cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Insights into the desert living skin microbiome: geography, soil depth, and crust type affect biocrust microbial communities and networks in Mojave Desert, USA

Abstract Biocrusts are the living skin of drylands, comprising diverse microbial communities that are essential to desert ecosystems. Although we have extensive knowledge on biocrust ecosystem function and what drives biodiversity in lichen and moss dominated biocrusts, much less is understood about the impacts of diversity among microbial communities. Moreover, most biocrust microbial composition studies have primarily focused on bacteria. We used amplicon-based metabarcode sequencing to explore composition of both fungal and bacterial communities in biocrusts. Specifically we tested how geography, soil depth, and crust type structured biocrust microbial communities or fungal-bacterial networks. Microbial communities were surveyed from biocrust surface and subsurface soils collected from Joshua Tree National Park, Granite Mountain, Kelso Dunes, and Cima volcanic flows located within the Mojave Desert, USA. Five biocrust types were examined: Light-algal, Cyano-lichen, Green-algal lichen, Smooth moss, and Rough moss crust types. We found the primary characteristics structuring biocrust microbial diversity were 1) geography, as central and southern Mojave sites displayed different community signatures, 2) presence of plant associated fungi (plant pathogens and wood saprotrophs), indicator, and endemic species were identified at each site, 3) soil depth patterns, as surface and subsurface microbial communities were distinctly structured, and 4) the crust type, which predicted distinct microbial compositions. Network analysis showed that Cyanobacteria and Dothideomycetes (Pleosporales) were the major hubs of overall biocrust microbial community. Such hierarchical spatial organization of biocrust communities and their associated biotic networks can have pronounced impacts to ecosystem functions. Our findings provide crucial insights for dryland restoration and sustainable management.
Self-Generated Magnetic and Electric Fields at a Mach-6 Shock Front in a Low Density Helium Gas by Dual-Angle Proton Radiography.

Shocks are abundant both in astrophysical and laboratory systems. While the electric fields generated at shock fronts have recently attracted great attention, the associated self-generated magnetic field is rarely studied, despite its ability to significantly affect the shock profile in the nonideal geometry where density and temperature gradients are not parallel. We report here the observation of a magnetic field at the front of a Mach $\ensuremath{\sim}6$ shock propagating in a low-density helium gas system. Proton radiography from different projection angles not only confirms the magnetic field's existence, but also provides a quantitative measurement of the field strength in the range $\ensuremath{\sim}5$ to 7 T. X-ray spectrometry allowed inference of the density and temperature at the shock front, constraining the plasma conditions under which the magnetic and electric fields are generated. Simulations with the particle-in-cell code lsp attribute the self-generation of the magnetic field to the Biermann battery effect ($\ensuremath{\nabla}{n}_{e}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\ensuremath{\nabla}{T}_{e}$).
Acute compressive radial neuropathy and wrist drop due to the repetitive overuse of the arm

Entrapment neuropathies are common in clinical practice. Early diagnosis and management of nerve compression is necessary to maintain limb function and to improve the patient’s quality of life. In this article, we reported a woman presenting with wrist drop as a result of acute radial nerve compression following strenuous activity involving the arms. The diagnosis was based on clinical and ultrasonographic findings. Once the diagnosis was made, activity modifications and systemic steroid were prescribed, and the patient made a near-complete recovery. Patients with acute wrist drop and sensorial loss should be examined in terms of arm overuse, and radial nerve compression should be confirmed by peripheral nerve ultrasound.
Understanding the Behavior of Sanctuary-Housed Chimpanzees During Public Programs

At zoos, and some sanctuaries, members of the public can observe the resident animals. Examining the characteristics and consequences of this type of human–animal encounter is important to understa...
Soil-Forming Processes in Nevada

This chapter discusses the role of these processes in the development of soils in Nevada. The 17 generalized soil-forming processes occurring in soils of Nevada include argilluviation, melanization, silicification, calcification, gleization, cambisolization, vertization, solonization, gypsification, andisolization, and paludization.
Incentives and Austerity: How Did the Great Recession Affect Municipal Economic Development Policy?:

In addition to cuts in social programs, the Great Recession also affected government expenditures once considered less vulnerable to austerity, such as economic development. Using a comparative cas...
Online generic diagnostic reservoir operation tools

Abstract The actual use of models and decision tools for real-world reservoir operations is limited due to the gap between the models/tools and the real-world practices, tedious amount of work in case-by-case model developments, and computational difficulty of running complex numerical models. This paper presents generic diagnostic reservoir operation tools (DROT). The tools are developed based on generic properties derived from analytical optimization studies and data mining procedures. Instead of establishing a numerical model, DROT users can apply particular properties and/or procedures to diagnose a specific reservoir operation problem by just providing required inputs. DROT is available online and also provides auxiliary tools such as a data retrieval tool and a data visualization tool. DROT provides an open software framework that can include additional generic tools of models, algorithms, and functions. DROT can be used by reservoir operators, researchers, and students to obtain diagnostic information for the operation of a reservoir.
Family Physicians Ability to Perform Cesarean Sections Can Reduce Maternal and Infant Mortality.

In the United States maternal and infant mortality are increasing.[1][1] It is now more dangerous for our daughters to have children than for their mothers. Multifactorial reasons exist, including the greater maternal mortality for women of color as well as the increased mortality for pregnant women
Risk of injury analysis in depth jump and squat jump

Introduction: The depth jump (DJ) and squat jump (SJ) are accepted ways to assess and train power producing ability but are not without risk of injury. Methods: Sixteen male participants (age = 21.7 ± 1.54 yrs., height = 177.7 ± 11.4 cm, mass = 77.7 ± 13.6 kg) were evaluated for power exertion capabilities while being assessed for risk of injury in the knee and low back through a range of resistances based on a percentage of participants’ heights in the DJ (0% through 50%) and bodyweights for the SJ (0% through 100%). Two variables were used to assess the risk of injury in the knee: valgus angle and internal abduction moment (IAM). Four variables were used in the low back: compression and shear force at the L5/S1 vertebrae, intra-abdominal pressure (IAP), and erector muscle tension. Results: With increasing DJ drop height, participants showed increased risk of injury in the knee through the valgus angle and IAM. In the low back, significant correlation occurred between increasing drop height and the shear force and IAP while compression force and erector muscle tension were more correlated with the power exertion of the participants than the drop height. With increasing SJ resistance, no significant increased risk of knee injury was detected. However, all low back variables except the IAP were significantly influenced by the increased resistance. Conclusion: Risk of injury in the knee and low back can be strongly dependent not only on the type of jump, but also the amount of resistance. The resulting power exerted by the athlete can also influence the risk of injury.
Whole-tissue deconvolution and scRNAseq analysis identify altered endometrial cellular compositions and functionality associated with endometriosis

Abstract The uterine lining (endometrium) exhibits a pro-inflammatory phenotype in women with endometriosis, resulting in pain, infertility, and poor pregnancy outcomes. The full complement of cell types contributing to this phenotype has yet to be identified, as most studies have focused on bulk tissue or select cell populations. Herein, through integrating whole-tissue deconvolution and single cell RNAseq, we comprehensively characterized immune and nonimmune cell types in endometrium of women with or without disease and their dynamic changes across the menstrual cycle. We designed metrics to evaluate specificity of deconvolution signatures that resulted in single cell identification of 13 novel signatures for immune cell subtypes in healthy endometrium. Guided by statistical metrics, we identified contributions of endometrial epithelial, endothelial, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, classical dendritic cells, monocytes, macrophages, and granulocytes to the endometrial pro-inflammatory phenotype, underscoring roles for nonimmune as well as immune cells to the dysfunctionality of this tissue. Teaser Sentence Cell type deconvolution and single cell RNAseq analysis identify altered endometrial cellular compositions in women with endometriosis
‘My Kind of Catholic.’ On Taylor’s Contribution to Philosophy of Religion

Many critics observe a methodological flaw in Taylor’s work. They claim that there is an alleged discrepancy between Taylor’s historical approach on the one hand and his defense of fullness in term...
Yck1/2: Casein kinase I homologues (S. cerevisiae) (YCK1/CKI2, YCK2/CKI1)

Casein kinases are ubiquitous Ca2+- and cyclic nucleotide-independent protein kinases, originally characterized on the basis of their preference for acidic substrates such as casein. Yck1 and Yck2 are a functionally redundant pair of casein kinase I homologues in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The genes were isolated by virtue of their effects in high dosage. YCK1 was found as a multicopy suppressor of growth defects associated with reduced Snf1 activity, and YCK2 was identified by the protection it provides from the deleterious effects of sudden shifts to high salinity. Increased dosage of either gene has the same effect in either assay. The same pair of genes was independently cloned using degenerate oligonucleotides based on peptide sequence obtained from purified protein. The kinase domains are 94% identical between the two homologues; overall, Yck1 and Yck2 are 77% identical. As with other members of the CKI family, the kinase domain sequence differs from those of other kinases by the absence of the conserved APE motif in subdomain VIII and the conserved Arg residue in subdomain XI. The C-terminal portions of Yck1 and Yck2 contain regions that are 47% and 43% glutamine residues, respectively.
A non-invasive remote health monitoring system using visible light communication

In this paper a non-invasive Electroencephalograph (ECG) monitoring system based on visible light communication is presented. An ECG kit is connected to ardueno board which uses wifi shield to transmit the ECG signal wirelessly to computer. A prototype of visible light communication (VLC) link is used to transmit the ECG signal. The received ECG signal over VLC link is compared with the transmitted ECG signal and error is calculated. Result shows that maximum 3% error in received signal at a distance of 2 meter, which opens a new path of using VLC channel in remote health monitoring system.
Seemingly unrelated regressions under additive heteroscedasticity Theory and share equation applications

Abstract We derive consistent, asymptotically efficient, and asymptotically normal estimators for SUR systems that have additive heteroscedastic contemporaneous correlation. Both our estimator for the location vector and the parameters of the covariance matrix possess these properties. The procedure is superior to other methods because we use GLS to estimate the parameters of the covariance matrix. Our method also permits the use of cross-equation parameter restrictions. We discuss how this type of heteroscedasticity arises naturally in share equation systems and random coefficient models, and how these models can be uniquely estimated with our two-step estimation technique.
Stem Cell Niches in Drosophila

Adult stem cells supply a continual source of highly differentiated cells throughout the life of an organism. They are able to maintain an undifferentiated state and possess unlimited proliferation capacity. Many stem cells reside in a special microenvironment known as a niche that specifies stem cell identity and protects them from differentiation by providing essential molecular signals. Because of its essential requirement to maintain stem cells, the stem cell niche also limits the number of stem cells, safeguarding against cancer. Drosophila melanogaster has served as an ideal model system to study stem cells and their niches, thanks to the well-understood signalling pathways, elegant genetics and relatively simple anatomy. Studies in Drosophila have provided a fundamental framework for understanding mammalian stem cells and their niches. Here, I give an overview of how stem cells are regulated by their niches in Drosophila. Key concepts Adult stem cells: Cells found in adult tissues that are capable of proliferation over a prolonged time period (throughout the life of the organism) and of further differentiation to produce various types of differentiated cells in the tissue. Self-renewal: The phenomenon by which stem cells produce stem cells on cell division. Stem cell characteristics, including undifferentiated state, proliferative potential and developmental potential to differentiate, are maintained. Niche: A microenvironment in which stem cell characteristics (such as stem cell identity and proliferation potential) are maintained. Asymmetric stem cell division: A form of stem cell division in which one stem cell and one differentiated cell are created, thereby maintaining stem cell number. Keywords: adult stem cells; niche; self-renewal; asymmetric division; BMP signalling; Jak-STAT pathway
Is there a happy marriage between software engineering and knowledge engineering

The recent advances in visual software engineering, UML, software patterns and component-based software engineering have once again posed challenges to software engineers and knowledge engineers to understand how to design better software based upon design knowledge, and how such knowledge is represented. In this keynote lecture, I will survey some of the recent approaches and attempt to clarify the concept of design knowledge and how the design knowledge is embedded in the software process. Finally I will illustrate how one can use generalized objects for knowledge representation in the software process.
Fundamental Concepts of Group Theory

In this first chapter we introduce the basic concepts of group theory, developing fairly rapidly the elementary properties that will be familiar to most readers.
The crash of 2000–2002 and imminent rebound

Well-accepted economic theory and evidence documents mean reversion in business profits over time. At the same time, the efficient market hypothesis posits that this predictable reversion to the mean in business profits holds no importance for investors. In a perfectly efficient market, all relevant information, including trends in business profits, are fully incorporated in stock prices. Both short- and long-run rates of return in a perfectly efficient stock market follow a random walk. From an efficient markets perspective, any perceived tendency for mean reversion in stock market returns can be dismissed as a simple manifestation of the well-known regression to the mean concept from the field of statistics. Nobody can predict when the market will take a protracted severe drop. However, after the market has taken such a drop, the overreaction hypothesis suggests that forward-looking returns will be above average. In response to a protracted severe drop in the overall market, such as the crash of 2000–02, the overreaction hypothesis suggests that prudent investments should adopt a fully invested and diversified position in stocks. While backward-looking investors remain shell-shocked by the historic 2000–02 crash on the Nasdaq, forward-looking tech stock investors will benefit greatly from the ensuing recovery.
On Games of Survival

Two gamblers, with limited resources of money, agree to play and replay the same zero-sum game until one of them is ruined. The “game of survival” that results is similar in many respects to the classic “gambler’s ruin” problem, but there is one important difference: since the transition probabilities are controlled by the participants, and not by chance, there may be a positive probability of infinite repetition, with neither gambler being ruined. Thus, to save oneself and to destroy one’s opponent are somewhat different objectives; in fact, the optimal strategies and the corresponding probabilities of ruin or survival wil sometimes be found to depend on the value assigned to the case of double survival.
A leakage-tolerant dynamic register file using leakage bypass with stack forcing (LBSF) and source follower NMOS (SFN) techniques

Clock frequency of a multi-ported, 256/spl times/32b dynamic register file in a 100nm technology is improved by 50%, compared to the best dual-V/sub T/ (DVT) design, using LBSF and SFN leakage-tolerant circuit techniques for LBL and GBL. Total transistor width of the full LBSF design is the smallest.
Saddam Hussein's Ba'th Party: Control and Resistance

Fear played a major role in sustaining the Baʿth regime for more than three decades, but the party's control of the population was not based only on fear. An elaborate system of rewards and punishments provided a robust framework for the Baʿth Party's domination. Nevertheless, although society as a whole accepted the regime and its relentless demands, a significant number of people did not. Examining the different forms of resistance helps us to understand what “made one person a dissident or resistance fighter and another a collaborator.” Fear and Violence In Chapter 4, we saw that the Baʿth regime created many security agencies and an extensive security network. In so doing, it was strikingly similar to other tyrannies. Like Stalin, Saddam Hussein was always acutely aware that the people closest to him had the greatest ability to inflict harm: “Near the Tsar, near to death.” In his semiautobiographical book, rijal wa madina , Saddam Hussein wrote that “he who is not alert, even with a long stick, the dogs will covet him and bite him.” Both dictators knew that treachery could arise from within their inner circles, and they understood the need for special guards and organizations that they personally controlled, who would be more loyal than their closest associates but would remain carefully segregated from their inner circles. Both leaders were closely involved with their security organizations, received direct information from them, and intervened in their affairs. Based on remarks from close associates of Saddam Hussein, Aburish quotes him as saying that “when we take over the government I’ll turn this country into a Stalinist state.” Both leaders kept changing the organizational structure of the security organs to meet their needs and used fear and violence to keep a firm grip on power.
Ozone, Fine Particulate Matter, and Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease Mortality in the United States

Rationale: Short-term effects of air pollution exposure on respiratory disease mortality are well established. However, few studies have examined the effects of long-term exposure, and among those that have, results are inconsistent.Objectives: To evaluate long-term association between ambient ozone, fine particulate matter (PM2.5, particles with an aerodynamic diameter of 2.5 μm or less), and chronic lower respiratory disease (CLRD) mortality in the contiguous United States.Methods: We fit Bayesian hierarchical spatial Poisson models, adjusting for five county-level covariates (percentage of adults aged ≥65 years, poverty, lifetime smoking, obesity, and temperature), with random effects at state and county levels to account for spatial heterogeneity and spatial dependence.Measurements and Main Results: We derived county-level average daily concentration levels for ambient ozone and PM2.5 for 2001–2008 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s down-scaled estimates and obtained 2007–2008 CLRD deaths...
Population ecology of halophyte seeds

Some aspects of the population biology of halophytes are considered in this review. Persistent seed banks have been reported for a number of inland- and coastal-salt marsh plant communities. Seeds of perennial grasses are often under-represented, while annuals and some perennial forbs may be over-represented in the seed bank. The persistent seed bank of annual halophytes appears adaptive, and provides multiple seed germination opportunities which may prevent local extinction when environmental stress increases. Somatic seed polymorphism provides a mechanism by which parent plants can respond to changing environments by partitioning their resources into reproductive units which have distinct germination responses. Parental effects may influence either seed morphology and/or physiological requirements of seeds when they are exposed to environmental stress. A prolonged germination period can provide plant populations with numerous opportunities to establish seedling cohorts. Early cohorts will have a selective advantage under moderate conditions because mortality will be low and plants will survive until maturity. However, fluctuations in salinity levels and tidal activity can cause high mortality in early cohorts in salt marsh habitats, providing later cohorts with an opportunity for establishment. Resource allocation to reproductive structures is related to plant size, which itself can be affected by both abiotic and biotic factors. Larger plants were found to produce more seeds than smaller plants in a population, but the mean seed weight was greater in small plants.
Transfer Ionization in Slow Multiply Charged Ion-Atom Collisions

Transfer ionization, or exothermic capture ionization, is found to be an important reaction mechanism is slow multiply charged ion-atom collisions: more electrons are released from the target in creating a recoil ion than are found to be captured by the projectile when viewed long after the collision. These collisions generally depend upon the internal potential energy of the collision system rather than on the projectile kinetic energy.
Hydrolysis of Thiamin: Evidence for Rate-Limiting Breakdown of the Tricyclic Dihydrothiachromine Intermediate in Neutral Aqueous Solution

Abstract Rate constants in the pH range 3-9 for formation of the enethiolate product upon hydrolysis of N (1′)-unprotonated ("free") thiamin (1a), N (1′)-nethylthiamin (3), oxythiamine (4), and several 3-substituted-4-methylthiazolium ions in oxygen-containing and amine buffers have been determined by irreversible iodination of the enethiolate at 25°C and ionic strength 1.0 M in aqueous solution. General acid catalysis of the ring opening of 1a has a Bronsted α value of 0.57 and a solvent deuterium isotope effect of ( k H 2 O / k D 2 O ) BL + = 5.0 for catalysis by acetic acid. The Hammett ρ I value for catalysis by water or phosphate monoanion of the ring-opening reaction of 3-R-4-methylthiazolium ions is 12 ± 1 for substituents on the nitrogen atom of the thiazolium ring that cannot function as intramolecular catalysts. There is a 200- or 600-fold positive deviation of the rate constant for catalysis by water or phosphate monoanion, respectively, of the ring-opening reaction of 1a from the corresponding Hammett correlation which is absent when the N (3)-aminopyrimidinyl substituent is modified to make it unreactive as an intramolecular catalyst in 3 or 4. On the basis of an estimated "effective molarity" of ≥700 M for intramolecular catalysis of the ring-opening reaction by the exocyclic 4′-amino group, it is concluded that the N (3)-aminopyrimidinyl substituent of 1a provides significant intramolecular nucleophilic catalysis of nonenzymatic enethiolate formation in neutral aqueous solution. The general acid-catalyzed reaction of 1a is formulated as concerted general acid catalysis of departure of the enethiol from the neutral tricyclic amine addition campound (T N ) derived from addition of the 4′-amino group to the C(2) position of the thiazolium ion. The water-catalyzed reaction of 1a is formulated as unassisted expulsion of the enethiolate from T N .
Options on Foreign Exchange and Exchange Rate Expectations

This paper tests alternative assumptions concerning the time series behavior of foreign exchange rates. Data for about 20,000 individual trades on foreign exchange options for dollar exchange rates against six major currencies carried out from February 1983 to June 1985 are analyzed. The tests carried out suggest that, judging from the predictions of a model of options prices based on the assumption that exchange rates follow a diffusion process, market participants paid too high a price for call options that would have been profitable only if the dollar depreciated substantially within a short time period. An alternative model which allows for discrete jumps in exchange rates is found to be more consistent with the data.
Perforations of the Esophagus and Stomach: What Should I Do?

Esophageal and gastroduodenal perforations are relatively uncommon; however, they both can be potentially life-threatening. Esophageal perforations most commonly occur due to iatrogenic injury, forceful retching (Boerhaave’s syndrome), malignancy, foreign body ingestion, or caustic injury. Gastroduodenal perforations are most commonly due to peptic ulcer disease or malignancy. Pain and signs of sepsis are the most common presenting symptoms and signs. Determining the extent of critical illness and addressing hemodynamics and sepsis are the first priorities. Identifying the location and size of the perforation as well as extent of contamination is the next priorities. Although surgical intervention has been the mainstay of treatment, newer approaches have led to a heterogeneity of approaches. For esophageal perforation, observation, endoscopic, radiological, and surgical approaches may be appropriate. For gastroduodenal perforation, surgical approach is still the most appropriate, although a concomitant acid-reducing operation is usually not necessary. Despite these advances, mortality for both perforations can still be high. Sound judgment is necessary for optimal results.
Expression of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit NR3B regulates dendrite morphogenesis in spinal motor neurons.

Abstract During postnatal development, the dendrites of spinal motor neurons are refined in an activity-dependent manner that can be influenced by blocking activation of N -methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) receptors. In late postnatal life, dendritic refinement ceases, and dendrite architecture is unaffected by NMDA antagonists; however the molecular substrate for limiting dendritic plasticity is not understood. During late postnatal development, expression of the NR3B NMDA receptor subunit, a putative dominant-negative subunit that reduces glutamate-induced ionic currents, is upregulated within motor neurons. To investigate whether increasing NR3B expression may contribute to the loss in late development of activity-dependent dendritic reorganization in the spinal cord, we over-expressed NR3B in cultured rat spinal motor neurons, and compared its effects on dendrite morphology with the effects of pharmacological blockade of NMDA receptors. We found that over-expression of the NR3B receptor subunit increased the length and complexity of dendritic arbor, and increased numbers of dendritic filopodia, suggesting that NR3B promotes the addition of branch segments in developing motor neurons. In contrast, blockade of NMDA receptor activity by the NMDA antagonist dl -2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate (AP5) had little effect on the overall length or complexity of dendritic arbor. Instead, treatment with AP5 resulted in significant reorganization of dendritic arbor in a manner that favored addition of dendritic segments of high branch orders, at the expense of those closer to the cell body. These results suggest that expression of the NR3B subunit may participate in activity-dependent reorganization of dendritic architecture, but via a mechanism that may be inconsistent with loss of NMDA receptor activity.
Polyfluoroalkyl chloro- and fluorosulfites

Abstract The first example of polyfluoroalkyl chlorosulfite esters have been prepared in good yield by reaction of the corresponding polyfluoroalcohol-triethylamine adducts with excess SOCl 2 . The polyfluoroalkyl chlorosulfites are easily converted to the fluorosulfite derivatives (∼75%) by reactions with ClF. The polyfluoroalkyl chloro- and fluorosulfites are found to much more thermally stable than their corresponding unfluorinated analogs. The nmr spectra indicate that chemically equivallent groups attached to the α-alkyoxy carbon of these halosulfites are magnetically nonequivallent as a consequence of their asymmetric sulfhur atoms.
Estimating monetary policy effects when interest rates are close to zero

Abstract Using a nonlinear structural VAR approach, we estimate the effects of exogenous monetary policy shocks in the presence of a zero lower bound constraint on nominal interest rates and examine the impact of such a constraint on the effectiveness of counter-cyclical monetary policies based on the data from Japan. We find that when interest rates are at zero, the output effect of exogenous shocks to monetary policy is cut in half if the central bank continues to target the interest rate. The conditional impulse response functions allow us to isolate the effect of monetary policy shocks operating through the interest rate channel when other possible channels of monetary transmission are present.
Sensitive Fluorogenic Substrate for Alkaline Phosphatase

Alkaline phosphatase serves both as a model enzyme for studies on the mechanism and kinetics of phosphomonoesterases and as a reporter in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) and other biochemical methods. The tight binding of the enzyme to its inorganic phosphate product leads to strong inhibition of catalysis and confounds measurements of alkaline phosphatase activity. We have developed an alkaline phosphatase substrate in which the fluorescence of rhodamine is triggered on P-O bond cleavage in a process mediated by a "trimethyl lock." Although this substrate requires a nonenzymatic second step to manifest fluorescence, we demonstrated that the enzymatic first step limits the rate of fluorogenesis. The substrate enables the catalytic activity of alkaline phosphatase to be measured with high sensitivity and accuracy. Its attributes are ideal for enzymatic assays of alkaline phosphatase for both basic research and biotechnological applications.
A comparative analysis of multiattribute attitude models

In the consumer behavior context, multiattribute attitude models used to predict consumer choice in multiple criteria decision making situations have produced mixed results. Prediction of consumer behavior from attitudes, consequently, has been highly debated in recent years with researchers using beliefs-only, full, and extended multiattribute attitude models. The research underlying this paper was designed to compare the predictive superiority of the beliefs-only model, the full multiattribute attitude model, and a new representation identified as the combined multiattribute/determinant attribute attitude model. Data concerning patronage of fast-food chains were collected from a student panel for seven weeks. Predictive superiority was determined by average adjusted R2 using the patronage behavior dependent variable. All models were tested in aggregated and disaggregated form.
Phospholipid profile of the human brain: 31P NMR spectroscopic study

Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylinositol, sphingomyelin, and ethanolamine plasmalogen represent the six most abundant phospholipids of brain cell membrane. The ratio of the phospholipid contents (phospholipid profile) of the brain is remarkably consistent under various metabolic conditions and alteration of the phospholipid profile is believed to reflect changes in the membrane system. We describe here a simple but sensitive method to analyze the phospholipid profile of the human brain utilizing the acidified chloroform-methanol lipid extraction method of Folch et al. and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Unique regional phospholipid profiles were consistently obtained. Although the large chemical-shift anisotropy of the 31P confined to rigid structures such as the cell membrane precludes direct observation of phospholipid profiles in living tissue, a reflection of the membrane phospholipid profiles can nevertheless be obtained by studying "NMR visible" water soluble intermediate metabolites of membrane phospholipids in vivo.
Growth, water relations, and nutritive value of pasture species mixtures under moisture stress

Pasture productivity under harsh environments can be increased by planting more drought-resistant species or by increasing species diversity. This research was conducted under two large (10.2 × 26.8 m) rainout shelters combined with a drip irrigation system to provide deficit, normal, and excessive moisture conditions. A two-species mixture containing the relatively drought-tolerant species, orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and red clover (Trifolium pretense L.) and two five-species mixtures were compared with a mixture containing the drought-sensitive species, white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), which are the predominant species in northeastern USA pastures. Plots were dipped from mid-May to early October in 2000 and 2001 on a schedule that mimicked management-intensive grazing practices. The five-species mixture containing chicory (Cichorium intybus L.), orchardgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), and white clover had the greatest dry matter yield at all moisture levels. Yield in that mixture increased 89% in the dry, 61% in the normal, and 43% (by weight) in the wet treatments compared with the white clover/ Kentucky bluegrass mixture. Increased yield was primarily due to the robust growth of chicory which dominated the mixture, accounting for 71% of harvested biomass by the fall of 2001. In addition, white clover growing in the mixture with chicory had improved leaf water relations and greater relative growth rates than white clover growing in the two-species mixture. Including the functional attribute of a deep-rooted forb appeared to be more important than species richness, per se, in improving forage yield.
New model of Saturn's ionosphere with an influx of water from the rings

A radically different model of Saturn's ionosphere is proposed in which water plays a major role as a minor constituent present by downward diffusion from an external source. The model ionosphere is a classical F2 type layer resulting from the photodissociative production of H(+) from H2 and rapid chemical loss by a series of charge exchange reactions with water. A planet-wide influx of about 4 x 10 to the 7th molecules/sq cm/s of water from the rings is consistent with the observed ionospheric electron densities. An enhanced influx of water occurs at latitudes (-38, +44 deg) connected magnetically at the inner edge of Saturn's B ring, where an electromagnetic erosion process takes place. The present-day influx at these latitudes may be as large as 2 x 10 to the 9th molecules/sq cm/s.
1656 FAVORABLE EFFECTS OF L-CARNITINE SUPPLEMENTATION DURING HEMODIALYSIS (HD)

Top of pageAbstract Carnitine (C) plays an important role in lipid metabolism, being essential for the optimal oxidation of free fatty acids. Deficiency of C (MW 168), secondary to losses in dialysis effluents, has been described in patients undergoing HD. Attempts to correct hypertriglycer idemia by adding intravenous or oral L-Carnitine have given variable results. We studied the effects of adding L-Carnitine to dialysate fluid (2 g/dialysis x 4 weeks) on serum triglycerides (TG), free fatty acids (FFA), free carnitine (FC) and total carnitine (TC) In 10 patients (x: age 18 yrs; range 9-21) undergoing chronic HD, Results (x ± SD) were: These data suggest: a) children on HD have slgnificantly decreased FC and increased TG; h) carnitine losses can he replaced by adding L-Carnitine into dialysis fluid; c) significant increase in FC and TC with a concommitant decrease in TG (average 28%) occurs after four weeks of L-Carnitine supplementation. This reflects a better oxidation of FFA wi th the resultant decreased synthesis of TG. Long term beneficial effects of L-Carnitine supplementation on dialysis hyperlipidemia deserves further evaluation.
Local stabilization of single-walled carbon nanotubes on Si(100)-2 × 1:H via nanoscale hydrogen desorption with an ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunnelling microscope

An ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunnelling microscope (UHV-STM) was used to modify the interface between isolated ≈10 A-diameter single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and the hydrogen-passivated Si(100) surface. Room-temperature UHV-STM desorption of hydrogen at the SWNT/H-Si(100) interface resulted in the local mechanical stabilization of tubes originally perturbed by the rastered STM tip under nominal imaging conditions. For the section of the SWNT contacted by depassivated Si, a topographic depression of 1.5 A (1 A) was measured in the case of parallel (nearly perpendicular) alignment between the tube axis and the Si dimer rows, in agreement with existing first-principles calculations. The compatibility of hydrogen-resist UHV-STM nanolithography with SWNTs adsorbed on H-Si(100) would enable the atomically precise placement of single molecules in proximity to the tube for the bottom-up fabrication of molecular electronic devices.
Behavior of diglycerides and conjugated fatty acid triglycerides in reverse-phase chromatography

The behavior of conjugated fatty acid triglycerides and diglycerides on reverse-phase chromatography was studied. Trieleostearin is a geometric isomer of trilinolenin. The conjugated double bond arrangement in trieleostearin enhances its hydrophobic interaction with the stationary phase and causes it to be eluted later than trilinolenin. In separation of “critical pairs” of tri- and diglycerides, diglycerides elute later than triglycerides due to the longer fatty acid constituent. Position isomers of 1,2- and 1,3-diglycerides can be separated by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.
On silicic acid limitation of diatoms in near-surface waters of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean☆

Abstract Silicic acid requirements of three oceanic diatoms from the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean were assessed. Half-saturation constants, K s , were 0·47 μg-atoms Si liter −1 for Chaetoceros gracilis , 0·33 for a clone of Leptocylindrus danicus from the equatorial upwellin area, and 0·74 for another clone of L. danicus from nutrient-poor water. These K s values are intermediate among those reported by other workers for growth in other diatoms. Comparison of a mean K s value (0·51 μg-atoms Si liter −1 ) with silicic acid concentrations at 10-m depth in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean suggested that silicic acid rarely limits the growth rate of eastern tropical Pacific diatoms, and that this nutrient is secondary to nitrogen in controlling productivity.
Construction of the potential of the 3D Schrödinger equation from the scattering operator by using a Fredholm integral equation.

We consider the 3D Schrodinger equation with a potential having no spherical symmetry and show that such a potential can be constructed from the scattering operator by using the solution of a Fredholm integral equation. The Fredholm integral operator presented is compact and self-adjoint; its eigenvalues are symmetric about 0 and lie in [−1,1]
Effect of pressure on the Fermi surface and band structure of InBi

Measurements have been made of the pressure dependence of a number of cross-sectional areas of the Fermi surface of InBi. A relativistic orthogonalized-plane-wave band calculation has been made as a function of the various parameters which as calculated does not agree with the published experimental Fermi surface. A band model is proposed which accounts for the accepted Fermi surface of InBi. This band picture is found to be consistent with the measured pressure behavior of the Fermi surface and accounts in a qualitative fashion for the anomalies in the pressure dependence of the elastic constants and in the temperature dependence of the NMR.
Learning systems for automatic control

Recent developments in learning systems for automatic control are discussed from the point of view of pattern recognition. The following mathematical areas are given special attention: 1) decision theory, which produces control policies from gradually adjusted estimates of pattern probabilities, 2) trainable threshold logic, which produces control policies from networks of adjustable threshold devices, 3) stochastic approximation, which produces asymptotically optimum controllers, and 4) Markov chain theory, which provides an approach to modelling the dynamics of learning controllers. Projected applications in the following areas are discussed: process control, automated design of controllers, reliability control, numerical computation, and communication systems. A selected bibliography is included.
Method for graphene production in anodic arc

Bulk graphene is usually characterized by flakes having thicknesses of several to tens of nanometers and sizes in a micron range. Currently, the main method for synthesis of bulk graphene is chemical exfoliation, where chemicals are utilized to separate the graphene sheets from the piece of graphite. The production capabilities of this method are quite limited and overall graphene production is estimated to be around several tens of tons of material annually worldwide. This work is focused on development of novel highly efficient and low cost plasma-based method for graphene production in industrial quantities characterized by exceptional product properties.
Experimental Investigation of a Hydromechanical Scale Model of the Gerbil Cochlea

In this research, an uncoiled scale gerbil cochlea is designed and fabricated. The cochlea model is an uncoiled, 16 times scale model of the real gerbil cochlea and has only one duct. Both the basilar membrane width and the duct size vary along the length of the device, in analogy to the physiology. The cochlea duct is filled with silicone oil and driven by a modal exciter (shaker) at different frequencies. The movement of the basilar membrane is measured using laser vibrometry at different locations along the basilar membrane. The ratio of the basilar membrane velocity to drive velocity is computed and plotted. The characteristic frequency of the model varies from 7000 Hz at 2 cm from the base of the cochlea to 350 Hz at the 15 cm from the base. Two different viscosities silicone oil, 20 cSt and 500 cSt are used for the basilar membrane movement measurements. A WKB method is applied to the calculation of the basilar membrane movement of the scale cochlea model, in which the fluid motion is fully three dimensional.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Active collagen synthesis in infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.

M-57 antibody, which is capable of distinguishing newly-synthesized type I procollagen from fully-processed, mature collagen, was used to examine the expression of collagen synthesis in hypertrophic pyloric muscle from patients with infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS). Seven specimens from IHPS patients were removed at the time of operation; age-matched normal pyloric tissue of 5 post-mortem cases was obtained as controls. Immunohistochemistry was performed using antibody of the amino-terminal end of the procollagen type I propeptide (M-57). Newly-synthesized procollagen (M-57) was strongly detected in both the connective tissue septa between circular muscle bundles, and among the circular-muscle fibers in patients with IHPS. No M-57 staining was observed among the circular-muscle fibers in controls. Our findings show that the hypertrophic circular muscle in IHPS is actively synthesizing collagen, and this may be responsible for the characteristic “firm” nature of the pyloric tumor.
Immunodiffusion studies on the antigens of Histoplasma capsulatum: comparison of mycelial histoplasmin with the yeast phase reagent Histolyn-CYL.

Immunodiffusion assays were performed to determine if H and M antigens associated with mycelial histoplasmin were present in the yeast phase reagent, Histolyn-CYL® (H-CYL). Neither H nor M antigens could be detected in H-CYL. However, when H-CYL was reacted against human histoplasmal sera a positive reaction was evidenced in all instances in which a response was elicited with a reference mycelial immunodiffusion reagent.
Stand structure over 9 years in burned and fire-excluded oak stands on the Cumberland Plateau, Kentucky

Abstract Upland oak-dominated forests in the central Appalachian region are being managed increasingly with prescribed fire, ostensibly to reduce midstory stem density of fire-sensitive species and to promote oak regeneration, creating the need to document the effectiveness of fire alone for accomplishing these objectives. On three ridges in the Daniel Boone National Forest, Kentucky, changes in stand structure and tree regeneration were examined from 1995 to 2003 in oak-dominated stands where fire-sensitive red maple (Acer rubrum L.) and eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) were gaining dominance. Fire-excluded and burn treatments were applied to the three ridges, such that each ridge contained three units receiving one of the following treatments: fire-excluded, burned 2×, or burned 3×. Burning reduced midstory (2–10 cm DBH) stem density by 91% and midstory basal area by 86%, whereas on fire-excluded units, midstory stem density decreased 24% and basal area 28%. Burning reduced overstory (≥10 cm DBH) stem density 30% but did not significantly affect overstory basal area. Overstory stem density on fire-excluded units did not change but overstory basal area decreased 10%. Repeated burning reduced midstory red maple stem density 94%, compared to fire-excluded units, which experienced a 39% decrease in midstory red maple stem density and an 85% increase in overstory red maple stem density and basal area. Burning reduced midstory oak (Quercus spp.) stem density 82%, while on fire-excluded units, a decline in midstory oak stem density was not significant. Overstory oak stem density decreased 25% on both fire-excluded and burned units. Damaged and dead stems on burned units responded by sprouting vigorously, with red maple being the most prolific. The number of basal sprouts/stem increased with each additional fire and the basal sprout density (sprouts/ha) was highest after the third fire. Burning also affected tree regeneration by eliminating eastern white pine stems in the sapling layer (≥50 cm height and Multiple prescribed fires successfully reduced midstory densities of fire-sensitive species such as red maple, but also negatively affected oaks. Additional silvicultural methods to augment prescribed fire, or changing the timing and/or intensity of burning may be necessary for restoring oak-dominated stands.