cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spatial structure, dispersal, and management of a recovering raptor population.

Abstract: The recovery of the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum) in California has taken place amid strong geographical differences in habitat quality, potentially creating a sink population in the southern coastal habitat and source populations in the northern interior and urban habitats. We analyzed long‐term monitoring data to investigate the mechanisms and consequences of spatial structuring for the recovery of this set of nonstable subpopulations. Dispersal rates between habitats were asymmetric, with extremely limited dispersal out of the interior habitat and a strong tendency for birds in the southern coast to disperse to the urban habitats. We used these dispersal estimates and habitat‐specific productivity rates to build a set of regional population models that describe population growth within and dispersal between each subpopulation. We tested for the existence of habitat‐specific survival and territory acquisition rates by comparing model projections with the number of breeding pairs c...
Antidepressant prescribing patterns among VA patients with schizophrenia.

Abstract Background Recent reviews have questioned the efficacy of adjuvant use of antidepressants for the treatment of depression or the treatment of primary negative symptoms among individuals with schizophrenia. Methods Using administrative data from the VA's mid-Atlantic region this cross-sectional retrospective study provides estimates of receipt of prevalent and incident antidepressant medications in fiscal year 2007 (FY07) among 2412 veterans receiving treatment for schizophrenia. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate demographic, diagnostic and clinical characteristics associated with antidepressant receipt in FY07. Results Approximately four out of ten (37.4%) received an antidepressant prescription of which 26.7% were incident prescriptions. SSRI or SNRI were the most common antidepressants prescribed. For both incidence and prevalence analyses, receipt of an antidepressant was significantly associated with co-occurring diagnoses of depression, PTSD, anxiety, schizoaffective disorder and receipt of care in specialty outpatient mental health clinic. Receipt of antidepressant was significantly less likely among those who were homeless compared to those who were housed. Discussion Antidepressants are commonly prescribed among veterans with schizophrenia. Antidepressant receipt was associated with the use of specialty mental health care services and with concurrent clinical diagnoses for which antidepressant medication, in the absence of schizophrenia, are commonly prescribed. Further studies are needed to examine the reasons why clinicians prescribe antidepressant medications to persons with schizophrenia and whether the benefits associated with antidepressant use outweigh their health risks.
Stochastic unit commitment with sub-hourly dispatch constraints

Abstract In this paper, we propose a new unit commitment model that captures the sub-hourly variability of wind power. Scenarios are included in the stochastic unit commitment formulation to represent the uncertainty and intermittency of wind power output. A modified Benders decomposition method is used to improve the convergence of the algorithm. The numerical results show that the proposed model based on finer granularity outperforms the conventional model of hourly resolution.
TCP PLATO: Packet Labelling to Alleviate Time-Out

Many applications (e.g., cluster based storage and MapReduce) in modern data centers require a high fan-in, many-to-one type of data communication (known as TCP incast), which could cause severe incast congestion in switches and result in TCP goodput collapse, substantially degrading the application performance. The root cause of such a collapse is the long idle period of the Retransmission Timeout (RTO) that is triggered at one or more senders by packet losses in congested switches. In this paper we develop a packet labelling scheme PLATO, which improves the loss detection capabilities of NewReno using an innovative packet labelling system. Packets carrying this special label are preferentially enqueued, at the switch. This allows TCP to detect packet loss using three duplicate acknowledgements, instead of the time expensive RTO; thus avoiding the goodput collapse. PLATO makes minor modifications to NewReno and does not alter its congestion control mechanism. The implementation and simulations have been done in Network Simulator 3 (NS3). PLATO's performance is significantly better than NewReno as well as state-of-art incast solutions Incast Control TCP (ICTCP) and Data Center TCP (DCTCP). We also show that TCP PLATO can be implemented using commodity switches with Weighted Random Early Detection (WRED) function.
Nickel Aluminides for Structural Use

Nickel aluminides with the following compositions (at.%) have been developed: Ni—18±2% Al—8±2% Cr—1.0±0.8% Zr (orHf)—0.15±0.1% B. These aluminides possess superb mechanical and metallurgical properties and have potential to be used as new structural materials at elevated temperatures. This paper discusses the behavior of nickel aluminides and updates progress in developing methods of fabrication. Additional studies are expected to lead to optimum alloy compositions to further improve the creep resistance of the aluminides, particularly in wrought conditions.
Comparison of two different surgical techniques for the treatment of strabismus in dysthyroid ophthalmopathy

Background Surgical management of strabismus caused by dysthyroid ophthalmopathy has a history of variable success outcomes ranging from 43% to 82%. Previous studies showed that correcting the restricted duction seen in thyroid eye disease, rather than the deviation as is done in other types of strabismus surgery, resulted in markedly improved success rates. Other investigators have recommended a change in the approach to the surgical management of dysthyroid ophthalmopathy. Methods Retrospective comparison of sequential case series. Results The data of 86 patients were retrospectively reviewed, including 52 in the deviation correction group and 34 in the duction correction group, with 74 deviation correction operations and 47 duction correction operations. A successful outcome, defined as postoperative deviation less than or equal to 5Δ, was seen in 72% of deviation corrections operations and 66% of duction correction operations (p = 0.55). Conclusions In our study, no difference in outcome between surgical corrections of restricted duction versus deviation was demonstrated.
PriA Mediates DNA Replication Pathway Choice at Recombination Intermediates.

We report the reconstitution of the initial steps of the double-strand break-repair pathway where joint molecule formation between a duplex DNA fragment and a circular template by the combined action of RecA, RecBCD, and the single-stranded DNA binding protein provides the substrate for replication fork formation by the restart primosome and the DNA polymerase III holoenzyme. We show that PriA dictates the pathway of replication from the recombination intermediate by inhibiting a nonspecific, strand displacement DNA synthesis reaction and favoring the formation of a bona fide replication fork. Furthermore, we find that RecO and RecR significantly stimulate this recombination-directed DNA replication reaction, and that this stimulation is modulated by the presence of RecF, suggesting that the latter protein may also act as a regulator of the pathway of resolution of the recombination intermediate.
Seismic and laboratory constraints on crustal formation in a former continental arc (ACCRETE, southeastern Alaska and western British Columbia)

[1] The ACCRETE project studies continent formation by assemblage of exotic terranes and arc magmatism. A marine-land seismic profile crosses the terranes with dense sampling and remarkably strong S waves as well as P waves. Unique, high-quality S-wave seismic data provide further constraints on interpretation and are used together with new laboratory P- and S-wave velocity measurements (corrected for high temperatures within and at the base of the crust) to make a lithologic and petrologic interpretation. VP/VS ratios indicate three distinct terranes that were assembled to form continental crust. These terranes are the outboard, accreted Alexander-Wrangellia terrane, the Coast Mountains Batholith (CMB) magmatic arc, and the inboard Stikinia terrane. Below the CMB, VP and VP/VS to a depth of 10–15 km are appropriate for tonalite and diorite. The VP and VP/VS increase with depth indicating that the rocks become more mafic, but VP/VS is not high enough for gabbro. The VP and VP/VS of the lower crust are consistent with a mixture of mafic garnet granulite and restite, whose quartz content lowers the VP/VS ratio below that of gabbro. When corrected for high temperature and uplift due to exhumation, the crust under the CMB exhibits seismic properties of an average continental crust. These results suggest that gabbro could have intruded a metasedimentary pile in the deep crust to cause melting of the metasediments to form intrusions of the CMB, leaving behind a mixture of mafic garnet granulite and sillmanite-garnet-quartz restite and generating the deeper part of what becomes an average continental crustal section.
The genomics and genetics of endometrial cancer

Most sporadic endometrial cancers (ECs) can be histologically classified as endometrioid, serous, or clear cell. Each histotype has a distinct natural history, clinical behavior, and genetic etiology. Endometrioid ECs have an overall favorable prognosis. They are typified by high frequency genomic alterations affecting PIK3CA, PIK3R1, PTEN, KRAS, FGFR2, ARID1A (BAF250a), and CTNNB1 (β-catenin), as well as epigenetic silencing of MLH1 resulting in microsatellite instability. Serous and clear cell ECs are clinically aggressive tumors that are rare at presentation but account for a disproportionate fraction of all endometrial cancer deaths. Serous ECs tend to be aneuploid and are typified by frequent genomic alterations affecting TP53 (p53), PPP2R1A, HER-2/ERBB2, PIK3CA, and PTEN; additionally, they display dysregulation of E-cadherin, p16, cyclin E, and BAF250a. The genetic etiology of clear cell ECs resembles that of serous ECs, but it remains relatively poorly defined. A detailed discussion of the characteristic patterns of genomic alterations that distinguish the three major histotypes of endometrial cancer is reviewed herein.
An advection-dispersion-reaction model of bauxite formation

Abstract The formation of bauxite from a granitic protolith, at 25°C, has been simulated using a modified version of the 1DREACT software for one-dimensional reactive transport, which uses a kinetic approach to describe the mineral dissolution and precipitation reactions. The rate laws describing these reactions incorporate the important effects of mineral surface area, pH, and solution saturation state, and are based on experimentally determined rates published in the literature. The original program has been modified to allow for a different treatment of the mineral surface areas and reaction rate laws. The results of long term simulations (>1 Ma) show the development of gibbsite-rich weathering profiles (bauxites), which are underlaid by muscovite-rich zones. These muscovite-rich zones are not observed in the field (the typical `bauxitic' profile consists of an upper gibbsite-rich and a lower kaolinite-rich zone). A strong nucleation barrier for muscovite could explain the absence of muscovite from the weathering profiles. The results also show that the infiltrating solutions get closer to saturation with respect to microcline than with respect to albite, in agreement with numerous field observations. The simulations also predict the formation of a 5–10 m thick gibbsite–kaolinite transition zone, which is in agreement with field observations, and argues for the applicability of the experimentally determined rates, or at least their ratios, to field conditions. Regarding the chemistry of the solutions leaving the weathering profiles, the Si/(Na+K) ratio of the waters increases to values higher than 3 with time (intense weathering), in agreement with some of the river chemistry data from the Guayana Shield reported by Edmond et al. (1995) .
A novel multi-actuation CMOS RF MEMS switch

This paper demonstrates a capacitive shunt type RF MEMS switch, which is actuated by electro-thermal actuator and electrostatic actuator at the same time, and than latching the switching status by electrostatic force only. Since thermal actuators need relative low voltage compare to electrostatic actuators, and electrostatic force needs almost no power to maintain the switching status, the benefits of the mechanism are very low actuation voltage and low power consumption. Moreover, the RF MEMS switch has considered issues for integrated circuit compatible in design phase. So the switch is fabricated by a standard 0.35um 2P4M CMOS process and uses wet etching and dry etching technologies for postprocess. This compatible ability is important because the RF characteristics are not only related to the device itself. If a packaged RF switch and a packaged IC wired together, the parasitic capacitance will cause the problem for optimization. The structure of the switch consists of a set of CPW transmission lines and a suspended membrane. The CPW lines and the membrane are in metal layers of CMOS process. Besides, the electro-thermal actuators are designed by polysilicon layer of the CMOS process. So the RF switch is only CMOS process layers needed for both electro-thermal and electrostatic actuations in switch. The thermal actuator is composed of a three-dimensional membrane and two heaters. The membrane is a stacked step structure including two metal layers in CMOS process, and heat is generated by poly silicon resistors near the anchors of membrane. Measured results show that the actuation voltage of the switch is under 7V for electro-thermal added electrostatic actuation.
Can concentric tube robots follow the leader

Continuum robots have opened a broad array of applications to robotics in general, and the concentric tube continuum robots promise many benefits in medicine. Many people intuitively assume that these robots can deploy along a curved trajectory, in such a way that the curved shape of the robot's shaft remains unchanged as the tip progresses forward (i.e. “follow-the-leader” deployment). This capability would be useful in advancing along winding lumens (e.g. blood vessels, lung bronchi, etc.), as well as when the device is embedded in soft tissue and used as a steerable needle. However, in this paper we show that deploying in a follow-the-leader manner is not possible except in very special cases of tube precurvatures, combined with specific deployment sequences. We also show that follow-the-leader deployment is not possible even for many of the “simple” cases where one might intuitively expect it to be. Fortunately, useful special cases of perfect follow-the-leader behavior do exist, and we provide examples and describe the conditions that must be satisfied for this to be possible. We also study approximate follow-the-leader behavior, proposing a metric to quantify the similarity of a general deployment to a follow-the-leader deployment.
Pulsed Neutron Gamma Ray Logging for Minerals Associated with Uranium

A logging tool is being developed by Sandia National Laboratories to look for minerals associated with uranium deposits. The tool uses a pulsed neutron generator to irradiate the nuclei in the formation surrounding the borehole, and an "N" type, high purity, germanium detector to observe the returning gamma rays. The presence or absence of particular elements, in conjunction with information gained from other logs, is expected to predict the location of uranium deposits away from the borehole. The "Proof of Principle" probe has been assembled and has a length of 3.66 meters and a maximum diameter of 7.6 cm. The cryostat in the probe has an operational life in the borehole exceeding 7.5 hours. The resolution of the borehole detection system is presently about 5 keV due to noise from the internal DC - DC converter in the probe. Tests have been run using an external power supply which have demonstrated a resolution better than 2.6 keV. Experiments in a simulated borehole configuration with a pulsed neutron generator have established an output level of 1 × 105 neutrons/pulse for the detection of inelastic, capture, and activation gamma rays. Gating of the ADC was shown to improve the signal-to-noise ratio for specific gamma ray lines. Several analysis techniques are currently being examined for use in the project. In addition to the conventional peak stripping analysis, a technigue using ratios between a known peak and the unknown peaks has been proposed for quantitative analysis of samples.
A review of combined experimental and computational procedures for assessing biopolymer structure–process–property relationships

Tailored biomaterials with tunable functional properties are desirable for many applications ranging from drug delivery to regenerative medicine. To improve the predictability of biopolymer materials functionality, multiple design parameters need to be considered, along with appropriate models. In this article we review the state of the art of synthesis and processing related to the design of biopolymers, with an emphasis on the integration of bottom-up computational modeling in the design process. We consider three prominent examples of well-studied biopolymer materials – elastin, silk, and collagen – and assess their hierarchical structure, intriguing functional properties and categorize existing approaches to study these materials. We find that an integrated design approach in which both experiments and computational modeling are used has rarely been applied for these materials due to difficulties in relating insights gained on different length- and time-scales. In this context, multiscale engineering offers a powerful means to accelerate the biomaterials design process for the development of tailored materials that suit the needs posed by the various applications. The combined use of experimental and computational tools has a very broad applicability not only in the field of biopolymers, but can be exploited to tailor the properties of other polymers and composite materials in general.
Polynomial representation of complete sets of mutually orthogonal frequency squares of prime power order

Construction des ensembles de carres de frequences mutuellement orthogonaux, basee sur les polynomes definis sur les corps finis
Deep convection and upper-tropospheric humidity: A look from the A-Train

[1] This work investigates the links between deep convective clouds and upper-tropospheric humidity. We collocate data from AIRS, CloudSat, and the GDAS model output, and globally average and grid our results to seasonal scales for one year, 2007. The CloudSat cloud scenario retrieval is used as a reliable identifier of deep convective events, during which we extract the nearest 300-mb humidity from AIRS and GDAS data. The zonal averages of thus screened data clearly show significant increase in the humidity, and suppression of the all-sky outgoing long-wave radiation.
A bijection between ordered trees and 2-Motzkin paths and its many consequences

A new bijection between ordered trees and 2-Motzkin paths is presented, together with its numerous consequences regarding ordered trees as well as other combinatorial structures such as Dyck paths, bushes, {0, 1, 2}-trees, Schroder paths, RNA secondary structures, noncrossing partitions, Fine paths, and Davenport-Schinzel sequences.
Electrical properties of Zn3P2 single crystals

The electrical properties of Zn3P2 single crystals grown by sublimation and by iodine transport, as well as largegrain polycrystalline material grown by sublimation, have been measured by conductivity and Hall effect measurements as a function of temperature. In single crystals scattering is controlled by charged impurity scattering at low temperatures and acoustic lattice scattering at high temperatures, with a typical maximum mobility value of 10 to 20 cm2/V-sec. In polycrystalline samples the mobility is thermally activated with an activation energy of 0.072 eV at higher temperatures and 0.028 eV at lower temperatures. A computer modelling of the Hall effect and conductivity data indicated acceptor levels with ionization energies of ≤_ 0.02 eV, 0.25 eV and 0.47 eV for the sublimed crystals, and of 0.034 eV and 0.14 eV for crystals grown with iodine transport; densities for these levels were also determined. Results of investigation of electrical contacts, vacuum heat treatment, and Auger profiling are also reported.
Application of linear programming to the economical optimization of electrical networks

The problem of specifying tolerances of electrical components used to construct a desired network to minimize network cost is translated into a linear programming format. This program enables the designer to select the tolerances according to economic factors without violating design objectives. The program employs sensitivity functions and assumes linearity over the range of operation.
A novel protein involved in the functional assembly of the oxygen-evolving complex of photosystem II in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.

Mutation of Glu69 to Gln in the D2 protein of photosystem II is known to lead to a loss of photoautotrophic growth in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. However, second-site mutants (pseudorevertants) with restored photoautotrophic growth but still maintaining the E69Q mutation in D2 are easily obtained. Using a genomic mapping technique involving functional complementation, the secondary mutation was mapped to slr0286 in two independent mutants. The mutations in Slr0286 were R42M or R394H. To study the function of Slr0286, mutants of E69Q and of the wild-type strain were made that lacked slr0286. Deletion of slr0286 did not affect photoautotrophic capacity in wild type but led to a marked decrease in the apparent affinity of Ca2+ to its binding site at the water-splitting system of photosystem II and to a reduced heat tolerance of the oxygen-evolving system, particularly in E69Q. Moreover, a small increase in the half-time for photoactivation of the oxygen-evolving complex of photosystem II for both wild type a...
Mathematical modeling and the epidemiological research process

The authors of this paper advocate for the expanded use of mathematical models in epidemiology and provide an overview of the principles of mathematical modeling. Mathematical models can be used throughout the epidemiological research process. Initially they may help to refine study questions by visually expressing complex systems, directing literature searches, and identifying sensitive variables. In the study design phase, models can be used to test sampling strategies, to estimate sample size and power, and to predict outcomes for studies impractical due to time or ethical considerations. Once data are collected, models can assist in the interpretation of results, the exploration of causal pathways, and the combined analysis of data from multiple sources. Finally, models are commonly used in the process of applying research findings to public health practice by estimating population risk, predicting the effects of interventions, and contributing to the evaluation of ongoing programs. Mathematical modeling has the potential to make significant contributions to the field of epidemiology by enhancing the research process, serving as a tool for communicating findings to policymakers, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration.
Influence of diethylstilbestrol and related substances on respiratory metabolism of yeast

Abstract Diethylstilbestrol was found to have an action on yeast metabolism analogous to, but more potent than, that of dinitrophenol (DNP). With increasing concentration, stilbestrol first markedly stimulated endogenous respiration of yeast and then depressed it below control levels. The combined action of DNP and stilbestrol on endogenous O 2 uptake of yeast was similar to that of a higher concentration of stilbestrol acting alone. In acting on endogenous yeast fermentation, stilbestrol evoked an initial evolution of CO 2 , which fell off rapidly with time. Total anaerobic CO 2 evolved increased with increasing stilbestrol concentration, throughout the range of reagent concentrations employed. With glucose present, stilbestrol inhibited both respiration and fermentation of yeast, the inhibitory action becoming more marked with increasing reagent concentrations. It is suggested that the inhibitory influence of stilbestrol, and by analogy perhaps also of DNP, on yeast metabolism may be related to the activity of these substances as competitive hydrogen carriers.
Numerical Viscosity and the Survival of Gas Giant Protoplanets in Disk Simulations

We present three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations of a gravitationally unstable protoplanetary disk model under the condition of local isothermality. Ordinarily, local isothermality precludes the need for an artificial viscosity (AV) scheme to mediate shocks. Without AV, the disk evolves violently, shredding into dense (although short-lived) clumps. When we introduce our AV treatment in the momentum equation, but without heating due to irreversible compression, our grid-based simulations begin to resemble smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) calculations, where clumps are more likely to survive many orbits. In fact, the standard SPH viscosity appears comparable in strength to the AV that leads to clump longevity in our code. This sensitivity to one numerical parameter suggests extreme caution in interpreting simulations by any code in which long-lived gaseous protoplanetary bodies appear.
Integer and fractional security in graphs

Let G=(V,E) be a graph. A subset S of V is said to be secure if it can defend itself from an attack by vertices in N[S]-S. In the usual definition, each vertex in N[S]-S can attack exactly one vertex in S, and each vertex in S can defend itself or one of its neighbors in S. A defense of S is successful if each vertex has as many defenders as attackers. We look at allowing an attacking vertex to divide its one unit of attack among multiple targets, or allowing a defending vertex to divide its one unit of defense among multiple allies. Three new definitions of security are given. It turns out that two of the new definitions are the same as the original.
Accelerating ultrasound image analysis research through publically available database

Ultrasound is widely used intra-operatively to provide real-time feedback in image guided intervention procedures. Registration of pre- and intra-operative images is a crucial step in the procedure. Unfortunately, real-time US images often have poor signal-to-noise ratio and suffer from imaging artifacts. Hence, registration using US images can be challenging and significant preprocessing is often required to make the registrations robust. The amount of preprocessing required can be reduced by incorporating US physical imaging process. However, progress in this research is hampered due to lack of publicly available database for training and testing image analysis algorithms that take in to consideration ultrasound physical process. We present here a new database that we are building to archive and distribute ultrasound images of an abdominal phantom acquired at different image acquisition parameters. The database contains tracking information of the transducer in addition to the 2D ultrasound image slices. We believe a publicly available database like this one will provide a valuable resource for the research community and it will be instrumental in developing a collaborative scientific community needed to advance the field.
Physicians in Restraints: HMO Gatekeepers and their Perceptions of Demanding Patients

This study examines the implications of contemporary bureaucratic organizational forms for professionals and their clients by considering the case of doctors working for health maintenance organizations (HMOs). Physicians are gatekeepers who define patient access to health care resources. The study finds that gatekeepers within some HMOs are constrained by the organization of medical practice. The most important organizational constraints over gatekeeping are utilization review and the alteration of traditional relationships between gatekeeping physicians and their consultants. The resulting patterns of interactions, both between professionals and between professionals and their clients, lead physicians to view their HMO patients as characteristically demanding.
Existence of an Optimum Spacing Between Horizontal Cylinders in a Horizontal Row Cooled by Natural Convection

The results of this research show that as the horizontal spacing between the cylinders in a single horizontal row is reduced; the natural convection heat transfer coefficient and thus the rate of heat transfer from each cylinder could increase substantially beyond those for natural convection from a single cylinder before rapidly decreasing. The rate of heat transfer from the array can therefore be significantly increased because of two factors; the enhanced heat transfer coefficient and the ability to add more cylinders in a given volume. The rapid reduction in heat transfer at very small spacing also points to the existence of an optimum tube spacing. This phenomenon does not appear to have been reported before and may lead to significant reductions in the size of many heat exchangers and may prove useful in cooling of electronic components.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Future developments in urologic day surgery

Abstract This study was performed to assess the changes occurring in the field of urology with developments in outpatient surgery during a five year period. Using ICD-9-CM code, data for all urology procedures performed in the main operating rooms, day surgery, and laser center operating rooms of a large general hospital was collected for the years 1987–1992. A substitution index (SI) was determined as the ratio of the number of outpatients to the total number of procedures and expressed as a percentage. Changes in the SI reflect the degree to which emphasis has shifted from conventional inpatient to outpatient surgery. Twenty-six per cent of urology procedures were being performed on an outpatient basis in 1987, and this increased to 42% by 1992. When broken down according to organ, the greatest increase in SI from 1987–1992 was for the kidney (57%) and the least, the penis (2%), with ureter, urethra, testes and scrotum all revealing intermediate, but significant, increases (27%, 28% and 24%, respectively). This paper demonstrates that, as in other fields, urology has experienced a marked increase in outpatient surgery. With developments in surgical and anesthetic techniques, financial pressures, changing physician and patient attitudes and technological advances, further increases in urology outpatient care can be expected.
Recent applications of glass science

Abstract Recent, often exciting, applications of glass science include: solid state batteries, electronic switches and memories, electrophotography, solar cells, microspheres for optical strengthening and medical uses, novel glass ceramics such as machinable and bioactive materials, solder glasses, composites, sol-gel glasses, gradient index optics, communication fibers, sensors, non-linear and active optics, and, perhaps, digital optics. The large field of special coatings is not covered in this review.
Nonparametric Bayesian variable selection with applications to multiple quantitative trait loci mapping with epistasis and gene-environment interaction.

The joint action of multiple genes is an important source of variation for complex traits and human diseases. However, mapping genes with epistatic effects and gene–environment interactions is a difficult problem because of relatively small sample sizes and very large parameter spaces for quantitative trait locus models that include such interactions. Here we present a nonparametric Bayesian method to map multiple quantitative trait loci (QTL) by considering epistatic and gene–environment interactions. The proposed method is not restricted to pairwise interactions among genes, as is typically done in parametric QTL analysis. Rather than modeling each main and interaction term explicitly, our nonparametric Bayesian method measures the importance of each QTL, irrespective of whether it is mostly due to a main effect or due to some interaction effect(s), via an unspecified function of the genotypes at all candidate QTL. A Gaussian process prior is assigned to this unknown function. In addition to the candidate QTL, nongenetic factors and covariates, such as age, gender, and environmental conditions, can also be included in the unspecified function. The importance of each genetic factor (QTL) and each nongenetic factor/covariate included in the function is estimated by a single hyperparameter, which enters the covariance function and captures any main or interaction effect associated with a given factor/covariate. An initial evaluation of the performance of the proposed method is obtained via analysis of simulated and real data.
Interstitial pulmonary fibrosis, atypical epithelial changes and bronchiolar cell carcinoma following busulfan therapy.

A case of bronchiolar cell carcinoma in a lung with diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis and atypical alveolar cell hyperplasia following long-term busulfan therapy for chronic granulocytic leukemia is described. The literature is reviewed and the radiomimetic and mutagenic properties of busulfan are thought to cause the diffuse interstitial pulmonary fibrosis and atypical alveolar cell hyperplasia. The occurrence of bronchiolar cell carcinoma in a lung with diffuse atypical alveolar cell changes is believed to represent different phases of the same pathologic process; the probable carcinogenic role of busulfan is discussed.
Dying for Science

Most scientists are devoted to their work and are passionate about the potential benefits their research brings to society. But are they and their families prepared to die for their work? Should this even be a consideration when these individuals are working under carefully legislated and legal research conditions? For 13 University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), researchers, some of whom work with mice and others with fruit flies, this became a sudden reality.
Clinical trial of a prevention and treatment protocol for skin breakdown in two nursing homes.

Abstract Objective Our objective was to assess the effectiveness of skin care protocols, including a body wash and skin protectant, on skin breakdown in 2 nursing homes. Design This was a quasi-experimental pretest/posttest design study. Setting and subjects Adult residents (n = 136) of 2 skilled nursing homes consented to participate in this study. Seventy percent were women; the sample average age of 82 years. Instruments A researcher-designed data recording form documented resident demographics, incidence and type of skin breakdown or pressure ulcer, presence of urinary or fecal incontinence, and assessment of the effectiveness of body wash and skin protectant. Methods Baseline data on prevalence of pressure ulcers and skin protocol were collected weekly for a 3-month period followed by a week-long educational program by the researchers about skin care and the body wash and skin protectant. During the 3-month trial with the body wash and skin protectant incorporated into routine care, research assistants recorded resident data weekly and researchers again assessed prevalence and incidence of pressure ulcers and skin breakdown weekly. Results Incorporation of a body wash and skin protectant into a skin care prevention and early intervention protocol in 2 nursing homes documented a decrease in skin breakdowns from 68 pre-intervention to 40 postintervention; the decrease in agency B was statistically significant. There was a statistically significant decrease in stage I and II pressure ulcer incidence overall (pre-intervention = 19.9%, postintervention = 8.1%). Nurses evaluated the body wash and skin protectant as effective for 98% of the time used. Conclusion Implementation of a protocol for skin care along with staff education, including the prophylactic use of a body wash and skin protectant, reduced the incidence of skin breakdown, including pressure ulcers and perineal dermatitis, in 2 long-term care facilities.
A freshwater population of the mummichog,Fundulus heteroclitus, from the Susquehanna River drainage in Pennsylvania

An established population of mummichog,Fundulus heteroclitus, in the Susquehanna drainage is reported from Pennsylvania for the first time. Three year classes of this brackish water species were taken on 17 August 1976 from Letort Spring Run, a tributary of the Conodoguinet Creek in Cumberland County. A survey of unpublished records and museum specimens revealed occurrences in Wissahickon Creek, Montgomery County, and Brandywine Creek, Chester County; both Delaware drainage. Presence in these drainages is believed the result of bait bucket introduction.
Myotoxin a reduces the threshold for calcium-induced calcium release in skeletal muscle.

Abstract M. L. Yudkowsky , J. Beech and J. E. Fletcher . Myotoxin a reduces the threshold for calcium-induced calcium release in skeletal muscle. Toxicon 32, 273–278, 1994.—Myotoxin a , isolated from the venom of the prairie rattlesnake Crotalus viridis viridis , induces necrosis in skeletal muscle. In isolated organelles, it has been reported that myotoxin a reduces Ca 2+ uptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The effects of the toxin on Ca 2+ regulation were examined in heavy sarcoplasmic reticulum fractions from human and equine skeletal muscle. Ca 2+ uptake and release (the threshold of Ca 2+ -induced Ca 2+ release) were examined by dual wavelength spectrophotometry. The toxin lowered the threshold of Ca 2+ -induced Ca 2+ release in a dose-dependent manner (1–10 μM) and this effect was antagonized by ruthenium red, a Ca 2+ release channel blocker. Ca 2+ uptake into equine heavy sarcoplasmic reticulum was not decreased by myotoxin a (10 μM) when Ca 2+ release was blocked by ruthenium red. [ 3 H]Ryanodine binding to equine heavy sarcoplasmic reticulum was converted from a relatively low affinity state to a higher affinity state by myotoxin a . These results suggest that the dominant effect of myotoxin a is to increase the Ca 2+ sensitivity for the opening of the calcium release channel (ryanodine receptor). Myotoxin a may prove to be a useful tool to probe the modulation of calcium release in sarcoplasmic reticulum fractions.
Growth restriction in gastroschisis: quantification of its severity and exploration of a placental cause

Gastroschisis patients are commonly small for gestational age (SGA, birth weight [BW] < 10th centile). However, the extent, symmetry and causes of that growth restriction remain controversial. We compared BW, crown-heel length (LT), occipitofrontal circumference (OFC) and ponderal index (PI) in 179 gastroschisis cases and 895 matched controls by univariate and multiple regression. Fetal ultrasounds (N = 80) were reviewed to determine onset of growth restriction. Placental histology was examined in 31 gastroschisis patients whose placental tissue was available and in 29 controls. Gastroschisis cases weighed less than controls (BW = 2400 ± 502 g vs. 2750 ± 532 g, p < 0.001) and their BW frequency curve was shifted to the left, indicating lower BW as a group compared to controls (p < 0.001 by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test). BW differences varied from -148 g at 33 weeks to -616 g at 38 weeks gestation. Intrauterine growth restriction was symmetric with gastroschisis patients having a shorter LT (45.7 ± 3.3 vs. 48.4 ± 2.7 cm, p < 0.001), smaller OFC (31.9 ± 1.9 vs. 32.9 ± 1.6 cm, p < 0.001), but larger ponderal index (2.51 ± 0.37 vs. 2.40 ± 0.16, p < 0.001) compared to controls. Gastroschisis patients had a similar reduction in BW (-312 g, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -367, -258) compared to those with chromosomal abnormalities (-239 g, CI = -292, -187). Growth deficits appeared early in the second trimester and worsened as gestation increased. Placental chorangiosis was more common in gastroschisis patients than controls, even after removing all SGA patients (77% vs. 42%, p = 0.02). Marked, relatively symmetric intrauterine growth restriction is an intrinsic part of gastroschisis. It begins early in the second trimester, and is associated with placental chorangiosis.
Tooth transplantation in the mouse. II. The role of the histocompatibility-2 (H-2) system in tooth germ transplantation

Abstract Allogeneic skin grafts transplanted on recipients presensitized with allogeneic tooth germs showed an accelerated rejection pattern. Apparently, developing teeth contain antigens of the major histocompatibility system, and these antigens are able to elicit a strong allograft reaction in the recipient.
Improvement of vehicle roll stability by varying suspension properties

Vehicle roll dynamics are strongly influenced by suspension properties such as roll centre height, roll steer, and roll camber. In this paper, the effects of suspension properties on vehicle roll response have been investigated using a multi-body vehicle dynamics programme. Roll dynamics of a vehicle model with MacPherson (front) and multilink (rear) suspensions were evaluated for the fishhook manoeuvre and variations of its roll response due to changes in the suspension properties were assessed by quantitatively analysing the vehicle response through simulation. Critical suspension design parameters for vehicle roll dynamics were identified and adjusted to improve roll stability of the vehicle model with passive suspension. Design of experiments has been used for identifying critical hardpoints affecting the suspension parameters, and optimisation techniques were employed for parameter optimisation. This approach provides a viable alternative to costlier active control systems for economy-class vehicles.
SPATIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWIST IN ACTIVE REGION MAGNETIC FIELDS AND SOLAR FLARES

Twisted magnetic field lines in solar active regions constitute stressed flux systems, the reconnection of which can release the stored (excess) magnetic energy in the form of solar flares. Using co-registered photospheric vector magnetograms and chromospheric Hα images for 29 flares, we explore the spatial relationship between these flares and the magnetic topology of the active regions in which they occur. We find two dominant trends. First, flares are preferentially initiated in subregions that have a high gradient in twist. Second, flare initiation occurs close to chirality inversion lines (which separate regions with twist of opposite handedness). Our results demonstrate that magnetic helicity, as manifested in the twist parameter, plays an important role in magnetic reconnection and solar flaring activity.
Sensing and Control of Weld Pool Geometry for Automated GTA Welding

Weld pool geometry is a crucial factor in determining welding quality, especially in the case of sheet welding. Its feedback control should be a fundamental requirement for automated welding. However, the real-time precise measurement of pool geometry is a difficult procedure. It has been shown that vision sensing is a promising approach for monitoring the weld pool geometry. Quality images that can be processed in real-time to detect the pool geometry are acquired by using a high shutter speed camera assisted with nitrogen laser as an illumination source. However, during practical welding, impurities or oxides existing on the pool surface complicate image processing. The image features are analyzed and utilized for effectively processing the image. It is shown that the proposed algorithm can always detect the pool boundary with sufficient accuracy in less than 100 ms. Based on this measuring technique, a robust adaptive system has been developed to control the pool area. Experiments show that the proposed control system can overcome the influence caused by various disturbances.
In the beginning… Animal fertilization and sea urchin development

What I most wished to discover [in my study] was the role that spermatozoids play in fertilization. In order to determine this, I put a droplet of red liquid, and at a small distance, a similar droplet of white liquid in a little trough on the viewing slide of the microscope; then, after covering all of this with a thin strip of glass, I added a drop of sea water. I was then able to watch the spermatozoids advance progressively towards the eggs. Some of [the eggs] were soon encircled by a compact mass of moving corpuscles; others, farther away, only found themselves in contact with a very small number [of sperm]; in both cases, I saw the signs of fertilization. The first apparent effect of this union is the almost immediate appearance of a perfectly transparent envelope that encircles the yolk at a certain distance, which is manifested by the appearance of a circular line. I saw this envelope manifest when in contact with a very small number of spermatozoids (three or four, sometimes even one only).
Pattern and depth of dives in Northern elephant seals, Mirounga angustirostris

A time-depth recorder was attached to a female Northern elephant seal at the end of her lactation fast before she entered the sea to feed. The animal dived continuously during its first 11 days at sea, the period recorded for a total of 653 dives. Mean dive time was 21 min, with the longest submersion lasting 32 min. Mean surface interval between dives was 3 min, resulting in a total surface time of 11 %. Mean dive depth was 333 m and the deepest dive was 630 m, the deepest ever recorded for a pinniped. A depth histogram recorder attached to another female yielded a similar frequency distribution of dive depths.
Pumping possibility: Agricultural expansion through desert reclamation in Egypt:

This paper examines the role played by pumps as a technology of water access. In the desert that borders Egypt’s cultivated zone, pumps provide the water vital for reclamation, transforming desert ...
Intrawell Absorption of Antisera in a Template Thin-Film Gel Diffusion Method

This report describes a method for in situ absorption of antisera within the template wells used in thin-film microgel diffusion. The intrawell absorption of antisera offers several advantages over previously reported techniques for detecting the presence of given antigens in biological preparations. The procedure is time saving, antigens are conserved, optimum antigen-antibody ratios are easily determined, and tests of several different absorbing antigens can be made on a single plate. Images
Grammatical comprehension deficits in non-fluent/agrammatic primary progressive aphasia

Importance Grammatical comprehension difficulty is an essential supporting feature of the non-fluent/agrammatic variant of primary progressive aphasia (naPPA), but well-controlled clinical measures of grammatical comprehension are unavailable. Objective To develop a measure of grammatical comprehension and examine this comparatively in PPA variants and behavioural-variant frontotemporal degeneration (bvFTD) and to assess the neuroanatomic basis for these deficits with volumetric grey matter atrophy and whole-brain fractional anisotropy (FA) in white matter tracts. Design Case–control study. Setting Academic medical centre. Participants 39 patients with variants of PPA (naPPA=12, lvPPA=15 and svPPA=12), 27 bvFTD patients without aphasia and 12 healthy controls. Main outcome measure Grammatical comprehension accuracy. Results Patients with naPPA had selective difficulty understanding cleft sentence structures, while all PPA variants and patients with bvFTD were impaired with sentences containing a centre-embedded subordinate clause. Patients with bvFTD were also impaired understanding sentences involving short-term memory. Linear regressions related grammatical comprehension difficulty in naPPA to left anterior-superior temporal atrophy and reduced FA in corpus callosum and inferior frontal-occipital fasciculus. Difficulty with centre-embedded sentences in other PPA variants was related to other brain regions. Conclusions and relevance These findings emphasise a distinct grammatical comprehension deficit in naPPA and associate this with interruption of a frontal-temporal neural network.