cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Primary Lung Cancers >3 Centimeters

Introduction A retrospective analysis of the outcomes of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in the treatment of large (>3 cm) non–small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). Methods Between February 2007 and November 2011, 63 patients with T2-T4N0 NSCLC were treated with SBRT. Toxicity was graded per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.0. Local failure-free survival (LFFS), recurrence-free survival, and overall survival curves were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and univariate analysis was performed using Cox regression. Results Median follow-up was 16.9 months. One- and 2-year LFFS was 88.8% and 75.7%, 1- and 2-year recurrence-free survival was 59.0% and 41.6%, and 1- and 2-year overall survival was 77.1% and 57.6%, respectively. Planning target volume less than 106 cm 3 was associated with a significantly higher 1- and 2-year LFFS ( p =0.05). Grade 2 or higher acute and late pulmonary toxicities occurred in 19.3% and 19.3% of patients, respectively, and were not associated with common dose–volume parameters; 22.8% of patients developed grade 2 or higher chest wall pain, which was significantly associated with chest wall V30 70 cm 3 or more ( p = 0.03). Conclusions SBRT for larger NSCLC tumors achieves high LFFS with acceptable toxicity. LFFS was worse with planning target volume 106 cm 3 or more. Grade 2 or higher chest wall pain was associated with chest wall V30 70 cm 3 or more.
Inter-Laboratory Dynamic Modeling of a Carbonate Fuel Cell for Hybrid Application

A detailed comparison of dynamic models developed for carbonate fuel cells used in hybrid fuel cell gas turbine systems is presented. The two models are nearly similar in that both treat the bulk behavior of the system (e.g., through lumped or one-dimensional solutions of the fundamental equations. However, both models are implemented independently by different research groups using disparate simulation software programs. As a test case for the comparison, a generic molten carbonate hybrid fuel cell gas turbine system is identified. Such comparison-work benefits all parties by ensuring sub-model reliability prior to integration into a complete hybrid system model. Detailed results for the carbonate fuel cell models are presented. For a generic planar design, voltage and current behavior are shown following step changes in load resistance and fuel flow. The time scales for thermal dynamic response are much greater than those required for the initial electrochemical dynamic response as is expected. These results provide understanding of some of the operational characteristics of fuel cells and indicate the complexity of the dynamic response of fuel cell hybrid components. The results from the two models are not identical, but compare sufficiently well to provide confidence in each of the model’s reliability, enabling them to be integrated for hybrid system simulation. Results from the integrated simulations will provide guidance on future hybrid technology development needs.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Gene expression in blood changes rapidly in neutrophils and monocytes after ischemic stroke in humans: a microarray study

Ischemic brain and peripheral white blood cells release cytokines, chemokines and other molecules that activate the peripheral white blood cells after stroke. To assess gene expression in these peripheral white blood cells, whole blood was examined using oligonucleotide microarrays in 15 patients at 2.4+/-0.5, 5 and 24 h after onset of ischemic stroke and compared with control blood samples. The 2.4-h blood samples were drawn before patients were treated either with tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) alone or with tPA plus Eptifibatide (the Combination approach to Lysis utilizing Eptifibatide And Recombinant tPA trial). Most genes induced in whole blood at 2 to 3 h were also induced at 5 and 24 h. Separate studies showed that the genes induced at 2 to 24 h after stroke were expressed mainly by polymorphonuclear leukocytes and to a lesser degree by monocytes. These genes included: matrix metalloproteinase 9; S100 calcium-binding proteins P, A12 and A9; coagulation factor V; arginase I; carbonic anhydrase IV; lymphocyte antigen 96 (cluster of differentiation (CD)96); monocarboxylic acid transporter (6); ets-2 (erythroblastosis virus E26 oncogene homolog 2); homeobox gene Hox 1.11; cytoskeleton-associated protein 4; N-formylpeptide receptor; ribonuclease-2; N-acetylneuraminate pyruvate lyase; BCL6; glycogen phosphorylase. The fold change of these genes varied from 1.6 to 6.8 and these 18 genes correctly classified 10/15 patients at 2.4 h, 13/15 patients at 5 h and 15/15 patients at 24 h after stroke. These data provide insights into the inflammatory responses after stroke in humans, and should be helpful in diagnosis, understanding etiology and pathogenesis, and guiding acute treatment and development of new treatments for stroke.
Solid-to-fluid DNA transition inside HSV-1 capsid close to the temperature of infection

DNA in the human Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) capsid is packaged to a tight density. This leads to tens of atmospheres of internal pressure responsible for the delivery of the herpes genome into the cell nucleus. In this study we show that, despite its liquid crystalline state inside the capsid, the DNA is fluid-like, which facilitates its ejection into the cell nucleus during infection. We found that the sliding friction between closely packaged DNA strands, caused by interstrand repulsive interactions, is reduced by the ionic environment of epithelial cells and neurons susceptible to herpes infection. However, variations in the ionic conditions corresponding to neuronal activity can restrict DNA mobility in the capsid, making it more solid-like. This can inhibit intranuclear DNA release and interfere with viral replication. In addition, the temperature of the human host (37 °C) induces a disordering transition of the encapsidated herpes genome, which reduces interstrand interactions and provides genome mobility required for infection.
The Middle East is ripe for a scientific revolution

The Arab Spring puts the Middle East in a position to become a scientific powerhouse, but it needs help, says the US science envoy to the region.
Influence of Water Conductivity on Pulsed AC and Pulsed DC Electrofishing Catch Rates for Largemouth Bass

Abstract Electrofishing is a standard tool for sampling largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, but high water conductivity hampers electrofishing effectiveness. Population estimates (Petersen method) were determined for largemouth bass in 12 small South Dakota impoundments with water conductivities ranging from 410 to 1,700 μS/cm. Even though pulsed DC catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) values were obtained during the first electrofishing lap at each impoundment, pulsed AC catch rates from immediately following second laps were significantly higher (P = 0.002). The mean number of hours needed to collect 100 stock-length (≥20 cm) largemouth bass was slightly more than twice as high for pulsed DC as it was for pulsed AC. We developed a multiple-regression model to predict density from pulsed AC CPUE and water conductivity (R 2 = 0.88, P = 0.0001). Pulsed AC CPUE contributed 81% to the model and conductivity contributed 7%; both variables had slopes that were significantly different from zero in the two-variable m...
A neuronal circuit modeling program.

Abstract A Neuronal Circuit Modeling Program (NCMP) is described which allows the simulation of networks of integrative neurons. The connectivity of the network is completely specified by the user in block diagram form, and outputs may be requested in the form of interval and post-stimulus-time histograms, instantaneous frequencies, and auto and cross correlations. The basic element is an integrative neuron with four independent somadendritic cables to which synaptic inputs may be applied. Inputs may be specified in three compartments: soma, proximal dendrite, and distal dendrite. In addition to the integrative neuron, other elements in the standard set include: an axon or time delay; a simple relay neuron; an interneuron, which responds with a burst of firing to an input; a pulse input generator; and a random stimulator.
Color screening and color transparency in hard nuclear processes

Abstract We explain why color screening is expected to be essential in the interaction of hadrons in QCD both in perturbative and nonperturbative domains. Current ideas and approximations characteristic for the color transparency phenomenon in QCD are discussed. Space-time development of hard processes at large and moderate energies is considered. We show that Bjorken scaling in deep inelastic processes at small x Bj is another form of the color transparency. We argue that the color transparency phenomenon is an extension of the known similarity between QCD and QED for hard processes to the exclusive processes. The possible role of the color screening in the microscopic nuclear structure is also discussed. It is shown that color transparency phenomenon should be manifested in the wide range of phenomena including nuclear shadowing in the deep inelastic processes at small x Bj , large angle quasielastic lepton (hadron) high energy processes off nuclei, the EMC effect at x Bj > 0.3, diffractive electro and photo production of charmonium states, production of nucleon spectators in high-energy central nucleus-nucleus collisions, etc.
Perturbation approximation to the screened Coulomb gas

A variational method for calculating the thermodynamic properties of fluids and fluid mixtures, based on hard-sphere perturbation theory, is applied to the screened Coulomb gas and compared with recent Monte Carlo calculations. Agreement is good and indicates that the properties of liquid metallic hydrogen and liquid metallic hydrogen-helium mixtures may be adequately simulated by such a model.
Irradiance reflectivity of a flat ocean as a function of its optical properties.

The radiative transfer equation has been solved by a Monte Carlo technique for a flat homogeneous ocean with two different incident radiance distributions. The irradiance reflectivity R for photons that penetrate the ocean is presented as a function of the single scattering albedo ω0, and the scattering phase function P(θ) of the medium. The P(θ)’s used are based on experimental observations. The results clearly show that R depends strongly on both ω0 and P(θ) but apparently not on the form of the incident radiance distribution. Arguments are presented to show that in clearest ocean water the upwelling field above the surface can provide information only about the upper 25 m of the medium.
Effects of metals on fish behavior: a review

Behavioral toxicity tests, if properly designed, can be used in conjunction with standard acute lethality tests, chronic full or partial life cycle tests, and early life stage toxicity tests to add ecological realism to toxicant assessments and the regulations made as an outgrowth of these assessments. Changes in certain fish behaviors, especially cough rate and avoidance reactions, are very sensitive indicators of sublethal exposure to metals. Other tests involving predator avoidance, feeding behavior, learning, social interactions, and a variety of locomotor behaviors show promise but have been insufficiently studied to judge their sensitivity or utility. No behavioral tests have been standardized and few have been verified in the field. We discuss the behavioral tests that have been used with metals, examine their sensitivity compared with standard laboratory toxicity tests, and assess the potential ecological significance of the behavioral changes observed.
Fate and effects of insect-resistant Bt crops in soil ecosystems

Recent applications of biotechnology, especially genetic engineering, have revolutionized crop improvement and increased the availability of valuable new traits. A current example is the use of the insecticidal Cry proteins from the bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), to improve crops, known as Bt crops, by reducing injury from various crop pests. The adoption of genetically modified (GM) crops has increased dramatically in the last 11 years. However, the introduction of GM plants into agricultural ecosystems has raised a number of questions, including the ecological impact of these plants on soil ecosystems. Crop residues are the primary source of carbon in soil, and root exudates govern which organisms reside in the rhizosphere. Therefore, any change to the quality of crop residues and rhizosphere inputs could modify the dynamics of the composition and activity of organisms in soil. Insect-resistant Bt crops have the potential to change the microbial dynamics, biodiversity, and essential ecosystem functions in soil, because they usually produce insecticidal Cry proteins through all parts of the plant. It is crucial that risk assessment studies on the commercial use of Bt crops consider the impacts on organisms in soil. In general, few or no toxic effects of Cry proteins on woodlice, collembolans, mites, earthworms, nematodes, protozoa, and the activity of various enzymes in soil have been reported. Although some effects, ranging from no effect to minor and significant effects, of Bt plants on microbial communities in soil have been reported, using both culturing and molecular techniques, they were mostly the result of differences in geography, temperature, plant variety, and soil type and, in general, were transient and not related to the presence of the Cry proteins. The respiration (i.e., CO2 evolution) of soils cultivated with Bt maize or amended with biomass of Bt maize and other Bt crops was generally lower than from soils cultivated with or amended with biomass of the respective non-Bt isolines, which may have been a result of differences in chemical composition (e.g., the content of starch, soluble N, proteins, carbohydrates, lignin) between Bt plants and their near-isogenic counterparts. Laboratory and field studies have shown differences in the persistence of the Cry proteins in soil, which appear to be the result primarily of differences in microbial activity, which, in turn, is dependent on soil type (e.g., pH, clay mineral composition, other physicochemical characteristics), season (e.g., temperature, water tension), crop species (e.g., chemical composition, C:N ratio, plant part), crop management practices (e.g., till vs. no-till), and other environmental factors that vary with location and climate zones. This review discusses the available data on the effects of Cry proteins on below-ground organisms, the fate of these proteins in soil, the techniques and indicators that are available to study these aspects, and future directions.
Celiac disease: helping patients live gluten-free.

Abstract Celiac disease affects approximately 1% of the U.S. population, and many cases go undiagnosed until later in life. A wide range of symptoms, illnesses, and disorders may accompany undiagnosed celiac disease. This article reviews screening, diagnosis, and treatment of celiac disease for the NP.
STUDIES ON THE NERVOUS SYSTEM IN DEFICIENCY DISEASES : II. LESIONS PRODUCED IN THE DOG BY DIETS LACKING THE WATER-SOLUBLE, HEAT-STABLE VITAMIN B2(G)

Adult dogs maintained on an artificial, balanced ration adequate in all dietary essentials as far as is known except water-soluble, heat-stable vitamin B2 (G) developed, after a sufficient time, a slowly progressive disease characterized by loss of weight, persistent vomiting and diarrhea, and marked muscular weakness, which ended fatally in from 200 to over 300 days. The clinical features of this condition, as pointed out in the discussion, are quite different from those characterizing the canine disease known as black tongue. The anatomic changes in this condition consist of marked demyelination of the peripheral nerves, including the vagus; degeneration of the medullary sheaths and replacement by gliosis of the posterior columns of the spinal cord, particularly the fasciculi graciles; degeneration of the medullary sheaths of the posterior and less often of the anterior nerve roots of the cord; occasionally slight degenerative changes in most of the other fiber tracts of the cord. Attention is called to the fact that degenerative lesions in the central nervous system similar or identical with these have frequently been described in pellagra in man.
TRIDIAGONALIZING A REAL SYMMETRIC MATRIX: A PARALLEL DIRECT APPROACH USING GIVENS’TRANSFORMATION

A direct parallel algorithm to tridiagonalize a real symmetric matric matrix using Givens transformation is presented. The algorithm is optimal and has a time complexity of O(NlogN) for matrices of order N.
Weighting visual features with pseudo relevance feedback for CBIR

This paper proposes an automatic visual feature weighting method to enhance content-based image retrieval (CBIR). In particular, the proposed method is able to capture user's search intention by identifying the important visual features located at region of interest. Given a query image, the importances of visual features are automatically weighted by a random walk algorithm from a feature association graph, whose association strength is estimated by a localized visual word co-occurrence count among a set of pseudo relevance feedbacks. The visual word here is defined with a bag-of-features model whose visual feature vocabulary is generated by a k-means clustering algorithm. For quantitative evaluation, we implement a prototype CBIR system with weighted visual features (WVF). Extensive experiments on CalTech-101 dataset demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of WVF for CBIR.
Tiopinac in rheumatoid arthritis: A three-phase dose-ranging, efficacy, and aspirin-withdrawal protocol

We designed a clinical trial to obtain dose-ranging, efficacy, and aspirin-withdrawal data on tiopinac in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. To accomplish this without exposing the patients to risk of disease exacerbation and avoiding type II error, we used a 3-phase protocol adding tiopinac to current therapy. The 3 phases–open-label dose ranging, double-blind tiopinac versus placebo, and aspirin withdrawal–began after a single-blind run-in period. The manufacturer withdrew tiopinac from investigation because of toxicity at higher doses, but with only 13 patients we found that tiopinac (up to 300 mg/day) decreased walking time, painful joints, and morning stiffness and increased grip strength (p < 0.05). Both the global evaluation by the investigators and patient ratings of their activity showed superiority of tiopinac (tiopinac: 5 better, 1 worse: placebo: 1 better, 6 worse; p = 0.028 by Fisher's exact test). Complete aspirin withdrawal could be accomplished in only 3 patients, although in 10 of 13 the dose could be reduced 50% of baseline or less. The 3-phase protocol indicated effectiveness, a dose range, and partial aspirin replacement with minimal patient risk. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1980) 27, 579–585; doi:10.1038/clpt.1980.82
An overview of passive RFID

This article discusses the basics of passive RFID technologies, with an emphasis on tags, for general readers and entry- level practitioners. Following a brief history of RFID, it describes the types of tags and their operation, and regulations and frequency ranges. It then presents representative applications and describes the major technical hurdles still to be overcome before the adoption of RFID can be widespread, and offers a vision of the technology's future.
Salivary glands: novel target sites for gene therapeutics

Directing the local or systemic expression of therapeutic proteins is a potentially important clinical application of gene transfer technology. Gene-based therapeutics theoretically offer many advantages over protein therapeutics. Numerous tissues have been evaluated for this purpose in animal models, most commonly the liver and skeletal muscle. Based on pre-clinical studies, we suggest that salivary glands are a valuable, yet under-appreciated, target tissue for both systemic and upper gastrointestinal tract gene therapeutic applications.
A Survey of Patients’ Experiences with the Cancer Genetic Counseling Process: Recommendations for Cancer Genetics Programs

In order to promote ongoing quality improvement of not only the Penn State Cancer Genetics Program, but also other cancer risk assessment programs throughout the country, we developed, piloted and conducted a survey to explore patient expectations, experiences, and satisfaction with the cancer genetic counseling process. The comprehensive survey was mailed to 340 eligible patients, 156 (45.9%) of whom returned the completed survey within the allotted time. Responses to closed-ended questions were tallied and open-ended questions were content analyzed. Major findings show that: (1) Patients were seeking cancer-related information and support throughout the cancer risk assessment process and were interested in participating in available research studies; (2) The setting in which patients are seen for cancer risk assessment may pose potential emotional ramifications; (3) Misperceptions regarding insurance discrimination and lack of insurance coverage persist; (4) Patients view the genetic counselor as responsible for updating them about new discoveries. Specific recommendations for cancer genetics programs are included.
Towards a Framework of a Semiotics of Dance

In her article "Towards a Framework of a Semiotics of Dance" Nicoleta Popa Blanariu constructs a framework of based on de Saussure's, Peirce's, and Barthes's thought. She applies Ferdinand de Saussure's concept of semiosis defined as a cultural system of conventions. In dance this occurs when choreographic signs are encoded, for example in magic, ritual, or religious expressions of movement. Further, Charles Sanders Peirce's concept of the role of "intelligent consciousness" is crucial for the engendering of signification and thus to dance. In dance, the choreographer "interprets" the world and by means of selection and interpretation, the choreographic sign reveals its object and this process is related to abstraction. In semiosis dance involves a process of "culturalization" (Barthes), whereby codes of dance represent the spontaneity of "natural" of movements and feelings within a repeatable system of expression. Last but not least, Edmund Husserl's notion that dance belongs to the domain of "pre-reflexivity" of signal and entails symbolic qualities derived from its embedding of cultural codes is employed by Popa Blanariu in her building a framework of the
Reconstitution and Imaging of a Membrane Protein in a Nanometer-Size Phospholipid Bilayer

A phospholipid bilayer of nanometer dimension has been used as a support for the study of reconstituted functional single-membrane proteins. This nanobilayer consists of an approximately 10-nm-diameter circular phospholipid domain stabilized by apolipoprotein A1. As a demonstration of this methodology, we formed the nanobilayers in the presence of hepatic microsomal NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase. Incubation of a solution of enzyme-containing nanobilayers with a freshly cleaved mica substrate resulted in the spontaneous formation of a fully oriented supported monolayer of discoidal phospholipid domains. The P450-reductase in the oriented monolayer retains its catalytic activity. Characterization by scanning force microscopy revealed isolated single-membrane proteins that could be stably imaged over time. These results define a novel technique for the study of single-membrane proteins in a bilayer environment.
“Oír dezires y decir dezires” del performance textual a la escritura reflexiva en la poesía cancioneril cuatrocentista

Traditionally, from a meta-poetic perspective, the dezir is considered a poem intended to be recited or read rather than sung. Dezires are, however, texts that were written by and for letrados (an elitist group of intellectuals), and which principal form of performance was the private reading, and in less relevant cases the public recitation or even its dramatization in poetry recitals or other leisure practices that took place in the courtesan life. The written characteristic of the dezir allows them to be qualified as discontinuous literature according to Zumthor’s terminology.Our meta-referential approach complements well Zumthor’s dichotomy between written and oral literature: 1) the performance by reading or reciting; and 2) the crystallization of the literary text through writing versus the mobility of oral literature (with autoreferential images to text as water, stone, paper, etc.).
Heteroepitaxial Growth of Epitaxial C60-Thin Films on Mica(001)

On mica(001) thin C60-films are deposited by thermal evaporation at substrate temperatures firom room temperature up to 225°C. The dependence of the structure and the epitaxial alignment of the thin C60-films on mica(001) on the substrate temperature and the film thickness up to 1.3 um at a well-defined deposition rate (0.008 nm/s) is investigated by atomic force microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The shape and the size of the C60-islands, which have an influence on the film quality at larger film thicknesses, are sensitively dependent on the substrate temperature. At a film thickness of 200 nm the increase of the substrate temperature up to 225°C leads to smooth, completely coalesced epitaxial C60-thin films characterized by a roughness smaller than 1.5 nm, a mosaic spread Δω of 0.1° and an azimuthal alignment ΔO of 0.45°.
Dihydrotestosterone influenced numbers of healthy follicles and follicular amounts of LH receptor mRNA during the follicular phase of the estrous cycle in gilts.

The present experiments were conducted to determine androgenic effects on numbers, health, and amounts of gonadotropin receptor mRNA in late developing follicles of gilts. Gilts (n=5 per group) received daily injections of one of the following treatments on days 13-16 or days 13-18 of the estrous cycle: corn oil, 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT, 10 mg), flutamide (1.5 g, an androgen receptor inhibitor), DHT (10 mg) plus flutamide (1.5 g), testosterone (10 mg), and testosterone (10 mg) plus flutamide (1.5 g). Ovarian follicles > or =5 mm in diameter were evaluated on day 17 or 19, 24 h after receiving the last treatment dose. Follicles were classified as healthy (H), moderately atretic (MA), or very atretic (VA). Treatment with DHT increased (P or =5 mm, but rather increased the numbers of healthy follicles in this follicular population in association with decreased amounts of LHR mRNA.
XPS mapping technique for the identification of adhesion loss mechanisms

An x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) mapping technique was developed to define spatially the interfacial chemistry of adhesive-adherent debonding. The technique was used to identify mechanisms of corrosion-induced bond failure for an epoxy adhesive applied to electrogalvanized steel. The specimens studied were lap-shear bonds exposed simultaneously to a static load and a corrosive environment. The bond failure surfaces were examined after testing. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy elemental maps were generated over the entire area (∼12.5 mm×25.0 mm) of the bond failure on both corresponding surfaces at a spatial resolution of 0.4 mm×0.8 mm
Going Wild: Lessons from Naturally Occurring T-Lymphotropic Lentiviruses

Over 40 nonhuman primate (NHP) species harbor species-specific simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIVs). Similarly, more than 20 species of nondomestic felids and African hyenids demonstrate seroreactivity against feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) antigens. While it has been challenging to study the biological implications of nonfatal infections in natural populations, epidemiologic and clinical studies performed thus far have only rarely detected increased morbidity or impaired fecundity/survival of naturally infected SIV- or FIV-seropositive versus -seronegative animals. Cross-species transmissions of these agents are rare in nature but have been used to develop experimental systems to evaluate mechanisms of pathogenicity and to develop animal models of HIV/AIDS. Given that felids and primates are substantially evolutionarily removed yet demonstrate the same pattern of apparently nonpathogenic lentiviral infections, comparison of the biological behaviors of these viruses can yield important implications for host-lentiviral adaptation which are relevant to human HIV/AIDS infection. This review therefore evaluates similarities in epidemiology, lentiviral genotyping, pathogenicity, host immune responses, and cross-species transmission of FIVs and factors associated with the establishment of lentiviral infections in new species. This comparison of consistent patterns in lentivirus biology will expose new directions for scientific inquiry for understanding the basis for virulence versus avirulence.
Relation between mainshock rupture process and Omori's law for aftershock moment release rate

SUMMARY We compare the source time functions (i.e., moment release rates) of three large California mainshocks with the seismic moment release rates during their aftershock sequences. Aftershock moment release rates, computed by summing aftershock moments in time intervals, follow a power-law time dependence similar to Omori’s law from minutes to months after the mainshock; furthermore, in contrast to the previously observed saturation in numbers of aftershocks shortly after the mainshock rupture, no such saturation is seen in the aftershock moment release rates, which are dominated by the largest aftershocks. We argue that the observed saturation in aftershock numbers described by the ‘time offset’ parameter c in Omori’s law is likely an artefact due to the underreporting of small aftershocks, which is related to the difficulty of detecting large numbers of small aftershocks in the mainshock coda. We further propose that it is more natural for c to be negative (i.e. singularity follows the onset of mainshock rupture) than positive (singularity precedes onset of rupture). To make a more general comparison of mainshock rupture process and aftershock moment rates, we then scale mainshock time functions to equalize the effects of the varied seismic moments. For the three California mainshocks, we compare the scaled time functions with similarly scaled aftershock moment rates. Finally, we compare global averages of scaled time functions of many shallow events to the average scaled aftershock moment release rate for six California mainshocks. In each of these comparisons, the extrapolation, using Omori’s law, of the aftershock moment rates back in time to the onset of the mainshock rupture indicates that the temporal intensity of the aftershock moment release is about 1.5 orders of magnitude less than the maximum reached by the mainshock rupture. This may be due to the differing amplitudes and relative importance of static and dynamic stresses in aftershock initiation compared to mainshock rupture propagation.
An economic study of lifetime piglet production for sows allocated to treatments designed to improve parity 2 litter size

Abstract This study investigated (1) the number of pigs born alive from the first to the sixth litter, (2) the rate (pigs per day) of piglet production from treatment to second and sixth litter. (3) the net present value, and (4) a portfolio analysis of five treatments designed to prevent a reduction in Parity 2 litter size in swine. Five hundred and seventy-eight F1 Large White × Landrace primiparous sows were assigned randomly, after farrowing, to one of five treatments. Treatments included: (1) control: sows were weaned at 21 days and mated at the first detected estrus; (2) skip weaned: sows were weaned at 21 days and mated at the first detected estrus after 17 days post-weaning; (3) early-weaned: sows were weaned at 17 days and mated at least 17 days post-weaning; (4) split-weaned: sows' litters were split-weaned, one group at 16 days, the other at 21 days and sows mated at the first detected estrus; and (5) altrenogest: sows were weaned at 21 days, fed altrenogest for 10 days and mated at the first detected estrus. There was no difference (P>0.05) in the number of pigs born alive among treatments in Parities 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6. In Parity 2, skip-weaned, early-weaned and altrenogest treatments had significantly (P≤0.05) more (2.17, 2.05 and 1.21) pigs born alive than the control. Skip-weaned and early-weaned treatments had a greater (P≤0.05) rate of pig production from Parity 1 to Parity 2 than the control treatment. However, there was no difference (P>0.05) among treatments in the rate of pig production from Parity 1 to Parity 6. The net present value for treatments ranged from $395 (control) to $471 (early-weaned) although the differences among treatments were not statistically significant (P=0.36). Portfolio analysis indicated that moderate risk-takers would allocate half their sows to skip-weaned and half to early-weaned treatment; risk-averse managers would allocate approximately equal proportions of sows to all five treatments. In conclusion, the significant increases in Parity 2 litter size from three treatments were not sufficient to make the treatments different over the lifetime of the sows. Portfolio analysis assists in deciding the allocation of sows to treatments when significant differences do not exist among the treatments.
A multivariable generalized self-tuning controller with decoupling design

This note describes a multivariable generalized self-tuning controller with decoupling which combines the classical pole-zero placement strategy with the optimal strategy for self-tuning control. The controller uses techniques of updating weighting polynomial matrices on line and eliminating the tracking errors without use of an integrator, and decouples the multivariable system.
On mismatches between incremental optimizers and instance perturbations in physical design tools

The incremental, "construct by correction" design methodology has become widespread in constraint-dominated DSM design. We study the problem of ECO for physical design domains in the general context of incremental optimization. We observe that an incremental design methodology is typically built from a full optimizer that generates a solution for an initial instance, and an incremental optimizer that generates a sequence of solutions corresponding to a sequence of perturbed instances. Our hypothesis is that in practice, there can be a mismatch between the strength of the incremental optimizer and the magnitude of the perturbation between successive instances. When such a mismatch occurs, the solution quality will degrade -- perhaps to the point where the incremental optimizer should be replaced by the full optimizer. We document this phenomenon for three distinct domains -- partitioning, placement and routing -- using leading industry and academic tools. Our experiments show that current CAD tools may not be correctly designed for ECO-dominated design processes. Thus, compatibility between optimizer and instance perturbation merits attention both as a research question and as a matter of industry design practice.
Where do inertial particles go in fluid flows

Abstract We derive a general reduced-order equation for the asymptotic motion of finite-size particles in unsteady fluid flows. Our inertial equation is a small perturbation of passive fluid advection on a globally attracting slow manifold. Among other things, the inertial equation implies that particle clustering locations in two-dimensional steady flows can be described rigorously by the Q parameter, i.e., by one-half of the squared difference of the vorticity and the rate of strain. Use of the inertial equation also enables us to solve the numerically ill-posed problem of source inversion, i.e., locating initial positions from a current particle distribution. We illustrate these results on inertial particle motion in the Jung–Tel–Ziemniak model of vortex shedding behind a cylinder in crossflow.
Workforce projections for hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery.

Background We wanted to determine whether current levels of fellowship training in hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) surgery will be sufficient to meet demand for HPB procedures in 2020. Study Design The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database for 1988 through 2003 was used to construct projections for the number of HPB procedures that will be performed in the US each year through 2020. Available workforce literature was also used to generate estimates of current and future supply of HPB subspecialists. These demand and supply estimates were then used to construct sensitivity analyses of the mean number of HPB procedures per subspecialist in 2020, depending on the degree of regionalization that exists and the number of fellowship-trained subspecialists needed to train each year to meet projected demand for HPB procedures in 2020. Results An estimated 16,800 HPB procedures will be performed in 2020, representing a 25% increase during the next 15 years. We estimate that 28 fellowship-trained HPB subspecialists will enter the workforce each year. If half of all HPB procedures are performed by HPB subspecialists in 2020, then the average subspecialist will perform only 14 such procedures that year. If high-volume HPB surgery is defined as 40 procedures per year, and 50% of HPB procedures are performed by high-volume surgeons in 2020, then only 15 fellows need to be trained in HPB surgery each year to meet demand in 2020. Conclusions Current levels of fellowship training will result in an excess of HPB subspecialists in 2020.
ROOM TEMPERATURE SILICON QUANTUM DEVICES

Quantum mechanical devices utilize the wave nature of electrons for their operations whenever the electron mean-free-path exceeds the appropriate dimensions of the device structure. Some of the issues such as the tunneling time, the reduction of the dielectric constant and the drastic increase in the binding energy of dopants are discussed. Lacking an appropriate barrier for silicon, the majority of quantum devices are fabricated with compound semiconductors. In the past several years, certain schemes appeared, such as the resonant tunneling via nanoscale silicon particles imbedded in an oxide matrix, and the superlattice barrier for silicon consisting of several periods of Si/O. There appears some doubt about the tunneling nature of the former, and the possiblity of dielectric breakdowns. This article aims to show that dielectric breakdowns can occur under fabrication conditions without using a controlled forming process. The latter results in epitaxially grown silicon beyond the superlattice barrier region, free of stacking fault defects, and thus is potentially important for silicon based quantum devices as well as serving as an SOI (silicon on insulator), without ion-implantation damage and oxygen inclusion. The replacement of SOI by the epitaxially grown Si/O superlattice barrier should promote the effort in high speed and low power MOSFET devices.
Model for a class of temperature control systems

A temperature control system is described consisting of a small metallic oven enclosed with insulation material, a power transistor for the heating element, an operational amplifier, and a thermistor for the temperature sensor. Industry has only recently begun to use the power transistor itself as the sole source of heat instead of a conventional resistive heater network which spreads the heat over a wide area. This arrangement is attractive because it eliminates the heater winding (relatively expensive and unreliable), but it does have different thermal properties from those provided by the conventional method. The objective of the research is to approximate the thermal transfer function that exists between the power transistor and the thermistor based on experimental data. The results provide information on relatively small heat control systems in which the controller active element is the heating element itself. >
Design and evaluation of a dopant‐delivery system for an orthogonal atmospheric‐pressure photoionization source and its performance in the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Atmospheric-pressure photoionization (APPI) mass spectrometry benefits from the addition of an ionization-enhancing dopant such as benzene. A passive dopant-delivery system has therefore been designed for use with the orthogonal APPI source within a commercial liquid chromatographic instrument with mass spectrometric detector. By providing the dopant in the gas phase, the newly designed equipment avoids mixing problems and other difficulties associated with liquid dopant addition. The system is a simple and durable design that can reliably deliver virtually any dopant with sufficient vapor pressure in the temperature range of 20 to 120 degrees C. At the optimum dopant flow rate (10% of the mobile phase flow rate) for high-performance liquid chromatography with narrow-bore (2.1 mm) columns, the system allows for uninterrupted routine analysis for up to two weeks. The performance of the device has been evaluated with benzene as dopant and with a test mixture consisting of four polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH): naphthalene, 9H-fluorene, anthracene, and phenanthrene. All four PAH can be detected with an excellent signal-to-noise ratio in the scanning mode and a limit of detection down to 0.42 ng on column (51 pg in single-ion monitoring mode). The concentration calibration curves are linear over a range of three orders of magnitude, with correlation coefficients greater than 0.99. The utilization of benzene as dopant not only increases the sensitivity significantly - 20-fold, compared with dopant-free operation - but the low m/z values of the background ions observed also allow for the effective quantitative and qualitative analysis of PAH.
Characterization of alfalfa germplasm expressing resistance to silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii

: Thirty-eight plants were taken from a University of California alfalfa selection nursery for developing resistance to silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring. Seventeen of the plants had low whitefly infestation and were categorized as ‘potentially resistant’; 21 of the plants had high whitefly infestation and were categorized as ‘presumed susceptible’. Plants were propagated vegetatively so that replicated measurements of whitefly performance could be made on each genotype. Two colonies of silverleaf whiteflies were used: one reared on alfalfa (alfalfa-experienced whiteflies), and the other on cotton (alfalfa-naive whiteflies). The effect of variation among alfalfa genotypes on whitefly performance was similar for both whitefly sources, although on all genotypes, the alfalfa-experienced whiteflies generally performed better than their alfalfa-naive counterparts. In greenhouse tests, fecundity of newly eclosed adults (over a 5-day period) on the 17 potentially resistant genotypes was relatively consistent in being lower than fecundity on the presumed susceptible genotypes. However, in nymphal survival tests, the response on the 17 potentially resistant genotypes was not consistent. Nymphal survival (egg to adult) on some of these was very low, as expected, while nymphal survival on others was as high as on the presumed susceptible genotypes. Fecundity and nymphal survival data were not correlated for alfalfa-naive whiteflies, and were only weakly correlated (r2 = 0.13, d.f. = 32, P = 0.04) for alfalfa-experienced whiteflies. Thirteen genotypes then were examined in the greenhouse in stage-specific survival tests, where four genotypes demonstrated high resistance (<10% nymphal survival) and three demonstrated moderate resistance (11–34% survival) compared with the three presumed susceptible genotypes that were tested (51–73% survival). Most of the mortality on the resistant genotypes occurred in the first instar, while mortality was more evenly distributed across the life stages on the susceptible genotypes. Interestingly, if nymphs survived to second instar on the resistant genotypes, then their subsequent survival to adult eclosion was similar to survival of second instar to adult on susceptible genotypes. Six of the genotypes used in the greenhouse stage-specific survival test also were evaluated in the field for nymphal survival, and these results were consistent with the greenhouse tests.
Stochastic model of protease-ligand reactions

Prediction of protein tertiary structure based on amino acid sequence is one of the most challenging open questions in computational molecular biology. The two most common experimental methods for determining protein structure, X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) are both relatively expensive and time consuming processes. Further, some proteins (such as largely hydrophobic membrane integral proteins) are resistant to crystallization. Thus, computational approaches for determination of protein conformation are an attractive alternative to experimental procedures. While many such algorithms exist, none can yet achieve the same accuracy and reliability as experimental structure determination techniques. The objective of this research is to combine experimental evidence with computational modeling for high-confidence structure prediction. Limited proteolysis and chemical modification data is used to drive the modeling process towards physically realizable structures. Here we present a stochastic simulation of a limited proteolysis experiment that models the behavior of a protease-ligand reaction at an abstracted molecular level. The results of this simulation will be used to validate rate constant prediction methods that will then be used for the selection and refinement of candidate models for computational structure determination.
Nicotine exposure increases the complexity of dopamine neurons in the parainterfascicular nucleus (PIF) sub-region of VTA

Recent publications highlight differences within the sub-regions of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) including the parabrachial pigmented nucleus (PBP), parainterfascicular nucleus (PIF) and paranigral nucleus (PN) in the projections to the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the glutamatergic pathway. In order to characterize the effects of prenatal nicotine exposure on the mesocorticolimbic system of the rat offspring, local field potentials were recorded from 27 sites across the VTA of 9 rats aged 40–55 days. The extracellular VTA neural activities were analyzed using Approximate Entropy (ApEn) method. Approximate entropy values were then grouped according to each anatomic location including the PBP, PIF and PN. Our results have shown that the local field potentials corresponding to the neurons located in the PIF region of the VTA have ApEn values significantly higher (p = 2x10-4) in the maternal nicotine cases when compared to the saline. Therefore, we speculate that the dopamine neurons located in the PIF sub-region of the VTA are very likely involved with the nicotine addiction.
Fear Reduction Processes in Imaginal and In Vivo Flooding: A Comment on James' Review

exposure is indeed related to activation and habituation oHear responses; interference with processing has a negative impact upon fear reduction, regardless of the specific treatment techniques employed. Furthermore, some appar­endy discrepant findings in the available research literature can be understood in terms of the theories cited. These ideas provide a useful perspective from which to plan future research efforts and to advance our understanding of the processes llnderlying reduction of pathological fear. Introduction In his critical review of the research comparing imaginal and