cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Age differences in arousal and vigilance in California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi)

Newly emerged pup, juvenile, and adult California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi douglasii) were videorecorded at a seminatural field site in northern California. Video data revealed age differences in the budgeting of ground squirrel behavior, habitat use, and physiological arousal as indicated by morphometric analyses of tail piloerection. Adults and juveniles devoted their time to foraging in the open at feeding stations while displaying low to moderate levels of arousal, respectively. Pups remained vigilant on the fringe of covered habitats while displaying comparatively higher levels of arousal. Higher pup arousal may facilitate memory formation during early stages of development. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 39: 199–206, 2001
Spectroscopic study of photoreceptor membrane incorporated into a multilamellar film.

Abstract A new method of orienting membrane fragments is described which has been used to produce multilamellar films of photoreceptor membrane. These films display linear dichroism which indicates the membranes are well oriented. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and far ultraviolet circular dichroism both indicate that the visual transducing membrane protein rhodopsin contains extensive alpha-helical structure which is oriented prodominantly perpendicular to the membrane plane.
Prompt Photon Production and Photon–Jet–Hadron Correlations in PHENIX

Abstract A variety of heavy-ion data from RHIC and recently also from the LHC on hard direct photon production testifies that this non-interacting probe of the densely colored QGP continues to lend new insights to understanding jet suppression and energy loss. In this talk, we report on new results of high p T single direct photon production in both p + p and Heavy Ion systems. Additionally, new PHENIX results on fragmentation functions of the direct photon–jet photon–hadron correlations from the 2010 dataset, when combined with the previous 2007 dataset result, now show an enhancement that is statistically significant in regions of low z . It is found that this enhancement appears to occur over relatively wide angles from back-to-back with respect to the direct photon trigger.
The radiation disorder model of phase stability

Abstract A detailed theory is presented for radiation induced order-disorder phase transformations. Both radiation enhanced ordering and radiation induced disordering are described and the temperature and radiation rate dependent balance between them is obtained. The theory is applied to the case of Cu 3 Au. The free energy of partially or completely disordered phases is then calculated so that radiation modified phase diagrams can be determined. Such diagrams are presented for the Ti-Co, Nb-Rh and Ti-Ru systems. Several experimental observations of phase instabilities are explained on the basis of the theory.
NMR pulsed-gradient diffusion measurements. I. Spin-echo stability and gradient calibration

Abstract The effect of a steady gradient (g0) on the stability of the spin echo in NMR pulsed-gradient (g) diffusion measurements was examined quantitatively and shown to give an improvement in stability if g0 ∥ g. The results also yield a method to determine directly, without the use of a reference compound, g and the angle between g and g0 through the use of an intentional mismatch of gradient pulses. Experimental results on water and glycerine verify the applicability of this technique.
Exogenous synapsin I promotes functional maturation of developing neuromuscular synapses

Abstract We have investigated the possible role of synapsin I, a nerve terminal-specific protein, in the maturation of neuromuscular synapses in Xenopus cell cultures. Purified synapsin I was loaded into embryonic spinal neurons by injection of the protein into one of the early blastomeres of a Xenopus embryo. At synapses made by synapsin I-loaded neurons, spontaneous synaptic currents occurred with higher frequency and amplitude, and the amplitude exhibited an earlier appearance of a bell-shaped distribution. These characteristics are indicative of more mature quantal secretion. Impulse-evoked synaptic currents also showed a significant increase in amplitude. Using cell manipulation techniques, enhanced transmitter release from synapsin I-loaded neurons was shown to occur at the onset of synaptogenesis, suggesting a presynaptic developmental action of synapsin I prior to synaptic contact. Taken together, these results suggest that endogenous synapsin 1 may participate in the functional maturation of synapses.
Low-temperature electrical properties of some transition metals and transition-metal carbides☆

The specific electrical resistivities of seven transition metal carbides (zirconium carbide, hafnium carbide, niobium carbide, tantalum carbide, dimolybdenum carbide, ditungsten carbide, and tungsten carbide) and ten transition metals (scandium, yttrium, titanium, zirconium, hafnium, niobium, tantalum, chromium, molybdenum, and tungsten) were measured between 2 ° and 300 °K. The data were fitted from 2 °K, or higher for the superconducting materials, to the crossover temperature T0 by the expression g(T) = ϱ0+βTn, and from T0 to 300 °K by the Bloch-Gruneisen function plus a constant. The latter expression represented the high-temperature data well, whereas the low-temperature expression represented most of the data fairly well. The parameters derived from these two expressions are discussed and compared.
Solubility Data for U(VI) Hydroxide And Np(IV) Hydrous Oxide:Application of MCC-3 Methodology

Experiments based on a modified MCC-3S test method were conducted to investigate the solubility of U(VI) hydroxide (the mineral schoepite) and Np(IV) hydrous oxide at ambient temperature. The solubility of U(VI) hydroxide was investigated in carbonate-free, oxidizing aqueous solutions in the pH range of 3 to 11. The measured concentrations of dissolved U confirm the amphoteric behavior of U(VI) hydroxide solid and the importance of anionic U(VI) hydroxyl complexes in accurately calculating the solubilities of U(VI) solids under basic pH conditions. the effect of fluoride complexation on the solubility of Np(IV) hydrous oxide was studied in carbonate-free, near-neutral to alkaline solutions that contained 100 ppM total F. For solutions in which sodium dithionite (Na/sub 2/S/sub 2/O/sub 4/) and metallic Fe were used as reducing agents, the addition of 100 ppM F had no measurable effect on the solubility of Np(IV) hydrous oxide.
Interactive poster: Visual data mining of unevenly-spaced event sequences

We present a process for the exploration and analysis of large databases of events. A typical database is characterized by the sequential actions of a number of individual entities. These entities can be compared by their similarities in sequence and changes in sequence over time. The correlation of two sequences can provide important clues as to the possibility of a connection between the responsible entities, but an analyst might not be able to specify the type of connection sought prior to examination. Our process incorporates extensive automated calculation and data mining but permits diversity of analysis by providing visualization of results at multiple levels, taking advantage of human intuition and visual processing to generate avenues of inquiry.
Base sequence dependence of in vitro translesional DNA replication past a bulky lesion catalyzed by the exo- Klenow fragment of Pol I.

The effects of base sequence, specifically different pyrimidines flanking a bulky DNA adduct, on translesional synthesis in vitro catalyzed by the Klenow fragment of Escherichia coli Pol I (exo(-)) was investigated. The bulky lesion was derived from the binding of a benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide isomer [(+)-anti-BPDE] to N(2)-guanine (G*). Four different 43-base long oligonucleotide templates were constructed with G* at a site 19 bases from the 5'-end. All bases were identical, except for the pyrimidines, X or Y, flanking G* (sequence context 5'-.XGY., with X, Y = C and/or T). In all cases, the adduct G* slows primer extension beyond G* more than it slows the insertion of a dNTP opposite G* (A and G were predominantly inserted opposite G, with A > G). Depending on X or Y, full lesion bypass differed by factors of approximately 1.5-5 ( approximately 0.6-3.0% bypass efficiencies). A downstream T flanking G on the 5'-side instead of C favors full lesion bypass, while an upstream C flanking G* is more favorable than a T. Various deletion products resulting from misaligned template-primer intermediates are particularly dominant ( approximately 5.0-6.0% efficiencies) with an upstream flanking C, while a 3'-flanking T lowers the levels of deletion products ( approximately 0.5-2.5% efficiencies). The kinetics of (1) single dNTP insertion opposite G* and (2) extension of the primer beyond G* by a single dNTP, or in the presence of all four dNTPs, with different 3'-terminal primer bases (Z) opposite G* were investigated. Unusually efficient primer extension efficiencies beyond the adduct (approaching approximately 90%) was found with Z = T in the case of sequences with 3'-flanking upstream C rather than T. These effects are traced to misaligned slipped frameshift intermediates arising from the pairing of pairs of downstream template base sequences (up to 4-6 bases from G*) with the 3'-terminal primer base and its 5'-flanking base. The latter depend on the base Y and on the base preferentially inserted opposite the adduct. Thus, downstream template sequences as well as the bases flanking G* influence DNA translesion synthesis.
Computational illustration of the bootstrap effect

A constructive computational model is used to show that even under poor case assumptions genetic systems accumulate features which increase their amenability to evolution. These features decrease the fitness of the individual organism, but hitchhike along with the fitness-increasing traits whose probability of appearance they increase.
Consultation and group process with indigenous neighborhood workers.

This paper describes a group experience with neighborhood workers in a black, ghetto community action program, with a white psychiatrist as group leader. It focuses on the definition of the task of consultation, derivation of mutually agreed upon goals, evolution of the group, and issues dealt with during the experience. Excerpts are presented to illustrate what the neighborhood workers themselves found relevant from the sessions. Finally, the meetings are discussed from the point of view of white professional consultation to a black community agency, and aspects of group dynamics are considered.
CONFLICT IN A MULTICULTURAL ORGANIZATION: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC ATTEMPT TO DISCOVER WORK‐RELATED CULTURAL ASSUMPTIONS BETWEEN CHINESE AND AMERICAN CO‐WORKERS

This paper presents an analysis of interview data and field notes from participant observation collected during a four‐month period to discover different work‐related cultural assumptions between Chinese and American co‐workers in a multicultural organization. The paper also addresses how those different cultural assumptions which guide the ways Chinese and American workers conceptualize their jobs and job behaviors lead to conflict as the employees go about their daily business. The contrasting cultural assumptions discussed in the paper are (1) Chinese and American views of the role of manager and the practice of “managing,” (2) Chinese and American conceptualizations of good service, and (3) Chinese and American perspectives of compensation. Finally, the paper discusses some theoretical and methodological implications of the current study and its research method for future studies of cultural and conflict in multicultural contexts.
Effects of Molecular Weight on the Structure of Poly(phenylene sulfide) Crystallized at Low Temperatures

We report a study of the effects of molecular weight on the structure and properties of poly(phenylene sulfide), PPS, crystallized from the rubbery amorphous state at temperatures just above the glass transition. PPS films were characterized using temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). For samples crystallized so as to have the same half-time, we find (1) the degree of crystallinity, χc, is not dependent upon molecular weight and (2) as the molecular weight increases, the heat capacity increment at the glass transition increases. These results suggest that lower molecular weight PPS contains a greater fraction of the rigid amorphous phase, probably as a result of formation of taut tie molecules between crystals. It is found from DMA that molecular weight is the determining factor that affects the Young's modulus value at the higher temperature. A lower E‘ is observed for the higher molecular weight materia...
SU-E-T-433: Pear-Shaped Based Dose Optimization for HDR Intracavitary Brachytherapy for Cervical Cancer Patients with Small Uterus.

Purpose: Currently, CT has been widely used for HDR planning as MRI is not widely available for tumorimaging. Conventional pear‐shaped isodose distribution may not be discarded completely because of possible microscopic diseases into parametrium/uterus. For patients with small uterus, organs at risk (OARs) can fall inside 100% conventional pear‐shaped isodose‐line. This study compares two pear‐shaped based doseoptimization methods for OARs sparing. Methods: Seven cervical cancer patients with small uterus were evaluated using 2 methods. For Method A, with conventional dwell‐time loading, point A lateral distance was reduced until all OARs' D2cc were within the dose limits. For Method B, a reference target volume was generated using conventional pear‐shaped 100% isodose‐ surface. While isodose‐line near the point A was adjusted for OARs sparing, isodose‐line surrounding ovoids were optimized to match the reference target volume. For equivalent OAR sparing, 100% isodose‐line width (lateral dimension) at 1 cm inferior to point A (−1 cm) and at across centers of ovoids (ovoid) were compared between the 2 methods. Results: OARs fall inside conventional 100% isodose‐line in all cases. Median position of hot spots was 0.2 cm (range −;1.2 to 2.9 cm) superior to point A. Using Method A, point A lateral distance was adjusted to 1.4–1.7 cm for OARs sparing. Median width of 100% isodose‐line was 5.82 cm at ovoid level, and 4.50 cm at −1 cm level. At ovoid level, median width of 100% isodose‐line was reduced by 9(8–13)% for Method A, and was unchanged for Method B. At −1 cm level, median width of 100% isodose‐line was reduced by 19(2– 33)% for Method A, and 11(0–15)% for Method B. Conclusions: for patients with small uterus, OARs are often fall inside 100% pear‐s haped isodose‐line near point A level. OARs can be spared without dramatically compromise treatment volume coverage around cervix using Method B.
Task-specific visualization design

This case study in operational weather forecasting demonstrates the principles of task-specific visualization design: defining user needs, implementing that definition, and establishing techniques for different user goals. The current applications can generate visualizations for the Web after an intermediate step of migrating the products to a Web server. This proves advantageous in an operational environment because the forecaster has content control. However, direct generation within a Web browser, which requires a simplified user interface and content, will require further refinement of the task decomposition. The notion of task-driven customization of content and interface has succeeded in weather forecasting, but the idea also applies to other domains. The potential benefits should encourage visualization designers to adopt these principles in their application development.
Competing Interactions and Levels of Ordering in Self-Organizing Polymeric Materials

The sophisticated use of self-organizing materials, which include liquid crystals, block copolymers, hydrogen- and π-bonded complexes, and many natural polymers, may hold the key to developing new structures and devices in many advanced technology industries. Synthetic materials are usually designed with only one structure-forming process in mind. However, combination of both complementary and antagonistic interactions in macromolecular systems can create order in materials over many length scales. Here polymer materials that make use of competing molecular interactions are summarized, and the prospects for the further development of such materials through both synthetic and processing pathways are highlighted.
Neurosurgery at the Barrow Neurological Institute

Neurosurgery at the Barrow Neurological Institute exists within the unique context of this nonuniversity-based center. The institute, a relative newcomer to academic medicine, opened in Phoenix in 1961 under the leadership of John Raymond Green, M.D., who remained its medical director until his retirement at the end of 1985. Since then, the institute has experienced a dynamic growth phase in its clinical and academic arenas. This article describes how the development of the institute has shaped the program in neurosurgery and vice versa.
Challenges of sustainable development under globalisation

The paper asks a basic question: Is there any room for more growth on the globalising world that takes into account the budget constraints of ecosystems and the planet's scarce resources? Economists tend to be very complacent about sustainability issues on the planet because they have been a problem throughout human history. Yet technological change has always solved these problems. There is an element of truth to that, but there is probably a greater element of falsehood to it now. The element of truth is that, with sufficient science, we are able to make lots of progress in many areas; but the element of falsehood is that solving the problems of sustainability will become increasingly difficult.
Reduction fuzzy social computing for gross national income cross-country comparison

An economic activity analysis carried out by employing the fuzzy dimensional size reduction is proposed in this paper. The need for economic impact monitoring is important to measure the economic growth and the effectiveness of worldwide or locally economic policy or activity. The fuzzy dimensional size reduction is employed in synergy with the fuzzy social computing, which is used to describe and model social relations. When working together they form the reduction fuzzy social computing that employs fuzzy particles to represent individuals, nations, companies and so forth. In this paper, the diverse gross national income (GNI)-type economic indicators are employed for practical economic activity assessment. World Bank supplies empirical data for exemplifying the potential of the proposed approach. Such an approach merges them into a simple graphic and a multidimensional abstract modeling for economic performance analyses and comparisons. The reduction of multidimensional data associated to fuzzy social computing enables data analyses and economic performance assessment in a simplified manner.
Studies on immunological tolerance to soluble proteins. I. Organ distribution of antigen in the adult mouse.

SummaryOrgan localization of antigen was studied in adult mice. A small tolerance- inducing dose of radiolabeled protein was given to each animal in 4 experimental groups of mice. Radioactivity as an expression of organ distribution of the HGG-I131 was determined at 4, 8, 24, and 48 hours following HGG-I131 administration. Blood, bone, brain, lymph nodes, thymus, spleen, liver, kidney, heart, lung and adrenal gland were assayed. A shortage of localization of antigen was found in the lymphoid tissues of tolerant and previously untreated mice. The liver was found to be the organ with the single highest radioactivity in all groups. Lymph nodes showed the highest activity per gram of organ weight. This was primarily significant for sensitized mice. The pattern of antigen distribution in the tolerant animals was interpreted as a failure, early in the immune response, to recognize the foreign material as non-self.
Electroosmotic flow control in complex microgeometries

Numerical simulation results for pure electroosmotic and combined electroosmotic/pressure driven Stokes flows are presented in the cross-flow and Y-split junctions. The numerical algorithm is based on a mixed structured/unstructured spectral element formulation, which results in high-order accurate resolution of thin electric double layers with discretization flexibility for complex engineering geometries. The results for pure electroosmotic flows in cross-flow junctions under multiple electric fields show similarities between the electric and velocity fields. The combined electroosmotic/pressure driven flows are also simulated by regulating the flowrate in different branches of the cross-flow junctions. Flow control in the Stokes flow regime is shown to have linear dependence on the magnitude of the externally applied electric field, both for pure electroosmotic and combined flows. This linear behavior enables utilization of electroosmotic forces as nonmechanical means of flow control for microfluidic applications.
Signal set design with constrained amplitude spectrum and specified time-bandwidth product

A new method for designing signals with a given time-bandwidth product, such that all the signals in the set have a flat amplitude spectrum and have low cross-correlation function values is introduced. It is shown that these signals lie on a signal parameter space ellipse. For a given duration and bandwidth, it is possible to trade off the cardinality of the set for better cross-correlation properties between remaining members of the set. Proof that the cross-correlation between these signals is bounded from above by a factor proportional to the square-root of inverse distance between these signals along one of the axes of the ellipse is given. It is also shown that the cross-correlation between two signals that are furthest apart is bounded by the square-root of inverse time-bandwidth product of the signals in the set. An example design is then given and a comparison of this signal set to some well-known signal sets illustrates that it performs better when the metric is maximum cross-correlation value. The proposed signal set also has the advantage that it can be designed for any time-bandwidth product instead of discrete values.
Recent advances in transformation optics

Within the past a few years, transformation optics has emerged as a new research area, since it provides a general methodology and design tool for manipulating electromagnetic waves in a prescribed manner. Using transformation optics, researchers have demonstrated a host of striking phenomena and devices; many of which were only thought possible in science fiction. In this paper, we review the most recent advances in transformation optics. We focus on the theory, design, fabrication and characterization of transformation devices such as the carpet cloak, “Janus” lens and plasmonic cloak at optical frequencies, which allow routing light at the nanoscale. We also provide an outlook of the challenges and future directions in this fascinating area of transformation optics.
Bullying Experiences and Compromised Academic Performance Across Middle School Grades

The goal of the study was to examine whether bullying experiences are associated with lower academic performance across middle school among urban students.The ethnically diverse sample was drawn from a longitudinal study of 2,300 sixth graders (44% Latino, 26% African American, 10% Asian, 10% White, and 10% mixed) from 11 public middle schools. Results of multilevel models (MLMs) showed that grade point averages and teacher-rated academic engagement were each predicted by both self-perceptions of victimization and peer nominations of victim reputation, controlling for demographic and school-level differences as well as overall declines in academic performance over time. Further MLM analyses suggested that most of the victimization effect was due to between-subject differences, as opposed to within-subject fluctuations, in victimization over time. The results of the study suggest that peer victimization cannot be ignored when trying to improve educational outcomes in urban middle schools.
On the cohomology of the finite special linear groups, II

In this paper we continue the investigation of the cohomology of the finite special linear groups. This was addressed in [2], but here we consider exclusively the case that the underlying field has two elements. We shall complete the proof that the results listed in [2, Table I] hold when 4 = 2. Our approach is much the same as in [2] and we refer to that paper for a more thorough orientation to the problem. However, here we shall not relent when nonzero terms appear in our analysis. This will require a rather detailed investigation of some of the groups and their modules. In addition, we shall construct several nonzero cocycles on Sylow 2-subgroups and decide if they are stable for the action of the Weyl group, i.e., if they are restrictions of cocycles from S&+,(2). In fact, we shall construct (on Sylow 2-subgroups) representatives of most of the “sporadic” nonzero classes. At then end of this paper, we list in Table I many of the explicit cocycles we construct, as well as the explicit cocycles constructed in [2]. In the first part of Section 1 we consider the Hochschild-Serre spectral sequence, which is a central tool for our analysis. We show how to decide when nontrivial terms in this sequence arise from nontrivial 1 and 2 cocycles on a maximal parabolic subgroup, and we show how to construct those cocycles when they exist. Later in Section 1 we analyze the I-cohomology of ,~5’,5,+~(2) acting on the exterior powers of the standard module. In Sections 2 and 3 we address the 1-cohomology and 2-cohomology questions, respectively.
In vitro 15nitrogen-tracer technique for some kinetic measures of ruminal ammonia.

Abstract To quantitate the several nitrogen fluxes which participate in the synthesis of ruminal microbes, an in vitro technique utilizing l5 N ammonia was developed. The technique involves incubation of 15 NH 4 -labelled rumen contents and analysis for 15 N-ammonia and total ammonia N at specific time intervals during the incubation period.For a cow fed twice daily and a sheep fed at 2-hourly intervals, respectively, the technique yielded estimates of mean fractional turnover rates (K am ) of .226 and .314 per hour, and mean rates of ammonia nitrogen incorporation into cell materials (am) of 2.68 and 2.89mg per hour per 50 of whole rumen digesta. The effect of rumen content donor on K am was highly significant (P
Blind Kriging: A New Method for Developing Metamodels

Kriging is a useful method for developing metamodels for product design optimization. The most popular kriging method, known as ordinary kriging, uses a constant mean in the model. In this article, a modified kriging method is proposed, which has an unknown mean model. Therefore, it is called blind kriging. The unknown mean model is identified from experimental data using a Bayesian variable selection technique. Many examples are presented, which show remarkable improvement in prediction using blind kriging over ordinary kriging. Moreover, a blind kriging predictor is easier to interpret and seems to be more robust against mis-specification in the correlation parameters.
Product Physical Interface Design Characteristics for Older Adults with Hand Use Limitations

This study is part of a larger research project addressing the problem of physical interface design for older populations with hand use limitations. Taking jar lids as the example of a product interface design problem provided a focus for the study; the research goal is to systematically evaluate jar lid design ideas that were collected from the prior phase of the study, by means of controlled laboratory testing. Eighteen older females with hand problems participated in the study. A subjective evaluation process was applied to quantitatively examine how different lid design characteristics affected each user’s perception of effort and discomfort. The main effect of each lid design characteristic and the interactions between them were explored. The result showed that the medium lid designs (42 mm in diameter) that were perceived as the best were the ones with a tall height, a hexagonal top shape, and a convex side shape; the best small lids (28 mm in diameter) were the designs with a tall height and a hexa...
Excessive α-tocopherol exacerbates microglial activation and brain injury caused by acute ischemic stroke

The vitamin E family includes both tocopherols and tocotrienols, where α-tocopherol (αTOC) is the most bioavailable form. Clinical trials testing the therapeutic efficacy of high-dose αTOC against stroke have largely failed or reported negative outcomes when a “more is better” approach to supplementation (>400 IU/d) was used. This work addresses mechanisms by which supraphysiologic αTOC may contribute to stroke-induced brain injury. Ischemic stroke injury and the neuroinflammatory response were studied in tocopherol transfer protein-deficient mice maintained on a diet containing αTOC vitamin E at the equivalent human dose of 1680 IU/d. Ischemic stroke-induced brain injury was exacerbated in the presence of supraphysiologic brain αTOC levels. At 48 h after stroke, S100B and RAGE expression was increased in stroke-affected cortex of mice with elevated brain αTOC levels. Such increases were concomitant with aggravated microglial activation and neuroinflammatory signaling. A poststroke increase in markers of ...
Landscape effects on black-tailed prairie dog colonies

Black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) increasingly compete for available habitat with human development in the Colorado Front Range. Because the effects of increased urbanization on prairie dog colonies are unknown, we studied how landscape context affects prairie dog density in Boulder County, Colorado, USA. We used burrow density as a proxy for prairie dog density because these variables were correlated at our study sites (r=0.60). Using remotely sensed data and a GIS, we quantified percent urbanization, road density, and the percentage of other prairie dog colonies in the surrounding landscape at 200, 1000, and 2000 m from the perimeter of 22 prairie dog colonies, and compared burrow density with each landscape variable at each scale. We also calculated Akaike’s information criterion (AIC) to determine the most parsimonious models predicting burrow density. Ranges of burrow densities and prairie dog densities in Boulder County were higher than in other studies using similar methodology. Within Boulder County, burrow density was significantly higher in colonies surrounded by greater density of roads. The degree to which prairie dog colonies were immediately surrounded by unsuitable habitat, i.e. the ‘‘boundedness’’ of the colony, was negatively correlated with colony area and positively correlated with burrow density. A model based on boundedness, the density of roads at the 2000 m scale, and the amount of prairie dog colonies at the 200 m scale explained 73% of the variance in prairie dog burrow density. However, a non-linear model including boundedness and the squared term of road density at the 2000 m scale had the lowest AIC value of all linear and non-linear models, indicating a possible threshold effect of urbanization on prairie dog density. Urbanization may have several implications for prairie dog persistence. Increased prairie dog density in urbanized landscapes may be related to the Refuge effect, i.e. decreased predator abundance. If higher prairie dog density increases competition for available resources, habitat quality may decline leading to population decline in highly urbanized landscapes. Furthermore, if dispersal is reduced in urbanized landscapes, then these colonies may not be recolonized after local extirpation from plague epizootics. Alternatively, urbanized colonies may be effectively isolated from plague vectors and reservoir hosts, which could result in a lower frequency of plague epizootics when compared to non-urbanized colonies. # 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Band-engineered Ge-on-Si lasers

We report optically-pumped Ge-on-Si lasers with direct gap emission near 1600 nm at room temperature. The Ge-on-Si material was band-engineered by tensile strain and n-type doping to compensate the energy difference between direct and indirect band gaps for efficient light emission. Modeling of Ge/Si double heterojunction LEDs shows that it is possible to achieve >10% quantum efficiency even assuming an Auger coefficient 10 times larger than reports in literature. Edge-emitting Ge-on-Si waveguide LEDs have also been demonstrated at room temperature. These simulation and experimental results strongly indicate the feasibility of electrically-pumped Ge-on-Si lasers.
Measuring DHEA-S in saliva: time of day differences and positive correlations between two different types of collection methods

Background The anabolic steroid, dehydroepiandosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), is secreted from the adrenal cortex. It plays a significant role in the body as a precursor to sex steroids as well as a lesser known role in the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis (HPA) response to stress. DHEA-S can be measured reliably in saliva, making saliva collection a valuable tool for health research because it minimizes the need for invasive sampling procedures (e.g., blood draws). Typical saliva collection methods include the use of plain cotton swab collection devices (e.g., Salivette®) or passive drool. There has been some speculation that the plain saliva cotton collection device may interfere with determination of DHEA-S by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) bringing this saliva collection method into question. Because of the increasing popularity of salivary biomarker research, we sought to determine whether the cotton swab interferes with DHEA-S determination through EIA techniques.
Marketing the hospital library to physicians: one approach.

Les services et produits offerts par une bibliotheque d'hopital peuvent etre presentes aux medecins de chaque departement a l'occasion des reunions mensuelles de ces departements: la preparation, la taille des groupes, le lieu de presentation, l'horaire... sont discutes. Cette approche specifique de marketing des services des bibliotheques d'hopitaux ciblant le personnel medical complete les methodes deja proposees dans la litterture de promotion des bibliotheques specialisees en medecine et sante
Transcriptional regulation of hepatic lipogenesis

Fatty acid and fat synthesis in the liver is a highly regulated metabolic pathway that is important for very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) production and thus energy distribution to other tissues. Having common features at their promoter regions, lipogenic genes are coordinately regulated at the transcriptional level. Transcription factors, such as upstream stimulatory factors (USFs), sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1C (SREBP1C), liver X receptors (LXRs) and carbohydrate-responsive element-binding protein (ChREBP) have crucial roles in this process. Recently, insights have been gained into the signalling pathways that regulate these transcription factors. After feeding, high blood glucose and insulin levels activate lipogenic genes through several pathways, including the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK), atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) and AKT-mTOR pathways. These pathways control the post-translational modifications of transcription factors and co-regulators, such as phosphorylation, acetylation or ubiquitylation, that affect their function, stability and/or localization. Dysregulation of lipogenesis can contribute to hepatosteatosis, which is associated with obesity and insulin resistance.
Are Sweep Net Sampling and Pitfall Trapping Compatible with Molecular Analysis of Predation

Molecular analysis of predation enables accurate and reliable elucidation of trophic linkages in complex food webs, but identifying the strength of such interactions can be subject to error. Currently two techniques dominate: monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Although the optimization and characterization of these systems ensures their sensitivity and specificity, predator collection protocols such as sweep-netting and vacuum sampling could overestimate feeding rates because of surface-level contamination, yielding positive reactivity or predation within the sampling device. Therefore, two sampling techniques (sweep-net sampling and hand collection) were compared within an alfalfa agroecosystem using a monoclonal antibody-based ELISA to test the hypothesis that cross-contamination is a source of error, i.e., significantly more predators (linyphiid spiders) would test positive for prey (Diptera) proteins. A concurrent study examining the viability of trapping predators into saline solution was also undertaken. No significant differences were found between the proportions of spiders screening positive for Diptera when collected by sweep-net versus hand collection, rejecting the hypothesis that sweep-netting predators for subsequent molecular gut content analysis overestimates predation frequency. ELISA was also capable of detecting prey proteins in predator guts from pitfall traps containing phosphate-buffered saline, indicating the suitability of this approach for the collection and analysis of epigeal predators. Although these results indicate that sweep netting and pitfall trapping into solution is appropriate in this predator–prey and ELISA analysis system, caution should be exercised with other interactions and PCR-based analysis. The likelihood for false-positive reactivity should therefore be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Encouragement Designs: An Approach to Self-Selected Samples in an Experimental Design

When subjects choose their own treatment (are self-selected into treatments based on their varying compliance with assignment to treatment states), many of the well-developed techniques of randomization-based experimental design and analysis are no longer applicable. With random assignment to treatment and control conditions, we can reasonable assume that over many replications, the two groups will be similar in all respects (observed and not observed) but that of receiving the treatment. With non-random assignment, it may be true that the groups differ on the variable of interest prior to receiving the treatment, and that a measured post-treatment difference (or lack thereof) will be erroneously attributed to the treatment. Our approach involves making all subjects aware of the availability of the treatment, but then offering extra encouragement (an encouragement design) to participate in the treatment to a randomly selected half of the population. If the encouragement is successful, we show how this leads to an estimable treatment effect (with associated asymptotic standard error). An illustrative example using fictitious data is presented in which we measure the effects of coupon books on store purchase behavior. A randomly selected half of the customers at a given store are assigned to receive coupon books as part of a package of store materials (the treatment condition) whereas the other half are not. We overlay on this initial randomized design an encouragement condition in which a second randomly chosen half of the store's customers receive their materials from an employee (encouraging participation with the treatment), and for the other half the materials were simply placed on a table. The market share of persons who chose to take the coupon book was 44% and 20% from those who did not. A naive estimate of the effect of the treatment is 24%; however this estimate ignores the self-selection bias (those persons assigned to receive the coupon book but refused to take it, and those not assigned who picked one up anyway). Using the encouragement design estimator derived leads to a lower estimated impact of the treatment at 5%. The difference in these results may have significant impact on the choice by store management to utilize employees to hand out promotional materials.
Characteristics of persons with severe mental illness and substance abuse in rural areas

A cross-sectional study of 1,551 clients receiving care in ten community-based rural mental health care systems assessed problem behaviors and psychiatric symptoms among three groups of severely mentally ill clients: those with a current substance abuse problem, those with a history of substance abuse but no current problem, and those with no history of substance abuse problems. Clients with a current substance abuse problem were younger than clients who had no history of such problems and had more symptoms of anger, more trouble with the law, and more suicidal threats than clients in the other two groups.
Which women are missed by primary health-care based interventions for alcohol and drug use?

Abstract Background Women of reproductive age who binge drink or have alcohol-related problem symptoms (APS) and who do not use contraception are considered at risk of an alcohol-exposed pregnancy (AEP). In the U.S., efforts to prevent AEPs focus largely on delivering interventions in primary health care settings. While research suggests that these interventions are efficacious for women reached, it is unclear to what extent these interventions are likely to reach women at risk of AEPs. Methods Data are from the Turnaway Study, a study of 956 women seeking pregnancy termination at 30 U.S. facilities between 2008 and 2010, some of whom received and some of whom were denied terminations because they were past the gestational limit. We examined associations between binge drinking, APS, and drug use prior to pregnancy recognition and having a usual source of health care (USOC). Results Overall, 59% reported having a USOC. A smaller proportion with than without an APS reported a USOC (44 vs. 60%, p Conclusions As more than 40% did not have a USOC, with higher proportions among women with an APS, primary health-care based approaches to AEP prevention seem unlikely to reach the majority of women who have an APS and are at risk of an unintended pregnancy.
Obtaining a clinical laboratory science degree via distance technology.

OBJECTIVE: To identify institutions and program officials associated with clinical laboratory science (CLS) academic programs available via distance technology; to collect and summarize data from these programs with regard to on-line instructional methodologies; to determine the level of success of educational strategies and methodologies utilized in on-line CLS programs; to determine the feasibility of developing an on-line program at Seward County Community College (SCCC), Liberal, Kansas. DESIGN: An on-line CLS program survey tool was sent to eight higher education institutions which had previously indicated that they offer a CLS academic program at the associate, bachelor, or master level via distance technology. Program officials were asked to answer questions pertaining to areas such as program format, on-line admission requirements, program costs, student costs, faculty workload, and on-campus versus on-line student performance. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: The survey was sent to eight program officials who identified their institutions as having a CLS program available through distance technology. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Responses from current distance technology CLS program officials were collected and tallied. Responses were recorded as ‘yes’ or ‘no’ in categories such as program format, program and student costs, and comparison of on-campus versus on-line student performance. The two groups of students were compared in areas of success rate, retention rate, graduation rate, external certification pass rate, employment placement rate, and employer satisfaction level. RESULTS: The response rate for the survey was 87.5% (7/8). Program officials indicated that various educational methodologies were incorporated in providing CLS education via distance technology. All of the respondents utilize some type of Web-enhanced, Internet based access to deliver course material. Clinical laboratory procedures are taught via instruction within a cooperative laboratory, program clinical affiliate laboratory, or during on-campus student laboratories. Program officials indicated that student enrollment has increased due to the availability of the distance technology. Students enrolled via distance technology perform as well or better than the on-campus students on certification exams and in the clinical setting. Data from these institutions indicate that it is feasible to develop an on-line program at SCCC in an effort to increase student enrollment. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that CLS programs which offer the curriculum via distance technology have experienced increased student enrollment thus graduating more students to fill the employment needs. These current distance technology programs are leading the future trends in CLS education of the 21st century. ABBREVIATIONS: AD = associate degree; BS = Bachelor of Science degree; CLS = clinical laboratory science; CLS/MT = clinical laboratory scientist/medical technologist; CLT/MLT = clinical laboratory technician/medical laboratory technician; MS = Master of Science degree; SCCC = Seward County Community College.
Large Scale Modeling and Simulation of Propulsion Systems

Current trends in the automotive, aerospace and other industries are resulting in the development of exceptionally large system-level models of control law or physical system behaviors. This is especially true in the propulsion systems algorithm and software development areas. The MathWorks has been actively engaged with a number of engineering groups faced with industry demands of increased software feature content with higher complexity and a shorter turn-around time. This paper discusses a roadblock encountered on a typical propulsion system software simulation due to its sheer size. It also discusses challenges, results, and lessons learned in solving the above problem from both a tool technology and engineering perspective.
Optical Manipulation and Detection of the Collective Motion and Spin of an Ultracold Atomic Gas

The interaction of an optical cavity field with the collective motion or spin of cold atoms allows investigations of cavity optomechanics and novel magneto-optical phenomena. I will present experimental and theoretical investigations of this idea.
Temperature Dependence of 1/f Noise and Electrical Conductivity Measurements on p-type a-Si:H Devices

Noise and electrical conductivity measurements were made at temperatures ranging from approximately 270°K to 320°K on devices fabricated on as grown Boron doped p-type a-Si:H films. The room temperature 1/f noise was found to be proportional to the bias voltage and inversely proportional to the square root of the device area. As a result, the 1/f noise can be described by Hooge’s empirical expression [1]. The 1/f noise was found to be independent of temperature in the range investigated even though the device conductivity changed by a factor of approximately 4 over this range. Conductivity temperature measurements exhibit a T-0.25 dependence, indicative of conduction via localized states in the valence band tail [2,3]. In addition, multiple authors have analyzed hole mobility in a-Si:H and find that the hole mobility depends on the scattering of mobile holes by localized states in the valence band tail [4-7]. We conclude that the a-Si:H carrier concentration does not change appreciably with temperature, and thus, the resistance change in this temperature range is due to the temperature dependence of the hole mobility. Our results are applicable to a basic understanding of noise and conductivity requirements for a-Si:H materials used for microbolometer ambient temperature infrared detection.