cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Deficit irrigation of alfalfa as a strategy for providing water for water-short areas

Abstract Alfalfa is California's single largest agricultural water user due to its large acreage and long growing season, using 490,000 to 677,000 ha-m of water each year. Because of the high water usage, interest exists in midsummer deficit irrigation (no irrigation in July, August, and September) of alfalfa to provide water for transfer from water-rich areas such as the Sacramento Valley to water-short areas such as the San Joaquin Valley and southern California with the amount of transferred water equal to the difference in the evapotranspiration (ET) between fully irrigated and deficit irrigated alfalfa. This project investigated the effect of deficit irrigation of alfalfa on yield and ET. Yield and evapotranspiration were measured in fully and deficit irrigated areas of commercial alfalfa fields using the eddy covariance energy balance method in the fully irrigated part and the surface renewal energy balance method in the deficit irrigated part. Alfalfa yield, applied water, canopy coverage and plant height were measured in both areas of the field. Deficit irrigation in July and August reduced alfalfa yields by 4.68–6.47 Mg ha −1 . Seasonal ET ranged from 1249 to 1381 mm. Differences in ET between fully irrigated and deficit irrigated alfalfa ranged from 224 to 239 mm. Yields of the deficit irrigated area recovered during the subsequent crop.
Order-sorted model theory for temporal executable specifications

Abstract An order-sorted, temporal programming paradigm is presented. It consists of a typed, modular, declarative language, its associated order-sorted temporal Horn clause logic basis, and a model theory generalizing order-sorted algebras with predicates to temporal order-sorted structures. The essence of this generalization is in time-dependent interpretation of predicates, so that a temporal order-sorted model amounts to a sequence of order-sorted equational models with predicates, one per each state. The main advantage of the presented paradigm in comparison with paradigms based on Horn-clause logic with equality is that it is more expressive, particularly so in representing properly state transitions, and other event-oriented, temporal behavioral properties of objects. At the same time, the generalized paradigm is proved to have the initial model semantics. The rules for temporal order-sorted deduction are established as an appropriate generalization of the rules for order-sorted Horn-clause logic with equality. The initial model is a quotient temporal order-sorted structure constructed from the initial temporal order-sorted structure and a congruence relation derived from a given set of temporal constraints. Temporal order-sorted model theoretic properties are also naturally established for temporal queries. The temporal constraint language has an execution model, and it is intended to be a basis for a prototyping tool for complex, typed, modular software systems.
Persistence of Escherichia coli O157 and non-O157 strains in agricultural soils

Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli O157 and non-O157 serogroups are known to cause serious diseases in human. However, research on the persistence of E. coli non-O157 serogroups in preharvest environment is limited. In the current study, we compared the survival behavior of E. coli O157 to that of non-O157 E. coli strains in agricultural soils collected from three major fresh produce growing areas of California (CA) and Arizona (AZ). Results showed that the nonpathogenic E. coli O157:H7 4554 survived longer than the pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 EDL933 in Imperial Valley CA and Yuma AZ, but not in soils from the Salinas area. However, E. coli O157:NM was found to persist significantly longer than E. coli O157:H7 EDL933 in all soil tested from the three regions. Furthermore, two non-O157 (E. coli O26:H21 and E. coli O103:H2) survived significantly longer than E. coli O157:H7 EDL933 in all soils tested. Pearson correlation analysis showed that survival of the E. coli strains was affected by different environmental factors. Our data suggest that survival of E. coli O157 and non-O157 may be strain and soil specific, and therefore, care must be taken in data interpretation with respect to survival of this pathogen in different soils.
Effect of serum on lymphocyte blastogenesis. I. Basic characteristics of action by diseased dog serum.

Abstract The immunoregulatory effect of serum on phytomitogen-induced lymphocyte blastogenesis was studied in 4 sera from diseased dogs and 1 serum from a clinically healthy dog. The results indicated that: (1) Each of the diseased animals responded to the given infection with a specific pattern of blastogenesis inhibition. (2) The blastogenesis suppression in vitro was proportional to the content of the suppressive serum in the medium. (3) A simultaneous presence of the mitogen and the suppressing “serum's lymphocyte immunoregulatory factors” (SLIF) was necessary for inducing blastogenesis suppression. (4) The suppressive sera most probably acted directly on the cells. (5) The final effect of the sera on lymphocyte blastogenesis was a result of an orchestrated action of blastogenesis-supporting, augmenting, and suppressing SLIF cooperating with the mitogen. (6) The suppressive pattern varied with the individual peripheral blood lymphocytes populations used in the test. (7) The blastogenesis-suppressing SLIF was heat-stable, noncytotoxic, and was not or only partially removable by absorption with peripheral blood lymphocytes. (8) The testing of SLIF activities required the use of various animal lymphocytes and a relatively complex setup of mitogens and control serum combinations for correct interpretations.
Vitamin D insufficiency

Vitamin D deficiency, which classically manifests as bone disease (either rickets or osteomalacia), is characterized by impaired bone mineralization. More recently, the term vitamin D insufficiency has been used to describe low levels of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D that may be associated with other disease outcomes. Reliance on a single cutoff value to define vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency is problematic because of the wide individual variability of the functional effects of vitamin D and interaction with calcium intakes. In adults, vitamin D supplementation reduces the risk of fractures and falls. The evidence for other purported beneficial effects of vitamin D is primarily based on observational studies. We selected studies with the strongest level of evidence for clinical decision making related to vitamin D and health outcomes from our personal libraries of the vitamin D literature and from a search of the PubMed database using the term vitamin D in combination with the following terms related to the potential nonskeletal benefits of vitamin D: mortality, cardiovascular, diabetes mellitus, cancer, multiple sclerosis, allergy, asthma, infection, depression, psychiatric, and pain. Conclusive demonstration of these benefits awaits the outcome of controlled clinical trials.
Chemistry and toxicology of building timbers pressure-treated with chromated copper arsenate: a review

A recent agreement between the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the wood-treating industry will result in a phase-out of building timbers preserved with chromated copper arsenate (CCA). This agreement was motivated by a desire to reduce exposure to arsenic in the production, utilization and disposal of such material. The leaching of chromium, copper and arsenic from CCA-treated building timbers into water and soil and the subsequent environmental effects have been reviewed, as have the laboratory and epidemiological studies on the toxicology of CCA-treated building timbers. The benefits of the phase-out agreement are questionable because much arsenic will remain in the environment, and the alternatives to wood preservation with CCA are not without environmental consequences.
Structural Relationships Between Retaining and Inverting GT-B Glycosyltransferases as Revealed by Structure Analysis of Sucrose Synthase-1 from Arabidopsis Thaliana

Sucrose synthase-1 from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtSus1) is a member of the retaining GT-4 glycosyltransferase subfamily (i.e. the product sucrose has the same alpha configuration as the sugar donor UDP-glucose) within the larger family of metal-independent GT-B glycosyltransferases. A typical GT-B fold comprises of two structurally similar Rossmann folds (GT-BN and GT-BC) connected by two hinge regions. We have determined the structure of AtSus1 in catalytically competent closed state with UDP-glucose or fructose and UDP bound at the active site. Active site analysis provides future evidence for SNi-like reaction mechanism and functions of conserved residues His438, Glu675, Lys585 and Arg580. Structural Comparison of AtSus1 with inverting and retaining GTs of known structures revealed two interesting features of GT-B glycosyltrasferase. First, three loop regions have distinct lengths and differing positions between the inverting and retaining GTs and play an important role in determining the direction of attack on the anomeric carbon of the sugar moiety by the sugar acceptor. Second, a simple rigid body motion of GT-BN domain relative to GT-BC domain may be sufficient for the movement of the loops to open or close the attacking route. This domain motion suggests the two hinge regions connecting the two individual Rossmann folds in a particular orientation will stabilize either retaining or inverting reaction outcome over the other. Further understanding of the hinge region will provide new insights for glycosyltransferase engineering and may open up a broader substrate spectrum for glycosyltransfer reactions.The work was supported in part by grants from the NIH (GM65501) and Michigan State University (REF03-016) to RMG.
Promotional Effects of H2O Treatment on NOx Storage Over Fresh and Thermally Aged Pt–BaO/Al2O3 Lean NOx Trap Catalysts

A simple liquid water treatment applied to fresh and thermally aged Pt(2 wt%)–BaO(20 wt%)/Al2O3 lean NOx trap catalysts at room temperature induces morphological and structural changes in the barium species as followed by XRD and TEM analysis. During the water treatment, liquid water sufficient to fill the catalyst pore volume is brought into contact with the samples. It was found that irrespective of the original barium chemical state (highly dispersed BaO or crystalline BaAl2O4), exposing the sample to this liquid water treatment promotes the formation of BaCO3 crystallites (about 15–25 nm of its size) without changing the Pt particle size. Such transformations of the barium species are found to significantly promote NOx uptake from 250 to 450 °C. The increase in the NOx uptake for the water-treated samples can be attributed to an enhanced Pt–Ba interaction through the redistribution of barium species. These results provide useful information for the regeneration of aged lean NOx trap catalysts since water is plentiful in the exhaust of diesel or lean-burn engines.
Ac hopping conduction: Perspective from percolation theory

The origin of the sublinear frequency dependence of the ac conductivity is discussed using percolation theory. Different physical bases for calculation in different frequency regimes are discussed. Both the crossover frequencies separating the frequency regimes and the different results for the conductivity are given. The appropriate analogies between one- and three-dimensional systems are summarized. Some important comparisons with results from effective-medium theories are given. Results for the ac conductivity in one dimension and three dimensions are summarized in tabular and graphical (schematic) forms.
Cultured human monocytes and fibroblasts solubilize calcium phosphate crystals

Two rheumatic syndromes associated with deposition of calcium phosphate crystals in soft tissues of the shoulder have prompted us to study the cellular mechanisms of calcium phosphate crystal solubilization. Synthetic45Ca labeled calcium phosphate crystal aggregates were solubilized by cultured human fibroblasts or monocytes. Such solubilization required crystal cell contact and was inhibited by chloroquine and ammonium. We hypothesize that the mechanism of crystal solubilization involves phagocytosis followed by dissolution in the acidic environment of secondary lysosomes. Study of the mechanism of calcium phosphate solubilization may be important in understanding resorption of extra-osseus as well as osseus calcification. Intracellular release of calcium from calcium phosphate crystals may also explain our previous observation that hydroxyapatite and other calcium-containing crystals are mitogenic stimuli for fibroblasts and synovial cells.
P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 is needed for sequential recruitment of T-helper 1 (Th1) and local generation of Th17 T cells in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) colitis.

Background Activated effector T cells contribute to tissue injury observed in inflammatory bowel disease. T cells are recruited to effector sites after activation in peripheral lymph nodes directs expression of tissue-specific homing receptors. One such mechanism for effector T cell recruitment employs activation-induced fucosylation of P-selectin glycoprotein ligand (PSGL)-1 that mediates binding to endothelial P-selectin. Here, we examine the differential role of PSGL-1 in recruiting effector T cell subsets in colitis.
Identification of diethylene glycol monobutyl ether as a source of contamination in an ion trap mass spectrometer

Tandem liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled to online radioactive material detection (LC/RAM/MS/MS) is a technique that is used routinely for in vivo and in vitro drug metabolism studies and allows for a simultaneous correlation between radiochemical peaks and mass spectral data. The compound diethylene glycol monobutyl ether (DGBE), a component of a commercially available scintillation cocktail for RAM analysis, was identified as a source of overwhelming chemical noise in a mass spectrometer which was used in an LC/RAM/MS/MS configuration. In this report, we describe the identification of DGBE as the source of the chemical noise and the methods that were used to minimize the exposure of the mass spectrometer to volatile components of the scintillation cocktail.
The density of transcriptional elements in promoter and non-promoter sequences

Using data currently available from transcriptional element (TE) databases, we have analyzed the density of these elements in both promoter and non-promoter sequences obtained from the GenBank sequence database. The density of putative TEs in non-promoter sequences was about 16% higher than that seen in pseudo-random DNA sequences. Promoter TE density from the transcription startsite to 100 basepairs upstream was found to be about 42% higher than in non-promoter sequences. However, the extensive overlap of putative TE densities between promoters and non-promoters confounds an attempt to use TE density as a simple discriminator.
Comparison of the in Situ and Desorption Sediment−Water Partitioning of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Polychlorinated Biphenyls

In situ sediment−porewater partitioning of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) measured in three cores from Boston Harbor, MA, has led us to suggest that only a fraction of the total measured s...
Root‐mean‐square surface slopes of Phoenix landing sites with 75‐cm bistatic radar received by Mars Odyssey

[1] Between August and December 2005, we conducted 76 oblique-incidence scattering experiments using the SRI International 46-m antenna in the Stanford foothills to illuminate Mars for 20-min periods with an unmodulated, 75-cm λ, circularly polarized wave. The direct signal and a Martian surface echo, separated by differential Doppler frequency shifts, were received simultaneously by the one-bit receiver on board the Mars Odyssey spacecraft. Four of the proposed Phoenix landing regions, denoted A–D, were probed by at least one experiment. The surface echoes are characterized by both fluctuating amplitude and varying spectral width, which are responses to surface reflectivity and roughness variations. Our analysis of the echo data is based on quasi-specular scattering theory and makes use of high-resolution Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) topographic maps to model the scattering surface in three dimensions along the specular track of the echo. We find MOLA topography sufficient to model scattering at 75-cm λ, indicating that the effective horizontal scales being sensed by the radar are at or larger than the MOLA grid spacing of 150–500 m. We find that the RMS surface slopes for the proposed Phoenix landing regions, as determined using the Hagfors scattering law and applicable to those scales, rarely exceed 1°, except in the presence of large craters and other surface irregularities.
An Approach to Chemotherapy-Associated Toxicity

The effects of chemotherapy in multiple organ systems may be challenging to discern from the sequelae of malignancy and systemic illnesses with concomitant immunocompromise. Chemotherapeutic agents typically affect multiple organ systems. Intrathecal medication errors may pose particularly devastating neurologic consequences and death, often requiring emergent intervention. This article provides an overview of commonly used chemotherapeutic drugs, indications for use, their adverse effects by organ system, and the management of commonly encountered toxicities. Intrathecal medication errors and specific antidotes are discussed in pertinent management sections. Emergency department management should focus on rapid patient assessment, immediate intervention following intrathecal medication errors, exclusion of infection, and excellent supportive care.
Effect of cortisone acetate on experimental Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the guinea pig.

Summary1. The effect of 2 different dosage schedules of cortisone acetate on guinea pigs infected with Rocky Mountain spotted fever of varying degrees of severity has been investigated. The overall mortality rate in 25 animals given daily intramuscular injections of 1 mg of the drug, starting on the day each received, by intraperitoneal injection, an inoculum of rickettsiae, did not differ significantly from the mortality rate in infected guinea pigs which received no treatment. The severity of the infection induced by different preparations of rickettsiae varied considerably; when this factor was taken into consideration, it appeared that cortisone acetate in doses comparable to those employed in human beings reduced the mortality rate in those animals with moderately severe infections. 2. In another group of 20 animals which received daily intramuscular injections of 25 mg of cortisone acetate for 5 days at the peak of the illness (fourth through the eighth day of infection) the overall mortality rate w...
MOVING FROM GOOD IDEAS IN EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS CHANGE TO SUSTAINABLE PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION : COMING TO TERMS WITH SOME OF THE REALITIES

Proponents of systemic changes in education commonly encounter ethical, theoretical, and pragmatic challenges in moving from possibility to implementation of their vision of change. Although ethical and theoretical issues are critically important to a successful change initiative, pragmatic issues relevant to assuring program implementation have generally been understudied in the literature examining school change. The disconnects between research regarding effective practices and program implementation in schools and planning for intervention implementation and actual implementation have been increasingly recognized over the last two decades. It is much easier to talk about behavior change than it is to accomplish it. This article discusses selected issues surrounding ethical, theoretical, and pragmatic issues of systemic change, with the primary emphasis on pragmatic issues. The importance of providing programming to support implementation of new practices in schools is highlighted. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy analysis of complex silicate minerals—beryl

Beryl (Be3Al2Si6O18) is a chemically complex and highly compositionally variable gem-forming mineral found in a variety of geologic settings worldwide. A methodology and analytical protocol were developed for the analysis of beryl by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) that minimizes the coefficient of variance for multiple analyses of the same specimen. The parameters considered were laser energy/pulse, time delay and crystallographic orientation. Optimal analytical conditions are a laser energy/pulse of 102 mJ and a time delay of 2 μs. Beryl compositions measured parallel and perpendicular to the c axis were identical within analytical error. LIBS analysis of 96 beryls from 16 countries (Afghanistan, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, India, Ireland, Italy, Madagascar, Mexico, Mozambique, Namibia, Norway, Russia, Tanzania and United States), Antarctica, and ten US states (AZ, CA, CO, CT, ID, ME, NC, NH, NM and UT) were undertaken to determine whether or not LIBS analysis can be used to determine the provenance of gem beryl.
Apparent Life-Threatening Events in the Young Infant and Neonate

An apparent life-threatening event (ALTE) is characterized by some combination of apnea, change in color and tone, choking, or gagging. It is frightening to the observer and presents a difficult clinical challenge. There is no standard evaluation for an infant with an ALTE, with history and physical examination being the keys to directing the diagnostic workup. In young infants, prematurity plays a significant role in the diagnostic possibilities that include gastrointestinal, neurologic, and infectious conditions. The goal is to identify a treatable cause that will define the expected natural history. Evidence is lacking regarding the true risk of subsequent events and death vs the perceived risk of death, which is complicated by the heterogeneity of the group of infants with ALTE. The presentation, differential diagnosis, plan for evaluation, and management of the young infant with ALTE will be reviewed, as well as the relationship of ALTE and sudden infant death syndrome and the literature regarding ALTE in the newborn infant.
Immobilized protein films for assessing surface proteolysis kinetics

Enzymatic cleavage of protein substrates at solid surfaces is important in the food and detergent industries, and in biomedical applications. Creation of a reproducible protein substrate to study surface proteolysis is difficult as protein monolayers may not necessarily provide complete coverage of the surface, and protein multilayer systems are often unstable and nonuniform. We present a method to form a reproducible, immobilized, multilayer protein substrate. A 100-nm ovalbumin protein film is spin-cast onto an amine-functionalized silicon wafer and chemically cross-linked using glutaraldehyde to create a multilayer film. This protein film is stable in the presence of non-protease components such as detergents, and can be tailored to include different proteins and their mixtures, and varying degrees of susceptibility to proteolysis. Ellipsometry was used to measure the protein-film thickness as the substrate is cleaved by the protease subtilisin Carlsberg. The decrease in film thickness over time was found to be linear, indicating the depth-homogeneity of the model substrates. Lateral-homogeneity of the substrates was corroborated by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and by the reproducibility of the ellipsometric film thickness measured across different spots on the sample substrates. AFM of the multilayer protein surface before and after exposure to enzyme suggests uniform areal surface cleavage by the protease.
High-gain step-profiled integrated horn antennas

A novel step-profiled horn which reduces the effective flare angle of the horn and allows for a gain of the order of 16 dB-20 dB to be achieved is proposed. The circular symmetry of the horn is enhanced by positioning the exciting dipole along the diagonal of the horn. A design example is shown in which the 10 dB beamwidth is reduced to 40 degrees with an identical beamwidth in both the principle E and H planes and in the 45 degrees plane. >
Genetic and Environmental Influences on Levels of Self-Control and Delinquent Peer Affiliation: Results from a Longitudinal Sample of Adolescent Twins

Despite the fact that low self-control and exposure to delinquent peers are two of the most robust and consistent predictors of crime, delinquency, and antisocial behavior, much remains unknown about what causes self-control to develop and what causes youths to befriend antisocial peers. This study estimated the relative effects of environmental and genetic factors on levels of self-control and contact with delinquent peers in a sample of twins from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). DeFries-Fulker analysis of the Add Health data revealed that both self-control and contact with drug-using friends were influenced by genetic factors and the nonshared environment, whereas the shared environment exhibited relatively small and inconsistent effects. Implications for self-control theory and social learning theory are discussed.
Influence of obesity on surgical regional anesthesia in the ambulatory setting: an analysis of 9,038 blocks.

Background: Regional anesthesia is increasing in popularity for ambulatory surgical procedures. Concomitantly, the prevalence of obesity in the United States population is increasing. The objective of the present investigation was to assess the impact of body mass index (BMI) on patient outcomes after ambulatory regional anesthesia. Methods: This study was based on prospectively collected data including 9,038 blocks performed on 6,920 patients in a single ambulatory surgery center. Patients were categorized into three groups according to their BMI (<25 kg/m 2 , 25-29 kg/m 2 , ≥30 kg/m 2 ). Block efficacy, rate of acute complications, postoperative pain (at rest and with movement), postoperative nausea and vomiting, rate of unscheduled hospital admissions, and overall patient satisfaction were assessed. Linear and logistic multivariable analyses were used to obtain the risk-adjusted effect of BMI on these outcomes. Results: Of all patients 34.8% had a BMI <25 kg/m 2 , 34.0% were overweight (BMI 25-29 kg/m 2 ), and 31.3% were obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ). Patients with BMI ≥30 kg/m 2 were 1.62 times more likely to have a failed block (P = 0.04). The unadjusted rate of acute complications was higher in obese patients (P = 0.001). However, when compared with patients with a normal BMI, postoperative pain at rest, unanticipated admissions, and overall satisfaction were similar in overweight and obese patients. Conclusions: The present investigation shows that obesity is associated with higher block failure and complication rates in surgical regional anesthesia in the ambulatory setting. Nonetheless, the rate of successful blocks and overall satisfaction remained high in patients with increased BMI. Therefore, overweight and obese patients should not be excluded from regional anesthesia procedures in the ambulatory setting.
Prey food quality affects flagellate ingestion rates.

Flagellate feeding efficiency appears to depend on morphological characteristics of prey such as cell size and motility, as well as on other characteristics such as digestibility and cell surface characteristics. Bacteria of varying morphological characteristics (cell size) and mineral nutrient characteristics or food quality (as determined by the C:N:P ratio) were obtained by growing Pseudomonas fluorescens in chemostats at four dilution rates (0.03, 0.06, 0.10, and 0.13 h−1) and three temperatures (14°C, 20°C, and 28°C). Cells of a given food quality were heat-killed and used to grow the flagellate Ochromonas danica. Ingestion and digestion rates were determined by using fluorescently labeled bacteria of the same food quality as the bacteria supporting growth. Ingestion rates were affected by both food quality and cell size. Cells of high food quality (low carbon:element ratio) were ingested at higher rates than cells of low food quality. Multiple regression analysis indicated that cell size also influenced ingestion rate but to a much lesser extent than did food quality. Digestion rates were not correlated with either food quality or cell size. Results suggest that flagellates may adjust feeding efficiency based on the quality of food items available.
The state of nutrition support teams and update on current models for providing nutrition support therapy to patients.

Summary The current survey was answered primarily by dietitians (73.9%). The percent response rate received from each clinical discipline (dietitian, pharmacist, nurse, and phy-sician) mirrored the membership of A.S.P.E.N. The majority of respondents had been A.S.P.E.N. members (70%) for less than 5 years (60%). Most of the respon-dents worked clinically at acute care hospitals (87%). NSTs were the model for providing nutrition support therapy 42% of the time. This percentage has remained relatively stable over the past 3 decades. However, 23% of institutions with no current NST formerly had one. The most common reasons for not having an NST included decentralized nutrition support services (24%), lack of physician leadership interest (23%), finances (17%), lack of administrative support (12%), and lack of time (10%). Twenty-two percent of institutions without an NST that formerly had one felt that patient outcomes had been adversely affected by this change. Those institutions with-out an NST had multiple individual clinicians writing nutrition orders 43% of the time.Respondents planning to start an NST reported that they would require the following to be successful: evi-dence-based guidelines (34%), financial support (22%), and interdisciplinary cooperation (22%).In conclusion, some distinct findings in this current survey capture current trends in relation to NSTs and how nutrition support therapy is managed at various institutions (Table 2). There does not appear to be one “best practice” model for providing optimal nutrition support therapy to patients. Whether an institution has a thriving NST, for-merly had one, is now functioning in a decentralized inter-disciplinary model or is gearing up to create an NST, it is clear that dietitians, pharmacists, physicians, and nurses each play important roles in improving the nutrition status of patients, but the safety and efficacy of care are enhanced when they collaborate as a team.
Estimation of space-time clutter rank for subarrayed data

In this paper, a new expression is provided for the rank of the space-time clutter covariance matrix when spatial subarrays are employed to combine the antenna array elements. The new results are applicable to subarrays that are overlapped, adjacent to one another, or separated with a gap in the underlying element structure. It is only assumed that the underlying element structure is uniform and that the subarrays are constructed in an identical fashion with uniform spacing. It is recognized that the case in which the subarrays are separated corresponds to a regularly spaced "sparse" collection of subarrays. Conditions are provided to indicate when the new expression is exact and when it is an upper bound. The situations where the new expression for clutter rank is exact correspond to new families of scenarios (beyond those previously described in the literature) in which the clutter rank "collapses" due to spatial aliasing. In situations where the new expression is an upper bound, simulations have shown that the new expression is significantly tighter than previously published results. It is expected that the reader may utilize these results to select system parameters to minimize the complexity of the clutter mitigation structure, for airborne or spaceborne radar applications.
Quantitative adhesion measures of multilayer films: Part I. Indentation mechanics

The mechanics for calculating the quantitative driving force of indentation-induced delamination of thin-film multilayers is presented. The solution is based on the mechanics developed by Marshall and Evans [D.B. Marshall and A.G. Evans, J. Appl. Phys. 56, 2632 (1984).] and extended to the general case of a multilayer by use of standard bending and thin-plate analyses. Presented and discussed are the specific solutions for the bilayer case that show that in the limit of zero thickness of either layer, the solution converges to the single-layer case. In the range of finite thickness, the presence of the superlayer increases the driving force relative to that possible for the original film alone and can be optimized to the experimental situation by proper choice of thickness, elastic constants, and residual stress. The companion paper “Quantitative adhesion measures of multilayer films: Part II. Indentation of W/Cu, W/W, Cr/W” discusses experimental results with copper, tungsten, and chromium thin films.
Using the Software Engineering Code of Ethics in Professional Computing Issues

This paper uses examples of realistic, ethically-charged decisions that computing professionals face, and explore how the the software engineering code of ethics is useful in making wise and creative decisions. We illustrate the ethical impacts of choice of software process model, architecture, and design patterns using real world examples including examples from Grady Booch. We practice some of the ethics training techniques that have successfully been used by some corporations in the computer-related industries.
Genetic regulation of prostate development.

ABSTRACT: Prostatic development is a dynamic process in which basic mechanisms of epithelial outgrowth and epithelial-mesenchymal interaction are initiated by androgens and androgen receptor signaling. Even in adulthood, the prostate's function remains tightly regulated by androgens—without them, pathologic diseases, including hyperplastic and malignant growth that together plague nearly 50% of aging males, do not occur. Unraveling the etiology of these pathologic processes is a complex and important goal. In fact, many insights into these processes have come from an intimate understanding of the complex signaling networks that regulate physiologic prostatic growth in development. This review aims to highlight important key molecules such as Nkx3.1, sonic hedgehog, and Sry box 9, as well as key signaling pathways including the fibroblast growth factor and wingless pathways. These molecules and pathways are critical for prostate development with both known and postulated roles in prostatic pathology.
Edge detection applied to satellite imagery of the oceans

A computer edge-detection algorithm for automatic delineation of mesoscale structure in digital satellite IR (infrared) images of the ocean is developed. The popular derivative-based edge operators are shown to be too sensitive to edge fine-structure and to weak gradients to be useful in this application. The edge-detection algorithm is based on the gray level cooccurrence matrix (GLC), which is commonly used in image texture analysis. The cluster shade texture measure derived from the GLC matrix is found to be an excellent edge detector that exhibits the characteristic of fine-structure rejection while retaining edge sharpness. This characteristic is highly desirable for analyzing oceanographic satellite images. >
Experimental evaluation of game theoretic power allocation in MIMO ad-hoc networks

Multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication systems in an ad-hoc network can provide high spectral efficiency. Several resource allocation methods have been presented and experimentally demonstrated to improve performance in a resource limited environment. Recently, a game theoretic method has been published with promising results. The goal of this paper is to present simulation and experimental results for this game theoretic technique.
Lack of effects of ethanol pretreatment on the abuse liability of nitrous oxide in light and moderate drinkers.

Aims. To determine effects of ethanol-use history and ethanol pretreatment on abuse liability of nitrous oxide (N 2 O). Design. Placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over design evaluating effects of N 2 O, 0% (100% O 2 , placebo) and 30% (in O 2 ), in the presence of three doses of ethanol: 0 g/kg (placebo), 0.35 g/kg and 0. 7 g/kg. Setting. Subjects sat in a reclining chair in a hospital laboratory. Participants. Eight healthy light drinkers (one drink or less/week) and eight healthy moderate drinkers (seven or more drinks/week) with no history of drug dependence completed the study. Intervention. On three sessions (1, 3, 5) subjects drank a beverage that contained one of the three ethanol doses, then sampled for 10 minute each 0% and 30% N 2 O. During choice sessions (2, 4, 6), subjects received the same ethanol dose as in the previous session, then chose six times, once every 5 min, between 0% and 30% N 2 O. Measurements. Subjective (self-reported) drug effects, reinforcing effects of N 2 O as assessed by choice, and psychomotor effects were measured. Findings. Choice of N 2 O did not differ between light (mean = 3.4 choices) and moderate (mean = 3.2 choices) drinkers and was not influenced by ethanol dose (0 g/kg: 3.3 choices, 0.35 g/kg: 3.5 choices, 0.7 g/kg: 3.1 choices). Subjective effects of N 2 O also did not depend on ethanol-use history or ethanol dose. N 2 O liking and desire to inhale the drug again were positively correlated with N 2 O choice. Conclusions. Ethanol pretreatment and ethanol-use history had no effect on the abuse liability of N 2 O as assessed in the present study.
Molecular and Functional Characterization of a Murine Calcium-activated Chloride Channel Expressed in Smooth Muscle

To identify the gene products responsible for the calcium-activated chloride current in smooth muscle, reverse transcription-PCR with degenerate primers was performed on mouse intestine and other organs. A new member of the CLCA gene family was identified, mCLCA4, that is expressed preferentially in organs containing a high percentage of smooth muscle cells, including intestine, stomach, uterus, bladder, and aorta. Reverse transcription-PCR using template RNA prepared from mouse bladder and stomach smooth muscle layers dissected free of mucosa yielded mCLCA4-specific bands. In situ hybridization with an mCLCA4-specific probe confirmed prominent expression in smooth muscle of major vessels of the heart but not cardiac muscle. High expression was also detected in the gastrointestinal tract, in bronchioles, and in aortic and lung endothelial cells. Transient expression of mCLCA4 in 293T cells resulted in the appearance of a prominent calcium-activated chloride current. Whole-cell currents activated by ionomycin or methacholine were anion-selective and showed minimal rectification or voltage-dependent gating. Similar to endogenous currents in smooth muscle cells, methacholine-induced currents were transient, and spontaneous transient inward currents were occasionally observed at resting membrane potentials. These results link calcium-activated chloride channels in smooth muscle with a gene family whose members have been implicated in cystic fibrosis, cancer, and asthma.
Free Surface Effects on the Near-Inertial Ocean Current Response to a Hurricane: A Revisit

Free surface effects induced by an idealized hurricane based on observed air‐sea variables in Hurricane Frederic are revisited to examine the barotropic and baroclinic response. Over five inertial periods comparisons between a one-layer and a 17-level model indicate a difference of 6‐8 cm s21 in the depth-averaged current and sea level oscillations of 4‐5 cm. In a one-layer simulation, the surface slope geostrophically balances the depthaveraged current, whereas the 17-level model simulations indicate a near-inertially oscillating current of 7‐8 cm s21 found by removing the depth-averaged flow from the geostrophic currents induced by the surface slope. Surface undulations are driven by the depth-averaged nonlinear terms in the density equation, that is, [ u ], rx [yry], and [wrz]. Based on fits of the 17 levels of demodulated horizontal velocities at 1.03f ( f the Coriolis parameter) to the eigenfunctions, maximum amplitudes of the barotropic and first baroclinic modes are 7 and 58 cm s 21, respectively. The barotropic mode amplitude is consistent with the current found by removing the depth-averaged flow from the geostrophic current that contributes 2%‐3% to the energy in the near-inertial wave pass band. Vertical velocity eigenfunctions at the surface indicate that the barotropic mode is at least 50 to 80 times larger than the baroclinic mode. Surface displacements by the barotropic mode have amplitudes of 64 cm, explaining 90% to 95% of the height variations. The first baroclinic mode contributes about 0.2‐0.4 cm to the free surface displacements. The weak barotropic near-inertial current provides a physical mechanism for the eventual breakup of the sea surface depression induced by the hurricane’s wind stress and surface Ekman divergence.
Statistical Considerations in Geriatric Drug Testing

Clinical studies [hat involve [he elderly must incorporate some unique slatistical design and analysis considerations. Analysis of dala from these sludies as well as the collection of data require special efforts lo assure thar variations have been recognized and taken into account. Potential study designs and data presentations are discussed.
Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going? A Conceptual Framework for Child Advocacy:

The primary goal of this article is to chart the development of child advocacy as an interdisciplinary field of study and conclude with a conceptual framework for research and higher education in child advocacy. Historically, child advocacy has justifiably focused on protection needs. Values and assumptions about children’s best interest have also governed child advocacy, in part because evidence to inform decisions was lacking and in part because of its history as an activist movement. Against this historical backdrop, we describe contemporary trends in child advocacy that reconcile children’s protection with their inherent rights to personhood. We rely on the principles and articles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, most notably children’s rights to participation and self-expression. At the same time, we demonstrate how values and ideology are being integrated with empiricism and objective analysis to inform policy and practice in child advocacy. The future of child advocacy depends on continued synthesis of rights and protection as well as values and rigorous analysis. From this perspective, we offer a conceptual framework for research and education in child advocacy.
Consequences of Defective Tubulin Folding on Heterodimer Levels, Mitosis and Spindle Morphology in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

In budding yeast, the essential roles of microtubules include segregating chromosomes and positioning the nucleus during mitosis. Defects in these functions can lead to aneuploidy and cell death. To ensure proper mitotic spindle and cytoplasmic microtubule formation, the cell must maintain appropriate stoichiometries of α- and β-tubulin, the basic subunits of microtubules. The experiments described here investigate the minimal levels of tubulin heterodimers needed for mitotic function. We have found a triple-mutant strain, pac10Δ plp1Δ yap4Δ, which has only 20% of wild-type tubulin heterodimer levels due to synthesis and folding defects. The anaphase spindles in these cells are ∼64% the length of wild-type spindles. The mutant cells are viable and accurately segregate chromosomes in mitosis, but they do have specific defects in mitosis such as abnormal nuclear positioning. The results establish that cells with 20% of wild-type levels of tubulin heterodimers can perform essential cellular functions with a short spindle, but require higher tubulin heterodimer concentrations to attain normal spindle length and prevent mitotic defects.
Pseudospectra, MUSIC, and dynamic wavelet neural network for damage detection of highrise buildings

A non-parametric system identification-based model is presented for damage detection of highrise building structures subjected to seismic excitations using the dynamic fuzzy wavelet neural network (WNN) model developed by the authors. The model does not require complete measurements of the dynamic responses of the whole structure. A large structure is divided into a series of sub-structures around a few pre-selected floors where sensors are placed and measurements are made. The new model balances the global and local influences of the training data and incorporates the imprecision existing in the sensor data effectively, thus resulting in fast training convergence and high accuracy. A new damage evaluation method is proposed based on a power density spectrum method, called pseudospectrum. The multiple signal classification (MUSIC) method is employed to compute the pseudospectrum from the structural response time series. The methodology is validated using the data obtained for a 38-storey concrete test model. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the WNN model together with the pseudospectrum method for damage detection of highrise buildings based on a small amount of sensed data. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Peripheral arterial disease is only the tip of the atherosclerotic "iceberg".

62-year-old Cuban-born woman presents to her primary care physician with pains in the right calf after walking 1 city block, of 5 months’ duration. Following an automobile accident the year before, she had developed a mild degree of spinal stenosis in the lower lumbar spine revealed by magnetic resonance imaging. On the basis of this finding, the patient had been treated as an orthopedic problem. Further questioning revealed additional history that included relief of her calf muscle pain after 1 minute of rest, essential hypertension for the past 5 years and diabetes mellitus type 2, of 6 years’ duration. With this history, the doctor was quite certain that peripheral artery disease (PAD) was responsible for the patient’s presenting symptoms. No cardiac or cerebrovascular symptoms were elicited on system review. QUESTIONS
Quantity Discounts from Risk Averse Sellers

It is widely believed that larger customers in a market can secure lower prices than smaller customers. This paper presents conditions under which risk averse sellers, who can distinguish larger customers from smaller customers, but who cannot observe customers' valuations, have an incentive to offer lower prices to larger customers. The intuition is that a single customer that demands a specific quantity represents a riskier profit source than multiple customers with independent valuations whose demands sum to that same quantity. Sellers respond to the riskier profit source by offering a lower price to reduce some of the risk. The paper suggests the existence of a "pure customer size effect" that would always create an incentive for sellers to offer larger customers lower prices. It also suggests two other effects, one due to a change in the size of the market and the other based on the mix of large and small customers. These effects may either reinforce or counteract the pure customer size effect, depending on the nature of the seller's utility function.
Innovation and Regulation in ICT. Keys for Development

The expansion of broadband speed and coverage over IP technology, which extend over transport and terminal access networks, has increased the demand for applications and content which by being provided over it, uniformly give rise to convergence. These shifts in technologies and enterprise business models are giving rise to the necessity for changing the perspective and scope of the Universal Service and of the regulation frameworks, with this last one based in the same principles as always but varying its application. Several aspects require special and renewed attention, such as the definition of relevant markets and dominant operators, the role of packages, interconnection of IP networks, network neutrality, the use of the spectrum with a vision of value for the citizenship, the application of the competition framework, new forms of licensing, treatment of the risk in the networks, changes in the regulatory authorities, amongst others. These matters are treated from the perspective of the actual trends in the world and its conceptual justification.