cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Polysomnography Provides Useful Clinical Information in the Liberation from Respiratory Technology: A Retrospective Review.

Background The prevalence of respiratory-technology dependent children is increasing although for most children the goal is liberation from technology. Liberation from home mechanical ventilation (HMV) and decannulation strategies vary due to the lack of clinical practice standards. The primary objective of this study was to describe our practice utilizing a polysomnography (PSG) in the liberation from respiratory-technology process. Methods Retrospective study of tracheostomized children with and without HMV who underwent an evaluation for decannulation between January 2006 and June 2016. Patient demographics, indication for tracheostomy, indication for PSG, PSG results and interventions performed after the PSG were collected. RESULTS: We identified 153 decannulation attempts in 148 children. Ninety-nine children had a tracheostomy only and 49 children had a tracheostomy with HMV. There were 190 PSGs performed. Almost two-thirds of the children (N = 92) had at least one PSG, 37 children (25%) had two and 19 children (13%) had more than 2 PSGs. Children with tracheostomy and HMV had more PSGs compared to children with tracheostomy only. PSGs were performed at four points: (1) prior to tracheostomy placement (N = 23); (2) to titrate HMV (N = 19); (3) off-HMV support (N = 43); and with a capped tracheostomy (N = 101). Most of the off-HMV PSGs (N = 39) were favorable for discontinuing HMV. About two-thirds of the capped PSGs (N = 73) were favorable for decannulation; of the unfavorable capped PSGs (N = 28), thirteen required airway surgeries following the unfavorable PSG. CONCLUSION: : Overnight PSG provides useful information to the liberation process, particularly when determining readiness for discontinuing HMV and decannulation.
Pediatric Rheumatology Curriculum for the Pediatrics Resident: A Case-Based Approach to Learning.

Introduction Pediatric rheumatologic disease occurs more frequently than several other chronic pediatric diseases but is often underrecognized. It is estimated that in the US, one in 250 children h...
Physiochemical and morphological dependent growth of NIH/3T3 and PC-12 on polyaniline-chloride/chitosan bionanocomposites

Abstract Biomimetic scaffolds inspired by fields and forces of the natural environment of cells is essential in tissue engineering. This study reports on controlled growth of two model cell lines, NIH/3T3 (promiscuous, fibroblast) and PC-12 (electroresponsive, neural progenitor) cells, given electrical and topographical cues that were delivered from a bionanocomposite of polyaniline-chloride and chitosan (PAn-Cl/CHI). The conductivity and morphology of the scaffold were controlled by varying the wt% of PAn-Cl (0–50 wt%) in CHI and processing methods, air-drying (nanofeatured) versus lyophilization (microporous-reticulated), respectively. Bionanocomposites supported the growth of both cell types independent of the availability of receptor-mediated ligands (laminin). NIH/3T3 cells were less elongated on lyophilized (microporous-reticulated) and more conductive (higher wt% PAn-Cl) composites. PC-12 cells had higher viability and less aggregation when grown on conductive substrates. Air-dried bionanocomposites were more supportive of growth but not attachment of PC-12 cells, suggesting that processing of composites could provide an additional level of engineering control to alter the PC-12 cell attachment and growth. In general, PC-12 cells responded more distinctly and dramatically to the substrate properties than NIH/3T3 cells, supporting a clear role for electrical conductivity on neural cell behavior. Nerve growth factor(NGF)-induced differentiation of PC-12 cells resulted in extensive neurite extension in the presence of adsorbed laminin. In a substrate composition-dependent manner, extension and rate of neurite outgrowth were higher when cultured on the conductive substrates. Overall, this study demonstrates the suitability of conductive PAn-Cl/CHI scaffold to host different cell types and support their responses.
Federated Multi-task Hierarchical Attention Model for Sensor Analytics.

Sensors are an integral part of modern Internet of Things (IoT) applications. There is a critical need for the analysis of heterogeneous multivariate temporal data obtained from the individual sensors of these systems. In this paper we particularly focus on the problem of the scarce amount of training data available per sensor. We propose a novel federated multi-task hierarchical attention model (FATHOM) that jointly trains classification/regression models from multiple sensors. The attention mechanism of the proposed model seeks to extract feature representations from the input and learn a shared representation focused on time dimensions across multiple sensors. The underlying temporal and non-linear relationships are modeled using a combination of attention mechanism and long-short term memory (LSTM) networks. We find that our proposed method outperforms a wide range of competitive baselines in both classification and regression settings on activity recognition and environment monitoring datasets. We further provide visualization of feature representations learned by our model at the input sensor level and central time level.
Brief of Douglas Laycock, Thomas Berg, David Blankenhorn, Marie Failinger, and Edward Gaffney as Amici Curiae in Support of Petitioners in Same-Sex Marriage Cases (Obergefell v. Hodges etc.)

The Court must protect the right of same-sex couples to marry, and it must protect the right of churches, synagogues, and other religious organizations not to recognize those marriages. This brief, filed in Obergefell and the other current same-sex marriage cases, is an appeal to protect the liberty of both sides in the dispute over same-sex marriage. Serious issues of religious liberty will arise in the wake of same-sex marriage. But it is not appropriate to prohibit same-sex civil marriage to avoid having to address those issues. No one can have a right to deprive others of their important liberty as a prophylactic means of protecting his own. The proper response to the mostly avoidable conflict between gay rights and religious liberty is to protect the liberty of both sides. Both sexual minorities and religious minorities make essentially parallel claims on the larger society. Both sexual orientation and religious faith, and the conduct that follows from each, are fundamental to human identity. Both same-sex couples, and religious organizations and believers committed to traditional understandings of marriage, face hostile regulation that condemns their most cherished commitments as evil. The American solution to this conflict is to protect the liberty of both sides. Same-sex couples must be permitted to marry, and religious dissenters must be permitted to refuse to recognize those marriages. Doctrinal tools are available to protect religious liberty with respect to marriage, and this brief summarizes them.
Association Between Occupational Exposure to Pesticides and Cardiovascular Disease Incidence: The Kuakini Honolulu Heart Program

Background Previously, Kuakini Honolulu Heart Program researchers reported that occupational exposure to pesticides was significantly associated with total mortality. The current study examines occ...
Chapter 27 – Pertussis

Pertussis (whooping cough) is the most frequent vaccine-preventable disease in children less than 5 years old in industrialized countries and has become much more prevalent over the time since the acellular pertussis vaccine replaced the whole cell biologic. The infection has increased in different age groups and all of these groups can impact on the frequency of disease in infants. It is this group that contributes most of the significant morbidity and mortality of pertussis. The microbiological, clinical, diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive aspects of Bordetella pertussis infection in man are reviewed and the reasons for this increase in cases including vaccine and pathogen issues are examined.
Experimental validation of Scheil–Gulliver simulations for gradient path planning in additively manufactured functionally graded materials

Abstract Additive manufacturing (AM), through directed energy deposition, supports planned composition changes between locations within a single component, allowing for functionally graded materials (FGMs) to be developed and fabricated. The formation of deleterious phases along a particular composition path can cause significant cracking during the AM build process that makes the composition path unviable to produce structurally stable FGMs, but it is challenging to predict which phases will be present in as-built additively manufactured parts by analyzing only equilibrium phase relations. Solute segregation during solidification can lead to the formation of non-equilibrium phases that are stable at compositions far from the nominal composition of the melt, leading to crack formation. In this work, we developed and validated a Scheil–Gulliver simulation tool based on pycalphad. We used this tool to compare the non-equilibrium phases predicted to form during the AM build process using the Scheil–Gulliver model with experimentally measured phases at several locations with different composition in a Ti-6Al-4V to Invar-36 FGM and a commercially pure Ti to Invar-36 FGM. We showed that the phases predicted to form by the Scheil–Gulliver model agree better with the experimental results than the predictions made by assuming equilibrium solidification, proving that the Scheil–Gulliver model can be applied to FGMs. Further, we demonstrated the use of our Scheil–Gulliver simulation tool as a method of designing FGMs through screening potential FGM pathways by calculating the solidification phase fractions along the experimental gradient path in composition space.
Clinical research of hydrocele of testis treated by single port laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal processus cerclage

Objective To observe the clinical effect of hydrocele of testis treated by single port laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal processus cerclage. Methods Selected 60 male children with hydrocele of tunica vaginalis from January 2014 to March 2015 as the objects, and they were randomly divided into two groups, with 30 cases in each group. Observation group: the 30 patients were treated by open operative high ligation of sheath of transverse cutting. Treatment group: the 30 patients were treated by single port laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal processus cerclage. Compared the operation situation, mainly included the time of operation, length of incision and amount of bleeding of the unilateral and bilateral. Observed the contralateral occult inguinal indirect hernia, no open processus vaginalis, hydrops reflux by itself, extruding reflux and the situation of tapping of them. Compared the hospitalization condition of the two groups, which mainly included hospital stays, operation fee of anesthesia and total cost of treatment. At the sametime, the incidence of complications between the two groups were observed. Results There was no significant difference in the aperation time between the two groups (P>0.05). The operation time of the treatment group was less than the bilateral operation observation group, and the length of incision of the treatment group was shorter than that of the lonhtrol group, the amount of bleeding was less than that of the control group, there were significant differences (P 0.05). The operation fee of anesthesia and total cost of the treatment group was higher than control group, there were significant difference (P 0.05), and they had rehabilitation after expectant treatment. Conclusions It has very high application value of hydrocele of testis treated by single port laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal processus cerclage, and with the advantage such as less trauma, lower bleeding and faster prognosis after operation, so it is worthy of promotion. Key words: Hydrocele of tunica vaginalis; Laparoscope; Single port laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal processus cerclage; Clinical effect
Ultimate causes of antipredator vocalizations in a nonhibernating squirrel

Communication plays an integral role in facilitating intra- and interspecific interactions. The study of signal function and content reveals the rules that govern such interactions, informing hypotheses in behavioural ecology and evolution. The ubiquitous nature of antipredator vocalizations in ground squirrels provides a useful model for studying the evolution of communication. Conspecifics in many ground squirrel species respond to antipredator vocalizations, and sociality functions as a strong selective force favouring more informative antipredator vocalizations. However, studies of a single antipredator vocalization system in both social and nonsocial contexts are relatively scarce, preventing diagnosis of selective forces other than sociality. We conducted a 2-year study to test two alternative hypotheses relating to the function of antipredator vocalizations in a nonhibernating squirrel, the Harris’ antelope squirrel, Ammospermophilus harrisii. We hypothesized that if vocalizations function as a predator deterrent, callers should be of equal sex ratio and vocalize year-round. If vocalizations function primarily as a warning to offspring, callers should be predominantly female and vocalize only when juveniles are above ground. We found that spontaneous callers were predominantly female but vocalized throughout the year. We also found that call bouts varied in trill number, which could hold additional layers of information. Our results suggest that antipredator vocalizations function as both a predator deterrent and a warning to offspring. Antipredator vocalizations with multiple functions or receivers are subject to a greater compilation of selective forces that may induce communicative complexity to arise.
Debris flow magnitude, frequency, and precipitation threshold in the eastern North Cascades, Washington, USA

We examine the magnitude, frequency, and precipitation threshold of the extreme flood hazard on 37 low-order streams in the lower Stehekin River Valley on the arid eastern slope of the North Cascades. Key morphometric variables identify the magnitude of the hazard by differentiating debris flood from debris flow systems. Thirty-two debris flow systems are fed by basins 10°. Five debris flood systems have larger drainage areas and debris fans with slopes 7–10°. The debris flood systems have Melton ruggedness ratios from 0.42–0.64 compared to 0.78–3.80 for debris flow basins. We record stratigraphy at seven sites where soil surfaces buried by successive debris flows limit the age of events spanning 6000 years. Eighteen radiocarbon ages from the soils are the basis for estimates of a 200 to1500-year range in recurrence interval for larger debris flows and a 450 ± 50-year average. Smaller events occur approximately every 100 years. Fifteen debris flows occurred in nine drainage systems in the last 15 years, including multiple flows on three streams. Summer storms in 2010 and 2013 with peak rainfall intensities of 7–9 mm/h sustained for 8–11 h triggered all but one flow; the fall 2015 event on Canyon Creek occurred after 170 mm of rain in 78 h. A direct link between fires and debris flows is unclear because several recent debris flows occurred in basins that did not burn or burned at low intensity, and basins that burned at high intensity did not carry debris flows. All but one of the recent flows and fires occurred on the valley’s southwest-facing wall. We conclude that fires and debris flows are linked by aspect at the landscape scale, where the sunny valley wall has flashy runoff due to sparse vegetation from frequent fires.
Summary of Workshop: Growth Factors, Hormones and Inducers

The role of two important groups of substances (growth factors and casomorphins) with hormone or hormone-like effects present in breast milk was discussed in this session.
Pesticides and pollinators: a context-sensitive policy approach

I examine recent policymaking efforts in the United States (US) that seek to improve how risks posed by pesticides to insect pollinators are assessed and managed. Utilizing the case of ongoing honey bee die-offs, I argue for a context-sensitive policy framework. From a scientific perspective, this entails not ignoring the uncertain knowledge emerging from laboratory and field studies regarding the indirect effects of low levels of certain insecticides in combination with other factors. From a social scientific perspective, policy initiatives to build partnerships between growers and beekeepers toward mitigating exposure to pesticides are crucial, and need to acknowledge barriers to the adoption of best management practices as well as a historically-established asymmetry between growers and beekeepers in the pollination industry.
Sensitivity, Specificity, and Relatives

This chapter introduces several notions fundamental for disease or device testing. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of a test are measures of the performance of a diagnostic test and are intimately connected with probability calculations (estimations) and Bayes’ rule.
History Is Not Enough: Using Contemporary Justifications for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms in Interpreting the Second Amendment

Over two hundred years after James Madison wrote the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, there is still little agreement on the meaning of "the right of the people to keep and bear arms." The debate over this provision has focused on divining the intent of the Framers to determine what was meant by the "militia" in the eighteenth century. Interpreting the past, however, has failed to resolve the issue, evidenced by the fact that both those in favor of and those opposed to a private right to keep and bear arms point to the same authorities for support. This Note argues that rather than continually re-examining historical sources, we should determine whether there are contemporary justifications supporting the individual right of a citizen to keep and bear arms.
Revitalizing Environmental Federalism

Politicians from Speaker Newt Gingrich to President Bill Clinton, cheered on by academics such as Richard Revesz, are eagerly seeking to return authority over environmental regulation to the states.' In the European Union, localist opponents of environmental decisionmaking in Brussels rally under the banner of "subsidiarity."2 And in debates over international trade liberalization, demands abound for the protection of "national sovereignty"3 in environmental regulation. All of these efforts presume that a decentralized approach to environmental policy will yield better results than more centralized programs. This presumption is misguided. While the character of some environmental concerns warrants a
Embryo Exchanges and Adoption Tax Credits

The “Option of Adoption Act,” a Georgia law that was introduced by a staunchly anti-abortion Georgia state representative, establishes procedures for genetic donors to relinquish their rights to embryos before birth and permits, but does not require, embryo recipients to petition a court for recognition that they are the legal parents of a child born to them as a result of an embryo transfer. This article clears up what seems to be widespread confusion about a fairly straightforward question of tax law related to such embryo “adoptions.” Notwithstanding various sources' claims to the contrary, neither a Georgia adoption tax credit nor a federal adoption tax credit is available for “adopting” an embryo.
Sequential circuit test generation using dynamic justification equivalence

Automatic test pattern generation (ATPG) for sequential circuits involves making decisions in the search decision spaces bounded by a sequential circuit. The flip-flops in the sequential circuit determine the circuit state search decision space. The inputs of the circuit define the combinational search decision space. Much work on sequential circuit ATPG acceleration focused on how to make ATPG search decisions. We propose a new technique to improve sequential circuit ATPG efficiency by focusing on not repeating previous searches. This new method is orthogonal to existing deterministic sequential circuit ATPG algorithms. A common search operation in sequential circuit ATPG is justification, which is to find an input assignment to justify a desired output assignment of a component. We have observed that implications in a circuit resulting from prior justification decisions form an unique justification decomposition. Since the connectivity of a circuit does not change during ATPG, test generation for different target faults may share identical justification decision sequences represented by identical decision spaces. Because justification decomposition represents the collective effects of prior justification decisions, it is used to identify previously-explored justification decisions. Preliminary results on the ISCAS 1989 circuits show that our test generator (SEST) using justification decompositions, on average, runs 2.4 and 4.5 times faster than Gentest and Hitec, respectively. We describe the details of justification equivalence and its application in ATPG accompanied with step-by-step examples.
Selective removal of stratum corneum by microdermabrasion to increase skin permeability

This study sought to determine if microdermabrasion can selectively remove stratum corneum to increase skin permeability. Although, microdermabrasion has been used for cosmetic treatment of skin for decades, no study has assessed the detailed effects of microdermabrasion conditions on the degree of skin tissue removal. Therefore, we histologically characterized the skin of rhesus macaques and human volunteers after microdermabrasion at different conditions. Using mobile tip microdermabrasion, an increase in the number of treatment passes led to greater tissue removal ranging from minimal effects to extensive damage to deeper layers of the skin. Of note, these data showed for the first time that at moderate microdermabrasion conditions selective yet full-thickness removal of stratum corneum could be achieved with little damage to deeper skin tissues. In the stationary mode of microdermabrasion, selective stratum corneum removal was not observed, but micro-blisters could be seen. Similar tissue removal trends were observed in human volunteers. As proof of concept for drug delivery applications, a model fluorescent drug (fluorescein) was delivered through microdermabraded skin and antibodies were generated against vaccinia virus after its topical application in monkeys. In conclusion, microdermabrasion can selectively remove full-thickness stratum corneum with little damage to deeper tissues and thereby increase skin permeability.
Alterations in calmodulin mRNA expression and calmodulin content in rat brain after repeated, intermittent amphetamine.

To assess whether calmodulin (CaM) gene expression could have a role in behavioral sensitization induced by repeated, intermittent amphetamine, CaM protein and mRNA of the three separate CaM genes were measured in several different brain areas from rats repeatedly administered saline or amphetamine. Rats were injected twice weekly for five weeks, followed by one week of withdrawal. CaM protein and mRNA were measured in dorsal striatum, limbic forebrain, prefrontal cortex, ventral mesencephalon and piriform cortex. There were increases of CaM protein content and decreases of CaM I mRNA in the dorsal striatum and prefrontal cortex. CaM II mRNA was also decreased in the dorsal striatum. A decrease of CaM protein and an increase of CaM I mRNA were found in the ventral mesencephalon. There was no change of CaM protein in the limbic forebrain, although a decrease of CaM I mRNA was detected. CaM protein and mRNA were not altered in the piriform cortex. Our findings demonstrate that both CaM content and mRNA are altered after an amphetamine regimen leading to sensitization. The fact that the changes in CaM content and mRNA are in dopaminergic brain areas associated with sensitization suggests that CaM could contribute to neurochemical events underlying behavioral sensitization to amphetamine.
The influence of applied voltage on cutting forces in slow speed wood cutting

Slow speed wood cutting tests were carried out in which cutting forces were measured as a function of applied tool-work electrical potential. The cutting tool and workpiece were electrically insulated so that there was no current flow. Applied potential had no discernible effect on the cutting forces measured in the cutting of unextracted and extracted wet wood.
The equivalence of contingency structure for intuitive covariation judgments about height, weight, and body fat.

Abstract In a complete between-subjects design, 576 respondents judged covariations of problems framed around height, weight, and body fat. A verbal measure was used, consisting of prepositional statements representing relationships between two of the variables, as well as two types of response options: true or false, and a 7-point, bipolar, Likert-type scale. Consistent with previous findings, weight and body fat were unambiguously judged as if positively correlated; there were indications of a perceived negative correlation of height and body fat; and there was no evidence that participants regarded height and weight as positively correlated. Furthermore, there was no reliable evidence in support of framing effects. However, there were indications of influence for conditional format. These findings are discussed relative to previous and ongoing research efforts, and it is concluded that it may be inappropriate to regard variations in conditional format as parallel items. Measures involving all possible ...
Quantum mechanical transport equations for composite particles

Abstract The derivation of the quantum mechanical Boltzmann equation for an atomic gas is presented. It is based on the corresponding generalized master equation. The atoms are treated as composite particles and the degeneracy of their excited levels is taken into account. The kernel of the kinetic equation is related to the T-matrix of the Lippman-Schwinger theory with correct consideration of the exchange effects of the constituents of the atoms. The relation to equations proposed for polyatomic gases is discussed.
Molecular Orbital Model for Ion Polar-Molecule Capture Collisions

This article presents a molecular orbital model for ion polar molecule capture collisions which was developed by building on classical theoretical treatments. We replace the polarization potential ...
Voices of youth in foster care and special education regarding their educational experiences and transition to adulthood

Abstract Very little in-depth information is available on the educational and transition experiences, perceptions, and actions of youth in foster care who are receiving special education services. This paper describes a qualitative study that followed seven youth in foster care receiving special education services, ages 15 to 18, for six to nine months. The youth were interviewed an average of seven times and they were invited to take photographs and make journal entries depicting their lives. The findings documented the complex challenges that youth experience, including educational struggles, difficulty in clarifying their relationships with biological family, and having to make major decisions in the context of uncertainty and inadequate and sometimes restrictive supports and services. Having consistent and committed adult support, knowledge of options and services, and opportunities, skills, and confidence to take positive action toward goals emerged as important themes in the youth's success.
Imaging interferometric microscopy–approaching the linear systems limits of optical resolution

The linear systems optical resolution limit is a dense grating pattern at a λ/2 pitch or a critical dimension (resolution) of λ/4. However, conventional microscopy provides a (Rayleigh) resolution of only ~ 0.6λ/NA, approaching λ/1.67 as NA → 1. A synthetic aperture approach to reaching the λ/4 linear-systems limit, extending previous developments in imaging-interferometric microscopy, is presented. Resolution of non-periodic 180-nm features using 633-nm illumination (λ/3.52) and of a 170-nm grating (λ/3.72) is demonstrated. These results are achieved with a 0.4-NA optical system and retain the working distance, field-of-view, and depth-of-field advantages of low-NA systems while approaching ultimate resolution limits.
SEEK Web tutor: fostering a critical stance while exploring the causes of volcanic eruption

We investigated the impact of a Web tutor on college students’ critical stance and learning while exploring Web pages on science. Critical stance is an aspect of self-regulated learning that emphasizes the need to evaluate the truth and relevance of information as the learner engages in systematic inquiry to answer challenging questions. The Web tutor is called SEEK, an acronym for Source, Evidence, Explanation, and Knowledge. The SEEK Tutor was designed to promote a critical stance through several facilities in a computer environment: spoken hints on a mock Google™ search page, on-line ratings on the reliability of particular Web sites, and a structured note-taking facility that prompted them to reflect on the quality of particular Web sites. We conducted two experiments that trained students how to take a critical stance and that tracked their behavior while exploring Web pages on plate tectonics to research the causes of the volcanic eruption of Mt. St. Helens. The SEEK Tutor did improve critical stance, as manifested in essays on the causes of the volcanic eruption, and did yield learning gains for some categories of information (compared with comparison conditions). However, many measures were unaffected by either the presence of the SEEK Tutor or by prior training on critical stance. We anticipate that robust improvements on critical stance and learning will require more training and/or some expert feedback and interactive scaffolding of critical stance in the context of specific examples.
A meso-mechanical model of the tensile behaviour of concrete. part I: modelling of the pre-peak stress-strain relation

Abstract A constitutive model is derived for the pre-peak non-linear stress-strain relation for concrete based on analysis of the internal structure and local deformation mechanisms. Inelastic deformation is accounted for by considering the opening of stably propagating interfacial cracks at cement matrix/aggregate interfaces. Analytical expressions for inelastic deformation and composite tensile strength are derived as functions of maximum aggregate size, aggregate volume fraction and cement matrix toughness. Limited comparisons between model predictions and experimental data are presented.
Inflammatory myopathy associated with mixed connective tissue disease and scleroderma renal crisis

Mixed connective tissue disease is a rheumatological syndrome with neuromuscular manifestations that may include inflammatory myopathy and carpal tunnel syndrome. We report a patient who presented with an inflammatory myopathy and bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome prior to the diagnosis of a connective tissue disorder. Early in the course of treatment, a syndrome of acute renal failure developed. Knowledge of this syndrome, scleroderma renal crisis, and its possible relation to corticosteroid treatment is important to clinicians involved in the management of patients with inflammatory myopathies.
Analysis of eye movements during free search.

The positive polarity of the human cornea was used to produce signals from marginal electrodes around the eyes. The potentials were amplified with dc networks which produced amplitude-time oscillographic tracings of the horizontal and vertical components of eyeball movement, and also controlled the deflectors of a cathode-ray oscilloscope (CRO) in such a way that the beam moved in the same way as the eyes. An automatic camera photographed the CRO face to produce two-dimensional electro-oculographic (EOG) plots of eyeball movement. Data thus obtained are used for an analysis of eye movements and fixations in a surveillance search task. The paper oscillographic tracings against time show (1) the number of fixations per unit of time, and (2) the duration of the fixations. The cathode-ray EOG shows (1) the order of fixations in search procedure, (2) the lengths of various saccadic jumps, and (3) the areas of neglect and concentration for 5-sec search periods on a circular field subtending 30° of visual angle.
Ecological aspects of the foraging behaviour of Crested Tits Parus cristatus

Studies were made in the pine forests of the Spey Valley to discover the degree to which the feeding habits of the Crested Tit involved it in, or freed it from, competition with tits of wider distribution or other species of similar hunting methods. When they were feeding in trees or bushes, more than 80% of Crested Tit foraging was in Scots Pines, where the hunting was shared with Coal Tits and Goldcrests and, to some extent, with Blue Tits. The Great and Long-tailed Tits in the area spent most of their time in broad-leaved trees and did not notably come into competition with the pine-foraging species. At all seasons of the year Crested Tits were more likely to be found in the more massive parts of the trees than were their possible competitors: in the winter months they resorted much more to smaller pines than did the other members of the guild and they were more often recorded foraging on the ground.
The role of hyperlipidemic serum on the proliferation and necrosis of aortic medial cells in vitro.

Abstract The effects of hyperlipidemic rabbit serum on the proliferation and death of subcultured rabbit aortic medial cells were evaluated. The cultured cells were grown from the aortic media of normal adult male rabbits, prelabeled with [ 3 H]thymidine, and then trypsinized, pooled, and subcultured. Either normal or hyperlipidemic rabbit serum was added to the culture media. Proliferative activity was measured by cell count and by the isotopic dilution of the prelabeled DNA, with corrections made for cell loss. Cell loss, presumed to represent mainly cell death, was assessed from the total loss of [ 3 H]thymidine from the cultured cell population. The cells grown in basal medium of Eagle containing 10% normal serum showed a 25% loss in the first 3 days after trypsinization. The loss rate stabilized at 1.5% per day 5 days after the subculture. When these cells were exposed to hyperlipidemic serum, the rate of cell loss showed a 5.5-fold increase in the initial 3 days, and thereafter returned to the levels seen in the presence of normal serum. Cells exposed to hyperlipidemic serum also showed a 25–50% increase in proliferative activity. These alterations have been demonstrated in both the early proliferative phase and later stationary phase. Cells grown in hyperlipidemic serum were larger on the average and showed a 50% increase in protein content per cell.
Comparison of Simultaneously Recorded Central and Peripheral Arterial Pressure Pulses During Rest, Exercise and Tilted Position in Man

Central (aortic or subclavian), brachial, radial and femoral pressure pulses were recorded simultaneously in 12 healthy subjects during conditions of rest, exercise and 70 degree head-up tilt. Peripheral systolic pressure at rest uniformly exceeded the central systolic pressure generated by the same heartbeat. The average radial pulse pressure was 146, 146 and 165 per cent of central pulse pressure during rest, exercise and tilt while radial mean pressures were 94, 93 and 98 per cent of central mean pressures respectively. Summation of the incident pulse wave with reflected waves from the periphery and resonance effects in the peripheral arterial systems may produce these changes in pressure and contour.
Oxidative stress and the deleterious consequences to the rat cochlea after prenatal chronic mild exposure to carbon monoxide in air

Abstract Pregnant rats (starting on E5) were exposed chronically to carbon monoxide (CO) from gestational days 5–20. In the postnatal period, rat pups were grouped as follows: group A: prenatal exposure to CO only; group B: prenatal exposure to CO then exposed to CO from postnatal day (P) 5 to P20; group C, control (air without CO). Groups A and B showed similar deleterious effects after CO exposure. At P3, rat pup cochlea from group A showed a normal organization of the organ of Corti. There was no morphological deterioration, or loss of inner or outer hair cells. At P20, animals from group A and B showed vacuolization on the afferent terminals at the basal portion of the cochlea. We found synapsin-1 immunoreactivity (IR) to be decreased in efferent nerve terminals in CO-exposed pups at P3. From P12 to P20, synapsin-1-IR is low in efferent terminals. At P20, type I spiral ganglia neurons and afferent nerve fibers showed decreased neurofilament-IR in CO-exposed groups when compared with controls. Heme oxygenase-1 and superoxide dismutase-1-IR were elevated in the stria vascularis and blood vessels from CO-exposed rat pups at P12 and P20 in group B; in contrast group A showed a comparable expression to controls. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nitrotyrosine-IR were increased in blood vessels of the cochlea in CO-exposed groups, from P3 to P20. iNOS up-regulation and the presence of nitrotyrosine in blood vessels of the cochlea indicated that CO exposure activates the production of nitric oxide via increased iNOS activity. Prenatal chronic CO exposure promotes oxidative stress in the cochlea blood vessels that in turn is reflected in damage to spiral ganglia neurons and inner hair cells, suggesting for the first time that prenatal exposure to CO at concentrations expected in poorly ventilated environments impairs the development of the inner ear.
Consider the source: the impact of media and authority in outreach to private forest and rangeland owners.

Abstract Over half of the United States is privately owned. Improving environmental sustainability requires that the scientific and management communities provide effective outreach to the many landowners making decisions about land use and management practices on these lands. We surveyed California forest and rangeland owners in ten counties throughout the state to assess the impact of existing outreach and identify gaps in information distribution and content. Although a number of organizations provide land management advice highly-ranked by landowners, no individual organization currently reaches more than 30% of forest and rangeland owners, and these groups together reach less than 60% of landowners. The lowest ranked advice came from wildlife and land management agencies, whereas the highest ranked advice came from private consultants and advisory organizations. The ecosystem services provided by forests and rangelands are strongly influenced by conservation scale, and this appears to be recognized in current outreach efforts. Owners of large properties (>200 ha) were substantially more likely to have received land management advice than smaller-sized properties, and from a broader group of organizations. As ownerships become increasingly fragmented, outreach focus and methods will need to shift to more effectively target the owners of smaller properties. On the other hand, some major outreach goals, such as conservation of wildlife, ranchland, or agricultural communities, will continue to rely on effective outreach to owners of larger properties.
Lightning and climate: A review

Abstract Research on regional and global lightning activity and the global electrical circuit is summarized. This area of activity has greatly expanded through observations of lightning by satellite and through increased use of the natural (Schumann) resonances of the Earth–ionosphere cavity. The global electrical circuit provides a natural framework for monitoring global change on many time scales. Lightning is responsive to temperature on many time scales, but the sensitivity to temperature appears to diminish at the longer time scales.
The largest single-strand molecular wheel: Ga20 from a targeted, diolate-induced size modification of the Ga10‘gallic wheel’

A Ga20 single-strand wheel has been prepared by a targeted, propane-1,3-diolate-induced size modification of the known Ga10‘gallic wheel’; the Ga20 reverts back to Ga10 on treatment with an excess of MeOH.
Learning to Teach: An Emerging Direction in Research on Preservice Teacher Education

Doyle provides an overview of the research on learning to teach. He describes how theoretical characteristics of the professional curriculum often con flict with survival needs of prospective and p...
Gene × Environment Effects: Stress and Memory Dysfunctions Caused by Stress and Gonadal Factor Irregularities during Puberty in Control And TGF- α Hypomorphic Mice

Gene × Environment Effects: Stress and Memory Dysfunctions Caused by Stress and Gonadal Factor Irregularities during Puberty in Control And TGF- α Hypomorphic Mice
Osmotically-induced nerve taurine depletion and the compatible osmolyte hypothesis in experimental diabetic neuropathy in the rat.

Diabetic neuropathy results from progressive nerve fibre damage with blunted nerve regeneration and repair and may be complicated by nerve hyperexcitability resulting in pain. The naturally occurring amino acid taurine functions as an osmolyte, inhibitory neurotransmitter, and modulator of pain perception. It is also known to have neurotrophic actions. The compatible osmolyte hypothesis proposes that levels of intracellular organic osmolytes including taurine and myo-inositol, respond co-ordinately in response to changes in intracellular sorbitol or external osmolality to maintain the intracellular milieu. We hypothesize that glucose-induced sorbitol accumulation in diabetes mellitus will result in taurine depletion in peripheral nerve which may potentially impair nerve regeneration and precipitate neuronal hyperexcitability and pain. This study explored the relationships of taurine, myo-inositol and sorbitol in the rat nerve and their effects on nerve conduction velocity. Osmolyte levels and nerve conduction velocity were determined in sciatic nerve from non-diabetic and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, with or without dietary taurine or myo-inositol supplementation. Taurine levels decreased by 31% (p< 0.01) and myo-inositol decreased by 37% (p<0.05) in diabetic nerve as sorbitol accumulated. Taurine supplementation of diabetic animals did not affect nerve conduction velocity but further reduced nerve myo-inositol levels. Prevention of sorbitol accumulation with the aldose reductase inhibitor sorbinil increased nerve taurine levels by 22% (p<0.05) when compared with untreated diabetic animals. Thus, we have demonstrated an interdependence of organic osmolytes within the nerve. Abnormal accumulation of one osmolyte results in reciprocal depletion of others. Diabetic neuropathy may be an example of maladaptive osmoregulation, nerve damage and instability being aggravated by taurine depletion.
Economy-Wide Effects of Climate Variability and Climate Prediction in Mozambique

For most countries in Africa, agriculture represents a large share of the economy, and climate-induced production variability has immediate and important macroeconomic impacts. Responding to that climate variability plays a part in the development strategy debate for Africa. Some argue that, partly because of rainfall variability, the agricultural resource base in Africa is generally of such low quality that agriculture cannot effectively function as a leading sector. Consequently, African development should be driven by labor intensive industries, such as textiles and footwear, as in East Asia. Bloom and Sachs are primary proponents of this strategy. On the opposite side, Hertel, Masters, and Elbehri and Wood and Mayer argue that Africa's natural resource base is simply too large to ignore. Africa's massive land endowment combined with dismally low educational attainment across the continent point to a development strategy focused on primary products. In this view, Africa should follow in the development footsteps of, for example, the Americas (both Latin and North) and Australia. Exports of primary products, especially agriculture, play the prominent role in the development process for at least the medium term. As educational attainment improves, processing of primary products, both agricultural and mineral, figures more prominently in the export mix. Seasonal climate forecasts have the potential to play a role in this debate. While forecasting climate remains challenging, timely and reliable seasonal forecasts might already be a reality for certain regions. Agricultural yields in southern Africa appear to be correlated with El Nifio and the Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events in the equatorial Pacific (Cane, Eshel, and Buckland). Southern Africa is thus viewed as a particularly promising region for the development and use of seasonal forecasts (Ropelewski and Halpert). ENSO information, coupled with local climate modeling, appears to have resulted in some skill in predicting climate outcomes in other regions of Africa as well (Ward, Unganai, and Garanganga). If predictable droughts are not as damaging as randomly occurring droughts and predictable favorable climate significantly more beneficial than random occurrences
An analysis of impact-induced deformation and fracture modes in amorphous glassy polymers

Abstract The finite deformation response of a planar block of polymer material subject to impact loading is analyzed using two constitutive models for glassy polymers, a reference Drucker–Prager type model and a physics-based macromolecular model, supplemented by a phenomenological model for craze initiation and widening. Full transient finite element analyses are carried out using a Lagrangian formulation of the field equations. The analyses allow an assessment of possible failure mechanisms under dynamic loading and the ability of the different models to predict such behavior. The results highlight the effect of the stress–strain behavior of polymers, notably the post-yield softening and large strain hardening, on localization of plastic flow. This behavior is adequately captured only by the macromolecular model.
Comment on "Radiation damage of biosystems mediated by secondary electrons: Resonant precursors for uracil molecules" [J. Chem. Phys. 120, 7446 (2004)].

Resonances computed by Gianturco and Lucchese are incorrectly correlated with those observed experimentally. A shift of their π* resonances by 2 eV gives satisfactory agreement. Arguments for determining whether a resonance is a suitable precursor for the fragmentation products are too simplistic, and in one example, incorrect.
Fabrication of Tin Loaded Resorcinol Formaldehyde Aerogel Spheres for Extreme Ultraviolet Source Emission

Low density Sn doped resorcinol formaldehyde aerogels were fabricated for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) source emission lithography experiments (EUVL). EUVL is a candidate to succeed conventional optical lithography. EUVL requires a reliable emission (13.5 nm) source. One type of source is a laser-produced plasma. Several laser-plasma source materials have been considered such as lithium, xenon and tin. Tin is considered ideal because it has a high conversion effeciency. However, solid tin targets create a large quantity of debris which can damage the optics of the laser system. As a solution to this problem, we minimized the amount of tin by dispersing it in a low density resorcinol formaldehyde (R/F) matrix. These targets were fabricated into small spheres using the microencapsulation method. Initial experimental results show that these targets yield a similar intensity in the EUV regime when compred to a full density Sn target.