cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessing feed efficiency in early and mid lactation and its associations with performance and health in Holstein cows

Objectives were to evaluate the associations between residual dry matter (DM) intake (RFI) and residual N intake (RNI) in early lactation, from 1 to 5 wk postpartum, and in mid lactation, from 9 to 15 wk postpartum, and assess production performance and risk of diseases in cows according to RFI in mid lactation. Data from 4 experiments including 399 Holsteins cows were used in this study. Intakes of DM and N, yields of milk components, body weight, and body condition were evaluated daily or weekly for the first 105 d postpartum. Milk yield by 305 d postpartum was also measured. Incidence of disease was evaluated for the first 90 d postpartum and survival up to 300 d postpartum. Residual DM and N intake were calculated in early and mid lactation as the observed minus the predicted values, which were based on linear models that accounted for major energy or N sinks, including daily milk energy or N output, metabolic body weight, and daily body energy or N changes, and adjusting for parity, season of calving, and treatment within experiment. Cows were ranked by RFI and RNI in mid lactation and categorized into quartiles (Q1 = smallest RFI, to Q4 = largest RFI). Increasing efficiency in mid lactation resulted in linear decreases in RFI (depicted from Q1 to Q4; -0.93, -0.05, -0.04, and 0.98 kg/d), DMI (16.0, 16.9, 17.3, and 18.4 kg/d), net energy for lactation (NEL) intake (26.8, 28.4, 29.0, and 30.8 Mcal/d), and NEL balance (-9.0, -8.1, -8.2, and -5.5 Mcal/d) during early lactation, but no differences were observed in body NEL or N changes or yield of energy-corrected milk in the first 5 wk of lactation. Residual DM intake in mid lactation was associated with RFI (Pearson r = 0.43, and Spearman ρ = 0.32) and RNI (r = 0.44, ρ = 0.36) in early lactation, and with RNI in mid lactation (r = 0.91, ρ = 0.84). Similarly, RNI in mid lactation was associated with RNI in early lactation (r = 0.42, ρ = 0.35). During the first 15 wk postpartum, more efficient cows in mid lactation consumed 3.5 kg/d less DM (Q1 = 19.3 vs. Q4 = 22.8 kg/d) and were more N efficient (Q1 = 31.6 vs. Q4 = 25.8%), at the same time that yields of milk (Q1 = 39.0 vs. Q4 = 39.4 kg/d), energy-corrected milk (Q1 = 38.6 vs. Q4 = 39.3 kg/d), and milk components did not differ compared with the quartile of least efficient cows. Furthermore, RFI in mid lactation was not associated with 305-d milk yield, incidence of diseases in the first 90 d postpartum, or survival by 300 d postpartum. Collectively, rankings of RFI and RNI are associated and repeatable across lactation stages. The most feed-efficient cows were also more N efficient in early and mid lactation. Phenotypic selection of RFI based on measurements in mid lactation is associated with improved efficiency without affecting production or health in dairy cows.
The Independent and Shared Transcriptomic Response to UVA, UVB and Oxidative Stress in the Cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme ATCC 29133.

Research on the UVA, UVB, and oxidative (as reactive oxygen species, ROS) stress response in cyanobacteria has typically focused on each individual stress condition, with limited studies addressing the intersection. Here we evaluated the transcriptomic responses of the model cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme after exposure to each of these conditions. Overall, response to UVA was characterized by more gene down-regulation than the UVB or ROS response, although UVB affected over four-fold more genes than UVA or ROS. Regarding expression patterns, responses to UVA and ROS were more similar and differentiated from those to UVB. For example, genes involved in ROS metabolism were up-regulated under both UVA and ROS. However, when it came to RNA and protein metabolism, there were more up-regulated genes under UVB and ROS compared to UVA. This suggests that the response to UVB and ROS is more active than the response to UVA, which stimulated more genes in secondary metabolism. Histidine kinases and response regulators were often differentially expressed, demonstrating that regulatory systems were at the base of the patterns. This study provides background for future studies targeting different genes, proteins, and systems sensitive to these conditions. It also highlights the significance of considering multiple stress conditions.
Does the Belief in Biblical Literalism Matter for Mental Health? Assessing Variations by Gender and Dimensions of Religiosity

Although biblical literalism is one of the most powerful ideological indicators of religiousness in the sociological study of religion, we know very little about its role vis-a-vis mental health. This is a surprising oversight, given the centrality of the Bible to both public and private religious practice in the USA. This study considers whether the belief in biblical literalism is associated with general mental health and anxiety, and whether this relationship is moderated by gender and two dimensions of religiosity: attendance and attachment to God. Data are drawn from the 2010 Baylor Religion Survey (N = 1360). Regression results suggest that stronger beliefs in biblical literalism are associated with better mental health and lower anxiety, but only among women who attend religious services weekly. However, women holding strong literalist views but falling short of weekly attendance norms reported worse mental health. There was no evidence that the relationship between biblical literalism and mental health differed by attachment to God. The implications of these results for the broader study of religion and health are discussed in light of prior research on the “dark side” of religion, recognizing that causal claims cannot be made due to the cross-sectional nature of the data.
Introduction: The Needs of Political News

The introductory chapter offers readers the book’s overview, including the perspective about punditry that makes the book unique. Specifically, we argue that academics, by virtue of their expertise and research, are positioned to offer insights on political and policy issues that provide value for audiences. In this way, academics can act as what we term Professor Pundits—far different from the pundits often seen in political coverage. The introduction also includes interview quotes from a group of seasoned academics who work as contributors across various media. Finally, the chapter explains why the book focuses largely on the approaches to video-based interviews and media appearances.
Health Literacy and Health Education: Research and Practical Applications

Helen Osbourne1 states in her book, Health Literacy from A to Z, that health literacy is about communicating health information in ways others can understand. It has three central components: commu...
Investigation of the Component Reactions of Oxidative Sterol Demethylation FORMATION AND METABOLISM OF 3-KETOSTEROID INTERMEDIATES

The participation of 3-ketosteroids in the biosynthesis of cholesterol was investigated with preparations of rat liver microsomes. Without exogenous NADPH, microsomal enzymes catalyze the demethylation of one methyl group from 4,4-dimethyl-5α-cholest-7-en-3β-ol to yield carbon dioxide and 4-methyl-5α-cholest-7-en-3-one. Equal molar quantities of the two products are formed when either the amount of microsomal protein or the length of incubation is varied. The labeled methyl ketone was identified by chromatography and derivative formation with carrier 4α-methyl-5α-cholest-7-en-3-one. 5α-Cholest-7-en-3-one is formed similarly from 4α-methyl-5α-cholest-7-en-3β-ol. Measurement of the stoichiometry of formation of carbon dioxide and cholest-7-en-3-one is complicated somewhat by reduction of the product ketone to an alcohol. 4α-Methyl-, 4,4-Dimethyl-, and 4,4,14α-Trimethyl-Δ7-cholestenols and -cholestenones were synthesized. The efficiency of demethylation of the 3-alcohols by microsomes is inversely proportional to the number of methyl groups on the substrate. Hydroxylation is the first step of demethylation; the 4-methyl groups of 4,4-dimethyl-5α-cholest-7-en-3-one and 4α-methyl-5α-cholest-7-en-3-one are not hydroxylated. The 4-methyl groups of the corresponding alcohols are hydroxylated. Thus, the 4-methyl ketone that is produced by demethylation of one methyl group from the 4,4-dimethyl sterol must be reduced to an alcohol before further metabolism. Although both alcoholic and ketonic forms of the methyl steroids are demethylated by either crude homogenates or unwashed microsomes from rat liver, the ketones are not demethylated by washed microsomes. Addition to washed microsomes of either the supernatant fraction from centrifugation of crude homogenates for 1 hour at 105,000 × g or an NADPH-generating system simultaneously restores the reduction and demethylation of ketones by microsomes. Microsomes contain an NADPH-dependent 3-ketosteroid reductase. This evidence supports the conclusion that 4-monomethyl and 4-demethyl ketones are obligatory intermediates of cholesterol biosynthesis. Dimethyl and trimethyl ketones probably are in equilibrium with the corresponding 3-alcohols, but the C29- and C30-ketones probably are not obligatory intermediates of C27-sterol biosynthesis.
Active Rule Termination Analysis: An Implementation and Evaluation of the Refined Triggering Graph Method

This paper describes the implementation of the Refined Triggering Graph (RTG) method for active rule termination analysis and provides an evaluation of the approach based on the application of the method to a sample active application. The RTG method has been defined in the context of an active-deductive, object-oriented database language known as CDOL (Comprehensive, Declarative, Object Language). The RTG method studies the contents of rule pairs and rule cycles in a triggering graph and tests for: (1) the successful unification of one rule‘s action with another rule‘s triggering event, and (2) the satisfiability of active rule conditions, asking whether it is possible for the condition of a triggered rule to evaluate to true in the context of the triggering rule‘s condition. If the analysis can provably demonstrate that one rule cannot trigger another rule, the directed vector connecting the two rules in a basic triggering graph can be removed, thus refining the triggering graph. An important aspect in the implementation of the method is the development of a satisfiability algorithm for CDOL conditions. This paper presents the tool that was developed based on the RTG method, describing how techniques from constraint logic programming are integrated with other techniques for testing the satisfiability of rule triggering conditions. The effectiveness of the approach within the context of a sample application is also addressed.
Radiolabeling of mammalian spermatozoa and their use to monitor sperm transport in females.

Abstract Radiolabeling of mammalian spermatozoa with 131 I, 67 Ga, 111 In, and 99m Tc was investigated. Spermatozoa were labeled with 99m Tc for in vivo studies because of a high labeling yield (70 to 90%) combined with the lack of impairment of sperm motility. Ovariectomized sheep were brought into estrus by sequential administration of progesterone and estradiol cyprionate. Sheep were necropsied up to 6 hours after insemination with 99m Tc-labeled ram sperm and their reproductive tracts were resected and examined with a rectilinear scanner. Radioactivity was clearly observed in the fallopian tubes, with larger amounts in the vaginas, cervices, and uteri. In contrast, when 99m Tc-spermatozoa were replaced with 99m TcO 4 − , much less radioactivity remained in the reproductive tract at resection and this was evenly distributed. Some label left the 99m Tc-spermatozoa in vivo, but radioactivity remained on the cells long enough to consider attempting to monitor sperm transport in vivo in a suitable species.
Equipment for Measuring Pore Pressure in Rock Specimens Under Triaxial Load

THIS PAPER DEALS WITH EQUIPMENT DEVELOPMENT, PROCEDURAL DETAILS, AND PILOT TESTS OF LARGER SPECIMENS OF INTERMEDIATE-QUALITY ROCK, AND ROCK CONTAINING JOINT SYSTEMS AND WEAKNESS PLANES. THE EFFECT OF PORE-PRESSURE BUILDUP DURING LOADING AND ITS GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION, THAT IS, THE VECTOR CURVE AS EMPLOYED IN SOIL MECHANICS, IS CONSIDERED. WORK TO DATA INDICATES THAT IN AN UNDRAINED TRIAXIAL TEST THE PORE PRESSURE RISES TO PEAK VALUE AT YIELDING OF THE SPECIMEN AND THEN FALLS OFF TO SOME LOWER VALUE AT FAILURE. PEAK VALUES AND FINAL VALUES VARY WIDELY FOR DIFFERENT ROCK TYPES. THE VECTOR CURVE DEPICTS QUITE CLEARLY THE RESULTS OF THE UNDRAINED TRIAXIAL TEST. /AUTHOR/
A Study of the Nature of the Deaf Effect Response to Bad News Reporting

While escalation of commitment is well known in the IS literature, a recent body of literature has arisen focusing on organizational communication as a cause of escalation. Most of this literature has focused on the failure of organization members to communicate bad news about project status. In this dissertation, I focus on the “deaf effect,” the failure of managers to hear, respond to or accept reports of project problems and change a failing course of action. I examine the small amount of extant literature on this phenomenon, construct an individual level conceptual model of how this effect might occur and then test that model in three studies: a laboratory experiment in which tests the basic framework of the model; a multi-cultural experiment in which we add cultural variables to the model; and a case-study in which we examine how project status is manipulated in the process of communication.
Towards a Coupled Environmental Prediction System

Towards the realization of a global coupled air/ocean/ice predictive system for Navy needs, two high resolution modeling efforts are underway whose goals are the development and upgrading of the ocean and sea ice components. A 0.1°, 40-level global configuration of the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Parallel Ocean Program (POP) integration is being performed on an IBM SP3; this is the first time an ocean simulation of this size has been carried out. The Polar Ice Prediction System (PIPS) 3.0 uses a 1/12°, 45- level grid and covers all the northern ice-covered regions. The latter model and a 0.1°, 40-level North Atlantic only POP integration are compared with coarser resolution runs and observations, demonstrating the importance of high resolution to the representation of ocean circulation. Mean volume and heat transports into the Arctic are realistically simulated by PIPS 3.0.
Volatile Controls on Magma Ascent and Eruption

Magma produced in arc environments is typically rich in volatile elements, particularly H2O. Volatile elements are sonamed because they dissolve in silicate melts at high pressures but form a gas at lower pressures. Formation of a free vapor phase creates overpressures in magma reservoirs and adds buoyancy that drives magma ascent; rapid near-surface gas expansion provides the kinetic energy of explosive eruptions. Thus although volatile processes have not been explicitly incorporated into common eruption classification schemes [e.g., Lacroix, 1904; Mercalli 1907; Walker, 1973; Pyle, 1989; Fig. 1], implicit assumptions about the role of volatiles underlie most interpretations of eruptive activity. These assumptions are most obvious in the Volcanic Explosivity Index [Newhall and Self, 1983], which assumes that eruption magnitude and intensity are correlated and together describe eruptive style. However, subsequent work has shown that these parameters are linked only for steady explosive eruptions, and must be decoupled for descriptions of unsteady and effusive activity [Pyle, 2000]. Here I show that much of this decoupling arises from complex feedbacks that develop as a result of competing time scales of decompression-driven vesiculation, crystallization, magma ascent, and volatile loss. Weaving these complexities into new descriptions of eruptive behavior and predictive models of volcanic activity presents the main challenge for the future. Book Title Book Series Copyright 2004 by the American Geophysical Union 10.1029/Series#LettersChapter#
A new test system for stability measurement of marker gene selection in DNA microarray data analysis

Microarray gene expression data contains informative features that reflect the critical processes controlling prominent biological functions. Feature selection algorithms have been used in previous biomedical research to find the “marker” genes whose expression value change corresponds to the most eminent difference between specimen classes. One problem encountered in such analysis is the imbalance between very large numbers of genes versus relatively fewer specimen samples. A common concern, therefore, is “overfitting” the data and deriving a set of marker genes with low stability over the entire set of possible specimens. To address this problem, we propose a new test environment in which synthetic data is perturbed to simulate possible variations in gene expression values. The goal is for the generated data to have appropriate properties that match natural data, and that are appropriate for use in testing the sensitivity of feature selection algorithms and validating the robustness of selected marker genes. In this paper, we evaluate a statistically-based resampling approach and a Principal Components Analysis (PCA)-based linear noise distribution approach. Our results show that both methods generate reasonable synthetic data and that the signal/noise rate (with variation weights at 5%, 10%, 20% and 30%) measurably impacts the classification accuracy and the marker genes selected. Based on these results, we identify the most appropriate marker gene selection and classification techniques for each type and level of noise we modeled.
Inverse spectral analysis with partial information on the potential, II. The case of discrete spectrum

We discuss results where the discrete spectrum (or partial information on the discrete spectrum) and partial information on the potential q of a one-dimensional Schrodinger operator H = -(d^(2)/(dx^(2)) + q determine the potential completely. Included are theorems for finite intervals and for the whole line. In particular, we pose and solve a new type of inverse spectral problem involving fractions of the eigenvalues of H on a finite interval and knowledge of q over a corresponding fraction of the interval. The methods employed rest on Weyl m-function techniques and densities of zeros of a class of entire functions.
Generation of antigen-specific Th2 cells from unprimed mice in vitro: effects of dexamethasone and anti-IL-10 antibody.

We describe a system for the in vitro production of Ag-specific mouse CD4 cell lines from unprimed mice. Purified CD4 + CD45RB high T cells were exposed to Ag-pulsed accessory cells in serum-free medium for 24 h; cultured in the absence of Ag and in the presence of serum, IL-2, dexamethasone, and Abs to IL-10 for an additional 4 days; and then re-exposed to the original sensitizing Ag. The presence of dexamethasone and Abs to IL-10 during the initial expansion stage appeared to be critical for the ability of the stimulated and expanded T cells to respond to restimulation with the same Ag. Repeated cycles of in vitro stimulation led to increased specificity for the sensitizing Ag (in the current case, pigeon cytochrome c ), a decline in production of IL-2 and IFN-γ, and increased production of IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10. This culture protocol provides a test system for exploration of factors that regulate the conversion of naive cells to memory cells and the development of specific immune responses to protein Ags. The data are consistent with models that implicate glucocorticoids as regulators of immune response specificity.
The absence of immunoglobulin D B cell receptor-mediated signals promotes the production of autoantibodies and exacerbates glomerulonephritis in murine lupus

Immunoglobulin (Ig)D is the major antigen receptor isotype co-expressed with IgM on the surface of most peripheral B cells in mice and humans. However, the biological role of IgD as B cell receptor (BCR) has remained unclear. Previous studies have indicated that IgD may play a role in B cell tolerance. To understand the role of IgD in B cell tolerance and autoimmunity, we have examined the development of autoimmune syndrome in lpr mice deficient for IgD. The present study showed that IgD deficiency did not alter lymphoproliferation and lymphocyte activation in lpr mice. The survival and proliferation of B cells were not affected by the absence of IgD, indicating that IgD BCR-mediated signals do not have an important role in negative selection of autoreactive B cell clones. Interestingly, compared to IgD-competent littermates, lpr mice with IgD deficiency had elevated autoantibody production, increased deposition of immune complex in the kidney and more severe nephritis. Accumulation of abnormal CD4(-) CD8(-) αβ(+) T cells was accelerated in IgD(-/-) lpr mice compared to lpr mice. These results suggest that IgD BCR-mediated signals may be involved in the differentiation of autoreactive B cells into plasma cells and abnormal T cell expansion.
Heterogeneous isoactin gene expression in the adult rat gastrointestinal tract

Abstract Background: Normal gastrointestinal development is a complex process involving the precise integration of multiple cell types. To gain a better understanding of these processes, the present study examined isoactin gene expression in the adult rat gastrointestinal tract. Methods: Northern blot analysis was performed on specified segments of the adult rat esophagus, stomach, small intestine, cecum, colon, rectum, and anus using actin isoform-specific complementary DNAs for all six vertebrate isoactins. Results: Smooth muscle and cytoplasmic isoactins were heterogeneously coexpressed in a segment-specific manner throughout the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, striated muscle isoactin expression was also detected in segments of the adult rat esophagus, stomach, colon, cecum, rectum, and anus. Histological analysis indicated that the adult rat esophagus, stomach, and anus contained significant quantities of skeletal muscle, providing a source for the striated muscle isoactins detected in these gut segments. A similar source of striated muscle isoactin expression in the cecum, colon, and rectum was not identified. Both coordinate and independent regulation of isoactin gene expression was observed in the gastrointestinal tract, although distinct patterns of autoregulation were absent. Conclusions: This study represents the first complete analysis of isoactin gene expression in the adult rat gastrointestinal tract and provides the basis for future studies designed to investigate the factors responsible for these processes.
Habit reversal in the crow, corvus Americanus

Two crows were run on multiple reversals of a simultaneous visual discrimination problem. The crows showed a marked progressive decrease in errors to criterion over the series of reversals. Their performance appeared to be superior to that of more primitive but more widely studied avians such as the pigeon. The crows’ performance also differed from that found in the rat in that the latter’s performance in reversal situations has generally been characterized by an initial increase in errors per reversal followed by a progressive decrease.
Locally administered low nicotine-induced neurotransmitter changes in areas of cognitive function.

The present study examined the effect of a low-dose of nicotine; below that one expects to be achieved from a single cigarette, on brain regional heterogeneity and sensitivity of catecholaminergic responses. 1 μM nicotine was infused into six brain areas via a microdialysis probe: the dorsal and ventral hippocampus, the medial temporal and prefrontal cortex, the basolateral amygdala, and the ventral tegmental area (VTA). The nicotine concentration in the brain tissue near the probe site was approximately 0.1 μM. Nicotine-induced increases and decreases could be noted in dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE), and serotonin (5HT) levels. In particular, DA and 5HT decreased in both hippocampal areas, while NE increased in the dorsal and decreased in the ventral hippocampus. In the cortical areas, DA and NE increased and 5HT was not significantly altered. In the amygdala all three neurotransmitters increased and in the VTA, all three decreased. Many of the nicotine-induced changes in neurotransmitter concentrations were reversed in the presence of atropine. Where nicotine induced decreases in DA and 5HT in the VTA, increases were observed in the presence of atropine. A similar reversal was seen with NE in the VTA and ventral hippocampus. In contrast, the increases in DA observed in the cortex and amygdala and the increases in NE observed in the cortex, amygdala and dorsal hippocampus were inhibited by the presence of atropine. 5HT was also significantly decreased in the amygdala and both cortical areas in the presence of atropine, where nicotine alone had no significant effect. We conclude, that at low doses, nicotine significantly alters the release of DA, NE, and 5HT – in some areas increasing, in others decreasing endogenous neurotransmitter levels. This data, in conjunction with previous experiments, indicates that the effects of nicotine are regionally heterogeneous and arise from both direct and indirect actions on various receptors and neurotransmitter systems and nicotine’s effects at low doses differ from that at higher doses. The changes in effects in the presence of atropine suggest that muscarinic acetylcholine receptors play a major role in nicotine’s actions on neurotransmitter systems.
A Fast Serial-Parallel Binary Multiplier

A fast serial-parallel (FSP) multiplier design is derived from the carry-save add-shift (CSAS) multiplier structure. The CSAS technique accepts multiplier bits serially (lsb first) and produces outputs serially (lsb first). Multiplication of two n bit unsigned numbers requires 2n clock cycles to complete the process out of which n clocks are used for n-row carry-save additions, and the other n clocks are utilized only to propagate the remaining carries. This CSAS structure is modified so that it operates as a CSAS unit for the first n clocks and reconfigures itself as an n bit ripple-carry parallel adder at the (n + 1)st clock, thus allowing the carries to ripple through, eliminating the delay due to storage elements during the last n clocks. It is shown that this modification results in an about one-third increase in speed for an approximately one-third increase in hardware. The technique is extended to signed numbers represented in 2's complement form. Also, it is shown how these implementations can be modularized.
Residential Segregation and Ethnic Enterprise in U.S. Metropolitan Areas

In this paper, we specify and estimate a model of minority group entrepreneurship that incorporates individual, household, and metropolitan-level factors. Among the metropolitan factors we consider is residential segregation, which might be thought to enhance business opportunities by concentrating demand and creating protected market niches. Whereas some degree of geographic concentration may be beneficial for certain types of entrepreneurship, higher levels of residential segregation are likely to be detrimental to entrepreneurial endeavors because of the tendency for segregation to interact with skewed minority income distributions to concentrate poverty geographically. Using data from the 1990 U.S. Census, we estimate a model to measure the effect of segregation on the likelihood of entrepreneurship among different racial/ethnic groups in U.S. metropolitan areas. We find that beyond very moderate levels, segregation actually works to lower the odds of entrepreneurship.
Flame radiation and linear heat transfer in a tubular-can combustor

Heat transfer within a combuster were examined. Total and spectral flame radiation in a tubular can combustor at a series of parameteric operating conditions was measured. Radiation measurements were taken for a range of inlet air pressures from 0.34 to 2.0 MPa, inlet air temperatures from 533 to 700 K, with two different fuels, Jet-A and ERBS. Measurements of linear temperatures combined with the parametric radiation results allowed a calculation of the combustor linear heat loads. Flame emissivity was determined from the spectral measurements. Previously announced in STAR as N84-13188
Solid-State 13C NMR Imaging with Magic-Angle Spinning

Abstract By synchronizing a rotating magnetic-field gradient with the rotation of a sample undergoing magic-angle spinning (MAS), solid-state 13 C NMR imaging has been carried out. Two-dimensional spatial-spatial 13 C NMR images have been demonstrated in natural abundance on organic solids and a rigid polymer with and without chemical-shift selectivity. A 2D spatial-spectral solid-state 13 C NMR image is also presented with MAS-enhanced spectral resolution in the chemical-shift dimension. It was found that the dependence of the 13 C Signal intensity on 1 H frequency offsets in 1 H decoupling is one of the major technical problems that must be minimized in order to perform useful solid-state 13 C NMR imaging.
Synthesis and crystal structure of Sr2ZnN2 and Ba2ZnN2

Abstract Ternary nitrides, Sr 2 ZnN 2 and Ba 2 ZnN 2 , were prepared from Sr or Ba along with Zn metal using Na metal and NaN 3 as a flux and nitrogen source, respectively. The single crystals were obtained by slow cooling from 750°C. Since these compounds hydrolyze in moist air, the crystals were isolated by washing away excess Na with liquid NH 3 in an inert environment. The structures were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction: tetragonal, space group I 4/ mmm with Z = 2, a = 3.8568(2), c = 12.935(1) A, and R 1 = 0.049 for Sr 2 ZnN 2 , and a = 4.152(1), c = 13.055(3) A, and R 1 = 0.039 for Ba 2 ZnN 2 . Sr 2 ZnN 2 and Ba 2 ZnN 2 are isostructural with Ca 2 ZnN 2 (Na 2 HgO 2 type) and contain linear [NZnN] 4− nitridometallate anions.
Japanese activities in virtual reality

Most virtual reality hardware in Japan has been imported from the US, and the large-scale applications have focused on games, where Sega Enterprises and Nintendo remain the market leaders. In addition to its successful home video and arcade machines businesses, Sega is moving aggressively into the amusement-park ride market. Outside these markets, Matsushita plans to release three commercial products in spring 1994. One is an immersive system for product showrooms to help Japanese home owners visualize new kitchens before ordering them. Another is a massage chair that uses VR images and sound to help relax users. The third is an exercise bicycle that lets the user cycle through a 3D virtual world while exercising. Many Japanese companies are interested in VR technology as a problem-solving tool. They are making progress in its use in equipment operation. They also realize that the ability to operate devices intuitively by ordinary gesture-like motions can be exploited in many practical fields. This ability could make human-machine interfaces easier, even if these interfaces fall short of outright VR. This article reviews a few recent industry and academic research projects. The current worldwide recession has flattened the overall rate of growth in Japanese research and development spending. Nevertheless, Japan reportedly has approximately 20 major VR research projects, mostly emphasizing communication. Japanese emphases on long-term planning and on targeting development toward specific products are their strengths in this emerging technology. >
Temporal peaks in beluga whale ( Delphinapterus leucas ) acoustic detections in the northern Bering, northeastern Chukchi, and western Beaufort Seas: 2010–2011

Two populations of beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) migrate annually between their summering grounds in the eastern Chukchi and eastern Beaufort Seas, and overwintering areas in the Bering Sea. To contribute to the understanding of migratory streams of this highly vocal species, we investigated temporal peaks in acoustic detections from 4-year-long (2010–2011) recorders located in the northeastern Chukchi (inshore and offshore), western Beaufort, and northern Bering Seas. Beluga calls were detected throughout summer (July–August) in the western Beaufort; other studies suggest these animals are likely from the eastern Chukchi population. In autumn (September–November), calls were detected in the western Beaufort and northeastern Chukchi, which were likely from both the eastern Beaufort and eastern Chukchi populations. A strong peak at the inshore northeastern Chukchi site occurred in late-November; this peak is likely to be from the eastern Chukchi population. During spring, beluga calls were detected in the northeastern Chukchi and western Beaufort in two distinct vocal peaks (early- and late-May). The timing was consistent with the hypothesis that both vocal peaks were caused by the eastern Beaufort population. This suggests that migration of populations can be discriminated when temporal differences between vocal peaks are large enough to be identified as independent events. Our study results complement and support the population identity of peaks suggested by satellite telemetry, aerial surveys, and other acoustical studies. Passive acoustic monitoring improves our understanding of the migratory timing of beluga populations for management and conservation in a region undergoing rapid change.
STM studies on the growth of monolayers: Co on Cu(110) with one half monolayer of preadsorbed oxygen.

Abstract The growth of the first cobalt monolayer (ML) on the Cu(110)-(2×1)O surface was studied by scanning tunneling microscopy. Extensive exchange of Cu and Co atoms takes place in the first stages of the deposition. The displaced Cu atoms form new CuOCo mixed islands, with the same structure as those of the terrace surface. At ∼0.25 ML Co, a new structure nucleates, which contains three Cu atoms, four Co atoms and two O atoms per 2×2 cell. The structure consists of rows in the [110] direction with an internal periodicity of two lattice units. The rows are separated from one another by two lattice units along the [001] direction, and are found both in-phase and out-of-phase relative to one another. The result is a mixed p(2×2) and c(2×4) surface. The fraction of the surface covered by the new structure increases with Co coverage, and completely covers the surface at ∼1 ML Co.
Absolute frequency measurements of the 0002-0000, 2001-0000, and 1201-0000 bands of N2O by heterodyne spectroscopy

Abstract The absolute frequencies of 39 lines in the 0002-0000, 2001-0000, and 1201-0000 bands of N2O in the range 4300–4800 cm−1 have been measured by heterodyne frequency techniques. The lines were each measured in Doppler-limited absorption, with a color-center laser as a tunable probe of the N2O and two stabilized CO2 lasers as reference frequencies. New rovibrational constants have been fitted to these measurements. Tables of calculated transition frequencies are given, with estimated absolute uncertainties as small as 10−4 cm−1. The pressure shifts of four lines have been measured, and the values fall within the range of 0 to −2 MHz/kPa (0 to −0.2 MHz/Torr).
Agronomic Traits Improvement and Associations in Hard Red Spring Wheat Cultivars Released in North Dakota from 1968 to 2006

Periodic evaluation of cultivars allows researchers to evaluate genetic variation and progress made in various traits. Determining genetic gain or lack can lead researchers to develop new strategies for trait improvements. A two-year study was initiated in 2004 to examine the changes in agronomic performance of hard red spring wheat (HRSW) (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars released by North Dakota State University (NDSU) over the past 40 years. The experiment was conducted in North Dakota at three sites in 2004 and two sites in 2005. The study included 33 HRSW genotypes laid out in a randomized complete-block design. Cultivars developed since 1968, three advanced lines developed by NDSU, and three cultivars released by other breeding programs were included in the study. The Canadian cultivar Marquis (released in 1911) was included for comparison purposes. Linear regression of cultivar means on year of release showed an annual increase in grain yield of 1.3% yr 1 , grain-volume weight of 0.2% yr1, and thousand-kernel weight of 0.3% yr1 since 1968. There were also significant gains in lodging and disease resistance. Resistance to leaf rust (Puccinia recondita Roberge ex Desmaz. f. sp. tritici) and Fusarium head blight (Fusarium graminearum Schwabe [teleomorph Gibberella zeae (Schweinitz) Petch]) was substantially improved in genotypes released since 2002 and 2000, respectively. Therefore, we can conclude from this study that no evidence of a decline has occurred in the improvement of most agronomic traits and that breeders should be able to continue improving these traits by introgressing favorable alleles.
Quantitative structure-activity relationship of phenoxyphenyl-methanamine compounds with 5HT2A, SERT, and hERG activities.

Abstract QSAR models have been used to evaluate activities for compounds in the phenoxyphenyl-methanamine (PPMA) class of compounds. These models utilize Hammett-type donating–withdrawing substituent values as well as simple parameters to describe substituent size and elucidate the SAR of the ‘A’ and ‘B’ rings. Using this methodology, intuitive QSAR relationships were found for the three biological activities with R2 values of 0.73, 0.45, and 0.58 for 5HT2A, SerT, and hERG activities.
Using control charts to corroborate bribery in jai alai

Abstract Statistical process control charts were used in the State of Florida District Court to help establish the guilt of an individual who was alleged to have affected the outcome of jai alai contests by bribing some of the contestants to lose. By placing wagers on the nonbribed contestants the briber gains an increased chance of winning, which is to the detriment of the other bettors. This paper gives an example of how statistical process control techniques can be employed to detect the unusually high bets that generally accompany bribery of the contestants. If the management of the jai alai gaming facility had been using control charts on a regular basis, the game fixing might have been detected much sooner.
Coordinated synthesis of hierarchical engineering systems

Abstract In this paper, we develop a formal procedure for the coordinated synthesis of hierarchically described engineering systems. By using an iso-parametric or iso-geometric mapping of the geometrical model, material description and behavioral fields, a natural correspondence is established between the physical hierarchy of the system and its behavioral hierarchy. This geometry-centric philosophy, together with an appropriately defined adjoint problem allows the evaluation of arbitrary system-level functions locally on the sub-systems by capturing interactions between the subsystems without exchange of geometrical and material data (CAD models). The systematic development of the procedure for analysis and synthesis of hierarchically described engineering systems is the focus in the first part of the paper. This includes the development of a procedure to assess the sensitivity of system functions to changes in sub-system designs. A NURBS based numerical solution procedure is then demonstrated to solve the obtained solution system. The solution procedure involves the development of matrix systems for interacting sub-systems and their solution using methods inspired by domain decomposition techniques. The developed procedures are demonstrated through a detailed example involving a particulate composite material system in which the effective thermal conductivity is evaluated in a partitioned manner. To carryout this latter evaluation, a three-dimensional meshless synthesis procedure termed Hierarchical Partition of Unity Field Compositions (HPFC) developed in our prior research is employed. The techniques developed in this paper are expected to be of value in “top–down” synthesis of complex assembly of components as well as in synthesizing material microstructural arrangements to effect behavior at larger length-scales.
A Continuum Material Model for Urogynecogical Meshes

A wide variety of Synthetic polypropylene (PP) meshes are currently being used to restore pelvic organ support for women suffering from pelvic organ prolapse. These meshes are implanted in over 200,000 women annually. However, they are essentially modified abdominal hernia meshes; and, as such, their use in the field of urogynecology has undergone little oversight. With more patients experiencing morbidity, the FDA has released two Public Health Notifications in 2009 and 2011 informing the public about the potential complications associated with urogynecological mesh implantation.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
SU‐E‐J‐54: Evaluation of a Toolkit for Automatic Deformable Registration and Segmentation of Treatment Images in Clinical Prostate Cancer IGRT Applications

Purpose: High quality IGRT is only practical when robust tools are available for accurate and fast deformable registration and segmentation of the treatmentimages. We have implemented such a toolkit for the male pelvis using a class of statistically trainable deformable models (SDMs) of anatomical structures, called medial representations (m‐reps). The aim of this study is to evaluate its capabilities and performance in clinical prostate cancerIGRT applications. Methods: An image collection for prostate cancer patients treated with IGRT using a CT‐on‐Rails (CTORs) system was studied retrospectively with this toolkit to determine the actual delivered dose throughout the treatment course. The patient‐specific planning models of the male pelvic organs, including the prostate, bladder, rectum, and femoral heads, were constructed via user‐guided autosegmentation of the planning CT. The planning CT was then automatically registered to the CTORs images via a rigid‐body, soft‐tissue‐based registration method. The planning models were then transformed into initialized treatmentmodels to segment the CTORs images. The essential tissue‐voxel correspondence across treatmentimages was established by this model‐based segmentation process. The dose delivered to the same tissue elements can, therefore, be accumulated for adaptive planning and/or outcome assessment. Results: Preliminary results show that the m‐rep‐based planning image segmentations are clinically acceptable to the physicians and can be readily constructed from the planning CT with nominal user guidance. The automatic image registration with the treatment‐dayimage, occasionally followed by manual refinement, also considered acceptable by clinical staff. Treatmentimage segmentation with intrinsic tissue‐voxel correspondence used substantially less time (5 ± 1.3 minutes) in comparison to manual contouring. Conclusions: Our clinic‐oriented toolkit is effective in segmentation of treatmentimages of the male pelvis. Application for dose accumulation and adaptive IGRT is in progress. This work has been conducted in collaboration with Morphormics, Inc. with grant support from NCI R44 CA119571.
Early steps in androgen biosynthesis: From cholesterol to DHEA

Sex steroids, both androgens and oestrogens, are made from dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). The biosynthesis of DHEA from cholesterol entails four steps. First, cholesterol enters the mitochondria with the assistance of a recently described factor called the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR). Mutations in the StAR gene cause congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia. Next, cholesterol is converted to pregnenolone by the cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme, P450scc. Mutations in the gene for P450scc and for its electron transfer partners, ferredoxin reductase and ferredoxin, have not been described and are probably incompatible with term gestation. Third, pregnenolone undergoes 17α-hydroxylation by microsomal P450c17. Finally, 17-OH pregnenolone is converted to DHEA by the 17,20 lyase activity of P450c17. Isolated 17,20 lyase deficiency is rare, but the identification of its genetic basis and the study of P450cl7 enzymology have recently clarified the mechanisms by which DHEA synthesis may be regulated in adrenarche, and have suggested that the lesion underlying polycystic ovary syndrome might involve a serine kinase.
Early outcomes of soft tissue sarcomas presenting with metastases and treated with chemotherapy.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to describe outcomes for patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma treated with chemotherapy. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 383 soft tissue sarcoma patients treated at our institution from 1997 to 2006. Thirty-five patients met the inclusion criteria―metastatic disease on presentation; primary tumor outside the abdomen; treatment with chemotherapy; and minimum follow-up of 3 months. Treatments were individualized and determined by a multidisciplinary oncology team. Patient survival was calculated from the diagnostic biopsy to the date of death or last follow-up using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Mean age was 47 years (range 17―74 years). Most common tumors involved were MFH and leiomyosarcoma. Sixteen of 35 (46%) patients had died at last follow-up. Mean patient survival was 24 months (range 4―102). The 2-year and 5-year survival rates were 64% and 24%, respectively. Twenty-nine patients (83%) presented with pulmonary metastasis, 6 with bone metastases (17%), 4 with regional node metastases (11%), and 4 with soft tissue metastases (11%). Survival was the same for those with pulmonary and only extrapulmonary metastases. The 10 patients with complete resection or complete chemotherapy response of all detectable lesions had longer mean survival (34 months) than the 25 patients who had partial/no resection or response (20 months) (P = 0.02). Conclusions: Soft tissue sarcoma patients presenting with metastatic disease have a low survival rate, but complete eradication of tumor correlated with longer survival. Longer-term studies especially those tracking the outcome of complete responders and those completely resected will help determine the efficacy of chemotherapy.
Friction Behavior of Some Seed Oils: Biobased Lubricant Applications

Seed oils are renewable and an environmentally friendly alternative to mineral based oils in lubrication and other important industrial applications. They are generally triesters having a complex distribution of fatty acid (FA) chains. All the physical and chemical properties of seed oils are dependent on their FA distribution, composition, and additional functional groups in the chain structure. In this work, various seed oils are studied for their boundary lubrication properties using the Langmuir adsorption model for their possible use as industrial lubricants. This information can be used to design suitable lubricant molecules that will have optimum structure for effective metal adsorption as well as exhibit excellent boundary lubrication properties. The free energy of adsorption (ΔGads) of cottonseed, canola, olive, and meadowfoam oil is investigated in boundary lubrication regime using steel ball-on-disk geometry. Adsorption values were compared with monoesters with varying chain lengths. It was obs...
Polarized Electron Probes of Magnetic Surfaces

The magnetic properties of surfaces are now being explored with electron spectroscopies that use electron spin polarization techniques. The increased activity in surface magnetic measurements with polarized electron beams is spurred by new scientific and technological challenges and is made feasible by recent advances in the technology of sources and detectors of polarized electrons. The ability to grow thin films and to engineer artificial structures permits new phenomena to be investigated at magnetic surfaces and interfaces. For such investigations, spin-polarized electron techniques—such as polarized electron scattering, polarized photoemission, polarized Auger spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy with polarization analysis—have been and will probably continue to be used to great advantage.
Ecology: asymmetry and stability.

Ecological communities are dauntingly complex. Nonetheless, ecologists gallantly persevere in eliciting insights about the factors that govern the behaviour and persistence of these messy, tangled webs.