cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Terahertz Coherent Control of a Landau-Quantized Two-Dimensional Electron Gas

We demonstrate coherent control of cyclotron resonance of a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in a GaAs quantum well. We use a sequence of coherent terahertz (THz) pulses to control the amplitude of cyclotron resonance oscillations in an arbitrary fashion via phase-dependent coherent interactions. We also observe a self-interaction effect, where the 2DEG interacts with the THz field emitted by itself within the decoherence time, resulting in a revival and collapse of quantum coherence.
Body Cavity Effusions and Washings

Body cavity effusions refer to excess fluid that accumulates in the peritoneal, pleural, or pericardial cavity. Body cavity washings often include intraoperative peritoneal or pelvic washings. Cytologic evaluation of body cavity fluids plays an important role in the detection of metastatic diseases, as well as primary body cavity-based lesions. It is crucial to distinguish malignant from benign effusions/washings as the presence of malignant cells may affect diagnosis and staging of malignancies, and ultimately influence treatment of patients. This chapter aims to answer commonly encountered questions regarding cytologic diagnoses of effusions/washings associated with common and uncommon malignancies, as well as a few benign conditions. Cytomorphological features will be demonstrated along with discussions of the practical use of ancillary tests.
Active Learning in Video Tracking.

Active learning methods, like uncertainty sampling, combined with probabilistic prediction techniques have achieved success in various problems like image classification and text classification. For more complex multivariate prediction tasks, the relationships between labels play an important role in designing structured classifiers with better performance. However, computational time complexity limits prevalent probabilistic methods from effectively supporting active learning. Specifically, while non-probabilistic methods based on structured support vector machines can be tractably applied to predicting bipartite matchings, conditional random fields are intractable for these structures. We propose an adversarial approach for active learning with structured prediction domains that is tractable for matching. We evaluate this approach algorithmically in an important structured prediction problems: object tracking in videos. We demonstrate better accuracy and computational efficiency for our proposed method.
Validation of the breathmobile case identification survey for asthma screening in children with sickle cell disease.

Background: Asthma is a chronic airway disorder with variable/recurring symptoms, airflow obstruction, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and an inflammation. The expert panel report of the National He...
Varying rates of patient identity verification when using computerized provider order entry.

Objective We sought to determine rates of computerized provider order entry (CPOE) patient identity verification and when and where in the ordering process verification occurred. Materials and methods Fifty-five physicians from 4 healthcare systems completed simulated patient scenarios using their respective CPOE system (Epic or Cerner). Eye movements were recorded and analyzed. Results Across all participants patient id was verified significantly more often than not (62.4% vs 37.6%). Vendor A had significantly higher verification rates than not; vendor B had no difference. Participants using vendor A verified information significantly more often before signing the order than after (88.4% vs 11.6%); there was no difference in vendor B. The banner bar was the most frequent verification location. Discussion Factors such as CPOE design, physician training, and the use of a simulated methodology may be impacting verification rates. Conclusions Verification rates vary by CPOE product, and this can have patient safety consequences.
In ischemic stroke, thrombectomy alone was noninferior to thrombectomy plus alteplase for functional outcome at 90 days.

SOURCE CITATION Yang P, Zhang Y, Zhang L, et al. Endovascular thrombectomy with or without intravenous alteplase in acute stroke. N Engl J Med. 2020;382:1981-93. 32374959.
Synergistic AUV Navigation through Deployed Surface Buoys

In this paper, we present a navigation method for an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) in an underwater environment making use of a deployed set of static water surface platforms called buoys on the environment. Our method has the following steps: 1) Communication regions of buoys are computed from their communication capabilities; 2) A set of feasible paths through buoys between given initial and goal locations is calculated using the preimages of the buoys' communication regions; 3) An AUV navigation path that utilizes the least number of buoys for state estimation is chosen from the calculated feasible paths. Through extensive simulations, we validated our method which demonstrates its applicability.
Race-Conscious Bioethics: The Call to Reject Contemporary Scientific Racism.

“Hypertension in Blacks is a salt disease,” Dr. Anderson 1 explained. “Too much salt overloads their renin-angiotensin system and their kidneys can’t handle it. It’s just the way their bodies work....
Interrogating lncRNA functions via CRISPR/Cas systems.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are an increasing focus of investigation due to their implications in diverse biological processes and disease. Nevertheless, the majority of lncRNAs are low in abunda...
Perception of Risk Among Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons.

BACKGROUND With continuous innovation in plastic surgery, new procedures are constantly being introduced. A number of these procedures are generally safe but have the potential for rare yet serious complications. Many surgeons steer clear of these procedures due to safety concerns. OBJECTIVES The aim of this paper was to survey the membership of The Aesthetic Society to elicit perception of risk of several novel or less mainstream procedures. METHODS A 24-item survey was sent out to members of The Aesthetic Society. The survey focused on surgeon experience and attitude towards 3 procedures: filler rhinoplasty, gluteal augmentation with fat grafting, and submandibular gland excision. RESULTS In total, 189 completed surveys were returned. Of the responders, 50%, 49%, and 89% of surgeons said they do not perform filler rhinoplasty, gluteal augmentation with fat grafting, or submandibular gland excision in their practices, respectively. The majority of those who do not perform the procedures selected "danger to the patient" as the primary concern for each of the 3 procedures. Surgeons overwhelmingly reported not learning these procedures in training. Additionally, surgeons perceive the risks of more common procedures such as abdominoplasty and breast augmentation-mastopexy to be significantly lower and more acceptable than those of the studied procedures. CONCLUSIONS When comparing the perceived complication rates with data published in the literature, particularly when looking at rates of serious or life-threatening complications, plastic surgeons overestimate the risks of procedures with which they are less familiar. This perception of risk, accompanied by the lack of exposure to novel techniques in training, may contribute to surgeons avoiding these procedures.
Structure revision of ent-kaurane diterpenoids, isoserrins A, B, and D, enabled by DU8+ computation of their NMR spectral data

DU8+ calculations of 13C NMR chemical shifts suggested that the structures of isoserrins A, B, and D – which were recently isolated from medicinal plant Isodon serra – are misassigned. Computationally driven structure revisions are presented in this communication.
Fecal Methylmercury Correlates With Gut Microbiota Taxa in Pacific Walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens).

Objectives Methylmercury metabolism was investigated in Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) from St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, United States. Methods Total mercury and methylmercury concentrations were measured in fecal samples and paired colon samples (n = 16 walruses). Gut microbiota composition and diversity were determined using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Associations between fecal and colon mercury and the 24 most prevalent gut microbiota taxa were investigated using linear models. Results In fecal samples, the median values for total mercury, methylmercury, and %methylmercury (of total mercury) were 200 ng/g, 4.7 ng/g, and 2.5%, respectively, while in colon samples, the median values for the same parameters were 28 ng/g, 7.8 ng/g, and 26%, respectively. In fecal samples, methylmercury was negatively correlated with one Bacteroides genus, while members of the Oscillospirales order were positively correlated with both methylmercury and %methylmercury (of total mercury). In colon samples, %methylmercury (of total mercury) was negatively correlated with members of two genera, Romboutsia and Paeniclostridium. Conclusions Median %methylmercury (of total mercury) was 10 times higher in the colon compared to the fecal samples, suggesting that methylmercury was able to pass through the colon into systemic circulation. Fecal total mercury and/or methylmercury concentrations in walruses were comparable to some human studies despite differences in seafood consumption rates, suggesting that walruses excreted less mercury. There are no members (at this time) of the Oscillospirales order which are known to contain the genes to methylate mercury, suggesting the source of methylmercury in the gut was from diet and not in vivo methylation.
From morality to mayhem: the fall and rise of the English school story, by Julian Lovelock: Julian Lovelock, Cambridge, The Lutterworth Press, 2018, iv + 223 pp., £20.00 (paperback), ISBN 978-0-71-889540-2, £12.40 (e-book), ISBN 978-0-71-884773-9

In From Morality to Mayhem: The Fall and Rise of the English School Story, Julian Lovelock undertakes a survey of this frequently appealing genre, following the evolution of school stories from the...
CRISPR/Cas13 effectors have differing extents of off-target effects that limit their utility in eukaryotic cells

CRISPR/Cas13 effectors have garnered increasing attention as easily customizable tools for detecting and depleting RNAs of interest. Near perfect complementarity between a target RNA and the Cas13-associated guide RNA is required for activation of Cas13 ribonuclease activity. Nonetheless, the specificity of Cas13 effectors in eukaryotic cells has been debated as the Cas13 nuclease domains can be exposed on the enzyme surface, providing the potential for promiscuous cleavage of nearby RNAs (so-called collateral damage). Here, using co-transfection assays in Drosophila and human cells, we found that the off-target effects of RxCas13d, a commonly used Cas13 effector, can be as strong as the level of on-target RNA knockdown. The extent of off-target effects is positively correlated with target RNA expression levels, and collateral damage can be observed even after reducing RxCas13d/guide RNA levels. The PspCas13b effector showed improved specificity and, unlike RxCas13d, can be used to deplete a Drosophila circular RNA without affecting the expression of the associated linear RNA. PspCas13b nonetheless still can have off-target effects and we notably found that the extent of off-target effects for Cas13 effectors differs depending on the cell type and target RNA examined. In total, these results highlight the need for caution when designing and interpreting Cas13-based knockdown experiments.
Cross Enterprise Collaboration in Multi-Sourcing Service Engagements

This talk discusses the challenges of enabling and supporting cross enterprise collaboration (CEC) from a technology perspective. We use the collaboration requirements of multiple service providers in the context of multi-sourcing service engagements as an exemplary scenario to study this problem. We provide a conceptual model for examining CEC from various stakeholders’ perspectives, collaboration at the business process level and technology enablement requirements at different level of the stack. Finally, we present a vision and technical architecture for offering the technology support to facilitate cross enterprise collaboration, offered as a service (called CEC as a Service).
Long-run trends in 26 primary commodity prices

Abstract This paper uses time series techniques to re-examine the Prebisch-Singer hypothesis that there has been a secular deterioration in primary commodity prices in terms of manufactured goods. Instead of using price indices, it considers 26 individual commodity prices over the period 1900–1983. This avoids possible aggregation and interpretation problems associated with the use of aggregate indices. The study finds that 16 of the 26 prices are trendless. Five have statistically significant negative trends; the remaining five have positive trends. It concludes that the Prebisch-Singer hypothesis should certainly not be considered a universal phenomenon or ‘stylized fact’.
Radioisotopes in the teeth of dogs--I. The distribution of plutonium, radium, radiothorium, mesothorium and strontium and the sequence of histopathologic changes in teeth containing plutonium.

Abstract Jaws and teeth containing radioisotopes from adult Beagles were studied to determine the location of the activity and the sequence of histopathologic changes. Radioautography after a single intravenous injection of bone-seeking radioisotopes (plutonium, radium, mesothorium, radiothorium and strontium) in young adult Beagles yielded the same distribution pattern in dental tissues. The sequence of changes observed in dogs injected with plutonium (serially sacrificed dogs and dogs allowed to live until moribund) involved the formation of secondary dentine, disturbance in cementum formation, resorption of cementum and dentine with metaplastic bone formation, damage to periodontal membrane, ankylosis of teeth and loss of teeth. There was a direct relationship between the sites of plutonium deposits and locations of dental lesions. No tumour arose from dental tissue, but a few osteogenic sarcomas occurred in the jaws.
The effects of postweaning stressors on pig weight change, blood, liver and digestive tract characteristics.

Postweaning growth lag in baby pigs weaned at 28 d was studied by using three weaning stress treatments. Treatments consisted of a control in which pigs continued to nurse the dam, had access to a dry feed at 14 d of age and were not weaned until after the study. Pigs were adjusted to liquid and dry feeds at 14 d of age in Treatments 2 and 3, but sows were removed from the pens at 28 d of age in Treatment 2, whereas sows were removed and room temperature lowered to 13 degrees C in Treatment 3. In Treatment 4, sows were removed but pigs were fed the dry diet only from 28 d of age. Blood and tissue were collected and evaluated every 12 h for 48 h on slaughtered pigs and blood was sampled every 12 h for 132 h from pigs catheterized in the vena cava. Pigs weaned with a dry diet in Treatment 4 were the only pigs to lose weight (P less than .01) and have typical symptoms of postweaning growth lag. These pigs had the lowest (P less than .01) mean plasma glucose, highest (P less than .01) free fatty acids and the highest (P less than .05) cortisol concentrations. Their mean duodenal pH also was higher (P less than .01), whereas pigs given both milk and dry diets and stressed by weaning in a warm or cool room (Treatments 2 and 3) had lower (P less than .01) duodenal pH values than pigs continuing to nurse the sow. In this study, pigs having access to milk and dry diets prior to weaning had no adverse symptoms when the sow was removed regardless of whether or not they were exposed to cold after weaning. However, pigs that were abruptly weaned with a dry diet had slow growth, low plasma glucose, high free fatty acids and low liver glycogen.
Parents in Illinois are Parents in Oklahoma Too: An Argument for Mandatory Interstate Recognition of Same-Sex Adoptions

***Winner, 2009 Michael Greenberg Student Writing Competition, organized by the National LBGT Bar Association (an affiliate of the American Bar Association)***This Article argues that interstate recognition of finalized same-sex adoptions is mandatory for three key legal and policy reasons. These are the constitutional right to parenthood, the constitutional requirement that states offer full faith and credit to the final judicial decrees of other states as reflected in national policies governing custody determinations, and the interest of children in certainty of parental identification and rights.This Article proceeds in six Parts. Following this Introduction, Part II analyzes the constitutional dimensions of the right to parent, surveying Supreme Court caselaw that has rooted the parent-child relationship in the Due Process Clauses of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. Part III argues that interstate recognition of final adoption decrees issued to same-sex couples is mandated by the Constitution’s Full Faith and Credit Clause, notwithstanding any potential ramifications of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. Part IV continues the discussion of the Full Faith and Credit Clause as it applies to parenting rights, examining two key statutes that recognize a federal interest in the settled determination of parental rights once granted by an individual state. Part V analyzes two landmark legal battles in the same-sex adoption arena, and uses those cases as a lens through which to view the effects of non-recognition on real families and children. Part VI concludes.
Interleukin 12 immunotherapy after autologous stem cell transplantation for hematological malignancies.

Purpose: To determine the safety, maximum tolerated dose,and biological effects of recombinant human IL-12 after autologous stem cell transplantation for cancer. Experimental Design: Twelve patients with hematological malignancies (8 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, 2 Hodgkin’s disease, and 2 plasma cell myeloma) began interleukin (IL)-12 therapy at a median of 66 days after transplantation. Recombinant human IL-12 was given by bolus i.v. injection in doses of 30, 100, or 250 ng/kg once as an inpatient and then, after a 2-week hiatus, once daily for 5 consecutive days every 3 weeks on an outpatient basis. Results: Common side effects included fever, chills, fatigue, nausea or vomiting, and asymptomatic elevation in serum liver function tests. Transient neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were also common, but no patient required platelet transfusion or had a neutropenic fever. Dose-limiting toxicities (diarrhea and elevated liver function tests) occurred in 2 of 3 patients treated in the 250 ng/kg cohort. Biological effects, including increases in serum IFN-γ levels and transient lymphopenia involving CD4 T cells, CD8 T cells, B cells, and NK cells, were seen at all three dose levels. Conclusions: Biologically active doses of IL-12 can be given safely to patients after autologous stem cell transplantation for high-risk hematological malignancies. Further studies are indicated to assess the efficacy of IL-12 in this setting.
Vitamin D: a D‐Lightful health perspective

Sunlight provides most humans with their vitamin D requirement. Adequate vitamin D3 by synthesis in the skin or from dietary and supplemental sources is essential for bone health throughout life. Vitamin D deficiency is defined as a 25(OH)D concentration 30 ng/mL (75 nmol/L), and insufficiency as 21–29 ng/mL. Vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency has been linked to a wide variety of chronic diseases including common cancers, autoimmune, cardiovascular, and infectious diseases. Healthcare professionals need to be aware of the vitamin D deficiency pandemic. Guidelines for sensible sun exposure and supplemental vitamin D of 800–1000 IU/day are needed.
The Infected Shoulder Arthroplasty

The management of the infected shoulder arthroplasty represents a very challenging problem for the orthopedic surgeon. A careful history, examination, and appropriate radiographic and laboratory studies will help the physician to classify the infection. There is a wide spectrum of treatment options available to treat patients with an infected shoulder prosthesis, ranging from suppression, debridement, arthrodesis, and reimplantation. Understanding the indications for a specific procedure as well as the expected outcome will help guide decision making.
Automated Detection Of Chromosome Aberration Using Color Information

ABSTRACTAn automated scheme for the detection of chromosome aberrations in color chromosomeimages is described. The analysis scheme consists of three steps: segmentation, clustering,and scene understanding. First the target chromosome pixels are segmented via thresh -olding based on a chosen color measure. Then a clustering technique is applied to clusterthe target chromosome pixels into groups in such a way that every group corresponds to aunique target chromosome domain. Finally, human chromosome aberrations are detectedby calculating the geometrical properties of each detected group and counting the numberof the confirmed target chromosomes. Experiments have been carried out to compare theeffectiveness of several color measures for the purpose of the segmentation. Moreover, anovel self- tuning thresholding method has been developed to improve the robustness of segmentation. With this method, chromosome aberrations can be idetified even under different background brightness and chrominance distribution.INTRODUCTION
Damage healing ability of a shape-memory-polymer-based particulate composite with small thermoplastic contents

The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential of a shape-memory-polymer (SMP)-based particulate composite to heal structural-length scale damage with small thermoplastic additive contents through a close-then-heal (CTH) self-healing scheme that was introduced in a previous study (Li and Uppu 2010 Comput. Sci. Technol. 70 1419–27). The idea is to achieve reasonable healing efficiencies with minimal sacrifice in structural load capacity. By first closing cracks, the gap between two crack surfaces is narrowed and a lesser amount of thermoplastic particles is required to achieve healing. The particulate composite was fabricated by dispersing copolyester thermoplastic particles in a shape memory polymer matrix. It is found that, for small thermoplastic contents of less than 10%, the CTH scheme followed in this study heals structural-length scale damage in the SMP particulate composite to a meaningful extent and with less sacrifice of structural capacity.
A low pressure study of non-steady state hydrogen-deuterium exchange on a molybdenum surface☆

Abstract The heterogeneous hydrogen-deuterium exchange on a molybdenum surface has been investigated under non-steady state conditions at a constant gas pressure of 10 −8 Torr and sample temperature between −40 and 200°C. In one experimental series an H 2 -D 2 mixture was adsorbed on the originally clean surface, in another series deuterium initially adsorbed on the surface was subsequently replaced by hydrogen from the gas phase. In both series the rate of HD formation was measured with a mass spectrometer and related to surface coverage and temperature. The results of the quantitative analysis of the data can be summarized as follows: 1) The adsorption rate of hydrogen or deuterium, which is proportional to pressure, decreases linearly with surface coverage but is independent of temperature. Thus, the isosteric heat of adsorption is equal to the activation energy of desorption. 2) Desorption is second order in coverage, but the rate constant is a function of both temperature and coverage. 3) In the range of the experimental conditions employed, exchange proceeds by the atomic mechanism postulated by Bonhoeffer-Farkas.
Luxury, Necessity, and Anachronistic Workers: Does the United States Need Unskilled Immigrant Labor?

This article assesses the labor market implications of less-skilled migration to the United States. It emphasizes how recent social, demographic, and economic trends have reduced the availability o...
A Modeling Study of the ENSO Influence on the Terrestrial Energy Profile in North America

Abstract The influence of the El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the terrestrial energy profile over North America is studied using a 15-yr model simulation. A large-area basin scale (LABs) land surface model is driven using the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts 15-yr Re-Analyses (1979–93) dataset. It is found that the fluctuations of the soil temperature anomalies at different soil depths, in certain geographic regions, are correlated with the ENSO signal. In other words, the temperature anomaly can penetrate into the deeper soil layers due to the long wavelength associated with the ENSO signal. Using a simplified theoretical method, it is shown that the propagation of the ENSO-related long-wavelength temperature anomaly from the land surface to deep soil needs several months. In addition, it is found that the variation of the anomaly of the terrestrial enthalpy, consisting of the soil water enthalpy and soil particle enthalpy, in the shallow soil zone is dominated by the variation o...
Trigeminal origin of β-preprotachykinin products in feline pial blood vessels

Abstract A specific and sensitive radioimmunoassay measured the presence of immunoreactive neurokinin A within feline and human pial arteries. Immunoreactivity exhibited a retention time identical to that of synthetic peptide when acid extracts from feline and human blood vessels were subjected to reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. As shown previously for substance P, levels of immunoreactive neurokinin A decreased significantly in the vessels from the ipsilateral rostral circle of Willis 19–24 days following unilateral trigeminal ganglionectomy. Hence, trigeminal projections to cerebral blood vessels contain both products of β-preprotachykinin mRNA.
Sensitivity to the effects of opioids in rats with free access to exercise wheels: mu-opioid tolerance and physical dependence.

Rationale Exercise stimulates the release of endogenous opioid peptides and increases nociceptive (i.e. pain) thresholds in both human and animal subjects. During chronic, long-term exercise, sensitivity to the effects of morphine and other µ opioids decreases, leading some investigators to propose that exercise may lead to the development of cross tolerance to exogenously administered opioid agonists.
AWARD WINNING PAPER: 1987 ALPHA KAPPA DELTA UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT PAPER COMPETITION Women in Traditionally Male Occupations: An Exploratoy Model of Gender-Work Assimilation

A model of gender-work assimilation is employed to evaluate the structure of male-dominated occupations and the behavior of women employed in these occupations. It is suggested that because certain occupations have been the exclusive domain of males, the masculine sex-role “spilled-over” into the definition of job related tasks. The masculine sex role and work-emergent behavior cause women to act according to the norms of the occupation. With low occupational representation, women choose, or are pressured into choosing, job specialties considered sex appropriate. The author also suggests that the higher proportion of women in the occupation, the less conforming and more individualistic women become in choosing job specialties.
Recruiting clients in the outfitting industry: a qualitative analysis of Montana outfitters

Outfitters provide guiding services to individuals in a variety of recreational contexts. In Montana, hundreds of outfitters help individuals with their hunting and fishing activities. Limited studies have been done on outfitters and the outfitting occupation. The objective of this exploratory research was to generate knowledge regarding how outfitters recruit and retain clients and deal with difficult clients. This study took a qualitative approach to data collection. Data were gathered via a mail survey that used mostly open-ended questions. Findings reveal that an outfitters reputation is important in the recruitment process because many clients are obtained via word of mouth and many of their customers are return clients. Factors that influence client satisfaction with outfitter services include honesty, comfortable camps, good food, and a positive experience. The findings of this study enhance our understanding of the client recruitment and retention processes in the outfitting industry.
The Cost-Effectiveness of Preexposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention in the United States in Men Who Have Sex With Men

Preexposure chemoprophylaxis (PrEP) with antiretroviral drugs significantly reduces the risk for HIV infection in HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM), but its cost-effectiveness is uncerta...
SemiSPECT: A small-animal single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imager based on eight cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) detector arrays

The first full single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imager to exploit eight compact high-intrinsic-resolution cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) detectors, called SemiSPECT, has been completed. Each detector consists of a CZT crystal and a customized application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The CZT crystal is a 2.7 cmx2.7 cmx{approx}0.2 cm slab with a continuous top electrode and a bottom electrode patterned into a 64x64 pixel array by photolithography. The ASIC is attached to the bottom of the CZT crystal by indium-bump bonding. A bias voltage of -180 V is applied to the continuous electrode. The eight detectors are arranged in an octagonal lead-shielded ring. Each pinhole in the eight-pinhole aperture placed at the center of the ring is matched to each individual detector array. An object is imaged onto each detector through a pinhole, and each detector is operated independently with list-mode acquisition. The imaging subject can be rotated about a vertical axis to obtain additional angular projections. The performance of SemiSPECT was characterized using {sup 99m}Tc. When a 0.5 mm diameter pinhole is used, the spatial resolution on each axis is about 1.4 mm as estimated by the Fourier crosstalk matrix, which provides an algorithm-independent average resolution over the field of view.more » The energy resolution achieved by summing neighboring pixel signals in a 3x3 window is about 10% full-width-at-half-maximum of the photopeak. The overall system sensitivity is about 0.5x10{sup -4} with the energy window of {+-}10% from the photopeak. Line-phantom images are presented to visualize the spatial resolution provided by SemiSPECT, and images of bone, myocardium, and human tumor xenografts in mice demonstrate the feasibility of preclinical small-animal studies with SemiSPECT.« less
Alternative National Goals and Women's Employment: Career opportunities in the 1970's are contingent upon growth objectives.

I have stressed the importance of economic growth and employment policies for the furtherance of women9s career objectives. Legal action to remove discrimination, as well as transformation of attitudes and expectations, will prove but hollow successes if adequate career opportunities do not become available. For this reason, the employment outlook for professional women in the 19709s has been examined on the basis of three alternative views of the future. All three involve elements of uncertainty and would require adjustments in the labor market. In the first alternative, although the BLS projected an overall balance in the labor market, supply and demand were expected to be ill-matched in several professional sectors, entailing burdensome retraining for those finding themselves in the areas of excess supply. The more pessimistic variant, based either on failure to reach growth and employment goals or on deliberate pursuit of reduced growth goals—combined with population stabilization and increased productivity—would require such fundamental adjustments in the labor market as work-sharing and early retirement or deemphasis of career objectives. The optimistic variant posits economic and social needs great enough to warrant high growth rates and views an expanded labor supply as a factor enabling the economy to attain such growth rates and to extend the utilization of professional personnel in new as well as in established areas (31). The major burden posed by the optimistic variant involves the need to achieve social consensus on the goals of society and to maintain the commitment to those goals with energy and intelligence.
Preface: special issue on NASA Formal Methods Symposium 2010

TheNASAFormalMethods Symposium (NFM) is an annual event intended to highlight the state of formal methods art and practice. It is a forum for theoreticians and practitioners from government, academia, and industry, with the goals of identifying challenges and providing solutions for achieving high assurance in safety-critical systems. Within NASA, for example, such systems include autonomous robots, separation assurance algorithms for aircraft, and autonomous rendezvous and docking systems for spacecraft. Moreover, emerging paradigms such as code generation and safety cases are bringing with them new challenges and opportunities. The focus of the symposium is on formal techniques, their theory, current capabilities, and limitations, as well as their application to aerospace, robotics, and other safety-critical systems. This journal issue contains extended versions of the best papers presented at the Second NASA Formal Methods Symposium (NFM 2010), held at NASA Headquarters, in Washington D.C., USA, April 13–15, 2010. The gap between tools used by industry and the verification techniques developed in academia is a major obstacle in the general adoption of formal methods technology. Closing this gap is the subject of two papers appearing in this special issue. Pritam Roy and Natarajan Shankar propose the SimCheck tool for checking contract specifications in Simulink, a commercial tool for modeling and simulating embedded systems. These contract specifications are written using an expressive type annotation system. From the Simulink models and their contract specifications, the tool generates verification conditions which can be discharged using static analysers. Dominic Richards and David Lester
Dynamical solvent effects in inverted region electron transfer

Abstract The solvent dependence of the charge recombination (CR) electron transfer rate constants of cofacially linked magnesium/free base diporphyrin (MgH 2 ) and zinc porphyrin/modified free base chlorin (ZnH 2 (=C(CN) 2 )) complexes has been investigated by picosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. The photogenerated Mg + H − 2 and Zn + H 2 (=C(CN) 2 ) − charge separated pairs undergo facile reaction in the Marcus inverted region to produce ground state species, with the latter exhibiting faster reaction rates owing to less activated CR. We find that the CR rate constants k obs (CR) are strongly solvent dependent in a homologous series of nitriles and acetates. Although they are slow with respect to solvent motion ( k obs (Mg + H − 2 )=(0.6–4.0)×10 9 s −1 ; k obs (Zn + H 2 (=C(CN) 2 ) − =(1.6–8.3)×10 10 s −1 ), a linear correlation is observed between k obs (CR) and the inverse of the solvent relaxation time (1/τ s =(1.5–9.1)×10 11 s −1 ). For the Mg + -H − 2 cofacial pair this correlation is observed only when solvents of the same series are considered, whereas for Zn + H 2 (=C(CN) 2 ) − this linear correlation is independent of the solvent series. These observations are analyzed within the context of recent theoretical predictions for solvent-controlled adiabatic electron transfer reactions.
Demystifying Small RNA Pathways

The Keystone Symposium entitled "RNAi and Related Pathways," organized by Craig Mello (University of Massachusetts), Phillip Zamore (University of Massachusetts) and James Carrington (Oregon State University), was held in Vancouver, British Columbia. The meeting participants reviewed recent reports and presented new advances in our understanding of the widespread role of small noncoding RNAs in gene regulation.
Quasi-optics of a planar dielectric waveguide with a dispersive substrate

A quasi-optic model for the treatment of a planar dielectric waveguide having a substrate with material dispersion is presented. An application of the lowest-order waveguide mode to the development of an optical sensor for monitoring the thermal degradation of a film thickness is indicated.
Collagen deposition in HIV-1 infected lymphatic tissues and T cell homeostasis

Lymphatic tissues (LTs) are structurally organized to promote interaction between antigens, chemokines, growth factors, and lymphocytes to generate an immunologic response and maintain normal-sized populations of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Inflammation and tissue remodeling that accompany local innate and adaptive immune responses to HIV-1 replication cause damage to the LT architecture. As a result, normal populations of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells cannot be supported and antigen-lymphocyte interactions are impaired. This conclusion is supported herein following LT sampling before and during anti-HIV therapy in persons with acute, chronic, and late-stage HIV-1 infection. Among seven individuals treated with anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and four individuals deferring therapy we found evidence of significant paracortical T cell zone damage associated with deposition of collagen, the extent of which was inversely correlated with both the size of the LT CD4+ T cell population and the change in peripheral CD4+ T cell count with anti-HIV therapy. The HIV-1–associated inflammatory changes and scarring in LT both limit the ability of the tissue to support and reestablish normal-sized populations of CD4+ T cells and suggest a novel mechanism of T cell depletion that may explain the failure of ART to significantly increase CD4+ T cell populations in some HIV-1–infected persons.
Educators learn the latest about small bodies in the solar system

The past decade has heralded the advance of both scholarship and exploration of small bodies in the solar system. Once relegated to subsidiary status, asteroids, comets, and now Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs) have come into their own as planetary scientists have become aware of their importance for understanding the origins of the solar system. Because these objects are believed to be debris remaining from the earliest periods of planet formation, they may offer clues to the physical conditions and architecture of the early solar system. The key role impact processes have played in the evolution of the Earth and other planets has also been recognized. Earth-crossing objects have caused mass extinctions in the past, and comets are now believed to have delivered significant amounts of volatiles and prebiotic material to the inner solar system. NASA has supported this blossoming field of study by sending several missions to comets and asteroids, and by establishing special programs to study them.
Reproductive success, xenobiotic contaminants and hepatic mixed-function oxidase (MFO) activity in Platichthys stellatus populations from San Francisco Bay

To identify some specific effects of organic contaminants on fisheries in an urbanized estuary we compared the reproductive success of starry flounder from San Francisco Bay with concentrations of tissue contaminants and hepatic mixed-function oxidase (MFO) activity. We found significantly lower (P < 0·05) sediment concentrations of total identified polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the less urbanized San Pablo Bay (SP) area (Fig. 1) than in the more urbanized central bay (CB) stations (Table 1). For flounder in early gametogenesis (August and September) the SP fish (n = 20) had significantly lower (P < 0·01) liver concentrations of Aroclor 1260 (0·34 ± 0·14 μg/g) than those at the CB stations: Berkeley (BK, n = 20, 1·6 ± 1·6 μg/g); Oakland (OK, n = 16, 2·3 ± 2·8 μg/g); and Alameda (AL, n = 4, 2·2 ± 1 μg/g). A similar pattern existed for DDT concentrations: SP = 0·2 ± 0·16 μg/g; BK = 0·1 ± 0·34 μg/g; OK = 0·4 ± 0·53 μg/g; and AL = 0·4 ± 0·33 μg/g. Total PAHs in livers were as follows: SP = 0·14 μg/g; BK = 2·6 μg/g; OK = 1·4 μg/g; and AL = 14 μg/g. Although gonad index, liver index, and presence of fin rot are inversely related to aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity, healthy fish in a similar reproductive state have lower AHH activities in the SP area. For example, in August and September, 1984, mean AHH activities were as follows: SP = 203 ± 89, and CB = 355 ± 200 pmol 3-OH-B[a]P mg microsomal protein min. We found a log-linear relationship for AHH activity and its percent inhibition by 7,8-benzoflavone (10−4m) and only a few fish from SP showed enhanced AHH activity after addition of 7,8-benzoflavone. This suggests that most of the starry flounder in San Francisco Bay are induced.
A novel technique for endoscopic management of stones in a continent urinary reservoir

Urinary stones are a well-established complication of lower urinary tract reconstruction in children and can be managed through an open, percutaneous, or transurethral endoscopic approach for their surgical removal. For children with no urethral access, it is not generally advised to pursue an endoscopic approach through a catheterizable channel. In this study, we describe a safe and effective technique for the endoscopic management of stones through a catheterizable channel in a child with a continent urinary reservoir.
STAT3-mediated signaling in the determination of rod photoreceptor cell fate in mouse retina.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the intracellular pathways by which ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) negatively regulate the development of rod photoreceptors in the mouse retina. Methods Retina explant cultures derived from timed-pregnant CD-1 mice were used to monitor rod photoreceptor differentiation. CNTF was used to activate the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-3 and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathways. Activation of STAT3 and MAPK were manipulated by using dominant-negative STAT3 recombinant adenoviruses and a specific inhibitor of MAPK, respectively. Explanted retinas were harvested at distinct time points and processed for immunohistochemistry. Results Blocking of the MAPK pathway by the MAPK inhibitor PD98059 did not affect normal development of rods in retina explants or the suppression of their appearance by treatment with CNTF. In contrast, activated STAT3 was necessary for suppression of the rod cell fate decision. A deficiency of the STAT3 pathway induced by a dominant negative STAT3 abolished inhibition of rod development by CNTF. Conclusions These results indicate that STAT3, but not MAPK, can critically regulate photoreceptor development during mouse retina development.
Use of pulsed D2O laser for far-infrared EPR spectroscopy of DyPO4

Abstract EPR has been performed at 4.2°K on Dy 3+ in DyPO 4 at 58.25 cm -1 , yielding g ‖ = 19.55 ± 0.16. The linearity of the Zeeman splitting indicates no perturbation from other levels, and in particular, that there are no levels between 58.25 cm -1 and 23.0 cm -1 .
Pulmonary Circulation: Diseases and Their Treatment

Andrew J. Peacock, MPhil, MD, FRCP; Lewis J. Rubin, MD, eds 614 pp. London, UK: Arnold; 2004. $198.50. ISBN 0-340-80782-2 The complexity of the pulmonary circulation and the development of pulmonary hypertension have become very fashionable topics in the last few years. Several reviews on the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary hypertension and the mechanism(s) of its development have appeared in major journals recently. However, these reviews have been limited to either treatment of pulmonary hypertension or description of current knowledge and theories on its development. As such, none of these reviews was intended or was able to encompass such an extensive topic as the pulmonary circulation completely. In fact, new information and understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of the pulmonary circulation generated in the past decade would have precluded such a comprehensive review. That is why this book is an important and extremely practical overview of the subject. Drs Peacock and Rubin have edited a clearly written, well-organized, and comprehensive overview of …
Maintenance of forearm vasodilator action of atrial natriuretic factor in congestive heart failure secondary to ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Infusions of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) are frequently associated with attenuated natriuretic and diuretic responses in patients with congestive heart failure. However, ANF infusions result in systemic vasodilation, suggesting that end organ responsiveness to ANF may not be uniformly decreased. To determine if the vasodilator effects of ANF were altered in heart failure, strain-gauge plethysmography was utilized to measure forearm blood flow responses to the intraarterial infusion of ANF using a dose range that was low enough to avoid systemic effects. In 9 control subjects, ANF infusions of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 μg/min/100 ml forearm volume significantly increased forearm blood flow from 3.21 ± 1.71 to 5.69 ± 3.14, 6.20 ± 2.57, 6.64 ± 2.53 and 6.97 ± 2.49 ml/min/100 ml forearm volume, respectively (all p < 0.01). In 7 patients with heart failure, ANF infusion significantly increased forearm blood flow from 2.19 ± 0.98 to 3.18 ± 1.70, 3.76 ± 2.0 and 4.42 ± 2.80 ml/min/100 ml forearm volume for the 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 μg doses, respectively (all p < 0.05). By analysis of variance, the forearm blood flow responses pooled over all doses were not significantly different between the 2 groups. At the 2.0 μg dose, the peak increase in forearm blood flow in normal subjects represented a 107% increase over baseline compared with a 102% increase in patients with heart failure. In summary, these data demonstrate that intraarterial administration of ANF in patients with heart failure resulted in dose-related increases in forearm blood flow. The responses were not significantly different from normal subjects expressed both as an absolute response and as a percent increase. These data therefore confirm that rat ANF in pharmacologic doses has a direct vasodilator action in humans and further suggest that ANF-mediated vasodilation in the peripheral circulation is relatively intact in heart failure.
The periodic impact responses and stability of a human body in a vehicle traveling on rough terrain

The periodic impact motions of passengers in a vehicle traveling on rough terrain are investigated through a linear model of vehicle and passenger systems. In this mechanical model, the human body is considered as a massless bar with a lumped mass. The linear model assumes that the motion response of vehicle is quite small compared to the passenger's pitch motion since the vehicle chassis has a quite large mass and large moment of inertia compared with each passenger. The period-1 motion pertaining to two impacts, respectively, on two walls during N-periods of the ground motion is predicted analytically and numerically. The stability and bifurcation of such a period-1 motion are determined. The impact motion becomes complicated with increasing ground motion amplitude, but the impact motion reduces with increasing torsional damping. Although the mechanical model used in this paper is an ideal one, the dynamic responses of the human body in vehicle traveling on rough terrain is useful for the rough evaluation of the human body safety in traveling vehicles.