cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
"Humic coverage index" as a determining factor governing strain-specific hydrocarbon availability to contaminant-degrading bacteria in soils.

We report development of a novel parameter for quantifying the amount of humic and fulvic acids per unit surface area in a particular soil. This quantity, the “humic coverage index” (HCI), provides a measurement of the relative spatial extents and/or thicknesses of the humic/fulvic overlayers in different soils, and, therefore, can be used in modeling various soils' behavior in sequestration processes in which humic materials are involved. HCI is herein applied to modeling biodegradation of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons (phenanthrene, pyrene, and hexadecane) by several bacterial strains. Results indicate that, for the cases studies here, contaminant biodegradation is highest at a particular HCI and decreases if the coverage density of humic material is lower or higher than this optimum value. The HCI value at which maximal degradation was observed varied across different strains (indicating strain-specific differences in ability to degrade contaminants sorbed to humic materials) and, to a lesser ext...
Health policy issues and applications for evidence-based medicine and clinical practice guidelines

Evidence-based medicine and clinical practice guidelines have become increasingly salient to the international health care community in the 1990s. Key issues in health policy in this period can be categorised as costs and access to care, quality of and satisfaction with care, accountability for value in health care, and public health and education. This paper presents a brief overview of evidence-based medicine and clinical practice guidelines and describes how they are likely to influence health policy. Evidence-based medicine focuses on the use of the best available clinical (efficacy) evidence to inform decisions about patient care; guidelines are statements systematically developed from efficacy and effectiveness research and clinical consensus for practitioners and patients to use in making decisions about appropriate care under different clinical circumstances. Both fields have developed methods for evaluating and synthesising available evidence about the outcomes of alternative health care interventions. They have clear implications for health policy analysts: greater reliance should be placed on scientific evidence, policy decisions should be derived systematically, and health care decisionmaking must allow for the active participation of health care providers, policy makers, and patients or their advocates. The methods and information generated from evidence-based guidelines efforts are critical inputs into health policy analysis and decision-making.
Ten-year responses of ponderosa pine growth, vigor, and recruitment to restoration treatments in the Bitterroot Mountains, Montana, USA

Little is known about ponderosa pine forest ecosystem responses to restoration practices in the Northern Rocky Mountains, USA. In this study, restoration treatments aimed at approximating historical forest structure and disturbances included modified single-tree selection cutting, with and without prescribed burning. We compared the effectiveness of restoration treatments on growth, vigor, and composition of recruitment responses with untreated controls. We used a randomized block design to detect treatment differences in mean individual tree basal area increment (BAInc10), growth efficiency (GE), and recruitment abundance between two restoration treatments (Cut-only and Cut-burn) and a Control. We further examined treatment effects by tree age-class (Young, Mature, Presettlement) using a spatial ANOVA model that incorporates the spatial autocorrelation among trees within experimental units. Ten years after implementing restoration treatments, mean individual tree BAInc10 and GE were significantly higher for treated units relative to Control units; all three age-classes benefited similarly from restoration treatments relative to the Control, with the greatest response in the Cut-only and moderate response in the Cut-burn. When treated units were compared, Cut-burn negatively affected BAInc10 and GE relative to Cut-only. Presettlement trees responded positively to treatment relative to the Control, particularly for BAInc10, demonstrating the potential of these old trees to respond to reduced competition. The Cut-burn treatment, in contrast, negatively affected the BAInc10 and GE response of postsettlement trees when compared to Cut-only. Restoration treatments did not reduce the amount of Douglas-fir recruits. In addition, the recruitment of both ponderosa pine and Douglas-fir species was associated with the proximate cover of woody debris in Cut-only and Control treatments. Finally, special consideration needs to be taken for spring Cut-burn treatments, which appeared to dampen growth and vigor, relative to Cut-only, particularly for Young and Mature trees, and increased recruitment of ponderosa pine and particularly Douglas-fir.
The proteoglycan perlecan is expressed in the erythroleukemia cell line K562 and is upregulated by sodium butyrate and phorbol ester

Perlecan is a modular heparan sulfate proteoglycan that harbors five domains with homology to the low density lipoprotein receptor, epidermal growth factor, laminin and neural cell adhesion molecule. Using a monoclonal antibody directed against the laminin-like domain of perlecan, we have recently shown that perlecan is widely expressed in all lymphoreticular systems. To investigate further this observation we have studied the expression of perlecan in two human leukemic cell lines. Using reverse transcriptase-PCR, ribonuclease protection assay, and metabolic labeling we detected significant perlecan expression in the multipotential cell line K562, originally derived from a patient with chronic myelogenous leukemia. In contrast, the promyelocytic cell line HL-60 expressed perlecan at barely detectable levels. These results were intriguing because the K562 cells do not assemble or produce a classical basement membrane. Following induction with either sodium butyrate or the phorbol diester 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), K562 and HL-60 differentiate into early progenitor cells with erythroid or megakaryocytic properties, respectively. Following treatment of K562 and HL-60 cells with either of these agents, perlecan expression was markedly increased in K562 cells. In contrast, we could detect perlecan protein synthesis in HL-60 cells only at very low levels, even after induction with TPA or sodium butyrate. Collectively, these results indicate that perlecan is actively synthesized by bone marrow derived cells and suggest that this proteoglycan may play a role in hematopoietic cell differentiation.
Primary Kinetic Isotope Effect: A Lecture Demonstration

A lecture demonstration of primary kinetic isotope effect using the bromination of acetone and acetone-d6 is described.
Effect of portacaval shunts or transposition on hepatic blood flow and function in normal and cirrhotic dogs.

Summary 1. Hepatic blood flow has been correlated with the metabolic and pathologic results of either side to side or end to side portacaval shunts or portacaval transposition in both normal and cirrhotic dogs. 2. The estimated hepatic blood flow (EHBF) was obtained by measurement of the rate of disappearance from arterial blood of radioactively labeled colloidal gold particles. In normal dogs, the mean EHBF was 46.4 cc./kg. body weight per minute. In dogs with end to side or side to side portacaval shunts EHBF averaged 27.5 cc./kg./min. and 19.6 cc./kg./min., respectively, in contrast to dogs with portacaval transposition in which the EHBF remained normal at 43.6 cc./kg./min. 3. In the dogs with either type of shunt, when the hepatic blood flow was reduced, blood ammonia rose, serum albumin fell, BSP clearance fell moderately and the packed cell volume decreased slightly. No metabolic abnormalities developed in dogs with portacaval transposition. 4. The preoperative EHBF in cirrhotic dogs averaged 42.8 kg. per minute. After portacaval transposition, EHBF remained virtually unchanged (39.2) but fell to 18.9 or 17.9 in cirrhotic dogs subjected to side to side or to end to side portacaval shunts. 5. The fall in concentration of serum albumin and rise in globulins that were characteristic of the cirrhotic animals continued or became more pronounced after either type of portacaval shunt. A significant rise in blood ammonia occurred in both groups of shunted animals. Cirrhotic dogs with portacaval transposition, in contrast, exhibited no further decline in hepatic function as compared to their own preoperative state. 6. Portal venous pressures, which were uniformly elevated in all cirrhotic animals, were restored to normal by either portacaval shunts or transposition. 7. Mortality occurring within 120 hours of the operation (36 per cent) was higher in the cirrhotic animals undergoing portacaval shunt. No deaths occurred among the cirrhotic dogs undergoing portacaval transposition. Furthermore, among the cirrhotic dogs none with portacaval shunt survived more than three months after operation, whereas all of the animals with transposition survived six months or longer.
Hyperbolicity of nodal hypersurfaces

We show that a nodal hypersurface X in P3 of degree d with a sufficiently large number l of nodes, l > 8 3 (d2 − 5 2 d), is algebraically quasi-hyperbolic, i.e. X can only have finitely many rational and elliptic curves. Our results use the theory of symmetric differentials and algebraic foliations and give a very striking example of the jumping of the number of symmetric differentials in families.
Comparison of patient and spouse assessments of health related quality of life in men with metastatic prostate cancer.

Purpose: We examined the extent of agreement in health related quality of life ratings provided by patients with metastatic prostate cancer and their spouses. This agreement is important for determining the feasibility of using spouses as potential proxy raters in quality of life studies in this patient population.Materials and Methods: The study sample consisted of 72 pairs of patients with metastatic prostate cancer in remission or progression and their spouses. Patients and spouses independently completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30 and a prostate cancer specific questionnaire module. Together the 2 questionnaires assess a wide range of symptoms and functional limitations for a total of 21 quality of life outcomes.Results: For 5 of the 21 patient-proxy comparisons we noted systematic differences in the mean score with spouses rating more impairment in patients than patients indicated. Most patient-proxy correlations were 0.40 to 0.75,...
Interventional cardiology. PCI without surgical backup--evidence-based, but wise?

The results of MASS COMM support the safety of performing percutaneous coronary intervention at centres without on-site cardiothoracic surgery services. To translate these findings into clinical practice, robust quality oversight programmes, with direct measurement of procedural outcomes and complications, are needed. The VA CART programme provides a model for such a strategy.
Transferring Patients With Refractory Hypoxemia to a Regional Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Center Key Considerations for Clinicians

Because of technological advancements and encouraging experiences during the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) epidemic, many critical care clinicians consider extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) a reasonable strategy for managing patients with refractory hypoxemia when standardized therapies have failed. Although the literature remains unclear as to whether it should be considered a routine or a rescue strategy in the management of patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, experts agree that ECMO therapy is most likely to result in positive outcomes and fewer complications when provided at regional ECMO centers. Some institutions have developed the expertise and resources required to provide this sophisticated therapy, but significantly more facilities may choose to send their patients to a tertiary ECMO center when they do not respond to usual care. This article provides information essential for health care teams who refer their patients to such centers. The clinical indications for, and the use of, ECMO therapy in the management of refractory hypoxemia is briefly reviewed, followed by a description of how ECMO works to provide gas exchange and tissue perfusion. The primary considerations for circuit management, hemodynamic support, and pulmonary care are described, and significant complications of the therapy are identified. The remainder of the article focuses on the patient care and preparatory activities that occur before and during ECMO initiation, so that health care teams, patients, and their families can be confident of an efficient, safe, and highly skilled transfer of care between institutions.
Understanding Disordered Eating at Midlife and Late Life

Current knowledge regarding disordered eating beyond the period of emerging adulthood is limited. Guided by a life-span approach, the present study examined a model of disordered eating that used age, gender, body mass index (BMI), eating-related cognitions, and dissatisfaction with appearance as predictors of disordered eating. Participants were 125 adults in 4 age groups who completed measures. With the exception of BMI (i.e., men and middle-aged adults higher), no mean group differences emerged. No other mean age differences emerged. The authors tested the relations among model constructs using a path analysis. Results indicated that age exerted direct effects on disordered eating. The authors discuss results in terms of life-span development and the need to target understudied groups in research and clinical work.
Prevalence of flare and influence of demographic and serologic factors on flare risk in systemic lupus erythematosus: a prospective study.

Objective. We determined the prevalence of and risk factors for British Isles Lupus Activity Group (BILAG) flare in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods. We followed 299 patients for 1 year with the BILAG scores calculated using British Lupus Integrated Prospective System software and confirmed with manual calculation. Results. “A” flares occurred at a rate of 0.254/year, “B” flares 1.637/year, and A or B flares 1.765/year. The most common A flares were renal and mucocutaneous. The most common B flares were hematologic, renal, mucocutaneous, and musculoskeletal. Risk factors for a later A or B flare in the hematological system included: low C3 (p Conclusion. The organ system distribution of A and B flares is very different, with A flares more common in renal and mucocutaneous, and B flares more common in hematologic and renal systems. A or 2B flares are significantly more common in African Americans and in patients with abnormal serologies (low C3, low C4, or high anti-dsDNA). If flare is an outcome in an SLE clinical trial, these factors must be balanced by taking them into account at baseline in terms of randomization, or by statistical adjustment in final analyses.
Preliminary study of electron-energy-loss spectra of YBa2 Cu3O7−δ

We have obtained the electron-energy-loss spectra below 1,000 eV for YBa2Cu3O7-delta. The spectra show contributions from all elemental constituents, although the Y-signal is very weak owing to its small concentration. The low-loss region and the Ba-core losses are very similar to those obtained for BaO. The Cu absorption is similar to that seen in CuO with minor differences relating to Cu concentration and anisotropy. The oxygen 1s absorption has a shape that is quite different from that obtained in CuO and shows striking orientational anisotropy. Radiation damage in the microscope is a problem and leads to changes in the shape of the oxygen edge.
Flow Measurements of Vortex Generator Jets in Separating Boundary Layer

Vortex generator jets (VGJs) have been found to be an effective method of active separation control on the suction side of a low-pressure turbine (LPT) blade at low Reynolds numbers. The flow mechanisms responsible for this control were studied and documented to provide a basis for future improvements in LPT design. Data were collected using a stereo particle-image-velocimetry system that enabled all three components of velocity to be measured. First, steady VGJs were injected into a laminar boundary layer on a flat plate (nonseparating boundary layer) to more fully understand the characteristics and behavior of the produced vortices. Jets injected normal to the surface created vortices of lesser strength that migrated out farther from the boundary layer. The vortices produced by angled jets (injected at 30-deg pitch and 90-deg skew angles to the freestream) remained closer to the wall and maintained their structure for a longer distance. The angled jets also produced vortices that were more effective at sweeping low momentum fluid up from the boundary layer while transporting high-momentum freestream fluid down towards the wall. Second, pulsed VGJs were injected on a flat plate with an applied adverse pressure gradient equivalent to that experienced by an LPT blade. This configuration was used to study the effectiveness of the flow control exhibited by both jet configurations on a separating boundary layer. Time-averaged results showed similar boundary-layer separation reduction for both normal and angled jets; however, individual characteristics of the control differed. Normal jets created a disturbance that provided flow control earlier during the pulsing cycle, whereas the disturbance produced by the angled jets was more effective in reducing the boundary-layer separation.
Crohn's-associated chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis responsive to infliximab

We report a case of chronic recurrent clavicular osteomyelitis in association with Crohn disease. Steroid therapy resulted in partial remission; however, intractable shoulder pain and an enlarging clavicular mass subsequently recurred. Infliximab therapy resulted in significant improvement in the degree of bone pain and resolution of the large sclerotic clavicular lesion.
A questionnaire-based survey investigating the current use of tranexamic acid in traumatic haemorrhage and elective hip and knee arthroplasty.

ObjectivesTo record the current use of tranexamic acid during traumatic haemorrhage and elective arthroplasty of the hip and knee.DesignA questionnaire-based postal survey.SettingThe questionnaire was sent to the ‘anaesthetic lead’ at all acute trusts in England, excluding centres for children, women’s health, cancer and cardiac care.ParticipantsNinety-nine (66%) centres replied to the questionnaire.Main outcome measuresIs tranexamic acid used as part of routine standardized treatment for traumatic haemorrhage and for elective hip and knee arthroplasty, and if so what dosage regime was administered?ResultsFew trusts (31%) use tranexamic acid during traumatic haemorrhage, with various dosages used. Its use in hip and knee arthroplasty was also low (38%) with a diverse range of doses prescribed.ConclusionsDespite many trials showing its efficacy and low risk of side effect, it is clear that its use is not part of standard practice in most centres. Further studies could clarify these concerns and provide a d...
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy: A Quantitative, Longitudinal Perspective

This effectiveness study examined the course of treatment longitudinally and outcomes associated with psychodynamic psychotherapy for a sample of 1,050 people undertaking this treatment in a commun...
Importance of the Sir3 N Terminus and Its Acetylation for Yeast Transcriptional Silencing

The N-terminal alanine residues of the silencing protein Sir3 and of Orc1 are acetylated by the NatA Nα-acetyltransferase. Mutations demonstrate that the N terminus of Sir3 is important for its function. Sir3 and, perhaps, also Orc1 are the NatA substrates whose lack of acetylation in ard1 and nat1 mutants explains the silencing defect of those mutants.
Methods for the Detection of a Specific Mycobacterium leprae Antigen in the Urine of Leprosy Patients

Two methods for detecting the phenolic glycolipid, PGL-1, a Mycobacterium leprae-specific molecule, in the urine of leprosy patients are described. Both methods rely on the 100-fold preconcentration of the urine, which can be accomplished by a single-step ultrafiltration procedure. The equivalent of approximately 2.5 micrograms of PGL-1/ml was detected in the urine of LL patients with an inhibition ELISA. The second method, a direct dot-blot assay on nitrocellulose paper, was much simpler and more sensitive. As little as 3 ng of antigen was detected by the dot-blot technique. PGL-1 was detected in the urine of LL patients.
Parametric analytical study of instability-related delamination growth

The effect of various parameters on instability-related delamination growth was studied analytially. The configuration studied consisted of a thick composite laminate with a single through-width delamination located near one surface. Both mechanical and thermal loads were considered. All conclusions were based on the assumption that GI and GII govern delamination growth. An approximate superposition stress analysis was developed which gives closed form expressions for GI and GII. The simplicity of the analysis permitted examination of numerous configurations. Both GI and GII were found to be very sensitive to delamination length and location through the thickness. The magnitude of GI was also very sensitive to initial imperfections, which might be the results of an inclusion of finite thickness in the delamination. Critical loads for delamination growth were calculated based on three growth criteria. Large differences in the predictions highlight the need for a verified mixed-mode delamination growth criterion.
Characterization of Fe–C–N alloys’ mechanical properties

Abstract Melting a Fe–0.9wt.%C alloy under elevated nitrogen pressures produced carbide- and nitride-free alloys. The combination of high interstitial concentrations, approaching 2 wt.%, and duplex bcc-Fe/fcc-Fe microstructure resulted in alloys with compression yield strength in excess of 3 GPa while retaining over 20% ductility and with wear properties comparable to white cast irons. Statistical analysis showed a strong correlation between microstructure/nitrogen concentration and mechanical properties: hardness, strength, and wear. By the combination of both carbon and nitrogen, this process for the first time extended the interstitial concentration in iron to 2 wt.%.
Evaluation of a fatty acid cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor as a potential agent for synchronizing oestrus and mating

Abstract Two studies were conducted to evaluate the potential of a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, 2(p-biphenyl) propionic acid (BPPA), for use as an agent for synchronizing oestrus and mating. The first study determined that BPPA given systematically to rats from Day 6 through Day 18 or 20 of pseudopregnancy, and then withdrawn, synchronized the length of pseudopregnancy and the time of mating within day period over both day periods. Since an overall synchronization in mating was also achieved for two durations of pseudopregnancy that differed by as much as 2 days, it is evident that BPPA was capable of synchronizing the post-treatment oestrous periods of animals coming into pretreatment oestrus over at least a 3-day period. The BPPA treatment had little effect on litter size measurements of the ensuing pregnancy, except to reduce the average number of placental scars in the animals in one day period, and increase the average number of placental scars and average number of pups in the animals in the other day period. The second study showed that 500 mg BPPA given systematically twice daily to cyclic sheep would prolong luteal life span in this species, as judged by morphological criterion.
Testing the Einstein equivalence principle: Atomic clocks and local Lorentz invariance.

Three recent, remarkably sharp experimental tests of local Lorentz invariance are founded on an analysis of the electrostatic structure of atoms and nuclei moving through a nonmetric gravitational field. In this paper we extend this analysis to account for hyperfine and other relativistic aspects of atomic structure. One product of this work is a new quantitative interpretation of experimental tests of local Lorentz invariance that employ hydrogen-maser clocks, clocks whose ticking rates are governed by an atomic hyperfine transition. The analytical methods developed in this paper constitute a fairly complete set of tools for studying the breakdown of local Lorentz invariance in Lagrangian-based nonmetric theories of gravitation.
A low-cost microcomputer system to monitor and control an environmental control plot facility☆

Since 1980, six 67.1-m2 environmental control plots with apparatus for soil temperature manipulation and motorized shelters for rainfall exclusion have been used for the study of Aspergillus flavus invasion and aflatoxin contamination of peanuts during drought stress. Manual controls and the absence of an alarm system for the plots have mandated daily monitoring and adjustments of thermostats for soil temperature control and visual inspection for proper shelter operation, especially during severe thunderstorms. Prior to 1987 experiments, a microcomputer-based control system was assembled to control the operation of the facility and provide telephone alarms for soil temperature discrepancies, improper shelter operation, or electrical power interruptions. Commercially available components were used to construct the system which cost approximately US$2000. At the end of a 50-day evaluation period, the system had provided an average plot soil temperature of 27.4°C with a setting of 26.7°C. The 95% confidence interval for the treatment period average during the tests was between 25.9°C and 27.9°C. Alarm annunciation and telephone notification were also provided as expected in response to plot temperature extremes and a power outage.
Genetic expression in whole cells of heterozygous replicative-form molecules of Φ174

The role of the parental viral strand in infection with bacteriophage Φ174 has been deduced from both biophysical and biological studies. The viral strand, on entering the cell, is converted to a double-stranded replicative form (RF). This parental RF is bound to the membrane, where the viral strand appears to be physically conserved throughout infection and to be required even at late times. In starved cells, only the RF containing the parental viral strand replicates, semiconservatively. The parental viral strand is conserved in this RF, with each new complementary partner being released in turn in a progeny RF molecule. The parental RF is also responsible for initial messenger RNA synthesis; it is not yet known whether or not it is responsible for all messenger RNA synthesis.
Development of Surface Plasmon Resonance Immuno-Sensors at Mid-Infrared Range

This paper reports the design analysis of a novel doped-silicon infrared-surface plasmon resonance (IR-SPR) platform. The structure combines the advantages of both conventional grating and prism surface plasmon couplers while providing several intrinsic beneficial aspects. In combination with a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, the biosensor is shown to compare favorably in trace analyte detection with visible range SPR devices while still maintaining the advantageous characteristics of IR-SPR. A numeric analysis of the structure was completed using a rigorous coupled wave analysis method to determine the geometric parameters of the diffraction grating as well as assess the sensor’s performance. Finite element analysis simulations were used to model the electromagnetic field distributions during the plasmon resonance. The results demonstrate that surface binding concentrations of biochemical species as small as 70 pg/mm2 can be measured. The large probing depth resulting from the IR spectrum facilitates the study of larger analyte (e.g. living cells). Additionally, the structure offers unequaled adaptability for a user’s specific biosensing needs while remaining inexpensive owing to the microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) batch protocols used in fabrication.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Spatial and temporal patterns in fluvial recovery following volcanic eruptions: Channel response to basin-wide sediment loading at Mount Pinatubo, Philippines

The June 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, Philippines, was one of the largest volcanic eruptions of the twentieth century, emplacing 5–6 km 3 of pyroclastic-fl ow material on the fl anks of the volcano. The combination of abundant, relatively fi ne-grained, easily erodible material and intense tropical rainfall led to numerous lahars immediately following the eruption. Even after major lahars ended, sediment yields in some basins remained orders of magnitude above pre-eruption levels. Using data collected from 1996 through 2003, we investigated fi ve basins that experienced varying amounts of sediment loading in the 1991 eruption, from 1% to 33% of the basin area covered by valley-fi lling pyroclasticfl ow deposits. From measurements of fl ow and bed characteristics made through time, we developed a general conceptual model for channel recovery following basin-wide sediment loading. Initially, fi ner-grained sediment and pumice are mobilized preferentially through selective transport. Once the bed is coarse enough for gravel-size clasts to interact with one another, clast structures develop, increasing form roughness and critical shear stress and inhibiting initial clast mobility. As sediment inputs continue to decline, the channel incises into valley bottom sediments, progressively armoring through winnowing. At Pinatubo, incision and armoring occur fi rst as dry season phenomena due to reduced sediment inputs, eventually moving to year-round low-fl ow bed stability. Observed timing of the onset of in-channel biological recovery suggests that reestablishment of channel stability helps catalyze aquatic ecosystem recovery.
Photobiological properties of the inhibition of etiolated Arabidopsis seedling growth by ultraviolet-B irradiation.

Alteration of ‘normal’ levels of ultraviolet-B light (UV-B, 280–320 nm) can affect plant chemical composition as well as growth; however, little is known about how plants perceive UV-B light. We have carried out fluence response curves, and demonstrated that the growth inhibition of etiolated Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings by low fluence UV light is specific to UV-B and not UV-A (320–390 nm). The response shows reciprocity between duration and intensity, at least over a limited range, and thus depends only on photon fluence and not on photon flux. The action spectrum for this response indicates a peak of maximum effectiveness at 290 nm, and response spectra at different fluences indicate that the most effective wavelength at 30 000 µmol m–2 is 290 nm, whereas 300 nm light was the most effective at 100 000 µmol m–2. This response occurs in mutant seedlings deficient in cryptochrome, phytochrome or phototropin, suggesting that none of the known photoreceptors is the major UV-B photoreceptor. Some null mutants in DNA repair enzymes show hypersensitivity to UV-B, suggesting that even at low fluence rates, direct damage to DNA may be one component of the response to UV-B.
Current-in-Plane GMR Trilayer Head Design for Hard-Disk Drives: Characterization and Extendibility

The current-in-plane giant magnetoresistive (GMR) trilayer readback sensor (CIP-3L), where only one permanent magnet at the back edge of the GMR stack is used to stabilize and bias a dual free layer system, is reviewed. Micromagnetic modeling is employed to show that the design has improved efficiency over abutted junction (ABJ) tunneling magnetoresistive (TMR) head designs. An experimental evaluation of how permanent magnet thickness (PM Th), interlayer exchange coupling (J), and stripe height impact the signal-to-noise ratio, symmetry, and stability of prototype CIP-3L heads is conducted. The study indicates that PM Th >400 nm, J<-0.8 erg/cm2, and a read width to SH aspect ratio of 1:1 to 0.75:1, gives optimal transfer curve performance. A head gimbal assembly spinstand comparison on perpendicular recording media with best-in-class TMR readers shows that although the amplitude of the CIP-3L heads is lower (believed to be process related), the symmetry, stability, and most important, bit-error rate normalized to electrical write width and read width, are comparable. In addition, the CIP-3L design shows better linearity and low-frequency noise performance than TMR heads. The areal density performance of the best CIP-3L heads shows 195 Gb/in2 recording capability and linear densities of 1100 kbpi
A Conjecture on Matthew 11, 12

The very multiplicity of the attempts which have been made to solve the exegetical problem presented by the difficult Logion of St. Matthew 11, 12 is in itself a strong indication that no one of the proffered interpretations can claim for itself a pre-eminent position; and inasmuch as all the thought that has been expended upon the Saying has not succeeded in discovering in it a meaning that by its inherent probability compels us to accept it as the true interpretation, it is inevitable that we should wonder whether some error can have crept into the text.
Black strings in asymptotically plane wave geometries

We present a class of black string spacetimes which asymptote to maximally symmetric plane wave geometries. Our construction will rely on a solution generating technique, the null Melvin twist, which deforms an asymptotically flat black string spacetime to an asymptotically plane wave black string spacetime while preserving the event horizon.
Charge pump with Active Cycle regulation-closing the gap between linearand skip modes

Active Cycle regulation, a novel dual-loop regulation technique for charge pumps closes the gap between conventional "linear" and "skip" modes. It produces about the ripple of a "linear" controlled charge pump which is one order of magnitude less than the ripple of a "skip" mode converter. At the same time, it consumes just the quiescent current of a "skip" controlled charge pump, which is a few orders of magnitude less than that of a "linear" one. Thus it combines the best of the two worlds the authors have seen so far.
Systematics of two feeding morphs of Schizocerella pilicornis (Hymenoptera: Argidae) and recognition of two species

A number of species of Argidae were proposed in the late 1800s and early 1900s, all of which later were regarded as a single color-variable species, Schizocerella pilicornis (Holmgren). In the mid-1970s, an external-feeding type was reported in the literature, and it also was identiÞed as S. pilicornis, although previously S. pilicornis was only known to feed by leaf mining. Thus, the uniqueness of a species with two distinct feeding types led us to question the taxonomy of S. pilicornis. We use data from the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI) to show that the two feeding types have a sequence divergence of 5.8%, which exceeds the difference between many insect taxa currently classiÞed as different species. Considering the existing evidence on morphological, behavioral, allozymic, and ecological differences, we here recognize these two feeding types as distinct species: Schizocerella pilicornis (Holmgren) as the leaf-mining species andSchizocerella lineata (Rohwer) as the external-feeding species. We provide a diagnosis for each species, and show that adults of S. pilicornis have a mostly black mesonotum, whereas adults of S. lineata have an orangeÐred mesonotum.
Provably good performance-driven global routing

The authors propose a provably good performance-driven global routing algorithm for both cell-based and building-block design. The approach is based on a new bounded-radius minimum routing tree formulation. The authors first present several heuristics with good performance, based on an analog of Prim's minimum spanning tree construction. Next, they give an algorithm which simultaneously minimizes both routing cost and the longest interconnection path, so that both are bounded by small constant factors away from optimal. They also show that geometry helps in routing: in the Manhattan plane, the total wire length for Steiner routing improves to 3/2*(1+(1/ epsilon )) times the optimal Steiner tree cost, while in the Euclidean plane, the total cost is further reduced to (2/ square root 3)*(1+(1/ epsilon )) times optimal. The method generalizes to the case where varying wire length bounds are prescribed for different source-sink paths. Extensive simulations confirm that this approach works well. >
On the Equivalence between Similarity and Non-Similarity Scaling in Robustness Analysis

In the analysis of multivariable systems in the presence of structured uncertainties, similarity scaling and non-similarity scaling techniques have been independently proposed as methods for obtaning nonconservative robustness measures. In order to fully exploit the unique advantages of each method, it is desirable to obtain the required non-similarity scaling matrices directly from the associated similarity scaling matrix, and vice versa, without the need for separate optimizations. In this paper an explicit relationship is developed between the similarity and non-similarity scaling matrices which enables the direct computation of the non-similarity scaling matrices from the similarity scaling. Several applications of the results are also presented.
Effect of End-Point Temperature and Storage Time on Color and Denaturation of Myoglobin in Broiler Thigh Meat

Abstract This study investigated the effect of end-point cooking temperature (EPT, 60, 66, 71, 77, and 82 C), sampling time (0 or 30 min), and storage time after cooking (0,5, and 10 d) at 2 C on color values and percentage denatured myoglobin (PDM) of broiler thigh meat. As EPT increased, L* values, b* values, and PDM increased but a* values decreased. As storage time increased, L* and a* values decreased and PDM increased. Time of color measurement (immediately after cutting into the interior of the sample 0 vs 30 min after cutting) had a significant effect on L* and b* values. At 0 d storage 30 min sampling, a* values were redder than 0-min values from 60 through 71 C, no different at 77 C and redder at 0 than 30 min at 82 C EPT, suggesting that myoglobin is more susceptible to oxidative denaturation (reddish-brown pigment) at higher EPT after air and light exposure. At 5 d, 77 and 82 C a* values were less red after 30 min air and light exposure, suggesting that myoglobin was more susceptible to oxidative denaturation at higher EPT after storage. These results will help the meat processor identify and incorporate process factors that will lower the reddish-pink color defect in cooked poultry meat.
Managing Consumer Returns in a Competitive Environment

This paper investigates the pricing and restocking fee decisions of two competing firms selling horizontally differentiated products. We model a duopoly facing consumers who have heterogeneous tastes for the products and who must experience a product before knowing how well it matches with their preferences. The analysis yields several key insights. Restocking fees not only can be sustained in a competitive environment, but also are more severe when consumers are less informed about product fit and when consumers place a greater importance on how well products' attributes fit with their preferences. We compare the competitive equilibrium prices to a scenario in which consumers are certain about their preferences and find conditions defining when consumer uncertainty results in higher equilibrium prices. Comparison to a monopoly setting yields a surprising result: Equilibrium restocking fees in a competitive environment can be higher than those charged by a monopolist. This paper was accepted by Jagmohan S. Raju, marketing.
INVITED RESPONSE TO DAVIES AND BENTAHILA

I thank D & B for their stimulating review that concentrates on the MLF model and code-switching (CS), even though Contact linguistics (CL) discusses other contact phenomena, too. This is a model of “classic code-switching,” which is defined several times in CL (8, 105, 297). This scope was always intended, but not explicit in Duelling languages (Myers-Scotton 1993a). The nub of the definition is that only one of the languages contributing surface morphemes to a bilingual CP (i.e. clause) is the source of that clause's morphosyntactic frame. The Morpheme Order and System Morpheme Principles of the MLF model identify this language as the Matrix Language (ML). Classic CS contrasts with composite code-switching. The difference is that in Composite CS, part of the abstract morphosyntactic structure comes from more than one of the participating languages. Composite CS may be more prevalent than classic CS, but has yet to be studied systematically (CL, 298).
Vernier acuity, crowding and amblyopia

When a vernier target is flanked by a pair of optimally positioned flanks, offset discrimination is strongly degraded. Spatial interference with vernier acuity was studied in each eye of observers with unilateral amblyopia associated with strabismus, anisometropia or both, and were compared to the functions obtained in the normal periphery (Levi et al., 1985). The results showed that: (1) For both strabismic and anisometropic amblyopes, as in normal central and peripheral vision, the extent of spatial interference was proportional to the unflanked vernier threshold. (2) For anisometropic amblyopes, grating and vernier acuity are affected similarly. (3) For strabismic amblyopes, like the normal periphery, vernier and grating acuity are decoupled, with vernier falling off faster than grating acuity. (4) The preferred eyes of strabismic but not anisometropic amblyopes have poorer vernier acuity than the normal controls. A conceptual framework for amblyopia based upon spatial filtering and spatial sampling is discussed.
Experimental Study of Beams on Elastic Foundations

Aspects of design; use of structural model for solution of shear and moment; solution of hypothetical problem of laterally loaded pile foundation by model.
Magnetic resonance imaging of the shoulder. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value

The sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of lesions of the rotator cuff, glenohumeral capsule, and glenoid labrum were evaluated in ninety-one patients and fifteen asymptomatic volunteers. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated 100 per cent sensitivity and 95 per cent specificity in the diagnosis of complete tears, and it consistently predicted the size of the tear of the rotator cuff. There was a definite correlation between atrophy of the supraspinatus muscle and the size of a complete, chronic tear of the rotator cuff. The sensitivity and specificity of magnetic resonance imaging in the differentiation of tendinitis from degeneration of the cuff were 82 and 85 per cent, and in the differentiation of a normal tendon from one affected by tendinitis with signs of impingement the sensitivity and specificity were 93 and 87 per cent. The formation of spurs around the acromion and acromiocalvicular joint correlated highly with increased age of the patient and with chronic disease of the rotator cuff. The sensitivity and specificity of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of labral tears associated with glenohumeral instability were 88 and 93 per cent. The study showed that high-resolution magnetic-resonance imaging is an excellent non-invasive tool in the diagnosis of lesions of the rotator cuff and glenohumeral instability.
Analysis of the Interface Between Plasma-Sprayed Calcium Phosphate Coating and Ti-6Al-4V

Plasma sprayed calcium phosphate coatings on Ti(alloy) have been considered advantageous over the uncoated Ti as dental implants or orthopedic prostheses due to their abilities to decrease healing time, attach firmer to the bone, and inhibit ion release from the Ti substrate. However, the coating was found not to adhere well to the Ti substrate, presumably because there is no or little chemical bonding between the calcium phosphate coating and the Ti substrate. The interfacial bond strength relies almost entirely on the mechanical locking of calcium phosphate splats onto the roughened Ti surface. In this study, the interfacial area between the calcium phosphate coating and the Ti-6A1–4V substrate was characterized using SEM and TEM. The results revealed the presence of amorphous calcium phosphate layer at the interface, which is believed to be responsible for the low bond strength. Also small particles were observed which were embedded in the amorphous phase near the interface. The presence of the amorphous phases is very important since they are more easily attacked by the physiological solution than crystalline phases are.
Final Report: Spectral Analysis of L-shell Data in the Extreme Ultraviolet from Tokamak Plasmas

We performed detailed analyses of extreme ultraviolet spectra taken by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory on the National Spherical Torus Experiment at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory and on the Alcator CKmod tokamak at the M.I.T. Plasma Science and Fusion Center. We focused on the emission of iron, carbon, and other elements in several spectral band pass regions covered by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly on the Solar Dynamics Observatory. We documented emission lines of carbon not found in currently used solar databases and demonstrated that this emission was due to charge exchange.
A diagnostic journey: High-voltage insulation systems

An essential step in any high-voltage design project is comprehensive testing to assure reliable performance of the component in field operation. When failures subsequently occur, reevaluation is required to identify the failure mechanism and determine why the original tests failed to discover it. This paper describes such a diagnostic procedure on a high-voltage integrated transformer designed for use in variable-frequency flyback systems.
Epidemiological Characteristics of Rabies in Tianzhu County From 2003 to 2008.

Objective To explore epidemiological characteristics of rabies in Tianzhu county and to provide scientific evidences for developing prevention and control measures.Methods The data of reported rabies cases in Tianzhu county during 2003 to 2008 were collected and analyzed by descriptive epidemiology.Results Twentynine rabies cases were reported in Tianzhu county during 2003 to 2008 and the annual incidence of rabies was 1.18/100,000.Most of rabies cases appeared in rural areas,most of which appeared in summer and autumn(79.31%).The main occupations of cases were farmers(58.62%),then were students(24.14%) and scattered children(13.79%).About 35.00% of the total cases were children aged under 10 years.The longest incubation period was 178d and the shortest was 5d.The median of incubation period was 37.5 d.The median of incubation period of injuried in head and face was the shortest in all cases,and which of those who injuried in legs was the longest.Most cases resulted from dog(89.66%).Conclusions Strengthening the management of dogs and cats,and raising the immunization coverage rate of vaccine in these animals are the keys of rabies prevention and control in people.Carring out health education,increasing vaccination rate of exposed peoples,and handling the wounds timely are the most effective measures for rabies prevention and control.