cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Consumer laundry practices and satisfaction: pre‐ and post‐phosphate detergent ban

Laundry practices and satisfaction of consumers in soft and hard water areas were compared before and after the state of Virginia initiated a ban on the sale and use of phosphate-built laundry detergents. Respondents to mail questionnaires (184 before: 174 after) generally had high satisfaction with laundry results before and after the ban despite the fact that they did not always follow currently recommended laundry practices. Post-ban, few practices had changed, but more respondents in both water areas tended always or frequently to add extra detergent for heavily soiled items. Thus. during the first 2 or 3 months of the ban little effect on laundry practices and satisfaction was apparent. Education about recommended laundry practices appears beneficial because of the implications for family economic well-being.
'Twixt cup and lip organizational behaviour, technical prediction and conservation practice

Abstract Using comparative case data from two universities, an organizational model of energy conservation decision making is developed. Unlike an economic model, this highlights the importance of power and incentive distribution and information acquisition and analysis. It shows how moving closer to a market—through organizational decentralization—changes energy conservation behaviour, but does not necessarily improve it. In addition to providing insight into the critical dimensions in new technology design, this model provides a tool for analysing policy. Four generic policy options are presented. The model indicates the need to move from policy models derived strictly from economics to those which treat institutional issues as central.
Synthesis and crystalline and molecular structures of the morpholinylamide of N(R)-l-ephedrinylacetic acid

The synthesis of the morpholinylamide of N(R)-1-ephedrinylacetic acid has been achieved by the interaction of (5S,6R)-4,5-dimethyl-6-phenylmorpholin-2-one with morpholine, and its structure has been shown by IR and PMR spectroscopies and x-ray structural analysis.
Intrinsic segmental identity of segmental founder cells of the leech embryo

Segmentation occurs in several animal phyla, and the cellular mechanisms generating this structural periodicity vary considerably. In the leech, an annelid worm, segmental founder cells arise through a fixed cell lineage (Fig. 1), and come together in a longitudinally repeating array through a stereotyped pattern of morphogenesis. In this paper we demonstrate that founder cells forced to differentiate in a foreign segmental environment give rise to their normal, segment-specific clones of neuronal descendants, even in segments in which those neuronal phenotypes would not normally be observed. These findings indicate that the individual founder cells possess segmental identity at or shortly after the time of their birth, and further suggest that such identities are established by a mechanism in which the parent stem cell 'counts' mitotic cycles.
Outline of a new mathematical approach to general biology: I

This first part of the paper deals with the theory of organic form. By introducing a formal principle, it is possible to develop a mathematical theory of shapes of organisms, which covers both animals and plants.
Trends of educational technology research: more than a decade of international research in six SSCI-indexed refereed journals

This study applied text mining methods to examine the abstracts of 2,997 international research articles published between 2000 and 2010 by six journals included in the Social Science Citation Index in the field of Educational Technology (EDTECH). A total of 19 clusters of research areas were identified, and these clusters were further analyzed in terms of productivity by country and by journal. The analysis revealed research areas with rising trends, stable status, and low attention. This study also identified areas of research emphasis by journal and research strength by country. A discussion of results through the lens of Critical Theory of Technology is also included. The authors hope to inform the EDTECH community about the trends of EDTECH research on topics and regions of research contributions. The authors also believe that such examination of trends can help facilitate fruitful discussions of directions for future research, and possible international collaboration across various geographical regions.
Emotional Availability in Mexican-Heritage Low-Income Mothers and Children: Infancy through Preschool

SYNOPSIS Objective . The objective of the study was to examine longitudinal trends in the emotional availability of mothers and children from Mexican-heritage families. Design . We observed and rated emotional availability in 78 mother–child pairs four times across the children's infant to preschool developmental periods. Mothers also reported on their psychosocial functioning at 3 of the 4 time points. The mothers belonged to four distinct cultural communities primarily differentiated by their relationships with extended family and Mexico. Results . At each time point, mothers were rated as extremely high in Sensitivity and low in Hostility, and children were rated as relatively high in Responsiveness and Involvement. Maternal Hostility decreased over time, and maternal Structuring, and child Responsiveness and Involvement increased; Sensitivity ratings did not change. Person-centered analysis defined patterns of stability and change in emotional availability over time. Mothers with more social and mater...
De Novo Design of Peptide―Calcite Biomineralization Systems

Many organisms produce complex, hierarchically structured, inorganic materials via protein-influenced crystal growth—a process known as biomineralization. Understanding this process would shed light on hard-tissue formation and guide efforts to develop biomaterials. We created and tested a computational method to design protein-biomineralization systems. The algorithm folds a protein from a fully extended structure and simultaneously optimizes the fold, orientation, and sequence of the protein adsorbed to a crystal surface. We used the algorithm to design peptides (16 residues) to modify calcite (CaCO3) crystallization. We chemically synthesized six peptides that were predicted to bind different states of a calcite growth plane. All six peptides dramatically affected calcite crystal growth (as observed by scanning electron microscopy), and the effects were dependent on the targeted state of the {001} growth plane. Additionally, we synthesized and assayed scrambled variants of all six designed peptides to ...
Enhanced beam characteristics of a discharge-pumped soft-x-ray amplifier by an axial magnetic field

We report results of the study of soft-x-ray amplification in a discharge-created plasma under an externally applied axial magnetic field. This technique is observed to improve the uniformity and divergence of the beam of a 46.9-nm discharge-pumped Ne-like Ar soft-x-ray amplifier by decreasing the plasma density gradients at the time of lasing. At the optimum strength of 0.15 T, the magnetic field also causes an increase in the laser beam intensity. At higher fields the Zeeman effect is found to contribute to line broadening, decreasing the laser output. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Systemic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma simulating primary intraocular lymphoma.

Purpose To describe a case of an unusual presentation of systemic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with clinical and histopathologic findings closely resembling that of primary intraocular lymphoma. Design Observational case report. Methods A 58-year-old woman with a history of treated systemic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma presented 2 years later with a subretinal lesion and intraocular inflammation in her left eye. Results Diagnostic enucleation and histopathologic studies revealed findings consistent with primary intraocular lymphoma including intraretinal, subretinal, and subretinal pigment epithelial tumor cells without involvement of the choroid. Conclusions We conclude that systemic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma can present remotely with findings resembling primary intraocular lymphoma and should be included in the differential diagnosis of intraocular inflammation and subretinal infiltrates.
Haloperidol prevents the reinstatement of amphetamine-rewarded runway responding in rats

Animals were trained to traverse a straight-alley once each day for a reward of 1.0 mg/kg SC d-amphetamine sulfate. After 14 days of acquisition, extinction trials were initiated in which the amphetamine reward was replaced by injections of physiological saline. After running speeds had decreased to less than one third those of preextinciton values, rats recieved a single amphetamine-rewarded trial either in the absence or presence of haloperidol (0.075, 0.15 or 0.3 mg/kg IP). Twenty-four hours later, animals were tested for reinstatement of operant running in a single drug-free Test trial. Animals that were nondrugged during the amphetamine-rewarded trial demonstrated a statistically reliable increase in running speed on the Test trial relative to extinction baseline speeds. In contracts, animals that were unde the influence of medium or high doses of haloperidol during the amphetamine-rewarded trial failed to show Test day increases in running speed. This result did not stem from some residual sedative or performance impairing quality of the drug since a “motor control group” administered a high dose of haloperidol shortly after a rewarded trial, was able to demonstrate unimpaired reinstatement of operant running on Test day (i.e., 24 hr later). These findings support the view that dopamine systems play a role in the neural substrates underlying the incentive motivational properties of amphetamine reinforcement.
Iron-sulfur cluster coordination in the [FeFe]-hydrogenase H cluster biosynthetic factor HydF.

Abstract Iron–sulfur cluster coordination was probed in the [FeFe]-hydrogenase H cluster maturation scaffold HydF. Putative Cys thiol and His imidazole ligation identified through multiple sequence alignments and structural studies were subjected to amino acid substitution and the variants were biochemically characterized. The results implicate a role for C304, C353, C356, and H306 of Clostridium acetobutylicum HydF in FeS cluster binding. Individual ligand substitutions affect both [4Fe–4S] and [2Fe–2S] cluster coordination suggesting shared coordination or cluster interconversion. Substitutions at C353 and H306 appear to preferentially impact the presence of the [2Fe–2S] cluster complement of the resulting variants of HydF. The results implicate a potential role for these residues in biosynthesis specifically and potential in bridging the [4Fe–4S] cluster to 2Fe subcluster biosynthetic intermediates. Structured summary of protein interactions HydF and HydF bind by molecular sieving (View interaction: 1 , 2 )
Factors Associated with Successful Outcomes with Lumbar Medial Branch Radiofrequency Neurotomy

Zygapophysial joint (facet) pain is a known source of spine pain. While many treatments have been proposed, the only treatment repeatedly demonstrated in the literature to be successful is radiofrequency neurotomy of the medial branches that innervate this joint. Outcomes from this procedure are predicated on ideal patient selection and optimal technique. This article will review the key considerations required for optimal patient- and population-based outcomes.
An in vivo imaging-based assay for detecting protein interactions over a wide range of binding affinities

Abstract Identifying and characterizing protein interactions are fundamental steps toward understanding and modeling biological networks. Methods that detect protein interactions in intact cells rather than buffered solutions are likely more relevant to natural systems since molecular crowding events in the cytosol can influence the diffusion and reactivity of individual proteins. One in vivo , imaging-based method relies on the colocalization of two proteins of interest fused to DivIVA, a cell division protein from Bacillus subtilis, and green fluorescent protein (GFP). We have modified this imaging-based assay to facilitate rapid cloning by constructing new vectors encoding N- and C-terminal DivIVA or GFP molecular tag fusions based on site-specific recombination technology. The sensitivity of the assay was defined using a well-characterized protein interaction system involving the eukaryotic nuclear import receptor subunit, Importin α (Impα), and variant nuclear localization signals (NLS) representing a range of binding affinities. These data demonstrate that the modified colocalization assay is sensitive enough to detect protein interactions with K d values that span over four orders of magnitude (1 nM to 15 μM). Lastly, this assay was used to confirm numerous protein interactions identified from mass spectrometry-based analyses of affinity isolates as part of an interactome mapping project in Rhodopseudomonas palustris .
The quest for a general theory of aging and longevity.

Abstract Extensive studies of phenomena related to aging have produced many diverse findings, which require a general theoretical framework to be organized into a comprehensive body of knowledge. As demonstrated by the success of evolutionary theories of aging, quite general theoretical considerations can be very useful when applied to research on aging. In this theoretical study, we attempt to gain insight into aging by applying a general theory of systems failure known as reliability theory. Considerations of this theory lead to the following conclusions: (i) Redundancy is a concept of crucial importance for understanding aging, particularly the systemic nature of aging. Systems that are redundant in numbers of irreplaceable elements deteriorate (that is, age) over time, even if they are built of elements that do not themselves age. (ii) An apparent aging rate or expression of aging is higher for systems that have higher levels of redundancy. (iii) Redundancy exhaustion over the life course explains a number of observations about mortality, including mortality convergence at later life (when death rates are becoming relatively similar at advanced ages for different populations of the same species) as well as late-life mortality deceleration, leveling off, and mortality plateaus. (iv) Living organisms apparently contain a high load of initial damage from the early stages of development, and therefore their life span and aging patterns may be sensitive to early-life conditions that determine this initial damage load. Thus, the reliability theory provides a parsimonious explanation for many important aging-related phenomena and suggests a number of interesting testable predictions. We therefore suggest adding the reliability theory to the arsenal of methodological approaches applied to research on aging.
The Response of Optical Isolators in a Nuclear Radiation Environment

The effects of gamma total dose and gamma dose rate ex. posures on the operation of a state-of-the-art optical isolator were inves. tigated. The isolator was irradiated in both "on" and "off" states to determine upset in dose rate environments from 1.5 X 108to 2.2 X 1011rd/s (Si). High-state output voltage was subject to upset at all dose rates tested. Propagation delay times, and output voltage and currenl were measured for total dose exposures up to 5X 106rd (Si). Of the parameters tested, only high-state output current and low-to-high pro. pagation delay times exceeded the manufacturer's specifications in the total dose environment.
Soot generation within radiating diffusion flames

Soot volume fraction data on six fuels [C 7 H 8 , C 6 H 10 , C 8 H 18 , C 6 H 12 , C 7 H 16 and (C 5 H 8 O 2 ) n ] in free, radiating, boundary layer, diffusion flames are presented. Approximate particle concentrations and size distributions, determined with previously reported optical techniques, are used. These sizes, r ∼30 nm, indicate the particles are in the free molecular flow regime, Kn∼10, so that convective heat transfer dominates other thermal mechanisms and the particle temperature appears locked closely to the local gas temperature. Based on this coupling, soot radiation is incorporated in the boundary layer gas energy equation. The pertinent fields, i.e., temperature, velocity and species, are evaluated. Comparisons are made with corrected experimental temperatures obtained with thermocouples. Thermophoretic forces are included in particle trajectory determinations. The local soot mass flow rates within the boundary layer are found and net soot volume fraction generation rates, f v , are obtained for these well characterized laminar flames. An Arrhenius form appears to suffice to describe the temperature dependence of the soot growth rate over the temperature range, 1700 f v prediction for fire radiation calculations, analytical temperatures and velocities were used to obtain these empirical expressions. Future work will include mixed flow boundary layer systems where control over the free stream oxygen mass fraction in a combustion tunnel configuration provides greater flame stability and a wider temperature range for each fuel.
Trehalose and other carbohydrates in Anthonomus grandis, Heliothis zea, and Heliothis virescens during growth and development

Abstract Trehalose was present in all stages of the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis , and usually was the main free sugar found in the haemolymph and in extracts of whole insects. The quantity of trehalose per insect, which was maximal in late last-instar larvae, gradually decreased during the pupal and pharate adult stages and declined more rapidly in young adults. In unfed adults, the most rapid decrease in trehalose levels occurred when glycogen was depleted. As would be expected from the higher sugar content of the boll, the titre of trehalose was higher in young and old weevils fed cotton bolls than in those fed squares (cotton flower buds); but when adults were 10 to 20 days old, the levels were similar regardless of whether weevils were fed either bolls or squares. Thus, at least part of their adult life, weevils were able to regulate trehalose levels in spite of sizeable differences in the sugar content of the adult diet. Trehalose levels also are regulated in weevils of other ages: A 10-fold increase in the sucrose content of the larval diet raised the carbohydrate and lipid content of late last-instar larvae and pharate pupae; but the 60 to 69 per cent increase in trehalose was less than the increase in glucose, anthrone positive substances other than trehalose, glycogen, and total lipids, which shows that trehalose was more closely regulated than the other components. In weevils fed the sucrose-rich larval diet, trehalose levels dropped during metamorphosis so that trehalose levels of newly emerged adults were identical regardless of the carbohydrate content of the larval diet. As much as 400 μg per insect of sugars other than trehalose were present in late last-instar larvae with a dry weight of about 5 mg each, but the quantity was dependent on carbohydrate content of the diet and on the nutritional state since a sucrose-rich diet increased the titre of these sugars and because these sugars were quickly metabolized when the larvae stopped feeding. Degradation of trehalose during extraction and storage was greatly reduced by extracting sugars with chloroform-methanol and ethanol and by deionizing extracts as quickly as possible. Assays were inaccurate when glucose oxidase was used for the determination of glucose in extracts of boll weevils and of Heliothis spp. because deionization removed most of a substance which very strongly inhibits the glucose oxidase assay in boll weevils and because the amount of glucose was considerably overestimated in deionized extracts of Heliothis zea and Heliothis virescens .
The relationship of body fat distribution to non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in a Navajo community.

The relationship between non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and body fat distribution (BFD) as measured by waist/hip circumference (WHR) was investigated in a Navajo community. A sample of 136 females and 89 males, 20 years and older, was recruited using a cluster-sampling design. Fifty percent of the females and 30.3% of the males are overweight [body mass index (BMI) equivalent of >120% ideal body weight]. Prevalence of NIDDM is 14% in females and 10.1% in males. The sample is characterized by central BFD (mean WHR=0.897±0.075, females and mean WHR=0.963±0.071, males). WHR is significantly related to age and BMI in males (P < 0.05), but not in females. Adjusted odds ratios for risk of NIDDM prevalence with increasing WHR category were estimated from a multiple logistic regression model which controlled for age and BMI. The odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) is 2.19 (1.14, 4.19) for risk of NIDDM prevalence for a female in the middle BFD category compared to a female in the low BFD category. Risk increases to 3.63 (95% CI=1.25, 10.52) for a female in the highest BFD category. Although there is an increased risk of NIDDM prevalence with central BFD for males, it is not statistically significant. Preferential energy storage in abdominal fat depots may be a phenotypic expression of the "Thrifty Genotype," which places American Indians at greater risk for metabolic disorders.
Physiologically-based pharmacokinetic model for pregnancy as a tool for investigation of developmental mechanisms

There is no known mechanism of teratogenesis! Although receptor occupancy has been implicated, associated and/or deemed necessary for some malformations in newborns (e.g. estrogen receptors, retinoic acid receptors), the upstream and downstream events from receptor occupancy that definitively tie a xenobiotic exposure with a resultant malformation are essentially unknown. One part of the puzzle that can be delineated is the xenobiotic target-tissue exposure curve. Physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models are designed to provide time-course exposure curves for organs, tissues and fluids of human or animal systems. In this context pregnancy requires special considerations in that the PBPK model must represent the dynamic growth of both the maternal and embryo/fetal systems.
Processing advances for localization of beaked whales using time difference of arrival

This paper is concerned with the localization of clicking Blainville's beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris) using an array of widely spaced bottom-mounted hydrophones. A set of signal and data processing advances are presented that together make reliable tracking a possibility. These advances include a species-specific detector, elimination of spurious time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) estimates, improved tracking of TDOA estimates, positive association of TDOA estimates using different hydrophone pairs, and joint localization of multiple whales. A key innovation in three of these advances is the principle of click-matching. The methods are demonstrated using real data.
Ultrastructure of the tastebuds of the red-eared turtle, Chrysemys scripta elegans.

The fine structure of the turtle tastebud has been examined by light, transmission, and scanning electron microscopy. It contains five types of cells on the basis of their cytological features, designated types 1,2,3,A, and B. Types 1, 2, and 3 reach the taste pore, whereas types A and B are located basally. The type 2 cell has access to the tongue surface, i.e., the site of gustatory stimuli, and also synapses onto afferent nerves; it probably is a gustatory receptor cell and corresponds to the so-called "light" cell observed in other vertebrate tastebuds. Some cells may be differentiating. In support of this hypothesis, light microscopic autoradiography shows that postmitotic cells occur in the tastebuds within 24 hours after administration of H3 -thymidine. The tastebuds of the turtle are similar to those of other vertebrates described electron-microscopically.
A comparison study of user behavior on Facebook and Gmail

Email is one of the most important communication media to date, and millions of Internet users around the world spend the bulk of their time writing and reading electronic messages. The growing popularity of Social Network Sites (SNS) as a communication medium motivated us to explore the relationship between user behavior on SNS and email. In this paper, we collected objective, privacy-preserved behavior data from participants that were both active Facebook and Gmail users. We show that a large proportion of social interactions still occur through email messages, while participants tend to be more emotional on Facebook. We found that producing more content on Facebook does not necessarily decrease or increase the production of emails. By utilizing the quantitative analysis of usage data instead of surveys, we show that user behavior is likely consistent across SNS and email in some aspects, for example, users with more Facebook friends seem to email to more people, Facebook and Gmail share similar trend of ''happiness''.
Detection of Early Abl Kinase Activation after Ionizing Radiation by Using a Peptide Biosensor

The ubiquitously expressed Abl protein is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that undergoes nuclear-cytoplasmic shuttling and is involved in many signalling pathways in the cell. Nuclear Abl is activated by DNA damage to regulate DNA repair, cell cycle checkpoints and apoptosis. Previous studies have established that the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) activates nuclear Abl via phosphorylation at serine 465 (S465) in the kinase domain in response to ionizing radiation (IR). Using a peptide biosensor that specifically reports on the Abl kinase activity, we found that an Abl-S456A mutant, which is not capable of being activated by ATM through the canonical site, was still activated rapidly after IR. We established that DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNAPK) is likely to be responsible for a second pathway to activate Abl early on in the response to IR through phosphorylation at a site other than S465. Our findings show that nuclear and cytoplasmic Abl kinase is activated early on (within 5 min) in response to IR by both ATM and DNAPK, and that while one or the other of these kinases is required, either one is sufficient to activate Abl. These results support the concept of early Abl recruitment by both the ATM and the DNAPK pathways to regulate nuclear events triggered by DNA damage and potentially communicate them to proteins in the cytoplasm.
The ion funnel: theory, implementations, and applications.

Invented in the 1990s, the ion funnel enabled a new approach for transporting ions through the first vacuum stage of a mass spectrometer, providing much greater transmission efficiencies than other techniques at the time. Rather than use a conical skimmer to sample a small portion of the ions entering the vacuum chamber from the inlet of an electrospray ionization interface, the ion funnel was designed to capture all of the ions in the expanding gas jet and radially focus them for efficient transfer through a conductance limiting orifice at pressures where traditional ion guiding devices failed. While initial designs required high speed pumping and exhibited a strong mass to charge ratio (m/z)-dependent ion transmission bias, subsequent advances guided by theoretical modeling have overcome those limitations to provide consistently large sensitivity gains and robust operation for a wide variety of mass spectrometers. We review the improvements in design and understanding that have brought the ion funnel to its current state of refinement. Novel applications of the ion funnel, which are continually emerging in such diverse fields as ion trapping, ion cooling, low pressure electrospray, and ion mobility spectrometry, are reviewed as well.
Tryptophan transport through the blood-brain barrier: in vivo measurement of free and albumin-bound amino acid.

Abstract The principles of the competitive ligand binding assay have been extended to the in vivo state to study the competition for tryptophan binding between albumin and the tryptophan transport system localized in the brain capillary wall, i.e., the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Based on the concentration of albumin (1.4 mM) which yields 50% inhibition of BBB tryptophan transport, the dissociation constant of tryptophan binding to albumin (KD = 0.13 mM), and the affinity constant of the BBB tryptophan transport system (KM = 0.19 mM), the apparent binding capacity of the BBB (1.9 mM), may be calculated. The high apparent binding capacity of the BBB enables the capillary transport system to compete with albumin for tryptophan binding; the inhibition of albumin binding by the carrier increases the fraction of tryptophan that is free in vivo to values greater than the fraction that is free in vitro. Depending on physiological changes in KM (e.g., due to plasma amino acid competition) or KD (due to plasma free fatty acid), the apparent free fraction of tryptophan in vivo may approximate either one of two extremes, i.e., the in vitro free fraction or the total tryptophan.
INVESTIGATION OF DENSITY AND FLOW RELATIONSHIPS IN CONGESTED TRAFFIC WITH VIDEOGRAMMETRIC DATA

Traffic congestion is a major problem on U.S. highways. Studies and modeling of congestion can have important implications for efficiency, safety, and planning of transportation systems. A variety of theoretical models have been proposed to explain the behavior of congested traffic, including the recent interesting postulation of "synchronized flow" states and the treatment of these as phases (in the statistical mechanics sense). However, empirical methods for the identification and characterization of such patterns of congestion have been hampered by a lack of objective and quantitative characterizations of these patterns. An empirical study of the patterns of traffic in a data set from a congested, five-lane basic section of freeway is presented. These data were collected by videogrammetry, which provides additional information (on the spatial variation) in comparison with the information provided by other sensor technologies. With these data, a macroanalysis of the relationships among flow, density, an...
Hepatobiliary Manifestations of Critically Ill and Postoperative Patients

Liver dysfunction is common in both the critically ill and postoperative patient. Metabolic derangements secondary to sepsis, poor hepatic perfusion, total parenteral nutrition, in addition to hemodynamic and anesthetic-induced changes that occur during surgery, can cause liver damage ranging from small self-limited abnormalities in liver chemistries to acute liver failure. Early recognition, supportive care, and effective treatment of the underlying disease process are crucial steps in managing liver disease in a critically ill patient.
Retroperitoneal schwannomas: dilemmas in diagnostic approach and therapeutic management.

Introduction Schwannomas are rare tumors arising from Schwan cells of the peripheral nerve sheath. The majority of the cases are sporadic and familial clustering is often observed in association with von Rechlinghausen’s disease. Cases of intrasacral (osseous) and spinal tumors have also been described. Histologically, schwannomas are distinguished by the presence of areas of high and low cellularity called Antoni A and B tissue, respectively.
Soft Error Rate Analysis for Combinational Logic Using An Accurate Electrical Masking Model

Accurate electrical masking modeling represents a significant challenge in soft error rate analysis for combinational logic circuits. In this paper, we use table lookup MOSFET models to accurately capture the nonlinear properties of submicron MOS transistors. Based on these models, we propose and validate the transient pulse generation model and propagation model for soft error rate analysis. The pulse generated by our pulse generation model matches well with that of HSPICE simulation, and the pulse propagation model provides nearly one order of magnitude improvement in accuracy over the previous models. Using these two models, we propose an accurate and efficient block-based soft error rate analysis method for combinational logic circuits
THE PORT BOLIVAR, TEXAS OIL SPILL—A CASE HISTORY OF OILED BIRD SURVIVAL1

ABSTRACT On March 9, 1982 oil from an unknown offshore source began to wash ashore near Port Bolivar, Texas. Beach cleanup was coordinated between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Coast Guard, and local authorities. Oiled sand was removed from the beach and stockpiled for local use in road construction. Oiled lesser scaup (Aythya affinis) appeared on the beach almost as soon as the oil did. The Fish and Wildlife Service coordinated volunteer efforts at capturing and cleaning the scaup. A total of 37 birds were captured, with 19 brids being taken in one night outing. Oiled bird cleaning began on March 10 and was completed on March 12. Procedures followed those described by Williams.3 Five scaup were washed three times, 31 washed twice, and one washed once. Thirty-five scaup were released on March 15 and two on April 27. No birds died during cleaning and the survival rate of the released birds is estimated to be 89 to 97 percent. Three factors were responsible for this successful oiled bird clea...
Aniseikonia and the Howard-Dolman Test*

The effects of artificial aniseikonic errors on the moving-rod type of depth-perception test were studied in two subjects. Aniseikonia in the horizontal meridian produced a constant error in the setting of the movable rod whose direction and magnitude varied with the direction and magnitude of the aniseikonia. In the Howard-Dolman test the constant errors were only one-third to one-half those predicted from the binocular disparity. In a modified test in which opposing monocular cues were eliminated, the settings showed the expected constant errors of about 65 mm for each one percent difference in the size of the ocular images. The mean variation about the average position of subjective equidistance showed considerable day-to-day variation.
Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy in the elderly patient

Objectives. To evaluate retrospectively the outcome of laparoscopic donor nephrectomy in patients aged 65 years or older, because data regarding tolerance profile and renal allograft outcome of laparoscopic donor nephrectomy in the elderly patient are lacking. Methods. Since February 1995, 6 patients aged 65 years or older underwent laparoscopic donor nephrectomy for living-related renal transplantation. Patient demographic, intraoperative, and postoperative parameters, as well as renal allograft outcome, were evaluated. Results. The median donor age was 69.5 years (range 65 to 74), and the median American Society of Anesthesiologists score was 2 (range 2 to 3). The median operative time was 240 minutes (range 183 to 298), with a median blood loss of 300 mL (range 150 to 400). No intraoperative complications or open conversions occurred. Postoperatively, the median time to resumption of oral intake was 1 day (range 1 to 3), and the median hospital stay was 3 days (range 2 to 4). The median narcotic analgesic requirement was 17 mg (range 11 to 27) morphine sulfate equivalent, and the median convalescence was 2 weeks (range 1 to 4). The 1-year renal allograft survival was 100% (n = 6). Conclusions. Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy is well tolerated by the elderly patient and provides satisfactory patient and renal allograft outcome. Although our sample size was small, it appears that laparoscopy is an acceptable modality for renal donation in the elderly population.
Thermal-economic analysis of heat-matched industrial cogeneration systems

Abstract Recent federal incentives in the U.S. concerning tax credits, fuel-use exemptions, and facilitation of sale of electric power to local electric utilities have greatly stimulated interest in industrial cogeneration. In particular, the ability to sell excess or all cogenerated electric power (i.e. arbitrage) has widened the options available to a potential cogenerator. In the present paper we consider a comparison of alternate cogeneration plants with an existing steam-only plant in terms of energy conservation and engineering economics. The concept of marginal cost of production is applied throughout. The criterion of economic selection is acceptable incremental rate of return on incremental investment based on the challenger-defender test of successively greater capital costs. As an example, coal-fired topping steam turbines as well as natural-gas-fired gas turbines and oil-fired diesels with waste-heat boilers are considered to replace a gas-fired steam-only plant and provide a range of electric power for the same thermal load.
On Ontology and Politics: A Polemic

There are those who say that the changes in the position of Jean-Paul Sartre from the publication of L'Etre et le neant to the appearance of Critique de la raison dialectique constitute a “radical conversion”. Some attribute this conversion to the influence of Maurice Merleau-Ponty. Sartre has given support to this claim by acknowledging that Merleau-Ponty taught him politics and in doing so helped to move Sartre from the fierce individualism of his early period to the position which culminated in CRD , a position informed by a much greater appreciation for social entanglement. But what is not clear is that Merleau-Ponty's influence upon Sartre extended to Sartre's fundamental convictions, particularly to his fundamental ontological theses. Kwant tells us that Merleau-Ponty's objections to Sartre in the last days of his life indicate that he believed that Sartre had not altered his ontological views. Sartre has not commented upon that issue. It is of vital interest because Merleau-Ponty explicitly claimed in Les Aventures de la dialectique that Sartre's mistaken political views were a consequence of his mistaken ontological principles. Were this true and were it true that Sartre had not made significant alterations in his ontology, one would expect that Merleau-Ponty would have to have said that Sartre's political views in CRD were similarly mistaken. We know that he did make some comments to that effect but, since Merleau-Ponty's tragic death prevented the full articulation of his latest opinions, we cannot be certain.
Alternative Spreadsheet Applications: Student Learning and Attitudes

Abstract This study investigated whether two alternative methods of microcomputer integration in cost accounting affected students' perceived level of understanding and attitudes. The two methods were template construction, which requires students to work with formulas and formats in addition to data entering, and template use, which demands that students only enter the relevant data, using a completed template. Prior computer experience and time spent working on the assignments were incorporated as additional factors in an analysis of variance (ANOVA) to measure the effect of the two methods, In this experiment, covering six sections of cost accounting courses, students responded more favorably to the template construction method. Despite differences in perception about the two methods, students, in general, were positive about microcomputer integration in cost accounting.
Nanoparticulate delivery of suicide DNA to murine prostate and prostate tumors.

BACKGROUND Currently available treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and localized prostate cancer are generally effective but are often attended by serious side effects that impact on the quality of life. In particular, most current therapies are non-specific, with surgery, radiation, and chemical ablation having the potential to cause damage to surrounding tissue. Here, we demonstrate the effectiveness of a prostate-specific, locally delivered gene therapy for the targeted killing of prostate cells. METHODS Using a degradable, poly(β-amino ester) polymer, poly(butane diol diacrylate co amino pentanol) (C32), we developed a nanoparticulate system to deliver a diphtheria toxin suicide gene (DT-A) driven by a prostate specific promoter to cells. These C32/DT-A nanoparticles were directly injected to the normal prostate and to prostate tumors in mice. RESULTS Nearly 50% of normal prostates showed a significant reduction in size, attributable to cellular apoptosis, whereas injection with naked DT-A-encoding DNA had little effect. Significant apoptosis was also observed in C32/DT-A injected prostate tumors. Importantly, no damage to surrounding tissue was observed. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that local delivery of poly(β-amino ester) polymer/ DT-A nanoparticles may have application in the treatment of BPH and prostate cancer. Prostate 67: 855–862, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A Dynamical Theory of Structured Solids. I Basic Developments

Based on the well-accepted notion of a Bravais lattice of a crystal at the atomic scale and with particular reference to inelastic behaviour of materials, this paper is concerned with the construction of a macroscopic dynamical theory of solids which incorporates the effect of the presence of the atoms and their arrangements. The theory incorporates a wide variety of microstructural processes occurring at various physical scales and has a range approaching the atomic scale. These processes include the effect of the motion of individual dislocations, which are modeled here as continuous distributions at the macroscopic scale. The formulation of the basic theory, apart from the kinematical and kinetical variables employed in classical continuum mechanics, utilizes a triad of independent vector-valued variables - called directors - (or an equivalent tensor-valued variable) which represent the lattice vectors and are determined by additional momentum-like balance laws associated with the rate of change of lattice deformation in the spirit of a Cosserat (or directed) continuum. A suitable composition of the triad of directors and the ordinary deformation gradient is identified as a measure of permanent or plastic deformation, the referential gradient of which plays a significant role in the kinematics of lattice defects. In particular, a uniquely defined skew-symmetric part of the gradient of plastic deformation is identified as a measure of the density of dislocations in the crystal. The additional momentum-like balance laws associated with the rate of lattice deformation include the effect of forces necessary to maintain the motion of dislocations, as well as the inertia effects on the microscopic and submicroscopic scales arising from the director fields. The basic theoretical developments also provide important clarifications pertaining to the structure of the constitutive response functions for both viscoplasticity and (the more usual) rate-independent plasticity.
GPU-based ultrafast IMRT plan optimization

The widespread adoption of on-board volumetric imaging in cancer radiotherapy has stimulated research efforts to develop online adaptive radiotherapy techniques to handle the inter-fraction variation of the patient's geometry. Such efforts face major technical challenges to perform treatment planning in real time. To overcome this challenge, we are developing a supercomputing online re-planning environment (SCORE) at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). As part of the SCORE project, this paper presents our work on the implementation of an intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) optimization algorithm on graphics processing units (GPUs). We adopt a penalty-based quadratic optimization model, which is solved by using a gradient projection method with Armijo's line search rule. Our optimization algorithm has been implemented in CUDA for parallel GPU computing as well as in C for serial CPU computing for comparison purpose. A prostate IMRT case with various beamlet and voxel sizes was used to evaluate our implementation. On an NVIDIA Tesla C1060 GPU card, we have achieved speedup factors of 20–40 without losing accuracy, compared to the results from an Intel Xeon 2.27 GHz CPU. For a specific nine-field prostate IMRT case with 5 × 5 mm2 beamlet size and 2.5 × 2.5 × 2.5 mm3 voxel size, our GPU implementation takes only 2.8 s to generate an optimal IMRT plan. Our work has therefore solved a major problem in developing online re-planning technologies for adaptive radiotherapy.
High-power plasma discharge source at 13.5 nm and 11.4 nm for EUV lithography

An intense pulsed capillary discharge source operating at 13.5 nm and 11.4 nm, suitable for use in conjunction with Mo:Si or Mo:Be coated optics, has produced an average power of approximately 1.4W within a 0.3 nm emission bandwidth from the end of the capillary when operated at a repetition rate of 100 Hz. The source is comprised of a small capillary discharge tube filled with xenon gas at low pressure to which electrodes are attached at each end. When a voltage is applied across the tube, an electrical current is generated for short periods within the capillary that produces highly ionized xenon ions radiating in the EUV. Issues associated with plasma bore erosion are currently being addressed from the standpoint of developing such a source for operation at repetition rates of greater than 1 kHz.
Climate engineering and climate tipping-point scenarios

Many scientists fear that anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases have set the Earth on a path of significant, possibly catastrophic, changes. This includes the possibility of exceeding particular thresholds or tipping points in the climate system. In response, governments have proposed emissions reduction targets, but no agreement has been reached. These facts have led some scientists and economists to suggest research into climate engineering. In this paper, we analyze the potential value of one climate engineering technology family, known as solar radiation management (SRM) to manage the risk of differing tipping-point scenarios. We find that adding SRM to a policy of emissions controls may be able to help manage the risk of climate tipping points and that its potential benefits are large. However, the technology does not exist and important indirect costs (e.g., change in precipitation) are not well understood. Thus, we conclude the SRM merits a serious research effort to better understand its efficiency and safety.
The Physics of Lightning

An overview of the physics of cloud-to-ground lightning is given, including its initiation, propagation, and attachment to ground. Discharges artificially initiated (triggered) from natural thunderclouds using the rocket-and-wire technique are discussed with a view toward studying properties of natural lightning. Both conventional and runaway breakdown mechanisms of lightning initiation in thunderclouds are reviewed, as is the role of the lower positive charge region in facilitating different types of lightning. New observations of negative-leader stepping and its attachment to ground are compared to similar processes in long laboratory sparks. The mechanism and parameters of compact intracloud lightning discharges that are thought to be the most intense natural producers of HF-VHF (3–300 MHz) radiation on Earth are reviewed. The M-component mode of charge transfer to ground and its difference from the leader/return-stroke mode are discussed. Lightning interaction with the ionosphere and the production of energetic radiation (X-rays and gamma radiation) by cloud-to-ground leaders are considered.