cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Crystal growth in alumina/poly(ethylene terephthalate) nanocomposite films

The crystal growth and morphology in 150-nm-thick PET nanocomposite thin films with alumina (Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}) nanoparticle fillers (38 nm size) were investigated for nanoparticle loadings from 0 to 5 wt%. Transmission electron microscopy of the films showed that at 1 wt% Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, the nanoparticles were well dispersed in the film and the average size was close to the reported 38 nm. Above 2 wt% Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, the nanoparticles started to agglomerate. The crystal growth and morphological evolution in the PET nanocomposite films kept at an isothermal temperature of 217 C were monitored as a function of the holding time using in situ atomic force microscopy. It was found that the crystal nucleation and growth of PET was strongly dependent on the dispersed particles in the films. At 1 wt% Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, the overall crystal growth rate of PET lamellae was slower than that of the PET homopolymer films. Above 2 wt% Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, the crystal growth rate increased with nanoparticle loading because of heterogeneous nucleation. In addition, in these PET nanocomposite thin films, the Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} nanoparticles induced preferentially oriented edge-on lamellae with respect to the surface, which was not the case inmore » unfilled PET as determined by grazing-incidence X-ray diffraction.« less
Self-Tuning Batching with DVFS for Improving Performance and Energy Efficiency in Servers

Performance improvement and energy efficiency are two important goals in provisioning Internet services in data center servers. In this paper, we propose and develop a self-tuning request batching mechanism to simultaneously achieve the two correlated goals. The batching mechanism increases the cache hit rate at the front-tier Web server, which provides the opportunity to improve application's performance and energy efficiency of the server system. The core of the batching mechanism is a novel and practical two-layer control system that adaptively adjusts the batching interval and frequency states of CPUs according to the service level agreement and the workload characteristics. The batching control adopts a self-tuning fuzzy model predictive control approach for application performance improvement. The power control dynamically adjusts the frequency of CPUs with DVFS in response to workload fluctuations for energy efficiency. A coordinator between the two control loops achieves the desired performance and energy efficiency. We implement the mechanism in a test bed and experimental results demonstrate that the new approach significantly improves the application's performance in terms of the system throughput and average response time. The results also illustrate it can reduce the energy consumption of the server system by 13% at the same time.
Inability of diethylstilbestrol to induce 6-thioguanine-resistant mutants and to inhibit metabolic cooperation of V79 Chinese hamster cells

Abstract The mutagenicity of diethylstilbestrol (DES) in V79 Chinese hamster cells was examined under a variety of conditions. DES over a concentration range 0.01–10 μg/ml failed to induce any increase above the spontaneous frequency of 6-thioguanine-resistant V79 cells. The effect of varying the expression time after treatment in the mutation assay from 3 to 9 days was studied and DES was nonmutagenic at all time points, while N -methyl- N ′-nitro- N -nitrosoguanidine was highly mutagenic with a peak response after a 5–7 day expression time. The mutagenicity of benzo[ a ]pyrene and DES, both of which induce morphological and neoplastic transformation of Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cells, was tested by cocultivating V79 cells with SHE cells for possible metabolic activation of the chemicals. Neither compound was mutagenic to V79 cells in the absence of SHE cells. Benzo[ a ]pyrene, but not DES, was mutagenic to V79 cells cocultivated with SHE cells. These results support the observation that DES can induce cell transformation under conditions that do not result in any measurable gene mutations. Moreover, the ability of DES to enhance the recovery of 6-thioguanine-resistant mutations was studied by determining the ability of DES to inhibit metabolic cooperation of V79 cells. Unlike the tumor promoter 12- O -tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate, DES was a weak or inactive inhibitor of metabolic cooperation.
Incidence and identification of intrathecal baclofen catheter malfunction.

Objective A retrospective chart review was undertaken of cases of intrathecal baclofen (ITB) pump/catheter malfunction and the diagnostic tests performed to identify the problem. An internal review was performed to develop a diagnostic flow chart to have a systematic method for identifying ITB pump and catheter complications. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting Tertiary care hospital. Participants A total of 167 adult patients currently followed in outpatient clinic with intractable spasticity and ITB pump implanted between January 1994 and May 2009. Interventions None. Main outcome measures Catheter malfunction was identified either by anterior/posterior and lateral thoracic/lumbar radiographs, fluoroscopic guided side port access, contrast agent injection followed by CT (fluoro/CT) scan, or indium radionuclide studies. Results During the study period, 33 patients had 37 catheter revisions. Radiographs were obtained in all cases; fluoro/CT studies in 22, and indium studies in 6. Four cases had both fluoro/CT and indium studies. A total of 13 cases (35.1%) were diagnosed with radiographs; 9 cases (24.3%) were diagnosed by inability to withdraw cerebral spinal fluid from the side port; 13 cases (35.1%) were diagnosed with fluoro/CT studies; and 2 cases (5.4%) were diagnosed with indium studies. Fluoro/CT studies demonstrated subdural catheter location in 7 cases. A total of 2 of 4 cases with both fluoro/CT and indium studies had normal-appearing indium scans and an abnormal fluoro/CT study confirming subdural catheter placement. Conclusions On the basis of an internal review of the diagnostic studies used to identify patients with suspected ITB pump/catheter malfunction, a troubleshooting flow chart was developed. Timely identification and correction of potential ITB complications could improve the clinical effectiveness of ITB and may reduce unnecessary health-care costs.
Superresolution of text from nonideal video

Texts represent an important class of information in our daily lives. This paper studies the problem of super-resolution (SR) of texts, namely reconstructing high-resolution texts from low-resolution video captured by handheld cameras. Such type of video is called nonideal due to uncontrolled imaging condition, unknown point spread function and inevitable distortion caused by compression algorithms. Motivated by the different consideration in SR from mosaicing, we investigate the error accumulation in homography-based registration of multi-view images. We advocate the nonuniform interpolation approach towards SR that can achieve resolution scalability at a low computational cost and study the issues of phase consistency and uncertainty that are difficult to be addressed under the conventional framework of treating SR as an inverse problem. We also present a nonlinear diffusion aided blind deconvolution technique for simultaneous suppression of compression artifacts and enhancement of textual information. The performance of the proposed SR-of-texts technique is demonstrated by extensive experiments with challenging real-world sequences.
Incidence of transcranial Doppler-detected cerebral microemboli in patients referred for echocardiography.

Transcranial Doppler can detect cerebral microemboli. These emboli may be a risk factor for embolic stroke. We studied the prevalence of microemboli in patients referred for echocardiography.Forty-two patients were evaluated. Patients were studied with continuous monitoring over one middle cerebral artery for 30 minutes, and the number of microemboli was recorded. Patients were divided into three groups, those with prosthetic heart valves (group A, n = 15), atrial fibrillation (group B, n = 14), and no major cardiac risk factor (group C, n = 14).Seventeen percent (7 of 42) of all patients had microemboli. In group A, 5 of 15 (33%) had microemboli. In group B, 2 of 13 (15%) patients had microemboli. Twenty-five percent (7 of 28) of patients in groups A and B combined (A+B) had microemboli. No patients (0 of 14) in group C had microemboli. Groups A and A+B had significantly more emboli than group C (P < .05). Prosthetic heart valve patients with emboli more commonly had a history of prior stroke than valve ...
590 Intestinal Adaptation of Oligopeptide Absorption via PepT1 After Massive (70%) Mid Small Bowel Resection

Introduction Proteins are absorbed primarily as short peptides via peptide transporter 1 (PepT1).
Blood Flow Effects on the Temperature Distributions from an Invasive Microwave Antenna Array Used in Cancer Therapy

In recent years, there has been renewed interest in the use of subtle heating (hyperthermia) in the temperature range of 42-45°C in the cure and control of cancer. This paper studies the effects of blood perfusion rates on the temperature distributions produced by an array of invasive microwave antennas. The antennas are small linear antennas with diameters of less than 1 mm that can be inserted into tumors through hypodermic needles or catheters. The study is based on numerically solving the bioheat equation using the alternating direction implicit method. The numerical study is based on a two-dimensional model and assumes homogeneous tissue properties. The results indicate that if the blood flow rate is equal to or less than that in resting muscle there should not be large differences compared to the case of no blood flow. However, for blood flow rates ten times that in resting muscle, e.g., in brain, kidney, or active muscle, the temperature distributions are significantly altered. The effects of frequency, antenna number and spacing, and tissue properties are also studied.
Multiple Effects of S13 in Modulating the Strength of Intersubunit Interactions in the Ribosome During Translation

The ribosomal protein S13 is found in the head region of the small subunit, where it interacts with the central protuberance of the large ribosomal subunit and with the P site-bound tRNA through its extended C terminus. The bridging interactions between the large and small subunits are dynamic, and are thought to be critical in orchestrating the molecular motions of the translation cycle. S13 provides a direct link between the tRNA-binding site and the movements in the head of the small subunit seen during translocation, thereby providing a possible pathway of signal transduction. We have created and characterized an rpsM(S13)-deficient strain of Escherichia coli and have found significant defects in subunit association, initiation and translocation through in vitro assays of S13-deficient ribosomes. Targeted mutagenesis of specific bridge and tRNA contact elements in S13 provides evidence that these two interaction domains play critical roles in maintaining the fidelity of translation. This ribosomal protein thus appears to play a non-essential, yet important role by modulating subunit interactions in multiple steps of the translation cycle.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and risk to threatened and endangered Chinook salmon in the Lower Columbia River estuary.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), derived from oil and fuel combustion, are ubiquitous nonpoint source pollutants that can have a number of detrimental effects on fish and wildlife. In this study, we monitored PAH exposure in outmigrant juvenile Chinook salmon from the Lower Columbia River to evaluate the risk that these contaminants might pose to the health and recovery of threatened and endangered salmonids. Juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) were collected by beach seine from five sites in the Lower Columbia River from Bonneville Dam to the mouth of the estuary (Warrendale, the Willamette–Columbia Confluence, Columbia City, Beaver Army Terminal, and Point Adams) and from a site in the Lower Willamette near downtown Portland (Morrison Street Bridge). Sediment samples were also collected at the same sites. Concentrations of PAHs in sediment samples were relatively low at all sites with average total PAH concentrations 10,000 ng/g wet wt. Metabolites of low and high molecular-weight PAHs were also detected in bile of salmon from all sites; for metabolites fluorescing at phenanthrene (PHN) wavelengths, concentrations ranged from 1.1 to 6.0 μg/mg bile protein. Levels of PAHs in stomach contents and PAH metabolites in bile were highest in salmon from the Morrison Street Bridge site in Portland and the Willamette-Columbia Confluence, Columbia City, and Beaver Army Terminal sites. Mean PAH concentrations measured in some stomach content samples from the Columbia City, Beaver Army Terminal, and Morrison Street Bridge sites were near the threshold concentration (approximately 7200–7600 ng/g wet wt.) associated with variability and immune dysfunction in juvenile salmonids (Meador et al., Can J Fish Aquat Sci 63:2364–2376, 2006; Bravo et al., Environ Toxicol Chem 30:704–714, 2011). Mean levels of biliary fluorescent aromatic compounds (FACs)-PHN in juvenile Chinook collected at the Morrison Street Bridge site in Portland, at the Confluence and Columbia City sites, and at the Beaver Army Terminal site were at or above a threshold effect concentration of 2 μg/mg protein for FACs-PHN linked to growth impairment, altered energetics, and reproductive effects (Meador et al., Environ Toxicol Chem 27(4):845–853, 2008). These findings suggest that PAHs in the food chain are a potential source of injury to juvenile salmon in the Lower Columbia and Lower Willamette rivers.
Activation of the cardiac calcium release channel (ryanodine receptor) by poly-S-nitrosylation.

Several ion channels are reportedly redox responsive, but the molecular basis for the changes in activity is not known. The mechanism of nitric oxide action on the cardiac calcium release channel (ryanodine receptor) (CRC) in canines was explored. This tetrameric channel contains ∼84 free thiols and is S-nitrosylated in vivo. S-Nitrosylation of up to 12 sites (3 per CRC subunit) led to progressive channel activation that was reversed by denitrosylation. In contrast, oxidation of 20 to 24 thiols per CRC (5 or 6 per subunit) had no effect on channel function. Oxidation of additional thiols (or of another class of thiols) produced irreversible activation. The CRC thus appears to be regulated by poly-S-nitrosylation (multiple covalent attachments), whereas oxidation can lead to loss of control. These results reveal that ion channels can differentiate nitrosative from oxidative signals and indicate that the CRC is regulated by posttranslational chemical modification(s) of sulfurs.
Cell recognition: Reactions of the sea star (Asterias vulgaris) to the injection of amebocytes of sea urchin (Arbacia punctulata)

Abstract Recognition of self and non-self by invertebrates apparently varies from species to species and as yet there is no general understanding of this variation within the phylum. Injection of Arbacia (sea urchin) cells, about half of which are deeply pigmented, into Asterias (sea star) in vivo was followed by an abrupt drop in the number of circulating amebocytes of the host. The Arbacia cells adhered to and were phagocytosed by the host cells; the latter consistently clumped within the papulae and later ruptured to the exterior. The interaction of Asterias and Arbacia amebocytes was not prevented by either the treatment of the host Asterias , or by the treatment in vitro of Arbacia cells, wth N -ethyl maleimide (NEM). Injection of Asterias cells into Asterias did not elicite cell clumping, nor was it followed by a drop in the circulating amebocytes.
How second generation SAR systems are impacting the analysis of ground deformation

Abstract In recent years, a second generation of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite sensor has been designed and, partially, put into operation, leading to an important breakthrough in Earth Science studies. The common characteristics of such new systems are, indeed, a reduced revisit time (as short as a few days) and, in most cases, an improved spatial resolution (as small as a few meters), providing scientists with unprecedented data for the mapping and monitoring of natural and human-induced hazards. This paper provides an overview on the new observational capability offered by the second generation of SAR sensors, especially in the field of ground deformation analysis for mitigating the risk associated with natural and human-induced hazards. In particular, we exploit the high resolution X-band data acquired by the COSMO-SkyMed (CSK) constellation to show how deformation phenomena characterized by limited spatial extent and extremely fast dynamics can be detected and investigated in details. Whenever possible, we compare the achieved results with those obtained by using data collected by the first generation ERS-1/2 and ENVISAT systems. A comparison with one ALOS satellite dataset is also included. Most of the results, based on the application of Differential SAR Interferometry (DInSAR) techniques, highlight how this technology is not anymore just a sophisticated tool for remotely studying surface deformation phenomena, but it is becoming an operational system for near-real time deformation monitoring. Moreover, we also show how the improved spatial resolution extends the possibility to exploit SAR image amplitude, instead of phase, for direct comparison with optical data and for imaging large deformation episodes, typically associated with strong seismic events, for which DInSAR may fail.
An aminopeptidase activity in bovine pituitary secretory vesicles that cleaves the N-terminal arginine from β-lipotropin60–65

Abstract Secretory vesicles isolated from the neural and intermediate lobes of the bovine pituitary contained a membrane-bound aminopeptidase activity which cleaved arginine from β-LPH 60–65 (Arg-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met) and Arg-MCA. Neither methionine enkephalin (Tyr-Gly-Gly-Phe-Met) nor Substance P, which has an N-terminal arginine followed by a proline, could serve as substrates for this aminopeptidase activity; nor could cathepsin B-like or chymotrypsin-like enzyme activities be detected in the vesicle preparations. Maximal enzyme activity was at pH 6.0, and the activity was inhibited by EDTA, stimulated by Co 2+ and Zn 2+ , but was unaffected by leupeptin, pepstatin A, phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and p -chloromercuribenzenesulfonate, suggesting that the enzyme is a metalloaminopeptidase. The presence of this aminopeptidase activity in secretory vesicles suggests that it may be involved in peptide prohormone processing.
Are additional localization studies and referral indicated for patients with primary hyperparathyroidism who have negative sestamibi scan results

Hypothesis Additional imaging studies are useful to select patients who are candidates for minimally invasive parathyroidectomy, and referral is not indicated when results from a preoperative sestamibi scan are negative. Design, Setting, and Patients Prospective analysis of 492 operations for primary hyperparathyroidism from May 2005 to May 2007 at a tertiary care center. Main Outcome Measures Accuracy of imaging studies, pathologic findings, and biochemical cure. Results Among the patients, 96% were cured. Of the sestamibi scan results, 91% were positive and 82% were true-positive. Ultrasonography results were positive in 51% of patients with negative sestamibi scan results, and 43% were true-positive. Patients with positive sestamibi scan results compared with those with negative sestamibi scan results had a higher rate of single-gland disease (87% vs 63%, respectively) and lower rates of double adenoma (6% vs 22%, respectively) and asymmetric hyperplasia (7% vs 15%, respectively) ( P P = .008). Conclusions Additional imaging with neck ultrasonography is helpful for selecting minimally invasive parathyroidectomy in most patients with primary hyperparathyroidism who have negative sestamibi scan results. Referral for parathyroidectomy may be considered in patients with negative sestamibi scan results because these results are associated with multigland disease and lower cure rates.
A relative morse index for the symplectic action

The notion of a Morse index of a function on a finite-dimensional manifold cannot be generalized directly to the symplectic action function a on the loop space of a manifold. In this paper, we define for any pair of critical points of a a relative Morse index, which corresponds to the difference of the two Morse indices in finite dimensions. It is based on the spectral flow of the Hessian of a and can be identified with a topological invariant recently defined by Viterbo, and with the dimension of the space of trajectories between the two critical points.
Deposition of Monolayer-Scale Germanium/Silicon Heterostructures by Rapid Thermal Chemical Vapor Deposition

Deposition of monolayer scale Ge/Si heterostructures by Rapid Thermal Chemical Vapor Deposition has been achieved for the first time. All previous work in this area was by Molecular Beam Epitaxy. We have observed the change in Ge growth rate at 500°C as the Si substrate was covered by the first monolayer of Ge. Auger Electron Spectroscopy and Raman scattering experiments determined that the CVD growth mode for Ge on Si (100) at 550°C is Stranski-Krastanov, with the transition to islanding occurring after three monolayers.
Depletion of brain serotonin by 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine alters the response to amphetamine and the habituation of locomotor activity in rats.

Awake Sprague-Dawley rats were depleted of brain serotonin (5HT) by intraventricular injections of 50 μg 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) through chronically implanted cannulae. Oral pretreatment with 25 mg/kg desmethylimipramine was used to protect brain noradrenergic neurons from 5,7-DHT. In a separate set of animals, liquid chromatographic assays revealed that this treatment did not significantly alter catecholamine levels but depleted hippocampal 5HT by 80–90% and caudate 5HT by 30–42% as early as 24 h after administration of 5,7-DHT. One or 3 days after lesioning, locomotor and exploratory behavior was characterized with a Behavioral Pattern Monitor (BPM). Relative to controls, lesioned rats exhibited a decreased rate of habituation of both locomotor activity and investigatory holepokes. Although the amount of locomotor activity elicited by amphetamine (1.0 mg/kg) was unchanged by the 5HT depletion, lesioned animals exhibited highly stereotyped patterns of locomotion during the last 30-min test session, in contrast to the relatively random patterns characteristic of control animals given amphetamine. These results show that central serotonergic pathways play an important role in modulating both spontaneous and amphetamine-elicited activity in rats.
Commentary: Important considerations on bone morphogenetic protein-2 and neuroinflammation

COMMENTARY ON: Dmitriev AE, Lehman RA Jr., Symes AJ. Bone morphogenetic protein-2 and spinal arthrodesis: the basic science perspective on protein interaction with the nervous system. Spine J 2011;11:500–5 ( in this issue ).
Mesoferriheme regeneration from its hemoprotein enzyme compound I analog: absorption and kinetic properties of one- and two-electron oxidation products

Abstract Spectral and kinetic data obtained in studies of the biphasic in situ regeneration of mesoferriheme (mfh) from oxidized species formed through the NaOCl oxidation of heme are utilized to calculate extinction coefficients of dinuclear iron species which have been proposed as models of peroxidase Compounds I and II (A and B below). For the proposed regeneration mechanism, involving consecutive one-electron redox processes, the calculated values of ϵA and ϵB are 4x104 and 5x104 M−1 cm−1, respectively. These values are somewhat greater than those previously calculated for analogous derivatives of deuteroferriheme. Both k1 and k2 are independent of pH over the range 6.9–9.1 and of total phosphate buffer concentration from 8 to 50 mM at pH 6.9 suggesting that, under these conditions, there is an absence of significant dissociation of the proposed dinuclear iron species.
Diffusion of energy efficient technologies and CO2 emission reductions in iron and steel sector

Abstracts This paper evaluates CO 2 emission reduction potentials and the minimum cost of technological options in the iron and steel sector by regions across the world. Based on an intensive and in-depth survey of current steel producing facilities and energy efficient technologies, we modified a global energy systems model, which we call DNE21+; technologies in the steel sector are explicitly modeled as well as those in the energy supply sector. Two types of targets are studied; the top-down type (550 ppmv stabilization) and the bottom-up type (energy efficiency targets in the steel sector). Their cost-effective technological responses are obtained, and the emissions reduction effects are evaluated for the bottom-up targets.
NMR in a crystallography-based high-throughput protein structure-determination environment

An introduction is provided to three papers which compare corresponding protein crystal and NMR solution structures determined by the Joint Center for Structural Genomics (JCSG). Special mention is made of the JCSG strategy for combined use of the two techniques, and of potential applications of the concept of `reference crystal structures', which is introduced in the following three papers.
A randomized trial of the peri-operative use of COX-2 inhibitors in Lichtenstein herniorrhaphy

We present a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the value of the cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor, rofecoxib, as an adjuvant for pain management for patients undergoing a conventional Lichtenstein inguinal herniorrhaphy. The drug was removed from the market coincidentally with the conclusion of the trial due to thrombotic complications. We believe that the data remains important, however, because of the imminent release of similar compounds with a better safety profile. No industry support was sought or accepted for this trial, with the exception of the study drug and an identical placebo preparation supplied by Merck in a completely unrestricted agreement. Seventy-nine patients were recruited for the single-center randomized controlled double blinded trial, with 27 receiving placebo, 26 who received rofecoxib only in the post-operative period, and 26 who received rofecoxib both in the pre- and post-operative period. The patients were followed for 6 weeks with serial administration of the short form 36 health survey questionnaire (SF-36), visual analog scale (VAS) questionnaire, and activity restriction questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using multivariate generalized estimating equations in a blinded fashion. The mean pain over time decreased over the 6 weeks and was significantly lower in the group that received rofecoxib in the post-operative period than the other two groups (P = 0.02). The number of rescue narcotic medications taken by patients on day 1 were 3.0 (2.4) [mean (SD)] in the placebo group, 2.2 (1.7) (P < 0.001) in the post-operative only group, and 2.9 (2.3) (P = 0.37) in the peri-operative group. There was no statistical significance between the physical health composite scores or the mental health composite scores at 6 weeks. The use of post-operative rofecoxib decreases the amount of pain post-operatively after inguinal herniorrhaphy and decreases the number of rescue narcotic medications used, but it does not change the quality of life. This effect is lacking in the peri-operative group. There is no evidence to recommend the routine use of rofecoxib or similar COX-2 inhibitors after inguinal hernia surgery.
Carpal Tunnel Release Complicated by Acute Gout

We report a patient who suffered an acute attack of gout in the wrist after surgical release for carpal tunnel syndrome. The postoperative management of this patient and a brief review of this complication of carpal tunnel release are discussed.
New Concepts in Digital Reference

Abstract Let us start with a simple scenario: a man asks a woman "how high is Mount Everest?" The woman replies "29,029 feet." Nothing could be simpler. Now let us suppose that rather than standing in a room, or sitting on a bus, the man is at his desk and the woman is 300 miles away with the conversation taking place using e-mail. Still simple? Certainly--it happens every day. So why all the bother about digital (virtual, electronic, chat, etc.) reference? If the man is a pilot flying over Mount Everest, the answer matters. If you are a lawyer going to court, the identity of the woman is very important. Also, if you ever want to find the answer again, how that transaction took place matters a lot. Digital reference is a deceptively simple concept on its face: "the incorporation of human expertise into the information system." This lecture seeks to explore the question of how human expertise is incorporated into a variety of information systems, from libraries, to digital libraries, to information retriev...
TERRITORY QUALITY TRANSITIONS AND SOURCE–SINK DYNAMICS IN A FLORIDA SCRUB‐JAY POPULATION

Source–sink theory provides an approach to identify habitat arrangements needed to sustain populations in spatially and temporally varying landscapes. Our objective was to investigate whether source–sink ideas could be applied to quantify how habitat arrangements influenced Florida Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) population dynamics, in order to enhance habitat restoration. From 1988 to 2001, we measured reproductive success, survival, immigration, emigration, pair bond fidelity, and the duration of delayed breeding by young. The arrangement of shrub height in each territory was used to classify habitat quality each year, according to the following categories: short ( 170 cm), and tall (>170 cm). Annual demographic performance rates were calculated in each territory by summing the recruitment of potential breeders (the number of yearlings produced) and then subtracting the number of breeders that died. The mean demographic performance per breeding pair was −0.57, 0.33, −0.26, and −0.35, respectively, for short, optimal, tall mix, and tall territories. Optimal territories functioned as sources because recruitment exceeded mortality; hence, the optimal territories were net exporters to marginal habitat. Potential breeders were exported to sink territories by active dispersal and by “territory quality transitions,” whereby territories produced an excess of potential breeders while in optimal condition and then became marginal because of shifting territory boundaries and habitat conditions. Short, tall mix, and tall territories functioned as sinks because they were net importers, mortality exceeded recruitment, and because there were no density-dependent reductions in their demographic performance. The population declined because there were too few optimal territories to offset declines in sinks, which usually had too much tall scrub even though most of the landscape had been burned recently. Successful habitat restoration requires greater emphases on improving habitat quality at the territory scale because this is the fundamental landscape unit related to demography. Source–sink ideas, complemented by territory quality transitions, provide a quantitative approach to directly relate habitat and demographic objectives. Corresponding Editor: D. J. Levey.
Interaction Dynamics Between an Electric Vehicle's ‘Pantograph’ and the Road

SUMMARY In this paper, we briefly describe the patented E-TRAN electric roadway & vehicle concept and then proceed to study the dynamic effects of an associated road pantograph in contact with a road mounted power strip. During usage, the road pantograph (supported underneath the vehicle) allows power to be drawn from the strip for powering the motor driven vehicle. From a mechanical point of view, friction, wear and dynamic bounce effects impact the reliability arid maintainability of the pantograph/strip concept. To study bounce effects, a dynamic model of a one degree of freedom road pantograph was developed for both contact and noncontact situations. These dynamic “bounce” effects were simulated using a MATRIXx™ based model of the road pantograph and associated road surface (and strip). In order to do so, several simulation issues had to be addressed (some of which may be of interest to those studying wheel/rail contact effects). To corroborate the dynamic model, an instrumented experimental pantograp...
Fracture Properties of Human Teeth in Proximity to the Dentinoenamel Junction

Under conditions of controlled failure, the fracture properties of dentin at and in proximity to the dentinoenamel junction (DEJ) were studied with a work-of-fracture (Wf) technique and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In 37 degrees C distilled water, fracture of normal human teeth at the DEJ was a difficult failure mode to investigate. Even with high stress concentration at the DEJ, only a few specimens showed apparent DEJ failure at localized regions. SEM fractography of these localized regions revealed surfaces similar in some respects to surfaces found in other studies of the DEJ of diseased teeth and decalcified or desiccated teeth. SEM fractographs varied depending upon the distance of the fractured surface from the DEJ. The results of this research suggest that the work of fracture of dentin increases for failure in the near vicinity of the DEJ, probably reaching a maximum at the DEJ.
Long-term results of cardiac transplantation in patients 65 years of age and older: a comparative analysis.

Abstract Background Advanced age is viewed by some transplant centers as a contraindication for heart transplantation secondary to concerns regarding decreased survival. Methods Between January 1992 and June 2002, 63 of 881 (7.2%) orthotopic heart transplants were performed in patients above 65 years. These patients were compared to 63 recipients below age 65 who were matched for sex, etiology of heart failure, United Network for Organ Sharing status, and immunosuppression therapy era. Results Mean age was 67.1 ± 2.3 years (range, 65.0 to 74.8) for the older group and 48.1 ± 14.5 years (range, 18.3 to 64.4) for the younger group ( p p = not significant) although there were more patients with prior myocardial infarctions in the older group ( p p = 0.597). Postoperative intensive care unit stay and overall hospital stay were similar for the two groups ( p = not significant). There was no significant difference between the groups in freedom from infection or rejection at 1, 3, or 5 years after transplant ( p = not significant) although the incidence of transplant coronary artery disease was higher in the older group ( p = 0.025). Conclusions These data demonstrate similar short-term and long-term results for elderly and young recipients undergoing cardiac transplantation. This supports proceeding with transplantation in carefully selected elderly patients.
High resolution autoradiographic studies of the uptake of 3H-5-uridine into condensed and dispersed chromatin of nuclei and granular and fibrillar components of nucleoli of Novikoff hepatoma ascites cells

Abstract Novikoff hepatoma cells were incubated in vivo with 3H-5-uridine from 5 min to 6 h to permit a kinetic analysis of the distribution of the isotope over the ultrastructural components of the nucleus and the nucleolus. After a 5 min pulse, 75 per cent of the total grains in the nucleolus were localized over the fibrillar components. The percentage of the grains over the fibrillar components decreased to 30 per cent of the total in the nucleolus after a 60 min pulse. The percentage of the grains over the nucleolar granular components increased from 13 per cent of the total at 5 min to approx. 50 per cent at 1h. The remainder of the grains over the perinucleolar nucleolus-associated chromatin increased from 12 per cent of the total in the nucleoli at 5 min to 24 per cent at 60 min. The overall nuclear dispersed chromatin contained approx. twice as much isotope as the condensed chromatin over the prolonged period of 15 min to 6 h. The greater labeling of the fibrillar components of the nucleoli suggests that initial biosynthetic reactions occur in these regions as suggested by Granboulan and Granboulan [4] and by Geuskens and Bernhard [3]. Earlier kinetic studies from this laboratory [6] indicated that there is rapid transfer of long chain nucleolar elements to granular components.
Sequence of a human cDNA encoding phosphatidylinositol transfer protein and occurrence of a related sequence in widely divergent eukaryotes.

Abstract Phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) transfer protein (PtdInsTP) is a phospholipid transfer protein that has been detected in all mammalian tissues examined. It catalyzes the transfer in vitro of PtdIns and phosphatidylcholine between membranes in a number of natural and artificial membrane systems and may be involved in secretion in vivo. In previous studies, we isolated and sequenced a cDNA encoding a rat PtdInsTP. A rat cDNA probe was used to isolate clones from a λgt11 human testis cDNA library which encoded full-length human PtdInsTP. The cDNA sequence defines a 270-amino-acid, 31.8-kDa protein whose sequence shares 98.9% identity to that of rat, making it one of the most conserved proteins known between the two species. DNA blot hybridization studies suggest that there may be more than one gene encoding this protein in humans. A comparison of rat and human PtdInsTP cDNAs revealed strong sequence similarity (88 and 84%) in portions of the corresponding 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions ( UTR ) of the rat and human mRNAs.
Comparison of DATs using traditional tube agglutination to gel column and affinity column procedures

BACKGROUND: Detection of immunoglobulin or complement bound to RBCs by using the DAT is valuable in the diagnosis of immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. Traditionally, the DAT has been performed by tube agglutination using anti-IgG or anti-C3d. The purpose of this study was to compare the tube agglutination DAT to gel microcolumn, affinity microcolumn, and flow cytometric DATs on RBCs coated in vitro and on patient RBC samples. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: RBCs from 84 patients were assessed by tube agglutination DAT, one gel microcolumn DAT, and two affinity microcolumn DATs. One affinity microcolumn assay was unmodified and one was modified by the addition of polyspecific antiglobulin or anti-IgG as a secondary antibody. RBCs from 15 of the 84 patients underwent analysis by flow cytometry with fluorescence-labeled anti-IgG. The assays were also compared by using D+ RBCs sensitized with serially adjusted concentrations of anti-D. RESULTS: Both tube agglutination and gel microcolumn DATs were positive in 49 patient samples; both assays were negative in 20 samples, and the results were discordant in 15. Gel microcolumn DATs were more likely than were tube agglutination DATs to detect IgG on RBCs. Affinity microcolumn DATs were less likely than gel microcolumn or tube agglutination DATs to detect IgG on RBCs. Flow cytometry results were the same as gel microcolumn results in 12 of 15 patient samples and the same as tube agglutination results in 13 of 15. Tube agglutination and both affinity microcolumn assays reacted with RBCs coated with anti-D that was diluted 1-in-100. The gel microcolumn and flow cytometry assays reacted with RBCs coated with anti-D diluted 1-in-400. There was no correlation between tube agglutination and gel microcolumn DATs in detecting bound C3d. CONCLUSION: Detection of IgG bound to RBCs was not consistent with the methods described. Gel microcolumn DATs were more sensitive than tube agglutination and affinity microcolumn DATs. Given the varied results of these assays, reference laboratories should not rely on a single method for DATs. More comprehensive testing should be performed when the tube agglutination DAT is negative in a patient with suspected immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. Further comparisons are necessary to determine the proficiency of flow cytometric assays.
Blood group substances as differentiation markers in human dento‐gingival epithelium

The level of cellular differentiation of human oral, sulcular, and junctional epithelium was compared by immunohistochemical analysis of cell membrane-associated blood group-specific carbohydrates. Identification of the blood group A-specific carbohydrate and its two immediate precursor substances, type 2 chain H and N-acetyllactosamine, was accomplished by an indirect immunofluorescence technique. Murine monoclonal antibodies reacting specifically with the antigenic determinants of the blood group substances were used as markers. The blood group A substance, indicating the highest level of cellular differentiation, was demonstrated on the cells in the upper layers of the oral epithelium. In the sulcular epithelium, the A substance was present on a few cells only, while type 2 chain H was observed frequently. This indicates an intermediate differentiation level of sulcular epithelium. The type 2 chain H precursor, N-acetyllactosamine, the indicator of the lowest level of cell differentiation among the tested substances, was the only blood group substance detected on the junctional epithelial cells and on the basal cells of the sulcular and oral epithelium. Based upon previous studies of cell renewal and differentiation in oral epithelium, the present results indicate that the variations in distribution of the different blood group substances correspond with the regional rates of cell division and the levels of cellular differentiation. The findings also suggest that the cells in the junctional epithelium differentiate to a level similar to that of basal cells in the oral epithelium.
Is there a positron mobility edge in gaseous helium

Abstract Positron lifetime spectra are obtained in gaseous 3He and 4He. A delayed peak results at τR, the time required for positrons to slow down to the positron energy threshold ER for localization into a self-trapped state. τR is found to exhibit a temperature, density, and isotopic dependence which suggests that ER is determined by the interaction of the positron with many He atoms at a time.
The Affective and Cognitive Impacts of Perceived Touch on Online Customers' Intention to Return in the Web-based eCRM Environment

Electronic Customer Relationship Management (ECRM) systems focus on a website as the interaction channel for creating a one-to-one relationship with customers via various â€œtouchâ€ options. The intention of such technologies is to affectively and cognitively impact on online customersâ€™ intention to return to the website. To capture the influence of eCRM systems, we define a construct, Perceived Touch, to differentiate the customerâ€™s perception of the touch received from the actual level of touch deployed. We report the results of an empirical study that provides evidence that Perceived Touch positively influences customersâ€™ Behavioral Intention to Return via both affective and cognitive routes. Our results show that Perceived Touch provides a theoretical underpinning for eCRM system design and suggests that e-business managers invest in the design and evaluation of the usersâ€™ perception of touch options and pay special attention to affective quality manipulation.
Counting or chunking? Mathematical and heuristic abilities in patients with corticobasal syndrome and posterior cortical atrophy.

A growing amount of empirical data is showing that the ability to manipulate quantities in a precise and efficient fashion is rooted in cognitive mechanisms devoted to specific aspects of numbers processing. The analog number system (ANS) has a reasonable representation of quantities up to about 4, and represents larger quantities on the basis of a numerical ratio between quantities. In order to represent the precise cardinality of a number, the ANS may be supported by external algorithms such as language, leading to a “precise number system”. In the setting of limited language, other number-related systems can appear. For example the parallel individuation system (PIS) supports a “chunking mechanism” that clusters units of larger numerosities into smaller subsets. In the present study we investigated number processing in non-aphasic patients with corticobasal syndrome (CBS) and posterior cortical atrophy (PCA), two neurodegenerative conditions that are associated with progressive parietal atrophy. The present study investigated these number systems in CBS and PCA by assessing the property of the ANS associated with smaller and larger numerosities, and the chunking property of the PIS. The results revealed that CBS/PCA patients are impaired in simple calculations (e.g., addition and subtraction) and that their performance strongly correlates with the size of the numbers involved in these calculations, revealing a clear magnitude effect. This magnitude effect was correlated with gray matter atrophy in parietal regions. Moreover, a numeral-dots transcoding task showed that CBS/PCA patients were able to take advantage of clustering in the spatial distribution of the dots of the array. The relative advantage associated with chunking compared to a random spatial distribution correlated with both parietal and prefrontal regions. These results shed light on the properties of systems for representing number knowledge in non-aphasic patients with CBS and PCA.
Fluorescence Quantum Yield of I-Dimethyl-aminonaphthalene-5-sulphonate

FLUORESCENCE quantum yields may be determined with spectrofluorometers simply by comparing the corrected emission spectrum of an unknown substance with that of a compound of known fluorescence yield1, provided that the relative numbers of photons reaching the solutions are known. Recently, l-dimethylaminonaphthalene-5-sulphonate (DNS) in water at 25° was used by Churchich2,3 as a fluorescence standard which was assumed to have a quantum yield of 0.53 as reported by Weber and Teale4. The assumption that this quantum yield figure was correct was also made by Slayter and Hall5 for the purpose of calculating the efficiency of energy transfer in protein -dye conjugates. The purpose of the present communication is to direct attention to the fact that while DNS may be a suitable fluorescence standard, the quantum yield figure of 0.53 is incorrect. In fact, Bowen and Seaman6 have already published data indicating that the quantum yield of DNS in water at 20° C is only about 0.29. These authors found that the quantum yields were higher in solvents of lower dielectric constant and took pains to exclude oxygen quenching by purging the solutions with a stream of carbon dioxide. Measurements of DNS quantum yield have been performed recently in this laboratory.
An Orthogonal Current-Reuse Amplifier for Multi-Channel Sensing

We demonstrate a micropower low-noise CMOS amplifier array that reuses bias current to improve the fundamental noise-power tradeoffs of fully-differential amplifier designs. The presented circuit implements current-reuse by stacking the differential input pairs of four amplifiers. The output drain currents of each channel's differential pair are used as the tail currents for the differential pairs of the succeeding channel. Orthogonal current-reuse improves the noise and power tradeoff by sharing bias devices to conserve headroom. With four channels (n = 4), there are 16 unique output currents (2n) from the stack, each of which is a linear combination of the four inputs. Amplified versions of the original input signals are reconstructed by appropriately combining the small-signal output currents in output stages that operate at much lower bias currents. With an input-referred noise of 3.7 μVrms and a bandwidth of 19.9 kHz, a single channel achieves a noise efficiency factor (NEF) of 3.0. Amortizing the bias current across the amplifier's four channels yields an effective NEF of 1.64. The total power consumption is 15.6 μW, or 3.9 μW per path from a 1.5 V supply. Orthogonal biasing suppresses crosstalk between the channels, providing an isolation of 40 dB under 3-σ mismatch. The implemented circuit was fabricated in a standard 130 nm CMOS process and occupies an area of 0.125 mm2. The proposed technique is useful for a variety of applications ranging from low-power neural recording arrays to multiphase radio baseband amplifiers.