cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the level of skill in predicting maximum sunspot number - A comparative study of single variate and bivariate precursor techniques

Precursor prediction techniques have generally performed well in predicting the maximum amplitude of sunspot cycles, based on cycles 10–21. Single variate methods based on minimum sunspot amplitude have reliably predicted the size of the sunspot cycle 9 out of 12 times, where a reliable prediction is defined as one having an observed maximum amplitude within the prediction interval (determined from the average error). On the other hand, single variate methods based on the size of the geomagnetic minimum have reliably predicted the size of the sunspot cycle 8 of 10 times (geomagnetic data are only available since about cycle 12). Bivariate prediction methods have, thus far, performed flawlessly, giving reliable predictions 10 out of 10 times (bivariate methods are based on sunspot and geomagnetic data). For cycle 22, single variate methods (based on geomagnetic data) suggest a maximum amplitude of about 170 ± 25, while bivariate methods suggest a maximum amplitude of about 140 ± 15; thus, both techniques suggest that cycle 22 will be of smaller maximum amplitude than that observed during cycle 19, and possibly even smaller than that observed for cycle 21. Compared to the mean cycle, cycle 22 is presently behaving as if it is a + 2.6σ cycle (maximum amplitude about 225). It appears then that either cycle 22 will be the first cycle not to be reliably predicted by the combined precursor techniques (i.e., cycle 22 is an anomaly, a statistical outlier) or the deviation of cycle 22 relative to the mean cycle will substantially decrease over the next 18 months. Because cycle 22 is a large amplitude cycle, maximum smoothed sunspot number is expected to occur early in 1990 (between December 1989 and May 1990).
Minimally invasive lumbopelvic instrumentation for traumatic sacrolisthesis in an elderly patient.

Purpose We present a novel minimally invasive technique for lumbopelvic instrumentation in selected elderly patients suffering from traumatic sacrolisthesis. An 82-year-old female suffered from sacrolisthesis after a fall. She developed significant low back pain and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy. Preoperative radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging sequences demonstrated the fracture dislocation between S1 and S2 with compromise of the spinal canal. Lumbopelvic instrumentation was sought to offer fixation and allow mobilization; however, open lumbopelvic instrumentation techniques have significant morbidity, especially in this patient population of elderly patients with medical comorbidities.
Heat Transfer in Two-Pass Rotating Rectangular Channels (AR=1:2 and AR=1:4) With 45 Deg Angled Rib Turbulators

This paper reports the heat transfer coefficients in two-pass rotating rectangular channels (AR=1:2 and AR=1:4) with rib roughened walls. Rib turbulators are placed on the leading and trailing walls of the two-pass channel at an angle of 45 deg to the flow direction. Four Reynolds numbers are considered from 5000 to 40 000. The rotation numbers vary from 0.0 to 0.3. The ribs have a 1.59 by 1.59 mm square cross section. The rib height-to-hydraulic diameter ratios (e/D h ) are 0.094 and 0.078 for AR=1:2 and AR=1:4, respectively. The rib pitch-to-height ratio (P/e) is 10 for both cases, and the inlet coolant-to-wall density ratio (Δρ/ρ) is maintained around 0.115. For each channel, two channel orientations are studied, 90 deg and 45 deg with respect to the plane of rotation. The results show that the rotation effect increased the heat transfer on trailing wall in the first pass, but reduced the heat transfer on the leading wall. For AR=1:4, the minimum heat transfer coefficient was 25% of the stationary value. However, the rotation effect reduced the heat transfer difference between the leading and trailing walls in the second pass.
High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance Neurography in Upper Extremity Neuropathy

The most common sites of nerve entrapment are in the upper extremity, commonly diagnosed based on clinical findings and electrophysiologic studies. Cross-sectional imaging modalities, such as ultrasonography and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, have been used to enhance diagnostic accuracy and provide anatomic mapping of abnormalities. MR neurography offers multiplanar high-resolution imaging of upper extremity nerves as well as adjacent soft tissues, and provides an objective assessment of the neuromuscular anatomy and related abnormalities. This article reviews the normal 3-T MR neurographic appearance of the upper extremity nerves, and abnormal findings related to injury, entrapment, and other pathologic conditions.
The interactive effects of emotion regulation and alcohol intoxication on lab-based intimate partner aggression

This study draws on Finkel and Eckhardt's (2013) I3 framework to examine the interactive effects of 2 emotion regulation strategies-anger rumination (an impellance factor) and reappraisal (an inhibition factor), and alcohol intoxication (a disinhibition factor)-on intimate partner aggression (IPA) perpetration as measured with an analogue aggression task. Participants were 69 couples recruited from a large Midwestern university (total N = 138). Participants' trait rumination and reappraisal were measured by self-report. Participants were randomized individually to an alcohol or placebo condition, then recalled an anger event while using 1 of 3 randomly assigned emotion regulation conditions (rumination, reappraisal, or uninstructed). Following this, participants completed an analogue aggression task involving ostensibly assigning white noise blasts to their partner. Participants in the alcohol condition displayed greater IPA than participants in the placebo condition for provoked IPA, but not unprovoked IPA. RESULTS also revealed interactions such that for those in the alcohol and rumination group, higher trait reappraisal was related to lower unprovoked IPA. For provoked IPA, higher trait rumination was related to greater IPA among those in the alcohol and rumination condition and those in the placebo and uninstructed condition. In general, results were consistent with I3 theory, suggesting that alcohol disinhibits, rumination impels, and trait reappraisal inhibits IPA. The theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed in the context of current knowledge about the influence of alcohol intoxication and emotion regulation strategies on IPA perpetration. (PsycINFO Database Record Language: en
Inbreeding depression in diploid and autotetraploid sugarbeet, Beta vulgaris L.

The effect of inbreeding on vegetative vigor, as measured by root yield, was evaluated in two diploid (2x) and equivalent autotetraploid (4x) sugarbeet strains, and one additional 2x and one 4x strain. Root yields of the 2x and 4x S1 progenies each averaged 86.7% of their comparable open-pollinated progeny. Inbreeding depression of root yield was variable from strain to strain. The selfed 4x populations, when compared with their 2x equivalents, suffered more yield depression than was expected on the basis of the theoretic approach to homozygosity associated with selfing in autotetraploids. The inbreeding depression was partly attributed to (a) the approach to homozygosity, and (b) the fact that partially homozygous 4x S1 individuals were probably unable to make compensating growth when located adjacent to a low vigor aneuploid plant. A major part of root yield depression remained unexplained. Sucrose content within strains and within ploidy levels was not significantly affected by one generation of selfing.
Retinal blood vessel width measured on color fundus photographs by image analysis.

. The purpose of this paper was to develop a technique using computerized image analysis to measure the width of retinal arteries and veins on color fundus photographs. The width of the retinal vessel was determined from digitized fundus photographs by programs based on edge detection and boundary tracing. The average vessel width was determined at different distances or eccentricities from the center of the optic disc and using various lengths of vessel segment. Measurements of superior and inferior temporal vessel width for 20 eyes by 2 operators showed that about 75% of the measurements could be obtained without the use of plan points. The average percent coefficient of variation of the measurements was 2.17% for 3 measurements of each vessel. This technique provides a reproducible and objective method for obtaining the following parameters: the edges of the vessel, the length of the vessel segment to be measured, location of the measurement along the vessel and subsequent retinal vessel width. This technique is readily suitable for application to clinical studies particularly clinical trials.
Identification and expression of a mouse ortholog of A2BP1

Human ataxin-2 contains a polyglutamine repeat that is expanded in patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2). Ataxin-2 is highly conserved in evolution with orthologs in mouse, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Drosophila melanogaster. It interacts at its C-terminus with ataxin-2 binding protein 1, A2BP1. This study presents a highly conserved mouse ortholog of A2BP1, designated A2bp1. The amino acid sequence of the human and mouse protein is 97.6% identical. This remarkable degree of conservation supports the fact that these proteins have an important basic function in development and differentiation. Sequence analysis reveals the existence of RNA binding motifs. The A2bp1 transcript was found in various regions of the CNS including cerebellum, cerebral cortex, brain stem, and thalamus/hypothalamus. The A2bp1 protein was detected by immunocytochemistry in the CNS and connective tissue of the mouse embryo starting at stage E11, as well as in the heart at all stages. Mouse embryos showed varying expression of A2bp1 at all stages. Previous studies in other model systems had implicated the orthologs of ataxin-2 and A2BP1 in development. This study suggests a role for A2bp1 in embryogenesis as well as in the adult nervous system, possibly mediated by a function in RNA distribution or processing.
A study of mixing in thermocapillary flows on micropatterned surfaces

The recent introduction of actuation mechanisms for microfluidic transport based on free surface flows raises a number of interesting questions involving efficient mixing configurations, especially in systems with small aspect ratios. This work investigates the characteristics of convective and diffusive mixing in continuous-mode streaming of thermocapillary microflows on chemically micropatterned surfaces. Mixing times and mixing lengths relevant to chemical microreactors or gas sensors are investigated for various geometries and parameter ranges. Scaling arguments and full numerical solutions are presented to extract optimal operating conditions. Confocal fluorescence microscopy measurements of the interfacial diffusive broadening in adjacent flowing streams confirm numerical predictions. Three important mixing regimes, based on analogues of purely diffusive dynamics, Rhines-Young shear-augmented diffusion and Taylor-Aris dispersion are identified and investigated for use in free surface flows with large surface-to-volume ratios.
Integration Challenges of Inorganic Low-K (K≤2.5) Materials with Cu for Sub-0.25µm Multilevel Interconnects

The recent introduction of dual inlaid Cu and oxide based interconnects within sub-0.25μm CMOS technology has delivered higher performance and lower power devices. Further speed improvements and power reduction may be achieved by reducing the interconnect parasitic capacitance through integration of low-k interlevel dielectric (ILD) materials with Cu. This paper demonstrates successful multi-level dual inlaid Cu/low-k interconnects with ILD permittivities ranging from 2.0 to 2.5. Integration challenges specific to inorganic low-k and Cu based structures are discussed. Through advanced CMP process development, multi-level integration of porous oxide materials with moduli less than 0.5 GPa is demonstrated. Parametric data and isothermal annealing of these Cu/ low-k structures show results with yield comparable to Cu/oxide based interconnects.
Carbon Dioxide Separation with Novel Solvents as Liquid Membranes

Glycerol carbonate is studied as a new physical solvent for carbon dioxide separation from CO2/N2 mixtures. CO2-selective behavior of glycerol carbonate is explored in an immobilized liquid membrane (ILM) configuration. Pure glycerol carbonate ILMs retained their CO2/N2 selectivity around 80−130 over a large range of CO2 partial pressures. Its CO2 selectivity was not affected by the absence of humidity in feed and sweep streams. When exposed to dry feed gas conditions, the CO2 permeability through pure glycerol carbonate ILMs was about 100 barrer, which increased to about 350 barrer in the presence of humidified feed streams. Addition of small amounts of facilitating carriers such as poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (generation zero) and sodium glycinate appears to significantly help CO2 facilitation at low CO2 partial pressures. However, at high CO2 feed partial pressures, there was a loss of selectivity with the addition of the carriers. The potential for glycerol carbonate based ILMs in CO2 separation from d...
Path independent integrals for computing stress intensity factors at sharp notches in elastic plates

A set of path independent integrals is constructed for the calculation of the generalized stress intensity factors occurring in elastic plates having sharp re-entrant corners or notches with stress-free faces and subjected to Mode I, II or III type loading. The Mode I integral is then demonstrated to enjoy a reasonable degree of numerical path independence in a finite element analysis of a test problem having an exact solution. Finally, this integral is used on the same problem in conjunction with a regularizing, finite element, procedure or superposition method. The results indicate that sufficiently accurate estimates of these stress intensity factors for engineering purposes can be achieved with little computational effort.
Artin groups and infinite Coxeter groups

if the associated Coxeter group (7 is finite. (For the braid group B, the associated Coxeter group is the symmetric group S,+~.) Brieskorn and Saito [4], and, independently, Deligne [6] have investigated Artin groups of finite type. In 1969, Garside [7] solved the conjugacy problem for braid groups. Brieskorn, * This work was supported by NSF grants MCS 7902512 and MCS 7703452. The authors would like to thank the referee for an extremely careful reading of the paper and many helpful sugges- tions
A List of Bryophytes for Wyoming County, Pennsylvania

Abstract. Forty-nine new county moss records and 6 new county liverworts records are listed for Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. Species of interest include Anacamptodon splachnoides, Andreaea ruprestris, and Schistidium dupretii.
Introducing an Automated System Effects on Perceptions and Use of the System

As automation becomes ubiquitous, it is important to know how differences in introducing automated systems will affect human-automation interactions. There are two main ways of introducing expected reliability of an automated system to users: explicitly telling operators what to expect or giving operators experience using the system. Additionally, the expected level of system reliability in an introduction can be higher-than, lower-than, or the same as the actual system reliability. This study systematically investigated the effect of introductions initially and over time on: 1) perceptions of reliability and system usage, and 2) human responses to automation (e.g., compliance, reliance, and overall dependence) for 60 undergraduates across two days. We found that explicit statements introductions had a greater effect on perceived system reliability than did initial exposure introductions, particularly initially. There were few initial differences between introduction formats on system usage. In general, s...
Norms for word lists that create false memories.

Roediger and McDermott (1995) induced false recall and false recognition for words that were not presented in lists. They had subjects study 24 lists of 15 words that were associates of a common word (called the critical target or critical lure) that was not presented in the list. False recall and false recognition of the critical target occurred frequently in response to these lists. The purpose of the current work was to provide a set of normative data for the lists Roediger and McDermott used and for 12 others developed more recently. We tested false recall and false recognition for critical targets from 36 lists. Despite the fact that all lists were constructed to produce false remembering, the diversity in their effectiveness was large—60% or more of subjects falsely recalledwindow andsleep following the appropriate lists, and false recognition for these items was greater than 80%. However, the list generated fromking led to 10% false recall and 27% false recognition. Possible reasons for these wide differences in effectiveness of the lists are discussed. These norms serve as a useful benchmark for designing experiments about false recall and false recognition in this paradigm.
Distinguishing well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma from benign liver by the physical features of fine-needle aspirates.

Distinguishing well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) from benign hepatic lesions is challenging for pathologists in limited diagnostic material such as needle-core tissue biopsy and fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy. The objective of this study is to test a hypothesis that the fortification of liver by reticulin along single cell plates should protect benign hepatic lesions from breakdown by the force of aspiration and smearing, whereas the decreased reticulin in well-differentiated HCC would result in finely granular FNA smear. The study involved FNA biopsies of 67 cases of well-differentiated HCC and 109 cases of benign hepatic lesions, including cirrhosis (22), liver cell adenoma (8), steatosis (7), focal nodular hyperplasia (6), liver with cholestasis (6), and unremarkable liver sampled from nodular hepatic lesions consistent with the regenerative nodules (60). A slide with the most sample from each case by gross inspection was mixed together. Two observers blinded to the diagnoses were asked to separate the slides into two groups based on smear characteristics by gross inspection. Fragments of rigid fine-needle cores was present in 109 out of 109 cases of benign hepatic lesions but absent in 61 out of 67 cases of well-differentiated HCC, which presented as finely granular smears. The difference is statistically significant. (P<0.001, df=1, χ2=149.3). Using the physical characteristic of liver aspirates as the screening test for malignancy, the sensitivity is 91%, specificity is 100%, positive predictive value is 100%, negative predictive value is 94.8%, and efficiency is 96.6%. In conclusion, the smear characteristics of liver samples in FNA biopsy correlate to their reticulin status on histology. This physical characteristic can be used as the first clue to distinguish malignant and benign liver aspirates prior to microscopic examination.
Study of terahertz emission from bulk Ga x In 1−x As crystals photoexcited by femtosecond laser pulses

We report the study of terahertz emission from bulk GaxIn1-xAs crystals as function of semiconductor properties. We demonstrate that both optical rectification and ultrafast photocurrents contribute to terahertz emission depending on the Ga mole fraction and microcrystal size.
Modeling and detection of complex attacks

A complex attack is a sequence of temporally and spatially separated legal and illegal actions each of which can be detected by various IDS but as a whole they constitute a powerful attack. IDS fall short of detecting and modeling complex attacks therefore new methods are required. This paper presents a formal methodology for modeling and detection of complex attacks in three phases: (1) we extend basic attack tree (AT) approach to capture temporal dependencies between components and expiration of an attack, (2) using enhanced AT we build a tree automaton which accepts a sequence of actions from input message streams from various sources if there is a traversal of an AT from leaves to root, and (3) we show how to construct an enhanced parallel automaton that has each tree automaton as a subroutine. We use simulation to test our methods, and provide a case study of representing attacks in WLANs.
Quadratic models for curved line detection in SAR CCD

Synthetic Aperture Radar Coherent Change Detection (SAR CCD) is a sensitive change detector capable of finding ground surface height changes on the order of a radar wavelength. SAR CCD also has a high false alarm rate, with many false alarms caused by vegetation that is easily displaced by wind, rain, etc. This work introduces a robust method for detecting long curving structures in this challenging medium. To demonstrate the accuracy of the method, we test it on the task of automatically distinguishing curving tire tracks from background clutter.
Pathogen discovery from human tissue by sequence-based computational subtraction.

Abstract We have recently reported a new pathogen discovery approach, “computational subtraction”. With this approach, non-human transcripts are detected by sequencing cDNA libraries from infected tissue and eliminating those transcripts that match the human genome. We show now that this method is experimentally feasible. We generated a cDNA library from a tissue sample of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD). 27,840 independent cDNA sequences were filtered by computational subtraction against the known human sequence to identify 32 nonmatching transcripts. Of these, 22 (0.1%) were found to be amplifiable from both infected and noninfected samples and were inferred to be human DNA not yet contained in the available human genome sequence. The remaining 10 sequences could be amplified only from Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-infected tissues. All 10 corresponded to the known EBV sequence. This proof-of-principle experiment demonstrates that computational subtraction can detect pathogenic microbes in primary human-diseased tissue.
Capturing subject variability in fMRI data: A graph-theoretical analysis of GICA vs. IVA.

Abstract Background Recent studies using simulated functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data show that independent vector analysis (IVA) is a superior solution for capturing spatial subject variability when compared with the widely used group independent component analysis (GICA). Retaining such variability is of fundamental importance for identifying spatially localized group differences in intrinsic brain networks. New methods Few studies on capturing subject variability and order selection have evaluated real fMRI data. Comparison of multivariate components generated by multiple algorithms is not straightforward. The main difficulties are finding concise methods to extract meaningful features and comparing multiple components despite lack of a ground truth. In this paper, we present a graph-theoretical (GT) approach to effectively compare the ability of multiple multivariate algorithms to capture subject variability for real fMRI data for effective group comparisons. The GT approach is applied to components generated from fMRI data, collected from individuals with stroke, before and after a rehabilitation intervention. Comparison with existing method IVA is compared with widely used GICA for the purpose of group discrimination in terms of GT features. In addition, masks are applied for motor related components generated by both algorithms. Conclusions Results show that IVA better captures subject variability producing more activated voxels and generating components with less mutual information in the spatial domain than Group ICA. IVA-generated components result in smaller p-values and clearer trends in GT features.
The relative and unique contributions of emotion dysregulation and impulsivity to posttraumatic stress disorder among substance dependent inpatients

BACKGROUND: Despite elevated rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among substance use disorder (SUD) patients, as well as the clinical relevance of this co-occurrence, few studies have examined psychological factors associated with a PTSD-SUD diagnosis. Two factors worth investigating are emotion dysregulation and impulsivity, both of which are associated with PTSD and SUDs. Therefore, this study examined associations between PTSD and facets of emotion dysregulation and impulsivity within a sample of trauma-exposed SUD inpatients. METHODS: Participants were an ethnically diverse sample of 205 SUD patients in residential substance abuse treatment. Patients were administered diagnostic interviews and completed a series of questionnaires. RESULTS: Patients with PTSD (n=58) reported significantly higher levels of negative urgency (i.e., the tendency to engage in impulsive behaviors when experiencing negative affect) and lower sensation seeking, as well as higher levels of emotion dysregulation and the specific dimensions of lack of emotional acceptance, difficulties engaging in goal-directed behavior when upset, difficulties controlling impulsive behaviors when distressed, limited access to effective emotion regulation strategies, and lack of emotional clarity. Further, overall emotion dysregulation emerged as a significant predictor of PTSD status, accounting for unique variance in PTSD status above and beyond facets of impulsivity (as well as other relevant covariates). CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that emotion dysregulation may contribute to the development, maintenance, and/or exacerbation of PTSD and highlight the potential clinical utility of targeting emotion dysregulation among SUD patients with PTSD. Language: en
MAPKs (ERK½, p38) and AKT Can Be Phosphorylated by Shear Stress Independently of Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (CD31) in Vascular Endothelial Cells

PECAM-1 (CD31) is a member of the Ig superfamily of cell adhesion molecules and is expressed on endothelial cells (EC) as several circulating blood elements including platelets, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, monocytes, and lymphocytes. PECAM-1 tyrosine phosphorylation has been observed following mechanical stimulation of EC but its role in mechanosensing is still incompletely understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of PECAM-1 in signaling cascades in response to fluid shear stress (SS) in vascular ECs. PECAM-1-deficient (KO) and PECAM-reconstituted murine microvascular ECs, 50 and 100% confluent bovine aortic EC (BAEC), and human umbilical vein EC (HUVEC) transfected with antisense PECAM-1 oligonucleotides were exposed to oscillatory SS (14 dynes/cm2) for 0, 5, 10, 30 or 60 min. The tyrosine phosphorylation level of PECAM-1 immunoprecipitated from SS-stimulated PECAM-reconstituted, but not PECAM-1-KO, murine ECs increased. Although PECAM-1 was phosphorylated in 100% confluent BAEC and HUVEC, its phosphorylation level in 50% confluent BAECs or HUVEC was not detected by SS. Likewise PECAM-1 phosphorylation was robust in the wild type and scrambled-transfected HUVEC but not in the PECAM-1 antisense-HUVEC. ERK½, p38 MAPK, and AKT were activated by SS in all cell types tested, including the PECAM-1-KO murine ECs, 50% confluent BAECs, and HUVEC transfected with antisense PECAM-1. This suggests that PECAM-1 may not function as a major mechanoreceptor for activation of MAPK and AKT in ECs and that there are likely to be other mechanoreceptors in ECs functioning to detect shear stress and trigger intercellular signals.
Lead neurotoxicity and disorders of learning.

Preventable and treatable causes of disorders of learning caused by lead exposure can be recognized by heightened awareness of this potential hazard. The Centers for Disease Control using data from...
Study of a self-consistent calculation of the Ω- as a K̄Ξ bound state

The $\overline{K}\ensuremath{\Xi}{\ensuremath{\Omega}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ system has been studied in a self-consistent manner, both to see if the ${\ensuremath{\Omega}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ can be interpreted as a $T=0\overline{K}\ensuremath{\Xi}$ bound state, and to study such calculations in a situation where only one two-particle channel need be considered. Wefollow closely the method of Singh and Udgaonkar, and Pati, using for dynamical singularities both a short cut due to single particle exchange and a self-consistently determined distant left cut. Only the $J={\frac{3}{2}}^{+}$ partial wave is considered. The main result is a curve relating the strength (called ${g}^{2}$) of the single-particle exchange-forces to the position of a bound or resonant state. The binding energy is found to increase with increasing ${g}^{2}$ until the mass of the bound state is about 1680 MeV. Further increases in ${g}^{2}$ have essentially no effect. On the other hand, it is found that resonant states exist for ${g}^{2}\ensuremath{\le}0$, so that the calculation as it stands allows resonances with repulsive single-particle exchange forces. The calculation in its present form is consistent with bound or resonant states for both $T=0$ and $T=1$, the former at about 1680 MeV for reasonable values of ${g}^{2}$. It is shown that the results are essentially independent of subtraction point, matching points, and similar parameters. The dependence of the results on the short cut and on the distant cut is discussed. The manner in which calculations using only the Born approximation for the dynamical singularities can give the same results as ours is indicated. The possible existence of two zeros in Re $D$, noticed by Abers and Zachariasen, is briefly discussed. A second zero does appear in the present calculation at about 4 GeV., but results from the phase shift decreasing through $\frac{1}{2}\ensuremath{\pi}$ rather than from the Abers-Zachariasen mechanism. Thus, no alternative solution is found in the present calculation.
Noble gas geochemistry investigation of high CO2 natural gas at the LaBarge Platform, Wyoming, USA☆

Abstract A regional sampling of gases from thermal springs near the LaBarge Field, Wyoming, USA to determine the extent of the total carbon dioxide system (TCDS) indicates that the system may extend up to 70 km to the northwest of the field. Geochemical evidence from noble gas isotopes, stable element isotopes, and gas composition provide the foundation for these conclusions. Samples from Soda Springs to the west and Grand Teton National Park to the north do not exhibit the potentially diagnostic LaBarge gas chemistry and represent an absolute maximum potential extent of the system. Additional sampling to the south and east as well as in-fill sampling in regions previously sampled are necessary to refine these preliminary TCDS boundaries.
Flexible amorphous silicon PIN diode x-ray detectors

A low temperature amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin film transistor (TFT) and amorphous silicon PIN photodiode technology for flexible passive pixel detector arrays has been developed using active matrix display technology. The flexible detector arrays can be conformed to non-planar surfaces with the potential to detect x-rays or other radiation with an appropriate conversion layer. The thin, lightweight, and robust backplanes may enable the use of highly portable x-ray detectors for use in the battlefield or in remote locations. We have fabricated detector arrays up to 200 millimeters along the diagonal on a Gen II (370 mm x 470 mm rectangular substrate) using plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) a-Si as the active layer and PECVD silicon nitride (SiN) as the gate dielectric and passivation. The a-Si based TFTs exhibited an effective saturation mobility of 0.7 cm2/V-s, which is adequate for most sensing applications. The PIN diode material was fabricated using a low stress amorphous silicon (a-Si) PECVD process. The PIN diode dark current was 1.7 pA/mm2, the diode ideality factor was 1.36, and the diode fill factor was 0.73. We report on the critical steps in the evolution of the backplane process from qualification of the low temperature (180°C) TFT and PIN diode process on the 150 mm pilot line, the transfer of the process to flexible plastic substrates, and finally a discussion and demonstration of the scale-up to the Gen II (370 x 470 mm) panel scale pilot line.
Clinical Evaluation and Airway Management for Adults with Cervical Spine Instability

Airway management of patients with cervical spine instability may be difficult as a result of immobilization, and may be associated with secondary neurologic injury related to cervical spine motion. Spinal cord instability is most common in patients with trauma, but there are additional congenital and acquired conditions that predispose to subacute cervical spine instability. Patients with suspected instability should receive immobilization during airway management with manual in-line stabilization. The best strategy for airway management is one that applies the technique with the highest likelihood of success on the first attempt and the lowest biomechanical influence on a potentially unstable spine.
Widespread Occurrence of Ranavirus in Pond-Breeding Amphibian Populations

Ranaviruses are an emerging threat for many amphibian populations, yet their distribution in amphibian communities and the association of infection with possible stressors and species is not fully understood due to historically sparse surveillance. Agricultural practices that reduce the water quality of amphibian breeding habitats (e.g., cattle access to wetlands) and environmental stressors (e.g., lower temperatures) may contribute to ranavirus emergence. We tested larval amphibians for ranavirus infection across four seasons in farm ponds (n = 40) located in Tennessee, USA. Cattle at various densities were allowed access to half of the sampled ponds. Ranavirus infections were detected in nine species and in 33 of the sampled ponds (83%), illustrating widespread occurrence of the pathogen. Species within the family Ranidae were the most frequently infected. In 13 of the ponds containing infected individuals, prevalence exceeded 40% during at least one season. Infections were detected in multiple seasons in 20 of the sampled ponds containing infections, suggesting that ranaviruses are relatively persistent in these systems. Cattle had negative effects on water quality (turbidity and ammonia) and there was a positive association between cattle abundance and ranavirus prevalence in the summer. Counter to previous field studies in North America, we found a significant positive association between water temperature and ranavirus prevalence in the fall sampling events. Despite these findings, the influences of cattle and temperature on ranavirus prevalence were not consistent across seasons. As such, the mechanisms driving high ranavirus prevalence across the landscape and over time remain unclear. Given the widespread occurrence of ranaviruses in wild amphibians, we encourage the implementation of surveillance programs to help identify potential drivers of emergence. Sites with high ranavirus prevalence should be monitored annually for outbreaks, and the long-term effects on population size determined.
Review of the pyrolysis platform for coproducing bio-oil and biochar

Pyrolysis is a relatively simple, inexpensive, and robust thermochemical technology for transforming biomass into bio-oil, biochar, and syngas. The robust nature of the pyrolysis technology, which allows considerable fl exibility in both the type and quality of the biomass feedstock, combined with a distributed network of small pyrolysis plants, would be compatible with existing agriculture and forestry infrastructure. Bio-oil can be used as a fuel in existing industrial boilers. Biochar can be used with existing infrastructure as a replacement for pulverized coal; however, use of biochar as a soil amendment results in signifi cant environmental and agronomic benefi ts. Soil application of biochar is a means of sequestering large amounts of C and may have other greenhouse gas benefi ts. Preliminary reports of the impact of soil biochar applications on crop yields indicate that biochar quality is very important. Biochar is an effective adsorbent for both nutrients and organic contaminants, hence the presence of biochar in soils has been shown to improve water qual- ity in column leaching and fi eld lysimeters studies and it is anticipated to do the same for agricultural watersheds. The pyrolysis platform for producing bio-oil and biochar from biomass appears to be a practical, effective, and en- vironmentally sustainable means of producing large quantities of renewable bioenergy while simultaneously reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. At the present time, the pyrolysis platform is economically marginal because markets for bio-oil and biochar are highly competitive. However, if the USA adopts a program for controlling greenhouse gases, the pyrolysis platform would be highly competitive. Published in 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Capture and ionization in laser-assisted proton-hydrogen collisions

We calculate electron capture and ionization probabilities for ion--atom collisions in a strong laser field $(5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{13}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{W}∕{\mathrm{cm}}^{2})$ by numerically solving the three-dimensional time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation. For circularly polarized laser fields and an impact energy of $1.2\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{keV}∕\mathrm{amu}$, we find a substantial modification of the electronic dynamics in the ${\mathrm{H}}^{+}\text{--}\mathrm{H}$ collision system as compared to field-free collisions. In particular, we observe a strong dependence on the initial laser phase and the impact parameter for both capture and ionization, which can be explained using semiclassical arguments.
Modeling the Melt Blowing of Hollow Fibers

In commercial operation, a melt-blowing die is used to produce fine fibers that are solid, not hollow. In this paper, a model was developed to predict what would happen if hollow fibers were produced with a modified melt-blowing die. The model involved the simultaneous solution of the momentum, energy, and continuity equations. The model equations were solved numerically. Predicted parameters included fiber hollowness, fiber attenuation, vibration frequency, vibration amplitude, temperature, and stress. Hollowness can affect the laydown pattern of the melt-blown fibers.
Effects of strain and fermentation conditions on production of cellulase by Trichoderma reesei

The objectives of the present study were to continue our investigation of the regulation of cellulase production in Trichoderma reesei by fermentation conditions, to compare the responses of the parent strain to those of the mutants, and to identify the inducer in the hydrolysis syrups
The Electronic Structure of DyGe3

Recently the crystal structure of a germanium-rich dysprosium germanide (DyGe[sub 3]) has been reported. Significant bonding interactions are present between the germanium atoms in the structure. One type of germanium forms kinked infinite chains [sup 1][sub [proportional to]][Ge]. The remaining two germanium atoms form dimers, stacked in a two-dimensional array as [sup 2][sub [proportional to]][Ge[sub 2]]. DyGe[sub 3] raises intriguing questions concerning stability and bonding; these are investigated with the aid of extended Hueckel calculations. Ge atoms receive electrons from Dy, and Ge states dominate below the Fermi level. There is an interesting electron balance between the two Ge sublattices. The Ge[sub 2] layers contain one additional electron, making them formally a Ge[sup [minus][sub 2]] double layer; the one-dimensional Ge chains contain two extra electrons, fitting the typical Zintl picture as Ge[sup 2[minus]]. The Ge[sub 2] double layers exhibit two-center bonding in the pairs, perpendicular to an electron difficient multicenter bonding system within the layers. The latter is responsible for the expected two-dimensional metallic conductivity.
Population change and environment in central and eastern Kenya.

This paper in compiling a case-study of six districts in Central and Eastern Provinces of Kenya addresses the two poles of theory regarding population environment and economy--restricted growth and degradation versus induced change and intensification. The paper presents data on population change and explores its relevance for changing patterns of resource use and economic opportunity....Changes in population density between the 1969 and 1979 censuses are compiled using regions of agroclimatic potential as surrogates for indicators of economic development....Trends in urbanization are also analysed to illuminate the dynamics of rural-urban linkages. (EXCERPT)
Localization and hopping conductivity in the quantum Hall regime

Etude du comportement asymptotique a grande distance de la fonction de Green pour deux particules, d'un systeme electronique bidimensionnel en presence de champ magnetique fort et d'un potentiel de bruit blanc gaussien. Loin du centre du niveau de Landau, on montre qu'un faible desordre conduit a une decroissance exponentielle de la fonction de Green
Chapter 10: Mining Genome-Wide Genetic Markers

Genome-wide association study (GWAS) aims to discover genetic factors underlying phenotypic traits. The large number of genetic factors poses both computational and statistical challenges. Various computational approaches have been developed for large scale GWAS. In this chapter, we will discuss several widely used computational approaches in GWAS. The following topics will be covered: (1) An introduction to the background of GWAS. (2) The existing computational approaches that are widely used in GWAS. This will cover single-locus, epistasis detection, and machine learning methods that have been recently developed in biology, statistic, and computer science communities. This part will be the main focus of this chapter. (3) The limitations of current approaches and future directions.
Acute cognitive effects of high doses of dextromethorphan relative to triazolam in humans.

Abstract Background Although concerns surrounding high-dose dextromethorphan (DXM) abuse have recently increased, few studies have examined the acute cognitive effects of high doses of DXM. The aim of this study was to compare the cognitive effects of DXM with those of triazolam and placebo. Methods Single, acute, oral doses of DXM (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800 mg/70 kg), triazolam (0.25, 0.5 mg/70 kg), and placebo were administered p.o. to twelve healthy volunteers with histories of hallucinogen use, under double-blind conditions, using an ascending dose run-up design. Effects on cognitive performance were examined at baseline and after drug administration for up to 6 h. Results Both triazolam and DXM produced acute impairments in attention, working memory, episodic memory, and metacognition. Impairments observed following doses of 100–300 mg/70 kg DXM were generally smaller in magnitude than those observed after 0.5 mg/70 kg triazolam. Doses of DXM that impaired performance to the same extent as triazolam were in excess of 10–30 times the therapeutic dose of DXM. Conclusion The magnitude of the doses required for these effects and the absence of effects on some tasks within the 100–300 mg/70 kg dose range of DXM, speak to the relatively broad therapeutic window of over-the-counter DXM preparations when used appropriately. However, the administration of supratherapeutic doses of DXM resulted in acute cognitive impairments on all tasks that were examined. These findings are likely relevant to cases of high-dose DXM abuse.
Can a Viral Serine Proteinase Inhibitor Prevent Postangioplasty Restenosis

The sudden disappearance of the rabbit overpopulation in Australia was caused by the rapid spread of infection by the myxoma virus. Because it is transmitted venereally, the virus takes full advantage of the fabled promiscuity of its host. More importantly, however, it promotes secretion of a number of proteins that defeat the rabbit's cellular and immune responses to infection, thereby allowing the virus to take unopposed hold of its victim's tissues. In this issue, Lucas et al1 present evidence that the serine proteinase inhibitor SERP-1, which is encoded by the myxoma virus2 and is essential to its ability to infect, ameliorates atherosclerosis in a rabbit model. Long ascribed to an inflammatory response, atherosclerosis begins with the transepithelial migration of monocytes and T cells from the blood to the neointimal space.3 Some of these monocytes then become macrophages that appear on histological examination as lipid-laden foam cells, which predominate in the earliest mass lesion of atherosclerosis, the fatty streak.3 The other clinically important forms of arteriosclerosis—postangioplasty restenosis, vein bypass graft failure, and transplant arteriosclerosis—can also begin as inflammatory lesions. All forms of arteriosclerosis are ultimately sustained by more complex processes that also involve migration of smooth muscle cells. Lucas et al1 obtained SERP-1 from tissue culture cells that had been infected with a recombinant vaccinia virus that also encoded SERP-1. They also obtained a mutant form of SERP-1 that lacked proteinase inhibitor activity, an important control. When native SERP-1 was infused locally (through a perforated catheter) at low doses or systemically at high doses, there was …
On the mechanism underlying bursting in the Aplysia abdominal ganglion R15 cell

Abstract A mathematical model is developed to describe the periodic behavior of the membrane potential of the Aplysia R 15 cell (a pacemaker neuron) in the presence of the drug tetrodotoxin. Using a technique of the qualitative theory of differential equations, this model is shown to be capable of posessing an oscillatory solution representing the bursting electrical behavior. Numerical solutions of the model are shown to predict many of the experimental results reported in the literature on this cell.
An unexpected mass of the urachus: a case report.

The urachus is a remnant of the urogenital sinus and allantois, which persists after antenatal involution. Despite its rudimentary postnatal presence, it can undergo metaplasia and tumor formation. Malignant transformation of the urachus is rare. However, these tumors can recur and develop pseudomyxoma peritonei. Thus, they should remain on the differential for any female patient with a pelvic mass. A 28-year old G9P2062 presented at 8 weeks' gestation requesting pregnancy termination. On ultrasound, a single live intrauterine pregnancy was visualized. Also identified was a left-sided 8- × 7- × 6-cm complex echogenic mass with thickened septations, heterogeneous appearance, and fluid-fluid levels suspicious for a mature cystic teratoma. Surgical termination of pregnancy and diagnostic laparoscopy was planned. Intraoperatively a multiloculated midline mass was identified and excised. Final pathology identified a mucinous urachal neoplasm of low malignant potential. The patient followed up with urology and underwent surgical staging. Midline location is a key feature that helps distinguish ovarian masses from urachal or bladder masses. Many urachal and bladder neoplasms are managed with complete surgical excision and staging, illustrating the importance of preoperative identification. If laterality of a mass is unclear, further imaging is recommended to characterize the mass preoperatively. This case also reveals the feasibility of a minimally invasive abdominal wall mass resection.