cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CO2 Exchange and Growth of the Crassulacean Acid Metabolism Plant Opuntia ficus-indica under Elevated CO2 in Open-Top Chambers

CO2 uptake, water vapor conductance, and biomass production of Opuntia ficus-indica, a Crassulacean acid metabolism species, were studied at CO2 concentrations of 370, 520, and 720 [mu]L L-1 in open-top chambers during a 23-week period. Nine weeks after planting, daily net CO2 uptake for basal cladodes at 520 and 720 [mu]L L-1 of CO2 was 76 and 98% higher, respectively, than at 370 [mu]L L-1. Eight weeks after daughter cladodes emerged, their daily net CO2 uptake was 35 and 49% higher at 520 and 720 [mu]L L-1 of C02, respectively, than at 370 [mu]L L-1. Daily water-use efficiency was 88% higher under elevated CO2 for basal cladodes and 57% higher for daughter cladodes. The daily net CO2 uptake capacity for basal cladodes increased for 4 weeks after planting and then remained fairly constant, whereas for daughter cladodes, it increased with cladode age, became maximal at 8 to 14 weeks, and then declined. The percentage enhancement in daily net CO2 uptake caused by elevated CO2 was greatest initially for basal cladodes and at 8 to 14 weeks for daughter cladodes. The chlorophyll content per unit fresh weight of chlorenchyma for daughter cladodes at 8 weeks was 19 and 62% lower in 520 and 720 [mu]L L-1 of CO2, respectively, compared with 370 [mu]L L-1. Despite the reduced chlorophyll content, plant biomass production during 23 weeks in 520 and 720 [mu]L L-1 of CO2 was 21 and 55% higher, respectively, than at 370 [mu]L L-1. The root dry weight nearly tripled as the C02 concentration was doubled, causing the root/shoot ratio to increase with CO2 concentration. During the 23-week period, elevated CO2 significantly increased CO2 uptake and biomass production of O. ficus-indica.
Cervical decompression and reconstruction without intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring.

Object The primary goal of this study was to review the immediate postoperative neurological function in patients surgically treated for symptomatic cervical spine disease without intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring. The secondary goal was to assess the economic impact of intraoperative monitoring (IOM) in this patient population. Methods This study is a retrospective review of 720 consecutively treated patients who underwent cervical spine procedures. The patients were identified and the data were collected by individuals who were not involved in their care. Results A total of 1534 cervical spine levels were treated in 720 patients using anterior, posterior, and combined (360°) approaches. Myelopathy was present preoperatively in 308 patients. There were 185 patients with increased signal intensity within the spinal cord on preoperative T2-weighted MR images, of whom 43 patients had no clinical evidence of myelopathy. Three patients (0.4%) exhibited a new neurological deficit postoperatively. Of...
How do Auditors Perceive Recognized vs. Disclosed Lease and Pension Obligations? Evidence from Fees and Going‐Concern Opinions

We examine the auditor perception of recognized vs. disclosed obligations as they relate to two key decisions auditors make: determining audit fees and whether to issue a going-concern opinion. We study two pairs of obligations – capital leases and operating leases and on-balance sheet and off-balance sheet pension obligations. We find that operating leases are positively and significantly associated with audit fees but not capital leases. We also find that on-balance sheet and off-balance sheet pension obligations have a similar association with audit fees. For going-concern decisions, auditors regard off-balance leases as real liabilities. However, pension obligations (both on- and off-balance sheet) are not associated with going-concern decisions. Overall, the findings shed light on how auditors regard recognized vs. disclosed obligations in their decisions that are communicated to capital market participants.
Combination of Chemotherapy With Interleukin-2 and Interferon Alfa for the Treatment of Metastatic Melanoma

PURPOSE: The primary objective of this clinical study was to assess the feasibility of administering recombinant interleukin-2 and recombinant interferon alfa-2a before and after combination cytotoxic chemotherapy. After encouraging initial responses, the study was expanded to further evaluate the therapeutic potential, clarify the toxicities of this regimen, and explore any associated immunologic changes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighty-four patients with metastatic melanoma, including patients with brain metastases, were treated on this 6-week protocol. Patients received combination cisplatin (25 mg/m2/d) and dacarbazine (220 mg/m2/d) on days 1 through 3 and 22 through 24 plus carmustine (150 mg/m2) on day 1. Interleukin 2 (13.5 million IU/m2/d) and interferon alfa (6 MU/m2/d) were administered on days 4 through 8 and 17 through 21. RESULTS: Among 83 patients assessable for response, 12 complete and 34 partial responses were documented (55% response rate). The median time to disease progression was 7 month...
Rats are not the only introduced rodents producing ecosystem impacts on islands

In addition to rats, nutria (Myocastor coypus) and the North American beaver (Castor canadensis) have certainly caused damage at an ecosystem level when introduced to islands, in both cases primarily by ecosystem engineering. Of other introduced rodents successfully established on islands, the gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) may be in the process of damaging entire forest ecosystems, particularly by bark-stripping. Though introduced muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) have had ecosystem-level impacts in continental Europe, their impact on islands worldwide to which they have been introduced has been very limited. The North American red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) and Barbary ground squirrel (Atlantoxerus getulus) have each had substantial impacts when introduced to particular islands, but for neither species have these impacts yet been demonstrated to spread through an entire ecosystem. Introduced house mice (Mus musculus) may well generate ecosystem impacts on remote islands lacking rats, and it is possible that explosions of house mice on islands after rat eradication, a common occurrence, will lead in some instances to ecosystem impacts.
CS2: Candidate for the 3150-Å Venus band☆

The 3150-A absorption on Venus, found by Barker et al. (1975), may be due to carbon disulfide. The stability and thermodynamics of the carbon chalcogenides are briefly discussed.
Migration stage and household income inequality: Evidence from the Valle Alto of Bolivia

Abstract A three-stage diffusion model of international migration and inequality posits that household income inequality first increases, then decreases, and finally increases again as a community's migration experience deepens. Analysis of data from a survey of 417 households in the Valle Alto region of Bolivia supports this model. Concomitant with the region's overall position in the middle stage, the results indicate that income inequality among active migrant households is less than that of non-migrant households, suggesting that migration reduces inequality. Furthermore, income inequality between urban and rural areas is diminished by migration. Individual towns in the region, however, illustrate all three stages of the diffusion model. The study supports other research showing that the middle stage of migration generates the most remittances, the highest commitment of resources to the home community, and the lowest inequalities among households.
A reliability handbook for design engineers

This article discusses a reliability handbook which has been specially prepared to aid guided missile electronics design engineers. The major section of the handbook explains methods for designing reliability into equipment by the adherence to certain “ground rules.” Emphasis is placed on the use of statistical techniques.
Mass Political Attitudes and the Survey Response

Students of public opinion research have argued that voters show very little consistency and structure in their political attitudes. A model of the survey response is proposed which takes account of the vagueness in opinion survey questions and in response categories. When estimates are made of this vagueness or “measurement error” and the estimates applied to the principal previous study, nearly all the inconsistency is shown to be the result of the vagueness of the questions rather than of any failure by the respondents.
Executive control processes underlying multi-item working memory

The authors recorded activity of prefrontal cortex neurons in monkeys performing a multi-item color change detection task and found that neurons reported information about the item's position and the location covert attention, but not its color. Increased power in the local field potential correlated with more precise color representations. Taken together, these results suggest that PFC controls the allocation of resources in working memory.
Ultrastructural changes accompanying the aging of human diploid cells in culture.

The ultrastructure of human diploid fibroblasts, strain WI-38, was studied at several different passage levels, ranging from young (15th passage) to old (56th passage) cells. A number of age-related ultrastructural changes were observed and quantitatively expressed. No statistically significant change in mitochondrial number was observed in these cells as they aged. However, the proportion of mitochondria with completely transverse cristae decreases with the age of the cells. The number of lysosomes and autophagic vacuoles increases significantly in old cells. Old cells are also characterized by prominent and active Golgi-vacuolar apparati, highly lobed nuclei, and more cytoplasmic microfibrils than in young cells. The endoplasmic reticulum of young cells tends to be dilated and filled, whereas in old cells it tends to be constricted and “empty”. Our data lend support to the aging theory, in which congestive engorgement of lysosomes plays an important role.
Cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase activity in response to thyroid hormone administration in rats

The modulation of hepatic and renal cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.29) activities by triiodothyronine (T3) was studied in a series of experiments. In a dose--response study, hepatic cysteine sulfinic acid decarboxylase activity (CSAD) was depressed by 65% and renal activity was increased threefold in rats injected with 100 micrograms T3/100 g body wt for 7 days when compared to rats injected with 0.3 micrograms T3/100 g body wt. Western blot analysis indicated that these changes in CSAD activity were due to changes in the quantity of CSAD protein. Changes in hepatic and renal activities were not evident until 24 h after T3 administration. In response to T3 clearance, hepatic and renal CSAD activities approached euthyroid values 4-7 days after cessation of T3 injections although serum T3 concentrations were no different from euthyroid values 48 h after T3 injections were stopped. These data indicate that thyroid hormone effects persist after T3 clearance. The response of CSAD to thyroid status may be related to its role in taurine biosynthesis.
Pharmacotherapy in the management of voiding and storage disorders, including enuresis and encopresis.

1. Appropriate clinical management of disorders of bladder or rectal function requires a standardized terminology based on pathophysiological etiology. 2. Recognition that these are disorders either of voiding or of storage functions, not just of elimination, improves clinical acumen and treatment decision making. 3. Daytime incontinence is clinically distinct from nighttime incontinence, implying different etiologies as well as different treatment interventions. 4. A voiding diary is indicated in cases of both daytime and nighttime incontinence. 5. Desmopressin, imipramine, oxybutynin, tolterodine, and propantheline are pharmacological agents that can be part of the management of these conditions. NEUROBIOLOGY AND TERMINOLOGY FOR BLADDER AND ANORECTAL DYSFUNCTIONS
Enhancement of hippocampal field potentials in rats exposed to a novel, complex environment

The hippocampus plays a crucial role in place learning in rodents and also exhibits a long-term enhancement of synaptic strength and postsynaptic excitability following electrical stimulation of its principal afferents. In the present report we suggest that these two observations may be related, by demonstrating an increase in synaptic and postsynaptic field potential amplitudes resulting from exposure to a spatially complex environment.
Declaring Welfare “Reform” a Success: The Role of Applied Social Science

ABSTRACT This paper considers how applied social science has simultaneously helped to create the social change known as welfare “reform” and actively participated in the positive evaluation of its effects. It takes as its specific case study Vermont's welfare restructuring project and the evaluation of that project as completed by the Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation. The analysis covers the goals of welfare restructuring, the ethics of experimental design, the consequences of reporting that focus narrowly on experimental effects, and issues of presentation in MDRC reports.
Scattering Characteristics of Elastic Waves By an Elastic Inclusion: I. Rayleigh Scattering of Elastic Waves

1979, Discussion on The reflection, refraction, and diffraction of waves in media with an elliptical velocity dependence: Geophysics, v. 44, p. 987-990. Kalaba, 1961, Dynamic programming, Fermat’s principle and the eikonal equation: J Optical Sot. Am., v. 5, p. Il50-1151. Levin, F. K., 1978, The reflection. refraction. and diffraction of waves in media with an elliptical velocity dependence: Geophysics, v. 43, p. 528-531.
Synthesis and polymerization of (E,E)‐[6.2](9,10)anthracenophane‐1,5‐diene

The title compound has been synthesized by dimerization of a substituted p-xylylene, generated via a 1,8-Hofmann elimination. Several unique isomers of this dimer are also obtained. The title diene can be polymerized cationically to give low molecular weight polymer. Oxidative doping of this polymer with iodine forms a material with a conductivity of 3 × 10−4 S/cm. In contrast to previously reported anthracenophanes this polymer is photochemically unreactive.
Poly[d(Gm5C)·d(Gm5C)] can assume the Z′ form: A CD study

Poly [d(Gm5C)·d(Gm5C)] can be titrated from the Z form in 30% ethanol to the Z′ form by adding either ethanol or divalents. Analysis by singular-value decomposition of CD spectra recorded during the titration reveal that ethanol and transition metal induced changes are two state with a single-step titration curve. When the change is induced by arkaline earth metals it is still two state, but in contrast the titration curve is complex, indicating two binding sites.
Earthworm additions increased short-term nitrogen availability and leaching in two grain-crop agroecosystems

Abstract Earthworms were added to enclosures in two agroecosystems to determine their influence on soil nitrogen availability and microbial activity, and to quantify their effect on the leaching of water and nitrogen through the surface soil. The two agroecosystems were a corn-soybean rotation with chisel-plow-disk tillage following corn (CS), and a corn-soybean-wheat-vetch rotation with ridge-tillage (CSW). In both agroecosystems, earthworm additions in the fall (100 m−2) led to more abundant deepdwelling earthworms and less abundant surface-dwelling earthworms than in enclosures with no additions, but had little effect on total earthworm abundance after 5 months. In the CS system, earthworm additions led to greater concentrations of potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN) and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) in the surface soil than in control enclosures in the following spring. In the CSW system, earthworm additions led to greater overall concentrations of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), but only to localized changes in PMN and MBN at different positions within crop rows and at different soil depths. Soil mineral nitrogen concentrations were not influenced by earthworm additions. Earthworms significantly influenced soil microbial activity in both agroecosystems; earthworm additions generally increased soil dehydrogenase activity (DHA) in the CS system, and reduced it in the CSW system, compared to controls. Earthworm additions led to 4- to 12-fold increases in the volume of soil leachate collected during 1 week in zero-tension pan lysimeters buried 45 cm deep. For both agroecosystems, nitrogen flux in leachate was increased by nearly 10-fold in response to earthworm additions. Most of this response was due to increased flux of DON. We conclude that the composition of earthworm communities can strongly influence the availability and leaching of nitrogen in the surface soil of some grain-crop agroecosystems, at least in the short-term. More work is needed to predict the longer-term consequences of earthworms on crop productivity, nitrogen use efficiency and groundwater quality.
The Order of Pascal's Politics

This essay rejects two common views of Pascal: (a) that he holds only temporal and contingent standards of justice to be available to human beings and (b) that he is indifferent to all but eternal standards of justice. Against these reductive misunderstandings, I provide a detailed reconstruction of Pascal's political thought, drawn from the Pensees and other texts. I show that Pascal develops an account of two distinct and hierarchized orders of justice: a temporal order and an eternal order. Pascal recognizes the integrity of the temporal order of justice, as expressed in local, particular custom and the historical development of positive law and, at the same time, holds that the axiological and ontological condition of this temporal order is an eternal order, a horizon beyond history which serves to ground it. Pascal's politics, rather than a tragic pessimism or a passion for the absolute, is simply a limited specification of his moral and metaphysical realism.
Speech-in-Speech Recognition: A Training Study.

This study aims to identify aspects of speech-in-noise recognition that are susceptible to training, focusing on whether listeners can learn to adapt to target talkers (“tune in”) and learn to better cope with various maskers (“tune out”) after short-term training. Listeners received training on English sentence recognition in speech-shaped noise (SSN), Mandarin babble, or English babble. Results from a speech-in-babble posttest showed evidence of both tuning in and tuning out: (1) listeners were able to take advantage of target talker familiarity; (2) training with babble was more effective than SSN training; and (3) after babble training, listeners improved most in coping with the babble in which they were trained. In general, the results show that processes related both to tuning in to speech targets and tuning out speech maskers can be improved with auditory training.
Tomographic reconstruction of objects by grating interferometer.

A theory of diffraction tomography using incoherent radiation is presented. Diffraction gratings are used in the formation of Fourier components of the object distribution.
HOW CATERPILLAR-DAMAGED PLANTS PROTECT THEMSELVES BY ATTRACTING PARASITIC WASPS

Parasitic and predatory arthropods often prevent plants from being severely damaged by killing herbivores as they feed on the plants. Recent studies show that a variety of plants, when injured by herbivores, emit chemical signals that guide natural enemies to the herbivores. It is unlikely that herbivore-damaged plants initiate the production of chemicals solely to attract parasitoids and predators. The signaling role probably evolved secondarily from plant responses that produce toxins and deterrents against herbivores and antibiotics against pathogens. To effectively function as signals for natural enemies, the emitted volatiles should be clearly distinguishable from background odors, specific for prey or host species that feed on the plant, and emitted at times when the natural enemies forage. Our studies on the phenomena of herbivore-induced emissions of volatiles in corn and cotton plants and studies conducted by others indicate that (i) the clarity of the volatile signals is high, as they are unique for herbivore damage, produced in relatively large amounts, and easily distinguishable from background odors; (ii) specificity is limited when different herbivores feed on the same plant species but high as far as odors emitted by different plant species and genotypes are concerned; (iii) the signals are timed so that they are mainly released during the daytime, when natural enemies tend to forage, and they wane slowly after herbivory stops.
An evaluation study of individual performance review at Mount Vernon Centre for Cancer Treatment

Abstract Purpose: Individual performance review (IPR) was formally introduced into the National Health Service in 1986. Since its introduction many health care professionals have become involved in IPR schemes as both appraisers and appraisees. At Mount Vernon Hospital a working party was established to design and implement a suitable appraisal scheme throughout the hospital, which commenced in 1992. Three years later, this study evaluated how effectively the scheme has been implemented within the Cancer Treatment Centre. Methods: Three different questionnaires were designed and used to survey the appraisees, appraisers and managers of each of the professional groups participating in the scheme. Results: Approximately 80 questionnaires were returned, from which the results have highlighted many differences in the way in which the scheme is being implemented and how it is viewed by different groups of employees. Conclusions: The results from this study indicated that there are many variations in the extent and the manner with which the appraisal scheme has been implemented in the Cancer Treatment Centre. Recommendations, such as a review of the number of appraisees allocated to each appraiser and the format of the documentation, along with the need for more focused, regular training sessions are all suggested to increase participating personnel's commitment towards the IPR scheme in the future.
Characterization of the complete RhPV 1 genomic sequence and an integration locus from a metastatic tumor.

Abstract The complete nucleotide sequence of the rhesus papillomavirus type 1 (RhPV 1) genome was determined. The genome is 8026 nucleotides in length and has a genomic organization similar to that of other characterized papillo-maviruses. Sequence comparison of RhPV 1 to other papillomaviruses found similarities closest to HPV 16, a sexually transmitted human virus with a high oncogenic potential. Slight differences in the glucocorticoid responsive elements may explain disparate reliance upon added dexamethasone for transformation in vitro of these two papilloma-viruses. In addition, a previously described DNA clone consisting of contiguous RhPV 1 and cellular sequences was partially sequenced. The disruption of the RhPV 1 genome due to integration occurred within the Ll open reading frame of RhPV 1, and no significant similarities were observed between the adjacent cellular sequences and information in various data banks.
Propranolol blocks metabolic rate increase but not ventilatory acclimatization to 4300 m.

Abstract Previously, we found resting metabolic rate increased at high altitude but the mechanism and consequences of this increase were unclear. We sought to test the role of beta-sympathetic activation for increasing metabolic rate and the contribution of an increase in metabolic rate to raising total ventilation at altitude. Following baseline studies at sea level, two groups of six healthy male subjects received either placebo or propranolol (80 mg/8 h) for 3 days prior to ascent to Pikes Peak (4300 m) where treatment was continued for 15 days. O 2 consumption increased in placebo-treated subjects with a rise of 20 ± 5% (X ± SEM) on day 1 and no change 0 ± 7% in propranolol-treated subjects (difference between groups, P vs 9 ± 7% in the propranolol group ( P co 2 , taken as an index of ventilatory acclimatization, was similar in both groups. Thus, beta-sympathetic activation appears to increase metabolic rate upon ascent to high altitude and lead to a proportionate elevation in total ventilation but does not alter ventilatory acclimatization.
Phosphorylation of Guanosine Using Guanosine-inosine Kinase from Exiguobacterium acetylicum Coupled with ATP Regeneration

Guanosine 5′-monophosphate (5′-GMP) and inosine 5′-monophosphate (5′-IMP) are widely used as flavor enhancers. Recently, a novel process for 5′-IMP production by phosphorylation of inosine using guanosine-inosine kinase coupled with ATP regeneration was reported.1) In this study, we demonstrated the practical possibility of producing 5′-GMP by phosphorylation of guanosine using a guanosine-inosine kinase from Exiguobacterium acetylicum coupled with ATP regeneration.
The Great African Slave Revolt of 1825: Cuba and the Fight for Freedom in Matanzas

Building on recent scholarship about African agency in the Atlantic Age of Revolution, this well-researched and carefully crafted monograph studies a relatively unknown slave revolt in western Cuba...
Expression of decorin, biglycan, and collagen type I in human renal fibrosing disease.

Expression of decorin, biglycan, and collagen type I in human renal fibrosing disease. Bacκound The extracellular matrix proteoglycans decorin and biglycan may have a pathogenic role in renal fibrosing disease via regulation of the activity of growth factors, such as transforming growth factor-β;, and effects on collagen type I fibrillogenesis. The expression of decorin and biglycan in human glomerular diseases characterized by mesangial sclerosis is unknown. Methods Decorin, biglycan, and collagen type I were localized immunohistochemically in human renal biopsy cases of amyloidosis ( N = 18), diabetic nephropathy ( N = 11), fibrillary glomerulonephritis ( N = 5), immunotactoid glomerulopathy ( N = 5), light-chain deposition disease ( N = 4), idiopathic mesangial sclerosis ( N = 4), and nephrosclerosis ( N = 6), and in morphologically normal tissues obtained from tumor nephrectomies ( N = 8). Decorin and biglycan mRNA synthesis was evaluated by in situ hybridization. Results Decorin and biglycan protein were not identified in normal glomeruli. Decorin accumulated in amyloid deposits, but not in deposits of fibrillary glomerulonephritis or immunotactoid glomerulopathy. Biglycan weakly accumulated in amyloid deposits, and both decorin and biglycan weakly stained mesangial nodules in cases of morphologically advanced light-chain deposition disease and diabetic nephropathy. In all analyzed cases, irrespective of the underlying disease, decorin and biglycan accumulated in glomeruli in areas of fibrous organization of the urinary space and in areas of tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Biglycan, but not decorin, accumulated in the neointima of arteriosclerotic blood vessels. Decorin and biglycan mRNA synthesis was detected at sites of proteoglycan accumulation in glomeruli, interstitium, and neointima. Collagen type I colocalized with decorin and biglycan deposits. Conclusions Differences in extracellular matrix proteoglycan composition may be diagnostically useful in distinguishing morphologically similar diseases. Distinct patterns of proteoglycan expression may be related to modulation of specific growth factor activity in different glomerular diseases.
Explaining democracy in Europe

This response to the three reviews of Democracy in Europe addresses questions of democracy, institutions, and methodology. It first shows that naming the EU a ‘regional state’ enables us not only to define a new international form but also to envision new rules by which the EU could operate more effectively and democratically. Next it demonstrates that the book's qualitatively developed typology, which classifies the member-states of the EU along a continuum from simple to compound, yields descriptive inferences that need no quantitative operationalization, although it does not rule this out. It then considers how far we can take the argument about ‘institutional fit,’ with the causal inference that the EU is more disruptive to simple polities than to compound ones. It concludes with a discussion of the methodological approach of ‘discursive institutionalism’ by contrast with historical institutionalism, and of the importance of ideas and discourse for democracy in Europe.
Theoretical reconciliation of equilibrium and structural approaches

Abstract This paper shows that the solution space of Hamiltonian models of economic production and growth is intrinsically catastrophic (unless constrained by excessively stringent restrictions on technology and information). The paper explores cusp and fold deformations which are tied to organizational and informational processes. In turn, these processes are shown to be well represented by structural models in which cellular-automata simulate the reorganization of sequential machines.
Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, and Klinefelter syndrome: primary care throughout the life span

Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, and Klinefelter syndrome constitute the most common chromosomal abnormalities encountered by primary care physicians. Down syndrome typically is recognized at birth, Turner syndrome often is not recognized until adolescence,and many men with Klinefelter syndrome are never diagnosed. Although each syndrome is caused by an abnormal number of chromosomes, or aneuploidy, they are distinct syndromes with learning disabilities and a predisposition toward autoimmune diseases,endocrinologic disorders, and cancers. Optimal health care requires a thorough knowledge of the unique health risks, psychoeducational needs, functional capabilities, and phenotypic variation associated with each condition. Syndrome-specific health care should complement standard preventive health care recommendations. Checklists and syndrome-specific growth grids should be used. Ongoing communication between specialists and primary care physicians and between pediatric and adult clinicians is essential. Support groups and Internet resources can benefit affected individuals and their families immensely.
Mass of /sup 6/Li and the excitation energy of its 3. 56-MeV state

The excitation energy of the second excited state of /sup 6/Li has been measured to be 3562.88 +- 0.10 keV by comparing the energy of resonance fluorescence radiation from this state to calibration lines from a /sup 56/Co source. Also the Q value of the /sup 6/Li(p,..cap alpha..)/sup 3/He reaction has been determined relative to the /sup 19/F(p,..cap alpha..)/sup 16/O reaction, giving a result for the ground state mass excess of /sup 6/Li of 14 085.5 +- 1.1 keV, somewhat below the tabulated value of 14 087.3 +- 0.8 keV. These measurements improve the sensitivity of experiments searching for isovector parity violation in /sup 6/Li.
Sorting of solid and soft objects in vortices driven by surface acoustic waves

A challenging topic of the lab-on-a-chip research is to implement sorting mechanisms on low cost disposable chips. In many applications, surface acoustic waves (SAW) have recently proven to be a versatile and efficient technique for microfluidic actuation. A SAW is excited by applying a high frequency signal to a piezoelectric substrate. When the wave hits the solid/liquid interface it transmits its acoustic energy into the liquid and a local pressure gradient emerges, leading to surface acoustic streaming. Experiments can be performed directly on the piezoelectric substrate or on a separate glass slide positioned on top of the SAW source. We developed a technique for the accumulation of solid and soft objects in SAW generated microvortices in microfluidic channels. For this purpose, the corner of a rectangular microchannel is irradiated by a wide SAW beam. There, the SAW excites sound waves in the fluid producing a typical acoustic streaming flow pattern which typically exhibits two vortices. Particles injected into the flow are accumulated and dynamically trapped in one of these vortices. After the flow is stopped, the collected particles stay in the position of the vortex. In our experiments, we use open microfluidic channels with functionalized hydrophilic-hydrophobic surfaces on glass substrates as well as closed channels build with the elastomer PDMS via soft lithography. We find that the accumulation efficiency for particles is strongly size dependent. Below a critical radius of 500 nm, particles tend to flow through the vortex and are not captured in the corner. Generally, larger particles can be collected at more moderate SAW power levels compared to smaller particles. Therefore, by adjusting the SAW power level, one is able to collect particles above a designated size. This concept is not limited to solid particles but can also be applied to soft objects like cells.
Behavioural responses of green lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae: Chrysoperla) to synthetic mating songs

Abstract The courtship song of the P1 morph of the Chrysoperla plorabunda complex consists of a volley of tremulation about 600 ms long and modulated in frequency from 77 to 40 Hz. It is repeated every second, and a female responds to a male with a volley of her own after each of the latter's volleys. Synthetic songs were used in playback experiments to determine what song features this song morph uses for species recognition during courtship and mating. Females responded to songs that had higher or lower frequencies than their own songs when all other features were held constant. Females did not answer to random noise or to single frequency songs. They gave some answers to songs consisting of partial frequencies, but gave the most responses to frequency-modulated songs with the full range of frequencies found in the normal song. Females responded to frequency-modulated songs even if the song was only half the standard duration, or if the direction of frequency modulation was reversed. They did not respond to songs in which the interval was shorter than the normal song. Hence, frequency modulated sound appears to be necessary to elicit a response, but temporal features of song affect responses of females as well.
Studies on the relative roles of pituitary and progesterone in the induction of meiotic maturation in the amphibian oocyte.

In the amphibian, gonadotropins act on the epithelial cells surrounding the oocyte to produce and/or release progesterone which in turn acts at the oocyte surface to initiate the resumption of meiotic maturation. Since maturation is reported to require continuous exposure to gonadotropins but only brief (5- 15 min) exposure to progesterone, it was of interest to reexamine the interrelationships between the two hormonal stimuli as well as the kinetics of progesterone production, metabolism, and biological activity. Germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) required continuous exposure to 0.005 pituitaries/ml for 6.0 h to produce 50% GVBD that occurred at 10.1 h. Actinomycin D (10 μg/ml) completely inhibited pituitary induced GVBD when added during the first 5-6 h; 5096 inhibition occurred when added at 7.3 h. Thus, actinomycin D continues to inhibit 1-2 h after the requirement for pituitary stimulation. Pituitary stimulation produced a 4-fold increase in 3H-acetate incorporation into progesterone and acetate conversion to progesterone was relatively constant during successive 2 h pulses throughout the 10 h period leading to GVBD. There was no significant metabolism of 3H-acetate derived progesterone when follicles were treated with pituitary extract, although the same follicles rapidly concentrated and metabolized exogenous 3H- or 14C-progesterone. The length of continuous progesterone exposure required for 50% GVBD varied from 11 h at 0.158 μM to less than 0.08 h at 15.8 μM. The time to 5096 GVBD was only delayed by about 10% (1.5 h) when maximal and micimal progesterone levels were compared. A comparison of 3H-progesterone uptake and response (GVBD) as a function of [progesterone]0 indicated that uptake of 2-4 μmol 1-1 cell water will induce 50% GVBD. These results indicate that a threshold uptake must be reached to initiate resumption of meiosis and that this level must be maintained throughout the period leading to nuclear breakdown. Under physiologic conditions, gonadotropins stimulate progesterone production and this progesterone is protected from, or inaccessible to, steroid metabolizing enzymes.
On the formation mechanism of Ni5Al3 in NiAl-base alloys: Part I. Microstructures

Abstract The microstructural characteristics of the Ni 5 Al 3 phase in NiAl-base alloys have been comprehensively studied for different aging conditions by using transmission electron microscopy. It is revealed that both martensite aging and B2 phase aging result in the formation of Ni 5 Al 3 with martensite-like morphology and substructure. The microstructural evolutions of other related phases with aging are also discussed in order to clarify the formation mechanisms of the Ni 5 Al 3 phase.
Luna 20 soil - Abundance of 17 trace elements.

Review of the results of radiochemical neutron activation analysis of two Luna 20 fine soil and breccia samples for the abundance of 17 mainly siderophile and volatile elements that are strongly depleted in lunar surface rocks and hence represent sensitive indicators of meteoritic materials. These results are compared with those previously obtained for Apollo 16 soils. Some of the source rocks of Luna 20 regolith are identified.
Shell-Model Fragmentation of the Sc 49 Analog Levels

The fragmentation of the ${\mathrm{Sc}}^{49}$ analog levels is calculated and is shown to result from two-particle, one-hole ${T}_{l}$ states that include higher energy bound proton contributions. In addition, the damping widths of the fragmented levels due to three-particle, two-hole couplings ${T}^{\ensuremath{\downarrow}}$ and the escape widths ${T}^{\ensuremath{\uparrow}}$ are computed. The theoretical analog-level energies and widths are compared with experiment.
Interaction of bladder glycoprotein GP51 with uropathogenic bacteria.

Purpose: A major component of bladder surface mucin is a glycoprotein GP51 (molecular weight 51 kD.). GP51, which has previously been isolated from rabbit mucosa, appears to function as part of the defense mechanism in an in vivo infection model. GP51 coats the epithelium and is secreted into the urine, as detected by immunohistochemical testing and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Increased urinary GP51 occurs during urinary tract infection. To elucidate the role of GP51 as a component of the primary defense mechanism we studied interactions with uropathogenic bacterial isolates and urine from symptomatic patients with urinary tract infection.Materials and Methods: ELISA was performed to demonstrate the binding of GP51 and various uropathogens. Immunochemical studies were done using monoclonal antibodies to GP51 to determine the interaction of GP51 with certain uropathogenic isolates, including Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aerugino...
Remembering Katrina But Please, No Photos of Dead People

The terrifying and shameful images of Katrina and its aftermath are rapidly being replaced by “authorized” versions that sanitize, allocate blame, and create false heroes. This essay memorializes t...
Comparison of a two-dimensional shock impingement computation with experiment

Results of computations of two-dimensional viscous blunt-body flowfields with an impinging shock wave, with a time-dependent finite-difference method employed to solve the complete set of Navier-Stokes equations, are compared with experimental results. The experimental results were obtained in a 20-inch hypersonic tunnel with a planar shock impinging on the cylindrical leading edge of a fin, hence with the shock parallel to the centerline of the leading edge, so that type III and type IV interference patterns were generated. Close agreement is found. The overall effects of smoothing and grid size on the calculations are determined. A 31 x 51 mesh is adequate for wall pressure values (except in peaked regions).
An accurate method to implement boundary conditions for reacting flows based on characteristic wave analysis

A characteristic wave analysis previously developed to specify boundary conditions for chemically reacting flows with realistic thermodynamic properties is derived with an alternative set of primitive variables. In a multicomponent reacting flow, it is sufficient to consider the time-integration of all species' mass fractions, excluding one. This results in a primitive variables vector that contains one element less. The impact of this choice on the resulting characteristic equations and treatment of numerical boundary conditions are presented. The improved accuracy in the treatment of boundary conditions is assessed via three test problems including non-reacting and reacting situations. The method presented is found to provide accurate results as it allows acoustic waves, pressure waves and vortices to propagate through the domain without discernible reflection. Furthermore, the method eliminates the drift of the mean pressure that tends to occur over long integration times when the boundary is treated i...
Combined endoscopic mucosal resection and photodynamic therapy for esophageal neoplasia within Barrett's esophagus

Abstract Background: Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and photodynamic therapy have been proposed as treatments for early stage cancers. EMR is limited by its focal nature whereas photodynamic therapy is dependent on precise staging. The combination of EMR and photodynamic therapy were studied in the treatment of superficial cancer in patients with Barrett's esophagus. Methods: Seventeen consecutive nonsurgical patients with superficial cancers underwent EMR followed by photodynamic therapy with a porphyrin photosensitizer. Photoradiation was performed at 630 nm for a total dose of 200 J/cm of diffuser. Results: Seventeen patients (15 men; mean age 69 ± 13 years) underwent EMR. The mean diameter of mucosal resection was 1 cm. The margins were involved by cancer in 3 cases. EMR improved staging in 8 patients (47%). Sixteen (94%) patients remained in remission (median follow-up 13 months). Complications included minor bleeding after EMR in 1 patient (6%), stricture in 5 (30%), cutaneous phototoxicity in 2 (12%), and supraventricular tachycardia in 1 patient (6%). Conclusions: Combined EMR and photodynamic therapy appears to be an effective and safe therapy for superficial esophageal cancer within Barrett's esophagus. This combination improves cancer staging, removes the superficial cancer, and eliminates remaining mucosa at risk for cancer development. (Gastrointest Endosc 2001;54:682-8.)
Evolution of oceanic upper mantle structure

Abstract Love and Rayleigh wave phase velocities increase systematically with increasing age of oceanic lithosphere up to 150 Ma. The rates of increase differ between oceans and vary for different age intervals. Modeling of lithospheric age–phase velocity relations indicates that the high velocity seismic lid thickens and the velocities in the sub-lithospheric low velocity zone (LVZ) increase with age at different rates between oceans. The initial thickness of the lithosphere near mid-ocean ridges, as averaged by long-period surface waves, varies between 10 and 45 km, and 100 Ma lithosphere has thickness from 83 to 110 km, for models with isotropic shear velocities. Hotspots in oceanic areas appear to modify oceanic lithosphere evolution, producing deviations from average patterns with increasing age.
Evaluating the burst hypothesis at a site-specific level using the lack-of-fit test.

It has been hypothesized that periodontal disease progresses by means of sudden losses of periodontal attachment surface area. Obtaining reliable tests of this burst hypothesis has proven to be difficult; the signal (true model of disease progression) often gets lost in the noise. The purpose of this study was to determine how reliably we could distinguish sudden changes from linear disease progression at a site using a time series of clinical attachment levels. Specifically, the following question was investigated: If, in reality, disease progresses by means of sudden changes in clinical attachment level (bursts), and a linear model is fitted to these data, what is the likelihood of rejecting the linear model using the lack-of-fit test? This likelihood was determined as a function of the probing measurement error (range: 0.2 to 1.0 mm) and the number of clinical examinations over time. The results suggested that bursts of 2 mm or smaller cannot be reliably distinguished from linear disease progression us...
A novel heuristic approach for solving aircraft landing problem with single runway

Abstract Nowadays, airlines administrations are more willing to utilize optimization tools to control air traffic due to considerable increases in volume of air transports. A challenging problem in the field of air traffic is how to optimally schedule landing time of aircrafts and assign them to different runways such that early and late landing costs are minimized. This problem is called aircraft landing problem (ALP). This paper proposes a novel decomposition based heuristic by solving two sub-problems for the ALP with single runway. In the first sub-problem, we apply the adaptive large neighborhood search (ALNS) algorithm to find a sequence of aircrafts. The solution found in the first sub-problem will be sent to the second sub-problem, to check for the feasibility of the solution using CPLEX solver. A set of benchmark problem are taken from the OR library for the purpose of comparison with other existing approaches. The computational results exhibit that the proposed algorithm is capable of finding the best known optimal solution for all the instances.
Visual search for transparency and opacity: attentional guidance by cue combination?

A series of seven experiments explored search for opaque targets among transparent distractors or vice versa. Static stimuli produced very inefficient search. With moving items, search for an opaque target among transparent distractors was quite efficient while search for transparent targets was less efficient (Experiment 1). Transparent and opaque items differed from each other on the basis of motion cues, luminance cues, and figural cues (e.g., junction type). Motion cues were not sufficient to support efficient search (Experiments 2–5). Violations of the luminance rules of transparency disrupt search (Experiments 3 and 4). Experiment 5 shows that search becomes inefficient if X-junctions are removed. Experiments 6 and 7 show that efficient search survives if X-junctions are occluded. It appears that guidance of attention to an opaque target is guidance based on “cue combination” (M. S. Landy, L. T. Maloney, E. B. Johnston, & M. Young, 1995). Several cues must be present to produce a difference between opaque and transparent surfaces that is adequate to guide attention.
An Overview of Arboviruses and Bunyaviruses

Arboviruses belong to various families of viruses that are transmitted by arthropods, mainly mosquitoes and ticks. Arboviruses that cause human encephalitis in the United States are members of 3 main virus families: Togaviridae, Flaviviridae, and Bunyaviridae; they include St. Louis encephalitis (SLE), Western equine encephalitis (WEE), Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), La Crosse virus (LAC), and other California serogroup viruses. In the United States, the incidence is usually 150 to 3,000 cases per year. Most infections are asymptomatic or may result in a nonspecific flu-like syndrome, but if clinical cases do occur, the consequences may be serious. Diseases caused by arboviruses include encephalitis, febrile diseases, and hemorrhagic fevers. Rapid serologic assays such as IgM-capture ELISA (MAC-ELISA) and IgG ELISA can be used soon after infection for diagnosis. There is no spe- cific treatment and therapy is mainly support- ive. Prevention includes vector control, educat- ing the public to avoid high-risk areas, wearing protective clothing, and using DEET-containing insect repellents.