cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lidar crossover function and misalignment effects.

The lidar crossover function f(R) in the lidar equation accounts for the incomplete overlap of the laser-pulse volume and the receiver field of view at short ranges and so is pertinent to near-surface returns from aerosols and precipitation. Using a Gaussian-intensity transverse profile for the laser pulse we present a comparatively simple formulation for f(R) and provide some numerical results for realistic lidar geometries, including the effects of optical axes misalignment. It is shown that for lidar systems constrained to narrow beam-widths (~1 mrad) for polarization or other observations, accurate alignment is of great importance to lidar operations.
X chromosome inactivation mosaicism in the mouse.

Abstract A cytologically detectable mosaicism resulting from X-chromosome inactivation occurring in mice heterozygous for Cattanach's translocation has been used to examine the time of X chromosome inactivation, and the sizes of primordial precursor pools for lung, thymus, spleen, fascia, and melanocytes. The extent of covariance in mosaic composition among tissues within individuals suggests that, if X inactivation occurs randomly, it must occur after determination of embryoblast cells, at some time immediately before or after implantation, and that it must occur before divergence of mesoderm from ectoderm. The extent of independent variance among the various tissues is such as to suggest that none of them arise from primordial precursor pools smaller than 20 to 30 cells.
Taste or diet balancing

Abstract Two groups of adult male rats were given ad lib access to a nutritionally complete diet (Purina Chow) and either a 32%-sucrose solution (w/v) or a separate container of dextrinized starch. A control group was allowed access only to Purina Chow. All groups consumed the same total caloric intake. Further, the composition of the diets selected by the two carbohydrate groups did not differ, although rats with access to sucrose gained weight at a signficantly greater rate than the starch group or the control group. These results suggest that the balance between dietary items plays an important role in the selection of food items and that the mechanism used in determining balance is not based on factors such as taste or feedback from body weight.
Spartina alterniflora loisel root structure and meiofaunal abundance

Abstract Meiofauna were collected from adjacent areas with and without Spartina alterniflora Loisel culms. Environmental complexity resulting from root structure cannot be determined by simply observing S. alterniflora culm distribution. There were no significant differences between the two areas with respect to root density or root sizes; however, the number of live roots was significantly higher in the area containing Spartina culms. Nematodes, the most abundant taxon were positively correlated with live root density. In contrast, the number of dead roots and harpacticoid copepods were higher in the area without culms. This study suggests that nematodes are positively associated with micro-oxygenated zones produced by live S. alterniflora roots. Other measures of biogenic structure, such as total root density or root size fractions are not important in affecting nematode abundance.
Hydrophobic interactions and osmotic second virial coefficients for methanol in water

A recent theory of the hydrophobic effect together with a simple model for an alcohol molecule is used to calculate the osmotic (McMillan-Mayer) second virial coefficientB2 for methanol dissolved in water. We use this calculation to study the validity of common arguments that try to draw microscopic structural information from experimental virial coefficient data. In disagreement with many workers, we find that the hydrophobic interaction between hard spheres in water is attractive and that its strength diminishes as temperature is raised. Models that have come to the opposite conclusions have neglected complications inherent to real solutes such as the role of the hydroxy groups in affecting the correlations between the apolar portions of neighboring alcohols. The calculations reported here indicate that this neglect is a poor approximation for methanol. Our calculations also show that osmotic virial coefficients are sensitive to subtle details in the potentials of mean force. Therefore, slowly varying (e.g., dispersion) interactions may also contribute significantly to the values of these coefficients without significantly changing the solvent structure near the solute molecules.
Hyperfine structure of the molecular ion H2

Abstract Precise calculations are reported of the ϱ-type doubling constant of H 2 + that differ from the values derived from measurements of transition frequencies by less than 0.1% or 30 kHz. Taken in conjunction with measurements of the transition frequencies, similar calculations for HD + can yield a precise value of the quadrupole moment of the deuteron.
Online monitoring of the final, divergent growth phase in the step-growth polymerization of polyamines

Using automatic, continuous online monitoring of polymerization reactions (ACOMP) the final, divergent growth phase (FDGP) of the condensation polymerization of dimethylamine, epichloro- hydrin, and ethylenediamine was monitored, which produced a highly ramified, polyelectrolytic polyamine. The weight average mass, Mw, increased exponentially during the FDGP, whereas weight averaged intrinsic viscosity ( )w increased slowly, reaching a plateau. Multi-detector gel permeation chromatography (GPC) revealed that polymers of mass 20 000 to 10 6 are branched and self-similar, but above this mass, ( ) increases less strongly with M. This appears to be due to higher order ramification, a precursor to gelation. The ACOMP trends in Mw and ( )w provide direct online evidence of this process. It is shown computationally that a mere increase in polydispersity cannot explain this behavior. GPC showed the mass distribution becomes highly asymmetric as conversion increases. A plausible kinetic model for the distribution asymmetry is introduced, and a complementary model for the effects of higher order ramification on ( )w.
Effects of estrogen and nonylphenol on the post-transcriptional regulation of vitellogenin gene expression

Abstract Estrogenic chemicals have drawn considerable attention over the past several years because they are known to be responsible for increased breast and prostate cancer [1,2]. Vitellogenin expression driven by estrogen has been becoming a model for studying estrogenic effects in aquatic species. For the first time, we showed evidence that, without stimulation, vitellogenin mRNA precursor is expressed in both male and female immature fish. After 4 h, in fish treated with estradiol, the vitellogenin mRNA was synthesized and the precursor mRNA began to disappear. The environmental chemical, nonylphenol, showed the same effect on the vitellogenin gene expression as estrogen. It is suggested that estrogen and nonylphenol may be involved in a post-transcriptional regulation process — possibly in the initiation of pre-mRNA splicing.
Optical spectroscopy of Cu+/Sm3+-activated aluminophosphate glasses: Effect of Cu2+ impurities on the Sm3+ photoluminescence enhancement

Abstract Glasses containing Cu+ and Sm3+ ions are attractive as luminescent materials with potential for various photonic applications. Yet, the limiting effect of the non-luminescent Cu2+ impurities on the activated glasses remains unexplored. In this work, Cu/Sm-containing aluminophosphate glasses are prepared by a simple melt-quench method utilizing divalent tin as aid for incorporating relatively large quantities of monovalent copper. The influence of resultant ionic copper species (Cu+ and Cu2+) on Sm3+ photoluminescence (PL) is evaluated. Optical absorption spectroscopy is employed for estimating residual Cu2+ in Cu/Sm-containing glasses via spectrophotometric analysis, aimed for assessing the effect of Cu2+ impurities on Sm3+ emission. PL spectroscopy data is consistent with a sensitized Sm3+ emission due to the presence of Cu+ ions. However, with increasing concentration of copper dopant, the degree of PL enhancement exhibits a decrease which correlates with an increase in Cu2+ concentration. Moreover, analysis of the Sm3+ emission decay dynamics shows a strong correlation between the decay rates and residual Cu2+. The data indicates that Cu2+ ions are at the origin of the suppression of the PL enhancement and perform effectively as Sm3+ emission quenchers. Results imply that for practical applications the Cu2+ impurities should be minimized if not removed as these will limit device efficiency. Furthermore, the findings suggest a potential of samarium (III) for optical sensing of copper (II) which could be further exploited analytically.
We are what we vote

Populist movements are everywhere at the moment, on both the left and right of politics. Yet many observers seem in denial about the strength and stubborn appeal of this phenomenon and, rather than trying to explain it, simply dismiss it as irresponsible pandering to the masses. At the same time, scholars are using biology to understand political attitudes, chiefly the liberal-conservative spilt. Her, Hibbing and Smith examine the attraction of populist politics.
Treating headache recurrence after emergency department discharge: a randomized controlled trial of naproxen versus sumatriptan.

Study objective Multiple parenteral medications are used to treat migraine and other acute primary headaches in the emergency department (ED). Regardless of specific headache diagnosis, no medication eliminates the frequent recurrence of primary headache after ED discharge. It is uncertain which medication primary headache patients should be given on discharge from an ED. The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy of oral sumatriptan with naproxen for treatment of post-ED recurrent primary headache. Methods This was a randomized, double-blind efficacy trial. We randomized patients to either naproxen 500 mg or sumatriptan 100 mg for headache recurrence after ED discharge. Patients were eligible if they received parenteral therapy for an acute exacerbation of a primary headache in the ED. Patients who met established criteria for migraine without aura were designated a priori as a homogenous subgroup of interest. We followed all patients by telephone 48 hours after ED discharge. The primary endpoint was the between-group difference in change in pain intensity during the 2-hour period after ingestion of either 500 mg naproxen or 100 mg sumatriptan. This difference was measured on a validated 11-point (0 to 10) verbal numeric rating scale (NRS). Satisfaction with the medication and adverse effects were also assessed. Patients who met criteria for migraine without aura were analyzed twice according to a priori design: once as a homogenous subgroup and then again combined with all other primary headaches. Results Of 410 patients randomized, 383 (93%) had outcome data available for analysis. Two hundred eighty (73%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 68% to 77%) reported headache post-ED discharge and 196 (51%; 95% CI 44% to 58%), including 88 with migraine, took the investigational medication provided to them. The naproxen group improved by a mean of 4.3 NRS points, whereas the sumatriptan group improved by 4.1 points (95% CI for difference of 0.2 points: −0.7 to 1.1 points). Findings were virtually identical among the migraine subset (4.3 versus 4.2 NRS points; 95% CI for difference of 0.1 points: −1.3 to 1.5 points). Seventy-one percent (95% CI 62% to 80%) of naproxen patients and 75% (95% CI 66% to 84%) of sumatriptan patients would want to take the same medication the next time. Adverse effect profiles were also comparable. Conclusion In this trial, nearly three quarters of patients reported headache recurrence within 48 hours of ED discharge. Naproxen 500 mg and sumatriptan 100 mg taken orally relieve post-ED recurrent primary headache and migraine comparably. Clinicians should be guided by medication costs, contraindications, and a patient's previous experience with the medication.
Effects of Maintenance Digoxin Therapy on Systolic Time Intervals and Serum Digoxin Concentrations

Systolic time intervals (STI) and serum digoxin concentrations (SDC) were measured in eight patients with compensated atherosclerotic and/or hypertensive heart disease who received oral digoxin 0.25 mg/day or 0.5 mg/day for alternate two-week periods without a loading dose. Control data were obtained both before and after the four weeks of treatment. After 13 days treatment with digoxin, 0.5 mg/day, there was a significant decrease in total electromechanical systole corrected for heart rate (QS2i), pre-ejection period (PEP), pre-ejection period corrected for heart rate (PEP1) and PEP/left ventricular ejection time (LVET). After the thirteenth dose of 0.25 mg/day there was significant shortening of PEP1 and PEP/LVET. Shortening of QS2i correlated significantly with SDC 24 hours after the thirteenth dose of 0.5 mg. These data suggest that after 13 days of treatment with 0.25 and 0.5 mg/day of digoxin, a positive inotropic effect occurs as reflected by STI shortening. A greater effect was recorded with the 0...
Avalanche trauma and closed head injury: adding insult to injury.

Objective The incidence of fatal closed head injury (CHI) and nonfatal CHI causing an altered level of consciousness in avalanche victims is unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess the incidence and potential significance of CHI in avalanche-related deaths. Methods The records of the state medical examiner and hospital records of all victims killed in avalanches in the state of Utah from October 1, 1992 through April 30, 1999 were reviewed for a cause of death and for the presence of CHI. Closed head injury was described as "present" or "severe," depending on whether the degree of CHI was sufficient to have caused or directly contributed to death, as determined by the medical examiner. Results In this review, 28 avalanche-related deaths were identified, of which 22 (79%) were due to asphyxia. Seventeen victims (61%) had evidence of some degree of CHI. Six victims (21%) had evidence of severe CHI. One of 7 snowmobile riders sustained a severe CHI, whereas 4 of 16 skiers or snowboarders sustained a severe CHI ( P =not significant). Conclusion Although asphyxiation was the cause of death in most avalanche victims, evidence of CHI was present in 61% of the cases studied. While avalanche-associated CHI may not be sufficient to cause death in many cases, a depressed level of consciousness might render a victim incapable of self-rescue and predispose to asphyxia. Helmet use may help prevent avalanche-associated CHI and thus be a useful safety adjunct.
A chemo-electro-mechanical mathematical model for simulation of pH sensitive hydrogels

Hydrogels are networked structures of polymer chains cross-linked to each other and surrounded by an aqueous solution. The gels swell/deswell under several environmental conditions like pH, salt concentration, temperature, electric field, light etc. Minor modifications can also make them sensitive to several biological agents. As a result, there is a widespread application of hydrogels in a number of areas like control of microfluidic flow, development of muscle-like actuators, filtration/separation, MEMS/Bio-MEMS and drug delivery. This makes it important to properly understand these materials. In this paper, we present an improved mathematical model (see [J. Microelectromech. Syst. 11(5) (2002) 544] for details on the earlier model) to predict the swelling/deswelling rates of hydrogels in buffered pH solutions. The kinetic model developed earlier neglected the electro-static effects within the gel generated due to the movement of the ions. It also used the Donnan theory which may not be valid in the interior of the gel. The present work takes into account the electro-static effects and replaces the Donnan theory with the more general chemo-electro-mechanical model. Time dependent mechanical equations and the effect of fluid flow velocity have also been explored in the new models. The results have been compared with experimental data and a significant improvement has been noticed after the above modifications were made, especially for smaller gel sizes.
Protein translocation across biological membranes: cost what it may

Protein translocation across biological membranes can expend a large portion of the total cellular metabolic energy. Although energy sources for this process have been well characterized, its total energy cost was unclear. Recently, this problem was addressed in the thylakoidal ΔpH-dependent cpTat pathway. It was estimated that ∼3% of the total energy output of the chloroplast is used by this pathway.
Predictors of Parental Quality of Life after Child Open Heart Surgery: A 6-Month Prospective Study

Objective To prospectively assess parental health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its predictors after child open heart surgery. Study design Mothers (n = 135) and fathers (n = 97) of 138 children were assessed at discharge from hospital and 6 months after open heart surgery of their child. Parental HRQoL was compared with population norms. Medical, demographic, and psychosocial predictors of HRQoL were examined. Results In both parents, several domains of HRQoL were decreased at their child's hospital discharge with mothers showing lower HRQoL than fathers. Mental domains were more affected than physical domains. At 6 months, parental HRQoL was within or above population norms. At discharge, symptoms of post-traumatic stress and at 6 months a high impact of the child's disease on family life were associated with low mental HRQoL in both parents. In mothers, lower socioeconomic status and foreign nationality were also associated with a higher risk for low mental HRQoL at discharge. Conclusions Parents' mental HRQoL is low in the immediate period after their child's open heart surgery but normalizes after 6 months. However, parents in whom the child's disease has a high impact on their family life are at increased risk for persistent low mental HRQoL.
A phylogeny inferred from large ribosomal subunit (26S) rDNA sequences suggests that Cuscuta is a derived member of Convolvulaceae

Cuscuta is a parasitic angiosperm that has been considered alternatively either as a genus within Convolvulaceae or as a monogeneric family in its own right. Although typically placed in the Solanales,Cuscuta has also been positioned within the Polemoniales. Extreme reduction of morphological and anatomical characters, as well as chloroplast genome reductions and rearrangements, has made the phylogenetic placement ofCuscuta uncertain. Analysis of 26S rDNA sequences suggests thatCuscuta is a derived member of Convolvulaceae. Molecular results are discussed in relation to the morphological and anatomical characters of autotrophic members of Convolvulaceae.
Distributing the power of a government to enhance the privacy of voters

In this paper, we distribute the functions of the government in the cryptographic election scheme of [CoFi85]. In so doing, we are able to achieve privacy of individual votes in a much stronger sense without giving up any of the previously attained properties of robustness or veriability. This gives an electronic mechanism for holding a large-scale election amongst untrusted parties which is far more useful in “realworld” applications than the previous scheme.
Effects of topical suprofen and flurbiprofen on the miosis produced by anterior chamber irrigation with cholinergic agonists

Abstract Pretreatment with topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is common practice to maintain maximal pupil dilation for cataract surgery. Most surgeons also inject a cholinergic agent intracamerally for miosis after intraocular lens insertion. We evaluated the effects of topical suprofen and flurbiprofen on the miosis induced by anterior chamber irrigation with either acetylcholine or carbachol. One eye of 30 pigmented rabbits was dilated with cyclopentolate HCl and phenylephrine HC1. Three groups, each composed of ten eyes, received flurbiprofen, suprofen, or a control. In each group, five eyes received acetylcholine by anterior chamber irrigation and five received carbachol. Pupil diameters were measured with calipers before and five minutes after irrigation by an observer unaware of the treatment regimen. Irides irrigated with carbachol constricted less than those irrigated with acetylcholine (P = .016). In anterior chambers irrigated with carbachol, suprofen was associated with less miosis than either tears (P = .005) or flurbiprofen (P = .0091; however, if the infusion was performed with acetylcholine, no differences between the three groups were noted (P = .44).
Immunization status and risk factors of migrant children in densely populated areas of Beijing, China.

Abstract Objective To properly evaluate the immunization status and determine risk factors of migrant children in 23 densely populated towns and townships in Beijing. Methods A household cluster sampling survey was implemented and standard face-to-face interviews were conducted with 1820 migrant children aged 12–35 months. Demographic characteristics of the child and primary caregiver, the child's migrant characteristics, the primary caregiver's knowledge and attitude toward immunization, information about immunization services provided by the local clinic, and the child's immunization history were obtained. Weighted up-to-date (UTD) and age-appropriate immunization rates for the following four vaccines were assessed: three doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis combined vaccine (DTP); three doses of oral poliomyelitis vaccine (OPV); three doses of hepatitis B vaccine (HepB); and one dose of Measles-containing vaccine (MCV). Weighted UTD and age-appropriate immunization rates for the overall series of these four vaccines (the 3:3:3:1 immunization series) were also estimated. Risk factors for not being UTD, being invalid and being delayed for the 3:3:3:1 immunization series were explored using both single-level and multi-level multinomial logistic regression models. Results For each antigen, the weighted UTD immunization rate was above 83%, but the age-appropriate immunization coverages for HepB, OPV, DPT, and MCV were only 45.6%, 49.6%, 50.8% and 54.7%, respectively. The 1st dose was most likely to be invalid or delayed within HepB, OPV and DPT series. For the 3:3:3:1 immunization series, the weighted UTD and age-appropriate immunization rates were 78.1% and 20.5%, respectively. Immunization status of migrant children tended to be homogenous within a village and therefore, multi-level model was more appropriate for assessing risk factors. Besides demographic characteristics, several other factors were significantly associated with age-appropriate immunization coverage. These factors included: the child's migrant characteristics; the primary caregiver's awareness of the importance of vaccination, and outreach services provided by immunization clinics including notification services and supplementary immunization activities (SIAs). The frequency and duration of clinical immunization sessions significantly influenced the UTD immunization rate but not the age-appropriate immunization rate. The degree of the primary caregiver's satisfaction with clinic services and convenience to vaccination clinic had no impact on the child's immunization status. Conclusion Alarmingly low age-appropriate immunization coverage of migrant children in densely populated areas demanded immediate intervention. Community context was an important factor to a migrant child's vaccination status and should be considered when taking measures. Strategies to strengthen outreach immunization service need to be developed to effectively improve the age-appropriate immunization coverage of migrant children.
Consonants and vowels in orthographic representations

It has been argued that orthographic representations-the abstract mental representations of the spellings of words-include orthography-specific information regarding the consonant/vowel (CV) identity of the individual letters that make up a word's spelling. This hypothesis has been used to explain the finding that the substitution errors in the spelling of certain dysgraphic individuals exhibit a striking tendency to preserve the CV identity of the target letters. In this paper, we evaluate the adequacy of two alternative hypotheses that do not posit orthography-specific CV representations. One hypothesis proposes that constraints on the nature of letter substitution come from the phonological representation of a word, and a second hypothesis contends that CV-preserving substitutions are driven by orthotactic knowledge-knowledge of the well-formed letter sequences in the orthography of a language. We present novel tests of these hypotheses using data from four case studies of dysgraphic individuals. The results clearly adjudicate in favour of the claim that orthographic representations contain orthography-specific CV information. In this way, the results support the more general claim that abstract categories are represented within the language system.
Regulation of Renal NaCl Transport by Nitric Oxide, Endothelin, and ATP: Clinical Implications

NaCl absorption along the nephron is regulated not just by humoral factors but also by factors that do not circulate or act on the cells where they are produced. Generally, nitric oxide (NO) inhibits NaCl absorption along the nephron. However, the effects of NO in the proximal tubule are controversial and may be biphasic. Similarly, the effects of endothelin on proximal tubule transport are biphasic. In more distal segments, endothelin inhibits NaCl absorption and may be mediated by NO. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) inhibits sodium bicarbonate absorption in the proximal tubule, NaCl absorption in thick ascending limbs via NO, and water reabsorption in collecting ducts. Defects in the effects of NO, endothelin, and ATP increase blood pressure, especially in a NaCl-sensitive manner. In diabetes, disruption of NO-induced inhibition of transport may contribute to increased blood pressure and renal damage. However, our understanding of how NO, endothelin, and ATP work, and of their role in pathology, is rudimentary at best.
Early Increase in Osteoclast Number in Mice after Whole-Body Irradiation with 2 Gy X Rays

Abstract Willey, J. S., Lloyd, S. A. J., Robbins, M. E., Bourland, J. D., Smith-Sielicki, H., Bowman, L. C., Norrdin, R. W. and Bateman, T. A. Early Increase in Osteoclast Number in Mice after Whole-Body Irradiation with 2 Gy X Rays. Radiat. Res. 170, 388–392 (2008). Bone loss is a consequence of exposure to high-dose radiotherapy. While damage to bone vasculature and reduced proliferation of bone-forming osteoblasts has been implicated in this process, the effect of radiation on the number and activity of bone-resorbing osteoclasts has not been characterized. In this study, we exposed mice to a whole-body dose of 2 Gy of X rays to quantify the early effects of radiation on osteoclasts and bone structural properties. Female C57BL/6 mice (13 weeks old) were divided into two groups: irradiated and nonirradiated controls. Animals were killed humanely 3 days after radiation exposure. Analysis of serum chemistry revealed a 14% increase in the concentration of tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-5b, a ma...
Maternal Germline-Specific Genes in the Asian Malaria Mosquito Anopheles stephensi: Characterization and Application for Disease Control

Anopheles stephensi is a principal vector of urban malaria on the Indian subcontinent and an emerging model for molecular and genetic studies of mosquito biology. To enhance our understanding of female mosquito reproduction, and to develop new tools for basic research and for genetic strategies to control mosquito-borne infectious diseases, we identified 79 genes that displayed previtellogenic germline-specific expression based on RNA-Seq data generated from 11 life stage–specific and sex-specific samples. Analysis of this gene set provided insights into the biology and evolution of female reproduction. Promoters from two of these candidates, vitellogenin receptor and nanos, were used in independent transgenic cassettes for the expression of artificial microRNAs against suspected mosquito maternal-effect genes, discontinuous actin hexagon and myd88. We show these promoters have early germline-specific expression and demonstrate 73% and 42% knockdown of myd88 and discontinuous actin hexagon mRNA in ovaries 48 hr after blood meal, respectively. Additionally, we demonstrate maternal-specific delivery of mRNA and protein to progeny embryos. We discuss the application of this system of maternal delivery of mRNA/miRNA/protein in research on mosquito reproduction and embryonic development, and for the development of a gene drive system based on maternal-effect dominant embryonic arrest.
Passive broadband source localization in shallow-water multipath acoustic channels

This paper addresses the problem of direct-path passive broadband localization of a shallow-water acoustic source with a sparsely distributed set of sensors in the presence of uncertain multipath propagation. The classical approach to broadband source localization with sensors spaced many wavelengths apart involves time delay estimation (TDE) via generalized cross-correlation (GCC) methods. In shallow-water scenarios, however, multipath arrivals yield spurious peaks in cross-correlation outputs resulting in anomalous estimates of source location. In this paper, cross-correlations are normalized by an expected direct-path delay and geometrically averaged over multiple array orientations in order to disambiguate multipath returns from direct-path arrivals. In shallow-water channels, this allows for more robust estimates of the intersensor time delay due to direct-path propagation. Simulation results indicate a significant improvement in source localization performance over GCC methods operating in multipath environments.
NewsComm: a hand-held interface for interactive access to structured audio

The NewsComm system delivers personally selected audio information to mobile users through a hand-held audio playback device. The system provides a one-toone connection from individual users to information providers so that users can access information on demand with breadth and depth unattainable through traditional media. Filtering mechanisms help the user efficiently find information of interest. The hand-held device receives audio through intermittent high band-width wired connections to a central audio server. The server collects and stores audio from various sources including radio broadcasts, books on tape, and internet multicasts. Each recording in the server is preprocessed by a set of audio processing algorithms which automatically extracts a structural description of the audio. The hand-held interface uses these structural descriptions to enable efficient skimming and searching. The device is ideal for use while commuting or exercising. This thesis describes the design, usability testing, and implementation of the handheld device, the audio server, and the speech processing algorithms. Thesis Supervisor: Christopher M. Schmandt Title: Principal Research Scientist
Quantifying the agricultural landscape and assessing spatio-temporal patterns of precipitation and groundwater use

Quantitative agricultural landscape indices are useful to describe functional relationships among climatic conditions, groundwater dynamics, soil properties and agricultural land use for mathematical models. We applied methods of regression statistics, variance component estimation and a Geographical Information System (GIS) to construct indices describing crops and soils and to establish functional relationships among these variables. This paper describes the development of indices and the partitioning of the spatial and temporal variation in groundwater models using the data from Tulare County, California, which was selected as the study area. Indices of ground surface elevation, total crop water demand, soil water infiltration rate, and soil production index explain 91% of the variation in average spring groundwater level. After relating spatial patterns of groundwater use to indices of crop and soil properties, we found that mean groundwater use is positively related to total crop water demand and soil water infiltration rate while the variation in groundwater use was negatively correlated with the crop water demand and soil water infiltration rate and positively related to soil water holding capacity. The spatial variation in groundwater use was largely influenced by crops and soil types while the temporal variation was not. We also found that groundwater use increased exponentially with decreasing annual precipitation for most townships. Based on these associations, groundwater use in each township can be forecast from relative precipitation under current methods of agricultural production. Although groundwater table depth is strongly affected by topography, the statistically significant indices observed in the model clearly show that agricultural land use influences groundwater table depth. These simple relationships can be used by agronomists to make water management decisions and to design alternative cropping systems to sustain agricultural production during periods of surface water shortages.
The Relations between Dimensions of Thought Reported in Two Thought-Sampling Studies

Thought-Sampling scales used by Hurlburt and by Klinger were combined to form a single scale to determine the interdependency of factor patterns produced by the two separate thought-sampling rating scales. The new scale was administered to a group of subjects (n = 80) who thought-sampled while viewing the movie Annie Hall. Factor analysis revealed the Hurlburt items and the Klinger items yielded factors orthogonal to one another. The lone exception was Hurlburt's Clear Thought factor which merged with Klinger's Visual Modality and Operantness factors.
Ureteral Cannulation as a Complication of Urethral Catheterization

Urinary catheterization is a common procedure, particularly among patients with neurogenic bladder secondary to spinal cord injury. Urethral catheterization is associated with the well-recognized complications of catheter-associated urinary tract infections and limited genitourinary trauma. Unintentional ureteral cannulation represents a rare complication of urethral catheterization and has been previously described in only eight cases within the literature. We describe two cases of aberrant ureteral cannulation involving two patients with quadriplegia. These cases along with prior reports identify the spastic, insensate bladder and altered pelvic sensorium found in upper motor neuron syndromes as major risk factors for ureteral cannulation with a urinary catheter.
Integrated standing-wave transform spectrometer for near infrared optical analysis

We have presented an integrated standing-wave spectrometer operating in the near a mirror flexure uniformity allows for increased mirror scan length without tip-tilt problems, which improves spectral resolution. The GaAs detector provides excellent near IR responsivity. The integrated design allows the mirror to move within a few gm of the detector. The simple operation of this compact device, with a low power continuous-scan mirror, permanent alignment, and only three contacts, should enable implementation in a wide variety of miniaturized sensing systems.
Long-term field performance of a tunable diode laser absorption spectrometer for analysis of carbon isotopes of CO 2 in forest air

Tunable diode laser absorption spectrometry (TD- LAS) is gaining in popularity for measuring the mole frac- tion (CO2) and stable isotopic composition ( 13 C) of carbon dioxide (CO2) in air in studies of biosphere-atmosphere gas exchange. Here we present a detailed examination of the per- formance of a commercially-available TDLAS located in a high-altitude subalpine coniferous forest (the Niwot Ridge AmeriFlux site), providing the first multi-year analysis of TDLAS instrument performance for measuring CO2 isotopes in the field. Air was sampled from five to nine vertical lo- cations in and above the forest canopy every ten minutes for 2.4 years. A variety of methods were used to assess in- strument performance. Measurement of two compressed air cylinders that were in place over the entire study establish the long-term field precision of 0.2 µmol mol 1 for (CO2) and 0.35‰ for 13 C, but after fixing several problems the isotope precision improved to 0.2‰ (over the last several months). The TDLAS provided detail on variability of 13 C of atmo- spheric CO2 that was not represented in weekly flask sam- ples, as well as information regarding the influence of large- scale (regional) seasonal cycle and local forest processes on (CO2) and 13 C of CO2. There were also clear growing sea- son and winter differences in the relative contributions of photosynthesis and respiration on the (CO2) and 13 C of for- est air.
Home-Recorded Sleep in 2− and 9-Month-Old Infants

Abstract Home recorded videotapes of all-night sleep were obtained for 32 2-month-old and 38 9-month-old infants. Changes in the proportionate amounts of time spent in active sleep, quiet sleep, wakefulness, and out of the crib were significantly related to age. Sleep-cycle lengths did not change with age, but the state relationships within sleep cycles showed maturational effects. Temporal patterning of sleep states was present by 9 months. Time-lapse video recording of sleep provides an opportunity for nonobtrusive monitoring of sleep longitudinally in normal and pathological infants.
Executive Privilege: Presidential Power, Secrecy, and Accountability

An in-depth review of the historical exercise of executive privilege and an analysis of the proper scope and limits of presidential power. This second edition is updated to cover two more presidents of the USA and to show how both have revived the national debate over executive privilege. Mark Rozell seeks to take a balanced approach to a subject mired in controversy, providing both a historical overview of the doctrine and an explanation of its importance in the American political process. Exercised as far back as George Washington, executive privilege caught modern America's attention with Nixon's abuses of power. Although it is viewed by many as undemocratic - or even a "constitutional myth" -Rozell argues that executive privilege not only derives from the Constitution but, if prudently used, even supports the president's efforts in constructing and implementing policy. This edition features a new chapter on the Clinton and Bush presidencies, as well as textual revisions throughout that reflect the author's analysis of the proper scope of executive privilege, given the numerous secrecy controversies of the last decade of the 20th century. Rozell reviews Bill Clinton's resistance to numerous congressional and grand jury investigations and he assesses George W. Bush's proclivity for secrecy. Rozell explains how each of these presidents has sparked controversy over attempts to revive executive privilege - in the process doing significant damage to this constitutional principle. He also addresses the potential roles and influence of both the judiciary and Congress regarding executive privilege. Rozell continues to stress the legitimate role of executing privilege and looks to the day when a president can use it without embarrassment.
Effectiveness of Antioxidant Nutraceuticals in Attenuating Canonical NF-κB Signaling in Human Skeletal Muscle Resulting From Exercise-Induced Inflammation and Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress is a process that produces cellular damage by oxidation of cellular components such as lipids, protein, and DNA. It is also a regulator of the acute phase inflammatory response, and also involves the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by mitochondrial respiratory activity and from the capillary endothelium in contracting skeletal muscles. Exercise-induced muscle damage is associated with an acute phase inflammatory response. This response results in the production of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-?) which is a mediator of muscle wasting and acts through the stimulation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-?B). Skeletal muscle damage and injury becomes evident in many catabolic scenarios and is characterized by proteolysis and muscle wasting. Inflammation and oxidative stress are associated with skeletal muscle wasting in various disease states including cancer cachexia, muscular dystrophy, AIDS, sepsis, etc. Antioxidant supplementation has been suggested to attenuate exercise-induced oxidative stress and the subsequent activation of NF-?B through various mechanisms; however, there is still conflicting evidence and more research needs to be completed to better understand the role of NF-?B signaling in skeletal muscle. Antioxidant supplementation has also been shown to attenuate oxidative stress and the subsequent formation of reactive oxygen nitrogen species (ROS, RONS) in skeletal muscle. As a result, this area requires further research as this process has also been demonstrated to mediate NF-?B signaling. Prior evidence suggests that various nutraceutical supplements seem to play a beneficial role in maintaining muscle mass during periods of heightened inflammation and oxidative stress and possible muscle wasting.
EFFECTS OF THERMAL STRESS AND REDUCED WATER ACTIVITY ON CONIDIA OF Aspergillus parasiticus

Conidia of Aspergillus parasiticus (an aflatoxin producer) were harvested from an agar medium, centrifuged, and resuspended in 0.05% Tween-80. The suspension was subjected to a thermal stress of 51°C for up to 4 hr. Viability and thermal injury were evaluatd by the use of two plating media, yeast extract agar and yeast extract agar + 10% NaCl. Evidence of injury was demonstrated by the difference in colony counts on the two media. The number of injured cells increased as the heating time continued Colonies from injured conidia developed more slowly than colonies from unheated conidia. The effect of a reduced water activity (aw) was evaluated by comparing the ability of unheated and heated conidia to grow in media of differing water activities. A most probable number technique was used to measure growth. Media of reduced aw limited the ability of injured conidia to outgrow as compared to unheated conidia. Continued storage of injured conidia in media of reduced aw eventually resulted in a loss of colony-forming ability. Solutes used to lower aw were sodium chloride, glycerol, and sucrose.
Shrinkage estimators of time series seasonal factors and their effect on forecasting accuracy

Abstract This paper shows that forecasting accuracy can be improved through better estimation of seasonal factors under conditions for which relatively simple methods are preferred, such as relatively few historical data, noisy data, and/or a large number of series to be forecasted. In such situations, the preferred method of seasonal adjustment is often ratio-to-moving-averages (classical) decomposition. This paper proposes two shrinkage estimators to improve the accuracy of classical decomposition seasonal factors. In a simulation study, both of the proposed estimators provided consistently greater accuracy than classical decomposition, with the improvement sometimes being dramatic. The performances of the two estimators depended on characteristics of the series, and guidelines were developed for choosing one of them under a given set of conditions. For a set of monthly, M-competition series, greater forecasting accuracy was achieved when either of the proposed methods was used for seasonal adjustment rather than classical decomposition, and the greatest accuracy was achieved by following the guidelines for choosing a method.
Heterotopic Ossification Following Combat-Related Trauma

The term heterotopic ossification refers to the aberrant forma­ tion of mature, lamellar bone in nonosseous tissue. Trans­ lated from its Greek (heteros and topos) and Latin (ossificatio) etymologic origins, heterotopic ossification can be literally de­ fined as "bone formation in other location." The first written account of heterotopic ossification describes the treatment of symptomatic lesions. Al-Zahrawi (more commonly known in Western cultures as Albucasis ), widely considered the father of surgery, wrote in the year 1000 C. E., "This callus often occurs after the healing of a fracture ... and sometimes there is limitation of the natural function of the limb ... if the callus is stony hard and its removal is urgent, incise the place and cut away the superfluous prominence, or pare it away with a scraper until it is gone; and dress the wound until it heals."' Currently, orthopaedic surgeons faced with treating mature, refractory, symptomatic heterotopic ossification are left with few options other than operative excision. Although it is remarkable that the treatment of heterotopic os­ sification has scarcely changed in the last millennium, it is gen­ erally accepted that prophylaxis against heterotopic ossification is far preferable than the later treatment of symptomatic lesions. As such, the focus of scientific effort in recent years has been directed toward prophylaxis, not treatment. The formation of heterotopic ossification has been ob­ served following total hip arthroplasty, acetabular and elbow fracture surgery, electrocution and burn injuries, and traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury'. Following most traumatic injuries in the civilian population, the formation of heterotopic ossification is relatively rare in the absence of head injury. Even following traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury, hetero­ topic ossification develops in only 20% and 11 o/o of patients, respectivelf. Rates of heterotopic ossification formation exceed 50% only in the setting of femoral shaft fractures with concomitant head injury', although reported rates following ace­ tabular and elbow fractures vary substantially. Numerous combat-related injury and amputation studies from the latter half of the twentieth century make no specific mention of heterotopic ossification, suggesting that it was not a common occurrence in prior conflicts 5 ·•. However, military medical texts
Various Vertical Coordinate Systems Used for Numerical Weather Prediction

Abstract For numerical weather prediction with primitive equations (the Eulerian hydrodynamic equations modified by the assumption of hydrostatic equilibrium), various coordinate systems are used to represent the vertical structure of the atmosphere. In this paper, we review the essential features of prediction equations, satisfying the conservation of mass and total energy, in various vertical coordinate systems. We formulate the equations of horizontal motion, hydrostatic balance, mass continuity, and thermodynamics using a generalized vertical coordinate in which any variable that gives a single-valued monotonic relationship with a geometric height can be used as a vertical coordinate. Conditions to conserve total energy in a generalized vertical coordinate are investigated. Various prediction schemes using pressure, height, and potential temperature as a vertical coordinate are derived from the set of basic equations in the generalized coordinate system. These three coordinate systems are unique in th...