and evidence suggests that the more rapidly the artery is opened …
Cooperative cross-technology interference mitigation for heterogeneous multi-hop networks

This paper explores a new paradigm for the coex- istence among heterogeneous multi-hop networks in unplanned deployment settings, called cooperative interference mitigation (CIM). CIM exploits recent advancements in physical layer tech- nologies such as technology-independent multiple output (TIMO), making it possible for disparate networks to cooperatively mitigate the interference to each other to enhance everyone's performance, even if they possess different wireless technologies. This paper offers a thorough study of the CIM paradigm for unplanned multi-hop networks. We first show the feasibility of CIM among heterogeneous multi-hop networks by exploiting only channel ratio information, and then establish a tractable model to accurately characterize the CIM behaviors of both networks. We also develop a bi-criteria optimization formulation to maximize both networks' throughput, and propose a new methodology to compute the Pareto-optimal throughput curve as performance bound. Simu- lation results show that CIM provides significant performance gains to both networks compared with the traditional interference- avoidance paradigm. I. INTRODUCTION
A novel approach to power quality assessment: real time hardware-in-the-loop test bed

A novel approach to power quality assessment based on real-time (RT) hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) simulation is proposed. The RT-HIL platform is being used for power quality studies of NAVY all-electric ships. The sensitivity for power quality deviations of a variable speed drive controller card was tested in the platform. The successful experiment has contributed to the conceptual design of a universal power quality test bed, which would have the function of testing the immunity of electric components and equipment and the consequent impact on ac distribution systems.
Dependent sets of constant weight vectors in GF(q)

We determine lower bounds for the number of random vectors in GF (q), chosen uniformly from vectors having k non-zero co-ordinates, needed to obtain a dependent set over GF (q).
Pharmacokinetics of Ampicillin and Methoxymethyl Ester of Hetacillin in Dogs

Concentrations of ampicillin and the methoxymethyl ester of hetacillin were measured in plasma, prostatic fluid, and spinal fluid of dogs receiving ampicillin or the hetacillin ester by continuous intravenous infusion. The ratios of ampicillin in prostatic fluid relative to plasma levels were higher after dosing with the hetacillin ester. Pharmacokinetic parameter values were consistent with urinary excretion characteristics. Ready diffusion of the ester across biological membranes may facilitate eradication of pathogenic organisms in prostatic and spinal fluids.
OTITIS MEDIA IN HYPERACTIVE CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISORDERS

The frequency of otitis media among hyperactive children with learning disorders was compared with the frequency of otitis media in a large sample of normal children, using the same criteria for the diagnosis of otitis media in both groups. The groups were matched for social class and age when studied (7 to 13 years of age). A significantly higher percentage of hyperactive children (54 percent) had more than six episodes of otitis media than was found in the normal group (15 percent). Thirty-six percent of hyperactive children had more than ten episodes, compared to five percent in the normal sample. There was no difference in the percentage of children with no episodes of otitis media (18 percent). Several alternative hypotheses will be offered as possible mechanisms to account for the data.
Web-Construction Behavior of Linyphiid Spiders (Araneae, Linyphiidae): Competition and Co-Existence Within a Generalist Predator Guild

The web-construction behavior of three species of linyphiid spider (Erigone autumnalis, Meioneta unimaculata and Bathyphantes pallida) was studied in the laboratory to examine competition and co-existence within predator guilds. Competitive interactions between spiders potentially reduce their role in biological control. We tested the hypothesis that at high densities, intraguild competition for web-sites would occur but spatial separation of microhabitat would reduce interguild competition, thus allowing co-existence. High mortality and reduced web-size were observed at high B. pallida densities but Linyphiinae co-existed with Erigoninae which constructed webs at different strata. Competitive exclusion by larger individuals occurred between species whose microhabitat niche overlapped. The biocontrol potential of spider or arthropod predator guilds could ultimately be enhanced by maximizing the diversity of species whose niche axes vary.
Head trauma in the child

Head injury, either alone or in combination with multiple injuries, is common in children. Its pattern is different in children compared to adults, with diffuse cerebral swelling rather than localized hematoma being most common. The pathophysiology of pediatric head trauma is not yet clearly elucidated, but may be closely related to changes in the regulation of cerebral blood flow. The initial management and subsequent care of the child with severe brain injury are discussed from a multisystem viewpoint. The prognosis for children with severe head injury seems brighter than for adults, but there are not yet enough data to allow prediction of outcome in any individual case. Efforts to prevent, rather than treat, head injury in childhood are more likely to be beneficial.
Book Review: Screen Distribution and the New King Kongs of the Online World

A short review of the 2013 book, Screen Distribution and the New King Kongs of the Online World , a succinct publication which explores the impact of new methods of media distribution, from their inception in the 1990’s, to the current climate of both legitimate and illegitimate streaming sources, and offers a framework within which to research future developments in the industry of online distribution. The review concludes with a brief critique and recommendations for those who may intend to use the book for research purposes.
Cold fusion as a consequence of high fugacity among hydrogen isotopes

Abstract Landau and Lifchitz have deduced a fugacity of ∼ 10 17 bar that would lead to states in which the capturing of electrons by nuclei with emission of neutrinos is thermodynamically favoured. These conditions are considered as relevant for the occurrence of cold fusion. Pressure and corresponding fugacities are calculated and compared to the above quoted value. The relation of fugacity to the mechanism of deuterium evolution on the surface of the metal, pressure and cracking when pressure in voids exceeds the spreading pressure of the metal is discussed. Hypothesis for the occurrence of the cold fusion phenomenon, based on the experimental facts reported so far, is suggested.
Developing Cell and Tissue Culture Systems for the Improvement of Cereal and Grass Crops

Summary Recent advances in cell culture and molecular biology of higher plants, which are key components of plant biotechnology, have demonstrated the considerable power and potential of these technologies in the genetic modification and improvement of plants that can not be accomplished by conventional genetic methods. This has stimulated a great deal of interest and activity in university as well as corporate research laboratories. Nevertheless, the fact remains that most of the success achieved so far has been with model plant species and the transfer of these new technologies to major crop species that are the principal targets of biotechnology has either been slow and difficult, or is non-existent. In order to have any meaningful impact on agriculture the developing biotechnology must be equally and readily applicable to important crop species. The cereals and grasses, which constitute the most important group of crop plants, have until recently been found to be very recalcitrant to cell culture techniques. This article describes the advances made in cell culture of important members of this group of crop species. It highlights the success achieved in establishing totipotent callus and cell suspension cultures, and reports the development of protoplast culture systems yielding somatic embryos and plants and the recent recovery of somatic hybrid cell lines and genetically transformed cell lines. The importance of the age and physiological state of the explant, and the relative genetic stability of embryogenic cultures and regenerated plants is discussed.
Preliminary investigation of voice onset time production in persons with dysphagia.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether voice onset time (VOT) values of persons with dysphagia differed from those of a person with normal swallow function. Five male subjects with dysphagia (average age = 80.6 years) and a control subject (age = 79 years) read 18 consonant–vowel–consonant words in quasi-random order. These syllables began with the voiced and voiceless cognates from the three stop places of articulation (i.e., bilabial, alveolar, and velar). These consonants were followed by the vowels /i/, /a/, and /u/. Digital audio tape recordings were performed and speech was digitized onto disk. Measurements were completed using BLISS software (Mertus J: BLISS User's Manual. Providence: Department of Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences, Brown University, 1989) implemented on a 486 microcomputer. Averages and standard deviations of the VOT measures for the six stop consonants were compared between the two experimental groups. For the dysphagic speakers, average VOT values for voiceless stops were shorter, and there were larger negative VOT values for voiced stops. Standard deviations for the VOT productions pf the dysphagic subjects were smaller. Statistical comparisons showed significant differences between individual dysphagic speakers and the normal control for three of the five subjects. These preliminary data suggest that dysphagia affects the fine motor control required for accurate VOT production in speech.
When you run a web search, the whole world pays

Even search engines must abide by the laws of thermodynamics – and that means we pay dearly in energy for every search
Effect of indolealkylamine manipulations on locomotor activity in rats.

Abstract The effect of various manipulations of the indolealkylamine system upon locomotor activity in adult male rats was investigated. 6-fluorotryptophan, a rapidly acting tryptophan hydroxylase inhibitor, produced a small, but significant decrease in activity. Neither variations in the dietary content of l -tryptophan, nor systemic injections of l -tryptophan had any effect on activity. However, pretreatment with the monoamine oxidase inhibitor, pargyline, caused l -tryptophan injections to produce a syndrome characterized by large increases in activity, tremor, rigidity, hyper-reactivity, streotyped head movements, and a general sympathetic response. Pretreatment with spiroperidol, a presumed specific dopamine receptor blocker, abolished all signs of the syndrome except for the rigidity and hyper-reactivity. By contrast, the noradrenergic receptor blockers, phenoxybenzamine and propanolol, had no observable effect on the syndrome.
Automated stress detection using keystroke and linguistic features: An exploratory study

Monitoring of cognitive and physical function is central to the care of people with or at risk for various health conditions, but existing solutions rely on intrusive methods that are inadequate for continuous tracking. Less intrusive techniques that facilitate more accurate and frequent monitoring of the status of cognitive or physical function become increasingly desirable as the population ages and lifespan increases. Since the number of seniors using computers continues to grow dramatically, a method that exploits normal daily computer interactions is attractive. This research explores the possibility of detecting cognitive and physical stress by monitoring keyboard interactions with the eventual goal of detecting acute or gradual changes in cognitive and physical function. Researchers have already attributed a certain amount of variability and ''drift'' in an individual's typing pattern to situational factors as well as stress, but this phenomenon has not been explored adequately. In an attempt to detect changes in typing associated with stress, this research analyzes keystroke and linguistic features of spontaneously generated text. Results show that it is possible to classify cognitive and physical stress conditions relative to non-stress conditions based on keystroke and linguistic features with accuracy rates comparable to those currently obtained using affective computing methods. The proposed approach is attractive because it requires no additional hardware, is unobtrusive, is adaptable to individual users, and is of very low cost. This research demonstrates the potential of exploiting continuous monitoring of keyboard interactions to support the early detection of changes in cognitive and physical function.
A version-aware tool for design rationale

Software Concordance Design Rationale (SCDR) is a tool for recording design rationale, which describes the reasons that a system's design was chosen. Using the editing, linking, and versioning services of the Software Concordance system, SCDR allows developers to structure their design discussions and connect them to any of the other software documents used in the system. The versioning services, in particular, show developers the context of the design discussions, making those discussion comprehensible even in systems whose components have changed considerably over time.
Current drugs for sedation of critically ill patients

Summary Even while the exact indications for use of anxiolytic drugs in the ICU remain undefined, sedation has become an integral part of critical care to minimize patient discomfort and anxiety, and to attenuate the neuroendocrine stress response. Clinicians strive to reduce the proportion of ICU patients who report fear and anxiety during mechanical ventilation, and virtually always recall this experience as unpleasant. However, our current efforts as provide sedation and comfort may simultaneously produce unintended consequences that prolong the period of mechanical ventilation, predispose patients to nosocomial pneumonia, increase ICU length-of-stay, and, therefore, increase hospital costs. 1,22 Ideally, appropriate sedation allows the patient to remain in a calm but communicative state, and expedites weaning and discontinuation of mechanical ventilation. Sedatives should be periodically reassessed and titrated according to one of many sedation scales available. Intermittent interruption or discontinuation of sedative drug infusions may be warranted to evaluate the underlying neurological responsiveness and respiratory progress of critically ill patients. Newer therapies, such as DEX, may also expedite achieving these goals for future ICU patients. Sedative drug comparisons and appropriate ICU dosing are summarized in Table 6.
A Review of: “Newell, Josh. The Russian Far East: A Reference Guide for Conservation and Development.”

Approximately 15 years after the fall of the Soviet Union, the world still waits to see what will happen in the Russian Federation. Researchers and analysts in politics, business, and the environme...
Efficient minimization of multiple-valued decision diagrams for incompletely specified functions

This paper addresses the problem of finding a small size Multiple-Valued Decision Diagram (MDD) representation of an incompletely specified multiple-valued function. Optimal MDD representation improves performance and flexibility of many applications in logic design and multiple-valued circuit synthesis. We introduce an algorithm which incorporates a new operation on incompletely specified MDDs, called fusion. The diagram is optimized by dynamic variable ordering, graph compaction and minimization. During the optimization the structure of the underlying MDD is modified in a way that only specified values are represented while don't cares are ignored. The results on multiple-valued as well as binary benchmarks with don't cares are given to demonstrate the efficiency and robustness of the algorithm.
Inflammation and Immune System Alterations in Frailty

Frailty is an important geriatric syndrome characterized by multisystem dysregulation. Substantial evidence suggests heightened inflammatory state and significant immune system alterations in frailty. A heightened inflammatory state is marked by increases in levels of inflammatory molecules (interleukin 6 and C-reactive protein) and counts of white blood cell and its subpopulations, which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of frailty, directly or through its detrimental influence on other physiologic systems. Alterations in the innate immune system include decreased proliferation of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells and upregulated monocytic expression of specific stress-responsive inflammatory pathway genes. In the adaptive immune system, although little information is available about potential B-cell changes, significant alterations have been identified in the T-cell compartment, including increased counts of CD8+, CD8+CD28-, CCR5+T cells, above and beyond age-related senescent immune remodeling.
Incomplete collisions of wavelength-division multiplexed dispersion-managed solitons

Interactions of wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) dispersion-managed solitons solitons are studied by means of numerical simulations of both the nonlinear Schrodinger (NLS) equation and the nonlocal equation of the NLS type that describes pulse dynamics in systems with strong dispersion management. The interaction properties are found to depend significantly on the values of system parameters. Incomplete collisions can be particularly serious, because in some parameter regimes they lead to large timing and frequency shifts and in some cases to pulse collapse. However, for parameter values derived from recent experiments with dispersion-managed WDM soliton transmission, the interaction properties are even more favorable than for pure NLS equations.
Adaptive control of non-affine uncertain systems

This paper presents a robust adaptive control design methodology for a class of single-input single-output uncertain non-afflne systems subject to additive unknown disturbances. Using the linear in parameters approximation of unknown nonlinearities and the adaptive bounding technique, the developed controller achieves asymptotic convergence of the tracking error to zero, while ensuring boundedness of parameter errors. The developed controller is continues and achieves asymptotic tracking when no knowledge is assumed on the bounds of the unknown quantities. Theoretical developments are illustrated via simulation results.
The Waveform Suite: A Robust Platform for Manipulating Waveforms in MATLAB

The waveform suite developed at the University of Alaska Geophysical Institute is an open-source collection of MATLAB classes that provide a means to import, manipulate, display, and share waveform data while ensuring the integrity of the data and providing stability for programs that build upon them. Many seismic investigations begin by extracting data from a database or archive in order to carry out some type of advanced processing on segments containing the relevant signal(s). This extraction process might include requesting data from the IRIS Data Management Center, a regional seismic network, or an in-house project database. Locally the extracted data may be stored in numerous well-established data formats or databases including SAC (Tapley and Tull 1992), SEISAN (Havskov and Ottemoller 2000), AH, SEGY (Barry et al. 1975), Winston (Cervelli et al. 2004) and Antelope (http://brtt.com; Lindquist 2009). MATLAB has proven to be a popular environment in which to work with the extracted data in part because of the ready access to powerful platform-independent routines for signal processing and plotting. Once in MATLAB, however, the original data format is often replaced with a variety of ad-hoc formats as each user employs a variety of structures, arrays, and cells to manage the data. The independent nature of these home-grown formats can make it difficult to transfer data from one system (or project) to another without spending time on single-use conversion routines. The ease of programming in MATLAB makes it particularly vulnerable to impromptu or disposable coding with the consequence being that many of the resulting scripts are transient affairs that serve an immediate need. Many scripts are then discarded, while others enjoy a more celebrated existence; bolstered by quick success, users (including the authors) often decide to build out these routines into standalone packages, only to realize that the vast majority …
A modal decomposition of the Hopf normal form coefficient

The local stability of a nonlinear dynamical system at an equilibrium point with a pair of purely imaginary eigenvalues can be assessed through the computation of a cubic Hopf normal form coefficient, assuming the remaining eigenvalues have negative real parts. In this paper, a modal decomposition of the Hopf coefficient is proved. The decomposition provides a new methodology for analyzing the Hopf cubic normal form coefficient in a formal way. The framework is illustrated by nonlinear stability analysis of two control designs where it is shown that the Hopf coefficient can be stabilized through modal nonlinear feedbacks.
Self-assembly of achiral and chiral macrocyclic ligands: synthesis, protonation constants, conformation and asymmetric catalysis

New 30-membered achiral and chiral polyaza macrocyclic ligands, L1 and L2 were synthesized directly from [3 + 3] condensation of phthalic dicarboxaldehyde with cis- and (1R,2R)-diaminocyclohexane, respectively. The trimeric macrocyclic structures were confirmed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), 1H NMR, 13C NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Potentiometry was used to determine the protonation constants of the ligands. UV–vis spectrophotometric titration was employed to investigate the coordination and conformational properties of the chiral ligand (L2). Direct enantioselective aldol reaction has been successfully performed using 4-nitrobenzaldehyde and acetone in the presence of the chiral macrocycle and its zinc(II) complexes as catalysts.
The acquisition of procedures from text: A production-system analysis of transfer of training

Learning a cognitive skill from written instructions can be viewed as consisting of converting the propositional content of the written material into a representation of procedural knowledge, such as production rules. In a transfer of training experiment, subjects learned from step-by-step instructions a series of related procedures, in different training orders, for operating a simple device. The strong between-procedure transfer effects were predicted by a simple model of transfer in which individual production rules can be transferred or re-used in the representation of a new procedure if they had been used in a previously learned procedure. Apparently, this transfer mechanism acts on declarative propositional representations of the production rules, suggesting that it is more similar to comprehension processes than to conventional practice mechanisms, or to Anderson’s learning principles (1982, Psychological Review, 89, 369-406; 1983, The architecture
mRNA nuclear export at a glance

Eukaryotic gene expression is controlled by multiple mechanisms, and its regulation is central for physiological responses to extracellular and intracellular signals. An essential step in this process involves the movement of mRNA transcripts from the site of synthesis in the nucleus to the
Foxe's Martyrs

Obviously, the most valuable parts of Foxe's Acts and Monuments are the accounts which he gives of the disciplinary measures by means of which the ecclesiastical authorities of England endeavored to make good their claim to supreme jurisdiction over the faith and morals of their subjects, particularly during the reign of Henry VIII and that of Mary. Although Foxe repeatedly stated that he “professed no such title to write of martyrs,” it was as a history of ecclesiastical persecution primarily, that the work was hailed with delight by all factions of English Protestants. The public lost no time dubbing it “Foxe's Book of Martyrs,” the title by which it has ever since been popularly known. Those who had safely lived through the dreadful tempora Mariana , either as exiles abroad or as heretics at home, eagerly scanned its pages for some mention of relatives or acquaintances who had perished in the flames rekindled by Mary and her councillors. Many of its readers, not looking for it, were no doubt gratified as well as surprised to find their own names woven into the story of religious and patriotic heroism, a factor which contributed not a little to the enormous popularity of the work. It was not, then, for the history of the Waldenses or the Turks or the Husites that people turned to the Acts and Monuments , at least not primarily; their chief interest lay in Foxe's history of the English martyrs —Lollard, Henrician, and Marian.
Diode-laser frequency stabilization based on the resonant Faraday effect

The authors present the results of a method for frequency stabilizing laser diodes based on the resonant Faraday effects. A Faraday cell in conjunction with a polarizer crossed with respect to the polarization of the laser diode comprises the intracavity frequency selective element. In this arrangement, a laser pull-in range of 9 AA was measured, and the laser operated at a single frequency with a linewidth less than 6 MHz. >
Conceptualizing Organizational Communication Competence:: A Rules-Based Perspective

This study explores perceptions of organizational communication within the workplace, using individuals in the work setting as subjects. Interviews were conducted to elicit descriptions of specific behaviors that were indicative of “competent” and “incompetent” behavior within the organization. The researcher hypothesized that the respondents would be able to articulate rules of the organization that guide their judgments concerning organizational communication competence. The data support this hypothesis. Interviewees did provide specific examples of rule-generated behavior in their discussions of competence.