cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Automated Wearable Artificial Kidney (AWAK): A Peritoneal Dialysis Approach

Current work on wearable artificial kidneys is mostly based on hemodialysis or hemofiltration, either of which requires blood flow through an extracoporeal circulation (EC). This calls for anticoagulation and stringent monitoring and is encumbered with possible immunologic and non-immunologic complications secondary to blood-artificial membrane interactions. A peritoneal-based automated wearable artificial kidney (AWAK) requires no EC of blood and is therefore “bloodless.” By the continuous regeneration and reuse of the spent peritoneal dialysate in perpetuity, and the elimination of the need for manufacturing and purchasing fresh dialysate, AWAK is also “waterless.” A new sorbentbased assembly is designed to regenerate both the aqueous (AqC) and the protein (PrC) components of the spent dialysate, producing a novel, autologous protein-containing dialysate. The regenerated and reconstituted AqC has the same composition as the commercially available peritoneal dialysate, but is bicarbonate-containing and has a more physiological pH. The regenerated PrC is recycled back into the peritoneal cavity, thereby ameliorating or eliminating protein-loss. Depending on the steady-state protein concentrations attained, the PrC may also have the potential of both augmenting ultrafiltration (through its colloidal oncotic pressure) and mediating the removal of protein-bound uremic toxins. Additional sorbents can be incorporated into AWAK for the removal of middle molecular weight uremic toxins. The first prototype under construction is designed to regenerate 4 L of spent dialysate per hour or 96 L per day, i.e., about 8-12 times of the currently practiced dialysate flow rates. Round-the-clock dialysis and ultrafiltration is anticipated to provide steady-state metabolic-biochemical and fluid balance regulation, thereby eliminating the “shocks” of abrupt changes in these parameters that characterize the current dialytic modalities. Importantly, dialysis-on-the-go allows patients to return to more normal living activities.
Intrathecal Deep Digital Flexor Tenectomy for Treatment of Septic Tendonitis/Tenosynovitis in Four Horses

Objective: To describe partial removal of the intrathecal component of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) in horses with chronic septic DDF tendonitis and tenosynovitis unresponsive to conventional therapy, and to report long-term outcome. Study Design: Case series. Animals: Horses (n=4). Methods: Four horses with chronic septic DDF tendonitis and tenosynovitis were treated by surgical tenectomy of the intrathecal component of the DDFT, followed by stabilization in casts and subsequent corrective shoeing. All horses were previously managed unsuccessfully with combinations of conventional therapy consisting of systemic antibiotics, through and through tendon sheath lavage/open drainage, regional limb perfusions, tenoscopy with debridement and transection of the palmar/plantar annular ligament, and intrathecal antibiotics. Results: Time from initial injury/diagnosis to tenectomy ranged from 10 to 210 days. Mean hospitalization time after surgery was 82 days. Long-term follow-up (>1.5 years; mean, 3.8 years) was available. All 4 horses were able to walk comfortably at pasture and were used as broodmares. Conclusions: Intrathecal tenectomy is a viable surgical procedure for treatment of chronic septic tenosynovitis of the digital sheath that is complicated by septic tendonitis of the DDFT.
Role of Corynebacterium parvum in the activation of peritoneal macrophages: I. Association between intracellular C. parvum and cytotoxic macrophages☆

Abstract We have investigated the association between intracellular C. parvum (CP) and macrophage (Mφ) cytotoxicity. Mouse peritoneal Mφs were activated by ip administration of CP and were subjected to a combination of fractionation techniques to study this. Velocity sedimentation demonstrated that only the largest cells were cytotoxic. These same cells contained CP and suggested an association between the two variables. Further separation of the largest Mφs using a BSA equilibrium buoyant density gradient demonstrated that cytotoxicity was due to Mφs and further substantiated the strong correlation between intracellular CP and cytotoxicity. Various fluorochrome tagged CP preparations were also used to activate Mφs and to isolate CP-containing Mφs using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. When velocity-enriched Mφs were sorted on the basis of the presence or absence of fluorescent CP, only the Mφ fractions which contained CP were cytotoxic. The results indicate that most cytolytic macrophages present at the peak of the response contain CP. Thus, a convenient probe with which to follow macrophage activation at the single cell level was provided.
Biological immobilization of fertilizer phosphorus

Comparable uncultivated and cultivated Coastal Plain soils of New Jersey were analyzed for total inorganic and total organic soil P. Inorganic P was found to be greatly increased as a result of intensive fertilization. Organic P increased in most soil series examined, and up to 30 per cent of gains in total P in cultivated soils could be accounted for as increases in soil organic P. C: organic-P ratios in uncultivated soils were much higher than those usually encountered in soils containing humified organic matter. Cultivation has led to a considerable lowering of these ratios, as a result of decreases in organic-C contents and increases in organic-P contents.
Enforcing distributed information flow policies architecturally: the SAID approach

Architectural security of a distributed system is best considered at design time rather than further down the software life cycle where it may become very expensive to make even minor modifications to the software architecture. In this paper we take Architectural Interaction Diagrams (AID) [9,8], an architecture description framework with an unique ability to encode communication efficiently and augment actions of AID components with security levels to produce SAID. This new architecture description language enables the designer to impose information flow restriction policies on system communications at design time which in turn allows a reduction of the information flow analysis problem for distributed systems to the simpler problem of information flow analysis of individual components of the distributed system.
Definable subgroups of the product of two groups

On etudie les sous-groupes definissables du produit de deux groupes. On etablit un theoreme de decomposition
Effects of channel size on the ionization instability in MHD generators

An experimental and theoretical study of the ionization instability in nonequilibrium, continuous-electrode MHD generators is presented. Experiments have been conducted in flowing, atmospheric-pressure argon at 2100°K seeded with 0.1% by mole potassium to investigate the influence of electrode separation on the development and effects of the ionization instability. A two-dimensional, linear perturbation analysis of the governing equations was developed to predict the dependence of the critical Hall parameter for growth of the instability on the electrode separation, current density, and magnetic field. Essential to the analysis is the retention of the radiation and heat conduction terms of the energy equation. The experiment and theory were in general agreement and showed that the wavelength decreased with increasing magnetic field, increasing current density, or decreasing electrode separation. The critical Hall parameter was found to decrease with increasing electrode separation and to vary with the current density. From the experiments it was found that the effective Hall parameter decreased with increasing magnetic field or increasing electrode separation. The effective scalar conductivity showed no appreciable change for the three electrode separations.
Numerical implementation of a modified Liou-Steffen upwind scheme

References Ericsson, L. E., and Reding, J. P., "Asymmetric Flow Separation and Vortex Shedding on Bodies of Revolution," Tactical Missile Aerodynamics: General Topics, 2nd ed., edited by M. J. Hemsch, Vol. 141, Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics, AIAA, Washington, DC, 1992, pp. 391452. 2 Prandtl, L., and Tietjens, O., Applied Hydroand Aeromechanics, 1st ed., Dover, New York, 1934, pp. 279, 280. Foeppl, L., "Wirbelbewegungen hinter einem Kreiszylinder," Sitzungsbericht, Koniglich Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften, Math.-Phys. Klasse, Jg. 1913, Munchen, Germany, Jan. 1913. Stahl, W., "Suppression of Vortex Asymmetry Behind Circular Cones," AIAA Journal, Vol. 28, No. 6, 1990, pp. 1138-1140; also AIAA Paper 893372, Aug. 1989. Ng, T. T., "Effect of a Single Strake on the Forebody Vortex Asymmetry," Journal of Aircraft, Vol. 27, No. 9, 1990, pp. 844-846. Stahl, W., Asghar, A., and Mahmood, M., "Suppression of Vortex Asymmetry and Side Force on Circular Cone," DLR-IB 222-93 A 12, Cologne, Germany, April 1993. 7 Pidd, M., and Smith, J. H. B., "Asymmetric Vortex Flow over Circular Cones," Vortex Flow Aerodynamics, AGARD CP-494, July 1991, pp. 181-11.
Estimating polygenic effects using markers of the entire genome.

Molecular markers have been used to map quantitative trait loci. However, they are rarely used to evaluate effects of chromosome segments of the entire genome. The original interval-mapping approach and various modified versions of it may have limited use in evaluating the genetic effects of the entire genome because they require evaluation of multiple models and model selection. Here we present a Bayesian regression method to simultaneously estimate genetic effects associated with markers of the entire genome. With the Bayesian method, we were able to handle situations in which the number of effects is even larger than the number of observations. The key to the success is that we allow each marker effect to have its own variance parameter, which in turn has its own prior distribution so that the variance can be estimated from the data. Under this hierarchical model, we were able to handle a large number of markers and most of the markers may have negligible effects. As a result, it is possible to evaluate the distribution of the marker effects. Using data from the North American Barley Genome Mapping Project in double-haploid barley, we found that the distribution of gene effects follows closely an L-shaped Gamma distribution, which is in contrast to the bell-shaped Gamma distribution when the gene effects were estimated from interval mapping. In addition, we show that the Bayesian method serves as an alternative or even better QTL mapping method because it produces clearer signals for QTL. Similar results were found from simulated data sets of F 2 and backcross (BC) families.
Physics of cancer propagation: A game theory perspective

This is a theoretical paper which examines at a game theoretical perspective the dynamics of cooperators and cheater cells under metabolic stress conditions and high spatial heterogeneity. Although the ultimate aim of this work is to understand the dynamics of cancer tumor evolution under stress, we use a simple bacterial model to gain fundamental insights into the progression of resistance to drugs under high competition and stress conditions.
The world price of coal

A significant increase in the seaborne trade for coal over the past 20 years has unified formerly separate coal markets into a world market in which prices move in tandem. By virtue of its large domestic market, the USA has become the residual supplier and price setter in the world coal market. Changes in multifactor productivity have been the primary cause of the long-term fluctuations in coal prices that have been observed in the USA since the end of the Second World War and in the world coal market.
Physical properties of quaternary mixed transition metal sulfides: ACuFeS2 (A = K, Rb, Cs)

Abstract Three quaternary sulfides ACuFeS2 (A = K, Rb, Cs) with the ThCr2Si2-type structure were prepared from alkali metal carbonate A2CO3, Fe2O3, and CuO by CS2/N2 sulfurization. All of the samples show semiconducting behavior. Magnetic susceptibility data indicate the presence of localized moment arising from the di- and trivalent iron ions. The semiconducting properties observed in this system are in contrast to the metallic behavior predicted by theoretical calculations.
Effects of Author Contribution Disclosures and Numeric Limitations on Authorship Trends

OBJECTIVE To determine whether editorial policies designed to eliminate gratuitous authorship (globally referred to as authorship limitation policies ), including author contribution disclosures and/or numeric restrictions, have significantly affected authorship trends during a 20-year period. METHODS We used a custom PERL-based algorithm to extract data, including number of authors, publication date, and article subtype, from articles published from January 1, 1986, through December 31, 2006, in 16 medical journals (8 with explicit authorship guidelines restricting authorship and 8 without formal authorship policies), comprising 307,190 articles. Trends in the mean number of authors per article, sorted by journal type, article subtype, and presence of authorship limitations, were determined using Sen's slope analysis and compared using analysis of variance and matched-pair analysis. Trend data were compared among the journals that had implemented 1 or both of these formal restrictive authorship policies and those that had not in order to determine their effect on authorship over time. RESULTS The number of authors per article has been increasing among all journals at a mean ± SD rate of 0.076±0.057 authors per article per year. No significant differences in authorship rate were observed between journals with and without authorship limits before enforcement ( F =1.097; P =.30). After enforcement, no significant change in authorship rates was observed (matched pair: F =0.425; P =.79). CONCLUSION Implementation of authorship limitation policies does not slow the trend of increasing numbers of authors per article over time.
Glycosylated hemoglobin as a screening test for carbohydrate intolerance in pregnancy

The usefulness of glycosylated hemoglobin as a prenatal screening test for carbohydrate intolerance was studied in 806 consecutive subjects by correlating glycosylated hemoglobin to 1-hour post-50 gm Glucola plasma glucose (1°G) levels, and 3-hour oral glucose tolerance tests (3°GTT). Sixty-seven subjects whose 1°G ≥ 150 mg/100 ml received a 3°GTT; 12 were diagnostic of carbohydrate intolerance. Compared to carbohydrate-tolerant controls, carbohydrate-intolerant gravid patients had higher 1°G (p
Topological preservation techniques for nonlinear process monitoring

Abstract This work proposes a novel approach for the offline development and online implementation of data-driven process monitoring (PM) using topological preservation techniques, specifically self-organizing maps (SOM). Previous topological preservation PM applications have been restricted due to the lack of monitoring and diagnosis tools. In the proposed approach, the capabilities of SOM are further extended so that all aspects of PM can be performed in a single environment. First for fault detection, using SOM's vector quantization abilities, an SOM-based Gaussian mixture model (GMM) is proposed to define the normal region. For identification, an SOM-based contribution plot is proposed to identify the variables most responsible for the fault. This is done by analyzing the residual of the faulty point and an SOM model of the normal region used in fault detection. The data points are projected on the model by locating the best matching unit (BMU) of the point. Finally, for fault diagnosis a procedure is formulated involving the concept of multiple self-organizing maps (MSOM), creating a map for each fault. This allows the ability to include new faults without directly affecting previously characterized faults. A Tennessee Eastman Process (TEP) application is performed on dynamic faults such as random variations, sticky valves and a slow drift in kinetics. Previous studies of the TEP have considered particular feed-step-change faults. Results indicate an excellent performance when compared to linear and nonlinear distance preservation techniques and standard nonlinear SOM approaches in fault diagnosis and identification.
Combining Phylogenetic and Syntenic Analyses for Understanding the Evolution of TCP ECE Genes in Eudicots

TCP ECE genes encode transcription factors which have received much attention for their repeated recruitment in the control of floral symmetry in core eudicots, and more recently in monocots. Major duplications of TCP ECE genes have been described in core eudicots, but the evolutionary history of this gene family is unknown in basal eudicots. Reconstructing the phylogeny of ECE genes in basal eudicots will help set a framework for understanding the functional evolution of these genes. TCP ECE genes were sequenced in all major lineages of basal eudicots and Gunnera which belongs to the sister clade to all other core eudicots. We show that in these lineages they have a complex evolutionary history with repeated duplications. We estimate the timing of the two major duplications already identified in the core eudicots within a timeframe before the divergence of Gunnera and after the divergence of Proteales. We also use a synteny-based approach to examine the extent to which the expansion of TCP ECE genes in diverse eudicot lineages may be due to genome-wide duplications. The three major core-eudicot specific clades share a number of collinear genes, and their common evolutionary history may have originated at the γ event. Genomic comparisons in Arabidopsis thaliana and Solanum lycopersicum highlight their separate polyploid origin, with syntenic fragments with and without TCP ECE genes showing differential gene loss and genomic rearrangements. Comparison between recently available genomes from two basal eudicots Aquilegia coerulea and Nelumbo nucifera suggests that the two TCP ECE paralogs in these species are also derived from large-scale duplications. TCP ECE loci from basal eudicots share many features with the three main core eudicot loci, and allow us to infer the makeup of the ancestral eudicot locus.
Transformation of Sulfur Species during Steam/Air Regeneration on a Ni Biomass Conditioning Catalyst

Sulfur K-edge XANES identified transformation of sulfides to sulfates during combined steam and air regeneration on a Ni/Mg/K/Al2O3 catalyst used to condition biomass-derived syngas. This catalyst was tested over multiple reaction/regeneration/reduction cycles. Postreaction catalysts showed the presence of sulfides on H2S-poisoned sites. Although H2S was observed to leave the catalyst bed during regeneration, sulfur remained on the catalyst, and a transformation from sulfides to sulfates was observed. Following the oxidative regeneration, the subsequent H2 reduction led to a partial reduction of sulfates back to sulfides, indicating the difficulty and sensitivity in achieving complete sulfur removal during regeneration for biomass-conditioning catalysts.
Classic Maya Political History: Hieroglyphic and Archaeological Evidence

Preface List of figures List of tables 1. Introduction Norman Hammond 2. Classic Maya emblem glyphs Peter Mathews 3. Prehistoric polities of the Pasion region: hieroglyphic texts and their archaeological settings Peter Mathews, and Gordon R. Willey 4. An epigraphic history of the western Maya region Linda Schele 5. Cyles of growth at Tikal Christopher Jones 6. Polities in the Northeast Peten, Guatemala T. Patrick Culbert 7. Dynastic historys and cultural evolution at Copan, Honduras William L. Fash, and Davis S. Stuart 8. Diversity and continuity in Maya civilization Robert S. Sharer 9. Elite interaction during the terminal classic period: new evidence from Chichen Itza Linnea H. Wren, and Peter Schmidt 10. Royal visits and other intersite relationships among the classic Maya Linda Schele, and Peter Mathews 11. Inside the black box: defining Maya polity Norman Hammond 12. Maya elite interaction - through a glass, sideways Norman Yoffee 13. Maya political history and elite interaction: a summary view T. Patrick Culbert.
Rotational band-structures in transitional odd-A nuclei

Abstract A triaxial rotor model describes all known high- and low-spin states of unique parity based on the h 11 2 -shell in 187Ir and 195Au. Very low-lying quasi-γ-bands are shown to exist in the triaxial region.
Effect of surfactants on the growth and departure of bubbles from solid surfaces

Bubbles are an essential mass and energy transport mechanism found in many industrial systems. The size of a bubble and time required for it to form impacts the efficiency of many systems. It has been observed that a surfactant added to an ebullient flow field reduces the departure size of the bubble and the formation time. Experiments and numerical simulations have been conducted to capture bubble growth with and without surfactants in an isothermal system. The results indicate that necking occurs more rapidly with a surfactant present. Final calculations have shown that the tangential velocity causes an increase in total pressure on the neck of the bubble. This additional force causes the neck to collapse more rapidly.
Short-wavelength automated perimetry

Short-wavelength automated perimetry (SWAP) is a visual field test designed to assess the short-wavelength sensitive color system by isolating the blue-yellow pathway. SWAP is a powerful clinical tool able to detect visual field deficits 3 to 5 years before standard automated perimetry (white-on-white) in most glaucoma patients, and progression of visual field defects up to 3 years earlier. SWAP deficits are predictive of the onset and location of future visual field loss, and they correlate well with structural damage associated with glaucoma. The main disadvantage of SWAP remains the longer testing time required. In the clinic, it is recommended that SWAP be performed on patients who are at higher risk for glaucoma. Although SWAP was originally developed to detect visual loss in glaucoma patients, it is also useful for patients with diabetic retinopathy and maculopathy, optic neuropathies, vision loss associated with HIV, migraine, and multiple sclerosis. More sensitive psychophysical tests of visual function, such as SWAP, can significantly shorten clinical trials and aid in the validation of new therapeutic approaches.
Best practices in interprofessional education and training in surgery: Experiences from American College of Surgeons-Accredited Education Institutes

Background Interprofessional education (IPE) in health care describes a process for training that places health care learners from different professional disciplines into an environment or situation in which shared or linked educational goals are pursued. IPE represents a new way of thinking about education as a value proposition directed at high-quality interprofessional patient care and as such is an innovative strategy endorsed in statements by the Institute of Medicine and the World Health Organization. The requirements of the American College of Surgeons−accredited Education Institutes (ACS-AEIs) for Comprehensive (Level I) accreditation state that education and training activities at the accredited institutes (simulation centers) must be multidisciplinary in nature. Until recently, concepts of shared interprofessional educational goals and facilitation of interdisciplinary colearning have not been addressed explicitly by the Consortium of ACS-AEIs. Methods In March 2012, the ACS Education Division convened a forum on IPE at the Annual Meeting of the Consortium of ACS-accredited Education Institutes in Chicago, IL. Five different ACS-AEI perspectives on IPE and training were presented, covering (1) simulation-based crisis resource management training for operating room teams, (2) the use of multidisciplinary simulation at an academic medical center-based simulation facility, (3) the development of a collaborative IPE curriculum between nursing and medical schools at a major university, (4) the development of a simulation-based interprofessional obstetrics educational program at a university medical center, and (5) the development of an interprofessional macrosystem simulation program in conjunction with opening a new hospital facility. We describe these experiences and present them as best practices in simulation-based IPE in surgery. Conclusion These IPE experiences in the ACS-AEIs reflect varied and robust approaches to integrated interdisciplinary teaching and learning. Demands and directives to increase these types of educational activities in the near future will have to be met with a wider range of offerings and greater specific knowledge and expertise within the ACS-AEI Consortium.
Modeling Left-Turn Blockage and Capacity at Signalized Intersection with Short Left-Turn Bay

A left-turn bay that does not have a sufficient length would be blocked by the adjacent through traffic. Left-turn vehicles can also spill back to block the through traffic when the left-turn demand is high. These two types of left-turn-related blockages have adverse effects on the operation of a signalized intersection. Left-turn bay blockage by through traffic will reduce the left-turn capacity, and left-turn bay spillback will affect the adjacent through capacity. Both problems are uncharted in the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM). This research studies these two blockage scenarios associated with left-turn bays under different left-turn signal operations. The capacity of the left-turn and through movements is modeled as a function of the length of the left-turn bay by using a probabilistic approach, taking into account potential blockage due to a short left-turn bay length. The developed capacity model will be validated on the basis of CORSIM simulations of a real-world signalized intersection. The resea...
Riparian Butterfly (Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea) Assemblages Associated with Tamarix‐Dominated, Native Vegetation–Dominated, and Tamarix Removal Sites along the Arkansas River, Colorado, U.S.A.

We studied butterfly assemblages at eight riparian sites over five years. Sites included Tamarix spp.–dominated riparian areas; sites where mechanical means or biological control agents (Diorhabda elongata deserticola) were used to limit Tamarix; sites that were mixtures of native woody vegetation (e.g., Populus and Salix) and Tamarix; and native vegetation sites. We identified a gradient in butterfly community composition that changed from treated Tamarix sites, through mixed vegetation, to native vegetation sites. Tamarix sites had lower butterfly metric (riparian butterfly index [RBI]) values than did native vegetation sites. The RBI is based on a combination of richness measures and the presence of specific species and groups of butterflies. There was no significant change in the RBI over sampling periods at any sites, including both Tamarix eradication sites. The RBI at sites where Tamarix control took place did not approach restoration goals based on values at unimpacted sites. Positive effects on riparian butterfly assemblages were not linked to any Tamarix control efforts, nor did we detect a decline from initial butterfly metrics at Tamarix sites. Direct ordination provided information on environmental variables, such as amount of nectar and herbaceous plant richness, which may be important in riparian restoration efforts.
DYNAMICS OF ENROLLMENT AND PROGRAM CHOICE IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES

Because community colleges offer an alternative track in postsecondary education, the dynamics of enrollment and success for its students do not necessarily follow the patterns for those in other forms of higher education. Unfortunately, much of the criticism of community colleges focuses on the class effects of enrollment in these institutions but does not consider as well the concomitant effects of age, gender, and program of study. To understand community colleges, therefore, researchers should focus on the characteristics that make these students unique. Following this premise, our investigation explores the reality of today's community colleges for all its students, not just those of traditional college age, nor those enrolled only in transfer programs. Although gender and socioeconomic status have a significant effect on determining a student's program of study, our findings also demonstrate the importance that age plays in explaining the dynamics of program enrollment. Furthermore, this study shows...
Has WARN warned? The impact of advance-notice legislation on the receipt of advance notice

The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 1988 requires large employers to provide sixty days of written notice to affected employees prior to a plant closing or large-scale layoff. We use individual-level data from the 1990 Displaced Worker Survey to measure the extent to which the provision of advance notice changed after the Act was implemented in early 1989. Surprisingly, the Act appears to have had virtually no impact on the provision of advance notice of the length mandated by the law.
Terpenoid biosynthesis in Euphorbia latex

The latex of Euphorbia lathyris can utilize acetate, pyruvate and mevalonate for triterpene synthesis in vitro. Acetyl-CoA, hydroxymethylglutarate, hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA and isopentenyl pyrophosphate were not effective as precursors for triterpene biosynthesis. Acetate is utilized only by the terpenoid pathway and by the tricarboxylic acid cycle; it is not used for fatty acid synthesis in this system. However, phospholipids were found to be efficient acyl donors for triterpene ester synthesis. The observed selectivity of precursor utilization as well as the observed rates for product formation indicate separate sites for triterpenol and triterpene ester synthesis and that one is not precursor for the other.
Diode-laser-side-pumped Nd:YAG Q-switch TEM 00 laser

ABSTRACT The diode laser side pumped E-O Q-switch Nd:YAG laser was described that produced energy O.36-mJ/pulse. 7-nspulse width ,pulse repetition rates 50-Hz, TEM00 mode.The laser has a zigzag slab geometry, side pumped with a quasi- cw 15Wdiode bar. We used a 1 .1%Nd:YAG Brewster-cut seven-bounce thin trapezoidal slab that was 1 .2mm thick.Using a cylindrical lens (f=1 .6nim),it made the diode laser couple in the slab. The laser resonator was a plane-concavecavity, radius of mirror curvature was 3m. The cavity length was about 20cm. The plane output mirror transitivity was T=0. 1 . Wedecided to the beam quality M2=1 . 1 . Q-switchlaser slope efficiency was 19%. keyword solid-state lasers, side pumped, diode laser, single transverse mode 1 .INTRODUCTION Diode-laser(LD) pumped solid-state lasers have been one ofthe most interesting and significant developments in laserengineering in recent years1. LD pumping offered high reliability, efficiency and compactness. Side pumping has been togenerate the fundamental transverse mode efficiently2. Recently a side pumping technique used in Q-switch cavity-dumpedand E-O Q-switch laser3 demonstrated efficiency side-pumped operation while still maintaining TEM00 operation. Wereported on a E-O Q-switched laser that used a numerical aperture(NA>1) and short focus length (f=1 .6mm) cylindricallens coupler thin Nd:YAG thin trapezoidal slab and generated 0.36-mJ, 7-ns, TEMo0. pulse repetition rates 50Hz whileusing
Privatize to Save the Fish

Fish stocks have been depleting, due to the reasonable desire of nations and individuals to maximize their self-interest, which brings about overfishing. This problem, popularly known as the “tragedy of the commons,” is described here in detail, and several solutions are offered, including new regulations, Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQs), that is, permits to harvest fish, and privatization of ocean regions. The authors support this third option.
PLEXdb: gene expression resources for plants and plant pathogens

PLEXdb (http://www.plexdb.org), in partnership with community databases, supports comparisons of gene expression across multiple plant and pathogen species, promoting individuals and/or consortia to upload genome-scale data sets to contrast them to previously archived data. These analyses facilitate the interpretation of structure, function and regulation of genes in economically important plants. A list of Gene Atlas experiments highlights data sets that give responses across different developmental stages, conditions and tissues. Tools at PLEXdb allow users to perform complex analyses quickly and easily. The Model Genome Interrogator (MGI) tool supports mapping gene lists onto corresponding genes from model plant organisms, including rice and Arabidopsis. MGI predicts homologies, displays gene structures and supporting information for annotated genes and full-length cDNAs. The gene list-processing wizard guides users through PLEXdb functions for creating, analyzing, annotating and managing gene lists. Users can upload their own lists or create them from the output of PLEXdb tools, and then apply diverse higher level analyses, such as ANOVA and clustering. PLEXdb also provides methods for users to track how gene expression changes across many different experiments using the Gene OscilloScope. This tool can identify interesting expression patterns, such as up-regulation under diverse conditions or checking any gene's suitability as a steady-state control.
Modified Electron-Capture GLC Assay for Salsolinol in Brain Tissue

Abstract A modified assay for a neuroamine-derived tetrahydroiso- quinoline, salsolinol, is presented. It combines the ease and rapidity of solvent extraction from brain tissue with the sensitivity of electron - capture GLC. Detection of salsolinol (1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-l-methyl- 6,7-isoquinolinediol), the alkaloid derived from condensation of dopamine and acetaldehyde, at levels of 5–10 ng/g of brain tissue is possible. The advantages afforded by the modifications are discussed in relation to existing procedures.
Activating Transcription Factor 1 and Cyclic AMP Response Element Modulator Can Modulate the Activity of the Immunoglobulin κ 3′ Enhancer

Previously we determined that the immunoglobulin kappa 3′ enhancer (κE3′) contains at least two functional DNA sequences (PU.1/NF-EM5 and E2A) within its 132-base pair active core. We have determined that the activities of these two sequences are insufficient to account for the entire activity of the 132-base pair core. Using site-directed linker scan mutagenesis across the core fragment we identified several additional functional sequences. We used one of these functional sequences to screen a λgt11 cDNA expression library resulting in the isolation of cDNA clones encoding the transcription factors ATF-1 (activating transcription factor) and CREM (cyclic AMP response element modulator). Because ATF-1 and CREM are known to bind to cAMP response elements (CRE), this functional sequence was named the κE3′-CRE. We show that dibutyryl cAMP can increase κE3′ enhancer activity, and in transient expression assays ATF-1 caused a 4-5-fold increase in the activity of the core enhancer while CREM-α expression resulted in repression of enhancer activity. RNA analyses showed increased levels of ATF-1 mRNA during B cell development and some changes in CREM transcript processing. By joining various fragments of the κE3′ enhancer to the κE3′-CRE, we observed that the κE3′-CRE can synergistically increase transcription in association with the PU.1/NF-EM5 binding sites, suggesting a functional interaction between the proteins that bind to these DNA sequences. Consistent with this possibility, we found that ATF-1 and CREM can physically interact with PU.1. The isolation of activator and repressor proteins that bind to the κE3′-CRE may relate to previous conflicting results concerning the role of the cAMP signal transduction pathway in κ gene transcription.
Health system preparedness for bioterrorism: bringing the tabletop to the hospital.

Objective:To evaluate the acceptance and usefulness of a hospital-based tabletop bioterrorism exercise.Design:A descriptive study of responses to a smallpox scenario delivered as a tabletop exercise in three modules.Setting:A large, multi-institutional urban health System.Participants:Healthcare workers representing 16 hospital departments.Results:Thirty-nine (78%) of 50 invited employees from 4 hospitals participated. Key responses highlighted the importance of pre-event planning in intra-departmental communication, identification of resources for the dependents of health-care workers, clarification of the chain of command within the hospital, establishment of a link to key governmental agencies, and advanced identification of negative pressure rooms for cohorting large numbers of patients. Almost one-fourth of the participants described their hospital departaient as poorly prepared for a bioterrorism event of moderate size. At the conclusion of the tabletop, 79% of the participants stated that the exercise had increased their knowledge of preplanning activities. Seventy-nine percent of all participants, 94% of physicians and nurses, and 95% of participants from non-university hospitals ranked the exercise as extremely or very useful. The exercise was completed in 3% hours and its total direct cost (excluding lost time from work) was $225 (U.S.).Conclusions:Tabletop exercises are a feasible, well-accepted modality for hospital bioterrorism preparedness training. Hospital employees, including physicians and nurses, rank this method as highly useful for guiding preplanning activities. Infection control staff and hospital epidemiologists should play a lead role in hospital preparedness activities. Further assessment of the optimal duration, type, and frequency of tabletop exercises is needed.
Hoover Seeds, inc.: A Period of Transition

Hoover Seeds is a fictional case study written to illustrate the challenges faced by food and agribusiness firms that are transitioning from small, entrepreneurial businesses to larger, more professionally managed enterprises. Though fictional, the competitive and financial situation of Hoover Seeds is based on realistic facts. The case introduces Dan Hoover, the Chief Executive Officer of Hoover Seeds, Inc., a small, family‐owned and operated seed company in Ohio. Founded by his grandfather, Dan has worked his way up the ranks of the company and, now leading the company, has worked to expand market share. The case study details the sales, production, administration, and finances of the firm. Exhibit A includes a full set of financial statements over four years. The case also has industry context with market, customer, and competitor details.
Theoretical-experimental correlation of plate flutter boundaries at low supersonic speeds.

Thin flat plates flutter boundaries determination at supersonic speeds noting boundary layer effect
The pattern of expression of Mn and Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase varies among squamous cell cancers of the lung, larynx, and oral cavity.

Background Despite the importance of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the development of smoking-related cancers, little is known about the pattern of expression of ROS scavengers in these cancers. Methods In this present study, we examined the expression of manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) and copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn-SOD), which are essential enzymes that eliminate ROS, in squamous cell cancers (SCCs) of the lung (n = 12), larynx (n = 13), and oral cavity (n = 20). Results SCCs of larynx and oral cavity showed significantly enhanced immuhistochemical expression of Mn-SOD compared with the matched uninvolved epithelium. The higher expression of Mn-SOD was shown to be late and early events in the process of SCC development in the larynx and the oral cavity, respectively. The expression of Mn-SOD in SCCs of the lung was significantly lower compared with luminal cells of the uninvolved epithelium but not compared with basal cells or an average expression of SOD in basal and luminal cells. The expression of both Mn-SOD and cytoplasmic or nuclear Cu-Zn-SOD in bronchial epithelium adjacent to invasive cancer was significantly lower compared with its expression in the uninvolved bronchial epithelium away from cancer. This resulted in a significant difference in SOD expression between cancer and uninvolved bronchial epithelium away from cancer but not between cancer and uninvolved epithelium adjacent to cancer. Conclusions There are significant differences in the expression of Mn-SOD and Cu-Zn-SOD among SCCs of the lung, larynx, and oral cavity. The results also suggest that variations in distance between cancer and uninvolved tissues evaluated could contribute to conflicting results of SOD expression. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 24: 859–867, 2002
SU-E-T-553: Measurement of Incident Electron Spots On TrueBeam

Purpose: Lateral dimensions of the incident electron beam (spot sizes) are essential for accurate modelling of x‐ray fields, especially for small field output factors and penumbrae. We present spot sizes measured on the Varian TrueBeam linac and propose an explanation for the observed shapes. Methods: Spot were measured on 3 TrueBeam linacs using the 4X, 6X, 6FFF, 8X, 10X, 10FFF, and 15X beams. Two methods were used: a spot camera, and an edge CT reconstruction based on images of a thin plate with edge intersecting the beam at different collimator rotations. 2‐dimensional Gaussian functions were fit to the data, with the spot orientation used as a fitting parameter. Results: Spots were consistent for the 3 linacs. Sigmas of the fitted Gaussians were between 0.47 and 1.05 mm for all the beams. The 6X, 6FFF, and 15X beams had a distinct shape: the major axes were 30–40% larger than the minor axes, and the major axes were oriented 40 degrees from the inplane direction. The remaining spots were more symmetric, with major axes at most 15% larger than minor, and a similar orientation. The spot shapes could be explained by positing a helical electron motion at the entrance to the bend magnet, and using the known (non‐achromatic) transport through the magnet. Fringe fields of the bend magnet, solenoid, or steering coils could produce the helical motion; the precise source is not known. Spots measured with the edge technique were 10% smaller in size than those measured with the camera. The 10FFF spots were 10% smaller than the 10X spots, as measured with the camera, but the 6X and 6FFF spots were similar to each other. Conclusion: Representative spots for TrueBeam are presented. Values may be used for input to modelling of fluence output, for example using Monte Carlo methods. Several of the authors are employees of Varian Medical Systems, as noted in the affiliations.
Simulation studies of CZT detectors as gamma-ray calorimeter

Abstract Several astrophysics and nuclear physics applications require the detection of photons in the energy range of keV up to several MeV with good position and energy resolution. For certain applications cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) detectors might be the detector option of choice. Up to now, CZT detectors have mainly been used in the energy range between a few keV and ∼1 MeV. They operate at room temperature and achieve excellent position resolution and substantially better energy resolution than scintillation detectors. Furthermore, they can be built more compact and more economically than Ge detectors and do not require cryogenic cooling. In this paper, we describe the results of 3-D Monte Carlo simulations of a “CZT calorimeter” that can be used to detect photons in the keV to several MeV range. The main objective of these studies is to evaluate the feasibility of CZT calorimeters, to study their performance and detect and understand performance limiting factors. Such a calorimeter consists of many layers of closely packed pixellated CZT detector units. Our simulations of single detector units reproduce experimental results, indicating that our simulations capture the main factors that limit the performance of a detector unit. For a full calorimeter the limiting factors within a range from ∼20 keV to ∼10 MeV are (a) the fact, that the incident energy is not totally deposited within the detector area because secondary particles leave the detector against the direction from which the incident radiation enters, (b) signal loss when the interaction is near the pixel edges and near the anodes. In this case signals which are induced in neighboring pixels are discarded when their intensities lie below the trigger threshold, (c) the steep weighting potential gradient close to the anodes, which affects about 0.25 cm next to the anode and impairs there the correction of the depth of interaction (DOI). This effect dominates in thin detectors (0.5 cm). Understanding the limiting factors we come to the conclusion that 1–1.5 cm thick detector units can be used to build a calorimeter with good performance over the energy range from ∼20 keV to ∼10 MeV.
Effect of Relative Humidity on the Prediction of Natural Convection Heat Transfer Coefficients

Results of an investigation into the sensitivity of natural convection heat transfer correlations with respect to relative humidity are presented. Given the relatively small values of natural convection heat transfer coefficients, small changes in the thermophysical properties can have a significant impact on the values predicted by theoretical/empirical correlations. In this study, the thermophysical properties are assumed to be those of a dry air and water vapor mixture. The mole fractions are determined as a function of relative humidity. Several widely used natural convection heat transfer correlations have been examined to determine the impact of varying the relative humidity on the predicted Nusselt number. The results show a general trend of an increasing Nusselt number with relative humidity. The results presented in this paper provide an engineering tool for obtaining accurate values of natural convection heat transfer coefficients for a moist air environment using only the thermophysical propert...
FIREWACh: high-throughput functional detection of transcriptional regulatory modules in mammalian cells

Promoters and enhancers establish precise gene transcription patterns. The development of functional approaches for their identification in mammalian cells has been complicated by the size of these genomes. Here we report a high-throughput functional assay for directly identifying active promoter and enhancer elements called FIREWACh (Functional Identification of Regulatory Elements Within Accessible Chromatin), which we used to simultaneously assess over 80,000 DNA fragments derived from nucleosome-free regions within the chromatin of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and identify 6,364 active regulatory elements. Many of these represent newly discovered ESC-specific enhancers, showing enriched binding-site motifs for ESC-specific transcription factors including SOX2, POU5F1 (OCT4) and KLF4. The application of FIREWACh to additional cultured cell types will facilitate functional annotation of the genome and expand our view of transcriptional network dynamics.
Semiconductor−Metal Composite Nanostructures. To What Extent Do Metal Nanoparticles Improve the Photocatalytic Activity of TiO2 Films?

Noble metal particles of Au, Pt, and Ir were deposited on nanostructured TiO2 film using an electrophoretic approach. The nanocomposite films were characterized by UV-absorption and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The deposition of tetraoctylammonium bromide (TOAB)-capped metal nanoparticles on TiO2 films improved the photocurrent generation and induced a shift in the apparent flat band potential. The TiO2 films modified with TOAB-capped metal nanoparticles were less prone to the electron scavenging by the oxygen in solution. Improved photoelectrochemical performance of semiconductor−metal composite film is attributed to the shift in quasi-Fermi level of the composite to more negative potentials. Continuous irradiation of the composite films over a long period causes photocurrent to decrease as the semiconductor−metal interface undergoes chemical changes. The role of semiconductor−metal composite films in improving the rate of photocatalytic degradation of an azo dye is also discussed.