cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Medical staff contributions to thirdhand smoke contamination in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Author(s): Northrup, Thomas F; Stotts, Angela L; Suchting, Robert; Khan, Amir M; Green, Charles; Quintana, Penelope JE; Hoh, Eunha; Hovell, Melbourne F; Matt, Georg E | Abstract: IntroductionNon-smoking policies are strictly enforced in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), which may still become contaminated by thirdhand smoke (THS), posing potential health risks to medically fragile infants. Study aims were to explore contamination routes by characterizing nicotine levels (THS proxy) found on the fingers of NICU medical staff and to assess finger-nicotine correlates.MethodsNICU medical staff were surveyed regarding smoking and electronic nicotine devices (ENDS) use/exposure, and household characteristics. Approximately 35% of staff were randomly selected for a finger-nicotine wipe. Three separate quantile regressions modeled percentiles associated with: presence of any finger nicotine, finger-nicotine levels above the median field blank level (i.e. 0.377 ng/wipe), and finger-nicotine levels two times the median blank.ResultsThe final sample size was 246 (n=260 approached; n=14 refusals). Over three-quarters (78.5%) reported some exposure to tobacco smoke or ENDS vapor/aerosols. After field-blank adjustments, the median nicotine level (ng/finger wipe) was 0.232 (IQR: 0.021-0.681) and 78.3% of medical staff had measurable finger-nicotine levels. Both being near smoking in friends'/family members' homes and finger-surface area were related to elevated finger-nicotine levels (pl0.05) in the median blank model.ConclusionsAlmost four in five NICU staff had measurable finger nicotine, with finger surface area and frequency of reported exposure to tobacco smoke in friends'/family members' homes emerging as important correlates. Future research will determine the impact of THS on NICU infants. Medical personnel working in a NICU should be cognizant of secondhand smoke and THS, particularly inside friends'/family members' homes, to reduce potential NICU contamination and infant exposures.
Vecalign: Improved Sentence Alignment in Linear Time and Space

We introduce Vecalign, a novel bilingual sentence alignment method which is linear in time and space with respect to the number of sentences being aligned and which requires only bilingual sentence embeddings. On a standard German–French test set, Vecalign outperforms the previous state-of-the-art method (which has quadratic time complexity and requires a machine translation system) by 5 F1 points. It substantially outperforms the popular Hunalign toolkit at recovering Bible verse alignments in medium- to low-resource language pairs, and it improves downstream MT quality by 1.7 and 1.6 BLEU in Sinhala-English and Nepali-English, respectively, compared to the Hunalign-based Paracrawl pipeline.
Experience Disclosing Mental Health Conditions Among College Students from Different Ethnic Backgrounds

Aim: The current study compared disclosure of mental health problems to staff, faculty, and peers among college students from different ethnic backgrounds. Background: Although there are differences in mental health stigma between college students from different ethnic backgrounds, there is limited research on whether these differences are associated with negative experiences disclosing mental health conditions on campus. Methods: The sample ( N = 66) was 71% female; average age was 19.03 years ( SD = 1.14). Participants identified as Latino/a (35.4%), Asian American (33.8%), Caucasian (13.8%), or other/mixed ethnicity (16.9%). Results: For disclosure to staff, there was a main effect of ethnicity. Post-hoc analyses found that Latino/a students were significantly more comfortable disclosing mental health problems to staff than Asian American students. There were no significant effects for disclosure to faculty or peers. Conclusions: This preliminary study suggests that universities must optimize outreach and mental health services for different ethnic groups to improve campus experience around mental health conditions.
Perception of Tactile Directionality via Artificial Fingerpad Deformation and Convolutional Neural Networks

Humans can perceive tactile directionality with angular perception thresholds of 14-40° via fingerpad skin displacement. Using deformable, artificial tactile sensors, the ability to perceive tactile directionality was developed for a robotic system to aid in object manipulation tasks. Two convolutional neural networks (CNNs) were trained on tactile images created from fingerpad deformation measurements during perturbations to a handheld object. A primary CNN regression model provided a point estimate of tactile directionality over a range of grip forces, perturbation angles, and perturbation speeds. A secondary CNN model provided a variance estimate that was used to determine uncertainty about the point estimate. A 5-fold cross-validation was performed to evaluate model performance. The primary CNN produced tactile directionality point estimates with an error rate of 4.3% for a 20° angular resolution and was benchmarked against an open-source force estimation network. The model was implemented in real-time for interactions with an external agent and the environment with different object shapes and widths. The perception of tactile directionality could be used to enhance the situational awareness of human operators of telerobotic systems and to develop decision-making algorithms for context-appropriate responses by semi-autonomous robots.
Comparison of Anticoagulants for Postoperative Atrial Fibrillation After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Pilot Study:

Background:Direct-acting oral anticoagulants are indicated for the treatment of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, but their use in patients after undergoing cardiac surgery is poorly defined despite...
Molten salt reactors and electrochemical reprocessing: synthesis and chemical durability of potential waste forms for metal and salt waste streams

The molten salt reactor (MSR) is one of the leading advanced nuclear reactor candidates to replace current nuclear reactor technologies in the U.S. Besides having more economical and reliable desig...
CRISPR-Cas9/long-read sequencing approach to identify cryptic mutations in BRCA1 and other tumour suppressor genes.

Abstract Current clinical approaches for mutation discovery are based on short sequence reads (100–300 bp) of exons and flanking splice sites targeted by multigene panels or whole exomes. Short-read sequencing is highly accurate for detection of single nucleotide variants, small indels and simple copy number differences but is of limited use for identifying complex insertions and deletions and other structural rearrangements. We used CRISPR-Cas9 to excise complete BRCA1 and BRCA2 genomic regions from lymphoblast cells of patients with breast cancer, then sequenced these regions with long reads (>10 000 bp) to fully characterise all non-coding regions for structural variation. In a family severely affected with early-onset bilateral breast cancer and with negative (normal) results by gene panel and exome sequencing, we identified an intronic SINE-VNTR-Alu retrotransposon insertion that led to the creation of a pseudoexon in the BRCA1 message and introduced a premature truncation. This combination of CRISPR–Cas9 excision and long-read sequencing reveals a class of complex, damaging and otherwise cryptic mutations that may be particularly frequent in tumour suppressor genes replete with intronic repeats.
‘Rough Winds Do Shake the Darling Buds of May’: Theresa May, British Public Diplomacy and Reputational Security in the Era of Brexit

This chapter surveys British public diplomacy in the age of Brexit and official attempts to minimize the damage caused by the shock referendum result of 2016. It focuses on the initiatives of Theresa May’s time as Prime Minister and especially her ‘Global Britain’ frame, the counter disinformation response and the media freedom initiative of the Foreign Office. While the immediate damage to Britain’s reputation was not as severe as predicted, this piece argues that Britain (and any country in an analogous crisis) would do well to 1) listen, 2) keeping paying the ‘rent’ of good deeds on their existing reputation, 3) prepare for such crises in advance and 4) when in crisis, keep moving forward. The chapter suggests that reputation is a dimension of security and that both effective public diplomacy and a positive reality are necessary to maintain that ‘reputational security.’ Hence, Britain must more into its post Brexit existence taking care to preserve and develop the qualities that the world sees as admirable in the country.
Superconductor Electronics Fabrication Process with MoNx Kinetic Inductors and Self-Shunted Josephson Junctions

Recent progress in superconductor electronics fabrication has enabled single-flux-quantum (SFQ) digital circuits with close to one million Josephson junctions (JJs) on 1-cm 2 chips. Increasing the integration scale further is challenging because of the large area of SFQ logic cells, mainly determined by the area of resistively shunted Nb/AlO x -Al/Nb JJs and geometrical inductors utilizing multiple layers of Nb. To overcome these challenges, we are developing a fabrication process with self-shunted high-J c JJs and compact thin-film MoN x kinetic inductors instead of geometrical inductors. We present fabrication details and properties of MoN x films with a wide range of T c , including residual stress, electrical resistivity, critical current, and magnetic field penetration depth λ 0 . As kinetic inductors, we implemented Mo 2 N films with Tc about 8 K, λ 0 about 0.51 μm, and inductance adjustable in the range from 2 to 8 pH/sq. We also present data on fabrication and electrical characterization of Nb-based self-shunted JJs with AlOx tunnel barriers and Jc = 0.6 mA/μm 2 , and with 10-nm thick Si 1-x Nbx barriers, withx from 0.03 to 0.15, fabricated on 200-mm wafers by co-sputtering. We demonstrate that the electron transport mechanism in Si 1-x Nbx barriers at x <; 0.08 is inelastic resonant tunneling via chains of multiple localized states. At largerx, their Josephson characteristics are strongly dependent onx and residual stress in Nb electrodes, and in general are inferior to AlO x tunnel barriers.
Decentralised Self-Organising Maps for Multi-Robot Information Gathering

This paper presents a new coordination algorithm for decentralised multi-robot information gathering. We consider planning for an online variant of the multi-agent orienteering problem with neighbourhoods. This formulation closely aligns with a number of important tasks in robotics, including inspection, surveillance, and reconnaissance. We propose a decentralised variant of the self-organising map (SOM) learning procedure, named Dec-SOM, which efficiently plans sequences of waypoints for a team of robots. Decentralisation is achieved by performing a distributed allocation scheme jointly with a series of SOM adaptations. We also offer an efficient heuristic to select when to perform negotiations, which reduces communication resource usage. Simulation results in two settings, including an infrastructure inspection scenario with a real-world dataset of oil rigs, demonstrate that Dec-SOM outperforms baseline methods and other SOM variants, is competitive with centralised SOM, and is a viable solution for decentralised information gathering.
Chromatic symmetric functions of Dyck paths and q-rook theory (extended abstract)

The chromatic symmetric function (CSF) of Dyck paths of Stanley and its Shareshian-Wachs $q$-analogue have important connections to Hessenberg varieties, diagonal harmonics, and LLT polynomials. In the case of, so-called, abelian Dyck paths they are also curiously related to placements of non-attacking rooks by results of Stanley-Stembridge (1993) and Guay-Paquet (2013). For the $q$-analogue, these results have been generalized by Abreu-Nigro (2020) and Guay-Paquet (private communication), using $q$-hit numbers, which are a variant of the ones introduced by Garsia and Remmel. Among our main results is a new proof of Guay-Paquet's elegant identity expressing the $q$-CSFs in a CSF basis with $q$-hit coefficients. We further show its equivalence to the Abreu-Nigro identity expanding the $q$-CSF in the elementary symmetric functions. This is the FPSAC extended abstract version. The full version is at ArXiv: 2104.07599.
The Influence of a Sister's Breastfeeding Experience on a Mother's Breastfeeding Behavior: Is There an Intragenerational Effect?

Objective: Intergenerational transmission of breastfeeding attitudes and behaviors from mother to daughter are well known, but there is limited research on intragenerational transmission of breastf...
Localized Laser Printing and Sintering of Silver Nanoparticles for Silicon Solar Cell Metallization

Metallization plays a very important role in fabricating low cost and high efficiency silicon solar cells. Silver (Ag) metallization of industrial crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells comprises a large share of the total cell production cost. However, in amorphous silicon based (a-Si:H) c-Si heterojunction solar cell (SHJ) fabrication, the metallization process costs more compared to the metallization process for traditional crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells since it requires expensive, low temperature Ag pastes [1]. These specialized, low temperature Ag pastes are required because the passivation quality at the a-Si:H(i)/c-Si interface degrades if annealed at temperatures above 200°C. This temperature limitation not only increases the fabrication cost, but also results in poor sintering of the metal contacts which increases the resistive loss [2]. In this work, we introduce a novel Ag metal contact printing technique for SHJ solar cells using a Ag nanoparticle ink and an in-line laser sintering process with the goal of reducing the bulk resistivity of the printed Ag without requiring any ex situ annealing. In this process, the Ag nanoparticle ink is dispensed through a very small diameter needle on the SHJ substrate with simultaneous sintering using a focused continuous carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) laser beam. We have been able to print Ag lines with width as low as 50 µm and bulk resistivity as low as 8 µΩ·cm using this printing technique.
Chapter 5 Oxide-supported metal clusters

Publisher Summary This chapter oxide-supported metal clusters. The chapter discusses: the preparation, structure, and properties of the oxide. The chapter then describes metal clusters supported on these oxide surfaces. Discussion of the interaction of these composite systems with molecular reactants is addressed. The chapter illustrates that, with the recent advent of operando techniques such as polarization modulation RAIRS, sum frequency vibrational spectroscopy, and synchrotron-based X-ray spectral or diffraction probes, model catalysts so prepared allow bridging of the pressure and material gaps of catalysis. Accordingly, new avenues are now accessible to directly connect studies of single crystals and ordered thin films under UHV environments with analogous investigations of catalytic processes of complex technical catalysts at realistic conditions. These advances may unquestionably lead to new insights into the optimization of existing catalysts and to the design of novel, new catalysts.
Component analysis of behavior skills training in functional analysis.

Behavioral Skills Training (BST) is an effective training package that consists of instructions, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback. Although the efficacy of BST has been demonstrated, previous research has not clearly delineated its active components. This study used an alternating-treatment design embedded within ABC and ABCD designs to evaluate the independent effects of all components of BST for training teachers to conduct functional analyses. Prior to baseline, teachers reviewed written instructions. Following baseline, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback training occurred independently during the first training phase and in combination during subsequent training phases. Rehearsal was ineffective, whereas feedback was effective at improving the performance of all teachers. Modeling was less effective than feedback, such that improvements only occurred for some teachers and some functional analysis responses. Thus, feedback, and to a lesser extent, modeling are the effective and perhaps necessary components of BST. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
U.S. Saving and Investment: Policy Implications

Some economists have argued that the close association between domestic saving and investment rates justify polices aimed at altering domestic saving flows so as to influence domestic investment flows. This interpretation assumes an endogenous investment response. Equally likely, theoretically, is that the close association is maintained by movements in saving. The present paper explicitly examines the endogeneity of the U.S. saving and investment flows. Overall the results suggest that while the domestic saving rate responds endogenously, the domestic investment rate does not. This finding may limit the potential benefits of saving policies.
Analysis and modeling methodology of strained-Si channel-on-insulator (SSOI) MOSFETs

Compact physical models for SSOI MOSFETs are presented. The models consider strained-Si device features including mobility enhancement and band offsets with SSOI specific floating-body effect. The model validity is confirmed by fabricated 70 nm bulk strained-Si device.
Studies on Phosphoserine Aminotransferase of Sheep Brain

Abstract Phosphoserine aminotransferase has been purified about 500-fold from sheep brain extracts by ammonium sulfate precipitation and Sephadex and diethylaminoethyl cellulose chromatography. On ultracentrifugation, the enzyme migrated in a single peak with a sedimentation constant of 4.2 S. The molecular weight determined by the Trautman modification of the Archibald method is 96,000. The spectrum of the aminotransferase shows an absorption peak at 415 mµ. The enzyme could be inactivated by dialysis against cysteine, and the activity was restored upon incubation with pyridoxal phosphate. This and other evidence suggest that the latter is a coenzyme for this enzyme. The enzyme utilizes glutamic acid preferentially for transamination. The reaction rate with alanine as amino group donor is about 10% of that of glutamate. The optimum activity is at pH 8.15. In characterizing the enzyme, the transamination reaction was followed in both directions and the stoichiometry, the equilibrium constant, and the Michaelis constants for 3-phosphohydroxypyruvate (0.25 mm) and glutamate (0.7 mm) have been determined.
Fragmentation and the initial mass function

A central problem in the theory of star formation is to understand the spectrum of masses, or Initial Mass Function, with which stars are formed. The fundamental role of the IMF in galactic evolution has been described by Tinsley (1980), and an extensive review of evidence concerning the IMF and its possible variability has been presented by Scalo (1986). Although the IMF derived from the observations is subject to many uncertainties, two basic features seem reasonably well established. One is that the typical stellar mass, defined such that equal amounts of matter condense into stars above and below this mass, is within a factor of 3 of one solar mass. A theory of star formation should therefore be able to explain why most stars are formed with masses of order one solar mass. The second apparently universal feature is that the IMF for relatively massive stars can be approximated by a power law with a slope not greatly different from that originally proposed by Salpeter (1955). Thus we also need to understand why the IMF always has a similar power-law tail toward higher masses.
Transmissible gastroenteritis of swine: virus-intestinal cell interactions. II. Electron microscopy of the epithelium in isolated jejunal loops.

Electron microscopy studies on the morphology of the columnar cells covering the villi in small intestinal loops, which were surgically isolated in 7 day old pigs, showed that the fine structure of those cells is very similar to that in other mammalian species. Upon infection of the loops with TGE virus, virus particles with a diameter of 75 to 88 mμ became visible in the cytoplasm of these absorptive cells. The virus was taken up by pinocytosis, and newly produced particles maturated by budding at smooth cellular membranes particularly in the Golgi apparatus. Cellular morphological changes were first detectable at the microvillar border and appeared to develop concomitantly with virus release. Loss of cells occurred later through desquamation and cell disruption. Atrophied villi were, at 18 hours postinoculation, almost completely covered with newly produced cuboidal cells which ultrastructurally resembled the undifferentiated crypt cells. Gradual differentiation of these cells occured during the following days and at 72 hours postinoculation, they were morphologically similar to normal absorptive cells. A few of the differentiating and differentiated cells were seen to contain virus particles.
Genetic determinants of osteoporosis susceptibility in a female Ashkenazi Jewish population.

Purpose: To determine the heritability of low bone mineral density (BMD) at the hip in Ashkenazi Jewish families. Methods: BMD at hip was accessed by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in 166 female subjects from 61 families. Variance component analysis was used to estimate genetic contributions. Results: We observed significant genetic contributions to age-adjusted BMD at the femoral neck as measured by heritability 0.67 (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: There is significant genetic determination in decreased BMD at the femoral neck in an Ashkenazi Jewish female population. These results warrant further gene mapping studies in this population to identify osteoporosis susceptibility loci.
Noise stress does not modulate effects of smoking/nicotine on beta-endorphin, cortisol, ACTH, glucose, and mood.

Noise-dependent effects of smoking multiple cigarettes on subjective state and blood concentrations of ACTH, β-endorphin, cortisol, and glucose were assessed in a repeated measures design where noise level (high versus minimal) was crossed with nicotine dose (quasi-ad lib own brand versus 1.0 mg FTC nicotine machine-delivered dose versus 0.05 mg FTC nicotine machine-delivered dose). Cortisol and ACTH were increased by nicotine, but not by noise and there was no noise by dose interaction. In contrast, nicotine did not increase β-endorphin in either noise condition and there was no dose by noise interaction for β-endorphin. However, noise was associated with a modest increase in β-endorphin. The effects of nicotine on blood glucose varied as a function of the number of cigarettes smoked. However, the effects of nicotine on glucose, hormones, and subjective state did not vary as a function of noise stress.
The Rose Revolution: A Revolution without Revolutionaries?

In this investigation of the sources of the Rose Revolution in Georgia in November 2003 and presentation of the challenges the new leadership faces, the author argues that there are four contexts to the Georgian revolutionary events of 2003: first, a popular and romantic yearning among Georgians for union with Europe; second, the dismal failings of the Shevardnadze regime; third, the combined impact of global economic models and Westernisation in Georgia; and, fourth, the Soviet legacy. The role of civil society organisations, though important, was not vital to the success of the Rose Revolution. The manner in which the new leadership has tackled state-building challenges suggests the pro-Western revolution is still in a radical phase, with the imperative of state consolidation often overriding Western models of due process and democratic governance. The direction of the revolution – toward greater liberalism or radical populism – will have a major impact on regional politics and on the policies of both t...
Smart bridge and building materials in which cyclic motion is controlled by internally released adhesives

The object of this research is to assess the feasibility of using the concept of self-healing concretes for structural highway elements such as bridges, and roadway pavements. Our research has concentrated on the material behavior of self-healing cements which internally release adhesive when crack damage occurs. The focus of this research is on the use of self- healing concretes in structural highway members, such as bridges, that may be damaged by dynamic events such as earthquakes, impacts. A following study will investigate the influence of different types of adhesives and release mechanisms in the concrete elements under several load histories, for self-healing of the structural element. In the experimental program, the first set of specimens used typical elements, such as frames containing adhesive loaded fibers. The results were positive. From there we next go on to joints containing several types of adhesives and release mechanisms. These are tested on a small shake table in which actuators, load sensors, and a deflection monitor are mounted on a base. The adhesives have different set times, strength of bond with the matrix, and elastic moduli. The specimens are tested for the effect of adhesive type on deflection, stiffness, and damping of the members.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A coleopteran cadherin fragment synergizes toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis toxins Cry3Aa, Cry3Bb, and Cry8Ca against lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Abstract The lesser mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus, is a serious cosmopolitan pest of commercial poultry facilities because of its involvement in structural damage to poultry houses, reduction in feed conversion efficiency, and transfer of avian and human pathogens. Cry3Aa, Cry3Bb, and Cry8Ca insecticidal proteins of Bacillus thuringiensis are used to control coleopteran larvae. Cadherins localized in the midgut epithelium function as receptors for Cry toxins in lepidopteran, coleopteran, and dipteran insects. Previously, we demonstrated that the truncated cadherin (DvCad1) from Diabrotica virgifera virgifera, which consists of the C-terminal cadherin repeats (CR) 8–10 and expressed in Escherichia coli, enhanced Cry3Aa and Cry3Bb toxicity against several coleopteran species. Here we report that the DvCad1-CR8–10 enhances Cry3Aa, Cry3Bb, and Cry8Ca toxicity to lesser mealworm. Previously, by an enzyme linked immunosorbent microplate assay, we demonstrated that the DvCad1-CR8–10 binds activated-Cry3Aa (11.8 nM), -Cry3Bb (1.4 nM), and now report that CR8–10 binds activated-Cry8Ca (5.7 nM) toxin. The extent of Cry toxins enhancement by DvCad1-CR8–10, which ranged from 3.30- to 5.93-fold, may have practical application for lesser mealworm control in preventing avian and human pathogen transfer in poultry facilities.
Measurement Of Mechanical Parameters Of Lipid Bilayer Form The Deformation Of Membrane Nanotube In Electric Field

The effect of a longitudinal electric field on the shape of a lipid nanotube formed in an electrolyte solution is considered experimentally and theoretically. Application of a moderate (50-250mV) potential difference between two ends of the nanotube caused the tube expansion so that its shape deflected from the initial cylindrical to the parabolic one. The magnitude of this deviation depends on 1) the potential difference applied, 2) initial lateral tension and 3) bending modulus of the nanotube membrane. This deviation can be quantified as an effective radius of the nanotube determined by the mechanical parameters of the nanotube membrane and the magnitude of the applied electrical field. From the dependence of this radius on the potential difference the values of both lateral tension and bending rigidity of the nanotube membrane can be extracted. The obtained results are in good agreement with the data reported by different techniques for similar lipid compositions. Hence the electric field can be utilized for measurement of mechanical parameters of tubular membrane, specifically, short and/or narrow tubules which are not readily accessible by conventional techniques.
The development of nicotinic receptors in the human medulla oblongata: inter-relationship with the serotonergic system.

Abstract Maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy adversely affects fetal development and increases the risk for the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). In SIDS we have reported abnormalities in the medullary serotonergic (5-HT) system, which is vital for homeostatic control. In this study we analyzed the inter-relationship between nicotinic receptors (nAChRs), to which nicotine in cigarette smoke bind, and the medullary 5-HT system in the human fetus and infant as a step towards determining the mechanisms whereby smoking increases SIDS risk in infants with 5-HT defects. Immunohistochemistry for the α4 nAChR subunit and 5-HT neurons was applied in fetal and infant medullae (15–92 postconceptional weeks, n = 9). The distribution of different nAChRs was determined from 39–82 postconceptional weeks ( n = 5) using tissue autoradiography for 3 H-nicotine, 3 H-epibatidine, 3 H-cytisine, and 125 I-bungarotoxin; the findings were compared to laboratory 5-HT 1A and 5-HT transporter binding data, and 5-HT neuronal density. Alpha4 immunoreactivity was ubiquitously expressed in medullary nuclei related to homeostatic functions from 15 weeks on, including rhombic lip germinal cells. At all ages, α4 co-localized with 5-HT neurons, indicating a potential site of interaction whereby exogenous nicotine may adversely affect 5-HT neuronal development and function. Binding for heteromeric nAChRs was highest in the inferior olive, and for homomeric nAChRs, in the vagal complex. In the paragigantocellularis lateralis, 5-HT 1A receptor binding simultaneously increased as α7 binding decreased across infancy. This study indicates parallel dynamic and complex changes in the medullary nicotinic and 5-HT systems throughout early life, i.e., the period of risk for SIDS.
Spatial and temporal variability of phosphorus retention in a riparian forest soil

Riparian zones remove P from surface runoff and can act as filters of nonpoint source (NPS) P pollution for surface waters. Riparian forest soils were investigated in spring and fall for their capacity to retain PO 4 3- -P. Samples (300 on each date) were taken from a soil drainage catena from moderately well (MWD), somewhat poorly (SPD), and poorly drained (PD) soil in May and November of 1995 to examine spatial and temporal variability of P retention and its relationship to soil properties. The equilibrium P concentration at zero sorption (EPC 0 ) was determined for each sampling point (lower EPC 0 , = higher P retention capacity). Mean (coefficient of variation, CV) EPC 0 values were 3.8 (0.49) mg P L -1 in May and no P sorption was apparent in November for SPD soil, 1.0 (134) and 1.5 (1.03) mg P L -1 in May and November, respectively for MWD soil, and 0.5 (1.87) and 1.3 (1.13) mg P L -1 , respectively for PD soil. The EPC 0 was significantly and positively correlated to organic matter (OM) for all drainage classes on both dates. Low EPC 0 values-high P retention capacity-in MWD and PD soil corresponded with high Fe ox and Al ox values. For SPD soil, high mean EPC 0 corresponded with low mean Fe and Al ox values. The relationship between EPC 0 and Fe and Al ox was described by a hyperbolic function for MWD and PD soil, but not for SPD soil. The EPC 0 did not exhibit spatial structure at the sampling scale used for any of the drainage classes, even though Fe, Al, and OM content showed spatial structure.
New S1 vibronic level assignments for s-tetrazine vapor: Polarization and lifetime measurements

Abstract New fluorescence excitation and dispersed SVL fluorescence spectra of s-tetrazine vapor in supersonic expansions of helium and argon are reported. A forbidden in-plane-polarized component of the A 1 B 3u - X 1 A g transition is discovered at (0, 0) + 578 cm−1 with a type-B band contour in rotationally resolved excitation spectra obtained with a single-frequency cw ring dye laser. Linewidth measurements of single rovibronic transitions provide data to calculate lifetimes of low-lying S1 vibronic states of the isolated molecule. Depending on the vibrational mode involved, the lifetime varies from 0.05 to greater than 1 nsec. The number of cold-band assignments in the absorption spectrum of s-tetrazine vapor now confirmed by analysis of SVL fluorescence spectra increases from three to ten.
Anatomy of the scapulothoracic articulation

Four fresh frozen human cadavers (eight extremities) consisting of the head, neck, thorax, and entire upper extremities were used for dissection of the scapulothoracic articulation. In each specimen, the spinal accessory nerve, all relevant muscle insertions, and bursae were identified and measured. The structures of the scapulothoracic articulation can be divided into superficial, intermediate, and deep layers. The superficial layer consists of the trapezius, latissimus dorsi, and an inconsistent bursa between the inferior angle of the scapula and the latissimus dorsi. The intermediate layer consists of the levator scapulae, rhomboid minor and major, spinal accessory nerve, and scapulotrapezial bursa located between the superomedial scapula and the overlying trapezius. In all specimens, the spinal accessory nerve traveled intimately along the wall of the scapulotrapezial bursa, an average of 2.7 cm lateral to the superomedial angle of the scapula. The deep layer consists of the serratus anterior, subscapularis, and two bursae: one between the serratus and the thorax, the scapulothoracic bursa; and one between the subscapularis and the serratus, the subscapularis bursa.
Agrocin resistance in virulent derivatives of Agrobacterium tumefaciens harboring the pTi plasmid.

Exposure of Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains C58 and O to purified agrocin 84 yields many mutants that are resistant to this bacteriocin and yet harbor the pTi plasmid and retain virulence. Among these mutants are those that are semi-resistant, requiring higher doses of agrocin to show any degree of sensitivity. Like the totally resistant virulent mutants, these semi-resistant mutants also retained their virulence. Both classes of virulent mutants predominated the agrocin-resistant mutant population. Studies using [ 32 P]-agrocin clearly showed that agrocin-sensitive strains harboring the pTi plasmid readily take up agrocin whereas agrocin resistant mutants, also harboring the pTi plasmid, take up negligible amounts of agrocin. Transfer of pTi plasmid from virulent agrocin resistant mutants to an avirulent pTi plasmidless strain by genetic crosses in planta and in vitro continued to confer agrocin resistance and resistance to its uptake. On the other hand, pTi transferred from agrocin-sensitive strains conferred high degree of sensitivity to the recipient and high levels of agrocin uptake. No difference in the pTi plasmids were observed between wild-type and agrocin-resistant mutants as judged by restriction endonuclease fragment analyses in agarose gel electrophoretograms. Agrocin-sensitive revertants were obtained from cloned resistant mutants. These revertants displayed partial sensitivity to agrocin only, suggesting either point, small frameshift, or insertional mutations had taken place. These results show that the pTi plasmid with such mutations will affect the uptake of Agrocin 84. Mutants defective in the agrocin uptake mechanism still harbor the pTi plasmid and retain virulence. That virulence and agrocin uptake properties are conferred on separate loci of the pTi plasmid agree with previous studies. The predominance of agrocin 84 resistant mutants harboring the pTi plasmid and retaining their virulence certainly complicates the current concepts concerning biological control with Agrocin 84 producing strains.
Surviving the Welfare System: How AFDC Recipients Make Ends Meet in Chicago

Much of the literature on the underclass alleges that welfare induces dependency. The author uses data from intensive interviews with 50 Chicago-area mothers on welfare to show that welfare pays too little to entice recipients into a life of passive dependence. The women interviewed all supplemented their AFDC and food stamp benefits with at least one of two sources of unreported income: assistance from family, friends, boyfriends, or absent fathers, and income from work
Recent advances in methods for measuring the dynamic response of geological materials to 100 GPA

Abstract Modeling certain classes of hypervelocity impact events requires laboratory materials data for benchmarking purposes. These data include Hugoniot states, release paths and strength. Two classes of impact techniques have been employed for measuring equation-of-state properties for rocks and rock simulants. These techniques both use velocity interferometer diagnostics. One, employing a sample-in-projectile geometry, provides high-precision Hugoniot data and continuous release trajectories for dry or water-saturated materials. The majority of the present experiments have been performed with this geometry. The other, employing a sample-in-target geometry, provides loading path and Hugoniot data as well as limited release data. Materials studied by these two techniques have included a variety of tuffs, rhyolites, carbonates, grouts and an epoxy-alumina mixture. Uncertainties in the results from these techniques have been estimated by analyzing the effects of errors in observables and ancillary material properties.
Diphyllobothrium fayi n. sp. (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae) from the Pacific Walrus, Odobenus rosmarus divergens

Abstract An independent species of cestode of the genus Diphyllobothrium Cobbold, 1858, known only from the Pacific walrus, Odobenus rosmarus divergens Illiger, has been incorrectly designated Diphyllobothrium cordatum (Leuckart, 1863) in the literature since 1955. That cestode is described in this study as Diphyllobothrium fayi n. sp. on the basis of specimens obtained from walruses from the northern Bering Sea and the Arctic Ocean. It is distinguished readily from D. cordatum by its much larger strobila of different form and by a range of morphological characteristics of taxonomic significance in the reproductive organs. Comparisons were made with specimens of D. cordatum from the bearded seal, Erignathus barbatus (Erxleben), its typical host. Diphyllobothrium fayi has been recorded only from the Pacific walrus. Although that mammal feeds mainly on mollusks and other benthic invertebrates, records of cestodes from it suggest that fishes potentially harboring plerocercoids are frequently consumed.
Methods and physical characteristics of the kinetocardiographic and apexcardiographic systems for recording low-frequency precordial motion.

Abstract 1. 1. The physical systems of the kinetocardiographic and apexcardiographic techniques are presented. 2. 2. The kinetocardiographic system is linear in the low-frequency ranges D.C.-20 cycles per second; however, there is a resonance at 80 cycles per second. The apexcardiographic system is linear from .1 to 20 cycles per second; however, the rise in response in the upper frequency range is distorted by several resonances. 3. 3. No significant phase shift occurs in the kinetocardiographic system, but the apexcardiographic system has considerable phase shift from .1 to 2 cycles per second and in the higher frequency ranges. 4. 4. A discussion of the comparison between the two systems is presented.
Procaine injection of the globus pallidus in Parkinsonism.

A new investigative technique involving intracerebral injection of procaine in the vicinity of the globus pallidus in certain faradvanced cases of Parkinsonism has been described.
U-series isotope evidence for the origin of continental basalts

Abstract U-series isotopic data may uniquely constrain the depth of melting of basalts and present-day compositional variability of the mantle under continents, because the ( 230 Th/ 238 U) activity ratio of basalts depends strongly on the residual mineralogy. Rift basalts from the Pinacate Volcanic Field (PVF) in Mexico have ( 230 Th/ 238 U) of 1.22–1.35. In contrast, basalts from the San Francisco volcanic field (SFVF), Colorado Plateau, USA, part of a stable continental craton, have equilibrium ( 230 Th/ 238 U) values. The U-series isotopic data, consistent with recent mineral/melt partitioning results [1–5], require that some continental basalts from areas of thick crust be derived from the shallower lithospheric mantle source, and rift basalts from a deeper OIB-type asthenospheric source.
Assessment of advanced windowing techniques for digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV)

The Fourier-based cross-correlation is the most common evaluation technique for DPIV estimation, due to its computational simplicity. However, because Fourier transforms are taken over discrete finite size regions, systematic errors are introduced due to the improper filtering of the input signals. This study explores the potential of advanced windowing techniques to attenuate these Fourier-based errors. The choice of window is shown to impact the spatial resolution, the measurement accuracy and the peak detection process. Error analysis using artificial image simulations is able to characterize a set of optimal windows onto a single performance characteristic. Using this analysis, a set of criteria is defined for an optimal windowing from which the analysis focused on the use of the 50% Gaussian window. The Gaussian window is further compared against standard evaluation techniques in both shear and vortex simulations, which indicate substantial performance benefits with this advanced technique. Further simulations reveal that background noise greatly amplifies the loss of correlation errors, which affect the peak detection process. However, these effects are easily overcome through the use of image preprocessing or the robust phase correlation. Images from the 2003 PIV challenge are used to validate the Gaussian window technique, which is able to remove nearly all of the erroneous vectors in comparison to standard windows.
Enzymic analysis of microbial pattern and process

Enzyme assays, once used primarily to collect descriptive information about soils, have become useful techniques for monitoring microbial activity and uncovering the mechanisms that underlie microbial processes. The simplest paradigm is that decomposition and nutrient cycling are emergent consequences of extracellular enzyme activities that are regulated directly by site-specific factors such as temperature, moisture and nutrient availability, and secondarily by litter chemistry through adsorption, inhibition and stabilization processes. In application, enzyme techniques are employed on three scales of resolution. On the largest scale, assays for ubiquitous enzymes such as phosphatase, esterase, and dehydrogenase are used as general measures of microbial activity. At higher resolution, enzyme specificity is exploited to monitor activity related to specific aspects of macronutrient cycling. At the highest resolution, the enzymatic mechanisms by which microorganisms interact with their environment are addressed.
Data input module for Birth Defects Systems Manager

Abstract The need for a computational bioinformatics infrastructure to manage the vast digital information from functional genomics and proteomics motivated us to develop Birth Defects Systems Manager (BDSM) as an open resource to facilitate analysis and discovery in developmental biology and developmental toxicity ( http://systemsanalysis.louisville.edu/ ). This report describes the design, development and implementation of the data loading module of BDSM, referred to as LoadBDSM. It includes a shared data directory resource that can be granted various levels of security for different research groups or investigators to manage experimental datasets individually or in groups. LoadBDSM allows the upload of data and experiment details using controlled semantics for developmental exposure (toxicant, dosing scenario, intervention), biological sample (species, tissue, stage) and disease outcome (time, risk, phenotype). It adheres to existing controlled vocabulary plus rules of inference (ontologies) for experiment, data and metadata annotations. LoadBDSM extends the capabilities of BDSM to support the emergence of “embryo-formatics” defined here as the data, information and knowledge from genomic sciences applied to, or derived from, an embryological context. This includes, but is not limited to, delineating pathways and biological regulatory networks for specific chemicals or classes of developmental toxicants, developing novel biomarkers indicative of exposure and/or predictive of adverse effects, and integrating modern computing and information technology with data from molecular biology.
Evidence-based nephrology-rheumatology debates: a novel educational experience during nephrology fellowship training.

AbstractMedical educators have called for novel learning methods that supplement the traditional lecture format. Fellowship education involves didactics and pedagogic strategies using a variety of learning tools in order to improve critical thinking skills. Debating is one such tool that can enhance critical thinking skill. However, to the best of our knowledge, evidence-based debating among two different internal medicine subspecialty fields during fellowship training has never been reported. In this article, we describe an innovative educational experience for trainees using the evidence-based debate format. Two teams consisting of equal number of first- and second-year nephrology and rheumatology fellows participated in our annual interdivisional debate session. Topics that have been debated over the last three annual debate sessions include management of small vessel vasculitis and lupus nephritis. To assess the educational experience of the debate session, all fellow participants were asked to comple...
Catalytic autothermal reforming of diesel fuel for hydrogen generation in fuel cells: I. Activity tests and sulfur poisoning

Polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells require hydrogen as the fuel source for generating power. Hydrogen can be produced in a fuel processor by the catalytic reforming of hydrocarbons. The objective of this paper is to present an analysis of the autothermal reforming (ATR) of synthetic diesel fuel in an adiabatic reactor using a Pt/ceria catalyst. ATR combines endothermic steam reforming and exothermic partial oxidation reactions in a single unit. This simple system provides higher efficiency and higher energy density than other conventional processes. The product composition as a function of the operating variables and the temperature and concentration profile inside the reactor were studied. Hydrogen was generated under adiabatic conditions by heating the feed mixture and ATR reactor to only 400 °C in contrast to higher temperatures reported in the literature. The stability of the catalyst and its response to the presence of S poison was also investigated.
A Comparison of the Predictive Capabilities of Several Turbulence Models Using Upwind and Central-Difference Computer Codes

Four turbulence models are described and evaluated for transonic flows using the upwind code CFL3D and the central-difference code TLNS3D. In particular, the effects of recent modifications to the half-equation model of Johnson-King are explored in detail, and different versions of the model are compared. This model can obtain good results for both two-dimensional (2--D) and three-dimensional (3--D) separated flows. The one-equation models of Baldwin-Barth and Spalart-Allmaras perform well for separated airfoil flows, but can predict the shock too far forward at the outboard stations of a separated wing. The equilibrium model of Baldwin-Lomax predicts the shock location too far aft for both 2--D and 3--D separated flows, as expected. In general, all models perform well for attached or mildly separated flows.