cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Direct measurement of electron numbers created at near-infrared laser-induced ionization of various gases

In this work, we present temporally resolved measurements of electron numbers created at photoionization of various gases by a femtosecond-laser pulse at 800 nm wavelength. The experiments were conducted in O2, Xe, Ar, N2, Kr, and CO at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. Elastic microwave scattering was used to directly measure the electron numbers. Numbers of electrons in the range 3 × 108–3 × 1012 were produced by the laser pulse energies 100–700 μJ. After the laser pulse, plasma decayed on the time scale from 1 to 40 ns depending on the gas type and governed by two competing processes, namely, the creation of new electrons from ionization of the metastable atoms and loss of the electrons due to dissociative recombination and attachment to oxygen.
Regulatory changes and the cost of capital for banks

We examine the eﬀects of regulatory changes on banks’ cost of capital and lending. Since the passage of the Dodd-Frank Act, the value-weighted CAPM cost of capital for banks has averaged 10.5 percent and declined by more than 4 percent on a within-ﬁrm basis relative to ﬁnancial crisis highs. This decrease was much greater for the largest banks subject to new regulation than for other banks and ﬁrms. Over a longer twenty-year horizon, we ﬁnd that changes in the systematic risk of bank equity have real economic consequences: increases in banks’ cost of capital are associated with tightening in credit supply and loan rates.
Powder Reuse in Electron Beam Melting Additive Manufacturing of Ti6Al4V: Particle Microstructure, Oxygen Content and Mechanical Properties

Abstract As metal Additive Manufacturing (AM) becomes more widely adopted in the aerospace and orthopedic industries, there is increasing demand to improve part quality and reduce overall cost. The high cost of powder feedstock has raised interest in recovering unmelted powder in the build chamber and its reuse in subsequent builds. While degradation in powder properties with recovery and reuse can cause degradation in part properties, this topic has received rather limited attention. In this study the properties of Ti6Al4V metal powder are evaluated over 30 build cycles in Electron Beam Melting (EBM) AM. The morphological, microstructural, mechanical, and chemical changes are evaluated in cross-sectioned powder particles and compared to isolated control samples to understand the mechanisms of degradation. Results show that in response to the elevated build chamber temperature, the powder undergoes a sub-beta-transus aging heat treatment with powder reuse. Based on nanoindentation hardness measurements, the particles undergo an increase in near-surface hardness (up to 2 GPa) with respect to the core. Moreover, tint etching revealed an oxidized surface layers consistent with alpha case formation. The particle hardening appears to result from oxygen diffusion during powder recovery and not work hardening related to the mechanical aspects of that process. These results demonstrate the importance of managing/mitigating oxidation of metal powder feedstock to improve its reusability and increasing its overall lifetime.
Effect of Aging on Daily Rhythms of Lactate Metabolism in the Medial Prefrontal Cortex of Male Mice.

Abstract Aging is associated with reduced amplitude and earlier timing of circadian (daily) rhythms in sleep, brain function, and behavior. We examined whether age-related circadian dysfunction extends to the metabolic function of the brain, particularly in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Using enzymatic amperometric biosensors, we recorded lactate concentration changes in the PFC in Young (7 mos) and Aged (19 mos) freely-behaving C57BL/6N male mice. Both Young and Aged mice displayed diurnal and circadian rhythms of lactate, with the Aged rhythm slightly phase advanced. Under constant conditions, the Aged rhythm showed a reduced amplitude not seen in the Young mice. We simultaneously observed a relationship between arousal state and PFC lactate rhythm via electroencephalography, which was modified by aging. Finally, using RT-qPCR, we found that aging affects the daily expression pattern of Glucose Transporter 1 (GLUT-1).
Ni-Catalyzed Regioselective 1,2-Dialkylation of Alkenes Enabled by the Formation of Two C(sp3)-C(sp3) Bonds.

We disclose a Ni-catalyzed vicinal difunctionalization of alkenes with benzyl halides and alkylzinc reagents, which produces products with two new alkyl–alkyl bonds. This alkene dialkylation is eff...
Multilayered Solid-State Neutron Sensor

Recent advances in semiconductor processing technology have enabled development of a solid-state neutron sensor with exceptional efficiency for its unique reduced size. The boron-10 ( $n$ , alpha) capture reaction is used to detect incident thermal neutrons. This reaction offers significant advantages for a small detector because the reaction products have high energies which can generate a large number of charge carriers in semiconductor materials by impact ionization. The enabling and differentiating technology of the sensor design is a stack consisting of multiple bilayers alternating between converter material (boron) and collector semiconductor material (silicon). As the number of these bilayers increases, the probability of a neutron interacting with boron-10 in at least one of the bilayers—so it is captured in the detector before it has a chance to pass through—approaches unity. The sensor can be made very thin while also remaining highly efficient, offering a unique possibility for low-profile in situ dosimetry. Calculations have shown that a multilayer sensor with an efficiency greater than 70% is feasible in a sensor stack 2 mm thick.
Geotechnical slope stability and rockfall debris related safety assessments of rock cuts adjacent to a rail track using aerial photogrammetry data analysis

Abstract Transportation infrastructure facilitates the accessibility and mobility of goods, people, and services through its vast network spanning across the USA. The departments of transportation (DOT) agencies face many challenges in monitoring and maintaining these infrastructure assets for continuing their service and operations, especially those located adjacent to slopes in rural and remote areas. Mobilizing and conducting traditional infrastructure inspections in those conditions can be laborious and time-consuming. Also, the unstable or highly weathered rock slopes pose significant rockfall hazards due to the moisture content, intrusion, and temperature changes, transpired over a period of time, causing weathering and rockfalls, ultimately resulting in debris accumulation. Recently, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in conjunction with close-range photogrammetry techniques are being researched and used ubiquitously for infrastructure monitoring applications in and around mountainous regions. In this study, a rock-cut located in a remote terrain where a rail track was passing through was aerially inspected and imaged for performing a comprehensive safety assessment and analysis to evaluate the stability of rock-cut and ways to assess rockfall safety zones and boundaries. A unique approach was developed by leveraging the aerial mapping and data compilation along with an immersive three-dimensional visualization of slopes for conducting stability analysis followed by the evaluation of rockfall debris zones adjacent to rail tracks. Successful assessments conducted in this study indicate that the methodologies will benefit the transportation agencies in effectively monitoring and managing transportation infrastructure adjacent to hilly terrains and ensure the maintenance of safe clearance zones needed to safeguard the public and property.
A host receptor enables type 1 pilus-mediated pathogenesis of Escherichia coli pyelonephritis

Type 1 pili have long been considered the major virulence factor enabling colonization of the urinary bladder by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). The molecular pathogenesis of pyelonephritis is less well characterized, due to previous limitations in preclinical modeling of kidney infection. Here, we demonstrate in a recently developed mouse model that beyond bladder infection, type 1 pili also are critical for establishment of ascending pyelonephritis. Bacterial mutants lacking the type 1 pilus adhesin (FimH) were unable to establish kidney infection in male C3H/HeN mice. We developed an in vitro model of FimH-dependent UPEC binding to renal collecting duct cells, and performed a CRISPR screen in these cells, identifying desmoglein-2 as a primary renal epithelial receptor for FimH. The mannosylated extracellular domain of human DSG2 bound directly to the lectin domain of FimH in vitro, and introduction of a mutation in the FimH mannose-binding pocket abolished binding to DSG2. In infected C3H/HeN mice, type 1-piliated UPEC and Dsg2 were co-localized within collecting ducts, and administration of mannoside FIM1033, a potent small-molecule inhibitor of FimH, significantly attenuated bacterial loads in pyelonephritis. Our results broaden the biological importance of FimH, specify the first renal FimH receptor, and indicate that FimH-targeted therapeutics will also have application in pyelonephritis.
Bacitracin, Bacillus subtilis, and Eimeria spp. challenge exacerbates woody breast incidence and severity in broilers.

Woody breast (WB) is a myopathy that is related to the increasing growth rate. Understanding the influence of management factors on WB formation and development is important to minimize WB. This study was conducted to define how management factors affect broiler growth performance, processing yield, and WB incidence. Ross × Ross 708 chicks were randomly assigned to a 3 (diet) × 2 (cocci challenge) × 2 (sex) factorial arrangement of treatments. The 3 dietary treatments were: control diet (corn-soybean meal basal diet), antibiotic diet (basal diet + 6.075 mg bacitracin /kg feed), and probiotic diet (basal diet + 2.2 × 108 CFU Bacillus subtilis PB6/kg feed). Birds in cocci challenge treatments received 20 × live cocci vaccine on d 14. The hardness of breast muscle in live birds was determined by palpation and grouped into Normal, Slight, Moderate, and Severe categories. Across diet and sex treatments, the cocci challenge resulted in decreases in body weight (BW) on d 29 and 35 (P 0.05). Across sex, the antibiotic and probiotic diets increased WB incidence for those birds that did not receive a cocci challenge on d 43 (P = 0.040). Across challenge and diet treatments, males exhibited a higher BW, BWG, and GR throughout all growth phases, and males showed a higher WB incidence on d 29, 35, and 43 (P = 0.002, P < 0.0001, and P = 0.0002, respectively). In conclusion, bacitracin and Eimeria spp. increased WB incidence, BW, and GR. However, Bacillus subtilis increased WB incidence in male broilers without affecting BW and GR.
Review of Introduction to Forensic Anthropology: A Textbook

This is a very good book. In 1998 Steven Byers started to teach an undergraduate course in forensic anthropology. He quickly came to the conclusion that no suitable text for this purpose existed. While there are a number of excellent texts that have been published in this field, virtually all are directed at graduate students or experienced physical anthropologists. I can attest to the accuracy of this assessment. In the undergraduate course in forensic science that I teach I have been forced to rely on materials that I have prepared myself, supplemented by journal articles and by information available on internet websites.
Statius' Silvae and the Poetics of Empire: Engendering the house: Silvae 1.2 and 3.4

Her snowy neck like to a marble tower, And all her body like a palace fair, Ascending up, with many a stately stair, To honor's seat and chastity's sweet bower. Edmund Spenser, Epithalamion Silv . 1. 1 and 4. 6 stand at opposite ends of the poetic and political spectrum in Statius' poetry book. Statius' poetry of praise, however, contains a variety of negotiatory positions. This chapter will consider two poems that once again structurally and thematically complement one another, Silv . 1. 2 and Silv . 3. 4. They are admittedly addressed to people of very different social status – in Silv . 1. 2 the aristocratic Stella and his new wife Violentilla, in Silv . 3. 4 Domitian's court eunuch Earinus. Yet both poems explore social and sexual identity through the domestic space of a grand house and palace respectively. Gender and architecture are here integral to both the reinforcement and the questioning of traditional values in the Flavian age. Indeed, the literary construction of a woman and a eunuch through their houses implicitly raises the question of what constitutes ‘Romanness’ at the end of the first century ad . Silv . 1. 2 celebrates the marriage of a couple who were fairly prominent figures within Roman society, Arruntius Stella and his wife Violentilla. Stella is the subject of several poems by Martial. Silv . 1. 2 tells us that at the time of his marriage Stella was one of the quindecimviri (176–7), hoping, it seems, for further speedy advancement (174–81).
Aggressive course of multiple de novo cavernous malformations.

The risk of hemorrhage from an intracerebral cavernous malformation has been estimated at 2%–4% per year. In patients with multiple cavernous malformations, typically there are 1 or 2 dominant lesions that result in symptoms. This report highlights an unusual case of recurrent hemorrhage from de novo cavernous malformations. This 35-year-old man had a generalized seizure in 2007. Magnetic resonance imaging performed at the time showed multiple hemorrhagic lesions suggestive of cavernous malformations. Two years later, the patient had clinical symptoms referable to a midbrain hemorrhage. This lesion was not present on 2007 standard and gradient echo images. One year later, the patient had another clinical hemorrhage at the cervical medullary junction. This lesion was also not present on earlier imaging. Genetic testing was negative for the known familial types of cavernous malformation. A lesion was biopsied to ensure correct diagnosis, and the results were pathologically consistent with a cavernous malfor...
Surgical Approach to Papillary Carcinoma

General aspects for the approach for patients with thyroid nodules proven to be malignant are discussed earlier in this volume. Without prospective studies comparing various surgical or postsurgical therapies, the debate over which procedure to select is likely to continue. Most thyroid surgeons agree that the minimal operation for a thyroid nodule suspicious for malignancy is a total thyroid lobectomy and isthmectomy on the side of the nodule. The reason for this recommendation is that if further surgery is needed, one does not have to operate in an area of scar tissue, and risks of complications (e.g., hypoparathyroidism or recurrent laryngeal nerve injury) should be minimized (1). Furthermore, thyroid tissue remaining after a partial thyroidectomy may be difficult to remove during a second procedure because of its adherence to the surrounding structures. This chapter addresses aspects of the surgical management of papillary thyroid carcinoma, and special considerations regarding follicular, medullary, and anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid are discussed in later chapters of this volume.
Role of RAG1 autoubiquitination in V(D)J recombination

The variable domains of Ig and T-cell receptor genes in vertebrates are assembled from gene fragments by the V(D)J recombination process. The RAG1–RAG2 recombinase (RAG1/2) initiates this recombination by cutting DNA at the borders of recombination signal sequences (RSS) and their neighboring gene segments. The RAG1 protein is also known to contain a ubiquitin E3 ligase activity, located in an N-terminal region that is not strictly required for the basic recombination reaction but helps to regulate recombination. The isolated E3 ligase domain was earlier shown to ubiquitinate one site in a neighboring RAG1 sequence. Here we show that autoubiquitination of full-length RAG1 at this specific residue (K233) results in a large increase of DNA cleavage by RAG1/2. A mutational block of the ubiquitination site abolishes this effect and inhibits recombination of a test substrate in mouse cells. Thus, ubiquitination of RAG1, which can be promoted by RAG1’s own ubiquitin ligase activity, plays a significant role in governing the level of V(D)J recombination activity.
Liturgical Irenicism and the Unity of the Church

The liturgy has often been a source of conflict within Christian communities. After comparing several recent exhortations by Pope Francis and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI concerning the importance of the unity of the Church, this essay examines resources for articulating an approach of “liturgical irenicism” on the basis of texts from Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, and the Magisterium of the Church.
Nonmucosal alphavirus vaccination stimulates a mucosal inductive environment in the peripheral draining lymph node.

The strongest mucosal immune responses are induced following mucosal Ag delivery and processing in the mucosal lymphoid tissues, and much is known regarding the immunological parameters which regulate immune induction via this pathway. Recently, experimental systems have been identified in which mucosal immune responses are induced following nonmucosal Ag delivery. One such system, footpad delivery of Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus replicon particles (VRP), led to the local production of IgA Abs directed against both expressed and codelivered Ags at multiple mucosal surfaces in mice. In contrast to the mucosal delivery pathway, little is known regarding the lymphoid structures and immunological components that are responsible for mucosal immune induction following nonmucosal delivery. In this study, we have used footpad delivery of VRP to probe the constituents of this alternative pathway for mucosal immune induction. Following nonmucosal VRP delivery, J chain-containing, polymeric IgA Abs were detected in the peripheral draining lymph node (DLN), at a time before IgA detection at mucosal surfaces. Further analysis of the VRP DLN revealed up-regulated α4β7 integrin expression on DLN B cells, expression of mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule 1 on the DLN high endothelia venules, and production of IL-6 and CC chemokines, all characteristics of mucosal lymphoid tissues. Taken together, these results implicate the peripheral DLN as an integral component of an alternative pathway for mucosal immune induction. A further understanding of the critical immunological and viral components of this pathway may significantly improve both our knowledge of viral-induced immunity and the efficacy of viral-based vaccines.
Informed consent conversations and documents: A quantitative comparison.

BACKGROUND Informed consent for clinical research includes 2 components: informed consent documents (ICDs) and informed consent conversations (ICCs). Readability software has been used to help simplify the language of the ICD, but to the authors' knowledge is rarely used to assess the language used during the ICC, which may influence the quality of informed consent. The current analysis was performed to determine whether length and reading levels of transcribed ICCs are lower than their corresponding ICDs for selected clinical trials, and to assess whether investigator experience affected the use of simpler language and comprehensiveness. METHODS The current study was a prospective study in which ICCs were audiorecorded at 6 institutions when families were offered participation in pediatric phase I oncology trials. Word count, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), and Flesch Reading Ease score (FRES) of the ICCs were compared with corresponding ICDs, including the frequency with which investigators addressed 8 prespecified critical consent elements during the ICC. RESULTS Sixty-nine unique physician/protocol pairs were identified. Overall, ICCs contained fewer words (4677 vs 6364 words; P = .0016) and had a lower FKGL (6 vs 9.7; P ≤ .0001) and a higher FRES (77.8 vs 56.7; P<.0001) compared with their respective ICDs, but were more likely to omit critical consent elements, such as voluntariness (55%) and dose-limiting toxicities (26%). Years of investigator experience was not correlated with reliably covering critical elements or decreased linguistic complexity. CONCLUSIONS Clinicians use more understandable language during ICCs than the corresponding ICD, but appear to less reliably cover elements critical to fully informed consent. Efforts focused at providing communication training for clinician-investigators should be made to optimize the synergy between the ICD and the ICC. Cancer 2016;122:464–469. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
Multigrid Integration for Interactive Deformable Body Simulation

Simulation of soft tissue behavior for surgical training systems is a particularly demanding application of deformable modeling. Explicit integration methods on single mesh require small time step to maintain stability, but this produces slow convergence spatially through the object. In this paper, we propose a multigrid integration scheme to improve the stability and convergence of explicit integration. Our multigrid method uses multiple unstructured independent meshes on the same object. It is shown that, with the proposed multigrid integration, both stability and convergence can be improved significantly over single level explicit integration.
Decoding of text lines in grayscale document images

The Document Image Decoding (DID) framework for recognizing printed text in images has been shown in previous work to achieve extremely high recognition accuracy when its models are well matched to the data. To date, DID has been restricted to binary images, in part for computational reasons, and in part because binary scanning is widely available and often of sufficient spatial resolution to make the use of grayscale information unnecessary for reliable recognition. Advances in computer speed and memory, along with the emergence of low-cost digital still cameras and similar devices as alternatives to traditional scanners, motivates the extension of the DID formalism to the low-spatial-resolution grayscale and color domains. To do so requires substantially generalizing DID's image-formation and degradation models. This paper lays out an approach and presents preliminary results on real data.
Purposiveness and Leisure-Time Physical Activity in Women in Early Midlife

Physical activity in early midlife has important implications for women's health. The present cross-sectional study investigated the relation of purposiveness to leisure-time physical activity, as mediated by health investment, in a sample of women in early midlife. Participants were 211 women between the ages of 35 and 45 years (mean 40.55 years, SD = 3.11) who responded to the second wave of the study of Midlife Development in the United States. Participants were originally selected by means of a nationally representative random-digit-dialing procedure. A structural equation analysis of data with latent variables was conducted with MPLUS. Purposiveness was indexed by measures of purpose in life, personal growth, and future planning. Health investment was indexed by thought and effort committed to health and the extent to which individuals worked hard to stay healthy. Leisure-time physical activity was indexed by both moderate and vigorous leisure-time activity. Results, controlling for sociodemographic ...
Vertically stacked hybrid organic–inorganic complementary inverters with low operating voltage on flexible substrates

Abstract Hybrid organic–inorganic complementary inverters were demonstrated on a flexible polyethersulfone (PES) substrate with vertically stacked p-channel pentacene and n-channel amorphous indium gallium zinc oxide thin-film transistors (TFT). Al2O3 layers grown by atomic layer deposition were used as top- and bottom-gate dielectric layers. Common-gate top-contact p- and bottom-contact n-channel TFTs showed saturation mobility values of 0.3 ± 0.02 and 5.3 ± 0.2 cm2/Vs and low threshold voltage values. Complementary inverters yielded high gain values of 61 V/V with high and balanced noise margins at a low supply voltage of 5 V. The independent control of the thickness of the gate dielectric layer used for each transistor in this proposed vertically stacked geometry, allows for the realization of high-density low-power complementary circuits with high gain and balanced noise margins.
Atmospheric formation of 9,10-phenanthraquinone in the Los Angeles air basin

Abstract Quinones are highly reactive and toxic compounds, capable of increasing cellular oxidative stress by raising concentrations of intracellular hydrogen peroxide. It has been suggested that these compounds, although also directly emitted by vehicular exhaust, are mostly formed in the atmosphere by photochemical reactions of their parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). However, because of the low concentrations and instability of some quinones, relatively little is known about their levels in ambient air samples. The tricyclic compound 9,10-phenanthraquinone (PQ), one of several quinones found in the particle-phase of ambient air, is a compound that can irreversibly inactivate key cellular proteins. In this study, we report concentration changes of PQ in atmospheric samples as the air moves across the Los Angeles basin by the prevailing wind trajectory. The trajectory is, for the most part, from the coastal areas to the Inland Empire in the eastern end of the Los Angeles basin; the samples were collected during the photoactive season of early summer. For this study, five sites along the predominant wind trajectory were selected and samples were collected as the air parcel passed over each site. Particle-phase PQ concentrations ranged from 100 to 2000 pg m−3. A significant increase in PQ concentration was observed as the air parcel moved inland from Long Beach (source area) to Riverside, the last sampling site in the wind trajectory and considered as the final receptor area. Our results suggest that ca. 90% of the PQ in the receptor site was photochemically formed during atmospheric transport.
Inadequacy of scaling arguments for neutrino cross sections

The problem with the use of scaling arguments for simultaneous studies of different weak interaction processes is discussed. When different neutrino scattering cross sections involving quite different momentum transfers are being compared it difficult to define a meaningful single scaling factor to renormalize calculated cross sections. It has been suggested that the use of such scaling can be used to estimate high energy neutrino cross sections from low energy neutrino cross sections. This argument has lead to questions on the consistency of the magnitude of the LSND muon neutrino cross sections on $^{12}$C relative to other lower energy weak processes. The issue is revisited here and from inspection of the structure of the form factors involved it is seen that the problem arises from a poor description of the transition form factors at high momentum transfer. When wave functions that reproduce the transverse magnetic inelastic (e,e') scattering form factor for the 15.11 MeV state in $^{12}$C are used there is no longer a need for scaling the axial current, and the different weak interactions rates involving the T=1 1$^+$ triplet in mass 12 are consistent with one another.
Comparisons of Two Proteomic Analyses of Non-Mucoid and Mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa Clinical Isolates from a Cystic Fibrosis Patient

Pseudomonas aeruginosa chronically infects the lungs of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The conditions in the CF lung appear to select for P. aeruginosa with advantageous phenotypes for chronic infection. However, the mechanisms that allow the establishment of this chronic infection have not been fully characterized. We have previously reported the transcriptional analysis of two CF isolates strains 383 and 2192. Strain 2192 is a mucoid, alginate overproducing strain whereas strain 383 is non-mucoid. Mucoid strains are associated with chronic infection of the CF lung and non-mucoid strains are the typical initially infecting isolates. To elucidate novel differences between these two strains, we employed two methods of shotgun proteomics: isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). iTRAQ compares the amount of protein between samples and relies on protein abundance, while 2-DE gel electrophoresis depends on selection of separated protein spots. For both these methods, mass spectrometry was then used to identify proteins differentially expressed between the two strains. The compilation of these two proteomic methods along with Western blot analysis revealed proteins of the HSI-I operon of the type 6 secretion system, showed increased expression in 383 compared to 2192, confirming the our previous transcriptional analysis. Proteomic analysis of other proteins did not fully correlate with the transcriptome but other differentially expressed proteins are discussed. Also, differences were noted between the results obtained for the two proteomic techniques. These shotgun proteomic analyses identified proteins that had been predicted only through gene identification; we now refer to these as "proteins of unknown functions" since their existence has now been established however their functional characterization remains to be elucidated.
The Effect of Air Supply on Apparent Photosynthesis.

It has been recognized for a long time that the rate of absorption of C02 by a green plant shoot or leaf enclosed in a vessel is affected by the rate at which air is supplied. Much attention has been given to the problem of maintaining a "normal" air supply ; that is, a C02 supply comparable to that found under natural conditions. The early literature was reviewed and discussed by Heinicke and Hoffman (5), who presented results showing that the rate of photosynthesis was below normal when the air supply was less than approximately two liters per hour per square centimeter of leaf area. Verduin and Loomis (9) presented results from which they concluded that photosynthesis of corn leaves "was affected surprisingly little" by 70% depletion of the C02 within the leaf chambers. Brown and Escombe (1) presented results which they interpreted as indicating an approximate proportionality between the rate of apparent photosynthesis and the mean C02 concentration. They pointed out that "in all cases where the illumination of the leaf was good, although the amount of intake of C02 into the leaf was approximately proportional to the increased partial pressure, the photosynthetic work was always somewhat in excess of what might be expected from the increased amount of C02. ' ' They were obviously expecting strict proportionality and had overlooked some of the following facts. Proportionality implies a linear relationship. General linear relationship is described by the equation y = a + bx ; but strict proportionality exists only when a = 0 and y = bx. Apparent photosynthesis becomes zero at a measurable C02 concentration (the compensation point) ; therefore a ^ 0, and strict proportionality cannot exist. The data of Brown and Escombe actually contain very little information concerning the real relationship between photosynthesis and C02 concentration. They made only two observations on each plant, one at high C02 concentration and one at low concentration. Thus only two points were established for each plant, and a linear function can be derived from any two points whether established experimentally or selected at random. Further, a variety of functions other than linear can be fitted to any two points, for example, y = axn, y = a + 1/x. Data presented by Deneke (4) indicated that the rate of photosynthesis increased with the velocity of air over the leaves and apparently approached a maximum limit at an air velocity of approximately 100 meters per minute. He circulated air over a plant in a closed system and measured the time required for a certain reduction of C02 content. One set of data, his figure 8, is reproduced here as figure 1. This and similar curves suggested to
Optical fiber-based evanescent ammonia sensor

Abstract An optical fiber-based evanescent gaseous ammonia sensor is designed and developed. The sensing dye, bromocresol purple (BCP), is immobilized in the substitutional cladding using sol–gel process. The sensing properties of the optical fiber sensor to gaseous ammonia at room temperature are presented. This newly developed ammonia sensor exhibits good reversibility and repeatability. The effect of different carrier gases, argon, nitrogen, and air on sensing properties of the ammonia sensor is investigated. The sensor with air as carrier gas has the best response time and sensitivity. In order to improve the response time of the optical fiber evanescent ammonia sensor, an elevated ambient temperature is applied and thoroughly investigated. A fast response time of 10 s was obtained at 55.5 °C with the carrier gas of air or argon. These experimental results have demonstrated that a fast response optical fiber evanescent gaseous ammonia sensor can be constructed by applying slightly elevated ambient temperature.
Behavioral intervention and post-natal growth in full-term intrauterine growth retarded (IUGR) infants

Abstract The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to describe the patterns of post-natal growth in full-term infants as a function of IUGR and (2) to assess the impact of an individualized behavioral feeding intervention with the mothers on these patterns of infant growth. Eightyeight (88) full-term infants, including 54 with IUGR, half of whom received behavioral intervention were included. Weight, length, skinfold thickness, head circumference and Ponderal Index were measured at birth and at 1, 4, 8, 12, and 18 months. Results show positive intervention effects between birth and 1 month in weight, length, skinfold thickness, and Ponderal Index. However, there were no intervention effects at subsequent ages. No evidence was found for catch-up growth in full-term IUGR infants in weight, length, and head circumference. We conclude that an individualized behavioral feeding intervention can accelerate early growth in IUGR infants, but the positive effects on growth are only seen while the intervention lasts (between birth and 1 month). On most parameters of physical growth, there is no lasting catch-up growth over the first 18 months in IUGR full-term infants.
Engineered biosynthesis of polyketides in heterologous hosts

Polyketide natural products play an important role in the treatment of a wide range of human physiological disorders and in animal health and agriculture. The production of polyketides in heterologous hosts offers many advantages over the use of natural producers. Heterologous production systems can facilitate analysis of the catalytic properties of polyketide producing enzymes. These systems can also have an impact on the ability to make polyketide compounds from organisms that are difficult or impossible to culture. A number of factors must be considered in choosing a heterologous host. The host must be able to express relatively large polyketide proteins (300kDa or larger), post-translationally modify these proteins, and produce adequate supplies of intracellular building blocks such as malonyl-CoA and methylmalonyl-CoA. For example, Streptomyces coelicolor has been used extensively to produce a variety of polyketides. Recent progress in increasing intracellular supplies of polyketide building blocks combined with the development of stable high copy number vectors has led to substantial increases in S. coelicolor polyketide titers. Escherichia coli has also emerged as an alternative expression host. This bacterium was extensively engineered to create a suitable host for polyketide production. E. coli has been used to produce a variety of polyketide compounds including 6-deoxyerythronolide B, yersiniabactin, and epothilone. With continued improvements to these and other systems, heterologous hosts promise to become a robust platform for large-scale polyketide production.
The Role of the Library in the Development of a Campus‐Wide Information System

Many universities and colleges are developing or considering development of a campus‐wide information system. On many campuses the impetus for CWIS development is coming from the computing services operations — a logical development in many cases since on the majority of campuses those organizations have a near monopoly on technology funding and system development expertise. As the campus information center, however, the library should have a central role in the CWIS development process. It becomes clear then that library managers must involve themselves in developing a role for their library in this development process. The question becomes: What is the best way to do this? This paper suggests that a philosophy stressing user service rather than one emphasizing control has much to recommend it in the development of a CWIS.
Preparation and application of 2-(arylmethoxy)isopinocampheols for the asymmetric aldol reaction of 3,3,3-trifluoropropionates

The preparation of 2-(arylmethoxy)isopinocampheols from pinanediol via the DIABL-H reduction of the corresponding aryl aldehyde acetals has been described. A systematic examination of the asymmetric aldol reaction of 3,3,3-trifluoropropionates led to the double diastereoselective aldol reaction of 2-(arylmethoxy)isopinocampheyl 3,3,3-trifluoropropionates providing anti-α-trifluoromethyl-β-hydroxy esters in 63–85% yields, ⩾99% anti-selectivity and 80–96% de for the anti-isomer.
Release potential of giant sequoia following heavy suppression: 20-year results

We tested the release potential of suppressed giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) saplings in a plantation that was overgrown with shrubs at Blodgett Forest Research Station, CA in the mixed conifer forest of the Sierra Nevada. As an ancillary case study, we compared the shrub removal method of release with a clear-and-plant method in an adjacent stand. Measurements of various morphological traits were collected prior to shrub removal, then sapling height growth response was measured periodically after the release treatment. In general, giant sequoia responded quickly to the removal of competing shrubs, growing steadily for 20 years following treatment. Among the morphological traits considered, live crown ratio alone was the most important factor in predicting relative height growth following treatment. Other traits were correlated with release, but had lower importance values as indicated by a model selection procedure. The 16-year-old saplings that were released in this study did not grow as large as 2-year-old seedlings that were planted synchronously with release, but both methods resulted in merchantable-sized trees 20 years after treatment. Planted seedlings outgrew released seedlings by 27% in terms of stature and by 37% in terms of diameter. The released stand is projected with a growth model to take 12 years longer than the planted stand to grow to an average diameter of 38 cm. The misperception of giant sequoia as having a low capacity for release may be related to its ambiguous categorization as a shade intolerant species.
Stability of Hydrogen Compounds on Venus

RECENT space probe measurements have confirmed that high-temperature conditions prevail in the lower atmosphere of Venus1. Since high temperatures favour the establishment of thermochemical equilibria, these observations require a revaluation of physical and chemical conditions on this planet. I have proposed large-scale interaction of the atmospheric gases and the minerals of the lithosphere to account for the observed atmospheric characteristics2, and it was demonstrated that the carbon dioxide content of the atmosphere can be accounted for by decarbonation reactions at the inferred temperature of 700° K. In addition, it was proposed that the failure to observe hydrogen compounds is consistent with the expected high rate of escape of hydrogen and the comparatively high oxidation state of the atmosphere.
Optical model description of DIC

Abstract We consider a simple one-dimensional model for a many-channel scattering problem that stimulates some aspects of heavy ion deep inelastic collision processes. Applying the statistical considerations of Weidenmuller, we obtain an averaged inelastic cross section given in terms of optical transmission coefficients.
Abstract B114: Energy balance, the PI3K‐AKT‐mTOR pathway genes and the risk of bladder cancer

In this large case‐control study, we evaluated the association between energy balance and risk of bladder cancer and assessed joint effects of genetic variants in the mTOR pathway genes with energy balance on bladder cancer risk. The energy balance related variables were total energy intake, physical activity and body mass index (BMI). The study included 803 Caucasian bladder cancer patients and 803 healthy Caucasian controls matched to cases by age (± 5 years) and gender. High energy intake as defined by the highest tertile of energy intake in controls (OR=1.60; 95% CI=1.23–2.09) and low physical activity as defined by the lowest tertile of physical activity in controls (OR=2.82; 95% CI=2.10–3.79) were each associated with significantly increased risk of bladder cancer with dose‐response trends (all P for trend 30) was not associated with bladder cancer risk. When stratified by smoking status, the increased risk conferred by high energy intake was observed in ever smokers only and there was a significant interaction between smoking status and energy intake (P for interaction=0.033). Analysis of genetic variants in the mTOR pathway showed that among 222 SNPs, 28 SNPs located in 6 genes of mTOR pathway (AKT3, RHEB, RPS6KA5, IRS2, TSC2 and RAPTOR) were significantly associated with bladder cancer risk. The minor allele frequency of the significant SNPs ranged from 0.09 to 0.48 in controls. To further elucidate the association between energy balance and bladder cancer, we stratified the analysis of energy balance by genetic variants in the mTOR pathway. We found that the risk associated with high energy intake and low physical activity was only evident among subjects carrying a high number of unfavorable genotypes in the mTOR pathway. For example, there was no significant association between physical activity and bladder cancer or energy intake and bladder cancer among subjects carrying low number of unfavorable genotypes (0–5 unfavorable genotypes). However, among subjects carrying 10 or more unfavorable genotypes, the risk from low physical activity was 3.37 (95% CI= 2.08 to 5.46; P Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):B114.
A circumferential crack in a pressurized cylindrical shell

Following an earlier analysis of an axial line crack in a cylindrical shell, the stresses for a finite circumferential crack are presented. The inverse square root singularity of the stresses peculiar to crack problems is obtained in both the extensional and bending components. Furthermore, the initial curvature may be related to that found in an initially flat plate by a factor of the form $$\frac{{{}^\sigma shell}}{{{}^\sigma plate}} \approx 1 + (a + b \ell n \frac{c}{{\sqrt {Rh} }})\frac{{c^2 }}{{Rh}} + ...$$ where the quantity in parenthesis is positive.
Estimating leaf mass from light interception measurements on isolated plants of erythroxylum species

To determine the extent of coca (Erythoxylum spp.) production in the world, some method for estimating yield (leaf mass) in a variety of habitats is required. A computer model that simulates the growth of coca plants has the versatility for making these estimates, but there must be some reliable method to validate the model. The objective of this research was to validate the use of measurements of light interception and specifc leaf area (SLA, m 2 kg -1 ) for estimating yield. Leaf area was calculated from hight interception measurements made on plants grown as hedgerow or as isolated plants, then converted to leaf mass using measurements of SLA. Light interception was measured with the Decagon Sunfleck Ceptometer SC) and the LI-COR Plant Canopy Analyzer (PCA) [...]
Folic acid fortification: Why not vitamin B12 also?

Folic acid fortification of cereal grains was introduced in many countries to prevent neural tube defect occurrence. The metabolism of folic acid and vitamin B12 intersect during the transfer of the methyl group from 5-methyltetrahydrofolate to homocysteine catalyzed by B12-dependent methioine synthase. Regeneration of tetrahydrofolate via this reaction makes it available for synthesis of nucleotide precursors. Thus either folate or vitamin B12 deficiency can result in impaired cell division and anemia. Exposure to extra folic acid through fortification may be detrimental to those with vitamin B12 deficiency. Among participants of National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey with low vitamin B12 status, high serum folate (>59 nmol/L) was associated with higher prevalence of anemia and cognitive impairment when compared with normal serum folate. We also observed an increase in the plasma concentrations of total homocysteine and methylmalonic acid (MMA), two functional indicators of vitamin B12 status, with increase in plasma folate under low vitamin B12 status. These data strongly imply that high plasma folate is associated with the exacerbation of both the biochemical and clinical status of vitamin B12 deficiency. Hence any food fortification policy that includes folic acid should also include vitamin B12.
Simultaneous cancer classification and gene selection with Bayesian nearest neighbor method: An integrated approach

Since most cancer treatments come with a certain degree of toxicity it is very essential to identify a cancer type correctly and then administer the relevant therapy. With the arrival of powerful tools such as gene expression microarrays the cancer classification basis is slowly changing from morphological properties to molecular signatures. Several recent studies have demonstrated a marked improvement in prediction accuracy of tumor types based on gene expression microarray measurements over clinical markers. The main challenge in working with gene expression microarrays is that there is a huge number of genes to work with. Out of them only a small fraction are actually relevant for differentiating between different types of cancer. A Bayesian nearest neighbor model equipped with an integrated variable selection technique is proposed to overcome this challenge. This classification and gene selection model is able to classify different cancer types accurately and simultaneously identify the relevant or important genes. The proposed model is completely automatic in the sense that it adaptively picks up the neighborhood size and the important covariates. The method is successfully applied to three simulated data sets and four well known real data sets. To demonstrate the competitiveness of the method a comparative study is also done with several other ''off the shelf'' popular classification methods. For all the simulated data sets and real life data sets, the proposed method produced highly competitive if not better results. While the standard approach is two step model building for gene selection and then tumor prediction, this novel adaptive gene selection technique automatically selects the relevant genes along with tumor class prediction in one go. The biological relevance of the selected genes are also discussed to validate the claim.