cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fundamental precision bounds for three-dimensional optical localization microscopy using self-interference digital holography

Localization based microscopy using self-interference digital holography (SIDH) provides three-dimensional (3D) positional information about point sources with nanometer scale precision. To understand the performance limits of SIDH, here we calculate the theoretical limit to localization precision for SIDH when designed with two different configurations. One configuration creates the hologram using a plane wave and a spherical wave while the second configuration creates the hologram using two spherical waves. We further compare the calculated precision bounds to the 3D single molecule localization precision from different Point Spread Functions. SIDH results in almost constant localization precision in all three dimensions for a 20 µm thick depth of field. For high signal-to-background ratio (SBR), SIDH on average achieves better localization precision. For lower SBR values, the large size of the hologram on the detector becomes a problem, and PSF models perform better.
Effect of microdistribution of alpha and beta-emitters in targeted radionuclide therapies on delivered absorbed dose in a GATE model of bone marrow.

Acute hematologic toxicity is a frequent adverse effect of beta-emitter targeted radionuclide therapies (TRTs). Alpha emitters have the potential of delivering high linear energy transfer (LET) radiation to the tumor attributed to its shorter range. Antibody-based TRTs have increased blood-pool half-lives, and therefore increased marrow toxicity, which is a particular concern with alpha emitters. Accurate 3D absorbed dose calculations focusing on the interface region of blood vessels and bone can elucidate energy deposition patterns. Firstly, a cylindrical geometry model with a central blood vessel embedded in the trabecular tissue was modelled. Monte Carlo simulations in GATE were performed considering beta (177Lu, 90Y) and alpha emitters (211At, 225Ac) as sources restricted to the blood pool. Subsequently, the radioactive sources were added in the trabecular bone compartment in order to model bone marrow metastases infiltration (BMMI). Radial profiles, dose-volume histograms (DVHs) and voxel relative differences were used to evaluate the absorbed dose results. We demonstrated that alpha emitters have a higher localized energy deposition compared to beta emitters. In the cylindrical geometry model, when the sources are confined to the blood pool, the dose to the trabecular bone is greater for beta emitting radionuclides, as alpha emitters deposit the majority of their energy within 70 μm of the vessel wall. In the BMMI model, alpha emitters have a lower dose to untargeted trabecular bone. Our results suggest that when alpha emitters are restricted to the blood pool, as when labelled to antibodies, hematologic toxicities may be lower than expected due to differences in the microdistribution of delivered absorbed dose.
Common Ownership along the Supply Chain and Supplier Innovations

Common owners are the (institutional) investors that hold equities of multiple firms. This paper examines the impact of common ownership of suppliers and customers on suppliers' innovation activities. I find suppliers' investment in innovation, quantity and quality of innovation output increase when common owners control higher fractions of them and their customers. The impact of vertical common ownership on innovation input and quality of innovation output is stronger and more robust than that of horizontal common ownership. I provide plausible evidence for causality using a difference-in-differences approach based on a quasi-natural experiment in the form of financial institution mergers and acquisitions. Moreover, I test the potential channels through which vertical common ownership could influence supplier innovation. My evidence suggests that common ownership increases investment in innovation by mitigating hold-up issues between suppliers and customers, and enhances innovation output performance by improving technological spillovers between suppliers and customers. Overall, my evidence suggests that common institutional ownership enhances suppliers' innovation performance by improving relationships between suppliers and their customers.
Class: An Essential Aspect of Watershed Planning

A study of a watershed planning process in the Cache River Watershed in southern Illinois revealed that class divisions, based on property ownership, underlay key conflicts over land use and decision-making relevant to resource use. A class analysis of the region indicates that the planning process served to endorse and solidify the locally-dominant theory that landownership confers the right to govern. This obscured the class differences between large full-time farmers and small-holders whose livelihood depends on non-farm labor. These two groups generally opposed one another regarding wetland drainage. Their common identity as ''property owner'' consolidated the power wielded locally by large farmers. It also provided an instrument - the planning document - for state and federal government agencies to enhance their power and to bring resources to the region. The planning process simultaneously ameliorated conflicts between government agencies and the large farmers, while enhancing the agencies' capacity to reclaim wetlands. In this contradictory manner, the plan promoted the environmental aims of many smallholders, and simultaneously disempowered them as actors in the region's political economy.
Differential Resilience of Soil Microbes and Ecosystem Functions Following Cessation of Long-Term Fertilization

Nitrogen (N) from anthropogenic sources has dramatically increased in terrestrial ecosystems globally. Although belowground microbial processes and events that release N into the atmosphere, such as fire, could support ecosystem resilience to eutrophication, little is known about how these factors might affect N loss following chronic fertilization, thus promoting ecosystem recovery. We studied how N pools, N-cycling potential rates and their affiliated microbial populations, and microbial community composition responded to the factorial effects of cessation of 30 years of chronic N fertilization and annual burning at a tallgrass prairie. Soil N availability in previously fertilized plots recovered by 86% (using never-fertilized control plots as a 100% recovery reference), while plant and microbial biomass did not change. Nitrification potential recovered (80%), and denitrification potential partially recovered (50%), in previously fertilized plots. There were differential responses among key groups of nitrifiers (archaea vs. bacteria) and denitrifiers (nosZ clade I vs. clade II from Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans) to long-term N fertilization and cessation despite the whole microbial community composition not shifting significantly after fertilization ceased. Also, N-cycling potentials were consistently higher in unburned prairie. Together, results suggest that fire is a prominent mechanism for ecosystem N removal in annually burned prairie, while N-cycling microbes will have an important role in the absence of fire; however, the recovery to pre-fertilized condition, with or without fire, will take longer than 1 year. Overall, differential resilience of biotic populations and processes can potentially shape different outcomes of soil N loss and tallgrass prairie ecosystem recovery from long-term N fertilization.
The multinomial tiling model

Given a graph $G$ and collection of subgraphs $T$ (called tiles), we consider covering $G$ with copies of tiles in $T$ so that each vertex $v\in G$ is covered with a predetermined multiplicity. The multinomial tiling model is a natural probability measure on such configurations (it is the uniform measure on standard tilings of the corresponding "blow-up" of $G$). In the limit of large multiplicities we compute asymptotic growth rate of the number of multinomial tilings. We show that the individual tile densities tend to a Gaussian field with respect to an associated discrete Laplacian. We also find an exact discrete Coulomb gas limit when we vary the multiplicities. For tilings of ${\mathbb Z}^d$ with translates of a single tile and a small density of defects, we study a crystallization phenomena when the defect density tends to zero, and give examples of naturally occurring quasicrystals in this framework.
Models to study photoinduced multiple proton coupled electron transfer processes

In water-oxidizing photosynthetic organisms, excitation of the reaction-center chlorophylls (P680) triggers a cascade of electron and proton transfer reactions that establish charge separation acro...
Movement Strategies in Virtual Reality: Exploring the Influence of 3D Endpoint Variability:

Research using a kinematic approach has revealed that users often exhibit strategic biases in their movement behavior to minimize the effort required to reach a target. However, a recent exploratio...
In the Eye of the Storm: Humanitarian NGOs, Complex Emergencies, and Conflict Resolution

The challenges faced by non-governmental organizations seeking to mitigate violence within the context of “complex humanitarian emergencies” create new dilemmas and require new strategies. These emergencies arise from violence inflicted by one group against another within the confines of a state, from the capture of state institutions by one group, or by the collapse of these institutions and the failure of governance. They develop within a context of disengagement by the major powers and the privatization of emergency assistance. I first analyze the dimensions of complex humanitarian emergencies, define the dilemmas humanitarian NGOs face and their implications for conflict resolution, and examine the changing international context to establish the scope of disengagement and privatization. I then assess the troubling evidence that humanitarian NGOs have contributed inadvertently to the escalation of violence rather than to conflict resolution. I explore three possible strategies, some of them counterintuitive, which could contribute to the mitigation of the violence and to conflict resolution.
Achieving Uniform Distribution and Dispersion of a High Percentage Nanoparticles in Mg18Sn Matrix by Solidification Processing

It is extremely difficult to incorporate and disperse nanoparticles (NPs), especially for a high percentage, into metal matrix during solidification processing to achieve crucial property enhancement in metal matrix nanocomposites (MMNCs), mainly due to the strong tendency of NP aggregation. Thus, the significant property enhancement expected by the addition of a high percentage of NPs is rarely achieved in solidification processing of bulk MMNCs. Here we show that an unprecedented uniform distribution of 5 vol.% SiC NPs in Mgl8Sn alloy matrix is obtained by solidification processing. The resulting Mg18Sn matrix nanocomposites exhibits a very high microhardness value of 150 kg/mm2. The results reported in this work shed light on a potential pathway for production of ultrahigh performance metallic nanocomposites.
Omissible extensions of $SL_2(k)$ where $k$ is a field of positive characteristic

A normal subgroup N of a group G is said to be an omissible subgroup of G if it has the following property: whenever X G is such that G = XN, then G = X. In this note we construct various groups G, each of which has an omissible subgroup N 6 1 such that G=N = SL2(k) where k is a eld of positive characteristic.
EVIDENCE THAT THE ANTIDIURETIC SUBSTANCE IN THE PLASMA OF CHILDREN WITH NEPHROGENIC DIABETES INSIPIDUS IS ANTIDIURETIC HORMONE.

The antidiuretic activity in the plasma of four children with nephrogenic diabetes insipidus was measured by a rat assay technique. The evidence presented to indicate that this activity was due to antidiuretic hormone (ADH) was as follows: (a) the activity was higher in jugular vein plasma than in femoral or antecubital vein plasma, (b) it was high when the children were thirsted and decreased when they drank water, (c) it was destroyed when the plasma was incubated with thioglycollate, and (d) it was ultrafilterable, and vasopressin (Pitressin), when injected, was distributed as though it was ultrafilterable. When the children were given vasopressin, there was no change in urine flow or osmolality, but plasma antidiuretic activity was higher than it was when water deprivation led to a reduction in urine flow and an increase in urine osmolality. The inference of these findings is that ADH is secreted normally in children with nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, it is ultrafilterable, but it is not a factor in modifying urine flow in response to dehydration.
Trust in the land: New directions in tribal conservation

Trust in the land: New directions in tribal conservation . Middleton, B. R. (2011). Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Press. 352 pp. ISBN 9780816529285. In Trust in the Land: New Directions in Tribal Conservation , Beth Middleton presents a detailed study of private conservation tools, particularly land trusts and conservation easements, as a means of aiding indigenous peoples in reacquiring, accessing, protecting and stewarding traditional homelands no longer owned by them. Middleton positions herself in this text as an allied scholar of African-American/multiracial ancestry who worked with the Mountain Maidu of California as a researcher. Through her work with them, she was drawn into a partnership that developed between the Maidu and the Feather River Land Trust, a non-native land trust, to conserve 883 acres of riparian lands along the Genesee Valley’s Feather River.
Microcomputer Systems; The 8086-8088 Family Architecture, Programming and Design

1. Introduction. 2. 8086 Architecture. 3. Assembler Language Programming. 4. Modular Programming. 5. Byte and String Manipulation. 6. I/O Programming. 7. Introduction to Multiprogramming. 8. System Bus Structure. 9. I/O Interfaces. 10. Semiconductor Memory. 11. Multiprocessor Configuration. 12. VLSI Processing and Supporting Devices. 13. The 80286/80287. Appendix: 8086/8088 Instruction Set. Summary. Index.
Society of Consulting Psychology

The history of Division 13 of the American Psychological Association (APA) and how it became the Society of Consulting Psychology (SCP) are articulated in a 1999 Consulting Psychology article by Ann O'Roark, the SCP President at that time (O'Roark, 1999). Division 13 began with a charge from the APA governance in 1920 to identify the competencies of consulting psychologists. Preexisting roots were the 1915 Whipple Resolution, which created the need to determine essential qualifications for psychological examiners, especially in the areas of assessment of intelligence and special abilities. In 1924, the APA-charged group adopted its first bylaws and became the Division of Consulting Psychology. The history reveals extended discussions over many years of who was eligible to be a member of this division. In fact, up until 1963, eligibility required being a fellow of some other APA division. Work in mental health and organizational consulting has been a focus of the division from that time to the present. The current SCP owes its foundation to organizational work beginning in 1999 that included a series of strategic planning meetings, followed by changes in the organization's structure and processes, as well as programs and services. Part of these efforts led to the development and APA endorsement in 2007 of the Guidelines for Education and Training at the Doctoral and Postdoctoral Levels in Consulting Psychology/Organizational Consulting Psychology (APA, 2007). The current organization and its programs, services, and governance structure are markedly different from those of the past. Keywords: consulting psychology; history of consulting psychology; organizational consulting psychology guidelines
Evidence-based practice for mere mortals: the role of informatics and health services research.

The poor translation of evidence into practice is a well-known problem. Hopes are high that information technology can help make evidence-based practice feasible for mere mortal physicians. In this paper, we draw upon the methods and perspectives of clinical practice, medical informatics, and health services research to analyze the gap between evidence and action, and to argue that computing systems for bridging this gap should incorporate both informatics and health services research expertise. We discuss 2 illustrative systems—trial banks and a web-based system to develop and disseminate evidence-based guidelines (alchemist)— and conclude with a research and training agenda.
Emergence of relations and the essence of learning: a review of Sidman's Equivalence relations and behavior: a research story. Book review

Sidman addresses two very important questions in Equivalence Relations and Behavior: A Research Story: What are the bases of behavioral competence? And how do units of learning become related? The book recounts the story of how an understanding of emergent relations and competencies was achieved through studies in his teaching-research program with mentally retarded subjects. Although children normally accrue vast networks of relations between stimuli and events, those with mental retardation typically do not. Consequently, by learning how to establish those networks, Sidman and his students contribute richly both to the cultivation of competencies by their subjects and, more generally, to an understanding of real-world human behavior. The basic equivalence paradigm affords the subject feedback and reinforcement for very specific choices during training, but the test is not for those choices! Rather, tests for equivalence look for new choices, ones seemingly quite foreign to the training regimen. The tests for equivalence relations entail presentations of stimuli that were the options for conditional choice during reinforced training. In tests of equivalence, correct choices are novel; hence, they have never been reinforced during training. The study of equivalence relations can encourage the emergence of new perspectives that are more symbiotic than competitive. In full acknowledgment of the important role and contributions made by those who identify themselves as experimental analysts of behavior, it is timely that rapprochements be worked toward, as indeed they are, to meld that perspective with others of our time. Both our research methods and our expectations about the nature of the learning process and the abilities of our subjects can delimit what they might learn and what we, in turn, learn about their learning. The text will be of great value for instruction at the upper-division and graduate levels. Its impact will be substantial, for it defines an important advance in our efforts to understand the richness of behavior in both humans and nonhuman animals. Although not presented to that end, the book might also serve to bridge communications with other groups of animal researchers whose interests lie more in a comparative or ethological framework.
Potential role of RGD-binding integrins in mammalian lung branching morphogenesis

Cell-matrix interactions are generally considered critical for normal lung development. This is particularly likely to be true during the glandular stage, when the primitive airways are formed through a process termed branching morphogenesis. Integrins, transmembrane receptors that bind to extracellular matrices, are likely to mediate important interactions between embryonic cells and their matrices during branching morphogenesis. In this report, we examine the role of integrin receptors in this process. Immunohistochemical studies revealed that the integrins VLA 3, VLA 5 and integrin receptors to vitronectin are expressed in the epithelium and/or mesenchyme during the glandular stage of murine lung development. To correlate expression with function, an in vitro model of murine lung branching morphogenesis was utilized to examine branching in the presence of inhibitors of ligand binding to integrin receptors. One such reagent, a hexapeptide containing the RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) sequence, diminished branching and resulted in an abnormal morphology, whereas a control peptide RGESP (Arg-Gly-Glu-Ser-Pro) had no effect. These findings suggest a critical role for cell-matrix interactions mediated via integrin receptors in early stages of mammalian lung development.
To Enhance Homomorphic Encryption scheme for Key Management and Key Sharing in Cloud Computing

The cloud can offer services to the users at lower cost and services are available at anytime, anywhere, user data security is the main challenge in cloud computing. The data encryption is the best way for providing data security in cloud computing. Fully homomorphic encryption scheme is reliable and secure encryption technique. The main problem with fully disk encryption scheme is key management, key storage and data aggregation. To solve the problem of key management and key sharing various schemes are proposed in last few years. The third party auditor is the scheme for key management and key sharing. The third party auditor scheme will be failed if the third party’s security is compromised or third party will be malicious. Cloud computing is very latest technology which is widely used in these days. There are some security threats in this network. The proposed scheme is used to provide security to the cloud so that attacker will unable to hack the information using Diffie- Hellman key exchange protocol. . In Diffie -Hellman algorithm, there is no provision for the storage or exchange of the PIN key. So it protects network devices from attacks. Keywords: Cloud computing, IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, Diffie Hellman key exchange algorithm.
"Life Without Parole" Under Modern Theories of Punishment

Life without parole seems an attractive and logical punishment under the modern coercive crime-control principles of general deterrence and incapacitation, a point reinforced by its common use under habitual offender statutes like "three strikes." Yet, there is increasing evidence to doubt the efficacy of using such principles to distributive punishment. The prerequisite conditions for effective general deterrence are the exception rather than the rule. Moreover, effective and fair preventive detention is difficult when attempted through the criminal justice system. If we really are committed to preventive detention, it is better for both society and potential detainees that it be done through a civil system that openly admits its preventive justification and goals. Further, recent research shows that deterrence and incapacitation-based distributions of punishment commonly conflict not only with principles of deontological desert but also with lay people's intuitions of justice. Research also suggests that, by allowing such injustices, the criminal justice system undermines its moral credibility with the community it governs and thereby undermines its ability to harness the more powerful forces of normative crime-control. This preference for a desert-based distribution of punishment is reflected in the American Law Institute's recent amendment of the Model Penal Code – its first amendment in 48 years – which set desert as the dominant distributive principle for sentencing. Is LWOP an appropriate sentence under that desert principle? The core principle for a desert distribution is this: greater punishment should be imposed upon an offender of greater blameworthiness and less punishment upon an offender of lesser blameworthiness. Because LWOP represents the endpoint of the imprisonment continuum, it can be an appropriate sentence only for the most egregious case (or, if the death penalty is available, the second most egregious case). To use it more broadly is to violate desert by punishing equally cases of identifiably different degrees of blameworthiness, thereby trivializing the greater blameworthiness of the more serious cases. In other words, a desert distributive principle would not demand LWOP in a case if there has been, or reasonably could be, a noticeably more egregious case. This suggests LWOP ought to be a rare sentence, reserved only for the most blameworthy offenders.
Alert networks of ICTs and sources in campus emergencies

This study contributes an understanding of how ICTs and varying information sources work together during emergency alerts. It builds on the prior work on campus active shooter events by examining an organization that used a range of ICTs including mobile devices, social media, organizational tools, and news media, to notify their stakeholders about an emergency. The study design used a survey to capture the responses from a random sample of over 1000 stakeholders—students, faculty, and staff—who were notified of an active shooter emergency. The findings from the first three notifications suggest that messages reaching the most stakeholders were (a) sent by official sources through ICTs like mobile phones; (b) official email communication, and (c) messages that included face-to-face communication. While 11 different ICTs were included in the study, mass media (i.e., television and radio), and social media (Twitter and Facebook) did not function substantially in the emergency alert process.
Testing minimal clinically important difference: additional comments and scientific reality testing.

COMMENTARY ON: Glassman SD, Carreon LY. Thresholds for Health-related Quality of Life measures: reality testing. Spine J 2010;10:328–329 (in this issue) .
DNA helicase from mammalian mitochondria.

Abstract In spite of the fact that a DNA helicase is clearly required for the predominantly leading-strand synthesis occurring during mammalian mtDNA replication, no such activity has heretofore been identified. We report the characterization of a mammalian mitochondrial DNA helicase isolated from bovine brain tissue. The sucrose gradient-purified mitochondria in which the activity was detected had less than 1 part in 2500 nuclear contamination according to Western blot analysis using nuclear- and mitochondrial-specific probes. Mitochondrial protein fractionation by DEAE-Sephacel chromatography yielded a DNA helicase activity dependent upon hydrolysis of ATP or dATP but not other NTPs or dNTPs. The mitochondrial helicase unwound 15- and 20-base oligonucleotides but was unable to unwind 32-base or longer oligonucleotides, and the polarity of the unwinding is 3'-to-5' with respect to the single-stranded portion of the partial duplex DNA substrate. This direction of unwinding would place the bovine mitochondrial helicase on the template strand ahead of DNA polymerase gamma during mtDNA replication, a situation analogous to that of the Rep helicase of Escherichia coli during leading-strand DNA synthesis of certain bacteriophages.
The gene structure of the Drosophila melanogaster homolog of the human proto-oncogene fos.

Abstract The Drosophila melanogaster homolog of the human proto-oncogene fos is Dfos. It is the only fos homolog in the Drosophila genome. Fos functions as a subunit of the heterodimeric transcription factor AP-1. There are two models of the Dfos gene. The first comes from a cDNA sequence of Dfos (Perkins et al., Genes Dev. 4 (1990) 822). The second is from the gene sequence published by the Drosophila genome project (Adams et al., Science 287 (2000) 2185), and there are notable contradictions between the two models. The promoter and the 5′ end of the transcript sequence were not identified in either model. In this paper, we present the gene structure of Dfos and identify the promoter. This promoter has an initiator and a downstream promoter element sequence, but lacks a TATA box. Through comparison of the mRNA and genomic DNA sequences, three introns varying in length from 66 bp to 17.57 kb were found and verified by RT-PCR. The Dfos gene is 21.2 kb in length, giving a transcript of 3438 bp, coding for a predicted protein of 595 amino acids. The 3′ untranslated region is confirmed to be 1092 bp in length.
Self-consistent liquid-to-gas mass transfer calculations.

Abstract This work develops an alternative gas transfer calculation method to the two methods currently used in anaerobic digestion modelling. The current calculation methods are problematic because one is computationally stiff, while the other introduces an artificial overpressure. The new approach began by noting that the gas partial pressures are the same as the partial flows at the liquid/gas interface, and then used the self-consistency requirement to develop gas pressure equations which were used by a search algorithm. The new approach took about three iterations to achieve a flow precision better than 2 × 10−7 mol h−1 l−1, and was self-consistent and stable even when working with eight gases.
Using the Interactive Systems Framework in Understanding the Relation Between General Program Capacity and Implementation in Afterschool Settings

The present study uses the Interactive Systems Framework (ISF) to understand how general capacity influences the implementation of prevention programs in afterschool settings. Eight afterschool sites received the Good Behavior Game (GBG) intervention, a program designed to foster supportive behavioral management and positive youth behavior. In line with the Prevention Support System component of ISF, the intervention afterschool staff were trained and received weekly on-site support from coaches in implementing the GBG. It was found that GBG implementation scores were greatest in afterschool programs that rated high on both organizational- and community-levels of general capacity; high scores on only one level of general capacity resulted in lower implementation scores. Thus, afterschool sites that were more organized, maintained adequate facilities, and developed strong linkages to individuals or organizations in the community scored highest in implementation fidelity and quality. This study highlights the importance of considering interactions among multiple levels of general capacity in efforts to promote evidence-based practices in afterschool settings. Caution should be taken in generalizing findings due to the small sample in this study.
Incorporation of calcium into the soft tissues and calcareous corpuscles of larval Taenia taeniaeformis.

Larval Taenia taeniaeformis in vivo accumulates 45Ca2+ in soft tissues and calcareous corpuscles. Radioactivity was demonstrable in the corpuscles six months after a single dose of 45Ca2+ was administered to the host by means of a stomach tube. Ca2+ also was taken up by isolated larvae. Accumulation in vitro was more rapid than in vivo and was correlated with the external Ca2+ concentration. Temperature variation, oxygen availability, and metabolic inhibitors had little effect on the Ca2+ uptake, indicating that active transport of Ca2+ is unlikely in this parasite. Variations in the external Pi concentrations had no effect on Ca2+ accumulation or on its distribution. Addition of 5% CO2 increased the uptake of Ca2+ by the calcareous corpuscles under anaerobic conditions. Radioactivity from NaH14CO3 also was accumulated in soft tissues and corpuscles of T. taeniaeformis. Assuming that the 14C taken up by the corpuscles was in the form of 14CO32−, the ratio of Ca2+ to CO32−accumulation in the corpuscles approximates the ratio of these constituents in dolomite: CaMg(CO3)2.
Teaching People About Groups

This special issue of Small Group Research, entitled Teaching People about Groups, features six articles on the ways in which instructors of group courses (in several disciplines) can creatively te...
Changes in the macrophage population of the rat superior cervical ganglion after postganglionic nerve injury

Following peripheral nerve transection, a series of biochemical changes occurs in axons and Schwann cells both at the site of lesion and distal to it. Macrophages differentiated from monocytes that invade the area in response to transection (elicited macrophages) and, perhaps, also macrophages normally present in the tissue (resident macrophages) play important roles in these changes. In addition, nerve transection produces changes in the cell bodies of axotomized neurons and their surrounding glial cells, located at some distance from the lesion. To determine whether macrophages might play a role in the changes occurring in the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) after axotomy, we examined the presence of macrophages before and after axonal damage. The monoclonal antibodies ED1, ED2, and OX6 were used, each of which recognizes a somewhat different population of macrophages. Ganglia from normal rats contained a population of resident cells that were ED2+ but very few that were ED1+. Within 2 days after the postganglionic nerves were transected, the number of ED1+ cells increased substantially, with little change in immunostaining for ED2. These data, in combination with published studies on other tissues, suggest that ED1 in the SCG is selective for elicited macrophages and ED2 for resident macrophages. OX6 immunostaining was prominent in normal ganglia but also increased significantly after axotomy, suggesting that it reflects both macrophage populations. Systemic administration of 6-hydroxydopamine, a neurotoxin that causes the destruction of sympathetic nerve endings, also produced an increase in ED1 immunostaining. Thus, the change in ED1 immunostaining in the SCG does not require surgery, with the attendant servering of local blood vessels and connective tissue, but rather only the disconnection of sympathetic neurons from their end organs. The time course of the invasion of monocytes after axotomy indicates that this process is not required to trigger the biochemical changes occurring in the ganglion within the first 24 h. On the other hand, the existence of a resident population of macrophages raises the possibility that changes in those cells might be involved. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Severe thrombocytopenia predicts outcome in neonates with necrotizing enterocolitis.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a common and serious gastrointestinal disorder that predominately affects premature infants. Few prognostic indices are available to guide physicians through the expected course of the disease. We hypothesized that the degree and timing of onset of severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count <100,000/mm3) would be a predictor of adverse outcome and an indication for surgical intervention in infants with NEC. The clinical presentation and outcome of all infants with Bell stage II or III NEC treated at Texas Children's Hospital between 1997 and 2001 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were stratified into two groups based on the presence (Group1) or absence (Group 2) of severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count <100,000/mm3) within 3 days of a diagnosis of NEC. Differences between groups were compared using logistic regression to estimate adjusted odds ratios. A total of 91 infants met inclusion criteria (average birth weight 1288±135 g; average gestational age 29.0±3.0 weeks). Compared to infants in Group 2, infants in Group 1 were more premature (28.0±4.1 vs 30.0±4.2 weeks; p=0.02), more likely to have received postnatal steroids (42.5% vs 20.4%; p=0.02), and more likely to require laparotomy for gangrenous bowel (adjusted OR 16.33; p<0. 001). The presence of severe thrombocytopenia was also a predictor of mortality (adjusted OR 6.39; p=0.002) and NEC-related gastrointestinal complications including cholestatic liver disease and short bowel syndrome (adjusted OR 5.47; p=0.006). Severe thrombocytopenia within the first 3 days after a diagnosis of NEC suggests a higher likelihood of bowel gangrene, morbidity, and mortality. Prospective studies of infants with early and severe thrombocytopenia may help determine the optimal timing of laparotomy in infants with NEC.
Time-dependent aspects of electron degradation: Subexcitation electrons in O2-N2 mixtures.

The time evolution of subexcitation electron degradation spectra in N 2 -O 2 mixtures has been investigated by using the time-dependent Spencer-Fano equation. The calculations were performed for lowenergy electrons whose energies fall below 6 eV. The present study showed that strong resonances in vibrational excitation channels in N 2 and O 2 greatly affect the spectrum at early times, and that the stationary spectrum (time→∞) is more readily achieved in energy regions with a large stopping power
Characterization of MEMS microgears rotating up to 360,000 rpm by stroboscopic optoelectronic laser interferometry microscope (SOELIM) methodology

We have developed a new stroboscopic optoelectronic laser interferometry microscope (SOLEIM) methodology for rapid characterization of MEMS’ motion dynamics. Specifically, stroboscopic interferometric measurements of out-of-plane motions have been made on microengine components. In particular, measurements are presented for two microgears having 64 and 300 µm nominal diameters. These measurements are built on coherent light interferometry and phase shifting methods for whole field analysis. The microgears analyzed for this paper were rotated at speeds up to 360,000 rpm. In order for the most accurate measurement to be made, the strobe action must be a small fraction of the rotation cycle. The present system uses an AOM to strobe the light. The AOM has a rise time of about 5 nsec, and the electronic driver has a lower limit of 1 µsec for the “on” time of the strobe. In real terms, this limits, at the present time, our ability to freeze the rotational motion to a range of about 2.1° at 360,000 rpm. The range of out-of-plane motion is “controlled” by the gear-edge to substrate contact, approximately 1100 nm and 540 nm for the small and large gears, respectively. A new methodology was developed for measuring shape changes of rotating micro devices. This methodology permits quantitative and qualitative real-time whole field imaging, and provides capabilities for experimental determination of physical quantities such as out-ofplane displacements/tilts, or changes in shape, of high-speed micro devices.
Maximizing the resolution of a CTIS instrument

Computed Tomographic Imaging Spectrometry (CTIS) is a technique which has been around for over a decade, providing snapshot measurements of datacubes as large as (x,y,λ) = (100,100,300). We discuss the difficulties with maximizing the resolution of a CTIS instrument and some new grating design ideas for realizing performance improvements.
The development of pigeon strains with selected atherosclerosis characteristics

Abstract Parental pairs of White Carneau, Show Racer, and F 2 (progeny of F 1 crosses between White Carneau and Show Racer) pigeons were identified according to specific features of the atherosclerosis of their offspring. Progeny were evaluated for atherosclerotic variables after being fed a diet containing 0.5% cholesterol for 6 mo. No significant differences were seen in the degree of hypercholesterolemia between breeds; however, within breeds all males had significantly higher serum cholesterol concentrations than females. Aortic atherosclerosis was more severe in White Carneau than in Show Racer or F 2 with F 2 pigeons being intermediate in the response. All autopsied progeny dying during the experiment showed more aortic and coronary atherosclerosis than their surviving sibs. Likewise, there was more coronary and aortic atherosclerosis in pigeons with myocardial infarcts found when they were killed at the end of the experiment. Aortic root and coronary artery atherosclerosis were assessed as important causative factors in myocardial infarction. Based on the atherosclerotic characteristics of progeny, the following strains have been selected. 1. 1. A strain of White Carneau with severe aortic atherosclerosis having mean aortic cholesterol concentrations of 60.42 mg/g aorta. 2. 2. A strain of Show Racer with very little aortic atherosclerosis having a mean aortic cholesterol concentration of 2.40 mg/g aorta. 3. 3. A strain of F 2 with concomitant severe coronary artery atherosclerosis (mean coronary artery index of 38) and very little aortic atherosclerosis (mean aortic cholesterol concentration of 6.13 mg/g aorta). 4. 4. A Show Racer and an F 2 strain with a frequency of myocardial infarction of 43 and 60%, respectively.
Measuring sensitivity in gynecologic cytology: a review

BACKGROUND The sensitivity of gynecologic cytology has been measured in several different ways. The current review summarizes the major sources of bias and the results of these efforts. METHODS In the current study, a review of the literature was conducted. RESULTS The major sources of bias in measuring the sensitivity of gynecologic cytology are a lack of reproducibility, bias in the review process, bias in case selection, selection and correction of the gold standard, and the value of surrogate markers. Despite these sources of variation, the sensitivity of the Papanicolaou (Pap) smear is relatively stable, ranging from 50–75% if a single consistent threshold is used, to up to 94% if either Autopap-directed rescreening or thin-layer methods are used to diagnose high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions using a threshold of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance. Methods for the routine evaluation of sensitivity currently are not available and may be difficult to devise. CONCLUSIONS The sensitivity of the Pap smear in study situations is well known. Whether these reflect performance in real life is not known, and methods to compare performance in real life are not available. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2002;96:000–000. © 2002 American Cancer Society.
Theoretical aspects of DNA-protein interactions: co-operative and non-co-operative binding of large ligands to a one-dimensional homogeneous lattice.

Abstract The interaction of proteins binding non-specifically to DNA, as well as the properties of many other interacting ligand-lattice systems important in molecular biology, requires a fundamentally different type of theoretical analysis than that provided by the classical Scatchard independent-binding-site treatment. Exact and relatively simple equations describing the binding of both non-interacting and interacting (co-operative) ligands to a homogeneous one-dimensional lattice are derived in terms of ligand site size, intrinsic binding constant and ligand-ligand co-operativity (equations (10) and (15) in the text). The mathematical approach is based on simple conditional probabilities, and reveals some largely unrecognized characteristics of such lattice binding systems. The results indicate that the binding of any non-interacting ligand covering more than one lattice residue results in non-linear (convex downward) Scatchard plots. The introduction of positive ligand-ligand co-operativity antagonizes this non-linearity, and eventually leads to plots of the opposite curvature. The maxima, limiting slopes, and intercepts of such plots can be used to estimate the required binding parameters. The method can be extended to systems involving heterogeneous ligands, and some types of heterogeneous lattices. Procedures for applying the method to a variety of interacting systems are presented, and a preliminary analysis is carried out for some selected sets of data from the literature.
Out of place and outer space: Hannah Arendt on earth alienation: An historical and critical perspective∗

(1992). Out of place and outer space: Hannah Arendt on earth alienation: An historical and critical perspective. Capitalism Nature Socialism: Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 19-45.
Paternal exposure of rabbits to lead : Behavioral deficits in offspring

Paternal exposures to exogenous agents have been reported to produce a variety of developmental defects in the offspring. In experimental animals, these effects include decreased litter size and weight, increased stillbirth and neonatal death, birth defects, tumors, and functional/behavioral abnormalities-some of these effects being transmitted to the second and third generations. The majority of experimental studies assessing nervous system function of offspring following paternal exposures have utilized rats as the experimental animal, but other species can be used. The National Toxicology Program (NTP) has initiated studies to validate the rabbit as an animal model for human reproductive toxicity, because rabbits are the smallest laboratory animal from which ejaculates can be collected repeatedly. An important part of reproductive toxicology is assessment of the reproductive ability of males following exposure, as well as developmental and functional assessment of their offspring. This article describes a pilot study and a main study to investigate the feasibility of using rabbits to assess the functional effects of paternal exposure to lead. The pilot study included seven male rabbits per group exposed for 15 weeks to lead acetate sufficient to produce 0, 50, or 110 micrograms/dl blood lead. The main study included 15 male rabbits per group exposed for 15 weeks to lead acetate to produce 0, 20, 40, and 80 micrograms/dl blood lead. At the conclusion of the exposure, male rabbits were mated with unexposed females. These females carried their litters to term, delivered, and reared their own offspring. The offspring were weighed at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and some at 35 days of age. They were also tested for exploratory activity in a standard figure-eight "maze" for 30 min/day on days 15, 20, 25, and 30. A second assessment of exploratory behavior, along with a simple test of aversive conditioning, was attempted in the pilot study, but was judged not to be suitable for the main study. Of the 21 male rabbits that were mated in the pilot study, 16 produced viable litters (6/7, 6/7, and 4/7 in control, low- and high-lead groups, respectively), with a mean number of 6 live births/litter in each treatment group (range 2-8). Of the 60 rabbits mated in the main study, 57 produced litters, and two rabbits died giving birth. Significant postnatal deaths were observed in all groups, with about one half of the offspring dying before testing was initiated at day 15. There were no treatment-related effects on offspring weight gain through wearing. The data suggest that paternal lead exposure of rabbits may reduce figure-eight activity on day 25, the time of peak activity in the offspring.
An altered form of apolipoprotein H binds hepatitis B virus surface antigen most efficiently.

Abstract Using recombinant (r)HBsAg as a ligand, we previously found a 46-kDa human plasma protein capable of specific binding, and identified this protein as apolipoprotein H (apo H). Apo H is able to bind to rHBsAg containing only the small S protein, in both ligand blot and enzyme immunoassay systems (H. Mehdi, M. J. Kaplan, F. Y. Anlar., X. Yang, R. Bayer, K. Sutherland, and M. E. Peeples, J. Virol. 68, 2415–2424, 1994). Apo H is a plasma glycoprotein, some of which is associated with lipoproteins, particularly chylomicrons and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). During normal lipid trafficking in the bloodstream, chylomicrons and HDL are targeted to the hepatocyte, the primary host cell for HBV, for degradation. In this report the method of apo H presentation was examined. rHBsAg bound to apo H very poorly if the apo H was coated directly on a microtiter well, or if it was presented in a soluble form. Binding was 100-fold more efficient when apo H was presented as a complex with monoclonal antibody (MAb) P2D4. These results suggest that binding to this MAb alters apo H, making it highly reactive with rHBsAg. Apo H binding to rHBsAg is not dependent on divalent cations and is optimal at pH 6.5–8.0. Removal of lipids from rHBsAg resulted in denaturation, preventing analysis of binding activity. Removal of sialic acid or complete removal of N-linked carbohydrates from apo H did not change its ability to bind rHBsAg, indicating that apo H carbohydrates are not involved in rHBsAg binding. Likewise, chemical modification of the arginine residues of apo H had no effect on binding. However, chemical modification of as few as three of the 29 lysine residues of apo H destroyed binding, indicating that one or a few lysines in apo H are involved in rHBsAg binding.