cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adjustable distortion correctors

Distortion can be corrected in an image by placing a fourth-order aspheric optical element near the image plane. Moving the aspheric surface longitudinally changes the amount of distortion added by the aspheric surface without changing the paraxial image. This ability to readily adjust the amount of image correction can be a powerful design tool for distortion-critical optical systems, such as digital optical computers. Third order astigmatism limits the performance of distortion correctors and may be eliminated by adding another fourth-order aspheric surface. Example elements were fabricated using diamond turning and were shown to introduce distortion without significantly degrading image quality. Three arrangements of distortion correctors are discussed: a single-element plano-aspheric arrangement, an anti- symmetric two-element arrangement, and a biaspheric arrangement in which distortion is not adjustable.
Structure of Solvated Fe(Co) 5 : A Concerted Xafs, Ftir, and Dft Study of Solvation in Fluorinated Arenes

The structures of iron pentacarbonyl, Fe(CO)5, solvated in benzene and its fluorinated derivatives have been investigated by X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) spectroscopy and infrared (IR) spectroscopy as well as density functional theory (DFT) calculations. As discussed previously (Jiang, Y.; Lee, T.; Rose-Petruck, C. J. Phys. Chem. A 2003, 107, 7524−7538), 60−90% of iron pentacarbonyl (IPC) molecules are distorted to C2v symmetry in aromatic solvents at room temperature. Typically one solvent molecule interacts with the iron atom of IPC trans to the apical CO ligand forming an IPC···solvent complex. In substituted benzene several IPC···solvent complex conformations coexist. The relative conformer populations were determined by IR spectroscopy. These populations were subsequently used to determine the equilibrium structures of each conformer through the analysis of XAFS spectra in combination with DFT structural data for the IPC···solvent complexes.
Simulating the Relaxation of DNA Supercoils By Topoisomerase I

Many cellular processes involving DNA, including replication and transcription, result in significant superhelical stresses. During transcription, for example, RNA polymerase locally untwists about a helical turn of the DNA double helix. Then to elongate the RNA transcript, it proceeds along the template strand of the DNA and thereby induces supercoiling. DNA topoisomerases play an important role in relieving these stresses. Here we focus on understanding the action of human DNA topoisomerase I (Topo1) which operates in three basic steps: (i) cleaving a single strand of the DNA double helix, (ii) allowing the DNA superhelical stresses to relax, and (iii) religating the DNA. Recently, the Dekker lab, at Delft University of Technology, performed single molecule experiments to probe the relaxation of supercoils by topo1. A significant molecular dynamics (MD) effort (>100 cpu years) by the Andricioaei lab, at the University of California Irvine, characterized the energetics and topological changes of topo1 in complex with only a short fragment of DNA (∼20 bp). Including a longer length of DNA to represent a biologically relevant length-scale (greater than a persistence length), is computationally prohibitive for MD and was necessarily neglected. Here we introduce an elasto-dynamic rod model as a first approximation to provide a dynamic description of the DNA as it relaxes. The rod model describes bending and torsion of the DNA helical axis, electrostatic and self-contact interactions, and approximates the hydrodynamic drag on the molecule. For our simulations, we provide as initial conditions, a plectomemic supercoil. The MD simulations serve to provide boundary conditions to the rod model by characterizing the torque applied to the DNA by topo1 as it rotates. Here we present preliminary results for the relaxation rates of supercoils.
A 1.6 mW 5.4 GHz transformer-feedback g m -boosted current-reuse LNA in 0.18/μm CMOS

A fully-integrated LNA in 0.18/xm CMOS simultaneously achieves high gain, low noise figure (NF), good third-order input intercept linearity (IIP3), and low DC bias current consumption: 19 dB, 2.4 dB, −14.2 dBm and 1.3 mA, respectively, from a 1.2 V supply. The single-ended LNA uses a common-gate common-source (CG-CS) topology and operates at 5.4 GHz for WLAN applications. Using g m — boosting, current-reuse and transformer-feedback techniques, the LNA mitigates several design issues seen in the widely used common-source common-source current-reuse (CS-CS) LNAs and improves the IIP3 of CG-CS schemes by 6 dB, without increasing power and area consumption.
Enzymatic O-methylation of flavanols changes lag time, propagation rate, and total oxidation during in vitro model triacylglycerol-rich lipoprotein oxidation.

3‘-O-Methyl derivatives of flavan-3-ols, (+)-catechin (C), (−)-epicatechin (EC), and (−)-catechin gallate (CG) were prepared enzymatically. Hexanal (EC and CG family, 5 mmol/L) and conjugated diene...
Status and Risk of Extinction for Westslope Cutthroat Trout in the Upper Missouri River Basin, Montana

Abstract Westslope cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi now occupy less than 5% of the subspecies' historical range within the upper Missouri River drainage in Montana. We assessed the risk of extinction for 144 known populations inhabiting streams within federally managed lands in the upper Missouri River basin using a Bayesian viability assessment procedure that estimates probability of persistence based on subjective evaluation of population survival and reproductive rates as influenced by environmental conditions. We first customized this model using estimates of demographic parameters from the literature and field data. Each population was classified into one of three risk groups based on their Bayesian probability of persistence over 100 years (p 100). Most (71 %) of the 144 populations had a very high predicted risk of extinction (p 100 ≤ 50%), 19% exhibited a high risk (50% < p 100 ≤ 80%), and 10% had a moderate risk (80 < p100 ≤ 95%). Higher average predictions of p 100 were consistently as...
In situ observations of ClO in the Arctic stratosphere: ER‐2 aircraft results from 59°N TO 80°N latitude

Large abundances of ClO were observed inside the Arctic polar vortex during 14 flights of the NASA ER-2 aircraft from Stavanger, Norway (59 deg N, 6 deg E) to 80 deg N latitude. Flights were conducted at altitudes between 14 and 20 km when the solar zenith angle was between 79 and 101 deg. Data are reported for three flights that represent the main features observed during the mission. These data, comparable to those obtained in the Antarctic ozone hole, indicate that the springtime Arctic polar vortex was extensively perturbed by heterogeneous chemistry and contained enough ClO to catalytically destroy ozone rapidly.
Validation of a 20-year forecast of US childhood lead poisoning: Updated prospects for 2010

We forecast childhood lead poisoning and residential lead paint hazard prevalence for 1990-2010, based on a previously unvalidated model that combines national blood lead data with three different housing data sets. The housing data sets, which describe trends in housing demolition, rehabilitation, window replacement, and lead paint, are the American Housing Survey, the Residential Energy Consumption Survey, and the National Lead Paint Survey. Blood lead data are principally from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. New data now make it possible to validate the midpoint of the forecast time period. For the year 2000, the model predicted 23.3 million pre-1960 housing units with lead paint hazards, compared to an empirical HUD estimate of 20.6 million units. Further, the model predicted 498,000 children with elevated blood lead levels (EBL) in 2000, compared to a CDC empirical estimate of 434,000. The model predictions were well within 95% confidence intervals of empirical estimates for both residential lead paint hazard and blood lead outcome measures. The model shows that window replacement explains a large part of the dramatic reduction in lead poisoning that occurred from 1990 to 2000. Here, the construction of the model is described and updated through 2010 using new data. Further declines in childhood lead poisoning are achievable, but the goal of eliminating children's blood lead levels > or =10 microg/dL by 2010 is unlikely to be achieved without additional action. A window replacement policy will yield multiple benefits of lead poisoning prevention, increased home energy efficiency, decreased power plant emissions, improved housing affordability, and other previously unrecognized benefits. Finally, combining housing and health data could be applied to forecasting other housing-related diseases and injuries.
Optical properties of radiation defect centers involving single and paired Mn 2 + centers in CaF 2 :Mn

Optical evidence of paired ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$ centers has been observed in ${\mathrm{CaF}}_{2}$:Mn by time-resolved laser spectroscopy. The paired ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$ center is associated with a peak shift of the ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$ emisssion towards longer wavelength and a faster component of decay of 500 \ensuremath{\mu}s along with a slow decay of 48 ms due to a single ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$ ion. It appear that this center forms a ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$-F-center-${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$ complex when the material is \ensuremath{\gamma} irradiated. This complex is associated with a thermoluminescence peak near 360 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C and an optical-absorption band near 300 nm. A conversion from a ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$-F-center-${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$ complex to an F-center-${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$ complex is observed in phototransferred thermoluminescence and in photobleached optical-absorption spectra.
Association of complement factor H and LOC387715 genotypes with response of exudative age-related macular degeneration to photodynamic therapy

To determine whether there is an association between complement factor H (CFH) or LOC387715 genotypes and response to treatment with photodynamic therapy (PDT) for exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Sixty-nine patients being treated for neovascular AMD with PDT were genotyped for the CFH Y402H and LOC387715 A69S polymorphisms by allele-specific digestion of PCR products. AMD phenotypes were characterized by clinical examination, fundus photography, and fluorescein angiography. Adjusting for age, pre-PDT visual acuity (VA), and lesion type, mean VA after PDT was significantly worse for the CFH TT genotype than for the TC or CC genotypes (P=0.05). Post-PDT VA was significantly worse for the CFH TT genotype in the subgroup of patients with predominantly classic choroidal neovascular lesions (P=0.04), but not for the patients with occult lesions (P=0.22). For the LOC387715 A69S variant, there was no significant difference among the genotypes in response to PDT therapy. The CFH Y402H variant was associated with a response to PDT treatment in this study. Patients with the CFH TT genotype fared significantly worse with PDT than did those with the CFH TC and CC genotypes, suggesting a potential relationship between CFH genotype and response to PDT.
Combining Meshless Analysis and Kalman Filters to Estimate Parameters When System Models are Inaccurate

Parameter estimation assumes that the model is an accurate representation of the system being studied and that any deviations are caused by measurement noise. For real experimental data this is often not the case. Clearly, the model will constructed to the highest fidelity by the analyst but when it is deficient, the remedy is not always obvious. One approach is to include a discrepancy function which one hopes will resolve any differences. The paper describes the use of such a function combined with Kalman filtering and meshless FEA.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
SU-E-T-459: Radiobiological Evaluation of Implant Duration and Radionuclide Selection for COMS Eye Plaque Brachytherapy Using an Objective Function.

Purpose: The biologically effective dose (BED) of temporary brachytherapy treatments is a function of both chosen radionuclide (R) and implant duration (T). This study endeavored to evaluate BED delivered to the tumor volume and surrounding ocular structures as a function of plaque position (P), prescription dose, R, and T. Methods: Plaque‐heterogeneity‐ corrected dose distributions were generated with MCNP5 for the range of currently‐available COMS plaques using low‐energy radionuclides. These physical dose distributions were imported into the Pinnacle3 TPS using the TG‐43 hybrid technique and used to generate DVHs for a T=7d implant within a reference eye geometry at eight standard treatment positions. The Dale equation was employed to create biologically effective dose volume histograms (BEDVHs), allowing for BED volumetric analysis of all ROIs. Isobiologically‐effective prescription doses were calculated for T=5−0.01d, with BEDVHs subsequently generated for all ROIs using correspondingly reduced prescription doses. Objective functions were created to evaluate the BEDVHs as a function of R and T. Results: Reducing T from 7 to 0.01d for a 10mm plaque produced an average BED benefit of 26%, 20%, and 17% for 103Pd, 125I, and 131Cs, respectively, for all P; 16mm and 22mm plaque results were more position‐dependent. 103Pd produced a 16–35% BED benefit over 125I, whereas 131Cs produced a 3–7% BED detriment, independent of P, T, and plaque size. Additionally, corresponding OAR physical doses were lowest using 103Pd in all circumstances. Conclusions: Shorter implant durations may correlate with more favorable outcomes vs. 7d implants for small and medium lesions. T may be safely reduced if the prescription dose is appropriately diminished. 103Pd offers a substantial 16‐ 35% radiobiological benefit over 125I and 131Cs irrespective of P, T, and tumor size. The objective functions used in this study can be applied to temporary or permanent brachytherapy implants for a variety of disease sites.
Remote sensing of temperature variations around major power plants as point sources of heat

Variations in land surface temperature (LST) around major point sources of heat were studied using the Tampa Bay region as a case study. LST in the Tampa Bay region, FL, USA, was retrieved from Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) 6 and Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) 6 high-gain thermal bands. The TM6 image data were obtained on 29 January (winter season) and 3 April 2007 (spring season). The ETM+6 data were obtained on 11 April 2007 (spring season). Spatial profiles of LST around four major fossil-fuelled power plants (FFPPs) were considered in this study. Temperatures were found to be highest at power plants and to decay to an average background temperature within 1.2-2.0 km from the FFPPs. The average background temperatures obtained in January and April were 17°C and 29°C, respectively. Results indicate that LST in close proximity to the FFPPs could be up to 10°C hotter than the surrounding areas. These findings suggest that FFPPs are significant heat sources and populations living within 1-2 km from an FFPP might be at significantly higher risk of heat-related illnesses and mortality.
The Impact of Nonaudit Service Fee Levels on Investors' Perception of Auditor Independence

We extend Dopuch et al. (2003) by examining the effect of various fee ratios on investor perception of auditor independence and market behavior. Consistent with Dopuch et al. (2003), we find disclosure of nonaudit fees reduces the accuracy of investor perception of auditor independence. More importantly, we document that the proportionate level of nonaudit fees to total fees has a varying impact on investor perception of auditor independence and market behavior. In particular, there appears to be a nonlinear effect between investor perception of auditor independence and market behavior. In summary, when investors perceive auditor independence is impaired as a result of the level of nonaudit fees, more asset pricing inefficiencies occur in these experimental markets.
Survey of quantitative relationships between ingestion and storage of aldrin and dieldrin in animals and man

Summary Data from four studies, in which four mammalian and one avian species were fed aldrin or dieldrin over a range of dosage levels and for periods of from 12 wk to 9 months, indicate a linear relationship between log dietary aldrin or dieldrin and log dieldrin in body fat. The majority of the regression lines are parallel. The relationship, if validated by further experimentation, provides a rational basis for comparing the extent of storage by various animal species over a wide range of intake levels. Such linear relationship between log intake and log storage could account for the higher storage ratios (ppm in fat/ppm in diet) in man, based on recently published analytical values, than in domestic animals. Present data, however, are too fragmentary to provide a sound basis for determining accurately either intake or storage of aldrin and dieldrin by man. For this purpose we need direct experimental results on human intake versus human storage. With the exception of levels of dieldrin in fat of limited numbers of persons, no accurate estimate of the probable content of dieldrin and/or metabolites in the tissues of US residents can be given at present. Although dieldrin is most certainly present in other human tissues (by analogy with experimental animals), no results of direct assay (except a few blood and milk levels) are known. Further and adequate experimentation is needed before authentic values can be given for the probable content of dieldrin in the fat of man after lifetime exposure. Present knowledge concerning the metabolic transformation and physiological fate of aldrin and dieldrin in the animal body is outlined. Because an analogy with the behaviour of DDT is often drawn in postulating intake-storage relations for aldrin and dieldrin, figures on storage of DDT by US residents have been examined. Best available evidence indicates that the level of storage of DDT-derived material in the fat of man in the US has not been constant since 1950. While it may have been essentially constant from 1958 to 1964, yet to establish firmly such constancy would have required selection of samples which either are representative or are comparable populations from the US. Thus, even by analogy, there is no conclusive evidence that a steady state exists between intake and deposition of dieldrin by residents of the US. Presently-available experimental data fail to prove the concept that there is equilibrium between intake and output of aldrin and dieldrin by the animal body (or by man). We are unaware of any data which show by actual long-term feeding studies on full-grown animals that saturation levels of dieldrin in fat are reached and maintained. To prove the concept that a state of equilibrium eventually will be achieved will require data from well-planned experiments. Concomitant ingestion of DDT affects the extent of storage of dietary dieldrin. Conceivably, the toxicity of dieldrin in the presence of DDT or other compounds is changed, and the hazard due to mixed residues may differ from the sum of their separate hazards.
Does the Use of Neoadjuvant Therapy for Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Increase Postoperative Morbidity and Mortality Rates

The impact of neoadjuvant therapy on postpancreatectomy complications is inadequately described. Data from the NSQIP Pancreatectomy Demonstration Project (11/2011 to 12/2012) was used to identify patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma who did and did not receive neoadjuvant therapy. Neoadjuvant therapy was classified as chemotherapy alone or radiation ± chemotherapy. Outcomes in the neoadjuvant vs. surgery first groups were compared. Of 1,562 patients identified at 43 hospitals, 199 (12.7 %) received neoadjuvant therapy (99 chemotherapy alone and 100 radiation ± chemotherapy). Preoperative biliary stenting (57.9 vs. 44.7 %, p = 0.0005), vascular resection (41.5 vs. 17.3 %, p < 0.0001), and open resections (94.0 vs. 91.4 %, p = 0.008) were more common in the neoadjuvant group. Thirty-day mortality (2.0 vs. 1.5 %, p = 0.56) and postoperative morbidity rates (56.3 vs. 52.8 %, p = 0.35) were similar between groups. Neoadjuvant therapy patients had fewer organ space infections (3.0 vs. 10.3 %, p = 0.001), and neoadjuvant radiation patients had fewer pancreatic fistulas (7.3 vs. 15.4 %, p = 0.03). Despite evidence for more extensive disease, patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy did not experience more complications. Neoadjuvant radiation was associated with lower pancreatic fistula rates. These data provide evidence against higher postoperative complication rates in patients with pancreatic cancer who are treated with neoadjuvant therapy.
Universal Phenomena of CO Adsorption on Gold Surfaces with Low-Coordinated Sites

Since Au turned out to be an active catalyst for CO oxidation at low temperatures, CO adsorption on various Au surfaces has been in the scope of numerous surface science studies. Interestingly, supported particles as well as stepped and rough single-crystal surfaces exhibit very similar adsorption behavior. To elucidate the origin of these similarities, we have performed temperature-programmed desorption and infrared absorption spectroscopy for a whole range of Au surfaces from nanoparticles grown on HOPG to Au(111) surfaces roughened by argon ion bombardment. In line with previous results, we have observed two desorption states at ∼130−145 and ∼170−185 K, respectively, and one infrared peak at around 2120 cm-1 in all cases. In addition to the experiments, we have carried out theoretical studies of CO adsorption on Au(332). The calculations show that CO desorption states above 100 K may be located at step-edges but not on terrace sites. Reducing the coordination of Au atoms further leads to successively h...
Electron Transmission through Polycarbonate Nanocapillaries

Transmission of electrons through a polycarbonate nanocapillary foil with diameter 200 nm and aspect ratio ~ 40 has been studied at energies 500 and 1000 eV. The direct transmission of electrons was observed for both energies while onset of guiding was observed for 500 eV. Time (charge) evolution measurements were also carried out at different sample tilt angles.
Structure of an amino acid analog of the host-specific toxin from helminthosporium carbonum

The structure of an analog to the host-specific plant toxin from Helminthosporium carbonum has been determined to be cyclo [prolylalanylglycyl-2-amino-8-oxo-9,10-epoxydecanyl], which has a glycine residue in place of the D-alanine residue of the toxin.
Astrophysics: Quiet is the new loud.

Understanding the mechanisms by which matter flows into black-hole systems is pivotal to elucidating how such systems work. It seems that a 'quiet' mass outflow can play a hitherto-unknown part in the process.
Liver mass in a patient with primary sclerosing cholangitis.

A 43-year-old man with a known history of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) was referred for evaluation of a liver mass. The patient had a history of bacterial cholangitis and previous endoscopic procedures with dilation of biliary strictures. CT of the abdomen (Fig. A) revealed a cystic, gas-containing structure in the region of the porta hepatis. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatogram (ERCP) (Fig. B) demonstrated a cystic lesion arising from the common bile duct (arrow, below the gallbladder) that was communicating with the right hepatic duct (arrowhead). Multiple brush cytologies taken from the common bile duct, right hepatic duct and the cystic structure were negative for the presence of cholangiocarcinoma. The cystic liver mass likely represents a biliary pseudocyst, probably the result of injury to the biliary tree during previous endoscopic interventions. Because the patient was asymptomatic and the cystic structure drained into the biliary tree, we elected to observe the lesion without surgical intervention.
Coordination of Lanthanide Triflates and Perchlorates with N,N,N‘,N‘-Tetramethylsuccinamide

Compounds formed from the reaction of N,N,N',N'-tetramethylsuccinamide (TMSA) with trivalent lanthanide salts possessing the poorly coordinating counteranions triflate (CF3SO3-) and perchlorate (ClO4-) have been prepared and examined. Structural features of these Ln-TMSA compounds have been studied in the solid phase by thermogravimetric analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and single crystal X-ray diffraction and in solution by infrared spectroscopy. Eight-coordinate compounds derived from coordination of four bidentate, succinamide ligands to the metal ion could be formed with all lanthanides examined. The binding of the succinamide ligand to the lanthanide metal is significantly asymmetric, with differences between the M-O(amide) bond distances for a chelating succinamide of around 0.06? and differences in the M-O-C bond angles of around 28?. Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy studies in anhydrous acetonitrile suggest that the solid-state structure is maintained in solution.
Theoretical solute parameters and correlations of log P and pKa. A comment on a recent development and statistical protocol

Physical–chemical properties can be correlated and predicted using linear free energy or linear solvation energy relationships (LSER). Procedures to obtain theoretical parameters from calculated molecular structures that can be used in LSER have recently been evaluated [G R. Famini, C. A. Penski and L. Y. Wilson, J. Phys. Org. Chem. 5, 395–408 (1992)]. Among other applications, these procedures were applied to correlate octanol–water partition coefficients and pKa values for two groups of structurally diverse solutes with very good reported results. In this paper, the statistical results of those studies are re-examined. The corrected statistical parameters do not provide tenability for the appropriateness of the methodology in these applications. However, valid multilinear relationships of the theoretical LSER parameters with the experimental properties are found which do substantiate the original conclusions of Famini et al.
Data acquisition from cemetery headstones

Data extraction from engraved text is discussed rarely, and nothing in the open literature discusses data extraction from cemetery headstones. Headstone images present unique challenges such as engraved or embossed characters (causing inner-character shadows), low contrast with the background, and significant noise due to inconsistent stone texture and weathering. Current systems for extracting text from outdoor environments (billboards, signs, etc.) make assumptions (i.e. clean and/or consistently-textured background and text) that fail when applied to the domain of engraved text. The ability to extract the data found on headstones is of great historical value. This paper describes a novel and efficient feature-based text zoning and segmentation method for the extraction of noisy text from a highly textured engraved medium. This paper also demonstrates the usefulness of constraining a problem to a specific domain. The transcriptions of images zoned and segmented through the proposed system have a precision of 55% compared to 1% precision without zoning, a 62% recall compared to 39%, and an error rate of 78% compared to 8303%.
The corneal toxicity of presurgical skin antiseptics.

In a study of the corneal toxicity of some commonly used presurgical skin antiseptics, we used biomicroscopy, corneal pachymetry, healing studies, and electron microscopy to compare tincture of iodine (2% iodine, 2.35% sodium iodine, and 46% ethanol), Hibiclens (4% chlorhexidine and 4% isopropyl alcohol with detergent), pHisoHex (3% hexachlorophene and detergent), Lavacol (70% ethanol), 7.5% povidone iodine scrub (with a detergent), and 10% povidone iodine solution (without a detergent) in rabbits. Five minutes after application, moderate corneal epithelial edema was noted in all groups except the saline control group. After three hours there was marked corneal deepithelialization, conjunctival chemosis, and anterior stromal edema in all groups except those treated with 10% povidone iodine solution and 0.9% sodium chloride. After one week all corneas had returned to normal. Accidental instillation of 7.5% povidone iodine scrub into the tear film of a 33-year-old man resulted in almost immediate chemical chemosis despite prompt irrigation, demonstrating the corneal toxicity of this substance. These results indicated that a 10% povidone iodine solution without detergent causes minimal corneal toxicity whereas the other presurgical skin antiseptics tested are toxic to the cornea.
Attraction of Liomys mice to horse dung and the extinction of this response

Abstract When horse dung containing the large seeds of Enterolobium cyclocarpum (the guanacaste tree) was experimentally placed in a tropical deciduous forest in Costa Rica (Santa Rosa National Park), Liomys salvini (Heteromyidae) spiny pocket mice went to it and dug out the seeds. When the Liomys in a particular area were repeatedly offered dung containing E. cyclocarpum seeds, they developed an attraction response to the dung that was so strong that seed-free fresh horse dung made better bait in traps than did an oatmeal-peanut butter mix. A single exposure to seed-rich dung was not adequate to generate this response, but two exposures generated a mild response. Once moderately seed-rich dung was no longer forthcoming, the mice in an area lost their strong attraction to horse dung in 3 to 4 months; this loss was due at least in part to the mice learning that the dung no longer contained seeds, since the same individual mice that earlier had been attracted to horse dung were still present as demonstrated by capturing them with other baits.
Atomic force microscopy imaging of living cells: a preliminary study of the disruptive effect of the cantilever tip on cell morphology.

Abstract Recent studies have demonstrated that atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a potential tool for studying important dynamic cellular processes in real time. However, the interactions between the cantilever tip and the cell surface are not well understood, and the disruptive effect of the cantilever tip on cell morphology has not been well characterized. In this study, the disruptive effect of the scanning cantilever tip on cell morphology, in the AFM contact mode, has been investigated. The aims of this study are to identify what kinds of cell morphological changes generally occurred under normal AFM imaging conditions and to find out how long cells remain viable during scanning. Two cell lines, SK–N–SH (human neuroblastoma cells) and AV12 (Syrian hamster cells) were studied in the experiment because these are widely used in biomedical research as an expression system for studying cellular functions of neuronal receptors. The experimental results suggest that the sensitivity of cells to the cantilever disruptive effect is dependent on cell type and that there are patterns observed in the changes of cell morphology induced by the cantilever force in these two cell lines.
Oxide bond energies for the calibration of matrix effects in secondary ion mass spectrometry

Abstract Analyses of trace and major elements in Group III-V compound matrices by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) have shown that practical ion yields are related linearly to the matrix composition. The affinity of the matrix to oxygen appears to be the critical factor in this relationship. A direct relationship between the slopes of calibration lines, determined for elements in the same column of the periodic table, and the first ionization potential of the respective elements has also been shown.
SU( N) × SU( N) spin systems in two dimensions crossover, variant actions and finite size scaling

Abstract Studies of the SU(3) × SU(3) chiral model with various actions are made in two dimensions using Monte Carlo methods. Similarities with four-dimensional gauge models are drawn and the relevance of topological excitations is seen in computer simulations. Finite size scaling studies of the fundamental model suggest that asymptotic freedom scaling laws are obscured by the rich phase structure in models with generalized actions. Actions which are adjusted to fit continuum forms more accurately at weak coupling may be necessary to extract quantitative physics of the continuum limit from such models. Similar procedures may be necessary for SU(3) gauge theory in four dimensions.
Cryosurgical treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia: Analysis of failures☆

Abstract Cryosurgery is rapidly becoming the treatment of choice for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (dysplasia and carcinoma in situ ) in the young woman desirous of retaining her reproductive capacity. This report analyzes 87 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia treated with cryosurgery on one municipal hospital service. Twenty-seven patients (31.0%) were lost to follow-up. Of the 60 patients on whom follow-up from 6 months to 3 years is available, 28 (46.6%) are documented treatment failures. The causes of failure are analyzed and comparisons from the current literature are made.
Applications of evanescent microwave probes in gas and chemical sensors

Gas sensing using local probes, such as atomic force and scanning tunneling microscopes STM , enables accurate measurement and detection of very small quantities of gas molecules and chemicals. Here we report a unique application of the evanescent microwave . probes EMP in detecting hydrogen. The EMP imaging has previously been applied to mapping resistivity and other non-uniformities in . a variety of materials including metals, insulators, semiconductors both organic and inorganic , composites, and biological specimens. The EMP detects the microwave resistivity of the sample and it has an exponential sensitivity to distance and thickness variations. The EMP was used to detect deflections in a Pd-coated cantilever and to quantify the amount of stress and the resistivity change in the Pd film as a function of hydrogen concentration. The stress was in the range of 5.26-8.59= 10 7 Pa for H concentrations of 0.5-1.4% at room 2 temperature, which is about three times larger than that found in the bulk Pd for the same range of H concentrations. The Pd film's 2 resistivity changed by 13.5% at 3.0% H concentration and 18% change in the EMP signal was observed. The EMP with an appropriate 2 frequency can also be used to resonantly detect various physi-absorbed molecules at the surface of an appropriate material as well. We discuss these possibilities along with some specific experimental data. q 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.
Structure-biodegradability relationships of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil

In a previous study on oily sludge disposal by land treatment, PAH as a class were found to be biodegraded more rapidly than the total solvent-extractable hydrocarbons of the sludge. This somewhat surprising result was apparently due to a predominance of low molecular weight PAH (less than or equal to 3 rings) in the sludge sample. The higher molecular weight PAH (greater than or equal to 4 rings) exhibited persistence that seemed to increase with the number of rings and the degree of ring condensation. In order to verify and extend these observations, the authors have undertaken here a systematic study on the structure-biodegradability relationship (SBR) of PAH in soil. Since it was expected that the majority of the PAH would be degraded cometabolically rather than in the substrate utilization mode, 1-phenyldecane was added as primary substrate in combination with all the PAH tested. In preliminary tests, 1-phenyldecane proved to be more effective in stimulating the biodegradation of 1,2-benzpyrene (benzo(a)pyrene) than either n-hexadecane, naphthoic acid or sewage sludge. The presence of an additional hydrocarbon substrate made this SBR study also more relevant to our previous work on the fate of PAH during the disposal of oily sludges by land treatment.
Shareholder Heterogeneity, Adverse Selection, and Payout Policy

When shareholders have different plans to sell their shares, they will, in general, have different preferences concerning the firm's decision to pay out cash using dividends or share repurchase. We illustrate these different preferences and explore a model of payout policy that highlights the adverse selection costs of repurchases when managers have superior information about the value of the firm. We show that, in the absence of fixed costs to repurchasing shares, there is a separating equilibrium in which managers use taxable dividends to signal the quality of the firm, with better firms paying lower dividends, using repurchases for the remainder of the payout. With fixed costs to repurchasing, small payouts are made via dividend and large payouts are divided between repurchases and dividends, as in the no-fixed cost case. In both cases, the percentage of shares repurchased increases with the size of the payout and larger repurchases are better news.
Laminar, Transition, and Turbulent Boundary-Layer Heat-Transfer Measurements With Wall Cooling in Turbulent Airflow Through a Tube

Laminar, transition and turbulent boundary layer heat transfer measurements along wall in thermal entrance region of high temperature turbulent airflow through cooled tube
The antagonism of salicylate to diethylstilbestrol upon liver glycogen in the rat.

Since salicylate has been reported to antagonize liver glycogenesis after cortisone, an experiment was designed to test the antagonism of salicylate to diethylstilbestrol upon liver glycogen in normal, fasted, female rats. Liver glycogen levels, elevated by estrogen treatment for two weeks, were found to be lowered by a subsequent injection of sodium salicylate, 5–8 hours before sacrifice. The action of the estrogen in producing liver and adrenal enlargement, moderate depletion of adrenal ascorbic acid,and maximal depletion of adrenal cholesterol was confirmed. Salicylate alone produced only a moderate depletion of adrenal ascorbic acid, while the combined effect of the drugs was seen in a marked depletion of this substance. Diethylstilbestrol and sodium salicylate were synergistic with regard to the stimulation of activity in the rat adrenal cortex under these conditions (probably by release of ACTH), but their actions on liver glycogen levels were in the opposite directions. The estrogen stimulated glyc...
Role of the Type III Secretion System in a Hypervirulent Lineage of Bordetella bronchiseptica

Despite the fact that closely related bacteria can cause different levels of disease, the genetic changes that cause some isolates to be more pathogenic than others are generally not well understood. We use a combination of approaches to determine which factors contribute to the increased virulence of a Bordetella bronchiseptica lineage. A strain isolated from a host with B. bronchiseptica-induced disease, strain 1289, was 60-fold more virulent in mice than one isolated from an asymptomatically infected host, strain RB50. Transcriptome analysis and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR showed that the type III secretion system (TTSS) genes were more highly expressed by strain 1289 than strain RB50. Compared to strain RB50, strain 1289 exhibited greater TTSS-mediated cytotoxicity of a mammalian cell line. Additionally, we show that the increase in virulence of strain 1289 compared to that of RB50 was partially attributable to the TTSS. Using multilocus sequence typing, we identified another strain from the same lineage as strain 1289. Similar to strain 1289, we implicate the TTSS in the increased virulence of this strain. Together, our data suggest that the TTSS is involved in the increased virulence of a B. bronchiseptica lineage which appears to be disproportionately associated with disease. These data are consistent with the view that B. bronchiseptica lineages can have different levels of virulence, which may contribute to this species' ability to cause different severities of respiratory disease.
Provider attitudes toward evidence-based practices: are the concerns with the evidence or with the manuals?

Objective: Studies examining therapists’ attitudes toward evidencebased practices, which have at times become conflated with “manualized treatments,” have indicated a number of concerns regarding perceived inflexibility, a lack of attention to the therapeutic alliance between provider and client, and a lack of emphasis on clinical judgment. This investigation examined the effect of training in two different formats of evidence-based treatments (standard treatment manuals versus modular assembly of treatment procedures) and with the use of two measures of attitudes. Methods: As part of a randomized clinical effectiveness trial, the attitudes of 59 therapists were assessed before and after training for a standard evidence-based treatment protocol and for a modular evidence-based treatment protocol. Attitudes were also assessed across two attitude measures that differentially emphasize the use of treatment manuals. Results: Results showed that compared with the standard condition, in the modular condition therapists’ attitudes became significantly more favorable toward evidence-based practices but only on the attitude measure that did not refer specifically to the use of manuals. Conclusions: The findings of this investigation have implications for dissemination of evidence-based practices and policy change. Contextual adaptations in evidence-based practice design and training may result in wider adoption of innovative and efficacious treatment practices. (Psychiatric Services 60:677–681, 2009)
Individual specialists in a generalist population: results from a long-term stable isotope series

Individual variation in resource use has often been ignored in ecological studies, but closer examination of individual patterns through time may reveal significant intrapopulation differences. Adu...
A nonlinear optimal four wheels steering controller

Four wheel steering nonlinear controller is developed to utilize the responsiveness and relaxed stability of the rear wheel steering in conjunction with front wheel steering using fuzzy logic robust controller based on Sugeno fuzzy model. Results have shown improvements in vehicle handling in the presence of noise, steering linkage play, and variation in vehicle parameters.
A Study of Architecture Description Languages from a Model-based Perspective

Owing to the recent trend of using application-specific instruction-set processors (ASIP), many architecture description languages (ADLs) have been created. They specify architectures or microarchitectures of processors, and automate tasks including circuit implementation, simulation, retargetable compilation and formal verification. This paper first gives an overview of the existing ADLs. This paper argues that for an ADL to be capable of rigorously specifying a processor, it must be based on a solid foundation which we call the architecture model. The existing ADLs feature a wide variety of formal and ad-hoc architecture models which confines the flexibility and analyzability of the ADLs in one way or another. This paper then discusses the operation state machine (OSM) model, the result of our first attempt to create high-level processor models. The model has features balanced flexibility and analyzability for use in architecture space exploration frameworks for ASIPs. This paper also describes the use of the OSM model in the Mescal architecture description language (MADL), an open-source ADL framework that we developed. Lastly, it points out the potential application of formal verification techniques on OSM
Delirium due to intoxication from the novel synthetic tryptamine 5-MeO-DALT.

Synthetic tryptamines have gained popularity for their hallucinogenic properties, unscheduled status, and availability from "head shops" and through the internet. Here, we present a case of synthetic tryptamine-induced delirium secondary to 5-MeO-DALT ingestion in a previously healthy young male. 5-MeO-DALT led to the hospitalization of our patient after ingestion of a standard dose, presenting with extreme agitation, tachycardia, diaphoresis, and combativeness leading to physical restraint and intravenous sedation. A search of PubMed, Ovid, and Google Scholar for keywords of "5-MeO-DALT," "5-methoxy-N,N-diallyltryptamine," or "Lucy-N-Nate" found no case reports or clinical articles in the literature. Rapid emergence and commercialization of this novel synthetic tryptamine 5-MeO-DALT points to the importance of health care and forensic professionals keeping abreast of the latest drugs of abuse and their clinical features. The authors hope this report leads the way in disseminating the potential risks associated with unscheduled and unregulated substances, synthetic tryptamines such as 5-MeO-DALT in particular. Language: en
An evaluation of software test environment architectures

Software test environments (STEs) provide a means of automating the test process and integrating testing tools to support required testing capabilities across the test process. Specifically, STEs may support test planning, test management, test measurement, test failure analysis, test development and test execution. The software architecture of an STE describes the allocation of the environment's functions to specific implementation structures. An STE's architecture can facilitate or impede modifications such as changes to processing algorithms, data representation or functionality. Performance and reusability are also subject to architecturally imposed constraints. Evaluation of an STE's architecture can provide insight into modifiability, extensibility, portability and reusability of the STE. This paper proposes a reference architecture for STEs. Its analytical value is demonstrated by using SAAM (Software Architectural Analysis Method) to compare three software test environments: PROTest II (PROLOG Test Environment, Version II), TAOS (Testing with Analysis and Oracle Support), and CITE (CONVEX Integrated Test Environment).
Followup Imaging After Urological Imaging Studies: Comparison of Radiologist Recommendation and Urologist Practice

Purpose: We determined if differences in the perceived need for followup imaging between an ordering urologist and the interpreting radiologist have an impact on the use of imaging technology for urological conditions.Materials and Methods: Consecutive radiology reports for 985 patients were retrospectively reviewed in 2 urological practices. Imaging included computerized tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonography and excretory urography. All imaging reports were analyzed for the radiologist recommendation for followup imaging and correlated with subsequent studies ordered by the urologist within 6 months of the original study.Results: Radiologists recommended followup studies in 202 of 985 reports (20.5%). A followup study was actually ordered for 65 of these 202 patients (32.2%). Urologists ordered studies for 87 of 783 (11.1%) patients for whom the radiologist did not make a recommendation. Overall urologists ordered followup studies for 152 of 985 patients (15.4%) or 24.8% fewer studies t...