cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An analysis of the apparent neutralization of Rous sarcoma virus with antiserum to normal chick tissues.

Abstract The effect of antiserum to normal chick embryo tissues on the infectivity assay of the Rous sarcoma virus was investigated. It was found that such serum, when mixed with the virus and inoculated on the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of the developing chick embryo, caused a sharp reduction in the number of virus-induced tumors when compared with a control containing normal serum. In contrast to neutralization with specific antiviral serum, however, the reaction required complement and was completely reversible on dilution of the serum-virus mixture. Furthermore, the anticell serum suppressed tumor formation even when added after virus had adsorbed to susceptible cells, whereas the antiviral serum was effective only before adsorption. Most of the tumor-inhibiting activity of the antichick serum could be removed by absorption with normal chick cells and to a lesser degree by absorption with sheep red blood cells. Moreover, antiserum to boiled sheep red blood cell stroma was also capable of reducing the number of tumors. The antichick serum had no significant effect on the assay of vaccinia virus on the chorioallantoic membrane. It was concluded that the apparent neutralization of Rous sarcoma virus by antichick serum was due to impairment of the ability of the infected cells to multiply rather than to a direct neutralization of virus itself. This contradicts some earlier reports which indicated that unaltered normal cell protein forms an integral part of the functional surface of the Rous sarcoma virus.
Atrial natriuretic peptide blockade exacerbates high altitude pulmonary edema in endotoxin-primed rats.

High altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) is associated with increases in pulmonary arterial and hydrostatic pressures and an increase in pulmonary vascular permeability. There is evidence to suggest that inflammatory mediators may cause some forms of HAPE, and Salmonella enteritidis endotoxin (ETX) is known to activate neutrophils and inflammatory mediators, such as TNF-α and IL1-β. Since HAPE has been produced in rats primed with ETX, we hypothesized that ANP release and action may ameliorate HAPE and that ANP blockade may exacerbate HAPE in ETX-primed rats exposed to high altitude (HA). Plasma ANP, right atrial ANP mRNA, and indexes of lung injury were measured in rats primed with endotoxin (ETX) (0.1 mg/kg BW, i.p.) and exposed to simulated HA (4267 m; PB = 440 mmHg) for either 12 or 24 h. Catheters were chronically inserted into the right carotid artery, pulmonary artery, and jugular vein for assessment of hemodynamic parameters in response to ETX and/or HA. In addition, some rats were injected with an an...
Modeling the influence of salmon spawning on hyporheic exchange of marine-derived nutrients in gravel stream beds

Salmon that spawn in streams deliver marine-derived nutrients (MDN) that catalyze trophic productivity and support rearing juvenile salmon. Salmon spawning also affects hyporheic exchange and movement of dissolved MDN through the stream bed by creating redd topography that induces pumping exchange and by winnowing fine sediment and loosening the bed, which alters hydraulic conductivity and bed porosity. The spatial extent of spawning within the channel likely governs the volume and rate of dissolved MDN exchanged with the stream bed through this process. To explore this issue, we used a two-dimensional groundwater model to predict changes in hyporheic volume, flux, and mean hydraulic residence time of dissolved MDN as a function of the proportion of the bed surface occupied by redds (P). Predictions indicate that hyporheic volume and flux systematically increase with P, while the mean hydraulic residence time of dissolved MDN in the hyporheic zone decreases sharply with P, from 5.79 h on an unspawned bed ...
Holistic Assessment and Care: Presence in the Process

Holistic assessment and care are inseparable from the nursing process. Holistic nursing practice informed by a philosophy of holism balancing art and science recognizes the interconnectedness of body, mind, and spirit. Holistic practice draws on knowledge, theories, expertise, intuition, and creativity. The purpose of this article is to place nursing in the context of holistic practice; to explicate the role of presence as an essential condition for holistic care; and to provide an example of the holistic caring process that incorporates theory, presence, and practice documented in the standard formats. A holistic approach to nursing integrates process and presence in the provision of care. Process alone is empty without presence. Presence alone is insufficient without the process.
Optimization of behavioral dynamic treatment regimens based on the sequential, multiple assignment, randomized trial (SMART).

Background and purposeA behavioral intervention is a program aimed at modifying behavior for the purpose of treating or preventing disease, promoting health, and/or enhancing well-being. Many behavioral interventions are dynamic treatment regimens, that is, sequential, individualized multicomponent interventions in which the intensity and/or type of treatment is varied in response to the needs and progress of the individual participant. The multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) is a comprehensive framework for development, optimization, and evaluation of behavioral interventions, including dynamic treatment regimens. The objective of optimization is to make dynamic treatment regimens more effective, efficient, scalable, and sustainable. An important tool for optimization of dynamic treatment regimens is the sequential, multiple assignment, randomized trial (SMART). The purpose of this article is to discuss how to develop optimized dynamic treatment regimens within the MOST framework.Methods and resultsT...
Evolutionary implications of a rRNA-based phylogeny of Harpellales

The Harpellales (Trichomycetes) are endosymbiotic microfungi, mostly unculturable and predominantly associated with larval aquatic insects worldwide. Molecular phylogenies including 'gut fungi' have included at most only four axenic isolates of the 38 genera of Harpellales. Cladistic analyses were used to infer the phylogeny of the Harpellales using partial 18S or 28S nu-rRNA sequences generated for 16 genera of Harpellales, with 64 of 72 sequences generated from unculturable samples. Both analyses placed Orphella outside an otherwise monophyletic group of Harpellales, more closely allied to the Kickxellales. The current classification recognizing two families is not corroborated and continued use of the family Legeriomycetaceae may not be supportable. The largest genera of Harpellales, Smittium and Stachylina, were polyphyletic and the 28S rRNA sequences separate Smittium culisetae from the remainder of its genus. The cladograms did not support the consistent mapping of important morphological taxonomic characters, including trichospore shape and zygospore type or appendage numbers for both. This study demonstrates the use of microscopic thalli from host guts for molecular phylogenies and suggests the need for more data from the remaining Harpellales, especially with the future inclusion of protein-coding genes.
In Vitro Analysis of Experimental Avian Viral Myocarditis

The cardiotropism of mumps virus in ovo was reproduced in vitro in a comparative study of the replication of mumps virus in cultivated heart, lung, and liver cells from 11-to 19-day-old chicken embryos. The increased proportion of virus-producing cells in the heart was shown not to be due to greater adsorption of virus to heart cells. Neither interferon nor other cellular inhibitory products were responsible for the lower level of production of virus by lung and liver cells. The proportion of cells producing virus in relation to the amount of virus adsorbed and the proportion of hemadsorbing cells that released infectious virus were greater in heart cells; this finding suggested more efficient viral release in the heart than at the other sites. Inhibition of protein synthesis by puromycin after infection rapidly stimulated the production of mumps virus only in liver cells. Thus a relatively late stage in viral synthesis may be attenuated in the less susceptible liver cells, and events late in viral synthesis may determine organ-related differences in the multiplication of mumps virus in ovo.
Functionally distinct RNA polymerase binding sites in the phage Mu mom promoter region

Transcription of the phage Mu com/mom operon is trans-activated by another phage gene product, C, a site-specific DNA binding protein. To gain insight into the mechanism by which C activates transcription, we carried out footprinting analyses of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase (= RNAP) binding to various com-lacZ fusion plasmids. KMnO4-sensitive sites (diagnostic of the melted regions in open-complexes) and DNase I-sensitive sites were located by primer-extension analysis. The results are summarized as follows: (i) in vivo, in the absence of C, RNAP bound in the wild-type (wt) promoter region at a site designated P2; in vitro DNase I-footprinting showed that P2 extends from -74 to -24 with respect to transcription initiation. This overlaps a known strong C-binding site (at -35 to -54). RNAP bound at P2 appeared to be in an open-complex, as evidenced by the presence of KMnO4-hypersensitive sites. (ii) In contrast, when C was present in vivo, RNAP bound in the wt promoter region at a different site, designated P1, located downstream and partially overlapping P2. RNAP bound at P1 also appeared to be in an open-complex, as evidenced by the presence of KMnO4-hypersensitive sites. (iii) Two C-independent mutants, which initiate transcription at the same position as the wt, were also analyzed. In vivo, in the absence of C, RNAP bound mutant tin7 (contains a T to G substitution at -14) predominantly at P1; in vitro DNase I-footprinting showed that P1 extends from -56 to +21. With mutant tin6 (a 63 base-pair deletion removing P2, as well as part of P1 and the C-binding site from -35 to -54), RNAP bound to P1 independent of C. We conclude that P1 is the 'functional' RNAP binding site for mom-transcription initiation, and that C activates transcription by promoting binding at P1, while blocking binding at P2.
Quantitation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) and related substances in dextrose injections containing drugs and bisulfite

The spectrophotometric test for 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and related substances, which is included in multiple compendial monographs for dextrose-containing injections, was modified to eliminate interference of bisulfite anion. Experimental formulations containing heparin or dopamine hydrochloride were used in this study. The modified assay was shown to be accurate, precise and rugged. With an appropriate standard, the method can be used to measure 5-HMF in solutions with an approximate quantitation limit of 0.06 ppm.
Magnetic Multilayers: Quasiclassical Transport Via the Kubo Formula

A real‐space quantum approach, based on the Kubo formula, is used to describe the quasiclassical transport behavior of metallic multilayers. We emphasize the differences between the cases of current in the plane of the layers, for which size effects play a dominant role and current perpendicular to the planes, for which we provide several proofs that the so‐called series resistor model holds for all length scales.
Rapid affinity purification and properties of rat liver sorbitol dehydrogenase.

A 23-h affinity chromatography purification procedure for sorbitol dehydrogenase (l-iditol:NAD+ 5-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.14) prepared from freshly excised rat liver has been developed that resulted in an 18% yield of an apparently homogeneous preparation (purification = 439-fold). The moleular weight of the enzyme was approx. 96 000. The enzyme was specific for NAD+ (NADH), but had no requirement for NADP+ (NADPH). The purified preparation shows significantly activity with structurally related polyols and ketoses. Km values for sorbitol and fructose are 0.35 and 110 mM (at pH 7.1), respectively.
Personality after the prime of life: Men and women coming to terms with regrets

Both Erikson and Butler propose that successfully coming to terms with life regrets facilitates positive personality development in late adulthood. We examined life regrets, concurrent well-being, and three categories of current interpretation of past (regretted) events (not having come to terms, putting the best face on it, and coming to terms) in a heterogeneous sample of men and women in their early 60s. We found that about half of the sample reported at least one of two kinds of regrets, that acknowledging regrets was associated with lower scores on well-being, and that the relationship of regret to well-being was mitigated by certain current interpretations.
Use of a gyroscope sensor to quantify tibial motions during a pivot shift test

Purpose The purpose of this preliminary study was to evaluate the use of a gyroscope sensor to record rotations of the tibia about its long axis during a clinical pivot shift examination.
STUDIES OF THE PURPLE HERON, PART 1: HERONRY STRUCTURE, NESTING HABITS AND REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS

Summary Tomlinson, D. N. S. 1974. Studies of the Purple Heron, Part 1: Heronry structure, nesting habits and reproductive success. Ostrich 45: 175–181. At Lake McIlwaine, Rhodesia, Ardea purpurea nests in bulrush Typha latifolia stands or on island termite mounds covered with reeds Phragmites mauritianus, which are connected to the mainland by Polygonum senegalense weed. Nest construction was different in thickness, diameter, height and materials used between the two types of nesting habitat. Clumping of nests in pairs and trios was apparent andMayhave some social significance. The Marsh Harrier Circus ranivorus preyed on the eggs and small chicks of the heron, whilst the Clawless Otter Aonyx capensis probably preyed on large chicks destroying the nest completely in the process. Low lake levels appear to be a major limiting factor to nesting success.
Incidence of aspiration with endotracheal tubes in children

tion in one; it probably was not significantly contributory to the fat malabsorption. Bile acid loss persisted despite dietary and pancreatic extract therapy and the resulting correction of steatorrhea, indicating that the unhydrolysed triglycerides were not the main reason for impaired ileal bile acid absorption. The spontaneous recovery in both children toward the end of the first year of life indicated to us that a transient delay in maturation of exocrine pancreatic function was probably responsible for the malabsorption. Absent lipolytic and amylolytic activity and blunted response to hormonal stimulation have been described in premature and newborn infants. 2,a2 These functions were found to be normal and comparable to those of adults by 2 years of age. The exact timing of maturation is unknown. The malabsorption syndrome caused by pancreatic insufficiency may easily be missed if it is transient or masked by the liberal use of infant formulas containing simple sugars, hydrolyzed protein, and medium-chain triglycerides.
Effects of cholinergic agonists and antagonists on morphine-withdrawal syndrome.

The effects of pilocarpine, atropine and dexetimide were studied on the occurrence and intensity of morphine-withdrawal signs observed after cessation of chronic morphine injections. Pilocarpine was effective in reducing both ‘wet-dog’ like body shakes and aggression but it increased diarrhea and weight loss. Pretreatment with atropine blocked all of the effects of pilocarpine on withdrawal signs. Methylscopolamine pretreatment blocked only diarrhea. The administration of atropine or dexetimide produced no significant effect on any of the withdrawal signs. These results indicate a role for central cholinergic mechanism in narcotic withdrawal.
The economic viability of the railways of tropical Africa

Abstract Loss of traffic and growing deficits of most of the railway systems in tropical Africa have led to questions about the economic viability of the systems, and the need for choosing between governmental efforts to revive and continue them or phasing them out, as has been done in Sierra Leone. Analysis of costs of rail transport and the relationship of rail and road transport costs suggests that the systems are economically justifiable, particularly with adjustment of cost and revenue data to reflect true economic costs and optimal rate structures. Analysis of the density of traffic on the major routes leads to the same conclusion although some individual lines may not be justifiable on economic grounds.
Which metaproteome? The impact of protein extraction bias on metaproteomic analyses

Culture-independent techniques such as LC-MS/MS-based metaproteomic analyses are being increasingly utilized for the study of microbial composition and function in complex environmental samples. Although several studies have documented the many challenges and sources of bias that must be considered in these types of analyses, none have systematically characterized the effect of protein extraction bias on the biological interpretation of true environmental biofilm metaproteomes. In this study, we compared three protein extraction methods commonly used in the analyses of environmental samples [guanidine hydrochloride (GuHCl), B-PER, sequential citrate-phenol (SCP)] using nano-LC-MS/MS and an environmental marine biofilm to determine the unique biases introduced by each method and their effect on the interpretation of the derived metaproteomes. While the protein extraction efficiencies of the three methods ranged from 2.0 to 4.3%, there was little overlap in the sequence (1.9%), function (8.3% of total assigned protein families) and origin of the identified proteins from each extract. Each extraction method enriched for different protein families (GuHCl – photosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism; B-PER – membrane transport, oxidative stress; SCP – calcium binding, structural) while 23.7–45.4% of the identified proteins lacked SwissProt annotations. Taken together, the results demonstrated that even the most basic interpretations of this complex microbial assemblage (species composition, ratio of prokaryotic to eukaryotic proteins, predominant functions) varied with little overlap based on the protein extraction method employed. These findings demonstrate the heavy influence of protein extraction on biofilm metaproteomics and provide caveats for the interpretation of such data sets when utilizing single protein extraction methods for the description of complex microbial assemblages.
Translation of RNAIII, the Staphylococcus aureus agr regulatory RNA molecule, can be activated by a 3′-end deletion

RNAIII, an RNA molecule shown to encode delta-hemolysin and independently to regulate toxin synthesis in Staphylococcus aureus, is transcribed at the mid-exponential phase of growth, while its target genes are activated 2 h later, at the post-exponential phase of growth. We show here that the translation of RNAIII to the 26-amino acid peptide delta-hemolysin is delayed by 1 h, and that this delay is abolished when the 3'-end of this molecule is deleted. We suggest that structural changes of RNAIII to a translatable form of the molecule precede its regulation of target gene expression.
Event selection in a proportional-chamber array using lookup tables

Abstract The coordinates from various pairs of planes in an array of proportional chambers in a two-arm spectrometer are compared in 400 ns using a combination of lookup tables and digital comparators. Only those with the “correct” (kinematically determined) correspondence are accepted.
Revised technique for retrieving small polyps from the colon and rectum after snare polypectomy.

Use of a nylon tissue biopsy bag at the suction port during snare colonoscopic polypectomy refines our previously reported technique in which we used a 4-inch × 4-inch gauze pad. The nylon tissue biopsy bag results in superior pathologic specimens, maintains simplicity of the technique, and is cost effective.
Safety of Fitness Equipment Cables

There is a family of fitness machines that provides a manual workout task requiring the user to push or pull against a resistance provided by a stack of weight plates. The weight system is usually linked with a single cable to a gripping or user interface device to produce a constant resistance. A fracture of the tensioned cable along its length or at its end connectors causes a sudden acceleration of the grip or other interface device driven by the operator’s push or pull. The sudden loss of resistance often results in an exerciser pulling a heavy bar into his or her face. Because falling weights, accelerating grips and rapidly unloading muscles are all hazardous, manufacturers of exercise machines want to maintain the structural integrity of the cables. To accomplish this, manufacturers usually recommend “scheduled servicing” of their cables. This Preventive Maintenance (PM) strategy is frustrated by nylon sheathing that hides the cable failures. Further, the swedged or silver soldered connectors often fail covertly by internal fatigue fractures. A more effective PM strategy has been adopted by many manufacturers called “Scheduled Replacement”; they advocate annual cable replacement. Here the nemeses are sloth and greed, best expressed by the philosophy, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” As a first consideration of fault tolerant design, a redundant duplication of the cable system was added to a fitness machine; this is called “active redundancy.” This paper demonstrates the inadequacy of active redundancy for eliminating the catastrophic failure mode. Instead, the adoption of a “dormant/standby” redundancy is shown to provide the requisite safety. The proposed system not only eliminates the “fail-to-danger” mode, it provides the most economical use of the cable in the sense that it never discards a cable until its life is exhausted.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
On-off frequency-shift keying for wideband fading channels

M-ary on-off frequency-shift keying (OOFSK) is a digital modulation format in which M-ary FSK signaling is overlaid on on/off keying. This paper investigates the potential of this modulation format in the context of wideband fading channels. First, it is assumed that the receiver uses energy detection for the reception of OOFSK signals. Capacity expressions are obtained for the cases in which the receiver has perfect and imperfect fading side information. Power efficiency is investigated when the transmitter is subject to a peak-to-average power ratio (PAR) limitation or a peak power limitation. It is shown that under a PAR limitation, it is extremely power inefficient to operate in the very-low-SNR regime. On the other hand, if there is only a peak power limitation, it is demonstrated that power efficiency improves as one operates with smaller SNR and vanishing duty factor. Also studied are the capacity improvements that accrue when the receiver can track phase shifts in the channel or if the received signal has a specular component. To take advantage of those features, the phase of the modulation is also allowed to carry information.
Selective Purcell enhancement of defect emission in ZnO thin films

A zinc interstitial defect present but unobservable in ZnO thin films annealed at 500 °C in oxygen or in atmosphere was selectively detected by interaction of the film with an Ag surface-plasmon polariton. The time-dependent differential reflectivity of the ZnO near the ZnO/MgO interface exhibited a subpicosecond decay followed by a several nanosecond recovery, consistent with the Purcell-enhanced Zn interstitial luminescence seen in Ag-ZnO heterostructures. Heterostructures annealed at other temperatures showed significantly greater band-edge photoluminescence and no evidence of the Zn interstitial defect.
Understanding short-term travel behavior under personal mobility credit allowance scheme using experimental economics

This study proposes personal mobility carbon allowance scheme, collects the data using an online experimental game, and analyzes data with econometric models. Personal mobility carbon allowance (PMCA) schemes allocate carbon credits to users at no cost based on the emissions reduction goal of the system. Users spend carbon credits for travel and a market place exists where users can buy or sell credits. To understand this process, a real-time experimental game tool is developed where players are asked to make travel decisions within the carbon budget set by PMCA and they are allowed to trade carbon credits in a market modeled as a double auction game. Results from estimated random parameter models show that medium and low income group users are highly sensitive to increase in carbon cost for grocery (non-work) trips. Further, the elasticity values show that high income group are less sensitive to carbon cost increase for work trips. The market dynamics such as number of total bids or asks are examined through count data models. The insights from the models can be used to effectively design the parameters of PMCA schemes. In addition, the experimental game tool and the analysis framework can be applied to understand other market based strategies such as carbon tax and tradable emissions permits.
On the Generation of Scroll Waves in a Three-Dimensional Discrete Active Medium

This paper reports on the simulation, in three-dimensional cellular-neural-network (CNN) arrays of Chua’s circuits, of basic three-dimensional scroll wave patterns observed previously from other media. Among the simulated patterns are the straight scroll wave, twisted scroll wave in both homogeneous and inhomogeneous media, as well as the scroll ring. These types of waves have been obtained for only one set of circuit parameters by varying the initial conditions.
Methane-rich plumes on the Carolina continental rise: Associations with gas hydrates

Seafloor venting of microbial gases occurs at 2167 m water depth over the Blake Ridge diapir-Gas-rich plumes were identified acoustically in the water column up to 320 m above a pockmarked sea floor associated with active chemosynthetic biological communities. Plumes and venting fluids emanate from near a small fault that extends downward toward a dome in the bottom-simulating reflector, indicating that fluid and/or gas migration is associated with gas hydrate bearing sediment below. These plumes might be caused by gas bubbles or buoyant dumps of gas hydrate that float upward from the seafloor. 18 refs., 3 figs.
MitoTimer: a novel protein for monitoring mitochondrial turnover in the heart

Mitochondrial quality control refers to the coordinated cellular systems involved in maintaining a population of healthy mitochondria. In addition to mitochondrial protein chaperones (Hsp10, Hsp60, and others) and proteases (Lon, AAA proteases) needed for refolding or degrading individual proteins, mitochondrial integrity is maintained through the regulation of protein import via the TOM/TIM complex and protein redistribution across the network via fusion and fission and through mitophagy and biogenesis, key determinants of mitochondrial turnover. A growing number of studies point to the importance of mitochondrial dynamics (fusion/fission) and mitochondrial autophagy in the heart. Mitochondrial biogenesis must keep pace with mitophagy in order to maintain a stable number of mitochondria. In this review, we will discuss the use of MitoTimer as a tool to monitor mitochondrial turnover.
Eating Disorders in the Adolescent Population: Future Directions

Adolescents become vulnerable to developing eating disorders as they mature. Very little is known about the prevalence, etiology, assessment, treatment, and outcome of eating disorders among adoles...
The mass spectra of the trimethylsilyl derivatives of some alkyl and aminoalkyl phosphonates

The mass spectra of the trimethylsilyl derivatives of a series of alkyl and aminoalkyl phosphonates were investigated with the aid of deuterium labeling and high resolution mass measurements. The spectra contained several prominent ions characteristic of the phosphonate system and a number of ions produced by inter and intra molecular migration and interaction of trimethylsilyl groups.
A Rare Case of Listeria Monocytogenes Presenting as Prosthetic Valve Bacterial Endocarditis and Aortic Root Abscess

Listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive bacillus that is rarely associated with infections in the general population. Those susceptible to this pathogen include neonates, pregnant women, and the immunocompromised. The most common clinical manifestations of listeriosis are bacteremia and meningitis. Endocarditis caused by L. monocytogenes is rare with less than 60 cases reported in the world literature. We report the case of an 81-year-old man who suffered aortic prosthetic valve listeria endocarditis, and examine the literature regarding this rare manifestation of human listeriosis.
Self-induced transparency of an extremely short pulse☆

Abstract A closed form steady-state analytic solution properly describing extremely short pulse propagation in a resonant medium is obtained without making the usual slowly varying envelope approximation. Instead, we assume that ( c V − 1) ωτ ⪡ 1 , where V is the pulse speed and τ is the pulse duration. We ignore possible nonresonant loss and set T1 = T2 = ∞
A Multivariate Statistical Pattern Recognition System for Reactor Noise Analysis

A multivariate statistical pattern recognition system for reactor noise analysis was developed. The basis of the system is a transformation for decoupling correlated variables and algorithms for inferring probability density functions. The system is adaptable to a variety of statistical properties of the data, and it has learning, tracking, and updating capabilities. System design emphasizes control of the false-alarm rate. The ability of the system to learn normal patterns of reactor behavior and to recognize deviations from these patterns was evaluated by experiments at the ORNL High-Flux Isotope Reactor (HFIR). Power perturbations of less than 0.1% of the mean value in selected frequency ranges were detected by the system.
Nonparametric bivariate estimation with randomly censored data

SUMMARY The estimation of a bivariate distribution function with randomly censored data is considered. It is assumed that the censoring occurs independently of the lifetimes, and that deaths and losses which occur simultaneously can be separated. Two estimators are developed: a reduced-sample estimator and a self-consistent one. It is shown that the latter estimator satisfies a nonparametric likelihood function and is unique up to the final uncensored values in any dimension; it jumps at the points of double deaths in both dimensions. Some key word8: Censored data; Kaplan-Meier estimator; Life table; Product-limit estimator; Survival estimation.
Simulation Study and Experimental Testing of Foot-Terrain Dynamics in Piezoelectric Micro-Robots

In micro-scale environment, contact forces such as adhesion and electrostatic forces, which are generally assumed to be negligible in general macro scale devices, affect the motions of MEMS devices significantly. This paper is an initial exploration of how such forces might influence the locomotion of multi-legged micro-robots, by matching the analytical dynamic simulations to the result from experiments on micro devices including a simple micro-cantilever beam and a bulk piezoelectrically-actuated micro-robotic prototype. Results imply that foot-terrain impacts focusing on primary effects related to electrostatic forces, adhesion forces, and an appropriate coefficient of restitution can provide a reasonable model of micro-scale behavior of a robotic foot.© 2010 ASME
Megagametogenesis in Halophila johnsonii, a threatened seagrass with no known seeds, and the seed-producing Halophila decipiens (Hydrocharitaceae)

Megagametogenesis, the development of a megaspore into an embryo sac, has been identified in the seagrass Halophila johnsonii, a threatened species with no known sexual reproduction or seeds. Megagametogenesis in H. johnsonii was compared with megagametophyte development in Halophila decipiens, a related species known to readily produce viable seeds. In both species, ovules were structurally similar, megaspore mother cells were seen in premeiotic ovules, and linear tetrads and megagametophytes with two to eight nuclei were present in postmeiotic ovules. However, H. decipiens postmeiotic ovules had a chalazal pouch that was absent in the postmeiotic ovules of H. johnsonii. Late-stage H. decipiens ovules also contained embryos, indicating that they had been fertilized, whereas all late-stage H. johnsonii ovules were degrading and showed no signs of fertilization. These observations suggest that meiosis does occur in H. johnsonii megasporocytes, leading to the formation of viable megagametophytes and egg cells that could be fertilized if pollination occurred. Thus, the lack of seed set is due to a lack of pollination rather than any loss of capacity to produce seeds in this species.
Mirrors for gamma ray astronomy

Abstract The atmosperic Cherenkov technique is widely used for the detection of high energy gamma rays ( E γ > 10 11 eV) from space [L.K. Resvanis et al., Astrophys. J. Lett. 328 (1988) L9]. Most current detectors use large arrays of optical mirrors to collect and focus the Cherenkov light from gamma ray induced showers onto photomultipliers. We describe herein a simple and economical method for the production of such mirrors.
The quaternary structure of a molluscan (Helisoma trivolvis) extracellular hemoglobin.

The hemoglobin (erythrocruorin) of the planorbid mollusc Helisoma trivolvis has a molecular weight of 1.7·106 and a sedimentation coefficient (s020w) of 33.8 S at pH 7.0. At pH 2.0, the pigment consists of 32 S and 13 S material. The hemoglobin exists as a 350 000 molecular weight submultiple in 6 M guanidine and can be further dissociated into a 175–200 000 dalton polypeptide in 6 M guanidine, 0.1 M 2-mercaptoethanol or by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis of globin, performic acid oxidized globin or carboxymethylated globin. Electron microscope observations show a ten-membered ring structure measuring 200 A in diameter. It is proposed that Helisoma hemoglobin consists of a 1.7·106 dalton circular assembly of ten 175–200 000 dalton polypeptide chains. The amino acid composition of the pigment is reported. The hemoglobin contains one heme per 18–19 000 g protein. Limited proteolysis of the intact pigment shows 60 000, 40 000 and 17 000–18 500 dalton components when analysed by sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis. It is likely that the 175–200 000 dalton polypeptide consists of a linear arrangement of 8–12 heme-containing domains, each domain having a molecular weight of 18–19 000.
Theoretical studies of thermal syn elimination reaction of organic amine oxide, sulfoxide and phosphoxide by ab initio and density functional methods

Abstract The geometries of the reactants and transition structures for the Ei elimination of organic oxides (CO, PO, NO and SO) were generated with the RHF/6-31G(d), MP2/6-31G(d) ab initio, SVWN/6-31G(d) and BLYP/6-31G(d) density functional theory (DFT) models. The energies were evaluated at the same level of theory. The planarity of the transition structures was confirmed for all of the applied theory models. It was estimated that 2–7 kcal mol−1 is the necessary energy to change the reactants into a conformer which is suitable for elimination. Aldehydes and phosphoxides are not suitable starting materials for the preparation of olefins. The most reactive species are the nitroxides. The order of reactivity is in general agreement with experimental knowledge. The local and non-local DFT methods predict very similar activation energies. These activation energies are closer to the expected values than the energies predicted with the MP2/6-31G(d) theoretical model.
Comparison of random bulk population and single-seed-descent methods for lentil breeding

Three lentil (Lens culinaris Medic.) populations were advanced from the F2 to the F4 generation by singleseed-descent (SSD) and bulk-population (BP) breeding methods and used to compare the relative efficiency of the methods for maintaining genetic variation and selection opportunities. SSD maintained more genetic variation (% MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGak0dh9WrFfpC0xh9vqqj-hEeeu0xXdbba9frFj0-OqFf% ea0dXdd9vqaq-JfrVkFHe9pgea0dXdar-Jb9hs0dXdbPYxe9vr0-vr% 0-vqpWqaaeaabaGaaiaacaqabeaadaqaaqaaaOqaaiqbeo8aZzaaja% Waa0baaSqaaiaadEgaaeaacaaIYaaaaaaa!3B04!\[\hat \sigma _g^2 \]) in 15 of 21 comparisons of characters that were made. Genetic variances were significantly higher with SSD for plant height, days to maturity and yield in population 1; height of lowest pod in population 2; and days to blooming, height of lowest pod, plant type, and yield in population 3. SSD-derived populations had 10, 9, and 13% more erect lines in the three populations, respectively, when compared to the same populations advanced by BP. The BP method maintained 14, 2, and 4% more taller types in the three populations, respectively, and 16 and 33% more segregants that carried their pods higher from the ground. This indicated a reduced frequency of short plants with low flowers as a result of natural selection operating within BP against less competitive short types. The SSD method is an efficient cost-saving method of advancing lentil populations and is recommended for lentil breeding.
The common cold.

The common cold continues to be the major cause of absences from school and work. A better understanding of the epidemiology and the natural history should lead to less anxiety about this disease. Although there is still much misinformation among the public, the time should soon come when better-informed patients with this disease will make fewer visits to the physician and will not expect unnecessary and worthless treatment.
Combined therapies with calcitonin and corticosteroids, or bisphosphonate, for treatment of hypercalcemia of malignancy

Thirty-four patients with hypercalcemia of malignancy were studied in three randomized prospective clinical studies. In study 1, 10 patients with solid tumors and in study 2, 10 patients with multiple myeloma, received calcitonin alone or combined calcitonin and corticosteroids. In study 3, 14 hypercalcemic patients with solid tumors received either pamidronate alone or pamidronate and calcitonin. Patients with solid tumors had at least one bony metastasis at the time of the study. Serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels in all patients were either undetectable or below the lower limit of the normal range, suggesting that the hypercalcemia is secondary to malignancy and not caused by an underlying primary hyperparathyroidism. The calciumlowering effect of calcitonin was rapid, but disappeared in 3–4 days. Corticosteroids significantly prolonged the duration of normocalcemia in patients with hematological malignancies but not in patients with solid tumors. After a single dose of 60 mg of pamidronate, serum calcium was lowered within 2–3 days, and normocalcemia was maintained for an average of 14 days. The addition of calcitonin lowered serum calcium within 24 h and led to a rapid improvement in hypercalcemic symptoms. Except in patients with hypercalcemia caused by hematological malignancies, the calcium-lowering effect was not enhanced by adding steroids to calcitonin therapy. In patients with moderate to severe symptomatic hypercalcemia, infusions of pamidronate every 2 weeks and calcitonin therapy for the first 2–3 days rapidly reduced serum calcium levels and sustained normocalcemia.
An investigation of transition to turbulence in bounded oscillatory Stokes flows Part 1. Experiments

Experimental results on flow-field statistics are presented for turbulent oscillatory flow in a circular pipe for the range of Reynolds numbers Reδ = U0δ/ν (U0 = amplitude of cross-sectional mean velocity, δ = (2ν/ω)½) = Stokes layer thickness) from 550 to 2000 and Stokes parameters Λ = R/δ (R = radius of the pipe) from 5 to 10. Axial and radial velocity components were measured simultaneously using a two-colour laser-Doppler anemometer, providing information on ensemble-averaged velocity profiles as well as various turbulence statistics for different phases during the cycle. In all flows studied, turbulence appeared explosively towards the end of the acceleration phase of the cycle and was sustained throughout the deceleration phase. During the turbulent portion of the cycle, production of turbulence was restricted to the wall region of the pipe and was the result of turbulent bursts. The statistics of the resulting turbulent flow showed a great deal of similarity to results for steady turbulent pipe flows; in particular the three-layer description of the flow consisting of a viscous sublayer, a logarithmic layer (with von Karman constant = 0.4) and an outer wake could be identified at each phase if the corresponding ensemble-averaged wall-friction velocities were used for normalization. Consideration of similarity laws for these flows reveals that the existence of a logarithmic layer is a dimensional necessity whenever at least two of the scales R, u*/ω and ν/u* are widely separated; with the exact structure of the flow being dependent upon the parameters u*/Rω and u2*/ων. During the initial part of the acceleration phase, production of turbulence as well as turbulent Reynolds stresses were reduced to very low levels and the velocity profiles were in agreement with laminar theory. Nevertheless, the fluctuations retained a small but finite energy. In Part 2 of this paper, the major features observed in these experiments are used as a guideline, in conjunction with direct numerical simulations of the ‘perturbed’ Navier–Stokes equations for oscillatory flow in a channel, to identify the nature of the instability that is most likely to be responsible for transition in this class of flows.
Phenotypic expansion of the supernumerary derivative (22) chromosome syndrome: VACTERL and Hirschsprung's disease

Phenotypically healthy carriers of the balanced 11;22 translocation, the most frequent non-Robertsonian constitutional translocation known in human beings, are at risk of having a progeny with supernumerary derivative (22)t(11;22) syndrome [der(22) syndrome]. We present the cases of 2 male patients with supernumerary der(22) syndrome [47,XY,+der(22)t(11;22)(q23;q11.2)mat], yielding partial trisomy for 22pter-q11 and 11q23-qter. These cases expand the phenotype of the der(22) syndrome, with the first case highlighting the phenotypic overlap of VACTERL and the second adding Hirschsprung's disease and intestinal malrotation to the list of associated anorectal anomalies. Because der(22) syndrome and cat eye syndrome (partial tetrasomy of 22q11) share a similar region of extra dosage on 22q11 and both typically manifest an anorectal phenotype, a dosage-sensitive gene for anorectal anomalies may be present in this locus.
Creating sustainable corporations

Corporate industrial activities of the past are environmentally unsustainable. Many of today's environmental crises are rooted in an unsustainable pattern of industrialization. Sustainable economic development can be ushered in only if corporations, the main economic engines of the future, are made environmentally sound. This can be facilitated through ‘total environmental management,’ and ‘sustainable organizational design’. Although many companies have embraced the practice of environmental management, few have seriously engaged the idea of sustainability. Those that do might reap competitive and financial benefits.
Prenatal and postnatal protein restriction in the rat: effect on some parameters related to brain development, and prospects for rehabilitation.

— From the third day of pregnancy rats were fed a diet containing either 7% casein (experimental) or 24% casein (control). During lactation the control dams were fed the 24% casein diet and the experimental dams a 12% casein diet. From 25 to 50 days of age the experimental and control progeny were fed diets containing 7 and 24% casein, respectively. Between 50 and 120 days both groups were fed a diet containing 24% crude protein. Several indications of brain maturation in two brain areas were examined at various stages of development. In addition to retardation of brain growth, protein restriction led to myelin of an immature composition at 25 and 50 days of age. The immature composition was indicated by a low plasmalogen content at 25 days and by a high phospholipid and low galactolipid and plasmalogen contents at 50 days of age. The activity of the myelin marker enzyme, 2′3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphohydrolase (CNP), was significantly lower in the brains (excluding the cerebella) of malnourished rats at 21, 30 and 50 days. At all ages except at 50 days the activity of CNP in the cerebellum was higher in protein-deprived animals than in controls. The activity of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) in the brains (excluding the cerebella) of protein-deprived rats was significantly lower at 21, 25 and 30 days but not at 50 and 65 days of age. As indicated by brain/body ratios, myelin composition and GAD activity, nutritional rehabilitation led to almost complete recovery of brain maturity, but the activity of CNP remained lower in the experimental group after rehabilitation.
St. Augustinegrass Germplasm Resistant to Blissus insularis (Hemiptera: Blissidae)

St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walter) Kuntze) is an economically important turfgrass in the southeastern United States. However, this turf species is prone to southern chinch bug, Blissus insularis Barber (Heteroptera: Blissidae) outbreaks. This insect is the most destructive pest of St. Augustine grass wherever this turf grass is grown. Host plant resistance has historically been an effective management tool for southern chinch bug. Since 1973, the 'Floratam' St. Augustine grass cultivar effectively controlled southern chinch bug in the southeast. However, southern chinch bug populations from Florida and Texas have now circumvented this resistance, through mechanisms still unknown. Therefore, identifying and deploying new cultivars with resistance to the southern chinch bug is imperative to combat this pest in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner. Currently, the number of cultivars with resistance against southern chinch bug is limited, and their efficacy, climatic adaptability, and aesthetic characters are variable. Hence, the main focus of this study is the identification of alternative sources of resistance to southern chinch bugs in previously uncharacterized St. Augustine grass plant introductions (PIs) and its closely related, crossbreeding species, Pembagrass (Stenotaphrum dimidiatum (L.) Brongniart). The PIs exhibited a wide range of responses to southern chinch bug feeding, as indicated by damage ratings. Damage ratings for seven PIs grouped with our resistant reference cultivars. Moreover, nine PIs exhibited antibiosis, based on poor development of southern chinch bug neonates, when compared with our susceptible reference cultivars. Altogether our study has produced strong support to indicate these materials are good candidates for future southern chinch bug resistance breeding in St. Augustine grass.