cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanism for semiquinone formation in the oxygen negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

The high toxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) has led to the development of selective and highly sensitive quantitative methods for mass spectral analysis. Analytical selectivity has been demonstrated for the oxygen negative chemical ionization (ONCI) reaction of TCDD in an oxygen-rich plasma. While the reaction product (4,5-dichloro-1,2-benzoquinone anion) of 2,3,7,8-TCDD and oxygen is well known, the mechanism of its formation has not been studied thoroughly. In this report the results of a study involving the reaction of 18O2 with 2,3,7,8-TCDD under high pressure and low pressure ONCI conditions are reported. A mechanism is proposed which is compatible with the observation that one 18O atom is incorporated into the product anion.
The terminal pathway of the lymphatic system of the human heart.

Abstract Anatomical dissections in 9 human cadavers revealed the terminal pathway of the lymphatic system of the left ventricle to be constituted mainly by channels emptying into the right angulus venosus (junction of the internal jugular and subclavian veins) at the base of the right side of the neck. This observation has clinical implications because it has been shown that a sampling of cardiac lymph provides the best method for analyzing myocardial metabolic abnormalities and that drainage of cardiac lymph alleviates the myocardial changes produced by ischemic injury.
Inflorescence stems of the mdr1 mutant display altered gravitropism and phototropism

Auxins are a major group of growth regulators that are involved in all stages of plant growth and development, and these molecules play a key role in the response phase of both phototropism and gravitropism. Polar auxin transport within tissues is mediated by auxin influx and auxin efflux carriers that are asymmetrically distributed across cell membranes. The MDR (multidrug resistance) family of proteins has been identified in plants and is involved in the transport of auxin. In these studies, we examined tropistic responses in the mdr1 (=abcb19) mutant of Arabidopsis thaliana using conventional reorientation studies as well as a computer-based feedback system to investigate the kinetics of root gravitropism and phototropism. Time course of curvature studies show that tropisms were not affected in light-grown seedlings of mdr1 mutants, with the exception of an enhancement of gravitropism in hypocotyls. In mature plants, mdr1 inflorescence stems exhibit attenuated gravitropism but have enhanced phototropic curvature in response to unidirectional blue illumination. Thus, the decreased auxin flow in the mdr1 mutant has a more profound effect in inflorescence stems compared to hypocotyls of seedlings, possibly due to alterations in membrane trafficking pathways in gravity-perceiving endodermal cells of stems. Our data add support to the hypothesis that hypocotyls and stems differ in their cellular mechanisms of gravitropism.
Year of water

A resolution proclaiming 1984 as the “Year of Water” passed the Senate on February 27. “Water is our most precious natural resource,” said Sen. Bill Armstrong (R-Ohio), who introduced S.J. Res. 202 in November. “The Year of Water will provide an opportunity to examine the issues surrounding water use and planning.”
Tillage, Fungicide, and Cultivar Effects on Frogeye Leaf Spot Severity and Yield in Soybean

Mengistu, A., Kelly, H. M., Bellaloui, N., Arelli, P. R., Reddy, K. N., and Wrather, A. J. 2014. Tillage, fungicide, and cultivar effects on frogeye leaf spot severity and yield in soybean. Plant Dis. 98:1476-1484. Frogeye leaf spot (FLS) of soybean, caused by Cercospora sojina, has been a problem in the southern United States for many years but has become an increasing problem in the northern United States more recently, causing significant yield losses. This increase in disease severity in the northern United States has been attributed to increased utilization of no-till planting and changes in climate. A field study was conducted at the University of Tennessee, Research and Education Center in Milan, TN from 2007 to 2010 to determine severity in tilled and no-till plots treated with or without fungicide at R3 and R5 growth stages. Three FLS-susceptible cultivars, one each in Maturity Groups III, IV, and V, were treated with pyraclostrobin (Headline) fungicide. Analysis of variance using the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) indicated no significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) in disease severity between tilled and no-till plots without fungicide. Fungicide did not significantly reduce disease under no-till, but did under tilled plots. This is the first study showing that no-till plots did not reduce or enhance the severity of FLS when no fungicide was applied. Fungicide application significantly reduced (P ≤ 0.05) disease severity and AUDPC and increased yield in tilled plots. The yield gains in tilled, fungicide-treated plots ranged from 1 to 17%. When fungicide was applied, disease severity was not reduced as significantly in no-till as in treated tilled plots, suggesting that fungicide programs under a notill system may require further study to minimize the risk of FLS
Short-term Antenatal Glucocorticoid Exposure Alters Preterm Newborn Lamb Renal Responses to Intravascular Volume Expansion. • 823

Short-term Antenatal Glucocorticoid Exposure Alters Preterm Newborn Lamb Renal Responses to Intravascular Volume Expansion. • 823
Multiple roles of midline dorsal thalamic nuclei in induction and spread of limbic seizures

Summary Purpose: Studies have suggested that the medial dorsal nucleus of the thalamus plays a role in the behavioral expression of limbic seizures, but it is unclear whether this region is a key component for the primary seizure circuitry or a path for seizure spread from one region to another. This study was undertaken to determine the potential role of this region in limbic seizure activity. Methods: Adult male rats received kindling stimulation either under urethane anesthesia or while awake. Glutamate or its agonists or the GABA antagonist bicuculline or agonist muscimol were infused into the medial dorsal nucleus. In another series, kindling acquisition was compared among three thalamic sites as well as with the amygdala and hippocampus Results: Drugs that enhanced excitatory drive or blocked GABA resulted in significant prolongation of electrographic seizure activity compared to saline infused controls. Enhanced GABA activity resulted in a significant reduction of seizure duration. Infusion of the compounds lateral to the medial dorsal nucleus did not affect seizure duration. In the kindling studies the medial dorsal region is the only thalamic nucleus from which hippocampal seizures can be induced, but with an elevated afterdischarge threshold compared to the two limbic sites. However, the seizures generalized more rapidly from the medial dorsal region. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the medial dorsal nucleus and other dorsal midline nuclei have a significant role in the primary seizure circuits of limbic seizures as well as in spread of seizure activity to other regions.
Interferometric measurements of plasma density in high-. beta. plasmas

The coupled-cavity laser interferometer technique is particularly applicable to the measurement of pulsed plasma densities. This technique is based on the fact that if a small fraction of a gas laser's output radiation is reflected into the laser with an external mirror, the intensity of the laser output is modulated. These amplitude or intensity modulations are produced by changes in the laser gain. A rotating corner mirror or an oscillating mirror can be used to produce a continuous feedback modulation of the interferometer which produces a continuous background fringe pattern. The presence of plasma in the outer cavity causes an additional change which results in a phase shift of the regular period of the background fringe pattern. The integral of the plasma density along the line of sight can be evaluated by comparison of the time history of the fringes obtained with and without plasma.
Machine Learning for Enterprise Security

Enterprise security is about protecting an enterprise's computing infrastructure and the enterprise's sensitive information stored and processed by the infrastructure. We secure the infrastructure and the information by combining three steps: (a) prevention, i.e., preventing security breaches to the extent possible, (b) detection, i.e., detecting breaches as soon as possible since prevention is not fool-proof, and (c) recovery, i.e., recovering from and responding to breaches after detection. Prior work, both in academia and in industry, has focused on prevention and detection, whereas recovery is a relatively unexplored area. Machine learning as a discipline has had a significant impact over the state of the art in enterprise security in the last few years, especially in the prevention and detection steps. However, widespread adoption remains a challenge for several reasons. In this talk, we describe current uses of machine learning in the prevention and detection steps, and highlight a few key challenges. We then discuss future opportunities for machine learning to improve the state of the art in recovery.
Development of microsatellite markers in Cannabis sativa for DNA typing and genetic relatedness analyses

Microsatellite markers were developed for Cannabis sativa L. (marijuana) to be used for DNA typing (genotype identification) and to measure the genetic relationships between the different plants. Twelve different oligonucleotide probes were used to screen an enriched microsatellite library of Cannabis sativa in which 49% of the clones contained microsatellite sequences. Characterization of microsatellite loci in Cannabis revealed that GA/CT was the most abundant class of the isolated microsatellites representing 50% overall followed by GTT/CAA, AAG/TTC, and GAT/CTA representing 16%, 15%, and 10%, respectively. Eleven polymorphic STR markers were developed, three derived from dinucleotide motifs and eight from trinucleotide motifs. A total of 52 alleles were detected averaging 4.7 alleles/locus. The expected heterozygosity of the eleven loci ranged between 0.368 and 0.710 and the common probability of identical genotypes was 1.8×10−7. The loci identified 27 unique profiles of the 41 Cannabis samples. The 11 microsatellite markers developed in this study were found to be useful for DNA typing and for assessing genetic relatedness in Cannabis.
Effect of bronchoconstriction on the firing behavior of pulmonary stretch receptors.

Abstract To study the effect of bronchoconstriction on the activity of pulmonary receptors (PSRs), acetylcholine aerosols (0.05% solution) were delivered continuously into the lungs while the afferent activity of a single PSR was recorded from a filament of the vagus nerve. The relationship between the PSR frequency (f PSR ) and the transpulmonary pressure (P tp ) was examined during both constant volume ventilation and hyperinflation. During bronchoconstriction, the peak f PSR for the same tidal volume increased significantly ( P PSR at functional residual capacity decreased in the receptors above the carina but increased in those below. Bronchoconstriction induced a hysteresis in the dynamic P tp −f PSR relationship during hyperinflation in 11 out of the 21 receptors studied: a clockwise hysteresis was found in those receptors above the carina whereas a counterclockwise one in those below. Results of these studies suggest that the response of PSRs to bronchoconstriction depends on their locations in the tracheobronchial tree.
Comparison of Petrifilm and Colilert methods for E. colienumeration in recreational water

Abstract With a growing interest in recreational water quality, there is a need for more affordable methods for detecting fecal indicator organisms, including Escherichia coli (E. coli). Defined substrate technology (specifically Colilert) is a US Environmental Protection Agency approved method for the detection of E. coli in beach water, but it requires relatively expensive equipment for enumeration of microbes. The 3M Petrifilm product is not currently approved for analysis of recreational water but has been approved for microbial analysis in the food industry. Both methods are simple to use, but Petrifilm requires less equipment and is less expensive than Colilert and thus has been used as a screening tool by citizens’ groups for enumeration of E. coli in beach water. In some cases, however, the prescribed incubation at 35 C has been ignored. The objectives of this study were to compare E. coli concentrations in beach water when enumerated by Colilert (defined substrate) and the Petrifilm E. coli test ...
Effect of undernutrition during the perinatal period on caries development in the rat. 11. Caries susceptibility in underfed rats supplemented with protein or caloric additions during the suckling period.

The specific role of protein deficiency in altering dental caries incidence in rat pups was investigated. A 10% protein supplement given to undernourished rats during development allowed them to overcome weight deficiencies and reversed dental caries to the low incidence found in well-nourished control rats. Caries in undernourished rats supplemented with an isocaloric, proteinfree solution, was as high as that of undernourished rats intubated with distilled water.
Three-Dimensional Modeling of Storm Surge and Inundation Including the Effects of Coastal Vegetation

Two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) hydrodynamic models are used to simulate the hurricane-induced storm surge and coastal inundation in regions with vegetation. Typically, 2D storm surge models use an enhanced Manning coefficient while 3D storm surge models use a roughness height to represent the effects of coastal vegetation on flow. This paper presents a 3D storm surge model which accurately resolves the effects of vegetation on the flow and turbulence. First, a vegetation-resolving 1DV Turbulent Kinetic Energy model (TKEM) is introduced and validated with laboratory data. This model is both robust enough to accurately model flows in complex canopies, while compact and efficient enough for incorporation into a 3D storm surge-wave modeling system: Curvilinear Hydrodynamics in 3D-Surface WAves Nearshore (CH3D-SWAN). Using the 3D vegetation-resolving model, three numerical experiments are conducted. In the first experiment, comparisons are made between the 2D Manning coefficient approach and the 3D vegetation-resolving approach for simple wind-driven flow. In a second experiment, 2D and 3D representations of vegetation produce similar inundations from the same hurricane forcing, but differences in momentum are found. In a final experiment, varying inundation between seemingly analogous 2D and 3D representations of vegetation are demonstrated, pointing to a significant scientific need for data within wetlands during storm surge events. This study shows that the complex flow structures within vegetation canopies can be accurately simulated using a vegetation-resolving 3D storm surge model, which can be used to assess the feasibility for future wetland restoration projects.
Comparison of expression of the fragile site at Xq27 in T and B lymphocytes

We compared the fragile X (fraX) expression in T and B lymphocytes from four hemizygous males with fraX. Blood cultures were stimulated with a T cell mitogen (phytohemagglutinin:PHA) and with a B cell mitogen (pokeweed mitogen:PWM). A significant decrease in fraX expression was observed in cultures stimulated with PWM when compared to PHA-stimulated ones.
Recombinant Juvenile Hormone Esterase as a Biochemical Anti-Juvenile Hormone Agent: Effects on Ovarian Development in Acheta domesticus

By investigating the effects of recombinant juvenile hormone esterase (JHE) on the stimulation of ovarian development and egg laying in the house cricket Acheta domesticus L., we have tested the hypothesis that recombinant JHE (derived from the tobacco budworm Heliothis virescens) can be used as a biochemical anti-juvenile hormone (JH) agent. Recombinant JHE, produced by a genetically engineered baculovirus, was affinity-purified and injected into females of A. domesticus. JHE was cleared rapidly from the hemolymph of the crickets. However, upon repeated injection, significant reductions were seen in the extent of development of the ovaries and in the numbers of eggs laid. The effects of JHE could be rescued by topical application of the JHE inhibitor, OTFP. Thus, we have demonstrated an anti-JH effect on reproduction and that the recombinant JHE derived from a lepidopteran is active in an orthopteran insect. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 34:359‐368, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Two-Dimensional Character of the Conduction Bands of d -Band Perovskites

The lowest conduction bands of a number of perovskites are determined principally by the ($\mathrm{pd}\ensuremath{\pi}$) interaction which mixes the ${t}_{2g} d$ orbitals of the transition-metal ion with the $p$ orbitals of the oxygen. Because of the planar character of the ($\mathrm{pd}\ensuremath{\pi}$) interaction, each of the three equivalent ${t}_{2g}$ conduction bands depends strongly on only two of the components of the wave vector. As a result, the bands possess a two-dimensional character which accounts for the characteristic structure in the density of states and the optical properties of SrTi${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, BaTi${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$, and KTa${\mathrm{O}}_{3}$.
The promise of mixed methods: discovering conflicting realities in the data

The purpose of our article is to illustrate the use of mixed methods research as necessary to uncover maximum information and perspective, increase corroboration of the data, and render less biased and more accurate conclusions. This study used the case study method to closely examine the people, issues, programmes and topics related to the implementation of service learning at the health professions college. Using document analysis, Stages of Concern Questionnaire, and faculty and administrative interviews, the mixed method approach allowed the researchers to use both quantitative and qualitative data to answer the research questions. The data gathered in this mixed method manner assisted the change process of institutionalization of service learning in this College.
A modified Golgi-Cox method with counterstain for the study of synapses.

The method described was found especially valuable for the study of synaptic connections and unimpregnated cells. Brains and spinal cords of the young cat, dog and frog were fixed by perfusion with gum acacia saline and formalin. The brains and spinal cords were removed and immersed in 10% formalin in saline for two weeks or more. Tissues were sliced into blocks 3 mm thick, washed and impregnated in a modified Golgi-Cox solution for from 6 to 8 weeks. Parlodion sections of 80 μ to 100 μ thick were treated with 5% ammonium tetroxide and counterstained with 0.25% cresyl fast violet. The sections were then differentiated in 95% alcohol, dehydrated, cleared and mounted. The method tends to prevent shrinkage, promote staining of axons, terminals and synapses and stains unimpregnated neurons.
Domestic violence against women, and their economic dependence: A count data analysis

In examining the relation between violence against women and women's economic dependence, existing literature treats the incidents of violence either as a binary or as a continuous variable. However, the incidents of violence is a count variable and, quite often, data on the number of violent incidents is categorized. This paper estimates the relation between violence against women and economic dependence by using a categorized negative binomial regression model. The model is suitable for categorized count data and thus provides a more accurate estimation of the relation than what is provided in the literature. Data analyses in this paper show that less economic dependence of women is associated with less violence.
Making Membrane Protein LspA Samples, and Its Uniformly Aligned Full Length Investigated by Solid State NMR

Here is a novel procedure for making a membrane protein sample, Lipoprotein Signal Peptidase (LspA) for structural studies by solid state NMR. LspA is expressed in E.Coli, purified and refolded with detergent on a Ni-NTA affinitive column and uniformly aligned in lipid bilayer on glass slides. Final concentrations of reconstituted LspA of up to 35mg/mL have been achieved. Reconstitution of LspA in detergent micelles was monitored by CD and solution NMR HSQC. The aligned LspA in lipid bilayer was monitored by solid state NMR to indicate the degree of alignment. Based on these results, ssNMR spectrum will be obtained to show resonance patterns known as PISA wheel for the transmembrane domains of LspA.
Isolation of DNTNP, which encodes a potential nuclear protein that is expressed in the developing, dorsal neural tube.

We have performed a screen to identify genes expressed in a functionally significant anatomic region of the vertebrate dorsal neural tube, the dorsomedial roof of the third ventricle (DMRTV). The DMRTV includes the primordia of a series of circumventricular organs. The screen searched for genes preferentially expressed in the DMRTV of stage 18–25 chicken embryos, relative to their telencephala and ventral diencephalon. Through this screen, we have cloned a series of genes strongly expressed in the dorsal but not ventral neural tube. We describe here the first of these genes, DNTNP (dorsal neural tube nuclear protein). DNTNP is highly expressed in the dorsal regions of the diencephalon, the midbrain, the hindbrain, and the spinal neural tube in the chicken stage 18 embryo. Expression is also observed in the telencephalon, the branchial arches, the heart, and somites, but is absent from the presomitic mesoderm. The amino acid sequence of DNTNP reveals that it belongs to an uncharacterized protein family with at least two additional members. All the members of this family possess a basic region reminiscent of a nuclear localization signal (NLS). We demonstrate that the putative NLS of DNTNP can indeed direct nuclear localization of green fluorescent protein (GFP). The dorsal localization of DNTNP in the early embryonic central nervous system suggests roles for this molecule in specifying dorsal cell fates within the neural tube. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Linkage of Diabetes Insipidus and Agouti Genes in the Rat

Linkage of the hooded (h), agouti (A), and diabetes insipidus (di) genes was found in (ACI×DI)F1×DI backcross rats. The genetic map distance A-di for females and for males was 19±5 and 28±5 cM, respectively. However, this difference was not significant. The combined data showed the map distance to be 25±4 cM. The three-point cross showed the following corrected distances and order of genes: h-42±4-A-25±4-di. However, the linkage of h and A, although significant (x2=9.03, P<0.001), is only tentative and must be confirmed by additional studies.
Beckett and Ireland. Edited by Sean Kennedy

(Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010), xii + 223 pp. $85.00/£50.00 cloth. The eleven essays collected in Beckett and Ireland—authored by an impressive line-up of literary scholars based in ...
Adjuvant Weekly Docetaxel for Patients With High Risk Prostate Cancer After Radical Prostatectomy: A Multi-Institutional Pilot Study

Purpose: Patients with adverse pathological features are at high risk for recurrence following radical prostatectomy. To improve outcomes in this population we performed a phase II study of adjuvant docetaxel in these high risk patients.Materials and Methods: Patients with nonmetastatic radical prostatectomy at greater than 50% risk for recurrence by 3 years were eligible. Pathological findings were centrally reviewed and risk assessment was based on a validated multivariate Cox proportional hazards model. Treatment consisted of 6 cycles of 35 mg/m2 docetaxel weekly given 4 to 12 weeks following surgery. Progression was defined as a prostate specific antigen of 0.4 ng/ml or greater, radiological/pathological evidence of recurrent disease or death from any cause. To screen for the potential benefit of adjuvant weekly docetaxel we used nomogram predicted progression-free survival as a historical control.Results: A total of 77 patients were registered between April 2002 and January 2004. Two patients had gra...
Levels of serum creatine kinase and myoglobin in women after two isometric exercise conditions.

The purpose of this study was to measure serum creatine kinase (CK) activity and serum myoglobin (MG) concentrations in women after two unilateral isometric knee extension exercises. Forty maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) were held for 10 s, with either a 5 s (10:5) or 20 s 10:20 exercise (349.4 +/- 66.1 mU . ml-1) and 6 h and MG values were measured pre, 0, 3, 6, and 18 h post exercise. For CK, the highest post exercise values were observed at 6 h following the 10:20 exercise (349.4 +/- 66.1 mU . ml-1) and 6 h following the 10:5 exercise (194.1 +/- 18.6 mU . ml-1). For MG, the highest values were found 3 h after the 10:20 exercise (148.9 +/- 61.7 ng . ml-1) and 6 h after the 10:5 exercise (67.3 +/- 10.9 ng . ml-1). Serum CK and MG levels were significantly greater (p less than 0.01) after the 10:20 exercise bout. The data demonstrate that CK and MG values for women increase significantly after isometric exercise. Since greater tension levels were maintained during the 10:20 exercise it is hypothesized that increased serum CK and MG values after isometric exercise may be related to the tension generated by the contracting muscle.
Influence of convective sedimentation on the formation of widespread tephra fall layers in the deep sea

The formation of widespread volcanic ash-fall layers in deep sea sediments was investigated experimentally to examine the settling behavior of tephra (20–180 µm diameter) as it travels from the atmosphere into water. Using a fallout mass flux rate that was constrained by measurements of distal fallout from the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens (0.2 g/cm 2 /hr), the experiments show that particle settling in the water column is dramatically accelerated by the formation of diffuse vertical gravity currents. The currents form as a result of convective instabilities that develop in a surface boundary layer when the local particle concentration becomes large. At the air-water interface, the settling velocity of particles drops abruptly and the concentration of particles increases because of the differential in mass flux above and below the fluid surface. The implication of the experiments is that deposition of distal tephra fall layers in deep-sea sediments may be dominantly controlled by diffuse vertical gravity currents, as opposed to passive settling of individual particles through the water column. This process greatly reduces the residence time of fine ash in the ocean and diminishes the role of ocean currents in influencing the distribution patterns of individual tephra layers. Support for this mechanism comes from observations of greatly accelerated tephra settling rates in the South China Sea following the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines.
Iterative collaborative filtering for recommender systems with sparse data

Collaborative filtering (CF) is one of the most successful techniques in recommender systems. By utilizing co-rated items of pairwise users for similarity measurements, traditional CF uses a weighted summation to predict unknown ratings based on the available ones. However, in practice, the rating matrix is too sparse to find sufficiently many co-rated items, thus leading to inaccurate predictions. To address the case of sparse data, we propose an iterative CF that updates the similarity and rating matrix. The improved CF incrementally selects reliable subsets of missing ratings based on an adaptive parameter and therefore produces a more credible prediction based on similarity. Experimental results on the MovieLens dataset show that our algorithm significantly outperforms traditional CF, Default Voting, and SVD when the data is 1% sparse. The results also show that in the dense data case our algorithm performs as well as state of art methods.
Cathode Temperature Management During Hybrid System Startup

Management of air flow through the cathode of a hybrid Solid Oxide Fuel Cell/Gas Turbine generation system is of critical importance for the survival of the fragile fuel cell. The cell must be protected from excessive thermal gradients within each cell/stack and from pressure differences between the anode and cathode. While significant modeling of hybrid system performance has been done for the steady state case, only modest attention has been given to startup and shutdown of a hybrid system. Various researchers have performed modeling studies on SOFC during startup, and have concluded that thermal ramp-up times can require anywhere from less than one hour to more than four hours to avoid thermal shock and potential destruction of the fuel cells. For hybrid systems employing single spool turbine/compressor systems, gradual ramping will be difficult because the rotating components must be brought up to full operating speed quickly to avoid stalling the compressor. This paper proposes a strategy for accommodation of the conflicting startup constraints using both experimental data from the NETL HyPer system and simulation approaches.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Interactive SIGHT into information graphics

Information graphics (such as bar charts and line graphs) play a vital role in many multimodal documents. Unfortunately, visually impaired individuals who use screen reader programs to navigate through such documents have limited access to the graphics. This paper presents the Interactive SIGHT (Summarizing Information GrapHics Textually) system that provides visually impaired individuals with the high-level knowledge that one would gain from viewing graphics in electronic documents. The current system, which is implemented as a browser extension, works on simple bar charts. Once launched by a keystroke combination, Interactive SIGHT first provides a brief initial summary that conveys the underlying message of the bar chart along with the chart's most significant features. The system is then able to generate history-aware follow-up responses that provide further information upon request from the user. User evaluations with sighted and visually impaired users showed that the initial summary and follow-up responses are very effective in conveying the informational content of graphics and that the system interface is easy to use.
Effects of drying on the preparation of HF Co-impregnated rhodium/Al2O3 catalysts

Abstract The effects of drying rate on the internal distribution of rhodium within HF co-impregnated rhodium catalysts is reported in this work. Quantitative electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) revealed catalysts with uniform rhodium distributions, inner bands (egg-whites) of Rh and inner cores (egg-yolks) of Rh. The type of internal rhodium distribution produced was found to depend strongly upon the rate of catalyst drying. Measured drying curves showed two governing regimes of drying. At temperatures below 500°C evaporation appeared to take place primarily at the external surface of the support. Also for drying temperatures less than 500°C, EPMA distributions displayed a significant degree of rhodium segregation to the external surface of the support. This segregation occurred when characteristic times for solute back diffusion were greater than the time to reach the critical moisture content. At a temperature of 500°C, evaporation appeared to occur solely from a receding front within the support (i.e. shrinking core drying). Regardless of the regime in which drying takes place, it was shown that for the egg-white catalyst character, which exists immediately after impregnation to be preserved, the total drying time must be less than the time required for diffusion to the center of the support.
Architecture of an Expert System for Oceanographic Mooring Design

Abstract : Methods for the design and analysis of oceanographic moorings are well established. However, as with most engineering design problems, there are certain rules-of-thumb or tricks-of-the-trade that streamline the design process and enhance the performance of the final product. These rules-of-thumb are normally known to only a small cadre of people -- experts -- who have deep involvement and experience in the particular engineering design problem. These rules-of-thumb and other knowledge of several experts are incorporated to develop the fundamental architecture of an expert system for the design of single-point, subsurface, oceanographic moorings. Such moorings are used worldwide to collect oceanographic and acoustic data. The projected end user of this expert system is the oceanographer of acoustician who wishes to design and/or cost out a mooring but hasn't the access to, or support for, a mooring design group. Keywords: Expert Systems; Moorings; Oceanographic moorings.
Translocation and degradation of injected uniconazole in apple during a 4-month growing period

One-year-old ‘Golden Delicious’ apple trees grafted onto MM 106 rootstocks were injected in the rootstock stem (shank) with14C-uniconazole to determine the extent to which uniconazole is translocated and degraded over the length of an average growing season. In 4 months, 16% of recovered14C-activity was translocated to the new shoots. Most of the14C-activity remained in the rootstock. Chromatographic evaluation of shoot extracts demonstrated that the14C-activity associated with uniconazole decreased 49% in 4 months. However, shoot growth was still inhibited which suggests that the amount of uniconazole that was degraded did not interfere with the inhibition of gibberellin biosynthesis, probably due to the continuous translocation of uniconazole that occurred.
The influence of cue unreliability on judgment in a multiple cue probability learning task

Abstract The effect of cue reliability was tested in a two-cue multiple-cue probability learning (MCPL) task. Subjects were 42 undergraduates. The cue validities were.78 and.37. Unreliability in a cue was defined as variability in multiple observations of that cue on a given trial. That variability was provided by adding random errors to the true value of the cue. One group was given consistent cues (i.e., the more valid cue was the more reliable cue), one group was given inconsistent cues, and the control group was given true scores. Cue reliability did not affect subjects' consistency or achievement, but did interact with the presence of outcome feedback. The subjective weights showed that subjects thought they weighted the more reliable cue more heavily regardless of the cue validities or their actual cue weightings. There were wide individual differences in performance, illustrating the need for an idiographic-statistical approach in studying decision making.
Renal microvascular injury induced by antibody to glomerular endothelial cells is mediated by C5b-9

Renal microvascular injury induced by antibody to glomerular endothelial cells is mediated by C5b-9. We have recently developed a model of thrombotic microangiopathy with injury to the glomerular endothelial cell (GEN) induced by heterologous antibody to rat GEN. In addition to GEN injury rats developed glomerular platelet aggregation and fibrin deposition, acute renal failure, and acute tubular necrosis with interstitial inflammation. To study the role of complement in mediating this lesion, we induced the disease in normal complement PVG rats and measured the effects of generalized complement depletion with cobra venom factor (CVF) and of selective C6 deficiency using genetically C6 deficient PVG animals. Complement sufficient rats developed severe endothelial injury accompanied by platelet aggregation, fibrin deposition, decrease in endothelial cells assessed by antibody staining in the glomerulus, and macrophage infiltration. These changes were associated with marked reduction in renal function. These features were either absent or markedly diminished in complement depleted or C6 deficient rats. This demonstrates that C5b-9, the terminal product of activation of the complement cascade, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of this immune renal microvascular endothelial injury model. Thus, the complement system may play a pathogenic role in renal microvascular diseases such as thrombotic microangiopathy.
Application of high-performance liquid chromatography in neurophysin disulfide assignment

The combined use of ion-exchange, and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for the isolation of cystine-containing peptides from highly heterogeneous products of the proteolytic digestion of bovine neurophysins is described. The protein was sequentially cleaved by enzymes of decreasing specificity; the peptides released were initially fractionated by gel chromatography and then purified by HPLC. The purified peptides were analyzed by determination of their amino acid composition and mass spectrometry, supported by sequencing techniques. Three of the seven disulfide pairs of neurophysin have now been assigned. The usefulness of the combined use of HPLC and mass spectrometry in assigning these and the other disulfide pairs is illustrated.
Negative lymph node count is associated with survival of colorectal cancer patients, independent of tumoral molecular alterations and lymphocytic reaction.

Negative Lymph Node Count Is Associated With Survival of Colorectal Cancer Patients, Independent of Tumoral Molecular Alterations and Lymphocytic Reaction
The use of first and second derivatives in optical model parameter searches

Abstract This paper compares the efficiencies of standard minimization procedures in carrying out nuclear optical-model fits. It is shown that first-order perturbation theory permits computation of the gradient of x 2 more than five times as fast as is possible by difference methods. A linear approximation to the second-derivative matrix in terms of first derivatives of residuals is found to be very accurate in the neighborhood of minima; it provides a way of introducing second-derivative information that is significantly superior to the use of variable-metric algorithms. The resulting restricted-step Gauss-Newton procedures are shown to be about five times as fast as direct-search methods. The use of the methods of pseudo-inverses to “freeze” linear combinations of parameters poorly determined by the data is discussed.
Army nursing practice challenges in humanitarian and wartime missions.

Agazio J. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2010; 16: 166–175 Army nursing practice challenges in humanitarian and wartime missions The research question guiding this study was: What are the nursing practice challenges for Army nurses in military operations other than war (MOOTW), or humanitarian missions and wartime? Using a descriptive qualitative design, 75 Army Nurse Corps officers with deployment experience participated in a focused interview either in person or by telephone. Deployment locations included Bosnia, Honduras, Iraq, Afghanistan and other worldwide locations. Nurses recounted challenges and adjustments made to deliver high quality patient care to soldiers and civilian casualties especially for multi-level traumatic injuries. Specialized skill sets and personal adaptation were necessary for practice under austere conditions in these environments. By understanding the practice of nursing in MOOTW and wartime, nurses can best prepare and train to effectively function and care for patients in these challenging settings.
Cover Crop and Liquid Manure Effects on Soil Quality Indicators in a Corn Silage System

Due to a lack of surface residue and organic matter inputs, continuous corn (Zea mays L.) silage production is one of the most demanding cropping systems imposed on our soil resources. In this study, our objective was to determine if using cover/companion crops and/or applying low-solids liquid dairy manure could improve physical, chemical, and biological soil properties and overall soil quality. Corn was grown for 4 yr on a Bertrand silt loam in rotation with a living mulch ofkura clover (KC, Trifolium ambiguum L.) or June-interseeded red clover (Trifolium pratese L.), and continuously with June-interseeded Italian ryegrass (IR, Lolium multiflorum L.), September-seeded winter rye (Secale cereale L.), or no cover crop. Extractable P and K, pH, soil organic matter (SOM), active C, water-stable aggregates, bulk density, penetrometer resistance, and microbial biomass/diversity were measured, and the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) soil quality index (SQI) was determined. Cover/ companion crop treatments generally had more large macroaggregates, greater aggregate mean-weight diameter, and larger quantities of total microbial biomass and most lipid/microbial groups than no-cover treatments. Manure and starter fertilizer additions resulted in significant cover/companion crop treatment effects on extractable P and K. Liquid dairy manure alone did not improve any soil quality indicators. Although soil quality benefits of cover crops and manure are typically attributed to additions of organic C, we found no significant treatment effects on SOM content. However, the active, or labile, C fraction, was significantly increased by cover crops and showed good relationships with aggregate stability and microbial biomass. Overall, use of cover/companion crops appears beneficial for corn silage systems, but it may take more than 4 yr for some soil quality indicators to fully respond.
Large Eddy/Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes Simulation of a Mach 5 Compression-Corner Interaction

Simulations of Mach 5 turbulent flow over a 28-deg compression corner are performed using a hybrid large-eddy/ Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes method. The model captures the mean-flow structure of the interaction reasonably well, with observed deficiencies relating to an underprediction of the displacement effects of the shock-induced separation region. The computational results provide some support for a recent theory concerning the underlying causes of low-frequency shock-wave oscillation. In the simulations, the sustained presence of a collection of streaks of fluid with lower/higher momentum than the average induces a low-frequency undulation of the separation front. Power spectra obtained at different streamwise stations are in good agreement with experimental results. Downstream of reattachment, the simulations capture a three-dimensional mean-flow structure, dominated by counter-rotating vortices that produce wide variations in the surface skin friction. Predictions of the structure of the reattaching boundary layer agree well with experimental pitot pressure measurements. In comparison with Reynolds-averaged model predictions, the hybrid large-eddy/Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes model predicts more amplification of the Reynolds stresses and a broadening of the Reynolds stress distribution within the boundary layer that is probably due to reattachment-shock motion.
A phase-space method for the synthesis of nonlinear servomechanisms

This paper introduces a method for the synthesis of nonlinear servomechanisms the behavior of which, when stimulated by step inputs of position, approaches as closely as desired the behavior of optimum contactor servomechanisms of the same order. The synthesis procedure begins with the selection of a phase trajectory in a phase space, the co-ordinates of which are system error and derivatives of system error. Theorems are proposed which place sufficient conditions on the given phase trajectory so that the synthesis procedure will yield a nonlinear differential equation of the desired type. The synthesis process is carried out in detail for nonlinear systems of order two, three, and four, and the results are verified by an analogue-computer study. The general conclusions are: 1. A synthesis procedure can be evolved which begins with a phase trajectory and terminates with a nonlinear differential equation describing the behavior of a stable, physically realizable, nonlinear servomechanism; 2. the synthesized nonlinear differential equation is closely related to the linear differential equation of the same order and has coefficients expressed in terms of design-specified quantities; 3. the synthesized nonlinear system's response is superior to the equivalent linear system's response; and 4. time solutions of the nonlinear differential equations can be obtained in a number of important cases.
CMBR results and dark matter and energy

Abstract Since the discovery of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation it has led to most of our quantitative knowledge about cosmology. The first year results of the Wilkinson microwave anisotropy probe have defined the baryonic and dark matter densities of the Universe. The dark energy content is not well determined by the CMB data alone.
Staging of affinity ultrafiltration processes for chiral separations

Abstract Affinity ultrafiltration using a large stereospecific binding agent can be used to separate enantiomeric mixtures; however, the overall yield and purification factor have generally been inadequate for commercial separations. The objective of this study was to examine the performance of a multi-stage diafiltration process for chiral separations. Data were obtained for the separation of d - and l -tryptophan using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as the affinity macroligand. Tangential flow filtration (TFF) was conducted with laboratory scale modules that are linearly scalable to industrial operation. The two-stage system gave purification factors of more than 20 at greater than 90% yield. Theoretical calculations based on a two site competitive binding model were in good agreement with the experimental data. Purification-yield diagrams were used to examine the effects of the ligand concentration, number of stages, and stage volume on the overall separation. The results clearly demonstrate that multi-stage affinity ultrafiltration processes can provide high purification factors and yield for enantiomeric separations.
Multi-photon excitation through a resonant intermediate state: unique separation of coherent and incoherent contributions

We examine two-color three-photon excitation of an optically allowed transition while tuned to an intermediate two-photon resonance in Xe. A wave-mixing interference allows a unique separation of coherent and incoherent contributions to the multi-photon excitation process.
Metaphysics and the morality of abortion

Conclusions about the morality of abortion have been thought to receive some support from metaphysical doctrines about persons. The paper studies four instances in which philosophers have sought to draw such morals from metaphysics. It argues that in each instance the metaphysics makes no moral difference, and the manner of failure seems indicative of a general epistemic irrelevance of metaphysics to the moral issue.