cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reaction Kinetics of Metallized Explosives

Time dependence of the energy release of metallized explosives has been observed and must be accounted for in predicting their performance. However, there is no complete theoretical description of this phenomenon. A preliminary investigation of the combustion of aluminum indicates that it probably takes place behind the reaction zone. A flexible time dependent model for the reaction of Al in explosive mixtures has been implemented in EPIC2, a Lagrangian material dynamics computer program. Exploratory calculations for nitromethane/PMMA/Al mixtures indicate that close in pressure measurements could reveal the presence of Al reaction behind the detonation front.
Structure and legitimation of statutory accident insurance: A comparative legal view

Accident insurance schemes are among the most widespread systems of social security. However, the need for separate such schemes is occasionally questioned in international statements and scholarly contributions. In the context of these kinds of criticism, this article sets out the standard bases for accident insurance. The unity of prevention, rehabilitation and compensation as the common characteristic structure of individual schemes is presented from a comparative legal viewpoint. The central significance of the principle of self-management is also emphasized. With regard to their economic efficiency, which is supported by statistics, the criticism levelled at accident insurance schemes is shown to be unconvincing. Views calling separate schemes into question on the grounds of equity are also reected.
Modeling of impact-induced spall fracture and post spall behavior of a circular plate

The ductile spall fracture and post-spall behavior of a circular target plate after impact with a flyer plate having small diameter, is modeled by means of a viscoplastic constitutive theory that includes the microvoid volume fraction as a scalar material damage variable. Incorporation of the damage parameter permits description of rate-dependent, hardening, compressible inelastic deformation and ductile fracture, where local fracture is defined in terms of a critical microvoid volume fraction.
Pulmonary alterations in the acutely injured patient.

Abstract Alterations in pulmonary function in 10 patients following acute chest trauma were studied in a prospective manner in an attempt to determine the criteria for initiation and maintenance of respiratory support and to estimate residual impairment of pulmonary function. Commonly used factors such as central venous pressure, blood gas determinations, and chest roentgenograms were supplemented by serial xenon ventilation-perfusion lung scans in all patients. A definite correlation was found between the degree of trauma and alterations in lung function. Tracheostomy with assisted ventilation was required in 7 patients because of flail segments of the chest wall and hypoxia, and all had severe alterations in ventilation and perfusion. Repeat lung scan showed a return to normal as early as two months following injury. Late (mean, 1 year) follow-up lung scan and spirometry in 8 of the 10 patients demonstrated normal values in the majority. Serial blood gas determinations proved to be the best guide to adequacy of ventilation in patients with acute chest trauma.
Polarization control of a Q-switched, diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser

We describe control of the polarization state of a diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser that is Q switched with an acousto-optic modulator (AOM). One of two orthogonal linear polarization states can be made dominant, depending on the amount of loss introduced by the AOM. Heterodyne beating indicates that the two polarization states are of slightly different frequencies.
Concomitant inhibition of DNA methyltransferase and BCL-2 protein function synergistically induce mitochondrial apoptosis in acute myelogenous leukemia cells

DNA methylation and BLC-2 are potential therapeutic targets in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We investigated pharmacologic interaction between the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-azacytidine (5-AZA) and the BCL-2 inhibitor ABT-737. Increased BCL-2 expression determined by reverse phase protein analysis was associated with poor survival in AML patients with unfavorable cytogenetics (n = 195). We found that 5-AZA, which itself has modest apoptotic activity, acts synergistically with ABT-737 to induce apoptosis. The 5-AZA/ABT-737 combination enhanced mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization, as evidenced by effective conformational activation of BAX and ∆ψm loss. Although absence of p53 limited apoptotic activities of 5-AZA and ABT-737 as single agents, the combination synergistically induced apoptosis independent of p53 expression. 5-AZA down-regulated MCL-1, known to mediate resistance to ABT-737, in a p53-independent manner. The 5-AZA/ABT-737 combination synergistically induced apoptosis in AML cells in seven of eight patients. 5-AZA significantly reduced MCL-1 levels in two of three samples examined. Our data provide a molecular rationale for this combination strategy in AML therapy.
Optimal control of a one-dimensional storage process

We consider the discounted and ergodic optimal control problems related to a one-dimensional storage process. The existence and uniqueness of the corresponding Bellman equation and the regularity of the optimal value is established. Using the Bellman equation an optimal feedback control is constructed. Finally we show that under this optimal control the origin is reachable.
A female perspective on religion in the American experience

American women have had an ambivalent experience with religion. It has served to suppress and to liberate. Opportunities for leadership provided a foundation for many of the women's movements. The move from voluntary leadership to a demand for the professional, remunerative positions raises traditional prejudices to which women have, historically and currently, responded in three ways.
A randomized trial of liposomal daunorubicin and cytarabine versus liposomal daunorubicin and topotecan with or without thalidomide as initial therapy for patients with poor prognosis acute myelogenous leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome.

BACKGROUND Because angiogenesis may play a role in the pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and thalidomide (Th) has shown significant anti-angiogenic activity, this study was designed to investigate the potential role of Th in the treatment of patients with AML and MDS and the possible role of a non–ara-C-containing regimen. METHODS Adults with AML or high-risk MDS and cytogenetic abnormalities other than inv (16), t(8;21), -Y or -X were randomized to receive liposomal daunorubicin (DNX) and ara-C (DA) or DNX and topotecan (DT). Within each arm, patients were randomized to receive chemotherapy alone (DA or DT) or with thalidomide (DATh or DTTh). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plasma levels and microvascular density was measured before and after therapy. Eighty-four patients (median age, 65 years; range, 27–84 years) were treated. RESULTS None of 11 patients treated with DT or DTTh responded and these arms were closed. Seventeen of 37 patients treated with DA and 15 of 36 treated with DATh achieved an early complete remission. Median complete response duration was 38 and 34 weeks (P = 0.57) and median survival 35 and 28 weeks (P = 0.15), respectively. Patients with high pretreatment VEGF levels had an inferior survival. There was no significant difference in the changes in VEGF levels or microvascular density after treatment in patients who did versus those who did not receive thalidomide. CONCLUSIONS The authors concluded that thalidomide in combination with chemotherapy does not result in clinical benefit in patients with AML or high-risk MDS. Cancer 2003;97:1234–41. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11180
Revival Structure of Aligned Rotational Wave Packets

The revival structure of strong-field-induced rotational wave packets differs qualitatively from revival structures analyzed in the past. One of the consequences of this difference is strong enhancement of the alignment of such wave packets after turn-off of the laser pulse, under field-free conditions.
Alternative Estimates of the Effect of Schooling on Earnings.

This is the publisher's version. It can also be found here: http://www.mitpressjournals.org/doi/pdf/10.1162/003465300558542
Paracetamol an effective analgesic, but adding codeine gives additional benefit

Objective To assess the analgesia obtained from single oral doses of paracetamol alone and with codeine. Data sources A search of the following databases, Medline 1966–1996, Embase 1980–1996, Cochrane Library Issue 2, 1996, Oxford Pain Relief Database 1950–1994, reference lists and textbooks, using a detailed search strategy. Study selection Only full journal publication of double-blind studies with randomly allocated adult patients receiving postoperative oral administration for treatment of moderate to severe pain baseline pain (equates to >30mm on a visual analogue scale, VAS), using acceptable pain measures. Results Thirty-one trials met the inclusion criteria of which 19 related to dental pain for paracetamol versus placebo, 19 trials for paracetamol and codeine versus placebo (14 dental) and 13 for paracetamol and codeine versus paracetamol alone (10 dental). Conclusion Paracetamol is an effective analgesic, and the addition of 60mg of codeine produces worthwhile additional pain relief. Moore A, Collins S, Carroll D, McQuay HJ. Paracetamol with and without codeine in acute pain: a quantitative systematic review. Pain 1997; 77:193–201
Tropical photoperiods affect reproductive development in the musk shrew, Suncus murinus.

Abstract The purpose of the present studies was to determine whether reproductive development in male musk shrews (original stock from Guam Island, 13°N latitude) could be altered by small, ecologically relevant changes in photoperiod. In the first experiment, effects of changes in photoperiod equivalent to those seen between the 2 solstices on Guam Island (90 min) on reproductive maturation were investigated. The results showed that a 90-min difference in photoperiod had a significant effect on weights of various androgen-sensitive target tissues. Furthermore, there was little evidence that the preweaning photoperiod had an effect on the response to the postweaning photoperiod. In the second experiment, effects of changes in photoperiod equivalent to those seen between the equinoxes and solstices on Guam Island (45 min) on reproductive maturation were investigated. The results showed that both a decrease and an increase in photoperiod by 45 min had a significant effect on weights of various androgen-sensitive target tissues. Overall, these results suggest that animals living close to the equator can potentially use small changes in day length to alter or time reproductive function.
Relationship between 7,12-dimethyl- and 7,8,12-trimethylbenz[a]anthracene DNA adduct formation in hematopoietic organs and leukemogenic effects.

Abstract The leukemogens 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and 7,8,12-trimethylbenz[a]anthracene (TMBA) bind covalently in vivo to DNA of Long-Evans rats in the hematopoietic organs, spleen and bone marrow, and in the liver, a non-target organ. Both TMBA and DMBA depleted bone marrow cells and both agents bound persistently to the DNA of bone marrow and of liver, and less to that of spleen. The three main DMBA: deoxyribonucleoside adducts in spleen, bone marrow and liver were the same as those found previously in the liver (Dipple et al. (1983) Cancer Res., 43, 4132). There were no organ-specific or age-dependent differences in the relative amounts of adducts formed. There appears to be no direct correlation between the susceptibility of an organ to carcinogenesis and the nature and relative amount of the specific adducts formed, at least for the three organs studied here.
The caudal skeleton of ostariophysan fishes (Teleostei): Intraspecific variation in trichomycteridae (Siluriformes).

The different elements of the caudal skeleton of the South American catfish genera Nematogenys (Nematogenyinae) and Trichomycterus, Hatcheria, and Bullockia (Pygidiinae) (Siluriformes, Trichomycteridae) show Ontogenetic transformation of the second ural centrum in Trichomycteridae separates the subfamilies Nematogenyinae and Pygidiinae. In the former, the second ural centrum is aligned with the first ural centrum in early stages of ontogeny; it is not fused with the bases of hypurals 3 and 4 in any stage of development. In the Pygidiinae, in contrast, the second ural centrum is connected with the base of hypural 3 from an early stage of development on. One of the most noteworthy features of the Pygidiinae is the epural, a polymorphic element with three or four morphotypes that are species specific. The primitive catfish Nematogenys shows intraspecific variation in the ural centra, segmentation of procurrent caudal rays, and principal caudal ray formulae. Species of Trichomycterus, Hatcheria, and Bullockia are characterized by great intraspecific variability that involves ural centra, the epural, hypurapophyses, and the neural arches of the compound centrum. There is intraspecific variation in the fusion of the hypurals in some species of Trichomycterus. Intraspecific variation of the caudal skeleton of fishes of the family Trichomycteridae involves the presence and frequency of different morphotypes of the epural, neural arch of the compound centrum, fusion of hypurals, and principal caudal ray formulae. Ontogenetic changes of the first and second ural centra, hypurapophyses (with the exception of Nematogenys), and segmentation of procurrent caudal rays (in Nematogenys) are involved also.
A National Assessment of Secondary School Principals' Perceptions of Violence in Schools

The purpose of this investigation was to examine the perceptions of secondary school principals regarding violence and weapons in public and private schools in the United States. Student weapon carrying was most often reported in larger schools, schools with higher levels of violence in the school's neighborhood, and in schools with a higher percentage of low-socioeconomic (SES) students. Perceived as major etiological factors of violence were lack of parental supervision at home, lack of family involvement with school, and exposure to violence in the mass media. Perceived as the major reasons students in the principals' own school committed acts of violence were the student was provoked by others or was jealous of a girlfriend/boyfriend. Just over one-third of schools had already implemented some type of violence prevention program, and another reported they were planning to implement some type of violence prevention program. The most common barriers reported by the remaining principals were believing there was no need for a program in their school, being unsure which programs were needed, and being unsure of which programs were best.
Scanning a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer for doubly charged ions

Charge exchange reactions within a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer characterize doubly charged ions formed in the ion source. Two methods have been developed for identifying the singly charged ions formed from doubly charged ions by charge exchange in the collision quadrupole. The first is based on the characteristically high kinetic energy-to-charge ratios of the products of charge exchange; this property can be used to separate these ions from all other singly charged ions. This retarding potential method is analogous to procedures for recording doubly charged ion mass spectra using sector instruments. The second method is based on the fact that, although mass remains constant in the charge exchange reaction, the change in mass-to-charge ratio can be followed. A charge exchange linked scan, predicated on changes in charge rather than mass, but otherwise analogous to neutral loss/gain scans, is described. Information on the structure of doubly charged ions can be obtained by recording the fragmentation products of dissociative charge exchange. The utility of the charge exchange linked scan for the selective identification of polynuclear aromatic compounds in a complex mixture is described. The methods given can be generalized to cover other charge permutation reactions.
“Yes Means Yes:” A New Approach to Sexual Assault Prevention and Positive Sexuality Promotion

“Yes Means Yes” (YMY) is an interdisciplinary, noncredit, five-week, positive sexuality seminar offered at a small liberal arts college as part of a campus-wide initiative to improve students’ relationship skills and behaviors. Most university campuses employ some sort of sexual assault prevention program to help protect students from problematic sexual interactions. This course focuses on helping students decide what they would like from their relationships in a collaborative seminar format, rather than focusing only on what they should avoid. Feedback from the class has been overwhelmingly positive, and it is likely that students at other campuses could benefit from this program.
Faster shot-record depth migrations using phase encoding

Phase encoding of shot records provides a means of imaging a number of shots within a single migration. This results in a reduction in the required computation for a complete image, a reduction by the number of shots used in each individual migration, trading this increase in speed for additional noise in the resulting image. Some methods for phase encoding have been shown to limit this noise to a tolerable range when combining several shots, enabling speed ups of a factor of a few. In this paper, the authors present a use of phase encoding which allows faster imaging by an order of magnitude or more, with the additional benefit that the individual migrations can be stopped whenever the answer is good enough. This approach may ultimately render 3-D frequency-domain prestack depth migration cost effective.
Supramolecular Ion-Pair Interactions To Control Monolayer Assembly

We demonstrate that noncovalent ion-pair interactions in solution can be employed to control the molecular spacing of thiols in a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on gold. Ion-pairs formed between the carboxylate tail-group of 16-mercaptohexadecanoic acid (MHA) and tetraalkylammonium (TAA+) hydroxide salts of various alkyl side-chain lengths remain intact during chemisorption of the thiol on gold. The resulting ion-pair SAMs exhibit a 1:1 molar ratio of MHA:TAA+ on the surface and are covalently bound to the gold surface through the thiol headgroup of MHA. We hypothesize that the incorporation of the bulky TAA+ group competes with the strong tendency of the thiols to organize into an ordered monolayer, which highlights the strength of the ion-pair complexes. The ion-pair films can be converted into a loosely packed MHA monolayer by rinsing the SAM with a solution of potassium perchlorate, which releases the TAA+ from the surface. Contact angle measurements and X-ray spectroscopy (XPS) confirm the stoichiome...
Junctional ectopic tachycardia after congenital heart surgery in the current surgical era.

To determine the incidence of postoperative junctional ectopic tachycardia (JET) in a modern cohort of pediatric patients, evaluate possible risk factors for JET, and examine the effects of JET on postoperative morbidity and mortality. JET is common after congenital heart surgery. JET-related mortality has been a rare event at our center, which is different from previous reports. We reviewed records for pediatric patients who had postoperative arrhythmias between January 2006 and June 2010 at a large tertiary-care children’s hospital. We performed a matched case–control study to identify risk factors for JET and a matched-cohort study to compare outcomes between patients and controls. Whenever possible, each JET case was randomly matched to two controls on the basis of lesion, repair, and surgical period. We identified 54 patients with JET (incidence = 1.4 %). After multivariate logistic regression analysis, low operative weight, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) duration >100 min, and immediate postoperative serum lactic acid level >20 mg/dl were associated with increased odds of developing JET. Patients with JET had longer mechanical ventilation time, cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) stay, and hospital stay. There was only one death in JET group (1.8 %) with no significant difference compared with the control group. JET remains a relatively common postoperative arrhythmia, but it is less frequent than previously reported. JET occurs more commonly in smaller patients with longer CPB runs and significant postoperative lactic acidosis levels. Mortality associated with JET is lower than historically reported, but morbidity remains high.
Utilization of aminolevulinic acid as a nitrogen source by a green alga

Abstract Cells of the green alga Golenkinia, pre-cultured so that the contribution of any nitrogen source other than delta-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) to endogenous nitrogen reserves is minimal or absent, are capable of sustained growth on ALA as the sole source of nitrogen in either light or dark. Yield is proportional to ALA concentration up to 10 mM; higher concentrations are increasingly inhibitory. This optimal concentration supports cell numbers, growth rates and chlorophyll levels equal to those found using the same concentration of nitrate. These findings support the suggestion that ALA is not committed to porphyrin synthesis and indicate that conclusions regarding regulation of chlorophyll synthesis based on long-term addition of ALA to systems sensitive to carbon/nitrogen levels in the medium be reconsidered.
Reaction of hexamethylene diisocyanate with poly(vinyl alcohol) films for biomedical applications

The objective of this work was to obtain primary amine groups on the surface of poly(vinyl alcohol) films by means of a reaction with hexamethylene diisocyanate. The reaction was run in such a way as to minimize the internal crosslinking by employing a large excess of hexamethylene diisocyanate in toluene and then hydrolyzing the unreacted isocyanate endgroup to primary amine. After dialyzing out the adsorbed hexamethylenediamine from the aqueous solution of reacted poly(vinyl alcohol), the extent of covalent bonding of hexamethylene diisocyanate onto the polymer was determined by measuring aminohexyl content through a fluorescence assay. This assay is based on the reaction of fluorescamine, 4-phenylspiro[furan-2(3H)-1′-phthalan]-3,3′-dione, with a primary amine to yield a fluorophor which will emit a strong fluorescence at 475–490 nm when excited at 390 nm. Analyses show a range of 1.1 × 10−10−3.6 × 10−10 mole of amines per cm2 of reacted poly(vinyl alcohol) film. When assuming 47% as degree of crystallinity approximated by IR spectroscopy for these polymer films, the availability of hydroxyl groups in amorphous region was estimated to be 3.7 × 10−10 mole/cm2. The extent of reaction based on available hydroxyl groups was then in the range of 31–97%. The primary amine groups attached by this method can now be exploited for binding biomolecules such as heparin (anticoagulant) or fibrinolytic enzymes in an attempt to achieve biocompatible materials.
Using a stopping rule to determine the size of the training sample in a classification problem

The problem of determining the size of the training sample needed to achieve sufficiently small misclassification probability is considered. The appropriate sample size is approximated using a stopping rule. The proposed procedure is asymptotically optimal.
Ultrastructural analysis of projections to the pulvinar nucleus of the cat. I: Middle suprasylvian gyrus (areas 5 and 7)

The mammalian pulvinar nucleus (PUL) establishes heavy interconnections with the parietal lobe, but the precise nature of these connections is only partially understood. To examine the distribution of corticopulvinar cells in the cat, we injected the PUL with retrograde tracers. Corticopulvinar cells were located in layers V and VI of a wide variety of cortical areas, with a major concentration of cells in area 7. To examine the morphology and distribution of corticopulvinar terminals, we injected cortical areas 5 or 7 with anterograde tracers. The majority of corticopulvinar axons were thin fibers (type I) with numerous diffuse small boutons. Thicker (type II) axons with fewer, larger boutons were also present. Boutons of type II axons formed clusters within restricted regions of the PUL. We examined corticopulvinar terminals labeled from area 7 at the ultrastructural level in tissue stained for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). By correlating the size of the presynaptic and postsynaptic profiles, we were able to quantitatively divide the labeled terminals into two categories: small and large (RS and RL, respectively). The RS terminals predominantly innervated small-caliber non-GABAergic (thalamocortical cell) dendrites, whereas the RL terminals established complex synaptic arrangements with dendrites of both GABAergic interneurons and non-GABAergic cells. Interpretation of these results using Sherman and Guillery's recent theories of thalamic organization (Sherman and Guillery [1998] Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 95:7121-7126) suggests that area 7 may both drive and modulate PUL activity.
Prognostic value of dipyridamole thallium scintigraphy for evaluation of ischemic heart disease

Exercise testing alone or in combination with thallium scintigraphy has significant prognostic value. In contrast, dipyridamole thallium imaging is not dependent on patients achieving adequate levels of exercise, but no long-term prognostic studies have been reported. Accordingly, imaging results of 516 consecutive patients referred for dipyridamole thallium studies were correlated with subsequent cardiac events, death (n = 23) and myocardial infarction (n = 43) over a mean follow-up period of 21 months. Patients with a history of congestive heart failure, prior myocardial infarction, diabetes mellitus or abnormal scans were significantly more likely to have a cardiac event (p less than 0.03). With use of logistic regression analysis, an abnormal scan was an independent and significant predictor of subsequent myocardial infarction or cardiac death and increased the relative risk of any event more than threefold. The presence of redistribution on thallium scanning further increased the risk of a cardiac event. Survival analysis demonstrated a significant difference between patients with an abnormal or normal thallium scan over a 30 month period. In conclusion, dipyridamole thallium scintigraphy demonstrates prognostic value in a large unselected population and may be an adequate clinical alternative to physiologic exercise testing in the evaluation of coronary heart disease.
Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering from Functionalized Self-Assembled Monolayers. 2. Distance Dependence of Enhanced Raman Scattering from an Azobenzene Terminal Group

The distance dependence function (DDF) of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has been measured. A novel feature of this work is that a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of alkanethiol is used as the spacer layer whose length is varied from 1 to 15 methylene units. In addition, an azobenzene Raman label is covalently linked to the monolayer via an amide bond. Experimental DDF curves can be modeled reasonably with an electromagnetic (EM) field enhancement theory of Gersten and Nitzan. The characteristic distance at which SERS signals decrease by half is about 7 A, 5 times shorter than previous values obtained with LB films as the spacer layer. We ascribe this discrepancy to the difference in the number of defects present in the spacer layer.
Exploring hardware overprovisioning in power-constrained, high performance computing

Most recent research in power-aware supercomputing has focused on making individual nodes more efficient and measuring the results in terms of flops per watt. While this work is vital in order to reach exascale computing at 20 megawatts, there has been a dearth of work that explores efficiency at the whole system level. Traditional approaches in supercomputer design use worst-case power provisioning: the total power allocated to the system is determined by the maximum power draw possible per node. In a world where power is plentiful and nodes are scarce, this solution is optimal. However, as power becomes the limiting factor in supercomputer design, worst-case provisioning becomes a drag on performance.In this paper we demonstrate how a policy of overprovisioning hardware with respect to power combined with intelligent, hardware-enforced power bounds consistently leads to greater performance across a range of standard benchmarks. In particular, leveraging overprovisioning requires that applications use effective configurations; the best configuration depends on application scalability and memory contention. We show that using overprovisioning leads to an average speedup of more than 50% over worst-case provisioning.
Active millimeter-wave imaging for concealed weapons detection

Actively illumniated mm-wave imaging systems for concealed weapons detection offer the possibility of much higher sensitivity than with passive systems. We discuss several issues specific to mm-wave imaging systems that are actively illuminated and describe our implementation of such a system. We show that the illumination geometry is critical to the appearance and detectability of targets, and present measurements of the bi-directional reflectance distribution of a small handgun, as a prototypical target. We demonstrate suppression of standing waves using frequency modulated (FMCW) illumination and directly compare images taken with CW, FMCW, and pulsed illumination. Our implementation of an active imaging system is based on a 120-element focal-plane array (FPA) of uncooled antenna-coupled microbolometers. We describe the fabrication process and yield for these FPA's, as well as tests that show the performance of individual pixels on the 120-element array to be equivalent to that of isolated devices. These results demonstrate that wiring for readout of an antenna-coupled FPA can be made "transparent" to the antennas. Therefore, a mm-wave FPA that is read out through wiring to the perimeter of the array constitutes a simple and feasibile architecture, in contrast to the infrared, where space limitations require vertical (3D) integration of readout and FPA. The electrical readout system for the FPA is also described. Finally, we present a result obtained with the full FPA system, showing that 3-way illumination is much more effective for detection of a complex target than a single directional illuminator.
Functional recognition imaging using artificial neural networks: applications to rapid cellular identification via broadband electromechanical response

Functional recognition imaging in scanning probe microscopy (SPM) using artificial neural network identification is demonstrated. This approach utilizes statistical analysis of complex SPM responses at a single spatial location to identify the target behavior, which is reminiscent of associative thinking in the human brain, obviating the need for analytical models. We demonstrate, as an example of recognition imaging, rapid identification of cellular organisms using the difference in electromechanical activity over a broad frequency range. Single-pixel identification of model Micrococcus lysodeikticus and Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteria is achieved, demonstrating the viability of the method.
A comparison of asthma prevalence and morbidity between rural and urban schoolchildren in Arkansas

Background Asthma disproportionately affects minority and low-income children. Investigations that focus on high-risk pediatric populations outside the inner city are limited. Objective To compare asthma prevalence and morbidity in urban and rural children in Arkansas. Methods We administered a validated survey to parents of children enrolled in urban and rural school districts in Arkansas. Rates of asthma diagnosis, asthma symptoms, medication use, and health care utilization were compared between urban and rural groups. Results Age and sex distributions were similar; however, 85% of rural and 67% of urban children were black and 78% of rural and 37% of urban children had state-issued medical insurance ( P P P Conclusion Asthma prevalence was similar between representative rural and urban groups in Arkansas, but asthma morbidity was significantly higher in the rural group.
Gravity-independent mobility and drilling on natural rock using microspines

To grip rocks on the surfaces of asteroids and comets, and to grip the cliff faces and lava tubes of Mars, a 250 mm diameter omni-directional anchor is presented that utilizes a hierarchical array of claws with suspension flexures, called microspines, to create fast, strong attachment. Prototypes have been demonstrated on vesicular basalt and a'a lava rock supporting forces in all directions away from the rock. Each anchor can support >160 N tangent, >150 N at 45°, and >180 N normal to the surface of the rock. A two-actuator selectively-compliant ankle interfaces these anchors to the Lemur IIB robot for climbing trials. A rotary percussive drill was also integrated into the anchor, demonstrating self-contained rock coring regardless of gravitational orientation. As a harder-than-zero-g proof of concept, 20mm diameter boreholes were drilled 83 mm deep in vesicular basalt samples, retaining a 12 mm diameter rock core in 3–6 pieces while in an inverted configuration, literally drilling into the ceiling.
EXPLORATORY SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF BIRTH DEFECT RATES IN AN URBAN POPULATION

Are birth defect rates unusually high in particular urban localities? The answer requires that the birth defect rate for which ‘significance’ is claimed be adjusted for the variable population sizes of each area for which the rate is computed and for the spatial dependence of rates based on shared observations between neighbouring areas. By address-matching birth and birth defect records to a digital road map, we are able to compute local birth defect rates at regular grid locations by dividing the number of birth defects that occurred in the geographical vicinity of a grid location by the total number of births in the same vicinity. We test for significance, at regular spatial intervals, against the null hypothesis that the observed rate at any locality could reasonably have arisen by chance alone, given the underlying geographical variation in births. Significance is determined by using Monte Carlo simulations, where each birth location has an identical probability of being a defect. From 1000 simulations, a statistical distribution of the birth defect rate for each grid location is determined. The proportion of the simulated birth defect rates that are less than the observed rate at any grid location is the probability that the observed rate is significant. These probabilities, portrayed as isarithmic maps, show areas that have significantly high birth defect rates. Our results show birth defect rates for the period 1983 to 1990 in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.A.
Ubiquitin-dependent trafficking and turnover of ionotropic glutamate receptors

Changes in synaptic strength underlie the basis of learning and memory and are controlled, in part, by the insertion or removal of AMPA-type glutamate receptors at the postsynaptic membrane of excitatory synapses. Once internalized, these receptors may be recycled back to the plasma membrane by subunit-specific interactions with other proteins or by post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation. Alternatively, these receptors may be targeted for destruction by multiple degradation pathways in the cell. Ubiquitination, another post-translational modification, has recently emerged as a key signal that regulates the recycling and trafficking of glutamate receptors. In this review, we will discuss recent findings on the role of ubiquitination in the trafficking and turnover of ionotropic glutamate receptors and plasticity of excitatory synapses.
Temporal Water Chemistry Trends (1967–1997) for a Sample (127) of Florida Waterbodies

ABSTRACT Total phosphorus, total nitrogen, total chlorophyll and Secchi visibility data from 127 Florida lakes across three time periods, Early (1967–1972), Middle (1979–1981), and Present (1996–1997) were compared using paired t tests and repeated measures analyses of variances. Although the population of Florida has increased 116% over the last 27 years, expected increases in lake concentrations of nutrients were not found. For this sample of lakes, total phosphorus concentrations decreased over a 30-year time period and total nitrogen concentrations showed no significant change. Secchi visibility, one of the simplest parameters to measure and easily understood by lake-users, also showed no significant change over time. The sample of lakes showed a significant but small increase in total chlorophyll concentrations. The increase was unexpected because total phosphorus concentrations decreased and total nitrogen concentrations stayed the same, suggesting that other factors were impacting total chlorophyll...
Making Hunger Yield

The human population reached 1 billion in the early 1800s, roughly 12,000 years after the dawn of agriculture. However, exponential growth in the ensuing 200 years resulted in the global population exceeding 7 billion, placing enormous demands on modern agriculture. Over the past half-century, the human population has doubled but food production has more than kept pace, and the fraction of people with insufficient food has declined dramatically, from 60% in 1960 to about 15% in 2010 ( 1 ), Nonetheless, ∼1 billion people remain chronically underfed and another ∼2 billion suffer from micronutrient deficiencies ( 1 , 2 ). It is imperative, then, to accelerate increases in agricultural production.
Helicase-dependent isothermal DNA amplification

Polymerase chain reaction is the most widely used method for in vitro DNA amplification. However, it requires thermocycling to separate two DNA strands. In vivo, DNA is replicated by DNA polymerases with various accessory proteins, including a DNA helicase that acts to separate duplex DNA. We have devised a new in vitro isothermal DNA amplification method by mimicking this in vivo mechanism. Helicase-dependent amplification (HDA) utilizes a DNA helicase to generate single-stranded templates for primer hybridization and subsequent primer extension by a DNA polymerase. HDA does not require thermocycling. In addition, it offers several advantages over other isothermal DNA amplification methods by having a simple reaction scheme and being a true isothermal reaction that can be performed at one temperature for the entire process. These properties offer a great potential for the development of simple portable DNA diagnostic devices to be used in the field and at the point-of-care.
The western Pacific red lionfish, Pterois volitans (Scorpaenidae), in Florida: Evidence for reproduction and parasitism in the first exotic marine fish established in state waters

Many exotic fresh-water and brackish-water fish species have become established in Florida waters, but the red lionfish is the first entirely marine species that appears to have become established here. We give a detailed account of the initial collections of adult specimens from off St. Augustine and Jacksonville, including data on morphometrics, meristics, and gonad histology. Our review of historical sightings on Florida reefs and of the specimens reported herein suggests that the most plausible vector for the introduction of this fish was aquarium releases. We discuss our reasons for concluding that this species has probably become established in Florida, summarize the potential danger that these venomous fishes pose to the public, and examine the effect of a parasite hosted by the male lionfish. We also consider the potential effect of the red lionfish on marine communities in Florida, but limited information on its biology precludes a detailed assessment.
Routing algorithms: architecture driven rerouting enhancement for FPGAs

The routing channels of today's FPGAs consist of wire segments of various types, which allow the use of new techniques to enhance the routability of net segments in channels. In this paper we present an optimal greedy algorithm to switch the tracks that net segments are assigned to. This allows us to enhance the rerouting ability by capturing the features of the routing architecture. Suppose the number of tracks in the channels is given. The goal of this algorithm is to increase the number of routed segments of late rerouting requests. This is a good feature for supporting engineering change order (ECO) type of routing. Supporting ECO routing enables the routing algorithms to deal with later changes in routing requests. We used the routing architecture of VirtexII FPGAs from Xilinx as our target architecture and integrated our algorithm into the VPR FPGA routing tool. The experimental results show that our algorithm makes VPR router capable of handling 28.4% more rerouting for segments that are added to the design later.
Common Structural and Epigenetic Changes in the Genome of Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Progression of primary prostate cancer to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is associated with numerous genetic and epigenetic alterations that are thought to promote survival at metastatic sites. In this study, we investigated gene copy number and CpG methylation status in CRPC to gain insight into specific pathophysiologic pathways that are active in this advanced form of prostate cancer. Our analysis defined and validated 495 genes exhibiting significant differences in CRPC in gene copy number, including gains in androgen receptor (AR) and losses of PTEN and retinoblastoma 1 (RB1). Significant copy number differences existed between tumors with or without AR gene amplification, including a common loss of AR repressors in AR-unamplified tumors. Simultaneous gene methylation and allelic deletion occurred frequently in RB1 and HSD17B2, the latter of which is involved in testosterone metabolism. Lastly, genomic DNA from most CRPC was hypermethylated compared with benign prostate tissue. Our findings establish a comprehensive methylation signature that couples epigenomic and structural analyses, thereby offering insights into the genomic alterations in CRPC that are associated with a circumvention of hormonal therapy. Genes identified in this integrated genomic study point to new drug targets in CRPC, an incurable disease state which remains the chief therapeutic challenge.
A (6-4) photoproduct of 5-bromouracil.

The photoreactions of 5-bromouracil (BrUra) induced by 254 nm radiation have received a significant amount of scrutiny over the years, both when induced in liquid aqueous solution and in the frozen state. The characterized photoproducts in the liquid state include uracil, 5,5′-diuracil (I) and a variety of products arising from ring opening, while the photoreactivity of BrUra in ice using 254 nm radiation is very low. During examination of the photoreactions induced in BrUra in frozen aqueous solution by exposure to predominately UVB irradiation, we found that several products are formed. One of these products has an ultraviolet absorption spectrum similar to those associated with (6–4) adducts of the pyrimidine bases (λmax = 326 nm). Studies with 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and with mass spectrometry yielded data consistent with this compound indeed being a (6–4) product, namely 6-4′-(5′-bromopyrimidin-2′-one)-5,5-dihydroxy-5,6-dihydrouracil (IIa). The product IIa probably arises from an unstable precursor, namely 5-bromo-6-4′-(5′-bromopyrimidin-2′-one)-5-hydroxy-5,6-dihydrouracil (IV); this compound is a bromohydrin and, as such, is likely unstable to debromination to 6-4′-(5′-bromopyrimidin-2′-one)-5-oxo-5,6-dihydrouracil (V). Rehydration at the 5-position to form a gemdiol would lead to IIa, the isolated product.
Fine-Scale Heterogeneity in Crossover Rate in the Garnet-Scalloped Region of the Drosophila Melanogaster X Chromosome

Homologous recombination affects myriad aspects of genome evolution, from standing levels of nucleotide diversity to the efficacy of natural selection. Rates of crossing over show marked variability at all scales surveyed, including species-, population-, and individual-level differences. Even within genomes, crossovers are nonrandomly distributed in a wide diversity of taxa. Although intra- and intergenomic heterogeneities in crossover distribution have been documented in Drosophila, the scale and degree of crossover rate heterogeneity remain unclear. In addition, the genetic features mediating this heterogeneity are unknown. Here we quantify fine-scale heterogeneity in crossover distribution in a 2.1-Mb region of the Drosophila melanogaster X chromosome by localizing crossover breakpoints in 2500 individuals, each containing a single crossover in this specific X chromosome region. We show 90-fold variation in rates of crossing over at a 5-kb scale, place this variation in the context of several aspects of genome evolution, and identify several genetic features associated with crossover rates. Our results shed new light on the scale and magnitude of crossover rate heterogeneity in D. melanogaster and highlight potential features mediating this heterogeneity.
Cerebral Microinfarcts Associated with Severe Cerebral β-Amyloid Angiopathy

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is common in elderly individuals, especially those affected with Alzheimer's disease. Eighteen brains with severe SCAA (SCAA) were compared with 21 brains with mild CAA (MCAA) to investigate whether the presence of SCAA in the brains of demented patients was associated with a higher burden of old microinfarcts than those with MCAA. Immunohistochemistry for CD68 was employed to highlight old microinfarcts in tissue blocks from various brain regions. Old microinfarcts, manually counted by light microscopy, were present in 14 of 18 SCAA brains and in 7 of 21 MCAA brains (P = 0.01, two-tailed Fisher's exact test). The average number of old microinfarcts across geographic regions in each brain ranged from 0 to 1.95 (mean rank 24.94, sum of ranks 449) in the SCAA group, and from 0 to 0.35 (mean rank 15.76, sum of ranks 331) in the MCAA group (P = 0.008, two-tailed Mann-Whitney U-test). Frequent old microinfarcts in demented individuals with severe CAA may contribute a vascular component to the cognitive impairment in these patients.
Environmental contaminants in prey and tissues of the peregrine falcon in the Big Bend Region, Texas, USA

Peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) have been recorded nesting in Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA and other areas of the Chihuahuan Desert since the early 1900s. From 1993 to 1996, peregrine falcon productivity rates were very low and coincided with periods of low rainfall. However, low productivity also was suspected to be caused by environmental contaminants. To evaluate potential impacts of contaminants on peregrine falcon populations, likely avian and bat prey species were collected during 1994 and 1997 breeding seasons in selected regions of western Texas, primarily in Big Bend National Park. Tissues of three peregrine falcons found injured or dead and feathers of one live fledgling also were analyzed. Overall, mean concentrations of DDE [1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene], a metabolite of DDT [1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane], were low in all prey species except for northern rough-winged swallows (Stelgidopteryx serripennis, mean=5.1 μg/g ww). Concentrations of mercury and selenium were elevated in some species, up to 2.5 μg/g dw, and 15 μg/g dw, respectively, which upon consumption could seriously affect reproduction of top predators. DDE levels near 5 μg/g ww were detected in carcass of one peregrine falcon found dead but the cause of death was unknown. Mercury, selenium, and DDE to some extent, may be contributing to low reproductive rates of peregrine falcons in the Big Bend region.